CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1 89 1 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE ,. 3 1924 028 878 754 olin Overs DATE DUE PRINTEDINU.S.A. The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028878754 ^f 4>^ ;r ^ t, \ii. PREFACE. fHE work that has engaged our eiforts during the past summer is now closed. It was undertaken in the belief that there is a proper demand fqr a permanent record of the events which relate to the early times. With what fidelity to facts and patience of research this has been accomplished, we shall leave to the judgment of our readers. We desire to thank the citizens of the Arkansas Valley who have so cordially aided our writers in gathering material for this volume. Without such assistance many import- ant facts would necessarily have been omitted. The histories of the several counties have been written by the following well known gentlemen: Lake County and the Ten Mile Region, by Capt. K. G. Dill, of Leadville ; El Paso County, by A. Z. Sheldon, of Colorado City ; Chaffee County, by E. R. Emerson, of Buena Vista ; Fremont County, by Capt. B. F. Rockafellow, of Canon City ; Custer County, by Hon. Richard Irwin, of Rosita; Pueblo County, by Gen. R. M. Stevenson, of Denver, formerly of Pueblo; and Bent County by Charles W. Bowman, of West Las Animas. The reputation of these gentlemen is a sufficient guaranty of the accuracy and re- liability of the work, and while we realize that perfection has neither been attained nor is attainable, yet we send forth this volume with confidence that, as a whole, it will meet the approval of our patrons. 0. L. BASKIN & CO., Publishers. < S r- i\^ CONTENTS PAET I. HISTOBT OF COLOEADO. PAGE. POEM U CHAPTBK I.— Kinghig up the Curtain 17 CHAPTER 11.— Early DiBCOTeries of Gold 22 CHAPTEE HI.— Journalism in Colorado 25 CHAPTER IV.— Early Politics and Organization of ths Terri- tory 31 CHAPTEE v.— Lo ! the Poor Indian 34 CHAPTER VI.— The Mountains of Colorado 38 CH\PTBE VII.— Colorado During the Eebellion— Territorial Offlcials 41 CHAPTEE Vtll.— Progreas of the Country 47 CHAPTEE IX.— Climate of Colorado 48 CHAPTEE X.— Agricultural Resources of the State 53 CHAPTER XI.— Stock-raising in Colorado 59 CHAPTER XII.— Leadville and California Gulch 67 CHAPTER XIII.— History of the First Colorado Regiment 73 CHAPTEE XIV.— History of the Second Colorado Regiment 77 CHAPTEE XV.— Sketch of the Third Colorado Regiment 89 CHAPTER XVI.— The Geology of Colorado 90 CHAPTER XVII.- Peak Climbing in the Rocky Mountains 108 CHAPTER XVIII.— Sketch of the San Juan Counti^y and Do- lores District 112 CHAPTER XIX.— The TTniversity of Colorado 119 POSTSCRIPT. CHAPTER I.— The Ute Eebellion 122 CHAPTEE II.— Affairs at White Eiver Agency 125 CHAPTER in.— The News in Denver 137 CHAPTER IV.— Advance upon the Agency 140 CHAPTER v.— Arrival at Agency— The Massacre 145 CHAPTER VI.— Cessation of Hostilities— Rescue of the Pris- oners.... 148 CHAPTEE VII.— Sad Story of the Captives 151 CHAPTER VIII.— The Atrocities in Colorado 161 CHAPTER IX.— The Peace Commission Farce 165 j CHAPTER X.— The Ute Question in Congress 169 I CHAPTER XI.— The Present Condition of the Ute Question 176 PART IT. RAILROADS. CHAPTER 1. — Union Pacific System : — Cheyenue Division- Boulder Branch — Julesburg Branch — Kansas Division — Colorado Division — Denver & South Park Division 179 CHAPTER II.— The Denver & Rio Grande 106 CHAPTER III.— The Atchison, Topeka & Santa W 200 PART III. HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. ' PAGE. INTRODUCTORY 207 CHAPTER I.— Leadville— Its Discovery and Early History 209 CHAPTER II.— The Second Start- Discovery of the Printer Boy Mine 216 CHAPTER III.— The Secret Solved— Commencement ol the Carbonate Era 217 CH.iPTBE IV.— The Beginning of Leadville— 1877 219 CHAPTER v.— The Story of 1878— The First Boom 223 CHAPTER VI.— The Record of 1879— The Year of the Boom... 227 CHAPTER VII.— Leadville in 1880— Settling down 233 CHAPTER VIII.— Its Location and its Future 286 CHAPTER IX.— The Political History of Leadville 237 CHAPTER X.— The Great Strike 239 CHAPTER XL— Admiuistering Law and Order 246 CHAPTER XII,— The Newspapei-s of Leadville 253 CHAPTER XIII.— Public Conveniences and Institutions 256 CHAPTER XIV.— The Railroads 263 CHAPTER XV.— The Churches 266 CHAPTER XVI.— The Public Schools 270 CHAPTER XVII.— Civic Societies 274 CHAPTEE XVIH.— The Mines 278 CHAPTER XIX.— Miscellaneous 306 BIOGRAPHICAL 309 TEN MILE REGION. Sheep Mountain — Robinson — The Robinson Mines — The Wheel of Fortune— The Snow Bank— The Forest Oon- solidated— The Washington- The Pat Corbett^The Little Chicago — The Trophy Mining- Company— The Black Dragon — The Black Diamond — The Crown Point — The Gray Eagle— The Michigan— The Champion Tun- nel—Chalk Mountain — Carbonate Hill — Clinton Gulch — Kokomo — Smelters — Elk Mountain— .The White Quail — The Aftermath— The Milo Group— The Badger— The Gil- pin — Jack Mountain — Tucker Mountain — Copper Moun- tain — Mayflower Hill — Gold Hill — Fletcher Mountain — The Grand View Consolidated— The Silver Blossom 389 BIOGRAPHICAL 399 HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY. CHAPTEE I.— Physical Features— Hydrographic— Scenery- Geology 415 CHAPTEE II.— HiBlorlcal 418 CHAPTEE III.— Colorado Springs— Colorado College 430 CHAPTER IV.— The Ute Pass Road 437 CHAPTEE v.— Manitou- The Press— Conclusion 438 BIOGRAPHICAL 444 'C t;L— The Chaffee County Times — The Buena Vista Herald — Banking— The Cotton- wood Hot Springs— Trout Creek Mining District— Nathrbp— Hortense- Alpine— St. Elmo— Tlie St. Elmo JMoun/aineer— Cleora— Salida— The Mountain JMbii— Poacha Springs— Maysvilie—Tlio aiaysville CAi-omWe— The South ArhanBm Miner — Arbourvjile — Garfield — Chaffee City 477 BIOGRAPHICAL 603 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. Climate — Altitude — Springs — Jumping Town Site, 1860 — Judge Fowler's Court — Trial of Wolfe Londoner — Mining Hoax — Indian Scare at Church — Caiion Booming — Fir^t Newspaper — People's Court Established — Organization of County — County and State Officers —Public Schools — First District Court — Signal Mountain — Fire Telegraphs — The Bloody E-panosias — Pui-suitand Capture of Guerrillas — Desperadoes — Jonathan Leaper — Cailons and Caves — Grand Canon of the Arkansas — Grape Creek Canon — Tem- ple Caflon— Oak Creek Cafion— Talbott Hill, Etc.— Marble Cave — Bones of the Monsters — Cafion City Coal Field- Silver and Copper Mines— Magnetic Iron — Irrigation — Railroads — Cafion City — Churches — Civic Societies — School — Water- works^Fire Department — Penitentiary — Post Officos — Pioneer Association — Indian Question — Oil Springs — Bear Stories — Ranches, Etc., Etc 543 BIOGRAPHICAL 647 HISTORY OF CUSTBE COUNTY. Early Settlement— Topography — Political — Live Stock — Cattle-men, Horse-owners and Round-ups — History of the Mines — The Mines Described — Scenery — Towns- Resorts— Fishing— Perils of Hunting Large Game— Reduc- tion Works — New Processes — Banks — Tunnels — Diamond Drill — Fire Department — Rosita Brewing Company — Bench and Bar — Medicine Men — Secret Societies — Public Schools— Post OfiBces- The Press — Churches — Crimes, Etc 689 BIOGRAPHICAL 742 . HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. p^g^ CHAPTER I.— The Ox-team Period— Early Settlement— The Ute Massacre — Z»n Hicklin — Fontaine City — War with Missouri — A Lively Election —Qualifications of a Probate Judge — Pueblo Laid Out — Jack Allen — A Transaction in Bacon — "Hevn'tyer gotthe Beans?" — An Eggnog Party, 7(i.^> CHAPTER II.— The Stage Coach Period— Organization of the County — County Officers — Court House — Jail — Gen. Bow- en — Hotel — Free and Easy Waiter — Financial Crisis — Stage Line Established — Postal Facilities — The First | Schoolhouse — Re.igious Services — Indian Scare — Pueblo in the Late War — Vigilantes— The CAie/iain— Church Buildings — Brick — Sale of Town Lots — Dancing — Mas- querade — Situttion ill 18G8 — Pueblo Incorporated 771 CHAPTER III —The Railroad Period— Denver & Eio Grande Railw.iy — United States Land Office— The People— South [| Pueblo Laid Out — County Court House — Railroad Ban- quet— Bjom — White Lynched — Pueblo Becomes a City — Water-works Built — Fire Depariment — Advent of the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley Railroad — A Three Days' Jubi- lee — Sam McBride Departs with the School Fund — The Pueblo Democrat — Centennial Celebration — Smelting Works — Insane Asylum — Steel Works — Street Railroad — Gas Works — General Prosperity 777 BIOGE.VPHICAL 782 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. CHAPTER I— Geography 8i6 CHAPTER II.— The Beginners 827 CHAPTER III.— Other Pioneers— The Indians and the Mili- tary 833 1 CHAPTER IV.— Kit Carson \ 836 CHAPTER \ .— Las Animas Grant 837 CHAPTER VI.— The Sand Creek Massacre 838 CHAPTER VII.— Events of 1865-1868 843' CHAPTER VIII.— New Towns and Railroads 845 CHAPTER IX.— Fragments 847 BIOGRAPHICAL 850 FACE. Abbott, 0. F 37 Aldrich, C. H 41 Baxter, 0. H. P 46 Banning, G. C 65 Beckwith, E. T 69 Becker, Peter 63 Blake, H.T 73 Bowman, C. W 77 Boettcher, Charles 87 Boyd, S. H 91 Bradford, A. A 99 Breed, G.' T 106 Brisbois, A 109 ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS. PAGE. Buckwalter, H. H 117 Burdick, W. N 123 Burchinell, W. K 127 Burnett, John 135 Chapin, H. C 141 Chilcott, G. M 145 Clelland, James 153 Corder, A 159 Cramer, J. C 163 Craven, T. H 171 Crissey, Giles 177 Curry, A. P 187 Dale, S. P 191 PAGK. Denny, J. C 871 Dill, R. G 207 Dueber, M 201 Eddy, Edward 211 Ellis, C, W 221 Emerson, B. R 227 Emmett, De R 231 Ewing, Thomas 241 Felton, W. B 247 Finnerty, Peter 251 Fishback, W. H 261 Fowler, W. R 267 Frazer, Jesse 277 S \- CONTENTS. ^W PAGE. Gay, Frank 281 Goddard, L. M 291 Grant, J. B 297 Havens, G. L 307 Havens, H.W 311 Barker, 0. H 317 Hartenstein, G. K 327 Hall, C. L 331 Hawkins, Addison 337 Henry, J. J 341 Hinsdale, G. A 7 Hickman, T. J 351 Hill, C. L 367 Howell, C. C 361 Homan, Louis 367 Holly, H. S 377 Hunter, A. V 381 Irwin, Bichard 387 ^Isenberg, J. L 397 James, W. H 407 Johnston, J. H 417 Johnson, H. B 421 Jones, J. C 431 Kramer, Ludwig 437 Lake, H. W 441 Law, John 451 Larson, Niels , 461 Leonard, L. C 471 Leary, J. H 481 Leonhardy, George 487 Leitzmann, Charles 491 Lobach, Edwin 497 PAGE. Grand Ca&on of the Arkansas.. ..Frontispiece. Amie Mine 2.37 Bell, W. A., residence of 447 Big Chief Mine 467 Chrysolite Mine 131 Chicago Lakes 181 Carbonate Mine 321 Carlile, J. N., residence of. 601 Cafion City School 617 Colorado State Penitentiary 561 Denver City Mine 95 Distant View of Tolteo Gorge 197 Elwell, Charles, residence of 477 Evening Star Mine 831 Fremont County Court House '.617 Gay, Frank, Iron Works of 287 Grant Smelting Company's Works 301 Gaw's Brewery- 391 ILLUSTRATIONS— Continued. POETEAITS, PAGE. Lowe, Ed 507 Manville, J. S. D 511 Marshall, J. T .317 Macready, B ■■ .527 MoNeoly, J. T 531 McEl Hinnoy, A. M 537 McCandleFS, J. A 547 McClure, W. H 651 McCarthy, J. D 557 McMillen, Samuel 567 McComhe, John 571 Miller, J. D 581 Montgomery, B. F 587 Moore, William 691 Orman, J. B '. 697 Ordean, A. L 607 Owen, W. E 611 Painter, J. S 621 Palmer, T. D 627 Pendery, J. L 631 Playter, J. H 637 Prentiss, J. L 641 Pritchard, J. L £47 Prowers, J, W 651 Eaynolds, F. A 657 Kaymond, William 661 Eische, August 667 Eobinson, G. B 27 Eockafellow, George 677 Eockafellow, B. F , 681 Eolker, C. M 687 Eudd, Anson 691 VIEWS. PAGE. Greer Smelting Works 401 Harrison Eeduction Works 149 Holly, H. S., residence of. 877 Humboldt Mine 803 Jones, J. C. (Cattle Eound-up) 851 ; James, W. H, residence of. 411 ! La Plala Smelting Works 51 ' Little Chief Mine 69 I Leitzmann, Charles, Wagon Shops of. 287 Little Pittsburg Mine 167 I Leadville Public School 271 Little Prince Mine 347 ] MatdilesB Mine 23 1 Mount of the Holy Cross 81 Meyer, A. E. & Co.'s Works 217 j Manitou and Pike's Peak 257 \ McCombe, John, residence of 577 1 Orman, J. B., residence of 601 PAGE. Eusspll, G. H 697 Sayer, Daniel 701 Sands, J 707 Safley, Ben 711 Schlagpter, J. A 717 Sheldon, A. Z 721 ?ieber, C. E 727 Sigafus, J, M 731 Slater, M.H 737 Smi h, A. A 741 Starr, Thomas 747 Strickler, W. M 751 Staley, L. A 767 Stanton, I. W 761 Stevenson, E. M 767 Stanley, 0. 6 .^ 773 Tabor, H. A. W 17 Terry, J. H 779 Thombs. P. R 785 Thomson, C. r 791 Thornton, Alexander .-.797 Townsend, W. F 809 Trimble, G. W 816 Tucker, L. E 821 Ward, W. S 827 Walts, James 837 Wetmore, W. H 841 Wells, T. S 847 Wells, J. H 851 White, G. G 857 Woodbury, J. C 861 Wulsten, Carl 867 PAGE. Phantom Curve 197 Public School — West Las Anim.ia 848 Eobinson Mine 33 Eisley, H. A., residence of. 457 Eobert E. Lee Mine 521 Eoyal Gorge 541 Eische, August, residence of. 671 Toltec Gorge 112 Toltec Tunnel 112 Twin Lakes 267 Toltec Gorge Above the Tunnel 501 Veta Pass 501 White Quail Smelter 871 Ward, W. S., residence of. 411 Williams Cafion 427 Whipple, L. and Baton, B. J., residence of. .457 ■"^ a) IV ^! ^1^ "'^ a) L€y ^ LiV SHIELD witli three white peaks in chief, A pick and sledge beneath them crossed; For crest, an eye with rays ; a sheaf Of reeds about an ax ; and tossed About its base a scroll I That says, "iVi'Z sine numine." see. Oh, child of Union, last bom State, We read thee well in this device : That which hath made shall inake thee great. Between green base and crown of ice Shine golden gifts that dower thee. Yet are "Nil sine numine." The ax makes way for fold and field And marching men ; and none may bend Thy sheaf of knitted hearts ; who wield In caverns dim the blows that rend From earth her treasures ; these agree All is "Nil sine numine." We sing thy past, we sing thy praise. Not long for thee hath man made song, But hosts shall sing in coming days. And when thou sittest great and strong, Thy future still, oh. Queen, shall be. Though great, "Nil sine numine." fc^ 12 By running streams that fill the sands That thirsting, prayed so long in vain, The desert children fill their hands With strange, sweet fruits, and deem the pain Of him that tills, its own reward, Nor any meed of thanks accord. So, Princess proud, of infant years, Embowered here in green and gold, Thou hast no trace of all the tears These sands drank up; the hearts of old, That broke to see yon doors unseal. Naught of themselves in thee reveal. Thus doth to-day annul the past ; There is no gratitude at all In Time, and Nature smooths at last The mounds men heap o'er those who fall, However nobly ; thus we see It is, hath been, shall ever be. But once shall one rehearse thy days And all the pride of those that made Thy places pleasant and thy ways Sweet with swift brooks and green, gray shade; Lo, memory opens here a book On which our children's eyes shall look. Turn back the leaves a space, what then Beside this ever-changing stream : The rude scarce camp of bearded men. In guarded sleep they lie, nor dream Of shadowy walls about them set And domes of days that are not yet. The sun looks not upon their rest. I hear the creak of scorching wheels, I know the hope that fills the breast, I feel the thrill the foremost feels; I see the faces grimly set One way, with eyes that burn, and yet :^ 13 I kno-w that when all wearily Their feet have climbed the horizon They may not rest; for there will be The rainbow's foot still further on, That some shall faint and fall and die, With eyes fixed on that fantasy. And yet the saddest face that turns Back from a quest unsatisfied May have more hope than his that bums A beacon in the eyes to guide Those harpies. Luxury and Lust — Lo, how they leave us in the dust. I see the tide rise up and fall, I see the spent waves turn and fly That broke upon that mountain wall. And see where at its bases lie Worn waifs of men that cling and wait, That cling and droop, yet bravely wait. A paean for the brave who wait. Impatience slinks along the waU, And hears afar the battered gate Some day go thundering to its fall. Lo, how the worn host, wan and thin, Like giants rise and enter in. " To him that wills," the prophet cries, " All good shall come." Behold ! how fair The vision that their eager eyes Deemed unsubstantial as the air. We see fair streets from hill to hill. And by the river many a mill. I And temples towering far above. And busy markets crouched between, And bowers beside the hills, for love, As fair as any land hath seen. And fanes for Science reared, and Art, Beautiful, and sacred, and apart. 9 fy 14 Yet felt in all men's lives, to dream Was theirs with faith; they drove the plow And kept their herds, and- it did seem As though the end were even now And here ; so all held to their, way. And day was added unto day. The wild things of the plain and hill Preyed on them, and were preyed upon. And vengeance had its own wild will, To come and go 'tween man and man. And might that questioned not of right. And hate, and fear, crept out at night. And blood was cheap upon the street. And gold was dearer, some, than life, And many mornings did repeat The brutal record of the knife; There were worse spirits here, I know, Than Cheyenne and Arapahoe. Yet ever grew the vision plain. And was a wonder, more and more, How day by day the golden grain Spread all the hills and valleys o'er. How wall on wall and street on street Its promised features men might greet. One day a cloud rose in the east, And when night fell it was a flame ; And soon across yon treeless waste. With sounds of winds and waters came The steeds of Empire, and her star From each plumed forehead flared afar. The rays of steel before them beam, And close the myriad chariots throng With thunderous wheels, and arms that gleam Are borne by brown hands true and strong. And now, upon her border lands The vanguard of a nation stands. s r- ""^ s ^ 15 jr Swift as those cloud-winged steeds may fly, The stranger journeys to our gates. Swift, day and night, he passes by Long stretches where the gray wolf waits. And lo! on his astonished eyes See Tadmor of the Desert rise. A thousand leagues to yesterday, A thousand to the day before. And, right and left, away, away, Stretch solid seas without a shore, "Where porpoise shoals of buffalo Along the sharp horizon go. And now, he deems it half unreal. The sunset glints in golden hues Back from the river's polished steel. Up from the stately avenues. And sparkles from the spires, and swells And throbs, with sweet of evening bells. The cows come lowing to the fold. And men throng glad to happy homes. He stands knee-deep in blossomed gold, The distant mountains are God's domes. And on his lips, in deep content. He tastes His wine of Sacrament. Oh, happy homes, a prophet stands Here all alone on virgin soil. And spreads to you his hardened hands. That here will take their bliss of toil. Be glad ; your bow of promise bends And spans all beauty with its ends. Seek not beyond ; the happy shores Bend nearer here than otherwhere. The gifts that wait beside your doors, And on the hills, and in the air. Are better than all old conceits, All faded and forgotten sweets. I ai ^ 16 I see the new Arcana rise, Touched with the fire of other days, And Nature, grown more rich and wise, Yield to your prayers her mysteries. Straight be your furrow, look not back, Trust that the harvest shall not lack. Build yet, the end is not ; build on, Build for the ages, unafraid ; The past is but a base whereon These ashlars, well hewn, may be laid. Lo, I declare I deem him blest Whose foot, here pausing, findeth rest. J. HARBISON MILLS. g r- ^^ ® ^ ^ HISTOEY OF COLOKADO. BY W. B. VICKERS. CHAPTER I. HINGING UP THE CURTAIN. LOOKING backward over the brief history of the State of Colorado, the youngest and fair- est of our bright sisterhood, is like turning the leaves of some grand romance that has charmed us in the past, and promises to renew the pleasure when we shall address ourselves anew to its peru- sal. To write of such a wonder-land can only be a labor of love for those to whom its rare beauties and eventful history have been revealed. Colorado is a poem, a picture, an embodiment of romance. No fairy tale was ever told in which so many glad surprises entered as have marked like milestones the development of the Centennial State ; but still the writer of its history must shrink dis- comfited from the full performance of his duty, discouraged by the incompetence of language to do justice to the absorbing theme. These may sound like grand words ; and the his- torian may be accused at the outset of a " gush- ing" tendency, better fitted to the poet's corner of a country newspaper than to such a work as this. Colorado has the reputation already of having inspired more "gush" than most of the older States. Even New England's rockbound shores, where the Pilgrinl Fathers foregathered in the early days, has suffered by comparison with the heart and crown of the continent; and Pike's Peak is at least as well known as Plymouth Rock, beside being much more monumental. National pride and national enthusiasm have combined to fire the hearts and souls and tongues and pens of Colorado pilgrims, until now the State is so well and favor- ably known that its history may be written with the comfortable assurance that it will find many readers, and perhaps friendly critics, even though its faults are thick as dust in vacant chambers. It may be well enough, perhaps, to confess at the outset that this sketch of the State is intended to be discursive rather than dryly statistical, and, although facts and figures will enter into its com- position, they are by no means likely to mar the pleasure of those opposed to the Gradgrind school of social economists. There is no lack, indeed, of interesting historical data, and the material inter- ests of the State deserve more recognition than they are likely to receive here ; but there is no room for the long roll of pioneers more than there is for the almost endless list of paying mines. The most that can be crowded into this contracted space will be a skeleton history, filled out with pictures of the physical, social and business aspects of the State. Chance reference to the pioneers of Colorado carries us back to the days of '59 and the strug- gles and triumphs of the brave men and women who, twenty years ago, sat down before the mount- ain walls to build a State, under circumstances the most discouraging. The Israelitish host who -,^ 1^ 18 HISTORY OF COLORADO. were forced by their masters to the task of making bricks without straw, had far more to encourage them than the early settlers of Colorado. The real utility of straw in the brick business has been doubted, but there is no doubt that nine- tenths of the men who saw Colorado in 1859, con- sidered it nearly, if not quite, unfit for human hab- itation. The Great American Desert stretched almost from the Missouri River to the Rocky Moun- tains, a rainless, treeless waste, and the mountains themselves, however rich in gold and silver, offered small inducements for men to build themselves homes therein, much less populous and enterpris- ing cities, such as we see there now on every hand. The grand passion of our '59ers was to get themselves rich, and concurrently to get themselves out of the country. Thousands of them thought the first of less consequence than the second, and so made themselves scarce without waiting for fortune to shower her gifts upon them, preferring the flesh-pots of "America,'' as the East for many years was called, to Colorado's sunny but unsym- pathetic and lonely skies. No thought had these, or, indeed, the others who remained, of the glori- ous future in store for the incipient State. Beau- tiftil scenery, to be sure ; but who could live on scenery ? A fine climate, too ; but that only aggra- vated appetite, when flour was worth $50 a sack. The man who turned his oxen out to die in the fall of '59, and surprised himself in the spring by rounding them up in good condition, was probably the first one who looked upon Colorado with a view to permanent residence. He was the father of the stock business, and his name ought to be handed down to fature generations of cattle-grow- ers as their great original. Although this expansive region was so new and strange and solitary to the settlers of twenty years ago, and although its history may properly date from the last decade but one, historical accuracy demands that mention be made of former races and tribes of men, who lived out their little lives within these very hmits where our prosperous State now stands. Colorado can show the mute yet eloquent records of a race of men, now and for many long ages unknown to those who succeeded them. In the cliff-houses of the Rio Mancos in Southwestern Colorado, there lived once a half- civilized people, probably descended from the ancient Aztecs, though possibly forerunners or rivals of that romantic race. Later still came the Mexicans, who once owned the country south of the Arkansas River, and who are still counted an important element about election times, some thou- sands of them remaining in the southern counties of the State, and as far north as Pueblo. Con- temporaneous with the latter, and possibly with the former, were the various tribes of American Indians who roamed these then pathless wilds and fought and bled and stole ponies with the same untiring industry which marks their descendants, and makes them the special pets and proteges of the Indian Bureau of to-day. The annals of Old Mexico are silent as to whether or not there was a Mexican Indian Bureau in those days, but it is safe to assume, no doubt, that, if there was, the Indian supplies were stolen long before they reached these outposts of Spanish- American civili- zation. The testimony of history, however, is that the Indians and Mexicans cultivated the Christian grace of dwelling together in harmony and peace, and found the land broad enough for both races. Evidently, the heritage of the soil was consid- ered of little worth by either the Indians or the Jlexicans, for the former sat up no barriers against ■Mexican invasion, and the latter thought so little of the country that immense tracts of land were given away to almost any one who would take them. Old Mexican grants cover some of the best land in Southern Colorado. The Spanish occupation of this country dates back to 1540-42, when Vasquez Coronado led an expedition in this direction, and explored the land thoroughly, as he thought, for g0;ld, finding none. If the grim Spaniard could only revisit Colorado to-day, and view the rich treasures of Leadville and our mining districts generally; if he could 9 "V l^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 19 ride into Denver and stop at one of our leading hotels a few days, long enough to mark the mar- velous growth and activity of the city, what would he think of himself as a prospector and explorer? From Coronado to Captain Pike is a long leap ; but history has not bridged the interval with any account of intermediate explorations. Pike dates back only to the opening of the present century, 1806, when Colorado was a part and parcel of the Louisiana purchase. The Captain was sauntering over the State — of Louisiana — in the fall of the year, exploring the valleys of the Arkansas, when his attention was attracted by the famous mount- ain which bears his name. Pike appears to have been, if not an ignorant, at least a superficial observer. He was the first white American tourist who visited Manitou and its mag- nificent surroundings, yet he never discovered the famous springs or noted the monument rocks in the Garden of the Gods. He did not even ascend the peak which he took the liberty of christening. In the account of his travels which he published in 1810, but which is now out of print, may be found the story of his attempt to scale the peak, an attempt which ended in ignominious failure. Like many another tenderfoot, he took the wrong direction, and emerged on a mountain fifteen or more miles distant from the peak proper. The latter, according to his story, was twice as high as the point on which he stood, and he thought it must be at least 18,500 feet above the level of Louis- iana proper. This exaggerated statement is, however, plainly the result of ignorance and not of boasting. The Captain was no braggart. He did not claim to be the first explorer of " Western Louisiana," but mod- estly transfers that honor to one James Pursley, of Bardstown, Ky., whom he met at Santa Fe and with whom he compared notes. But Pursley must have been even more modest than Pike, for it nowhere appears that he claimed any credit for his discoveries, or named a mountain after himself. Long's expedition, commanded by Col. S. H. Long, next visited Colorado, and Dr. E. James, "surgeon, botanist and historian," of the party, was the first white man who ascended the Peak. He also discovered the famous springs at the foot of the mountain. Fremont, the Pathfinder, came this way in 1843, and it was the report of his explorations which first awakened public interest in this territory. Although Fremont bore witness* to the mineral character of the country, he reported no actual discovery of precious metals, nor did Pike. Pursley, the Ken- tuckian, told Pike there was gold here, but the latter attached little importance to the statement. Fremont's party passed on to California, but next year returned by another route and explored North, Middle and South Parks, and reported many inter- esting observations. The mountains were full of game and moderately full of Indians, though none of these early explorers appear to have been troubled by the aborigines. Gen. Fremont's reports regarding the country seem to have attracted no settlers hitherward save a few French and half- breed fur-traders, who came West and settled down to grow up with the Indians. Most of them mar- ried one or more Indian wives, and became, as it were, connecting links between barbarism and civili- zation. The earliest settlers of Colorado found many of these rough-handed but warm-hearted people here on their arrival, and, indeed, many of them remain to this day, though death is decimat- ing their ranks very rapidly. Among these notable men was a grandson of one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen- dence — Elbridge Gerry, of Connecticut. The pio- neer bore his grandfather's name, and never dishonored it by a mean or ignoble act. He was the soul of honor and hospitality. His door was always open alike to friend or stranger, and he never would accept money from any one for food or lodging. "Kit" Carson was still more noted than Gerry, although all the early settlers knew the latter as intimately as the former. Carson has now (1879) been dead many years, but Gerry's death occurred only a few years ago. Carson's only monument is :^ .^ 20 HISTORY OF COLORADO. a lonely railway station on the Kansas Pacific road, once for a brief space a flourishing iirontier town, but now nearly abandoned. When civilization and fashion began to assert their sway in Colorado, some of the white-shirt aristocracy began to complain that certain white men shocked their sensitive souls by continuing to live with their Indian wives. Grerry was always wounded by any reference to himself in this vein, but refused to be moved by it from what he con- sidered his duty to his family. Said he : "I married my wife when there wasn't a white woman within a thousand miles of me, and when I never expected to see a white woman here. My wife is as true and my children are as dear to me as those of any man alive, and I will die a thou- sand deaths before I will desert them." From the day when Capt. John A. Sutter made known the existence of gold in California, a steady tide of travel set across the continent from east to west, and soon certain portions of what is now Colorado, notably the valley of the South Platte and some of its tributaries, became not only well known, but dotted by stations of the great over- land stage company. It was not, however, until after the "Pike's Peak " excitement of 1858-59, that attention was directed to the natural advantages and mineral wealth of Colorado, and the earliest discoveries of gold here were almost as accidental as those of California, only diifering in the fact that fabulous stories of mineral wealth in the Rocky Mountains had prepared people to expect discoveries at any and every point in the mighty chain of peaks. It is believed, however, that the stories of min- eral discoveries prior to 1858 are apocryphal, although apparently well authenticated. There was never a time after the acquisition of Southern Colorado and New Mexico at the close of the Mexican war, that this country was not inhabited by intelligent and educated white men, retired army officers and the like, who would have been quick to recognize the value and importance of such discoveries, and to profit by them personally, if they did not spread the news abroad. Lupton,- St. Vrain, Carson, Bent, Boone, Head, Wooten and others were domesticated in Colorado thirty years or more ago, and those sharp-witted gentle- men would have known when and where gold was found, had it been found before Green Russell and his party of Georgians stumbled upon the shining sand in the bed of Dry Creek in the summer of 1858. Russell's paj-ty had looked in vain for gold dig- gings up and down the country from Canon City to the Cache la Poudre, and were returning home- ward when their patient search was rewarded. Russell returned to the States, carrying the news of his discovery, and also several hundred dollars' worth of gold dust, which were the first fruits of the now famous gold fields of Colorado. Following closely upon the heels of the Russell party, came a Kansas delegation, which followed the Arkansas River route, and passed through Pueblo on or about the 4th of July. The place was pretty well deserted at that time, though once it had been a thriving trading-post. The Utes, with characteristic meanness, had so persecuted the white people there that they were compelled to leave; those, at least, who had escaped the worse fate of being murdered. The gold-seekers found the walls of the old fort standing, and some later comers, who established themselves there, built their houses of the adobes which had been used in the walls of the fort. It does not appear that the early Pueblans paid much attention to prospecting. The mount- ains thereabout have never yielded any astonish- ing results in the line of precious metals, and probably the pioneers sufiered themselves to become discouraged early in their search for gold. Although " Pike's Peak or bust" was the rallying cry of the early prospectors, gold has never been discovered in paying quantities in the vicinity of the Peak, and not until some years after the north- ern mines were yielding large returns was there any bullion produced south of the Pike's Peak range of mountains. The " Silver San Juan " 9 ^ ■^ HISTORY or COLORADO. 21 country, which is, perhaps, the richest mineral region of the State, not excepting Leadville, dates back but a few years as a mining center. But if prospecting and other industrial pursuits were dull, Pueblo did not lack life or activity in the summer of 1858. Hon. Wilbur F. Stone, now one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the State, and an able and versatile writer, some years ago prepared an historical sketch of Pueblo County, in which the incidents of those pioneer days are graphically depicted. The quiet humor of the sketch is quite irresistible, as is shown by the fol- lowing extract: " Game was quite plenty in those early days, and the settlers frequently indulged in it during the winter, both for food and pastime. It consisted chiefly of deer, antelope, jack rabbits, monte and seven-up." But while Pueblo was indulging in her "game" — a characteristic not wholly abandoned to this day — ^the diggings up north were being developed by parties of prospectors from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and other convenient localities, though the grand rush was postponed until the next spring, it being late in the fall before Russell had reached the States with his news and nuggets. The emigrants of the fall of 1858 suffered severely in crossing the plains, and, to make matters worse, the Indians early became alarmed at the threatened influx of white settlers, and began to " discourage " immigration after their usual fashion, by theft, rapine and murder — arts in which they were and are adepts. In those days a journey across the plains was far from plain or pleasant sailing. There were but , few outposts of civilization, few personal comforts, and, apart from an occasional overland mail or returning California miner, no society worth speak- ing of — not counting Indians or buffalo as society. Now and then a Pike's Peak pilgrim, wending his weary way back to "America," met the advance guard of tender feet and established the now time honored custom of filling their ears with such sto- ries as only Coloradoans can tell — ^the California coUoquist being merely an old-fashioned hand- press as compared with the improved Hoe machin- ery propelling the parts of speech in a Colorado pioneer. The returning pilgrim^ almost invariably followed the Platte route, intersecting the overland at what was then known as the California Crossing, now Julesburg. Pew spots in Colorado are the center of more historic interest than this small hamlet in the extreme northeastern corner of the State. From the fall of 1858, when the first surge of emigra- tion swept westward into Colorado, until the Pacific Railroad passed by and left the place a mere wreck of its former self, Julesburg was widely known as the wickedest town in America, a reputation fairly won and well preserved, while it remained a railway terminus. To-day, it is one of the mildest and most quiet stations on the line of the Union Pacific road, except for two or three months of the late summer and fall, when it is busy with the bustle and excite- ment of shipping beef cattle from the surrounding plains. From the California Crossing to the Cherry Creek Diggings was not many days' travel, and when half the distance was accomplished the grand mountains rose into view, affording one of the finest spectacles in the world. Every new traveler writing about the approach to these' mountains went into greater ecstacy than the last, and all vied with each other in complimenting this Amer- ican Switzerland upon its surprising and surpass- ing beauty. Of this mighty mountain view, Mr. Samuel Bowles, 'the lamented editor of the Springfield Republican, always a firm friend of Colorado, wrote as follows : " All my many and various wanderings in the European Switzerland, three summers ago, spread before my eyes no panorama of mountain beauty surpassing, nay, none equaling that which burst upon my sight at sunrise upon the Plains, when fifty miles away from Denver ; one which rises up before me now as I sit writing by the window -,^ 1^ 32 HISTOEY OF COLOEADO. in this city. From far south to far north, stretch- ing around in huge semicircle, rise the everlasting hills, one after another, tortuous, presenting every variety of form and surface, every shade of cover and color, up and on until we reach the broad, snow-covered range that marks the highest sum- mits, and till where Atlantic and Pacific meet and divide for their long journeys to their far distant shores. To the north rises the King of the Range, Long's Peak, whose top is 14,600 feet high ; to the south, giving source to the Arkansas and Colorado, looms up its brother, Pike's Peak, to the height of 13,400 feet. Those are the salient features of the belt before us, but the intervening and succeeding summits are scarcely less com- manding, and not much lower in height." Mr. Bowles erred in his estimate of the altitude of both peaks, making the first too high and the second too low, but this does not mar the beauty of his glowing tribute to our Colorado mountains. Bayard Taylor, whose world-wide experience of mountain scenery made him an excellent judge of such scenic effects, also admired our mountains above measure, and thought them incomparably finer than the Alps. Said he : "I know no external picture of the Alps that can be placed beside it. If you could take away the valley of the Rhone, and unite the Alps of Savoy with the Bernese Oberland, you might obtain a tolerable idea of this view of the Rocky Mountains. Pike's Peak would then represent the Jungfrau ; a nameless snowy giant in front of you, Monte Rosa, and Long's Peak, Mont Blanc. To such scenes of surpassing beauty were the early settlers of Colorado invited, but, inasmuch as most of them came for gold rather than mountain scen- ery, more interest was felt in reaching the moun- tains than in beholding them afar off. The "light air" which was thenceforth to form one of the most striking of many Colorado peculiarities, had already given rise to numerous fictions touching its decep- tive qualities. The story of the man who started to walk from Denver to the mountains before breakfast, was already old, in fact, it was founded upon Capt Pike's fruitless effort to reach Pike's Peak during the day on which he first sighted it. Among the pleasant memories of the early days was the abundance of game, as already noted in the reference to ancient Pueblo. The Platte Val- ley was even better provided in this respect than the Arkansas, and, at first, neither buffalo nor ante- lope seemed to be much alarmed at the approach of man, though the latter, more alert and intelli- gent than their lumbering companions, soon found that a distant acquaintance with mankind was most profitable though yielding less information. CHAPTER II. EAKLY DISCOVEKIES OF GOLD. BUT we must not linger too long en route or the impatient reader will sympathize with the impa- tient pilgrim, anxious to reach the "golden sands," achieve a fortune and retrace his steps, for few, if any, pilgrims expected to remain in the new gold- fields longer than was absolutely necessary. Events showed, however, that their ideas of necessity varied very widely, according to pluck and energy. Some of them started back inside of twenty-four hours, cursing the country and declaring that there was no gold here, nor anything else worth living for. Others began mining operations, but, meet^ ing with only partial or indifferent success, and finding that hard work offered no more attrac- tions in Colorado than elsewhere, concluded that they would do their hard work back East among friends and relations. Others still persevered, despite all discouragements, and to these brave men the country is indebted for its marvelous outcome. 'A HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 23 All honor to the pioneers. Whether they saw the end from the beginning, or whether they builded "better than they knew," their labor involved the highest type of moral courage. The discoveries of gold in 1858 were confined to the plains entirely, and mainly to the tributaries of the Platte in the vicinity of Denver. In January, 1859, although the winter was cold, the snow deep and circumstances very dis- couraging, the enterprising prospectors ventured into the mountains, and gold was discovered in several localities, among them South Boulder Creek, where the diggings were christened " Dead- wood." The original Deadwood failed, however, to create the excitement which has recently been created by its namesake in the Black Hills of Dakota. Meanwhile, the politicians had not been idle. Auraria, now known as West Denver, was laid out early in November, and soon became the center of population, though numerous towns and "cities" sprang into existence about the same time. Of course, these incipient cities looked first to some form of government, and, as this whole country was then within the dominion of Kansas, a new county was constituted and called Arapahoe, after the neighboring tribe of Indians. On the 6th of November, the irst election was held. It was a double-barreled affair, a Delegate to Congress and a Representative in the Kansas Legislature being elected at the same time. H. J. Graham went to Washington, and A. J. Smith to Topeka. Gra- ham's instructions were to get "Pike's Peak" set apart as an independent Territory, to be called Jefferson. He was a man of great energy and fair ability, but he must have been looked upon in Washington as a wild sort of lunatic, for the coun- try was then so new that nobody east of the Mis- souri River attached any importance to the scheme of its proposed permanent settlement. Those who had faith in the country remained in it; those who lacked faith went back to the States and denounced it as a miserable fraud. Graham found himself without influence at the National Capital, and the only thing he gained by his trip, besides the fleeting honor of being our first Repre- sentative in Congress, was the privilege of paying his own expenses. Smith was slightly more successful at Topeka. He was recognized to the extent of sanctioning the new county organization, and so Colorado was launched into political existence as Arapahoe County, Kansas. The year 1859 was one of great moment to Col- orado. Though in effect but a repetition of 1858, it was on a scale so much larger as to eclipse the latter, and to assume for itself all the importance of the date of actual discovery and settlement, so that, in the minds of most people, Colorado dates from 1859, rather than from the preceding year. It has already been stated that discoveries of gold were made in the inountains as early as Jan- uary of this year, but the great excitement of the season did not begin until May, when Gregory Gulch was first prospected by the famous John H. Gregory, whose name it bears. Gregory does not appear to have been a Pike's Peak pilgrim. It is said that he left Georgia for the far-away gold mines of British Columbia, and that he passed by Colorado during the excitement of 1858, going as far north as Fort Laramie, where chance or acci- dent induced him to spend the winter. Instead of continuing his northwest journey in the spring, he turned back and inspected the Colorado dig- gings critically, and, without any unbounded faith in their paying qualities. He reached Golden, a mere hamlet then, and, still dissatisfied, pushed on through the now famous Clear Creek Canon to where the town of Black Hawk now stands. He was alone, and nearly perished in a severe snow- storm which came on and found him without shelter. Painfully, he fought his way back to the valley, and laid in a fresh stock of provisions and warmer clothing, and again set out for the Clear Creek country, convinced, from his previous observations, that it was a treasure-house of precious metals. His enthusiasm enlisted the services of one man to i> "V" i^ 34 HISTORY OF COLOEADO. 3,ccompany him — Wilkes Defrees, of South Bend, Ind. Of their toilsome journey, and of the discover- ies they made, it is perhaps best to speak in the light of results, compared with which their first prospecting seems tame and commonplace. For more than twenty years already, and giving prom- ise of twenty times twenty years to come, Gregory Gulch and the surrounding country has yielded its rich treasures of gold and silver, and to-day it is increasing in wealth and importance as a mining center. Where poor Gregory so nearly perished in the snow, stands three populous cities and hun- dreds of valuable mines ; the smoke of smelters' and reduction works hang over them day and night continually, and active mining operations and kindred industries make of the narrow valley a very bee-hive, not only of action but of accumu- lation. Within the narrow limits of this review, there is not room for the chronological succession of events which effected this wonderful transforma- tion, but a hasty resum^ of the history of Gregory Gulch will be useful as showing how our mining industries struggled through the earlier years of their existence. A not inapt comparison might be found in the induction of an infant into the means and mysteries of human life. It has already been stated that the discoveries of gold in Colorado were made by men ignorant of scientific mining, ignorant, too, of the laws of nature which might have shed some light, at least, on the possibilities of these discoveries. Geolo- gists could have foretold many things which these men learned by the hardest experience, and often at the sacrifice of their fortunes. Even gulch and placer mining, the simplest study of mineralogy, was almost a sealed book to the pioneers, and of the reduction of ores they were profoundly igno- rant. As depth was gained on their lode claims, the increasing richness of the ore was, under the circumstances, more than neutralized by its refract- ory nature. Rude appliances for treating ore, such as had served the early miners while their work lay near the surface, and while the quartz was partially decomposed, utterly failed as depth was gained, and, for a time, the mining industries of Colorado came almost to a stand-still. It seems singular, now that mining has been reduced to an exact science in Colorado, as well as in older countries, that so long a time should have elapsed, and so many grave errors should have been committed, before this most reasonable and certain result was attained. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly true that at one time, and at a very important period of her history as a mining center, Colorado swallowed up more Eastern capital than the sum of her annual bullion product. Rich ores were treated only to be ruined. The precious metals could not be extracted and separated from the mass of worthless material. The tailings and refuse of the mills were more valuable than what was saved from them. Mining companies were formed in the East, which sent out agents and operators taken from all walks of life except the one business of which they should have been mas- ters. The monuments of this folly are still visible everywhere in our mountains, in the shape of abandoned buildings, wasting water-powers, and many other easy and expeditious methods of get- ting rid of the " company's " money. Fitz-John Porter's " Folly," at Black Hawk, now figures as a railway depot, an immense stone structure, costing thousands of dollars, but never utilized by its pro- jectors. Other "Folly" buildings, costing other thousands, have never been utilized at all. But though results were thus unsatisfactory, the same could not truthfully be said of business. It was flush times in Colorado. Money and work were plenty, and thousands found employment at remunerative wages. The placers were yielding up their rich treasures, and little or no skill was required to find and save the gold thus deposited. True to the instincts of their kind, the pros- pectors spread over the whole country in their search for gold. The Indians became alarmed at the encroachments of the miners, and many detached parties of the latter were killed during HISTORY OF COLORADO. 25 1860-61. The first party which penetrated into Middle Park was decimated by the hostile savages, but this did not prevent others from following in their footsteps, and very important discoveries of placer mines were made, not only along the bed of the Platte and its tributaries, but also across the Mosquito Range, in the Arkansas Valley. Among the latter was the celebrated find near the present site of Leadville, in California Gulch, of which more will be written in another chapter devoted to the history of Leadville. Though thousands of pilgrims crossed the plains in 1859, few, comparatively, of their number win- tered in the country, fearing the severity of the weather and a possible scarcity of provisions. By chance, neither fear was weU founded. The win- ter was very mild, and trains loaded wjth goods of all kinds came through safely in midwinter. CHAPTER III. JOUKNALISM IN COLORADO. YBE Y early in the season of 1 859, the printing- press took root in Rocky Mountain soil, where it has flourished since second to scarcely any other industry. What Colorado owes to her live, enter- prising and intelligent newspaper press, no one can tell; but, if the State is debtor to the press, the obligation is mutual, for never were newspapers so liberally patronized as those of Denver and the State at large. By universal consent, Hon. William N. Byers, founder, and for a long time editor of the Rocky Mountain News, has been called the pioneer and father of Colorado's journalism, though in a late address to the Colorado State Press Association, he modestly disclaimed part of this honor in favor of an erratic but large-hearted printer named Jack Merrick. It seems that Merrick started for Pike's Peak with a newspaper outfit, in advance of the Byers party, which consisted of Thomas Gibson, then and now of Omaha, and Dr. George C. Monell, of the same place. Merrick reached Denver first, and to that extent was the pioneer publisher, but the superior energy of the Byers party enabled them to get out the first paper ever published in the Rocky Mountains. It bears date April 22, 1859. Merrick issued a paper on the same day, but later. Both were rather rude spec- imens of tjrpography, especially as compared with the elegantly printed sheets now circulating in the State, and the Cherry Ckeeh Pioneer — ^the name by which Merrick's journal was heralded — was unique in that it was the one lone, solitary issue from his press. Before Jack could collect himself together sufficiently to get out another number,i Gibson, of the News, had bargained for his sorry little outfit and consolidated it with that of the News. The latter paper was published with tolerable regularity all that summer, though sopietimes under the most discouraging circumstances, and more than once upon brown paper or half-sheets of regular print. The nearest post office was at Port Laramie, 220 miles distant, and the mails arrived there at very irregular intervals. The News, how- ever, was never dependent on its exchanges for original matter, and got along very well without telegraphic dispatches. It was devoted to build- ing up the country, and it gave nearly all its space to reports of mining matters, new strikes, and pictures of the glowing future of Colorado. For all these utterances, and especially for the latter, it ' was cursed by returning disheartened pilgrims, who poured their own stories into the willing ears of Eastern editors, and soon earned for the Rocky Mountain News the reputation of being edited by one of the most capable and dangerous liars in the country. Looking back over his twenty years of labor for Colorado in the face of every possible ■^ ■^ 26 HISTORY OF COLORADO. discouragement, the veteran editor can afford to smile at these ancient assaults upon his veracity as a scribe. More than he predicted of the coun- try has been verified. The second newspaper venture in Colorado was at Mountain City, a mining camp, situated just above the present town of Black Hawk, but not quite as far up the gulch as where Central stands. This was the Gold Reporter, and was published by Thomas Gibson, who had sold his interest in the News to John L. Dailey, now Treasurer of Arapa- hoe County. G-ibson published the Reporter only during the summer of 1859. In November, the material was removed to Golden, and a very credit- able newspaper, called the Mountaineer, was printed by the Boston Company which started the town. The idea, at that time, was that Golden should supersede Denver as the metropolis of the mountains, and this newspaper^ venture was in pur- suance of that sacredly cherished purpose. The lamented A. D. Richardson was one of the earlier editors of the Mountaineer, and Col. Thomas "W. Knox, almost as widely known as a successful journalist, was another. Capt. George West, the veteran editor of the Golden Transcript, which succeeded the Mountaineer, was also connected with the latter publication until the war broke out, when he enlisted. The winter of 1859-60 was a hard one upon the journals of the Territory, on account of the stampede back to the " settlements " at the opening of the winter, but the spring brought many of the stampeders back, and not a few " tenderfeet," as new-comers were already called by those who had wintered in the country. Among the returning prodigals was Gibson, who brought in another newspaper outfit, and, early in May, issued the Daily Herald, the first daily ever printed in Denver. Meantime the proprietors of the News had not been idle, and, very soon after the Daily Herald was started, the Daily News made its appearance. The rivalry between these sheets is one of the liveliest traditions of 1860. The fierce competi- tion between our great dailies of to-day sinks into insignificance when compared to the News and Herald war of that date. Single copies of each paper sold readily for "two bits,'' which was the standard price also for cigars, drinks, and many other necessaries of life in the Far West. Both papers circulated in all the mountain mining camps, being distributed by carriers mounted on the fleet "bronchos" of the plains, whose tireless tramp and sure feet fitted them exactly for the work, as, in these latter days, the same character- istics fit them equally for chasing wild cattle over the plains or carrying tourists to the very summits of mountain peaks. A year later the telegraph reached Fort Kearney, and journalism took another forward step. The dailies began to famish telegraphic news from the East, then eagerly sought for on account of the great civil war raging throughout the South. Curiously enough, although Gregory Gulch was, from the first discovery of gold there, a large center of population, particularly during the sum- mer months, no newspaper was permanently estab- lished there until 1862. It was the same Register which still survives, and which has been for many years one of the most important and influential mining and political journals of the State. The Black Hawk Journal, now extinct, but which existed for many years, was established by Capt. Frank Hall and 0. J. Hollister, in the same year. Both these gentlemen made their mark in journal- ism, and the former is still an honored and exceed- ingly popular citizen of Colorado. To the latter, Colorado is indebted for the best historical sketch of the State ever published, but the number of years which have elapsed since its appearance, and the wonderful transformation of the country which has marked these later years, have almost destroyed the value of "HoUister's Colorado," except as a book of reference, in which respect it has been of most invaluable service to the compiler of these It would be interesting, if it were practicable, to follow the fortunes of these and other enterprising s ^ 1^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 29 newspapers through succeeding years, but the vicissitudes of journalism in Colorado would make a book in itself. Perhaps a fitting conclusion to this brief review would be the following extract from the address of Mr. Byers before the Colorado Press Association, already referred to elsewhere: "1862, '63 and '64 were trying years for the two daily newspapers that remained in Denver. Messrs. Rounds & BUss retired from the News, in 1863. The Herald underwent a number of changes in name and management. A harassing Indian war on the Plains prostrated business, cut off the miils and interrupted all commerce. Trains laden with merchandise were robbed or burned, teams driven off and men killed. During the summer of 1864, when the trouble culminated, Denver and the immediate vicinity lost about fifty citizens, who were murdered by the Indians. Most of them were killed while en route to or from the States. The daily mail route along the Platte was broken up and nearly all the stations burned. As misfortunes never come singly, that season was exceptional for its disasters. On the 20th of May occurred the celebrated Cherry Creek flood, known by that name only because it occasioned more destruction of property and loss of life at Denver than in any other locality. It was no less terrible and proportionately more destructive along Plum Creek, the Fontaine qui BouiUe and other streams, than along Cherry Creek. By it Denver lost a large amount of property. The News office and its contents were destroyed, leaving not a vestige. Three or four weeks after, its proprietors bought the Herald office and resumed the publication of the News. The Indian war thickened, until practically Colo- rado was cut off from the Eastern States. For weeks at a time, there were no mails, and finally they were sent around by Panama and San Fran- cisco, reaching Denver in from seven to ten weeks. Of course newspapers suffered with everybody and everything else. All supplies were used up. Wrapping paper, tissue paper and even writing paper were used to keep up the daily issues of the News, now the only paper remaining in Denver, if not in the Territory. In August, martial law was proclaimed, and the Third Regiment of Colorado Volunteers raised in less than a week in ordei* to chastise the Indians. The regiment was equipped and provisioned by the people, but was subse- quently accepted and mustered into the United States Service for one hundred days. The Sand Creek campaign followed. The News office fur- nished fourteen recruits for that regiment, and thereafter, for a time, the paper was printed by a detail of soldiers. It was very small, and con- tained little besides military orders and notices. The campaign lasted about ninety days, and then followed peace. For two or three years, the News had the field in Denver almost entirely alone, and then new enterprises were started, and the number of newspapers has since multiplied rap- idly, some to become permanent, as the Tribune, Herald, Times and others, and many others to flourish for a brief period and then die. The same has been the case all over the Territory, now State. Newspapers have been among the flrst enterprises in all new towns of any importance." It would be unjust to a generous and noble class of men to dismiss this subject without pay- ing a compliment to those who have carried the printing press up and down the mountains and valleys of this broad State, whenever and wherever there was a posssible opportunity to develop some new resources and found some new settlement. There has never been a call for a new newspaper in Colorado to which some one has not responded. Start a new town anywhere in the mountains, and the moment its success is assured — often much sooner — some enterprising publisher puts in an appearance, and a creditable newspaper is launched in less time than it would take an Eastern commu- nity to make up its mind that a newspaper was a necessity. Who would think in the East, or in the Mississippi Valley, of starting a newspaper in a town of two or three hundred inhabitants ? Yet Colorado can boast of many such, and, what is stranger still, many of them are financially '.iL 30 HISTORY OF COLORADO. successful. Should the new settlement prosper, the newspaper always shares its prosperity ; should the town fail, the publisher, a little downcast, per- haps, but not at all disheartened, picks up his office and himself and tries another location. As a matter of present as well as future interest, thf following list of periodical publications in the State, at the close of 1879, is hereto appended : NAME. News, weekly Independent, weekly Southwest, weekly Post, weekly News and Courier, weekly Banner, weekly Record, weekly News Letter, weekly Register, daily Gazette, daily and weekly Mountaineer, daily and weekly . Deaf-Mute Index, monthly Prospector, weekly News, daily and weekly Tribune, daily and weekly Republican, daily and weekly.... Times, daily and weekly Colorado Farmer, weekly Financial Era, weekly Colorado Journal, weekly Colorado Post, weekly Herald, weekly Presbyterian , monthly Journal, weekly Express, weekly Courier, weekly Flume, weekly Miner, weekly Courier, weekly Transcript, weekly Globe, weekly Sun, weekly Tribune, weekly Silver World, weekly Chronicle, daily and weekly Eclipse, daily and weekly Herald, daily and weekly, Reveille, daily and weekly Colorado Grange, monthly Press, weekly Ledger, weekly Mentor, weekly Times, weekly Solid Muldoon Chieftain, daily and weekly Democrat, daily and weekly Index, weekly Banner, weekly Chronicle, weekly Miner, weekly Prospector, daily Miner, daily and weekly Enterprise, daily and weekly..... News, daily and weekly , Leader, weekly , PLACE. Alamosa Alamosa Animas City Black Hawk Boulder Boulder Canon City Castle Rock Central City Colorado Springs.. Colorado Springs.. Colorado Springs.. Del Norte Denver Denver , Denver , Denver , Denver Denver Denver Denver , Denver Denver Evans , Fort CoUins Fort Collins Fairplay Georgetown Georgetown Golden Golden Greeley Greeley Lake City LeadviUe Leadville LeadviUe Leadville Longmont Longmont Longmont Monument Ouray Ouray Pueblo Pueblo Rosita South Pueblo Saguache Silverton Silver Cliff Silver Cliff Trinidad Trinidad West Las Animas.. PBOPRIETOBS. M. Custers , Hamm & Finley , Engley & Reid J. R. Oliver Shedd & Wilder Wangelin & Tilney H. T. Blake C. E. Parkinson Laird & Marlow Gazette Publishing Co Mountaineer Printing Co., H. M. Harbert Cochran Bros News Printing Co , H. Beckurts Republican Co R. W. Woodbury , J. S. Stanger F. C. Messenger & Co ,. W. Witteborg News Printing Co 0. J. Goldrick Rev. S. Jackson James Torrens J. S. McClelland Watrous & Pelton Patterson & Bellamy.... .1. S. Randall George West W. G. Smith H. A. French E. J. Carver H. C. Olney Chronicle Co G. F. Wanless Herald Printing Co R. S. Allen W. E. Pabor fi. F. Beckwith Ledger Co A. T. Blachley Ripley Bros .• , Muldoon Publishing Co. .1. J. Lambert Hull Bros A. J. Patrick W, B. Felton John R. Curry McKinney & Lacy., W. L. St«vens J. M. Rice Henry Sturgis C. W. Bowman When Estab'd. 1878 1878 1879 1876 1869 1875 1875 1874 1862 1873 1873 1875 1874 1859 1867 1879 1872 1873 1878 1872 1879 1860 1871 1871 1873 1878 1879 1867 1877 1867 1872 1872 1870 1875 1879 1S78 1879 1878 1876 1871 1877 1878 1877 1879 1868 1875 1875 1874 1875 1879 1878 1875 1878 1873 ■^ ^1 l^ HISTORY or COLORADO. 31 The preceding shows fifteen daily and fifty weekly ,flewspapers. Denver has four large dailies; Leadville, three fair daihes; Pueblo, two; Colorado Springs, Silver Cliff and Trinidad, two each, and Central, one. The Denver dailies challenge the admiration of every one who appreciates pluck and perseverance. CHAPTER IV. EARLY POLITICS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY. gold region set off from Kansas, as a new Terri- BRIEF allusion has been made already to the political movements of the pioneers ; their early effort to organize a Territorial Government, and also to extend the jurisdiction of Kansas over this unorganized community. The pioneers were good citizens, but they foresaw the lawless element which would fall upon them presently, and earn- estly endeavored to provide themselves with prop- er laws and peace officers. But the, work of organizing a Territory is at best a tedious process, and, in this case, it was hindered by conflicting interests and opinions. Some wanted to organize a State at once, claiming in their enthusiasm, that the requisite population could be shown by the time a vote would be taken on the question. Some opposed alike the State and Territorial move- ment, and wanted to remain a dependence of Kan- sas, and the roughs were opposed to any and all forms of government — not very strange, in view of the fact that most of them were fugitives from justice, in one or another of the older States or Territories. After the formal establishment of the new county under Kansas administration, the next im- portant step was the State movement. A public meeting, held in Auraria (West Denver), April 11, 1859, had resolved in favor of a State organ- ization, and the scheme advanced so far dur- ing the summer that a Constitution was pre- pared, and submitted to a vote of the people m September. The convention which framed the Constitution, wisely provided that, in case of its rejection, a delegate to Congress, to be voted for on the same day, should proceed to Washington, and again endeavor to have the tory, to be known as Jefferson. The Constitution was rejected by a large majority, the vote in its favor being but 649 to 2,007against it. B. D. Williams was elected Delegate over seven competitors. The election was a very exciting affair. Even at that early day, there were charges and counter-charges of fraud, some of them, prob- ably, well founded. The Returning Board came in for its share of obloquy, too,. but, as no "emi- nent citizens," or Congressional Committee, in- quired into the matter, it failed to achieve a national reputation. Thus ended the first effort of the people of Col- orado for admission into the Union. It was renewed on several occasions prior to the final suc- cessful movement in 1875-76. On one occasion, it was so far successful that, in 1864, Congress passed an enabling act under which a Constitution was framed, adopted, and all the machinery of State stood ready to move at a moment's notice, when President Andrew Johnson vetoed every- thing by reftising to ratify the Constitution, on the ground that it contained an unconstitutional pro- vision restricting sufirage to white inhabitants. This was a terrible blow not only to the people of the State generally, but to the unfledged State officials and Congressional delegation. Hon. J. B. Chaffee and ex-Grov. John Evans had been chosen Senators; Hon. George M. Chilcott, Representative in Congress; William Gilpin, Governor; George A. Hinsdale, Lieutenant Governor ; J. H. Gest, Secretary of State, and W. R. Gorsline, Allen A. Bradford and J. Bright Smith, Justices of the Supreme Court. r^ _S> 1^ 33 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Upon the failure of the first effort in 1859, the Provisional Grovemment of the Territory of Jeffer- son was organized, by the election of R. W. Steele, as Grovemor ; Luoien W. Bliss, Secretary ; C. R. BisseU, Auditor ; Gr. W. Cook, Treasurer ; Samuel McLean, Attorney General, and a full ticket, which was voted at twenty-seven precincts, and for which some two thousand one hundred votes were cast, pro and con. But in order to be on the safe side, still another election was held on the same day, at which a full set of county officers were chosen, under Kansas rule, and, so the early pilgrims sailed along under triple laws for a time, the Miner's court having been organized to mete out justice after its crude and vigorous but very healthy fashion. Say what we may of the miners' laws and their summary method of dealing with litigants and all offenders against law and order, the fact "remains that during those troublous times, the Miners' courts were about the only ones which were thoroughly respected and implicitly obeyed. As to the latter point, indeed, there was no alter- native. When the miners ordered a man out of camp, for example, he stood not at all upon the order of his going, but went at once. Similarly, if the miners decided between two parties contend- ing over a disputed claim, the side which secured a verdict also secured possession, and that without any delay whatever. The " Provisional Grovemment," as the Territorial party was called, elected a Legislature, which met in November, and transacted considerable business. The city of Denver was first chartered by this body. Nine counties were represented in the Legislature, and Grov. Steele set out to officer them by appointing Probate Judges and ordering county elections in January, 1860. There was little or no objection to the office-holding part of the pro- gramme, but a poll-tax of SI per capita, levied by the Provisional Grovemment, was the occasion of much vigorous "kicking," and went farther toward breaking down than sustaining G-ov. Steele's admin- istration. Meantime, Capt. Richard Sopris, now an hon- ored citizen and Mayor of Denver, represented " Arapahoe County " in the Kansas Legislature, and a complete list of Kansas county officers had been chosen in the valleys, while the mountain counties stood by their Miners' courts, and as much of the Provisional Grovemment as suited them. If an honest miner failed to secure his rights in one court, he incontinently rushed into another; if he feared to go to trial in one, he took a change of venue to the other. Sometimes cases were tried in both courts, and as the fine art of taxing fees had early penetrated into the country, liti- gants often found themselves as poor after a case was won as they were before. In January, 1860, the Provisional Legislature met again and made some more laws, which were as inoperative as their predecessors. Their failure, however, was due rather to the passivity than resistance of the people. The country was, in fact, peaceable and law-abiding, with the exception of that dangerous class common to the border, to which all laws wete alike objectionable, and these roughs w6re kept in check by the fear of summary punishment. Miners' courts in the mountains had been supplemented by people's courts in the valleys. The proceedings of the lat- ter were as open and orderly as those of the for- mer; indeed, they approached the dignity of a regularly constituted tribunal. They were always presided over by a magistrate, either a Probate Judge or a Justice of the Peace. The prisoner had counsel and could call vfitnesses, if the latter were within reach. So passed the year 1860, marked by some very exciting criminal history, of which more anon, and, early in December, upon the re-assembling of Congress, the claims of Colorado to Territorial recognition were persistently pressed, not only by her own delegaiies, but by many members who had near relatives or ftiends in the Pike's Peak country. After a little delay, caused by a press of political business in both Houses, Congress finally took up and passed the Colorado bill, which became a law »^ ^^__^ ^^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 33 February 26, 1861. President Lincoln immedi- ately appointed Federal officers for the new Terri- tory. William Gilpin was the Governor; Lewis Ledyard Weld, Secretary ; B. F. Hall, Chief Jus- tice ; S. Newton Pettis and Charles Lee Armour, Associate Justices; Copeland Townsend, United States Marshal; William L. Stoughton, Attorney General, and Gen. Francis M. Case, Surveyor General. Gov. Gilpin reached Denver May 29, following his appointment. A census of the Territory, taken by him soon after his arrival, showed a pop- ulation of 25,329, divided as follows: White males over age, 18,136; white males under age, 2,622; females, 4,484; negroes, 89. The new Territory was carved out of the public domain lying between the 102d and 109th meri-- dians of longitude and the 37th and 41st parallels of latitude, thus forming a compact and . nearly square tract, its length, east and west, being 370 miles and its width 280. It comprises an area of 104,500 square miles, an Empire in itself and the third largest State in the Union, Texas being the first and California second. But, according to the maps and Hayden's Survey, fiilly one-third of Col- orado is covered by the Rocky Mountain Range and its spurs, the latter standing out from the former in every direction. The main range or con- tinental divide enters the State from the north, a little west of the center, ranges eastward and south- ward until Long's Peak is reached, bears almost due south through Boulder County, swings west- ward around Gilpin and Clear Creek, thence leads southwest through many devious turns and wind- ings until it penetrates the very heart- of the San Juan silver region, whence it returns eastward by south, and leaves the State nearly due south of the point where it entered. Across this mighty mountain range the State sits, as Mr. HoUister says, like a man on horse- back, a homely but apt comparison. It would be more expressive still if the plains of the western slope corresponded with those of the east, which they do not. The eastern plains occupy more than one-third of the entire State. Though largely arid and apparently unproductive, they are the source of immense wealth, and it is even questioned now whether their reclamation would add to the actual production of the State. To drive the cattle trade and stock interests generally from the State would be to deprive Colorado of its most profitable industry, whereas the production of crops by artificial irri- gation is attended with great expense and not a little risk, and it is doubtful whether Colorado could ever compete with Kansas and Nebraska as an agricultural region. The third grand division of the State is the Park country, and to this may very properly be added the great valleys over the range, which are really parks, inasmuch as the mountains rise round about them, though not always in circular or semi- circular form. Of the parks proper, there are too many to be enumerated in detail, but the principal ones are North, Middle, South and San Luis, the latter being in fact the Valley of the Rio Grande. The park lands are pastoral rather than agri- cvdtural, but some farming is conducted in South Park, and still more in San Luis. All are well watered, mountain streams flowing through them from the mountains above to the valleys below. They were once alive with game — ^the happy hunt- ing grounds of the Utes and Arapahoes — and not infrequently the scene of severe conflicts between the rival tribes, although mainly held by the Utes, while the Arapahoes held the plains country. Game, however, has almost entirely disappeared from South and San Luis Parks, and is seldom seen in Middle Park, except in the winter season, when heavy falls of snow on the range drives the game into the Park and adjacent valleys. North Park, however, is still stocked with game. It is almost uninhabited, seldom visited sav.e by hunt/- ers, and is more a terra incognita than almost any part of Colorado, outside of the Indian Reserva- tion. This is accounted for by its lack of attract- ive features, and the fact that the country is comparatively valueless either for agriculture or S ^ ^1 .a. 34 HISTORY OF COLORADO. stock-raising. It is said to be the poorest part of the State, and so little is thought of it that even now it is in doubt which contiguous county shall exert jurisdiction over the Park. Hunters, however, find themselves richly repaid for the trouble and eispense of reaching the Park. The usual route is from Laramie, on the Union Pacific Railway, though the Park is easily accessi- ble from Denver and all points in Northern Colo- rado. Bear, black-tailed deer, bison, mountain sheep, antelope, mountain lions, etc., are found there. Grouse abound, and the streams are full of trout. The bison referred to above is not the "buffalo" of the plains, but a distant cousin, of a type essentially different, dwelling only in the mountains. Bruin is found in two species — the black and grizzly, the latter being most dangerous when he shows fight, which he is not slow to do if attacked or molested. The amount of game in North Park may be greatly exaggerated, but there is certainly plenty of it upon occasion, and hunters have even found more than they wanted. A few years ago, some friends of the writer were crossing the Poudre range into North Park, when they suddenly came in sight of seven bears nearly in front of them. A coun- cil of war was held, and an attack was resolved on- The party were to creep forward in single file and as noiselessly as possible to within rifle range, and then fire all together at a signal from the leader. One of the party had no gun, but insisted on bearing the rest company. When the leader turned to give the signal for firing, the gunless individual was the only biped in sight. The rest of the erstwhile brave battalion had turned back to camp. This example was soon followed by the others, and the bears never knew how narrowly they had escaped slaughter. Doubtless, some sanguinary reader will have been terribly disappointed at the tame termination of this story, but long observation on the frontier has shown that .bear hunts are usually bloodless. The old settlers seldom bother themselves about Bruin, so long as he leaves them alone, and never attack one without being exceptionally well armed. . CHAPTER V. LO! THE POOR INDIAN. WESTERN COLORADO, though, undoubt- edly, the finest part of the State, is practi- cally unproductive, owing to Indian occupation. The Indian Reservation is an immense body of fine mineral, pastoral, and agricultural land, larger than the State of Massachusetts twice over — nearly three times as large, in fact. It is nominally occu- pied by about 3,000 Ute Indians. Of this land, and those Indians, Gov. Frederick W. Pitkin wrote, in his message to the Legislature of 1879, as follows ; " Along the western borders of the State, and on the Pacific Slope, lies a vast tract occupied by the tribe of Ute Indians, as their reservation. It contains about twelve millions of acres, and Ls nearly three times as large as the State of Massa- chusetts. It is watered by large streams and rivers, and contains many rich valleys, and a large number of fertile plains. The climate is milder than in most localities of the same altitude on the Atlantic Slope. Grasses grow there in great lux- uriance, and nearly every kind of grain and vege- tables can be raised without difficulty. This tract contains nearly one-third of the arable land of Colorado, and no portion of the State is better adapted for agricultural and grazing purposes than many portions of this reservation. Within ifcs limits are large mountains, from most of which explorers have been excluded by the Indians. Prospectors, however, have explored some portions ^c ) ry liL HISTORY OF COLORADO. 35 of the country, and found valuable lode and placer claims, and there is reason to believe that it con- tains great mineral wealth. The number of In- dians who occupy this reservation is about three thousand. If the land was divided up between individual members of the tribe, it would give every man, woman, and child a homestead of between three and four thousand acres. It has been claimed that the entire tribe have had in cul- tivation about fifty acres of land, and, from some personal knowledge of the subject, I believe that one able-bodied white settler would cultivate more land than the whole tribe of IJtes. These Indians are fed by the Government, are allowed ponies without number, and, except when engaged in an occasional hunt, their most serious employment is horse-racing. If this reservation could be extin- guished, and the land thrown open to settlers, it will furnish homes to thousands of the people of the State who desire homes." The picture is not overdrawn. Though not particularly quarrelsome or dangerous, the Utes are exceedingly disagreeable neighbors. Even if they would be content to live on their princely reserva- tion, it would not be so bad, but they have a dis- gusting habit of ranging all over the State, steal- ing horses, killing off the game, and carelessly firing forests in the dry, summer season, whereby thousands of acres of fine timber are totally ruined. The Utes are actual, practical Communists, and the Government should be ashamed to foster and encourage them in their idleness and wanton waste of property. Living off the bounty of a paternal but idiotic Indian Bureau, they actually become too lazy to draw their rations in the regular way, but insist on taking what they want wherever they find it. But for the fact that they are arrant cowards, as well as arrant knaves, the west- ern slope of Colorado would be untenanted by the white race. Almost every year they threaten some of the white settlers with certain death if they do not leave the country, and, in some instances, they have tried to drive away white cit- izens, but the latter pay little attention to their vaporings. It is related of Barney Day, a well-knoWn Mid- dle Park pioneer, that when a party of Utes vis- ited him at his cabin, and gave him fifteen min- utes to leave the country, he answered not a word, but solemnly kicked them out of doors and off his premises. They not only offered no resistance to the indignity, but, from that time forth, treated Mr. Day with great consideration. It is not every man, though, who has the nerve to act as he did in such an emergency. The degeneration of the Utes has been very rapid ever since the first settlement of the coun- try. Formerly, they were a warlike tribe, and held their own with the fierce Arapahoes of the east and the savage Cheyennes of the north, whether upon the mountains or the plains. As civilization advanced, the plains Indians retreated before it, and after the Sand Creek fight, in 1864, the plains were almost deserted by the wild hordes which, until then, had been the terror of all trav- elers to and from Pike's Peak and California. The Utes also retreated to the mountains, making occasional forays to hunt buffalo on the plains, but maintaining a wholesome respect for the old Colo- rado Cavalry, which kept them from annoying travelers. They would occasionally stampede a stock train and run off the animals, but they grad- ually abandoned the scalp trade, and devoted all their talents and energies to begging and stealing. They were the original "tramps" of the country, and soon developed all the meanness and utter worthlessness of their white prototypes. As Theo- dore Winthrop wrote of the border savages he met in his journey ■' On Horseback into Oregon," " with one hand they hung to all the vices of barbarism, and with the other they clutched at all the vices of civilization." The Government might, with almost, if not quite equal propriety, plant a colony of Communists upon the public domain, maintain- ing them in idleness at public expense, as to leave the Colorado Utes in possession of their present heritage and present privileges. liL 36 HISTORY OF COLORADO. The continuous and ever-increasing intercourse between Colorado and the East has long since dis- pelled the ancient idea that Denver was situated in the heart of the Indian country, but the pres- ence of Indians in the State still constitutes an 'obstacle to the advancement of Colorado, for even those who do not fear the Utes dislike them, and would be glad to see them banished to some more appropriate retreat than the garden of our growing State. To this end, Congress and the Interior Depart- ment have been, and are continually, besieged to provide for the extinguishment of Indian title to the reservation lands, and in this movement the military commanders on our frontier are earn- estly interested. Gen. Pope, commanding the department, is particularly anxious to have the Utes massed at a more convenient point. At present they have three agencies on their reservation . Both the White River and Uncompahgre agencies are remote from railways and supplies, as well as from the military posts, which are so necessary to keep the savages in check. Removed to the Indian Territory, the Utes could be fed and clothed for about one-half what it now costs the Government. Philanthropists down East and abroad may mourn over the decadence of this once powerful tribe of Indians, but even a philanthropist would fail to find any occasion for regret if he came to Colorado and made a study of Ute character and habits. Though better in some high (and low) respects than the Digger Indians of Arizona, or the Piutes of Nevada, the Colorado Utes have nothing in common with the Indians of history and romance, whose "wrongs" have been so tear- fiilly portrayed ' by half-baked authors. The strongest prejudices of Eastern people in favor of the Indians give way before the strong disgust inspired by a closer acquaintance. Hon. N. C. Meeker, the well-known Superin- tendent of the White River Agency, was formerly a fast friend and ardent admirer of the Indians. He wtot to the agency firm in the belief that he could manage the Indians successfully by kind treatment, patient precept and good example. With rare fidelity, he labored long and hard to make "good Indians" out of his wards, but utter failure marked his efforts, and at last he reluctantly accepted and acknowledged the truth of the border truism that the only truly goftd Indians are dead ones. To those who know Mr. Meeker's kindness of heart and gentle disposition, his conversion to the doctrine of gunpowder treatment will be suf- ficient testimony to the utter worthlessness of the pestiferous tribe which inhabits the best portion of. Colorado, to the exclusion of enterprising white settlers, in whose hands the wilderness would soon blossom as the rose, while richer mines than the richest previous discoveries might soon be devel- oped in Colorado's Utopia "over the range."* The history of the San Juan silver country, which will be found set forth in detail elsewhere, shows the long and hard struggle of our people to have that wonder-land thrown open to settlement and development. Very early in the history of Colorado, the San Juan mountains were found to be rich in mineral, but whoever penetrated them took his life in his hands, and generally laid it down before he came back. So many went and so few returned, that even the boldest pioneers pres- ently abandoned the idea of prospecting south of the Arkansas River. As time went on, however, and as the country became more settled and better protected, the advance in that direction was renewed, and rewarded by the discovery of some of the richest mines in the whole range of mount- ains. Tempted by cupidity, the Utes finally con- sented to sell a slice of their abundant territory. It was long ere the transfer was made, and, when completed, it included only a narrow strip project- ing into the heart of the Indian country, a por- tion of which could only be reached by crossing a corner of the reservation. Happily, no bad effects have yet resulted from this arrangement; but it is easy to see that in the * Since the above was written, Mr. Meeker has been cruelly murdered by the Indians. VD ^ 1^. ' ,^ ;-" ^ \ -a \ //, %/f ^^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 37 event of an Indian war or any trouble whatever vrith the tribe, this road would be blockaded and the settlers beyond cut oflF, unless they could escape across an almost impassable mountain range. While there is little or no danger to be apprehended from this source, the fact remains that no such advantage should have been conceded to the Indians against the white settlers of the new country. The same perplexing questions which attended and obstructed the acquisition of the San Juan country are again presented in connection with the Gunnison region. This new mining center, lying southwest and not very distant from Leadville, has been opened to the 107th Meridian, the eastern limit of the Indian reservation ; and the pros- pectors are clamoring for the right to follow their fortunes across the line. Some rich discoveries of both mineral and coal have been made within the reservation. Of course, no- title to property can be acquired there until the Indian title is extinguished. The new district has been named after Gov. Frederick W. Pitkin, and that gentleman, as well as the Colorado delegation in Congress, is besieged with applications to have the Indians removed out of the way of ever- advancing, civilization. The Utes must go. Uncle Sam can feed theni as well and much cheaper elsewhere, and the income he would derive from their Colorado estate would support them in affluence. Indeed, it is asserted even now that the Utes could be boarded at a first-class hotel in Chicago or New York, cheaper than at the present cost of their subsist- ence. Ouray, Chief of the Colorado Utes, resides at the Los Pinos Agency. He is a man possessed of some abUity and native shrewdness, but his power over the tribe is far from omnipotent. Pew of his followers dispute his authority, but his rule is tol- erant rather than vigilant, and, when out of his sight, his people are prone and pretty apt to do as they please. Occasionally, he goes a-gunning for some recalcitrant member of his tribe, and shoots the offender on sight, but this is of rare occur- rence. Generally, he remains at home, where he lives in good style on an alleged farm, consisting of a few acres of arable land and an immense pony- pasture, well stocked. The farm is mostly tilled by Mexican cheap labor. Ouray is said to be rich, having absorbed the lion's share of Uncle Sam's liberal contributions to the Ute treasury from time to time. This seems all the more probable from the fact that Ute despotism vests the administra- tion of government entirely in his hands, and dis- penses with both single and double entry book- keeping in the matter of public finances. The " central despotism " and "one-man power" about which we hear so much of late years, is here beau- tifully exemplified. Let it not be understood, however, that the Col- orado Utes, useless as they are, are without their uses. They educate Eastern people who come West to a fine abhorrence of Indian character, which must soon put a quietus on sentimental mourning over the decay of the ill-fated race. They also tan bufialo hides in better style than the utmost ingenuity of white men can compass. An Indian-tanned robe is the ne plus ultra of the furrier's art. The secret of their process, if there be a secret, is well kept from the eyes and ears of rival operators, but it is generally believed on the border that there is no secret worth knowing, and that the superiority of their robes is due almost entirely to the patient labor of the gentle but u:nlovely squaw. She it is who bends her uncom- plaining back over the buffalo skins, day after day for weeks, scrubbing and rubbing them into that soft and pliable condition which is their peculiar char- acteristic, and which appertains to them through all exposure to the elements. Another of their uses is to afford entertainment to strangers from afar, to whom the sight of a lousy Indian is an interesting study. Wandering bands of Utes may be seen, at or near Denver, very frequently during the latter part of each sum- mer, " swapping'' surplus ponies or the proceeds of their hunt, for supplies, such as they " hanker ' ' after, generally provisions or clothing, the sale of firearms s "^ ^1 ■^ 38 HISTORY OF COLORADO. and fire-water to Indians being prohibited. An Indian family out shopping is a disgusting picture of connubial infelicity. The poor squaw carries every- thing that is bought, and is usually burdened with two or three children besides. She rides the sor- riest sore-backed pony of the pair that carries the outfit, and, when the purchases are deftly packed upon the pony's back, she climbs up to her giddy perch atop of the pyramid, pulls up her ofiFspring and distributes them around to balance the cargo, gathers up the reins and sets sail after her lord and master, who rides gaily ahead, carrying naught except it be his gun or a plug of tobacco. Even this poor show is seen less frequently of late years than of yore, and wiU soon disappear forever from the streets of Colorado's capital. The buflFalo have almost deserted the plains between the South Platte and the Arkansas, with all other kinds of game, and the Indians will prob- ably hunt no more in this direction, even if they should remain longer in the State, which is doubtful. CHAPTER VI. THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO. THE chief charm of Colorado being her magni- ficent mountain scenery, it seems proper to describe, with more particularity, ' the prominent features of this American Switzerland, though language would fail to give any definite idea of its sublime grandeur. We have already traced the general course of the Sierra Madre Range, through Colorado, from north to south. Its total length is nearly five hundred miles within the limits of the State, and diverging ranges reach a grand total almost as large, making nearly 1,000 miles of " Snowy Range," so called in Colorado. In point of fact, however, there is no snowy range proper in the State, and all the magniloquent utterances touch- ing "eternal snow" on our mountains is figurative, except that patches of snow are visible here and there throughout the year. These, however, occur only in sheltered spots where neither sun nor wind attack them vigorously, else they, too, would disappear during the summer months, as does the snow from any exposed position. The snow line, in this latitude, would probably be six or seven thousand feet above the line of timber, which averages about 11,800 feet above the sea. The highest peaks in Colorado are less than 3,000 feet above timber line, and none of their summits are enveloped in eternal snow, though often enough "snowed under" in midsum- mer. In the whole course of his considerable ex- perience in peak-climbing, the writer has never yet ascended an Alpine peak in Colorado, without en- countering a snow-storm of greater or less violence, even in July and August. But the snow which falls in summer is quite ephemeral, often disap- pearing in a day, and never lingering long in exposed positions. The wind, more than the sun, is the author of its destruction. At this great distance from the sea, or any considerable bodies of water, the air is almost destitute of moisture, and every wind that blows seems as thirsty as a caravan crossing the Desert of Sahara. Snow that has successfully defied the direct rays of the sun, often disappears, as if by magic, when a gentle wind blows over it for a few hours, leaving the ground beneath perfectly dry. The Rocky Mountains, as their name implies, are extremely rugged and broken. From the very verge of the spreading plains, where centuries or, perhaps, eons ago, the waves of a mighty sea broke in ceaseless rise and fall, up to the very dome and crown of the mighty peaks which mark the height of our continent, gigantic and fantastic rocks rise higher and higher, wilder and more wild, in every L^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 39 direction, save here and there where they sud- denly give place to peaceftil parks, whose car- pet of velvet grass is unbroken by the tiniest pebble. Let us imagine ourselves entering the mpun- tains for the first time from the eastward-lying plains. As we approach the rocky walls which, at a distance, appear smooth to the eye as the plain itself, we find the foot-hills, for the most part, covered with disintegrated rook, through which a scanty vegetation rises. The grasses have a lean and hungry look, strangely belying their nutritious qualities, and the dwarfed pinon pines grow scrag- gily here and there, or cease entirely, leaving the hillsides bleak and bare. We follow the windings and turnings of some stream, for mountain roads must accommodate themselves to the caiions through which mountain streams seek the valley, as afibrding about the only means of ingress and egress to and from the heights before us. If the stream be a small one and the road little developed, they cross and recross each other every few rods — indeed, the road often lies in the bed of the stream itself, where the latter rounds some rocky point in a narrow gorge, where bolder and more precipitous rocks rise on either hand. As we go on, the rocks and hills greaten rapidly; new and grander scenes are revealed at every turning; the timber itself, sheltered from sun and storm, stands out more boldly in pristine beauty, and soon we think ourselves at least fairly within the far-famed Rocky Mountains. It is an idle thought, for these are the foot-hills still. Beyond each rocky ridge rises a higher, nobler elevation. " Alps on Alps arise," and we go onward and upward still. Ever and anon the hills open to the right and left, and we pass through a pleasant valley, where the grass grows green and tall, and a cabin stands beside the stream, which here glides gently along, in striking contrast to its wild, impatient haste, where it roars and rattles over its rocky bed above and below. Again we climb up a steep ascent, and, looking backward down the valley, see the spreading plains opening out behind us, like a summer sea, all smooth and placid. But for the murmuring waters, the sUence would be oppress- ive. Animal life in the mountains is the excep- tion rather than the rule. Some chattering mag- pies herald our approach with characteristic gar- rulity, and pretty little chipmunks scurry away over the rocks, uttering their shrill but feeble cries, and that is all, except on rare occasions, or in remoter regions " over the range," where beasts and birds abound in many localities. Still ascending, the quiet beauty of the scene changes to wilder grandeur, and the view widens and greatens in every sense. The mountains rise higher and still higher on each hand, and the val- leys open right and left like great grooves wrought out of the mountain sides by centuries of slow attrition. Vegetation, which had attained its greatest luxuriance at an elevation of eight or nine thousand feet above the sea, shrinks again; the stately pines, with trunks "fit for the mast of some great admiral," give way to dwarfed and stunted trunks, strangely resembling an old ft^it orchard in the decline of life. Only the flowers in- crease and multiply — the Alpine flowers which lend to Colorado peaks their wildest, sweetest charm. No language can express the beauty of the flowers which bloom all along the way, lifting their bright faces to the foot of the traveler at almost every step, nestling among the rocks wherever a handful of soil is found, and uplifting their tender petals beside the snow itself. Prim- roses, buttercups, violets, anemones, daisies, colum- bines and many other rare and beautiful flowers are found in the mountains, and the lakes are often almost entirely covered with pond-lilies of regal splendor. One lake on the Long's Peak trail above Bstes Park, is (or was a few years ago j completely hidden under a mass of lily-pads and blossoms, and is known far and wide as Lily Lake. Above timber line, these flowers begin to dwarf and shrink closer to the earth, until they <^ « -^ liL^ 40 HISTORY OF COLORADO. barely lift themselves above the stunted grass which carpets the patches of earth like a close- shaven lawn. But their beauty is, enhanced thereby, and no sense of their insignificance is felt. Another peculiarity of the mountains is that everywhere away from the streams or springs the peculiar aridity of the plains manifests itself. The same stunted grass grows high up the mount- ain-side, and, after brief exposure to the summer sun, it loses its freshness and assumes the gray, cold color of the rocks themselves. When the gnarled and twisted trees have left oflf chnging to the rocks, and the bare, bald mountains rise around you on every hand, the wide sweep of vision seems to take in nothing but desolation itself. All is one color, and that color is almost colorless. WhUe the sun illuminates the scene, there is some warmth of Ught and shade about it, but when the cold gray of the mountains is sup- plemented by the cold gray of the sky, no scene can be less inspiriting, especially to those unaccus- tomed to the overpowering solitude. Few ever forget their advent into such a scene. As if it were yesterday, the writer remembers his first experience in peak-climbing. It was mid- summer, but the air was intensely cold at timber line, and above that point it was almost arctic winter. The solitude was so intense that like cer- tain degrees of darkness, of which we read, it could be felt. Nay, it was felt by at least one of the party, who could hardly dismiss the distressing idea that he was out of the world, and likely to meet another class of mortals at any moment. The very light was unlike anything he had seen before, unless it might have been the wild weird twilight of a total eclipse of the sun, a hght that was neither that of day or night, but a curious commingling of both. It seemed impossible to say whether the peak before us was near or far — it might have been both for aught we could say to the contrary. Looking downward, into the awftil chasms that yawned below, brought to mind nothing but the " abomination of desolation " mentioned in Holy Writ, and it was hard to wrest out of the somber surroundings a thought of the sublime beauty which marks most mountain scenery for those who first look upon its grandeur. In later days and under difierent circumstances the same scenes were revisited and enjoyed, but the memory of that first impression remains unchanged. Perhaps the grandest of all mountain scenery is a near view of the snowy range in winter, when the sun shines fair and bright over the unsullied snow, whose dazzling whiteness challenges the bril- liancy of the diamond itself A million sparkles meet the eye at every turn, and above timber line there is no relief from the oppressive glare, which ofl«n produces " snow blindness," unless the eyes are in some way protected. The mountain view from Denver has been pro- nounced unequaled by many travelers, but to the older residents of Colorado it presents no special attraction above many other views to be had from other points. So much sentiment has been expended in describing it that description has grown a trifle stale. The thousand and one news- paper correspondents who " do " Denver every season, always speak of the range extending " from Long's Peak on the north to Pike's Peak on the south," after which one always knows what is coming — ^the story of the Englishman who started to walk from Denver to the mountains before breakfast. There is a particularly fine view of the mount- ains from Longmont, another from Colorado Springs, still another from Walsenburg in the south, and any number of them from interior points, the finest of which, perhaps, is that from the gateway to Estes Park. The view from Lead- ville is scarcely surpassed. It seems very appro- priate that the finest mining camp in the world should have also one of the finest mountain views, though no doubt men would flock there from everywhere regardless of the view. Following is a list of the principal Alpine peaks in the State, with their approximate altitudes and their elevation above sea level. Average summit '.±^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 41 of range, 11,000 feet; average timber line, 11,800 feet: MOUNTAIN PEAKS OP COLORADO. Feet, Blanca 14,464 Harvard 14,383 Massive 14,368 Gray's 14,341 Rosalie 14,340 Torrey 14,346 Elbert 14,326 La Plata 14,302 Lincoln 14,297 Buckskin 14,296 Wilson 14,280 Long's 14,271 Quandary 14,279 Antero 14,245 Shavano 14,239 Uncompahgre 14,235 Crestones 14,233 Princeton 14,199 Mt. Bross 14,185 Holy Cross 14,176 Baldy 14,176 Sneffles 14,158 Pike's 14,147 Castle ]4,106 Yale 14,101 San Luis 14,100 Feet. Ked aoud 14,092 Wetterhorn 14,069 Simpson 14,055 .^Solus 14,054 Ouray 14,043 Stewart 14,032 Maroon 14,000 Cameron 14,000 Handie, 13,997 Capitol 13,992 Horseshoe 13,988 Snowmass 13,961 Grizzly. 13,956 Pigeon 13,928 Blaine 13,905 Frustrum 13,893 Pyramid 13,885 White Rock 13.847 Hague 13,832 R. G. Pyramid 13,773 Silver Heels 13,766 Hunchback 13,755 Rowter 13,750 Homes take 13,687 Ojo 13,640 Spanish 13,620-12,720 Feet. Guyot 13,565 Trinehara 13,546 Kendall 13,542 Feet. Buifalo 13,541 Arapahoe 13,520 Dunn 13,502 Seventy-five peaks, between 13,500 and 14,300 feet in heiglit, are unnamed, and not in this list. ALTITtrDES OF PROMINENT TOWNS IN COLORADO Feet. Alamosa 7,000 Alma 11,044 Black Hawk 7,975 Boulder 5,536 Breckenridge 9,674 Canon City 5,260 Caribou 9,905 Central 8,300 Cheyenne 6,041 Chicago Lakes 11,500 Colorado Springs... 5,023 Del Norte. 7,750 Denver 5,224 Divide 7,210 Estes Park 8,000 Fairplay 9,964 Garland 8,146 Georgetown 8,400 Golden 5,729 Gold Hill 8,463 Greeley 4,776 Feet. Green Lake 10,000 Hot Sulphur Spr'gs 7,715 Idaho Springs 7,500 Lake City 8,550 Leadville 10,205 Magnolia 6,500 Manitou 6,297 Montezuma ,.10,295 Morrison 5,922 Nederland 8,263 Oro City 10,247 Ouray 7,640 Pueblo 4,679 Rosita 8,500 Saguache 7,745 Silverton 9,405 Sunshine 7,000 Trinidad 6,005 Twin Lakes 9,357 Veta Pass 9,339 CHAPTER VII. COLORADO DURING THE REBELLION— TERRITORIAL OFFICIALS THE early history of Colorado was probably com- pletely changed by the war of the rebellion, which broke out very soon after the new Territory was organized, and, indeed, before Gov. Grilpin had taken hold of the helm of government. This dis- tracted the attention of the East so much that Colorado, though not forgotten, was comparatively ignored during the first years of the war. More- over, the people of the Territory were divided on the issues of the war themselves, and a considera- ble secession element manifested itself in the utter- ance of disloyal sentiments and by the hoisting of a secession flag on Larimer street, almost directly opposite the present executive offices. The flag, however, was soon hauled down, by order of a com- mittee of very determined citizens, who said that either the flag or the house must come down, and they didn't care which. Joined to these difficulties were the discourage- ment of miners arising out of refractory ores and failing placers, for already the flush days of placer mining in Colorado seemed, at least, to have passed by. The Clear Creek placers were abandoned or worked casually, as any claims are worked which yield only bare wages without promise of a richer harvest. It must be borne in mind, too, that not only during these years, but until several years later, no search was made for silver-bearing ores, by which means the scope of mining development was greatly limited, for Colorado stands pre-emi- nent as a silver-producing State, and her output of gold is light indeed compared to that of silver. :^ p^ 42 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Thousands came and thousands left during 1861-62-63. " California Gulch, over which almost if not quite the greatest furor of these years was raised, was soon deserted by all save a few faithful souls like Lieut. Gov. Tabor, the fame of whose riches has gone abroad far and wide, but who labored long and hard before reaping the reward he so richly merited. It is a curious fact, noted elsewhere but worth duplicating, that the very same sand carbonates which have made so many poor men rich in these latter days, were formerly one of the chief obstacles to success in gulch-mining. They were so heavy that they blocked the sluiceways, and had to be shoveled out with painful care, that the gold might be gathered. The Indians, too, were troublesome during the early years of the war. Taking advantage of the withdrawal of the troops from most of the frontier posts, they raided the Plains, and were a continual terror to travelers between the mountains and the Missouri River. Many lives were lost, men, women and children sharing the same fate at the hands of the murderous crew. Then came the celebrated Sand Creek fight between the Colorado Cavalry and a large force of hostile Cheyenne Indians — an event which has evoked a great deal of hostile criticism, but which Coloradoans have no cause to blush for. It is undoubtedly true that Indian women and even children were killed upon that occasion, but the former were bearing arms and fighting with the utmost ferocity, leaving their ofispring to chance the fortunes of war as best they might.' Sand Creek has been called a massacre. If so, it was a massacre of assassins, for fresh scalps of white men, women and children were found in the Indian camp after the battle. In fact, however, Sand Creek was not a massacre, but simply a fight after the most approved Indian fashion, and the Indians themselves never complained of the drub- bing they got on that memorable occasion. It exemplified very clearly the oft-repeated assertion of frontiersmen that, if left alone, they could " set> tie the Indian question " very soon, and " without costing the Government a cent." The Sand Creek fight occurred November 29, 1864, the Coloradoans being commanded by Col. J. M. Chivington, a Methodist minister and first Presiding Elder of the Colorado Conference. Chivington was essentially a Western man, equally ready to pray or fight, and at home everywhere, even in the most incongruous associations. Prof 0. J. Goldrick, the well-known pioneer teacher and editor, relates that Chivington attended a grand banquet given by Ford & McClintock on the occasion of the opening of their gambling- rooms, up-stairs over the corner of P and McGaa streets, now known as Fifteenth and HoUaday. The writer knows nothing of Chivington's sport- ing proclivities, but that he was a good and suc- cessful fighter the Sand Creek business can attest. He was then military commander of the district, but the troops at his command were only a hand- ful, when word came from Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, that the Cheyennes were encamped near there in force, and were inter- cepting every train and every wagon that passed in either direction, so that travel was virtually stopped. Chivington called for volunteers, and led them himself, by forced marches, to the Arkansas, where he and his men fell upon the Indian camp on Sand Creek, before the red devils knew that danger was near. For this, Chivington was severely censured by his sup^or officers, though warmly applauded by the people. The Government more than once complained of the plucky, enterprising Coloradoans for taking care of themselves without waiting for an " official " order to do so. It is not generally known in the East that an attempt was made by the South, very early in the war of the rebellion, to 'capture Colo- rado, but it is an actual fact, and the failure of the enterprise was due to the pluck and energy of the Coloradoans themselves. This stirring episode in the history of the State occurred in March and April of 1862, when Grant was making his first memorable advances ■^ liL^ HISTORY or COLORADO. 43 upon the enemy. A military organization, which had been started in the fall of 1860, was revived on the breaking-out of the rebellion and became the First Colorado Cavalry. Col. John P. Slough, afterward Chief Justice of New Mexico, was its commander, and the boys humorously called them- selves Gov. Gilpin's "Pet Lambs." Gov. Gilpin had some trouble in getting them mustered into Uncle Sam's service, owing to their remoteness from the "front" and the difficulty of commu- nicating with headquarters, but the delay was a happy accident, after all. While the " Pet Lambs" were waiting for their marching orders, reports came that a force of 3,000 Texans had left San Antonio for Colorado, and were making a clean sweep of the country through which they passed. They had already entered New Mexico and were entirely beyond the reach of the Union armies when the "Lambs" heard of their coming. No time was to be lost, and, without waiting for orders from Washington, Col. Slough ordered an advance. The history of this short, sharp and dtecisive campaign appears elsewhere at length, but space will only admit of a review in this connection. The Texans were encountered just north of Santa Fe. They were more than a match for the Colo- radoans in number, but in strategy the latter showed their superiority. While a considerable body of " Lambs " engaged the lean and hungry Texans in front, the rest, made a flank movement on the camp and commissary stores of the enemy, and destroyed everything they could not carry away. The result was that the Texans had to faU back in search of something to eat, and, having no " base of supplies," were forced to abandon the campaign. Bull Run, in the East, was hardly a circumstance compared to Baylor's retreat from New Mexico, and the " Lambs " returned home, covered with glory. Their success earned for them the recognition of the War Department, but Gov. Gilpin received no credit for his efforts. On the contrary, he was soon afterward superseded by Dr. John Evans, of Evanston, 111., one of the best Governors Colo- rado ever had, and still an honored citizen of the State. Secretary Weld, for whom Weld County was named, was also removed, and succeeded by Samuel H. Elbert, afterward Governor himself, and now an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. Gen. Sam E. Browne was about this time appointed Attorney General, and Gen. John Pierce succeeded Gen. Case as Sur- veyor General. This was the beginning of the numerous changes in official positions which marked Colorado's Ter- ritorial vassalage. Her list of Governors ran as follows, from 1861 to 18Y6: William Gilpin qualified July 8, 1861; John Evans, April 11, 1862; A. Cummings, October 19, 1865; A. C. Hunt, May 27, 1867; Ed. M. McCook, June 15, 1869; Samuel H. Elbert, April 5, 1873; Ed M. McCook (again), June 26, 1874, and John L. Routt about May 1, 1875. Rputt held until the admission of the State, in 1876, and was the first State Governor, holding the latter office from November, 1876, until January, 1879, when he was succeded by Frederick W. Pitkin, present in- cumbent. During the same perioa, an almost equal num- ber of changes were made in the other officers of the Territory, except that Hon. Frank Hall served several terms as Secretary under Govs. Hunt, McCook and Elbert. The Secretarial succession was as follows : Lewis Ledyard Weld, qualified July 8, 1861, with Gilpin; Samuel H. Elbert, April 19, 1862, with Evans; Frank Hall, May 24, 1866, first with Cummiijgs and later with Hunt ; Frank Hall again, June 15, 1869, with McCook, and still again with Elbert, April 17, 1873, holding the office honorably for seven years. To him succeeded John W. Jenkins, March 11, 1874, and John Taffe, who came with Routt and remained until the organization of the State. William M. Clark was the first Secretary of State, N. H. Meldrum is the present incumbent. These constant changes of officials, at such irregular intervals, served to keep the Territory in a state of political excitement not unlike that :f- > >< HISTORY OF COLORADO. 49 It was many years, however, ere Colorado began ' to oflFer inducements to invalids, such as those for which it is now famous. The first settlers felt themselves banished, as it were, not only from their friends and former homes, but also from many of the necessaries and nearly all the com- forts of life. As time went on, and the country grew apace, these conditions changed rapidly for the better. Denver, and some of the other cities, became comfortable places of residence. The cost of living was high, but a steady reduction followed the opening of railway communication and the develpment of agriculture. In a short time, the trip to Colorado became a pleasure excursion, in- stead of a painful journey, and then the invalid tourist appeared above the horizon, and began his career of usefulness in the State. No record of the resources of Colorado would be complete which did not include the invalid tourist, but, to the credit of the State, it must be said, that she has paid cent per cent, in sound health, for the thousands of dollars which invalids have poured into her extended palm. Not in every case, of course, nor in ninety and nine per cent of them, but in enough of them to make a very satisfactory showing. Hundreds and, perhaps, thousands of people are enjoying good health in Colorado to-day who came here confirmed invalids. Many more, coming too late, have died here, but, if the fair warning given by such deaths had been heeded in the East, the number would not have increased so rapidly of late years. No one in Colorado, physician or lay- man, pretends to say that consumption, in its last stages, can be arrested, in this climate or in any other climate. The contrary is true. It would be a miracle, indeed, if three-quarters or half a lung could expand in this rarified atmosphere sufficiently to support life in a man or woman, with one foot already in the grave, and the other trembling on the brink. And not only the dry and rarified air contends against nature, in such ingtances, but elemental disturbances tend to snap the rotten thread of life. Colorado has not an Italian climate, and the absurd claims to that effect have brought much contempt on those who make them. She has extremes of heat and cold. The winters are marked by occasional storms of great severity. Dust is a nuisance to diseased lungs at all seasons. The summer sun would be intolerably hot if not neutralized by the refreshing shade. And yet the average of the climate is all that could be desired or expected. The climatic conditions of Colorado are, per- haps, due entirely to the limited rainfall, though altitude has a separate bearing upon the problem. Without entering upon any scientific, or even technical, consideration of the question, it is enough to say that the limited rainfall leaves the sky free of clouds about three hundred days out of every year, and throughout these three hundred days, in winter and in summer, the sun shines bright and warm. With so much sunshine, of course the evaporation of moisture is perfect. The earth and air is dry. Malaria and the diseases incident thereto are practically unknown, save at rare intervals, as the result of defective artificial drainage. The air is not only dry, but full of ozone and electricity, and the altitude reduces its pressure. In healthy lungs, it is invigorating and restorative, but the contrary effect is manifested in lungs too weak to accommodate themselves to the increased demand upon their capacity, the volume of air inhaled in Colorado being considerably greater than at lower altitudes east or west. The influence of altitude upon health has been noted, not only by every medical man, but also by every intelligent observer. According to the highest authorities of Colorado, the members of the State Medical Society, the sensations attending a first entrance into this State are always pleasant to persons in good health. " The dryness of the atmosphere," says Dr. Edmondson, of Central, " together with the electricity therein contained, combined with perhaps other peculiarities of cli- mate, excite the nervous system to a remark- able degree of tension. The physical functions ■\^ liL^ 50 HISTOEY OF COLORADO. which, it may be for years past, have been accomplished in a sluggish, inefficient manner, at once assume a vigor of action to which the system has heretofore been a stranger. The appe- tite is keen, the digestion vigorous, and the sleep is sound and refreshing. The result of these manifold innovations on the established routine of the vital economy is, that all those lurking ail- ments to which the civilized man is more subject than he ought to be are swept at once away, and whatever there is in each individual of capacity to enjoy is called into the fullest action. He revels in what might be called an intoxication of good health." The latter comparison is not inapt. Nothing is more common than for people to say that the air of Colorado invigorates them like new wine. In the very admirable essay from which the foregoing is quoted, Dr. Edmondson goes on to say : "An unclouded mind partakes of the elasticity of a healthy body, and the unwonted vigor of man's intellect is manifested by a newly aroused desire for activity and by an increased capability to accom- plish." Every brain- worker will attest the truth of this assertion, and nowhere in the whole country are the professions and all manner of busi- ness pursuits prosecuted with so much vigor and success. It has been often said that men are improved mentally and socially as well as physically by com- ing to Colorado. There can be no doubt of this fact. Invalidism always affects mental conditions, and a dyspeptic person or a sufferer from any chronic ailment, however inconsequential, cannot help but lose a little good temper. With restored health comes not only renewed energy but a brighter view of life. The world seems a better place than it was. Companionship becomes pleas- ant, and Colorado is, of all countries in the world, the place where a hearty good will is most manifest in all classes and conditions of men. This is a curious study, and one which has never yet been pursued with care by scientists. It would be interesting to note the effect of this climate upon mental as well as physical conditions, but this task must be left to some one more capable of elucidat- ing it. The early settlers found the seasons in Colorado at considerable variance with those in the same latitude toward the east. A warm sun in winter was the first peculiarity- noted. Earth and air were dry, and the direct rays of the sun were a reminder of summer. It was found, however, that however hot the sun shone in midwinter, even when men went about out-door work in their shirt- sleeves, snow seldom melted in the sunshine, but a sofl wind moving across the country would soon carry away on its invisible wings a heavy fall of snow in a few hours, leaving the ground not only bare but dry. Hence the winters were generally pleasant, the exceptions to this rule being occa- sions when the wind blew cold or a northwest snow-storm swept down upon the plains. The snow-fall in Denver has never been excessive since the settlement of the town, but it has been severe at times, generally between the middle of Decem- ber and the first of February. The latter month and the first half of March are usually pleasant. March and November are accounted the worst months in the calendar of the Atlantic and Missis- sippi A'^alley States, but, outside of the mountains in Colorado, they are very favorable, even to inva- lids. Early in April, the spring snows fall, some- times to a great depth, and doing more damage to the stock interests than any other elemental dis- turbance. When these snows disappear, usually a few days after their fall, grass and grain spring up and summer is at hand, except that foliage is often delayed a month or more longer. With the foliage come the rains, varying greatly in different seasons, but not increasing every year, as some ignorantly assert. The "rainy season" in Colorado is a figure of speech merely, being used only to distinguish it from the season when no rain falls. The two are about equal. Rains fall from about May 1 to November 1, but only enough to purify the air and keep the prairie grass alive and green. It is 7^^ l^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 51 no inconvenience whatever to invalids, who have all the sunshine they want even in wet weather. It is this unlimited sunshine that builds up many debilitated systems, which seem to need no other medicine. The average number of cloudy days for each year since 1872, when the Signal Service was first established in Denver, is but a fraction over sixty-three ; the days on which rain fell, consider ably less, and those on which snow fell, only forty. As to the range of the thermometer, that erratic instrument should not be quoted officially in Colorado, until corrected for altitude and new climatic conditions. Its apparent range is very broad, and its record would seem to show that Coloradoans freeze up in winter, only to thaw out in summer, when, in fact, the extremes of heat and cold are much more apparent than real. Neither zero weather nor ninety-nine' in the shade counts for much in Colorado. When the mer- cury falls ten or fifteen degrees below zero, which it often does, people put on their wraps as they go about their business, but nobody ever heard of a sunstroke in Colorado, when the thermometer was boiling over at the top. Invalids, of course, do not invite exhaustion by much exercise at such times, but, in the delightfully cool mornings and evenings of midsummer, they can get all the air and exercise necessary for them. In the fall of 1873, two well-known gentlemen of Denver— Mr. F. J. B. Crane and Mr. B. P. Woodward — both of whom had been great suiFer- ers from asthma in the East, were discussing the best means of making known to their suffering fellow-mortals of other States the wonderfully curative efiects of the Colorado climate upon this disorder. The question of giving information through the newspapers and magazines was dis- cussed, but while, by such means, a large number of readers might be reached, it was thought that the message would not have such a convincing and authoritative influence as an authentic statement from a large number of persons. The result of this incidental discussion was the calling of a meet- ing of asthmatics at Denver in October, 1873. The meeting was held. A large number of gentlemen and ladies attended, all of whom reported themselves either entirely cured or vastly benefited by their residence in Colorado. It was then decided to extend the scope of inquiry to the whole State, and, in accordance with that purpose, the newspapers of the State circulated a call for an asthmatic convention, and also for statements from persons unable to attend the meeting. This novel convention assembled' at Denver December 18, 1873. The chairman, Mr. Crane, presented over one hundred repprts from persons residing in all parts of Colorado, many of them lengthy and quite interesting, giving individual experiences, means of cure and experiments,which had been previously tried without effect, and gen- erally stating tha<> a complete and permanent cure had only been found upon the parties removing to Colorado. A large number of these statements were from . gentlemen of means, who had . traveled in nearly all parts of the world without deriving material benefit elsewhere than in Colorado. In the spring of 1874, a pamphlet was printed for gratuitous distribution, containing a condensed record of over two hundred and fifty cases cured by Colorado air alone, no other remedy being used. All the walks of life were represented in this list ; merchants, physicians, lawyers, clergymen, mechan- ics, laboring men, etc., clearly establishing the important fact that " Colorado cures asthma." Five years of additional experience and observa- tion have only confirmed and strengthened the tes- timony that in the relief or cure of asthma and kindred diseases, the climate of Colorado is un- equaled by any portion of the known world ; also, that there is no recurrence of the disease while the person remains in this climate, though no guaran- tee can be given that a return to a lower altitude will not be followed by a return of the old trouble. So much for asthma. As for other diseases of like character, the same is substantially true. In all cases where the physical and mental systems are worn down by overwork or general debility, the -4h. 52 HISTOEY OF COLORADO. recovery is marked and rapid. The marked excep- tions to this rule are rheumatism and all purely nervous ailments, none of which are benefited by the climate of Colorado, but are rather aggravated instead. In the mountains of Colorado, pneumonia and kindred diseases are common at certain sea- sons, and often fatal. A form of pneumonia known as mountain fever, is well known throughout the State, but happily it is less dangerous than pneu- monia proper: Taken all in all, with all the other drawbacks properly belonging to it, the climate of Colorado can claim the highest rank as a restorer of health to poor, suffering humanity. The number of in- valids who annually seek reKef in the State is con-* stantly increasing, and so are the resorts which invite their patronage. Formerly, the mineral springs at Manitou were the only attraction of the kind in the State. Only a few years ago, a rude cabin, on the banks of the famous Fountain qui Boille, close by the great soda spring, was all there was of Manitou. The writer well remembers a visit there, in the fall of 1871, when the solitude of the spot was overpowering. To-day, there are half-a-dozen hotels there, three of them magnifi- cent structures, and yet, during the season, it is almost impossible to secure quarters in any of them. Idaho Springs, with its fine hotels and famous swimming baths, is scarcely less popular or less crowded. The Hot Sulphur Springs, in Middle Park, are also well patronized, though less access- ible. The hunting and fishing thereaway draws many who would scorn the luxuries of more preten- tious watering-places. Beside these three principal points of attraction, are at least a dozen mineral springs, of greater or less renown, scattered broad- cast over the State, no section being without one or more. The Pagosa Hot Springs, in Southwest- ern Colorado, are pronounced among the finest in the world. The Steamboat Springs, in the North- west, are truly wonderful as a natural curiosity, as well as valuable for their medicinal qualities. They take their name from a peculiar noise emit- ted from one of the largest springs of the group, which gives forth a steady, soughing sound, like a steamboat just starting upon its voyage. The inquisitive may want to know what are the medical properties of these numerous springs. It would take a small volume to describe them. They range over the whole gamut of medical lexi- cography, and include, as the miners say, about all the known "stinks." There is something less than a thousand of them in the State, and the invalid who cannot be suited somewhere in Colo- rado need not look anywhere else for what he wants. With very few exceptions, the surround- ings of these mineral springs are delightfully romantic. The charms of Manitou cannot be enumerated — a whole season is short enough to study its surroundings. It must be confessed, however, that Coloradoans themselves seldom pay much attention to the " healing waters " of these fountains of health, but visit them indiscriminately for pleasure, and often go away without tasting the water more than once, or perhaps twice. The ready excuse of the " native '' is that he does not need the water, and does not wish to cultivate a taste for the fluid. Now and then a rheumatic miner tries bathing in a hot sulphur spring to take the stiff- ness out of his joints, and since Leadville was unearthed, an occasional victim of lead poisoning puts in at Cottonwood Springs, on the Arkansas River, below the carbonate metropolis, to get the lead out of his system, but, generally, the Colora- doan looks upon mineral springs merely as a good advertisement of the country, and is proiid of them merely because they confirm his strong belief that his is the most wonderful country in the world. The chance mention of lead-poisoning above brings to mind this new disease — new to Colorado, at least, though common enough in lead mines all over the world. The mineral deposits af Leadville, as the name of the camp indicates, carry a large propor- tion of lead, and workmen in the mines and smelters are alike subject to lead-poisoning. It would seem that nature had provided a remedy for the disease near at hand, in the mineral springs of Cottonwood Carton, which are a specific in almost ■%^ L±v HISTORY or COLOKABO. 53 any stage of the complaint. All the patient has to do is to " lay off " a few days or weeks, at Cot- tonwood, bathe and drink freely of the waters, and go back to his work rejuvenated. Much has been said about the unhealthiness of Leadville, because a good many people have died there from intemperance, exposure, etc., as well as from natural causes. Under right conditions, Leadville wSuld be a healthy city, but the verdict of the Coroner's jury — "too much whisky and too little blanket" — tells the story of many a death. The altitude is too great for over-indulgence and reckless neglect. Care and cleanliness have been too much neglected in this magic city, and she pays the penalty by an undeserved reputation for unhealthiness. CHAPTER X. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. AGRICULTUEE, although of secondary importance among the industries of Colo- rado, has always been more or less prominent. This fact is first due to the magnificent yield and excellent quality of both cereals and vegetables, and, finally, to the high prices usually received by the farmers, or "ranchmen," as they are invariably designated, for every product of the soil. In the early years of the country, when scarcely anybody expected to stay here more than the few weeks or months necessary to obtain a fortune from the mines, agriculture was something not dreamt of in their philosophy, and no attempt was made to cultivate the soil. As time went on, and one or two "hard winters" came, bringing exorbi- tant prices for produce or cutting off the supply entirely, the idea of raising corn for horse-feed, after the Mexican fashion, was originated by some one, and soon put into practical operation. A few rude and imperfect irrigating ditches were constructed, under which a few acres were planted, corn being the principal crop, alternating with an occas^nal potato patch. The potatoes were truly a happy thought, for, while the corn hardly paid for its cultivation, the potatoes yielded largely, and proved to be of superior quality. Such was the small beginning of agriculture in Colorado, and it has advanced wonderfully since that time, especially in view of the difficulties it has had to meet and overcome. A great point had been gained, however, by the discovery that vegetables flourished in the soil of the plains and mountains. The first potato crop paid an enormous profit, and next year many per- sons engaged in the business, some of them only to meet with failure, though others succeeded be- yond their wildest hope. Experiments were made with other vegetables, and the era of big pump- kins and giant squashes dates from that day. Another year established the fact that Colorado was within the limits of the great wheat-belt of the continent, and, from that time till now, wheat has been and is the staple crop of Colorado farmers. It must not be understood, though, that because Colorado raises the finest wheat, the best potatoes and the biggest squashes and pumpkins in the world, that her agriculturists are clothed in pur- ple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day. On the contrary, they work harder and are less repaid proportionately than farmers anywhere else in the country. In the first place, the acquisition of agricultural land in Colorado has for many years involved a considerable outlay of money, and a poor man has had small show to engage in farming. While there are millions of acres of arable land in the State, or land that would be arable if irrigated, there is not an unlimited supply of water for irri- gation, and it is not a question of land, but of ■^ 54 HISTORY OF COLORADO. water, with the farmer. To secure the latter, he must expend more or less money, either in build- ing a ditch, or buying a water-right from a ditch already constructed. In either case, his water costs him what would be considered in the East a fair rental for the land. Having secured both land and water, he pro- ceeds to make a crop. Wheat is sown very early in the spring, often in February, which is usually a pleasant month in the Colorado climate ; if not, March rarely fails to bring planting weather. In April, there is always more or less light and warm snow, which melts rapidly and "wets down" the new-sown wheat, so that irrigation is unnecessary at that season. May brings spring rains in greater or less abundance, with warm, sunny days, that start the young wheat and early vegetables fairly on their way, and also begin to melt the snow on the mountains, by which the streams are fed, the latter being low or entirely dry during the winter and early spring. By the time the streams are run- ning full of water, the work of irrigation must begin, and be kept up till the crops are harvested. The amount of irrigation required depends largely upon the fall of rain for the summer season, and somewhat also upon the character of the soil, but it is safe to say that during the irrigation season the farmer will be called upon to work at least all day, and perhaps far into the night. Added to all this toil is a tolerable certainty that, at the height of the season, when everybody wants water, the supply will fall short of the demand. To see one's crops perishing for want of water involves a mental anxiety scarcely less terri- ble than the most intense physical struggle, and this but one of the many drawbacks incidental to the farming operations in Colorado, as developed from year to year in the history of the country. Another serious matter is the plague of grass- hoppers, or locusts, which has several times en- tirely devastated the agricultural sections of the State, and to which the attention of the world has been directed. Experience seems to demonstrate that these visitations occur every tenth year, but this may be a coincidence merely, the only proof substantiating the theory being the fact that the latest visitations followed the first in about that order, the beginning and ending having been marked by a curious correspondence of dates, as well as of characteristics. The grasshopper problem has perplexed the wisest savans of two continents, and the Colorado ranchman only knows that they come in countless numbers and depart, leaving his fields as brown and bare as though they had never been planted. Nothing could well be more disheartening, or pro- vocative of profanity in the man of sin. Never- theless,^ the accounts of their ravages, and the description of their insatiate appetites, are often overdrawn. It is not true that they eat fences, wagons and agricultural implements, if the latter are left out of doors. They chew tobacco, appar- ently, judging from the exudations of their mas- ticatory organs, but proof is wanting that they either smoke or swear. Jesting aside, they are a dreaded scourge, but, under certain conditions, the Colorado farmers can and do successfally contend against them, and of late years, with their im- p];'oved appliances of defense, the ranchmen laugh the young 'hoppers to scorn, no matter how numer- ously they are hatched out in and around their fields. It is only when swarms of hungry 'hop- pers alight in the midst of the growing crops for a hasty lunch that the heart of the ranchman sinks within his bosom, for then he knows that nothing he can do will save his fields from destruc- tion. It is now four years, however, since the locusts last invaded Colorado, to the damage of the hus- bandmen, and strong hopes are entertained that their visitations have ceased. No particular rea- son can be assigned for this belief, but it is strong in the minds of those most deeply inter- ested and those most naturally inclined to appre- hend further danger from this source. Perhaps prudence would suggest that allowance should be made for grasshopper visitations at least once in ten years, but it is certain that the farmers of Colorado i 'y J^f -^ HISTOEY OF COLOEADO. 55 have lost much of their former fears that they would be driven into other pursuits, and are plowing and planting more vigorously than ever before. Said one of the most experienced husbandmen of the State to the writer, recently : " Nobody can tell anything about the grasshop- pers in Colorado or anywhere else. They have been here and may be here again, savans to the contrary notwithstanding. I may lose my crop by them next year, but while I am sure of water for irriga^ tion, I can stand the grasshoppers and raise bushel for bushel with the Eastern farmers. They have to contend with drouth on the one hand and exces- sive rains on the other, each alike disastrous, while I can regulate my supply of moisture regardless of the rainfall, and with a positive certainty that the latter will never be excessive, even during harvest, > when the most damage is usually done. Irrigation is an expense, but it is likewise a protection. It is a heavy insurance, but it saves my crops and insures a uniform yield of which Eastern farmers are entirely ignorant. They may have half a dozen poor crops in succession, and then almost a total fail- ure, while I have half a dozen good crops and then a grasshopper year, for which I ought to be pre- pared." The best farming lands of the State are found to lie along the eastern base of the mountains from north to south, and the best of these, perhaps, as far as development has gone, lie between the Platte and the Cache la Poudre Rivers. Superi- ority of soil is not claimed for this belt, though its proximity to the mountains may have developed certain characteristics not possessed by localities more remote. Abundance of water has given it prominence and importance as a center of agricul- tural industry. The valley of the Platte River is, of course, the largest single body of agricultural land in the State, extending from Platte Canon, twenty miles southwest of Denver, to Julesburg, in the extreme northeastern corner of the State. Thousands of acres of fertile lands line both sides of the river for this entire distance. Above Denver, and below that city for a distance of fifty or sixty miles, there are fine farms; below the junction of the Platte and the Poudre and the State line, there are occasional farms and frequent meadows, but no considerable agricultural settlements. Two causes operate to retard agricultural progress in the lower Platte Valley : first, the absence of railroad facili- ties, and, finally, the character of the river itself, which runs for its entire length, across the plains, over a bed of treacherous, shifting sand, in and through which the channel winds and turns and divides and changes so continually, that it is almost impossible to utilize the waters of the stream for irrigation at certain points, and extremely difficult anywhere. If the current sets into the "head" of an irrigating canal, it carries with it enough sand to soon choke up the canal, but oftener a more serious trouble results from the channel changing to the opposite side of the stream, leaving the mouth of the irrigating canal as dry as the plains themselves. The smaller streams, particularly those which run over rocky or pebbly beds, are the best reli- ance of the farmers of Colorado, even though their volume of water may be restricted. Of this class, the Cache la Poudre is the principal, and its valley is perhaps the best illustration of what may he accomplished by irrigation in Colorado. Prom La Porte, where it leaves the mountains, to its confluence with the Platte, four miles below Evans and Grreeley, the " Poudre," as it is univer- sally called in Colorado, is lined with improved farms, many of which axe models of successful enterprise. At Port Collins, near the head of this rich val- ley, is located the Agricultural College of the State, a fitting location for such an institution, surrounded, as it is, by some of the finest farms and best farming land in the State. The early history of this part of the State, apart from its agricultural features, is fiill of inter- est. The overland route to California led this way, and La Porte, which is now one of the most ^ a r^ '-^ 56 HISTORY OF COLORADO. peaceful hamlets in all Colorado, was then a min- iature Julesburg, fuU of life and activity. Fort Collins, near by, was then a military post, though no fort was ever buUt there, and few soldiers guarded the post. There were Indians in those days, and some of the pioneer ranchmen met with many startling adventures in guarding against or resisting their depredations. To-day, however, and for many years, the valley has been singularly peaceful, bearing, in many respects, the aspect of an Eastern community. It is entirely agricultural, and the handsome towns of Fort Collins and Grree- ley, which nestle at either extremity, are as orderly as any New England village. Both of these towns, as well as Longmont, which hes a little south and west of them, the three constituting apexes of a triangle, are notable instances of the success of " colony " enterprises in Colorado. The Greeley colony was the best adver- tised, and has been most successful, but in less degree the others show the benefits of co-opera- tion. The history of the Greeley colony, although it deserves a separate chapter, has been written so well and so often by the leading newspapers of the whole country, East and West, that a brief review will be sufficient for the purpose of this volume. Established in 1870, at the suggestion of the lamented Horace Greeley, whose honored name it bears, and whose principles it largely per- petuates, it started with a fund of $150,000, which it invested in lands, irrigating canals, a mill power and a " colony fence " inclosing the entire tract covered by the purchase, thus providing against the necessity of interior fences. A town was laid off at the point where the Denver Pacific Eailroad crosses the "Poudre," and the land was appropriately subdi^-ided, so that each colonist received a tract of land and a town lot, if desired, or an equivalent in either lands or lots, at his option. All this property has advanced in value very largely, and farm property is particularly valuable under the Greeley canals. Some of the farmers were seriously embarrassed at first by the consider- able expense of "making a start '' in a new coun- try under new conditions, and even with all the advantages of co-operation, a few failures resulted. It is not the purpose of the writer to conceal the truth in regard to farming operations in Colorado, and it must be admitted that not every Eastern farmer can and will succeed in this State, espe- cially if he is hampered by lack of means to enable him to prosecute his work to the best advantage. But the failures at Greeley were generally ac- counted for by some radical defect in the system pursued, and experience, even when dearly bought, was turned to good advantage by all concerned. Wheat, of course, has been the great staple, and its yield has often been enormous. Thirty, forty, or even fifty bushels per acre have been harvested from large fields, and sold at from 90 cents to $1.50 per bushel. Potatoes and all kinds of veg- etables came next in importance. Corn has not been a prolific crop, though profitable. The soil is well adapted to corn, but the nights are too cold for its rapid growth and full development. Of late years, the Greeley colonists have turned their attention to raising small fruits, with very gratifying success. Their strawberries are simply magnificent, and the yield equal to that of any part of the country, California not excepted. The crop never fails, and, despite the large production, prices have been maintained at high figures throughout the entire season. Berries are shipped to Denver and Cheyenne by rail, and these mar- kets, within fifty miles of Greeley, take the entire crop, and almost quarrel over it. The social features of Greeley life are still char- acterized by temperance and intellectual develop- ment. There is not now, and never has been, a saloon in the town of 2,000 inhabitants, and its schools are the best in the land. The schoolhouse is by far the best building in town, though the churches are numerous and not inconspicuous architecturally. More newspapers are taken and read at Greeley than at any place of its size in the country. The town itself supports two weekly :^ .^ HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 57 papers, and a third, published at Evans, a few miles distant, is liberally patronized. Magnificent as has been the development of the Poudre Valley since 1870, the next few years promises to eclipse the last decade. An immense irrigating canal, capable of watering 100,000 acres of land, is being built north of the already com- pleted canals on the north side, and thousands of acres of good farming land will soon be brought under cultivation thereby. This canal heads in the mountains, and the country it waters is tribu- tary to Fort Collins as well as Greeley — indeed, the former place, from its proximity to the moun- tains, where the water-supply is more abundant and stable, probably will reap a larger benefit from the new enterprise than its rival down the valley. This important enterprise demands special men- tion as the first eiFort to water a vast body of land with a single canal, and because its promoters are, for the most part, non-residents instead of Colo- rado citizens. The Colorado Mortgage and Invest- ment Company ,of London, of which Mr. James Duff, of Denver, is resident manager, owns most of the stock in this canal, and much of the land to be watered thereby. The English Company, as it is commonly called, has done and is still doing much for the development of Colorado and Denver, first by loaning capital at lower rates of interest than formerly prevailed, and finally, by its own judicious investments, like the new hotel in Denver, which the Company is building at a cost of nearly half a million, and which will be by far the finest hotel in the West when completed. Another enterprise of great pith and moment to Denver is the pro- posed high-line canal, to water an immense area above the city, which the English Company is about to undertake as a sure and profitable invest- ment. Colorado has derived great benefit already from this influx of English capital,, and Mr. Duff' seems determined to show his faith in the Centen- nial State by further investments of like character. Fort ColUns has achieved its greatest develop- ment smce 1877, when the Colorado Central Kailroad was extended past that place to a connection with the Union Pacific at Cheyenne. The follow- ing very truthful sketch of the place is copied from the prospectus of the Agricultural College located at that point, and opened September 1, 1879 : " Port Collins is located on the southern bank of the Cache la Poudre, about six miles east of the foot-hills of the snowy range and thirty-five miles south of the State line ; it is surrounded by a fer- tile and well watered region, including some of the best agricultural lands in the State. " Its elevation of 5,100 feet above the sea level gives it a pure, dry atmosphere, while its proximity to the mountains brings it within the limit of occa- sional rains, thus rendering the climate pleasant and salubrious, and adapting the soil to the culti- vation of the cereals. This region, comprising the counties of Larimer, Weld, Boulder, and parts of Arapahoe and Jefferson, is rendered accessible from the north and south by the Colorado Central Rail- road, which passes directly through Fort Collins, and by the Denver Pacific Railway, both of which roads connect with the Union Pacific at Cheyenne and with the Kansas Pacific at Denver. The streams draining this region, the Cache la Poudre, Big Thompson, and other tributaries of the South Platte, furnish an inexhaustible supply of water for purposes of irrigation. It is estimated that the great irrigating canal now in process of construc- tion and supplied from the Cache la Poudre, will bring at least 100,000 acres of unproductive land under cultivation. The College has been most judiciously located with reference to this large extent of farming land, in the midst of Communi- ties refined and progressive and very fast surround- ing themselves with all the comforts of the most advanced localities in the West." South of the Poudre, along the base of the mountains, are a number of valleys devoted to ag- riculture, among which the Big and Little Thomp- son, the St. Vrain, Left Hand Boulder and Ralston Creek are chief. Longmont, settled by a Chicago colony about 1870, is located on the St. Yrain, in the midst of a very rich farming country. The 9 ^y l^ 58 HISTORY OF COLORADO. St. Vrain is one of the most beautiful of Colorado rivers. It rises at the base of Long's Peak, and, though boasting of no grandly romantic canon like Boulder, Clear Creek and the Platte or Arkansas, it flows through scenes of sylvan beauty strangely enchanting to the eye and the aesthetic tastes. Boulder Creek waters a fertile valley on its way across the plains, dotted by handsome farms ; but its greatest charm is in the mountains. Its caiion has been pronounced the finest in the State, and its falls are famous everywhere. At the point of its departure from the range is located the town of Boulder, an interesting city of considerable conse- quence as an agricultural and mining center. The farmers of Boulder Valley find a market for their crops in the mining camps of their own county, and their county capital reaps the benefit of the exchange. Boulder is also the seat of the State University. The valley of Clear Creek, though limited in extent, is a veritable garden. Lying between Den- ver and Golden, and equally accessible to each (either by rail or private conveyance), it may be called the market garden of those cities. The Bear Creek Valley, a few miles farther south, is similarly situated, and a good farm in either of them may be counted a treasure to its fortunate owner. South of the divide, between the waters of the Platte and the Arkansas, agriculture has not yet advanced to the position it occupies in Northern Colorado, though the conditions are all favorable. In time, no doubt, the arable lands of this district will be developed as weU as those of the western slope, which in some respects are superior to those of the Atlantic side. The agricultural future of Colorado is enshrouded in much present uncertainty, and opinions difi"er very widely concerning it. Some profess to believe that at no distant day the vast plains wiU become a grand garden ; that monster canals will distribute water for irrigation through a series of lakes or reservoirs from the mountains to the eastern limit of the State, and from Wyoming to New Mexico. Congress has been continually memorialized to aid the State in this matter by grants of arid land under some act sunilar to the " swamp-land bill," by which so many States have profited throughout the West. It is argued with great force that instead of ditches for drainage, the arid lands of Colorado only need ditches for irrigation to make them valuable, and it is claimed that the General Gov- ernment, now deriving little or no income or bene- fit from these lands, would be the gainer vastly by their reclamation, while the State, with a mining population constantly increasing, would be enabled to feed its own people without recourse on Kansas for supplies. No doubt there is force in this argu- ment, and the interest of the people in the ques- tion has been repeatedly evinced, not alone by memorials to Congress, but by conventions to con- sider extensive systems of irrigation. In 1873, an irrigation convention was held in Denver which was attended by the Governors of several Western States and Territories, and by the leading agriculturists of the State as well as dele- gates from Utah, where the same system prevails.' Beyond an interchange of views and the inevitable memorial to Congress, nothing came of this con- vention, but the address of Hon. S. H. Elbert, then Territorial Governor of Colorado, and now one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, was a compact, logical and in every way admirable state- ment of the ease under discussion, which should have had more weight in Washington than was accorded to it, or to the memorial of the conven- tion. There are those, however, and the writer is among them, who have grave doubts whether the benefits to be derived from any system of irrigation under the auspices of the State or General Govern- ment would inure to the benefit of each or either. Though the arid lands of Colorado find no sale at Government prices, and, perhaps, would not bring more than 10 cents per acre at auction, they are all productive in one sense, and the State reaps a large benefit therefrom every year, in its '^^ . CJ.Jo^CyA (ArxMf l^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 59 production of beef, mutton and wool. The stock interests would surely suffer if the plains were " reclaimed," but whether farming, with the added expense of costly irrigation, could successfully compete with Kansas cheap production, is not equally certain. Kansas, which lies right at the door of Colo- rado, is undoubtedly the finest agricultural State in the Union, and is growing rapidly in our direc- tion. The corn and wheat of Kansas are already sold in our markets at prices which tend to dis- courage our own farmers, though, happily, the latter still have a home market for their crops which affords them protection against Kansas competition. The home demand is enlarged by the stock interest, which produces nothing but beef. Reduce the home demand by excluding the bulk of the stock men, and at the same time double the- agricultural production, and we may have a state of affairs which neither the farmers nor the State will appreciate as a public blessing. These objections, however, may be more than met by the rapid increase of our mining population in the next five years, creating a home market which the present agricultural resources of the State will be entirely unable to supply. In that case, more farms and more farmers will be among the actual necessities of the country. CHAPTER XI. STOCK RAISING IN COLORADO. TT^NOUGrH has already been said in this work J — ' to indicate that the pastoral resources of Colorado are second only to the industry of mining in point of profit if not of production. The net profit of stock-growing exceeds that of agriculture every year. . Probably during the decade preceding the eventful year when the mines of Leadville began to yield up their hidden treasures, the net profit of mining over and above the expense incurred in its prosecution, was not much greater than the net profit of the stock business. This is a startling statement, and, unfortunately, or fortunately, as the case may be, the figures are not at hand whereby it can be supported. It is equally impossible to say how much money was swallowed up in unlucky mining enterprises, and how much was made by raising stock while the business was comparatively new and the range not overcrowded as it is now in many directions. When cattle could be brought to maturity and market at a cost of about $5 per head, and sold at $30, $40, or even $50, it requires no arithmetician or "light- ning calculator," or even Col. Sellers, to see tihat there were " millions in it." On the plains of Colorado and Western Kansas, cattle succeeded the bufialo as naturally as white men succeeded the Indians. It could not have been any secret to the early settlers that stock would live and fatten on the nutritious grasses of the plains and mountains all the year round, for they saw buffalo, antelope, deer, elk and other gram- niverous animals depending entirely for their sus- tenance upon the same, but in spite of this " ocular proof," it appears to be a fact, as already stated elsewhere, that the father of the stock business in Colorado turned his cattle out in the fall expecting them to die during the winter, and was surprised to find them fat and flourishing in the spring. Even at this late day, with thousands of cattle roaming the plains on every hand, winter and sum- mer, some stranger is always found willing to swear that they must inevitably starve to death in the winter. These doubting Thomases, impressed with ancient heresies regarding the Great American Desert, are alike incapable of realizing that cattle can live on our grasses the year round and that the finest wheat and vegetables in the world can be produced from our soil. ) ly ^1 '.iL^ 60 HISTORY OF COLOEADO. However lightly Coloradoans may esteem the intelligence of these people, they do not much care to combat their erroneous ideas by argument, and cattle-growers are especially indiiferent on the sub- ject. On the contrary, they do not care how many people are deterred from entering the business by fears of losing their investments. Wide as the range is, the supply of water is limited in dry sea- sons, and they do not want to be crowded by new- comers out of their chosen localities. Though the " range " is free to all, the water front is usually taken up by the home ranches of cattle and sheep growers, who own the land adjacent thereto and thereby control the range back of their respective claims. Encroachments upon these vested rights are rare, but if the country should become more crowded by a decided increase in the number of cattle-growers, trouble might ensue or the interests of the parties might be endangered in other respects. Prior to the advent of railroads in Colorado, the stock business was limited by the home demand and such Government contracts as could be secured for the supply of beef to interior and neigh- boring military posts. The railroads, however, gave a great impetus to each of these demands and also opened up a new trade, which has of late years exceeded the aggregate of both the others combined. More Colorado beef is shipped East every year than is used by the people of the State and by the Government, too, within the limits of Colorado. The magnitude of this business under the new development is something astonishing. Next to Texas, Colorado probably produces more beef than any other State in the Union, and, probably, more sheep and wool than any other State except New Mexico. The business is not confined to any one section of the State, but extends everywhere, even into the Indian Reservation. Some years ago, the Indian Bureau, in a lucid interval seldom duplicated, drove a band of cattle to the White River Agency for the purpose of supplying beef to the Utes, using only the increase of the herd for that purpose. The Indians have been supplied with fresh beef regularly since that time, and the herd has increased despite this constant drain upon it, till even the Government is likely to have "beef to sell," besides what the Indians use. These cattle are said to yield excellent beef the year round, though knowing no' feed except the rich grass of the White River Valley. Denver's best beef, not excepting the corn-fed article, comes from the Snake River country in Northwestern Colorado, and this Snake River beef is often on the market when the Plains cattle are too poor to kill. Nor is Southwestern Colorado one whit behind the North in this particular. The Animas and other valleys of the San Juan country produce the finest beef as well as the best vegetables and other crops. There seems to be no doubt that the entire western slope of the State is a good stock country. It is with the east, however, particularly the great plains, that the pastoral interests of Colo- rado are principally identified. On these almost boundless prairies^ thousands upon thousands of horses, cattle and sheep range throughout the year, and maintain themselves in generally good condition without any food save that prepared for them by the bountiful hand of nature, There are numerous methods of engaging in the stock business, of course, but they all resolve them- selves at last into one general system, which cen- ters around a home ranche or camp, and extends pretty nearly over the entire surrounding country. Having secured a ranche and suitable outbuildings, including a large corral, with a strong solid wall seven or eight feet high, the next step is to buy cattle. This may be done occasionally "on the range,'' from some party who finds himself over- stocked or who wants to quit the business, but gen- erally it is best to buy from the Texas stock driven up from the South every summer, which comes cheaper and answers admirably for breeding pur- poses when crossed with high grade American bulls. All stock must be branded when bought, and all calves must be branded before they leave their mother's side. L^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 61 The camp should be located near a permanent water-supply, and it is weU to purchase or enter 160 acres or more and inclose it with a stock-fence as a kind of gigantic barnyard. Horses kept for use should not be allowed to run loose on the prairie, and to keep them stabled or picketed is troublesome and unsatisfactory. A camp outfit must include wagon and harness suitable for heavy work, tough draft horses and a number of native ponies or bronchos for saddle use. Of the latter, there can hardly be too many. It costs little or nothing to keep them, and, during the entire sum- mer, to say the least, and often in winter, there is enough hard riding to be done to require at least three horses for every herder employed. Leading stockmen almost invariably raise and train their own ponies, finding it profitable as well as con- venient to do so. Their value ranges from $25 to $50, and the trouble of raising them is but slightly greater than that of raising a steer. The " band" must be looked after a good deal, of course, and careftiUy "corralled" every night; but, by con- stant handling, they become thoroughly domesti- cated, and seldom or never stray far away from camp, unless stampeded. The use of the word "band" above brings to mind some of the peculiarities of stock nomencla- ture in Colorado. A collection of horses is always a "band." The cattle owned by one man or firm are, collectively, a "herd," but any number of them less than the whole is a "bunch." A "flock" of sheep, however, may be all or only a part of the number owned by a firm or an individual. To speak of a "herd" of horses or sheep is to betray the tender-foot at once. Griven, then, the home ranehe, with its stables, corrals, etc., its band of ponies, its foreman and assistants, and all the machinery of a cattle camp is complete. The outfit may cost anjrwhere from $500 to $1,000, but rarely more than the latter sum, no allowance being made for display and not much for home comfort. Few cattle ranches 'on a large scale are enlivened by the presence of the gentler sex, and the men crowd together, generally. in a small cabin or "sod" house of two rooms — ■ one for stores and cookery, and the other for sleep- ing and lounging, whenever opportunity oflfers. For an ordinary camp, the working force includes about six men. Strict discipline is enforced by the fore- man, who is an autocrat in his way, and who issues his orders with the air and brevity of a drill sergeant. Another important personage is the cook, who is also a sort of "keeper" of the camp and stores, and is likewise charged with numberless Httle duties, such as mending bridles and harness, doctoring sick horses, going to the post ofiice, and the Uke. He must be ready to serve a meal at a moment's notice, and at times his position is very trying; but when the foreman and herders are away on the round-ups or are shipping beef, he is often left en- tirely alone for weeks, with nothing whatever to do but to guard the camp, cook his own meals, and occasionally turn up a little "grub"' for a passing acquaintance or stranger, the ranehe being open alike to such without money and without price. Stockmen are the very soul of hospitality, and there exists among them a subtle sort of free- masonry by which they make themselves at home wherever they go among each other, whether on business or for pleasure. After the cook comes the herders, to the num- ber of three or four or more, as the case may be. A herd of three or four thousand cattle can be looked after by half a dozen men, with a little as- sistance during the round-up and branding season. The herder of cattle is essentially dififerent from the sheep-herder. The latter must live with his flock, nor trust it out of his sight, but the former exer- cises only a general supervision over his herd, never undertaking to limit its wanderings, and content if he only knows, in a general way, its whereabouts. The range is wide, but cattle sel- dom stray far from home, save at times when no number of herdsmen could restrain them. Should any or all of them " stampede " from any cause, nothing can be done but to follow them leisurely, and drive them back when found. \3 62 HISTORY OF COLORADO. The life of a cattle-herder is wild, roving, ad- venturous. His headquarters, and hindquarters, too, are always in the saddle, and he soon learns to ride like a Centaur. No finer sight of the kind can be seen anywhere, than a " cow-boy " mounted on his fleet but sure-footed pony, giving chase to a young and lively Colorado steer, as full of dash and undaunted mettle as the man himself. Away they fly across the prairie, at lightning speed, then, sud- denly, as quick as thought, the bovine turns and doubles on his course, while the pony and rider follow suit with equal celerity. Again and again they turn, the pony following every movement of the animal it is pursuing, and none but a skilled and well-trained rider can keep his seat in the sad- dle throughout the chase. Accidents are not infrequent, even among these champion riders, but in almost every instance they result from an unex- pected stumble of the pony over a hole in the ap- parent dead level of the prairie. The wages paid to these men are not high, ranging from §25 to $50 per month, but, as they include board and lodging and most of the necessa- ries of life, and, as clothing costs them little, they manage to save something every month, and soon find themselves, if they are careful and economical, ahead of the world and in a fair way to become proprietors on a small scale. They are usually allowed to invest their savings in cattle, which are "turned in" with their employer's herd, and cost nothing for their keeping, while the herder is em- ployed on the ranch. When he accumulates two or three hundred head, he is ready to begin busi- ness himself, generally taking a second small bunch of cattle to herd " on shares," his share being one- half of the increase. Colorado afibrds few better openings for young men of economical habits than cattle-ranching, but the reckless and improvident spend all their money as fast as it is earned, and not only fail to accumulate anything for themselves, but find that they will not be trusted with the care of stock for other owners. Much has been written about the "cattle kings" of Colorado, their countless herds and the princely domain over which they wander. A good deal of this is nonsense, but the operations of some men, now or hitherto engaged in this trade, have been very great. The late John "W. Ilifi', of Denver, was the most successful cattle man of his time. His stock ranged over the entire eastern portion of the State, and his ranches were scattered up and down the Platte, from Julesburg to near Greeley, but the stories told about his princely domain were true only in part. He did not control the entire range where his cattle roamed, but shared it in common with the smaller operators. It was true, however, that he could travel over the country for a week and always eat and sleep at one of his own ranches. His income was princely, too, and his wealth was immense. He died in 1878, and his business has been gradually closed out since that time, though it will take some years to settle up his estate. It is said that $250,000 worth of beef was sold by his executors last year, without making much inroad upon his immense herds. Mr. IlifF did not commence business a poor man, as is often stated, but his capital was limited, and, in his early days, he devoted himself to Govern- ment contracts and to supplying dressed beef to butchers, at wholesale. At one time, he supplied dressed beef to all the military posts along the line of the Union Pacific Kailroad. He was a shrewd, hard-working, thorough man of business, looking closely after every detail and often following the round-ups with his men, eating out of their camp-ket- tles and keeping as sharp a watch for the "L. ¥." brand as his own foremen. Other cattle kings grew indolent as wealth increased, but lUff seemed to grow more active and industrious until death stepped in and ended his busy life in its very prime. Had he lived long enough to carry out the grand schemes which inspired him, no one knows to what gigantic proportions his business would have grown. Many other men and firms in Colorado have created colossal fortunes in stock-raising or are now in a fair way to become millionaires, but the business is less profitable of late, particularly to new investors. ^^ ^. t2^ — iii^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 65 Tte range is getting crowded about the water- fronts, and sheep-men are driving cattle-growers back from their old ranches into new quarters, north and east. Along the base of the mountains, agriculture is encroaching rapidly upon the former domains of stockmen, almost to the exclusion of the latter, who are moving their herds to a distance. In almost every locality, however, the problem of space is partially solved by the introduction of a better class of stock, a smaller number of which will produce more money than a larger herd of the old "long-horn" variety. Texas cows are kept for breeding purposes, but high-grade American bulls are almost invariably found on every ranche and with every herd. The cross is known as " Colorado natives" in the market reports, and makes excel- lent beef, while its Texas blood enables it to stand the rigors of Colorado's "Italian" climate without too much risk. Blooded stock and thorough American cattle thrive excellently well in Colorado, but they must be cared for in winter, and the expense of handling them is very much greater than that of "native" cattle. Sheep in Colorado are singularly free from the diseases so common to them elsewhere, and there is much profit as well as much labor in handling them. The losses are sometimes large during heavy storms in winter, and many lambs fall victims to the ravages of the prairie wolves and coyotes — lean and hungry midnight marauders, whose stealthy steps never betray their presence. With proper food and shelter, however, sheep endure the winter storms very well, and their four-footed enemies are fast disappearing. The breeding of a better class of horses is begin- ning to attract much attention throughout the State. The ordinary " broncho " is at best a rather valueless investment, save for herding stock, and seldom brings more than $50, while a good Ameri- can horse seldom falls below double that amount, and it costs but a trifle more to raise the latter. But if the broncho's cash value is less, he is more reliable for hard and rough riding, whether on the mountain or plain. His sinews are steel, and his tireless gallop is a marvel of endurance. Yet, in- breeding develops the same characteristics in other horses, and some of the best long-distance racers in the West have been developed among the thorough- breds of Colorado. Thorough-breeding is still in its infancy in Colo- rado, however, and no one can surely say what the " coming horse " of Colorado will be, or whether he will be able to hold his own with Eastern stables. Thus far, but few Eastern horses have been able to compete with Colorado-bred stock in trials of speed on our own turf, but this is accounted for on the very natural and reasonable theory that Colorado air is " too thin " for equine lungs unac- customed thereto, while home-bred horses, on the contrary, are thereby inspired to greater exertions. The reverse would be equally true, no doubt, and Colorado-bred horses would probably fare hard in the air of lower altitudes. Returning to the main question — the breeding of beef cattle for home and Eastern markets — it would be interesting, if it were possible, to give statistics of the enormous trade in Colorado alone, not to mention New Mexico and Wyoming, which, for breeding purposes, are practically parts of Colo- rado itself. A few months ago, an intelligent cor- respondent of the New York Commercial Bulletin, writing from Colorado, gave the following : " At the East, we have but an imperfect concep- tion of its value and rapid growth. But the simple fact that the exports from Colorado alone, during the past five years, have exceeded in value the ship- ments of bullion, and the ftirther fact that what is known as the great cattle-raising belt is estimated to-day to contain over fifteen million head, worth upward of $300,000,000, are calculated to very materially expand those conceptions. The corre- spondent states that there are many reasons point- ing to the ultimate absorption of the business on the plains in the hands of the large owners, whose competition wipes out the profits of the small ranchers. Already the Ilifis, the Bosters, Dorsey, Waddingham, Craig, Hall Brothers, and others, have each nearly as many cattle as existed in either ■^ 66 HISTORY OP COLORADO. of the territories a year ago, and together, have more than existed in New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska combined. Just now there is great alarm on account of the fear that the pleuro-pneu- monia will bankrupt the stockmen of the plains. If it gains a fast hold here, it may be impossible to stop it. There will be strong pressure for such legislation at the next session of Congress as will keep it at a distance. The Western members nearly all favor stringent measures, whatever these may be, and hence it is generally certain that some- thing will be done." The " alarm " of which the correspondent writes was more imaginary than real, and yet any fatal disease would work incalculable injury to the industry. The fear of fiiture consolidation is something more tangible. As the big fish invari- ably swallow the little ones, so the large herds must swallow or drive out the smaller ones. The Huerfano Valley, in Southern Colorado, near Pueblo, is almost monopolized by the Colorado Cattle Company, a wealthy corporation which bought the famous Craig ranche and other claims in that locality, and have from 20,000 to 30,000 head of cattle ranging over that country, to the exclusion of small operators. Should the time ever come when Congress, anxious to " realize " on the pasture-lands of Colo- rado, offers them in large tracts at low figures, the bone and sinew would be knocked entirely out of the stock business in this State. It is claimed that, under the present arrangement, the cattle range produces no revenue to the General Grovem- ment, being free to all comers, and no one being willing or able to pay the Government price of $1.25 per acre for land worth in open market not more than one-fifth of that sum. The cattle kings, however, are willing to buy it in tracts of five or ten thousand acres at its cash value, and Congress is tempted to make that disposition of it, rather than let it lie waste. The arguments in favor of this plan are specious, and well calculated to de- ceive the average Congressman. No doubt the General Government would realize something from the sale of these lands in the manner and on the terms proposed, but it would be at the expense of thousands of poor but honest stockmen, who would be " squeezed " out of the business thereby. Nor is it altogether certain tl^at the " kings " themselves would be benefited by the working of the plan proposed, although they could protect themselves against its disadvantages better than men with less capital at their command. The weight of opinion among experienced stockmen tends to the theory that the range should remain open rather than be closed. An inclosure of even 50,000 acres would hardly be large enough for a herd of 10,000 cattle, and there are many such herds in Colorado, not to mention many larger ones. The winter storms, which are so fatal to stock interests in this locality, are usually local. On the open range, cattle can drift away from bad weather, and often, by traveling from twenty to fifty miles, they find an open country, with plenty of grass and water for their needs, when their home range is covered with snow. If they were confined within an inclosure, or even stopped by a fence in their stampede before a storm, many of them would perish who might otherwise escape. Of course, the stampeding and consequent scattering of stock during the winter involves considerable trouble and expense, connected with the annual " round-up " and separation of the intermingled brands, but the very convenient arrangement for rounding up the cattle of the whole State, under the operation of the stock law, reduces this business to an exact science, and leaves little more to be desired. To the stranger in Colorado, nothing connected with the cattle business can be more interesting than a general round-up on the plains, where the cattle are abundant. It is not unusual to see 10,- 000 head gathered together in a compact but mov- ing, animated mass — a forest of horns and heads, tossing up and down like the troubled waves of a sea. Circling around the outside of the immense herd are the well-mounted "cowboys," holding the cattle in check and position while the process of " cutting out " goes on. To "cutout" :^ ^1 '-^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 67 stock means to ride into tte herd a little way, sin- gle out an animal bearing your brand, separate it from the herd and head it toward and into your own particular "bunch"' on the prairie a short dis- tance away. The process appears simple enough, but it is easier described than accomplished. The instinct of the beast leads it to circle back toward the main herd, and it must be headed off at every turn and tack. Even this is not sufficient; at every turn and tack it must be edged a little nearer to the group where it belongs. When finally it is joined to its fellows, there is no more trouble, for it will never think of leaving the small herd for the larger one, and it may be driven away with the rest in perfect peace and serenity. When an owner has separated his cattle from the main herd, it is no trouble at all to drive them back to his home range, unless something happens to stampede them en route. Very curious are the conditions under which Plains cattle are stampeded. Thorough Texans are the most timid, the Colorado stock being somewhat domesticated by more handling as they grow up. Whole herds of Texas steers have been stampeded by a rider dismounting from his pony near them. They are accustomed to the sight of men on horseback, and seem to consider man and horse a sort of compound animal, but when the two sepa- rate themselves from each other the average Texas steer don't know what to make of the spectacle. Eastern readers may wonder why a chapter on stock interests should not include some mention of pork, but in point of fact, hogs are not a Colorado staple. Some few are produced in the agricultural sections, and with profit, too, but the number is limited to the capacity of the farm for producing suitable feed. They get little corn, and are mostly raised on what they can pick up around house and bam, with an occasional meal of vegetables. Only the best varieties are raised, principally Berkshires, whose capacity for rooting a living out of the ground fits them for Colorado peculiarly. CHAPTER XII. LEADVILLE AND CALIFORNIA GULCH. AWRITEE, referring more particularly to mining in Park County in the early days, said that " Colorado has always been afflicted with periodic silver excitements, but has not yet been able to realize anything from her undoubted silver deposits." If he could but retrace the ground he traveled over then and be a witness to the opening up of the vast section of carbonates that to-day, at Leadville and vicinity, challenge the admiration and awaken the enthusiasm of the people of the entire continent, he would say that the day he pre- dicted had arrived and the silver deposits revealed. The history of California Grulch began as early as 1860, when a band of miners from Central crossed over the Park Range of mountains and entered the gulch that was destined to enjoy a brief season of notoriety as a gold-producing region, and then lapse back for many years into obscurity, only to awaken to a newer history, whose pages are to gleam and glow for ages. The gulch was fall of prospectors before the summer was over, and a prosperous camp betokened that the precious metal was there. But the lim- ited water-supply was a great drawback to the development of claims, and th^ working season was short by reason of the great altitude. For several years, the most available ground was worked over and with returns that were generally satisfac- tory. Up to the close of 1865, it was thought that over three millions were taken out. Prom that year, miners began gradually to abandon the country, and, in 1869, production had dropped to $60,000, and to $20,000 in 1876. It was the old story, so familiar in mining history, told once more. Vc t, ^ 68 HISTORY OF COLORADO. In 1860-61, placer mining in the gulch formed the great attraction for the major number of adventurers flocking into the country. The towns of Buckskin, Hamilton, Montgomery and Fairplay rose like mushrooms in the night and instantly became centers for that erratic life so peculiar to new mining countries,, and so significant of the inborn passion of human kind for greed of gold. In such a population as was thus gathered, the ele- ments of permanency were not to be found. But the gold-seeker is intent upon one object only, and all-else must remain in abeyance. The restlessness of his nature concentrates on one thing only ; and if the grains of glittering gold he seeks are not in such quantities as take the fancy of the moment, it is but the work of another moment for him to pack up his traps and seek newer pastures. The history of California in the matter of stampedes has been repeated in Colorado, with results that have been fully as ruinous to the stability of towns and the permanent prosperity of the State. Pew tarried long in one place. Were men making one ounce per day? Shortly came tidings of places where two ounces were being obtained, and straight- way the beehive life of the spot relapsed into the silence of obscurity. Shortly, most of the mining camps in this district met the fate of their kin- dred camps in other parts of the country, and only two or three settled down into any degree of per- manency. And yet, all the while that California Gulch had been worked over for gold, the miners daily threw aside as worthless, a very Ophir of exhaustless treasure. During all the time that gulch mining was going on, tUe miners suffered much inconve- nience from heavy bowlders that they were obliged to move out of their way. The character of the rock they had no suspicion of, and did not stop to investigate. It was not until 1876, that attention began to be drawn to the peculiar formations now so universally known as carbonates. It is imcer- tain who were the original discoverers or locaters. Messrs. Stevens and Wood, a Mr. Durham and Maurice Hayes & Bro., seem to have been quietly pursuing an examination of the deposits. Each made carbonate of lead locations, and firmly believed in the mineral wealth then so little under- stood. In 187Y, miners began to drift in from the camps in the northern counties of the State, and, in June, the first building on the original town site of Leadville was put up. In 1877, the district began to assume impor- tance as a mining center, and, perhaps a thousand men, by the fall of that year, were scattered over the hills that surround the town. Some shafts were sunk, but not much paying mineral was mined. Only four or five mines were paying for the working. In March, 1878, the first sale of mining property that suddenly aroused the attention of the outside world, was made when four claims, owned by poor, hardworking men, were sold to a company for a round quarter of a million dollars. From this time the finger of destiny pointed to Leadville, and is stiU lifted. The tide of immigra- tion since that time has been on the flood, and there seems to be no possibility of its ebbing back, leaving a barren waste behind. Men came and looked and wondered. Capital poured in, but those who handled it, put to themselves the question of the permanency of the mines, and, for a long time, hesitated. But while the many waited, here and there a more adventurous one — having faith in the Star of Silver shining so splendidly among the hills — invested thousands and reaped millions, and then those who had hung behind pressed eagerly forward. New mines were opened daily, and pur- chasers for " holes in the ground " that merely gave promise of reaching mineral were readily found. The beggar of one day became the million- aire of the next. The " tenderfoot," fresh from the States, was' as likely to be successful, nay, if anything, more so, than the experienced miner, who for years had trudged over the hills, uncon- sciously kicking fortune, like a football, from beneath his feet. Meanwhile, as a natural consequence, the town grew. From a few small slab cabins in 1876, the •^ l^ HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 69 year 1879 sees it a well and substantially built city, having brick blocks, well-laid-out streets, water-works, gas-works, opera-houses, daily news- papers, banks, and all the adjuncts that make up great and prosperous cities. The question of the iuture'^s no longer discussed, save only that of the extent to which it will grow. Its voting popula- tion already outnumbers that of Denver. It has one more daily paper already. No week passes but the discovery of new mines adds to its impor- tance, and if their durability and extent has, to a certain degree, become assured, the next few years will work wonders that will make even the expe- rience of the last two years fall into the shade. The town of Leadville is beautifully located on the western slope of Ball Mountain, one of the most elevated peaks of the Mosquito Range, about two miles from the Arkansas River, and directly opposite Mount Massive, one of the most majestic peaks in the main range, known as the Continental Divide. West of this chain, the rivers discharge their waters into the Pacific Ocean. The town is well laid out, with the streets crossing at right angles. It was abundantly supplied, in its earlier days, with water from the Arkansas River, brought many miles in ditches, as well as from the small mountain streams which flow along on either side of the city. But the growth of the town was so great that, in the fall of 1878, a sys- tem of water-works began, which was completed early in 1879, by which the city now has an inex- haustible supply of pure water for all purposes, and there is but little need of fear from fire. The elevation is 10,500 feet above the level of the sea, or nearly two miles directly up in the air above the capital. It cannot be said of the town that it is the healthiest in the world. Many stig- matize it as the unhealthiest one in the country. It is unquestionably true that a great deal of sick- ness prevails there. But few find that they can remain and breathe the rarefied air year in and year out. The winter months are unusually severe. Pneumonia, erysipelas and heart disease are the prevailing complaints, and death seems to come more suddenly there than elsewhere ; that is to say, there are no lingering weeks of sickness. The work of the Destroying Angel, when once begun, is rapid. On the 1st day of July, 1879, there were prob- ably twenty thousand people in the town. Neces- sarily, buildings sprang up by magic. Business houses, hotels, banks, churches, dwellings, all were boosted up as fast as workmen could push them, and the sound of the hammer of the artisan scarcely ceased from one month's end to the other, night and day. Points that were covered with the pines of the forest one month, the next became streets of trafiic with cabins and frame dwellings in all stages of erection, many of them occupied before being finished. One hundred arrivals per day is a low average estimate of the people who came flocking to the new El Dorado from all parts of the Union ; from Maine as well as Texas, from Ore- gon and from Florida. The town was early incor- porated into a city, with a Mayor and Board of Aldermen, an active police department put in order, an efiicient fire department organized. Everything in the city grew in proportion to the development of the mines ; as these in 1877 would pass from hand to hand for a few thousands, and in 1879 command millions, so town lots that brought but $25 in the spring of 1878, brought $5,000 in the summer of 1879, and many real- estate operators were made rich thereby. The principal business streets, at the present writing, we name in the order of their importance : Harrison avenue, Chestnut, State, Main and Pine streets, Lafayette, Carbonate, Jefierson and Lincoln avenues. The banks, principal public buildings and hotels are located on Harrison avenue and Chestnut street. That Leadville is a lively town may well be imagined ; but one can hardly reahze it who has not stood within its borders and witnessed the mighty flood of humanity that, day and night, in a never-ceasing tide, surges through the principal thoroughfares. Its great wealth, its increasing prosperity, naturally make it the point to which D \, 70 HISTORY OF COLORADO. converge all the elements of social and business activity, and all classes are represented, from the Mexican greaser to the son of an ex-President. The man of prominence in public life who has not seen LeadvUle will soon be set down as being behind the age, and if a United States Senator cannot say to his comrades that he has been impor- tuned to buy (in a quiet way) a gold brick that the owner is compelled to part with because of circum- stances beyond his control, etc., etc., why, he is looked upon as having missed an experience that might have proved valuable to him. Leadville by daylight is a sight to behold. The streets are full of teams of all kinds, the sidewalks of men, mostly, also, of all kinds. Harrison ave- nue and Chesnut street are the main channels through which the tides of humanity flow. Oftentimes, at the banks, men stand in rows long lengthened out, awaiting an opportunity to deposit rolls of greenbacks or their slips of checks that indicate figures well up into the thousands. The resonant voice of the auctioneer sounds out upon the air every hour of the day, importuning this one or that one, or the other, to buy at a tre- mendous sacrifice, some article that he has no use for. Under the windows of the hotels, around the comer against the sunny side of the wall, in num- berless other places, can be seen groups of men whose talk of mines is like the chatter of a parrot ceaselessly repeating the one cry it has learned. The changes on the word "assay" are numberless, even as are the webs that are woven by the mining spider for the tenderfooted fly who, in speculative mood, is invited to enter and — ^be made happy, perhaps, by the purchase of a twenty-million-dollar mine for twenty hundred dollars, because the owner, my dear sir, lacks the money to develop it. If there ever is a point when the thoughtful-minded might stand for hours and find the study of human- ity a fascinating one, it is at the post office at Lead- ville, in watching the countenances of those who come and go, come and go, in one unceasing stream, a living tide, the bubbles of 'whose feelings seem to float upon their faces as ripples float outward when a pebble drops into a stream. Eager anticipation on arrival gives way to blank, utter despondency on departure, with some. Others hurry in, with box-key in hand, and soon emerge with a handful of correspondence not half so highly prized as is the one dirty brown envelope in which you can see the crooked scrawl of some hand of loved one far away at home in the States, that is all unused to frequent correspondence. This, in the hand of the man in the brown garb of the miner, is often worth more to him than a letter would be to another con- taining drafts to an untold amount, for it has come to him from home, that word more blessed than any other word to the wanderer among the hills. But if Leadville by daylight is a sight to be- hold, Leadville by gaslight is still more wonderful and far more suggestive. The teams are absent from the streets, safely housed in corral and stall ; but the men — -and a few women — are around, and the streets are fairly alive with excitement. The teamsters are out for "a lark,'' and the miners are swarming in to " take in the sights." The thea- ters and variety-shows, whose handbills have been scattered over the town during the day, now have their bands out, helping to drum -up an audience. The saloons— but who can describe these? — are full, and painted-faced women are running to and fro from the bar to the difierent groups at the tables, with their salver, on which rests foaming beer and the more insidious liquors. It is not sur- prising to know that $500 is ofl^n taken in one saloon of an evening. Then, the gambling-houses are in fiiU blast, and the old adage of " Easy come, easy gone," is nightly Ulustrated in these dens of infamy and hot-beds of crime. " Life in Leadville," one writer has observed, " tends to prodigality, be- cause those who come on business or pleasure, or to stay, are all bent on seeing what there is to see, regardless of expense, and with as little delay as possible." But life in such a town tends to profli- gacy as well. It is not to be understood that the level of soci- ety in Leadville is wholly low. By no means ; but the lower levels undoubtedly predominate. As ^7. -^ HISTORY OF COLOEADO. 71 ^1 time goes by, and a greater stability is given to the institutions, and permanence to the homes, the ele- ments that go to make up the higher social life will increase and have their due effect. But great lawlessness and vice are prevalent throughout the carbonate camp, and when, after nightfall, one can hardly ride out three miles from the center of the town without running the risk of a bullet, if the demand, " Hands up ! " is not complied with ; or if passing along the sidewalk, one is lucky if a stray shot, intended for some one else, does not crash through the windows of a low grog-shop, and reach him, it cannot be said that Leadville has, as yet, settled down to that security of life, limb and property, which prevails elsewhere throughout the State * The best grades of society are beginning to clus- ter in Leadville. But at present, money-making is the one idea, and all the energies of the individual are bent in that direction. Church and school facilities are not equal to the demand, and tem- perance organizations do not thrive, as yet, in the carbonate camp. But time, that sets all things even, wUI eventually remedy the evils that at pres- ent exist, and Leadville will become the home of the wealthy, the cultivated and the refined. A sketch of Leadville can hardly be said to be complete without a brief description, or at least an enumeration, of the mines from whose depths such wonderful mineral wealth has been taken. The first mines discovered, which have since proved to be among the richest of the district, were the Iron Mine (better known as the Stevens and Leiter Mine), the G-allagher (now known as the Camp Bird), the Carbonate (formerly called the Hallock and Cooper), and the Little Pittsburgh; These are still among the richest mines in the whole carbonate belt, and have yielded immense sums of money to their fortunate owners. Although the first-named mines were known many months before the discovery of the Little Pittsburgh, it was not until the opening of this * Since the above was written, the moral atmosphere of Leadville has improved materially, thanks to Judge Lynch. famous lode that public attention was fairly directed toward Leadville. The best mines are located within a radius of four miles from the heart of the city, are easy of access and but a short distance from the reduction works, where all the ore is reduced to bullion. Fryer Hill, so named in honor of the man who discovered one of the most valuable mines about the camp, the New Discovery, is one of the lowest ranges of hills surrounding the city and lies about one mile to the northeast of the center of the town. Upon this hill are to be found the mines which have made the name of Leadville famous. Among those well known and best developed, are the Little Pittsburgh, New Discovery, Winnemuc, Dives, Little Chief, Vulture, Chrysolite, Carbon- iferous, Little Eva, Kobert E. Lee, Climax, Dun- can and Matchless, all well-known, producing mines. Besides these, there are many others. Directly to the south of Fryer HOI, and separ- ated therefrom by a small creek, known as Stray Horse, lies Carbonate Hill, upon which are found the Carbonate, Morning Star, Crescent, Pendery, Little Giant, Shamrock, ^tna, Walden, Forsaken, Monto Cristo, Agassiz, Maid of Erin and others. East of Carbonate Hill is to be found Iron Hill, so called because of the famous iron mine, the old- est and best-known mine in the district. Here also are the Bull's Eye, Silver Wave, Law, Camp Bird, Adelaide, Pine, Silver Cord, Jones, Lime, Star of the West and Smuggler, all near California Gulch. Northeast of Iron Hill, and about one mile dis- tant, is Breece HUl, upon which are found the celebrated Breece Iron Mines, consisting of the William Penn, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Gen. Cadwallader. Also the justly famed High- land Chief, Colorado Prince, Black Prince, Miner Boy, Lowland Chief, Robert Burns, Gilderry, Highland Mary, Fanny Rawlings, Eliza, Daisy, Denver, Idaho and Nevada, all overlooking Evans Creek. Scarcely half a mile distant from the last- named mines, lie the Little Ella, Izzard, Virginius, New Year's, Trade Dollar and Grand View. "^ — ®hv , > HISTORY OF COLORADO. Directly south from this lasf^named hill, is Long and Deny Hill, upon which are found the rich mines known as the J. P. Dana, Porphyry and Faint Hope, the property of the two men in whose honor the hiU was named. The names of the mines thus far given com- prise only those that are best known, not by any means all of the producing mines in and about Leadville. Scores more coidd be added were it necessary. A late authority on these mines says, " The pre- dictions that the mines will soon be exhausted, and the prosperity of the camp short-lived, are made only by those who have not considered all sides of the situation. There is no reason why a body of ore inclining sUghtly below the horizontal should not be as continuous as a vertical vein. The ease and rapidity with which the ore is mined is so much in favor of the mines, for every one is desir- ous of making money in the shortest possible time. Better than all this, continual and rapid enlargement of the ore-producing areas by number- less discoveries, make up many times over for any exhaustion of ground in the older locations. Bet- ter still are the seemingly endless layers or strata of ore, one below another." Another writer, dis- cussing the nature of lead veins generally, says, " The most important features of lead veins, lodes or beds in all of the rich lead-fields known, are that they are horizontal like coal veins or beds and run one under another, the same as coal veins, and always extend downward to the very bottom of the lead-bearing rock or stratum or strata, as the case may be. Such is held to be the nature of the carbonate veins of Leadville. And if it be true that these beds extend to the bottom of the lead- bearing rock, how deep does such strata extend ? Upon a careful examination, for several months, of this mining region, I find it running from nearly the top of the highest mountains to the bottom of the deepest gulches. It is a general rule that metallic veins grow richer and larger as they go deeper in the earth. I have no doubt at all that the richest veins or deposits here will be found below the bottom of the gulch, and that the time will soon come when millions of tons will be raised from below the beds of our deepest gulches." If this writer should prove a true prophet, what a ftiture lies in store for the great carbonate camp, whose present output of ore averages one thousand tons per day, of an average value of $60 per ton. Not infrequently ore is found which runs many hundreds. Leadville is well supplied with smelters or reduction works, where ore is reduced to bullion. These works are kept running night and day, the fires in the furnaces never being extinguished except for repairs. These smelters give employ- ment to about one thousand men. In one respect in particular, Leadville has dif- fered from almost every other mining center known. While these have had their periods of great lawlessness and disorder, when the turbulent element in society, which always seeks frontier towns, ran riot and reftised to recognize the restraints imposed by the law until the strong hand of the vigilantes brought them into subjection, Leadville has been comparatively free from any organized system of outlawry or disorder. Crimes abound, but they are the result of individual raids, and not of organized and well disciplined ruffian- ism. The authorities are active in their efforts to redeem the name of the town from the odium that attaches even to these cases, that almost daily oc- (3ur. Lives are lost, property destroyed, valuables stolen, but the general peace has been maintained and order generally enforced. Of course, all kinds of business pursued in the older cities of the West are carried on in the new city. The business houses are now commodious, some of them even imposing, while the amount of business transacted would do no discredit to cities of double the number of inhabitants and scores of years of existence. The denominations that have built churches are the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and Catholic. These places are well attended every Sabbath. There are, of course, thousands of people in the ■V* , X HISTORY OF COLORADO. 73 city who prefer what is called the sacred concert in the saloons to the sacred music of the choir in the church, and who never are seen inside a place of worship. But this may be said of other cities. The floating class of population in the town is one great reason why this is so in Leadville. If the permanent population is only taken into considera- tion, Leadville, in this particular, probably does not differ much irom the older and longer estab- lished cities of the country. The public schools are of but recent growth, but they are well conducted, with teachers able and competent, and the public interest in their suc- cess is increasing. There are four banks, four theaters, one hos- pital, a number of hotels, and an opera house, the finest between St. Louis and San Francisco. During the summer months, from June to Sep- tember, the nights are very rare when blankets will not be found a necessity. Warm woolen clothing is worn at all seasons of the year. The average daily temperature of summer is*60°, while that of winter is 26° The rainy season is from June to August, when showers may be expected nearly every day. The clear, cold days of winter, when the thermometer marks zero, or even below that point, are not so disagreeable and cold as on the Atlantic Coast or in the Mississippi Valley, with the thermometer at freezing-point. Snow frequently falls to the depth of many feet in a single night. During the winter months, it is no uncommon event to have a snow-storm every day. The air is dry, very thin and rarefied ; so mush so that persons unaccustomed to such high altitudes feel a sense of oppression about the chest, and experience much difficulty in breathing. Those afflicted with weak lungs or heart disease cannot endure the altitude of Leadville. The air being so much thinner than at the sea level, the pressure is removed, the heart beats faster, and the blood, rushing through the lungs much more rap- idly than usual, causes the deUcate air-cells to become severed and hemorrhage is the inevitable result. The heart being diseased, it is unable to perform the ftinetions demanded of it, and it sud- denly ceases to beat. Persons of temperate habit and of strong constitution, taking proper care of themselves, will probably live as long in Leadville as in cities and towns nearer the level of the sea. As a mining town, probably Leadville has no superior on the civilized globe. It has grown from a few miners' cabins in 1877 to a thriving, pros- perous city, with thousands of inhabitants, and its ftiture seems still bright with abundant promise, The Denver & South Park Railroad is now com- pleted and in operation to a point within thirty miles of the carbonate metropolis, and is going ■ ahead with a prospect of reaching Leadville early in the spring. Work on the railroad up the Arkansas Valley has been suspended by litigation, but it is expected that it, too, will be completed next summer. With two lines of railway, Leadville will take a new lease of prosperity. CHAPTER XIII. HISTORY OF THE FIRST COLORADO REGIMENT. THE question, Is Colorado for the Union, or will it declare for secession ? was early forced upon the consideration of the people, far removed though they seemed to be from the scene of active operations. But the war no sooner broke out than it was evident that the emergency was arising. The Southern element was strong in society. Geor- gians had first discovered gold in the country, and this had led to the influx of a large Southern popu- lation. In the latter part of August, 1861, the news of the battle of Bull Run reached Denver. This resulted in the secession element boldly avowing Is 4V 74 HISTORY OF COLORADO. hostility to the Union, raising secession flags, buying up arms, and in other ways making prepar- ations to declare for the Confederacy. But Gov. Gilpin was a stanch Union man, and surrounded himself at once with men who were prominent in public life and alive to the emergency. But a short time elapsed before the first Colorado regi- ment was organized, with the following officers : Colonel, J. P. Slough ; Lieutenant Colonel, S. F. Tappan ; Major, J. M. Chivington. Captains — Company A, E. W. Wynkoop ; Com- pany B, S. M. Logan ; Company C, Richard Sopris ; Company D, Jacob Downing ; Company E, S. J. Anthony; Company F, S. H. Cook; Company G, J. W. Hambleton ; Company H, George L. San- born ; Company I, Charles Mailie ; Company K, C. P. Marion. Recruiting offices were opened at various points, and, in two months, the necessary complement of men were secured and they were in barracks on the Platte, about two miles from Denver. The camp was called Camp Weld, in honor of the then Secretary of the Territory. No definite authority had been given the Governor, as yet, to raise troops, but his drafts on the United States Treasury to defray the expense of clothing and sustaining the force were duly honored, and his action thus indorsed by the Government. To this judicious and prompt action of Gov. Gilpin is no doubt due the fact that Colorado escaped the civil convulsions that desolated other portions of the Union. An armed force of a thousand men was well calculated to " preserve the peace," even in so isolated a part of the country and among such a scattered population. But months of idleness in such a rough camp naturally brought about a great deal of dissension and many desertions. It was difficult to keep in perfect discipline such a motley set of volunteers, while the doubts as to their acceptance into the service of the Government had its natural ten- dency to cause disaffection. In the first days of the year 1863, an express arrived from the South with the news of the advance on New Mexico of three or four thousand Texans under Brig. Gen. H. H. Sibley, and a call for assistance. If the regiment had promptly started, it would probably have prevented the Tex- ans from entering the Territory. Put the troops, having been mustered into the service, could only be moved out of Colorado by orders from head- quarters. Application was made to Gen. Hunter for authority to send the regiment to the aid of New Mexico, and when the desired orders reached Denver, the regiment received the word to march with a great deal of satisfaction, for idleness, that mother of mischief, had been very bxisy of late in sowing the seeds of dissension in the camp. Noth- ing to do had become intolerable to these men, accustomed to rough, stirring work ; and the news from New Mexico, of Texan invasion, had become as a beacon star of their existence. On the 22d of February — a day hailed as a good omen for the cause in which they were engaged — ^the regiment left Denver. Companies E and F reached Fort Wise — -now Fort Lyon — where an order met them from Gen. Hunter, assigning them to the support of Col. Canby in New Mexico, with New Orleans as the ultimate point of destination, the balance of the regiment meeting them at the foot of the Raton Mountains on the 7th of March. The march to Port Union, which was a hasty one, caused by rumors that the Texans were threatening the fort, brought them there on the 13th. Here was found some four hundred regulars, who welcomed the arrival ot the volunteers with cheers, as it was evi- dent that the Texan forces were triumphantly sweeping the country about them, and the- troops at the Fort totally inadequate to check their prog- ress. On the 14th, news from Gen. Canby announced his capture of a large train coming from the South with an escort of one hundred and fifty men. Gen. Sibley was reported at Santa Fe, with recruits rapidly coming in. On the 22d, the regiment, accompanied by two light batteries, Capts. Ritter and Claflin, Capt. \t^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 75 Ford's company of volunteers and two companies of the Fifth In&ntry, Col. Slough in command, his force numbering about thirteen hundred, left Camp Union for Santa Fe. When within twenty miles of this point, information was Teoeived of the approach of a force of eight hundred Texans. On the night of the 24th, Lieut. Nelson, with twenty men, met and captured a picket guard of the enemy and sent them back to the reserve. The battle of Apache Canon occurred on the 26th. (This point had already been made historical in the annals of warfare by the stand made by the Mexi- can General, Armijo, during the Mexican war.) About four hundred men, equally divided into infantry and cavalry, under command of Chiving- ton, here met a force of fully double their number. This force was encountered about six miles inside the canon at about 2 P. M., and were met by the troops and driven, after three different stands had been made, out of the cafion. The loss was five killed, thirteen wounded and three missing. The rebels lost, as near as could be learned, forty killed, seventy-five wounded and one hundred and eight prisoners, including seven commissioned officers. On the 27th, Col. Slough arrived with the re- serve and camped upon the battle-ground. On the morning of the 28th, Companies A, B, E and H, of the First Colorado, Ford's company, and A and G of the Fifth Infantry Regulars, were detached from the command and sent to the left to cross the mountains to get in the rear of the enemy. The balance of the command, numbering about six hundred, moved foward toward Santa Fe. When in the canon of Pigeon's Ranche, the pickets were driven in. The enemy was approaching. The men, not being aware of their close proximity, were engaged in filling their canteens with water, with their arms stacked in the road. They were called to attention, and Capt. Kaster, of Company I, was ordered to advance on the right ; Capt. Downing with Company D, on the left of a narrow canon, and met the enemy as they approached, in order that the balance of the command could form and give them a warm reception. Capts. Ritter and Claflin, of the Regulars, moved their battery in the canon, advancing and firing, the balance of the command being used as supports. The battle lasted about nine hours, victory finally resting with the Union forces, but with a loss of a large num- ber (134) of killed and wounded. But the enemy's loss was much greater, as taken from their own Surgeon's books ; two hundred and fifty-one being killed, two hundred fwounded, and over one hundred prisoners, out of a force of eighteen hundred. On the evening after the battie, the detachment under Maj. Chivington, that had been sent over the mountains, rejoined the command. He had left camp in the morning, crossed the mountains with , no regard to obstacles, routes or aught else save direction, and succeeded in gaining the rear of the enemy. Scattering their rearguard to the winds, he blew up and destroyed their supply-train of seventy wagons, containing all the ammunition, provisions, clothing and other supplies of war that they had in the Territory, spiked one six-pounder with a ramrod and tumbled it down the mountain, and then regained the camp. This was no doubt the irreparable blow that compelled the Texans to evacuate the Territory, and its audacity was one of the main causes of its success. It was the intention to renew the battle the next morning, but daylight dawned upon a retreating foe, and on the 2d of April, the regiment entered Port Union. An absence of eleven days of travel, in which two battles, redounding to their credit, had been fought, had given the troops a right to the rest that seemed to be before them. But this rest was of short duration. Hardly had two days elapsed before orders reached camp to break up. Gen. Canby had left Fort Craig, and the regiment was ordered south to divert the enemy's attention or aid in driving him out of the country. About one hundred of the prisoners at Fort Union, released on parole, accompanied them, returning to their own party. On the 10th, the troops reached a little town called Galisteo, about twenty miles from Santa Fe. Here information was received of Gen. Canby's 9 1^ 76 HISTORY or COLORADO. whereabouts. He had come up from Fort Craig, and, making a feint of attacking the enemy, who had fallen back on Albuquerque, had reached a small town at the head of Camuel Pass, about forty miles distant. The Texans were reported as 2,000 strong, and, apparently satisfied with the experi- ence of Apache Canon and Pigeon's Ranche, were not very eager for the fray. About this time, Col. Slough resigned his command and left for Gen. Canby's camp. Upright and honorable, of unquestioned ability and undoubted integrity, he seemed to lack in the elements that attract popu- larity. The movements succeeding the battle of Pigeon's Ranche, when, with troops flushed with victory and ready to complete the destruction of the enemy, orders were received to stop fighting, were dictated by an authority higher than his own, and he had only to obey orders. This he did, but resigned his commission shortly after, and the fact that the President at once nominated him for Brigadier General goes to prove that his services were appreciated, at least at headquarters. On the 13th, the regiment joined Gen. Canby in the densely timbered hills of Camuel Pass, where he was camped, with four pieces of artillery and 1,200 men. Here, April 14, Maj. Chivington was promoted over the head of Lieut. Col. Tappan, to the colonelcy of the regiment, subject to the ap- proval of Gov. Gilpin. The battle of Peralta, occurring April 15, be- tween the troops under Canby and the force of Gen. Sibley, was almost a bloodless one. The rec- ords show that it would have been apparently easy for the Colorado troops to have attacked and routed the enemy ; but, for some unexplained rea- son, they were allowed to withdraw their forces, without any special hindrance from Gen. Canby. Col. Chivington offered to do battle with his regi- ment alone, but the offer was declined. A few artillery shots were fired, the army drawn up in line of battle for six hours, and then finally or- dered back, while the enemy took advantage of this to cross and make good their escape, going down one side of the stream while the Union army marched along the other. The foe was constantly in sight for twenty-four hours before they finally disappeared. A few days afterward, while still on the march, word was brought that the Texans had buried all their artillery, burned their wagons, and were marching through the mountains toward Mesilla. The active campaign was evidently over. For two months or more, the regiment camped at Val Verde, awaiting supplies, which had to come from Port Union, 300 miles distant. On the 4th of July, Col. Howe, Third U. S. Cavalry, arrived with a squad of officers from the States, and took command of the Southern Depart- ment, relieving Col. Chivington, who immediately proceeded to Santa Fe and procured an order from Gen. Canby for the First to march to Fort Union as soon as practicable. Thence, via Denver, he proceeded to Washington to get the regiment transferred, if possible, to a more active field of service, or, if he could not succeed in this, to have the men mounted ; with what success will be noted later. Shortly afterward, preparations were made for the march of the regiment, in detachments, by different routes to Fort Union. Companies A, P and G left the camp on the 16th of August, arriving at Union on the 4th of September. Here Company F remained while A and G moved on to Port Lyon. Companies C and E started up the river in July, passed by Fort Union, crossed the Raton Mountains and camped for a time on the Purgatoire, where they made some efforts to smoke out the guerrilla Madi- son, which were unsuccessful. They then pro- ceeded to Cimmaron to quell some disturbances among the Indians assembled there to receive their annuities, and finally marched to Fort Lamed. About this time, news of the following Special Order arrived : EXTKACT. Headquartees Depaktment of the Missouri, I St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 1, 1862. / Special Order No. 36. Pursuant to orders from the Secretary of War and the election of Gov. Evans of Colorado Territory, the First Regiment Colorado Volunteers, commanded by s ^y £:ei^. ^^'^a'?-?-? iSeZD liL^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 77 Col. Chivington, will be converted into a cavalry regi- ment, to be denominated the First Cavalry of Colorado. The Quartermaster and Ordnance Departments will furnish and change equipments to suit the change of arms. * * * The regiment will rendezvous in Colorado Territory ; headquarters at Denver. By command of Maj. Gen. Curtis. N. P. CiiiPMAN, Colonel and Chief of Staff. The welcome news soon traveled east and south to Lamed and Union. In consequence, the com- panies at the former posts received instructions to report at Colorado City to witness the change from a regiment of volunteers to that of cavalry. Col. Clark, of the Ninth Kansas, refusing to recognize the order, Col. Tappan proceeded to Leavenworth and had the news confirmed by Gen. Blunt. December 13, the company leftXarned and, travel- ing about four hundred miles, reached Colorado City about the end of December. D and Gr had also been ordered to Larned in the latter part of September. They tramped back over that weary interval in midwinter, destitute of fiiel and with but scant transportation. Their horses met them on the Arkansas, and on the 1st of January — a welcome New Year's present — were issued to them. H, K and B came up the Kio Grande to Santa Fe ; thence the first two went on to Port Garland, remained a short time and then marched to Colo- rado City. B repaired to Fort Union. D and I were the last to leave the lower country. They also came up the Grand Valley, halted at Union a day or tw,o and then proceeded to Fort Lyon. F was, in connection with B, assigned to garrison duty at Fort Union. Gen. Canby was relieved, early in October, by Gen. Carlton of the California Volunteers, who established a new post on the Pecos, about one hundred miles southeast of Santa Fe, and Compan- ies B, F and L were assigned to that locality ; but while the preparations for the advance of the expe- dition were progressing, the news came that the regiment was to concentrate at Fort Scott, Kan., to be mounted. On the 13th of November, they bade final adieu to Fort Union, crossed the Eaton Range, made the Arkansas, and in due time arrived at Colorado City instead of Fort Scott. Early in January, 1863, all the companies had reached the point of concentration, whence they marched to Denver, reaching the city on the 13th, into which they were very handsomely escorted by the Third Regiment of Volunteers and a large concourse of citizens. Service had some- what thinned their ranks; they had undergone many hardships, had borne patiently with the con- tumely generally heaped upon volunteers by the regulars, had born their share of the brunt of battles bravely won and now were welcomed back by the admiring populace in the principal city of the State of whose early history they had made for themselves ag imperishable part. In 1865, the regiment, after doing scout duty and looking after the Indians, who were occasion- ally troublesome, was disbanded. CHAPTER XIV. HISTORY OF THE SECOND COLORADO REGIMENT. IT seems proper, in giving a ftill history of the Second Colorado Regiment, to prefix it with a concise sketch of the raising and services of the two companies that formed the nucleus of the regiment and did such excellent work in New Mexico before the other ones were raised. These companies were incidentally mentioned in our account of the doings of the First Colorado, with the intention of doing them more complete justice in their proper place, which we now proceed to do. These two gallant companies were recruited under the order of Gov. Gilpin, principally in Park, Lake, Summit and Fremont Counties, one by Capt. Hendrew, with T. H. Dodd as First -V :^ 78 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Lieutenant and J. C. W. Hall as Second Lieuten- ant, and the otter by Capt. James H. Ford, with Lieuts. De Forest and Clark, in the fall' of 1861, and all rendezvoused at. Canon City about December 1st. Hendrew, with his company, marched first to Fort Garland, suffering all the fatigue and hard- ships of a winter's march over the Sangre de Christo Range, where Maj. Whiting, of the regular army, waited to muster them into the service. Some indiscretions committed by Capt. Hendrew made the Major refuse to muster him in, and, as the men had been chiefly enlisted by Hendrew, they were allowed to choose between remaining under another Captain or returning to their homes. Eighty-four out of eighty-seven had come to stay, however, which speaks volumes for their patriotism and pluck. They were accordingly mustered into service on the 22d of December, with Dodd as Captain and Hall and Piatt as Lieutenants, and designated as Company B. About this time, Capt. Ford arrived with his men, and Company A was thus mustered into service. It was supposed that arms, accouterments, cloth- ing, camp and garrison equipage awaited them here. But in this they were mistaken, and, illy prepared as they were for further marching, two days after arrival at the fort. Company B was ordered to Santa Fe. Capt. Dodd started at once with six men from Company A to act as teamsters for the scanty ox transportation furnished him. They crossed the range, experiencing fearful hardships, and reached Santa , Fe, a distance of 180 miles, on the 1st of January, 1862. Arms, uniforms, etc., were issued here, and the men drilled for active duty for a few days, when orders were received for all the available troops to proceed by forced marches to the relief of Gen. Canby, who was being menaced at Fort Craig by the secessionists under Gen. Sibley. Company B was attached to the regular troops for this cam- paign, and in two days the command reached Albuquerque. From there, the march to Fort Craig was rapidly continued, and soon reached Gen. Canby. On the 15th of February, Gen. Sibley appeared in force. On the 20th, some fighting took place, in which private Hugh Brown was killed. The battle of Val Verde occurred on the 21st, in which the boys of Company B participated and gallantly acquitted themselves. During the battle, Capt. Dodd encountered a well-equipped and dis- ciplined battalion of Texan Lancers, under Maj. Lang, whom the company kept fighting long after the bugle had sounded a recall. Seventy-two of the lancers were killed, while Capt. Dodd lost only four killed and thirty-eight wounded, the most of whom ultimately recovered from their wounds. Afler the battle. Gen. Canby found himself without men enough to warrant him in following up the Texans. He remained cooped up at Fort Craig for several weeks, his supplies all cut off, and him- self and troops suffering severely for want of them. Company A, meanwhile, started from Caiion City, reached Fort Garland, and thence took up the Une of march for Santa Fe, with ox trans- portation. From Santa Fe they pushed on to Fort Union, enduring the usual amount of hardships. Here the First Colorado, under Col. Slough, joined them, and shortly after occurred the battles of Apache Canon and Pigeon's Ranche, of which an account has already been given. Company A was with Maj. Chivington in his successful raid on the enemy's transportation, which he burned and utterly destroyed, with all its stores. Afterward, the command marched to Albuquerque, where a union was effected with Gen. Canby. At the run- ning fight at Peralta, Companies A and B both participated, it being the first time they had met since the parting at Fort Garland. They partici- pated in the pursuit of Sibley to the vicinity of Mesilla, during which there was some skirmishing, but no regular battles. After the enemy had dis- persed and made his escape in scattered bands to the Texan firontier. Companies A and B returned by easy marches via Santa Fe to Fort Union. They remained on duty in Gen. Canby's department »r a ;^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 79 until the spring of 1863, when they, united with the balance of the regiment at its rendezvous at Fort Lyon. The oflB^cers and men had already made for themselves a glorious record, redounding, as well to the honor of Colorado. It was a brill- iant prelude to the future enviable history of the regiment. It need not be added that they were received with open arms by their comrades, whose laurels were yet unwon. Henceforth the history of Companies A and B is that of the regiment itself. On the 17th of February, 1862, the Secretary of War authorized Col. J. H. Leavenworth to raise six companies of volunteer infantry in Colorado, which, with four other companies already in service there, were to form the Second Regiment of Col- orado Volunteers, of which he was appointed Colonel. Reporting to Maj. Gren. Halleck, at St. Louis, then commanding the department of which Colorado formed a part, he was assigned at once to active duty in this department, without being per- mitted to proceed at once on his mission of recruit- ing and completing the organization of his regiment, and it was not until May, 1862, that he. reached Denver to perform this duty. / In June, the following appointments were made : Lieut. Col. T. H. Dodd. Captains — -Company E, J. Nelson Smith; Company F, L. D. Rowell ; Company Gr, Reuben Howard ; Company H, George West ; Company I, E. D. Boyd ; Company K, S. W. Wagner. Often, before a company was half enlisted, they would be ordered oiF on some detached service, which the critical situation of affairs at Colorado at this time urgently demanded. We find, from an examination of a journal kept during the sum- mer by Lieut. Burrell, such entries as the following : " Jan. 16. — Expedition sent to assist authorities in enforcing civil process in Vraie Run district. " July 7. — Gov. Evans orders another expedi- tion against Little Owl and Arapahoes, at Cache a la Poudre. "July 18. — Capt. Wagoner started to-day on another Indian expedition, by direction of Gov. Evans, taking the Bradford road. Destination, Middle Park. " Aug. 3. — Capt. West, with Lieuts Howard and Roe, and detachments of Companies G and H, arrived at Fort Union, bringing in lost horses." Under circumstances like these, the recruits were detached and scattered before being fully organ- ized, even into companies, much less into a regi- ment, and then properly drilled for service. The Indian element upon Colorado's frontier, and, indeed, within her entire domain, was at that time in sympathy, to a great extent, with tribes within the boundaries of Texas, Utah and other Territories, who were under the influence of rebel emissaries, and encouraged to believe that the plundering of Government trains and the stealing of private or public stock and property was alike free booty for them as for rebels. There were at this time, at Camp Weld, the recruiting station of the regiment, four mountain howitzers belonging to the Government, which Gen. Canby, commanding the department of New Mexico had, at the request of Gen. Blunt, at the time in command of the District of Colorado and Western Kansas, placed in charge of Col. Leaven- worth, for the protection of the Territory. These were entirely useless without artillerymen, and, in accordance with his instructions, he deemed it right and proper to enlist a company of men, under promise that, when they should be mustered in, it should be either as cavalry or a battery, having no doubt that his course would be approved by the proper authorities. How this was done will appear further on. In the latter part of August, orders were received for the removal of the headquarters of the regi- ment to Fort Lyon, and, on the 22d, they were en route, reaching the fort in seven days, a distance of 240 miles. From this time forward until October, Lieut. Brownell's journal is full of memoranda relating to orders and the movements of the regiment in detachments, showing much escort and scouting 5 "V .^ 80 HISTORY OF COLOKADO. service, while all the time the enlistment of men was going forward. Orders came, under date of October 11, from the War Department, ordering either the First or Second Regiment to be mounted, the selection to be left with the Governor, who chose the First Colorados. This selection did not weigh so heavily upon the men of the regiment as the news that their regiment was to be crippled by the taking- away of the company formed for cavalry service, and for doing which Col. Leavenworth seemed likely to suffer. The regiment remained at Fort Lyon until April 6, 1863, when Lieut. Col. Dodd, with six companies, marched to Fort Leavenworth, where they were shortly afterward joined by the Colonel and his staff. June 8, Col. Leavenworth, under orders from Gen. Blunt, assumed command of all the troops on the Santa Fe road, with headquarters at Fort Lamed. About this time, military affairs on the frontier between New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, were becoming decidedly interesting. Texan troops with disloyal Indians were again concentrating to push their successes, if possible, through into Col- orado. Companies A, B, E, G, H and I, in connection with other troops, under command of Lieut. Col. Dodd, were detached and ordered out to meet the enemy, and, on the 2d of July, 1863, occurred the battle of Cabin Creek, in which some forty of the enemy were killed and wounded, with the loss of but one killed and twenty wounded on the side of the Colorado troops. Shortly after, the command went on duty at Fort Gibson until the arrival of Gen. Blunt from the north, when preparations were at once made for an advance movement. On the 16th. the little army, numbering about one thousand four hundred, rank and file, crossed the Arkansas near the mouth of Grand River, and, on thp following day, met at Honey Springs the Confederate forces, numbering about six thousand men, under command of Gen. Cooper. Gen. Blunt attacked him af once, and. after a hard-fought battle (lasting some two hours), succeeded in routing him, with a loss of 400 killed, wounded and missing, according to his own accounts, he having been so closely pressed as to compel him to abandon his dead and wounded and to bum all his stores to prevent them from falling into Gen. Blunt's hands. Total loss on the Union side 14 killed, and 30 wounded. The gallant Colorado Second bore a prominent part in this engage- ment, being opposed by a rebel battery that was pouring its deadly missiles into its ranks, when they charged and succeeded in capturing one of the guns, and dispersing the Texans aft«r a hard fight, in which four men were killed, and the same number wounded. Gen. Blunt, considering his force insufficient for pursuit, fell back to Fort Gibson. In August, having been re-enforced, he started south to drive the rebels from the country, and retake Fort Smith, which he succeeded in doing, with but little loss on his side. Returning to Col. Leavenworth's record, we find him in command at Fort Lamed, in July, 1863, protecting, under Gen. Blunt's orders, the Santa Fe road and its approaches from the enemy, fre- quently sending out scouting parties to reconnoiter, sometimes leading the scouts himself, and endeavor- ing to keep the various tribes of Indians in that section from joining the rebels. Thus, we find him and the troops under him engaged, when, on the 19th of October, Special Order No. 431 of the Adjutant General's Ofiice, of September 26, 1863, by which his connection with the service was terminated, reached him at Fort Lamed. He immediately resigned his com- mand of the post to Capt. James W. Parmeter, and retired from service. Subsequently, on a re- view of the facts on which his dismissal from the service were based, by Judge Advocate Holt, this unjust order was recalled^ and he was honorably discharged from the service of the United States, " such recall," using the words of Judge Advocate General Holt, " of the previous order, and honor- able discharge, will operate to clear his record as ^^ ^1 ll^ MOUNT OP THE HOLY CROSS. •^ ® -^ ® ll^ ,^ HISTOBY OF COLORADO. 83 'C of-the-way corner, and a tombstone marked "Wagoner" would be placed over him, and such was glory. Poor fellow, he met his fate manftilly. Did not his coming fate throw its shadow on him then? Nor must we forget gallant >f* HISTOEY OF COLOEADO. 85 Corp. Baer and eight privates who died, selling their lives dearly; not one surrendering or asking for quarter, as none was given or received in the guerrilla warfare of the border counties. " The death of Capt. Wagoner and his men occurred on the 4th of July. Shortly after, defi- nite information was received of a large number of recruits for the Confederate service that were being gathered in Platte, Clay and Ray Counties, under Col. Coon Thornton, preparatory to making their way south to the Confederate Knes. A dash upon them was determined upon by Col. Ford, although the rendezvous was outside of his district, and with his available companies the Colonel embarked upon boats at Kansas City on the 13th of July, and proceeded up the river to Weston, where he was joined by Col. Jennison, of the Fifteenth Kansas. Our scouts had brought the information that Thornton was at Camden Point, and the command moved forward rapidly. About half a mile west of town, Thornton had posted a strong mounted picket, while his main command — comprising some two hundred and fifty men — were making their final preparations for departure, having on that day been presented with a handsome flag by their lady sympathizers of Platte City, and were having a general good time. " The picket was struck by our advance, under Capt. Moses and Lieut. Wise, with M and D squadrons. As the Confederate picket separated to the right and left upon diverging roads, and were followed by the two squadrons of the Second Colorado ; Capt. West with his squadron, F, was sent forward on the direct road to town, and pounced upon Thornton just as his command had mounted, and were moving out, entirely uncon- scious of the proximity of the Federals. The fight was 'short, sharp and decisive,' and all over be- fore the main command came up. Thornton's total loss was twenty-three killed, while Capt. West lost but one man killed — ^private Charles K. Flannagan — and one wounded — Sergt. Luther K. Crane — but had six or eight horses killed or so badly wounded as to cause them to bo shot by his order. The flag that had just been presented to Thornton's boys was captured, and now graces the ofiice of Adjt. Gen. Roe. " Col. Ford's command camped at Camden Point for the night, and, on the following day, proceeded to Liberty, from which point scouting was contin- ued for several days. "Thornton's command was pursued and com- pletely broken up, while another detachment under Capts. Moses and Rouell, scouting near Liberty, were surrounded and attacked by a greatly supe- rior force of Anderson's guerrillas, under Ander- son himself Being surrounded and overpowered, Capts. Moses and Rouell, with their men, took refuge in the brush, and, with the loss of only three or four men killed and wounded, were again re-assembled, and, aAer scouting over the rest of the district, returned to Kansas City, while Ander- son's band returned eastward to other scenes of rapine and murder. " la tbis manner passed the months of July, August and September — continued skirmishes, pursuits, captures, deaths and losses. The aggre- gate for the summer was large. The individual acts of gallantry, fortitude and desperate bravery were so numerous and so continued that it is im- possible to individualize acts, as all fought to the death, surrender to guerrillas meaning death after capture. Words cannot do justice to the horrors of such warfare; nor can the tragedies which cruelty, violence, rapine and the worst passions of civU war evoked in partisan warfare ever be fully known. The worst passions had their fiiU un- Ucensed range, and in the lawless career of the -leaders of guerrilla bands, such as Todd, Quantrell, Anderson and Vaughan, pity and humanity were unknown ; slaughter, plunder, arson and murder followed ever in their van. "In the end of September, 1864, news reached the border counties of Missouri that Gen. Price, with a formidable force from Arkansas, had reached the borders of Southeast Missouri, and, with renewed energy, was marching to capture St. Louis, overrun the State of Missouri, and, by such 9 V i >?• 86 HISTORY OF COLORADO. a diversion, help the failing fortunes of the Confed- eracy. Xt this time, the twelve squadrons of the regiment were in the District of the Border, under the command of Cols. Ford and Dodd and Majs. Smith and Pritohard, while seventeen officers and some forty picked men were on staif duty in the Division of the Mississippi, scattered over from Santa Fe to New Orleans in the Department of the Gulf " In October, 1864, Price, frustrated in his attempt toward St. Louis by his disastrous victory at Pilot Knob, struck off across the country to capture Jefferson City, which he besieged and attacked October 8 and 9. Thirteen officers and men of the Second Colorado were present at this attack, which being repulsed, and G-en. Price fear- ing the approach of the overwhelming forces of Rosecranz and Pleasanton, took the roads leading west, and hurried on to capture and destroy the forces in Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, reach St. Joseph, recruit his ranks, and, getting the mihtary stores of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas City, Glasgow and St. Joseph, retreat again south with his booty. " His forces numbered cavalry, light artillery and mounted infantry. With these he overran the river counties, capturing Booneville, Glasgow and SedaUa, and drove Gen. Blunt out of Lexington. Gen. Blunt, under whose orders Col. Ford, with the Second Colorado Cavalry and First Colorado. Battery, was placed, had been absent some time toward Lexington. Capt. West was sent to him from Independence with dispatches from Gen. Curtis, who had meanwhile reached Independence from Leavenworth, and assumed command of the forces in the field. Capt. West, with his squad- ron, reached the environs of Lexington, on the river road, about dusk, and was pushing rapidly forward in order to reach the town and deliver his dispatches to Gen. Blunt before dark. He was, of course, entirely ignorant of the state of affairs at Lexington, but would doubtless have found out in a few moments but for a fortuitous circumstance. When within a quarter of a mile of the outskirts of the town, he was met by Capt. Jack Curtis, of the Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, who, with two squadrons, had been cut off from his regiment during the battle that h^d been raging all the afternoon, and had gallantly cut his way out of the enemy's lines, and was now rather anxiously look- ing for his fiiends. Recognizing the commander of the approaching squadron, he challenged him with ' Hello, West, where are you going ? ' ' I'm going to Lexington ! ' was the confident reply, but his confidence was somewhat shaken by seeing Jack go down into his pocket in a business sort of way, remarking, as he pulled out his wallet, ' I've got a hundred-dollar note that says you ain't 1 ' Curtis' explanation of the situation probably saved West from being taken in by Price bodily, although he always claimed that Price was the one to be thankfiil for the circumstance of his being turned back ! Most of his old comrades, however, still persist in the belief that his 52 men would not have been able to cope with Gen. Price and his 16,000 veterans successfiiUy. " Be that as it may. West didn't try it, but, fol- lowing Curtis' directions, struck Gen. Blunt's retreating column about 9 o'clock, and delivered his dispatches. The night was rainy and extreme- ly dark, but as soon as a house could be reached on the line of retreat. Gen. Blunt read the dis- patch of Gen. Curtis, prepared a hasty reply, and ordered Capt. West to make all possible haste to Gen. Curtis at Independence, which point he reached at about 2 o'clock next morning, having ridden eighty miles with his squadron since 10 o'clock the day before, without getting out of the saddle. " The dispatch from Gen. Blunt informed Gen. Curtis that the rebels, in strong force, were swarm- ing westward. Preparations to resist and impede their march westward were immediately begun. The Fifteenth and Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, and the Second Colorado Cavalry, with the First Color- rado Battery, were marched to a point near Little Blue River, six miles east of Independence, and took, under the command of Col. Ford, a position -f- ^^ 9 4V HISTORY OP COLORADO. 87 on the brow of the wooded hills west of Blue Mills bridge. ' ' This position, defective, intersected by rail fences, and flanked on the north, east and west by thick woods, was immediately occupied by the cavalry brigade. Though Col. Ford obeyed the order to do so from his superior officer with zeal and alacrity, we have the testimony of field aid- de-camp, Lieut. Wise, of Col. Ford's staflF, that this position had in it no feature to recom- mend itself, and from the first appearance of Gen. Price's steady veterans, who on foot rushed through the woods on both their flanks, and, by their superiority of fire and numbers, the point became untenable, and all that could be done was to retreat slowly and re-form to oppose the massed columns of Price's. men, who knew every inch of the ground familiarly, and steadily forced the small brigade of 2,500 men to the outskirts of Independence. The opening of the conflict was fierce, sanguinary and desperate, Todd leading the Confederate cavalry, and Smith leading the battalion of the Second Colo- rado. Almost at the first fire, Maj. Smith fell, shot through the heart, while Todd at the same time also fell, killed outright. The firing, at short range, was murderous and destructive, and, joined to the shells of a battery that Price had planted near the edge of the woods, caused a heavy loss to Ford's command. Here some men, with Maj. Smith, left their bodies on the field, while the woods on the east were strewn with dead Confederates. Well seconded by the First Colorado Battery, the brigade disputed the ground, making a last desperate stand near Independence. After a short contest, our men were overpowered, retreated through Inde- pendence, and fell back to the main body near Big Blue River, leaving their wounded in Independ- ence. " Lively skirmishing was kept up all the following day, with Price's advance, at and near Big Blue, until, on the second day, the advance of Gren. Pleasanton with a heavy cavalry force, drove the Confederates from Independence, by which several hundred prisoners, with two pieces of cannon, were captured by Col. Catherwood,of the Thirteenth Mis- souri Cavalry, the main force under Price having that day given up going to Kansas City to give battle to Gens. Curtis and Blunt, near Westport. The Second Colorado, with the regular Kansas Cavalry ' and the First Colorado Battery, were placed near the Westport and Brush Creek road, the important key of the whole position by which the easy approach to Kansas City was disputed to Gen. Price's advance. The main brunt of the whole battle was here during the hotly contested day ; the whole of Brush Creek prairie was covered with dense masses of cavalry, while close on the rear of Price Gen. Pleasanton was driving them from Bry- am's Ford. " The road at Brush Creek, west of Col. Magee's house, runs between parallel solid walls of stone. Capt. Green's battalion, of the Second Colorado, held the road, the men dismounted, the Confeder- ates resolutely charged in the lane en masse ; Green charged them fiercely, broke their ranks, and though losing very heavily, routed the collected mass densely crowded between the walls. Here Col. Magee, of the Confederate forces, was killed almost in sight of his home. The contest continued with varying fortune until late on Sun- day afternoon, when a final charge of the Second Colorado and the rapid work of the First Colorado Battery compelled the retreat of Price's men in a southerly direction toward Little Santa Fe. The Second Cavalry camped that night on Brush Creek, wearied out, but the Confederates had been thwarted in their attempt to enter Kansas. Noth- ing remained to do but to pursue the demoralized army of Price, now almost surrounded and rapidly retreating toward Arkansas. The following day was spent in rearguard skirmishes, which culminated with the rout of Price at the Osage, Mine Creek and Mound City. At Fort Scott the troops rested a few hours, then the Fifteenth and Tenth Kansas Cavalry, with the Second Colorado Cavalry and First Colorado Baf^ tery kept on the pursuit. Mile after mile the race continued, when finally, at Newtonia, Price made ■^ w ,^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. his last stand. The small brigade of cavalry, with the First Colorado Battery, pitched in regardless of numbers and of its cost. To and fro the battle raged, but with varying success. At one time, a ■ large portion of the Second Colorado was for twenty minutes in line without carbine ammunition the fire was kept up with revolvers, or else they faced death powerless to act until boxes were filled again. Late in the afternoon, the Confederates prepared to make a final charge, and then swallow up by sheer force of numbers the small brigade opposed to them. McLean's Colorado Battery hammered away and kept up a close, vigorous fire, yet the odds were against us. At last. Gen. San- ■ born at the critical moment appeared with re-en- forcements. One more charge and, the rebels broken, the battle of Newtonia was won. Col. Ford displayed rare energy in this contest, while among the men individual instances of great cour- age proved the splendid material developed in this long arduous campaign. The Second Colorado Cavalry lost here forty-two men besides the wounded. The regiment joined in the pursuit, which finally terminated by driving Price over the Arkansas River. " In December, 1864, after the return from the Price campaign, the regiment was ordered imme- diately to the District of the Arkansas to inaugu- rate a cam'J)aign against the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Kiowa and Comanche Indians. The regiment was ordered to concentrate at Fort Riley, Kansas, then to be refitted and placed on an efficient footing to inaugurate winter scouts on the Republican, Smoky Hill and Salina Forks, and on the Arkansas River ; headquarters to be at Fort Riley, and the Santa Fe road to be protected as far west as Fort Lyon. " In the spring, Col. Ford, being promoted to be a Brigadier General by brevet, took command of the district. In April, May and June, 1865, heavy re-enforcements of cavalry and infantry were sent to the District of the Arkansas, until in June the effective force of the district amounted to over 5,500 men and two batteries. This large force, distributed at a multitude of posts and stations, was fitted out for a summer campaign south of the Arkansas River, the beginning of the cam- paign to be July 6, 1865. Three columns of infantry and cavalry, with one battery of horse artillery to each column, amounting to 1,800 men in each column, were to meet in the neighborhood of the Wichita Mountains. After scouring the whole country from the Little Arkansas to the Cimarron crossing, one column from the Little Arkansas moving west and southwest, one column from above Fort Dodge from either Aubrey or Cimarron, crossing to move south and southeast, while the third column was to move from near Lamed, and cross directly toward Buffalo Creek and the Wichita Mountains. " Everything was prepared ; the troops assembled at Larned, Zarah and Dodge, while large trains of provisions and forage were loaded and ready. On the 6th of July, orders came to Gen. Ford to sus- pend indefinitely the proposed campaign. "Irritated, disgusted and disheartened, Gen. Ford left Port Lamed, went to Leavenworth, ten- dered his resignation and left the service. The command was turned over to Gen. Sanborn, who, in August, satisfied that nothing except signal pun- ishment would answer with the hostile Indians, prepared again an expeditionary force to chastise them. Again, on the eve of the military move- ment contemplated, the Indian Department broke up the campaign. " During all the spring and summer of 1865, the Second Colorado Cavalry was kept incessantly moving; but, except Capt. Kingsbury's company and some small detachments of other squadrons, no great amount of fighting was done with the treach- erous skulking redskins. Seven men were killed and some wounded, but except the privations inci- dent to a summer campaign over the dry, waterless prairies of the Arkansas, the troops faired gener- ally well. " The death of Corp. Douglass, of Company D, Second Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, and three enlisted men of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, ■^ ^1 '.iL -^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 89 murdered, cut to pieces and scalped near Running Turkey Creek, was the cruelest tragedy of that summer's work. Douglass was sent as bearer of military dispatches from Council Grove to all the military posts on the Santa Fe road as far as Fort Dodge. At Cottonwood, he took three men with him for escort. Near Running Turkey Creek, they were set upon by a band of Indians, and, within two miles from the post, were run down, killed, scalped, maimed and stripped. " In September, 1865, the glad order came that the regiment, or, rather, what was left of it, should proceed to Fort Leavenworth and be mustered out. In October, 1865, the muster-out took place — the last farewell grasp of hand in soldierly companion- ship was given. Three cheers for the Second Col- orado Cavalry, the flags and guidons were furled, six hundred and seventy-three men stepped out, and the strife was ended. For the dead, who peaceftilly sleep at Honey Springs, farewell. Apache Caiion, Cabin Creek, Westport, Newtonia, and on the Osage we can say : " ' How glorious falls the radiant sword in hand, In front of battle for their native land.' " CHAPTER XV. SKETCH OF THE THIRD COLORADO. IN August, 1862, Gov. Evans was directed to raise a regiment to be called the Third Colorado Volunteer Infantry. On the 22d he appointed a number of recruiting officers. Recruiting offices were opened in Denver and elsewhere, but very few enlisted until the mining season was over. Headquarters for a long while were on Larimer street, where the First National Bank now stands, and the camp named Camp Elbert, after Gov. Evans' popular and efficient Secretary of the Terri- tory. In December, headquarters was removed to Camp Weld. Lieuts. Holloway and Norton opened offices in Gilpin County, Lieut. Harbour in Sum- mit, Lieut. Crocker in Lake, Lieut. Elmer in Park, Lieuts. Moses and Post in Clear Creek, and Lieuts. Wanless and Castle in Denver. In the latter part of October, recruiting had become active. By the 1st of February, 1863, troops had been mustered in and the First Battalion organized with commis- sioned officers as follows : Lieutenant Colonel, commanding, S. S. Curtis. Company A, R. R. Harbour, Captain ; Company B, E. W. Kingsbury; Company C, E. P. Elmer; Company D, G. W. Morton ; Company E, Thomas Moses, Jr. Company A came mainly from Summit County, Company B from Arapahoe and Boulder, Com- pany C from Park and Lake, Company D from Gilpin, and Company E from Clear Creek. The announcement for Colonel and Major of the regiment, when organized, was James H. Ford, Colonel, and Jesse L. Pritchard, Major. Orders had been received from department headquarters as early as January for the battalion to march as soon as organized. Considerable delay was caused by want of sufficient transportation, and it was not till the 3d of March that the troops left Camp Weld on the march for the States by way of the South Platte Valley. The command passed Fort Kearney April 1, reaching Fort Leav- enworth on the 23d, where it went into camp, near the post. On the 26th, orders were received to go to St. Louis, and, having transportation by steamboat and rail, were landed at Sulphur Springs, a station on the Iron Mountain Railroad, twenty miles below St. Louis, where the men went into camp for instruction. On the 21st, the command was ordered to Pilot Knob, where it formed part of the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Frontier. On the 2d of June, the infantry in ■^ '.^ 90 HISTORY or COLORADO. this eomniand were ordered to Vicksburg, but just as the Third Colorado was ready to march, orders were received assigning them to post duty at Pilot Knob, under Brig. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk. Here the men were put to severe fatigue duty and assisted very materially in the construction of Fort Hamilton, a stronghold which the rebels, during the Brice raid, found impossible to carry by assault. September 8, Companies C and E were ordered along the line, of the railroad, while A, B and D remained on post and provost duty at Pilot Knob. In October, information reached the command that the Second and Third Regiments were to be consolidated and form the Second Colorado Cavalry, and the First Battalion was ordered to proceed to Rolla, Mo., without delay. The command left Pilot Knob October 23, marching across the country to Rolla, where it arrived on the 28th and went into camp near Fort Wyman. It remained here, performing post duty, until December Y, when it was ordered to St. Louis, arriving there on the evening of the 8th, and on the 9th went into quarters at Benton Barracks and ceased to exist as the Third Colorado Cavalry, Companies A, B, C, D and E becoming Companies H, I, K, L and M of the Second Colorado Cavalry. ■ CHAPTER XVI. THE GEOLOGY OP COLORADO. GEOLOGY, as the science treating of the struct- ure of the earth on which we live, is one of man's most fascinating studies. The various changes that have occurred during the vast expanse of time that stretches into the infinite and dim dis- tances of the past, attract some minds with mag- netic influence, and a lifetime is all too short to complete the study of the rocks wherein we find traced the gradual but undeviating progress of the earth from the Azoic Age to that of our own time. The story, as told by the mighty mountain ranges whose jagged edges present fire-forged surfaces to the sun, or by the bowlders whose wonderful smoothness indicates the powerful action of water and ice, is an almost unending one. He who can read it understandingly, can find something more than a sermon in a stone ; he can trace from the very infancy of the world's history — almost from the time when it was " without form and void ; " when but the highest points of the Sierras were as rocky islands in the midst of an ocean, forward through its successive stages as the earth's form assumed a habitable shape, and life, in its lowest form, began to appear upon its surface, and sea, land and air became full of activity, until he beholds it in its present condition, yet still moving forward under the mysterious laws of nature, that so slowly and yet so surely evolve changes, trans- forming barren wastes into cultivated fields, build- ing up islands in mid-ocean, lowering the levels of continents on one side of the globe, and uplifting vast reaches of mainland on the other. It is a study in which the mind can find an unlimited range of facts, illustrating the creative force exist- ing about us, though one we are hardly able to grasp in all its infinite variety and illimita- ble power. He who runs may read a few of the wonders that are visible upon the face of nature ; but he who stays and ponders, with his hammer in his hand, unfolds rock-pages one by one, whose story becomes legible at once, and remains forever open to the eyes of man. It has been aptly said that " the structure of the earth has been of inter- est to man from the earliest times, not merely on account of the useful materials he obtained from its rocky formations, but also for the curiosity awakened by the strange objects presented to his notice." Earthquakes have changed the position of sea and land ; volcanoes have added layers of molten rock to mud and sand filled with the shells r .<0d<^S^ ^1 HISTORY or COLORADO. 91 of inland seas ; the hills present strata abounding in evidences of marine life now far removed from the sea-border. "These phenomena could not escape the attention of the philosophers among the ' ancient Egyptian and Indian races, and their influ- ence is perceived in the strange mixtures of cor- rect observations and extravagant conceits which make up their cosmogonies or universal theories of the creation.'' And of all countries in the world, Colorado presents within its area of mountain ranges a field so deep and wide as to seem almost inexhaustible for all coming ages. Its system of parks alone — once vast inland seas — as they become better known and their resources made plain to the material eye — is attracting the attention of scientists more and more every year. " In this new world, which is the old," one stands within the inner temple of the world's history. "We note the weird working of the wind in the fantastic shapes that stand upon the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountain range, while here and there we see evidences of volcanic action ; but on the western slope lies a vast volcanic region, stretching for three hundred miles and expanding in some places to one hundred miles in width, revealing a naked plain, giving indubitable evidence of the fiery forces that once were in full play, but have now died out, leaving their story , written in letters of lava over the entire surface. Prom the highest peaks to the lowest valleys, the hieroglyphics of antiquity are far plainer in the world of nature than are those engraven on obelisk and wall in the ruined cities, that tell of bygone skill in the arts and sciences in the cities of the eastern world. But here Geology opens her wonderful book and we pause to linger, look and finally long to know more of that strange, mysterious past, those ages long gone by, those eons enveloped in mystery — save as strata aft,er strata are exposed, evoking the panorama of progress startling in its insignificancy, stoutly enunciating the truths of science and adding new force to that expressive sentence of Holy Writ, that a thousand years are but as a day in His eyes, who is maker and ruler of the world. It is but natural that the opinion should prevail that our State is too young to have much of a his- tory. Yet it has one, it will be seen, older than that of the race which inhabits the globe. It stretches out through the ages, from the very incip- iency of the creation of the globe, of which it forms so uplifted a portion, and is impressed on the rocks which compose it as with an indelible pen of fire. The ranges of Colorado are unquestionably as old as the Silurian period and doubtless even reach- ing to the Azoic era. It is not, however, to be taken for granted that they were as high or as broad as they are at present. The bar- ren pinnacles — save where crowned with the eternal snow — of the mighty peaks resting upon the ridges forming the backbone of the continent, were indi- cated but did not present the bold front they now do. The elevation of the mountain chains was gradual, and the snow-crowned summits and rocky buttresses give evidence of far-apart geologic ages. The cooling of the globe and the shrinkage of its crust had much to do with their formation, and immense periods of time must have been consumed in the task of lifting these stately peaks to their present position upon the surface of the globe. The general outline was, no doubt, similar to that we see to-day, but with features marked by lines giving clear hints of what they were to be, each bare, ragged ridge of quartz and granite a mere indication — as the child is of the man — of the lordly mountain, now towering into upper space and forming a part of the crest of a mighty conti- nent. As early as the period known as the Silurian, these mountains consisted of separate chains, and inland seas marked the spots where the great parks now are. The ocean swept over what is now the valley of the Eio Grande, passing up to the head of the San Luis Valley, then much wider than it is now, at the same time laving both eastern and western slopes, and probably communicating with the inland seas between the two ranges. It wiU be thus seen that the Rocky Mountains were long, liL^ 92 HISTORY OF COLORADO. rocky islands, wearing down continually by the flow of a thousand streams, caused by incessant rains. With the ocean on every side, evaporation, owing to the thinness of the earth's crust, proceed- ing much more rapidly than it does now, the rains must have been constant and violent. The conglomerates in the Middle Park and San Luis Valley attributed to the Silurian age, consist of large pebbles and bowlders, principally of gran- ite, gneiss and quartz. They are indicative of the force with which water swept down from some old mountain chain occupying a position at one side of that held by the present mountains, and carried them into the ocean ; their fragments constituting a large portion of their successors. A process of upheaval and degradation must have been carried on simultaneously for many millions of years. Just as in a forest the individual trees die and fall, and from their dust arise new trees and the forest continues for ages, so has it been with our broad Sierra ranges, pulled down, on the one hand, by torrents sweeping over them with resistless force, and, on the other hand, continually upheaved by contraction of the earth's crust. And as it has been, so it will probably continue to be, though the process will necessarily be a slower one in the ftiture. During the succeeding period — that of the Devonian— it would seem as though the earth's surface was treated with less violence ; smaller peb- bles are found contained in the conglomerates, while the limestones and shales indicate seas that were peaceful in motion and quiescent in action. To this a more abundant life therein gives indis- putable evidence. Lucoidal impressions abound in a water-line of this age. The mountains were steadily growing, princi- pally in an easterly and westerly direction. Slowly the great parks lifted their broad, expansive bosoms to the sunlight; the water drained off, swamps were exposed where only the deep, deep seas had been, until, in the Carboniferous period that fol- lowed, an abundant vegetation sprung up, whose accumulated remains, buried by the inflowings of the ocean, formed, in the course of time, vast beds of carboniferous coal. During the Permean and Oolitic periods, but little is as yet known of the history of the mount- ainous portion of Colorado. But eastward of the mountains, the sea covered the country, depositing limestones of great thickness, abounding with char- acteristic shells. Of the Cretaceous period we can write more fully. The ocean waves swept up and down both sides of the mountains, laving their rugged sides. The ranges were evidently several miles narrower than they are at present, for rocks formed at the sea bottom during this period can be found occupy- ing summits two and three thousand feet above the level of the plain. Inland seas once again swept over the surface of the great parks, for the elevar tion of the higher mountains does not seem to have been by steady uplift; they appear to have been followed by subsidences many times repeated, before the ranges settled into permanence. The Middle Park probably communicated with the western ocean through Gore Pass, then a strait similar to the Strait of Babelmandel, between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Three-fourths of Colorado was covered by the waves of ocean, in which abounded fishes and shells of many species ; the wonderful profusion of their remains along the base of the mountains, stretching southward from Colorado Springs to the Spanish Peaks, abundantly testify of the life that swarmed in the warm and shallow waters. The plains to the south and south- east of Colorado Springs, are strewn for an hun- dred miles with fossil shells of the Cretaceous period, especially baculites, better known as fossil fishes by persons unacquainted with their nature. Near the Sangre de Christo Pass, thin beds of calciferous or limy sandstone alternate with the limestones and contain immense numbers of bones and teeth of fishes. Weathered slabs may be seen at the foot of the Sierra Mohada or Wet Mountains, on which a hundred perfect teeth could be counted, many of them flat and folded teeth, which formed a pave- ment for the jaws, enabling their possessors to ;^ 1^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 93 crush the shells and crustaceas on which they fed. The sea which occupied the Middle Park and communicated with the great Western Ocean, con- tained many baeuUtes and some conchifers. To- ward the latter part of the Cretaceous period, the parks seem to have been again elevated and the communication with the exterior ocean cut oiF, never to be resumed; brackish lakes, abounding with fish, took the place of the previous interior seas, subsequently becoming fresh-water lakes. During the Tertiary period, where now stand Denver and Grolden, a large swamp existed, extend- ing for hundreds of miles, north into British Columbia and south into New Mexico. In this swamp, a rank vegetation flourished for a long period, vegetation of a much more modern char- acter than that of the coal measures, consisting largely bf coniferous trees. In the course of time, as can well be imagined, an immense mass of vege- table matter accumulated, eventually to be covered with the clay, sand and pebbles that were swept down from the neighboring mountains.. Thus was produced the Tertiary coal formations, which may be seen at Golden, Coal Creek, and other places in the vicinity, with their coal beds, under-clays and iron ores, bearing a great resemblance to the car- boniferous coal measures. Here are revealed the largest development of the Tertiary coal-bearing strata west of the Mississippi. On the western side of the mountains a similar condition of things seems to have existed, and coal beds were formed resembling those on the eastern slope, but changes of level seem to have caused the formation of a greater number of coal beds of less thickness. Afier the deposition of the coal measures, lakes of fresh or brackish water covered most of the western and central parts of Colorado, as well as the valley at the foot of the eastern range. At this time, the higher grounds were adorned with palms and trees indigenous to a tropical country, many of them resinous and of a strange aspect, while some were of more modem appearance, especially those on the moun- tains. The quiet of the Cretaceous and of the early Tertiary periods must have continued for ages. But there came a change at last. The rocks of this age show strongly and distinctly the evidence of a stormy time, in which fire and water united to leave an indelible impression upon the land. Once more the mountains were elevated, carrying with them the beds made at the sea bottom during the preceding age. Earthquakes rent the mountains in twain, and volcanoes poured out molten streams of fire. A greater part of Middle Park was a sea of fire. During this time were formed the traps whose frowning battlements are visible near the Hot Sulphur springs, and that cover so large a por- tion of the park. Previous to this, but during the same period, west of the western range successive beds of lava were poured out over a large area, some under water, until their aggregate thickness amounted to thousands of feet. Largely swept off by denuding agencies, these beds lie exposed, presenting an enormous wall, having a height of 'at least three thousand feet above the valley and a length of more than twenty miles. These beds also extend westward, forming the Grore Range. It would be interesting to know where the volcanoes, are from which flowed the lava that formed these immense beds. Along the base of the eastern range similar streams were poured out; but these have been denuded to a still greater extent. A portion of what must have been an immense bed can be seen near.Grolden, forming a small mesa or table-land, known as Table Mountain. The lava here is 250 feet thick. Similar beds must have extended over the country between Pike's Peak and the Spanish Peaks, though all have utterly disappeared since that time, save one outlying mass in the valley of the Huerfano, which is a striking object for a radius of many miles, looking, as it does, like an immense pillar erected in the valley. It has given the name of Huerfano (which is the Spanish name for orphan) to the stream that glides so quietly by it, to the lovely park in which the stream vr :^ p^ 94 HISTORY OF COLORADO. rises, and to the pleasant valley through which it runs. Connected with these volcanic disturbances were numerous hot springs, the water of which, con- taining silica in solution, traversed the ground everywhere, and petrified the wood that was buried in its vicinity. To this source are we indebted for the beautijful specimens of petrified wood so com- mon throughout Colorado, and for the solid trees silicified to the heart. A large lake covered Western Colorado, extend- ing into Utah, during the middle part of the Ter- tiary period. Into it flowed numerous streams, carrying fine mud, and at one time immense quan- tities of petroleum issuing probably from numerous and powerftil springs. Trees, bearing great resem- blance to oak, maple, willow and other niodern trees, together with a large number that are now extinct, covered the surface of the land. Hosts of insects filled the air about the margin of this vast expanse of water, while in it swam turtles and aquatic pachyderms, somewhat resembling the tapir in appearance, lived in the rivers that sup- plied it, and fed upon the plants that grew in great abundance on the margins. The water of the lake was, in all probability, brackish in its character, containing but few moUusks, but abound- ing in turtles possessing thick, bony shells. Beds from two to three thousand feet in thickness were formed at the bottom, so great was the amount of sediment that was continually being carried into it. This must have been brought about by the grad- ual sinking of the lake bottom, giving room for such enormous deposits, which sinking probably coincided with the elevation of the mountain ranges upon the east and west of it. The Glacial or Drift period followed, in due course of time, the Tertiary period. But there are little, if any, evidences of drift action upon the plains proper, and it is rare that unequivocal evi- dences are met with even along the base of the mountains, on the eastern side. It is when we find ourselves far up among the majestic gorges that we begin to perceive abundant proofs all about us of "glacial action." On the Fontain qui Bouille, eight miles above Colorado Springs, and at the foot of Pike's Peak, at what is now known all over the country as Manitou, are immense granite bowlders, lying near soda, sulphur and iron springs, whose healing qualities attract thousands to them every year. Below there are to be found some lateral moraines, principally composed of large bowlders, left by some glaciers that once passed down a small valley and joined, near that point, a larger one which traversed the valley of the Fontain qui Bouille. In this latitude, the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains are barren of snow during the months of July and August. There are bowlder-beds of large extent, and from thirty to forty feet high, in a beautiful park on South Boulder Creek, in the northern part of the State. They lie about six miles below the snowy peaks, cut through and exposed on each side' of the stream which takes its name from them. The bed is full of them, running quite down into the val- ley. On South Clear Creek, not many miles above the city of Greorgetown, many rooks were exposed at the time the road over the Berthoud Pass was being constructed. On the surfaces of some of these, glacial striae are distinctly visible ; this is the only place in the State east of the snowy range where they have been seen, and their general ab- sence is remarkable. Evidences of glacial action increases as one ascends to the higher altitudes. No longer are the valleys bordered by rocks that are rough and craggy, as they are in the lower portions; but they are nearly as rounded and smooth in their outlines as are the chalk downs of England or the glacier-planed hills of the old Bay State. West of the Middle Park, on the flat summit of the Gore Range, can be found rocks planed and plowed into deep iurrows with a due westerly direction. These can be found continuing down the mountain-side until they reach the valley of the White River, wherein are to be found numer- ous terminal moraines, brought by contributary glaciers proceeding from the highlands on both 9 V lii^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 95 sides, but principally on the south. These moraines are also abundantly visible at the mouths of the various small streams that flow into White Kiver, for a distance of nearly one hundred miles from the top of the range. It would seem to be a fact established beyond question that, during the Drift period, the vast ex- panse of the Rocky Mountains was not only cov- ered with snow on its highest summits, but that the valleys were filled with ice and snow which did not melt, but kept continually pressing down the mountain gorges toward the plain. These were thickest and most glacial in their character as they neared the mountains and Upon the western slopes ; they became thinner and occupied but the bottoms of the valleys as the glaciers descended, melting, at last, into numerous streams laden with debris that finally found a resting-place upon the plains below. But since that icy era, wonderful changes have been evoked. The climate has been remarkably modified, especially on the western range has it changed. Once possessing a most rigorous climate, now pines grow on it two thousand feet higher up than they do upon the eastern side. The glaciers are gone from the valleys and only the snowy patches upon the highest points remain in witness of the immense ice-fields of the far-away ages of the past. Passing now from the geological history of the State to its more positive geology, we begin with the Granitic formation, which is the oldest forma- tion of all, resulting from the cooling of the primi- tive mass of fiery liquid composing the globe. This formation may be seen upon and beyond the snowy range of the Rocky Mountains in various parts of the State, but more abundantly upon the western slope than upon the eastern. In masses of true granite, syenite, or porphyry it makes its appearance, notably on McClellan Mountain, in the Argentine Silver District, where it is seen to have been thrust through younger formations to the prominent position that it now occupies ; it is found also on the west side of Boulder Pass, where massive granitic ranges form the buttresses of the snowy Sierra, as we descend to the Middle Park, and also on the western side of the park, where it forms the grand mountain that encom- passes it. Of metamorphic rocks, gneiss is by far the most abundant, and most of the gold-bearing veins are formed in gneissoid rocks, though among the mining people they are generally termed granite. Pine exposures are to be seen near Black Hawk, the lines of stratification marking the mountain- side as stripes mark the body of a zebra. Resting upon the granite in the Middle Park, on the banks of the Grand River, are exposures of conglomerate, probably of Silurian age, overlaid by sandstones and limestones, probably of Devonian age, and above this are found the coal measures of the carboniferous formation. Near the Sangre de Christo Pass, the granite is overlaid by slates and limestones, probably of Silurian age, the lime- stones containing crinoidal fragments, but too small for the identification of the species. Farther to the north are to be found mountains composed of conglomerates, formed of pebbles, bowlders, and large masses of gneiss, granite, mica-schist and hornblend-schist, with gneissoid rocks, slate and limestone, on their flanks. Rocks of the Permean age have been discovered on the plains in the eastern part of Colorado, consisting principally of limestones, some of which abound with the characteristic fossils of this period. The Cretaceous formation is well represented, especially along the base of the mountains on the eastern side. The shells of the inoceramus are found in a limestone at Boulder, baculites of large size and great abundance on the Platte, a few miles from Denver, while the limestones lying between Colorado Springs and Pueblo contain the inocera- mus, scaphites, baculites, ammonites and other characteristic cretaceous fossils. These beds extend for a considerable distance to the eastward, and in wearing down under the action of atmospheric agencies, masses have been left in conical hills, looking like gigantic ant-hills; on these fossils can fc. 'A 96 HISTORY OF COLORADO. be picked up in great abundance. Between Pueblo and the Sangre de Christo Pass, the teeth, spines and bones of fishes, principally of the genera Ptychodus and Lamna, so common in the cretaceous beds of England, are found in remark- able profusion. There is a ranche on the Green- horn River where is contained the finest deposit of fossils of this description that has yet been dis- covered. The Cretaceous formation is well represented in the Middle Park by baculite beds and sandstone, abounding with the scales of fishes; and the posi- tion of these beds as they occur on one of the streams in Middle Park, shows as follows:" First. Two hundred feet of lava, containing agates and chalcedony. Second. Four hundred feet of white sandstone and quartzose conglomerate, in which are to be found fossil woods in fragments, with some bones of mammals and birds. Third. Four hundred feet of shaly sandstones full of the scales of cycloidal fishes. Fourth. Twenty feet of blue limestone. Fifth. Five hundred feet of shales, marls and sandstones, containing fish teeth, bac- ulites, conchifers and tucoids. Of these numbers, three, four and five are probably cretaceous; the rest tertiary. From the disintegration of the lava come the agates and chalcedonies of the park. Where the lava mingles with the sandstone and other material of the second, agates and fossil lie mixed together on the surface. The slabs of shaly sandstones are covered with the scales of cycloidal fishes, that is, of fishes resembling those of the salmon and the trout. The baculite beds are so denominated because of the great number and large size of the baculites found in them. The Tertiary formation may be said to have a remarkable development in Colorado. It shows a thickness of over ten thousand feet on the western side of the Rocky Mountains, from the Gore Range, which is composed of tertiary lavas, to the Junc- tion of White and Green Rivers. Here are to be found the coal measures, containing many thin veins of coal, beds of gypsum, thin beds of lime- stone, and, above these, petroleum shales of at least a thousand feet in thickness, abounding in fossil leaves and insects, the shales containing them oceurring at points sixty miles apart., and, above them, brown sandstone and conglomerates having a thickness of from twelve hundred to fifteen hun- dred feet, and containing sUicified wood, turtles, and bones and teeth of large mammals. They lie in the following order in the valley of the White River : About two thousand feet of red and white sandstone, followed by twelve hundred feet of brown sandstones, alternating with blue shales and beds of conglomerate ; in these are found bones of mammals and turtles, while, particularly noticeable in the lower shales, deciduous leaves and insects are found. There are also seen perpendicular veins of petroleum. Next succeeds a thousand feet of petroleum shales, varying in color from cream to black, one bed, twenty feet thick, resembling can- nel coal. Here, also, are found insects and the leaves of deciduous trees. The next in the series is eight hundred feet of white and light-brown sandstones, white shales on which are to be found ripple marks, brown shales and shaly sandstones. To these succeed a thousand feet of thick, white sandstones, and brown shales, and thick, brown sandstones weathered into cavities. Then follow the coal measures, fully twenty-seven hundred feet, to wit : Sandstone, limestone containing conchs and small gasteropods, blue, black and brown shales, under-clays, beds of coal or lignite ; brown sandstones and shales, very soft; coal in vari- ous beds, with under-clays ; white sandstones, with alternating blue shales. To the soft shales, we are indebted for the two wide expansions in the White River Valley. Seventh in the order follows fourteen hundred feet of compact red sand- stones, white sandstones, red sandstones shaly and micaceous, with thin, fetid limestones containing fragments of shells. To these succeed three hun- dred feet of soft, yellow sandstone, and, finally, about two hundred feet of gypsum. It is to be under- stood that the foregoing are only estimated thick- nesses, they having in no case been measured by the one who examined them. The upper beds are -^7 '\ ^^^ HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 97 formed near the junction of the White and Green Rivers in Utah ; the lower ones near the Gore range, where they are covered by immense beds of lava, in some places, especially on the eastern side of the range, alternating with beds of white and friable sandstone lying in a perfectly horizontal position and rising to a height on the top of the Eange of about thirteen thousand feet. The groups of gypsum, soft, yellow standstone, and thin fetid limestone make their appearance in valleys upon the eastern side of the range, the lava having been poured out, apparently, during the period of the lower tertiary coal measure. Mr. Samuel H. Scudder, an eminent member of the Boston Society of Natural History, who has made the study of fossil insects a specialty, had submitted to him a number of specimens taken from the petroleum shales ; the report he returned was as follows : " This is the fifth discovery of fossil insects in this country, if some tracks and an apparent larva in the Triassic rocks of the Connecticut Valley be correctly referred to insects ; but it is the first time that they have been found in the tertiary beds of America. These were obtained by Prof Denton while on a trip of exploration west of the Rocky Mountain range, not far from the junction of White and Green Rivers in Colo- rado. " The specimens were brought from two local- ities, called by Prof Denton Fossil Caiion and Chagrin Valley, lying about sixty miles apart. The rocks in both cases are the same ; above are beds of red sandstone, passing occasionally into conglomerate and thin beds of bluish and cream- colored shale alternating with the sandstone, all dipping to the west at an angle of about twenty degrees. These contain fossil wood of deciduous trees, fragments of large bones, most of which are solid, and turtles, some of which are two feet in length and perfect. Prof. Denton considers this sandstone as probably of Miocene age. Beneath these rocks are beds of petroleum shale a thousand feet in thickness, varying in color from a Ught cream to inky blackness ; these shales are filled with innumerable leaves of deciduous trees, and throughout their extent the remains of insects abound. The specimens brought home are about fifty in number, many of the little slabs contain- ing several dificrent species of insects upon them. The number of species amounts to about fifty also, although some of the specimens are so fragmentary or imperfectly preserved as to be difficult and often impossible of identification. " The most abundant forms are Diptera, and they comprise, indeed, two-thirds of the whole number, either in the larval or perfect state ; the others are mostly very minute Goleoptera, and besides these are several Homoptera, an ant be- longing to the genus Myrmica, a night-flying moth, and a larva apparently allied to the slug- caterpillars or Limabodes. " The most perfect insects among the Diptera are mostly small species of MycetopMlidse,, a fam- ily whose larvae live mostly in fungoid vegetation, and Tipwlidx, whose larvae generally live in stag- nant water. There are, besides, some forms not yet determined, of which some are apparently Muscidx, a family to which the common house-fly belongs. The larvae of Diptera belong to the Muscidx, and to another family, the latter of which live during this stage in water only. None of the larvae, however, belong to the species of which the perfect insects are represented as these stones. The Homoptera belong to genera allied to Issus Gypena, DeepJiax and some of the Tettigo- nidse. " A comparison of the specimens from the two localities shows some differences. They both have Mycetophilidx, but Fossil Canon has a propor- tionately greater abundance and variety of them. Fossil Canon has other flies also in greater num- ber, though there are some in both ; but Myrmica, the very minute Diptera and the minute Cohopte- ra, are restricted to PossU Canon. On the other hand, all the larvse, both the Diptera and that which appears to be a Limacodes, were brought only from Chagrin Valley. _fc^ ■4h. 98 HISTOEY OF COLORADO. " Of course, the number of specimens is too small to say that the fauna of these two localities are distinct, although the same species has not been found to occur in both, and the strata being 1,000 feet in thickness, there is opportunity for some dif- ference in geological age, for new collections may entirely reverse the present apparent' distinction. Neither is it sufficient to base any satisfactory — that is, at all precise — conclusions concerning their age. Enough is before us, however, to enable us to assert with some confidence that they cannot be older than the tertiaries. They do not agree in the aggregation of species with any of the insect beds of Europe, or with the insects of the Amber fauna, and, since they have been found in Europe in considerable numbers only at rather wide inter- vals in the geological record, we should need more facts than are at our command by the known remains of fossil insects, to establish any synchro- nism of deposits between Europe and America. Much more satisfactory results could probably be reached by a comparison of the remains of leaves, etc. Anything more than a very general state- ment is, therefore, at present quite out of the question." The country in which these are found is a very remarkable one. Standing upon the summit of a high ridge on the east, one sees stretched out before him and distinctly visible, a tract of country covering five or six hundred square miles. Over this whole surface one sees nothing but rock, bare rock. Cut up into weird and wild ravines, mys- terious canons, deep, dark and dangerous gorges, and quiet little valleys, leaving in magnificent relief terrace upon terrace, pyramid beyond pyramid, rising to mountain heights, presenting to the aston- ished beholder amphitheaters that would hold a million spectators, with stately walls and pillars, towers and castles on every hand. An abode fit for the gods of the ancient world, who might well have held solemn conclave in such a temple, stand- ing now bare, blasted and desolate, but still inex- pressibly sublime in its grandeur. Originally — ^far back in the ages of the past — ^it was an elevated country, composed of a number of soft beds of sandstone of varying thickness and softness, under- laid by immense beds of shale. But the run- ning rill and the flowing stream and the meandering creek have worn it down and cut it out, until it has become a strange, weird country, to be the won- der of all generations. In this region is found a deposit of petroleum coal, scarcely to be distinguished in any way from the Albertite of New Brunswick. In luster, fracture and smell, it appears to be identical, and would yield as much oil as this famous oil-producing coal. It is in a perpendicular vein, three feet wide, and was traced from the bottom of Fossil Cafion, near Curtis Grrove on White River, to the summit level of the country a thousand feet in height and nearly five miles in length; diminishing in width toward the ends of the vein. An analysis and description of this has been given by Dr. Hayes, of Boston, and we herewith append it : "Black, with high luster like Albertite, which it resembles physically; specific gravity 1.055 to 1.075. Electric on friction ; breaks easily and con- tains .33 of one per cent moisture. It aflbrds 39.67 per cent of soluble bitumen when treated with coal naphtha, and, after combustion of all its parts, 1.20 per cent of ash remains ; 100 parts dis- tilled afibrded bituminous matter, 77.67 ; carbon or coke, 20.80; ash left, 1.20; moisture, .33; total, 100. It expands to five or six times its volume, and leaves a porous cake, which bums easily." The vein is in an enormous bed of sandstone with smooth walls ; beneath the sandstone are the petroleum shales, one bed of which, varying from ten to twenty feet in thickness, resembles cannel- lite, and would, it is thought, yield from fifty to sixty gallons to the ton. This bed was traced for twenty-five miles in one direction and was seen at points sixty miles apart in another, and it no doubt extends over the entire distance. If so, in that single bed are twenty miUion million barrels of oil, or over five hundred times as much as America has produced since petroleum was discovered in D \f (yfM^^ c/f-^ (fh^e. ol/nc/(^^ ^^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 101 Pennsylvania. There are few beds of coal that can compare with this in the amount of bituminous matter which it contains, or in the great value that it possesses as an article of fuel. The tertiary beds of Colorado are rich in fuel and gas-making material, though it is more than probable that the petroleum now in the shales and petroleum coals came originally from the oil-bearing coral beds of some much older formations. On the eastern side of the mountains, mainly, lie the tertiary coal measures, containing beds of coaJ and of iron ore of excellent quality. These coal-bearing lands embrace many thousand square miles of the State's area. The bulk of these thus far located extend along the plains, east of the foot-hills, the entire length of the State. Those opened and worked lie principally in the counties of Boulder, Weld and Jefferson. These mines have probably yielded nearly two hundred thousand tons this season. In Fremont and Las Animas Counties, in the southern part of the State, the mines are being developed. The Trinidad coals, in the latter county, coke equal to any in the coking districts of Pennsylvania, and this interest is steadily growing in importance, two companies having each one hundred ovens in active operation. These companies are named the Southern Colo- rado Coal Company and Riffenburg Coal Company. To show what an advance has been made in the growth of this industry, we have but to state that, four years ago, six ovens, producing ten tons per day, were capable of supplying the market of Utah and Colorado. Now, Utah consumes about fifteen hundred tons per month ; Northern Colorado, five hundred, while Leadville calls for three thousand, and is likely to demand a constantly increasing num- ber. Prof. Hayden, in his report of 1875, relative to the coal deposits in the neighborhood of Trinidad, calls these coals a binding bituminous coal, not considering the term "lignite," as generally used, strictly applicable, from the standpoint of a miner- alogist. The thickness of the seams vary from nine to thirteen feet, nearly horizontal, and are easily worked by tunneling. An assay of the Rifienburg coal, which lies close to that of the other company, gave the following result : Loss at 110° C. (water) 0.26 per cent. Carbon, fixed 65.76 per cent. Volatile combustible matter... 29.66 per cent. Ash 4.32 per cent. Total 100.00 per cent. " Its specific gravity varies from 1.28 to 1.53." The coke made has a bright, silvery color; is hard and strong, and suitable for all smelting pur- poses. Above these coal beds are beds of sandstone and conglomerate, abounding in fossil palms, firs and various kinds of resinous and gum-bearing trees, together with modern exogens. Trunks of trees of large size have been found lying far out on the plains, where they have been left when the disin- tegrating rock loosened them from their captiv- ity. Between Denver and Golden, many very fine specimens have been found ; still more on a low range of sand-hills about twenty miles south of Denver, whOe some very fine specimens have been brought from South Park. In the Middle Park, west of the Grand River, is also a coarse sandstone passing into conglomer- ate, and containing silicified wood. Above it are beds of trap ; and where this has disintegrated, chalcedonies and agates are found ; principally moss agates, as they axe called, but which are, in reality, chalcedonies containing oxide of manga- nese in a deudritic form. The rock originally holding them was a lava poured out of some long extinct volcano ; this was full of vesicles or hollow places produced by gas or vapor, and,, in process of time, these were filled with extremely thin par- ticles of silica, separated from the smTounding rock, forming the ordinary chalcedonies. In some cases, a small quantity of oxide of manganese has been carried in with the siUca, and this, crystalliz- ing in an arborescent or tree-like form, has pro- duced the appearance of moss in the chalcedony, and thus have been formed the beautiful moss agates which abound throughout Colorado. >V ■.iL 103 HISTOKY OF COLORADO. We can see in the lava beds of the plains, run- ning northward from Golden, and also to be found in other localities, the witness to terrible volcanic eruptions, that at no very distant period, geologi- cally speaking, devastated the country. These lava beds seem to be the most recent tertiary deposits in Colorado. There are also other wit- nesses to this stormy time in the hot springs that abound at various points. Some of the principal of these may be named as follows: Hot Sulphur Springs, in Middle Park, with a temperature of 121° F.; Hot Springs at Idaho, 110° F.; at Caiion City, 102° F.; Arkansas Hot Springs, 140° F.; at Wagon Wheel Gap, 148° F.; Pagosa Springs, 150° F. This last ranks among the greatest mineral springs of the country. The Drift period has left its unquestionable rec- ord in the immense accumulation of bowlders and gravel in the valleys of almost every mountain stream, although the ice does not seem to have produced as much effect during that period as the height of the mountains and their latitude would naturally lead us to expect. The above description of the geology of Colo- rado is necessarily very disconnected and incom- plete. It would be impossible to gather within the scope of a work like this, a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the various formations. We have only endeavored to give to the general reader an idea of the field, so vast in extent, of geological research within the limits of the State, and refer the student, who enters it as a special field of investigation, to the various reports, nota- bly those of Clarence King and Professor Hayden, made of late years, to the Government of the United States. The mineral resources of the soil are so closely connected with its geological features that a list of these is a proper addition to our chapter on geol- ogy. This list is compiled from the most authentic sources. The catalogue is not a complete one, some of the minor minerals being left out for want of room, but is well adapted to the needs of the general reader. METALS AND MINERALS. Agate. — X mineral familiar to the Greeks and Romans, who found it near Achates, a river in Sicily, now known as the Dorillo. Fine speci- mens lined with amethyst have been found on the summit of the range, east of the Animas. In the lower trachytic formations of the Uncom- pahgre group, a cloudy variety is found, of white and gray color; at the Los Pinos Agency in various forms, cloudy, banded, laminated and variegated ; in the South Park in the drift, in the lower Arkansas Valley, all through Middle Park and in the Gunnison country. Actinolite. — Found in radiated form, of light green and bluish-green color, on Mount Ouray, on Buffalo and Sopris' Peaks ;' in crystallized shapes in the Bergen district near Bear Creek, and on Boulder Peak. Alabaster. — This is found in small quantities near Mount Vernon. Is of brownish color, lack- ing that pure snowy whiteness and fine texture so necessary when cut into ornaments. Alhite. — Occurs sparingly in Quartz Hill near Central City, and in Gold Hill in Boulder County. Altaite. — Occurs in various mines in the Sun- shine district. Minute crystals obtained from the Red Cloud mine at Gold Hill, when analyzed, gave the following result : Quartz, 0.19; gold, 0.19; silver, 0.62 ; copper, 0.06 ; lead, 60.22 ; zinc, 0.15; iron, 0.48; tellurium, 37.90. Alum.. — Found native on the foot-hills near Mount Vernon. Amalganiite. — Occurring in connection with coloradoite in the Keystone mine, Boulder County. Amazon Stone. — A green variety of feld-spar ; when pure and of a clear, bluish-green color, very much resembles turquoise. Derives its name from the female warriors near the head-waj«rs of the Amazon River, where it was found in their pos- session as a charm, many of them engraved with the symbols of Aztec worship. Abundant in New Mexico ; found in Colorado on Elk Creek, with orthoclase, smoky quartz, aventurine, micaceous iron and anhydrite. 9 V A HISTORY OF COLORADO. 103 Amher. — Found near the head of Cherry Creek ; not clearly defined ; may be only one of the numer- ous resins occurring in lignitic coal. Amethyst. — Found in small crystals at Nevada and neighboring localities ; on Rock Creek, in Clear Creek County ; on the summit of the range east of the Animas; a bluish-violet variety of quartz crystal, of great beauty, whose color is due to a trace of the oxide of manganese. Amphiholite. — Occurs at numerous localities in the dikes traversing granite. Small ocicular crys- tals can be obtained from the porphyritic and San- idinitic trachytes. Good crystals are exceedingly rare. Found on Buffalo Peaks ; Montgomery ; in volcanic breccia at the head of Ohio Creek ; in trachytes on the Gunnison. Anglesite. — In crystals at the Horse-Shoe Lead Mine in South Park; Freeland Mine on Trail Creek ; Clifton Lode at Central City ; Prospector Lode, in Arastra Gulch, near Silverton. Anhydrite. — Crystallized at the Salt Works in South Park. Found of a very beautifol wine-red color, and very transparent, near the head of Elk Creek. Anthracite. — This anthracite coal is of lower and upper cretaceous age ; found in Anthracite Creek, "0, Be Joyful" Creek, in the Elk Mountains, in Uncompahgre canon. Its greater age has proba- bly given it its character. Dr. Peale, in his report of the United States Geographical Survey of 1874, says of it : " The eruption of the trachyte found near the coal first mentioned, probably so treated it as to deprive it of the bituminous matter. An average taken from seven analyses of the Elk Moun- tain anthracite furnishes the following: Water, 2.757 ; fixed carbon, 77.360 ; volatile combustible matter, 13.620 ; ash, 6.291 ; specific gravity, 1.740. Antimony. — Associated with the sulphurets of copper, iron, lead, zinc, etc., in gold and silver mines. Argonite. — Occurring in the form usually termed Jlos ferri, in Marshall's Tunnel, George town ; on Table Mountain ; in the trachytes near Del Norte ; on the Rio Grande, above Fir Creek ; Idaho Springs. Arvedsonite. — Occurs in quartz in El Paso County. Argentite. — Usually in small, irregular particles or seams, rarely crystallized. Decomposition results in the formation of native silver. Found in the Colorado Central Mine, Terrible and other mines near Georgetown ; in the No Name and Caribou, at Caribou ; in some of the silver lodes at Nevada ; in the Senator lode of the Hardscrabble district ; in many of the lodes of the San Juan mining region associated with fahlerz and pyrargyrite ; at the Silver Star, Moore and other mines in the neighborhood of Fair Play. Arsenopyrite. — Crystallized and massive in the Bobtail and Grinnell mines ; intimately associated with pyrite and chalcopyrite there ; generally aurif- erous ; together with silver and copper at the Park lode, Bergen's ranche ; occurs also in the Priest mine, near Fair Play ; with Franklinite on Rio Dolores, in Nevada District, Gilpin County. Asbestos. — Occurs in small quantities, partly radiated, on the snowy range, between Boulder and Berthoud Passes. Asphalt. — Found in the White River country. It occurs in veins ; is very compact and brittle; Found in springs near the summit of the Book cliffs ; also at Canon City. Several of the petrole- oid products of Colorado have been termed asphalt. Astrophyllite. — Occurs in quartz on Cheyenne Mountain and at other points in El Paso County. Aventurine. — Found in Elk Creek. Sometimes called gold-stone ; specimens show white scales in- stead of yellow, which is the usual color. Azurite. — Generally, the azurite is regarded as " blossom rock" by miners. If resulting from the decomposition of fahlerz, it usually indicates sil- ver-bearing ore. Small, but very brilliant crystals have been found on Kendall Mountain near How- ardsville. Found in the No Name, together with malachite, the result of decomposition of fahlerz at Caribou ; in the Rosita mines of the Hardscrab- ble district ; around Fair Play and Idaho ; on Trail Creek ; Crater Mountain ; in the mines of the Elk Mountain District, Malachite Lode, Bear Creek a X< 9 1^ 104 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Gendhemas Lode, Tucker's Grulch. No crystals of any size, however, have been found, the largest scarcely measuring 0.5 millimeter. Barite. — In clear, yellow, tabular crystals in the Tenth Legion Mine at Empire ; colorless crystals in the Terrible at Georgetown, while near Canon City, transparent crystals are found in the, arena- ceous shales of that region. Crystals occur in the limestones near Fair Play, and are found with fine terminations on the Apishapa River. Basanite. — Is found, together with flint, in some of the trachytes, east of the salt works on South Park. Beryl. — A crystal of a pale, yellowish-green variety, colored by the oxide of iron. Found on Bear Creek, in Jeiferson County. Biotite. — Found on Buffalo Peak. "When de- composed, it becomes splendent brown ; otherwise, it is very dark green, brown or black. Several of the trachytes, more particularly the porphyritic, contain small crystals of biotite. It is also found in some of the basalt. Bismuth. — Like arsenic and antimony, occurs in many of the mines, but has never been found native. Bloodstone. — Found sparingly, and very inferior specimens, in Middle Park. A deep green variety of jasper, slightly translucent, containing spots of red, caused by iron. Calaverite. — Good crystals have been obtained from the Sunshine District. Found in the Key- stone and Mountain Lion Mine, Boulder County. Associated with other tellurides in the Red Cloud. Cairngorm, Stone. — A smoky, tinted quartz crystal, formerly used by the ancient Scots as a jewel. Found at the head of Elk Creek. Calcite. — In small crystals, scalenohedra, at the Monte Cristo mine. Central. Rhombohedral crys- tals on Cheyenne Mountain, in the limestones of the South Park, in the carboniferous limestones near the Arkansas River; scalenohedra in the Elk Mountain District ; fibrous in Trout Creek Park, on Prying Pan Creek ; brown, rose-colored, yellow and white on Table Mountain at Golden ; scaleno- hedra and combinations of rhombohedra in quartz geodes near Ouray. Caolinite. — The product of decomposed oligo- clase. The white, chalk-hke bluffs on Chalk Creek, near Mount Princeton, owe their appearance to the presence of caolinite. Camelian. — White and very fine in the South Park. Red and somewhat rare in Middle Park. A veiy common stone in many other localities in the country. Cerargyrite. — Small, compact quantities in the Wade Hampton mine, Argentine, Caribou. Small specimens have been obtained from the Red Cloud mine, Gold HUl. It is also found in the Rosita mines and in the Upper Animas region. Ceritssite. — In very small crystals at Central. In the Horse Shoe mines, it occurs earthy, and is found throughout the Elk Mountain District, at Canon City, and in the Prospector lode, Arastra Gulch, near Silverton. Chalcedony. — South Park ftirmshes specimens in the mammillary, botryoidal and stalactitic form. Frequently met with, of a flesh-red color, lining cavities in some of the deep mines. Is frequently found in drift accumulations. At the following places is met with : Chalk Hills, lying south of Cheyenne; Los Pinos Agency; on the bluffs near Wagon Wheel Gap ; along the Upper Rio Grande Valley ; in Middle and South Parks, Buffalo Park, Fair Play and in the Gunnison country. Ghalcopyrite. — Found in every paying mine in Gilpin County. It also occurs in the Terrible, Pelican, Cold Stream and other mines near George- town, as well as of those at Caribou. It is aurif- erous in the mines around Central ; is found in the Trini'dad gold mining district, in the gold and sil- ver mines of Fair Play and the Elk Mountain Dis- trict, and on the Dolores, near Moimt Wilson. Chlorite. — At most localities, chlorite replaces the mica either in granite or schists. The mineral generally occurs in very thin flakes only, without crystalline faces. Fohated and radiated varieties are found on Trail Creek, on Mount Princeton, and on Soper's Peak. ^7 -p L^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 105 Coal. — (See Anthracite). Coal occurs and is worked at a number of localities in the State. Two horizons, mainly of coal beds, can be distin- guished — the cretaceous and the post^cretaceous. With the exception of the' anthracitic coal of the Elk Mountains and adjacent regions, the Colorado coal is mostly a coking or binding bituminous coal. Some of the banks, however, furnish coal that can- not be utilized for coking purposes. All of this is the kind to which the term " lignite " has been applied. Cretaceous coal is found on the divide between the Uncompahgre and CeboUa, Elk Mountains, on the lower Animas, the Florida, and on the La Plata. Post -cretaceous coal occurs along the Front Range, near Boulder, at Golden, Colorado Springs, Canon, near Pueblo and Trini- dad, and westward from that town. In the region of the White River, a number of coal veins have also been found, belonging to this group. A total average prepared from thirty-four analyses of Col- orado bituminous coal, ftirnishes a good idea as to its position in mineralogical classification : Water, 6.436 ; fixed carbon, 52.617 ; volatile combustible matter, 34.096 ; ash, 6.835. Specific gravity, 1.325. Copper. — Native ; arborescent in the Gregory lode and on Jones' Mountain ; in almond-shaped nuggets in placers of Rio San Miguel. Dolomite. — Occurs as rock in a number of the formations of the State. Very rarely crystallized. Small geodes in middle cretaceous shales are some- times lined with dolomite crystals. Epidote. — Crystals associated with garnet on Gunnell Hill, Central; throughout the metamor- phics of the Front Range in minute crystals. A large number of the hornblendic dikes contain massive epidote together with quartz. Found on the summit of Mount Bross, in Lake Creek Canon, on Elk Mountain Range, and on Trail Creek. i'^aAferz.— Argentiferous, mostly antimonial, sometimes arsenical, in the silver mines of the S.an Juan region. Crystals are very rare. Fhiorite. — Light green tubes in the Terrible mine at Georgetown ; in small crystals and massive, of violet color, on Mount McClellan and Gray's Peak. Galenite. — Throughout the San Juan mines, galenite is one of the principal ores. Invariably argentiferous, though the quantity of sUver it con- tains changes greatly. In small, scattering quanti- ties, it is found almost throughout the State. At the Coldstream mine, very fine crystals are found, combinations of cube and octahedron, rarely rhombic dodecahedron. In the mines near George- town, it occurs in large quantities. Garnet. — Once found in quantities in the sluice- boxes of the gulch mines in the South Park, and also west of the range, about Breckenridge and other places. Ferruginous garnets occur in great abundance at Trail Creek, in Bergen district, head of Russell Gulch, and other places, associated with epidote, white quartz, calc spar and copper pyrites. It is met with in various colors. The deep clear red variety is called Almandine ; the deep brown is called aplome; two varieties of black are termed melanite a,ni pyrenaite ; a light cinnamon yellow is denominated essonite, and contains from 30 to 40 per cent of lime ; an emerald green variety is called ouvarovite, and. another of a paler color, grossidarite. ^ Gold. — Native gold, in small, distinct crystals, in the Bobtail, Gunnell, Kansas, and on Quartz Hill near Central ; in the gold gulches of Gilpin County; on Clear Creek; placer diggings near Pair Play, in imperfect crystals and laminae ; in Washington Gulch ; in the placers of Union Park, and many other localities ; in the Elk Mountains ; on San Miguel, on the Mancos and La Plata ; near Parrott City ; in the Little Giant mine near Silver- ton, associated with ripidolite. Occurring as the result of decomposition of the tellurides in the Red Cloud, Cold Spring, and other lodes on Gold Hill, in the Ward and Sugar Loaf district ; in the Sun- shine district ; impregnated in volcanic rock in the Summit district, where it is very finely distributed, and contained in pyrite, which, upon decomposi- tion, sets the gold free ; at Oro City, in rhyolite ; in some of the South Park mines, in Potsdam ■^ 106 HISTORY OF COLORADO. sandstone ; at the Nevada lode, in azurite. The Gunnell, near Central, yielded gold in fine, small crystals ; they are bright, on black sphalerite, and show combinations of cube, octahedron and rhom- bic dodecahedron. Mixtures of gold and silver are found as the result of decomposition of tellu- rides containing both metals. Gypsum. — Occurs in various localities. Halite. — Found at the various salt licks through the State, and especially at the salt works in South Park. Found also in springs along some parts of the Platte River. Hematite. — Specular, micaceous and fibrous. Henryite. — Found first at the Eed Cloud and Cold Spring mines. Later, in all the telluride districts of the State. Fine crystals are very rare. Hessite. — Gold Hill, Boulder County ; on the divide between the Uncompahgre and Animas Rivers ; in the vicinity of Parrott City, on the La Plata. Lead. — Native at Hall's Gulch and at Brecken- ridge. Occurs in many of the gold and silver bearing lodes. Finely crystallized specimens come from the Calhoun lode, Leavenworth Gulch, from the Running lode, Black Hawk and Gardner, at Quartz Hill. Rich specimens of the fine granular variety come from Spanish Bar ; also, mixed with copper and iron pyrites, from the Freeland at Trail Run. Magnetite. — In loose nodules, near Central ; in the granites of various localities ; in the dolorite rocks generally ; in octahedral crystals on Quartz Hill. On Grape Creek, near Caiion City, is an extensive deposit of magnetite, which is mined as iron ore. Malachite.— Is found as the result of decompo- sition of fahlerz and other minerals, in numerous mines near Central, Caribou, Georgetown, Fair Play and Elk Mountain district. Mic((. — Abundantly distributed throughout the mountains. A mine not far from Canon City is producing large quantities. Onyx. — Found in Middle Park, on the west side of Grand River and Willow Creek, associated with jasper, chalcedony and fortification agates. Opal. — Occurs in narrow seams in the granite at Idaho Springs. Is mostly brownish, milk-white at Colorado Springs. Semi-opal found with the chalcedonies at the Los Pinos Agency, and in trachyte north of Saguache Creek. Wood opal is found on Cherry Creek, near Florissant, South Park. Nyalite in the trachytes near Los Pinos Agency, at the hot sulphur springs in Middle Park, and sometimes occurs in very fine specimens in the trachorheites of the Uncompahgre groups. Orthoclase. — Occurs in very fine, though small crystals in mines near Central ; is found in very large pieces in some of the coarse-grained granites. Large tablets of flesh-colored orthoclase can be found near Ouray. Crystals of large size, simple and in twins, occur in the porphyritic dikes at Gold Hill, Boulder County ; at the head of Chalk Creek, interlaminated with oligoclase in the por- phyritic protoginyte ; crystallized in Jefferson County ; greenish in South Park, west of Pike's Peak ; reddish on Elk Creek ; brown and gray at various localities near Central City. Beautiful green crystals of orthoclase are found on Bear Creek, near Pike's Peak, associated with smoky quartz. An analysis of specimens from this local- ity ftirnishes the following result: Silicic acid, 67.01; alumina, 19.94; protoxide of iron, 0.89; soda, 3.15 ; potassa, 8.84. Total, 99.83. There were also\ traces of lime and magnesia. To the small percentage of protoxide of iron is due the coloring of this orthoclase, though another author- ity regards the coloring matter of this green orthoclase as dependent upon a ferric compound, probably an " organic salt." Pegmatite. — At several localities in the vicinity of Georgetown, Bear Creek, and Gold Hill, in Boulder County. Petroleum. — In Oil Creek Canon, to the east of Caiion City, and on Smoky Creek, ten miles south of Golden, also near Pueblo. Petzite. — In the gold mines of Gold Hill, occurrins: in narrow seams and veins ; also in other telluride districts. An analysis gives the following result : Quartz, 0.62 ; gold, 24.10 ; silver, 40.73 ; 1%" HISTOEY OF COLOEADO. .^ S) 107 t, ^ bismuth, 0.41 ; copper, a trace ; lead, 0.26 ; zinc, 0.05; iron, 0.78; tellurium, 33.49. Total, 100.44. Pickeringite. — Found crystallized in thin nee- dles, near Monument Park. Pyrargyrite. — Associated with galenite, fahlerz and sphalerite, in the mines of Georgetown. Fine crystals occur in Mount Sneffels district, San Juan. Pyrite. — One of the most widely distributed minerals of the State. It is mostly auriferous, and associated with chalcopyrite. Found both ^massive and crystallized. Large bodies of it ap- pear in the lodes near Central. Pyroxene. — In a number of localities in younger volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Crystals in the basalts of southern San Luis Valley. Porphyry. — Found in the agate patches of Mid- dle and South Park, and on the Arkansas River, above Cache Creek. Quartz. — This very common and abundant mineral is found in all our mines. Very many beautiful groups of crystal, with cubes of iron pyrites, have been taken from them. Many of the quartz veins are almost or totally devoid of ore, in which case, the quartz is generally milk- white and pure. Quicksilver. — Associated with mercury-tellu- ride in the Sunshine district, Boulder County. Roscolite. — A greenish mineral, intimately asso- ciated with quartz, found at some of the mines in BouMer County. Sanidite. — Occurs throughout the trachor- heites, sometimes in very handsome crystals. Whereever the trachytes have been reheated, the sanidite is adularizing. Sardonyx. — Found in Middle Park, near Gol- den and Mount Vernon. Satin Spar. — Associated with alabaster and arrow-head crystals of gypsum, near Mount Vernon. Silver. — A silver mineral belt extends almost across the entire State, following the general course of the mountains, but appearing in the flanking ranges and outlying foot-hills east and west of the great divide. From North Park southward through Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit, Park, Lake, Chaffee, and the counties of the Gun- nison country, a belt, showing but slight interrup- tions, has been traced. The San Juan Mountains, forming the continental divide in the south, are peculiarly rich in silver veins. The hills and valleys of the Sangre de Christo Range are full of deposits. Silver is the predominating metal in the Sawatch Range. The Park Range is enormously productive. The carbonate deposits of veins of Leadville are world renowned as being immeasura- bly rich. Sphalerite. — Occurs in almost every mine, but more abundant in lead-silver mines than in gold mines. Varies in color from greenish-yellow to brown and black. Sulphur. — In small crystals on galenite frofn the mines near Central. Found in Middle Park, and near Pagosa Springs. Sometimes in narrow seams in galenite, the result of decomposition of the latter. Sylvanite. — Occurring in foliated masses and thread-like veins in the mines at Gold Hill. In crystals and crystalline masses in the Sunshine dis- trict. An analysis shows its composition as fol- lows: Quartz, 0.32; gold, 24.83; silver, 13.05; copper, 0.23 ; zinc, 0.45 ; iron, 3.28 ; tellurium, 56.31 ; sulphur, 1.32, with a trace of selenium. Total, 100.29. Talc. — Occurs to a greater or less extent in nearly all our mines. In fine scales among the gangue-rock of the mines near Central ; in light pink scales in the Hardscrabble district ; in Mosco Pass ; of a fine dark green color, very hard, and having crystals of sulphuret of iron disseminated through them, at Montgomery. Tellurium. — Native tellurium at the Red Cloud mine. Gold Hill, in crystalline masses, belong- ing to the hexagonal system. A specimen from this mine, on examination, was found to contain 90.85 per cent, with small quantities of seleniiun, iron and bismuth, with traces of gold and silver. Tetrahedite. — ■ Crystals in Buckskin Gulch ; near Central City ; in the San Juan district, where it also occurs massive in a number of mines. ^T •C iiL 108 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Tourmaline. — Black or dark brown in color. Found in quartz near Central, and on the Arkansas. Vraninite. — Occurs in large quantities near Nevada district. An analysis furnishes the following result: Uranoso-uranic acid, 11.37; sulphides of iron and copper, 45.81 ; langen, 42.82. Wheelerite. — A resin, related to amber. Occurs in the coal of Colorado. An analysis furnishes carbon, 73.07 per cent ; hydrogen, 7.95 ; oxygen, 18.98. Wollastonite. — Occurs in small quantities in some of the limestones in the Fair Play district. Zinc. — Occurs more or less in nearly all our gold-bearing veins. Sometunes found associated with chalcedony, and resembUng moss agate. Fine specimens have been found in the mines about Black Hawk and Central City. Zircon. — Crystals of zircon have been found in the feldspar of Pike's Peak ; in small crystals on Bear River ; in Middle Park, and in quartz in El Paso County. CHAPTER XVII. PEAK CLIMBING IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. MUCH fine writing has been indulged in by delighted tourists after ascending some one of the thousand Alpine peaks of Colorado, but the following, from the pen of Maj. W. D. Bickham, the well-known editor of the Dayton (Ohio) Journal, descriptive of an ascent of Pike's Peak in 1879, is, perhaps, the most lucid recital in the language, and no apology will be required for inserting it entire. The Major is too old and true a journalist to spoil the "rat story" by even inti- mating that the lonely grave on the lonely peak is a fraud upon unsuspecting travelers — Norah O'Keefe and her haby and the rats being alike supposititious and non-existent personages and rodents. Passing over his description of the slow and toilsome ascent, which is well written but not particularly pertinent in this connection, we come to the " supreme moment " when the writer finds himself upon the summit, surveying the wonderful panorama which lies spread around him : " ' Those who would see the lovely and the wild Mingled in harmony on .Nature's face, Ascend our Rocky Mountains. Let thy foot Fail not with weariness, for on their tops The beauty and the majesty of earth Spread wide beneath shall make thee to forget The steep and toilsome way.' "Standing on the desolate, echoless peak, the swift-glancing vision is abject servant of all it sur- veys. A gold-hunter in my careless youth, tramp- ing in reckless happiness over the stately peaks of gold-ribbed California, dallying in gay and hopefiil fancy with an imaginary sweetheart, or dreaming of the evanescent vision of nights on summits that coquetted with Orion, seeking wild adventure and the most savage haunts of Nature for its own delights, and camping under the moon, courting companionship with the wildest solitudes, I had not even imagined a wilderness of loneliness com- parable with the absolute desolation of this awfiil summit. I stood for the moment oppressed with the majesty that enveloped me. And even when self-possession slowly returned with the compara^ tive restoration of convulsed physical nature, the stupendous realism of the wondrous scene rivaled the tumult of super-stimulated fancy. For a little period before your wandering faculties are remoralized, while staring with dazed eyes upon the glaring sky and confused maze of mountains all around, and plains which spread out below in misty vagueness, chaos seems to have come again. Even the dreary realism of the dismal prospect of the desolate peak itself scarcely dissipates the 3) >- -.^ J^f ilt^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 109 gloomy spell, for you stand in a hopeless confiision of dull stones piled upon each other in somher ugliness, without one softening influence, as if Nature, irritated with her labor, had flung her con- fusion here in utter desperation. " But soon again your sensitive nerves, which vibrate fiercely as with a fever, your palpitating heart, which thumps like a bounding bowlder down the unseen declivity, your throbbing pulse, that leaps impetuously, suddenly restore you to consciousness and admonish you of the httle time you have to waste in delirious dreams. A sudden dizziness confuses your brain, whose nerves ache with painful tension, and miserable nausea meanly reminds you that you are mortal. Nevertheless, the eye escaping constantly from its local fetters, soars away to the bright canopy above, and then to '" * * * ThehiUs, Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun ; the vale, Stretching, in quiet pensiveness, between ; The venerable woods; rivers, that move In majesty, and the complaining brooks, That make the meadows green.' " You contemplate the mighty scene with admi- ration and amazement. No human pen or tongue can word or voice the wondrous spectacle. Mount- ains rise upon mountains, like heaving billows, and o'ertop each other far as eye can scan, and broad plains spread out below like a shoreless sea. Yonder in the blue distance. Long's lofty peak, in snowy grandeur, leaps, and, in the illusive haze. Grey's sky-piercing summit, clad in eternal white, glistens in the neighboring sun. Beneath your feet, a wild rabble of broken rocks, that seem tumbling' downward, noiselessly, forever, into an unseen abyss, and a mystery of somber forests, through which the untamed winds revel in ribald harmony. And now, far away, in the mingled shadows and dazzling sunshine, in a secluded basin,' inclosed with clifis and fringed with ever- greens, a cluster of little lakes — the ' Seven Lakes ' — ^that glisten like mirrors and reflect the shadows which make them beautiful. Red granite and gray sandstone, bare cones and glittering pyramids and verdant valleys everywhere, fill up the unmeasured amphitheater of nature. " Long, 'sinuous lines of green, that describe the course of wandering streams, far off, with lit- tle villages and a city on the sea-like plains that frame an artistic horizon for Colorado Springs, a new metropolis, lie prettily away below, and seem to swell from a basin to a line of the sky, which the imprisoned eyes indistinctly define. And then, down precipitately, far down below, into unseen depths, the crater of the mountain : " ' Steep in the eastern side, shaggy and wild, * * * with pinnacles of flint, And many a hanging crag.' " Into it you heave a bowlder, that bounds hois- lessly into space, and sinks, with scarce a sound, to where it lands. " Where we stand, good reader, our eyes com- mand the mysteries of the continent. Far south- ward, a soft line of verd«re describes the valley of the Arkansas; northward, the Platte chases through the plains a thousand miles, flows into the turbid Missouri, rushes, in wild volume, down through the Mississippi and kisses waters at the mouth of the Arkansas, which it left, Ions aaro, at the continental divide in the table-lands of Col- orado, under the shadow of this mighty peak. Southerly, again, the vision sweeps the course of the Rio Grande, which winds, in crooked current, into the waters of the ' Bay of the Holy Spirit ' — Gulf of Mexico — :and then, at last, the Colo- rado, which drains the southwestern water-shed into the Pacific Ocean. Kansas is within your ken, Nebraska too, Utah and New Mexico. A thousand miles of mountains break the vast sur- face west of you, and fifteen hundred north and south. And eastward, ranging north and south, the spreading plains. There is no more splendid masterpiece in nature. " The surface of the Peak is indescribably rude. It embraces a rugged though regular area of per- haps fifty acres, of serrated oval form, on its face, sinking southward into a narrow, rocky ridge, when it skips ofi' skyward. The rocks are •v 110 HISTORY OF COLORADO. comparatively regularly formed bowlders of porphy- ritio granite, of somber, reddish bue, with soil enough in the crevices between them to nourish exquisite little mountain mosses, which are the only relief to the utter sterility of the summit. A drift of perpetual snow, like a silver helmet, which the eye catches in the glitter of the sun- shine miles upon miles away, upon the distant plains, lios in a glittering mass upon the very apex of the mighty pile. While skipping about from bowlder to bowlder, drinking in the mighty pano- rama with unappeasable appetite, stopping now and then to gather the pretty moss that blossomed under the very eyes of the snow heap, a chance companion, one Isaac Rothimer, of Chicago, picked off the snow itself a living humhlebee. I took it in my hands and examined it carefiilly, ruminating upon the Democratic ridicule which enlivened the poli- ticians during the Presidential campaign of the " Pathfinder ; " for many of you who remember that stirring summer will, perhaps, not forget with what eagerness the Democratic organs and orators ridi- culed the report of Fremont recording the fact that he had found a living bumblebee upon a snow-capped peak of the Rocky Mountains. Rothimer's bumblebee was in a semi-torpid state ;' nevertheless, it crawled, and being apprehensive that its business end might be warmed into ani- mation by too much familiarity, I tenderly depos- ited it upon the soft side of a bowlder, and left it to gather what honey it might from the shining granite. Rothimer was careful to give me his name, that it might be perpetuated as the emula- tor of the " Pathfinder." It was a pleasing inci- dent in contrast with our gloomy surroundings, for hard by is a solitary little cross, marking the grave of an infant, the child of Sergt. O'Keefe, which was destroyed by mountain rats, in the Signal Station, while its mother was occupied with her domestic duties. " The United States Signal Station, a stone tenement of three little apartments, is at once the capitol and metropolis of the Peak. Alexander Selkirk, in his solitude, was beset with company, compared with the utter loneliness of this desolate habitation. Two signal officers, who relieve each other at intervals of thirty days, wrestle with the elements in this dreary eyrie through the dismal cycle of the months, and profess themselves con- tented. Telegraphic connection with the (sub)- terrestrial world keeps them in instantaneous communication with their fellows, and daily chat over the wires with operators at Colorado Springs, relieves the wearisome tedium. They live chiefly upon canned food, and substitute tobacco smoke for the pure ether of the Peak. This reminds me, by the way, that, although an inveterate smoker and enjoying perfect general health, cigars were utterly distasteful to me on the summit, and for an hour or two after I fled precipitately to the caverns below. My fumigating companions re- ported a similar experience, and those who par- took of luncheon in the station represented that good bread and butter tasted like dry chips. One editor, who took a square drink of whisky to re- lieve nausea, paid an almost instant penalty. From his experience and that of others, I infer that spirits are uncongenial to the human stomach in sublimated atmospheres. " A strong wind whistles over the Peak perpet- ually. It is cooling, but not penetrating, in sum- mer, excepting upon occasion. I was clad in ordinary winter garments, without an overcoat, and felt no cold, excepting a benumbing sensation in my ungloved bridle-hand when approaching the summit. The atmosphere resembles the chilliness of a March wind blowing over a surface of snow in the Miami Valley. Immediately after reaching the Peak, the majority of persons become con- scious of dizziness, light-headedness, and presently confusing headache, with accompanying nausea strangely resembling sea-sickness. ' To some it be- comes utterly unendurable, and they fly from the the summit as rapidly as they d^e. But few care to lino-er long. Without exception, those who made the ascent this day returned with strangely pallid faces, and several of them halted by the wayside and wretchedly paid tribute to the HISTOKY OF COLORADO. Ill Olympian Peak. The violent action of the blood in this high altitude was indicated by the pulsa- tion of strong men running as high as 125 beats to the minute, and some even higher. One of the young ladies naively confessed that hers beat as high as 140, but it was observed that an ardent widower kept time for her. Some of our party bled freely at the nose. " When near the Peak, ascending, a sudden cloud lifted above it and powdered us with a flurry of snow, but in a few moments all was clear again. A half-hour later, while peering over the cliff into the abyss, we were sharply startled by a glittering flash of lightning and a mutter of thun- der far below. A little later, the cloud had grown black, and streaks of lightning vivified the dark- ness, and the deep diapason of thunder seemed to shake the summit. Heeding the advice of the signal officer, who discovered an approaching gust, the party hurried from the Peak, the tardy, catch- ing a dash of rain and hail mingled with flecks of snow, as they carefully stepped over the edge of the Peak and laboriously climbed down the de- clivity to their horses. By this time, the mount- ain was shrouded in the blackness of darkness, the lurid lightning disported with the clouds dan- gerously near us, and the rolling thunder savored of the majesty of Sinai. " And now we go down, down, down, painfully but more rapidly than we ascended, through the rabble of bowlders. The splendid scenery grows upon the dilating vision, for in the descent the forms of nature magnify, or rather resume their true relations to the plane of vision. The cliffs grow more rugged and higher, and stand out more boldly, the mountains swell into grander outlines, and scenes which before had excited only passing admiration in an endless gallery of wonders now expand into surpassing pageants. And now, too, you become suddenly surprised at the unimagined activity of your faithful horse. An improving atmosphere proves a hippotonic, perhaps, but you are apt to suspect that he knows that his head is turned homeward. Unlike a man, too, he prefers descending to climbing. Perhaps, it is because he has a load to carry. Anyhow, he ambles along gaily when the narrow trail is not perilous, nor thinks of halting for a breathing spell until you reach the Lake House, when he stops to let you spend a quarter for a wretched cup of coffee. You take time to ponder, too, upon the unconscious perils of the morning, but you trust your horse and fear no danger. He warns you, even, if a bear or a badger lurks in the fastnesses, for he snuffles and snorts, shies, and then halts if there is necessity. At length, you return to the head of the grand carion, one of the noblest in all Col- orado, and you descend it rapidly, with increasing admiration, to the terminus of the toilsome jour- ney. It opens and keeps enlarging like a mam- moth telescope, continuing to display to your admiring vision a panoramic pageant of wondrous beauty — stupendous cliffs, tall turrets and graceful pinnacles ; bastions and battlements ; noble castles and solemn cathedrals, whose steeples prop the clouds ; human forms on the crags, and mysteri- ous images on mighty pedestals, and far beyond the undulating plains, like a lilac-colored sea sweeping off in one mighty billow, until earth, and air, and sky blend together in dreamy har- mony. " Halting at the Iron Spring once more, we quaffed again to Olympian Jove, and felt like boasting as him who taketh his armor off." ^ S r- Al ^ 9 A 112 HISTORY or COLOEADO. CHAPTER XVIII. SKETCH OF THE SAN JUAN COUNTRY AND DOLORES DISTRICT. DOWN in the southwestern portion of Colorado lies the country known as San Juan. It con- tains within its boundaries the present counties of Hinsdale, Rio Grande, San Juan, La Plata, Conejos and Ouray. San Luis Park and the counties of Sagauche and Costilla are also commonly included in the district. Within the last few years and up to the time of the advent of the carbonates upon the scene of mining activity, San Juan was a syn- onym for the Silver Country, and though for two or three years it has been retarded in its progress, yet the gradual approach of railroads to its immediate vicinity is a sign of promise to the future not easily to be overlooked. The early history of this country is but little known. The Spanish expedition that visited it in the sixteenth century found it inhabited by savages. In its valleys, however, are the indica- tions that they were inhabited long before the appearance of the Indians, by a people that under- stood something of the arts of civilization, but whose history is wrapped up in the unknown past. The ruins of cities are found scattered over a large section of country. Large rooms are often found cut out of the solid rock, and the locations were evidently selected and arranged for the purpose of successful defense. Pottery and other usefiil implements are found in great per- fection. The work and style of manufacture indicate a civilization equal to that which pre- vailed among the ancients, or in Peru or Mexjco at the time of the discovery of the American Continent. It may be that these are the ruins of the Aztec race, that was supplanted by the savage Indians who swept down upon them from the north. It may be that they are the ruins of a race as civilized as the people of the Old World, and who had a history, if it were known, as long and wonderful as that of Greece or Rome. This vast region of many thousand square miles is abrupt and broken, with an average ele- vation of 13,000 feet above the sea, with some of their peaks reaching the altitude of 14,500 feet. The scenery of such a section must necessarily verge nearer to the sublime than any known in the world. Nature must have been in wild riot to have produced such a " wreck of matter " as is here found. If the ruins of ancient cities impress the beholder with wonder and amazement, what must be the emotions in viewing what one might easily imagine to be an exploded world, with its sharp broken fragments piled, in strange confusion, 14,000 feet high? The molten peaks are tinged with a red and sulphurous hue, which tells of a period at which the chemical properties of the earth were made to gild each crest with rare, enduring colors. It presents a scene of aban- doned nature, with garbs of living green cast recklessly below, into the parks and valleys, two miles away, that her charms might be the sub- ject of man's conquests to gain her golden treas- ure. The center of the great volcanic upheaval seems to have been between the present cities of Silver- ton and Ouray, in the western center of the San Juan country proper. In La Plata County, the ruins of this extinct race of which we have written are found, scattered at intervals over an area of over 6,000 square miles. W. H. Holmes, in the Hayden Government Survey reports, classes these under heads of lowland or agricultu- ral settlements, cave dwellings and cliff houses, the latter used, probably, as places of reftige and defense in time of war and invasion. It is in this locality that the mountains reach their greatest height, and here is the land of eter- nal snow that supplies the water for the five great rivers and their tributaries that have their ^ -,i^ L^ HISTORY or COLORADO. 113 source in this immediate vicinity. The Rio Grande del Norte runs east, to the Gulf of Mex- ico ; the Umcompahgre, north ; Rio San Miguel, west; Gunnison, northeast, and Rio Animas, south — these last flowing into the Colorado and Gulf of California. Up to the year 1860, the Indians held undis- puted possession of this country. Then Capt. Baker, with a few prospectors as adventurous as himself, made his appearance on the San Juan River. Working" their way up the Animas, they came to what is now called Baker's Park. These men were gulch miners, who knew little and cared less for silver lodes. They were disappointed in finding gold in any great quantity, though they pursued their search diligently until the approach of winter. Then the band broke up, but those who undertook to leave for lower latitudes and civilization were compelled to succumb to the rigors of an early winter; while those who remained had, in .addition, to fight the Indians, who warned them out of the country. For many years after, the San Juan country was left to soli- tude and the savages. In 1868, the treaty was made, giving the Indians the reservation known as the Ute Reser- vation, embracing 30,000 square miles. In 1870, however, a party of six prospectors came up the Rio Grande into the Animas Valley and located several lodes. Late in the fall, they returned to the States with accounts of their rich discoveries, and the result was, that in the spring of 1871, a large number of adventurous spirits had found their way into the country. The many rich discoveries of this season increased the excite- ment to fever-heat, and San Juan became a name familiar upon the lips of thousands. But this inroad upon their reservation was looked upon with great disfavor by the Indians, and it was feared that trouble would follow. Troops were sent into the country in 1872, to keep out the miner. This course of the General Government but added fiiel to the fire of excitement already burning in the breasts of the people, but the matter was partly settled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, by the adoption of the Brunot Treaty, whereby the Indians relinquished their title to 5,600 square miles. Then the great army of treasure-seekers sought the solitudes of the San Juan, and silence no longer reigned. These early settlers were men of energy, who had listened to the accounts of rich ores, obtained from Southern Colorado. They were lawyers, ministers, doctors, engineers, mer- chants and miners from all parts. Some of them were men who had made the trip from the Mis- souri River to the Pacific Slope in 1849, and the later years of that remarkable exodus. They had seen and known of the stampede to Gold Bluif and to Frazer River; to the Caribou mines in British America, Washoe, the Comstock, Reese River, White Pine, Eureka, Cottonwood, and now to San Juan. These waited until the land was given up to them by treaty, and then they came to prospect. Others, who had no knowledge of mining, were early to ford the rivers and brave the crossing of dangerous ranges that, in many places, were almost perpendicular. From all classes of society, the adventurous and energetic wended their way to the new discovery, and there met with the usual fortune of miners in hard fare and many discom- forts. But the " prospects " were there, and they were found. A rich country was opened to the world, and the yield of precious minerals vastly increased. From this time until 1878, when LeadviUe became the great center of attraction, the San Juan mining fever burned in the veins of thou- sands. More than ten thousand silver mines were located during this period, and yet it can hardly be said that the country has begun to be pros- pected. As will be seen by our account later on, a large number of mines are now being worked with good returns. What portion of this large number would have been successftilly opened up in addition to the newer discoveries that would have been made had not the star of Leadville risen 9 \> -4-—^- -4V 114 HISTORY OF COLOEADO. on the horizon of the prospector, it is diflScult to estimate ; but at least one-fourth of those located would have become paying property. To some, this might seem an extravagant estimate ; but here it must be taken into consideration that no blind leads are prospected, mineral being found in nearly every instance at or near the sur- face. The San Juan mining region is divided into districts, of which the Animas district, lying in what was formerly La Plata, but is now San Juan County, is one of the oldest named, and lies along the Animas River and its tributaries. The lodes, with a few exceptions, occupy positions from 11,000 to 12,000 feet above the sea. The veins nearly all take the usual course, northeast and southwest, and the greater part of the ore is argen- tiferous galena, highly impregnated with gray copper. The veins are large and well defined in almost every instance. Outcropping and large deposits of iron ore are found in Baker's Park, and blue carbonate of lime on Sultan Mountain. The first mine worked to any extent was the Lit- tle Giant, discovered in 1870, located in Aras- tra Gulch. The smelter run of the ores treated from mines in this district, in 1877, varied from $150 to $2,000 per ton. We mention a few of the first-class, paying leads in the neighborhood ; The Highland Mary, Mountaineer, North Star, Tiger, Thatcher, Chepauqua, Comstock, Pride of the "West, Philadelphia, Susquehanna, Pelican^ Gray Eagle, Shenandoah, Bull of the Woods, Lit- tle Giant (gold). Prospector, McGregor, Aspen, Seymour, Letter G, Empire, Sultana, Hawkeye, Ajax, Mollie Darling, Silver Cord, Althea, Last of the Line, Boss Boy, Crystal, King Hiram AbiiF (gold), Ulysses, Lucky, Eliza Jane, Silver Wing and Jennie Parker. Poughkeepsie Gulch, in this district, is a famous mining locality. It contains 250 lodes, on which assessment work is done each year ; a number are being steadily worked, while a few are paying handsome profits. Among these may be noted the Alaska, Bonanza, Alabama, Acapulco, Red Roger, Saxon, St. Joseph, Poughkeepsie, Gypsy King and Kentucky Giant. Silverton is the principal town in the district. From this point, most of the miners from the La Plata and the Uncompahgre districts obtain their supplies. It lies in Baker's Park, one of the love- liest bits of nature, hidden away in the mountains, and is destined to be a town of no small impor- tance in the near future. The Eureka district joins the Animas on the north. The character of the ores does not difier materially from those in the Animas district, gran- ite being the prevailing character of the rock formations in each. It takes in all the territory on the east side of the mountains that divide the waters of the Animas from those of the Gunni- son and the Uncompahgre. The town of Eureka is nine miles from Silverton. No larger bodies of ore are found anywhere than in this district. Among the principal mines may be mentioned the McKinnie, Tidal Wave, Boomerang, Crispin, Sun- nyside. Yellow Jacket, Golden Fleece, Venus, Emma Dean, American, North Pole, Jackson, Grand Central, Big Giant, Little Abbie, Belcher and Chieftain. The Uncompahgre district has " no end to the number of rich mines." Nearly all the water- courses in the northern portion of San Juan have their source within the limits of the Uncompahgre district, or in that immediate neighborhood. There is a nest of mines on the summit of these mount- ains, perhaps included in one and one and a half miles square, whose best grade of ores will run from $500 to $1,000 to the ton at the smelter. Among the notable mines in this district may be named the Mother Cline, Fisherman, Silver Coin, Adelphi, Scottish Chief, Lizzie, Royal Albert, Micky Breen, Gypsy Queen and Little Minnie. The ores of this district are said to carry less galena and more of the sulphurets of silver than in any other district named. The Lake district, in Hinsdale County, of which Lake City is the chief town, is the most accessible, by good roadways, of any of the silver-bearing ^ i 'V 9 > HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 115 districts in the San Juan country. There are some six hundred and fifty mines located in it, and it possesses the only tellurium lodes of any note in that section of country. Two sacks of ore from one lode, the Hotchkiss, weight 150 pounds, brought at the rate of $40,000 per ton in San Francisco. The celebrated concentration work of Crookes Brothers are located at Lake City; the Ute and Ule mines were bought by these parties and are extensively worked. This region is laboring under other disadvantages, at present, than the car- bonate excitement that drew its mining population away from it two years ago. It is made up of almost inaccessible mountain ranges, and is so remote from railways as not to be an inviting field for capitalists. But a year or two will work won- derful changes, when the advent of a railroad (the Denver & South Park, probably) will bring the ore within easy distance of a market, and the rich mineral veins that now lie idle will be better known to the world at large. We give the names of some of the leading lodes in this district and county, as follows : Accidental, in the Galena district, yielding an average'of 300 ounces. American, same district, 100 to 600 ounces. Belle of the East. Belle of the West. Big Casino. Croesus, Dolly Varden. Gray Copper, in the Lake district, 200 ounces. Hidden Treasure. Hotchkiss, -ICO ounces silver. Melrose, in the Galena district, 400 ounces. Ocean Wave and extension. Plutarch. Ule. Ute and Wave of the Ocean. Ouray County contains within its borders some of the most rugged and almost perpendicular mountains and deeply cut ravines and river-gorges known. Its inaccessibility has, of course, retarded its rapid growth ; but the unusual value of the mineral in this section has enabled its miners to dispose of their products. Some of the districts in this county — notably the Mount Sneffels — have no superiors among the silver-bearing sections, and are gradually growing in importance as their great mineral wealth is demonstrated. In this county lies the San Miguel gold district, occupying the mountains and streams of a tract of country forty miles broad by some seventy long, and, doubtless, running as far north as the Gunnison River. This region began to be developed in 1875, at which time the attention of miners was drawn thereto by successful discoveries of rich placer diggings, creating a lively excitement. All along the San Miguel River and its forks and tributaries are extensive gravel deposits, rich in gold. These are being worked, some by companies on a large scale. One company has been putting in all the newest discovered machinery for economic work- ing of gravel, by which 2,000 cubic yards are manipulated in one day. Some claims contain several million yards of gravel, estimated, from tests, to average f 1 per yard. A late authority on this subject says : " Some idea of the value and extent of these grand deposits of an ancient river- bed, from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet above the present bed of the river, can be obtained from the fact that it costs from $25,000 to $100,000 to bring water upon them and to construct ditches and flumes. These immense deposits, like those of California, have been attracting the attention of capitalists, and it is safe to say that in a few years the yield of gold-dust will be enormous." But it is in the adjoining mountains, seamed with silver veins, where the immense treasure-vaults lie, scarcely concealed from common gaze — ^a silver belt of from twenty to forty miles wide and per- haps eighty long, in which lie an hundred thou- sand silver veins, many of huge size and of sur- passing richness. Take the silver-ribbed King Solomon Mountain, for instance, rearing its mass- ive front high in air, between Animas River and Cunningham Gulch, in San Juan County. Here you can trace the veins upon its very face, the mother lode averaging forty feet in width. " This enormous mass of crevice matter is composed of nearly vertical streaks of decomposed ferruginous quartz in contact with great seams of argentiferous mineral. It can be seen for a distance of two miles." We give the names of some of the leading lodes in this county, beginning with the Begole, known ^3/ ■^ 116 HISTOKY OF COLOKADO. as the Mineral Farm. It might be called one of the latest wonders of the world, even in view of the deposits being revealed in the camps of the carbonates. The locations cover over forty acres of ground ; the actual amount covered by the de- posit is twelve acres. Fourteen different openings all showed mineral. This property was located in 1875, and sold in the fall of 1878 to a company who had built reduction works at Ouray. One lode on this claim has " a very rich gray copper vein in a gangue of quartzite, often milling from $400 to $700 per ton." Another has "a streak of bright galena, with heavy spar, carrying over a hundred ounces of silver, with 40 per cent of lead." It will thus be seen that this can be made a very productive " farm." Belle of the West, on Yellow Mountain, yields 150 ounces; Byron, on Engineer Mountain, 260 ounces ; Chief Deposit and Caribou, on Buckeye iMountain, with a vein of from three to eight feet, 200 to 1,500 ounces ; Circassian, Denver, Eclipse, 500 ounces ; Fidelity, 400 ounces ; Free Gold, Geneva, Gold Queen, Mineral Farm, Norma, Jlountain Bam, Imogene, on Buckeye Mountain, yielding from 56 to 1,370 ounces; San Juan, Silver King, Staatsburg, Virginius and Yankee Boy, on Mount Sneffels, yielding each from 200 to 400 ounces. It would be simply impossible to make any- thing like a close estimate of the wealth that lies imbedded in these mountains, where constant de- velopments show that only the beginning of it has been found. When the time comes that trans- portation can be offered, these mountains will again tempt the hopeftil prospector and the hardy miner, and they will go to stay. The production from these districts is considerable, and is grad- ually growing. A few years from now will show as remarkable a change from the present status of affairs in the San Juan Valley as the year 1876 showed in comparison with that of 1870. The inhabitants of this section of Colorado need have no fears. Those whose faith in the future of the San Juan mining country has led them to invest their all there will yet see their most sanguine ex- pectations realized. Messrs. Keyes and Koberts, two celebrated mining experts from California, visited the San Juan country last summer with Gov. Pitkin, and stated publicly that it was the richest mining country they ever saw. Said Mr. Keyes : "If this country was located anywhere in California, $100,000,000 would be invested in it immediately by our capitalists." Rich and extensive as the early discoveries in this country have proven to be, it is possible that a recent development there will eventually out- strip all former ones. Reference is had, of course, to the late carbonate find on the Dolores River, in the western part of Ouray County. These car- bonates are pronounced identical with the Lead- ville deposits, possessing every peculiarity of the latter, even down to the facility with which they yield to treatment by smelting. The rush to the Dolores country has continued pretty much all summer, and a new town, named Rico, has been organized in the wilderness, with a newspaper and other adjuncts of civilized life. Rico means " rich," and undoubtedly the town is rightly named, for the camp is far in advance of what Leadville was at the same age. Of course, nobody knows what an undeveloped mining town wUl amount to one, two or three years hence ; but at present the Dolores country is looking up, and its promise is all that could be desired. It is still comparatively inaccessible except by the rough mountain roads of the southwest ; but there will eventually be a railroad in that direction, and carbonate ores, especially the higher grades, can be treated on the ground. Among the mining experts who visited Rico last summer was Senator Jones, and the fact that he invested in several claims during his sojourn shows that his faith in the ftiture of the Dolores mines amounted to a tolerable certainty. The new mines are reached via Ouray, Silver- ton or Animas City ; but neither route is over a prairie road, by any means. Better roads will be among the first results of development in the ~® ^ ^^^&^^^^^^Ak<.r^xJ^ V '.it 123 HISTORY OF COLORADO. POSTSCRIPT. CHAPTER I. THE UTE REBELLION. SINCE the preceding pages were written, Col- orado has been convulsed by a sudden, unexpected and causeless uprising of the Utes. Strictly speaking, only a portion of the tribe par- ticipated in the outbreak ; but the confederated bands of Colorado are so intermingled by marriage and bound together by so many ties of consan- guinity and interest' that it would be hard to dis- sociate the innocent from the guilty, and a war upon the White River Utes, the band directly responsible for the outbreak, would almost inev- itably result in drawing the whole tribe into the conflict, sooner or later. The story of the outbreak has been so graphic- ally told in the journals of the day throughout the country that there seems to be no present demand for an authentic history ; but, on the other hand, now is the time to summarize the whole wretched business for the enlightenment of fiiture genera- tions. The bloody incidents of the campaign and the fatal blunders of the "powers that be" in dealing with the red-handed murderers are all fresh in the minds of our people, and it is not im- possible that a calm review of the matter may aid the public in arriving at some correct conclusions on the vexed question of Indian management, at least as far as the Colorado Utes are concerned. It was stated at the outset that the rebellion was causeless. In some sense, the accusation is well founded ; but away back in the past history of the Utes may be found some shadowy excuses for their ingratitude and treachery to Agent Meeker and the Agency employes, to say nothing of the Thornburg massacre, which, no doubt, seemed a proper thing for Captain Jack and his warriors. As between the Utes and the Indian Bureau, the people of Colorado think there is not much room to choose. A few years ago, the writer was conducting a daily newspaper in Denver, the policy of which was by no means friendly to the Utes; but, for a time, its columns were devoted to the unpleasant task of showing how Indian affairs were misman- aged in Colorado. It was no secret then that our people feared the worst results from the state of affairs at the Northern Agency. They could not have been much worse. All the supplies for the White River Indians were at Rawlings, ware- housed at Government expense, awaiting trans- portation. Nothing had been done toward getting the supplies from the railway to the Agency, and nothing was done for many months. The Indians were simply destitute. They had neither pro- visions nor clothing. In their despair, they went to Rawlings, where a train load of clothing, pro- visions and annuity goods were stored, and which should have been, distributed long before ; but the meshes of " red tape" entangled them, and not a pound of flour nor an article of clothing could be issued at that point. Rev. B. F. Crary, Presiding Elder of the Methodist Conference for Northern Colorado and Wyoming, made a thorough investigation of the matter, and wrote some stinging articles upon the subject, which were printed in the newspapers of the day ; but the goods still rotted in the ware- house, and the Indians went hungry and naked. For a wonder, however, they did not murder the Agent and go upon the war path. Indian nature is an anomaly. \3' ■^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 123 While the White River Utes were suffering from the neglect and general incompetency of the Indian Bureau, the Southern or Unoompahgre Indians were being treated to a mild manifestation of financial repudiation on the part of the parental Government at Washington. By the Brunot Treaty, the Southern Utes surrendered the San Juan country for a valuable consideration, the money to be invested for their benefit and the interest to be paid for their use. There was never any reason why this interest should not have been paid. There was every reason why it ought to have been paid. Nevertheless, it was not paid. The Indians grumbled a good deal, of course, as they had a right to do ; but Chief Ouray's clear head and guiding hand prevented serious trouble. Colorado owes so much to this Indian statesman that the debt bids fair to remain uncanceled. But an Indian never forgets or forgives an injury, and all these slights and injustices were treasured up against a day of reckoning with the whites. All whites are the same to all Indians. If a horse-thief steals an Indian pony, the Indian gets even with the first white man whose stock is attainable. If the Indian Bureau fails to furnish supplies, the Indian forages on the white settlers, begging what he can and steaHng the rest. An Indian with a grievance is worse than a bear with a sore head. He is never quite satisfied with any atonement, vicarious or direct. Indeed, his griev- ance grows by what it feeds on of that character, and the more he is placated the more implacable he becomes. That was Father Meeker's error, perhaps. Still, in the main, the Government was good to the Utes. They got cattle and sheep and ponies, and these multiplied amazingly, until now the tribe is rich in flocks and herds, and their princi- pal occupation, as well as their favorite amuse- ment, is horse-racing. As befits the " true lords of the soil," they toil not, neither do they spin, nor labor with aught but their jaws. Latterly, too, they have been well fed and well clothed. Their Agents have been scrupulously careful to give them no just cause for complaint, having good reason to fear an outbreak if they did so, for the Utes have been growing more and more dissatisfied of late, and more imperious and unjust in their demands. Yet, while they were well- treated no one looked for a rebellion, and the massacre at Milk Creek and White River was as great a surprise to the people of Colorado as it was to the Indian Bureau itself. Mr. Meeker had been in charge of White River Agency since early in 1878. He found matters in bad shape when he reached his • post of duty ; but, by determined effort and untiring industry, he soon brought order out of chaos, and made the Indians more comfortable than they had been for years. Mr. Meeker was eminently a man of affairs,^ highly educated, intelligent, thoroughly honest and conscientious withal, so that his treat- ment of the savages would have been strictly just, even if he had not been a lifelong devoted friend of the Indian. As it was, he was enthusiastic in his devotion to the Indians, and did everything in his power to promote their interests. Bred in the humanitarian school of Horace Greeley, whose colleague he had been on the New York Tribune, and in the Greeley Colony, of Colorado, Mr. Meeker — or Father Meeker, as he was almost uni- versally known — was the last man who would or could have been suspected of imposing upon the wards of the Government, in any particular. Yet it appeared during the spring of 1879 that Father Meeker was making poor headway with his Indi- ans, and, later on, it became evident that he had lost all control over them. They wandered away from the Agency, making mischief as they went ; and on being remonstrated with and threatened with the Agent's displeasure, they paid no atten- tion to threats or remonstrances. During the summer months, numerous depreda- tions were reported as having been committed by the White River Utes, while off their reservation. Forest fires were started by them in every direc- tion, burning away millions of acres of timber and frightening the game out of the country. s ^ l^ 124 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Property was stolen or destroyed, and at least two houses, on Bear River, were burned by rene- gade Utes from Mr. Meeker's Agency. Mr. Meeker did what he could to keep his Indians at home, and appealed to the Government and mili- tary to restrain the depredating Indians. Noth- ing came of his appeals. When a white man accidentally crosses the line of an Indian reserva- tion, he may expect to find a cordon of United States bayonets surrounding him and soldiery enough to escort him back ; but msfrauding Indi- ans, off their reservation, burning hay and houses and forests, find nothing in the way of their enjoy- ment, unless the long-suffering settlers rise to pro- tect their rights. Immediately following the outbreak at White River, came the customary cry in the. Eastern humanitarian press that the Utes were fighting to protect themselves against the aggressions of white settlers; that the latter were overrunning the reservation against the will of the Indians, and the latter were forced to fight or fly. No baser calumny was ever printed against any people. The reverse was true. The white settlers were forced to flee from Routt and Grand Counties because they could not live near the reservation. The insolent Utes were master of the whole northwest- ern country, far outside of their reservation. In the mean time, a curious thing happened, or, at least, a thing that would have seemed curious had it related to any other people than the noble red men of the mountains. At the very moment when these Utes were almost in open rebellion, they began to find fault with Agent Meeker and to ask his removal, not because he was incompe- tent or dishonest ; not because he was trying to make them behave themselves ; not for any of the many stock reasons the Indians have for becoming dissatisfied with their agents, but only because he was carrying out the humanit^-rian idea of treating the Indians well and instructing them in letters and the arts of peace. On this point, there can be no doubt, whatever, for the testimony of the Ut«s themselves is conclusive upon the question. About two months before the massacre. Gov. Pitkin was visited at Denver by four chiefs from White River — Capt. Jack, Sahwitz, Musisco and Unkumgood — who came on a mission in behalf of the tribe, said mission being to secure the removal of Agent Meeker through the influence of .Gov. Pitkin. The Governor gave them two audiences, each lasting two or three hours, and listened to all their complaints. Press reporters were also present and noted carefully what was said on both sides. Capt. Jack, who afterward led the attack on Maj. Thorn- bvirg, was the spokesman of the Utes, his command of the English language being suflicient to make him easily understood. He talked a good deal about one thing and another, but at no time did he ever intimate that the Indians were not well clothed, well fed and well cared for, or that the whites were making encroachments on the reser- vation. Neither did he complain about the non- payment of interest due, or any other neglect to deal justly with the Indians. The burden of his complaint was humanitarianism. He had a holy Indian horror of hard work, and the strongest possible prejudice against education. The Agent was teaching school and plowing land — two unpardona- ble sins, according to Jack's decalogue. Jack also had some fault to find with minor details of man- agement at the Agency, none of which in the least affected the condition of his tribe ; and he was also very severe on Chief Ouray, whose authority he openly denied and defied. When asked if he and his associates would consent to let the white men dig gold on the reservation, his refusal was prompt and vigorous, and gave un- doubted evidence that the prospector who set foot across the Une would almost certainly find it a veritable dead-line. At that time, however, no one supposed that the hostility of the Indians to Agent Meeker would lead them to murder him and his associates, and little attention was paid to the trivial complaints of the White River delega- tion, though their ^dsit was duly reported to the proper authorities at Washington and elsewhere. i ^ tiers complained that the Indians were burning the grass and timber, and occasionally killing their cattle and doing much damage to the country. I also heard much complaint from the mining dis- trict near Hahn's Peak and Middle Park ; that the Indians were burning the timber, and had burned the houses of several settlers and killed one man. Smoke was at that time plainly visible from large fires on the head-waters of the Snake and Bear Rivers. On completing my business on the mail route, I returned to Washington. The first week in September, I was called (by disturb- ances on this mail route) to visit it again. Arriv- ing at Eawlins, Mr. Bennett, the sub-contractor for the route, told me that he had attempted to establish his line of mail-carriers on the route ; that he had gone as far south as Fortification Creek, where he was met by Utes belonging to Colorow and Ute Jack's band ; that three Indi- ans stopped him and told him that he must go back ; that he parleyed with them, and finally went -on as far as Bear Eiver, where he was met by more Indians of the same tribe, and, though he fully explained his business to them, he was so violently threatened that he returned to Raw- lins without establishing the mail route. Bennett has freighted Indian supplies to the Ute reserva- tion for several years, and knows many of the Indians. He was accompanied by a man who has lived among the Utes for years, and with whom they have heretofore been friendly. Both advised that it would be dangerous to attempt to go to the Agency. " On the night of September 4, I arrived at Snake River, and on the 5th, went to Bear River, meeting no Indians on the way, but finding the grass and timber destroyed by fire all the way along the route. I remained at Bear River sev- eral days, endeavoring to find parties to carry the mail to the Agency. Many of the settlers were alarmed by the hostile action of the Utes. Others anticipated no trouble, but all complained of the burning of the grass and the timber. On the morning of September 10, I started, with two mail-carriers, for the Agency. We rode over the route followed by Maj. Thornburgh's command, and at noon rested at the mouth of the carion where the battle has since taken place. Here, at a tent occupied by an Indian trader, and two miles from the reservation, we met a number of Utes, one of whom asked where I was going. I told him to the Agency. After a short talk with other Indians, he told me we must go back. I made no reply, but, leaving one of the carriers at the tent, I proceeded up the canon in which the Indians laid the ambuscade for Maj. Thornburgh's command, toward the Agency. The Indians fol- lowed us to the Agency. I afterward learned that they belonged to Ute Jack's party. " We arrived at White River Agency about 6 o'clock P. M., and found a number of Indians there, some of whom seemed greatly excited. I soon learned that the Agent, Mr. Meeker, had, a short time before my arrival, been violently as- saulted by a Ute chief named Johnson, and severely, if not dangerously, injured. The white laborers told me that they had been fired upon while plowing in the field, and driven to the Agency buildings, but that they were not much soared, as they thought the Indians only wanted to prevent the work, and fired to frighten them. Finding Mr. W. H. Post, the Agent's chief clerk and Postmaster at White River, in his office, I proceeded to transact my business with him. While engaged at this, the Indians began to con- gregate in the building. Mr. Post introduced me to cbiefs Ute Jack, Washington, Antelope and others. "Ute Jack seemed to be the leader, and asked me my name and business. I told him. He inquired if I came from Fort Steele, and if the soldiers were coming. I replied that I knew nothing of the soldiers. Jack said, ' No 'fraid of soldiers. Fort Steele soldiers no fight. Utes heap fight.' He again asked my name and when I was going away. I replied, 'In the morning.' Jack said, 'Better go pretty quick.' I offered vy ^-. ,^ 132 HISTORY or COLORADO. him a cigar, and repeated that I would go in the morning. He then inquired for Mr. Meeker, and said to Post, ' Utes heap talk to me. Utes say- Agent plow no more. Utes say Meeker must go way. Meeker say Utes work. Work ! work ! Utes no like work. Ute no work. Ute no school. No like school '^and much more of the same sort. Jack asked Mr. Post when the Indian goods would be issued. Post replied, ' In two moons.' Jack said the goods were issued at the Uncompahgre Agency ; that four Indians had come from there and told him. Post replied, 'Guess not.' Mr. Post said to me, ' Every fall there is more or less discontent among the Indi- ans, which finally dies out. This year there is more than usual. Jack's band got mad last week because I would not issue rations to some Uinta Utes who had come here, and all the bucks refused to draw their supplies. The squaws drew for themselves and children.' I asked if the min- ers were not making trouble with the Indians. Post replied he had not heard any complaint from the Indians about miners or settlers ; that they were kept off the reservation and made no trouble. The whole complaint of the Indians had been about plowing the land, and being made to work, and requiring the children to go to school, and that very recently they had shown great anxiety to have the Indian goods distributed, and com- plained about that ; that he could not distribute the goods, as they had not all arrived at th^ Agency. " Mr. Meeker came in for a short time whUe we were talking. About 8 o'clock, I went to his quarters and found him propped up in his arm- chair with pillows, evidently suffering severely from injuries received from the assault of Chief ■Johnson. After a short talk, we discovered that we had formerly been fellow-townsmen, which opened the way for a free conversation about mutual acquaintances. After which, Mr. Meeker said : ' I came to this Agency in the full belief that I could civilize these Utes ; that I could teach them to work and become self-supporting. I thought that I could estabUsh schools, and in- terest both Indians and their children in learning. I have given my best efforts to this end, always treating them kindly, but firmly. They have eaten at my table, and received continued kind- ness from my wife and daughter and all the em- ployes about the Agency. Their complaints have been heard patiently and all reasonable requests have been granted them ; and now, the man for whom I have done the most, for whom I have built the only Indian house on the reservation, and who has frequently eaten at my table, has turned on me without the slightest provocation, and would have killed me but for the white laborers who got me away. No Indian raised his hand to prevent the outrage, and those who had received continued kindness from myself and family stood around and laughed at the brutal assault. They are an unreliable and treficherous race.' Mr. Meeker further said that, previous to this assault on him, he had expected to see the discontent die out as soon as the annuity goods arrived ; but he was now somewhat anxious about the matter. In reply to an inquiry, he said that the whole complaint of the Indians was against plowing the land, against work and the school. " I told him I thought there was great danger of an outbreak, and I thought that he should abandon the Agency at once. To this he made no reply. Shortly after, Ute Jack came into the room where we were sitting, and proceeded to catechize me nearly as before. He then turned to Mr. Meeker and repeated the talk about work ; then asked the Agent if he had sent for soldiers. Mr. Meeker told him he had not. Jack then said : ' Utes have heap more talk,' and left us. " During the conversation, Mr. Meeker said that Chief Douglass was head chief at that Agency, but that he had no followers and little influence. That Douglass and his party had remained on the reservation all the summer, and had been friendly to the whites ; that Colorow, Ute Jack, Johnson and their followers, paid no attention to his orders, and had been off the reservation most of the ;^ 9 > HISTORY OF COLORADO. 133 summer. That Chief Ouray was head chief, but had lost his influence with and control of the Northern Utes. " I again urged on him the danger of remaining at the Agency, when he told me he would send for troops for protection. During this conversa- tion, the Indians had remained around the Agency buildings, making much noise. About 10 o'clock, I went to the quarters assigned for me for the night in the storehouse ofiice. Soon after this, the Indians began shouting and dancing in one of the Agency buUdings and around the Agent's quarters. About midnight, Mr. Meeker attempted to quiet them, but was only partially successful, and the red devils made it exceedingly uncomfort> able for me most of the night. I was told in the morning that the Indians had had a war-dance. Those who saw and could have described the scene are all dead now. At daylight, the bucks had all disappeared. After breakfast, I called on Mr. Meeker in his room to bid him good-by. He told me he had written for troops, and requested me to telegraph for relief as soon as I reached Rawlins. After bidding all good-by, I mounted my horse and, not without many misgivings, started for Bear River. This was the last I saw of Father Meeker. A man of the Puritan stamp, an en- thusiast in whatever work he undertook, he had given his whole soul to the work of civilizing the Utes. It is a waste of words to say that he was honest and honorable in all his dealings with them, for his life has been public and his character beyond reproach. " Mrs. Meeker is one of the gentlest and most motherly women I have ever met ; with a heart large enough to embrace all humanity. Her kindly disposition and gentle manner should have protected her from the assault of the veriest brute. Miss Josie seemed to me to have inherited much of the force and enthusiasm of her father. She appeared to have overcome the feeling of disgust which savages must inspire in any lady, and to have entered on her duty of teaching with the highest missionary spirit. Around this family were gathered, as help, people peculiarly genial and calculated to win by kindness the regard of the Utes. Those who seek palliation for this bloody massacre must look elsewhere than in the family or among the employes of Father Meeker. " On the return trip to Bear River, I met many Indians going to the Agency for the issue of rations. Several of the bucks hailed me, but I hadn't time to stop. At the trader's in the cafiion, I found several Indians purchasing supplies. At the crossing of Howard's Fork, thirty miles from the Agency, I met three Indians, two of whom I saw at the Agency the night before. They stopped me and inquired for ammunition for Win- chester rifles. I replied, ' No sabe. After de- taining me for nearly one-half hour, I persuaded them to let me pass, and reached Rawlins without further incident worthy of mention, and immedi- ately telegraphed and wrote Gen. Sheridan the condition of afiairs at White River, and received his reply that aid would be sent at once. " Eastern papers, the Secretary of the Interior and Brooks, are seeking some provocation for this outbreak. It was not the encroachment of miners, for there are none nearer than Hahn's Peak, 100 miles away. " It was not settlers, for there are none nearer than Bear River, flfty miles from the Agency ; they were few and scattered, and their only safety for life and property has been in retaining the friendship of the Utes. On the other hand, these Utes have, since early summer, been off their reservation from fifty to two hundred miles, have destroyed all the timber and grass they could, have destroyed the property of miners near Hahn's Peak, and burned the houses and hay of settlers on Bear River ; they have killed cattle belonging to settlers on Bear and Snake Rivers, and terror- ized that whole region. " They complained only that Father Meeker urged on them the benefits of civilization. " It is about time that our humanitarians recog- nized the fact that these Indians are savages, and. i. -4- 134 HISTOEY OF COLOEADO. instead of needing provocation to massacre, require constant and powerfiil oversight to prevent it. " Finally, our army has all the blame cast on it. Called to rescue the Agency from danger brought upon it by an idiotic Indian policy, the command of Maj. Thornburg went to White River seeking a peaceful solution of the difficulties there. I had the pleasure of meeting Maj. Thornburg soon after he had received his orders, and gave him full particulars of the situation at the Agency, ' advising that, if he went with a small force, he might expect to be wiped out. I thought his force sufficient, but am free to confess that I was mistaken. " I knew that these Indians meant war. Early in the Summer, they occupied the territory over which troops must pass to reach them. Slowly they retreated toward the Agency, burning the grass to render it difficult for cavalry to operate against them. They purchased arms and ammu- nition of the most approved pattern and in large quantities. Within six weeks of the outbreak, one trader sold them three cases of Winchesters and a large amount of ammunition, and the last Utes I met inquired of me for more. They gathered disaffected bucks from the Uncompahgre and Uinta Agencies, and got mad because the Agent at White River would not feed them. When everything was ready, they assaulted Agent Meeker and shot at his employes to provoke an attack by the troops, and when the troops ap- proached, with peaceful intent, to adjust the diffi- culty and right the wrongs of all parties, they laid an ambuscade and prepared to annihilate the whole command. " The attack on Maj. Thornburg was not war ; it was unprovoked murder, and to the last Indian, the Utes engaged in it should answer for it with their lives. " During the past week, I have been in the valley of the Sappa, in Decatur County, Kan. To this country our Grovernment had invited settlers, offering them homesteads and protection. Driven by the stress of times in the Eastern States, some twenty-five families had located in these valleys and erected for themselves homes. They had just finished at the forks of the Sappa, at the little village of Oberlin, their first schoolhouse. They were not boors, but the peers of any like number of citizens of the country. One short year ago,- on September 30, 1878, the savage Cheyennes, after receiving from the Government their annui- ties, unannounced and unprovoked, entered these valleys and massacred seventeen of the fathers and brothers of this settlement, and perpetrated on their corpses the most barbarous indignities. They infiicted on the mothers and sisters outrages worse than death. On the evening of the 30th of September, the bodies of thirteen of the victims of this bloody massacre were brought to the little schoolhouse, and there, in that building, erected by the highest inspiration of civilization, lay in death and barbarous mutilation the fruits of unpro- voked and unrestrained savagery. " Some time next month, some of these mur- derers will be tried, if their case is not continued. Had that crime been promptly and properly pun- ished, the people would not now be mourning for the dead at White River. " Our denominational humanitarians have had their day. Their Congregational Cheyennes, Methodist Modocs and Unitarian Utes have each baptized their newly-acquired sectarian virtues in the blood of a cruel massacre. " The Indian policy of the Department of the Interior has been a humiliating failure. Let the Indian be turned over to the War Department, and let the Government, hereafter, use its iron hand to prevent outrage rather than to punish it." Thus it will be seen that for three months prior to the massacre, Mr. Meeker had been powerless to control his Indians ; that they had been roam- ing at will off their reservation, devastating the country and imposing upon the settlers, and that the combined appeals of. Agent Meeker and Gov. Pitkin were virtually disregarded by the Indian Bureau. Aid was promised, indeed, but it did not reach the Agency in time to prevent the massacre. 9 ^ ^C^^'^t'^z^t^t-'/^^^ -^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 137 Finally, liowever, affairs became so bad that an order was issued for tbe advance of troops, under Maj. Thornburg, from Fort Fred Steele, to the Agency — not to punisli any Indian, but to inquire into tbe causes of trouble there and to restrain the Indians from further insubordination. Maj. Thornburg advanced as far as Milk River, near the north line of the reservation, where he was attacked by a force of several hundred Indian warriors, while, at the same time, another. force attacked and murdered Father Meeker and all the male employes at the Agency. CHAPTER III. THE NEWS IN DENVER. THE first intelligence of the outbreak was received in Denver about noon on Wednes- day, October 1, in the shape of the following dis- patch : Laramie City, October 1, 1879. To Gov. Pitkin, Denver: The White Eiver Utes have met Col. Thornburg' s command, sent to quell disturbances at the Agency, killing Thornburg himself and killing and wounding many of his officers, men and horses, whereby the safety of the whole command is imperiled. I shall warn our people in the North Park, and trust that you , will take such prompt action as will protect your peo- .ple, and result in giving the War Department control of the savages, in order to protect the settlers from mas- sacres, provoked by the present temporizing policy of the Government with reference to Indian affairs, in all time to come. Stephen W. D^owney. This telegram was followed within fifteen min- utes by the following : Eawlins, October 1. To the Governor of Colorado : Messengers from Thornburg' s command arrived during the night. Utes' attacked the command at Milk Creek, twenty-five miles this side of the Agency. Maj. Thornburg killed, and all of his officers but one wounded. Stock nearly all killed. Settlers in great danger. About one-third of command wounded. Set- tlers should have immediate protection. J. B. Adams. There was no hesitation in the action of Gov. Pitkin. Aware for weeks that such an outbreak was liable to occur at any moment, his course had, it might be said, been anticipated, and he sent the following dispatch to the Secretary of War, at Washington : Denver, October 1 , 1879 Geo. W. McOrary, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : Dispatches just received from Laramie City and Kawlins inform me that White River Utes attacked Col. Thornburg' s command twenty-five miles from Agency. Col. Thornburg was killed, and all his of5- cers but one killed or wounded, besides many of his men and most of tlie horses. Dispatches state that the whole command is imperiled. The State of Colorado will furnish you, immediately, all the men you require to settle permanently this Indian trouble. I have sent couriers to warn settlers. Fredeeick W. Pitkin, Governor of Colorado. It, is a difficult matter to describe the excite- ment which followed the spreading of the tidings over the city. Denver discusses event and calam- ity, ordinarily, with serenity and coolness; but the news of the ambush and the danger which awaited the whites in and about the Agency at White River startled the entire community, and expressions of sadness would be swept from the face by those of anger and determination. The Grovernor's office was besieged during the after- noon and evening, not by the idly curious, but by strong men — sturdy old pioneers and hot-blooded young men, who offered their services to the State in defense of her people and in exterminating the savage horde. At least fifty volunteers made bold to see the Governor, while ever3rwhere on the streets men gathered together, and pledged themselves to >r (s" ■^ 4. -^ i 138 HISTORY OF COLORADO. join any volunteer movement to protect the frontier and drive the Utes from Colorado soil or into it. Meanwhile, the Governor had been taking im- mediate steps for the protection of settlers on the Indian frontier, first, by sending out couriers to warn them of their probable danger, and, finally, by calling the militia of the State to hold them- selves in readiness for service at the shortest possi- ble notice. For convenience, the frontier was divided into three military districts — the north- west under command of Gen. W. A. Hamill, of Georgetown; the center in charge of Gen. J. C. Wilson, of Leadville, and the southwest, or San Juan country, to be commanded by Capt. George J. Richards, of Lake City. Dispatches were sent to each of these gentlemen, instructing them to notify all exposed settlements of the outbreak, and to organize companies of minute-men for defense in case of Indian attack. These instructions were carried out without loss of time, and very eifectually. It happened, how- ever, that the Indians made no demonstrations against the settlers, and the only effect of all this " military activity" was to awaken a sense of inse- curity which could not be allayed for some weeks. There was a frantic demand for arms and ammuni- tion, which Gov. Pitkin was unable to supply, the State being almost destitute of military supplies. Meanwhile, an almost feverish anxiety prevailed as to the probable course of the Southern or Un- compahgre Utes, under Ouray and Ignacio. Would they join their White River brethren and fight, or would Ouray, the known friend of the whites, succeed in keeping them quiet and peace- ful ? As the telegraph line in that direction was only extended to Del Norte, at that time, it was not until Sunday morning, October 5, that news came from that quarter, and then it was in the shape of the following startling dispatch : Lake City, October 3, via Del Nobte, October 5. Gov. F. W. Pitkin, Denver : Indian Chief Ouray has notified the whites to protect themselves; that he is powerless, and can afford no protection. Capt. Richards, of the Lake City Guards, has gone to Indian Creek to seize the ammunition destined for the Agency, now en route. George M. Darley has just reached here from Ouray City. He left there this morning. It is reported that Ignacio is on the war-path in the South. The town o/ Ouray is under arms. The country is all on fire. We will do all we can, but want arms. We must have protection of some kind. Answer. jj g Geert Fred. C. Peck, and others. Of course, such a statement, signed by the most respectable citizens of Lake City, could not fail to produce a decided sensation, and the Executive office was more thoroughly aroused that morning than when the first news of the outbreak came in. Immediate steps were taken to forward arms and ammunition to Lake City and Ouray, and the regular train for the South having left Denver, a special train was sent out, carrying Gen. D. J. Cook, of the State Militia, and a quantity of arms and ammunition. Other dispatches and personal intelligence received later seemed to confirm the impression that trouble was imminent in the San Juan country. It was stated that Ignacio and his band were on the "war-path in La Plata County, and grave fears were entertained for the safety of the exposed settlers on that frontier, though reg- ular troops were being moved in that direction under command ef Gen. Hatch. All these fears were happily groundless. Gen. Cook reached Lake City in due time, and found the scare already subsiding, Chief Ouray having asserted his control over the tribe, and Ignacio, instead of being on the war-path, was disposed to treat the matter lightly, having no particular love for the White River Utes. Before it was definitely known that no danger need be apprehended from that source. Gov. Pitkin, in answer to a telegram from Silverton, sent the celebrated dispatch which has since caused so much comment and con- troversy in the press of Colorado and the East, and, to the end that the message in question may be fiilly understood and not misquoted, the entire correspondence is given below. Mr. A. W. Hudson, who signs the first dispatch, is a leading :V ^1 '-^ HISTORY OP COLORADO. 139 L. lawyer and a most reputable citizen of the town of Silverton : To Gov. F. W. Pitkin : Silverton, October 5. Your dispatch received at Animas City. Bands of Indians out setting fires on the line between La Plata and San -Juan. They say they will burn the entire country over. Chief Ouray, from the Uncompahgre band, has sent out a courier warning settlers that his young men are on the war-path, and that he cannot control them. The Indians setting out these fires, being off their reservation, cannot the people of these two counties drive them back? We don't want to wait till they have killed a few families, and if they understand we are prepared, there may be no outbreak. A. W. Hpdsok. The following answer was returned : A. W. Hudson, Silverton : Denver, October 8. Indians off their reservation, seeking to destroy your settlements by fire, are game to be hunted and des- troyed like wild beasts. Send this word to the settle- ments. Gen. Dave Cook is at Lake City in command of State forces. Gen. Hatch rushing in regulars to San •'^"^"- Frederick W. Pitkin, Governor. Gov. Pitkin's dispatch has been misquoted and misinterpreted as meaning that the Indians should be hunted as wild beasts, under any and all circumstances, and he has been censured for the alleged inhumanity of the executive order. Those who read the whole correspondence will see that the order was entirely proper under the circum- stances, and as it was originally transmitted. In- stead of referring to Indians in general, it related only to marauders off their reservation seeking the destruction of white settlements by fire, and if such Indians ought not to be hunted like wild beasts, they certainly deserve no better fate. Meanwhile, although Gen. Merritt, with a large force, had been sent promptly to the relief of the' remnant of Thornburg's command, no tidings had been received from that direction, either from the Agency or the Indians. It was almost certain that the Agency people were kUled, and it seemed natural to expect an incursion of hostile savages upon some portion of the Indian border. Just where the blow would fall, no one could possibly foresee, and each mining-camp in the mountains felt itself in instant danger of attack. "' It was a trying time. Although, in point of fact, the hos- tiles were engaged in watching the movement of the regular soldiers, and made no advance in the diuection of the white settlements, it could not be known that such was the case, and the general alarm could not be condemned as causeless. The couriers and scouts did not bring in any news of Indians, but rumors were thick and fast, and no sooner was one scare over than another broke out. Of these successive sensations, however, it is use- less to write in detail at this late day. Suffice it to say that, by prompt action and a judicious dis- tribution of arms and ammunition along the border. Gov. Pitkin was presently enabled to sat- isfy the people that they had little to fear from the Utes, and soon public sentiment perversely set in the opposite direction. Instead of fearing the Indians would come, the miners and prospectors leaned back on their guns and prayed for Indians to come and be shot. When news of the Agency massacre was received, the indignation of the citi- zens of Colorado was so great that it was with much difficulty that Gov. Pitkin prevented the State militia and minute-men from making an advance upon the reservation and the hostile Indians. The Governor foresaw, hawever, that such an advance would be the death-signal of the captive women and children from the Agency who were in the hands of the hostiles, and humanity prompted an effort to secure their re- lease before any steps were taken toward punishing the assassins and murderers. The release of the captives could only be eflFected through Ouray, who was known to be heartily in favor of their surrender as soon as 'possible. The chief had already sent Indian runners from his camp to that of the hostiles, commanding the latter to cease fighting. A young man named Joseph Brady, an attache of the Uncompahgre Agency, had accompanied Ouray's runners, and had gone with a flag of truce into Gen. Merritt's Si ^ :£.il^ 140 HISTORY or COLORADO. camp to notify him of Ouray's order. Brady was not permitted to see the captives, but carried back assurances that they were alive and well. Ouray, having expressed a willingness to send another party out to bring in the women and children, Gen. Charles Adams, special agent of the Post-office Department for Colorado, and a former Agent both at Los Pinos and at White River, was detailed by the Interior Departnient to accompany the Indians and bring in the prisoners. A detailed account of this thrilling expedition will be found in a subsequent chapter. CHAPTER IV. ADVANCE UPON THE AGENCY. AFTER the report had gone out that one of the attaches of the Agency, while plowing the land near the new White River Agency, had been shot at by ambushed Indians, on application of the Colorado authorities, Agent Meeker and others, the War Department at Washington ordered Gen. Sheridan to send troops to the Agency, for the protection of the Agency and the vindication of Uncle Sam's rights. Maj. T. T. Thornburg, commanding officer of the Fourth United States Infantry, and, for the past year, in command of Fort Fred Steele, on the Union Pacific Railroad, in Wyoming, was placed in charge of the expedition, which con- sisted of two companies, D and F, of the Fifth Cavalry, Company E of the Third Cavalry and Company E of the Fourth Infantry, the officers included in his command being Capts. Payne and Lawson, of the Fifth Cavalry, Lieut. Pad- dock, of the Third Cavalry, and Lieuts. Price and Wooley, of the Fourth Infantry, with Dr. Grimes accompanying the command as Surgeon, and a supply train of thirty-three wagons. The com- mand left Rawlins on the 14th ult. When the command reached the place known as Old Fortification Camp, Company E, of the the Fourth Infantry, with Lieut. Price in com- mand, was dropped from the command, the design of this step being to affijrd protection to passing supply-trains, and to act as a reserve in case there was demand for it. Maj. Thornburg turned his force toward the Indian country in deep earnest with the balance of his command, consisting of the three cavalry companies, numbering about one hundred and sixty men. Having been directed to use all dispatch in reaching the Agency, the Major marched forward with as great rapidity as possible. The roads are not well traveled and are mountainous, and, of course, they did not proceed so rapidly as they might have done on more familiar high- ways. Nothing was seen or heard from the Indians until Bear River, which runs north of the reser- vation and almost parallel with the northern line, was reached. At the crossing of this stream, about sixty-five miles from White River Agency, ten Indians made their appearance. They were closely questioned, but professed great friendliness for the whites and would betray none of the secrets of their tribe. They declared that they were merely out on a hunt, and repeated that they were friends of the white man and of the Great Father's Government, and especially of the Great Father's soldiers. After this, nothing more was seen of the Indi- ans, though a close watch by keen-eyed scouts was kept up. for them, until William's Fork, a small tributary of Bear River, was reached, when the same ten Indians again quite suddenly and ver^ mysteriously re-appeared. They again 1%^ L^_..-S) ^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 141 renewed their protestations of friendship, while they carefully eyed the proportions of the command. They made a proposition to the commander that he take an escort of five soldiers and accompany them to the Agency. A halt was called, and Maj. Thornburg summoned his staiF to consulta- tion. After carefully discussing the matter with a due regard for the importance, the advantage and disadvantage of the step, they came to the conclusion that it was not wise to accept this proffer on the part of the Indians, as it might lead to another Modoc trap, and to Thornburgh's becoming another Canby. His scout, Mr. Joseph Rankin, was especially strong in opposition to the request of the Indians. Maj. Thornburg then concluded to march his column within hailing distance of the Agency, where he would accept the proposition of the Indians. But he was never allowed to carry out his designs. Here it became apparent how thin the disguise of friendship had been, and Thorn- burgh was soon convinced how fatal would have been the attempt for him, accompanied by only five men, to treat with them. The command had reached the point where the road crosses Milk Creek, another tributary of the Bear, inside the reservation and in the limits of Summit County, Colorado, about twenty-five miles north of the Agency, when they were attacked by the hostiles, numbering, it is believed, between two hundred and fifty and three hundred warriors, who had been lying in ambush. But the command under the guidance of Scout Rankin, left the road just above where the Indi- ans were in ambush, and thus avoided another event which would have been, in all respects, equal to the Custer massacre. The command took a trail after leaving the road, and unexpectedly met the foe. Maj. Thornburg at once threw his command into position, and the Indians came up in line of battle to within about three hundred yards and halted, putting a bold face on the matter and showing a decided determination to fight. Maj. Thornburg's orders were not to make the first fire on the Indians, but to await an attack from them. After two lines had thus faced each other for about ten minutes, Mr. Rankin, the scout, who is an old Indian fighter, seeing the danger in which the command was placed, hurried direct to Maj. Thornburg's side and requested him to open fire on the enemy, saying at the same time that that was their only hope. Maj. Thornburg replied: "My God! I dare not ; my orders are positive, and if I violate them and survive, a court-martial and ignominious dis- missal may follow. I feel as though myself and men were to be murdered." By this time, the Indians had flanked the sold- iers, and giving the war-whoop, opened fire. The wagon-train was corraled about three-fourths of a mile to the rear of the command, and the Indians got between the wagon-train and the command. The cavalry was dismounted and fighting on foot and slowly retreating. Maj. Thornburg, seeing the danger which threatened his command from the position of the Indians, at once mounted about twenty men, and at the head of them he dashed forward with a valor unsurpassed by Napoleon at the Bridge of of Lodi, made a charge on the savages between the command and the train. Maj. Thornburg and thirteen men were killed in this charge. The balance of the command, then in retreat, succeeded in reaching the corraled train, which was by this time surrounded by Indians. The command then, with much haste, made breast- • works with wagons and held their position. In the engagement there were twelve killed and forty- two wounded. Every officer in the command was shot with the exception of Lieut. Cherry, of the Fifth Cavalry. The Indians also killed from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of mules belonging to the Government. The scene of the attack was peculiarly fitted for the Indian method of warfare, and showed plainly that it had been chosen by the chiefs in command r^ (!L_ ^A 143 HISTORY OF COLOEABO. for the identical purpose to which it was devoted. When Thornburg's command entered the canon, they found themselves between two rocky bluflFs, about thirteen hundred yards apart and from one to two hundred feet high. These bluffs were held by the Indians in force, and some broken ground, reaching down nearly to the creek, was also occupied by the savages, so that an advance through the canon was impossible, and, by cutting off retreat, the Indians could effectually "bottle up" the com- mand in the caiion. In effect, that was accom- plished, though the bravery of the troops in entrenching themselves defeated the undoubted purpose of the Indians to annihilate them. Capt. Payne, then in command, at once set about having the wounded horses shot for breast- works, dismantling the wagons of boxes, bundles of the bedding, corn and flour sacks, which were quickly piled up for fortifications. The picks and shovels were used vigorously for digging entrench- ments. Meanwhile, a galling fire was concen- trated upon the command from all the surrounding bluffs which commanded the position. Not an Indian could be seen, but the incessant crack of their Sharp's and Winchester rifles dealt fearful destruction among the horses and men. The groans of the dying and agonizing cries of the wounded told what fearful havoc was being made among the determined and desperate command. Every man was bound to sell his life as dearly as possible. About this time, a great danger was approach- ing at a frightfully rapid pace. The red devils, at the beginning of the fight, had set fire to the dry grass and sage brush to the windward, and it now came sweeping down toward the troops, the flames leaping high into the air, and dense volumes of smoke rolling on to engulf them. It was a sight to make the stoutest heart quail, and the fiends were waiting ready to give a volley as soon as the soldiers were driven from their shelter. It soon reached the flanks, and blankets, blouses and empty sacks were freely used to extinguish the flames. Some of the wagons were set on fire, which required all the force possible to smother it. No water could be obtained, and the smoke was suffocating ; but the fire passed, finally, away. About sundown, the savages charged the works, but were repulsed, and retired to their positions on the bluffs, whence firing was resumed early on the following morning. The men in the trenches were pretty well protected by that time, but the horses and mules were constantly falling at the crack of the sharp-shooters' rifles. During the early part of the first night of the siege, the scout, Rankin, who had warned Thorn- burg of his great danger on the previous day, made his way out of the beleaguered camp and, mounted on a strange horse, his own having been shot in the fight, started to caiTy the bloody news over the 160 miles that stretched between him and Eawlins. Rankin's ride bids fair to pass into history with that of Sheridan, immortalized by Buchanan's famous poem. It was a daring venture at best, and its danger was not the only feature which marked it as extraordinary. The way was rough, as well as wild and lonely, and, ordinarily, the the distance would hardly be cov- ered in two days ; yet Rankin rode it in twenty- eight hours, leaving the battle-field at 10 o'clock Monday night and reaching Rawlins Wednesday morning about 3 o'clock. Other couriers were sent out from the camp on succeeding evenings, through one of whom word was sent to Capt. Dodge's company of colored cav- alry, then approaching from the direction of Mid- dle Park, informing them of the outbreak and cautioning them to be on their guard. Capt. Dodge's command only mustered about forty men, and was encumbered with a wagon train ; but, with almost unexampled bravery, they determined to advance and succor the beleaguered garrison of the rifle-pits on Milk River. At the Rawlins Crossing of the Bear, the wagon train was de- tached and sent north to Fortification Creek, while Capt. Dodge and his intrepid followers galloped into the Indian country, not knowing whether one of them would ever return alive. AH honor to HISTOKY OF COLORADO. 143 tlie " colored troops " who rode and fought so nobly for the defense of their white brethren. Luck went with them. They escaped, for a wonder, the watchful eyes of the Indians en route, and even when they approached the canon where Payne's command was entrenched. The history of the whole war, thus far, iurnishes no fact more curious than the escape of the colored troops from destruction, for it is weD known that the Indians hate them tenfold more intensely than they do white soldiers, and if Dodge's approach had been discovered, the whole fighting force of the tJtes, if necessary, would have been detached to annihilate his command. As it was, he ap- proached within hailing distance of the rifle-pits without detection ; but then arose a new difficulty and a new danger. Payne's sentinels would cer- tainly discover them if they approached nearer, and how could they escape being fired upon as enemies in the guise of friends ? In fact, an alarm was sounded in the trenches at their approach, and the men sprang to arms to defend themselves, as they supposed, from a new attack by the Indians. Dodge halted his command and sent out his two guides, Gordon and Mellon, to communicate with Payne. They called out to the pickets that it was a company of cavalry, come to the rescue, but the statement was regarded as a ruse of the Indians. Finally, Gor- don's voice was recognized by some one in the trenches, and all doubts were at once dispelled. Capt. Dodge then headed his men for the final dash necessary in order to reach the shelter of the trenches. The distance was 600 yards, and the ride was made in a rain of rifle-balls from the surrounding blufi's, the Indians having been made aware at the last moment of Dodge's approach. His luck did not desert him, however, and not a man was hit. They were not much scared, apparently, for hardly had they reached the pits and dismounted than they announced their readiness to storm the blufi's. As this would have been certain death they were not allowed to attempt it. Hardly had they dismounted when the Indians began to pick ofi' their horses, or, rather, one Indian, evidently a dead shot, began the work of destruction. With every crack of his Winchester a horse fell dead or mortally wounded, and in a short time forty fine cavalry horses, worth in the aggregate at least $4,000, lay dead or dying, The paternal Government which cares so kindly for the Indi- an is apparently blind to the fact that he is hor- ridly expensive in peace and" much more so in war. This red devil who cost the Government $4,000 in half an hour has probably been clothed and fed out of the public crib ever since he was born, and will continue to draw his rations regu- larly hereafter, when the cruel war is over. Dodge reached Payne on the third day of the siege. His coming was the occasion of much joy, but he brought no actual reUef. The siege continued, and the Indians only seemed more alert and watchful. Nothing escaped their obser- vation. A hat raised on a stick out of the trenches was sure to have a buUet-hole in it in a moment. The spring from which water was ob- tained was at some distance from the trenches, and the men were forced to sally out occasionally for water, usually at night. They seldom escaped without being fired at, and several were wounded. Morever the stench of dead animals became almost intolerable toward the last, and they were compelled to work at night hauling ofi' the dead horses or covering them up where they lay. Happily, the Indians were top careful or too cowardly to come out much at night, and the siege was thus robbed of some of its terrors, although enough remained to make them pray most fervently for the coming of Gen. Merritt, who was hastening to their relief. It was theii' gi-eat confidence in Gen. Merritt which inspired them with a strong determination to " hold the fort " at all hazards. The soldiers said that "Old Wesley'' — Memtt's army sobri- quet — ^would '-come with a whirl," and so he did come. He marched continuously Saturday night, not halting for a single moment, making seventy miles in twenty-four hoiu's. The command left •^ i A 144 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Eawlins at 10:30 A. M. on Thursday, October 2. They marched forty miles that day. The second day they marched fifty miles. The men en- dured, the march splendidly. They realized that a few of their comrades in arms were surrounded and that their safety depended upon the quick movement of this command. Consequently, there were no complaints. Several horses were so worn out that they had to be abandoned, and died on the roadside. The command arrived at the scene of action at 5:30 A. M., Sunday, October 5, after marching seventy miles the day previous. When Merritt's advance guard reached Payne's pickets, they were commanded by the guards to halt, and Gen. Merritt then ordered the guards to inform Capt. Payne that it was the relief column that was approaching. He caused his trumpeter to sound the officer's call, which is the night>signal of the Fifth Cavalry, and seldom, if ever, did that signal fall more pleasantly upon listening ears than it did upon those of the rescued garrison. The following account of the arrival of Merritt and the situation of affairs he found awaiting him is from the pen of one of his staff : " We arrived with Gen. Merritt's command Sunday morning, the 5th inst., at 5:30, after a march of seventy-five miles yesterday, stopping to rest only half an hour. Oh ! What a happy crowd Payne's command was when Merritt reached them in relief. They had been en- trenched for six days. Capt. Payne still com- mands. Lieut. Paddock is wounded in the side. Capt. Payne is wounded in the arm. Lieut. Wolf, of the Fourth Infantry, is here. Lieut. Cherry, the salvator of the command, is unhurt. Capt. Dodge, with Company F, of the Ninth Cav- alry, arrived here on Thursday. He fought his way in. Lieut. Hughes is with him. There is a horrible stench all around. The wounded men are hobbling in every direction. One hundred and fifty dead horses lying thirty feet from the entrenchments present a horrible spectacle. Poor Paddock is bright, and will be out in a day or two. I found him, with three others, lying in a deep hole. The middle of the entrenchment was used as a hospital. They have been fired on every day since Monday, particularly last night. No more fear is had, as A and M, companies of the Fifth Cavalry, have reached here. The battle commenced by the troops charging one dreaded and commanding point on our right, and I and M, companies of the Fifth Cavalry, immediately took charge of a prominence on the left. The appear- ance of the Fifth Cavalry entering under Gen. Merritt and Col. Compton was a grand sight. " The poor fellows in the entrenchment at first probably thought we were Indians. We were challenged by a sentinel, and, in reply, answered that we were friends. Gen. Merritt caused the trumpeter to sound the officer's call, and at its end three big cheers rent the air. They were relieved at last. The sight was one of the most affecting I have ever seen, and brave men shed tears. The hospital wagon has just arrived, and Drs. Grimes and Kimmel are hard at work, doing good service. Our march from Rawlins under Merritt was a grand military effort." Gen. Merritt was moved to tears at the sight of so much suffering and the peril from which the garrison had been rescued. Capt. Payne em- braced his superior officer as a child would em- brace its father. These brave soldiers, who are familiar with Indian character, knew that it was almost a miracle that every man of Thomburg's command was not massacred ; but the Interior Department has already forgiven the savages en- gaged in the Thomburg fight, on the ground that it was an accidental engagement, and the poor Indians were " not to blame." Every brave man should resent this insult to the memory of Thorn- burg and the brave soldiers who died with him on that bloody field. The Indians soon disappeared from the scene aft«r Merritt's arrival, and, after a short stop to arrange matters on the battle-field and to send the wounded under guard to Rawlins, the march was continued toward the Agency. Maj. Thornburg's J s "V ^i in. HISTOBY or COLORADO. 145 body was found by Lieut. Hughes, still lying on the battle-field, stripped, and mutilated by wounds and scalping. The remains were forwarded to RawHns, and thence to Omaha for interment. Maj. Thomas T. Thornburg, whose tragic death at the hands of the Utes is above noted, was born in Tennessee, and first saw military duty during the late civil war. In September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Sixth Tennessee Regiment of Volunteers. He was in the service from that time until August, 1863. During this term, he served for the first five months as a private, for two months as Sergeant Major, and for the remainder of his term in the service as Lieutenant and Adju- tant. He took part in the battle of Mill Spring, was with our army when Gen. Morgan made his celebrated retreat from Cumberland Gap to the Ohio River, and participated in the battle of Stone River, September 1. He was entered at the United States Military Academy of West Point, and was one of the Class of '66, graduates from there June 17, 1867. He was promoted to be Second Lieu- tenant in the Second Artillery, going then upon leave of absence till January 1, 1868. He was first stationed at Presidio, San Francisco, remain- ing there until February 26, 1868 ; from there, he went to Fortress Monroe for artillery practice, being stationed there from April 13, 1868, to May, 1869 ; then, at Alcatraz, from June to No- vember 10, 1871, excepting a short while when he was detached and sent to Sitka, Alaska — August 23 to November 17, 1869. From December 6, 1869, tm AprO, 1870, he was Professor of Mili- tary Science at San Diego, Cal. From April 21, 1870, until he became a Second Lieutenant of Artillery, he was stationed in his native State, at the East Tennessee University, as Professor of Military Tactics. From November 27, 1871, till June 20, 1873 (for two years), he was in the garrison at Fort Foote, Md. Being ordered away from there on April 27, 1875, he was then promoted to be Major of Staff, and July 12, of the same year, became Paymaster at San Antonio, Texas, being transferred from there on the 13th of August following to Fort Brown, in that State, and ordered away from there January 26, 1870. He next was stationed at the barracks at Omaha for fifteen months, being ordered to the frontier from that post on May 23, 1878. He became Major of the Fourth Infantry at Fort Steele, "Wyoming, holding this commission to June 29, of last year. Since that time, he has done scouting duty, his knowl- edge of the country, which he has scouted and hunted over, making him especially fitted for this duty. He was a brother of ex-Congressman Thorn- burg, of Tennessee. CHAPTER V. ARRIVAL AT AGENCY— THE MASSACRE. DURING all this time, the fate of Father Meeker and the Agency employes was unknown to the public. It was almost certain that he had been murdered, as it seemed incredible that the Indians would fight Thornburg and spare Meeker, who was blamed by them for bringing in the soldiers ; still, nothing had been heard to con- firm the strong suspicions of all frontiersmen as to the fate of the people at the Agency. Even when Merritt relieved Payne and marched on the Agency, he could learn nothing definite touching the trans- actions there. On the 9th, however, news reached Denver via the Uncompahgre Agency, through the medium of Chief Ouray, that Father Meeker and the male employes of the Agency had been killed on the day of the Thornburg fight (Monday, September 29), but that the women and children were safe and were being cared for by Dotiglass at his house. This latter statement turned out to be false, but as :^ '.I. 146 HISTORY or COLORADO. Douglass had not then been proved to be the dirty liar that he is, credence was given to the story, and Douglass was lauded as a "good Indian," along with Ouray, Capt. Billy, etc. A few doubting Thomases did remark that it seemed strange that Douglass should be suCh a good Indian while his wicked partners were so bad ; also, that if he was the big chief of the tribe, his devotion to the whites might have been emphasized by protecting them from murder and assassination. In fact, he had led the Agency massacre, and the women and children were the prisoners of himself and his gang of cowardly cut-throats, instead of being under his protection. On Monday, October 13, just two weeks after the first battle, two couriers arrived at Rawlins from what had been the White River Agency, and reported that Gen. Merritt had reached the Agency on the 11th. On his way, he found many dead bodies. Among others, he found the body of Carl Goldstein, an Israelite, who left Rawlins with Government supplies for the Utes at White River Agency. He was found in a gulch six miles north of the Agency. He was shot twice through the shoulder, and was about two miles from his wagons. A teamster named Julius Moore, formerly from Bainbridge, Mass., who was with him when he left Rawlins, was found about one hundred yards from Goldstein with two bullet- holes in his breast, and his body hacked and muti- lated with a knife or hatchet. As the command advanced through the canon, they came to an old coal-mine, and in it was found the dead body of an Agency employe named Frank Dresser. He had evidently been wounded, and crawled in the mine to die. His coat was folded up and placed under his head for a pillow. Beside him lay a Winchester rifle containing eight cart- tridges, and marked " J. Max Clark." Young Dresser had succeeded in escaping from the Agency massacre badly wounded, but could not reach the troops. E. W. Eskridge was found about two miles north of the Agency. He was stripped to an entire state of nudity, and had his head mashed as though he had been struck with some heavy ap- pliance. He was formerly in the banking business at Marshalltown, Iowa. He was a lawyer by pro- fession, and had only been at the Agency a short time, having been sent there by Hon. William N. Byers, of Denver, in response to a request from Father Meeker for a clerk. In one of his pockets, a letter was found, which read as follows : White Rivee, September 29, Mai. Thornburg: 1 o'clock P. M. I will come with Chief Douglass and another chief and meet you to-morrow. Everything is quiet here, and Douglass is flying the United States flag. We have been on guard three nights, and will be to-night — not that we expect any trouble, but because there might be. Did you have any trouble coming through the canon ? N. C. Meeker, United Slates Indian Agent. This note Father Meeker had sent out but a few minutes before the massacre commenced. Two Indians accompanied Mr. Eskridge, and, doubtless, were his murderers. One of them was Chief Antelope, a worthless rascal. On entering the Agency, a scene of quiet deso- lation presented itself. All the buildings, except one, were burned to the ground, and there Was not a living thing in sight, except the command. The Indians had taken everything except flour, and decamped. The women and children were missing, and nothing whatever could be found to indicate what had become of them. They had either been murdered and buried or else taken away as hostages. The Indian Agent, N. C. Meeker, was found lying dead about two hundred yards from his head- quarters, with one side of his head mashed. An iron chain, the size of which is commonly known as a log-chain, was found encircled about his neck, and a piece of a flour-barrel stave had been driven through his mouth. When found, his body was in an entire state of nudity. The dead body of Mr. W. H. Post, Father Meeker's assistant, was found between the build- ings and the river, a bullet-hole through the left j) Vy ^1 A HISTORY OF COLORADO. 147 ear and one under the ear. He, as well as Father Meeker, was stripped entirely naked. Another employe, named Eaton, was found dead. He was stripped naked, and had a bundle of paper bags in his arms. His face was badly eaten by wolves. There was a buUet^hole in his left breast. Harry Dresser, a brother to the one found in the coal mine, was found badly burned. He had, without doubt, been killed instantly, as a bullet had passed through his heart. Mr. Price, the Agency blacksmith, was found dead, with two bullet-holes through his left breast. The Indians had taken all his clothing, and he was found naked. The bodies were all buried near the Agency, but will be taken up in the spring and re-interred at Greeley, where a monument will be raised in their honor. The complete list of the kUled is as follows : Agent Meeker, Assistant W. H. Post, Frank and Harry Dresser, E. W. Eskridge, E. Price, Fred Shepard, George Eaton, W. H. Thompson, E. L. Mansfield. Another employe and sole survivor of the males at the Agency was absent at the time, having left a day or two before. With the exception of Eskridge, all the em- ployes were from Greeley, and were members of the very best families of that excellent community. The young men had been particularly generous and just to the Indians, and the latter professed such friendship for them that, in a letter written by an employe to his relatives in Greeley only the night before the massacre, the writer expressed his confidence in the friendship of the savages by stating that he felt himself as safe as if he were at home in Greeley. Whatever complaints the Indians made against Father Meeker — and they were too trivial for serious consideration — ^there was no out- ward appearance of enmity on their part toward the employes, and the murder of the latter only serves to estabKsh the fact that Indian friendship for the white race amounts to nothing more than a cloak for treachery. The desolated Agency and the haggard corpses scattered around the ruins gave nothing but a ghastly suggestion of how the massacre was ac- complished, and it was not until some time after- ward that the wretched story was told by the rescued captives. It appears that the attack had been made shortly after noon on Monday, perhaps half an hour after Mr. Eskridge and his Indian escort left the Agency with Father Meeker's letter to Maj. Thornburg. The Agency employes were at work upon a building when the savages sud- denly opened fire upon them. The terror-stricken women and children hid themselves while the massacre was in progress, and, consequently, saw little or nothing of its horrid details. Frank Dresser hid himself with the women after being slightly wounded, and, later in the day, made his escape to the brush, but was afterward found dead in the coal mine, as aheady stated. The women and children attempted to escape at the same time, but were captured almost immediately after leav- ing their place of hiding. An account of their experience while in captivity will be found in a subsequent chapter. ^ (k _*^ i^ 148 HISTORY OF COLORADO. CHAPTER VI. CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES— RESCUE OF THE PRISONERS. WE come BOW to the most remarkable feature of the Ute campaign — ^the sudden cessa- tion of hostihties at the very moment when the power of administering punishment to the Meeker and Thornburg murderers was in the hands of Gen. Merritt in the north, and Gen. Hatch in the south. Nearly, if not quite, three thousand Fed- eral troops had been rushed into Colorado with wonderful celerity, and were now distributed within striking distance of the foe. Officers and men were alike burning to inflict severe and summary punishment upon the cut-throat assassins who had not only made war upon the Government, but had characterized their revolt by inhuman atrocities upon non-combatants at the Agency. Colorado, as with one voice, demanded that the war which had been begun by the Utes themselves should be con- tinued until they cried " Enough !" Although Ouray protested that his Indians were not impli- cated, it did not seem necessary, for that reason, to spare those really and truly guilty. " Let the troops advance," said Gov. Pitkin, " and it will be easy to determine who are the hostile Indians. Those who get in the way of the troops and show fight are the ones who ought to be punished." But the high and mighty Moguls of the Interior Department evolved another scheme and put it into execution. They said, in effect : " The troops must not advance upon the Indians. If they do, some good Indian who did not fight at MOk River, nor assist in the Agency massacre, may be killed or wounded. The war is over anyhow, since Ouray ordered the Utes to stop fighting. Ouray says he will surrender the insur- gents, and a trial by a civil tribunal will cost much less than an Indian war. It is a pity that Meeker and Thornburg were killed, but if we can find out who killed them, through Ouray, we will do something terrible with the murderers — perhaps send them to prison." Economically considered, perhaps, this was sound doctrine, but it grated terribly on the nerves of Coloradoans and the army. Gen. Sher- idan gave expression to his disgust in very vigor- ous English. Gov. Pitkin sent the following ringing telegram to Secretary Schurz: State or Colobado, Executive Department, Denver, October 22, 1879. Son. Carl Schurz, Secretary of the Interior : Information from Southwestern Colorado satisfies me that many of Ouray's warriors were in the Thornburg fight. To surrender the criminals, Ouray must surren- der his tribe, which he is powerless to do. They adhere to him for protection only, and will not submit to punishment. Neither will they surrender White RiTer Utes, who are bound to them by the closest ties, and are no more guilty than themselves. They whipped Thornburg's command, and now Merritt retires. It cannot be disguised that the fighting men of the tribe are hostile and flushed with victory. They are sav- ages. They take no prisoners, except women. Their trophies are not banners, but scalps. If the policy of military inactivity continues, our frontier settlements are liable to become scenes of mas- sacre. Unless the troops move against the Indians, the Indians will move against the settlers. Must 300 miles of border settlements be subjected to this peril? The General Government is doing nothing to protect or defend our settlements. The State cannot defend all this border except by attacking the enemy. In behalf of our people, I represent the danger to you, and urge that the Government recognize that a war with barbarians now exists which involves the lives of numerous exposed mining settlements. It can be terminated only by the most vigorous and uninter- rupted warfare. (Signed) Frederick W. Pitkin, Governor. The only effect of these and other remonstrances was to secure the retention of troops in the State, whereby the Indians were held in check and the ■^ «> ^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 149 people of Colorado were preserved from the terrors of Indian raids. Merritt's command remained posted at White River, and Hatch's troops in the south were disposed at various points, as military prudence suggested. The hostile Indians kept a close watch on Merritt's forces, and Lieut. Wier, of the Ordnance Department, was murdered by them while out hunting a short distance from the Agency. A scout named Humme, who accompa- nied Lieut. Wier as a guide, was also killed. Sub- sequently, the Utes stole the Government herd of beef at White River, besides committing numerous depredations on ranchmen of the reservation ; but these little eccentricities were kindly overlooked by the " Peace Commissioners " who were solving the problem by diplomacy and conciliation — ^two parts of the latter to one of the former. It is but fair to say, however, that the Commissioners were only acting under directions from the Interior Depart- ment. Rut to go back a little. There was just one good result of the cessation of hostilities for which the powers that be in Washington ought to receive credit, and that was the rescue of the women and children prisoners, from the clutches of the Indi- ans. These prisoners were not held for safe-keep- ing and delivery to their friends, but as hostages, and it was with great difficulty that they were rescued. Gen. Charles Adams, a well-known Coloradoan, was entrusted with this delicate mission. He had been an Indian Agent, 'and was well acquainted with the Utes, besides being a personal friend of Chief Ouray. It was, in fact, entirely through the influence of the latter that Gen. Adams met with his unexpected success in his negotiations. Ouray is a veritable red Richelieu. Diplomacy is his delight. Fighting has few charms for him, though he is brave enough upon occasion. But his diplomacy has saved his tribe on more than one occasion, when fighting would have been of no avail. In the matter of the captive women and children, Ouray was quick to see that, while any cruel treatment at the hands of their captors would inflame the country against the Utes, the release of the prisoners, unharmed, would be the strongest card the Indians could possibly play, and so he bent the whole force of his energies to accomplish their release and delivery to their friends. It has been quite the custom to accord the Indians great credit for surrendering the captives. When the true history of their captivity comes to be understood, as revealed by the official examina- tion, it will be known that the original purpose of the red rascals was not to surrender their prison- ers at all, and that they were only talked into it by the persuasive eloquence of Ouray's- emissaries, who, doubtless, expatiated largely upon the advan- tages which would accrue from their surrender. Gen. Adams, on the other hand, was not author- ized to offer any terms for their surrender, and it is entii'ely safe to say that he could have accomplished nothing without Ouray's assistance, and Ouray could have accomplished nothing without profuse promises of immunity from punishment, which, unhappOy, bid too fair to be realized at this writing. The instructions to Gen. Adams from the Inte- rior Department reached him at Denver on the evening of October 14. Their purport was to the effect that, as the Indians had ceased fighting, in obedience to Chief Ouray's orders, and as Ouray was ready and willing to co-operate with the Gov- ernment in settling the difficulty. Gen. Adams should put himself in communication with Ouray, and together they should proceed to secure, first, the release of the captives, and secondly, the sur- render of the guilty Indians. Later, Adams, Ouray and Gen. Hatch were constituted a commission to investigate the White River and Thornburg mas- sacres, but, for the time being, Adams was merely appointed a special commissioner of the Interior Department to rescue the white women and children. Adams left Denver October 15, for the South- ern Agency, and arrived at Ouray's camp on the night of the 18th, where he and Chief Ouray fuUy discussed the course to be pursued. The hostile camp was then located on Grand River, nearly one :^ ■^ 150 HISTORY OF COLORADO. 4- hundred miles to the north, but Ouray was in con- stant communication with the hostiles by means of Indian runners, who, indeed, had been going and coming continually. All necessary arrangements were made, including a strong Indian escort, and Adams started on the morning of the 19th of October. The escort consisted of Sapovanero Shavano, the young Chief Colorow — not the celebrated chieftain of that name — and ten Indians. Count Von Doenhoff, an attache of the Grerman Legation at Washington ; Capt. Cline, the well-known frontiersman, and one of the Agency employes, accompanied Adams. The party was under the surveillance of Indian runners from the time of leaving the Agency until its return. These were sent out by Ouray, and reported to him from day to day the progress of events. Ouray was not en- tirely confident of the success of the mission, as it appeared, and if it failed, he wanted to know ex- actly who was responsible for the failure. He had sent out the expedition himself, and felt responsi- ble, at least, for the safety of its members. Not counting the German Count, the commis- sion was admirably organized. Gen. Adams was known to all the Indians of the tribe, and to many of them he was endeared by many acts of gen- erosity and kindness which had won for him among them the appellation of "Washington." Capt. Cline was even more highly esteemed by the Indians. For years, he had been the only white man living on the reservation. In another place, it was stated that the wagon road leading to Ouray City crossed sixty or seventy miles of the reserva- tion, and, of course, a stage-station and stopping- place for teams was necessary on that part of the road Ipng within the reservation. This station was ■ kept by Capt. Cline, by permission of the "lords of the soil," and they even went so far as to mark out a considerable scope of country which Capt. Cline should have for his own use and ben- efit. " Mother Cline," as the Captain's wife was universally known, was also greatly respected by the Indians, and the worthy couple enjoyed, in the fullest degree, the esteem and confidence of the whole tribe of Utes. The expedition followed the old Mormon road as far as it was practicable, about forty miles be- yond the Gunnison River. The wagons were then left behind, and the party struck out on horse- back. Their first camp was at the Gunnison, whence Sapovanero sent out two runners to inform the hostiles of their coming. The second night's camp was on Grand River, twenty miles distant from the hostile camp, which was reached at 10 o'clock of the third day. At Grand River, they were met by two envoys from the hostile camp — Henry Jim, the White River interpreter, and Cojoe, an Uncompahgre Indian. It is a curious fact that the first hostile Indian who met Gen. Adams en route, and the first Indian he saw in the camp of the hostiles, were Uncompahgres, though it has been long and loudly denied that the Uncompahgre Utes had anything to do with the outbreak. Just before reaching the hostile camp, the com- mission was met by two other Indians, who in- formed Adams that he had been graciously permitted to enter. Nothing was seen, however, of the captives at first, and it was soon ascertained that they were in another camp, on Plateau Creek. Without waiting for "permission" to proceed further. Gen. Adams and his party rode on to Plateau Creek, and accidentally discovered Miss Josie Meeker, in spite of efibrts to secrete her. The other captives had been hidden away, and were not produced until some hours later. These hours were consumed in a " medicine talk," which lasted five or six hours, and was very stormy. The young bucks wanted to kill the com- missioners, but were overruled by their elders. This part of the powwow being conducted in classical Ute, without interpretation, Gen. Adams never knew, until some time afterward, of the danger which menaced him. It was finally re- solved that the commission should be sufiered to depart, but without the white women and chil- dren. :^ '.l^ HISTOBY or COLORADO. 151 This aroused the ire of Sapovanero, who had been instructed by Ouray to bring back the cap- tives without fail, and who felt the importance of his mission. He made a lengthy speech, in which he threated the stubborn chief with Ouray's sov- ereign displeasure if they did not obey his com- mands. Although this speech made a decided impression, it was not immediately conclusive. Chief Douglass desired that Adams should go to White River and have the troops removed from there, promising to surrender the captives on his return if he was- successful. To this Adams de- murred, but promised, if the prisoners were at once surrendered and started south, that he would go on to White River and use his influ- ence with Merritt to prevent any advance — an easy compromise, as Merritt had no orders to advance. This arrangement was eventually agreed to, and shortly the captives were unconditionally surren- dered, though with evident reluctance. The joy of the poor prisoners knew no bounds when assured that they were in the hands. of their friends once more — friends indeed, although entire strangers as far as previous acquaintance was con- cerned. They had been captives twenty-two days, and had almost despaired of succor. Miss Meeker and Mrs. Price had borne up wonderfully well under their privations and sufferings, but poor Mrs. Meeker was nearly worn out by anxiety, suf- fering and exposure. The two children of Mrs. Price had fared better than the elders, and were enjoying tolerably vigorous health. Gen. Adams at once departed, with an Indian escort, for Gen. Merritt's headquarters, communi- cated to him the facts above recited, and returned to the Southern Agency, via the hostile camp, and over the same road he had followed when going in, reaching the camp of Ouray on the 29th, and Denver a few days later. The women and children, in charge of Capt. Cline, had proceeded directly south, reaching Ouray's house on the evening of the second day, where they received a warm welcome from the veteran diplomatist, who was greatly elated over the success of his scheme. Thence they traveled, by easy stages, to Denver, everywhere being greeted with demonstrations of joy over their escape, and at Denver they had quite an ovation. Their arrival in Greeley, however, was the most affecting incident of the latter portion of their trip. There they met their old friends, neighbors and relatives, whom they had little thought ever to meet again under such circumstances and sur- roundings. It was as if the dead had been re- stored to life, and no language can fitly portray the feelings of the rescued prisoners, or their friends who welcomed them '' Home again." CHAPTER VII. SAD STORY OF THE CAPTIVES. FROM the moment of their release until long weeks afterward, the story of the captives was on every tongue. It filled columns of every newspaper in the country, and crowds flocked to hear it from the lips of the heroine of the Agency, Miss Josie Meeker, who yielded to the solicita- tions of the public and appeared a few times upon the rostrum, not to lecture, but to tell the plain, unvarnished story of the Agency massacre and the experience of the captives during the time they remained in the hands of the hostiles. Not even Miss Meeker herself could give an adequate idea of their intense and overwhelming sufferings, not alone from brutal treatment, although that of itself was bad enough, but from the an- guish of their hearts over the recent horrid death of their dear ones, and from anxiety lest they should share the same or a worse fate by the same ■^ 153 HISTORY or COLORADO. cruel hands which killed and mutilated their friends. Consider the circumstances ; Mrs. Meeker was an aged and infirm woman, whose hushand, the companion of many years, had been bloodily butchered, almost before her eyes — ^indeed, after her capture she had been driven past the cold and lifeless body of her husband, lying stark and stiff, in the embrace of death, upon the ground, yet she had not been permitted to even touch the remains, much less to bid them the farewell affection prompted. Mrs. Price, too, had lost her husband in the same cruel mamier, and her two helpless little ones were not only fatherless but prisoners, like her, with savages, who were far more likely to kill them than treat them kindly. Miss Meeker, a young lady of education and culture, the pet and pride of her dead father, whom she loved beyond measure, was in such distress of body and mind that she might have been expected to break down entirely, instead of keeping up her courage with undavmted spirit and compeDing the admira^ tion of her inhuman captors. While there is life there is hope, of course ; but in this case it did not seem that their chances of escape were worth hoping for. One advantage they had, however, and that was their intimate knowledge of Indian nature, acquu'ed during their residence at the Agency, and to this and Miss Meeker's courage they probably owe their lives to-day. On emerging from their captivity, they were met at Chief Ouray's house by Mr. Ralph Meeker, Mrs. Meeker's only son, who is an attache of the New York Herald, but whose visit to Colorado was in the capacity of special agent of the Interior Department to assist in the rescue of the prisoners. Mr. Ralph Meeker arrived out too late to accom- pany Gen. Adams, and was forced to remain at the Los Pinos Agency until his mother and sister reached there in charge of Capt. Cline, as already stated. During their journey from the Agency to the railway at Alamosa, little was talked of other than the experiences of the eventful days of their captivity and sufferings, and, at the suggestion of her brother. Miss Meeker dictated a letter to the Herald, detailing the leading features of events at the Agency before, during and after the massacre, with an account of her' wandering in the wilder- ness and final rescue by Gren. Adams' party. The narrative is too interesting to be abridged, and no apology need be made for inserting it entire ; MISS JOSEPHINE MEEKER's STORY. " The first I heard of any trouble with the Indians at my father's Agency was the firing at Mr. Price while he was plowing. The Indians said that as soon as the land was plowed it would cease to be Ute's land. Two or three councils were held. The Indian woman Jane, wife of Pauvitts, caused the whole trouble. It was finally settled by the Agent's moving her corral, building her a house, putting up a stove and digging her a well. But Johnson, who was not at the council, got angry with the Agent and the Indians when he found the plowing resumed. He assaidted father and forced him from his house. " Father wrote the Government that if its policy was to be carried out, he must have protection. The response was that the Agent would be sustained. Gov. Pitkin wrote that troops had been sent, and we heard no more until the runners came, and all the Indians were greatly excited. They said there were soldiers on Bear River, sixty mUes north of the Agency. The next day, the Indians held a council, and asked father to write to Thomblirg to send five officers to come and compromise and keep the soldiers off the reservation. The Agent sent a statement of the situation of the Indians, and said Thornburg should do as he thought best. The Indians who accompanied the courier returned Sunday to breakfast. A council was held at Douglass' camp, and also at the Agency. '' Meanwhile, the American flag was flying over Douglass' camp, yet all the women and tents were moved back, and the Indians were greatly excited. " Monday noon, Mr. Eskridge, who took the Agent's message to Thornburg, returned, saying that the troops were making day and night marches, and ^ {! 9 "V j2A^2-^^^>»^ 'A HISTORY OF COLORADO. 159 scouts on the mountains had discovered the troops ten or fifteen miles south of the Agency, advancing toward our camp. The Indians ran in every direc- tion. The horses became excited, and, for a time, hardly a pony could be approached. Johnson flies into a passion when there is danger. ' This time, his horses kicked and confusion was supreme. Mr. Johnson siezed a whip and laid it over the shoul- ders of his youngest squaw, named Coose. He pulled her hair and renewed the lash. Then he returned to assist his other wife pack, and the colts ran and kicked. While Mrs. Price and my- self were watching the scene, a young buck came up with a gun and threatened to shoot us. "We told him to shoot away. Mrs. Price requested him to shoot her in the forehead. He said we were no good squaws, because we would not scare. We did not move until noon. We traveled till nightfall, and camped on the Grand River in a nice, grassy j)lace, under the trees by the water. The next day was Sunday, and we moved twenty- five miles south, but mother and Mrs. Price did not come up for three or four days again. We camped on the Grand River, under trees. Rain set in and continued two days and three nights. I did not suffer, for I was in camp ; but mother and Mrs. Price, who were kept on the road, got soaked each day. Johnson, who had Mrs. Price, went beyond us, and all the other Indians behind camped with Johnson. " Friday, Johnson talked with Douglass. He took mother to his tent. Johnson's oldest wife is a sister of Chief Ouray, and he was kinder than the others, while his wife cried over the captives and made the children shoes. Cohae beat his wife with a club and pulled her hair. I departed, leav- ing her to pack up. He was an Uncompahgre Ute, and Ouray will not let him return to hisband. The Indians said they would stay at this camp, and, if the soldiers advanced, they would get them in a canon and kill them all. They said that neither the soldiers nor the horses understood the country. " The Utes were now nearly to the Uncom- pahgre district, and could not retreat much further. Colorow made a big speech, and advised the Indi- ans to go no further south. We were then removed one day's ride to Plateau Creek, a cattle, stream running south out of Grand River. Eight miles more travel on two other days brought us to the camping-ground where Gen. Adams found us. It was near to Plateau Creek, but high up and not far from the snowy range. " On Monday night, an Uncompahgte Ute came and said that the next day Gen. Adams, whom they called Washington, was coming after the cap- tives. I felt very glad and told the Indian that I was ready to go. Next day, about 11 o'clock, while I was sewing in Persune's tent, his boy, about twelve, came in, picked up a buffalo robe and wanted me to go to bed. I told him I was not sleepy. Then a squaw came and hung a blan- ket before the door, and spread both hands to keep the blanket down so I could not push it away ; but I looked over the top and saw Gen. Adams and party outside, on horses. The squaw's movements attracted their attention and they came up close. I pushed the squaw aside and walked out to meet them. They asked my name and dis- mounted, and said they had come to take us back. I showed them the tent where mother and Mrs. Price were stopping, and the General went down, but they were not in, for, meanwhile, Johnson had gone to where they were washing, on Plateau Creek, and told them that a council was to be held and that they must not come up till it was over. Dinner was sent to the ladies and they were or- dered to stay there. About 4 o'clock, when the council ended. Gen. Adams ordered them to be brought to him, which was done, and once more we were together in the hands of friends. " Gen. Adams started at once for White River, and we went to Chief Johnson's and stayed all night. " The next morning we left for Uncompahgre, in charge of Capt. CHne and Mr. Sherman. 'The Captain had served as a scout on the Potomac, and Mr. Sherman is chief clerk at Los Pinos Agency. To these gentlemen we were indebted for a safe -^ 160 HISTORY OF COLORADO. and rapid journey to Chief Ouray's house, on Uncompahgre River, near Los Pinos. We rode on ponies, forty miles the first day, and reached Capt. Cline's wagon, on a small tributary of the Grand. Here we took the buckboard wagon. Traveled next day to the Grunnison River, and the next and last day of fear we traveled forty miles, and reached the house of good Chief Ouray about sundown. Here Inspector Pollock and my brother Ralph met me, and I was happy enough. Chief Ouray and his noble wife did everything possible to make us comfortable. We found carpets on the floor and curtains on the windows, lamps on the tables and stoves in the rooms, with fires burning. We were given a whole house, and after supper we went to bed and slept without much fear, though mother was still haunted by the terrors she had passed through. Mrs. Ouray shed tears over us as she bade us good-bye. Then we took the mail wagons and stages for home. Three days and one night of constant travel over two ranges of snowy mountains, where the road was 11,000 feet above the sea, brought us to the beau- tiful park of San Luis. We crossed the Rio Grande River at daylight, for the last time, and, a moment later, the stage and its four horses dashed up a street and we stopped before a hotel with green blinds, and the driver shouted ' Alamosa.' " The moon was shining brightly, and Mt. Blanca, the highest peak in Colorado, stood out grandly from the four great ranges that sur- rounded the park. Mother could hardly stand. She had to be lifted from the coach ; but when she caught sight of the cars of the Rio Grande Railroad, and when she saw the telegraph poles, her eyes brightened, and she exclaimed, ' Now I feel safe.'" Mrs. Bleeker and Mrs. Price also published state- ments of their individual experiences, but, in the main, they corresponded with the foregoing, except that both bore testimony to the coolness and unflinch- ing courage of Miss Meeker in the presence of every danger, even in the awfiil ordeal through which they passed at the Agency on the day of the massacre, and subsequently when the "brave" Chief Douglass pointed his gun at her head and flourished his scalping-knife in her face. Douglass had sent a magniloquent message to Chief Ouray that the women and children were "safe" under his protection, also that the papers and money of Mr. Meeker had been turned over to Mrs. Meeker. When the truth became known, it appeared that Douglass was not only guilty of persecuting the prisoners but actually had stolen Mrs. Meeker's little store of money ! Wily old Ouray knew that such petty meanness would be quoted against his tribe, and demanded that the money be returned, but it was not handed over until some time after- ward. It is generally believed that Ouray, failing to recover the money from Douglass, paid it out of his own pocket and represented that it came from Douglass. When Miss Meeker told the story of her cap- tivity to the people of Denver, she introduced some facts and incidents not noted in her New York Herald narrative. She was particularly happy in her description of Indian habits and cus- toms, upon which topic she enlarged considerably. She also gave an interesting account of a visit paid to her in secret by a Uintah Ute, whom she de- scribed as being a remarkably bright and intelligent savage, and almost gentlemanly in his demeanor — quite a romantic savage, indeed. He did not, how- ever, make any effort or promise to secure her release, ftirther than that he volunteered to carry, and did carry, a message from her to the Agent of the Uintahs. He asked her many questions about the outbreak, the massacre, her captivity, her treat> ment by the Indians, and, with the skill of a first> class criminal lawyer, eUcited all the information she had upon these various subjects. He was law- yer-like, too, in his own reticence and non-commit- talism. He simply listened. After hearing her story, he went off, agreeing to return in the morn- ing for the letter which he was to carry to the Agency. Miss Meeker was not supplied with writing mate- rials, and the suspicious Indians refused to let her »V :^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 161 have such as they happened to possess, which were, in fact, rather infinitesimal. Finally, Susan, wife of Chief Johnson and sister of Ouray, afterward to become famous under her new sobriquet of " God bless Susan," whose kindness to the captives was a bright oasis in the desert of their misery, managed to secure the stub of an old lead pencil for Miss Meeker, and the latter found a scrap of paper, upon which she wrote the following message : Grand River (forty to fifty miles from Agency), „ ,. „, ^ , . ^ October 10, 1879. To the Uintah Agent : I send this ty one of your Indians. If you get it, do all in your power to liberate us as soon as possible. I do not think they will let us go of their own accord. You will do me a great service to inform Mary Meeker, at Greeley, Colorado, that we are well, and may get home some time. Yours, etc. Josephine Meeker, U. S. Indian Agent' i daughter. The gentle Douglass proved to be an angel of very variable temper. When drunk, he was vapor- ous and insulting ; but after a debauch, he was a whining and insipid savage. At such times, he would bemoan his unhappy fate, and blame Father Meeker for bringing on the Agency troubles. The loss of his Agency suppUes seemed to weigh upon him heavily, and frequently he would repeat: " Douglass heap poor Indian now.'' Brady, the white messenger sent by Ouray with orders to the White River Utes to stop fighting, was not permitted to see the captives at all, or to communicate with them. Miss Meeker heard of his arrival, and asked to see him, but was told that he was "heap too much hurry" to make any calls of state or ceremony. Taken altogether, the captivity of the Meekers and Mrs. Price has no redeeming feature, save the fact that they were ultimately released, and their release, as already shown, was not the wiUing act of their captors, but a sort of military necessity, whereby it was hoped not only to check the ad- vance of the troops, but also to pave the way for a peaceable solution of the pending difficulty. The horrors of their captivity were dreadful enough, even without the crowning horror which they so narrowly escaped. CHAPTER VIII. UTE ATROCITIES IN COLORADO. "TN the early days of Colorado's history, the Utes -L were not particularly troublesome. It is re- lated that a small force of United States soldiers, under command of Maj. Ormsby, once had an engagement previous to 1860, with a band of Utes nsar Pike's Peak, and that the soldiers were victo- rious. Fort Garland, in CostiUa County, was built for the purpose of protecting the country against any outbreak of the Utes. Quite a num- ber of them went to war early in the sixties, but old Kit Carson, being in command there, succeeded in pacifying them without bloodshed. Since then, the Utes have been moderately peaceable as a whole, though they have always been more or less troublesome, especially in small bands and as individuals. In fact, there scarcely has been a time since the first settlement of Colorado when, they have not been an annoyance. The greater share of trouble has, however, been due to the southern bands of the tribe, while the White River Utes have been, upon the whole, peaceably inclined. Colorow and Piah and their bands have proven exceptions, but they did not for years cause serious trouble until in 1878. The Utes cannot make complaint against the whites with the force usually brought to bear on the subject by the aborigines. They have not been persecuted by settlers. In fact, the white settlers have been an actual protection to the Utes. When the white people came into this country. ;^ ^- k. 163 HISTORY OF COLOEADO. the Utes and the Plains Indians, the Cheyennes and the Arapahoes, were deadly enemies, and the Plains Indians were generally considered the supe- riors of the Utes as Indian fighters. The whites were compelled, for their own protection, to rid the country of the Arapahoes and Cheyennes, and in doing so they also relieved the Utes. Hence the latter tribe owe the whites a real debt of gratitude. The Utes have never made any attack upon large parties of whites except once. It was in 1872 that a party of eleven white men, under the leadership of John Le Fevre, ventured into North Park prospecting. One day, a majority of the party went out to kill game enough to eat, and, while out, very unexpectedly ran upon a band of fifty Utes, under the leadership of the infamous old renegade Colorow. The party were met face to face by the Indians, who seemed to have planned the meeting. " Here ! dam ! you shoot my antelope." " Oh, no ! Only one to eat." "Yes, you do; you heap dam lie." The whites insisted that they were not unneces- sarily butchering the antelope. But Colorow said that if the whites were not out of the park the next day he would scalp all of them. There was one sick man with them. Colorow said he could have twenty sleeps and then he must go. Le Fevre and one man took the hint and left. None of the others were seen again. But eight skele- tons were found in the locality in which they had been left, a few years afterward ; and some time after this discovery another pile of bones accounted for the ninth. A note pinned on the door of the cabin in which the sick man had been confined, completed the story. He stated that Colorow had been about a great deal; that he had threatened to kill all hands, and that he, the writer, never ex- pected to see the land of the white man. There is no doubt in the minds of any of the old inhabi- tants of North or Middle Park but what Colorow killed the nine men who were following the legitimate pursuit of prospecting in a country near the Ute country, but to which they had no earthly claim. Many other small parties have been threatened just as this was, and doubtless would have met with the same horrible fate had they not concluded that prudence was the better part of valor, and left at his command. There is no use in disguising the fact, the Indians are a drawback to the State, and people who venture out upon our frontier, whether they cross the line or not, are in danger. It has been but a little over two years since, in La Plata County, the southern half of the tribe were making demonstrations which, if the culprits had been white men, would have entitled them to a term in the penitentiary, or to have their bodies swinging in the air. It was nothing for a lone white man to be stopped and threatened. In 1875, a man was killed in cold blood in South Park. There are few Colorado people that do not remember the fate of poor Joe McLane. Joe was decoyed ofi' and murdered by a band of Utes, near Cheyenne Wells, over a hundred miles east of Denver, and three or four hundred miles from the Ute reservation, showing that people are not safe in any part of the State when those Indians are about. This same band, under the leadership of Shevenau, Washington, Piah and Colorow, fled to Middle Park, where they continued their devilish work by robbing and threatening, which was only cut short when one of the Indians had a bullet put through his body. In their flight, they deliber- erately stopped on the road and shot an inoffensive, quiet old man named EUiott, who had for years lived a next-door neighbor to them, and who had never done a single act to provoke them. The whole State was alarmed, and the military was called out. The result was great fear among the frontier settlers, a fortnight's campaign in the mountains, and heavy expenses. This occurred in August, 1878 — one year ago. The following meager outhne of crimes recently published, will bear repetition here: Killing of three miners in North Park in 1860. Murder of G. P. Marksberry near Florissant, El Paso Co., Colo., 1874. ^c >^ ^1 L^ HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 163 Murder of " Old Man " Elliott on Grand Kiver, near Hot Sulphur Springs, 1878. Burning of house and blacksmith-shop belong- ing to W. N. Byers, at Hot Sulphur Springs, Grand Co., Colo., 1875. Burning of Frank Marshal's house, corral and fence at " Marston Tourrs," Egeria Park, 1875. Burning of Richard Weber's house at foot of Gore Range, 1875. Burning of houses, corral and fence belonging to John Jay and Asa L. Fly, on Bear River, Colorado, 1875. Burning of John Tow's house on Bear River, 1875. Burning of W. Springer's house, corral and fences on Bear River, 1875. Burning of D. G. Whiting's house, stable, cor- ral, fences and hay, on Bear River, 1876. Burning of T. H. lies' hay, on Bear River, 1876. Burning of G. C. Smart's cabin on Bear River, 1879. Burning of houses and hay belonging to A. H. Smart and J. B. Thompson, on Bear River, 1879. Destruction of pine timber in and about North, Middle and Egeria Parks, 1879. Estimated value, $10,000,000. Destruction of 100,000 acres of grass in the parks and on Bear and Snake Rivers. Indiscriminate slaughter of elk, deer and ante- lope out of season, and merely for the hides. But the Meeker massacre was the crowning in- famy, and the most earnest desire of the people of Colorado is that the assassins should be punished, and that right speedily. So many crimes of the Indians have been condoned, or only winked at by the Government, which assumes the prerogative of dealing with the Indians directly, instead of leav- ing them in the hands of the courts, that Colorado has had enough, and more than enough, of such business. If any foreign power, however high and mighty, had massacred Meeker alone, to say noth- ing of his associates, the United States would have demanded and exacted instant reparation, instead of appointing peace commifs.sioners to "investigate" the affair, and, if possible, to "arrest" the mur- derers. Father Meeker was dear to the people of Colorado, and his untimely and awful taking-off was a terrible shock even to those long accustomed to Indian duplicity, treachery and barbarity. The following s'ietch of Mr. Meeker's life will serve to show that he was no ordinary man, and it will be found interesting. It was written before the news of his death was received : " Nathan C. Meeker, the Agent at White River, is about sixty-four years of age. He was born in Euclid, Ohio, near Cleveland. The place is now known as Callamer. At an early age, he began to write poems and stories for the magazines. When he was still in his boyhood, he traveled on foot most of the way to New Orleans, where he arrived without money or letters of recommendation. He succeeded in getting work on the local staff of one of the city papers, which barely gave him a Kving.. In a year or two, he returned to Cleveland, and taught school until he could earn enough to pay his way to New York, whither he went with the friendship of George D. Prentice, whom he had met during his Southern travels. In New York, he was encouraged by N. P. Willis, and he con- tributed poems and sketches regularly to the New York Mirror, a literary journal edited by Willis, and which attracted considerable attention from good writers of that day. The young man's style was quaint and somewhat melancholy, and his poems were copied, but he could scarcely earn bread to eat, and his sufferings were so great that he abandoned poetry for the rest of his life. He man- aged to raise money enough to enable him to pro- ceed on foot to Pennsylvania, where he taught school and continued his literary studies. After- ward, he returned to Ohio, and, in 1844, when about thirty years old, married the daughter of Mr. Smith, a retired sea captain, at Claridon, and took his bride to what was known as the Trumbull Pha- lanx, which was just being organized at Braceville, near Warren, Ohio. The society was a branch of i^ 161 HISTORY or COLORADO. the Brook Farm and the North American Phalanx, of which Hawthorne, Curtis and Greeley were leading members. The Ohio Phalanx was com- posed of young and ardent admirers of Fourier, the socialist. There was no free love, but the members lived in a village, dined at common tables, dwelt in separate cottages, and worked in the community fields together and allowed the proceeds of all their earnings to go into a common ftind. Manufactor- ies were established, the soil was fertile, and pros- perity would have followed had all the members been honest and the climate healthful. Fever and ague ran riot with the weeds, and the most ignor- ant and avaricious of the Arcadian band began to absorb what really belonged to the weaker ones, who did most of the hard labor. Mr. Meeker, who was one of the chief workers, was glad to get away alive with his wife and two boys, the youngest of whom was born shaking with the ague. Mr. Meeker was the librarian and chief literary authority of the community, but he lost most of his books, and when he reached his Cleveland home he had but a few dollars. In company with his brothers, he opened a small store and began business on a ' worldly' ba.sis ; and he prospered so that he was invited to join another community, the disciples and followers of Alexander Campbell, a Scotch- Irishman, the founder of the religious sect the members of which are sometimes called ' Camp- boUites.' Gen. Garfield is a follower of this faith, and he became a fellow-townsman of Mr. Meeker. The ' disciples ' were building a large college at Hiram, Ohio, and Mr. Meeker moved his store thither and received the patronage of the school and church. While there, he wrote a book called 'The Adventures of Captain Armstrong.' " In 1856, when the great panic came, he lost nearly everything. Then he moved to Southern Illinois, and, with the remnant of his goods, opened a small store near Dongola, in Union County. For several years his boys 'ran' the store, while he worked a small farm and devoted his spare hours to literature. His correspondence with the Cleve- land Plaindealer attracted the attention of Arte- mas Ward, and the result was a warm personal friendship. When the war broke out, he wrote a letter to the Tribune on the Southwestern political leaders and the resources of the Mississippi Val- ley. Horace Greeley telegraphed to A. D. Eich- ardson, who was in charge of the Tribune at Cairo, this dispatch : " ' Meeker is the man we want.' Sidney How- ard Gay engaged him, and, afler serving as a war correspondent at Fort Donelson and other places, at the close of the war, Mr. Meeker was called to New York to take charge of the agricultural de- partment and do general editorial work on the Tribune. He wrote a book entitled " Life in the West," and his articles on the Oneida Community were copied into leading German, French and other European journals. In 1869, he was sent to write up the Mormons ; but finding the roads be- yond Cheyenne blockaded with snow, he turned southward and followed the Kocky Mountains down to the foot of Pike's Peak, where he was so charmed with the Garden of the Gods and the un- surpassed scenery of that lovely region, where birds were singing and grasses growing in the mountains, that he said, if he could persuade a dozen families to go thither, he would take his wife and girls to live and die there. Mr. Greeley was dining at the Delmonico when he heard of it. " 'Tell Meeker,'' exclaimed he, 'to go ahead. I will back him with the Tribune.' " A letter was printed, a meeting held, subscrip- tions imdted, and $96,000 were forwarded to the Treasurer immediately. Mr. Meeker was elected President of the colony, and Horace Greeley made Treasurer. So many applications were sent in that it was thought a larger tract of land would be needed than seemed to be free from incumbrance at Pike's Peak. Several miles square of land were bought on the Cache-la-Poudre River, where the town of Greeley now stands, and several hundred families were estabUshed in what had been styled ' The Great American Desert.' Horace Greeley's one exhortation was : " ' Tell Meeker to have no fences nor rum.' rr li:^ HISTOBY OF COLORADO. 165 " On this basis the colony was founded. To-day, Grreeley has 3,000 population, 100 miles of irrigat- ing canals, a fine graded school, and is the capital of a county 160 miles long. " Mr. Meeker went to the White River Agency with his wife and youngest daughter, Josephine, who taught the young Indians, and was a general favorite. Mr. William H. Post, of Yonkers, was his 'boss farmer' and general assistant. Mr. Post had been a competent and very popular Secretary of the Greeley Colony. He was at the Agency at the time of the outbreak. " Mr. Meeker's plan was to have the Indians raise crops and support themselves in an improved way. He encouraged them to live in log houses and have some of the miscellaneous conveniences of civilization. Mr. Meeker's family consists of three daughters and one son. Two of the daughters, Mary and Rose, are at the homestead in Greeley, while Josephine, aged twenty-two, is supposed to have shared the fate of the father and mother, both of whom are of venerable years.'' All that could be said against Father Meeker was, that his rugged honesty and almost Puritanic devotion to principle, instead of " policy," unfitted him for Indian management on the most successful plan. He was inflexibly just, rather than preter- naturally kind. He would not compromise with wrong, or what he thought to be wrong. Perhaps his idle, dissolute and vicious wards did find his words bitter at times, but his heart was softer than his tongue. He might rebuke them for their mis- deeds, but he would have shared his last crust with them with equal pleasure. It is a singular fact that the foregoing history of Ute depredations in Colorado includes but one sol- itary instance in which the Indians suiFered at the hands of the whites. One Ute was shot in Middle Park, in the summer of 1878, by a party of ranchmen, who had banded together for protection from the inso- lence of marauding Indians. The rest of the gang suddenly departed from the Park, but as they rode past Mr. Elliott's ranch they saw the old gen<;leman standing peaceably in his doorway, and shot him down as they would a deer or a dog. CHAPTER IX. THE "PEACE COMMISSION" FARCE. THIS record closes in the last half of Decem- ber. Nearly three months have elapsed since the Thornburg fight and the Meeker mas- sacre. The captives were released two months ago. Merritt's magnificent army stiU waits at the ruins of the White River Agency, and Gen. Hatch's soldiers are still spoiling for a fight down south. The hostile Indians are quiescent, but are still resting on their arms and the laurels of their late victories. Nothing is being done toward wip- ing out the miserable murderers, but a "Peace Commission " has been taking Indian testimony at the Los Pinos Agency. Of all the dreary, disgusting farces ever played in Colorado, this has been the worst, and the white members ol the Commission have been nearly if not quite as much disgusted with their work as have the people of the State. Acting not only under instructions but by daily direction of the Interior Department, the Commissioners have had neither choice nor discretion as to what they should do or leave undone. The Commission, as constituted by appointment of Mr. Secretary Schurz, consisted of Gen. Hatch, who was elected President of the Board ; Gen. Adams, nominal Secretary, and Chief Ouray, who represented the Indians. Besides the Commis- sioners, there was a sort of Judge Advocate Gen- eral, in the person of Lieut. Valois, of Gen. Hatch's stafi', and an ofiicial stenographer. Aj c l^ 166 HISTORY OF COLORADO. The Commission was created at the instance of Chief Ouray, who assured Gen. Adams that, if permitted an opportunity, he would ferret out every Indian concerned in the uprising, and turn them all over to the Government for such punish- ment as it saw fit to inflict upon them. This apparently generous offer was well calculated to satisfy the heads of the Indian Bureau, and was accepted with a flourish of Schurz trumpets, as an evidence that the Utes were "good Indians" at heart, and deeply regretted the unfortunate occur- rences at the Agency and Milk River. The Commissioners received notice of their ap- pointment immediately after the return of Gen. Adams from his pilgrimage in search of the pris- ers, and Ouray agreed to have the hostile Indians in his camp within ten days. The ten days would expire Saturday, November 8, and the first meet- ing of the Commission was fixed for that day at the Los Pines Agency. Gen. Adams came north in the interim, and took the written and sworn testi- mony of Mrs. and Miss Meeker and Mrs. Price, at Greeley, soon after they had reached home from their captivity. Returning immediately south, Gen. Adams reached Los Pinos about the time for the first session of the peacemakers, but Gen. Hatch was detained until the Wednesday following, and the work of the Commission dates from November 12. The first sessions of the Commission were not marked by any wonderful revelations of fact by the Indian witnesses, but, on the contrary, their dense ignorance of what had happened up north was something fearful to be contemplated. Before testifying to anything, they required the dismissal of Mr. McLane, who had accompanied Gen. Hatch to the Agency. Their antipathy to McLane resulted very Indianaturally from the fact that, last summer, they had murdered his brother on the plains, east of Denver, and suspected that his visit to the Agency boded no good to his brother's murderers. It should be borne in mind, too, that they did not know, except inferentially, what McLane was there for, but they didn't want him there on general principles. Gen. Hatch held that McLane was there as a witness, and had as much right to remain as the Indian witnesses, but Adams and Ouray said that Mr. McLane should go, to please the Indians. He went. First blood for the Utes. After the solitary white witness had been bounced, the Indians began testifying, the Com- mission sitting with closed doors and most of the witnesses with closed mouths. They were the " squaw Indians," as those engaged in the Agency massacre were designated to distinguish them from the fighting men who, under Chief Jack, defeated Thornburg. These squaw Indians were the fol- lowers of Douglass and Johnson, principally. The testimony of the late captives had directly impli- cated most of them in the massacre, but when they took the witness' stand and the Ute oath (the latter with great solemnity, to all outside appear- ances), most of them swore, with equal solemnity, that they had never heard of the massacre and didn't know Mr. Meeker was dead. The following burlesque report of Johnson's examination is but a trifling exaggeration of the actual facts : THE PEACE COMMISSION. Grapevine Telegram to Laramie Timei : Los PiNOS, Colo., November 17, 1879. Chief Johnson was again called to the stand this morning, and administered the following oath to himself, in a solemn and awe-inspiring manner : " By the Great Horn Spoons of the Paleface and the Great Round-faced Moon, round as the shield of my fathers; by the Great High Muck-a-Muck of the Ute Nation ; by the Beard of the Prophet ; by the Continental Congress and the Sword of Bunker Hill, I dassent tell a lie ! " When Johnson had repeated this solemn oath, at the same time making the grand hailing sign of the secret order known as the Thousand and One, there was not a dry eye or seat in the house. Even Gen. Adams, who is accustomed to the most ghastly, bloody forms of horrible death on the gory battle-field, sobbed like a little half-fare child. :r ,^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 167 Question hy Gen. Adams — What is your name, and where do you reside ? Answer — My name is Johnson — -just plain Johnson. The rest has been torn oiF. I am by occupation a farmer. I am a horny-handed son of toil, and don't you forget it. I reside in Greeley, Colo. Q. — Did you or did you not hear of a massacre at the White Biver Agency during the fall, and if so, how much ? Objected to by defendants' counsel, because it is irrelevant, immaterial, unconstitutional and incon- gruous. Most of the forenoon was spent in arguing the point before the court ; but it was allowed to go in, whereupon defendants' counsel asked to have the exception noted on the court moments. A. — I did not hear of the massacre until last evening, when I happened to pick up an old paper and read about it. It was a very sad affair, I should think, from what the paper said. Q. — Were you or were not present at the massacre ? Objected to by defendants' counsel, on the ground that the witness is not bound to answer a question which would criminate himself. Obj eetion sustained, and question withdrawn by prosecution. Q, — Where were you on the night that this massacre is said to have occurred ? A. — What massacre? Q. — The one at White River Agency. A. — I was attending a series of protracted meetings at Greeley, in this State. Q. — Were Douglass, Colorow and other Ute chiefs with you at Greeley ? A. — They were. Court adjourned for dinner. Gen. Adams re- marked to a reporter that he was getting down to business now, and that he had no doubt that, in the course of a few months, he would vindicate Schurz's policy and convict all those Utes of false- hood in the first degree. After dinner, court was called, with Johnson still at the bat, Douglass on deck. Gen. Adams short>stop, and Ouray center field. Q. — You say you were not present at the massacre at White River ; were you ever engaged in any massacre? Objected to, but objection afterward withdrawn. ^.— No. §.— Never? A. — Never. §.— What! never? A. — Well, dam seldom. Great applause and cries of " Ugh ! " Q. — Did you or did you not know a man named N. C. Meeker, or Father .Meeker ? ^.— Yes. Q. — Go on and state if you know where you met him, and at what time. A. — I met him at Greeley, two or three years ago. After that, I heard he got appointed Indian Ascent somewhere out West. Q. — Did you ever hear anything of him after that? A. — Nothing whatever. Q. — Did the account of the White River mas- sacre which you read mention the death of Mr. Meeker ? A. — No. Is he dead? Gen. Adams. — Yes, he is dead. At that announcement the witness gave a wild whoop of pain and anguish, fell forward into the arms of Gen. Adams and is still unconscious as we go to press. We do not wish to censure Gen. Adams. No doubt he is conducting the investigation to the , best of his ability ; but he ought to break such news to the Indians as gently as possible. Ridiculous as this nonsense may sound, it was almost duplicated a few days later by the testimony of Sowerwiok, an Indian upon whom Gen. Adams relied for "reliable" testimony. Sowerwiok said that he knew nothing and had heard nothing about any trouble at the Agency; whereupon Adams asked him how the women and children happened to be captives in the Indian camp. He denied all knowledge of the captives, too, though Adams had met him and talked with him when ® — ) fy 15 !b^ liL 168 HISTORY OF COLORADO. the prisoners were recovered, and Sowerwick had taken an active part in the council which was held before the prisoners were surrendered. Said Adams, " Now, Sowerwick, didn't I meet you in the captive camp, on Plateau Creek, and didn't I talk with you in your own tent about the women and children ? " The innocent savage turned half around to look Adams in the eye, and unblushingly answered, " No." It was a monumental falsehood, for Adams had known Sowerwick intimately for years, and could not possibly be mistaken. Moreover, the Indian had not denied or attempted to conceal his iden- tity at the time mentioned, but had met Adams as an old friend whom he was glad to see, even under circumstances which, ordinarily, might be embar- t rassmg. | Of course nothing was gained by such testi- mony, and finally Gen. Hatch refused to hear any more of it. Ouray was also terribly disgusted, but was powerless to compel the Indians to testify. They were afraid to say anything, lest they should give themselves away. They were terribly suspi- cious of the Commission, and Ouray was com- pelled to guard the white men at the Agency, to save them from assassination. Richelieu was com- pletely nonplused. He begged for time, which was granted him, and which he used in haranguing the Indians, but to no avail. The story of the Agency massacre never passed their lips. The testimony of the captives was read to Ouray, and objected to by him as " squaw-talk." Hatch and Adams, however, said the testimony should stand unless disproved by the Indians im- plicated. Another lease of time was asked and granted by direction of Schurz. Days dragged into weeks and weeks dragged away. At last Ouray announced a grand coup. Jack and Colorow were coming in. They came. They mounted the witness stand. They acknowl- edged their leadership in the attack on Thorn- burg, and told the story of the fight — told it straiffht, too, but of course laid all the blame on poor dead and gone Thornburg. They didn't want to fight ; oh no. They were driven into the battle by a stress of unfortunate circumstances, over which they had no control. If they had been printers, no doubt they would have called it a typographical error. Finally, after exhausting the story of the Milk River " accident," they were asked about the Meeker massacre, and every ear was strained to hear the first syllable of their reply. The first syllable was "katch." It was also the last and the middle and the whole answer. " Katch " has no English synonym ; it is too expressive for that. It means, in a general way, that the speaker has no information on the subject, and nothing to say. And thus ignominiously was ended the hearing of testimony by the Ute Peace Commission — testi- mony as valueless as can be imagined. There was great curiosity in Colorado to know why Jack and Colorow came forward and testified so freely about the Thornburg fight; but curiosity was soon exchanged for disgust when it became known that they testified under a guarantee of immunity from punishment. It appeared that an arrangement was effected between Schurz, Ouray and Jack (a sort of tripartite alliance), by which Jack and his band were to be whitewashed, pro- vided they came forward and testified and consented to the surrender of the " squaw Indians," Doug- lass, Johnson, et al., or, rather, the surrender of twelve of them named by the captives as partici- pants in the Agency massacre. But the crafty savages, as usual, got the best of Mr. Schurz. They only testified to what he knew already, and to what everybody knew. They paused at the very point where their testimony might have proved valuable. The next question was in relation to the surren- der of the twelve assassins already spotted, and more time was asked, as usual, and, as usual, was given — ^by orders from Washington. The Indians assembled at Ouray's house and deliberated for several days, varying the monotony by an occa- sional war-danoe, in which Ouray (although, ^1 rv ^ HISTOKY or COLORADO. 169 nominally, one of the "Peace" Commissioners) joined, in fiill war-paint and feathers. Finally, the Commission was reconvened to hear the verdict of the defendants. The Indians came in heavily armed, and filled the council-room. Ouray announced the ultimatum. The twelve would be surrendered, provided they could be tried at Washington. Colorado justice had no charms for them. Colorado was all against the Utes. The Commission was against them. Adams and Hatch were their enemies. The poor Indians had no friends this side of Washington. The twelve must be tried there, and a delegation of chiefs, headed by Ouray, must go and see fair play, talk with the President, and have a good time generally. Adams withdrew in disgust, but that stem war- rior. Gen. Hatch, opened out on the Indians with undisguised bitterness. Jlis remarks were inter- rupted by Colorow drawing his knife and throwing it down on the floor — ^the gauge of battle. Every other Indian drew a knife or revolver, but as the whites present made no answering demonstration, no conflict resulted. ^ The conference broke up in disorder, and the Indian demand was telegraphed to Washington, whence the answer came back that the ignomini- ous terms must be accepted. Further time was then demanded for the surrender of the twelve, and that, too, was granted. It has now expired) however, and the surrender has not been made, though Ouray still promises that it shall be done. Perhaps it will, as the twelve have little to fear from the results of a trial — at Wash- ington. CHAPTER X. THE UTE QUESTION IN CONGRESS. DEEPLY disappointed, not only with the results of the negotiations just noted, but still more deeply at the failure of the Government to allow the troops an opportunity of settling with the still hostile Utes, the eyes of the people turned naturally to Congress, as a court of last resort, where the foul wrongs which they had suffered would be atoned in some measure. They were pre- pared,' by the experiences of the past few weeks, to see the Meeker and Thornburg assassins go un- punished, but they insisted that Colorado could no longer shelter the savages whose hands were still steeped in blood. Congress assembled on the 1st day of Decem- ber. Senators Teller and Hill and Representative Belford were in attendance, and, early in the ses- sion, introduced several separate measures for the removal of the Utes from Colorado, claiming, in general terms, that the Indians had forfeited their rights under the Brunot treaty, by which they bound themselves to live in peace with the whites. Judge BeUbrd's bill for their removal did not sug- gest any asylum for the assassins, but simply pro- vided that they must depart from Colorado. Sena^ tor Teller introduced a joint resolution to the same efieat. Senator Hill's measure authorized the President to treat with them, with a view to their removal. It would have been better, perhaps, if the three movements had been consolidated in a simple demand for their removal, leaving all else out of consideration. The first opposition to the bill came from West- ern and Southern members, who suspected that the design was to remove the Utes to the Indian Territory. This was met and silenced by a pro- viso that the Indian Territory should not be selected for their residence. Then the real opposition to their removal to any point began to be manifested in various forms. The question was raised as to whether the South- ern tribes had done anything to demand their removal from the State. Then somebody wanted ■^ Al l±^ 170 HISTOKY OF COLORADO. to know whether the outbreak had not been the natural result of "encroachments " on the reserva- tion. Secretary Schurz and Commissioner Hayt were each on record with statements that the miners were crowding the poor Indians uncomfort> ably on their 12,000,000 acres. This was, of course, vigorously disputed, not only by the Colorado delegation but by many other members who knew, by personal observation, how false it was. Many Congressmen had visited Colorado during the summer, and each one of them sided with our own members. Senator Teller introduced a resolution requiring the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to substantiate his statement that miners were on the reservation by detailed accounts of the '' encroachments " to which he had referred in his report to Congress. The resolution directed him not only to specify the violations of the Brunot Treaty by white settlers, but also to state what steps, if any, the Indian Bureau had taken to protect the reservation, as required by the treaty " and such other informa- tion as was in his possession," for the information of the Senate. To this resolution there has been no response, as yet, and none is expected — for the sufficient reason that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs cannot point to one violation of the treaty by white men. The Utes have looked out for that themselves. It has been death for a white man to violate the treaty. As a part of the history of Colorado Indian troubles, and to show the temper of Congress on the question, the following report of one of the debates in the House of Representatives is repro- duced : " Washington, December 19. — In the House yesterday, the Chairman of the Committee on In- dian Affairs reported back the Senate bill author- izing the Secretary of the Interior to negotiate with the Ute Indians for the relinquishment of their reservation in Colorado, and their removal and settlement, with amendments requiring the con- sent of the Indians to the cession of any part of their reservation, and providing that no agreement shall be vaUd unless agreed to by three-fourths of all adult males who have not forfeited their treaty rights, and unless confirmed by Congress. " Mr. Springer said the time had arrived when civilization had reached the boundaries of the Ute reservation, and all efforts to preserve peace there would be ftitile in the future. Congress must look, then, at the question squarely, fairly and plainly, and must decide it in the interest of justice. He did not believe in treating with the Indians as equals ; he beUeved in the policy of regarding the whole of the lands within the limits of jurisdiction as pubUc domain, and Indians as citizens of the United States, and of teaching them to obey the law, and to understand that, when they killed inno- cent persons, they were guilty of murder. " Mr. Belford stated that the Ute reservation, in Colorado, consisted of 12,000,000 acres, or 4,000 for every man, woman and child, in the Ute tribe. He was opposed to the committee amendments to the Senate bill, and he predicted that if they were adopted, that next year would witness a renewal of the conflict which had recently attracted the atten- tion of the country. He challenged Conger, or any officer of the Interior Department, to point his finger to a complaint ever made by the Ute Indians against the people of Colorado. If those amendments were adopted, as certain as Grod reigned above, next spring the teeming thousands which would pour into Colorado would cross the line of that reservation, and would prospect the mountains for mineral wealth, and the Government would not have the power to arrest the progress of the vast tribe. If the Government desired to pre- vent war and protect the people of Colorado, it must provide some method that would secure the removal of the Indians from the State. In com- ing to Washington to take his seat, he had passed through large States, every acre of which has been stolen from the Indians ; and, the gentleman said, ' while our fathers robbed the Indians, we want you to belong to the goody class of people in the West.' He called the attention of Conger to the fact that i) fy tm^^^--^ ^.^^^^*-'*-" I.. .i J? • .■■■ .rt* ,* •"■■■ :■, .^-1/ V 'O'&^^-e'Hy, < A^. SI '.^ HISTOEY OF COLORADO. 173 the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1878, showed that more frauds had been com- mitted against the Indians in Michigan than in any other State or Territory. " Mr. Hooker said that Belford and Springer pro- posed, in violation of the most solemn treaties, to rob the Indians of the territory which had been conceded to them by the Government. If they were a powerful nation, with a great army at their backs which could point cannon at their faces and demand justice, these gentlemen would not dare to take the position they do. He held the Govern- ment was powerful enough to do what was right, and to see that justice was done, even though the people who demand it demand it in the name of law and moral right, and not because they have physical power to compel it. " Mr. Belford said the tide of civilization — of Anglo-Saxon civilization — is sweeping over the country, and that the Indians must yield to it. "/Mr. Conger asked what sort of bill this was which required for its sanction and support a ref- erence to all the world-renowned rascalities prac- ticed on the Indians since the discovery of America. This great nation had made a treaty eleven years ago with a mountain tribe of Indians, by which those Indians were permitted to go far into unknown mountains, supposed to be uninhab- itable by civilized people, and rerbain there. They had been driven away from all the land which it was then thought the avarice and greed of white men might desire. But now the enterprise and avidity of the wliite man had discovered treasures of silver and .gold in the neighborhood of these mountains, and one had been found within twenty- five miles of the Ute reservation. In former years, men had waited until miners or agriculturists had stepped over the lines of Indian reservations, /but now they were becoming bolder, and now as soon as they came in sight of the mountains — as soon as they came in sight of the foot-hills, twenty- five miles off, the Commissioners appointed to protect the Indians in their rights, brought in a bill to remove the Indians from their territory and reservation. The whites had not yet passed into their reservation. "Mr. Haskell denied the last statement, and said already the mountains to the east of Leadville and in the Ute reservation were filled with miners, and the conflict with those miners brought about these difficulties. " Mr. Conger asked why have the miners gone on this reservation? Why have the citizens of the United States violated the treaty ? Because they have power to go there, and because they can make a disturbance there and excite the Indians, and can then rush to Congress and demand that the Indians be driven from their reservation. The history of the past and the history of the present run on all fours. " Mr. Belford — I most emphatically deny that the people of Colorado have given these Indians any occasion for the late outrages, and I challenge the gentleman to point to anything of the kind. The statement of the gentleman from Kansas, Haskell, is not correct. " Mr. Conger — I thought it was not correct, but I did not dare ta correct it myself I was feeling my way. " Mr. Haskell — I re-assert what I asserted be- fore, that the miners are on that reservation to- day. " Mr. Conger — I do not enter into the question of veracity between these gentlemen. My friend from Kansas may, possibly, be able to stand on the plains of Kansas and know more about what is taking place on the mountains of Colorado than the gentleman from that State knows. (Laughter.) If there be any trouble there, it has arisen from the violation by the citizens of the United States of the treaty made within eleven years, and the gov- ernment, it seems, has taken no pains whatever to enforce the treaty, and to keep out of this Indian reservation those who have no right to go there. The very battle to which allusion has often been made, the very fight with our troops, was caused by sending an armed force into the reservation contrary to treaty stipulations, and without notice. ■^ 174 HISTORY OF COLORADO. " Mr. Belford — They were sent at the request of the Agent. " Mr. Conger — That may be ; it was because in- dividual miners went over the bounds of the reservation and violated the treaty, that all the trouble had arisen. I venture to assert that fair investigation will show that more than nineteen- twentieths of our Indian troubles from the com- mencement of the Government till now have been caused by the violation of the treaty on the part of our citizens. I assert that the provisions of this bill are in violation of the treaty itself, which pro- vides that there shall be no concession of territory except with the consent of three-fourths of the male Indians. I condemn the bUl because Con- gress has no right to resolve that no agreement be made to break a treaty made with any power ; I oppose the bill because it is unjust to the Indians ; I oppose it because its very advocates say that the Indians must be removed, because they are in the way of the white men ; I oppose it because it pro- vides that these Indians shall be located in some other part of Colorado ; I oppose it because I think it the duty of the United States, with the strong arm of its power, to protect the Indians in their reservation." Mr. Conger represents a State (Micniganj which, more than any other in the Union, has, in the past, defrauded the Indians of their rights; but of course that does not matter if Colorado is no nearer ii>:ht than Michigan was when she drove out the Indians, to possess herself of their inher- itance. It is not a question of comparison, but of fact. If the Utes of Colorado have, as Mr. Belford claims, forfeited their treaty rights by outlawry and resistance, why should the " strong arm of the Government '' reach out to " protect the Indians in their reservation ? " The duty of the Government to protect the Indians existed when the latter were living at peace with the Government; and if there had been, as there were not, any " encroachments " upon the reservation by white men, it was clearly the duty of the Government to have removed the usurpers. It was also the duty of the Govern- ment to protect the people of Colorado from Indian encroachments and outrages, by keeping the latter on their reservation at the same time the whites were kept off of it. But the Government did neither. It left the Indians free to roam over the entire State at will, armed and equipped for robbery, arson and murder, all of which crimes have been committed from year to year, until the very day when Mr. Conger rose in his place and demanded — what ? Not that the murderous and trespass- ing Utes should be restrained, but that they should be " protected." Congress has no power, says Mr. Conger, to break a treaty. Then the Utes are more potent than Congress, for assuredly they have broken the treaty of 1868, and have defied the " strong arm of the Government," by making war upon its army and massacreing its Agents. Apparently, however, there is no power on earth which will convince the East that Colorado does- not want the Utes removed, in order that she may inherit after them. Even if this were as true as it is false, there would be both reason and justice in the demand. Their reservation is enor- mously too large for their diminished numbers, and its mineral wealth is of no value to them what- ever. They ceded the rich San Juan country to the United States for a consideration, and it has more than repaid the outlay already, while the Utes themselves are no poorer, or would not be if the Interior Department would pay them their just dues. Now the Government might go down into its pocket a little deeper and buy the rest of the reservation, with equal or exceeding profit. Pay the Indians as much or as little as may be neces- sary for their land. Colorado does not demand that they shall be robbed, even by the Indian Bureau. Congress cannot be expected, however, to rise above the influences of the Interior Department in this Ute business, and the people of Colorado '^Fl :^ ^ liL^ HISTORY or COLORADO. 175 expect little from that quarter. A " delegation" of Indians is going on to Washington^ and the average Congressman is no match for the guileless child of the forest when the latter has a I grievance. Ouray will have a larger, more sym- pathetic and far more powerful audience at the Capitol than Teller, Hill and Belford combined. Capt. Jack will be the hero of the day — the Indian who whipped Thornburg in a " fair fight" — so called by the Ut« apologists, although the brave men who died with Thornburg in that death- canon of Milk Kiver may have entertained a dif- ferent idea as to the fairness of that foul attack. Capt. Jack will claim that it was a fair fight, of course. Congress will believe him, and the penny- ar-liners will dilate upon the " wrongs " of the poor Indian, ad nauseam. After settling the Ute question to suit themselves, the Indians wOl come back to Colorado and become ten times- more intolerant and dangerous, than before, feeling that they have nothing to fear from the "strong, arm" of the paternal but, apparently, idiotic Gov- ernment The Ute war is not over, though a truce is called for the moment. The inquiry now in progress at Washington as to the merits of the matter is too superficial and ex parte to result in anything but a complete surrender to the Indians. Apparently, there is no disposition to hear white testimony on the question. The House Committee on Indian Affairs was, some time since, notified that Gov. Pitkin, of Colorado, was a material and competent witness for his people; but, while a palace car load of Utes are sent on, at Government expense, to justify the murders committed by themselves and their kinsmen, the Governor of the commonwealth is not even asked to be present when they are examined, nor is it known that a single white man, other than Government agents, will be present with them in Washington. The result will be, no doubt, that Congress will do nothing towajd their removal or better manage- ment, and, in the early spring, there will be more and greater troubles between the hostile Utes and the white settlers, but with this difierence — ^the whites will not get the worst of it in the next encounters. The misfortune of this wUl be that, in addition to the inevitable casualities of these conflicts, the people of the State will be accused of waging a mercenary war upon the Utes. In that case, they must answer that the "strong arm" of the Government was not raised for their pro- tection, and it became a virtuous necessity to defend themselves. The blood of the martyred Meeker cried from the ground in vain to the Government in whose service he was assassinated, but the brave men of Colorado are not deaf to its demands. S »^ :f^ _rf » :^ 176 HISTOEY OF COLORADO. CHAPTER XI. THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE UTE QUESTION. IN carrying out the farce known as the " Peace Commission," appointed to ascertain the guilty ones implicated in the Ute rebellion and the Meeker massacre, and to perfect some plan of settlement, the twelve guilty Indians were at last settled upon. When this much had been done, their work came to a halt for several days, and seemed at one time almost certain to prove fruitless of good. A de- mand had been made for these guilty wretches, but it was only after extending the time, during which they were to deliver over aa prisoners these parties, two or three times, and after making all sorts of promises as to the fair treatment they should re- ceive, and using all the persuasive means possible, that at last a majority of those called for were brought forth and delivered up. It was then pro- vided by the Grovernment that they should go to Washington, accompanied by several other promi- nent members of the tribe, and that the Commis- sioners' duties be continued at that place. Accord- ingly they were taken to Washington in high style, fed on the fat of the land during the further session of the Commission, and finally all returned to the reservation and turned loose, with one exception, in order that they might be again at liberty to commit such other outrages as they felt disposed. Chief Douglas, however, was imprisoned at Leav- enworth, where he "held the fort" until a few months ago, when he was released and returned to his tribe, and is now at Los Pinos in a state of real or pretended lunacy, and thus it is that the Gov- ernment has punished the murderers of Col. Thorn- burgh, Agent Meeker and their companions. While in Washington, a basis of agreement, in settlement of the Ute difficulties, was arranged be- tween the Indians and the Secretary of the Interior. This agreement was drafted in the shape of a bill and placed before Congress for its adoption. Here was another delaying barrier to the plan of settle- ment which must be overcome. This bill dragged before Congress for several months, but was finally pushed through both branches of Congress, and received the President's signature about the 10th of June, 1880. In all this course of handling, it had received numerous amendments, and its lead- ing features, as it passed over to the tribe for their ratification, were as follows : It removed the White River band of Utes en- tirely out of Colorado, placing them on the Uintah Reservation, in the Territory of Utah. The Uncompahgre tribe were removed from their present quarters to the lands in Colorado adjoining Utah, on the Grand River, which could be utilized for agricultural purposes. The Southern Utes are to be placed upon un- occupied agricultural lands on the La Plata River, in Colorado, provided there is a sufficiency of such lands on that river ; otherwise, such other unoc- cupied agricultural lands as might be found in its vicinity within the State. It turned over to the people nearly eleven mill- ions of acres of the reservation, which constituted about twelve million acres, all told, and this por- tion turned over comprised the substance of all the mineral land of the entire reservation, while the best part of the agricultural land was retained by the Indians. One clause of the proposed treaty provided that it should not become valid until ratified by three- fourths of the male members of the Ute nation. The treaty set forth that the unpaid annuity, due from the Government, which had accrued under the old treaty, and now amounting to something over $60,000, should be settled immediately upon •^ a 9 > ^f HISTORY OF COLORADO. 177 the ratification of the agreement by the Ute nation. It further provided that the old annuity should be continued, amounting to $25,000 per annum, and that under the new treaty, an additional sum of $50,000 should be paid to the tribes an- nually. Under the stipulations of the new treaty, it set forth that the head of each family should receive one hundred and sixty acres of agricultural lands, surveyed ofi' by the G-overnment, and a like quan- tity of grazing lands, and for every other Indian eighty acres. The lands thus apportioned were to become ithe property of each Indian, to be held inalienable for twenty-five years. Thus the treaty agreement passed Congress, and a commission was appointed to carry it into effect. This commission consisted of Col. Manypenny, of Ohio, Chairman ; Hon. W. S. Stickney, of Wash- ington, Secretary ; Col. John Bowman, of Ken- tucky ; Hon. J. Gr. Russell, of Iowa ; Otto Mears, of Colorado. These gentlemen went immediately to work, and, by the middle of September, 1880, had obtained the signatures of _ over four-fifths of the male members of the tribe, being more than the number necessary to carry the agreement into effect. During the sessions of this commission occurred the death of Ouray, head chief of the Ute nation. He died on the 24th of August, 1880, of disease of the kidneys. Some said, at the time, he was probably poisoned by a jealous chief, who held a position subordinate to Ouray. This is generally considered incorrect. As soon as it was known that he was dangerously sick, the best of medical assistance was procured to save his life, but all in vain. Ouray was the greatest diplomat in the whole tribe, and his cunning and careful watchful- ness after the interests of his people is often said to have outgeneraled that of an ordinary Secre- tary of the Interior. He was recognized as the white man's friend, and has, in a large measure, been the means of maintaining peaceful relations between the Grovernment and the Utes during years past. Ouray was a kind-hearted Indian, of noble instincts, if ever there was such a one. In point of intelligence, his successor, Sapavanaro, who was chosen on the 26th of August, is far the inferior of Ouray, but is, nevertheless, at present the recognized head of the Ute nation. Ignacio, the head of the Southern Uies, had never felt very kindly toward Ouray in late years, and would not recognize him as his superior in au- thority. It is related that when he learned of Ouray's favoring the treaty, he firmly refused to sign it. In this protest he held out for several days. About this time Conatohe, an old ex-chief of the Southern Utes, was struck by lightning and killed. This, taken together with the impression left in his mind by Ouray's death, is said to have brought to the front his Indian superstition that the Great Spirit was displeased with his actions, and he very suddenly changed his mind and signed the treaty, and after him followed all the Southern Utes. " In respect to the sums of money to be paid the Indians, Representative Belford, Senators Hill, and Teller and Grov. Pitkin, all united in sending a request to the Grovernment headquarters that its' promises be faithfully kept this time, and thus any further difficulty with the Utes be pre- vented, for a term of years at least. This has been done, the money paid the Indians, and what has not been frittered away for cheap gew-gaws or squan- dered for poor whisky, has probably ere this been gambled off, the Indians being almost without ex- ception inveterate gamblers. For the purpose of carrying into effect those portions of the treaty relating to the selecting and surveying of their lands and the removal of the Indians thereto, the Commissioners recently went to Los Pinos, whence they left for Grand River, accompanied by a large force of United States troops. It is generally un- derstood, however, that not sufficient arable land will be found to answer the purposes of the treaty, and the result will probably be the removal of the entire Ute tribe from the State. This is a " con- summation devoutly to be wished," for, should they be settled within our borders, in a few years the t \ AA^ ^>^ 178 HISTORY OF COLORADO. new settlers will so encroach upon them, and there will be such a demand for the use of their agri- cultural land — ^which, it will be seen they will not utilize — that the result may be another Ute war in years to come, which, considering the exasper- ated feeling of our border settlers and the fact that the Ute nation is found to be rapidly decreas- ing, having less than 2,600 Indiajis in the entire tribe, would probably ultimately result in their utter extinction. •^ 6 «. ^ Mt -k^ PART II. RAILEOAD INTEEE8T8. CHAPTER 1. UNION PACIFIC SYSTEM. CHEYENNE DIVISION. THE natural desire of a new community for railroad communication was intensified in the case of Colorado. The expense of freighting across the 600 miles of arid land between the mountains and civilization, and the impossibility of utilizing thousands of tons of low grade ores, lying neglected on the dumps, because the cost of the transportation of means for their reduction was too heavy to permit them to be worked at a profit, rendered the coming of the railro,ad the most important factor in the development of the State. Of course, so young and comparatively poor a community could not be expected to do much i^i the way of railroad building, but it was wiBing to help, and watched anxiously the west- ern progress of the rival trunk lines, ready to turn its hands in the direction that gave the promise of the most speedy connection with the Great East. In 1865 came the first glimmer of hope. The Union Pacific had then commenced the building of its line, and the faith of the people of Denver in the future greatness of their city was so strong, that they could not understand how a great trans- continental line could afford to pass Denver by on the other side, and so they waited patiently while the northern trunk line pressed steadily onward, every day coming nearer and nearer Denver, and raising the hopes of her citizens. In the latter part of 1866, it began to be whispered that it was possible that the Union Pacific would not touch Denver, but would pass a hundred miles to the north of this city. This suspicion became a cer- tainty in the early part of 1867, and the people commenced looking for relief from other sources. The Kansas Pacific was then away down in Kan- sas, coming westward certainly, but coming so slowly that it could not be foretold when it would reach Denver, besides the managers of the line were uncertain what to do, whether to build north, con- necting with the Union Pacific, or to build south to Pueblo. The latter town, even at that early day, indulged in the hope of becoming the capital of the future State, and held out strong inducements to the Kansas Pacific, and between the several projects then on foot, there seemed to be but little hope of a railroad reaching Denver, unless its own people took the bull by the horns, and compelled respect from the railway magnates who acted as if they held the destinies of Denver in their hands. The first loophole of escape from the threat- ened dapger to the commercial interests of the city was afforded by a project to build the Colo rado Central from some point on the Union Pacific road, the intention being to extend the line to the mountain towns, and it was then authoritatively stated that if the Colorado Central would grade the road to Cheyenne, the Union Pacific would complete the construction of the line. On this proposition, a meeting was held at the Plant- er's House July 10, 1867. But few of the lead- ing citizens were present at the meeting, and a public meeting was called for the following even- ing. At this meeting, a resolution was adopted ^ i^ 180 HISTORY OF COLORADO. requesting the County Commissioners to issue a proclamation calling an election to vote $200,000 in bonds, in aid of the railroad. On the 13th of July, the Commissioners ordered the election for that purpose to take place on August 6, attaching the condition to the call that the road should be built from some point on the Union Pacific road by the most direct route to Denver. Before the day of voting on the proposition, it became ap- parent that the managers of the Colorado Central did not propose to build the road as stipulated, but proposed building on the north and west sides of the Platte, and. make the terminus of the road at Golden, sixteen miles west of Denver. This resolution grew entirely out of the attitude assumed by Golden toward Denver, Golden also having aspiratiuns toward becoming the capital, and con- tending that its location was the only point at which the railroad system of Colorado could prop- erly center. In this claim, it was supported by the mountain towns, and thus, at the very outset of her efforts to secure railroad connection with the East, Denver found herself opposed by the most thriving of the outside communities. On account of this suspicion, that the interests of Denver would not be secured by a connection with the Colorado Central, the Commissioners of Arapahoe County so changed the order of election that the issue of the bonds was made conditional upon the construction of the road upon the east bank of the Platte. The result of the vote was 1,160 for, and 157 against the issue of the bonds. In September, it became apparent that the Col- orado Central Company would not accept the bonds with the condition attached, and for the time the hope of a connection with the Unioij Pa- cific died, and again the Kansas Pacific seemed to be the dependence of Denver. On November 8, Mr. James Archer, of St. Louis, one of the Kan- sas Pacific Directors, came to Denver, and, at a meeting of the principal business men, gave them to understand that they could only hope to secure the building of the Kansas Pacific to Denver by the contribution of $2,000,000 in county bonds. Much as a railroad was desired, such a contribu- tion was out of the question, and the only resource was to again seek a connection with the Union Pacific. To facilitate the negotiations, a Board of Trade was organized on November 13. On the following day, George Francis Train arrived in Denver, and, true to his instincts, desired to address the Board of Trade. Accordingly, a meeting was called for that evening, at which he spoke, and at which a provisional board of directors for a railroad company was elected. On the 17th another meeting was held, at which estimates for the con- struction of the road were presented. A com- mittee was appointed to select incorporators, and another committee to learn what changes, if any, were necessary to be made in the incorporation law. On the 18th, the committee reported ihe organization of a railroad company, under the name of the " Denver Pacific Railway and Tele- graph Company," with a capital stock of $2,000,- 000 and a Board of Directors. On the 19th, at another meeting, the Board of Directors announced that they had elected Hon. B. M. Hughes, Presi- dent ; Luther Kountze, Vice President; D. H. Moffatt, Jr., Treasurer ; W. T. Johnson, Secretary ; F. M. Case, Chief Engineer, and John Pierce, Consulting Engineer. The organization of the company was now complete, and the commitlee on subscriptions went out at once. Before the fol- lowing night they had secured subscriptions of $225,000. By the 22d, the subscriptions had swelled to $300,000. An efi'ort was then made to induce the Colorado Central to fulfill the original arrangement, and accept the county bonds, but the offer was refused, and nothing now remained but for the road to depend on its own resources, and the energy of the gentle- men having it in charge. On December 27, the County Commissioners issued a call for a special election, to be held on January 20, 1868, on the question of giving $500,000 in county bonds, in aid of the railroad, for which alike amount in the stock of the company was to be received by the county. On the following day, December 28, 1868, the *7? V CHICAGO LAKES. l\>L^ HISTOKY OF COLORADO. 183 company advertised for proposals for furnishing ties — ^the first movement looking to tlie actual com- mencement of operations. Before th e election took place, the Kansas Pacific made repeated efforts to induce the company to build to meet them, but as lines had been established, and the active support of the Union Pacific had been promised, it was thought they had gone too far to recede. At the election, the vote was 1,259 in favor of, and 47 against the bonds. Soon afterward, an arrange- ment was made with the Union Pacific, that com- pany agreeing to complete the road as soon as it should be graded and tied. On March 9, 1868, a bill was introduced in Congress granting the road the right of way through the public lands, and soon afterward Gov. . Evans and Gren. John Pierce, representing the Denver Pacific, met the Union Pacific Directors in New York City, and there the promises on the part of the TTnion Pacific, which had heretofore been merely verbal, were reduced to writing. In this memorandum, which was signed by a majority of the Union Pacific Directors, it was agreed that they should execute the contract, when, 1st, the road should be graded and tied ; 2d, the Denver Central and Georgetown Piailroad Company should be organized ; and 3d, an application should be made to Congress for a land grant to the Denver Pacific. The contract for the construction of the railroad was let in Cheyenne to Dr. Durant and Sidney Dillon of the Union Pacific, they stipulating to complete the road when the Den- ver parties should have expended $500,000 thereon. A route was immediately laid out and submitted to the Union Pacific Directory. They asked for a change in the northern part of the proposed line, which was made, but failed to formally. approve of the whole line. This delayed the road some time, as the construction of the line before approval by the Union Pacific would render void the contract existing between the two companies. It was finally resolved to commence work on the southern part of the line, which had been accepted by the Union Pacific, and accordingly ground was broken at the Denver end of the line on May 18, 1868, several thousand people assembling to witness the formal commencement of a road that was inaugurated solely by Denver enterprise and capital. The southern half of the road was graded to Evans in three months. Early in the session of Congress for 1867-68, a bill was introduced in the Senate for the usual land grant to the Denver Pacific. Before action on the bill was had, an Agreement was made with John D. Perry, then President of the Kansas Pacific road, to transfer to the Denver Pacific the land grant of the former company between Cheyenne and Denver. The pending bill was amended in such a manner as to grgint a subsidy in bonds to the Kansas Pacific as far as Cheyenne Wells, and the bill, thus made satisfactory, passed the Senate July 25. In February, 1868, Gen. Hughes resigned the presidency, and Maj. W. P. Johnson was elected his siiccessor. la September, 1868, the company comfuenced grading from Cheyenne, completing the grade along the entire line during the fall. The Union Pacific had so far done nothing toward the/nlfill- ment of its contract, and further progress was ne- cessarily delayed. During the session of 1868-69, the Senate bill was defeated in the House, owing to the popular feeling against railroad subsidies of all kinds, but another bill containing all the important features of the defeated act was passed and approved March 3, 1869, and the road was ready to finish the work which had been fought through, step by step, dur- ing nearly three years. The line was now graded and ties were ready. December 14, 1868, the first annual meeting of the company took place, at which W. P. Johnson was elected President ; Luther Kountze, Vice President ; D. H. Moffat, Jr., Treasurer, and R. R. McCormick, Secretary. The death of Mr. John- son, March 5, 1869, caused a vacancy, which was filled by the election of Gov. Evans, under whose Is d^ 184 HISTORY OF COLORADO. management the road was pushed through to a successful issue, his associates remaining practically unchanged. In the spring of 1869, an agreement was made with the Union Pacific to cancel the contract, and sell the iron to ihe Denver Pacific, which company at once entered into a contract with the Kansas Pacific, by which that company agreed to build their road into Denver, and complete the construc- tion of the Denver Pacific, taking a certain amount of Denver Pacific stock. From this time, the difficulties of construction appear to have been overcome, and the building of the road progressed steadily until the 22d day of June, 1870, when a silver spike, contributed by the miners of George- town, completed the first connecting link between Denver and the outside world. Since its completion, the road has passed through the vicissitudes- that so frequently assail Western- roads, but in 1880, a consolidation was effected with the Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific, and the road now forms a part of the great Union Pacific system, being known as the Cheyenne Di- vision. BOULDER BRANCH. Prior to 1870, all the coal consumed in Denver, as well as the supply for the Denver Pacific Rail- way, was hauled in wagons from the mines, in Boulder County, and the western part of Weld, to the yards in Denver, or to the stations along the line of the above road, and cost, in Denver, about $8 per ton in summer, while in winter it was not unusual for the price to reach and even exceed 815 per ton. It was to meet this demand and reach the coal deposits of Northern Colorado, that a number of prominent citizens,- embracing Gov. Kvans, Cyrus W. Fisher, Walter S. Cheesman^ William E. Turner, William N. Byers, WilUam Wagner and Joseph P. Humphrey, met and or- ganized the Denver & Boulder Valley Railroad Company, with a capital stock of $825,000. The design was to start from a point of connection with the Denver Pacific, and proceed by way of the coal fields of Weld County, up the valley of Boulder Creek to Boulder City. The company was incorporated October 1, 1870, and operations were begun at once. Starting from Hughes' Station, now Brighton, eighteen miles north of Denver, the work pro- ceeded without interruption, and the road was completed during the fall of 1870, or the succeed- ing winter as far as the Erie coal mines. Beyond that point its path lay along the beautiful and fer- tile Boulder Valley, through an agricultural dis- trict unsurpassed anywhere in Colorado, past com- fortable homesteads and smiling farms, which had been opened up years before, and whose rich pro- ducts of grain and vegetables were to furnish a considerable portion of the revenue of the new road. Work, however, progressed but slowly during the next few years, and it was not until 1873 that the road reached Boulder, its present terminus, from which point a short feeder, known as the Golden, Boulder & Caribou, extends to the Mar- shall coal-banks, in the same county, a distance of six miles. The road was operated under a lease, by the Denver Pacific Company until last year, when it was turned over to Messrs. Gould and Sage, under a mortgage, and is now designated as the Boulder Branch of the Cheyenne Division of the Union Pacific Railway. JULESBURG BRANCH. This branch of the Union Pacific, commonly spoken of as the Julesburg Cut-Off', is now nearly completed from Denver Junction, a point five miles east ol' Julesburg to Evans, on the Cheyenne Division, and forms with the portion of that divis- ion between Evans* and Denver ; a line seventy miles shorter between Omaha and Denver than that now in existence, and following up the Platte River directly to Denver; the grade for the entire distance is an easy and natural one. Upon the completion of this branch, a special Denver train will be put on which will make the run from Omaha to Denver in ten hours less time than at present. 9 "V £^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 185 KANSAS DIVISION. The Union Pacific Railroad bill was passed by Congress in May, 1862. and in June the follow- in" year, a contract was let to Messrs. Ross, Steele & Co., to build 350 miles of the Kansas branch, and they soon afterward began work at Leaven- worth. Gen. John C. Fremont and Samuel Hal- lett, about the same time, undertook the construc- tion of the main line of the Kansas branch, after- ward known as the Kansas Pacific Railway, and now denominated the Kansas Division o:£the Union Pacific Railway. They soon after bought out the franchises under which Ross, Steele & Co. were at work at Leavenworth ; and, beginning work at Kansas City on the 7th of July, 1 863, they com- pleted forty-three miles of the road-bed on the 18th of the following November. Thus was begun a work which has contributed more than any other enterprise to the rapid progress and permanent greatness of the Centennial State and its capital city. On the 19th of December, 1864, the road was opened to Lawrence, Kan., and in August, 1871, was completed to Denver, which city has remained the western terminus of the road. The following is a condensed sketch of this great thoroughfare over the 639 miles of its course from the Missouri River to Denver : Leaving Kansas City, it crosses the Kansas River near its junction with the Missouri, after which its course lies along the north bank of the Kansas, traversing a country whose rich and va- ried scenery of forest, field and stream, forms a most attractive panorama. Thirty-five miles west of Kansas City and near the city of Lawrence is the junction of the main line with the Leavenworth branch, which extends northeast thirty-four miles to Leavenworth. This is a beautiful and growing city of over twenty-five thousand people, the seat of Fort Leavenworth, one of the most important military posts in the West. Having important railway connections with exten- sive coal mines in the vicinity, with its fine churches, elegant public buildings and progressive people, its ftiture growth and prosperity is assured. Continuing southwest from its junction with the main line, this branch extends to Carbondale, thirty-two miles distant, and in the midst of the extensive and exhaustless coal-fields of Osage County. Near the junction of the two lines is Bismarck Grove, which during the past few years, has become famous as the spot where have been held some of the largest and most important out- door meetings in the West. In 1879, the principal gatherings in the grove were the Second Grand National Temperance Camp-Meeting, presided over by Trancis Murphy, and the Quarter-Centennial Celebration of the set- tlement of Kansas, participated in by such men as John W. Forney, Edward Everett Hale and Walt Whitman, the poet. At this grove was instituted, during the same year, a church encampment mod- eled after the celebrated Chautauqua Lake Religio- Educational Encampment in New York. The Grand National Temperance Camp-Meet- ing, from the 20th to the 30th of August, and the first annual fair of the Western National Fair Association from the 13th to the 18th of Septem- ber, were but two of the many important meetings held at Bismarck Grove during the present year. The most important city in the vicinity, educa- tionally and historically, is Lawrence, the scene of the initial struggle of the great conflict between the friends of liberty on the one side, and the bor- der ruffians on the other, whose history is written in letters of blood, and whose thrilUng events marked the period from 1855, to 1858. Lawrence is a beautiful city, the view from College Hill, where is situated the State University of Kansas, being pronounced by Bayard Taylor one of the most magnificent he had ever seen in all his ex- tended travels. The site of Lawrence was fixed in 1854, and it now has a population of ten thou- sand inhabitants. From Lawrence to Topeka, the capital of the State, the road passes through fertile fields, past cultivated farms and through smiling villages, the homes of peace and plenty, for a distance of twenty- one miles. ^rr i^ 186 HISTORY or COLORADO. The writer recently asked a commercial traveler, who had visited every part of the United States,- what city he would choose as a permanent home, and his answer was, " Topeka, Kan., or Denver, Colo " Topeka is a beautiful city. " Its streets are broad, its houses well built, its churches nu- merous and attractive, its society of a high order, its newspapers enterprising, its business interests flourishing, and its political prestige a source of constant life and activity. Its educational in- terests are cared for by Bethany College and Washburne College, and a finely managed body of public schools.'' Prom Topeka, west, the road continues to follow the north bank of the Kansas River, to Junction City, a distance of seventy-one miles, passing through immense corn-fields, and a number of flourishing towns. Says a visitor to this section : " I shall not soon forget those amaz- ing maize-fields — say about 200 miles long, and width not measurable by vision, and with a soil rich, strong and bottomless. They are diversified in a mo- saic work of wheat, oats, barley and varied shades of grasses — meadow, prairie grasp and clover. The valley is decorated with neat farmhouses and pretty cities, and the most conspicuous features in every settlement are the American emblems of pa(> riotic civilization, pretty little churches and com- modious schoolhouses. I would defy stolidity it- self to repress imagination or supress enthusiasm under the impulse of the magical pictures which flit through the visual and mental kaleidoscope, under the inspiration of the electrical atmosphere and the enchanting picture of the prairie pag- eant." At St. Mary's, one of the towns passed on the way to Junction City, is located the largest Cath- olic school in Kansas, while Manhattan, a town of about two thousand inhabitants, is the seat of the. State Agricultural College. Junction City is so called from the fact that the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers here unite to form the Kansas. Prom this point, the Junction City & Fort Kearney Branch extends northwest along the Re- publican Valley, through several thriving-itowns and a most beautiful and delightful section of country, to Concordia, seventy miles away. Returning to Junction City, the passenger over the Kansas Pacific is hurried rapidly along the north bank of the Smoky Hill River, through prosperous villages to Salina, one hundred and eighty rfive miles west bf Kansas City, and the headquarters of the land department of the Kan- sas Pacific Railway. Salina contains about four thousand inhabitants, and, in all that goes to make up a typical Western town, is fully equal to any of its size in the West. The Salina & South- western Branch of the Kansas Pacific leaves the main line here for McPherson, thirty-six miles to the southwest. Prom Salina, the tourist is whirled along seventy-seven miles to Russell, the next most im- portant point west, and thence onward a hundred and fifty-eight miles ftirther, ascending all the way, to Wallace, the last station of any note in Kansas. Leaving Wallace, the State line between Kansas and Colorado is soon passed,- and the train rushes on past a number of small stations to Pirst View. " If the day be clear, the tourist obtains, at this point, the first view of the Rocky Mountains. Towering against the Western sky, more than one hundred and fifty miles away, is Pike's Peak, standing out in this rarified atmosphere with a clearness which deludes the tourist, if it is his first experience, into the belief that he is already in close proximity to the mountains. Henceforth he feels, in the presence of the mighty- peaks which disclose themselves one after another, that he has entered another world — a land of unapproachable beauty and grandeur." The train moves on over the plaib, past small stations, the shipping-points for the immense cattle trade of Eastern Colorado, and all the while " the mountains have been unfolding themselves, as if the wand of some fabled necromancer held them in faithful obedience. Peak after peak appears. The shadowy range takes more definite shape; the dark rifts in the canons become visible, and then, ^ s~ ir^ ^^:^, ^ =^^-^<5X ^- 1^ HISTORY OP COLORADO. 187 in this transparent air, the whole range for two hundred miles bursts full upon the view. Less and less heed is paid to objects close at hand as the tourist moves along in sight of this entrancing panorama. Deer Trail, Byers, Kiowa, Box Elder and Schuyler pass almost unnoticed, for the moun- tains aggrandize as they are approached, and hold the gaze as the beacon-light enchains the mariner at midnight. The train rolls on over the swelling bosom of the prairie, and soon makes its last stop, at Denver, the unique and beautiful City of the Plains." COLORADO DIVISION. Of Denver's six railway lines not least in impor- tance is the Colorado Central, or technically speak- ing, at the present time the Colorado Division of the Union Pacific Railway, and in some high respects it is the most noted and best known of all Denver roads. Yi, was the first to penetrate the fastnesses of the mountains, and its sinuous trail in and through Clear Creek Canon has made it famous on two continents. Although other moun- tain roads now vie with the Colorado Central in magnificent scenery, the prestige of the latter has not been diminished in any degree by rivalry, and it is still sought out by all strangers coming to Colorado. Starting from Denver, this line traverses the entire northern portion of the State, taps the prin- cipal mining centers of this section and carries travelers to some of the spots most famed for scenic beauty and natural grandeur. ' It connects Denver and other Colorado towns with the main line of the Union Pacific at Cheyenne, and thus affords connection with trains east and west on the great continental thoroughfare. The Cheyenne Branch penetrates the very heart of Colorado's best agricultural region, giving the traveler a better idea of our farming resources than he ean gain from any other railway transit, and also connects at Boulder with stages for the mining camps of that county. Through Jefferson, Boulder and Larimer Counties this branch is lined, for a great part of its length, with wheat-fields, and passes the important towns of Gulden, Boulder, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins. But it is the mountain division of the road which is the most famous for interesting scenery and unexpected physical development. The moun- tain division is a narrow gauge, and the traveler must needs change cars at Grolden unless northward bound. Taking his seat in the narrow-gauge train, he is soon swallowed up, as it were, in the cavern- ous depths of Clear Creek Canon, which is entered at once after leaving Grolden. For many miles the road follows the course of Clear Creek, often turn- ing curves which seem beyond accomplishment, and climbing grades which would tax the energy of an ox-team, but which only serve to slacken, not stay, the speed of the iron horse. The scenery in this grand canon is unparalleled save in the canons of the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers. The rocky walls rise precipitously on either hand to immense heights, almost shutting out the sun, and yet there is nothing gloomy about the scene to mar the pleasure of the traveler. The tourist rides leisurely and comfortably along on a railway car and looks out upon scenery which in Switzerland he would have to climb tediously ou foot to see. The wild waters of Clear Creek rush along at break-neck speed, foaming and roaring among the rocks, giving a better idea of the " down grade" of the road itself than the engineers' fig- ures, for seeing is believing. Great granite walls, not hundreds but thousands of feet high, rise almost pei'pendicularly over the train, and in one place a chamber has been cut through the over- hanging rock for the passage of the train, there being no room elsewhere sufficient for that pur- pose. Anon the train glides swiftly across a little val- ley dotted by miners' cabins or more pretentious ranch houses, but for the most part of the distance between Golden and Black Hawk, the canon is so narrow as to leave no room for side-tracks, and these turn-outs are forced to occupy the gulches which enter the canon almost at right angles. The effect of this arrangement upon travelers is '.hL^ 188 HISTOEY OF COLORADO. often astonishing, as these sidings have the ap- pearance of branch lines leading nowheie. The scenery is thus varied, in some places rough and wild, in others soft and beautiful ; but always and under all circumstances, it is sublime and deeply impressive. i Although the road is largely patronized by sum- mer tourists and sightseers, it does not depend entirely upon this class of traffic for support, as one is speedily convinced upon visiting its moun- tain termini. You take the Colorado Central for Golden, an important industrial city, and the head- quarters of the Colorado Central Company ; for Black Hawk, a large mining town and former loca- tion of Hill's extensive smelting works ; for Cen- tral, the county seat of Gilpin County, until recently the largest ore-producing county in Colo- rado ; for Idaho Springs, a famous watering-place as well as an important mining center ; for George- town, the " Silver Queen " and the capital of Clear Creek County ; for Boulder, county seat and prin- cipal town of rich Boulder County, famous for its mines and for its crops ; and for numbers of lesser towns whose tribute of trade is the heritage of the Colorado Central road, in most cases without com- petition. Middle Park,,too, the great hunting-ground, and location of the famous Hot Sulphur Springs, is reached from Denver via the Colorado Central, tour- ists leaviuiC the cars at Empire or Georgetown, at pleasure, and continuing their journey by stage over Berthoud Pass, one of the finest mountain roads in the State. Since Leadville has loomed up so prominently, a new stage road has been built from Georgetown to the carbonate camp, and much Leadville travel follows that line. It is thought that the railroad will shortly be extended over the same route, which is at once direct and prac- ticable. The inception of this important enterprise dates back to June, 1861, when the Overland Stage Company was seeking a nearer outlet from Colo- rado to Utah and California. Golden was just then the most ambitious town in Colorado, and joined with the Stage Company and some public- spirited citizens of Gregory Gulch and Spanish Bar in fitting out an expedition to explore and survey a route for a wagon road from Golden to Salt Lake. Capt. E. L. Berthoud, now, and for many years engioeer of the Colorado Central road, headed the party, which was absent from June till September, and explored some 1,100 miles of coun- try west of the starting-point. It was claimed for this important survey, that it established two im- portant facts, viz : First, that the main difficulties of a good direct wagon route were the first ten miles of the canon of Clear Creek, and the main central range at the Berthoud Pass, 10,914 feet above the sea. Second, that the country traversed west of this pass was fine valleys, and that excellent coal abounded, while the total distance from Golden to Salt Lake was only 458 miles, thus shortening the overland route fully 200 miles. Two years later, Hon. W. A. H. Loveland and E. B. Smith, leading citizens of Golden, went be- fore the Territorial Legislature and procured a charter for a wagon road up Clear Creek canon to the mines. Some work was done on the line, but it was subsequently abandoned as impracticable, and the old wagon road from Golden Gate contin- ued to be the great highway between the valley and the mountains. Loveland never lost faith in the canon route, however, and his next scheme was the building of a railroad where the wagon road had failed. In the year 1865, the Colorado Central Rail- road Company was chartered. H. M. Teller, John T. Lynch, John A. Nye, William A. H. Love- land, Thomas Mason, A. Gilbert, Milo Lee and K. K. Baxter, of Colorado, with James Mills, George Hoyt, John A. Dix, Ebenezer Cook, W. W. Wright," Thomas Small, L. C. Pollard and William Bond, of New York; M. Laflin, of Chicago ; A. McKinney, of Boston ; Samuel Wheelwright, George B. Satterlee, W. V. Ogden and Jonathan Cox were incorporated to build a railroad from Golden westward to Black Hawk, Central City, •? « ;|^ ?w HISTORY OF COLORADO. 189 and, by the South Pork, to Idaho and Empire City ; thence over the Berthoud Pass, to the west bound- ary of Colorado, in the direction of Provo City, Utah, and easterly, by Denver, to the east bound- ary of Colorado, and northeasterly, by the coal fields of Jefferson and Boulder Counties, and the valleys of St. Vrain, Big Thompson and Cache la Poudre, and thence to the northeast corner of Col- orado, where the northern branch of the Pacific Railroad intersects said boundary. At that time, and for some years thereafter, the idea of building a railroad up Clear Creek canon was considered undiluted nonsense, and nobody thought it would ever be done, except Mr. Love- land and a few of his friends, who were inspired by his strong faith in the ultimate success of his scheme. He knew that the trade of the mines would support a railway ; the only question was how it should be built. Before he could enlist active aid in his enterprise, it was necessary for him to make a preliminary survey, which was done by private subscription. Even then, when. the practicability of the proposed route was established by the engineers' figures, nobody was ready to in- vest, and the work waited. A mistake had been made in providing for a broad-gauge road, which required several tunnels and a large amount of ex- pensive rock work. Narrow-gauge roads were then almost unknown, and their special fitness for moun- tain defiles was still undemonstrated. To Capt. E. L. Berthoud belongs the honor of first suggesting a narrow-gauge for the mountain division of the Colorado Central. The Captain was then stationed at Fort Sedgwick, and, at that distance could only present his views by corre- spondence. Mr. Loveland caught the idea at once, but his associates did not fully share his confi- dence in the success of the new idea, and nothing w^ done. In 1866, when the Union Pacific Company was surveying the passes of the Rocky Mountains, a party of their engineers went over the old Berth- oud trail and pass, and reported a practicable route from Grolden westward. Every elFort was put forth to induce the company to locate its line in' this di- rection, but without success. Then the engineer- ing diificulties were too great. Besides, the work in Clear Creek canon, a tunnel over a mile long was deemed necessary in crossing the rangei and the northern route was adopted and built upon. After the termination of this survey, in 1866, the subject rested until the spring of 1867, when the Colorado Central Railroad Company, fully re- organized, proceeded to inaugurate the construction of its line. The first work was done between Grolden and Denver, in aid of .which Jefferson County voted $100,000 in bonds. A survey was ordered between Golden and Cheyenne, to connect with the Union Pacific, but this survey was aban- doned. The line ran from Golden northeast to Boulder Creek, down Boulder to the St. Vrain, thence to Big Thompson and the Cache la Poudre, crossing the Poudre a little west of the spot where Greeley now stands, and from there to Cheyenne direct, a total distance of 118 miles. Work on the Golden and Denver line was nom- inally begun in January, 1868, and actively entered upon in May of that year, the design beinsr to reach Denver simultaneously with the Denver Pa- cific from Cheyenne. The co-operation of Denver was diverted, however, by the action of the com- pany in locating its line not to Denver direct, but to a junction with the Kansas Pacific two miles below the city, a mistake since corrected at con- siderable expense to the company. The fourteen miles of road were not finished the first year nor the second. It was not until late in 1870 that the line was opened for business, and then it was compelled to run its trains into Denver over the track of the Kansas Pacific Company. In this as well as in other respects, the rivalry between Den- ver and Golden has been maintained to the disad- vantage of each party. Though latterly, by force of circumstances, the Colorado Central has been made a part and parcel of Denver's railway system, the original plan ig- nored this system entirely. Denver did not figure "F ^ HISTORY OF COLORADO. 197 suflFered from the reaction, as did all new enter- prises, but at tte first dawn of commercial revival, in 1875, it sprang into renewed life and activity, and again did the hills re-echo with the click of the hammer, and the bustle of the construction camps. A line was surveyed south from Pueblo, and in May, 1876, El Moro was m^de the south- ern terminus. Up to this time, the path of the railroad has laid through a fascinating and romantic region, but one which offered few, if any obstacles, but there lay before it henceforward great engi- neering difficulties, and the mountain passes seemed to tower up, as if to challenge fnrther progress into their fastnesses. But nothing daunted, " the Baby Koad " struck bold blows at Nature, and from Cucharas wended its way out over the mesas, toward the Spanish Peaks, which stood like grim sentinels in the Western horizon. After winding for miles through the beautiful and variegated val- ley of the Sangre de Christo, the road wended its way around what is known now as ''the mule* shoe curve," and commenced the ascent of Veta Moun- tain, at the startling grade of 211 feet to the mile. Onward and upward it climbed upon the dizzy verge of the mountain's crags, winding like a huge serpent about the body of its prey, until it reached "Inspiration Point," far above the fleecy clouds, and nearly two miles above old ocean's level. No railroad in America, and it is doubtful if any in the world, presents a more grand or inspiring scene than the Denver & Rio Grande at the summit of Veta Pass. Far, far below you, the valley stretches away to the east, while the stream, a mere silvery thread in the bright sunlight, wends its way, now here, now there, in serpentine curves. It is here that words fail — they are impotent — one stands an awed and stilled spectator of God's great universe ! Along the verge of the stream, a good eye may trace the faint outline of the track over which you have passed before the ascent was commenced, and so nearly under you is it, that it seems as if a pebble might be thrown upon it from where you stand. Towering far above, in their snow-capped majesty, appear the Spanish Peaks and " Old Baldy," grim and silent, the monarchs of the mid- continent. From " Inspiration Point " the road descends into the enchanting San Luis Valley, and stretches across its broad expanse to intercept the Rio Grande at Alamosa. It was in 1879 that the memorable contest took place between the Denver & Rio Grande and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroads. This was for the possession of the Grand Canon of the Arkansas, and continued on the field and in the courts until April 4, 1 880, when the former was victorious. Track-laying was again resumed with characteristic energy toward Leadville, which was at this time the Mecca of all miners, prospectors and speculators. Of all the deep canons penetrated by railways in America or Europe, the " Royal Gorge," which is on this extension, is the most wonderful and famous. A well-known writer, in describing his first view from above says : " Cowards at heart, pale of face, and with bated breath, we slowly crawl on hands and knees to the iedge, and, as the fated murderer feels the knotted noose fall down over his head, so we feel as our eyes extend beyond the rocks, to catch one awful glimpse of the eternity of space. Few dare to look more than once, and one glance suffices for a comprehension of the mean- ing of the word ' depth,' never before dreamed of and never afterward forgotten. The gorge is 3,0 00 feet sheer depth, and the most precipitous and sublime of any chasm on the continent." It was here that the engineers of the road met difficulties which seemed almost insurmountable. " But with intrepid daring did they challenge Nature in her stronghold." During the earlier part of the work, men and tools, mules and carts, were lowered down over the precipices by ropes, the men and animals receiving their food like Elijah, from above. Rock- men hung suspended for hours at a dizzy height in mid-air, with only a slender rope between them and eternity while they drilled hoks in the solid granite for the blasts which sent tons of rock crash- es fe^ 198 HISTORY OF COLORADO. ing with thunder tones down into the depths below. To-day tourists are carried through the ten miles of canon in elegant observation coaches, from which the fiill grandeur of the scene may be witnessed if not comprehended. In July, 1880, Malta was reached, and the shrill whistle of the locomotive reverberated among the hills of the great carbonate camp — Leadville — a few days later. But a road so ambitious was not to stop even at Leadville. Work was at once vigorously com- menced on the two extensions, one reaching out toward the prosperous mining camps of Kokomo and Breckenridge, and the other through Tennes- see Pass to Bed Cliff and the Eagle Biver region. About this time, a reconnaissance was made, southward by the engineering corps, and the pres- ent route of the San Juan Extension being se- lected, work was at once commenced and the line pushed through to the Animas Biver. A survey was made southward from Antonito, around San Antonito Mountain, down the Mesa to the head of Comanche Canon and through the same to the Rio Grande. Following its valley, the line lay through White Bock Canon to Albuquerque, New Mexico, passing about forty miles westward of Santa Fe. From Albuquerque it extended southward, cross- ing the river at Isletta, where the Atlantic & Pa- cific now branches oflF from the main line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. From this point, the line was surveyed down the valley to San Mar- cial, a distance of 279 miles from Antonito. About the 1st of June, 1880, the increased travel of tour- ists and health-seekers to Manitou, seemed to ne- cessitate the building of a branch between that popular resort and Colorado Springs, and work was pushed ahead so rapidly that the line was opened during the same month. At the present time there are five express trains each way every day of the week, composed of elegant reclining- chair coaches. Manitou is becoming more and more popular with each succeeding season. Its hotels now are as fine as any summer hotels on the continent, and both winter and summer are filled with representatives not only of almost every State but foreign countries. During the gay season, balls, parties, excursions, and every manner of enjoyment vie with each other for popularity. Every day parties make the ascent of old Pike's Peak from Manitou, and return filled with enthu- siasm over the thrilling experiences of the trip. By the new trail to the summit, the ascent and re- turn to Manitou may be made easily in a day, and a more romantic and enchanting excursion cannot be imagined. In addition to the charms of Pike's Peak are added those of the Cheyenne Canons, Garden of the Gods, Seven Lakes, Williams Canon, Crystal Park, Manitou Park, and many other charming spots within easy reach. But if we are allured by the charms of Manitou into tarrying hereabouts too long, we will not see what our pro- gressive " Baby Road " is doing. In fact, while the Manitou branch was being constructed, a large force was at work on the Eagle Biver Extension, which, leaving the main line at Malta, follows up the Arkansas to the mouth of Tennessee Creek, and then crosses the range at an elevation of 10,- 443 feet to descend into the valley of Eagle Biver and then on to the Grand. During these months the new Mexican exten- sion was lengthening out from Antonito toward the ancient city of Santa Fe. It is now completed to Espanola, twenty-three miles from Santa ¥6, and the two are connected by a line of elegant stages. This route is not as strangely romantic and wild as other portions of the road, but is no less replete with interest from the fact that it reaches into the country of the Aztec, whose Montezuma is still being hoped and watched for. There are several very ancient Indian Pueblos near Espanola, that of Taos being the most interesting. It consists of two communistic structures, each five stories high and a large church all built of adobe, or sun-dried mud. Each successive story receded some twelve or fifteen feet from the one under it, and entrance is aiFected by ascending a ladder upon the outside, and then descending ^ i l^ HISTOEY OF COLOEADO. 199 through a hole in the roof. Around this fortress seven circular mounds are fuund, which look as if they had been thrown up by Mound-builders, but they prove on inspection to be dark and close chambers, used for various purposes, such as coun- cil-rooms, etc. In the vicinity of Santa Clara are many deserted abodes of the pre-historic cliff- dwellers, which form an interesting study to the tourist and student. The stage-ride from Bspanola to Santa P6 is a delightful one, over easy roads and behind fleet horses. The city of Santa Fe, dating its history before the discovery of America, will always en- tice tourists thither. To see Santa Fe is the nezt best thing to going to Spain. It has queer houses, quaint old churches, ruined fortresses, dizzy dance-hoiises and, above all, a peculiarly distinct class of citizens. It has lately sprung into considerable importance as a commercial center, and is attracting much attention. About the 1st of July, 1880, the Grape Creek extension was pushed ahead from Canon City in the direction of Silver Cliff, and in May, 1881, the road was formally opened, amid the grandest festiv- ities. While the grading on this branch was in progress, a large force was at work on the Gunni- son extension from Arkansas, and trains are now running into Gunnison City. The San Juan extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Road, leading westward from Antonito, in the direction of Durango and Silverton, extends through one of the sublimest sections oi America. Wild and rugged obstacles were constantly found in the path of the engineers, but only to be laughed at and overcome. The building of the road across the Pinos-Chama summit was one of the most wonderful achievements of the age, and the vast expense could only have been justified by the astonishing and everlasting wealth of the San Juan region. At one point the road doubled upon itself twice, making three parallel tracks within a distance of little more than a stone's throw. An hour's ride from Antonito the traveler catches his first glimpse down into Los Pinos Valley, and for four miles beyond the track glides around in grace- ful curves on the very brow of the mountains, giving occasional glimpses of the variegated valley far below. Continuing its ascent until the head of the valley is reached, an easy curve is made and the train doubles back on the opposite side to nearly the starting point. The scenery for the next nine miles challenges description. Words are weak ! Ideas fail ! The road tenaciously clings to the steep mountain-side, almost at its summit for four miles, and then plunges into the tunnel at the point where the romantic and thrill- ing grandeurs of Toltec Gorge culminate. Here is a sheer depth of 1,200 feet below the train, and so close to the track that one could spring from the platform into the awful and yawning chasm below. This hue will be completed to Durango, " The Mage City,'' by August, 1881, and that wonder- ful mining camp which is destined to be the great center of the San Juan country, will be brought into close connection with the metropohs of the mid-continent. From Durango the road will be rapidly extended to Silverton and eventually southward into Ari- izona. The commercial advantages accruing to Denver and Colorado generally, by the energy and devel- opment of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway cannot be fully appreciated or over-estimated. It has done more toward the prosperity of this grand State than all other agencies combined. It has sought out and developed her treasures of mineral, and has been the pioneer in all enterprises for the development of the commonwealth ; called at its inception and during its early life, the " Baby Road," it has, by its energiesand accomplishments thrown off the title, and its nine hundred miles of track, magnificent equipment, and unfettered pos- sibilities place it high among the railroads of the nation. It is knocking at the portals of the great undeveloped Southwest, and will ever be the ad- vance guard of civilization and enterprise. "^^ n^ Ai 200 HISTORY OF COLORADO. ,^ CHAPTER III. THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY. KANSAS and Colorado were, originally, one, the county of Arapahoe, then in the former State, embracing nearly all the territory since in eluded in the State of Colorado. But, although civil boundaries have been drawn dividing this extended territory, and a new State has been erected, no legislative enactment could, if it would, separate or destroy that community of interest which exists, and must ever continue to exist, between the two States ; for this mutuality of interests depends upon natural laws which are higher and more authoritative in their nature than any parliamentary act or legislative decree. The fertile fields of Kansas, producing annually their millions of bushels of the great cereals of the country, and the mountains of Colorado, sending forth their treasures of gold and silver, form the opposite poles of a natural magnet, mutually at- tracting each other and producing a complete com- mercial circuit, over which the products of the two States must pass like the opposite currents of electricity. Great trunk lines of railway, forming commer- cial highways, become, therefore, an absolute na- tional necessity, which shrewd, far-seeing men were not slow to recognize nor tardy in devising means to meet. Without the two great railroads which traverse the entire State of Kansas, and the vast plains of Eastern Colorado, this State would fall far short of being the rich and prosperous com- monwealth that it now is. What the Kansas Pacific is to the Northern and Central parts of the State, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa P6 is to Southern Colorado and New Mexico. It is fast transforming barren wastes into fertile fields, and vast deserts into rich pastoral and agricultural domains, the abode of a numerous and prosperous people. It binds with " bands of iron and ribs of steel " the rich mineral-producing re- gions of our country to the great manufacturing and agricultural sections of the East. It brings, every year, thousands of emigrants to swell the great, toiling army, who annually find homes within our borders. It transports immense quantities of food for their sustenance, and machinery for the extraction of the rich treasures which lie imbedded in our mountains. It is penetrating and opening up the vast pastoral and mineral regions of the Southwest, and now forms the eastern portion of the great southern highway from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. The history of the road is briefly as follows : In 1859, five years after the organization of the Territory of Kansas, a Territorial charter was ob- tained for a company known as the Atchison & Topeka Railroad Company, whose main object was at that time to build a road between Topeka and Atchison, the two principal towns of the Terri- tory. The date of the charter is February 11, 1859, and the names of the incorporators as follows : S. C. Pcmeroy, C. K. HoUiday, Luther C. Challiss, Peter T. Abell, Milton C. Dickey, Asaph Allen, Samuel Dickson, Wilson L. Gordon, George S. Hillyer, Lorenzo D. Bird, Jeremiah Murphy, George H. Fairchild and F. L. Crane. The capital stock of the company was placed at $1,500,000, " with power to increase from time to time." The charter required thirteen Directors, three of whom were to be residents of Kansas. Beyond the organization of this Atchison & To- peka Railroad Company, that company did noth- ing toward forming the history of the present Santa F6 road, the outbreak of the rebellion caus- ing a suspension of the work, and, until 1863, the project lay dormant. Then, however, new stock- ^i ^v ^ > HISTORY OF COLORADO. 303 holders got in, the name was changed to the Atch- ison, Topeiia & Santa P6 Railroad Company, and, in March of that year, the land grant was ob- tained. The act of Congress making that grant save to the State of Kansas certain lands for the c, purpose of aiding in the construction of two rail- roads through the State, one of them being the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F^. On the 9th of February, 1864, the Stat« of Kansas, by its Legislature, accepted the grant and turned it over to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F^ Railroad Company, and on the 1st of March, 1864, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the coun- ties on the line of the road to subscribe and to take stock in the new company, having already (Feb- ruary 23) passed a concurrent resolution asking Congress to grant to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company a subsidy similar to that which had been granted to the Union Pacific. This resolution failed to secure the subsidy, but the act of March 1 was successful in causing counties on the line to take stock in the railroad. It was not until 1869 that the work was actu- ally begun on the building of the road, and then the first labor was put on a line from Topeka to Burlingame. The delay that had occurred in the meanwhile caused the necessity of going over much of the former work in organization, as, for instance, some of the county aid had expired by limitation, and a renewal of the vote had to be obtained. But there was, by this time, a deeper earnest in the men who had the charter. Senator Pomeroy, Col. Holliday and Mr. Lakin had gone to New York and had secured able co-operation in New York, Boston and Cincinnati. The first advance made in this direction was in getting New York capitalists interested. Among the New York men were Carlos Pierce, Mayor Greorge H. Opdyke, Henry Blood, and several others. Through Mr. Pierce, a number of Boston men were secured, among them C. W. Pierce, Henry Keyes, Alden Spear, I. T. Burr, Frank H. Peabody, 0. W. Pea- body, and afterwards Joseph and Thomas Nicker- son. Through T. J. Peter, the Cincinnati men were obtained — Thomas Sherlock, H. C. Lord, Capt. Sebastian, and others. With this accession, then, work began in 1869, and the road from Topeka to Newton, with the Wichita Branch, was completed by July, 1871. Then work was begun on the stretch between To- peka and Atchison, and that track was completed in the spring of 1872. But it seemed an impos- sibility to construct the road in the ten years' limit of the land grant, and an attempt was made to get an extension of time. The eifort failed, and the managers thereupon bent all their energies to the work of completing the road to the Western line of the State, in order to secure the grant. There was then less than a year left to complete the work, and there ensued some of the most rapid railroad building, even in this era of fast construc- tion. Here is the record of the work, as shown by the State report : From Topeka to Peabody, a distance of 118 miles, completed by May 15, 1871. From Peabody to Halstead, 26 miles, with a branch from Newton to Sedgwick, by July 14, 1871. Then, on the stretch between Atchison and To- peka, the track was laid from Atchison to Cum- mings, 11 miles, by April 10, 1872; to Rock Creek, 35 miles, by April 24, and to Topeka, 50^ miles, from Atchison, by May 25, 1872. Building from Newton southward, the branch was completed to Valley Center by May 7, 1872, and to Wichita by May 13, 1872. From Halstead westward, the main line was completed to Nickerson, June 17, 1872; to Ray- mond, June 26, 1 872 ; to Pawnee Rock, August 5, 1872; to Garfield, past Larned, August 12, 1872; to Lakin, past Dodge City, September 19, 1872, and thence to the State line, by New Year's Day, of 1873, when Grov. Osborn rode over the line from Atchison to the Colorado boundary, and formally accepted the road, the company thus be- coming entitled to the entire land grant of about three million acres. D \ ' -^ 204 HISTORY OF COLORADO. The construction, however, continued. New branches were added in Kansas, and in 1875 and 1876 the branch between Kansas City and To- peka was added, while the western terminus was moved to Pueblo. Then began the invasion of Ne a Mexico. The Raton Mountains stood as a gateway hindering passage, but Raton Pass was crossed, and, during the past year, especially, work has been pushed with the greatest of energy, until last March, the connection was completed with the Southern Pa- cific at Deming, the importance of which to Colo- rado is not lightly to be estimated. Aside from all other considerations, it gives us a through line that will be free from the dangers of the Northern climate — dangers that have often caused, in Colo- rado, a scarcity of those California products which are so valuable a factor in the jobbing trade of Denver. Leaving Kansas City, whose marvelous growth has kept pace with the development of the country to the west and southwest, thus demonstrating her favorable location and the enterprise of her citi- zens, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe passes along the valley of the Kansas River, through the rich fields and past the fertile farms of Eastern Kansas, till it reaches Topeka, the capital of the State, where is located the main office of the land department of the road, to which is due, in a great measure, the peopling of Southern Kansas with sturdy and industrious men, who have converted the old Santa Pe trail into a garden, and made " the wilderness to blossom as the rose." Here it unites with the Une from Atchison, which follows the beautiful valley of the Grasshopper, in a south- westerly direction, to the common central p .int. From Topeka, the road continues southwesterly hrough Emporia till it strikes the Arkansas River at Newton. Between these points, numerous lines branch ofi' to important towns to the north and south of the main line. From Newton, a branch line ex- tends south to the young, flourishing and enter- prising city of Wichita, and continuing thence south, with branches to Arkansas City, Caldwell and Anthony. Prom the Rocky Mountian Tourist we quote : "At Newton, we are at the end of the first division of the road, and at the entrance or gateway, so to speak, of the Arkansas Valley, the most glorious domain of rich, fertile and well-watered land on the Western Hemisphere. * * * Beyond, step by step, the landscape leads you over swelling plain to vast distance, which melts by imperceptible gradations into the gracious sky, and impresses the heart with a conviction that just beyond your power of sight is a better, nobler clime — a lovely land where all is beautiful. The first sensation of the prospect is simply one of immensity. The sweep of the vast spaces is bounded only by the haze of distance. Opening out at Halsted, to a width of fully fifteen miles, the valley glows with universal vegetable profusion, the earth is carpeted with vernal green, and the prodigality of vegetation reigns supreme." Extravagant and fanciful as this picture may seem, the truth remains, that the Arkansas Valley, at this point, and thence in a southeasterly course to the Mississippi, as well as for some distance up the river, presents a scene which, for wealth of vegetation, beauty of landscape and fertility of soil, is excelled by no part of our Western do- main. Continuing westward, the road passes along the northern bank of the Arkansas River, through Hutchinson, Sterling, Lamed, Kinsley and other thriving young towns, to Dodge City, the center of the cattle-shipping interests of Southwest Kan- sas, Northern Texas and Eastern Colorado, and thence on to the State Line between Kansas and Colorado, a short distance beyond which it crosses to the southern, or, at this point, the southwestern shore, whence its course lies along the south bank of the river until it nears Pueblo, when itrecrosses to the northern shore. About midway between the State Une and Pu- eblo, it passes Fort Lyon, near the prosperous and growing town of Las Animas. ^ J^' lii^ HISTORY or COLORADO. 305 At this point we copy again : " With Fort Lyon on our immediate right, and Las Animas but a mile away, we catch, between the two points, our first glimpse of the mountains, the outlines of the G-reenhorn Range being plainly discernible, although fully ninety miles distant. On particularly clear days, and when the peaks are snow-capped, with the rich evergreen foliage densely covering the sides of the mountains, the contrast is exquisitely effective ; and later in the season, when the range is covered with snow, and stands out bold against the soft, graded light be- yond, one would scarcely believe the distance twenty miles. At times, when the intervening plains are hidden 'neath one of the wondrously deceptive mirages characteristic of this elevation, the mountains appear to double their height, the hoary-headed old peaks extending so far heaven- ward as to realize one's most enthusiastic dreams of towering grandeur. As we pass on beyond Las Animas, we strain our eyes forward, catching, for a moment, faint outlines of higher mountains, so dark in the blue of the lessening distance as to cause hesitation as to their being real substance or mere formations of rapidly changing clouds. A few moments, and we are satisfied of the fact that the shadowy outlines are stationary, and we real- ize one fond ambition, that of beholding Pike's Peak, though it may be one hundred miles away. A few iniles more and the symmetrical pyramids known as the Spanish Peaks, st«al out from the clouds, entwining their snowy heads, and bid us wplcome to the confines of the Spanish Range, over which they have, for unknown centuries, stood faithful sentinels. Nearing Pueblo, the southern hills, which will soon be mountains, shift rapidly their wavy outlines, and the thick forest growth becomes more and more distinct. Stretching far away to the left, perfectly outlined in its charac- teristic smoky blue, appears the Greenhorn Range. As we approach, the smoky whiteness of the en- veloping haze is dissipated and gives place to a more pronounced blue ; the billowy hills roll more sharply clear to the eye ; the irregular lines of the foliage stand out distinct, and here and there shaggy and disheveled pines cut the sky-line upon the summit ridge. " At Pueblo, we have merely reached the foot- stool, as it were, of the greatness, the sublimity and immensity of the rock-ribbed heights of Colo- rado. By and by, when we shall go from for- ests of luxuriant splendor to mountains of un- utterable barrenness and grandeur, from stiU lake to roaring cataract, from verdure and cultivation into galleries of nature's strangest fantasies, with- out the slightest hint of what the next transition may be, then we shall confess that each picture has a hundred phases rivaling each other in beauty and interest, and that all that is exquisitely per- fect in mountain scenery, in lake, river and valley scenery, is garnered here." Pueblo, the present western terminus of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in Colo- rado, and the point where that line connects north, south and west with the Denver & Rio Grande, making it a railroad center despite the fact that it has but two principal railways, is the commercial, political and social metropolis of Southern Colorado. Though not a handsome town, owing to the mixed order of its architecture and the absence of shade trees, except on the mesa of South Pueblo, it atones for its lack of beauty by abundant enter- prise, great hospitality, and true Western spirit. The location of the town is commanding in a com- mercial view, holding the key to the trade of the West and South. Its future is foreshadowed by its past. It has grown steadily since 1859, and has never failed to advance with the prosperity of the rest of the State. It was never in a better position than it is to-day ; Leadville and Silver Cliff are connected with Pueblo by iron rails, and, though Denver has a strong lead to-day, it is not impossible that Pueblo will some day prove a suc- cessful rival. Krom La Junta, near Las Animas, the Colo- rado and New Mexico Division of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad passes in a south- westerly direction up the Las Animas Valley to >fr ^.l [t. 206 HISTORY OF COLORADO. Trinidad, the metropolis of the extreme southern part of the State. Here it met the forces of the Rio Grande Company, and a race for precedence occurred, both roads making a simultaneous dash for the possession of the pass over the Raton Mountains into New Mexico. In this, the Santa P6 was victorious, and at once entered upon the stupendous engineering task of climbing up through the Raton Canon and surmounting the great natural obstacles of the Raton Pass, nearly eight thousand feet above the sea level, from which it descends the southern slope, through Willow Canon, and out upon the plains of New Mexico. From Trinidad to the summit of the pass the distance is a little over fifteen miles, and the grade, in some places, 185 feet to the mile. At last, after surmounting the stupendous engi- neering difficulties in its course, cutting its way through the solid rock, building riprap to protect embankments, throwing iron bridges across the canon, the road reaches the foot of the crest of the divide, up whose steep sides no human machinery can climb. Through this obstacle it was decided to run a tunnel two thousand feet to the opposite side ; but, in the meantime, a temporary means must be devised, and, accordingly, a switch-back was construoced. "By it, the cars will leave what will be the direct line, and are carried over a steep inclined track running diagonally up the hill ; thence, reversing their direction, they shoot up an- other incline ; then, reversing again, they climb to the summit, thus zigzaging up the steep they can- not directly scale. Even by this indirect route, the enormous grade of 316.8 feet per mile is attained. Circling around the summit of the pass, the road descends on the New Mexico side in a similar manner, and reaches a point where the direct line comes out of the tunnel, after having achieved the two thousand feet of what will hereafter be the tunneled distance by going nearly three miles around." The tunnel is now completed and the cost of hauling a train from one side of the mountain to the other is but about one-fourth what it was before. Beyond the Raton Mount- ains, the engineering difficulties were com- paratively slight, and during the .summer of 1880, the road has been completed through Las Yegas to Calisteo, whence a short " stub " extends northward to the ancient city of Santa Ft', the capital of New Mexico, the main line continuing on through Albuquerque and So- corro to Fort Thorn, whence two branches extend, one .southeast down the Rio Grande River to El Paso del Norte, in Mexico, and the other south- west to Deming, where it connects with the Southern Pacific for California, continuing its own proposed line, however, directly south through the Mexican State of Sonora, to Guaymas on the Gulf of California. From Albuquerque, the pro- posed line of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad extends westward through Arizona and California to the Pacific Ocean. From this brief sketch it will be seen that the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railway is a most important factor in the development of our country, and one whose future prospects are most flattering. ^ S- r- 'U^ ■^•*J® — »- i\^ PART III. HI8TOET OF LAKE COUNTY. ■Bsr la. a-, idtll. THE histxjry of Lake County is necessarily fragmentary and incomplete. When the California G-ulch excitement was at its height, the gold-seekers were too intent upon the ob- ject of their endeavors to pay any attention to the proper keeping of records, and the only organization having the semblance of legality was that formed by the miners themselves for the purpose of self-protection. Even after the county had been legally organized, there was so little of the ordinary work of a public char- acter to be performed that the officers found little to do and were not particular whether that was done or not, as the inhabitants were of that class of men, who, if they wanted any- thing done for their own convenience, did it, and saved themselves the trouble of going through the formula of legal authority. The provisional government under the miner's code was in force from the discovery of gold until the spring of 1861. At that time the county was regularly organized by proc- lamation of Gov. Gilpin. A set of officers were appointed, but they did not cut any very important figure in public aflTairs, as the popu- lation was composed entirely of miners, and miner's law had full sway, and was sufficient for all demands for the protection of society. In the fall of 1861 an election was held, at which were chosen Capt. Breece, Alexander McPherson and William Snyder as County Commissioners, Eli Bair as Sheriff, and Col. Austin as Probate Judge. The records were simply those of mining claims, no other prop- erty being considered worth taking up, and were kept by the Recorder of the mining dis- trict. During the summer and fall of 1861, the rebellion was the cause of considerable excite- ment. The first Union troops from Colorado were recruited in Lake County soon after the news of the war was received. There was no military organization, but parties of men would agree to join the army, and, banding together, would start oflf for the nearest recruiting sta- tion. Recruiting was not confined to the Unionists. A large number of Southerners were in the gulch, and several parties left to join the Confederate army. Confederate agents also visited the camp to purchase arms. After the California Gulch excitement died away, and the population began to decrease, there was little if any stir for years. The officers of the county were elected as a matter of form. Granite was selected as the county seat, and a court-house erected, but things moved along so smoothly that Lake County might as well have been out of the world for all that was known of it. After the first year of the gold excitement the population de- creased so rapidly that, in 1866, there were but 150 permanent residents in the county. For several years after the organization of the county, the Commissioners did not have a single meeting. During ten years there was not a single law-suit. During the same time there was not a death, except among infants. During fifteen years there was not a single ^^ 9 "V -14^ 308 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. murder or other act of violence. From 1866 there were several years during which there was not a whisky-shop within the limits of the county. The community, if not the climate, was purely Arcadian, and the simplicity of the lives of the people would have satisfied the dreamers of Brooke Farm. The discovery of the Printer Boy Mine in 1868 caused a little ripple of excitement, and some slight increase in the population took place. From that time the county grew steadily in population; through the immigration of a farming and stock-raising community to the lower part of the county, until, in 1876, there were from 800 to 900 people in the county. From that date the history of Leadville was the history of Lake County. In 1875 and 1876, the county acquired con- siderable notoriety from the occurrence of a number of outrages and homicides, the result of the determination of the people to protect themselves and their property. By that time the cattle interest had become an important source of wealth to the community. The nar- row valley of the Arkansas afforded excellent opportunities for the successful operation of stock-thieves, the mountains on either side and the numerous gulches and ravines rendering it easy for the thieves to conceal themselves and their booty. In 1875, the evil had grown to such proportions that it became absolutely un- bearable, and an organization of citizens was effected to rid themselves of the presence of the thieves. The latter, however, were so numerous and of so desperate a character, that the task, though it was finally accomplished, was by no means an easy one. Several men were killed before the gang of thieves was finally driven out, and the County Judge was killed while sitting in the court-house, by which side, has never been discovered. The carbonate excitement coming so soon after these occur- rences caused them to be forgotten, but during their continuance Lake County was, in other parts of the State, regarded as the center of lawlessness and crime. For fifteen years before, however, there had been not the slight- est disturbance, and that stern measures were necessary no one conversant with the facts can dispute. A community which exists fifteen years without making anj' but the most trifling historical incidents cannot have been composed of desperadoes. The rapid growth of population in and around Leadville and the concentration of im- portant interests in that city made it desirable that the county should be divided, and accord- ingly the Legislature of 1879 created the new county of Chaffee from the southern part of Lake, making Granite, the county seat of old Lake County, the county seat of Chaffee County. At the fall election of 1880, the county seat of the new county was changed to Bupna Vista. The officers of Lake County are Joseph Pearce, Nelson Hallock, Alexander Bengley, Henry Kelly, and Peter Jennings, County Commissioners ; Joseph H. Wells, Clerk and Kecorder; L. R. Tucker, Sheriff; E. T. Rose, County Assessor; R. H. Stanley, County Treasurer ; J. D. Ward, District Judge ; Charles Taylor, Clerk of the District Court ; A. T. Gunnell, County Judge ; William Ray- mond, Clerk of the County Court. The population of the county is in the neigh- borhood of 25,000, nearly two-thirds being residents of Leadville, and all being either di- rectly or indirectly interested in mining pur- suits. IW ^ S) ^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. CHAPTER I. LEADVILLE— ITS DISCOVEKY AND EARLY HISTORY. IN one sense the history of the discovery of gold in Cherry Creek is the history of the discovery of Colorado in all its breadth, for the throngs of adventurers who, attracted by the wonderful stories of the wealth of that now classic stream in Denver's story, soon dis- covered that for manjr of them there was no wealth in its sands, and from thence scattered in every direction. Many of them were charmed with the nomadic life of which they had had some experience in crossing the plains ; others, had no ties to bind them to any particu- lar location, and full of life and hope and en- ergy, claimed the " whole boundless continent " as theirs, from which to wrest the treasures held in store for those who have the courage to seek it in nature's storehouses ; others had left home against the pleadings of anxious and loving fathers, mothers, wives or children, and finding their resplendent dreams of sudden wealth turning to bitter ashes on their lips, were ashamed to turn back without further effort ; others had expended their all in reach- ing the fancied El Dorado, and could not re- turn ; and still others, and by no means a few, had left their country for their country's good, and had no greater dangers to fear from the savage wilderness than from the stern grasp of the law in the haunts of civilization. This is the usual make-up of the pioneers of every land ; the honest adventurer, the half-starved failure, the crime-stained outlaw, all find a desirable hiding-place in the newly discovered countries, far away from the scenes of their early life. In the fall of 1859, there were more men clustered in and about the village of Auraria than could find gold to dig, work to do, or even food to eat, and during the winter many would have starved had it not been for the generosity of the pioneers to whom the image of suffering humanity is an always answered appeal for charity, to the division of the last crust. In Novemljer or December, 1859, two or three adventurous spirits, whose energies had not been chilled and whose courage had not been dampened by their lack of success, followed up Clear Creek to the present site of Black Hawk. They were soon compelled to return on account of the severity of the weather, but not before they had tested the stream and found it to be rich in gold. They returned, worn out with their tramp of a hundred miles, half-starved and nearlj' frozen, but the stories thej' told inflamed the imaginations of their companions, revived hope in the breast of many a man who had grown despondent, and stimulated the am- bition of those whose long journey had been taken for the sole purpose of acquiring wealth and the position which always comes with its possession. During the winter a large number made preparations for an early flitting. Very early in the year 1860, several parties moved in different directions.. One went to the inhospitable and then almost inaccessible region of the San Juan and encountered hard- ships and suffering, which even to the ears of those accustomed to the trials of pioneer life sound like a horrible dream, and left a large proportion of their little band buried in the eternal snows. Others followed along the base of the mountains as far as the boundaries of the recentlj' acquired Mexican settlements, and tired with the failure of their hopes, settled down on ranches and literally " grew up with the country,'' never being heard of in some cases, until the railroad brought in the annual throng of sight-seers and health-seekers, when they turned up in some almost inaccessible, but well-watered mountain nook, to astonish those who had stumbled on their retreats. Others, and by far the greater number, followed up the discoveries of the previous year, in the mount- ains immediately west of Denver, and estab- lishing themselves along the banks of Clear Creek, commenced taking out the gold in earnest. But the only fault of placer diggings is their narrow limits, and even the new dig- gings were insufHcient to satisfy the demands of all who sought them, and, as a consequence, many had to go still further, still allured by the prospect of wealth, and still hoping that ^. liL, 210 HISTOBY OF LAKE COUNTY. the next " find " would include them among the fortunate ones. Some crossed the mountains that divide Clear Creek from the Platte, and prospecting up that stream, found the precious metal in the diggings of Geneva Gulch and the vicinity of the present town of Fairplay. Others crossed the Platte and the rocky divide between the Platte and Tarryall Creek, and found good diggings there. Still others struck out in a southwesterly direction from the Clear Creek diggings and the then rapidly growing town of Black Hawk, and after 'innumerable hardships found themselves upon the head- waters of the Arkansas. Wherever gold was found, settlements were made, and when the sands of the streams no longer yielded " pay dirt," and the diggings were abandoned, there were still some who re- mained, content to stop their wanderings and seek a subsistence with the plow, the rod, and the gun, for the soil of the mountain valleys was of unparalleled richness, the streams were alive with trout, and the forests afforded magnificent sport the year round. Every straggling band of gold-hunters, therefore, gave its quota toward the permanent settle- ment of what is now a glorious State, with mofe enticing prospects than those of any other State of its age ever admitted to the Union. Among those who tempted the wilderness by their explorations in this direction were five men, namely, S. S. Slater, George Stevens, Isaac Rafferty, John Currier and Abe Lee, the last-named of whom is still a resident of Lead- ville. While they were at work in Russell Gulch the previous year, a man had come into the camp after an exploration of the region lying between Leadville and the Gunnison, and reported a very rich find in the neighborhood of what is now supposed to be Colorado Gulch. He had incurred so many hardships, however, having been nearly starved to death before reaching the diggings, that he had no desire to take any more chances in the pursuit of wealth, and therefore headed for the States. Before going, he described the location of his find with such accuracy that the above-named party con- cluded they would endeavor to locate it. Ac- cordingly, on the 19th of March, 1860, having completed their outfitting, they started from Russell on their tramp across the mountains. They proceeded across Bear Creek to the Platte, and by as direct a route as possible to where Chubbs' ranch now is, and thence, instead of following Trout Creek, took a short cut through the mountains and came into the Arkansas Valley a little below the present site of Granite. As the object of their search was said to be across the valley, they went directly across and prospected along the gulches as far up as Colorado Gulch, afterward a famous camp itself Failing to find anything of suflacient importance to warrant a location, and noticing the depression in the range caused by Ten- nessee Pass, they concluded that there must be a gulch in that direction, and, packing their kits, started for the point. As they reached the fiat at the foot of California Gulch, they observed a small stream flowing along, and, ac- cording to their usual habit, panned out some of the sand from its bed. Every pan gave two or three distinct colors of gold, and, as they were nearly worn out with their tramp through the snow, which had just commenced to yield to the influence of spring, they followed up the stream, getting encouragement at every trial, until thej' had reached a point about opposite to where the city of Leadville now stands, when they stopped and commenced digging. Their flrst trials were not gratifying. They penetrated the loam, but presently came to a tough cement, which, with the tools at hand, they were unable to work. From what they managed to dig of this material, however, they obtained a few colors. They had almost aban- doned the search when they concluded to try a little further up the gulch, at a point where two men had been digging, and had abandoned the hole without reaching bed-rock. They widened the hole, and reaching gravel, commenced panning out. But a few pans had been washed when the results obtained began to average 50 cents to the pan, and the flrst glimmerings of the fame of Leadville began to appear. The first discovery claim was taken up at the point just below Oro, where the Rock mine crosses California Gulch. Two young m.en who had struck the gulch a day or two after the discoveries, were taken in to give them a discovery right, and the seven then proceeded to form a mining district, enact . by-laws, and elect oflicers. All of this occurred between the 8th and 12th days of April, 1870. In a few days, the new district had been perfected by the ■^ ^ ..^i^^iiu/ — "^^^i ^-' t^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 213 election of Mr. Lee as Eecorder, and the adop- tion of a set of regulations. In a very short time the news had spread and prospectors began to pour in. As the claims were staked off and recorded, Mr. Lee used the fees which came to him by virtue of his office, and erected a cabin — the first house in Leadville. Lumber was soon in demand for sluices and houses, and the men who came in provided with whip-saws earned about as much as they would have earned by mining. The lumber was sold at 25 cents a foot ; flour was $1 a pound, and sugar com- manded fabulous prices wherever any one was fortunate enough to bring it into camp. When the population began to increase, miners' meet- ings to pass upon disputes and regulate the affairs of the community, became a nece^sitj'. Mr. Lee was elected the President of these, and aided in the early administration of justice, in a ruder way, perhaps, but fully as efficiently as it has been since. From these meetings there was no appeal. The majority made the law, and no despotism was ever more stern in its enforcement. This fact had much to do with the general good order observed in the camp. The mining was bjr means of sluices, Georgia rockers and " long Toms." To make the rock- ers, big trees were necessary, and whenever an unusually large tree was found the finder had information which had a specific market value. The first and the only man killed during the first days of the rush was a man named Ken- nedy. A law of the district prohibited the tak- ing up of any claim hy proxy or attorney. Kennedy, however, had a son-in-law in the States, for whom he determined to take up a claim. He was notified that it could onl}' be done by unanimous consent, and that if any one there present saw fit to take it before the arrival of his son-in-law, it could not be held. To this he replied that if any one attempted to take the claim he would do it at the risk of his life. One morning, as Mr. Lee was going to look at some distant prospects, he went into Kennedy's cabin and found him fixing up his shot-gun. He asked Mr. Lee to sell him a box of good caps which Lee declined for obvious reasons, he being well aware that two young men had recorded the claim in their own names, and proposed to take possession of it that day. Kennedy's cabin commanded the entire claim, and, a short time after Lee left, the two men came upon the ground with their tools. Ken- nedy charged out of his cabin, shot-gun in hand, and threatening to shoot them, made a motion to throw up his gun, but before he had time to aim, one of the claimants, a mere boy, seized a rifle and shot him dead. When Lee returned in the evening he had been buried. A miner's meeting was called and the boy pu^ upon his trial, but of course was acquitted. There was very little lawlessness after that. The deer were then wonderfully plentiful, and had a trail crossing the gulch a short dis- tance above the discovery claims. A peculiarity of these animals is that it is only with the greatest difficulty that they can be kept from following a beaten trail made by themselves. As a result the men would kill deer from the places where they were at work, and every cab- in was well supplied with meat. A fact worthy of mention is that very soon after the work of sluicing commenced, the min- ers noticed a heavy red sand of which they had the greatest difficulty to dispose. It mingled with the finer particles of gold and obstinately refused to permit itself to be carried off bj' the water. Those who have seen the carbonate camp spring up know that that despised sand was almost pure silver. Had they known it then, a diflferent turn would have been given to the history of California Gulch. The excitement that followed these then wonderful discoveries was intense. In the summer of I860, the population of Denver had reached nearly if not quite four thousand, and probably as many more were scattered about in the various gulches in which gold had been found. The discovery of these diggings, the richest j'et found, and therefore named Califor- nia Gulch, soon reached Denver and the neigh- boring camps, and from there found its way to the States. As a result, a universal rush for California Gulch was inaugurated. At one time it seemed as if Denver and Black Hawk would be depopulated, and of the thousands who came across the plains during the summer, fully one-half only stopped long enough for recuperation and repairs, and then continued on their way to the new regions, where the fortu- nate first-comers were reported to be taking out gold by the handful. In the fall of 1860, there were not less than 10,000 people in the gulch, and from the foot of the gulch near the present site of the town of Malta to its head, where Oro still holds its own, every foot was taken up, the '^ 214 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. claims, according^to the local miners' laws being limited to 100 feet along the gulch, the lines extending from bank to bank. Little of importance occurred during this period except the hard, earnest work of the miners in taking out the gold and piling up the bowlders, the great heaps of which still remain as monuments to their patient toil. Occasion- ally the monument of their daily labor was diversified by the shooting scrape which is so inseparably connected with the organization of new communities, but as a rule the inhabit- ants were peaceable and well-behaved, the stern rule of miners' law, adopted for the pro- tection of the whole, proving a sufficient restraint upon the lawless tendencies of the few who exhibited a disposition to despise the rules necessary for the, well-being of society. To the incorrigible, an intimation that the gulch was not a healthy locality for them was gener- ally suflflcient, for th^next step was to the halter held in the hands of determined men from whom there was no appeal, they being merely instruments of the popular will. The most serious public disturbance during the few years when California Gulch was at the height of its prosperity, was that caused by a number of mysterious murders perpetrated on the several roads leading to the gulch. Men were found dead on all of the more frequented routes, and, notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts on the part of the Territorial and National Governments, no trace of the murder- ers could be discovered. The war was then at its height and it was at first supposed that a band of Confederate guerrillas were operating in the vicinity. Finally, when all other means had failed, a company of men was raised in the gulch and sent out to scout for the assassins. It was but a few days before they struck the trail, and, following it up rapidly, they came up to two men, Mexicans, camped in a ravine, and evidently in hiding. Close inquiries were sel- dom made on the frontier in such cases, and without attempting a nearer acquaintance with the men whose trail had been hotly followed from the scene of their last murder, the scouts opened fire. One of the murderers was brought down at the first fire, but even in his death agony managed to raise himself up suffi- ciently to discharge a last shot at his assailants. His companion escaped by clambering up the side of a ravine amid a storm of bullets. From papers found in the camp, it was learned that the victims of the two men numbered not fewer than forty. The one who made his escape was subsequently killed by a half-breed scout who cut off his head and took it to Gov. Gil- pin, receiving the promised reward. The men were cousins, named Espinosa, and from cer- tain memoranda found upon their persons, it was ascertained that they had declared war upon the United States because of certain legal proceedings instituted against them for the non- paj-ment of taxes. Their career is one of the most remarkable instances on record of the ter- rorizing of an entire community by two men, unaided, and depending entirely upon their daring and thorough knowledge of a difficult mountain country. Another ripple of excitement stirred the community some time in 1862, when, in one of the camps in the vicinity, word was received that in a neighboring gulch a rebel flag had been raised. The gold-seekers in California Gulch, though far removed from the scene of strife, were as deeply interested in the war as those they had left at home. A large number, upon receipt of the news of the breaking-out of the rebellion, had left to join either army, some of the Northern men attaching themselves to the Colorado troops, while others crossed the plains again to join in the contest in the com- pany of their old-time friends. The Southern- ers generally made the best of their way to TexaSi There had been a strong effort made by the Southern residents of Denver to capture the city for the Confederates — an effort that was only frustrated by the vigilance, promptness and courage of the Unionists. When the news reached the gulch, there was the most intense excitement, and had it not been for the receipt of a later message to the effect that the threat- ened secession of Colorado had been prevented, there is little reason for doubting that a bloody struggle would have been inaugurated on our own soil, for 2,000 well-armed men were ready to march from California Gulch to retake the capital and Territorial government, if necessary. The existence of a strong Union sentiment in the gulch, therefore, rendered it impossible for any sentiment of opposition to exist in the vicinity for any great length of time, and when it was learned that an insignificant little camp in the neighborhood had had the hardihood to display the colors of the enemy, the indignation r iL^ HISTORY OE LAKE COUKTY. 215 was intense. The only steps taken, however, were to send word to the obnoxious camp that if they persisted in their folly, they would be extinguished, and it is almost needless to add that this was all that was necessary. On another occasion, a young man from the South, who had rendered himself so particularly obnoxious by his foolhardy and persistent pub- lic justification of the South, and abuse of the North, that he was taken from his cabin and led to an improvised court, where nothing but his youth, and the earnest pleading of himself and his friends, saved him from summary execution. He learned his lesson well, however, and from that time was one of the best citizens of the camp. A number of other instances of lively inter- est might be enumerated, but the scope of this work being limited, and the early inhabitants being in the main transient, and having passed out of the memory of those who remain, the pleasure and profit of such a task must be reluctantly relinquished. While the outer world was absorbed in the great conflict, the work of extracting the gold was steadily followed, each owner of a claim being intent upon working it out as soon as possi- ble, and returning to his home to enjoy the fruits of his good fortune and hard labor. This was not so easy a task as many might imagine. The digging to bed rock, and washing out the sand, in a piece of ground 100 feet wide, and of the average length of 400 feet, with but about six months in the year when it was pos- sible to prosecute sluice-mining, involved a vast amount of labor. The removal of the great granite bowlders and the jagged masses of black, heavy stone, was of itself a task of no small magnitude, and it was not until some time in 1865 that the operators declared that the gulch had been worked out. At that time, there had been taken from the gulch not less than three millions of dollars. Many of the claims had proved enormously rich, one in particular netting its owner $1,000 per lineal foot, measuring up the gulch. A large number of the more fortunate, however, were improvi- dent, and some are to-day poor men, while oth- ers are among the bonanza kings of this State, and still others, satisfied with the good fortune of their early days, have retired from active life, and are enjoying their declining years under their own vines and fig trees in the far East. With the working out of the gulch mines, California Gulch ceased to be of interest to the throngs that had enlivened its banks during the period of its excitement, and in 1866 it was comparatively deserted. There still remained a few people, however, scattered here and there along its borders, and a small settlement at Oro, near the head of the gulch, which had been created during the movement up the ravine, caused by the discovery of richer dig- gings near its head, served as an outfitting point for prospectors and summer tourists. Quite a number of cabins near the lower part of the present site of Leadville served as landmarks of the first great excitement, until the second great boom of the district swept up to their doors the tide of humanity which has swollen into the present city of Leadville. Some of the miners of the early day who had been moder- ately successful, remained in the vicinity of the scenes of their success, because, their wants being simple, they could gratify them at mod- erate cost. Some like to remind themselves of the triumphs of their early days by looking at the monuments of their industrj^ piled up in ragged heaps of bowlders across the gulch. Some had become weaned from civilization. Some had not been satisfied in their pursuit of wealth, and, firm in their belief that the mount- ains around them contained untold wealth to be secured by the man who persisted in search therefor, continued to prospect with varying success. Whatever was the cause of their re- maining, they verified the saying that " The search for gold peoples the waste places of the earth." People whom business or pleasure called to the vicinity, wondered how men and women could live in such a desolate place ; but they were happy and contented, and liere thej' remained to reap the reward of their patient contentment, in the prosperity that followed the grandest discovery of modern times. But there was no Leadville ; Oro was a mere ham- let ; and even the Legislature which formed the count}' of Lake, many of the members of which had operated and made money in the gulch, forgetful or unmindful of the glories of the past, fixed the county seat at Granite. The time had not yet come. 5 ^ ' V^! .iU 216 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. CHAPTER II. THE SECOND START — DISCOVERY OF THE PRINTER BOY MINE. IN the session of 1861, the Territorial Legis- lature established the county of Lake. This was a necessitj', not so much on ac- count of the importance of the eountj-, or its inhabitants, as because of the incon- venience of access. There were no railroads in those days penetrating the recesses of canons, deemed almost inaccessible for pedes- trians, running above the clouds and along the edges of dizzy precipices, and climbing mount- ains, hitherto deemed well-nigh impassable for pack mules. For six months of the year, the district was practically shut in from the world, and, during the remaining six months, the pply means of access were by the various mountain passes leading from the South Park and from Canon City. The people were con- sidered poor, the country barren, and the whole district so worthless that it was hardly worth thinking of, and therefore it was set off by it- self, to take care of itself, and nobody thought any more about it, except, when at long inter- vals, came reports of a conflict between the citizens and horse thieves, or some stor}' of a border vendetta, when the listeners would shrug their shoulders and remark on the char- acter of L^ke Countj' society, and again lapse into forgetfulness of its existence. A promi- nent merchant of Denver once remarked, in speaking of Lieut. Gov. Tabor, whose natne is now known all over the civilized world : " He is an honest man, and will pay his bills when he can ; but what business can he do in Lake County ? There isn't enough business there to keep a cat alive, and in protection to myself I have limited his account to fifty dollars." This was the estimate of Lake County and its people ten years ago. But while the outside world was thus un- mindful of Lake County, there were men living in that despised region — thoughtful, intelligent men — who had an abiding faith in its future greatness. Thej' were unaware, not only of the existence but of the character of carbonates, but they were familiar with the wonderful produc- tion of the gulch, and they argued that the gold which had been found there, must have come from somewhere. Their ponderings led. them to believe in the existence of some vast deposit of the precious metal, which, when by the action of the precious metals the enclosing rocks were decomposed, found its way into the sand, to be washed by the melting snows into the bottoms of the gulches. To find this fount- ain-head of inexhaustible treasure, was, and to many of them still is, the object of their lives, and season after season was spent in the vain effort for its discovery. At last, in 1868, it seemed as if these enthu- siastic explorers were about to attain the real- ization of their hopes. In that year, the Print- er Boy Lode was discovered, and proved to be a mine of most wonderful richness. Great masses of almost pure gold were taken out, and it was supposed that at least one source of the vast mineral wealth of the gulch had been dis- discovered. As a result, prospecting was re- newed with vigor, and several mines, of greater or less importance, were prospected. The Printer Boy, however, was the only one that paid largely, and this was worked, with profit for several years, and until it had attained so great a depth that the water became troublesome, when, owing to the lack of proper machinery, it was temporarily abandoned. It is now again being worked with fair margins of profit. As stated, the discovery of the Printer Boy stimulated prospecting, and to this fact is un- doubtedly due the subsequent discoveries which have given Leadville its world-wide rep- utation. Quite a number of veteran miners visited the locality during the years between 1868 and 1875, and, though they were unable to determine tlie character of the mineral, they were all satisfied that the district presented every characteristic of great mineral wealth. There was no thought of silver in all this pros- pecting. The search was for gold alone, and the main effort was to discover the source of that supply which, during a few years of im- perfect working, had added $3,000,000 to the world's wealth. Men wandered over the hills «<<' s V it^ HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. 217 looking carefully for the blossom-rock, which indicates gold leads, but spurning the rock scattered round in such profusion, which really told the story of the immense treasure hidden in the earth, but told it to eyes unaccustomed to reading between the lines of nature's book. The outcropping of the Rock Mine on Cali- fornia Gulch was examined and tested, but it yielded no gold, and was passed by as worth- less. When an effort was made to develop new placer mines, the heavy red sand was cursed, but no effort mas made to divine the cause of its extraordinary weight. The country then presented a most desolate appearance. Prom the little straggling hamlet of Oro, a row of deserted and dismantled ham- lets stretched along down the gulch as far as Malta, then known by the suggestive name of " Swilltown. " The gulch itself, torn into shallow chasms by the hands of the early miners, with bowlders lying in unsightly heaps, looked like anything but the place of deposit for mineral wealth of any character. Here, also, great, jagged, reddish-black rocks, too hard to have their edges worn away by the ceaseless efforts of Time, excited idle curiosity regarding their great weight, but nothing more. The skilled reader had not yet come to read their secret. But the restless curiosity of man and the eager desire for wealth were still in existence, and the time was rapidly approaching when both were to be gratified. Only time is needed, and all things terrestrial will yield to these master passions of humanity. CHAPTER III. THE SECRET SOLVED— COMMENCEMENT OF THE CARBONATE ERA. THE fame of California Gulch had ex- tended to every part of the country where mining forms one of the industries of the peo- ple. Many whose lives had been spent in the prosecution of mining, had their attention called to and their curiosity excited by the s.tories which had reached them about the operations in the gulch. Among these men was Mr. Stevens, of Detroit. Perfectly familiar with the several methods of hydraulic mining, he carefully compared the stories about those pursued in California Gulch, and arrived at the conclusion that the gulch had not been half worked, and that, with skilled labor and well- directed experience, it could be made to yield a large profit to those who should engage in the task. These views were presented to Mr. Wood, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and, at the earn- est solicitation of his friend, Mr. Wood, decided to join in the venture. Accordingly, in 1875, a co-partnership was formed, and, with ample means at his command, Mr. Stevens came to Colorado. A large tract of placer ground, part of which covers a portion of the present site of the city of Leadville, was purchased, and preparations made to begin active opera- tions. The plan contemplated was to wash over the tailings left by their predecessors, and also to attack the bluff lying on both sides of the gulch. In order to accomplish these ob- jects, a ditch eleven miles long, bringing water from the head-waters of the Arkansas, was constructed at an expense of $50,000. The work of hydraulic mining on a large scale was commenced in the summer of 1875, and from the first was a success ; so much so that, though a very small portion of the banks of the gulch have been washed away, the opera- tions have paid from 20 to 30 per cent per an- num upon the original investment up to the present time. • During the summer of 1875, while prosecut- ing their hydraulic mining, these gentlemen en- countered the same difficulties from the heavy sand and bowlders that had been experienced by the early operators in the gulch. This they were told by the inhabitants was " heavy por- phyry." But Mr. Stevens is one of those men who, when he discovers anything that he does not fully understand, is not satisfied until he has determined its character, and accordingly, after long and patient investigation, he arrived at the conclusion that it was carbonate of lead rich in silver. Tracing up the "fioat," they V liL^ 218 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. found that it had come from the outcropping of the Rock Mine. A location was first made upon this lode, and carefully keeping the secret of their discovery, they devoted an entire j'ear to the careful study of the geology of the adja- cent territory, and particularly of Rock and Iron Hills. During the period of this investigation, Mr. Fred Conant, then connected with the Colorado Springs Gazette, came over into the gulch on business for his paper. He describes the scene as desolate in the extreme. A few cattle grazing in the Arkansas Valley, the workmen employed by Mr. Stevens, and the cluster of cabins at Oro, called a town, through a violent stretch of courtesy, were the only signs of life that he encountered ; while the deserted cabins along the gulch, tumbling in pieces with age and neglect, added an unnamable terror to the scene. All of this section, tendered to him as a gift, he would have rejected with scorn. On his return, glad to get away, he was accom- panied by Mr. Stevens. Pausing upon the apex of a hill from which a commanding view of the country was obtained, Mr. ' Stevens pointed to the district in which the mines are now em- braced, and said, " There will be in a very few years the most wonderful mining district in the world." It is hardly necessary to add that Mr. Conant did not credit the prediction. In the summer of 1876, Messrs. Stevens & Wood, having satisfied themselves as to the trend of the different lodes and the character of the formation, staked out a large number of claims, which recent developments have proved to embrace a large amount of apex, covering several of the most wonderful and permanent of Leadville bonanzas. Early in 1876, Abe Lee, one of the original discoverers of California Gulch, who had been away for several years prospecting in diflerent parts of the mining regions, came back on a prospecting tour. While camping on Long and Derry Hill, he picked up a peculiar piece of blossom rock, and put it in his pocket for future examination. The next morning, while looking after his horse, which had strayed, he met Mr. Long, and handed it to him. Mr. Long, being used to making fire assays, tested the rock, and the consequence was the location of Long and Derry Hill, from which the J. D. Dana Mine commenced shipping ofe in the fall. In the winter, the G-allagher brothers dis- covered the Camp Bird and Charlestown Mines. In the summer of 1877, the Carbonate Mine, after which Carbonate Hill has been named, was discovered by Hallock and Cooper, and almost immediately commenced shipping high- grade ore. Direct!}' following the discovery of the Carbonate Mine were those of the Crescent, Yankee Doodle, Catalpa, Evening Star, Morn- ing Star and many others. But little was done during the winter of 1877, but in the spring of 1878, George Fryer dug a hole on a slight elevation directly north of Carbonate Hill, and, in connection with William Lovell (" Chicken Bill"), struck the New Discovery, and gave his name to one of the most famous localities in the world. Soon after the New Discovery was struck, in the spring of 1878, August Rische and a man named Hook commenced digging a hole on the very apex of Fryer. No one could have selected a more unpromising location for a mine, and no miner would have thought for a moment of sinking a hole at that point. But Rische and Hook were not miners, they were a pair of Pittsburgh shoemakers, who had come into Leadville to try their luck, and were as likelj' to meet it there as elsewhere ; so, disre- garding the taunts and sneers of the men who considered themselves experts, they persevered. They were staked by H. A. W. Tabor, who had by this time removed his store from Oro, and was running the heaviest stock of merchandise in the camp, and taking more chances in mining than any other man in the place. Twice their " grub stake " gave out, and they returned to Tabor for more, and twice the generous mer- chant disregarded the proffered advice of friends, and sent them back to work. The vein struck by Fryer in the New Discovery was supposed to dip to the east, and the most mod- erate calculation of the depth to which Rische and Hook would have to sink, in order to strike the same vein, was 500 feet. But to the sur- prise of the old miners, the mineral was un- covered at the depth of twenty-eight feet ; the work of taking out ore commenced at once, and in less than a month from the time that a shovel was put into the Little Pittsburg claim, it ranked as one of the leading mines of the countrj-. ^ The immediate result of this wonderful strike was to cause claims to be staked out with great rapidity all over Fryer Hill. The chrys- olite and carboniferous began producing largely, -.^ \sM ^ -^ HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. 319 and the Amie Dunkin, Matchless and others began producing, though not largely until more recently. In the winter of 1879, the Robert E. Lee, that most wonderful bonanza of the camp, was found, and commenced its career of aston- ishing results. During the spring of this year, the Morning Star came to the front rank as a producer, and, though making heavy daily ship- ments ever since, shows no signs of exhaustion. The Evening Star followed suit during the fall of the same year, and is still one of the finest working mines in the district. In the same year it was found that the car- bonate contact extended to Little Ella and Breece Hills, northeast of Fryer Hill, and the Little Ella and Highland Chief Mines were thereby discovered, and brought into promi- nence. Other strikes of importance were made in every direction, and the fact demonstrated that the carbonate district was clearly defined as to character and limit. This new mineral that had been rejected by the builders had become the headstone of the corner. What had puzzled not only the miners of the California Gulch, but men of learning and science, had been fully and satisfactorily explained, and the curiosity of mankind, stimulated by the desire for wealth, had accomplished another victory in the interest of the human race. It is proper to say before closing this chap- ter that the honor of being the first to discover the value of the carbonate rocks is not left to Messrs. Stevens and Wood without a contest. A Mr. Dunham, and Maurice Hayes & Brother, both claim to have hit upon the real value of the celebrated black sand, at about the same time that its value was demonstrated by Mr. Ste- vens. There are good reasons for admitting these claims to be truthful^. So curious a sub- stance as this sand, which seemed of equal spe- cific gravity with gold, could not escape inves- tigation very long, except among such men as those who first peopled California Gulch, most of whom were men totally unacquainted with mining, and many of whom had come out with the expectation of finding nuggets on the sur- face. Mr. Hayes is an assayer of ability, and had, no doubt, experimented frequently and carefully with this curious mineral substance. CHAPTER IV. THE BEGINNING OF LEADVILLE— 1877. IN sketching the rise and progress of a city, which springs up like Jonah's gourd, the historian is at a great disadvantage. Events jostle each other with such rapidity, and new features crowd upon the mind in such close proximity to each other, that the view pre- sented is not a consecutive procession of events, but the brilliant figures of a gorgeous dream, mixed up in inextricable confusion. To sift these out and array them in their proper order is a task of no small magnitude, especially as in the earlier days of the city the records kept were of so imperfect a character. The only thing attempted, therefore, will be to give con- cisely the growth and character of the city in each year of its existence, with as nearly as possible the advancements in business and im- •provements made in each, and the striking events of each period in the city's history. Events of the more important character will be treated separately. Although the discoveries of Messrs. Stevens and Wood were put in proper shape, and the Dana Mine, owned by Long & Derry, com- menced shipping ore in 1876, there was no movement looking to the establishment even of a mining camp until the spring of 1877. Then the workmen employed by Long & Derry, and Stevens & Wood formed a nucleus which gathered along the banks of California Gulch much as had been done seventeen years before. The old cabins that had been spared by the hand of time were refitted,, and by July had become so thronged that a new house was a necessity, and was erected on Lower Chestnut street, near the intersection of Leiter avenue. Prom this time on, the population increased with extraordinary rapidity. It was now re- garded as a new mining center, and though there were, in the fall of 1877, but five mines in active operation, the character of the district had been siiffleiently well established to give the iH^ 220 HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. best of evidence of its permanent and wealthy character. In the fall of 1877, there were per- haps a thousand people in the new camp, most of whom had come from the neighboring min- ing districts, to investigate for themselves the character of this new mineral, which by this time was being eagerly discussed all over the country. As previously stated, when California Gulch was finally abandoned, most of the population who remained went up to Oro and made that place a sort of wintering point and the place for outfitting for the summer prospecting tour. Others had taken up ranches in the valley, built themselves cabins, and with a few cattle and pigs, and the sale of a scanty crop of fine hay, with the results of their hunting and fishing expeditions, had managed to get along verj- contentedly, and in some cases had even become moderately " well fixed " in the vernac- ular of the mountains. These people now com- menced to swell the throng of men that crowded the one narrow street extending along the gulch. The residents of Oro found their glor3' departing, and besides were in demand among the new- comers on account of their superior knowledge of the locality. The ranchmen found their scanty supplies in demand to feed the teams, which by this time had become an important item in the economy of the new camp. Mr. Tabor had, at the opening of the carbonate ex- citement, two stores — one at Oro, and one at Malta. The latter was opened in order to se- cure the custom, resulting from the establish- ment of the first smelter of the district in 1875. Population naturally drifts to the most available points for all purposes, and the fact that it had passed by Malta at the foot, and de- clined to go to Oro, at the head, of California Gulch, convinced Mr. Tabor that the point for business was at the present site of Lead- ville. Accordingly, with the shrewdness which has characterized all of his business measures, he consolidated his two stores and removed to Leadville, taking with him the post oflSce. Mr. Charles Mater, for many years the main store- keeper af^the county seat, Granite, had pre- ceded Mr. Tabor in the removal of his store by a short time. This enterprising merchant, who had, as he himself said, in the first days of his residence in Lake County, been frequentlj' com- pelled to take his gun and spend day after day tramping through the mountain snows in search for game to keep his wife and children from starv- ing to death, was already a brilliant example of the energy and character of the Western pio- neer. His removal, followed so soon by that of Mr. Tabor, was a strong indication of his faith in the destinj' of the new camp, and the example was followed by a large number of tradesmen and business men, who had eked out a precarious existence in the neighboring mountain towns, and could not aflford to neglect the opportunities of fortune held out to them by the new discoveries. In this way was formed the nucleus of what," within two years, was to be the most active city in America, and before the close of 1877, almost every branch of trade necessary to the wants of the people was represented. Prices were high it is true, but this made no difference, for when anything was wanted, it was wanted so badly that the price was a matter of secondary consideration. Until the removal of the post oflBce, Mr. Mater's store was the headquarters for the camp. The mail was distributed therefrom, and it became by common consent the general exchange mart of the town, where bargains were made for the exchange of mining property and the general business of the people trans- acted. Toward the fall of 1877 those keen-scented followers of prosperity, the gamblers, began to make their appearance in Leadville, and during the winter reaped a rich harvest from the mot- ley throng which nightly gathered into the popular places of resort. They were closely followed by the prostitutes and confidence men, and, before winter had passed, many of the institutions of vice so common in mining camps and frontier towns, were in full blast and had gained all the prestige which they are only now beginning to lose. And still there was no very large amount of money in circulation. The people who had come in were in the main poor — composed of miners and others, mostly from this State, who had been attracted to the locality by the desire for employment at high rates of wages, or in hope of advancing their fortunes by a lucky find. The men of means from Denver and other prominent points in the State who had spent the summer in the camp looking for opportunities of investment had gone home for the winter, and the flood of Eastern capitalists had not yet commenced. The hills were cov- "«?' a i) ly^ ^ '^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. ■i23 ered with snow to the depth of three or four feet, and the only signs of life were in the long street, lined with cabins, saloons, gam- bling-halls and stores, and in the few mines which were/Cnabled to keep up work during the winter months. To a casual observer there was nothing to indicate the future greatness of the city, and a gehtleman who, as early as I860, had laid the foundations of his fortunes in Cali- fornia Gulch, and who came up with a view of establishing a branch of his Denver house, re- turned in disgust, declining to risk his capital in so unpromising a localitj'. It is a remarkable fact that during 1877 Leadville was better known in the Eastern States than in Denver. A large number of capitalists had been here in 1 876 looking at the placers taken up by Stevens & Wood, and at the Rock Mine, had returned very favorably im- pressed with the prospect and were ready to invest at any time when it could be shown to their satisfaction that returns were reasonably probable. Mr. Stevens was in the East most of the time after the location of the Rock Lode, and through his abiding faith in the future of the district and his intimate associations with men of means, had succeeded in awakening a lively interest in the locality. The shipments of the Rock Mine to St. Louis, and the working of the other mines which commenced producing in the spring of 1877, had attracted the atten- tion of eminent metallurgists in different parts of the country, and during the fall and winter of 1877, quite a number were quietly looking up locations for the erection of works in the following y^ar. Denver had no faith in the new district. Her capital was largely locked up in unprofitable real estate, and the charac- ter of the mines previously discovered in the State were such as to induce Jbut little faith in a district in which the conditions were so en- tirely different from anything yet experienced. There were some exceptions to this rule — notably that of the owners of the Morning Star, who from the first discoveries were firm in their faith in the ultimate outcome of the district, and proved their faith by keeping up work under discouraging circumstances, and amid the sneers of their friends to the verge of financial ruin. The year 1877 was but the preface to the coming story — the year of preparation in which the foundations were laid for that wonderful career which has not yet ceased to astonish the world, and which for many years to come will continue to be the source of wondering com- ment. With its close Leadville had fairly en- tered upon her mission. CHAPTER V. THE STORY OF 1878— THE FIRST BOOM. THE spring of 1878 opened out auspiciously for the camp. With the opening of the roads, machinery by the car load began to arrive in Denver, and the people of Denver began to realize that they had suffered an almost inex- haustible source of wealth to lie unnoticed at their very doors, until Eastern capital had come in to seize the advantages offered. The South Park road, then completed as far as Dean's, suddenly found its facilities 'entirely inadequate for the transportation of the freight demanding carriage ; the forwarding houses at the end of the track were unable to handle the immense quantities of merchandise and machin- ery forced upon them by the railroad, and goods were piled up in the most reckless confusion around the tents and shanties which formed the offices for the forwarding of freight. Every team that was available for freighting purposes was pressed into the service, and at almost all of the more prominent business houses in Den- ver, the sign, " Freight for Leadville," was a fixt- ure. Freighters demanded, and obtained, their own rates ; 4, 5, 6, and even 10 cents a pound, were not infrequently paid for wagon freight from Denver, and one instance is recorded, in which 25 cents per pound was paid for a wagon load of liquor, then an absolute necessity — so considered — in the new camp. The little railroad, working its way up the mountains, increased its facilities as fast as locomotives and cars could be constructed, but V ikv 224 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. could not keep pace with the demands, and the struggle between anxious shippers for cars was amusing to all except those directly interested. Every train from the East came in loaded with capitalists, mechanics, miners, laborers and adventurers, all going to swell the grand aggre- gation of humanity gathering in the mountains around the bonanzas of wealth which had been so suddenly uncovered. Men found themselves in Denver without a cent, and, undaunted by the difficulties of a tramp over the mountains, pressed onward on foot, getting food as they best could, until the road, which but a year be- fore had been almost desolate in its loneliness, was lined with a straggling stream of humanity, with their faces set toward the new El Dorado, and the summer campers along the Platte were pestered beyond endurance with the importu- nities of hungry tramps. Early in the year, the G-allagher brothers, who had been working at the Homestake Mine in 1876, and had gone prospecting in the win- ter because they could not bear the enforced idleness of the winter season, and had discov- ered the Camp Bird and Charlestown, sold their claims to the St. Louis Company for $300,000, $250,000 of which was paid them in a single check from a Denver bank. The remarkable sale was, of course, bruited abroad in the news- papers, and the rush was doubled by the news. Early in the spring, a party of gentlemen who had come from Georgetown for the pur- pose of starting a reduction works, were riding along Stray Horse Gulch, when Mr. Stevens, who was with them, pointed to the apex of Fryer Hill, and said that there would be a good place to dig. The gentlemen were all old miners, and failed to see any indications justi- iying the remark ; and yet, but a short time afterward, the spot indicated became famous as the Little Pittsburg Mine. And such are the inconsistencies of human nature ! Only a few months before, Mr. Stevens, in writing to one of the gentlemen composing the party, who at that time was in his employ, advised him strongly not to invest his money in any of the new pros- pects, unless he could sell it, as the ore was of such low grade that it would not pay to work. In Leadville, there was not sleeping accom- modations for those who thronged into the camp. For the privilege of lying on a dirty mattress, laid upon the floor of a boarding-tent. with a suspicious-looking blanket for a cover, and the chances of proximity to a thief or a desperado, those who could aflFord it paid a dol- lar. Those of a lower financial grade were glad to get accommodations in the dirty^sawdust on the floor of a saloon or gambling-hall. In every direction the sound of the saw and ham- mer was incessant. Night and' day men were employed, at enormous wages, to erect shelters for those who daily thronged into the camp. One street — Chestnut — over a mile long, com- prised the town, and along this street were packed, before the end of the summer, not fewer than 6,000 men. From daylight till the return of daylight again, the street was thronged with pedestrians and freighting teams, the latter sometimes blocking it for its entire length, which occasions were notable for the ingenious oaths of the teamsters, and the pistol-like cracks of their bull-whips. Then came the location of the New Discovery and the Little Pittsburg as already related, and men went fairly crazy with excitement. Every- thing was at high pressure, and every man with money enough to buy a pick and shovel, or who could "grub-stake" a prospector, was en- gaged in mining. Nothing was talked of or thought of but mines, and any prospect hole showing the slightest indication of mineral was held at the most extravagant figure. A mine that was worth less than a million was not con- sidered of any great importance, and few men had the courage or good sense to accept less than $10,000 for claims with nothing more than a ten-foot hole of development. The latter part of the year witnessed the de- velopment of a number of the properties discov- ered the previous year. The principal proper- ties had uncovered enormous blocks of ore and were shipping thousands of dollars daily, for which ready cash was received at the mills. The sale of the Camp Bird had attracted hun- dreds of capitalists and speculators who were willing to pay almost anything for property in good locations. Early in the summer, Mr. Hook, one of the discoverers of the Little Pittburg sold his inter- est to his partners, Messrs. Tabor and Kische, for $140,000, and returned to his old home in the Bast to enjoy the fruits of his good fortune. This stroke of good luck by which in a few months Mr. Hook became lifted up from poverty into the possession of $200,000, was followed :v J^ l^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 235 by the transactions in the Vulture claim on Fryer Hill, which in the course of a few weeks passed from a value of $450 to a purchasing price of over $60,000, meantime passing through the hands of several parties until it became a part of the Chrysolite Mining Com- pany's property, and produced in a short time $250,000, at a net cost including machinery, operation and purchase money, of but a trifle over $100,000. These transactions only served to intensify the excitement and increase the daily immigration, and, as a result, before the summer ended, the town as then constituted was packed in every part and a new street had been located to the north of Chestnut, and, al- most as soon as located, filled up with houses crammed with humanity. With the extraordinary transactions in min- ing property increasing daily, the establishment of banking facilities became necessary, and accordingly in May, the Bank of Lake County was established and immediately 'commenced doing an enormous business. In October, the Bank of Leadville came into the field, and signalized its advent by the erection of a two- story brick building, the first erected in the city. The Miners' Exchange Bank came into existence the same year. Real estate, that certain indicator of the prosperity of a town, took an unprecedented ad- vance. In the spring of the year, lots could have been secured in some localities for the taking, and in the best places for the nominal price of $25. The rush had hardly commenced however, before they began to rise in value, sometimes jumping at the rate of a hundred dollars a day under the stimulus of competi- tive bids. A gentleman made a bargain by letter for a lot on Chestnut street for $1,000, but before he could reach Leadville from Den- ver to complete the purchase, the holder de- manded an advance of $200 and was not par- ticular whether he sold or not. The would-be purchaser declined indignantly, but before a week had passed acceded to the demand, but was coolly informed that the price had been ad- vanced to $1,500. Disgusted with what he considered rapaciousness, the gentlemen re- turned to Denver. In less than a month the lot was sold for $1,800, and the following spring the gentleman returned and purchased a lot for $600 at a point which the year before had been half a mile from the business center, and which turned out to be one of the best business localities in the city. As a natural consequence of the sudden gathering of thousands of human beings of all grades of society and every habit of life, crime was rampant. The streets were thronged with confidence men of every grade — from the sleek, oily-tongued operator in mining proper- ties having an existence only in the imagina- tion, to the degraded robber whose only hope of a livelihood lay in the skill with which he could gull an unsuspecting innocent to invest in three-card monte, the " top and bottom " game and the " envelope racket. " The streets and alleys, which had come into being with the growth of the town, were the hiding-places of desperadoes, who waited patiently for the coming of their victims, whom a blow from a bludgeon would put in a condition to be quietly robbed. Murders were of frequent occurrence, though, as a rule, they were the result of quar- rels and sudden passion rather than of deliber- ate intent. The foot-pad plied his dangerous calling at all points outside of the principal throughfares, and dajice-halls and low variety shows held out the allurements of vice and crime, and had their enterprise rewarded with throngs of the thoughtless, the vicious, or the willfully criminal on the look-out for victims. The extraordinary influx of population during 1877, and the certainty of an enormous increase during the year, induced the principal citizens of the camp to consider the propriety of a town incorporation, and, accordingly, on the 18th of January, a mass-meeting of eight- een citizens met at the common rendezvous — the store of Charles Mater, Esq. — and, after an animated debate, selected the name of "'Lead- ville, " and petitioned the G-overnor for the in- corporation of the town. The proclamation of the Governor ordering an election was issued on the 26th of the same month, and, on the sec- ond Tuesdaj- of ]?ebruary, the town was formally inaugurated by the election of its first Mayor and Town Board, to hold office until the regu- lar election in April. The most striking incident of the year was the murder of the Town Marshal, George O'Connor, by a police officer. The murder was the result of a feud between the two men, but was deliberate and cold-blooded. The Marshal was in a saloon filled with men, and his assail- ant (Bloodsworth) made his way through the ^. D ^ ^f tht. 226 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. throng to within a short distance of the Mar- shal, shot him dead, immediately turned, passed through the crowd to the door, and, mounting his horse, rode away, and was never again seen. Early in May, a number of far-seeing busi- ness men, satisfied that the growth of the city would far exceed its then limits, petitioned the Council for the opening of Harrison avenue, and laid the foundation for the main avenue of the city. The difficulty of procuring water for domes- tic purposes was so great, that in the early part of June, the business men along Chestnut street united in laying a two-inch pipe from the Starr Ditch along the line of the sidewalk of Chestnut street, a stand-pipe supplying each subscriber The rapidity with which the town increased in size, and the character of the buildings, many of which were frames, constructed of native lumber, and perfect tinder-boxes, led, in the summer, to the consideration of the pro- priety of organization of a fire department. The first meeting on the subject was held oh the 20th of June, and" it is characteristic of the energy which characterized all movements in the bustling camp, that on the 25th of June the Harrison Hook and Ladder Co., named out of compliment to Mr. Edwin Harrison, who had ordered the truck, was fully organized and ready for duty. In October, the still farther extension of the town limits, and the great danger liable to re- sult from Are, suggested the propriety of a system of water- works, and, accordingly, on the 26th of that month, at an election called for the purpose, it was decided to issue bonds in aid of such an enterprise. The work was commenced at once, and, before the opening of the spring, work had progressed very far to- ward the accomplishment of the design. On December 24, by resolution of the Town Board, a census was ordered. The result of the census was to show a population of 5,040 souls, comprising nearly every nationality of the Caucasian race. The first smelter in the district was that at Malta, which was erected in 1875, for the pur- pose of treating the ores from the Homestake Mine, and from some small deposits of car- bonates found in Iowa Gulch. The lack of ore, however, proved a serious drawback to their successful operation, and, therefore, it is to 1878 that we must look for the establish- ment of adequate smelting facilities in the city. In 1877, the Harrison Reduction Works com- menced operations, but it was not until the spring of 1878 that they were in full blast. Another furnace was added during the year, the total capacity of the works being thirty tons daily. In October, 1878, J. B. Grant & Co. started up their works, with one furnace. Besides these, the sampling works of August E,. Meyer commenced in 1877, and those of Eddy & James, commenced in 1878, added to the business of the camp during the year. Prom this brief resume of the business of the year, it will be seen that, from a mere ag- gregation of a thousand men, without homes, local laws or organization, in the beginning of the year, the close of 1878 saw a town of more than five thousand people — an organized gov- ernment, with police force, fire department, water-works, two more smelting furnaces, and a rapidly-extending town, in place of the strag- gling dwellings clinging close to the banks of the gulch. Everything was in order for the coming boom of the following year. ^ir. X ^ •vT' ^ « > HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 227 ^kv CHAPTER VI. THE RECORD OF 1879 — THE YEAR OF THE BOOM. THERE was but little cessation in the tide of travel during the winter of 1878, and therefore it was that with a view to the perfec- tion of the powers of government, and the enlargement of their sphere of authority, the Town Boardj^on the 25th of February, 1879, petitioned the Governor to issue his proclama- tion declaring Leadville a city of the first class. This was done, and at an election on the first day of April the first Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city were elected. The first work done by the new City Council was to put the city in a good condition. Since the acceptance of Harrison avenue by the city that thoroughfare had grown rapidly, and early in the spring a number of preten- tious structures were in course of erection for two blocks north of Chestnut street. The sage-brush had been cleared oflf during the fall, and the owners of lots had, with few excep- tions, commenced their improvement. The handsome avenue of to-day bears a verj^ slight resemblance to the new street of 1879. Then the two blocks mentioned were built up, but at almost every other lot there was a tent or an unsightly frame shanty. Several log shanties owned and occupied by men who had erected them before Harrison avenue had been con- ceived of stood in the middle of the street. Bej'ond the present site of the Tabor Opera House, but one house stood on the east side, and but two or three on the west side of the street. The Clarendon Hotel, constructed during the winter, and opened for business on the 10th of April, was built so far away from the main street (Chestnut) that there were not wanting those who predicted the utter failure of the enterprise. But before the middle of the year the results proved the wisdom of the location. Recognizing the expansion of the town that was certain to take place, the poun- cil found its hands full in making preparations therefor. It went to work with energj^, how- ever, and during the year streets were graded, three of the most important paved with fiag, alleys and streets opened, and an amount of work done by an inexperienced Board of Aldermen that would have been marvelous in • any other city in the country. The boom had fairly commenced now, and, notwithstanding the increased accommodations, hotels having multiplied wonderfully, it was al- most impossible to secure decent sleeping apartments, and every saloon, private house, oflace and even stable was drawn upon to fur- nish shelter for the throngs which poured into the city daily. Four lines of Concord coaches, each coach capable of bringing from eighteen to twenty passengers, and each line having from two to four coaches going each way daily, ran between the cars and the city. The railroad on the 1st of May had reached Webster, at the foot of Kenosha Hill, and was making preparations for that magnificent piece of railroad engineering which was to transfer the track over the divide between the Platte and the South Park. Another line of coaches ran between Cafion City and Leadville, and in- numerable private hacks solicited successfully among the passengers who left the cars on either line. By May 1, not fewer than 8,000 people were located in the city. By the 1st of July the number had swelled to 10,000, and by the 1st of October to 12,000, while at the close of the year it was estimated by the most care- ful observers that the population had increased to from 15,000 to 18,000. The streets in the evening, when the army of miners, speculators and capitalists had returned from the hills, were crowded from curb to curb. Pedestrians desiring to reach any given point expeditiously chose the middle of the street in preference to the sidewalk, taking their chances of being run over bj- the dashing horsemen and coaches which whirled over the smooth tracks at any hour of the day or night. The real estate fever was at its height. Lots which but a few months or weeks before had been sold for a few hundred dollars now com- manded as many thousands. Substantial brick structures were going up in every direction, and the whole city seemed to be thoroughly imbued ^^c 5 '*y ^1 i±. 228 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. with the spirit of iraprovement. For a mile north of Chestnut street the land was staked off into building lots by speculators who were anxious to make what they could by claiming proprietary interests in Government land. Large buildings were erected from the timber which had been cut from the lots upon which they stood, and there seemed to be no limit to the expansion of the city in certain directions. With the era of the real estate boom came the evils of lot jumping and the consequent loss of life in several instances, which will be treated of under a separate heading. The lobbies of the principal hotels in the evenings presented a most animated appearance. Men stood packed to discomfort discussing the events of the day, the latest strike, or the latest mill run, and speculating upon the probabilit'ies of the properties in which they were interested. The land office had been removed from Fairplay in the previous year, and found all it could do with a large force of clerks to attend to the demands of the people. No one seemed to have a moment to rest, all being actuated by the overpowering desire for suddenly acquired wealth. In the mines the greatest activit}' prevailed. All of the mines discovered in the previous year were shipping to their fullest capacity, and new strikes and the discover}- of new loca- tions were of daily occurrence. In the early part of the year the Highland Chief on Breece Hill and the Little Ella in the same locality opened up large bodies of ore, The Morning Star struck an immense body of ore, and was speedily followed by the Evening Star. Ore was also found in large bodies in the Amie, Dunkin, Matchless and Iron Mines, though these did not commence shipping in large quantities until the following year. In June, the question of a second contact which had been scouted by many old miners was definitely settled by the strike in the Pendery Mine. Located at the foot of Carbonate, actually in the edge of the city, and 150 feet below the mines then operating on the first contact, the shaft reached at the depth of 190 feet a rich deposit of carbonates, pitching into the hill kt an angle which would bring it ,1,000 feet below the workings of the mines on the brow of the hill. This strike was of the greater importance in that it practically doubled the resources of the camp, and when Judge Pendery, the fortunate discoverer, in pardonable pride rode down the hill to the smelter on his first load of ore, he was the recipient of the heartiest congratula- tions. The most important strike of the year, how- ever, was of the Robert E. Lee. The ore body was uncovered late in the year, but the ore was of such wonderful richness that it took the front rank as a producer from the start, a posi- tion that it still maintains. This mine during the first months of its location, was actually hawked about without being able to find a pur- chaser. At one time it was offered for $1,500. Soon afterward, when it began to look a little better, a third interest was offered 'for the same price and refused. Shortly afterward it was again offered at a somewhat larger figure, and then it dropped out of sight until the camp was astonished by the report that the mine had reached the most remarkable body of chlorides ever struck in the camp. The mine paid large- ly from the start though it was not until the following year that it began to show its full capacity as a bonanza of the first water. What gave the mine a peculiar value was the fact as developed by further workings, that the mass of ore was no mere pocket but a continuous crevice or fissure showing the same character- istics throughout. Very soon after the ore body was uncovered, in January, 1880, more than $118,000 was taken out within twenty- four hours at an expense of less than $300, and had it not been for the breaking of the machin- ery, causing a stoppage of nearly seten hours, it is probable that notless than $150,000 would have been the result of a single day's opera- tions. The receipts for the month of January, 1880, were more than $300,000, and during the year over $1,000,000 were divided among the stockholders. The most remarkable fact of the year, aside from the one absorbing topic, were the constant and rapid increase of crime. The camp was literally flowing with money. It is doubtful if there ever was so much aggregated capital rep- resented by the same number of people. Men came to the camp with a few hundreds or a few thousands, for the purpose of turning it over rapidly, " making their pile," and returning to their homes in the East. Many succeeded; more failed. Many of these were young men, with their habits of life not yet fixed. These, captivated by the novel allurements of open, undisguised vice. rr !^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 329 fell by the wayside, and formed associations and habits which led them to ruin. G-ambling, wine and women proved the ruin of many a worthy character. Following in the wake of the wealth Which daily poured into the camp, were men whose trades were theft and robbery. To drug a victim, cooly rifle his pockets of every article of value, and throw him into the streets to be arrested for drunkenness, was among the most common methods of the thugs who infested the saloons and variety theaters. The dance-houses, from which floated alluring strains of music, were thronged, and, attracted by the glare of lights and the novelty of the scene, many a novice with more money than brains wandered in. If, in a moment of reckless abandon in- spired b}' the miserable liquor sold at such pla- ces, he exhibited a roll of bills, he was almost sure to be spotted, and followed by one or more of the desperadoes who infested the place; and the chances were that in the morning he would wake up in the hospital, or in some back alley, with bleeding head, and minus everything upon his person that could by any possibility be turned into money. Foot-pads were to be found lurking in every corner, lying in wait for belated business men or wealthy debauchees on their way home; The ominous command, " Hold up j'our hands," accompanied by the click of a pistol, was heard almost nightly, and the newspaper reporter who failed to secure one or more " hold-ups" dur- ing his daily rounds, felt that he had failed in one of the duties of his position. Men were robbed within the shadows of their own doors; stripped of their valuables in their own bed-cham- bers, whither they had been followed by daring criminals ; and no part of the city was so well guarded as to be safe from the attempts of the rogues whom success had emboldened. Men whose duties compelled them to be out late at night, walked with naked pistols in their hands, and not infrequently with a second in reserve, taking the middle of the streets to avoid being ambushed from dark corners. Every object, the exact nature of which was unknown, was critically scrutinized, and when two men chanced to meet, a wide berth was given by each. No man who could help it went out after dark alone. When men connected with the mines were caught in town at night, they either stopped at a hotel or went to their quarters in squads for mutual protection. One young man, a confidential employe of a prominent company, in a fit of drunken bravado, exhibited a large roll of bills in one of the variety theaters. A few minutes afterward he started for his room : on turning the first corner, in a crowded thor- oughfare, with the light from saloons making the locality as light as day, he received a blow from a bludgeon, and two hours later awoke to consciousness, lying in the gutter in which he had fallen, and discovered that his gold watch and a thousand dollars of his own and the company's money had been taken from him. The next day he was sent to his Eastern home in disgrace. A gentleman who had been visit- ing a sick friend in a loealit}' within a short distance of Harrison avenue, left the house, only to return in a few minutes with the as- tounding intelligence that he had been held up and robbed within ten yards of the door. An- other gentleman left a well-known saloon to go to his room but a short distance away, and was robbed before half the distance had been ac- complished, though he was armed at the time. It seemed as if the city was given up to the criminal classes, and the authorities were pow- erless to prevent it. The charge was frequently made that the police were in league with the robbers, and many circumstances seemed to give the charge color. Another form of lawlessness was " lot-jump- ing." Taking advantage of the disputes be- tween the holders of the placer patents and those claiming title under squatter rights, reck- less men would take every opportunity to seize and hold property in defiance of both titles. Collisions between these desperadoes and the owners of property were frequent, but though sometimes defeated in their schemes, they were frequently successful, being backed by un- scrupulous real estate dealers, and having at hand men ready to swear to anything in cases of arrest. In some instances, houses in process of erection were deliberately torn down by gangs of armed men, the workmen being driven ofl', the lumber pitched into the streets, other lumber brought to the ground and a building erected in which the thieves, armed to the teeth held possession of the stolen lot. In one in- stance, a gang of lot-jumpers broke open a door in the middle of the night, drove the owner in- to the streets and held possession of the house and all its contents. In another instance a house was surrounded at midnight and a volley of pistol and rifle bullets poured into it. The . '3 ^ A. ■^ 230 HISTOEY or LAKE COUNTY. next morning one of the inmates of the house brought a rifle bullet to the Herald office which had passed through the walls of the house and within a few inches of his head as he lay in bed. The bullet was afterward left .with the Mayor as a souvenir of the days of law- lessness. Mine-jumping was also of frequent occur- rence, but usually there was a shadow of a con- flicting claim on the side of the jumpers, and though some lives were lost in these contests over mines, the title were finally settled in the courts or by compromise. The miners were not the class of men that offered any special in- ducements to desperadoes without some claim to back them, and the men who would not hesi- tate to drive an unarmed man from a town lot at the muzzle of a pistol, would as soon have put their necks in a halter as to attempt the taking of a mine in the same way, for the association of miners and prospectors was composed of men who knew their rights and were not to be trifled with. These acts of lawlessness and crime aroused the citizens to a pitch of desperation, and for months threats were freely indulged by law- abiding citizens, that the first foot-pad caught would be summarily dealt with, law or no law, and that lot-jumping would be an unhealthy proceeding if persisted in. The newspapers knowing the temper of the community, began to warn the foot-pads, bunko-steerers and lot- jumpers that they were stretching the public patience to the limit of endurance, and that an outraged public sentiment was on the point of avenging itself G-rown insolent by success, however, the crimes continued, some of the bolder spirits snapping their fingers in the face of public opinion. At last, however, in Novem- ber, the blow came, and the hanging of a foot- pad and a lot-jumper, which will be fully treat- ed in another chapter, gave the first check to the era of crime. From that moment Leadville began to settle down into the quiet, orderly city that it is to-day. In the number and character of its buildings, Leadville made a most important stride during the year. At the opening of the year, Harrison avenue was a waste of sage brush. At its close it had four solid blocks of business houses, many of them structures that would do credit to cities of four times the size. The First National Bank erected a handsome stone building on the corner of Harrison avenue and Chestnut streets early in the year, setting an example which was speedily followed, and the city be- gan to assume metropolitan airs in the number and character of her buildings, as well as in the throngs of people that crowded the streets. The Clarendon Hotel was opened for business in April, and was speedily followed by the com- mencement of the Tabor Opera House. The opera house was thrown open to the public in the latter part of the year. A building of this character substantially built, with a seating capacity of more than 800, with comfortable chairs, two handsome stores beneath and all the appliances of a modern theater in a citj' only two years old was something of which the people were justly proud. In residence prop- erty there was the greatest activity'. The families of the miners and business men had commenced to arrive, and in every direction throughout the year the busy notes of prepara- tion for their coming was heard. On the first of January, 1880, the city for four blocks on each side of Harrison avenue, and ten blocks north from Chestnut street was well and solid- ly built, while the flats to the north of Capital Hill were covered with claim shanties, Harrison avenue itself being lined with comfortable dwellings and stores for a distance of nearly a mile. Leadville had ceased to be a mining camp and was a city with all that the name im- plies. •^ a •> "^ WfTfAifi't: M <5 l^ fjA HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 233 CHAPTER VII. LEADVILLE IN 1880— SETTLING DOWN. THE year 1880 opened with Leadville in full feather as the mining town, par ex- cellence, of the country. During the winter the boom continued without interruption. The approach of the railroad made the journey not nearly so much of an undertaking as it had been considered, and the coaches ran without interruption, and in as great numbers as ever, between the end of the trafck and the city, not- withstanding the shortened distance. All win- ter long prospecting was continued in spite of the snow, and everybody looked forward to the opening of spring as the time when the great- est boom might be expected. The building mania still continued, and night and day the dull boom of giant cartridges used in blasting the deeply frozen earth for excavations, were heard on all sides. Business of all kinds flourished and throve, and everything betokened a season of unexampled prosperity. There were some, however, who did not rely upon the indications, and quietly made preparations for the settling down which they felt sure would take place. The output of the camp from its foundation made a most glorious record, but there was nothing in it to justify the expecta- tion that the high pressure rate of speed that had been maintained for two 3'ears would be kept up indefinitely, and the event proved the correctness of the position assumed by the more prudent. The early months of the year gave no indi- cations of the blows that were to fall so heavily, and the most extensive preparations were made for a vigorous campaign as soon as the snow should disappear from the hills. Many of the plans made were carried out, and those who had the courage to go on, in most instances found their reward, for whatever may be thought of Leadville as a basis for Wall street stock operations, the mines are there and have not yet been developed to their full capacity. It is not the intention of this history to criticise the methods of mine management, by which the first serious blow was given to the interests of Leadville, but it is proper to deal with facts, plainly : Early in February, rumors began to circulate in regard to the Little Pitts- burg Mine. It was said that the mine was a mere shell ; that the ore reserves were exhaust- ed, and that the property of the company was nothing more than so many acres of barren ground. At first these reports were received with incredulity. Mr. Wilson, the manager, had recently made a report, in which it was stated that the mine was certain to be a large producer. Prof Raymond had expressed the same opinion, and as the territory of the companj' had been only skimmed, as it were, there was every reason to believe that these opinions were based upon facts. There were at the time, however, conservative, honorable business men, who were aware of the actual state of afiairs, who maintained that the rumors were dangerously near the truth, as the near future would show. The stock of the mine steadily declined in price, and in the course of a few weeks dropped from $35 to $6 per share, and finally concealment being no longer possi- ble, and there being no hope that the mine would again recover its lost position, the local papers were compelled to come out plainly and severely criticise the methods which had made so disastrous a break possible. The immediate results of this misfortune were to cause a sudden decline in all Leadville stocks, to chill the advances of capital, and to check the spirit of mining enterprise which had taken possession of the people, who lived and believed in Leadville as a profitable field of legitimate investment. It was evident that the " boom " of Leadville was over, and the prudent immediately began to realize as closely as pos- sible upon all interests not necessary to their legitimate business. Of course, this dispo- sition caused a decline in every direction, and on every side was heard the despairing cry that Leadville was gone. And yet Leadville still remained, and has to-day a legitimate population greater than at the time of this so- called collapse, and has a permanent footing Tf^ A ^ ihL^ 234 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. on a basis that even another Little Pittsburg break would find it impossible to shake. The indignation felt at the management which had caused this catastrophe was intense, and at the time, expressions of opinion were given which were, in many respects, unjust. At this time, when the affair can be viewed coolly in the light of the past, the indignation has somewhat cooled down, for it has been shown that the causes which led to these troubles were insufficient to permanently affect the prosperity of the camp. The Little Pittsburg collapse was the re- sult of several causes. Old miners, while mar- veling at the wonderful results of its operations, shook their heads. They had always main- tained that the deposits on Fryer Hill were not of a character to insure permanency. Whether right or wrong, it is not for us to say, but the point made by them was, that the character of these deposits made it more than ever necessary that a thorough system of advance explorations should be maintained, a judgment that the subsequent history of the mine has fully sus- tained. Then, again, men were put in charge of the property who had no idea whatever of the proper methods of mining. The wonderful success of Mr. Tabor during his ownership set the stockholders wild, and the men in charge supposed that they had nothing to do but shovel out the ore so long as any remained in sight, without any preparations for the future — a mistake in all mining operations. The mine that should have been stocked for two millions was stocked at twenty, and in order to pay the dividends on this enormous capitaliza- tion demanded by insatiate stockholders, the production of the mine was forced, and no time or means left for the necessary explorations of the undeveloped ground. In so far the mana- gers of the mine are not to blame. That they were ignorant of the first principles of mining was the fault of the men by whom they were appointed; In ten months the mine was made to pay dividends amounting to $1,000,000, with an extra dividend of $50,000, and at the end of that time, the stockholders had a hole in the ground, with a large amount of unde- veloped territory, and scarcely anything in the treasury with which to pursue the explorations which had to be made if the stockholders did not see fit to abandon the mine. We cannot forbear the comparison of this system with that which has characterized the operation of the Evening Star, which is now a mine with large reserves of ore in sight, which are con- stantly being increased, and is paying a regular monthly dividend of $50,000 upon a moderate capital, and has no stock upon the market. Leadville had hardly recovered from this blow, when it received another in the great strike of the miners, which was of sufficient importance in its results, and in the scenes accompanying it, to merit a chapter by itself The following of one blow so quickly upon the heels of another caused men to stop and con- sider as to whether, if these things were to continue, there would be any hope of profitable business in the city, and the result was a sea- son of business depression which seriously impaired the material interests of the city. It was useless to argue that the great mines, upon which Leadville depended in the main, were still in existence, and that the exercise of ordi- nary prudence would cause everything to come out all right in time. The sharp contrast between the business of the previous year, and the dull season consequent upon these blows, which would have killed any town with less vitality, could not be contemplated with calm- ness by men who had calculated upon the ex- pectation of years of excitement, and, as a result, many gave up in disgust, and aided in the impression that Leadville was doomed to desertion. Business still kept up fairly, how- ever, and at the end of the year there were few, if an}', of the more prudent merchants who had any right to complain at their balance sheets. It is said that misfortunes never come singly, and it certainly seemed to be true in the case of Leadville. The great strike was hardly over, when reports began to circulate that the Chrysolite, one of the great mines of the camp, which had up to June produced two and three quarter millions of profit to the owners, had been worked out ; that, like the Little Pitts- burg, it was a mere shell, and would never thereafter pay the working. The mine was then in debt to the amount of $400,000. Mr. Roberts, President of the company, came on from New York, and becoming panic stricken, reported that the mine would never pay its indebtedness. The stock fell to almost nothing, and the gloom which previous occurrences had excited seemed deepened and intensified. The same mistakes that led to the disaster in Little 8 1^ -* — ^p ^ Pittsburg had been repeated here. The pro- duction of the mine had been forced in order to maintain monthly dividends of $200,000 upon a capitalization of $10,000,000. The result could not be avoided, and a really great mine was forced to become a mere , plaything for stock gamblers. The event proved that those who had pre- dicted the abandonment of the mine were mis- taken. Under intelligent management, it con- tinued to produce largely — in two months after the panic in its stock, producing more than half a million dollars. New ore bodies were discovered, and the mine seemed to be in a fair way, if not to recover its lost position on the stock board, at least to regain the confidence of the stockholders, when another disaster befell it. On the 4th of October, an old shaft-house, used as a lodging-house, took fire, and the shaft over which it was built was filled with the' burning debris. As the shaft was connected with the main workings of the mine, it had ample draft below, and the flames speedily communicated with the timbers in the body of the mine. Every possible exertion was put forth to extinguish the flames, but all in vain, and for nearly two months it was impossible to work the mine. At the present writing, the fire, which at one time threatened to take in the Little Chief and Little Pittsburg Mines as well, is not yet extinguished, but it has been confined to worked-out ground, and is well under control. The exhaustion of the Little Chief proper- ties, which had also been a large producer, also tended to lessen confidence in the mines of Leadville, and for a time it seemed as if the bottom would drop out of everything. But those who were loudest in the expres- sion of their fears have already lived to ac- knowledge their mistake. The Little Pitts- burg has been a steady producer during all the time that has elapsed since what was termed its collapse. The Chrysolite gives ex- cellent promise of being an important pro- ducer for years to come. During all the ex- citement consequent upon the strike and the apparent failure of these mines, building con- tinued without intermission, and many of the most substantial structures were erected while the city was said to be in the very throes of dissolution. In the bulk of business it lost nothing, though the profits were necessarily smaller, and the only result of all the trials of the }ear were the bringing down of everything to a reasonable basis, and developing the re- sources of the city, and the ultimate basis upon which it could safely depend for its pros- perity. Leadville is to-day the better for the troubles of 1880. It knows now its strength. Its business is conducted upon a safer basis, and, being firmly established as the distribut- ing point for a vast district, it has time to look forward to a future that is not confined to the business derived from the half-crazy speculat- ors and men brought hither through the ex- citement caused by the first discoveries. It is in every respect healthier than at the opening of 1880. The leading events of the year, aside from those cited, were the immense gains in the mining interests, the coming of the railroad, and the important additions made to the con- veniencies of the city, placing it in every re- spect on a level with Eastern cities of equal importance. The telephone was introduced, and proved an invaluable aid to business be- tween the mines and the city. The era of mule teams was ended with the arrival of the first train into Leadville, in the early part of July. In mining matters, the Morning Star was the first to encourage those whose faith had been shaken bj' the disasters that had overtaken other mines, by the development of a remarka- bly heavj' body of first-class ore. The Even- ing Star was the next to follow, disclosing a mass of ore of high grade — equal to anything yet discovered in the camp. The Carbonate also astonished everybody by again coming into pay mineral, after a barren interval of several months. The Catalpa, Yankee Doodle and Henriett Mines were all driven to produc- tion during the year, and Carbonate Hill gave good promise of making good the losses in- curred on Fryer Hill. Fr3'er Hill also gave its quota in the Matchless, which has been a pro- ducer ever since, and in the discovery of such a rich bod^' of ore in the Lee as to put that mine at once into the front rank of the 'bonan- zas of Leadville. The production of bullion during the year was nearly sixteen millions, but this could not be taken as a gauge of the capacity of the mines, as it was, in a great degree, the result of forcing the mines for the payment of large dividends. The estimate for 1881 of the best :V ^^ 236 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. judges in the camp, is twelve millions, and, under the conservative management which at present prevails, this figure will be maintained for years to come. The city remains, at this writing (May, 1881), practically as at the close of the last year. Business remains in a healthy condition ; the city is improving with sufficient rapidity for the maintenance of good health ; the mines are all in good condition, and new mines are coming into the front in numbers sufficient to prove that all that is necessary is patient labor to make the district for many years the first silver-producing district in the country. In three years, Leadville has risen from a mining-camp of trifling importance to a city of from twelve to fifteen thousand people, with gas and water-works, telephones, all the mod- ern conveniences, handsome public buildings, an established and growing trade, and a thriv- ing and prosperous community. It is a story that seems like a dream, but it has been a dream that has developed into a reality that is still more wonderful. ihL^ CHAPTER VIII. ITS LOCATION AND ITS FUTURE. ACCIDENT dictated the site of Leadville, but if it had been the result of the most careful calculation and design, it could not have been chosen with more regard to the advantages of position, either for the gratification of a taste for the beautiful or for the business advantages resulting from a good location. There is no valley in the world more prolific in beautiful scenery than the valley of the Arkansas from the plains to Leadville. In the lower altitudes, from Pueblo to the Grand Canon, it is a garden in which all the produc- tions of the temperate zone are raised, even in- cluding the choicest varieties of Northern fruit. From the canon to Leadville, it is a plain varj-- ing from a mile to five miles in width, with mountains rearing their snow-clad summits upon either side. From one end to the other of this plain there is not a mile that is not full of objects of interest even to those familiar with its scenes. Leadville itself, Ij'ing upon the eastern slope of the valley near the head-waters of the river, commands a view such as is rarely met with even in the mountain regions of Colorado. To the west Mount Massive rises up to a height of 13,000 feet, its rugged sides riven into huge chasms from which the snow never disappears. South of Massive is Mount Elbert, but a trifle less in height than Massive. To the north are the Peaks of the Blue Mountains, while to the east Mount Sheridan, Mosquito Mountain, and others of the Park Kange, form a barrier be- tween Leadville and the great world which has been looking in this direction since carbonates first became a power in the land. There are few if any towns in the United States which have equal advantages in the un- substantial matter of scenery, but there are still fewer which have equal business advantages in the way of easy connections with the regions of mineral wealth that are shortly to come for- ward with results that will tend to keep alive the interest in mining for years to come. North of Leadville, eighteen miles, are the thriving mining towns of Kokomo and Robinson, located in the center of a mineral district second to none in the country with the single exception of Leadville. These are alreadj' connected by rail with Leadville, and the train loads of ore which daily come into the carbonate metropolis are a sufficient evidence of the prosperity of both places. Up the Tennessee Fork of the Arkansas is one continuous mineral belt extending to Red Cliff in the Eagle River District, which only awaits the coming of the railroad, already well advanced, to develop into one of the most productive mining districts in the State. In the same general direction lies the Holy Cross Mining District, newly discovered, but with prospects for the production, both of gold and silver, that have never yet been excelled in the history of any new district. Directly west from the city is a mountain pass with a fair railroad to the summit, through which Aspen, the most promising of the new camps, which has already .^. HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 237 attracted a large population, can be reached in a distance of only forty miles. All of these, places, destined at no distant day to contain thousands of people, are directly tributary to Leadville, a fact of which the people are well aware, and of which they are already preparing to take advantage. This gives Leadville a prominence as the distributing point for the en- tire mining region of Northern Colorado, equal in every respect to the prominence attained throughout the country as a mining camp. From all these causes the future of Leadville is assured. When the predictions were made that a town which had, so to speak, grown in a night, would wither in a day, these facts were not taken into consideration. It was presumed that, with the usual fate of mining towns, the city would dwindle into a hamlet, clustered about the smelters, and inhabited only by those whom fate or stern necessity compelled to live there. But the blows already received and resisted — blows which have driven foreign cap- ital in other directions, and left her people to trust entirely to their own resources^ — tell a dif- ferent story. North and west is a boundless territory of mineral-producing land, which must come to Leadville for supplies. Already the merchants have gone into a wholesale trade of no small proportions, and are carrying stocks of goods that would, be a creditable indication of business in any direction, and buildings are now in the process of erection by leading houses, for the sole purpose of acquiring in- creased facilities for the accommodation of a trade that has outgrown the city, rapidly as that has advanced. The future of Leadville may be summed up, briefly, as a city of from 12,000 to 15,000 people, supplying outljang towns containing a popula- ulationof from 30 to 1,000 and upward, and pro- ducing itself from $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 of bullion annually. This is not an extrava- gant estimate, and if it should exceed these figures it will surprise no one familiar with the facts. That it will ever become the scene of such frothy activity as characterized the first years of its existence, no one expects, and no one desires. The froth has blown away, and the residuum is composed of pure metal, which has been purified bj' the fierce fires of the fur- nace, and will pan out to an extent not expect- ed by those who first commenced digging in its soil. It is not the business born of excitement which lasts, as many in Leadville have discov- ered to their cost, but based upon the solid advantages of a commanding position, the prosperous future of Leadville is assured be- yond a doubt, and it is a future which, while it maj- not dazzle as did the first brilliant season of Leadville, will continue to shine with a radi- ance that will be all the better for being steadj-. CHAPTER IX. THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF LEADVILLE. LEADVILLE, in its polities, is, as it is in everything else, an anomaly, and it is diffi- cult to say which of the two great parties can justly claim it, though at the present vsTiting the Democrats have probably a small majority. It has gone from one side to another under the pressmre of circumstances, and up to the present time neither party has anything to boast of in the way of successes. The organization of the town was effected early in 1878, the election called by Gov. Eoutt occurring on the second Tuesday of February of that year, and resulting in the choice of H. A. W. Tabor, as Mayor, and' Charles Mater, William Nye and Joseph C. Cramer, as Trustees, with C. E. Anderson as Clerk and Recorder. There was no politics in this election, and the two parties were about equally represented in the Board. In the second election, in April of the same year, Mr. Tabor was re-elected Mayor, J. C. Cramer, Clerk and Recorder, and Wm. Nye, J. Carroll, R. J. Prazier and E. T. Taylor, Trustees. The first political contest of note was in the following fall, at the State election. The election was an exceedingly warm one, partic- ularly as between the two candidates for Con- gress, Thomas M. Patterson and James B. 238 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. Belford. These two gentlemen were making a joint canvass of the State, and the campaign was embittered to the last degree by the per- sonalities which had arisen between them in the course of the canvass. Leadville had by this time grown to such a size that its vote was a factor of great importance in the calcu- lations of both parties, and therefore a meet- ing was arranged for Leadville. The Demo- crats went to extraordinary pains to receive their candidate with all the honors possible. He was escorted into town with music and a procession of enthusiastic followers, and as his eye rested upon the thronged streets, he had little reason for doubting that his success was assured. His antagonist had no reason to congratulate himself on his reception. Quietly alighting from the coach, he was es- corted to the room of a friend, where he pre- pared himself for the contest of the evening. An immense wigwam had been erected for the occasion, and into this over three thousand men crowded and waited, with the patience born of enthusiasm, for the three hoiu's dur- ing which the rivals expatiated upon the glories of their respective parties and the necessity, in order to save the country, of every man voting for both of them. It was the largest meeting that, up to that time, had ever oc- curred in Colorado, except upon one occasion in the early history of California Gulch, when a prominent gentleman and official came up to make a speech, and was in the middle of an apostrophe to the mountain peaks which smTounded him, when a donkey, which had been accustomed to getting his food at the point occupied by the speaker, looked into the latter's face, and with sonorous heehaws, oft- repeated and long drawn out, broke up the meeting. The result of the election was to give Mr. Belford a handsome majority. The rapid advance made during 1878 made it necessary to organize a more perfect gov- ernment than the town organization, which, up to that time, had been considered sufficient for all demands, and therefore in February, of 1879, steps were taken for the pittpose of creating the town a city of the second class. Accordingly, upon the 1st day of April, the election took place, in accordance with the proclamation of the Governor. The contest at this election was decidedly sharp, though politics, in the general accepta- tion of the term, cut but a slight figure. Three candidates were in the field and labored incessantly for success, but at the eleventh hour, the business men, who were not satisfied with the men put forward, brought out a fourth in the person of Hon. W. H. James. Mr. James was an old resident of the State; had been engaged for many years in mining in Lake and adjoining counties; had been a member of the Constitutional Convention from Park County; and was, in every respect, a man in whom the people could place the most implicit confidence. His success was almost unprecedented. He was brought out as a candidate only on the day before the election. There was scarcely any canvass, except among a few of the more prominent business men, and yet when the votes were counted, he only lacked a few votes of having a majority over all of his opponents. As nis coadjutors in the government of the new city, were elected John W. ZoUers, City Treasurer, and M. J. Murphy, E. C. Kavanagh, John McComb, Samuel McMillen, J. P. Kelly and John D. Monroe, Aldermen. From the spring of 1879 to 1880 embraced the time when the city had, in the course of its settling down, been the scene of many ex- citing events. The hanging of the previous fall had left a warm desire for some kind of revenge in the bosoms of the friends of the men hung, and the vigor with which the dan- gerous classes had been treated, had united them with the same object. The only thing left for them was to make themselves felt in the election. For reasons best known to themselves, they supported Mr. Humphrey, and that gentleman was elected by a large majority. With him were elected Abe E. Ellis, as City Treasurer, and as Councilmen, N. C. Hickman, R. B. Spalding, Ed Murray, B. Slack, Pat Laughlin, Mitchell Dawes, John Curran, John Shea, I. W. Ohatfield, Rufus Shute, Jesse Pritchard and J. N. Drury. The new Council organized on the I8th of April, 1880, and at once entered upon its business. The course of the city administration led to a very general dissatisfaction, and in the spring of 1881, a determination for a change i) \ ^' i^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 239 was firmly rooted in the minds of all business men of the better class. While the machinery of both parties was used in the nomination of candidates, and the party organs thundered forth tiieir anathemas against the faithless to party pledges, there was very little really of politics in the result of the canvass. The incumbent of the office of Mayor was the Democratic nominee, and Dr. D. H. Dougan, a young and popular physician, the Repub- lican candidate. The canvass was exceed- ingly sharp, and marked by all the acrimony that usually attends such contests, but resulted in the election of Dr. Dougan, with J. H. Playter, as Treasurer, and E. C. Nuckolls, D. A. Cowell, J. N. Chipley, B. F. Jay, R. A. Day and H. C. Rose, as Aldermen. The city has started in with an earnest effort to reform the administration, the looseness of which was due, in a large measure, to the years of high- pressure excitement under which the city had its growth, and to reduce the expenditure and the debt which had been created by the de- mands for improvements, in a city which sprang to full stature in a single year. . There is a fair prospect of success in both directions, for the city officers seem determined to do their duty and enforce the law without fear or favor, and in so doing will have the best sentiment of the community to endorse them. CHAPTER X. THE GREAT STRIKE. ^T^HE causes which led to one of the most JL important labor demonstrations that ever occurred in this country will probable never be fully understood. Mr. Mooney, the leader of the striking workingmen, in discussing the motives which led him to assume the position he did, is unable to account for it. He denies that there was any preconcerted plan for a strike, though he admits concert of action after the strike was inaugurated. According to his story, the idea of stopping work came like an inspiration to a few men, and in the movements which followed he drifted into the leadership without any formal election. Mr. Mooney's modest way of referring to the part taken hj him in the strike does not convey the real reason of his prominence, which was a natiiral ability and remarkable magnetism, which all the disadvantages of a lack of edu- cation and training cannot overcome. He is a natural leader of his class, and came to tlie front at this time without knowing how or why it was. On the morning of May 26, 1880, as the night shift on the Chrysolite workings came up out of the miue, they took their stand at the shaft and declined to allow the day men to descend to the workings. This, the first step in the great strike, indicates that it was the result of a consultation of a few bold spir- its in the deep workings of the -mine. The men who knew nothing of what had been done were perfectly willing to work at the old rates, but the boldness of the strikers and the influ- ence cf the arguments, by which it was at- tempted to show that, by keeping a bold front for a few days, their demands would be ac- ceded to, soon brought them into line, and by 9 o'clock some six hundred men had assem- bled at the Daly shaft-house of the Chrysolite Mine, for the purpose of making their de- mands upon the management. These were made in writing, and were, that the pay of all miners be raised to $4 per day, with eight- hour shifts. To this demand, Mr. Daly, the then acting manager replied that he could not accede. The Chrysolite had already adopted the rule of eight-hour shifts, as a matter of convenience, but he declined to pay the ad- vance of half a dollar a day demanded, and said that, while he should submit the propo- sition to the directors, in New York, he would advise them not to accept it. As was antici- pated, the proposition was rejected at a meeting of the directors of the company, held in New York the same evening, and the mine stopped work. During the day, the majority of the mines on Fryer Hill were visited by ^^ A®- ±,^ 340 HISTORY or LAKE COUNTY. the strikers, and the men induced to quit work by a quiet demonstration of strength, which it would have been folly to resist. At each mine their numbers were increased until in the afternoon the throng had swelled to the neighborhood of three thousand — a mob with- out organization, but not ill-natured at all, though apparently determined to maintain their position. At 1 o'clock, a meeting of the strikers was held upon Fairview Hill, whiuh was addressed by Mooney and several others, and at which much more enthusiasm was shown than upon any subsequent occasion. It was then imagined, and that was the tenor of the remarks of mahy of the speakers, that the mines would be compelled to yield, from the absolute necessity of taking out ore, to meet the demands of stockholders. At the close of the meeting a coliunn was formed, and, headed by a band of music, proceeded to Carbonate Hill, visiting every mine, and com- pelling the men to stop work. Having done this, the column was divided, one detachment going to Breece and another to Iron Hill, where the same demands were made and met with speedy compliance. At nightfall every mine in Leadville was closed down, and 6,000 men who had that morning been happy in the enjoyment of plenty of work at good wages, were thrown out of employment. While no acts of violence were committed during the day, it is difficult to say what might result from some sudden freak of a mob, and therefore the mines were that night guarded by armed men. On the following morning, the strikers com- menced gathering upon Fairview Hill, and by 10 o'clock a column of 2,000 men, with music and banners, had formed, and coromenced moving toward the city. During the parade through the streets they were as quiet and orderly as possible, their leader, Mooney, ex- ercising over them a powerful influence in that direction. But, upon conversation with them, it was readily to be seen that there was a smoldering element which needed but a spark to give it vigorous life, and that the spark would be supplied there was not the slightest reasons for doubting. At a meeting held after the parade, resolutions were adopted carrying out the views of the strikers and avowing the determination not to permit any man to work until their demands had been granted. Copies of these resolutions were sent to the mine managers, and a very general effort was made by the strikers themselves to give them as great circulation as possible, in order to deter men from attempting to work. During Thursday, May 27, while the strik- er's meeting was in progress, it was noticed that the engine which operated the pump on the Chrysolite Mine was in operation, and under the prevailing excitement a resolution was rushed through that the pump should be ■ stopped. Coming thus early in the strike, this was the worst move that could possibly have been made, for it seemed to indicate that the men were deteravined to enforce their de- mands, even at the price of the destruction of property. To have stopped the pump would have been to inflict thousands of dollars of damage upon the mines, besides a loss of time to the laborers themselves, that even if it had brought the mine to terms, would have been of no practical benefit to the miner. But these men could not figure out results, and when Mr. Daly, in reply to the demand for the shutting down of the pump, told them he would keep the pump running if it was neces- sary to call upon the Governor for a regiment to guard it, they at once took the ground that it was an interference with their rights, and uttered threats which led to the fortification of the works and ultimately to the loss of all they claimed. This demand for the shutting down of the pump, in running which the labor^ of no miner was involved, caused the first bad blood of the strike. Mr. Daly for- tified all the approaches to the company's property, and notified the strikers that he proposed to maintain himself against any at- tempt at interference, and that those who saw fit to approach the mine did so at their peril. On the other side, the miners declared that the pump should stop. Mooney, the leader, who understood perfectly that the rights of no man was involved in the running of the pump, tried in vain to stem the torrent that he had himself aided in starting, but in vain, and for the first time the community felt that the rights of property was in danger from the violence of some of the strikers. On the ^1 iH^ HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. 343 Friday after the strike, the third day, a con- ference was had between the mine managers and the strikers, which resulted in nothing, though both sides seemed willing to do any- thing to come to an amicable adjustment of the differences. On the same day, a meeting of the citizens who had become alarmed at the effect of the strike upon business, was held, and also resulted in nothing. During the evening of Friday, some of the guards at the Chrysolite were fired upon, and one of them had a portion of an ear carried away by the bul- let. This act of lawlessness with others of a like character, committed by men who, at least, claimed to be acting with the strikers, had the effect of precipitating matters between them and the citizens, and on Saturday, the fourth day of the strike, the mine managers were advised to start up work with such men as they could find ready to work, and were promised protection by the citizens who had formed organizations for the purpose. On Sunday, the 30th of May, the miners had an- other parade through the streets, but it was noticed that their numbers had materially diminished, many of those who had at first joined with them, haviiig become disgusted with the indiscretion of many of their num- ber, and the character of the methods pro- posed, and gone quietly to work or remained in their own homes. On Monday, May 31, the Chrysolite and Little Chief Mines com- menced work, some fifty or sixty men having been found ready to work, and requiring a force of guards for their protection nearly equal in numbers. The men were boarded on the ground, and armed guards accompa- nied the wagon-loads of provisions brought to the mines. Encouraged by these results, some of the other mines started up work, but the men employed were waylaid on their way to work, and intimidated or maltreated so that it was found impossible to do anything of any importance, and all the mines, except those under the control of Mr. Daly, were compelled tc close down until the definite ending of the strike. On the morning of Tuesday, June 1, the first collision between the miners and the authorities took place, a Deputy Sheriff interfering to protect some men on their way to work, and being mobbed and compelled to use his revolver. During the melee, three of the strikers were injured and several arrests were made, but the officer effected his purpose, and for the first time the strikers found that they were not to have everything entirely their own way. During the week, there were no demonstrations of importance, but the Miners' Association and the mine managers were in almost constant session. The threats of the miners were fre- quent, and took the shape of anonymous let- ters, addressed to prominent miners and prop- erty owners, in wnich they were informed that unless the demands of the miners were complied with, the town would be laid in ashes and a number of prominent men mur- dered. The newspapers were also threatened with destruction, and their editors with assas- sination. Mr. Mooney, upon being informed of these threatening letters, promptly disa- vowed any responsibility therefor, and prom, ised that his infiuence, and that of the min- ers' league, she aid be used for the protection of property and life. The constant repetition of these threats induced great alarm, however, particularly as it was^ known that a gang of lawless men, in no way connected with the miners, had taken advantage of the state of affairs, and were engaged in plotting against the public peace, for the purpose of avenging the hanging of two of their compatriots in the previous fall. The result of this state of alarm was to cause the citizens to combine to- gether for mutual safety, and almost every evening during the week, meetings of promi- nent citizens were held, in which plans for the public safety were discussed. At first, these meetings were held with the view of the formation of a secret tribunal, which should visit upon all disturbers of the public peace the extreme rigor of Western border justice, but wiser counsels prevailed, and it was final- ly determined that whatever was done should be done openly, after the manner of the cele- brated Committee of Safety of San Francisco. On Friday, June 11, the strike having then been in existence more than two weeks, and the threats of violence against life and property having increased in number and frequency, a meeting of the Citizens' Committee was held, and a proclamation issued, calling upon all S \' liL^ 244 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. men who desired, to go to work, and guai'an- teeing them protection. In order to give force to the proclamation, it was arranged that on the following day, the business houses of the city should be closed, and a parade of citi- zens, under arms, should take- place in the afternoon. Arms had been sent for, and late on Friday night, a select corps of men were sent over Mosquito Pass, to receive the arms at the station and escort them into town. In accordance with the arrangements, nearly 600 citizens, all well armed, met at the rendez- vous on Saturdiy, June 12, and paraded the streets, in the hope by this show of strength, of overawing the strikers and preventing them from, continuing their efforts at intimi- dation. The men who took part in the parade were principally business men, and the dem- onstration was all that could have been looked for. It failed, however, in the accomplish- ment of its purpose. The only effect it pro- duced was to inflame the passions of the min- ers, who had congregated in large numbers upon Harrison avenue, and, as the column passed, assailed the participants with appro- brious epithets and jeers. The street, for two blocks, was thronged, and the column had barely room to pass between the ranks of the angry and insulting miners. As the column rode up and down the avenue, in the effort to keep the streets clear, the excitement grew more intense until it only needed the slight- est act to cause a desperate riot. The moment came at last, and only the most determined efforts of the officers prevented a riot which would have caused great loss of life. One of the rioters, incensed at something said or done by the commander of the horsemen, fired a pistol at him. The shot caused he wildest alarm, and three or four of the horsemen charged upon the throng, with drawn pistols, causing it to scatter in terror. The man who fired the shot succeeded in making his escape in the throng, but the excitement still kept up until another miner referred to the commander in an epithet of an outrageous character, at the same time making a motion as if to draw a weapon. Maj. Bohn, the officer alluded to, at once charged upon the man, striking him repeated blows upon the head with a light sword, his only weapon, and would undoubt- edly have done him serious injury, had it not been for the arrival of the police, by whom he was arrested and taken to the station-house, followed by a throng of excited miners, who were only prevented from doing him serious injury by the efforts of a strong force of police. At this juncture, the company of men who had just arrived over Mosquito Pass, with the arms, marched into the avenue in company front, dismoimted, and with their carbines at a "ready." Wheeling so as to occupy the entire width of the street, they slowly pressed the crowd back, and succeeded, with some difficulty, in clearing the street. While the column was in motion, Mooney mounted on a goods box and commenced ' making a speech, earnestly urging the miners to go to their homes. A warrant was out for his arrest, and the officer charged with its serv- ice, seeing him speaking, immediately com- menced making his way toward the spot. The movement was seen, however, and the leader of the strike was hustled through the crowd and made his escape good. Nor was he again seen in the city until the strike was ended. The narrow escape from a serious collision impressed upon the Citizens' Committee the absolute necessity of taking some steps toward securing assistance from the State Government in case of necessity. The Sheriff had already reported that he had exhausted the measures at his command, and on Saturday evening a message was sent to the Governor, urging him to declare martial law in the county. On Sunday morning, the committee of 115 were in session early, and a resolution was adopted to urge the declaration of martial law. These efforts had the desired effect, and late in the afternoon of Sunday the proclamation of the Governor was received, and immediately printed and distributed to the people by whom the streets were still thronged. The effect was magical. On Sunday night the streets were as quiet as those of any city of the size. The militia patroled the streete and guarded the public buildings, and the officers charged with the command by the Governor, remained up all night, in order to be ready for any emergency. But no occasion for the exercise of the military authority oc- IK* ^ k '.^ HISTORY OF LAKE COtTNTY. 245 eiarred, and tli« night passed off as quietly as possible. On Monday, June 14, t!>ree or four hundred improvised militia were sworn into the "State service, and the control of affairs within the county were practically in the hands of the military. The moral effect of the declaration of martial law was to break the back of the strike. Though the military did nothing whatever to interfere with the right of a man to refuse to work, if he chose to do so, it was well understood that every man who desired should be permitted to work without molesta- tion or interference from any source whatever. On Thursday, June 17, a parade of the mili- tary took place, the column marching through the disaffected districts, but no demonstra- tions were made whatever, and the strike was declared virtually at an end. Frequent con- ferences occurred between the miners, the military and the citizens during the week, and as a result of all this, arrangements were effected by which those who desired could go to work at the old rates. On Friday morning, June 18, the strike ceased by the voluntary submission of the miners' union to the old terms. On the Sunday- following, all the troops on duty, with the exception of one company, were relieved from duty; on Wednes- day, June 26, the proclamation of the Gov- ernor, revoking martial law, was issued, and affairs resinned their usual course. This, in brief, is the history of one of the most remarkable episodes in the existence of the city. There was never a labor strike more ill-advised or more dangerous to the peace of the community, after it had been thoroughly ^organized, and there never was greater danger of a murderous collision between two excited bodies of men growing out of any strike. The declaration of martial law has been made the subject of severe criticism, and during the candidacy of Gov. Pitkin, for re-election, in the fall of the same year, was injected into the canvass as an issue. The verdict of the people sustained the Governor, however, with the largest majority given in the State, and the verdict of history will class the act, even if it is true that it was without warrant of law, among those which are justified by the cir- cumstances alone, and by the necessity of ex- traordinary measures for the preservation of life and property. The strikers themselves were the best satisfied with the declaration of martial law, because it protected them not only from the organization of citizens, which was little more than a mob, but from the vio- lent and lawless in their own ranks. The best thing to be done in such times meets the pub- lic approval, and there is not the slightest question that whether or not the legal power lay in the hands of the Governor, the declara- tion of martial law effected the object aimed at by all good citizens — the preservation of the public peace. The most direct way of accom- plishing any object is the best. :A 246 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. CHAPTER XI. ADMINISTERING LAW AND ORDER. AS important as was the strike, and the summary manner in which it was finally disposed of, it was scarcely more so than the condition of affairs during the summer and fall of 1879, and the declaration of martial law was scarcely more far-reaching in its effects than he assumption of the powers of a court by a mob of masked men on the morning of Novem- ber 19. The " year of the boom," was noted for the number and character of the various grades of criminals that found their way to Leadville. Principal among these were the footpads, and bunko steerers, and their natural allies, and the men, who bolder but not less culpable, whose plans of operations were to violently assume possession of the property of others, and by false witnesses prove a prior title in the courts. The papers were filled with the reports of " hold-ups," as they were called, and the details of the lot jumping affairs that were of daily or nightly occurrence. The frequency of these affairs caused the most intense feeling on the part of the citizens. When men could not go to their homes after the usual hours for busi- ness without drawn weapons in their hands, and were not sure upon reaching their homes whether or not they were still in possession thereof, there was the best of reasons for ex- citement. The existence of a regularly organ- ized gang of footpads was strongly suspected ; the existence of a gang of lot-jumpers was ab- solutely known. Every da}' reports came of property being taken violent possession of by the Prodsham part}', and every day Prodsham was brought into court upon one pretext or another, but succeeded in getting clear through the perjury of his companions. He was a man with a record as a desperado second to few in the city. In Wyoming he had served a term in the penitentiary for murder, and was sus- pected of killing more than one man. Full of courage and animal spirits, he was the typical Western desperado, and had doubtless taken to lot-jumping because it afforded him an oppor- tunity for exhibiting these qualities. Men from Laramie, who knew of his exploits in that city, cautioned the people of Leadville that he was a dangerous man, and that he should be closely watched, and from the time he first commenced his career of lawlessness, until the morning when he was found hanging from a rafter, he was the subject of the closest surveillance, and as the instances of his crimes multiplied, the number of those who watched his every move- ment increased. Nothing was sacred to him ; his only guide was his inclination, and his in- clination usually led him to jump such lots as he could most readily dispose of to third par- ties, unaware of the method by which he had obtained possession. Neither the patent title nor the squatter's title was a bar to his inclination — neither was respected. If he coveted a lot he took it, and if any one stood in his way, or any house interfered with his purpose, either was unceremoniously bounced. In one instance a man was driven from his bed, while Prodsham and his associates took and held possession ; in another instance, a house partially erected was torn down, the carpenters driven from the the ground and another house erected ; in another instance the owner of the house having been warned of the intent, and keeping a guard constantly in the house, the latter was surround- ed at midnight, and a volley of rifle shots poured into the house, the balls endangering the lives of the sleeping inmates ; in another instance the owner of the house with his friends, after an ineffectual resistance, was driven out at the muzzles of a dozen pistols. Cases of lot-jumping were no novelty to the people of Leadville, but they were usually cases in which both claimants had some shadow of legal right to the premises in dispute. It became appar- ent, however, that there was an organized corps of lot-jumpers, and the entire community was united in the determination to put a stop to the proceedings of lawlessness thus inaugurated. The courts were resorted to and able counsel employed, but with the aid of his associates, men to whom perjury was a mere breath Prodsham always succeeded in getting free' 9 "y^ mm.'^>%.. if, .-'5 l^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 247 Then' came the last resort of Western justice, the court of Judge Lj'nch, and when the idea had become familiarized in the minds of those interested, it was merely a matter of time. While this excitement in regard to lot-jump- ing was in progress, there was another matter which added fuel to the flame. The profession of the footpad had been indulged in Leadville from the earliest days of the city, and the pe- culiar advantages afforded by the rapid growth of the town, and the topographical character of the surrounding country, as well as the fact that many of the victims, even had they known their assailants, preferred to suffer the loss rather than be subjected to the cross examina- tion of counsel, involving the disclosure of their secret haunts, operated as a bar to the discov- ery of the perpetrators, and emboldened by success, the}- increased their operations until finally those who were compelled to be out late at night were under an absolute reign of terror. Scarcely a night passed in which some victim, in many cases bruised and bleeding, did not rush into police headquarters and tell his tale of woe and loss from a highway robbery. The printers on morning pa,pers on their way home kept together for self-protection, business men whose duties, or pleasures, or " lodge meetings " kept them out late, either hired a policeman to accompany them home or remained at a hotel overnight, and no one with anything of value on his 'person ventured outside of the more thickly populated thoroughfares after 9 o'clock. The papers found employment for extra report- ers in order to chronicle all the outrages perpe- trated on the public streets, and every morning the first question that was asked was " How many hold-ups last night ?" This is not an ex- aggerated statement, but a fair picture of the condition of Leadville from the month of Sep- tember to October, 1879. The suddenness of the attack of these gentry made it almost im- possible for the ofHcers to find them, or for their victims to suscessfully resist them. The com- mand " hold up your hands," means obedience in the law of the border, and an order of this kind coming from behind an ash barrel or en- forced at the muzzle of a pistol as a corner is turned is likely to be obeyed to the letter. Oc- casionallj', however, some man, either more courageous or more foolhardy, was quick enough to raise a pistol instead of his hands. In such cases the robbers either fled, daunted, or the victim was bruised, and in some instances after the robbery was completed, left for dead beside the road. One of these instances of frightened resistance was the culminating point in the affair. On the night of Saturday, November 15, a young man named Bockhaus, a barber, was returning to his home on Lower State street when he was suddenly accosted in the usual manner — "Hold up your hands." From his after statements it is evident that he was so frightened that he did not really know what his next movement was, but before leaving the place where he had spent the evening he had secured a pistol, and held it in his hand as he went toward home, whistling to keep his courage up. As the command came, he saw two men confronting him with pistols raised, and mechanically raising his arms as he became aware of his own weapon he dis- charged it twice. One of the robbers replied with a shot, the three men turning in oppo- site directions and running as rapidly as pos- sible. A short distance up the street Bock- haus ran into the arms of a policeman, and a little ways down one of the robbers was caught by another officer who happened to be in the vicinity. The tale of the little barber was not credited by the officer, who took him into custody and proceeded in the direction indicat- ed by him. Very soon they were met by the other officer and his prisoner, in whose hands had. been found a large-sized old-fashioned Colt's revolver, with two chambers discharged. A lantern was procured and a search was in- stituted for the body, the barber insisting that he had shot one of the men through the body and that he could not have gone far. While this search was going on a door near by was opened and a gentleman informed the oflScers that the dead man could be found on his back porch. This gentleman had heard the shots and a moment afterward had heard a,, man running around the house, then a heavy fall came on the porch, and on going out he found the man dead. An examination showed that though the pistol was of the smallest calibre manufactured — twenty-two caliber — the ball had passed entirely through the body, lodging in the skin near the spine. The news that a footpad — one of the gang that had been for months terrorizing the town, had been shot, caused the most intense excite- J, fe- 348 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. ment, and as late as the hour was, the throng which accompanied the body of the robber to the coroner's numbered over a thousand excited men. The little barber whose fright had caused the death of the robber was the subject of warm congratulations, and found himself ele- vated to a popularity to which he had never expected to attain. Until nearly daylight the throng poured into the room in which the body lay, curious to see what a dead footpad re- sembled. On the following day, Sunday, the streets being crowded, an impromptu procession was organized, and seated in a chair elevated upon the shoulders of a dozen stalwart men, and pre- ceded b}' a band of music, the hero of the hour — Bockhaus — was carried around the streets in a triumphal march. Toward the close of the parade, while moving down Chestnut street, some one called out, "To the jail," and as by one impulse the column turned in the direction of the city jail, where the captured highwayman was confined. Arrived at the jail, the mob de- manded the prisoner, and cries of "Hang him," "Lynch him," mingled with execrations of the vilest character, informed the prisoner of what he might expect if the mob siiould succeed in obtaining possession of the slight structure in which he was confined. The officers, however, succeeded in repelling the demonstration, and after a short parley the mob withdrew. While these scenes were transpiring at the jail, a meeting of the stanch business men of the city was in session discussing the propriety of striking terror to the hearts of the despera- does, who seemed to have the city in their pow- er by proceeding in a body to the jail, taking the highwaj'man from the officers and hanging him to the nearest lamp post. Upon hearing of the disorderly and riotous proceedings by the mob, however, they postponed action, not car- ing to become identified with the disorderly element of the city, which was the most noisy in its demands for the punishment of the prisoner. During the afternoon the prisoner, guarded by a heavy force of Deputy Sheriffs, was taken to the countj' jail, a substantial structure newly erected. It was ascertained during the day that the dead robber was named Clifford, and that he was a well-known desperado, who was even then under indictment for the robbery of a stage near Port Worth, Texas. Eis compan- ion was recognized as one Charles Stewart, and as one of a party of four who had been captured in the act of perpetrating a highway robbery the previous spring. Some little sympathy was expressed for him because of his youth and the fact that he had been wounded by a shot from the barber's pistol, but the seed sown in the two meetings of that day had taken root and were destined to bear ghastly fruit. The numerous threats uttered among citizens of all grades led to the establishment of a strong guard at the jail, men being up all night within the walls. It was known to reporters and others that a number of meetings had been held with the avowed purpose of taking steps for the hanging of Stewart, and for several nights re- porters were on the qui vive watching the jail almost constantly. The meetings, however, also discussed the propriety of sending ofl'Frodsham at the same time, but as it was uncertain how or when he could be taken, and as it was known that he was constantly surrounded by a gang of men as desperate as himself, no definite steps were taken, and after two or three days of ex- citement, matters began to resume their ordi- nar}' course. Frodsham was repeatedly warned that it was unsafe for him to remain in Lead' ville, but his only reply to the cautions was a sneer. He had been so long a frontier des- perado that he merely laughed at the restraints of law, and snapped his fingers at the intima- tion that he would be held responsible by the people whose rights he had outraged. On Tuesday, November 18, he was arrested on the complaint of one of his victims, but by the advice of his attorney compromised the case and was set at liberty. It was no secret that if he should be once lodged in jail he would be " taken care of," and yet in the full knowledge of the fate which awaited him if he should fall into the hands of the men whom he had wronged, he walked the streets of Leadville as unconcerned as if he had never raised his hand in violation of the law or of the rights of others. On Wednesday, Frodsham and his party pro- ceeded to a lot on which a small house was being erected, drove the workmen away, pulled down the timbers already in position, and noti- fied all parties that they proposed to hold the property, and that any attempt to dispossess them would be resisted with arms. This out- rage in the then excited condition of the city ^ i r jvlf !k> HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 249 was the last straw. The patience of the people was exhausted, and it was perfectly apparent to those familiar with Western life that he had never been in greater danger since the day of his birth. Quite late in the evening he was ar- rested on a warrant charging him with disturb- ing the peace, and as the hour was too late for a hearing, he was placed in the county jail for safe keeping. The usual cage was filled with prisoners, and therefore he was given a cot in the corridor outside of the cage. Stewart, the wounded footpad, was also accommodated in the same place. Shortly after 1 o'clock, on Thursday morning, November 20, the Under Sheriff of the county was/)n his way home, and as he passed the jail noticed a number of men, in groups of three or four each, standing in the street and along the sidewalk. As he turned down the street lead- ing to his residence, these men closed in upon him, and he suddenly found himself a prisoner, flrml}' held by several men, and his own pistol pointed at his head to enforce obedience. All of the men wore black masks covering their heads, and a large number of those who seemed to be the leaders, were completely disguised in long black gowns. The Sheriff was assured that no harm was intended him, but that the party had come to get Prodsham and the foot- pad, and that he must give up the keys to the jail. The Sheriff assured them that the keys were not in his possession, but that the jail was locked from the inside. They then informed him that he must gain them admittance, and that he would be put in front, so that in case the guard should fire, he would be the first to receive it. While this parley was in progress, a number of men passing along Harrison avenue, who exhibited a natural curiosity in regard to the unusual number of men congregated in the vicinity at such an hour, were halted and held b)' sentinels stationed for that purpose. Half a block away from the jail, in every direction, lines of pickets were stationed, who turned back every one who attempted to pass. The men having the Under Sheriff in charge marched him before them to -the jail door, and compelled him to demand admittance. The guards, recog- nizing the voice of the oflScer, immediately opened the door, and in an instant were cov- ered by revolvers, and access to the interior departments of the jail demanded. Resistance under the circumstances was impossible, and the doors leading into the cells were thrown open. In a moment forty masked men had filed in. Frodsham, from the first appearance of the men, divined their errand, and climbing on top of the cage, ran to the guard stationed there, begging protection. The guard, looking over the edge of the cage, was covered with pistols, and ordered to get down, with which command he promptly complied. Several of the men then climbed on top of the cage, and dragged the desperado down on the floor. As he fully realized that there was no hope for him, he merely requested permission to write a let- ler to his wife ; bat the reply was made that there was no time to write letters then. His hands and feet were quickly bound, a handker- chief tied over his mouth, and the rope put around his neck. He was then led outside the jail to a small frame building in process of erection, the rope swung over a joist and pulled up, the rope being fastened to a beam. The party charged with this duty then returned, found young Stewart, and in a few moments had swung him up on the opposite side of the frame building. To Stewart's request that he might be allowed to write to his mother, the reply was: "You can write your letter in the morning." Until the vigilantes were satisfied that death had resulted, the officers were kept close prisoners under the muzzles of leveled revolvers. The work done, the throng of masked men disappeared as if by magic. The Under Sheriff was conducted by his guard out of the jail, and to his residence, passing the ghastly evidences of the night's work as he stepped from the doorway of the jail. The remaining vigi- lantes backed out, one by one, with pistols lev- eled at the officers, until but one remained, and as he stepped from the doorway he, was almost instantly followed by an officer, but had van- ished, nothing to indicate what had been done remaining, except the bodies of the unfortunate victims swinging in the cold night wind, and a number of the black masks, which had been thrown aside after having served their purpose. The entire affair had been conducted with such promptness that within half an hour from the time when the vigilantes had first demanded admission to the jail, the men were dead, and their executioners had disappeared. Upon the examination of the bodies, it was found that a sheet of foolscap had been pinned upon Frodsham's back, as follows : tk^ 350 HlSTOliY OF LAKE COUNTY. Notice to all lot thieves, bunko steerers, foot- pads, thieves and chronic bondsmen for the same, and sympathisers for the above class of criminals : This is our commencement, and this shall be your fates. We mean business, and let this be your last warning. [Here followed the names of a number of notorious characters] and a great many others known to the organization. Vigilantes' Committee. We are 700 strong. As soon as the fact of the lynching became known, as early as was the hour, the streets were thronged and Leadville became the scene of one of the greatest excitements in its history. The Coroner's inquest was thronged with men drawn together out of curiosity, and every street corner and saloon was filled with groups of men discussing the terrible event of the night. The victims of Judge Lynch had numerous friends among the lawless classes, and these were boisterous in their threats of ven- geance. One of the lowest dives in the city, kept by a former City Marshal, was the rendez- vous for the men who had most to fear from the vigilantes, and from morning till night was filled by a gang of ruffians armed to the teeth and afraid to show their faces on the street, lest they should be captured. Letters of a threatening character were sent to the prin- cipal citizens of the town and to the newspapers, the latter being the principal objects of hatred, and threatened with absolute destruction. These letters, and the impression which had been created that the lawless classes had con- trol of the city, did very much toward un- settling public feeling and causing great un- easiness among the respectable elements of the population. For several days no man knew at what moment a riot would be sprung upon the city, for meetings of the dangerous classes were held nightly, at which plans were discussed for avenging themselves upon the vigilantes and their supporters, and the open threats of the bolder spirits among the dis- aflfected did not have a tendency to re-assure the public mind. During the inquest over the bodies of Frodsham and Stewart, a note, signed " A Friend," was handed the Coroner in which the warning was conveyed to have Bockhaus, the barber who had killed the footpad, taken out of town or he would be killed. Numbers of private citizens had notices signed "Anti- vigilante " sent them, in which they were in- formed that if they failed to leave town within a certain tinie they would be killed. Advan- tage was taken of the excitement by many par- ties having private grievances to send these missives for the purpose of annoying or fright- ening their enemies, and the air itself was full of terror. Armed men paraded the streets for several nights and guarded the principal build- ings, against which threats of destruction had been made. The Chronicle and Herald were the special objects of the hatred of the mob. Both papers had been outspoken in directing the attention of the authorities to the lawless- ness that prevailed, and in cautioning the dan- gerous classes that they were arousing a pub- lic sentiment more vigorous than the law, and which would inevitably result in disaster to them. Both papers were the recipients of threatening letters, and were compelled to use the utmost vigilance in the protection of their property, but notwithstanding the excitement and the possible danger to their interests they continued to give utterance to the sentiments inspired by a regard for law and order, and eventually did much toward calming the excite- ment and teaching the men whose evil courses had inspired it that the reign of lawlessness had ended forever. But the remedy was effective. The posting of the names upon the backs of the unfortunate victims had called public attention to them, and in a day or two it was found that they were absent from their accustomed haunts. Others of the notorious classes alluded to quietly left town, and the panic extended even to many who, though not publiclj'' accused of wrong-do- ing, had accusations of conscience which im- pelled them to put the mountains between them- selves and a possible halter. In a month after the execution of the two men there could not be found in the country a city which, consider- ing the character of its surroundings and in- habitants, was more orderly than Leadville. While there were still desperadoes who did not hesitate to take the chances involved in higrh- way robbery, and still men with whom the pis- tol and the knife were the readiest means of adjusting a quarrel, there were no more in pro- portion than in older communities embracing the same number of men. And from that time to the present there has been no difficulty in maintaining order and preserving the good reputation of the city. The remedy was a des- perate one, but it was demanded by an outraged public sentiment, and was entirely effective. ;r ^^. J^^^^ ^1 :iiL HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 253 CHAPTER XII. THE NEWSPAPERS OF LEADVILLE. IF there is any one thing which merits a chapter in a work of this character, it is the energy which has te ?fe. 254 HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. field dividing its business, the Reveille was com- pelled to yield to circumstances, and ceased to exist. In the fall of 1878, Mr. W. F. Hogan, owner of the Mount Lincoln News, a paper published at Alma, also removed his paper to Leadville, and, re-christening it the Eclipse, started in as a rival to the Reveilh. The daily was started a few weeks afterward, also published in the morning. The editor, a young gentleman of talent, lacked the business experience neces- sary to success in this department of business life, and was without the means to keep pace with the most exacting community in the United States. Consequently, after an exist- ence of about a year, it was also compelled to give up the ship, after a transfer of ownership to Mr. George F. Wanless, who made an inef- fectual attempt, under th6 name of the Eclipse- News, to rival the Chronicle in the afternoon field. In the fall of 1878, three enterprising print- ers, of Denver, all attaches of the Tribune of that city, conceived the idea that Leadville would be a good field for the establishment of an afternoon daily, and one of the trio, Mr. James Burnell, was sent up to look over the ground. The boom had commenced, and Mr. Burnell found that there was a demand for something more than was supplied by the two morning papers, especially the publication of the dispatches, and the facilities for turning out good job work. He, accordingly, returned to Denver, and made a favorable report, and a co- partnership was formed with Mr. John Arkins, the present manager of the Denver News, Mr. C. U. Davis and Mr. Burnell. The aims of these gentlemen were modest. Like all others, they had no idea of the wonderful growth that has since resulted, and, in taking into account the purchase of material, made allowance only for a five column, four-page paper. An effort to secure the Associated Press dispatches failed, mainly through the efforts of the pro- prietor of one of the Denver papers, but this was no serious obstacle to men of their stamp, and arrangements were made for the summar- izing of the dispatches published in the morn- ing dailies of Denver, as well as all that could be secured from the afternoon paper, together with the local news of Denver, and sending them up as " specials. " The expense of this was enormous, sometimes reaching as high as $500 per month, but, in providing for this, the proprietors exhibited an appreciation of the de- mands of the camp and a faith in the ultimate reward of enterprise of this character. The material was purchased in St. Louis, and shipped by rail to Canon City, whence it came b}' teams to Leadville, the freight bill alone being more than the original cost of the ma- terial. The first paper made its appearance early in February, 1878, and, at a single leap, the Chronicle took the position which it has since maintained. Bright and spicj^ it was a source of enjoyment to all classes, and, in a very few days, its circulation ran up into the thousands, and not to have read the last Chron- icle was to argue a neglect of a daily duty almost inexcusable. The editorial department was under the supervision of Mr. Arkins. Mr. Davis assumed the business management, and Mr. Burnell had charge of the mechanical de- partment, and all three were worked to the ut- most limit of human capacity. It was but a few weeks before they were compelled to add another column, and during the summer still another column was made necessary by their increasing patronage. During the sum- mer, Mr. Burnell retired from the partnership to engage in mining pursuits, his few months' work returning him a profit of from three to four hundred per cent on his investment. In the fall of 1879, the paper was enlarged to an eight-column folio, and in January, 1880, to a nine-column folio, making it the largest even- ing paper between Chicago and the Pacific coast. The paper is now in the hands of Mr. C. C. Davis alone, Mr. Arkins having retired in 1880, and taken an interest in the News, of Denver, of which he is now the manager, and where he has displayed the same energy and ability which made him so successful in Lead- ville. The remarkable success of the Chronicle is a conspicuous illustration of what can be accomplished by intelligent industry, backed by an enterprising community. The rapid advances of the Chronicle attracted the attention of newspaper men in all parts of the State, and during the summer of 1879, a large number visited the camp for the purpose of looking over the field. The result of this inspection was the organization, early in Sep- tember, of a stock company, composed of a number of the leading men of the city, for the publication of a morning paper which should <3- \iL^ HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. 255 meet the growing demands of the city. The capital stock was fixed at $15,000, and at the first meeting enough was subscribed to justify the prompters in purchasing the material. The type and presses were purchased in Chicago, and on the 21st of October, 1879, the first copy of the Daily Herald made its appear- ance. It was also a success from its inception. Starting modestly, with a seven-columuypaper, it was compelled, on the 17th of December, to enlarge to eight columns, and then, on the 3d of February, to make a still further enlarge- ment of a column. The business of the camp forced it to nearly double the material pur- chased within the first six months. A com- plete bindery was attached to the establish- ment ; the newest styles of machinery and type were procured, and the entire oflSce put in a condition to compare favorably with the best printing establishments in the country. At the end of a year, 30 per cent on the capital stock was divided among the stockholders, the undi- vided profits amounting to an additional 50 per cent. The Herald, like the Chronicle, is Stalwart Republican in politics, and has ac- quired a reputation second to none fn the State, which fact is equally true of all its competit- ors. Like the Chronicle, it has from its incep- tion been under the control and management of practical men, trained to the business from j'outh, and, like the Chronicle, owes its success to this fact, as well as to the liberality of its stockholders, all of whom are gentlemen of business training, who have been content to leave the management unmolested — a rare thing among newspaper stockholders. The success which had attended the Chronicle and Herald, and the fact that both these papers were Republican in politics, suggested to prominent Democrats the propriety of establish- ing a Democratic paper in Leadville. The originator of the idea was Mr. John M. Barret, the present editor of the Omaha Herald, then manager of the Rocky Mountain News, one of the most talented and versatile journalists in the State, who had in the short space of two j-ears forced himself into prominence, not only in his profession, but as a leader of his political party, whose word went very far toward being the law to his party. He succeeded in inter- esting Hon. W. A. H. Loveland, the owner of the News, in the project, and a stock company was formed, Mr. Loveland taking the principal interest, the remainder being taken by promi- nent Democrats of Leadville. Like the Herald, the stockholders were composed of the best men of the city, of a character which would in- sure the respectability of the paper. A com- plete outfit was purchased, and on the 1st of January, 1880, the paper, christened the Demo- crat, made its appearance, in size and make-up the same as the Denver dailies. The first editor was Mr. M. J. Gavisk, at the present time Private Secretary to Gov. Pitkin. The health of Mr. Gavisk did not permit him to re- main in the high altitude of Leadville, and after a few months of service he was compelled to resign, greatly to the regret, not only of his associates in business, but of his contempora- ries. The general management of the paper was vested in Mr. Barret, who directed its policy from Denver, and the business manage- ment in Mr. W. P. Robinson, a gentleman of large experience in the News- office at Denver. During the memorable strike, a difierence arose between the management and the Leadville stockholders in regard to the proper method of treating the efforts of the miners, and the ex- citing scenes which ensued. The result was an entire change of management. The Love- land party disposed of their stock, Mr. James T. Smith, now the editor of the Denver News, resigned, and the entire control passed into the hands of Leadville parties. The editorial con- trol passed into the hands of Col. J. L. Bar- tow, who still retains the position. The Democrat has from the start maintained itself well, and has been conducted with marked ability, all of its successive editors having been gentlemen of long journalistic experience and pre-eminent ability. The next newspaper venture was the Times, an afternoon paper, started during the summer of 1 880 by a stock company, under the man- agement of Mr. George P. Wanless. The en- terprise was short-lived, Mr. Wanless not hav- ing the necessary experience, and the field be- ing so completely filled by the Chronicle, and early in 1881 the material was sold for a news- paper enterprise in Durango. There have been several other attempts at journalism in Leadville, but there is a limit to all things, and while no communit}' in the West is more liberal in the distribution of newspaper patronage, the three dailies cover the ground so thoroughly that there has been 't^ J^l liL^ 256 HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. small opportunities for profitable investment in smaller enterprises. The Zeitung, a German weekly, the Monday Morning News, the Carbon- ate Gamp, and several other ventures have been established, and have successively dropped out of sight. The gentlemen now connected with the press of the city, in responsible positions, and who will doubtless continue, all being large owners in the papers they respectively represent, are C. C. Davis, editor and proprietor of the Chron- icle ; J. L. Bartow, editor, and W. F. Kobinson, business manager, of the Democrat ; R. Gr. Dill, manager and editor, W. P. Newhard, superin- tendent, and F. H. Conant, mining editor, of the Serald. To the press of Leadville the city owes much of its present prosperity, and it is gratifying to record the fact that nowhere in the country are the newspapers more liberallj' sustained. CHAPTER XIII. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES AND INSTITUTIONS. A COMMUNITY like that of Leadville, composed in the main of business men, fresh from the marts of the East, in which all of the conveniences of the nineteenth century were in operation, could not remain long in the rapidly growing camp without taking steps to secure these conveniences in their new location, and, consequently, very early in the history of Leadville pressure was exerted to bring into the city such public conveniences and institutions as would facilitate business. Among the first demanded was THE TELEGRAPH. The enterprise of the Western Union Com- pany was prompt in meeting the demand, and in the fall of 1878, the camp was in communi- cation with the outside world, and the quota- tions of silver and exchange, instead of coming from Denver by mail, were delivered directly to those interested. The construction of the line, and the keeping it in repair, was a work of great difilculty. The wire was brought from Alma across the Mosquito Pass, at an elevation of 13,000 feet above sea level, and required constant attention, owing to the fre- quent storms which visit that elevation. The work of repairing the line was fraught with great danger, and frequently the operators would be caught iu a storm, and only find their way back with the greatest difficulty. On one occasion, one of the most daring of the con- struction corps made the necessary repairs during a storm of such fierceness, that he was compelled to work his way across the pass, a distance of nearly two miles, by crawling along flat on the ground, in order to save himself from being blown over the precipice. The con- nections of the railroads, however, gave the city another line to the Bast, and the frequent interruptions which characterized the earlier history of telegraphy in Leadville are at end. Four operators, with several messenger boys, are now kept constantly employed, and the office is next in importance to that of Den- ver, and is one of the most profitable in the State. During 1880, the receipts of the oflflce were more than $40,000, and the service of press reports alone, which commenced on the 1st of January of thatj'^ear, amounted to 1,496,342 words. THE BANKS. The banks of Leadville are institutions of which any city of the size might well feel proud, and are doing a business which is the clearest indication of the prosperity of the citj'. The first bank to commence operations in Leadville was the Miners' Exchange, which was organized and commenced business on the 15th of April, 1878. The bank is a partnership, composed of Messrs. James B. McFerran, G-eorge Trimble and A. V. Hunter, with a cash capital of $25,000. The bank has done a fine business from its inception, and is justly con- sidered one of the safest and most reliable in- stitutions in the city. In October, 1878, the Bank of Leadville was organized, with a cash capital of $50,000, the of- ficers being H. A. W. Tabor, President ; August Rische, Vice President, and George E. Fisher, TWIN LAKES, NEAR LEADVILLE. MANITOU AND PIKES PEAK. ^kv HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 357 Cashier. Under the active personal manage- ment of Mr. Fisher, the bank has grown to be one of the most solid institutions of the West. The business of 1880 is a fair indication of its standing, and was as follows : Deposits re- ceived, $61,000,000 ; checks paid, $31,000,000 ; exchange bought, $16,000,000 ; exchange sold, $15,000,000 ; telegraph transfer paid, $1,334,- 000 ; telegraph transfer sold, $412,000. At the opening of the present year there were $50,000 of surplus funds on hand. The First National Bank was organized on the 1st of April, 1879, with a capital of $60,- 000, and with J. T. Eshelman as President; F. A. Eaynolds, Vice President, and John W. ZoUars, Cashier. Subsebuently Mr. Eshelman resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. Raynolds. The business of the bank is large, and con- stantly increasing. The surplus on hand Jan- uary 1, 1881, was $15,000. During the summer of 1879, Messrs. L. M. and L. J. Smith, two gentlemen well known in the financial circles of the State, started the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank, with a cash capital of $25,000. Mr. L. J. Smith is the resident manager of the institution, which, like everj' other business enterprise properly con- ducted in Leadville, has been a handsome suc- cess from the start. In June, 1880, the City Bank was organized under the State laws, as a stock company, in which a large number of the leading citizens of Leadville are stockholders. The capital is $50,000, and the business since its establish- ment has been of the most satisfactory character. The officers are : C. C. Howell, President; James Streeter, Vice President, and S. M. Strickler, Cashier. THE WATER COMPANY. Very soon after the growth of the city com- menced, the difficulty of getting water for do- mestic purposes, and the danger from fire, on ac- count of the character of a majoritj' of the build- ings, attracted public attention, and a perma- nent source of water supply was demanded. A company was formed early in 1878, and in the fall of that year commenced operations. The water is taken from Big Evans Gulch, across which, at a distance of two miles from the city, a dam has been constructed three hundred and eighty feet long, thirty feet wide and thirty feet deep. From this dam eight-inch pipes conduct the water to the reservoir on Carbonate Hill, located something over one hundred and fifty feet above the average level of the city. The capacity of the res^voir is 60,000 gallons, and in order to guard against possible accident, a well has been dug in the edge of California Gulch, with a capacity of 30,000 gallons and fed bj' a living stream from which, in case of neces- sity, water is pumped into the reservoir by a twenty horse power engine and a Knowles pump. There are at present about ten miles of mains in the city and along Carbonate Hill, many of the mines being supplied with water from this source. The pressure is so heavj' that when the reservoir is full the water is forced through the pipes of the fire apparatus to the height of one hundred and twenty-five feet, and fires, oc- curring in the most inflammable buildings, have been dashed out even after having obtained ab- solute control upon the buildings. The city is supplied for fire purposes through forty-eight hydrants, properly located so as to bring all of the principal portions of the city under the con- trol of the water. Several hundred private dwellings are supplied with water by the com- pany. The company at its first meeting select- ed as President Mr. J. S. D. Manville, Secretarj^ and Treasurer, H. W. Lake, and Superintendent, Joseph C. Cramer. These officers have been re-elected at each meeting of the company, and still have the management of the company. The company is now contemplating improve- ments in its works, and before another year has elapsed the water system of Leadville will be one of the most complete in the country. THE GAS WORKS. The formation of the Leadville Gas Com- pany dates back to March 18, 1879, when the articles of incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State. In the following May ground for the works was broken, and in Au- gust a contract was entered into with the city for illuminating the streets. The incorporators were Dennis Sullivan, C. L. Hall and George R. Fisher, Messrs Sullivan and Fisher being respectively President and Secretary and Treas- urer of the company for the first year. The work of construction was pushed as rapidly as possible, and on Tuesday November 18, 1879, the first gas jets in the history of Leadville illuminated the Tabor Opera House. Until the railroad reached Leadville in Julj', 1880. the coal had to be brought from Canon City by fe>. 258 HISTORY or LAKE COUNTY. wagon, at an enormous expense, but the patron- age of the company justified the outlay, and nothing was allowed to interfere with the ob- jects and progress of the institution. Such an obstacle as the hauling of coal by a wagon over a hundred miles would have been insuperable in the East — here it was but a stimulus to ex- ertion, and the present financial stafiding of the company is a most ample justification of the extra expense at first incurred. The city has ninety street lamps, and something over three hundred" private dwellings are supplied with gas. The daily manufacture and consumption is in the neighborhood of sixty thousand feet. The quality of the gas, since certain imperfec- tions in the construction have been remedied, is excellent; the lights being, on an average, fifteen candle power, sometimes reaching as high as twenty-one and twenty-two. The Com- pany is at present officered as follows : Presi- dent, H. A. W. Tabor, Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Bush, and Superintendent, Charles L. Hall. It is said to be one of the handsomest paying institutions in the city, and is certainly one of which every citizen of Leadville is proud. THE TELEPHONE. The Telephone Exchange was organized early in 1879, with H. A.W. Tabor as President, and in a very short time became one of the permanent and paying institutions of the city. There are now in operation over sixtj- miles of wire, connecting in the neighborhood of three hundred instruments, and nowhere in the United States is this important invention put to greater or more constant use. All of the mines and smelters have telephone connections, and from morning till night and from night till morning there is scarcely an instant during which the warning of the little bell is not heard in some portion of the city. All of the instruments are of the latest, improved devices, and the facilita- tions for business in a city liite Leadville be- tween such far distant points is one of the most important conveniences of the city. The com- pany is at present under the management of Mr.'H. C. Clay. THE EIRE DEPARTMENT. The Fire Department of Leadville is another of those institutions, demanded by the necessi- ties of the situation, which have grown to full stature in the briefest possible time, and it is not saj'ing too much to say that for complete- ness, thoroughness of organization, perfection of discipline and general efBciencj' it has no superior in the State. But few large fires have occurred in the citj', but those would have de- veloped into extensive conflagrations had it not been for the activity, energy and experience of the gallant young men composing the de- partment. The first organization was that of the Harri- son Hook and Ladder Companj", which was effected in June, 1878, The truck was presented to the company by Mr. Edwin Harrison, of St. Louis, in honor of whom it was named. For six months this was the only company in the city, the water works not being completed, rendering the organization of hose companies unnecessary. During that time, however, there were no fires of importance. On the 15th day of March, 1879, a number of citizens held a meeting and organized the Tabor Hose Company, Mr. H. A. W. Tabor pre- senting the company with a hose carriage, and Mr. Mitchell Dawes presenting them with a jumper. The company has done excellent service, and is a favorite with the citizens, especially those whose property has been saved from destruction by them. During the fall of 1879, the Bush Hose Com- pany was organized from among the residents of Leadville, formerly members of the fire de- partment of Denver, most of whom were from the favorite Archer Hose of that city. The company was in existence but a few months when thej' disbanded, most of the members be- ing young business men who could not spare from their business tjie time necessary to de- vote to the affairs of the company. The organization of the Humphreys Hose Company, named after the Mayor of the city at the time, followed closely upon the disband- ment of the Bush hose, the organization bear- ing date August 6, 1880. This company is still in existence, the entire department consist- ing of two hook and ladder trucks, both in charge of the Harrisons, and two hose com- panies, each having a carriage and a jumper. The city has on hand nearly 6,000 feet of serviceable hose, and is ready at any time to meet and conquer anj' fire. Two or three times during the past year serious conflagrations have occurred, and have been kept under by the efforts of the department, which exhibits :^ ^k^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 259 a courage, energy, and perfect submission to discipline rarely excelled even by the paid de- partments of Eastern cities. The fire alarm telegraph system was put in operation during 1879, and has proved a valu- able assistance to the extinguishment of fires. There are nine boxes properly distributed through the city. The Chief of the fire department is paid a fixed salary, and with the assistance of his as- sistant, also under salary, acts as Fire Warden, having a care to the proper construction of buildings with reference to risk from fire, and all the other methods of protecting the city. Leadville has been singularly free from the disastrous conflagrations to which mining towns so frequently fall victims, a fact that can only be explained by the unusual efficiency of its fire department. THE MILITARY. Among the most prominent of the military institutions of Leadville are its military com- panies, which are a just source of pride to the city. The list of companies comprises the Tabor Light Cavalry, the Pitkin Cavalrj-, the Carbonate Kifles, the Wolfe Tone Guards, Com- pany E, C. N. G., and the Union Veteran Asso- ciation, an organization of Veterans of the late war, who have formed a military companj' from their ranks. In point of seniority, the Wolfe Tone G-uards are first, having been organized in July, 1879. The companj' has some sixty active members on the roll, is complete^ equipped, and is one of the best companies in the camp. During the strike, owing to some misunderstanding, they were disarmed by order of the Governor, and in a fit of natural indignation took steps looking to disbandment. The error was discovered in time, however, and the arms were restored. In the fall of 1879, when the Ute troubles arose in the White Kiver Keservation, an organization, effected for the express purpose of service in the Indian country, took the name of the Car- bonate Kifles. When the excitement passed away, the organization was formed into a per- manent military company and regularly mus- tered into the State Service. This company is also fully equipped and officered, and numbers about sixty active members. In April, 1880, the Pitkin Light Cavalry was organized and the officers elected. Being informed, upon application for muster, that the condition of the military fund was such that the State could not arm or equip them, they determined to arm and equip themselves, and carried out the resolution. The flrst mounted drill was ordered for the llth of June. The great strike was then in progress, and on the morning of that day a meeting of citizens de- termined on arming the citizens and making the parade described in another chapter. Arms were purchased by telegraph in Denver, but it was feared that if they were brought into town by the usual routes and unprotected, they would be liable to seizure by the strikers. Capt. Carpenter, who was present, at once tendered the services of his company to bring the arms into camp, and that afternoon the Pitkin Cavalry made the toilsome march over the mountains to Alma, where the arms were met, and immediately commenced the return march, arriving in Leadville late in the after- noon, just in time to take part in the threaten- ing proceedings, and to assist materially in stopping the riotous disposition of the mob and in clearing the streets. The company comprises some fifty men, well armed and equipped, with a showy uniform, and is justly considered one of the crack companies of the State. During the winter of 1879-80, an effort was made to organize the Tabor Miners' Guards, but for various reasons the effort was a failure, though it was still in active contemplation at the time of the strike. The occurrence of this event brought matters to a head, and during those troublous times the company effected a permanent organization as the Tabor Cavalrv. The company was uniformed at the expense of Lieut. Gov. Tabor, and has gained an excellent reputation for drill and discipline. The Union Veterans, organized originally for charitable purposes, have a complete militarj' organization within the order, which, though neither uniformed nor equipped, is ready at any time to respond to the call of duty. The organizations of the several companies on the 1st of January, 1880, were as follows : Wolfe Tone Guards — Captain, Chris. Caffery ; First Lieutenant, Jeremiah O'Neill ; Second Lieutenant, John Shehan. Carbonate Rifles — Captain, William P. Miner ; First Lieutenant, C. E. Paddock ; Second Lieutenant, Benjamin F. Gardner. Pitkin Light Cavalry — Captain, Randolph n^ 1^ 260 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. Carpenter ; First Lieutenant, J. C. F. Chris- tian ; Second Lieutenant, Frank W. Owers. Tabor Cavalry — Captain, J. D. McCarthy ; First Lieutenant, J. D. Lyles ; Second Lieu- tenant, Peyton R. Hull. In addition to the above, Company B, Third C. N. G., also formed during the strike, but not yet uniformed or equipped, is oflBcered with Francis Rose as Captain ; J. M. Wood, First Lieutenant ; and J. D. Bristol, Second Lieutenant. The company has about sixty active members. It will thus be seen that Leadville, upon de- mand, can supply not fewer than 300 men to the military service of the State, without taking into consideration the Union Veterans, who, if necessity requires, can furnish 150 more. At the present writing, owing to the threatening aspect of affairs in the Indian country, it seems not at all improbable that they may be called on. STREET RAILW^AT. Several attempts have .been made during the past two years to organize a street railway company, the necessity for constant travel be- tween distant points by a large portion of the population rendering the success of such an enterprise absolutely certain. All, however, have failed to come to a definite conclusion ex- cept the last, which is now at work making preparations to lay track, the ties being already on the ground, and the iron and rolling stock being on its way from the East. It is antici- pated that the road will be in operation by early fall, probably by the time this reaches the eye of the public. HERDIC COACHES. On the 23d of May, 1881, an organization was effected of a Herdic Coach Company. The company is composed of the best business men of the city, under the supervision of old Peter Herdic himself, and orders have been sent for the construction of the coaches. This com- pany is also expected to be in actual operation early in the fall. THE MINING CLUB. In May, 1881, the first steps were taken to- ward securing the organization of a club com- posed of our leading business men, miners, professional men and capitalists, for the pur- pose of providing a place for mutual social in- tercourse, and interchange of opinions on mat- ters of public and local import. The project met with favor, and the amount necessary to inaugurate the enterprise speedily subscribed. The plan proposed embraces a reading-room and librarj', billiard room, smoking room, pri- vate reception rooms, and a restaurant. The name selected is the " Leadville Mining Club," and the membership includes all the leading miners, mill operators, smelters, professional men and merchants in the city. There is no place in the United States, of the size, which embraces so many men of scientific attain- ments and professional learning as Leadville, and the club, when once in operation, will form an arena for the interchange of thought and experience unexcelled by any institution of its character in the United States. As an institu- tion of Leadville, it will attain especial prom- inence. •^ i ^V /O'/^^ ;;^W^^:^^ liL HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 363 CHAPTER XIV. THE RAILROADS. TO the visitor to Leadville for the iirst time, nothing is more wonderful than the rail- road approaches to the city in the clouds, nor is there anything that can more justly ex- cite surprise and admiration. When it is taken into consideration that, in coming from Denver, the route is almost entirely through a mountain region, and in gaining a distance in an air line of but a trifle over a hundred miles, an eleva- tion of five thousand feet is attained, requiring an average grade of about fifty feet to the mile, and the topograph}' of the route fre- quently requiring a grade many times as steep, the wonder is — not that the railroads should have been built, but that they should even have been conceived. But- the enterprise and courage of Colorado railroad men is proverbial, and what was by many looked upon as an in- superable objection to the construction of a railroad, was regarded as a matter of slight •moment to the men in charge of the construc- tion, and the railroads leading to Leadville now stand monuments to the engineering skill of their promoters. The first road to commence stretching out toward Leadville was the Denver, South Park & Pacific. This road had been projected . sev- eral years before the advent of the Carbonate camp, the original intention being to traverse the South Park, tap the rich mineral sections of Southern Utah, and eventually reach the Pacific coast. But the scheme was too vast for the comprehension of the Colorado of that day, and it is, therefore, not surprising that the project was allowed to slumber for years, and almost until it had passed from the minds of men. When it was revived, in the summer of 1877, people were still incredulous, and Gov. Evans, the projector, had need of all the perti- nacity in working out an idea for which he is distinguished, to enable him to convince the doubters that the way to accomplish an object is to go to work. The primary object at that time was to build the road up the Platte Canon to the timber region, which, it was hoped, would furnish business enough' to pay the expenses of construction further on, until the mines of Utah should be reached.. The mines that would be discovered as the road progressed were also counted on for business, but no such discovery as that of Leadville was even dreamed of The camp was just commencing to be heard from as a new locality of some promise, but that it would become a bullion producer of any mag- nitude was not considered within the range of possibilities. Work on the road progressed, however, and, in the early spring of 1878, the road had penetrated a short distance into the canon. Then it began to be learned that Lead- ville was to be a factor in the progress of the State, and the most strenuous efforts were made to push the road on. By the middle of the summer, it had reached a point sufficiently dis- tant from Denver to make it an object to ship goods destined for Leadville by j-ail, and from that moment the success of the enterprise was ensured. The road had more business than it could handle, notwithstanding the constant purchase of rolling-stock. The construction was paid for out of the earnings, and still there was enough left to pay handsome divi- dends to the stockholders, and, when the road was finally sold to the Union Pacific, in 1880, every man who had had the courage to invest in the enterprise, received tjis reward in the shape of a magnificent return. In the route up the caiion the greatest en- gineering difficulties ever encountered were over- come. Whole faces of cliflfs were torn away in order to make a road-bed by tlie side of the river ; in some places the course of the river itself was changed, and the rushing torrent turned into new channels, and when the divide between the canon and the South Park was reached, instead of seeking a feasible route through the ravines, a bold rush was made for the hill itself, the track doubling back upon itself at such a sharp curve that it is difficult to make passengers passing over the road for the first time believe that the track which they see far below them on the mountain side, is the one over which they have just passed. ^'l IV .^ 264 HISTORY OF LAKE COUXTY. The scenery along the route is one continual panorama of beautiful prospects. First, the fertile valley of the Platte, dotted with farm- houses and well cultivated fields, and smiling with plenty. Then the rugged walls of the Platte Canon, with giant mountains towering up on either side. Then the sharp ascent of Kenosha Hill ; then the broad expanse of the South Park bursting upon the vision so sud- denly that the observer for the first time is rarely able to repress an exclamation of delight. From first to last there is always something to charm the eye. The road reached Buena Vista early in the spring of 1880, and here its mission so far as Leadville was concerned, was at an end, as the right of way up the Arkansas Biver had already been secured by the Rio Grande, which road had for more than a year been engaged in a bitter contest with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6, which also claimed the route under an agreement with the Rio Grande, and had actually graded the road bed a great part of the way between the Grand Canon of the Arkansas and Leadville. The history of the Rio Grande extension to Leadville is not nearly so eventful as that of the South Park, but it also has been charac- terized by an energy deserving of credit. ^With the Rio Grande road the most difficult portion of the route was in the Grand Canon of the Arkansas. Had this been open to them, there is no doubt in the world that it would have been the first to reach Leadville. But accord- ing to the terms of a contract with the Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa Fe road, that company had certain rights in the canon which they pro- ceeded to enforce, taking possession of portions of the canon, and constructing the grade be- tween the western mouth of the canon and LeadviUe. The grade reached to a point with- in a few miles of Leadville, during the summer of 1879, and the people were looking forward to a speedy connection with the East by rail, when they were enjoined from proceeding any farther. During the previous year, the canon itself had been the bone of contention, and both companies had held possession of portions of the line by armed force. During the winter of 1879-80, however, a legal decision was ren- dered which gave the Rio Grande the right to build, upon the payment to its broad-gauge rival of the money expended in making the grade. A board of commissioners appointed by the court made the award, and upon its ap- proval by the court, the sum agreed upon was promptly paid, and the Rio Grande, called when first constructed " the baby railroad," but which has now grown to gigantic dimensions, com- menced work in earnest. Track-laying pro- gressed at the rate of between one and two miles per day. Two shifts of men worked night and day ; material was brought in with the utmost rapidity, the construction and ma- terial trains having the right of the road over all others, and early in Juh', the first passenger train ran into Leadville. Owing to an arrange- ment between the two roads, the South Park trains use the Rio Grande track from Buena Vista to Leadville. The Rio Grande Company had no sooner reached Leadville than they commenced look- ing ahead for further extensions. The towns of Kokomo and Robinson had come into prom- inence as the centers of a valuable mining sec- tion, and without stopping the road was pushed right on over an exceedingly diflflcult route, reaching Robinson during the winter of 1880-81 , and a still further extension to Breckenridge is now in contemplation. The new and valuable developments of the Eagle River country next attracted the attention of the company, and steps were immediately taken to occupy the line leading thereto. This line was graded to within a short distance of the Tennessee Pass during the summer and fall of 1880, but the deep snows of this elevated re- gion made it impossible to progress very far during the winter. The grade down the Eagle on the western slope of the great continental divide is also very difficult, and the work neces- sarily progresses very slowly. It is being steadi- ly pushed forward, however, and if not complet- ed during the present year, will reach the Eagle River mining district early in 1882. From thence it is the intention of the company to push right on down the Eagle, across the In- dian reservation, into Southern Utah, connect- ing with the Southern Utah Railroad, of which it now owns the controlling interest, making the grandest mountain system of railroads in the world. The importance of these mountain extensions of the Rio Grande Railroad can scarcely be overestimated. They will develop a section of country equal in extent to all of the present thickly settled portion of Colorado ^l fk^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 265 and rich beyond computation not only in min- eral but in agricultural resources. The fact that they have secured an absolute control of the rich mining districts of Southern Utah will also be of immense benefit to Colorado as, without doubt, a large amount of the ore pro- duced in that section will be brought to this State for treatment. The roads leading to Leadville have both been singularly free from accident. The pre- diction has frequently been made that an acci- dent of serious proportions would occur upon Kenosha Hill, but 30,000 passengers have passed over the hill and not a life has been lost. The only serious accident on the Rio G-rande occurredin the month of May, 1881 — a collision between a freight and a construction train, caused by the carelessness of a conductor. The hardships, and frequently perils, at- tending the construction of railroads in the mountains cannot be better illustrated than by an incident of recent occurrence. The Rio Grande has large numbers of surveyors constantly employed in running the lines for its extensions. One of these parties, while engaged in running the line for the Utah ex- tension across the Indian reservation, were surprised by a party of Utes, who sur- rounded them, took away their wagons and instruments and turned them back, threatening them with death if they ventured to return in that direction. The men started back, subsist- ing upon deer meat, the Indians having been merciful enough to permit them to retain their rifles. Upon arriving at the Roaring Forks Creek they found the torrent so swollen with the melting snows that it was impossible to cross, and their only hope lay in waiting until assistance should reach them from the other side. For several days they waited in vain, and could see the gradual approaches of the warlike savages, bj' whom they undoubtedly would have been killed. In the mean time they began to suffer the pangs of hunger, for the deer meat which had been their sole means of sub- sistence had palled upon their stomachs, and nauseated them to such a degree that they were utterly unable to retain it. Days passed on and still thej' were unable to find any means of crossing the river, and the alternatives of starva- tion or throwing themselves upon the mercies of the Utes began to stare them in the face, when they were discovered by a solitary hunt- er on the other side of the river. Their condi- tion was made known to him, and he at once made his way to Leadville and informed the company. A party was organized for their re- lief, and started out with tools and lumber for making a boat. They were found where they had been discovered, and after two weeks of hor- rible suffering, emaciated to shadows, having barely kept life in their frames through the smallest quantities possible of the nauseating deer meat. This is but a single instance. Others might be cited in which surveyors have wandered off the trail and been lost, only to be found when suffering had reduced them to skeletons, and they had abandoned all hope and resigned themselves to their fate. The traveler passing over these wonderful roads admires the daring feats accomplished and the ingenuity of their construction, but he cannot know what fearful risks have been encountered by the pioneers who, with axe and compass and transit, have selected a path for the locomotive through the trackless wilderness. To the engineer belongs a credit which is rarely accorded him. None but brave men can encounter the difHculties of their profespon in the mountain regions of Col- orado. Modest and unassuming, they have yet achieved as much for the new State as many of the so-called pioneers. •^S r- 9 "V ^ s k* 266 HISTOKY OF LAKE COUNTY. CHAPTER XV. THE CHURCHES. THOSE who consider Leadville the caldron in which wickedness of every description seeths and boils, without a single redeeming circumstance, have not taken into account the efforts of those noble men, ever to be found in the van of civilization, straggling with wicked- ness and earnest in their endeavors to ameli- orate the condition of mankind. Too often but scantily rewarded for labor of the most exhausting description, they work on. over- coming diflBculties that to less zealous minds appear almost insuperable. Not a mining camp springs into existence that the preacher does not soon make his appearance, and in which his influence is not speedily felt. And there is no class which is more liberal- in contributing to the support of the preacher according to their means than the miners. The churches of Leadville have grown with the city itself There has never been a time in its Jbistory when there has not been a preacher to minister to the last moments of the dying, or to labor with those who, having forgotten the lessons of their youth, have given themselves to the vicious temptations of their surroundings. There is little of what the world calls piety in a mining camp. The hardy miner, whose j'ears of labor have been spent among the wildest and most inspiring of nature's solitude, in his familiarity with the broadest manifestations of God's power, has learned to look with something like contempt upon the narrow limitations of creeds, for he sees clearly in them the handiwork of men, but he recognizes in the self-sacrifice which brings men and women of delicate train- ing and fine culture into the abode of lawless- ness and crime for the sole purpose of laboring for the good of their fellow-men and of society, something akin to that godliness which he has learned to love and honor, and the clergyman is therefore always welcome, and always re- ceives a helping hand in his time of need. The story of the churches of Leadville is full of interest, as it marks the era when the city commenced to put on stability, and number- less pleasing incidents have been recorded showing the interest felt in all movements look- ing to the establishment in the midst of the Rocky Mountains of the temples of God. It is impossible to give all of these, for they alone would fill a volume, but a brief history is given of each organization. CATHOLIC CHURCH. The first religious ceremonies or services ever held in the Rockies, in this vicinity, or, in fact, in any portion of the vast West, were held, through the zeal of its missionaries (some of whom have become famous in history), by rep- resentatives of the Catholic Church, who, before other white men thought of coming here, were sowing the seed of Christianity in the soul of the Indian. This probably explains the fact that the Catholics were the first to hold divine wor- ship in this vicinity. When the California Gulch gold fever broke out, and brought throngs of men from the East, in 1860, a Catholic priest — Rev. Father Machebceuf — appeared on the field, and reminding the miners that gold was not the onlj' object they should thirst for, pro- ceeded to celebrate the first mass in this sec- tion of the Rocky chain. He labored assidu- ously and did much good, paying yearly visits to the camp, remaining several weeks each time. Iji the year 1875, nearlj' six years ago, Father Robinson, of Denver, then only thirty years of age, was sent to Fairplay, just across the range, and one of the duties aligned him was a monthly visit to California Gulch and Oro, his services being held at the latter place. His first mass in this vicinity was celebrated in the house of Mr. Thomas Starr. A chapel was erected at Oro, which was used until the discov- er}' of carbonates turned the eye of the public to Leadville, which then (1878) consisted of a few log cabins. In the month of February, 1 878, Father Robinson was sent to this city, where he found about twenty -five members, but so rapidly did his congregation increase that in the course of a few weeks a church was erected on the corner of East Third and Spruce streets — the first place of public worship in the citj'. ^7 ^^'^m^'^''^'- ^ X ^ ^ ^^ . ^;i B wj^ ^H ^H 1** '^^ ^^^^i^ ^gg^^p '1..^ A'^S ^^r ^»d ^^B W , ■^^M ^^s i 1 "' ? i:7& ''^ ^p A^ ^W-r^ "^m ^p^ f^Hli |fepA ^ / M.fi ^^^hBhI ^H^^HHJ 1^^^^ '' *^^»^ ^^m H||^ HHH ^m| i^~ ^■^ ^H ^R 1 pt'v ^P . ^H ^H s ^* ^^H ^^^S ^^s ^9 ff l^fe^^^^^ ^^SJ ^mM ^m ^H i^ ^ 9^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ \ ity^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^ p-f .^f w ^i^ p^ ^f ^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 267 Although it was then thought the church had been made sufficiently large to accommodate all Catholics of the vicinity for several years, it was soon found to be inadequate, and steps were immediately taken to build another and a larger edifice. The subscriptions proving to be larger than anticipated, the present " Church of the Annunciation" — the finest edifice in the State — was commenced in October, 1879, and is now completed. Next to the church is the residence of the pastor, which, like the church, is of brick. Both buildings — the house 'and church, and furnishings — have cost about 840,000, and, a fact creditable to the mem- bers of the church, are entirely paid for. The church, with the gallery, will seat about one thousand persons comfortably, and, in a case of emergency, twelve hundred persons can be accommodated. In November, 1879, the many duties devolv- ing upon Father Robinson became so onerous that the services of an assistant was rendered necessary, and Rev. Father Walsh was sent here, he remaining until the arrival of Rev. Father Lawrence Keating, who, as well as his principal, is beloved by the twelve hundred parishioners. St. Vincent's Hospital, in this city, was started by Father Robinson, for which fact the public owe him a debt of gratitude. Father Robinson was born in Lake County, 111., and is- now thirt5--six years of age. He commenced his education for the priesthod at Milwaukee, graduating at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. BAPTIST CHUEOH. The first services held by any members of this denomination in Leadville occurred in the fall of 1877, Miss Ida Cole being the leading spirit, and to her and a few other ladies belongs the credit of being the first actively engaged in this good work — they forming the nucleus of the church which was soon afterward established. In the spring of 1878, Rev. A. L. Vail, of Colo- rado Springs, preached a sermon in the Carbon- ate Camp — the first one in the history of the camp from a Baptist divine. This reverend gentleman remained' in Leadville during the summer following, and during his stay a church was organized, in the month of August, 1878, with about fourteen members. In the spring of 1879 occurred the rush to Leadville, which brought among others, Messrs. Bowker, Stone, Raymond, Hersley, Haynor, O'Brien, De Mat- tos, Dimock and others, all former members of the Baptist Church, who . immediately set to work to strengthen the association. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. C. F. Reed, who held services in the high school building, on the comer of West Second and Spruce streets. Mr. Reed's stay was a short one, and upon his departure Dr. Bowker, who had displayed excellent qualities as a worker and a leader, was, in April, 1879, chosen acting pastor, and in that position he officiated until August, 1879, when Rev. L. B. Plummer, of Massachusetts, was called as regular pastor. In the month of May of the past year, Rev. W. T. Fleenor accepted the position of pastor, and ser\'ed most acceptably until December 12, when Rev. C. C. Marston, of Clinton, Wis., ar- rived in the city. The society in this city now numbers sixty- five — a good showing, is in good standing financially, and possesses a neat and handsome church on Bast Seventh street, which was erected at a cost of $4,000; The society, it will be seen, is a flourishing one, and is to be con- gratulated upon the fact that it possesses some of the most highly honored residents of the city. THE METHODIST CHURCH. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Leadville was organized by Thomas A. Uzzell, a young man just from Indiana Asbury Univer- sity, February 1, 1878. At that time there was no religious society in the j'oung mining camp. Mr. Uzzell came over from Fairplay, where he was then stationed, secured a small log cabin, just in the rear of what is now the Grand Hotel, in which to hold religious services. He then went to the few families living in the camp, and to the saloons and gambling houses, and invited the people to church. At the first serv- ice the house was crowded to overflowing. These services were kept up every evening for some weeks, when a society was organized of about ten members, and a Sabbath school of about thirty. While these meetings were in progress, a subscription paper was passed by the young pastor and his brother, who had come over from Fairplay to help him, for the purpose of building a suitable house of worship, and $2,000 was subscribed. Almost every man in the camp put his name down, either for money or work. William H. Stevens gave four :f" '1^ 368 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. lots on the comer of Spruce and Third streets' where the church now stands, with $200 cash. Gov. Tabor gave the chandeliers. Capt. Cooper gave the bell. The church building, which was a neat little frame, 25x45, was begun March 1, 1878, and was dedicated free from debt July 5, 1878, by Presiding Elder J. H. Merritt. The building and its furniture cost the society about $2,000. About the time the church building was started, the society was turned out of the cabin, and from that time until the church was completed they worshiped in saloons, barns and private houses, wherever they could get a place. Mr. Uzzell had many funny experiences in establishing his church in Leadville. In soliciting aid for this new enter- prise, he stepped into a saloon on Chestnut street and stated his business. Every man, including the bartenders, put their name on the paper, with a handsome sum opposite. When all were through, one man said : " Now, Parson, have something to drink." " No," said the parson, " I never drink." " But," said the bum- mer, " we have patronized you, and you must patronize us, for we have no use for a preacher who will not drink." The parson again refused to drink, when the bummer seized him by the collar to compel him to drink, and there would have been a regular Peter Cartwright knock- down if the bartender had not interfered and helped the parson out of his difficulty. The same day an old miner saw Mr. Uzzell with his subscription paper, and learning from a friend what his intentions were, became very much excited, ran into a saloon and said, " The devil take the countrj', the Methodists are building a church." The bell was placed in its present position late one Saturday evening. But very few people in and about Leadville knew anything about it. Early on Sabbath morning the par- son seized hold of the rope, and Old Indepen- dence bell never got a worse shaking up than this one. The people were very much aston- ished, and thought that during the night they had wandered back to their homes in the States. One man was standing away up on the mount- ain, where the Iron Mine now is, when the first tone of the church bell fell on his ears. He dropped his pick, took off his hat and listened. Then turning to one of his comrades said, " Bob, 111 be darned if Jesus Christ hasn't come to Leadville, too." The church becoming too small, in June, 1879, an addition, 25x45, feet was built, and the whole church was seated with pews, put up in Den- ver. The rapidly increasing population made the church still far too small to accommodate those wanting to attend divine services, and in January, 1880, Rev. Uzzell added another ad- dition 20x45 feet. This being insufficient to accommodate the crowds who came to church, in August, 1880, another addition 20x30 feet was added. The church will now seat about 1,000 people, and is filled at every service. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lead- ville is now one of the best in the Colorado Conference. Its membership number 300, including some of the most devout and energetic workers in the country. No church in the State has more power or spirituality. The Sabbath school numbers about 300 and is a model school. PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The Presbyterian Church, on Fifth street, be- tween Harrison avenue and Pine, has one of the finest locations in the city, being within half a block of Harrison avenue and the court house and new post office. It was organized with thirteen members in June, 1878, by Revs. Shel- don Jackson, Lewis Hamilton and H. L. Jane- way. Mr. Janeway was placed in charge of the mission, his support coming from the Board of Home Missions. The present building was commenced in December, 1878, but was not completed until May, 1879, when the first serv- ice was held in it. In August, 1879, Mr. Jane- way was compelled to leave the field on account of his health, to the great regret of the congrega- tion, which had grown steadily under his minis- trations. During September of that year the pulpit was filled by Rev. H. B. Gage. In Octo- ber the church was without a Pastor. On the 1st of November Rev. H. W. Clagett, of St. Louis, Mo., who was at that time laboring as an evangelist, visited the church for the pur- pose of holding a meeting of two or three weeks, but with no thought at that time of making Leadville his home. The result of his visit, however, was a call being extended him by the church to become its Pastor. Mr. Clagett. after some deliberation, accepted the call, and is tlie present Pastor of the church. The historj' of this church has been one of uninterrupted prosperity from the time of its s,l it^ HISTOEY or LAKE COUNTY. 269 organization. In the little over two years of its existence, its membership has grown from 13 to 115 members. From the commence- ment of Mr. Clagett's ministry, it has been en- tirely self-supporting. During the past year the ladies of the church have purchased the parson- age property, at a cost of $1,350. It is one of the most comfortable cottages in the city, and located on Capitol Hill, in the finest residence part of Leadville. The church building has been completed at' a cost of about $3,000. It is lighted with gas, heated with furnaces, has a beautiful carpet on the floor, and is one of the handsomest church rooms in the State, and is crowded every Sunday. In thfe rear of the union building is the lecture room and the Pastor's study, both of which are very comfort- ably fitted up. Not least among the improve- ments made during the past year is the hand- some twelve-hundred-pound bell, whose clear, sweet notes, ringing out upon our mountain air every Sabbath morning, reminds its hearers of their Eastern homes. The church is out of debt. In the spring of 1881, Mr. Clagett was compelled to resign on account of the ill health of his wife. ST. George's church. St. George's Church ( Protestant Episcopal ) was first organized two years ago, services be- ing held in the old court house and the high school building, corner of Third and Spruce streets, by W. P. Miner, who was licensed by Kt. Rev. J. P. Spalding, D. D., as lay reader until such time as a regular clergyman could be obtained. Eev. C. H. Marshall, of George- town, took charge of the parish in September, 1879, but was compelled to resign on account of sickness in his family after a short pastorate of about three months. Rev. T. J. Maekay, of Central City, was called to the charge of the parish, and entered upon his duties December 12, 1879. The congregation since that time has worshiped in the Tabor Opera House, and has enjoyed a season of unprecedented success, large congregations assembling every Sunday, completely filling that beautiful edifice. The new church, at the corner of Fourth and Pine streets, was begun in the month of September, 1880, and is now rapidly approaching comple- tion. It will be the finest and largest church edifice of the denomination west of Omaha — save the Cathedral now in course of erection in Denver. The building is built of wood, gothic in design, and will accomodate 500 worshipers. The entire cost of the building when completed will not fall far short of $10,- 000, and the building committee, consisting of the Rector, A. J. Shouse, Senior Warden, and Thomas Kendrick, Junior Warden, may justly feel proud that they have such a beauti- ful and churchly edifice for such a small out- lay of monej'. The membership at present is about 150 communicants, and when the new church is completed the society will enter upon a new era of prosperity under the lead- ership of the present Rector, Rev. T. J. Maekay. -V l^ 370 HI8T0EY OF LAKE COUNTY. CHAPTER XVI. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN the natural sequence of events, the school- house closely follows the church. The missionaries olf the faith precede the teacher but a short time ; and as families are gathered together under the teachings of the G-ospel, they begin to think about the necessity of providing the means of education for their children. It is frequently the case in mining districts that the schoolhouse precedes the church, but this is only so when families have been formed in outside districts of no particular prominence ; but religion and education go hand in hand, and there is rarely any very great difference of time in their advent. The history of the schools in Leadville is as wonderful as that of any other department of the city. Amid all the rush and bustle of its early existence ; amid all the absorbing strife for wealth, and the exclusion of all distracting interests that might interfere with money- getting, children had no sooner commenced to make their appearance in the camp, than there was found some one to call attention to the fact, and to suggest that something should be done in the way of educating the children, and keeping them off the streets. Several efforts were made to secure aid in establishing a school without result; but those interested did not despair, and continued until success crowned their efforts. As they look upon the present school system, with a schoolhouse that is an ornament to the State, an efficient corps of teachers, and a progressive and efficient school board, they have the best of reasons for con- gratulating themselves upon those early efforts. Less than three years ago the population of what is now known as Lake County, before the division making Chaffee and Lake Counties was made, was so sparse, and there were so few children within a circuit of many miles, that the support of schools by the parents of these few Young Americas was simply out of the question. It is true that some of these children were taught the rudiments of an English education bj' older sisters or brothers, or by their fathers and mothers, but not until the month of February, 1878, was a school es- tablished, Mrs. A. K. Updegraff being the first teacher in the confines of ■v^hat is now Lead- ville. A little log cabin situated on Elm street, in the rear of the lot now occupied by the Grand Hotel, was secured bj' her, and there she educated the young mind of the youth which then resided along California G-ulch, which then was nearly the only ground in this vicinity being worked for mining purposes. Her scholars numbered about thirty ; but just about this time the first rush to Leadville was made, and among the many sturdy seekers for wealth who took up their residences here, and bored and delved in the hills on every side, were many men with families,, who desired that the proper educational facilities be secured for their children, who might better be employed in learning something to their advantage than in running about without care or restraint, and becoming familiar with the many glaring im- moralities and becoming affected with the many degrading influences of a mining camp. In accordance with the desires of these many new-comers, in the fall of 1878, the frame building on the corner of Spruce and West Second streets was erected, and the Misses Osborne and Larsh were secured as teachers hj Mr. Naylor, who was the County Superin- tendent. At that time there were about sixty enrolled pupils in the schools of Leadville. Immediately after the division which made Leadville the county seat ot'%ake County, Mr. Minor was appointed County Superintendent of Schools, taking his office in June, 1879, and serving until October of the same year, when Prof B. , F. Jay was elected by the people, and qualified immediately after election, for a term of two years, his term extending until January, 1882. Immediately after the qualification of Mr. Jay, the population having increased so rapidly, schools were established in different portions of the city, in rented rooms ; so that during the winter of 1879-80, there were in Leadville twelve schools in successful operation, with ^^ 5 V .A HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 273 thirteen teachers. At present there are in the city thirteen schools, and sixteen teachers. In 1879, it became apparent that the city of Leadville would need a more elaborate system than the one provided under the supervision of the county, and arrangements were made look- ing to the erection of suitable buildings and the adoption of a system of instruction adapted to the demands of a metropolitan community. These plans were not ripened until after the school election of 1880, when steps were taken for the immediate carrying of them into effect. In the fall of 1880, the construction, of the first school building of importance was com- menced. The building is now completed, and is, in every respect, a model. It is patterned after the Twenty-fourth Street School of Den- ver, occupies half a city block on Spruce street, between Chestnut and Second streets, and has cost, including furniture and grounds, not far from $50,000. It accommodates four hundred and fifty pupils, and is finished in a style fullj' equal to that of the Denver schools. The school board now having charge of its aflfairs are Eandolph Carpenter, L. M. God- dard, W. P. Thompson, Frank Pryor, J. J. Crook and C. C. Howell. All are energetic business men, familiar with the wants and ne- cessities of the city, and having a pride in bringing up the system to the excellent stand- ard of that of Denver, which is justly regarded as a model for the country. Besides the new building, there are five others, nearly all of which are rented, and all of which are crowded to overflowing. These will be replaced with handsome structures as rapidly as the means of the district will per- mit, and in a very short time the city will have a just pride in her educational facilities. There are at present not fewer than thirteen hundred children of school age within the citj- limits, the average attendance being about eight hundred, with sixteen teachers. At present the city schools are in a most flourishing condition, under the superintend- ence of W. S. Thomas, who was appointed to that position, some time since, at a salary of $2,000 per year — the teachers under him being paid the sum of $90 per month. The schools of Leadville are really marvels of themselves, not only because of their rapid growth, but also because of the discipline to be seen everj'where, and the harmony with which the pupils and teachers work together. It is a well-known fact that the population is composed of people from all parts of the globe, and from every State in the Union. Coming from such remote and differently located places, it is not surprising to find that no two children have been accustomed to the same sj'stems of school training, which fact renders a thorough understanding between the pupil and the teacher quite difficult to attain, but a visit to any of the schools would lead one to believe that the system adopted by County Superintendent Jay had been inculcated into the minds of the scholars since their first school day — a fact which reflects credit upon the intelligence of the pupils, upon the efibrts of the teachers and Superintendent, and upon the system of dis- cipline, which is simple, yet thorough and mild, but yet none the less effective. That the school fund is sufficient to support the educational institutions of the countrj', can readily be seen by a glance at the following table of receipts and disbursements for the year ending August 31, 1880 : RECEIPTS. Amount received from general fund | 8,304 30 Amount received from special fund 23,348 41 All other sources 62 25 Total receipts $31,614 96 BXPEKDITURES. Total expenditures $28,615 98 Balance on hand August 31 $ 3,998 98 The above fund was derived by the assess- ment of a general tax of 3 mills for school purposes, while this year, in order to meet the expense of a new and costly schoolhouse, a special tax of 10 mills has been levied in the Leadville or Second District, which will be enough to cover all the expenses and leave a handsome balance in the treasury'. It is the intention of the Directors to estab- lish a high school which shall perfectly fit the pupils to enter into any of the active depart- ments of life, fully prepared to fulfill all the duties of business men and citizens. Accord- ingly, a complete course of instruction has been prepared, and the high school is now in complete working order, with a list of some thirty pupils. 374 HISTORY or LAKE COUNTY. 'k. CHAPTER XVII. CIVaC SOCIETIES. YERY early in the history of Leadville, those of its new citizens who had been in their former places of residence connected with the various orders familiar to all Ameri- cans, began to agitate the subject of organizing lodges in the city, and as a result it was not long before everj' order of importance in the country was represented. The existence of these lodges had a noticeably beneficial effect upon the society of Leadville, the frequent parties given under their auspices having the effect of bringing together people who would otherwise have never been acquainted, owing to the reluctance with which acquaintances were formed in the early days of the city. Another feature of the formation of these lodges, was the care of the sick and the burial of the dead. Hundreds of men, coming to Leadville, and unaccustomed to the high alti- tude and changed conditions of life, were taken sick and would have fallen victims to the most horrible suffering, had not their connection with some order brought around them kind and lov- ing brothers, who, with tender hands, smoothed the fevered brows and wet the parched lips, and finally nursed them back to health ; and scores of others would have gone to their graves unmourned, unhonored, and without the knowledge of kindred, bad it not been for these same kind and loving brothers, who ministered to them in their last moments, followed them to the grave, and in words of consolation con- veyed the sad tidings to far-off friends and re- lations. In a social and benevolent sense Lead- ville owes the deepest debt of gratitude to the benevolent orders in her midst, and it is grati- fying to note that all are in a healthy and flourishing condition. As an illustration of the good that has been done by them, one lodge alone has expended during the past two years, more than $5,000 m the care of the sick. In the absence of women very many would have died from lack of cere, had it not been for these noble instruments of benevolence. MASONIC. Ionic Lodge, No. 35, A., F. & A. M., of Leadville, was chartered in the month of No- vember, 1878, with a membership of thirteen, which has grown to about one hundred, and its success as a lodge since organization has been unprecedented, possessing a surplus of funds in the treasury ample to meet all demands. The officers are : William Braden, W. M. ; H. 0. Miner, S. W. ; Jay G. Kelly, J. W. ; William H. Bradt, Secretary. Leadville Chapter, No. 10, R. A. M., was or- ganized on the 10th day of January, 1880, and the Mount of the Holy Cross Commandery, No. 5, instituted on the 5th day of May. A Masonic Hall has been fitted up in most sumptuous style in the new post office block on Harrison avenue, and is now occupied by the different lodges. The members of this order in this city occupy enviable and foremost posi- tions in both the business and social circles. ODD FELLOWS. The first lodge of this organization was or- ganized in this city on the 25th of November, 1878, with seven members, aside from the officers, who were : August Rische, N. G. ; H. H. Hewitt, V. G. ; A, S. Weston, R. S. ; Albert Lee, Treasurer. No sooner was the fact of the organization made known than the applications for member- ship were numerous, so that at present the list numbers over seventy names. The gentlemen chosen as officers at the last election, to begin their duties on the 1st day of January, 1881, were : Joseph C. Cramer, N. G. ; Henry Heil, V. G. ; B. F. Jay, R. S. ; John Schlagter, Treasurer. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and its members are among the best people of the city. Carbonate Lodge, the second lodge of the order organized in Leadville, was instituted on the 2d of July, 1880, with twelve charter mem- bers. The officers who were first elected, and who are yet acting, are : Joseph Bardine, N. G.; T. S.kostich, V. G.; D. S. Woodruff, R. S.; Fred. W. Ott, Treasurer ; Mr. Oliver, Perma- nent Secretary. Although but a new organization, Carbonate Lodge now numbers about thirty-five members, ^ ^, 'k. HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. a75 and is in excellent condition, and composed of good material. KNIGHTS or PYTHIAS. The Grand Lodge of the Grand Jurisdiction of Colorado was organized in the centennial year, and now has fourteen lodges under its control, with a membership of over 1,000. Leadville Lodge, No. 1, was instituted on the 9th day of July, 1879, with a charter list of thirty members ; it now numbers over 100, and is the banner lodge of the State. Its member- ship comprises the most active and respected citizens of this community. The lodge has a magnificent castle hall, owning all the furniture and fixtures, costing over $2,000, and has no debt, and money in the treasury, which is and has been freely used for the relief of distressed Knights belonging to the order. It has expend- ed for the relief of six brothers during the eighteen months of its existence, $1,140, and has paid toward defraying ftineral expenses of deceased members, $465. In social matters, the lodge takes a pre-eminent part in our city, and only lately honored six of their newly-mar- ried brothers by a grand entertainment and banquet, in which 250 invited guests partici- pated. The oflflcers now serving are : Jay G. Kel- ley, P. C. ; H. J. Mayham, C. C. ; Louis Levy, V. C; Fred Butler, Prelate; Louis Scholes, M. of E. ; John Kirby, M. of F. ; B. F. Gardner, K. of R. and S. ; James Shire, M. at A. ; B. F. Carter, I. G.; I. M. Brown, 0. G. The district is under charge of District Dep- uty Grand Chancellor Sol. Herman, who is the representative of the Grand Chancellor. Its laws are reason and justice. Its cardinal prin- ciples inspire purity of thought and life, and love of truth, and loyalty to the government under which we live. Its intention is '■ peace on earth and good will toward men." ANCIENT ORDER OP HIBERNIANS. The first establishment of the order in the United States was in New York, A. D. 1826. Since then, divisions have been established in almost every State and Territory in the Union. The first division formed in this State was at Black Hawk, Gilpin Co., June, 1879, with a membership of about eight}'. Immediately after, a division was formed in 'Denver, which contains about sixtv members. In the same month. Division No. 1 was formed in Leadville, which now contains about 230 members. In May, 1880, Division No. 2 was formed in Lead- ville, which numbers about fifty members. Since then, there have been formed two other divi- sions, one in Kokomo and one in Euby. Its objects are benevolence, and to foster senti- ments of union and friendship amongst Irish- men. The order in this city has paid over $1,000 for sick and burial expenses during the last year. Its motto is: "Friendship, Love and True Christian Charity." It numbers in the United States about 800,000 members, and its ramifications extend over Ireland, England, Scotland, United States, Australia and New Zealand. Its oflBcers are : F. F. Harrington, State Del- egate of Colorado ; J. J. Quinn, State Secretary of Colorado; J. P. McNulty, State Treasurer of Colorado ; Henry Kelly, County Delegate ; David Kelly, County Secretary ; Patrick Early, County Treasurer. Division No. 1 — P. C. McCarthy, President ; Timothy Goodwin, Vice President; David L. Kelly, Financial Secretary ; Thomas Lynch, Recording Secretary ; John Shea, Treasurer. Division No. 2 — Thomas L. Flaherty, Presi- dent ; Peter Donoher, Vice President ; Patrick Early. Financial Secretary; Charles Connor, Recording Secretary ; John Rooney, Treasurer. LEADVILLE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION, NO. 179. This body, a branch of the International Union, and composed of worthy exponents of the art preservative, was organized on the 2d day of November, 1879, with thirty-seven members, the present "membership being fifty. The first officers, elected immediately after the receipt of the charter, were : President, A. D. Wuensch ; Vice President, C. C. McHugh ; Secretary, W. B. Shryock ; Treasurer, F. H. Myer ; Financial Secretary, J. Hale Brown ; Directors, 0. A. Peck, H. A. Harbaugh and J. R. Buchanan ; Sergeant-at-Arms, P. J. Call. The officers at present are : President, James Laughlin ; Vice President, J. W. Bramwood ; Secretary, John F. Whicher ; Treasurer, F. H. Myer ; Financial Secretary, James E. Johnson ; Directors, H. C. Blakely, James Riland and D. McKay White ; Sergeant-at-Arms, F. A. God- win. The members are stanch union men, and demand living wages for their labors, which G) V ^^ 276 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. they are now receiving in Leadville. The union is on good terms with the publishers of the city, there being no differences between them, and it is to be hoped that the same con- dition of affairs will continue while the city exists. ANCIENT ORDER OP UNITED WORKMEN. Excelsior Lodge, of Leadville, of this order, was organized May 31, 1880, with a member- ship of twenty, and has increased to about fifty. The first and present oflBcers of the lodge are : D. I. Ezekiel, Acting Master Workman ; Sol. Herman, P. M. W.; James Shire, Foreman; E. F. Russell, Overseer ; T. J. Baldwin, Guide: D. F. Fox, Acting Recorder ; R. P. Goddard, Financier ; J. L. Murphy, Receiver ; D. Koch, I. W. ; 0. H. Coffin, 0. W. ; Dr. A. W.. Eyer, Medical Examiner. The objects of this asso- ciation are benevolent and beneficiary. It takes care of its sick, and buries its dead, and upon the death of a member in good standing, gives to his wife or other relatives, the sum of $2,000. In the twelve years of its existence, it has increased in membeiship throughout the United States and Canada to 100,000 active members, and dispensed in the South during the last two yellow fever panics $30,000 in aid of the sufferers, and several thousand dollars for nurses. KNIGHTS OE HONOR. A lodge of this order was first organized in this city on the 5th day of October. 1880, with twenty-three members, the present membership being twenty-eight. The following gentlemen are the officers : Dictator, William K. Burchi- nell; Vice Dictator, Charles M. Ferree; Assist- ant Dictator, Elias Nathan; Past Dictator, A. P. Curry; Reporter, Theodore Kaphan; Financial Reporter, Waldo F. Corbett ; Treasurer, J. S. Miller; Chaplain, D. I. Ezekiel; Guide, A. How- ard; Guardian, Samuel Cohen; Sentinel, Jacob Rich; Medical Examiner, Dr. H. A. Newpher. This order is organized for benevolent pur- poses, and has an endowment fund connected with it, the full rate being $2,000. The assess- ments do not amount to more than $10 or $12 per annum. THE LEADVILLE TURNVEREIN. In any city of an}' size or pretensions, or even in villages where the German element is at all represented, can be found the societies composed of men known as "Turners," a society which found its origin in Germany j'ears ago. When the carbonate camp was in its infancy, a society of this nature was projected, but owing to the few Germans in the vicinity, organiza- tion was deferred until a future and more auspicious time. In the month of October, 1879, the " Lead- ville Turnverein " was organized in this city by Messrs. Oscar F. Pfretschner, Henry Bunte, Henry Simon, August Fack, Adolph Nensitz, A. Winger and Louis Lehman, the first officers being : President, Oscar Pfretschner ; Vice President, A Neusitz ; Treasurer, A. Each ; Secretary, F. Schmidt ; First Teacher, Louis Leisenring ; Second Teacher, Louis Lehman ; Trustees, H. Hibschle, J. Schloss, Dr. A. Steinau, E. Kuehl and Caspar Zweifel. Immediately after the organization of the society, a hall was constructed on East Third street, which was fitted with a complete gym- nasium. At a meeting of the society in April, 1880, it was decided to build another hall, the one then in use being found inadequate, in some respects, to accommodate the Turners and their guests when entertainments were given. A number of the members of the organization who possessed the means, formed themselves into a stock company, called " The Leadville Turnverein Corporation," and erected the pres- ent building on the corner of West Fourth and Pine streets, which they allow the Turners to use, and which they also lease to any parties desirous of using it for entertainments, the building being specially adapted for that pur- pose. The officers of the corporation are : President, Charles Boettcher ; Vice President, Otto Berger ; Secretary, John Bruckman ; Treasurer, Jacob Schloss ; Directors, E. Kuehl, Henry Gill, Philip Leichtweiss and Isaac Baer. In "the month of October, 1880, one year after the organization of the society, and after the removal of the quarters to Fourth street, a number of the members residing east of Harri- son avenue, seceded from the old organization and formed a new society known as "The East Leadville Turnverein," with headquarters in the old hall. This society, although a new one, has elected officers, and is now in a flourish- ing condition, and bids fair to rival the parent society. The following are the present officers of the Leadville Turnverein — the old society : President, Julius Ducas; Vice President, Dr. H. \^onate Hill, that was found in the Carbonate on the south, runs through the Catalpa, Evening Star and Morning Star Mines. The present company at first paid attention to the opening of the mine. The present working shaft is one of the best and is timbered most ^securely. Over this has been put up a fine shaft-house and a first- class engine. Timbering rooms, blacksmith- shops, and extensive ore rooms have been added. The first station is at 205 feet. Here a large excavation has been made, and from it extends the levels to the various parts of' the mine yet explored. The main level — a large one and exceedingly well secured — extends northwest toward the Evening Star line. In fact, the developments yet made from this station are almost entirely to the north, northeast and northwest. Through this por- tion no stoping has yet been done, and large blocks of ore are standing, proved up by nu- merous drifts and cross-cuts. An immense deposit of ore has recently been found in this portion of the mine, east from the main level, aud some 100 feet from the shaft. The ore body is from nine to ten feet in thickness at this point, and the extent of the body is not yet determined, as the diift only extends into it some fifteen feet. The entire face of the drift, about eight feet high, is a solid mass of sand carbonates. If those who have lost faith in the permanency of Leadville mines, would visit the Catalpa, and especially this portion of it, they would derive much bene- fit therefrom. One feature in regard to the Catalpa ore is that of its high grade, much of it exceeding a hundred ounces, and it is similar in appear- ance and quality to that found in the southern portion of the Evening Star. Of the entire amount taken out by the company, the net average has exceeded $80 to the ton. This is far superior to that found in the Morning Star, and to the bulk of that in the Evening Star. The mine is shipping almost 400 tons a month and a clear profit of about $30,000 a month is being realized. The property is owned by a stock company, much of the stock being held in Boston. A dividend of $60,000 has just been declared and the mine justifies the opinion that very many more are re- as- sured. The Catalpa is one of the permanent ones that has a great future before it and that is not easily or quickly to be exhausted. THE TANKEB DOODLE. On the regular belt of mines extending around the west side of Carbonate Hill, and in the very center of the best paying properties is the Yankee Doodle. This was purchased in Leadville's early history by Jackson, Plummer & Mclntire, and for a time success- fully worked. The ore, however, appeared in pockets only, and though at times very pros- perous, at other times the profits were not flattering. Last summer the property was sold and organized into a stock company, known as the Carbonate Hill Mining Com- pany, with a capital stock of $8,000,000. Mr. George Summers was made Agent and O. 9 "V" ^ •k* HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 283 H. Harker the General Superintendent of mining operations. Mr. Harker has had many years' experience in mining, both in Gilpin and Boulder Coun- ties, and since coming to Leadville has always occupied positions of resposibility. At once, in taking control of the Carbonate Hill Com- pany's property and examining the same, he determined that the former workings were too low down the hill, and that the great ore body of the mine would be found more to the east. He was led to this conclusion from the fact that the best ore chute on the hill com- mences on the Carbonate Mine of the Lead- ville Company, near where the office is located, and extends northeasterly through the Little Giant, and its course has already been defined. With this view in his mind, the old workings were deserted and a large, new, fine shaft was begun some 400 feet higher on the hill. The present shaft of the Carbonate Com- pany is near the center of the claim. It is 800 feet from the east line and 700 feet from the west line. The shaft is one of the best built and most securely timbered about Lead- ville. It is four by ten in size and is 303 feet in depth. At 296 feet deep a drift runs east and at 160 feet from the shaft an ore vein was cut, on which several drifts have been mn. A cross-cut runs south to the Little Giant line and a good ore vein is exposed. The mine is shipping ore regularly, and although as yet the shipments are not large, a great deal of ore has been exposed and the prospects of the property are among the best in the camp. THE CAKBONATE. Among the early discoveries made in Lead- ville was the Carbonate Mine, which was worked profitably for a long time by Hal- lock & Cooper and afterward sold by them to the Leadville Mining Company. A. W. Gill was the President of this company for the first few months of its existence and T. F. Van Wagenen, the Manager in charge. The mine paid regular monthly dividends and the property gave great promise. Some poor places were, however, encountered, and instead of paying dividends, the company .became involved in debt. A change in management followed and after a time the mine was shut down. Prospecting, however, was continued, and new ore bodies have been discovered. The mine is again shipping ore and the pros- pects are most favorable. On the mine the most extensive improvements have been made. The shaft and ore houses are among the finest in the camp. The property has yet a great possible future before it, and a probability, at least, of producing a large amount of ore. PBOSPECT. On the south slope of Carbonate Hill is the Prospect, on which a great deal of work has been prosecuted, but as yet with no returns. A good contact has been struck and followed by an incline, the shaft and incline together reaching a depth of 400 feet. GLASS-PENDERY. When in the spring of 1879 ore was found in the Pendery claim on Carbonate Hill, a new life and impetus was given to mining. Previous to that time, it was supposed the line of contact of ore on the hill was entirely confined to that found in the Carbonate and extending around the brow of the hill to the Morning Star. When, therefore. Judge Pen- dery and his associates, after great expense in putting down a shaft to a depth of over 200 feet, at length encountered a large body of high-grade ore, there were those ready to express the opinion that it could be but a slide from the main contact above. This, however, was not the opinion of all, for others in the neighborhood started up work. In the Glass, the adjoining claim, ore was also found, and after some litigation between the parties, the two interests were consolidated and the Glass-Pendery Mining Company was organ- ized. For more than a year the property has been worked extensively. Aji immense amount of ore has been extracted from the mine and still geater amounts developed, so that the ore deposited is assured, and it has long been conceded that the second contact and that as important, if not more so, than the upper one, has been found in these prop- erties. Since the consolidation the work has been prosecuted through the Glass shaft. V A 284 HISTOEY OF LAKE COUXTY. although connection has been made under ground with both the shafts of the Pendeiy and Bough and Ready. The shaft is 220 feet in depth, is well tim- bered and lined inside. When pressed with work, a regular trip with a bucket is made in two minutes' time. At the bottom of the shaft a station has been cut and from it the levels extend. Eiinning north, is the main level to the Pendery workings. This is 740 feet in length. To the south this level extends 300 feet. With the other drifts and cross-cuts, an entire underground opening of over 3,000 feet exists. The work is laid out at regular right angles ' and no effort is made to follow the ore bodies, but occasionally raises are made or winzes sunk, to find where the ore exists. Near the shaft an immense ore body has been blocked out that by exploration is found to be nearly 100 feet square in extent, and in place? is from twenty to thirty feet in thickness. To the south the ore seems to be pitching to the south, and an incline has been run to prospect it. On the west, the ore is pitching down hill toward the city. The main north level is mostly driven in lime, but raises made show the ore to exist much of the way above the level. The lime in the Glass all contains a small amount of silver, and being of use as a flux it finds ready sale, netting about 14 per ton. This product alone pays far more than the running expenses of the mine and leaves the ore product as clear profit. The property is owned by a stock company, with a capital of $5,000,000, divided into 250,000 shares of |20 each. The President is Gov. H. A. W. Tabor, the Vice President is C. A. Manners, and the Treasurer is the Miners' Exchange Bank. Mr. J. W. Wallace is the General Manager and F. H. Cole the Saper- intendent and Assayer. The following is a list of the Directors: H. A. W. Tabor, S. H. Foss, C. A. Manners, Tim Foley, D. P. Dyer, a V. P. Block, J. W. Wallace, G. G. Eussell and William Gould O' DONOVAN EOSSA. This property made a sensation last spring on account of a conflict over its possessirm, when rifles were freely used. The legal points are not as yet settled. The shaft is about 200 feet deep and has some mineral. Gilbert and Morrissey are in possession. CALIFORNIA TUNNEL. One of the important enterprises started on Carbonate Hill has been the California Tunnel, which starts on the California Gulch side, and has been driven over 500 feet Some good pockets of ore have been found and a good quality of lime. The property is owned by a strong company, and it is the in- tention to continue driving the tunnel to thoroughly prospect the hill. At the mouth of the shaft is a good ore room. The tunnel is well built and will last for many years. An iron track extends from the ore room along the entire length of the tunnel. CABBONATE HILL CONSOLIDATED. The Carbonate Hill Consolidated owns three claims on the northwest end of the Car- bonate. The workings have been conducted on the Pocahontas claim. The shaft is 240 feet d"ep, and at 180 feet contact was cut and drifts are being run southeast and east. The prospects of the mine are very good at present. ST. MABY'S AND WASHBUBNE. Both these properties are now consolidated in one, and in the shafts and drifts of each pay mineral has been struck. New machin- ery, consisting of a steam hoister, has been put on the St. Mary's shaft, and regular ore shipments are being made. DILLON. There ai-e two shafts on the Dillon, located on the north side of the hill, near Stray Horse Gulch. Both have reached contact and have some paying mineral, but it is found in pock- ets and is not yet in sufficient quantities to yield a profit HABEISON BEDUCTION WOBKS, branch of the St Louis Smelting and Refin- ing Company, of St Louis, Mo., commenced building in May, 1877, and went into blast vrith one furnace, in October, 1877 ; in August, 1878, a second furnace was added From 5 ^ ^! HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 285 4^ October, 1877, to January, 1881, 49,816,733 pounds of ore, were smelted, producing 12,- 542,508 pounds of bullion, containing 1,824,- 456 ounces of silver, 2,147.00 ounces of gold and 12,413,415 pounds of lead, valued at %2,- 154,429. In January, 1881, the furnaces were shut down for repairs, since which time the following changes and additions have been made: Furnace building, 90x50 feet, con- taining foiu- furnaces: two furnaces six feet, six inches by three feet; two. furnaces four feet in diameter, four No. 5 Blake Blowers, two No. 3 Cameron Peed Pumps; boiler shed, 36x50 feet, containing two boilers, 44x18 and 52x20; pump house, 12x12 feet, containing one No. 9 and one No. lO Cameron Pump; sampling works, 2x125 feet, containing one engine, 12x20, two large Blake Crushers, 9x15 each, one small Blake Crusher, 4x10, one pair of Cornish rolls, 10x20, one sampling-mill; ore bins to store 4,000 tons of ore; underground flues, dust chamber, and stack, six feet square inside and ninety-six feet high. Capacity of furnaces 200 tons per day; capacity of sam- pling works, 300 tons per day; three railroad switches; Smelting will be resumed on the 15th of August, everything now being completed- The greater part of the ore smelted is from mines owned by the company and known as the Argentine Mining Company; but the late im- provements were made with a view of not only treating the Leadville ores in general, but those from all other camps irrespective of grade or nature. Officers: Edwin Harrison, of St. Louis, President; G. W. Chadbourne, of St. Louis, Vice President; George H. Loker, Jr., Secretary; F. Fohr, of Leadville, Superintendent. Edwin Harrison is Presi- dent of the Iron Mountain Company, of St Louis, owning the largest iron mines, furnaces and rolling-mills in Missouri. F. Fohr has been in the smelting business for eighteen years, and is thoroughly acquainted with all its branches. LITTLE GIANT. A property that has been largely productive, and has large ore reserves still in it, is the Little Giant, located just above the Carbonate and south from the Yankee Doodle. The mine is owned by private parties living in Leadville, who have made snug fortunes from its workings. Connection is now made with the Carbonate, and through that ground the mine in the future is likely to be worked, as over the Giant shaft itself only a whim is put up for hoisting. The shaft is over 400 feet deep. The Yankee Doodle has also just drifted into Little Giant ground, and along the line there is a large body of ore. This mine is celebrated as being the first party to a suit to establish the fact in regard to the right of the Leadville mines to follow the ore body beyond their side lines. The suit was brought against the Little Giant by the Car- bonate, and resulted in a victory for the de- fendant. BIG CHIEF. The striking of ore in the Big Chief, just above the Morning Star, was one of the events of the camp during 1880. The ore body was found at a depth of 440 feet, and water then coming in it was impossible to work the mine further with a whim. A new shaft-house, with steam bolster, was then put up and work resumed. With a bucket, however, it was impossible to cootrorthe water and mine the ore, so a pump has been put up. Work has just been resumed, and the Big Chief will this year count among the productive mines of Leadville. AGASSIZ. The Agassiz owners deserve success for the systematic way in which work has been pros- ecuted, and that success seems to depend almost entirely on attaining a sufficient depth. The shaft is 500 feet deep, and the water be- came so troublesome that a p\mip was neces- sary. This has been put in, and although by an accident when first put up, the entire machinery fell to the bottom of the shaft, it has again been recovered and is now in operation. Some pockets of ore have been found in sink- ing the shaft, but the owners do not expect to find an ore body of great extent for consider- able distance. MODOC. Above the Little Giant, on Carbonate Hill, is the Modoc, which has probably the deepest shaft about Leadville, and is over 550 feet deep. There is a good shaft-house and [\^ 286 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. machinery recently put up. The shaft has reached contact, and both sinking and drifting are being prosecuted. BROOKLAND. Over the Brookland Mine good machinery and buildings have been erected. The shaft is nearly 400 feet deep, and, although no reg- ular ore body has yet been reached, work is being prosecuted on the contact and some good mineral has been taken out OBION CONSOLIDATION. The Orion Consolidation consists of two claims, on the west side of Carbonate Hill, be- low the Glass-Pendery. It is in paying ore and is being actively worked. HENRIETT. On the north side of the hill is the Henri- ett Two shafts are being worked and both are in pay mineral. The ore, as yet, is not high grade, but yields a profit Engines are used on both shafts, and on the upper one, which is 400 feet deep, a pump is kept con- stantly running to drain~the mine from water. The Adlaide Mining Company's consists of the Adlaide and Terrible locations. Two main shafts have been sunk, besides a number of lesser importance, and a great deal of drifting has been done. The mine has yield- ed a large amount of ore, and is regularly shipping a small amount at the present time. VANDEBBILT. The Vanderbilt is located at the junction of the two Stray Horse Gulches. It is in mineral, but is not at present being worked. ARGENTINE GROUP. The Argentine group of mines comprises the Camp Bird, Young America and others. They were the first mines on which carbonate ores were discovered about Leadville, and were the cause of the extensive prospecting following, which opened up the wonderful mines of the district A large yield of ore has been taken fiom the mines, and they are among the regularly productive properties. There is a tunnel over 1,200 feet in length, and a number of shafts on the Jocations. The Marian Mining Company is the owner of a group of mines up Stray Horse Gulch, on the north side of Carbonate Hill. Included in the group is the Cyclops, over which a large shaft-house and fine machinery have been put up. The mine is being worked and produces a small amouni of ore. NILES AUGUSTA. This combined property has yielded a large amount of paying mineral and considerable ore is being constantly takea from it. It is believed, however, the main ore body is at greater depth and the shaft is being sunk. SMALL HOPES MINING COMPANY. This company owns the Robert Emmet, For- est and other claims that cross Stray Horse Gulch. The mines have been extensively worked and largely productive. LITTLE PITTSBURG. The first large stock company to be organ- ized in the Bast on Leadville property was the Little Pittsburg, New Discovery and the Winnemuc Mines, on Fryer Hill. The organ- ization was efiected with a capital stock of $20,000,000, and regularly, for ten months thereafter, dividends of 1100,000 were paid by the company for ten successive months, and one extra dividend of $50,000 disbursed among the stockholders. When the company was first organized, Hon. J. C. Wilson was chosen General Manager and H B. Bearce made Superintendent of mining. The mine was wonderfully successful for a time and its great production caused the craze of excite- ment that at one time existed over the Car- bonate camp. That the property was over- worked is since admitted by all, and not suffi- cient attention was paid to fully develop the territory. The break in the Little Pittsburg, in Feb- ruary, 1880, and the disastrous fall in stocks which followed, is well known. From about f 35 a share, the stock dropped to about $6 in a few weeks, and the hopes and fortunes of ) >y PACI FIC IRON WORKS FRAN-K GAY PRO P R . LEAD VI L L EC OLO BLACKSMITH & WAGON SHOPS CHA? LEITZMA?nr PRO>R;LEADVirLE b oLO ^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 287 many were lowered in like degree. Wilson resigned from the mana^jfement and was suc- ceeded by Bearce, who, for a time, tried to hold up tbe property. The large ore deposit in the New Discovery claim, however, which had been the main source of supply, had been exhausted, and a system of explora- tion had to be inaugurated to again put the mine on a paying basis. Bearce in turn be- came discouraged, not only by the appearance of the mine, but from the grumbling among the stockholders in New York John T. Her- riok then came out to look after the affairs of the company. There was still some cash in the treasury and active prospecting was at once begun. The mine has ever since that time regularly produced ore. At times there has been great- er outputs than others, as new pockets or de- posits of ore were found, but at all times the mine has been a regular producer, except dur- ing the time of the fire that originated in the Vulture claim of the Chrysolite, through the gas created, which drove the men from the mine and necessitated a suspension of work for a few weeks. Mr. Herrick was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Cauda, who is one of the directors of the com- pany, and was sent here with full power. Mr. Cauda has had control of the property since May, 1880, and has economically conducted the management, as well as actively pushed forward the work He has pushed forward hundreds upon himdreds of feet of exploration drifts, and has discovered a great deal of ore. While no such deposits as formerly were found have been discovered, the mine has been regu- larly productive, and has yielded large amounts beyond the expenses of mining and exploring. The Little Pittsburg Company owns the Little Pittsburg, New Discovery, Winnemuc, Dives and Union claims, all located on Fryer Hill, and, although a great deal prospected, there yet remains much unbroken ground, and strong probabilities of the mine yet becoming of exceeding value. Good shaft-houses and extensive machinery have been put up over a number of shafts, the plant over the Discov- ery shaft being particularly fine. The com- pany has a fine of&ce, barn, extensive saw-mill for framing timbers and other improvements. THE CHRYSOLITE. The greatest producing mine about Lead- ville has been the Chrysolite, and, although for a time reports became circulated that it was exhausted, recent developments show the ore body as extensive as ever, and the produc- tion is such as to justify the confidence of its friends. The property of the company con- sists of the following locations: Chrysolite, Vulture, Carboniferous, Kit Carson, Fair View, Colorado Chief and Muldoon, all ad- joining, and located on the northwest portion of Fryer Hill. Most of the property was originally owned by Borden, Tabor & Co., and has been largely productive. On the 15th of October, 1879, the entire property passed into the hands of the Chrysolite Mining Company, a New York stock company, with a capital stock of $10,000,000. Previous to the pur- chase of the properties by the Chrysolite Company, the net yield had been $1,064,858. Since the organization the company has taken out net $1,700,000, up to November 1, 1880, and since then, though but partially running on account of the fire, the production has been about a quarter of a million. The mine has, therefore, produced over $3,000,000 up to the present time, and the regular production is now from fifty to sixty tons per day, and no effort is made to force production. When the company first took possession, in October, 1879, there were but slight surface improvements, and Mr. W. S. Keyes, who was first chosen manager, at once began surface improvements. In February, 1880, the build- ings over the Roberts shaft were completed. Soon afterward connection was made with this shaft to the other workings, and since that time the Roberts has been used entirely for the raising of ore. Over the Roberts shaft is the finest mine building in Colorado. The main shaft-room is 40x40 feet, in size, and is the center room of the building. On the south side is the machine and blacksmith shop, 35x35 feet in size; the timbering-room is on the north end, and is 35x60 feet; on the east are the engine and boiler rooms, separated by a partition, the former being 22x49 feet and the boiler- room 20x40 feet. The large, new ore-house, 22x50 feet in size, has just been completed. iiL^ 288 HISTORY or LAKE COUNTY. and is sixty feet west from the main building, connected therewith by a bridge, over which are laid iron rails, and the cars coming from the mine are wheeled directly into the ore building, where they are dumped into the different bins. The entire buildings are most substantially built of the heaviest timbers, and everything put up for permanency. The underground workings of the Chryso- lite have been most substantial and systematic. The timbering is of the very best and the heaviest of timbers have been used. There are nearly two miles of underground drifts and winzes in the mine, and all is equally well secured. In the latter part of June, or as soon as the great miners' strike was over, Mr. Keyes, under a leave of absence for thirty days, left for a trip to California. While ab- sent, Mr. J. W. Marden, the financial agent, was left in charge, and Mr. W. R. Breck looked after the mining. Before Keyes left that time, the mine showed sti^ong signs of weakening. The fact was, it had been over- driven. Demands were made upon it for div- idends of $200,000 a month, and this was found to be too great a strain. Keyes re- turned from California, but remained only a few days, when he resigned his position. A panic in the stock followed, and rumors were afloat of the failure of the mine. Roberts withdrew from the company in New York and new directors were chosen. When Keyes retired, Mr. Marden again took charge and retained Mr. Breck as his assist- ant. In the Roberts shaft there are two levels, or stations, one at 113 feet and the other at 149 feet in depth. From these stations, levels had been run in all directions and the ore seemed apparently about exhausted. In ex- ploring, after Mr. Keyes left, it was divulged that the ore body existed between the levels, and by opening there, the finest ore body ever found in the Chrysolite Mine, was found, and its extent is not yet known. In fact, it appears exhaustless. In two months' time, Mr. Mar- den took out over half a million dollars' worth of ore. From August 9 to September 7, 1880, or two days less than a month, the actual ore settlements were 1264,47497. On Sunday, September 5, 1880, the shipments of ore amounted to 333 tons, worth nearly $30,000 net, and is the largest shipment ever made from the mine. On September 10, 1880, Mr. Charles M. Rolker,~the newly appointed man- ager of the company, arrived from New York and took charge of the mine, a position he has since retained. Up to the time of the fire the output of ore was very satisfactory, and explorations driven showed the ore body of vast extent. On the 4th of October, 1880, an old shaft- house on the Vulture ground, used as a lodging- house, took fire and was totally destroyed. The fire connected to the shaft, and in spite of the exertions put forth, the underground workings took fire, and the gas and smoke drove the men from the mine, and also from the mines of adjoining properties. The fire was vigorously fought, various plans being adopted, but not till November 22 was Mr. Rolker able to actively resume mining. It is shown, however, that the measures he took preserved effectually the main workings of the mine, and has allowed the destruction of only a few drifts and stopes in worked-out ground. LITTLE CHIEF. The richest and most largely productive small piece of ground on Fryer Hill has been the Little Chief, and if it should never pro- duce another dollar, it should not be decried. The entire territory is but little over eight acres, and of this the north and south ends, comprising more than half of its surface measurement, have never produced a dollar. In addition to this, there is a porphyry dyke running through the center, which is nearly 300 feet in width, that was barren. There were, however, in places, the most wonderful ore deposits. Eighty feet in thickness of ore existed in one place. The mine made the original owners rich before the Little Chief Company took possession, January 1, 1880. Since that time $700,000, in dividends, have been paid, and a large surplus accumulated. A large new shaft, with one of the finest plants of buildings and machinery in the West, have also been added, and the mine has been kept timbered and secured in the best possible manner. After the retirement of George Daly, in October, John T. Herrick came here from *^. Tf- '^ HISTOKY OF LAKE COUNTY. 289 New York, not specially to take charge, but to examine and report on the property for Eastern owners. This he did, and the mine was worked successfully under his control till the latter part of November, when Mr. Tingley S. Wood was placed in charge. The product lately taken out shows that ore still remains in paying quantities on the first level, and the experiments to be made in deeper mining may yet prove the mine a bonanza beyond all pre- vious calculation. THE AMIB. The next property above the Little Pitts- burg, on Fryer Hill, is the Amie, that has been in the past one of the most successful mines about Leadville, and is to-day one of the most promising. Since the present com- pany was organized, a year ago last October, the production of the mine has been over $700,000. In dividends there have been paid out $305,000, and there is a cash reserve fund now in New York, exceeding $50,000. The company has put up substantial improvements, including four fine shaft-houses, a fine office residence and weighing room, besides a num- ber of cottages for employes. The mine is producing a very large amount of iron ore that carries some silver, and being valuable as a flux commands ready sale. This product alone is exceedingly profitable. In addition to this, however, there is much valuable ore still remaining on the first level, and without further discoveries the mine can yield a large product. It is, however, the intention of the company to prospect below and see if further ore bodies exist at greater depth. This is generally believed by the most eminent scientists and mining men who have visited Leadville and it is proposed to prove or disprove the correct- ness of the theory. Mr. Andrew W. Gill, the President of the company has had many years' experience in mining and has thor- oughly good judgment. Did he not believe good reasons exist, that ore should be found below, it is not probable he would try the experiment, for it will be an expensive one. A fine engine and an eight-inch double Cor- nish pump have been put up on the No. 2 shaft and the shaft is being pushed down as rapidly as possible. ■> THE CLIMAX. Above the Amie is located the Climax. The property is somewhat divided, from the fact that, early in its history, a portion of the claim since known as the Contract portion of the Climax, was given to certain parties, in consideration of sinking a shaft of mineral and thus proving up the value of the entire claim. This contract part has been worked considerably and two shafts have been sunk upon it to mineral, but no great amount of paying ore was ever extracted from it. The other portion of the mine proved the more valuable. On this are five shafts. The No. 2 is to the north and from it a number of drifts were run and much ore of value was taken out. The No. 3 shaft near the Amie line, however, was the most productive. Near this and extending to the Amie line, one of the largest and richest ore pockets ever found on Fryer Hill was discovered. It has been stated the ore bodies in the Climax are exhausted and such may be the case, but located as it is in the very heart of the richest hill the world has ever known, and with still a great deal of unexplored ground, the state- ment finds few believers. TETE DUNKIN. The east side of Fryer Hill has wonderfully improved of late, and no property on the hill has shown more marked improvement than has the Dunkin. The Dunkin Silver Mining Company is a New York corporation, of which Mr. H. H. Stotesbury is President, and the stock has been held principally by legitimate investors who believe in the value of the property and are willing to await its develop- ment and receive their profits from the legiti- mate productions of the mine, rather than from manipulation of the stock. Located as the property is, in the center of Fryer Hill, with the Climax, Amie, Little Pittsbiu-g and Chrysolite directly to the west, while on the oast are the Matchless, Robert E. Lee, Hiber- nia and others, the owners were in no great hurry to drive the mine and so possibly to ex- haust it, but sought rather to legitimately develop the mine and make a permanent thing of the investment. Mr. H. A Ford, the pres- ent Manager, is entirely devoted to the inter- =^ s > 290 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. e'sts of his company and through prudent management and careful examination and the development of the mine, has opened out some very extensive ore bodies. He has enabled the company to pay regular dividends monthly and accumulate a substantial reserve fund, and has also placed in reserve in the mine far greater amounts of ore than were ever before known to exist. Over the main shaft is a good shaft and ore house, with a good steam hoister. The main present work- ings of the mine are south from the main shaft. THE MATCHLESS. The story of this mine is one of those car- bonate fairy tales, which set the brain on fire and brought the world to the feet of Lead- ville. Like most of the great mines about Leadville, it was first discovered by poor men, and in course of time fell into the hands of Tim Foley, the well known mining operator, A. P. Moore and T. B. Wilgus. By them a considerable amount of ore was taken out, but not enough to indicate the wonderful wealth afterward developed. In September, 1879, Hon. H A. W. Tabor purchased the property for $117,000. The settlement of several pending law-suits cost Mr. Tabor some |30,000 more, and none of his fortunate investments have made him a better return. The mine is located on the east end of Fryer Hill, adjoin- ing the Eobert E. Lee, Hibernia, and Big Pittsburg, all of which have developed into bonanzas. At the time of Mr. Tabor's purchase there were three shafts on the claim, 150, 140 and 200 feet deep respect- ively, the No. 1 shaft near the center of the claim, being the only one that promised any- thing for the future, it showing a small vein of Galena ore at a depth of 140 feet. Mr. Tabor immediately commenced work on this shaft, putting up a new engine and good machinery. At the depth of 150 feet, a drift was started to the west to connect with the Dun- kin workings in order to get better air and in hopes of finding mineral, and the sinking of the shaft also continued until it reached the depth of 250 feet, when the water rushed in in such bodies that further sinking was aban- doned. For several months the work on this shaft did not give very promising results, although more than enough ore was mined to pay all expenses. In March, 1880, work was suspended until July 15 of the same year, when with Lou G. Leonard as Manager, and Thomas Smithem as Superintendent, a full force of men was put to work, and the work of running drifts west and south continued. Shortly after starting up this time, large bod- ies of ore were found, and the Matchless was placed among the dividend-paying mines of the camp. In September, 1880, Mr. Tabor decided to more fully develop this property, and accordingly a new shaft was started near the south end of the claim, near the corner of the Lee, Hibernia and Big Pittsburg proper- ties. At the depth of 150 feet a very rich body of chloride and horn silver ore was found. This shaft was named the Leonard shaft, after Manager Leonard, under whose supervision the work was prosecuted. A large and complete shaft-house and machin- ery was at once placed over this shaft, and since that time each month's work has shown larger and richer bodies of ore, until at the present time the ore bodies in sight cannot help but nm into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. No mine in Leadville ever had the showing that the Matchless has to-day. Owing to the prices charged by the smelters for treafang ores, the No. 1 shaft was shut down January 1, 1881. Although there is to-day shovm in the workings from this shaft thousands of tons of ore, Mr. Talor thinks that it can be more profitably worked several months from now. The croakers who said that the Matchless was " Tabor's mistake," were disappointed to know that the purchase price and all expenses had been wiped out long ago, and that for several months Marr ager Leonard, with a force of only twenty-five men, has been paying Mr. Tabor a net prol t of over 12,000 per day, with the entire expenses less than $4,000 per month. The manager says that with the present facilities he could pay a net profit of $150,000 per month for the next five m *^^ i^ HISTOEY OF LAKE COUNTY. 305 ' The mine yields a large profit. A deep shaft is being sunk and is now 275 feet deep. It is thought a carbonate deposit will be found at greater depth. LITTLE PEINCE. One of the best showing on Breece Hill, outside of some shipping mines, is the Little Prince. This property was actively worked for some time, and some fine pockets of ore were found. The ground appears to be an immense mass of contact material, but no reg- ular vein. The shaft is 280 feet deep, with drifts to the amount of several hundred feet. There is a good shaft-house and steam hoister on the property. GALESBURG. The Galesbiu'g is just north from the Little Prince. It has been extensively developed, has produced some good paying ore and has a great deal of ore in sight in the drifts. It is on the Evans slope of Breece Hill, and a short distance this side of the Highland Chief. Near the top of the hill, and just at the edge sloping toward California Gulch, is t]je Tribune, owned by Chaffee, Moffat and others. There is a shaft upon it 400 feet deep, and several seams of contact matter have been cut that have been drifted upon. No pay ore has yet been found. THE CAPITOL. At the upper end of Breece Hill is the Cap- itol, in which a good vein of quartz -bearing gold was found at the depth of 130 feet. No extensive development was prosecuted on the property after that time, and, although a good showing was made, no profitable results were ever obtained from it. hunter's last chance. A short distance above the Highland Chief, a strike was made a few months ago in the Hunter's Last Chance lode. A good vein of galena was found at the depth of 140 feet. Negotiations are pending for the sale of the property, and, therefore, no work is being done upon it. green mountain. On the south slope of Bald Mountain,. above Breece Hill, is located the Green Mountain, that has created much excitement from the rich gold strike made in it a few months ago. The ore from it shows fine specimens of free gold, and considerable has been crushed late- ly in the stamp-mill at Oro, with good results. The preceding list of mines does not include all the locations made. In fact, it embraces not more than one-third of the claims upon which more or less work has been done, the majority of which are now undergoing devel- opment. The rule laid down has been to mention only such mines as have developed bodies of paying mineral, or, having reached the contact between the lime and porphyry, have reasonable prospects of reaching a body of mineral. This has left out a lai'ge nmnber of properties of great promise, which, perhaps, before this work sees the light, will have be- come bonanzas. It is, however, one of the misfortunes of a work of this kind, that the writer cannot dip into the secrets of the future, and a line must be drawn somewhere. It will be gratifying, however, to know that others have been admitted to this honorable company, even if such admission would seem to throw a doubt upon the accuracy of the work. Up to the present writing, there have been nearly twelve hundred applications for patents filed in the local land office, the vast majority of which are for the California land district. In the majority of instances the chances of these locations developing into paying mines are exceedingly good. Besides these, there are thousands of prospect holes, held simply by .assessment work. The development of a very small proportion of these holes, into even ordinary mines, will make Leadville, for many years to come, a veritable treasure house. ^^ » \ " 306 HISTOEY or LAKE COUNTY. CHAPTER XIX. MISCELLANEOUS. IT has, of course, been impossible, for rea- sons already cited, to give a detailed state- ment of everything in and about Leadville worthy of mention, and in all probability many things exceptionally worthy have en- tirely escaped notice. Among the principal items of importance may be cited, first, THE POLICE. A regularly organized police force was first established in 1878, when the thronging pop- ulation began to attract lawless roughs and thieves to the city, and when a regularly or- ganized city government became a necessity. As a rule, except when under the control of a man who did not hesitate to use his posi- tion as Marshal as a means of securing plun- der, with very little care as to the means em- ployed in securing it, the force has been remarkable for its intelligence and courage. The first Marshal of the city, George O'Con- nor, was shot very shortly after his appoint- ment, by one of his own ofiicers, who suc- ceeded in making bis escape. The force has had some difficult duties to perform on various occasions, but has always been ready. No less than five of its members have been shot while in the performance of their duties, and sacrificed their lives to their ideas of duty. The present force consists of the Marshal, one Captain, three Sergeants and twenty-one patrolmen. THE HOSPITALS. Prominent among the institutions of Lead- ville are its hospitals, which have done, so much toward alleviating the sufferings of those overtaken by disease in the city. The first hospital to be erected was that of St. Vincent's, by the Sisters of Mary. The build- ing was erected in the fall of 1878, and was so quickly filled with patients that early in the spring of 1879, it was found necessary to build an addition. The entire building was built entirely by subscription, nobody refusing assistance to the Sisters in their work of char- ity. In the spring of 1879, the hospital nar- rowly escaped destruction by fire, owing to the forest fires which nearly surrounded the building, which was then on the extreme verge of the city limits. The growth of the city since that time is illustrated by the fact that the hospital is now almost in the center of the city. In the fall of 1879, the formation of an association of Union veterans led to the erection of a hospital under their aus- pices, and with the assistance of the Ladies' Auxiliary Aid Society, organized especially for that purpose. The hospital is now well established, and has proved a great relief to the burden placed on the Sisters. The coimty also has, in its connection with the almshouse, a well-appointed hospital. THE HOTELS. The rush to Leadville taxed the ingenuity of travelers to the utmost to get suitable, or even passable, accommodations. In 1878, the man was lucky who could secure a lot of clean blankets and, a pile of fresh hay, on which to make his couch, and the advice given to all those contemplating a visit to Leadville, was, " Bring your bedding with you." In the sum- mer of that year, the Grand Hotel was com- pleted, and, for a tiuie, was accepted as the general exchange and headquarters for the city. It was filled to overflowing immediately upon its completion, and the rush still contin- uing, the Clarendon was completed early in 1879, and at once took the lead as a promi- nent hostelry. The Hotel "Windsor was also erected in 1879. All three are still in exist- ence and are well patronized. Besides these there are from forty to fifty small hotels of every grade. SUMMER KESORTS. Leadville is certainly well favored in regard to pleasant places as summer resorts. Sixteen miles south are Twin Lakes, where good hotels. ^^ V «i« a^ytn^^ fk^ HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. 307 fine fishing and the finest scenery on the con- tinent, conspire to divide the attention of the tourist. Six miles to the west are the Soda Springs, so called, though but one is impreg- nated with soda, the others being iron and sul- phur. Here also is a good hotel, with all the modem conveniences, and enough mountain climbing if one chooses to ascend the rugged sides of Mount Massive, which rises from the yard of the hotel, to satisfy any moderate demand for this class of exercise. To the northwest is one of the most charming spots in all the mountain region — the vicinity of Ten- nessee Pass, where trout-fishing and indul- gence in the contemplation of delightful land- scapes form the principal attractions. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. It must not be imagined, because of the mushroom growth of Leadville, that its build- ings are all mere shells. The old shells and log cabins are fast disappearing from the principal sfreets, and are being replaced by handsome structures, which would do credit to any city. Three-story brick buildings are by no means uncommon, and all of the later improvements are substantially constructed and ornamental as well as useful. The court house, recently erected, and the new school buildings are handsome structures, and the more substantial business firms have erected houses which are a source of pride no less than of profit. THE SMELTERS. The smelters of the city deserve more than a passing mention, as it is through them, more than any one agency, that the city itself owes its present size and importance. The most prominent works are those of the Grant Smelt- ing Company, which has been wonderfully successful during the three years of its ope- ration. The company now operates seven large stacks, and produced in 1 880 more than $4,000,000 worth of bullion. In June, 1878, the La Plata Smelting Works were started with one furnace. Before the close of 1879 they had four in operation, and during the year 1880 turned out 12,000,316 worth of bullion. The works are among the best arranged and regulated in the city. The American Smelter was erected in 1879, and has been, until re- cently, in continuous operation. It has two excellent furnaces, and in 1880 produced sev- eral hundred thousand dollars' worth of bull- ion. Billing & Eiler's smelting estg,blishment is also one of the most successful in the city. The works were erected in 1879, with two fur- naces, which were found insufficient, and in October, 1880, a third furnace was erected. The production of bullion for 1879 was over $1,000,000 ; in 1880 the production was almost doubled. The California Smelter was erected in the summer of 1879, with two furnaces. It was operated with indifferent success at first, but is now running in full blast. The Malta Smelter was the first erected in the district, having been started in 1875, for the purpose » of treating the ore from the Homestake and Printer Boy Mines. They failed in securing enough, however, and were idle most of the time until the discovery of carbonates. They were too far away from the mines, however, to compete with the smelters nearer at hand, and as a result are now closed. Another smelter, at Malta, with two furnaces, was built by J. B. Dickson, in 1879, but it has also been com- pelled to shut down. The Ohio and Missouri Smelter was built in Big Evans Grulch, one furnace, in July, 1879, and one in the siumner of the following year. These works, under efficient management, have been uniformly successful. The Cummings & Finn Smelter, started in July, 1879, with two furnaces; a third was added in the fall of the same year, and a fourth in the following spring. In 1880, the bullion produced was valued at $1,300,000. The Harrison Reduction Works commenced business in 1877, with one fur- nace; another was added in 1878. The pro- duction for 1880 was $917,000, mostly from the mines owned by the company. The Elgin Smelter was first put in operation in July, 1879, with one furnace, to which another has since been added. The bullion product for 1880 was nearly half a million. The com- bined product of these smelters for 1880 was $15,040,715. During 1881, it is estimated that the production will be about $12,000,000. THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK. The results of the business for 1880 were exceedingly gratifying, more than fifteen and Mt !^ 308 HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY. a quarter million dollars' worth of goods hav- ing been sold at a profit of over two millions. The houses engaged in business are all finan- cially substantial, and are pushing and ener- getic. A large amount of trade will undoubt- edly come from the outlying mining regions, a fact of which the merchants are well aware, and which has stimulated efforts looking to the securing of that trade. The volume of business will be as great diu-ing the year 1881 as during that preceding, though the sales will represent a smaller profit and be distributed more evenly through the year. THE HEALTH Or LEADVILLE. During the first year of Leadville's exist- ence, it was almost universally regarded as an absolute death trap, where pneumonia was the certain result of the slightest exposure, and always resulted in death Those living in the East could not understand how a climate, which had eight months in which the frost always formed at night, and six months of snow, could possibly be anything but fatal. A large number died from exposure, resulting from dissolute habits, and these were multi- plied until the impression prevailed that a holocaust of victims of pneumonia were in- terred daily. In the absence of statistics, it was impossible to deny the statement, though it was well understood by the residents that a man who took care of himself, and avoided exposure and excessive use of intoxicants, was in no greater danger than in the healthiest localities of the East, and that, to a man in good health and of good habits, the climate was absolutely invigorating. The mortality tables for 1880 show the number of deaths to have been 824. Of this number sixty resulted from accidents in the mines, thirty-seven from gun-shot wounds and fifteen from suicide. This leaves 712 from natural causes; pneu- monia caused the death of 300, and in nine cases out of ten pneimionia was caused by drunkenness and the consequent exposure. The man, who, in Leadville, becomes drunk, and throws himself down on the floor, or in a gutter, to sleep off his debauch, is exceedingly likely to be frozen to death, or reeeivfe a fatal attack of pneumonia. On the other hand, there is not on record, in the practice of any physician, of a single instance of an attack of pneumonia, upon men who clothe themselves and sloep warmly, and take ordinary precau- tions against exposure. The deaths from nat- Tu-al causes, in 1880, amounted twenty-four to the thousand of population. This is not a heavy death rate in any case, and when the fact is considered that the population was made up of 30,000 people (for the deaths in- cluded all that occurred within a radius of twenty miles from the city), taken from an entirely difierent condition of life and totally ignorant of the proper methods of caring for their health under the conditions of life, in Leadville, many of them giving way to temp- tations, or exposing themselves, the death rate cannot but be regarded as exceedingly light. There is no healthier place in the world than Leadville, if the fact of its- location, 10,000 feet above sea level, is constantly kept in mind. There have been do legal executions of criminals during the existence of Leadville, but there are, at this writing, two murderers in the county jail under sentence of death, the sentence to be carried into effect on the 18th of June. ^ ® r- J^^-±~ ^ «) fe. BIOGRAPHICAL. THOMAS R. A6NEW. Thomas R. Agnew was bom in the city of New York in 1832, where he remained until his seventeenth year. The California gold excitement of 1849 numbered him among the many who rushed to the land of gold. Six years of his life were spent in that country, where he was very successful in mining, and amassed quite a fortone. In 1855, he re- turned to New York, and, together with George Francis Train and Bayard Taylor, made a trip of the world, which cost him $20,000 in gold. On his return to New York, in 1856, he engaged in the grocery business on the corner of Greenwich and Murray streets. It was here that Mr. Agnew acquired wealth which, in amount, was second to few in that city. Everything he handled turned to gold, as it were. He was known as the shrewdest business man of that day. His integrity was unquestionable, and he became known as " Honest Tom " throughout the city ; his chari- table acts were fully equal to the favors for- tune showered upon him; he gave liberally to all who were in need, and religious edifices to-day bear witness to his benevolence. His country residence cost $300,000, and was a place of most elegant finish; his business houses in those days covered 5,000 people every night. In 1877, the subject of this sketch arrived in Leadville, where he has ever since been engaged in real estate and mining business, success attending his undertakings; to-day, he is classed among Leadville's rep- resentative men, and possessing a reputation and character which are unblemished. A gen- tleman of the most exemplary habits, Leadville owes a great portion of her success to Mr. Agnew, who, after his arrival here, was untir- ing ip his efforts to induce Eastern capitalists to invest their money in mines. At presem, Mr. Agnew is largely interested in mining property, as well as real estate throughout the city. .lOHN ALFRED. This active, energetic business man was born in Liverpool, England, February 11, 1843. He received a common-school education, and at the early age of eight years commenced work for his father, hearting rivets and work- ing in a foundry and boiler-yard. At an early age, he ran away from home and visited the Crimea on a transport vessel, and was there for a period of thirteen months. He came home and worked with his father until the spring of 1861, and then emigrated to America, secreting himself on a vessel, not having enough money to pay his passage over, and landed in the city of New York without a cent — a stranger in a strange land; procuring work, he remained there for four years; he then came West to Clinton, Iowa, and went into the foundry and machine-shop business at that point; selling out, he came to Leadville in February, 1879, and started the foundry business with but a few dollars' capital, but, having an indomitable will, with an abun- dant supply of that pluck and energy necessary to success, Mr. Alfred has succeeded in build- ing up a large and lucrative business, doing a large amount of work for the smelting works and mines. Mr. Alfred was married in New York, in April, 1864. He is a very prominent member of the Masonic order, having attained all the degrees but the thirty-third. He is now in comfortable circumstances, and, hav- ing struggled manfully through his reverses of fortune, is enjoying the fruits of his well- earned competence. CHARLES G. ARNOLD. The subject of this sketch was bom in Nor- ton, Bristol Co., Mass., September 19, 1824. He received a common- school education in his native town; he spent his early life on a farm with his parents. - In his twenty- first year, he went to Providence, E. I., and engaged as a clerk in the stove and hardware business for l^ -^ 310 BIOGRAPHICAL: eleven years; he then removed to Boston and embarked in the foundry business, the firm name being Arnold & Butts, in which business he remained until 1861. His failing health prompted him to seek a more healthful clime, and, on the 26th of April, 1862, he emigrated to Colorado, crossing the plains from St. Jo- seph, Mo., to Denver, in a wagon, walking and riding, being twenty-five days on the route; from Denver, he came to California Gulch, and engaged in placer mining; he worked all sum- mer as a tender-foot, and came out without a dollar. In April, 1863, he went to Frying Pan Gulch and worked the tailings, and made $50 a day for two months, and in the fall of 1863 he returned to California Gulch and commenced prospecting and mining, in which business he has been quite successful, and now owns some valuable mining property. ALEXANDER BENGLEY. Mr. Bengley was bom in Canada in 1828; when fourteen years of age, he moved to Troy, N. Y., where he lived until 1850; he was en- gaged there as an architect and builder, re- moving to Chicago, 111., where he engaged in the same business until 1875, part of the time being in the mercantile business. Although Chicago was then his home, he gave a portion of his time and attention to mining in the Lake Superior region, where he still owns mining property. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1878 and located at Leadville, where he has since resided, engaged in mining and architectural works. Mr. Bengley was elected a Commissioner of Lake County in 1880; he is an active member of that board, and works diligently for the best interests of the tax payers of the county he represents. ISAAC H. BATCHELLOR. Mr. Batchellor is a native of Maine; he was born in the town of Bowdoin, near the Atlantic coast, where he resided only a few years before removing to "Worcester Co., Mass., to make his home with an uncle; while he resided with his relative, he worked on a farm and attended school, a portion of the time at an academy located in Winchendon, in Worcester County. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Batchellor had a desire to see other parts of the world than New England; he enlisted for three years in a man-of-war; during eighteen months of his enlistment, he was off the coast of Africa, watching parties who were engaged in the slave trade; the remainder of the time, his vessel was in the Mediterranean Sea; it was lying off Toulon at the time Louis Phillippe abdicated his throne in favor of his grandson, February 24, 1848, and it was near the coast of Italy when Charles Albert went out to fight the Austrians. Mr. Batchellor witnessed much of the exciting period in the history of Europe the three years he was absent from America. After his return, he resided in several of the New England States, engaged in various occu- pations, before he came West; for six years, he lived in Chicago, where he filled the posi- tion of hotel clerk at the Foster House, which was destroyed in the great fire of 1871. For more than twenty years prior to 1881, Mr. Batchellor has been a resident of Colorado; a greater portion of that time, Arapahoe County has been his home, where he bought a farm four miles distant from the city of Denver, and was engaged in stock-raising in connection with his ranch. In 1872, he was a member of the Territorial Legislature, and in 1876 served his county as one of its Com- missioners. In 1879, he sold out his farming and stock-raising interests and moved to Leudville, where he is engaged in the livery business; is a member of the firm of Chatfield & Batchellor, livery, feed and sale stable, 126 East Sixth street. Mr. Batchellor was mar- ried in 1872, and has two children. ROBERT BERRY. Mr. Berry has been intimately connected with the history of Lake County since 1860, when he made California Gulch his home. Mr. Berry was bom in Wyandot Co., Ohio, September 25, 1830; be was raised on a farm, and, during his boyhood, attended the com- mon schools; he assisted in constructing the Pittsburgh & Fort Wayne Railroad, and after- ward kept the station at Forest, in Hardin Co., Ohio; the year of 1856 he spent in Eock Island, 111., and the two following years he resided in Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa. At this time. Pike's Peak excitement broke out, and the gold fever caught Mr. Be^ry, with !> ^»< ,yCV>^^^^^ /y;V^^^^^ -^f fk^ LAKE COUNTY. 313 thousands of other young men, and, in March, 1859, he came to the Rocky Mountains. He made his first stop on Plumb Creek, twenty miles above Denver, where he put up the sec- ond steam saw-mill ever constructed in Colo- rado, for Maj. D. C. Oakes & Co. Prom this point he went to the Gold Dirt Diggings, on South Boulder Creek, but remained only a short time before proceeding to Russell Gulch, where he spent the winter of 1859-60. In May of 1860, he went to California Gulch; during the same yeai', gold was discovered at the base of Mt. Massive, in Prying Pan Gulch; this place takes its name from the fact that parties who found the gold had no regular pan with which to wash it, and so brought into requisition one of their cooking utensils, and hence the name. It was not until July 4, 1863, that the precious metal was fouud in paying quantities at this point, when the name of the gulch was changed to Colorado Gulch, and the district was called Independ- ence Mining District, in honor of the day. The discovery was made by Mr. C. P. Wil- son, who gave the locality its name. It is in this gulch that Mr. Berry has been engaged in placer mining ^^^ eighteen years, where, in company with his partner, Mr. Walters, they own 140 acres in placer diggings, having pur- chased several claims adjoining his original location. During a portion of the decade be- tween 1860 and 1870, Mr. Berry was inti- mately connected with the history of the Ter- ritory, having been appointed United States Marshal and Internal Revenue Collector, which offices he resigned when elected to the Territorial Council in 1863; the Council (Legislature) met in Golden City, but imme- diately adjourned to Denver; he served dur- ing two sessions. In 1865, Mr. Berry was elected Secretary of the Council — the highest office in the gift of that body. He held the office of County Clerk and Recorder iu 1862, which he resigned to serve in the Legislature. At an early period, he was appointed County Judge, to fill an unexpired term, but would not allow his name to be used at the follow- ing election. Mr. Berry is well acquainted with the prominent men who have made the history of Colorado, and takes a lively interest in all State questions. CHARLES BRUCKMAN. The proprietor of the Pranklin Printing House is the subject of this sketch. He was born in New York City in 1852, where he re- ceived a collegiate education, graduating at the New York College in 1871. He was en- gaged in the banking business in that city until September, 1879, when he came to Colo- rado and located at Leadville, where he en- gaged in his present business, which is that of general advertising and job printing. The house has established a reputation that is fully commensurate with its efforts. CHARLES C. BAM)WIN. This gentleman was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., March 10, 1858; he received a colle- giaie education, graduating in 1875 from the Michigan University; in 1877, he came West and settled in California Ghilch, engaging in the business of civil mining engineering; was employed as engineer by the Iron Silver, Robert E. Lee, Little Giant, and other mines; he made the first map of Leadville and vicinity, showing about eight hundred of the mines, and also made the first survey and laid out many of the principal streets in Leadville. He was married in 1878, and has one child. Mr. Baldwin is well known as a competent civil and mining engineer. WILLIAM H. BRIGHT. The above-named gentleman has been con- spicuously identified with Leadville and its police department ever since his advent here. He was born in Pairfax County, Va., in 1820. When sixteen years old, he went to Washing- ton, D. C, where he lived for six years; he is a brick-layer by trade; he built the Govern- ment armories at Harper's Perry and also erected some of the Government buildings at Washington; he afterward lived at Memphis, Term., and then at Louisville, Ky., where he superintended the erection of the Custom House; at Cincinnati, he erected the court house; he then went to Louisiana; he built the State Seminary of Learning at Alexandria; he was afterward employed by the United States Treasury Department as a detective, and then as a Lieutenant on the police force of the city of Washington. When the war rr ihL^ 314 BIOGRAPHICAL: broke out, he enlisted in the First Regiment District of Columbia Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward in the Quartermaster's Depart- ment of the Army of the Potomac. After the war, he held the position, under the United States Government-, of United Sates Mail Agent for Utah and Montana and adjoining Territories; he established a number of mail routes in Washington Territory; he lived three years in the Sweet Water country of Wyoming; he then moved to Denver, where he lived five years, and erected some of the most elegant buildings in that city; he was City Jailer of Denver for three years. On the 1st of April, 1878, he came td Leadville; was appointed successively Under Sheriff and County Jailer; he now devotes all his time to mining, and has interests in valuable mining property. WILSON WATSON BREDIN, M. D. Dr. Bredin was bom in 1844, county of Lanark, Canada; attended grammar school until the age of seventeen; he removed to Toronto, Canada, and took a course of study for four years at the Normal University, after which he began the study of medicine at Trinity University, Toronto, and graduated in 1873. He came to Bay City, Mich., and practiced medicine until the fall of 1880, at which time he removed to Leadville, Colo., and in a very short time was appointed CoTOnty Physician for Lake County Hospital, which position he still holds. WILLIE T. BROCKMAN. Among the pioneer business men of Lead- ville, and one who has, by fair dealing and close attention to business, established him- self as one of the prominent merchants, is W. T. Brockman. He was bom in Virginia July 8, 1851, and at an early age removed with his parents to Springfield, 111., where he re- ceived an academic education, and studied pharmacy at Eutledge College. In 1865, he engaged in the drug business in Springfield, where he remained for about six years. In 1871, he moved to St. Louis, where he was employed as foreman in a large wholesale drug store for a period of two years ; from St. Louis he went to Joplin, Mo., where he lo- cated and started in the drug business for himself, and was also interested in mining. In 1877, he emigrated to Leadville and en- gaged in the drug business, and also was in- terested in burning charcoal; had a large corral for stabling stock, also had an interest in a wood-yard. During these years, he has been variously associated in business, and owns some valuable claims in the Black Range, New Mexico. His ancestry is of French and German extraction. Mr. Brockman is a pleas- ant and courteous gentleman, and commands the patronage of the public. He was married at Joplin, Mo., in 1873. ROBERT H. BUCK. Capt. Robert H. Buck,United States Commis- sioner, was born in Bangor, Me., August 21, 1835, and removed to Boston, Mass., while very young; was educated at Amherst College and Harvard University of class of 1856, and was admitted to the bar. in Boston in 1857, and was engaged in practicing law until 1859, when he removed to Si Louis, and, upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, recruited two companies, forming the nucleus of the Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry; was elected Captain, and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post, and left the service in consequence of physical disa- bility, renewing the practice of law in Boston in 1864; was sent to Gilpin City, Colo., in 1870, to take charge of important mining in- terests, and came to Leadville in March, 1879; was appointed United States Commissioner for District of Colorado in 1876, and still holds that appointment. WILLIAM NELSON BURDICK, M. D. Dr. William Nelson Biurdick was bom April 26, 1850, in Coldwater, Mich. ; he received a collegiate education, graduating, in the spring of 1878, from the University of Michigan, and engaged in the practice of his profession in his native place. He came to Colorado in 1874, and, returning to Michigan, he remained there for a brief period; afterward came to Leadville, in July, 1878, and restuned the practice of his profession, and can now be classed as one of the most successful of prac- titioners in Leadville, having a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Burdick is married. ir^ ^ d^ LAKE COUNTY. 315 and is recognized as a most skillful physician, and devotes his entire time to his profession. WILLIAM K. BURCHINELL. Mr. Burchinell, the present Receiver of the United States Land Office at Leadville, was born October 12, 1846, and received an academ- ic education in his native town. Upon the breaking-out of the war, though but a mere lad in years, he entered the army and served with distinction until the close of the war, participating in many of the hard-fought bat- tles. He was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in the winter of 1872, and re- elected, in 1873; in 1875, he was appointed to the office he now holds by President Grant, and was re-appointed in 1879 by President Hayes; he owns some valuable mining prop- erty in the vicinity of Leadville, which is being developed. He has filled the office iie holds with ability and honor, and, being a gentleman of fine and prepossessing appear- ance, at once impresses one as a man of unus- ual character. Mr. Burchinell was married in 1872, and has one child. CHARLES BOETTCHER. Mr. Bcpettcher is one of Leadville's most successrul merchants, which is due to his energy and strict attention to business, to- gether with his upright dealings with all classes of customers. He was born in Coell- eda, Germany, on the 8th of April, 1852, and attended school imtil the age of sixteen years. His parents emigrated to America in 1868, and located in Chicago, and after a short time removed to Cheyenne, W. T., where Charley, then but a youtii, engaged in the hardware trade, commencing business for himself; after two years, sold out and went to Greeley, Colo., and from there to Fort Collins, where he started again in the hardware business, and, after a short period of one and a half years, sold out and removed to Boulder and com- menced business again. In 1879, he came to Leadville, and is now engaged in the same business, having one of the largest stocks in that line in the State; his place of business is on Harrison avenue, opposite the Clarendon Hotel; he also is a very large dealer in min- ing supplies, and has a stock estimated at 1100,000. Mr. Boettcher devotes his entire time to his large and growing business, and, although he takes great interest in all public affairs in which Leadville is interested, has no time to spare from his business to give to out- side matters. Mr. Boettcher has an abun- dance of that energy and pluck necessary to success, and has made his business what it is by his personal efforts. He was married in 1873, and has one child. ALFRED BRI8B0IS. The subject of this sketch is the leading artist of Leadville in photography, and the work done in his gallery will compare favor- ably with that done by any other artist in Colorado or the East. Many of the portraits in this work were taken from pictures made in his gallery, and work is also done in India ink and water colors. Born in Chicago Sep- tember 6, 1853, he moved with his parents, at an early age, to Detroit, Mich., and attended the public schools until nine years of age; his parents then removed to Canada, and, after one year's sojourn, returned to Mount Clem- ens, Mich.; subsequently returned to Canada, where young Brisbois finished his education at L' Assumption College, Sandwich, Canada; he then commenced his mercantile life by en- gaging as clerk in a grocery store, where he continued for a short period; the following winter, he went to Detroit and embarked in the manufacture of mineral waters, but, it not proving as lucrative as he wished, he in a short time abandoned it, and served an apprentice- ship at the harness trade at the town of Windsor, Canada, for a period of three and a half years; he then visited nearly all the principal towns in Michigan, among which were Komeo, Saginaw, Pontiac and Ann Arbor, in search of employment, and, not meeting with much success, he served an apprentice- ship of two years at the barber's trade, learn- ing it at night, and worked at harness-making during the day, to accumulate sufficient funds to start in business for himself, and expe- rienced, during this time, many reverses, but struggled manfully through them all. He returned to Canada and commenced the study of photography, studying at such times as he could get when not working at his trade; after ^9 -^ a period of about four months, he moved to Saginaw, Mich., and opened a gallery; in a very short time, he went to Ann Arbor, and continued the business for two months, then sold out and went to Detroit, where he re- mained for four months; the following spring, he came to St. Joseph, Mo., and worked at his profession for nearly two years; he then spent several months traveling, visiting the towns of Omaha, Cheyenne, Denver, and, on the 2d day of March, 1880, arrived in Leadville and started the business in which he is now en- gaged. Mr. Brisbois' life has of course been variegated with many of the shifting scenes which mark the career of the early Coloradoan; he is regarded as a man of superior nerve and business tact, and is held in high esteem by all those who have business dealings with him, and is receiving the patronage of the best citi- zens of Leadville; he is one of the proprietors of the Boston drug store, owning a half inter- est, and is also interested in some valuable mining property, and may be accepted as the leading artist of Leadville. He was married at Ann Arbor, Mich., September 6, 1881. JAMES BRUCKMAN. This gentleman was born in New York City in 1844, where he resided until thirteen years of age, when he came West with an older brother. He has resided in Nevada and Cal- ifornia some four or five years, where he was engaged in mining. His business afterward was such that it kept him traveling through- out the Eastern and Western States a great deal. In February, 1878, he came to Lead- ville and engaged in the furniture business. He soon afterward gave up that business to devote all of his time to mining. He is largely interested in mining, and does a gen- eral broker's business in that line. PETER BECKER. This gentleman was born July 28, 1848, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; he came with his parents to this counixy when six years of age, and moved to Iowa City in 1856; it was there that he learned the trade of harness-maker; he afterward followed his trade at Chicago. His parents died at Iowa City. Mr. Becker came to Colorado in 1871, living a short time at Denver, then removing to Clorado Springs; he resided there nine years, during which time he was engaged in the ha}:ness business. He was elected Sheriff of El Paso County, and heldythe office for two terms of two years each. He came to Leadville in Eebruaiy, 1879, and engaged in the harness business on West Chestnut street, where his stand still remains, with his main house located on East Fifth street; he has been interested in mining throughout the different mining dis- tricts of this State; he has made his business a success. Personally, Mr. Becker is an affable gentleman, and a general favorite among his acquaintances. HON. GEORGE C. BATES. Foremost among those who were first to locate at Leadville, may be classed the sup- ject of this sketch. Mr. Bates is justly enti- tled to the credit of having done more, per- haps, to promote the interests of Leadville and aid in creating the large influx of people to the new mining camp in the spring of 1879 than any other citizen. His pen por- traitures furnished to and published in the Detroit Free Press during the winter of 1878-79, were so generally read, copied in other Eastern papers, and relied* upon as truthful, that they were the means of causing many to seek their fortunes here and thereby build up Leadville. Mr. Bates' natinre is the very embodiment of affability, and as one of the profession of which he is a member, he is known as a gentleman of the old school of courtesy and politeness. In legal attainments he has no superior at the bar, and for force of expression and fine oratorical ability, we need no better evidence than that which has constantly followed him throughout his past life as a successful practitioner. Mr. Bates was born in Canandaigua, New York, a son of Phineas P. Bates, who was then a noted caitle raiser in that section of the country. Mr. Bates received a common school education up to the time he was twelve years of age. He after- ward attended Middlebury Academy in his State. He prepared for a more thorough col- legiate course by attending Canandaigua Academy. In September, 1828, he entered Hobart College at Geneva, New York, from ;r^ ^hL^ LAKE COUNTY. 317 which institution he graduated in 1831. He afterward read law in the office of John C. Spencer. In May, 1833, he left for Cleveland, where he remained but a short time, in the practice of his profession as a partner of the late. Hon. Stephan A. Douglas. Removing to Detroit and afterward to Monroe, Michi- gan, he became a pupil of Jefferson G. Thur- ber, one of his tutors at Canandaigua. In May, 1834, he was admitted to the bar of Michigan after passing a flattering examina- tion and acquitting himself with great credit. After some time spent in Chicago, he returned to Detroit, where he began to practice. In 1841, he was appointed United States District Attorney for the district of Michigan by Pres- ident Harrison. He held the office for a term of four years and prosecuted with great suc- cess hundreds, who as Federal officers, had become defaulters under Van Buren's adminis- tration. In the fall of 1848 he was nominated for Congress in the First District of Mich- igan, by the Whig party, but was defeated. In 1849, he was again appointed District Attorney, having resigned the same in 1845. In June, 1852, while in California, whither he had gone the month previous, he resigned his attorneyship of Michigan and remained some four years in California, and through his successful practice was in independent circumstances. He then returned to Detroit, where he was elected several successive years as Alderman of the First Ward of that city. In 1849, he was a delegate to the Whig Con- vention at Harrisburg, being the youngest member of that body. Mr. Bates always took an active part in politics, being originally a Whig and since a Eepublican. In 1861, he removed to Chicago and commenced the prac- tice of law in that city where he was eminently successful until the fire of 1871, when, in common with thousands of others, he lost everything. In November, 1871, President Grant appointed him United States District Attorney of Utah. In October, 1873, Mr. Bates became the Attorney of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints of Utah, by appointment of George A. Smith,, which position he held imtil November, 1875. " In 1877, on account of the bitter feuds exist- ing between the Mormons and Gentiles, he removed his large library to Detroit, where he again resumed practice. For over forty years, he, has been a sucessful practitioner of law in nearly all the courts of Michigan and California. KOSSUTH R. CASPER. Among the promising young attorneys of Leadville is the subject of this sketch. He is the associate of William J. Sharman in the practice of his profession. He was born in Sullivan County, New York, where he received an ordinaiy. education until he was fifteen years of age. He afterward attended various schools away from his native home, and in 1872, graduated from the Albany Law School. He then practiced in New York City. Came to Leadville in September, 1879, where he has since been engaged in a successful law practice. He devotes a great portion of his time to mining and is the owner of several promising properties. FRANK H. COLE. Among the successful mine superintendents who have operated in Leadville, the name of Frank H. Cole appears. He was born in Westport, Essex Co., State of New York. He worked on a farm and attended school until he was twenty years of age. During his school days he attended the Westport Academy, under Prof. L. B. Newell. In 1867, Mr. Cole went to Troy, N. Y., where he accepted a clerkship in the post office dupartment in the city. He held various positions up to that of Assistant Postmaster. Mr. Cole was connected with the office for eighl years. Gen. Alonzo Alden was Postmaster —he, who was the hero of Fort Fisher. It is true of him that at the time of the attack, he was leading his command when his horse was shot under him, and at the same time his color bearer was killed. The General caught up the standard and dashed forward to the fort, calling upon his men to follow him. The General is a relative of Mr. Cole. In January, 1874, Mr. C. went to Boulder Co., Colo., locating at Ned- erland in connection with the old Caribou Mill and Mining Company. He took charge of the chlorination department, and soon afterward the amalgamation and smelting department, and subsequently took charge of ^? L) ""V A ll^ 318 BIOGRAPHICAL: all the assaying for the company. He was with the firm four years. At the expiration of this time Mr. Cole went to Rosita, under Prof. P. H. Van Diest, and started the Penn. Reduction Works, where he remained one year. Here his health failed, and he was obliged to abandon his occupation. Mr. Cole returned to Boulder, where he regained his health. During this time he was engaged with the Caribou Lixiviation Works in connec- tion with the Native Silver Mining Company, located in Caribou, Boulder Co. In 1879, he went to Leadville where he accepted the position of Assayer of the Highland Chief Consolidated Mining Company, with whom he remained until the great strike among the miners in June, 1880. Soon afterward he was engaged by the Glass-Pendery Consoli- dated Mining Company as Assayer and book- keeper. He had hardly entered upon his duties when he was appointed to and accepted the position of Superintendent of the com- pany. Mr. C. has filled the office of Superin- tendent to the entire satisfaction of his em- ployers. The mine has greatly improved under his management. Mr. Cole was mar- ried, August 30, 1878, to Miss R. Marcella Ladd, of Central City, Colo. JOHN CURRAN. John Curran was born in Center Co., Penn., in 1846; when quite young he removed with his parents to Iowa, where he lived until 1862, engaged while there in farming. In 1862, he removed to St. Joseph, Mo., living there until 1866, when he came to Denver, Colo., and worked for George Tritch. He also worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, and spent sev- eral seasons in the San Juan country mining. In July, 1878, he came to Leadville and engaged in mining and speculations. In the spring of 1880 he was elected an Alderman of the city of Leadville from the Fourth Ward. J. N. CHIPLEY. Dr. J. N. Chipley is a Dentist by profes- sion; he was bom in Shelbyville, Mo., in 1855, receiving a common school education. In 1873, he came to Colorado and settled in Denver, where he entered the dental office of Dr. Smedley, remaining with him three years. He afterward attended the Dental College of Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1877. Retui-ning to this State he practiced in Den- ver and Fairplay, coming to Leadville in January, 1878. Since then he has practiced dentistry here. He was the first Coroner of Leadville, and at the spring election of 1881 he was elected Alderman from the Third Ward. He has dealt largely in mines and in most instances with success. MEREDITH B. CAMPLIN. Mr. Camplin is the youngest attorney of the Leadville bar, he is a gentleman of rare talent and much promise. At present he is devoting all his time to mining. He is the Manager of the Liverpool and Globe Mines in the Cottonwood District, Chaffee County, out of which mines daily shipments of rich ore are being made. He has vast and valu- able mining interests in difierent portions of Colorado, all of which bid fair to make him one of our rich men. He was born at Chilli - cothe, Daviess Co., Mo., in 1858. When thir- teen years old he accompanied his parents to Abilene, Kan., and one year later he moved to the Solomon Valley, where his father was a large cattle raiser and wheat grower. Young Camplin here kept a grocery store. He here devoted his spare moments to the study of law. After five years, he moved with an older brother to Nederland, Boulder Co., Colo., and acted as Assistant Postmaster. He soon afterward assumed the management and editorship of the Colorado Banner at Boulder, and afterward ran a wholesale and retail grocery business inpartership with his broth- ers, afterward branching out in the same business for himself at Ward, Boulder Co. That place was then a thriving mining camp. After selling out his business he applied him- self strictly to reading law, and was after- ward admitted to the bar in Denver. At Leadville, he was a member of the law firm of Berkly, Shackleford & Camplin. After eight months, the partnership was dissolved and he commenced practice for himself. During the winter of 1880-81 he was Assistant Prose- cuting Attorney. He married a daughter of CoL E. H Gruber on the 28th of July, 1880. The Democratic State Convention of 1880 •^ vr la^ LAKE COUNTY. 319 nominated Mr. Camplin for Regent of the University, but he declined. JOSEPH C. CRAMER. Mr. Cramer is General Manager and Super- intendent of Chloride Plumbing Company; also Vice President, Superintendent and Man- ager of the Leadville Water Company, and is one of the most public spirited and wide awake young men of Leadville, and to his foresight is mainly due the splendid system of water works now in use. He came to Lead- ville when there were scarcely fifty houses in the camp. Was present when initiatory steps were taken to incorporate the town, and was at the meeting when the name was pro- posed. He was elected to the Town Board; held the office of Town Clerk and Eecorder, and resigned that position to become one of the owners of the Water Works. He was born February 14, 1844, in Westmoreland Co., Perm., and ran away from home when not quite eighteen years of age, enlisting as a private soldier in the 139th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac until May, 1864. During the hard fought battles of the Wilderness was severely wounded in the right shoulder, the ball still remaining under the shoulder blade. Was then consigned to the Veteran Reserve Corps at Washington, D. C, and the remainder of his term he served on the staff of Gen. Augur; was appointed by the Smithsonian Institute one of the Corps of Naturalists and Taxider- mists, and visited South America twice in the interests of science. After this honorable service Mr. Cramer emigrated to the Black Hills, being one of the early pioneers from there to California, where he spent several years engaged in mining. While in the Black Hills country he was wounded by a poisoned arrow shot by a hostile Indian, the scar of which can yet be plainly seen. Mr. Cramer takes an active interest in public affairs, is a prominent officer of Chloride Lodge, No. 31, and of Lake Encampment I. 0. O. F. The exclusive water privilege for twenty years is a bonanza itself, and his one- third interest affords a handsome revenue, almost equal to that of a carbonate mine. He is yet a young man — unmarried and is well known as a genial, pleasant gentleman, emphatically a self-made man with an abund- ant supply of that energy, enterprise and business sagacity necessary for success in this wide-awake Western country. THOMAS T. CORNFORTH. Among the number of pioneers who still reside in Colorado and who have passed through the hardships of pioneer life, is T. T. Cornforth, who was bom in Macclesfield, England, in June, 1843. At the age of fif- teen years he came with his parents to America and settled in Sumner, Kan., where he embarked in mercantile pursuits. In 1861, he engaged in freighting merchandise across the plains from Atchison, Leavenworth and other points on the Missouri River to Denver, which business he continued until the spring of 1867. He then moved to Cheyenne, Wyo- ming Territory, and started a general store, which he soon sold out and opened success- ively stores on the Union Pacific Railroad, at Benton, Bryan and Wasatch, and continued them until the completion of that road. He then engaged in merchandising and mining at Sweetwater, Wyoming Territory, and con- tinued there until 1872, meeting with varied success, finally sold out and returned to Chey- enne, and became interested in Government contracts for furnishing supplies to Fort Russell. In the spring of 1874, removed to Denver, afterward removed to Georgetown and engaged there in merchandising, but his health failing he sold out and traveled in the Eastern States until he had partly recovered. In December, 1876, he moved to Deadwood, Black Hills, and commenced milling, mining and hauling ore, engaging in several enter- prises, together with running a general store, and remained there conducting these various schemes when the great fire of September 26, 1879, occurred, burning out his store by which he sustained heavy loss. He inunediately rebuilt the building and re-opened his store, selling out in October, 1880. He came to Leadville and opened a store in which he is still engaged, and is meeting with some suc- cess, and is also interested in mining and milling. Mr. Cornforth is an expert in min- -q, \ ' 320 BIOGRAPHICAL: ing and has visited near]y every mining camp from the Yellowstone Valley to Sante ¥6, and has had considerable experience in the hard- ships and dangers attached to an active life on the frontier. During the freighting expe- riences from 1863 to 1866, he and his party of frieghters were several times attacked by the hostile Sionx Indians, but always managed to drive them off without any severe loss of lives or property. ■ He was married in Pittsfield, ■ State of Maine, July 16, 1868, to a popular and cultivated lady, a daughter of Hon. Nel- son Vickery. ISAAC W. CHATFIBLD. That success in life is not wholly a creation of circumstances but of that inherent power and natural ability to seize upon circum- stances and turn them to advantageous account which is denominated " tact," but in sojne people amounts almost to genius, is exemplified in the history of the above-named gentleman. Bom at Dayton, Ohio, August 11, 1836, he spent his early life on a farm in his native county, and Mason Co., 111., and received the educational advantages afforded by the public schools. The years of 1861-62 he served in the late war, holding the office of First Lieutenant He came to -Colorado in 1868 and located in Fremont County, where he engaged in farming and stock raising for seven years. He then removed to Arapahoe County, and settled near Littleton on a farm, where! he resided for nine years. This farm, consisting of 720 acres, is still owned by Mr. Chattield, and is conceded to be one of the best in Arapahoe County, and also in the State. He came to Leadville in the fall of 1879, and embarked in the mercantile business in connection with mining and railroad contracting, having been very successful in the several branches of his business. Mr. Chatfield owns one- fourth interest in " Smuggler Mine No. 2," an inter- est in "Late Acquisition," and interests in several other valuable mining properties. He is the owner of much valuable real estate in Leadville, of which might be mentioned the post office building, in which he owns a one half interest He is a member of the present City Council and at one time filled the office of Mayor. Mr. Chatfield is recognized by the citizens of Leadville to be one of their most substantial business men and citizens. He was married to Miss Eliza A. Harrington, in Havana, HI., in 1858, May 20th, and has six children whom he is educating at the Brinker Institute, in Denver, Colorado. FERDINAND E. CANDA. Ferdinand E. Cauda, Managing Director Little Pittsburg Consolidated Mining Com- pany, was bom in New York City in 1842. Is a Civil Engineer, and for many years fol- lowed the business of railroad construction, including the manufacture of cars and bridges, the F. E. Cauda & Co. Car Works, situated on Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, being at the time the most extensive in the West. Mr. Cauda and associates were the contractors for building the first 640 miles of the Northern Pacific Bailroad, and also the Cairo & St Louis Eaiboad, of which latter he became the President and General Manager. Since his residence in this State his time has been devoted almost entirely to mining. JOHN SIMS CARRINGTON, M. D. The subject of this sketch was born in Vir- ginia in 1883. A few years later his father removed to the Red River country in Arkansas; in 1848, he was sent to the school taught by the Quaker savant and teacher, Benjamin Hallowell, at Alexandria, Va., from thence was transferred to the University of Vir- ginia, where he took his first course of medical lectures. Leaving the University he pro- ceeded to New York, taking his degree in medicine in 1855, afterward holding the positions of Assistant Physician to the Char- ity Hospital on Blackwell's Island, and House Surgeon to the Emigrant Hospital, Ward's Island, New York. With such abundant preparation and opportunities, faithfully improved, the Doctor soon took high rank with the public and his medical confreres. The eventful spring of 1861 found Dr. Car- rington in Louisiana, energetically engaged in the practice of his profession, and super- vision of his planting interests, but the fate- ful thunderings of Sumter's guns, awakened the war spirit belonging to his race, and he w- ^'- ih^ LAKE COUNTY. 323 quickly dropped pills and plows for shot and shell. In teuth, he was a rebel and a soldier by inheritance. It is said one of his ancestry was standard-bearer for the lion-hearted King of England, in his attempt to eject the Infidel from the Holy Land. For high treason against the Crown of England, another of his ancestors lost his head on the block, his estates were confiscated, and his children took refuge in the wilds of America from persecu- tion and poverty at home. In the rebellion against George the Third, his maternal great grandfather, with five of his brothers, swelled the rebel ranks; while his father's father, with three of his sons, gave their brain, blood, and money, to the same cause. So, loyal friends, do not quarrel with the Doctor because he was a good rebel, he really could not help it, he was in much the same fix with the boy, who upon being reprimanded for whistling, swore he did not, it only whistled itself; so with the Doctor, he did not rebel, the stuff in him rebelled itself! In May, 1861, the Doctor was commanding a battery on the Potomac, and exchanging the compli- ments of the season with distinguished peo- ple on the other side; at the first Bull Run, he got several whiffs of villainous gun-pow- der, and shortly after was transferred to the General staff" with the rank of Captain, and A. A. & I. G. Capt. Carrington was stationed at Corinth for several months, where he shared in the important actions around that post; after the evacuation of Corinth, he was ordered to the Trans-Mississippi Department, undergoing his full share of the hardships, dangers, and sufferings of that deplorable period As a staff officer he was held in the highest esteem for his promptness, decision, energy and intelligence. On the return of peace, he went to the wreck of his home, in Louisiana, dividing his time between bossing fifty of the wards of the nation in the cotton field and fighting the Hydra-headed monster on the Pale Horse. But, as time wore on, it was evident that the old rebel, after some tran- sient successes, was again getting the worst of it. The thieving carpet-baggers plundered his purse, the insidious malaria poisoned his blood. Bankrupt in purse and health, he again surrendered, this time his patrimony to the money-lender, and fled to the wilds of Texas. Dallas ultimately became his home, and in that enterprising and prosperous town the Doctor soon stood upon the highest social and professional round. In March, 1880, his dwelling with all its contents were burned, which determined him to spend the summer at Manitoii. "While there, having beeome deeply impressed with the solid wealth of the Leadville mines, at the solicitations of many old friends, resident therein, he concluded to anchor himself in this city of clouds, with its brilliant lining of silver. In a short time he built up a large and lucrative practice, and confessedly stands among the very foremost of its able medical Faculty. CAPT. HOWARD C. CHAPIN. Capt. Chapin is from Massachusetts; was bom in February, 1846, in Pittsfield. He was educated at Pittsfield and Eastman's Commercial College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he spent one year in the liunber business in Vermont, then enlisted in the army; he entered the Fourth Vermont Regi- ment as a private, but was soon made Captain, and subsequently was on Gen. Getty's staff. He was taken prisoner in 1864, and held nine months at Charleston, and subsequently thirty days in Libby Prison. He was one of the sixty officers who were placed under fire of the Union guns at Charleston, and also one of the number who tunneled out of Libby Prison, nearly all of whom were recaptured. He was mustered out in September, 1864, and immediately came to Colorado. In the spring of 1865 he embarked in the grocery business at Georgetown, in which he continued five years. He then engaged in the hotel busi- ness at the same place, keeping the old Barton House three years. He then moved to Den- ver, where he kept the Inter-Ocean and Grand Central Hotels for five years. He then built and opened the Park Place Hotel in West Denver, which was destroyed by fire after having been run only one season; by this Capt. Chapin sustained a heavy loss. In 1878, he moved to Leadville, where he engaged in mining and real estate business, and in 1880 bought the interest of Bush in Claren- don Hotel. He was married in May, 1868 '^p V5 ■^ 324 BIOGRAPHICAL : to Miss Louisa H. Mills, of Adrian, Mich., and has one daughter. HON. WILLIAM M. CLARK. William M. Clark was born May 1, 1840, in Chester County, Penn., and is now forty- one years old. His parents were farmers and Quakers. He recei-ved first a common school education, and afterward graduated at the State Normal School at Millersville, Penn., at the age of nineteen. For a short time he engaged in teaching school and studying law with the Hon. James B. Everhart until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-eighth Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. John W. Geary. He served with that command until the close of the war, being mustered out as Captain of Company E, of the I47th Pennsylvania, which formed a part of the original Twenty-eighth. He was never absent from his regiment dur- ing the entire time, serving in the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac until after the battle of Gettysburg, when with the Twelfth Army Corps his regiment was sent to the relief of Thomas at Chickamauga, under the command of the gallant Hooker. Was at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and in the campaign of the spring of 1864, to Atlanta. Went with Sherman to the sea, and from Savanna home at the mustering-out of the army in the summer of 1865. After spend- ing the fall and winter of 1865-66 in his old home, Mr. Clark concluded to take the advice of Horace Greeley and go West, leaying home on the 1st day of April of that year he with- out delay landed in Colorado about the middle of May. A fter roaming around a short time he located at Idaho Springs, then the Capital of Clear Creek County, where he engaged in mining and began taking an active part in the public, and especially the political inter- ests of the county. At tlie county election held in that county in 1868, he was elected Superintendent of Schools, which position he held for six years; his work in perfecting a complete organization of schools in that county is marked to this day; in that same year he was appointed by the late Judge Gorsline to the important position of Clerk of the District Court for that county, which position he held until his resignation was accepted in 1874, in which year he was elected as a member of the Territorial Senate, repre- senting the Counties of Clear Creek and Sum- mit in that body. In the Tenth General Assembly he was an active member as the records show. Afterward, when the Enabling Act was passed, Mr. Clark was elected a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention, in which body he took an active part, being Chairman of the Committee on Mines, and an Address submitting the Constitution to the people. In 1874, he was appointed Brigadier General of the Northern Division of the Territory, which he held for four years. At the election in 1876, of the first State officers, he was elected Secretary of State, leading his ticket by several hundred. After retiring from the office of Secretary of State, he concluded with others to try the fortunes of the celebrated Carbonate Camp. Arriving here in the spring of 1879, he engaged in mining. Was soon appointed to assist as Deputy Assessor, and afterward appointed City Clerk. During the celebrated strike he was the Adjutant General on Gen. James' staff, and did important serv- ice; in the last campaign he was Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee. He is to be classed as a Stalwart; never makes any compromises with his political opponents, and is probably as much feared by the Democ- racy as any man in the State. He is a mar- ried man and now resides with his family in Leadville. GEN. AMOS P. CURRY. The wonderful mineral resources and in- creasing popularity have drawn men of cap- ital and character from all parts of the United States to Colorado to unearth the riches' of the famous Rocky Mountains, and to establish themselves among the most progressive and energetic people on the face of the globe. Among them can be mentioned with pride the subject of this sketch. He was well known as a military commander in the late war, and was repeatedly honored for his meritorious services. Bom in Bangor, Me., July 7, 1836; his parents moved to Bath, Me., and subse- quently to Massachusetts, where Amos Curry received his education; in 1853, he came West, with his parents, and settled in Dixon, A"^ iht^ LAKE COUNTY. 335 Lee Co., 111. At the age of twenty two, lie was elected City Marshal of Dixon, being the first one to hold that ofi&ce; in the spring of 1860, he emigrated to Colorado, and settled in Clear Creek, engaging in prospecting and mining; in the winter of 1860, he returned to Illinois, crossing the plains, having a perilous and hazardous trip, but finally arrived without disaster. The following spring, he prepared to return to Colorado, but the war breaking out, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Holla, Mo., for meritorious con- duct, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to Company B, Bowen's Cavalry. After an active service in the field of one year, was promoted to Captain, and served through the Southwestern campaign, with his com- mand, as Body Guard to Gen. Curtis, and par- ticipated in all of the hard- fought battles of that campaign. He was transferred to the Department of the Mississippi, under Gen. Sherman, and was successively under the com- mands of Gens. Hatch, Grierson, Dodge, Logan and Hurlbut. He received the appointment of Colonel of the First Eegiment, West Ten- nessee Infantry, and was assigned to Memphis, Tenn., where he remained until the close of the war. Concluding to remain in the South, he embarked in mercantile pursuits, at Mem- phis, and in 1867 was elected Sheriff of Shelby County; was re-elected in 1869 and 1871; in the fall of 1873, removed to Arkansas, and engaged in railroading; assisted in build- ing the Memphis & Little Eock Railroad and the Little Eock & Fort Smith Railroad; in 1878, he removed to Leadville, Colo., and en- gaged in mining and real estate business, in which he has been quite successful. At the last election he was elected City Marshal; he is also serving his sixth term as President of. the Union Veteran Association, and is a mem- ber of the Board of Trustees of the Union Veteran Hospital. Col. Curry was recently appointed, by Gov. Pitkin Major-General Third Division of Colorado State Militia. He was married in 1858. CAPT. R. G. DILL. R. G. Dill, the editor of the Leadville Her- ald, was bom in June, 1840; his early training and education was received at New Haven, Conn. After graduation at Russell's Military Academy, in that city, he chose the profession of journalism, and was, in 1858, installed as the city editor of the Daily News, a Douglas paper, established during that year. A year spent in a printing office prior to this time had given him a taste for the printing busi- ness, and in 1859 he resigned his position on the News, and going to New York, finished learning the trade of a compositor. In the fall of 1860, he went to South Carolina, ac- companied by some friends, intending to make an extended tour through the South, but the- secession of the State, which occurred while he was in Columbia, convinced him that South Carolina was no place for a Northern man at that time, and accordingly he went to Tennes- see, spending some time in Nashville and Memphis. In March, 1861, it became evident that Tennessee would secede, and accordingly he left for Pittsburgh, Penn., arriving there but a few days before the assault on Fort Sumter. Immediately upon the receipt of the news, he placed his name upon the roll of the Duquesne Greys, and a few days after- ward was mustered, with his company, into the three months' service, and sent to the field, the regiment, the Twelfth Pennsylvania, having been assigned to the duty of guarding the Northern Central Railroad, then threat- ened by Marshal Kane's men. Upon the con- clusion of his term, he again enlisted in the One Hundred and Third Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, in which regiment he served until the spring of 1864, when, having been examined by Casey's Military Board, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, assigned to the Forty-third United States Colored Troops, and immediately joined his command, partic- ipating with it in Grant's campaign against Richmond, from the Wilderness to the capt- ure of the Confederate capital. Soon after the fall of Richmond, the division to which he was attached was sent to the Texas front- ier, where it remained until November, 1865, when it was mustered out of service. Upon returning home, Mr. Dill engaged in business in New Castle, Penn., as editor of the Law- rence Journal Selling out his interest in this paper, in the spring of 1870, he retired ik^ 326 BIOGRAPHICAL; from business for a few months, but in August of the same year, established the Lawrence Guardian. Close application to business, however, ruined his health, and on the 1 st of January, 1872, he was compelled to sell out again. Failing to recover his health perma- nently, in the spring of 1874 he came to Col- orado, and after several months devoted to the recuperation of his health, found employment on the Denver Times, in 1875, remaining with that paper until 1878, when the purchase of a Sunday paper resulted disastrously and was abandoned after a few months' trial. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Dill came to Leadville, and seeing an opening for a morning paper, was induced, by friends, to embark in the en- terprise, the first number of the paper appear- ing on October 21 of that year. It at once took an advanced position among the leading papers of the State. Mr. Dill is a vigorous and rapid thinker and writer, and an indefat- igable worker. The editorials of the Herald have always been noted for their pith and vig- or, while its reports on the mines in and about Leadville are regarded as the most complete and authentic of any published in the State. We judge that Mr. Dill has always been an active politician. He was a member of the Republican StatS Convention of Pennsylvania of 1870, Secretary of the Republican Commit- tee of Arapahoe Co., Colo., in 1876, and Chairman of the same committee in 1877. He was Chairman of the Republican City Committee of Leadville in 1881, and is now City Clerk of Leadville. FREDERICK F. D'AVIGNON, M. D. Prominent among Leadville's leading phy- sicians may properly be classed the subject of this sketch, born in Canada in 1847; in 1859, he attended St Mary's College, at Rou- ville Co., Canada, terminating his collegiate course in 1866; he then went to New York to study medicine with an uncle, who had been a surgeon in the United States Army. He en- tered McGill University, at Montreal, in the fall of 1867, and gi-aduated in the spring of 1871; he then. located at North Adams, Mass., and practiced medicine and surgery for five years. After a trip in Europe, occupying two years, he settled in St. Louis, Mo., and came to Leadville in February, 1879, where he has since successfully practiced his profession. He married a daughter of the late Dr. de Grosbois, of Chambly, Canada, who is also a niece of the Hon. Charles B. de Boncherville, of Canada. DAVID H. DOUGAN, M. D. Dr. Dougan, the present Mayor of Lead- ville, was bom at Niles, Mich., August 17, 1845 ; he obtained the rudiments of an edu- cation at the public schools, and in 1858 en- tered a printing office as a printer's devil. In two years, he left the printing office and stud- ied book-keeping, and was assistant book- keeper for his brother, who, at that time, was engaged in pork-packing; in April, 1861, he entered the Branch Bank of Richmond, Ind., as an apprentice and junior clerk; two years later, he accepted a position \in the First National Bank, where he remained until Sep- tember, 1872; in 1870, he commenced the study of medicine, in consequence of failing health; during the winter of 1872-73, he at- tended the Rush Medical College at Chicago, and the following winter the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City, at which institution he graduated March 1, 1874, and commenced practicing, as a partner of Dr. James F. Hibberd; in October, 1875, he re- moved to Colorado, settling at Alma, Park Co., where he, in addition to practicing medicine, was Superintendent of the Russia Mine. In November, he came to Leadville, and com- menced the practice of medicine; in March, 1878, was appointed, by Gov. Routt, a member of the State Board of Health, and in January, 1880, was re- appointed by Gov. Pitkin; at the last annual meeting of I he Colorado State Medical Society, was elected Vice President; 'he was elected Mayor of Leadville, after a spirited contest, and received the votes of a large number of the citizens irrespective of party. Dr. Dougan has a large and lucrative practice; he was married, in 1867, and has one child, a daughter. CARLYLE C. DAVIS. Carlyle C. Davis, the projector, owner and managing editor of the Leadville Chronicle, was born at Glen's Falls, N. Y., Nov. 4, 1847. He if a k^ LAKE COUNTY. 327 entered a country printing office at tlie age of ten; at sixteen, he was the editor and propri- etor of a journal in the interior of Illinois, and subsequently owned and conducted, for five years, the St. Charles (Mo.) Cosmos, the second oldest and the most influential country paper in that State. In 1877, Mr. Davis re- moved to Denver, and occupied the position of associate editor of the Rocky Movmtain News until the mining excitement at Leadville , attracted him to that magic city. Thither he went with a capital of $1,000. In two years, hie has built up a business worth $50,000, and owns, besides, considerable bank stock, mining shares and mining property in Lake, Gunni- son and S umm it Counties. His alma mater was a printing office, the educator of so many of our public men. He is a st.nlwart Repub- lican, and his paper is a power in the coimcils of the party in Colorado. His success demon- strates what can be done in the West by young men having the ability, industry and perseverance of Mr. Davis. On the 29th of January, 1879, he issued the first number of the Evening Chronicle. The office consisted of a single room, 20x30 feet, and into this was crowded editorial and business departments, composing, job and press room, while at night eighteen men found sleeping accommodations in the loft and in rude bunks arranged against the walls. The first number of the paper was so eagerly sought after by the populace, then numbering about 5,000, that it was not until 9 o'clock that the demand was supplied. Be- fore retiring that night, its proprietor mailed an order for additional material with which to enlarge the miniature paper. Success was thus assured from the start. In less than a year, the mountain village grew to a cosmo- politan city of 30,000, and the " little Chroni- cle " passed rapidly through the various forms of a five, six, seven, eight and nine column paper to its present size, equaled by few afternoon journals in the country. Until ad- equate telegraphic facilities could be obtained for handling the Associated Press dispatches, the Chronicle depended for outside news upon " specials," prepared by its agent at Denver, which was transmitted to Leadville in cipher, over the single wire stretched across tlie Mos- quito range at an altitude of 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. Owing to the difficulty at that early day of obtaining reliable assist- ants, the proprietor was often compelled to divide his time between the editorial desk, the business counter, the type rack and the feed board, a newspaper experience of over twenty years having rendered him capable of per- forming any task about a printing office. So soon as spring opened and material could be obtained, a magnificent building was erected over the little one-story shanty — issues of the paper being uninterrupted during the process of construction — and to-day the Chronicle oc- cupies entire one of the largest and best equipped establishments between St. Louis and San Francisco. The building, 40x87 feet, is a handsome structure, now in the heart of the city, a credit to Leadville and to its enterprising owner. Three editions are issued daily, the earlier one being sent, by private conveyance, twenty miles over the continental divide, to the mining camps on the Pacific slope. The Carbonate Weekly Chronicle, a mammoth fifty-six column quarto, has ob- tained a marvelous circulation in all of the Eastern and Southern States, illustrations having been a popular feature of it from the start. The holiday nmnber embraced twenty pages, illustrated profusely with maps, full- page views of Leadville, street scenes, etc. — a. paper that would reflect credit upon any journal in the United States. ADDISON DANFORD. Mr. Danford was bom in New Hampshire on the 4th day of July, 1829, and emigrated to Illinois in 1837, and from thence to Kansas, in 1857, and located in Linn County, where he laid out and surveyed the present county seat. Mound City. He was elected, in the fall of 1857, a member of the House of Eepre- sentatives from Linn County, and in the spring of 1858, elected to the Constitutional Conven- tion, which framed what is known as the Leavenworth Constitution, and in the fall of 1858 was re-elected to the House of Repre- sentatives, being one of only four members who were re-elected to the House. In the spring of 1858, he was admitted to practice law, and commenced the practice of his pro- fession at Mound City, and in September, l\±^ 328 BIOGRAPHICAL : 1863, removed to Fort Scott, Kan., where he continued the practice of the law until his re- moval to Colorado in March, 1875. While residing at Fort Scott, Kan., he was elected to the State Senate in 1864, and served one year, after which he resigned; during the session of the Senate of 1865, he filled the position of Chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee, and served on all the other prominent committees. In 1868, he was elected to the of&ce of Attorney General of Kansas, and held that office for the term of two years. He came to Colorado on account of the poor health of his family, and located, in April, 1875, at Colorado Springs, after which he removed to Lake City, in the San Juan country, where he spent over two years in a very lucrative min- ing practice, and afterward returned to Colo- rado Springs, where he formed a copartner- ship with Judge J. C. Helm. He afterward removed to Leadville, in the winter of 1880, and is still actively engaged in the practice of the law. RICHARD DILLON. Among the successful mining pioneers of Leadville, is the subject of this sketch. Dick Dillon, as he was better known, was one of those who made their big strikes early. He was bom in Tipperary Co., Ireland, in 1850; when six years old he came to America, with his parents, and settled in Luzerne Co., Penn., where he remained fourteen years, engaged in coal mining. He received a common-school education; he then went to New Mexico, where he Jived one year engaged in placer mining; he then came to Pueblo, Colo., re- maining a short while, then going to Central City, spending three years in lead mining. He was in Boulder County during the tellu- riimi excitement in the Sunshine district He came to Leadville in July, 1877, and worked with the Gallagher brothers on the Camp Bird Mine. He afterward prospected for himself, and discovered the Robert Emmet lode, the Forest City and Eesult lodes. He also dis- covered the famous Little Chief Mine, on the discovery of which they sunk their shaft 100 feet in ten days. He was one of four of the original locators of the same, selling the mine for $300,000. He now owns large and valua- ble interests throughout this district, and devotes all his time to mining. JAMES F. ESHELMAN. Mr. Eshelman, the Treasurer of the Lead- ville Liunber Company, was bom in Spring- field, Lancaster Co., Pena, in August, 1852, and received an academic education at Can- ton, Ohio. He was employed, for a period of nine years, in the Deposit Bank, and in the spring of 1878, came to Leadville to assist in organizing the Lake' County Bank. He was appointed President, which office he held until April, 1879, the title of the bank being then changed to the First National Bank of Leadville, the capital being increased to $60,000, he was re- appointed President, and held that position until the fall of 1879, when he resigned on account of ill health and went into the lumber business, being appointed Treasurer of the Leadville Lumber Company, which position he still holds. He was married in the fall of 1878. Mr. Eshelman possesses great natural abilities as a business man, with an abundant supply of that enterprise and energy necessary to success. HON. EDWARD EDDY. This gentleman was bom in Cornwall, En- gland, June 30, 1840. He received a liberal education in the branch of South Kensington School of Mines, organized by the Government, for the diffusing of technical education in the science of mining. For a period of ten years he had practical experience in every branch of mining and milling known in England, and had, for several years, the management of im- portant mining properties in Cornwall and Devonshire. Li the fall of 1871, he carried out a long-cherished desire, and emigrated to the mining regions of America, and on the 12th of October, of that year, he arrived in Georgetown, Colo., with but a few dollars in his pocket, and sought employment in the mines; he obtained a situation in the East Terrible Mine, superintended by his present partner, ex-Mayor William H. James. From his savings, he began taking leases on mines, and was successful in adding to his finances. He then built and operated the first successful concentrating mill in Colorado; afterward organized a company and built the Silver ^t _«)- 4^ LAKE COUNTY. 339 Plume Sampling and Concentrating Works, ■which is regarded as one of the best in the State. Mr. Eddy came to Leadville the 5th day of February, 1878, on a tour of inspection, and his practiced eye perceiving the future of the Carbonate Camp, in conjunction with his present partner, William H. James, built the sampling works, and entered Upon what has become one of the largest and most remimer- ative businesses in the State. His experi- ence in milling, and being conversant with ores, and the liberal dealing with mine owners, ably assisted in obtaining a prominence in business circles, and laid solid the foundation for their immense business, which is second to none in the State. The buying of bullion, in connection with ores, was decided on after Mr. Eddy's return from Europe, in 1879, where he paid his aged father a visit, accom- panied by his estimable lady. On the l§t of January, 1880, Eddy and James formed a co- partnership with J. B. Grant & Co., and the business is now carried on under the name of the Grant Smelting Company, and is one of the largest, if not the largest, smelting works in the world. Mr. Eddy is a public- spirited man, in favor of all measures calculated to advance the best interests of the city and State. JOHN H. ERWIN. Mr. Erwin is one of the " old timers " in Colorado. He started, May 15, 1860, for the Centennial State, and has made it his home until the present time. Mr. Erwin was born in Upper Canada May 20, 1838; his parents removed to Boone Co., 111., in 1840, where he made it his home for twenty years, working on a farm and attending the common schools of the county. When Pike's Peak excitement broke out, Mr. Erwin, in company with many others, started for the Rocky Mountains. He drove an ox team the entire distance, from Belvidere, Boone Co., 111., to Denver. Before working in the mines, he made three trips across the plains, from Omaha, Neb., to Denver and Mountain City. After making his third trip, he worked in the mines for a season. In October, 1861, Mr. Erwin enlisted in the First Colorado Infantry, Company D. The regi- ment afterward became a cavalry one. His company was formed in George Gulch, and it remained in Denver until February, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to Fort Union, N. M. ; they made a forced march the entire distance. At the fort, the regiment received arms, clothing, ammunition and provisions, and then started for Santa P6; March 26 and 28, 1862, his regiment fought Confederate troops in Apache Canon, N. M. They then started for Paralto, by the way of Albuquer- que, where they had an engagement, and took six pieces of artillery and ten mule wagons. For several months following, the regiment was engaged in New Mexico. Afterward they went to Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, and then to Fort Larned, Kan., and returned to Fort Lyon. At Bent's old fort, on the Arkansas, the regiment received horses ; from that time until the close of the war, the regi- ment was a cavalry one. They were then ordered to Denver; from there the regiment escorted seven Ute chiefs to the Missouri River, on their way to Washington. During the time the chiefs were absent, Mr. Erwin was scouting with his company in Missouri. When the chiefs returned, he escorted them back to Denver. July 15, 1863, the regiment went to Middle Park, and returned October 1 to Denver. For a short time afterward, he was scouting for Indians, near Fort Larned, Kan., where they had a two days' fight with them. After this engagement, the regiment was ordered back to Denver, where they re- mained the balance of the winter. May 24, 1864, Mr. Erwin went to Fort Lyon, where he obtained a sixty days' furlough. At the expiration of this time, he entered the serv- ices of Capt. Gorton, who was Assistant Quar- termaster. After a short time, he joined his regiment at Fort Morgan, and went to Cache La Poudre, where his company escorted a mail coach, from Cache La Poudre to Fort Hallock, on the old Salt Lake stage route. On this trip they lost two men; one was killed by the In- dians, and the other by a careless emigrant, who accidentally discharged his gun, killing the soldier and his horse. The Indians were troublesome, and soldiers were detailed to do escort duty. After serving in this capacity for a time, Mr. Erwin was ordered to Denver to be mustered out of service. After the war closed, he made a trip to Salt Lake City, and ^ ^ i ■.^ ^?=^ l±. 330 BIOGRAPHICAL: back to St. Joseph, Mo., when he returned to Denver. In 1868, Mr. Erwin was married to Miss Victoria Reithman. He then settled on a cattle ranche, on First Creek, where he re- mained for nine years, and for three years he was on the Platte River, engaged in stock-rais- ing and farming. In 1879, Mr. Erwin sold out his cattle, and removed to Leadville, where he has resided until the present, engaged in mercantile life. In 1881, in company with a Mr. Paddock, he bought the Steam Cracker Works, at No. 300 East Sixth street, Lead- ville, where he is having a prosperous busi- ness, not only largely supplying the city with their goods, but also a large extent of terri- tory surrounding Leadville. J. WARREN FAXON. J. Warren Faxon, a native of Massachusetts, was born in December, 1836; at the age of sixteen years, he engaged in the grocery bus- iness with his brothers, and subsequently, in the wholesale grocery business, in Boston. In 1868, they retired from the grocery bus- iness and invested in real estate; they built three fine blocks in Boston, which they still own. J. W. Faxon came to Colorado in the fall of 1869, and located in Leadville; he has given most of his time to real estate business, though was, for a short time, President of the City Bank; he built the Boston and Quincy Blocks, the latter being one of the finest in the city. He was married to Miss F. L. Worster, daughter of Asa Worster, Chicago, in June, 1880. GILES H. FONDA. G. H Fonda, Chief of the Leadville Fire Department and one of Leadville's most wide- awake citizens, was born in Augusta, 111., on the 25th day ot January, 1848. He received a good common- school education, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed to the drug firm of Smith & Dwyer, in Chicago, where he remained until 1866, being put in charge of the wholesale department a few months before leaving the firm. While yet a boy, he connected himself with the fire depart- ment of Chicago. He came to Colorado in 1866, and located in Central City, where he engaged in mining for one and a half years. He then embarked in the drug business, as senior member of the iirm of Fonda & Fam- ald. Mr. Fonda helped organize the first fire company in Central City. In 1869, he moved to Caribou, and embarked in the general mer- cantile business for one year. He then moved to Boulder, where he again engaged in the drug business; in 1875, he helped organize the Boulder Fire Department, and continued an active member for three years, working one year on the rope, one year as foreman of the Phoenix Company and one year as Chief of the Department. He then came to Leadville, where he started a drug store, and at once connected himself with the Leadville Fire De- partment, and was chosen Chief at the end of the first year. He has since re-organized the department, making it one of the best in the West, consisting of 160 active members, a general history of which will appear m an- other place in this work. Mr. Fonda was married to Miss E. Hull in 1872, and has three children. GEN. WILLIAM H. FISHBACK. William Henry Fishback was bom June 10, 1829, in Warren Co., Ind. His father, Free- man Fishback, and his mother, Mary Jackson Fishback, were exemplary members of the Presbyterian Church. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Jackson, of Sandusky, Ohio, who was a soldier in the war of 1812; partic- ipated with credit in the celebrated defense of Port Stephenson, under Croghan, and was in the naval battle, now known as Perry's Vic- tory, on Lake Erie. William H Fishback's early education was attended by numerous obstacles, not the least of which was poverty. His father died when the boy was quite young, but he was ambitious to acquire an education, and all his efforts were bent to the accom- plishment of this end. He taught school, and followed other occupations, to obtain the nec- essary means for his collegiate course, and was educated, in part, at the University of Indi- ana, Bloomington and Knox College, Grales- burg, HI. He then began the study of law, under Hon. Paris C. Dunning, of Blo.tming- ton, Ind., and was admitted to the bar, at Ox- ford, Benton Co., Ind. He began the practice at Williamsport, in the same State, where he was appointed Deputy Treasurer and Collector •^ a ir^ ^ t^ ^C/^^eiy £l±>. LAKE COUNTY. 333 of the county, by Hon. B. F. Gregory, then (1855) Treasurer of Warren County, and his salary, together with his practice, gave him a financial start. After practicing two years, he removed to Kansas, locating at Olathe, in 1859. "While in Kansas, he secured a large practice at the bar, and secured the confidence of the citizens of his own and adjoining coanties as a lawyer of ability and a hard worker. He was frequently elected to the Legislature, as member of the House of Rep- resentatives, and afterward Senator, where his abilities as a legislator were recognized by appointment to the most important commit- tees. He was elected Mayor of Olathe, for three successive terms, and held other posi- tions of trust. During the late civil war, Mr. Fishback took an important part in the afiairs of Kansas; was appointed Aid-de-Oamp to the Governor, and afterward became Lieutenant- Colonel of the Fifteenth Kansas Volunteers. In 1864, he was appointed Brigadier General of Kansas State Militia, being actively en- gaged in the affairs of the border until the close of the war. In the spring of 1879, Gen. Fishback came to Colorado, locating immedi- ately at Leadville, where he has since re- mained. He has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, and particularly in the mining litigation of Lake County, from which he has acquired a handsome compe- tency, the firm, Fishback & Fishback, being one of the best known and most popular in Leadville. Gen. Fishback's family consists of a wife, one son, Charles F., and one daugh- ter, Miss Minnie, all of whom have resided in Leadville for the past two years. CHARLES F. FISHBACK. Charles Fremont Fishback was born in Warren County, Ind., July 9, 1856, being now twenty-five years of age. In 1859, his par- ents, William H. and Sarah Fishback, removed to Kansas, locating at Olathe, a thriving town twenty miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo. He received a very thorough and complete academic education, and at the early age of fourteen, was admitted to the Freshman Class Qf the State University of Kansas. At the close of his schooldays, Mr. Fishback engaged in teaching, with great success, being Profes- sor of Languages in the Olathe Academy, of which institution he afterward became part owner, having acquired a high reputation over a large section of country as an earnest and careful instructor of the highest ability. Mr. Fishback, however, used all his successes as a stepping-stone to the legal profession. He was admitted as a student to the ofiice of Hon. John P. St. John, now Governor of Kansas, where he remained a sufficient time to prepare himself for admission to law school. He afterward entered the law department of Washington University, of St. Louis, Mo., took the studies of both the junior and senior classes, passed k successful examination in both, and graduated at the end of his first year, a thing before unknown in the history of the institution. Mr. Fishback came to Leadville in the early part of 1879, and de- termined to make Colorado his future home. In September, of the next year, he returned to Olathe, Kan., and was married, to Miss Lucia Kirke Phillips, second daughter of Dr. T. H. Phillips, of that place. He returned, with his wife, an accomplished and estimable lady, to Leadville, where they now have a most pleas- ant and cumf ortable home. ' In politics, Mr, Fishback is a stanch Republican. He is a gentleman of known integrity and fine social qualities, and as a lawyer possesses the ability which will undoubtedly carry him with rapid strides to the front rank of his profession. PETER FIlSfERTY. Mr. Finerty is a native of Ireland; he was bom December 12, 1840, and came to the United States, with his family, when five years of age. He lived in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Iowa until 1874; he received no educa- tion, except what he acquired while outside of schools, and by his own exertions; in 1874, he came to Colorado, and engaged in mining in Summit County, for three years; he then removed to Leadville; here he has been one of the most successful mining operators in the district; he purchased the Little Chief Mine, out of which he took about $300,000, and then sold the mine for $350,000; he is now interested in some of the best mines in the State, and looked upon as one of Colo- rado's leading mining men. ^^ ^ 334 BIOGRAPHICAL: JOHN W. FRASER. Mr. Praser was born in Inverness, Scot- land, in 1842, and came to America, with his parents, when three years of age, settling in Canada. When about seventeen years old, he went to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he lumbered in the winter and farmed in the summer, for a period of five years; he then went to the lumber regions of Michigan, leav- ing the Upper Peninsula of that State and coming to Colorado in 1875. He first lo- cated at Grreeley, then at Breckenridge, devot- ing his time in the summer to mining, and in the winter to lumbering. He came to Lake County in the fall of 1877, and engaged in mining; he was the first policeman of Lead- ville, the first City Jailer and the first Cap- tain of Police; he made a good and efiicient officer, and during those necessarily turbulent times, escaped from many dangerous places unhurt while performing his duty as an officer. In the fall of 1879, Mr. Fraser re- pigned his position as a policeman and as Captain to attend to his duties as Constable, having been elected that same fall for a term of two years. The first and only stage robbery on the road to Leadville occurred on the IStla. of September, 1879. Mr. Fraser very skillfully soon detected the robbers and had them all TUider arrest that same day; they are now serving their sentences at Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Fraser is one of Leadville's most active and efficient officers. EDWARD FITZGERALD. Fortunate among the prospectors who ar- rived in Leadville during the last few years, may be mentioned Mr. Edward Fitzgerald; his labors have been well and fittingly re- warded. He was born in County Water- ford, Ireland, in 1847, and remained there until 1872, engaged in farming, and was known as a very successful one. He came to America in 1872, and located at Omaha, Neb., where he lived four years, working for the Union Pacific Eailroad. He came to Colo- rado and engaged in mining at Alma, in Park Connty. In May, 1877, he came to Leadville, and mined in California Grulch; soon after, he prospected on Carbonate Hill, and, with others, located the Little Giant Mine, which has since proved so rich, and made all of its owners independent. This property was sold on the 20th of April, 1881, for 1225,000, Mr. Fitzgerald being the owner of three-eighths. He is now interested in promising mining properties in Adelaide Park. He is a gentleman possessed of more than ordinary ability, and has a host of friends. Mr. Fitegerald was also one of the original owners of the Matchless Mine, on Fryer Hill. HON. LUTHER M. GODDARD. Mr. Goddard was born in Wayne Co., N. Y, the 27th of October, 1837, and resided there until he had reached his fifteenth year, when he removed, with his parents, to Knox Couhty, 111., where he remained about six years. While there, he attended Hedding Seminary. He was married in this county, in 1858, and moved, with his family, to Leavenworth, Kan., in 1862. Mr. Goddard may be classed with the pioneers of Colorado, for, in 1864, he crossed the plains as a freighter from Leaven- worth to Denver. He shortly afterward re- turned Bast, and attended the Chicago Law School, having, previously to this time, devoted a great portion of his time to the study of law. He graduated at that institution in the class of 1865, his acquirements gaining for him the position of valedictorian. He then returned to Leavenworth, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and, through his rare ability, obtained a large and remu- nerative practice. In 1871, he associated himself with Hon. John L. Pendery, between whom and himself the strongest friendly rela- tions exist to this day. In 1872, he was elected County Attorney, and afterward re- elected for a second term. In 1872, he was also a member of the Kansas Legislature, a position he held with great credit to himself and perfect satisfaction to his constituents. In August, 1878, Mr. Goddard arrived in Lead- ville, where he entered into partnership with his former associate, John L. Pendery, and soon had a lucrative -law practice. He imme- diately interested himself in mining, and soon laid the foundation for his present wealth. He was one of the original locators of the since famous Pendery Mine, and it was through his pei-severance, with that of his co-owners, ■*^s IK* ^^ LAKE COUNTY. 335 that all the theories in regard to the Carbon- ate belt, were explodedj and to him is due a large share of the credit which has since made new and valuable discoveries, where before mineral was never supposed to exist. In the fall of 1879, he abandoned the practice of law, and devoted his whole time and attention to mining. He is interested in numerous mining properties, some of which are very- promising; his interests are scattered through- out different counties of the State. He is one of the owners of the Crovm Point Group, at Ten Mile, also of the Consolidated Virginia, in Frying Pan Gulch, and of the Ypsilanti and Portland, near Leadville. He is the President of the Gerard Mining and Smelting Company. At the city election of Leadville, in the spring of 1880, Mr. Goddard was elected a member of the School Board for a term of three years. Under the regime of that Board, the large and elegant schoolhouse was built; he is now President of the Board. Mr. God- dard's legal ability is unquestionable; in all his undertakings while here, he has been suc- cessful, and is at this time one of Leadville's most enterprising and prosperous men — a gentleman who is unpretentious in manners, but one who, on account of his a£fability and geniality, makes many friends, and has no enemies. SAMUEL P. GUTSHALL. Mr. Gutshall was born near Blain, Perry County, State of Pennsylvania; he is of Ger- man extraction, born in April, 1840; he lived on a farm and attended the common schools of the county until he was twenty-one years of age. When the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Gutshall enlisted in the Ninth Penn- sylvania Cavalry. At the expiration of his term of service, he re- enlisted, and served until he v/as discharged in June, 1865. When he first entered the army, he served under Gen. Buell, in Kentucky, and afterward under Gen. Eosecrans in Tennessee. During Gen. Sherman's march to the sea, Mr. Gutshall was in Gen. Kilpatrick's command. He was wounded at Wilmington, N. C, in his right arm, for which disability he is receiving a pension. He served four years in the United States Army, and was engaged in 1 25 battles and skirmishes. At the close of the war, Mr. Gutshall returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he remained until the following spring, when he came to Colorado. He started from Leavenworth, Kan., with one of Ben Holliday's outfits of ox-teams, which consisted of forty- six yokes of ox-teams. He was sixty days crossing the plains, before reaching Denver. The whole train was so thoroughly armed they were not molested by the Indians, though the train that preceded them was attacked and several of the party were killed. The train arrived in Denver in July, 1866. Mr. Gutshall lived in the vicinity of the city a few months before he went onto the Divide between Denver and Colorado Springs. There he lived six years, and dur- ing that period he experienced a great deal of trouble from the Indians. The Arapahoes and the Cheyennes were the attacking parties. They killed a number of people, and also many cattle, besides running off all the horses they could find. When the town of Colorado Springs was laid out, Mr. Gutshall moved there, and engaged in the lumber business, where he remained until 1879, when he re- moved to Leadville and continued in the same occupation. Mr. Gutshall was married, De- cember 25, 1878, to Miss Essie Klinepeter; they have one child living. DANIEL G. GOLDING. Mr. Golding was bom at Albany, N. Y., in 1857, but from the age of four years until his removal to Colorado, he lived in Leavenworth, Kan. In 1861, he came to Central City, Colo., afterward going back to Kansas, where he resided until 1873 ; he then went to Omaha and engaged in the dry goods business for two yeats, removing thence to Atchison, Kan., where he engaged in the jewelry business. In the spring of 1879, he arrived in Leadville, and opened a branch jewelry house for Hatch, Davidson & Co. On the 1st of Janu- ary, 1881, he went into the jewelry business for himself, his place of business being 112 Harrison avenue. He is largely interested in mining. E. H. GRUBER. Mr. Gruber is undoubtedly one of Lead- ville's best-known men, and also one of its most industrious in developing the mineral At^ 336 BIOGRAPHICAL: resources of this section. He was born in Hagerstown, Washington Co., Md., on the 25th of March, 1833, and received a common school education up to the age of sixteen, when he attended Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio. He afterward went to St. Louis, where he was engaged by McLelland, Scruggs & Co.. as cashier, in which capacity he served from 1851 to 1857, from whence he went to Leavenworth, Kan., at which latter city he founded the banking house of Clark, Gruber & Co., a branch of which was opened in Denver dm-ing the Pike's Peak excitement of 1859, Mr. Gruber looking after its interests in that placo ; the house met with great suc- cess. It was then that Mr. Gruber conceived the idea of coining gold and stamping it with their firm name; finding no law prohibiting the same, their house erected a mint and forth- with commenced to coin money, at the rate of $10,000 to $15,000 per day. This coin was circulated throughout all business portions of Colorado, and it proved of great assistance in trade, and was recognized at par at all times. In 1863, the mint was purchased by the United States Government for $25,000. Their firm closed business in Denver in 1864, and Mr. Gruber returned to Leavenworth, where he continued in banking imtil 1866, at the same time being engaged in the above business in the States of New York and Lou- isiana. In July, 1878, Mr. Gruber returned to Colorado, and located in Leadville, where he has since been engaged veiy heavily in mining, he being one of the original owners of the famous Pendery Mine, out of the sale of which he realized a handsome sum; he was also interested in the Greenwood, and at pres- ent is the owner of some very fine property, hav- ing discovered mineral recently in the Eudora. He has been successful in most of his mining projects, and has considerable real estate throughout the city, the Gruber Block, on Harrison avenue, having been erected by him. .JAMES B. GRANT. Among the substantial business men of Leadville is the subject of this sketch, who, for several years, has been intimately con- nected with the history of ore reduction, and is a member of the firm who own the smelting works in California Gulch, which bear his name. The smelting works of J. B. Grant & Co. have long since been acknowledged the largest -in the country, and as shown by the tabular statement of the annual production of smelters, exceeds anything in the history of that branch of industry. The firm comprises J. B. Grant, Edward Eddy and William H. James, and they do a monthly business of over a half million of dolleirs, and have a capacity of from 350 to 400 tons of ore per day. Mr. Grant was born in the State of Alabama in January, 1848, and remained at home, with his parents, until the breaking-out of the war, and, though but a lad of thuieen years, he joined the Confederate army, and spent several months in the field as a soldier. In the spring of 1861, he came North, and went to reside with his uncle, Hon. Judge Grant, at Davenport, Iowa, and, as his parents had lost their property in the vicissitudes and changes brought about by the war, the Judge bore the expense of young Grant's education, giving him an academic education at the Agri- cultural College, in Iowa, which he attended for a period of six years, afterward taking a course of studies at the Cornell University, of Ithaca, New York State. To complete his education, he spent two years in foreign trav- el, and was at Freiburg, Germany, until the year 1876, when he returned to America, and as he had devoted much of his time while at the University to the study of mineralogy, he came to Colorado, and engaged in assaying, at Mill City and Central City, for a short time, and in the spring of 1878, came to Leadville and embarked in the smelting of ore. Mr. Grant has been untiring and un- swerving in his enterprises, and has done a great deal in the last three years to develop the resources of Leadville in the output of ore. He has never sought political distinction or ofiBcial record, in Colorado, rather preferring to march in the solid line of industry, and devote his exclusive attention to the mammoth business in which he is engaged, and having unusual foresight and business acumen, has accumulated a fortune, and is now regarded as among the wealthiest and prominent citi- zens of Leadville, He was married to a daughter of E. E. Goodell, formerly a promi- r ^()th4m^?^^xr^:^^^ v^f ^1^ J.AKE COUNTY. 337 uent banker ©If Chicago, 111., a very lovely and accomplishecj- lady. HENRY W. GAW. Mr. Gaw is not only one of Leadville's sub- stantial business men, but lie is also one of her worthy and honored pioneers. He is descended from Irish ancestry, born in County Down, Ireland, July 25, 1834. His parents emi- grated to Montreal, Caifada, when he was but a child. He received the rudiments of an education in the common schools, and served an apprenticeship at the brewing business, with John H. R. Mossa & Bro., of Montreal, in whose employ he continued for a period of twenty years. In 1875, he removed to Idaho Springs, Colo., and purchased a brewery, and after running it for two years was burnt out. Xn the spring of 1878, he came to Leadville, and started the brewery which bears his name, and which he is running at the present time. This is the pioneer brewery of Leadville, the ground being broken for it in March, 1878. From a very small beginning, it has gone on, steadily increasing in size, until it has now attained a capacity of 120 kegs per day. The brewery has all the modern improvements, no establishment of the kind in Leadville having greater or better facilities for making the best of beer. The cellars have patent ice floors, and the buildings are heated by steam. Water is obtained from a never-failing pure spring. The brewery is very convenient 'and compact, lacking nothing it should have to make it complete. The beer manufactured here has the deserved reputation of being the best made in the mountains. Mr. Gaw has, in connection with the brewery, a large bot- tling establishment on the Oro road, furnished with all modern appliances, with facilities for turning out 100 dozen per day. The brewery is situated on the south side of California Gulch, in a spot especially adapted for' it. Mr. Gaw was married to Miss Stuppel, of Montreal, Canada, in June, 1860, and has a family of four children. FRANK GAY. This enterprising young business man was born in New York City June 8, 1849; he at- tended the public schools of his native city until fifteen years of age; then served an ap- prenticeship at the machinist's trade; when out of his term of service, he took a course of book-keeping, in the Mercantile College of Bryant & Stratton; afterward worked at his trade for a period of eight years. At this time, being desirous of seeing the world, he started out on his travels, and spent several years visiting San Francisco, old Mexico, and many of the cities in the West, finally settling, in 1877, in California Gulch, Colo., where he started the foundry and machine-shop * of which he is the present owner, calling his works the Pacific Iron Works. His business is one of the largest in the State; he manu- factures steam engines, mining machinery, and the entire success is due to his strict at- tention to business and his untiring energy. Since settling in Leadville, Mr. Gay has been Superintendent of several smelting and sam- pling works, together with building and min- ing a number of stamp-mills, his practical knowledge of mechanics making his services in demand in this mining country. He also assisted in working the celebrated Print- er Boy Mine, crossing the range on foot to deliver the gold product to the banks, and bring back funds to pay the workmen, carry- ing as much as 350 ounces of gold at a single trip. ' He also engaged with a stock company, in Denver, to erect smelting works at Malta, but it proving unprofitable he abandoned the enterprise. He has held various offices of public trust, serving as a member of the School Board, at Leadville, Justice of the Peace and was Postmaster at Malta for a brief period, and has taken an active interest in public affairs, and been closely identified ■with many of the leading industrial enter- prises. He is also interested in mines, and owns some valuable real estate in Leadville and vicinity. Mr. Gay is a hard worker, and has conquered difficulties that would have crushed most of men; he has achieved success almost unparalleled, with a record for integrity and honesty that is unimpeachable. Starting with- out capital, Frank Gay may be styled, emphat- ically, a self-made man. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership in the I. 0. O. F. Previous to there being any Assayer, prospecting parties *? cT" '1^ 338 BIOGRAPHICAL; would bring the caxbonates into the black- smith-shop of Mr. Gay and melt them in the forge lire, by this means discovering that they contained lead and silver, thus determining the actual value of the carbonates. Mr. Gay devotes his entire time to his business, and is yet a young man, and v?ith his energy and business capacity, his future financial success would seem to be well assured JOHN D. GRIFFITH, Mr. Griffith is one of the early settlers at Leadville, and one who has accumulated a fortune through his strict attention to busi- ness. He engaged early in the lumber busi- ness, and for awhile was the sole lumber mer- chant in the city. His place of business, on the corner of Elm and Pine streets, is the same at which he first located over tw.) years ago. Mr. Griffith is a pattern-maker by trade, and for several years followed the same at St. Louis, Mo. He superintended for awhile the erection of the Harrison works here, and has worked at his trade in over fifteen States of the Union. He has traveled extensively throughout the greater portion of America. Since his advent in Leadville, he has been very successf al, both in his business and min- ing, and is the owner of much real estate in the city. May 31, 1878, he married a daugh- ter of Prof. John H. Tice, of St. Louis. His business entt^rprises have done much to build up Leadville. He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1847. DANIEL .1. HAYNEIS. Mr. Haynes is of the leading law firm of Haynes & Parks. Through his untiring efforts and constant application, he has laid the foundation for a practice which every day but adds fresh witness to his ability. His pro- fessional success is to be attributed to his own earnest and persevering efforts. Patient industry has always been the most prominent feature of his character. He was born in Warren County, Ky., on the 29th day of July, 1844, and raised as a farmer's son until the age of seventeen, in the meantime receiving a common school education. Early in 1862, then being but a boy, he joined the Federal army and served three years. Returning home in 1865, he completed his education at Warren College, Kentucky. He contined to farm until 1873, during which time he studied the fu'st principles of law. In December, 1871, he married a daughter of T. T. Arlington, of Florence, Ala. In 1873, he removed to Flor- ence, and there established and managed, as proprietor and editor, the Florence Republican, a newspaper which did much toward aiding the Republican party in that section. In 1875, he sold out his paper, and came to Col- orado and located at Denver, having been ad- mitted to the bar of Alabama in 1874. While in Denver, he acquired a successful and flat- tering practice. Mr. Haynes came to Lead- ville early in 1879, where he has since fol- lowed, his profession. He is largely inter- ested in Lake County in mining; fortune has favored him in that line, and he is to-day the lucky owner of many promising mining prop- erties. At a convention of Republican repre- sentative men of the Southern States, held at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1874, Mr. Haynes was one of the eighteen delegates in attendance from Alabama, and through his exertions a policy was adopted by that convention which afterward proved to be a great promoter of the interests of that party in the South. Mr. Haynes, during the war, was a member of the Twenty-sixth Keatucky Infantry ; he took part in the campaign against Atlanta, and was a participant in all the stining engagements in which the Twenty-third Army Corps, under Gen. Schofield, took part, finally joining Gen Sherman at Goldsboro, on his way back from his march to the sea. M. B. HAAS. The present City Jailer, of Leadville, is M. B. Haas, who was appointed in the spring of 1881, by the Republican Council. He is largely interested in mining property, and can be termed an old pioneer of this State, as he was engaged in the tobacco business, in Den- ver, in 1860, his main house being in Leaven- worth, Kan. He was born in Arnhem, Hol- land, in 1836, and when fourteen years of age, came to America, settling in Detroit, Mich., where he was employed in the tobacco house of Oliver Goldsmith, acting, soon afterward, in the capacity of foreman. He removed to f^ ' i\ LAKE COUNTY. 339 Leavenworth, Kan., in 1856, where he em- barked in the tobacco business ; came to Col- orado in the fall of 1858; he afterward re- turned to Leavenworth, and in the spring of 1879, arrived in Leadville, where he has since been engaged in mining, and has met with success. Mr. Haas was the first Postmaster at Leavenworth. DAVID HOWARD. David Howard was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1848 ; while at home, he was engaged in farming and attending the com- mon schools. In the fall of 1867, he went to Cheyenne, W. T., and was one of the first set- tlers there. He there engaged in the lumber business for about one year, when he took up a ranch, on Running Creek, in Colorado, and engaged in raising stock, but during the fall was driven ouu by the Indians, saving most of his cattle, but losing all his horses. In Jan- uary, 1879, he gave up his ranch and came to Leadville, where he has since been engaged in mining and the livery business. JOHN H. HERON, M. D. Dr. Heron is an associate in the medical profession with Dr. F. F. D' Avignon; he was bom at Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1849 ; when six years old, he accompanied his parents to Ohio, where he resided until 1870, up to which time he had received a common school education. In 1871, he was a member of the literary department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor; he passed but one year there, then went to Detroit, where he was employed about one year in a steamboat line pflSoe. He afterward attended the medical class at Ann Arbor for one year, then took a three years' course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he graduated. He practiced medicine there one year, and came to Lead- ville November 20, 1878, where he has since devoted his time to medicine and surgery. He is one of the founders of the Leadville Medical Society. The Doctor married Miss Minnie Foley, of Ann Ai-bor, Mich., April 20, 1879. N. C. HICKMAN. Mr. Hickman is the senior member of the large and enterprising firm of Hickman & Graff, who are engaged in a general merchan- dising and commission business, on the corner of Pine and Chestnut streets, in Leadville. He was born in Randolph County, Mo., in 1844. At the age of seven years, he, together with his parents, removed to Davenport, Iowa, and attended school at the Iowa College until 1859, in which year he accompanied his father, who was then a leading physician in Iowa, to the State of Colorado, arriving in Denver the same year, and shortly afterward settling in Central City, where he engaged in mining. In the spring of 1860, the sudden and unex- pected loss of his father, necessitated the re- turn of young Hickman to Iowa, where he re-entered Iowa College, and completed his education. In 1864, he returned to Central City, where he engaged in mining and mer- chandising. In 1867, he closed up his busi- ness, and departed for Cheyenne, W. T. The arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad at that time causing quite a boom there, Mr. Hick- man there engaged in merchandising business, where, for a period of two years, he met with great success. In 1870, he removed to Wichita, Kan., and there again engaged in merchandising, and also did some farming. Mr. Hickman again returned to Denver, and from 1873 to 1876, was employed by J. K Doolittle, as book-keeper. In the last-named year, he went to Los Yegas, N. M., represent- ing the Singer Sewing Machine Company, as their Territorial Agent. He held the position for one year, when he again branched out in the merchandise business for himself. Near this point, he purchased a large ranch, which he still retains, and engaged in raising stock. This ranch is considered one of the largest and best managed in that section. In Janu- ary, 1879, Mr. Hickman arrived in Leadville, and immediately commenced devoting his attention to mining, to which he still gives a large portion of his attention. He purchased four Jots, on the corner of Leiter avenue and Chestnut street, and erected a large and com- modious building, in which the firm of Hick- man & Graff first commenced business, they being the foremost merchandising house of the day, a business in which they have met with great success. Mr. Hickman is now Alderman of the First Ward, having been r ^t ^ 340 BIOGBAPHICAL: elected in the spring of 1880, for a term of two years, by a large majority over his oppo- nent. His integrity and uprightness, coupled with his cordiality, have justly won for him great popularity. In mining, he has been quite fortunate, realizing a handsome sum out of the mines that are now owned by the Ocean & Seneca Mining Company. He is still inter- ested in the Little Anna, on Evans' Grulch, also the Star of Venus and the Plata Verde; also other very promising properties. GEORGE L. HENDERSOK. Among Colorado's pioneers Mr. Henderson may be nimibered, for the Pike's Peak excite- ment of 1859 caused him to seek his fortunes here; he has ever since made Central City and California Gulch his home. He was appointed the first Postmaster of Leadville, and claims that the camp was named Leadville at his sug- gestion. He has been successful in mining and farming on a ranch which he owns about three miles from Leadville. He is engaged in a general merchandising business, on Lower Chestnut street, occupying a building which he owns. Mr. Henderson was born in 1836, in Ashtabula County, Ohio; received a com- mon school education, and prior to his advenf in Colorado, resided in Wisconsin and Cen- tral Iowa. CHARLES L. HALL. Among the men who have sought homes in the West, few have had a more vivid experi- ence in pioneer life, or have experienced more hardships on the frontier, than Charles L. Hall. He was born in New York State, in 1836, and, with his parents, removed to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1844. He obtained such an education as could be had, and at- tended the Iowa College, at Davenport, Iowa, until 1859. At the early age of twenty, he embarked in the flouring-mill business for himself, but it proving unprofitable, he soon abandoned it and came to Colorado the same year, locating on Balston Creek; he started a stock farm, which he sold the following year, and after a short trip East, he came to Cali- fornia Gulch, in the spring of 1860, and com- menced prospecting and mining, visiting, the following winter, the San Juan district. In the spring of 1861, while prospecting near the present town of Silverton. he was lost in the mountains for fourteen and a half days, during which time he had nothing to eat — endured the most terrible suffering, and in his effort to prevent being starved to death, he made a fire and boiled his old buckskin breeches and boots, making a broth, which was neither highly nutritious nor palatable, but such was his extremity that he thought this broth gave him some strength to renew the struggle for life. When found by his com- panions, he was so emaciated and weak that he had to be carried to camp by two of his comrades, being unable to walk or stand. His weight, when found, was forty-eight ■ pounds, his usual weight being 135 pounds, having lost eighty-seven pounds during his fourteen and a half days' fast. After this experience, he returned to California Gnlch, and contin- ued prospecting. In the spring of 1862, he operated a salt-works about twenty miles from Fairplay; was also engaged in stock-raising at the same locality. He was twice elected to the Legislature from that district, and served for three years as County Commissioner. In the winter of 1878, he came to Leadville, and engaged in quite a number of business enter- prises, among which was contracting for grad- ing streets. He organized a stock company, consisting of Messrs. Tabor, Bush, Hall and others, to light the city of Leadville with gas. Mr. Hall gave his personal attention to the constructing of the works, laying the main pipes, and had entire charge, and the success can be mainly attributed to his personal efforts. Mr. Hall has spent a large amount of money prospecting and in mining, with but little success, until the spring of 1881, when, to- gether with Dennis Sullivan, and two other parties, they bought the well-known Mylo Group of mines, in the Ten Mile district, which bids fair to be as valuable as any in the State. Mr. Hall spends his time in looking after the many varied enterprises in which he is interested, and has but little time for out- side matters ; he derives a comfortable revenue from them. He was one of the well-known firm of Bush, Tabor & Hall, who opened the Windsor Hotel, in Denver, in June, 1880, but subsequently sold his interest to Mr. Tabor. He owns stock in several railroads to a very «^ a ,/'''jL4^^. ^1 ihu LAKE COUNTY. 343 considerable amount, and has some very valu- able real estate in Leadville. Mr. Hall is a man of resolute will and strong character; the foregoing imperfect sketch can serve but as a hint to a life full to overflowing of shrewd and bold enterprises, with startling events — more, perhaps, than have befallen to any other one man, and which deserve mention in the pioneer annals of Colorado. He was married in Colorado, and has three children, all bom in the State. GILBERT L. HAVENS. G. L. Havens is one of the early settlers of Colorado, who, by careful business management and fair dealing, has placed himself among her honored and prominent men. He was born in Bedford, Clinton Co., N. Y., May 17, 1834, and received a good common-school edu- cation. In 1849, he went to Ellenburg, Clin- ton Co., and began his business career as clerk for his brother in a country store, remaining in that capacity for about eight years, when, having saved a sufficient sum from his earn- ings, he went to Belmont, Franklin Co., and engaged as Saperintendent of a lumber busi- ness owned by Lawrence Brainard, of St. Al- bans, Vt., and, after remaining in that position for a brief period, he bought the business and continued the lumber trade for several years. In the fall of 1875, he sold out and came to Colorado and engaged as Superintendent of the Fuller Placer Mining Company, in Sum- mit County, and remained in that capacity until the fall of 1877. In January, 1878, he came to \Leadville and was engaged in prospecting and mining for about one year. Realizing the importance and growing demand for lum- ber in Leadville, he formed a copartnership in that business, under the style of firm of Halleck, Shute & Havens, and continued in ' that line of industry until the 1st of July, 1879, and since that period has been engaged in mining and real estate, owning some very valuable property in Leadville and Denver. Mr. Havens is married, and makes his per- manent residence in Denver, where h.'> has a beautiful residence. Successful hitherto in many of his operations, there would seem to be no reason why his present ventures should not be productive. Mr. Havens is an enter- prising, prompt business man, whose integ- rity of character command the respect and confidence of the community where he lives. HORACE W. HAVENS. The junior member of the firm of Havens & Beman is Horace W. Havens, who was bom in Franklin Co., N. Y., October 10, 1858. His father being in the lumber trade, at fifteen young Havens engaged with him as foreman of lumber-yard and saw-mills, remaining there for about two years; came to Colorado with his father in 1875, and was employed by the Fuller Placer Mining Company in Summit County, for a period of three years, as book- keeper; aiso, as part of the duties of his posi- tion, he had to visit Denver about twice every month during the mining season and carry the gold dust to the mint. These trips were made on horseback, and attended with great risk and personal danger, as the entire distance had to be made in the night, to avoid the law- less characters that infested the mining camps in those days. In 1878, Mr. Havens came to Leadville and engaged in the prosperous lum- ber trade of which he is now the junior mem- ber of the firm of Havens & Beman, being the largest dealers in the county, and have branches in Gunnison, Eagle and Ten Mile districts. His many sterling qualities — energy, perseverance and honesty of purpose — united with a suavity of manner and a gen- ial disposition — are well calculated to give him the success he deserves. He is unmar- ried, and devotes his entire time to his busi- HON. J. L. HODGES. Hon. J. L. Hodges, Deputy United States Collector of Internal Eevenue, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., April 1, 18315, and received an academic education at Lima College, N. Y. In 1855, he removed to Joliet, 111., and was Principal of the High School for two years, and in the spring of 1857 went to the State of Minnesota and engaged in farming until the fall of I860; was appointed First Lieu- tenant of the Third Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, and afterward promoted to Captain; was taken prisoner at the battle of Murfrees- boro, Tenn,, and escaped shortly after at Mc Minnville ; was in the battle of Bed wood, Minn . , ^1 i\^ 344 BIOGRAPHICAL: under Gen. Sibley, during the Indian outbreak of 1862, and remained in the army until the close of the war, and was Assistant Provost Marshal in charge of prisoners at Little Kock, Ark., and was wounded in a skirmish near Vicksburg while gallantly leading his com- mand. In 1868, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Arkansas, and, and was chairman of the com- mittee that introduced the new constitution, which was adopted. Mr. Hodges was admitted to the bar in 1868, and elected twice to the Legislature from the Pulaski County District, Arkansas, and also held the position of Post- master at Little Bock in 1872. He removed to Colorado in 1878, and was appointed Deputy Collector in May, 1879, which position he still holds. (4E0RGE W. HUSTON. George W. Huston was born December 25, 1839, at Uniontown, Fayette Co., Penn. He received his education at his native town, and at fittsburgh, in Duff's Mercantile College. He came West to Des Moines, Iowa, in. 1856, and engaged as book-keeper to the firm of Newton & Keen. In the spring of 1857, he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and was Deputy , Recorder of Deeds. He came to Colorado in 1859 and engaged in mining in Gilpin County. During the winter of 1859, he, in company with four others, made a trip to Leavenworth, Kan., on horseback, returning to Colorado in the spring; ^he then went to California Gulch and engaged in mining, being elected Sheriff the same spring. In the fall of 1861, he went to Kansas and enlisted as a soldier, and was appointed Clerk of the Quartermaster's Department; was soon after commissioned by the Secretary of War as Quartermaster of the Second Cherokee Indian Regiment; he re- signed this office, and was appointed by the Governor of Kansas Regimental Quarter- master of the Fourteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry; was a prisoner of war six months. After the close of the war, he returned to Leavenworth, Kan., and received the position of Register of Deeds of Leavenworth County. He returned to Colorado in 1875, having since devoted his time to mining and real estate business; he came to Leadville in the spring of 1878, where he has been successful in his mining enterprises and real nstate specula- tions. CHARLES L. HILL. Charles L. Hill, one of the leading mine managers of Colorado, was born in Exeter, Me., in 1829. His early education was re- ceived at his . native town, and at the age of twenty-one , years he went to Monroe, Mich., and engaged to the railroad company; in 1856, he took charge of the Peoria (111.) office; he was also for six years connected with the United States Express Company. He came to Colorado in 1860 and engaged in milling at Black Hawk for thi-ee years; he then en- gaged in mining, and at one time was largely interested in the Gregory and Bob Tail Mines. In 1865, he went to New York, where he en- gaged in the real estate business for two years, then returned to Colorado, and for a short time was engaged in milling at Black Hawk; he then removed to Granite, and, after pros- pecting a time, took charge of the Yankee Blade Mining Company's property; he has since then had charge, at different times, of the Printer Boy, Little Pittsburgh, Moose Mine, Agazzis, Dunkin, Catalpa and Crescent Mines, which mines he operated successfully; he built the first stamp-mill in California Gulch, for Denver parties, and also built a stamp-mill in Mosquito Gulch for Chicago parties. Mr. Hill is one of the oldest and most successful mine managers in Colorado. He was married to Miss Josephine A. Wait in October, 1855, and has one child, a daughter, nine years old. OLIVER H. MARKER. O. H. Harker, Superintendent of the Lead- ville Mining Company, a trustworthy and re- liable gentleman, familiar with mining in all its forms; he has contributed, in no small de- gree, to the development of Colorado's mining resoiUTces. Born in January, 1838, at Day- ton, Ohio, he was educated at Yates Academy, in New York, and at the White Pigeon Branch of the Michigan University. He came to Colorado in May, 1860, and located in Gilpin County, where he followed mining for eight years, making one trip to San Juan in 1861, where he spent seven months. In 1868, he went to the White River Mining District, in ?k LAKE COUNTY. 345 Nevada, where he spent two years, returning to Colorado in 1870. During the fall of 1868, he took a trip to Michigan, where he was married to Miss Mary J. Vorhees. In 1872, he went to Boulder County, where he remained seven years in the mines of that county. During this time, Mr. Harker had charge, as Superintendent, of. a number of the large mines of Gilpin and Boulder Counties, among which may be mentioned the Granville, Kansas & Black, Red Cloud, Corning Tunnel, Last Chance, and others. In March, 1879, he went to Leadville and took charge of the Henriett Mine; he was also connected with the Little Pittsburgh, and subsequently took charge of the Breece Iron Mine. Mr. Harker ia now General Superintendent of the Lead- ville Mining Company, having imder his charge a large force of miners. ABSALOM V. HUNTER. The above-named gentleman. Cashier of the People's Bank of Colorado Springs, and Act- ing Cashier of the Miner's Exchange Bank at Leadville, is well known in commercial and ba,nking circles in Colorado, having been a resident of the State since 1873. He was bom in Lincoln County, State of Missouri, Nov. 24, 1846. His early educational advan- tages were somewhat limited, being partly ob- tained in country schools of Lincoln and Pike Counties, with the addition of a course of mer- cantile studies at St. Louis, in the college of Bryant & Stratton. At the age of eighteen, he entered the commission house of his father, J. M. Hunter, of St. Louis, and remained with him for a term of four years. In the spring of 1868, he returned to Clarksville, Mo., and engaged with the dry goods firm of Hicks & Terry as book-keeper, in which position he continued for three years. In 1871, he visited Colorado on a tour of examination, looking around the country, and returned to St. Louis. In 1872,. he accepted a position as Clerk on a steamer plying between St. Louis and Keokuk, Iowa, in which employment he continued for one year. In the spring of 1873, he returned to Colorado and located at Colorado Springs, and invested in the stock business; subse- quently sold out and. accepted a position as Cashier of the People's Bank, and it was here he acquired the principles and laid the found- ations of his accurate knowledge of banking. While here, he became interested in mining operations in Leadville and other camps, and was one of the original locators of the Winne- muck Mine, which afterward was consolidated with the Little Pittsburgh, New Discovery and Dives Mines of Leadville; having sold out his interest in these mines, he devoted his time to his banking and real estate inter- ests; he was one of the original founders of the Miners' Exchange Bank of Leadville, and it is safe to say that no man occupies a higher position in the publi<; estimation as a finan- cier and business man than Absalom V. Hun- ter. He holds the position of Acting Cashier in the Miner's Exchange Bank, also is Cash- ier of the People's Bank at Colorado Springs, and demonstrates that he is an efficient, capa- ble manager of the finances of both of these well-known banking institutions. He was married, December 18, 1877, to Miss Estelle McFerrau, daughter of Judge McPerran, of Colorado Springs. HENRY H. HEWETT, M. D. The life and services of Dr. Hewett, who has practiced medicine in Colorado since 1860, is so well known and appreciated by the citizens of Leadville that it is unnecessary to present, in this volume, other than a brief allusion to the events and incidents of his career. Bom in Otsego Co., N. Y., May 9, 1834, he spent his early life at home with his parents, receiv- ing a liberal education at the public schools and academies of his native town; in 1849, removed with his parents to Wisconsin; after- ward, to Iowa, where he studied his profes- sion. In 1855, he went South for his health, and spent three years traveling in Arkansas and Texas, the latter being then an unbroken wilderness. In 1859, he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he remained for a short time, and, in the spring of 1860, upon the breaking-out of the Pike's Peak excitement, crossed the Plains and settled in West Denver, embarking in the drug business with D. Y. E. Kennedy, in which he remained until 1863; he sold out the drug business and removed to Lake County and engaged in mining in Colo- rado Gulch, five miles from Leadville; in IK* v^ !k^ 346 BIOGRAPHICAL: 1864, was appointed Deputy United States Marshal and Deputy Provost Marshal for the southwestern portion of the Territory now known as the State of Colorado. For a pe- riod of three years, Dr. Hewett was engaged in practicing medicine, giving some of his time to his mining interests, and, when occa- sion required his official duties, he was chas- ing horse-thieves, deserters and Indians. In the fall of 1866, he removed to Georgetown, as, in his opinion, the camp at Leadville was " played out," and organized a mining com- pany, and for two years met with comparative success in working the mines. In 1869, he attended a course of medical lectures at Cin- cinnati, Ohio; returning, he commenced prac- ticing medicine at Denver, where he remained until April, 1878, and returned to his old stamping-ground. When the Leadville boom commenced, he renewed the practice of his profession, and at present has a large and lu- crative practice. Dr. Hewett was the first County Physician appointed for Lake County, and can relate many interesting reminis- cences of his travels and adventures with the " barnacles " of the camp. The Doctor is prominently identified witii the medical pro- fession, and we feel glad to notice him in this work. He is an honored member of the fra- ternity of Odd Fellows, having filled many distinguished positions in that order. Dr. Hewett has experienced all the ups a'iid downs of an active business career, and is content to enjoy the fruits of his years of toil and ex- citement. He was married, a few months since, to a most estimable lady. ADDISON HAWKINS, M. D. Dr. Hawkins is one of Leadville's successful practitioners in medicine and surgery. He was born April 24, 1848, in Tippecanoe Co., Ind. ; he received a collegiate education at Farmers' Institute, near La Fayette, Ind; also attended Normal Institute at Lebanon, Ohio, for one year; he attended three courses of lectiures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, 111., receiving his diploma from said college. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1877; returning for a brief period, he then settled in Leadville in March, 1879, and commenced the practice of his profession; he is a member of the State and County Medical Association, and may now be classed among the prominent physicians of Leadville; he is the resident surgeon for the D. & E. G. R. R. and South Park Railroad, at this place, being the first appointment made. He was married, Oct. 10, 1876, to Mary I. Fisher, his wife being a sis- ter of a prominent railroad official. JOHN H.' HAM. Among the successful business men of Lead- ville may be found the name of J. H. Ham, bom in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., June 7, 1830. H6 passed his youth in his native town, receiving his education there; at the age of fifteen years, he went to Rochester, and was employed in a hotel for a short time. In 1854, he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and engaged in mercantile bupiness, where he re- mained until the breaking-out of the rebellion in 186 1 ; he received a commission as First Lieutenant of the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently was appointed Quartermaster of the same regiment; after serving with his regiment for six months, was appointed Post Sutler at Stevenson, Ala., in which position he continued until the close of the war. Having concluded to remain in the South, he embarked in mercantile pursuits and opened a general store in Stevenson, Ala., where he was quite successful, and accrunu- lated a competence, which subsequently was lost by an unfortunate venture. In 1867, he returned to Milwaukee and again ventured into the mercantile trade, where he remained until 1869; he then went to Whitewater, Wis., and started a cheese manufactory on an extensive scale, using the milk obtained from 600 cows. In the spring of 1872, he emi- grated to Colorado and embarked in the gro- cery trade at Denver, where he remained for five years; removing to Botdder County, he engaged in mining, in which business he man- aged to again lose all of his hard earnings. In April, 1878, he came to Leadville and lo- cated the Winnemuck Mine the same day the Little Pittsburgh was located, but a prospect- ive law-suit induced him to give up his claim, and he returned to Leadville and took a posi- tion as General Manager in the large and growing business then carried on by George B. D \ ^1 J^ LAKE COUNTY. 347 Eobinson, doing all the buying for that exten- sive store for two years ; he then decided to again go into business for himself, opening a meat and vegetable stand on Chestnut street, in which he has been successful, and, after his many ventures, he is contented to remain. He was married, Aug. 19, 1856, in Milwaukee, to Miss Sarah E. Wheeler, and has four chil- dren, and will celebrate his silver wedding the 19th day of August, 1881. HON. JOHN J. HENRY. Judge Henry, present Register of the United States Land Office at Leadville, is a gentle- man of ripe scholarship and large experience in professional work. Patient, untiring in- dustry has always been one of the most im- portant features of his character, marking not only his maturer years and professional career, but his early life as well. He was bom in New Castle Co., Del., in 1822, and received an academic education in the academies of Wilmington, Del., and Norristown, Penn. At an early age, he took an active part in poli- tics, and joined himself to the old Whig party; had an intimate acquaintance, which ripened into friendship, with the Hon. John M. Clay- ton, from whom he learned much of the prin- ciples and practices of the leading old-school Whigs of the nation; although a slaveholder in his native State, he was among the first to adopt the principles of the Republican party, and supported John C. Fremont for the Pres- idency in 1856, and has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party: he served with honor a long apprenticeship in the State Legislature of his native State. In 1863, he was appointed Minister to Liberia by Presi- dent Lincoln, it being the iirst appointment made ; and in 1872, President Grant appointed him Consul to Kingston, Jamaica, both of which appointments he derlined.. In 1875, he was appointed by President Grant to the office he now holds. Judge Henry has hon- orably filled various offices of public trust in a creditable manner, and has attained a posi- tion of prominence and influence in the com- munity. He was married to the daughter of Gideon Lusby, of Cecil Co., Md. ; his wife is also the niece of the late Commodore Jacob Jones, United States Navy, who, in the war of 1812-15, commanded the sloop-of-war Wasp, and gained such a noted victory over the Brit- ish war vessel Frolic. He has three children — two sons and one daughter. ROBERT A. JOHNSTON. Mr. Johnston was bom in New York City in 1846, and lived there until 1861, when he went to Minnesota, remaining thirteen years, engaged in the horse and cattle trade. Dur- ing the time of the great Indian troubles in that State, Mi. Johnston served in the State militia, and took an active part throughout the war; he was several times badly wounded, and to-day shows many scars made by Indian bullets. He was elected Sheriff of Watonwan County in 1872, serving one term. Coming to Colorado, he located at Denver and engaged in the horse and cattle trade until 1879, with John G. Lilly, the well known cattle dealer. In 1879, he arrived in Leadville, and was ap-' pointed a Deputy Sheriff — a position he has since held with great credit to himself. He is now the officer of the County Court, and Collector of county licenses. He is also engaged in mining. Mr. Johnston is well liked by all who have business dealings with him. What education he has — which is far above that usually acquired in the conunon schools — has been gathered by his own per- sonal efforts and observations in every-day life. GEN. HORACE B. JOHNSON. H B. Johnson was born at Marengo, Mc- Henry Co., 111., on the 14th day of August, 1842; in 1852, he removed to Fayette Co., Iowa; here he resided until the commencment of the war, and during which time he received his education and studied law at the Upper Iowa University. Upon the first call of the President, tor troops, he enlisted in the Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served in that regiment during the summer of 1861 ; in the fall of 1861, he organized, at St. Joseph, Mo., a battery of artillery, known as the First Mis- souri Battery of Horse Artillery, which ren- dered good service during the war; he was twice slightly wounded. At the close of the war, he located at Kansas City and engaged in the active practice of his profession. In the spring of 1865, he was appointed Circuit r ^! s \^ 348 BIOGRAPHICAL: Attorney of the circuit composed of Jackson, Cass, Bates, Johnson, Pettis, Saline and La Fayette Counties; he held this position until the fall of 1868, when he was elected Attorney General of the State; in 1870, he was re-nom- inatied by acclamation by the Republican Convention, but, this being the year of the well-known bolt from the Republican party, he was defeated, together with his whole ticket, at the election. Although he was always a Republican of the most pronounced order, and although living in a Senatorial dis- trict which had about one thousand Demo- cratic majority, he was elected, in 1875, as a member of the Constitutional Convention which framed the new constitution of that year. With the exceptions above noted, he has kept out of office and politics and devoted his atttention studiously to his profession. During the last ten years of his residence in Missouri, he found it necessary to limit his practice almost exclusively to the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of the State. In ] 877, he determined to remove from that State, and accordingly located at Topeka, Kan., and practiced his profession there, in partnership with Willard Davis, then the At- torney General of Kansas, until, in the spring of 1879, he came to Leadville on professional business; here he was so impressed concerning the future of this city and the State that he immediately returned to Topeka and prepared to close his office there and remove to Lead- ville. He opened an office here in July, 1879, and has enjoyed a fair share of the legal busi- ness of the city up to the present time. He is married, and has one daughter, eleven years of age. He married, in 1868, the daughter of E. J. Mariner, who now resides at Olathe, Kan. He has, during the past ten years, been a con- tributor to the American La.iij RegiMer, pub- lished at Philadelphia. HON. WILLIAM H. JAMES. William H. James, the first Mayor of the city of Leadville, is in all respects a repre- sentative Western man. His twenty years' residence in the mining districts of Colorado have familiarized him with the elements and necessities of such communities. His aduiin- istration has deepened the high estimation in which he has been held by his friends, as a straightforward, incorruptible and public- spirited citizen. He gave his whole time and energies to the affairs of the City Government and the advancement of the city interests, in- trusting his private business affairs to the management of others, so that his personal supervision of public enterprises might has- ten their completion. He was born in Mon- mouthshire, Wales, in 1838, and came to America when eight years of age, with his parents, they settling in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; he acquired the rudiments there of a common- school education, and also learned the watch- maker's trade. In 1855, we find him in Iowa City, Iowa, in the employ of G. W. Marquardt & Co., jewelers, until the gold excitement al- lured him in the direction of Pike's Peak. In June, 1860, with his young wife, he pitched his tent in Nevada Gulch, Gilpin Co., Colo., and has never but once since been east of the Missouri River; he was one of the owners of the fourth stamp-mill brought into Gilpin County, and immediately doubled its capacity to eight stamps; with this mill, for the first winter, he cleared, after paying all expenses, exactly $13.85; his second venture, in remov- ing that mill to Empire, in Clear Creek County, was more disastrous, but he was lucky enough to sell the fine white shirts sent out to him by his mother for enough to move his family back to Nevada; with the loan of 120 from a friend, he began the watch-making and repairing business, and was doing hand- somely unti I the fire came and swept away his entire possessions. In relating his experience, he remarked: "I gathered greens upon the hillside, not because my wife and I were par- ticularly fond of greens, but we wanted some- thing to eat." Mr. James afterward became Superintendent for the Terrible Mine for Clark & Crow until its sale to European par- ties; he then became Superintendent of the Burleigh and Baltimore Tunnels, operating the first Burleigh steam drill that was intro- duced in the mines of Colorado. In 1 873, he superintended the gulch mines of Fred A. Clark at Fairplay, Park Co., using the first hydraulics and Little Giant nozzles brought into the State. Coming to Lake County in 1875, he had charge of the Printer Boy Mine 5 \ ' ^'. 'A LAKE COUNTY. 355 town of Fentonville, in the same State. He was engaged, for a short time, in the drug business, at Detroit, Mich. During the years 1875 and 1876, he attended the Literary De- partment at the University of Ann Arbor, Mich. In the spring of 1877, he came to Col- orado, from Detroit, in company with one of the parties whom Mir. Stevens had induced to emigrate here. During the summer and fall of that year, he worked in California Gulch, afterward working in the Harrison Reduction Works. About that time Leadvill e commenced to attract more than ordinary attention as a mining camp, and on the 12th of February, 1878, Mr. Miller engaged in the drug busi- ness, associating with himself Mr. Geegge; their place of business was then on Chestnut street. He remained with Mr. Geegge one year, when he opened a house on Harrison avenue, in his own name, which was soon after destroyed by fire. In spite of this misfort- une, he succeeded in again entering the same business, at his present stand. Through his energy and natural business tact, Mr. Miller has built up, from a very small beginning, a business that is unrivaled in his line in Lead- ville. His able management has been the direct cause of the success of the firm. He devotes considerable time to mining, in which his labors have been well rewarded. The gentlemen composing the firm are public-spir- ited and have done much toward the progress of Leadville. JACOB S. MILLER. Mr. Miller is one of Sheriff Tucker's popu- lar Deputies, having served in that capacity since the spring of 1879. He was born in Bloomington, 111., and lived at New Albany, Ind., until 1867, and then moved to Boone- ville, Mo., where he resided until 1875. He received a common school education, and is a butcher by trade. Since 1875, he has followed his trade throughout different parts of Colo- rado and New Mexico; he came to Leadville in the spring of 1878, and was there em- ployed by Tucker & Pierce, as a butcher, until he entered the Sheriff's office. T. J. MOYJSTAHAN. Mr. Moynahan was bom in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1848; he received a common- school education, and then engaged in the hardware business. He left his native coun- try, and arrived in America in 1869; he en- gaged in the gas-fitting and plumbing busi- ness, at both Jersey City, N. J., and Kansas City, Mo., until 1875, when he came to Colo- rado and located at Boulder, and engaged at the same business; he came to Leadville in 1878, where he has since resided. He is pro- prietor and owner of the large machine-shops, and deals in inachinery, mining-pumps, etc., at 133 East Chestnut street; he has met with great success in his line of business here, and is a gentleman well worthy of the same. J. ERNEST MEIERE, M, D. Among the first physicians who arrived at Leadville may be classed Dr. J. Ernest Meiere, and who, at this time, ranks as one of its mos.t competent and efficient doctors. He was born in the year 1831, at New Harven, Conn., his father at that time being a Pro- fessor at Yale College. The subject of this sketch was private Secretary to the Hon. Lewis Cass, during his term in Congress as United States Senator. In 1855, the Doctor entered the United States Navy, and in 1858 was appointed Consul at Vera Cruz. In 1861, he was married, at Washington City, to a daugh- ter of Admiral Franklin Buchanan, President Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas both being present at the wedding. In that same year, he resigned his commission in the United States Navy, and joined the Confederate sei-v- ice, serving aboard the Merrimac, and was ai^ tached to that boat when blown up at Hamp- ton Roads ; he afterward served in the army of Virginia, and took part in the battle of Drury's Bluff; he was twice taken prisoner by the Federal forces, and once made his escape from prison, at New Orleans, by digging and tunneling out. At the close of the war, he returned North, and graduated at the Univer- sity of New York In 1868, he was appointed Contract Surgeon in the United States Ai-my, and stationed at Washington. In 1873, he came to Colorado, but in 1874 returned East. -In 1878 he again returned to Colorado, and came direct to Leadville. He has held the office of City Physician, being Leadville's first one, as he was appointed early in 1879; he, at & ■~5) ,\h l]^ 356 BIOGRAPHICAL : present, has a lucrative practice, having no su- perior here as a surgeon; ever since the erec- tion and founding of St. Vincent's Hospital, he has been connected with it as their physi- cian, and in a city like this, where so many homeless ones meet with accidents, the Doctor has met with flattering success in his numerous surgical operations. JOHN D. MONROE. Among Leadville's prominent citizens may be classed John D. Monroe, a gentleman of an energetic nature, and a most indomitable will. He was born in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1846, and there received a common school ediication; when twenty-two years of age, he came West, and settled in Jackson, Mich., where he was engaged ,in business for two years; he then removed to Detroit, and served as a policeman for four years. In April, 187.7, he arrived in Leadville, and prospected and mined on Fryer Hill, discovering some very rich property, and at the same time ac- quired valuable property in the city ; from the sale of mines and city lots, Mr. Monroe has realized upward of $75,000; he is still largely interested in locations that have every prom- ise of proving valuable. He was greatly in- strumental in building up Leadville; he erected several fine buildings, and a portion of the Grand Central Theater, on Second street. He was twice elected Alderman of the city of Leadville, and is deservedly popu- lar. Li 1879, he, together with his family, spent six months in traveling through Europe; he is a person of keen observation, and while an Alderman was always working for the best interests of the city; he is very liberal, and subscribes generously to all worthy solicita- tions. Mr. Monroe is at present devoting all his time and attention to mining, being largely interested in several rich mines. He located the Wax lode, adjoining the famous Long and Deny Mines. JOHN McCOMBE. Jack McCombe, as he is familiarly known in Leadville, has been one of the fortunate ones since his advent here, his labors and hard- ships having been justly crowned with success. John McCombe was born in 1851, in Killain House, in the tovm of Ederry, County Kings, Ireland. He received a conunoh school edu- cation up to the age of fourteen, after which he spent two and a half yeaps in college, afterward being employed by tiie Bear Navi- gation Company, and then turned his hand to farming for one year. In 1873, he left his native country for America, and in June of that year landed in New York, with but 4 shillings and 6 pence. He then found his way to Buffalo, where he worked as a common laborer in splitting wood on the docks. Dur- ing the summers of 1873, 1874 and 1875, he sailed on the lakes; the winter of 1873, he was employed by Sutherland, of Detroit, and the winters of 1874 and 1875, he drove on the street-cars of Detroit, and part of the time acted as conductor. During the year 1876, he broke on the Grand Trunk Railroad, in Canada, and in the fall of that year, se- cured the position of freight-train conductor. In the month of April, 1877, Colorado classed him as one of her citizens. He worked for wages for about one month, in Leadville, and then secured contracts for sinking shafts in Fryer Hill. During that summer, he did some prospecting, and discovered the Cres- cent and Evening Star Mines. In the spring of 1878, he discovered and located the Maid of Erin, as well as the Little Darling, Big Chief and Castle View Mines. In the sum- mer of this same year, he piu'chased one-third of the Big Pittsburg, and discovered the Lit- tle Champion and the Monte Christo Mines, together with several others. He also pros- pected in the Eagle River district, and dis- covered the North Star, the Dix and Campbell lodes, all valuable properties. In the spring of 1879, Mr. McCombe was elected Alderman of the city of Leadville, by a flattering major- ity; in the fall of 1880, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Lieuten- ant Governor, but through a combination of circumstances, which were unfavorable to the nomination of any Leadville man for that position, was' defeated in the convention; in the spring of 1880, he was nominated by his party for City Treasurer, but declined the honor and had his name withdrawn. Mr. McCombe has accumulated considerable wealth, having sold in the year of 1878, his interest in the Evening Star for $8,750, in ^ ihL^ LAKE COUNTY. 357 the Monte Ohristo for $5,000, in tke Big Pitts- burg for 16,000, Little Champion for $5,000, Little Darling for $5,000, and in 1879, the Maid of Erin for $43,500. At present, he , has his remaining interests in the Big Pitts- burg and Castle View, bonded for $600,000. In the spring of 1880, he made a visit to Eu- rope, traveling through all the principal countries. While there, he married a daugh- ter of Rowan Macombe, the poet, of Castle , View, and shortly after returned to Leadville. ■ He has valuable property at Soda Springs, , which he has acquired since his return; he has built a block of business houses on East Third street, and a pleasant home on East , Seventh street. This year, he discovered the McCombe lode, in Prying Pan Gulch, and the , Parnell lode, on Printer Boy Hill. John , MoCombe is classed among Leadville' s best ■ prospectors. He is unstinted in liberality ; his hospitality is proverbial and he is pos- sessed of many sterling qualities. J. 8. D. MANVILLE. Mr. Manville was born near Muneie, Lycom- ing Co., Penn., in March, 1845, and at the ; early age of sixteen ran away from his home and enlisted as a private soldier in the Eighty-fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol- unteers; was transferred to the Sixth United States Cavalry, in 1862, and in 1864, re-en- listed in the Veteran Reserve Corps, and served until the end of the war. In 1866, he attended the Commercial College, in Pough- keepsie, N. Y. For a short time he was en- gaged in the liimber business at St. Louis, Mo., and from there removed to Central City, . Colo., in August, 1868, and was employed by Roworth Bros., as a clerk, until 1873, which firm he bought out and continued the hard- ware trade until 1877. At this date, he came to Leadville, and formed the copartnership of Manville & NcCarty, and has been- engaged in the hardware business ever since, in which trade they have been very successful. Mr. Manville is President of the Water Company, and owns one-third interest, which yields a handsome revenue. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and regarded as one of Leadville's enterprising citizens, being always in favor of all measures for the promotion of the morals, health and prosperity of the city. He is unassuming, and does not care for fame, but is ambitious to leave the world a little better than he found it.' He is happily mar- ried, and is recognized as a genial, public- spirited gentleman, and will be classed among the useful and cherished citizens of his adopt- ed State. F. CHARLES MATER. F. C. Mater is one of Colorado's pioneers, and the leading wholesale and retail grocer of the city of Leadville. He is a native of Germany, bom in Cassel June 20, 1836. At the age of seventeen years, he came to Amer- ica, and located on a farm in the State of Ohio, where he followed farming for five years, then went to Leavenworth, Kan., where he re- mained two years. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1860, and engaged in mining in California Gulch. In 1867, he embarked in the mercantile business, with Eastern par- ties, at Cash Creek; at the end of two years, he started in business for himself, with a very small capital, which he has increased, by strict attention to business and close economy, to his present extensive wholesale and retail trade. He was one of the first to build a store in the present city of Leadville, help to organize the tovm and was a member of the first City Council. In 1 864, Mr. Mater served through the Indian difficulties as a regular, in the Third Colorado Regiment, and was engaged in the Sand Creek tight. He helped organize Lake County, and served one term on the Board of County Commissioners. He was Postmaster for eleven years at Granite and Cash Creek, and two years Justice of the Peace. He was married, to Miss Fj-ances E. Markle, at St. Joseph, Mo., the 23d of Janu- ary, 1868, and has four children who are now being educated at Denver. SAMUEL C. McINTYRE. S. C. Mclntyre, mining manager, was bom in Carroll Co., Ohio, in 1850. At an early age, he removed to Hebron, Ind., where he re- ceived the educational advantages of the pub- lic schools ; at the age of twenty-one years, he embarked in the drug business, in Hebron, which he continued three years. He then came to Colorado; he only remained a few ^ 358 BIOGRAPHICAL: mouths, in Denver, when he took a trip, pros- pecting through Wyoming and Utah, return- ing to Colorado in the fall. He then engaged in mining, in Summit County, for two years, and then returned to Indiaha. In 1879, he came to Leadville, as business manager for Peter Pinerty, with whom he still remains, having general management of property to the amount of $300,000 or $400,000. HON. SAMUEL McDOWALL. Samuel McDowall, attorney at law and member of the Leadville bar, is a native of Scotland. He was bom November 25, 1838, a son of S. McDowall and cousin of Samuel McDowall, Esq., of Kirkcowan, Scotland. He came to America, with his parents, when but two years of age, and settled in Cayuga County, N. Y. He received his education at the public schools of Cayuga County, and at the age of sixteen years went to Chicago, where he worked by the month, driving team and teaching school, for a livelihood, for sev- eral years. At the age of twenty-two years, he was married to Miss Mary McEldowney, and in the following year embarked in the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1869. He was then engaged as corre- sponding clerk by the firm of Heath & Milligan, i manufacturers of white lead and colors, for two years. He was then employed by the ! Silsby Manufactiuring Company, as Western Agent; he remained with this firm seven years, during which time he read law. He then came to Colorado, arriving in Leadville in March, 1879 ; in October following, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which ofiSce he has since held. He was also elected a mem- ber of the Republican County Central Com- mittee, and also received the nomination from the Republican Convention for Mayor of the city, in 1880, but was defeated. During the rule of martial law, he was appointed, by the military authorities. Judge of the Provost Mar- tial Court. He was admitted to the Leadville bar in Januai-y, 1881. He was President of the Masonic Relief Association, which was organized during the early history of Lead- ville, for the relief of brother Masons. He is President of the Leadville Caledonian Club, and a man of considerable literary ability. He received the appointment of Judge of the Police Court in April, 1881. He has a son and daughter, aged, respectively, eighteen and sixteen years, who are now attending the Brinker Institute, at Denver. ANSON H. MALLOEY. Mr. Mallory is one of Colorado's " old tim- ers," having crossed the plains in 1860. He is from Massachusetts, wh"re he was born in 1823. He emigrated to Kansas in 1854, and located in Douglas County on a farm. In the spring of 1860, he came to Colorado, and settled on a farm nine miles below Denver, on Platte River; in 1863, he moved to Black Hawk, and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness and mining, subsequently going to James- town, where he continued the same business for several years. He was engaged in the real estate business in Evans eighteen months, during which -time he was elected Justice of the Peace. In 1878, he came to Leadville, and engaged in the real estate bus- iness and mining, having been very success- ful, now owning a large amount of real estate. He has a family, consisting of a wife and three children. , SAMUEL McMILLEN. Mr. McMillen is one of Leadville's most successful merchants; the same is due to his strict attention to business, and his upright dealings with all classes of his customers; he is engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business, at all times carrying a stock in that line that is sufficient to meet the demands of his varied patrons. His place of business is located on Chestnut street, the same which he has occupied since first engaging in business, on the 8th of August, 1878. He is also one of Colorado's pioneers in mining, and since his arrival in this district has been identified with some of the most wonderful mines in this camp, realizing out of the same a great amount of wealth. He was born in Canada, in 1848, where he remained until 1870, engaged in farming; he received no education, as he says, to speak of, having acquired what he has through his contact with men of the world, met in every-day life. After leaving his native home, he came direct to Colorado, stopping at \5 J4U: LAKE COUNTY. 359 Georgetown, then at Silver City, in New Mexico; at both places he engaged in mining; in the latter place he still owns large interests. In the spring of 1872, he departed for Arizona, meeting with much trouble from the Indians on his way there. On his return from Ari- zona, the same year, he came by way of Silver City again, then through the San Juan and Gunnison coimtries of Colorado. On this trip, he discovered anthracite coal, being one of the first discoverers of the same. On the 10th of August, 1872, he reached California Gulch, where now stands Leadville. He then worked on the Lower Printer Boy lode, for Wells, Bernard & Stadt; also on the Upper Printer Boy until the spring of 1873, when he left for Fairplay, in Park County, walking on snow-shoes, and shoveling away snow to find a trail. He then discovered the Last Chance Mine, on the norih fork of Four Mile Creek, in Horse Shoe District In July, of that year, he returned to the Gunnison coun- try, where he spent each successive summer for several years, always seeking other parts of Colorado during the winter months of these years. Mr. McMillen was engaged all of this time in mining, having worked on the famous mines in Moose and Lincoln Mountains. In 1877, he came to Leadville with Andy Gill, and took a contract on the Frenchman lode; afterward was Superintendent of the Crescent; he was also interested in the Cyclops and Devlin, and Superintendent of the Little Chief. Mr. McMillen was then tendered charge of one of the leading mines in the district, which he declined, in order to devote more attention to some of his own propertv. On the 29th of May, 1879, he, with Mr. Foss, bonded the Highland Chief and Glencross lodes, on Breeee Hill. He then managed it, as Superintendent, until the property got into litigation; after the settlement of their diffi- culties, he again resumed his position, and was a large stockholder in the company that was formed. In the same year, he bought into the Glass-Pendery Mine, and is now a large stockholder in this famous property ; he has large interests in ali the camps surround- ing Leadville, as well as here. He devotes a great deal of his time and attention to specu- lating in mining property, his known good judgment and honesty being so thoroughly relied upon that he has made this branch of his business a great success. In the spring of 1879, he was elected an Alderman of the city of Leadville, Jivhich office he; held with great credit to himself. HON. OSCAR L. MATTHEWS. Oscar L. Matthews was born in Mentor, Ohio, in 1837. At ten years of age he re- moved, with his parents, to White Pigeon, Mich., and afterward to Iowa, settling in what was known as the Colony. He soon returned to Ohio, where he attended school as a class- mate of President and Mrs. Garfield. After attending school for three years, he returned to Iowa and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. As opportunity and circumstances would allow, he afterward attended Bethany College, West Virginia, graduating in 1860. In the winter of the same year, he started for California, by the isthmus, arriving in Febru- ary, 1861. At Woodland, in that State, he founded a Collegiate Institute, which is to-day one of the most prosperous on the Pacific Coast, having over 400 students. Here he remained, as Professor, something over a year. He was the founder of Inyo County, Cal., and was its first County Judge, appointed by Gov. Law. In 1871, Judge Matthews came to Colorado, residing first at Denver, and after- ward, at Colorado Springs. He subsfiquently went to Ouray, where he engaged in mining, and was prominent in securing a large share of the attention that was bestowed upon that part of the State. In 1878, he located in Leadville, where he has since been engaged in the real estate and mining business. He is Secretary of the Central Colorado Prospect- ing and Mine Developing Company, a cor- poration which owns fourteen different mining properties of great promise. He has been Justice of the Peace in Leadville, and here, as elsewhere, is regarded as a gentleman of integrity and an upright, honorable citizen. PATRICK J. McCANN. The subject of this sketch was born in Du- buque, Iowa, August 15, 1846. He attended the public schools in that town, together with a Commercial College, for several years, and l1^ 360 BIOGRAPHICAL commenced clerking for a grocery, grain and provision store at an early age. In the spring of 1866, he came West, to Central City, Colo., and was employed running an engine for the Rocky Mountain Mining aiid Milling Com- pany; also engaged in prospecting, mining and building mills, for a period of three and a half years. For a brief period, he was in business for himself, buying, sampling and assaying ores; having sold out, he came to Leadville, in the fall of 1879, and at present is one of the partners of the Tabor Milling Company, who do a very large and remunera- tive business in treating ores by what is known as the dry process. Mr. McCann is married, and has a handsome residence in Leadville, and is known as an energetic, active citizen. . JOHN D. McCarthy. J. D. McCarthy, of the well-known firm of Manville & McCarthy, the pioneer hardware house of Leadville, was born in Ireland December 18, 1847. He spent his early life with his parents, and at the age of nineteen emigrated to America, landing in Boston July 4, 1866. After a brief stay, he returned to Ireland, and again came to America, landing in New York November 3, 1867. In 1870, he came West, and has been actively engaged in the hardware trade, acting as traveling agent for several of the leading wholesale hardware houses in St. Louis and Kansas City, and is well-known all over the West and Southwest, and commands an extensive trade in the line in which he is interested. This enterprising and successful firm are just com- pleting a large and commodious brick build- ing, on the corner of Fifth and Harrison ave- nues, just opposite the post office; the store- room and basement will be occupied by them, with their line of goods giving them an in- creased capacity for storing their inmiense stock they are compelled to carry to meet the demands in their growing trade. Capt. Mc- Carthy has experienced the extremes of vary- ing fortune, but his spirit has always been buoyant, and so hopeful and energetic that he quickly recovers from any business adversity. His many sterling qualities, his activity, energy and enterprise, united with a pleasant and genial disposition, have won for him many friends, both in business and social life. Since coining to Leadville, he has taken an active part in everything pertaining to the welfare and interest of the city, and is Cap- tain of the Tabor Cavalry Company, of the State Militia, and which company rendered very valuable and efficient service in quelling the mining riots, of June, 1880; Capt Jack, as he is familiarly known, is also interested in some valuable mining property, in Park County, which he is developing and is exceed- ingly hopeful of the future wealth of that old mining district. He was married, September 15, 1866, and has a family of children. We take pleasure in referring to the subject of this sketch, as he has established himself so young in years. Such a one we are glad to meet, for we see in him a man of unusual promise, and who, without disaster, will, at no distant period, ascend to an enviable rank of wealth and importance in the community in which he lives. HON. JAMES Y. MARSHALL. Few men are more widely known or more highly esteemed in Colorado than James Y. Marshall. Not only is he marked as an able lawyer, and a leading member of the bar, but as a capitalist and mine owner. Mr. Marshall was born in Mercer Co., Penn., in 1850, and received the rudiments of his education at his native place. At an early age, he removed to Michigan, and completed his education at Ann Arbor, graduating at Ann Arbor University in 1869. He removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he practiced law for a period of three years. In the spring of 1872, he came West, and located at Fairplay, Park Co., Colo., where he resumed the practice of law. In 1875, he was elected to the Legislature from this district, and served with credit and dis- tinction. He subsequently came to Leadville, where he still resides. Since locating at Lead- ville, Mr. Marshall has given his attention to mining and milling, and is President of the Robert E. Lee Mining Company, Managing Director of the Breece Mining Company, Director and part owner of the Tabor Milling Company, and interested in many other valu- able mining properties. We give a sketch of ^/:77^t>tz-e.^ ihL^ LAKE COUNTY. 363 the celebrated Robert E. Lee Mine in this connection: The richest and most productive mine in the camp is the famous Robert B. Lee, located on the east end of Fryer Hill, and comprising only six acres of territory. The Lee is located over a deposit of chloride ores, which, for ex- tent and richness, has never been surpassed. The first level is 167 feet below the surface. The mineral pitches from the west to the east, coming nearest to the surface along the west side line, and pitching downward, is lost un- der the water toward the east line. The pay in the Robert E. Lee consists of chlorides, which seem to be deposited everywhere, and in great abundanca Toward the west side, the intervening strata, between the wash and mineral, is a deposit of yellow clay, varying from two to four feet in thickness. This de- posit is full of chloride of silver and gives returns of from |150 to 1250 to the ton. Be- low the clay are found deep bodies of iron and flint, which is studded with bright green chlorides, and mills from fifty to one hundred and fifty ounces. The chloride in these flint and iron rocks are deposited in the cleavages, and it is almost impossible to break a rock that does not disclose them in great profusion. Between the strata of flint and iron, there is a streak of chloride of silver from three to ten inches wide, which yields 30 to 60 per cent pxrre silver. The developments and ex- ploitation work at the Lee is not very exten- sive, and there is yet ample territory for new discoveries. Not being provided with a pump, the water prevents a full exploration of the ore bodies to the east, where it dips con- siderably, and where it has been found im- possibly to remove the water without a pump. Li the underground workings of the mine, considerable money has been expended during the past year. The shaft has been relined, and all the old drifts retimbered. The ex- ploitation work has been carried on systemat- ically, and the greater portion of the ore body has been blocked out in squares of fifty feet each. The improvements on the surface have kept pace with the prosperity of the mine. An entire new engine and double steam-hoister were procured last June, which greatly in- creased the hoisting power bf the mine. The lixiviation works, erected early in the spring, have been changed into a sampling-mill, com- plete in every respect. The mill contains a large dryer upon the upper terrace, and the ore, as hoisted from the shaft, is run in a car direct to the dryer, and after having evapo- rated all the moisture, is passed through the crusher and rolls, and sampled and assayed. Thus the mine managers are always posted in the value of the ore in the bins, and can sup- ply smelters with any grade of ore desired. The sampling-mill is furnished with a large Blake crusher, a pair of large rolls and a set of small rolls, for reducing the samples. The mill is supplied with a separate engine and boiler, and run entirely independent of the other works about the mine. The Robert E. Lee Mine produced, previous to 1880, about 1700,000 worth of ore. During the first two months of working the mine, the present own- ers took out enough to repay the price of the mine and a $100,000 dividend. In January, 1880, the product of the mine sold for $301,- 494. On the 13th of that month, an effort was made to see how much could be taken from the mine in twenty-four hours. Work was commenced Monday noon, and in the suc- ceeding twenty-four hours, ninety-five tons of ore were hoisted, the aggregate value of which was $118,500. The following are some of the mill runs of the ore: Two tons ran 11,839; eight and one- tenth tons ran 4,993 ; eight tons ran 1,234; five and a half tons ran 1,088, and eight tons ran 569 ounces to the ton. "When these ores were shipped to the sampling-mill, one load alone brought over $30,000. Since last January, the mine has been shipping very regular, and has averaged a net profit, over and above all expenses, of $100,000 per month, which has been divided among the owners, besides making numerous surface improve- ments. At the present time the pay-roll of the Robert E. Lee Mine carries 200 names and amounts to $17,000 per month. The other expenses, for supplies, timber, ore haul- ing, etc., amounts to nearly half as much, mak- ing the total amount of money disbursed by the mine, in this camp, nearly $25,000 per month. The Lee is now producing about one hundred tons of ore per day, as against forty tons per day during the first half of the year; V .^ 364 BIOGRAPHICAL: the ore has an average assay value of about ninety ounces to the ton. The history of the Bobert E. Lee Mine is briefly related as fol- lows: Thti real discoverer was George W. Belt, who, with William Knight and James V. Dexter, made a location, in June, 1878. In August of the same year, the mine not indi- cating big things, they sold it to Irving How- bert, of Colorado Springs, for $7,000, on a cash payment of 12,000, with ninety days' time for the other $5,000. This sale was made through a Mr. Bogers. But at the ex- piration of this time, Mr. Howbert failed to make final settlement, whereupon the property was sold again to H. O. Wooleott and Mr. Sampson, of Georgetown, on the same terms and time. About this time, J. H. Shekelford and Eddy & James secured, an eighth interest each for $1,000. The mine was now in liti- gation, claimed by Irving Howbert and Wool- eott & Sampson, rich mineral being discov- ered in February, 1879. Here Mr. Lot Boude- bush, of New York, came into the mine's his- tory, bonding, on May 15, from both sides, for $250,000, apportioning, by mutual agreement, $135,000 to the Howbert party, and $115,000 to Wooleott. Mr. Boudebush then sold to Mr. James M. Sclover five-eighths of the property for $300,000, on a forfeit of $20,000. Sclover also failed to make connections, but paid the forfeit. Then again Boudebush bought the Wooleott party out, paying, it is thought, something like $260,000, and finally joined with the Howbert party, i. e., Irving How- bert, James M. Sigafus, B. F. Cromwell and the Bogers' interest, now owned by Hon. J. "Y. Marshall, who, with Col. Humphreys and Homer Penrrock, are the present owners. The present of&cei"s are : Hon. James Y. Marshall, President; L. D. Boudebush, Vice President; Willis A. Barnes, S/acretary and Treasurer. At mine: John D. Fleming, Agent, T. B. Blonger, Superintendent. EMMETT NUCKOLLS. This gentleman was bom in Grayson Co., Va., the 16th of June, 1842. At a very early age, he came to Nebraska City, Neb., living with his older brother who was in business there, until the age of seventeen. In 1859, with many othere, emigrated to Colorado, and located at Denver, and engaged in the stock trade. The 1st of July, 1878, visited Lead- ville, and was so well pleased with the coun- try, he started the stock and wagon business, of which he is now one of the firm ; they also are large dealers in hay and grain. Mr. Nuckolls has been successful in business. He is a member of the Board of Aldermen, and is one of Leadville's useful citizens. He was married, in November, 1866, and has a family of four boys. JOHXJ. NIBLOCK. John J. Niblock, of the firm of Niblock Bros., wholesale dealers in produce and pro- visions, was born in Canada in 1845, and at an early age removed to Bochester, N. Y., and commenced his mercantile life in the employ of Hamilton Matthews & Co., hardware dealers, at a very low salary. He came to Leadville in 1879, and joined his two brothers, William G. and Thomas, in the prosperous business they are now engaged in, and has been very successful. Mr. Niblock is immarried, and is laying the foundation for a substantial f orttme. W. R. OWEN. Mr. Owen, of the well-known firm of Owen & Chittenden, wholesale dealers in dry goods and carpets, was born in Columbus, Columbia Co., Wis., January 3, 1852. After receiving a liberal education, he went to Portage, Wis., and engaged in the dry goods business, as a clerk, where he continued for one year. He also was engaged, as a clerk, at Fox Lake, Wis., for a period of three years, and in the spring of 1875, came to Denver, Colo. He entered the well-known dry goods house of Daniels & Fisher, and was the fii-st represent- ative traveling agent that firm had on the road through the State; he continued with this firm three years, and while in their em- ploy visited the town of Leadville. Among his customers was Gov. H A. W. Tabor, at that time keeping a small store in that place. In October, 1877, Mr. Owens opened the first dry goods store in Leadville, in a log building. The first year's business amounted to $70,000, on a capital of $2,500, and the second year, the spacious brick building, which they now occupy, was built, and the stock they carry now is estimated at over $125,000, being one ^■^ ^ Iht^ LAKE COUNTY. 365 of the largest exclusive dry goods firms in the county. This firm is also interested in the wholesale clothing house of Hanna, Chitten- den & Co., of Kansas City. At the age of twenty-nine, Mr. Owen finds himself one of the firm of perhaps the most extensive in their line, in Lake County, and which, under his skill and management, is yearly increas- ing. Mr. Owen is unmarried, and has started out in a business career which will undoubt- edly prove both honorable and successful. JAMES O'CONNOR. This gentleman was boin at St. John, N. B., in 1846, where, when old enough, he en- gaged in farming and lumbering. He re- ceived but a common school education, and in 1865, moved to Pennsylvania, and engaged in the lumber business; one year afterward, he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and from there to Montana Territory, where he remained one winter. He then engaged in the lumber bus- iness in Idaho Territory, but, in July, of that year, went to Wyoming Territory and engaged in Gulch mining, where he amassed a fortune ; he then engaged in the livery business, for three years. The Indians drove him out, in 1869, and stole all his stock, of over 150 head of horses. In 1870, he moved to Georgetown, Colo., and engaged successfully in mining. Three years later, he went to Lake City, Colo., thence to Prescott, Arizona, and, on hearing of the death, by shooting, of his brother, George; who was then City Marshal of Lead- ville, he returned to Colorado, and came to Leadville. While here, he has held the posi- tion of policeman and Street Commissioner; he is now in the livery business and also en- gaged in mining. THOMAS B. POWERS. Mr. Powers was born in Bloomington, 111., in 1849. He remained in that State until early in 1863, when, with his parents, he re- moved to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was em- ployed on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Eail- road, in the capacity of fireman, soon after running an engine and holding different responsible positions on that road during fifteen years, and losing an arm while in their em- ploy. He came to Denver, Colo., in 1878, for the benefit of his wife's health, and was soon afterward employed by the Denver & Rio Grande Eailway, with headquarters at Canon City. He came to Leadville in the spring of 1879, and obtained the position of taking charge of city prisoners, which he held until the fall of 1880, when he was elected a Jus- tice of the Peace, which office he now holds. DANIEL E. PARKS. Mr. Parks was born April 29, 1840, at Sandy Hill, Washington Co., N. Y., which place he made his home until he was thirty- three years of age. The greater portion of Mr. Parks' early education was derived from his own personal application to study, without the aid of any teacher. He afterward at- tended the common schools of New York, and this was supplemented by a classical course at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, where he graduated with honors. He began the study of law, in December, 1860, to which he studi- ously applied himself until his admission to the bar of New York, on the 4th of May, 1865, passing an excellent examination before the Judges of the Supreme Court of that State. He followed his profession, at Sandy Hill, until the 1st of January, 1873. Finding that field too small for his labors, he moved to Washington, D. C, where he had been admit- ted to the bar of the Supreme Court of tiie United States, having first been examined be- fore Chief Justice Chase on the 20th of March, 1872. On the I4th of January, 1873, he was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia. In May, 1873, Mr. Parks came to Colorado and located at Golden, he remaining there in the practice of law until January 1, 1878, when he removed to Georgetovm, and finally settled in Leadville, on the 1st of April, 1878. He was admitted to the bar of the United States and District Courts of Colo- rado January 24, 1879. Mr. Parks has prac- ticed with unrivaled success at the bar of Lake County since his location there; he is now associated with Daniel J. Haynes, the firm ranking as one of the most successful in Lead- ville. Even to this day, he is an ardent and diligent student, a man of perseverance and acknowledged practicability. To Mr. Parks is due a great deal of credit for his instru- n^ 366 BIOGRAPHICAL : mentality in organizing the new county of Lake, he being one of the Commission who procured the passage of the bill creating the new county. He held the position of County Attorney of Lake, from the 8th of February, 1879, until the 15th of April, 1880, a position which came unsolicited on his part, and which he finally resigned on account of his large outside practice, which required all of his time and attention. He has taken an active part in politics ever since his advent in the State, be- ing a stanch Republican. He was instru- mental in securing the nomination of Hon. H. A. W. Tabor as Lieutenant Governor. He always raised a contention in conventions, through his exertions in furtherance of the rights of the locality in which he resided. He is largely interested in mining property, being the first President of the Gray Eagle Consolidated Mining Company, in Ten Mile District, the property lying on Sheep Mount- ain, and being the richest there. The suc- cess of this company is due to the untiring efforts and business management of the sub- ject of this sketch. He was the original lo- cator of the Union Emma lode, on Fryer Hill. He is interested in numerous very promising properties, has acquired consider- able wealth, is a gentleman of unquestionable honesty and confessed ability in the profes- sion which he follows, his large library being an index of his desire to serve his cliente faithfully. MAJ. JESSE L. PRITCHARD. Maj. Jesse L. Pritchard, the subject of this sketch, is one of the early settlers of Colo- rado. In March, 1859, he started from his home, in Ohio, for Pike's Peak. Arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in April of that year, he came to Denver by ox team, over the Smoky Hill route. Soon after his arrival at Denver, he went into the mountains, and located at the Gregory Diggings, where Central City now stands. He engaged actively in mining, and in 1861, upon the first Territorial organization. Was elected the first Sheriff of Gilpin Co. , which office he continued to fill until the fall of 1862, when he was commissioned as Mayor of the Third Colorado Infantry, from Gov. Evans. The Second and Third Regiments- were never completed, but were consolidated, forming the Second Colorado Cavalry, with which com- mand Maj. Pritchard entered the service, tak- ing part in all the scouts, marches and battles of that regiment until the mustering-out at Fort Leavenworth, in the fall of 1865. After the killing of Maj. Smith, at the battle of the Little Blue, Maj. Pritchard was in command of the regiment, taking it through the Price campaign, at the battles of Big Blue, "West Port, Mine Run and Newtonia. After quit- ting the service, he located near Kansas City, and was engaged in farming for about eight years, returning to Colorado again in 1877, where he engaged in mining in Clear Creek County, near Georgetown, d 1878, he came to Leadville and engaged in mining, meeting with very good success. In the spring of 1880, he was elected one of the Aldermen of the city, which office he now holds. During the strike last year, Maj. Pritchard was appointed Provost Marshal of Leadville, and exhibited great ability in governing the city through that trying time. Mr. Pritchard is just in the prime of life; bom in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1833, he is now forty-eight years old; raised on a farm, his fine physical proportions were fully developed, which were afterward ripened by active work. -He received a com- mon school education; learned the marble- cutting trade, which he followed until his first break for Pike's Peak.. Those who know him speak of him as an affable gentleman, possess- ing those sterling qualities which makes up the much-admired "Western man. ROBERT E. PIPPIN. Mr. Pippin was bom at Greensboro, Md., on the 9th of July, 1850. He attended the common schools and afterward learned the machinist trade. In 1870, he came to Colo- rado and located at Central City, where ho re- mained four years engaged upon machinery work at the mines; he also served as a police- man there for two years. Going to Caribou he worked as a machinist until December, 1879, when he came to Leadville, where he has since resided. At one time he was Assist- ant Superintendent of the Little Chief Mine. In 1880, he was elected Constable of Lead- ville, in which capacity he still acts. He is ^ / • (f^~^-^f^ i^-i.^C^ ^^ 'A LAKE COUNTY. 367 one of the proprietors of the Delmonico res- taurant. He devotes some attention to min- ing. HON. JOHN L. PENDERY. The subject of this sketch is deserving of much credit and more than, a passing notice in a history of Leadville, as one of the pio- neers, leading attorneys and mining operators of the Carbonate Camp. Probably no one man has a more extended acquaintance throughout Leadrille and its surroundings than Judge Pendery. He was born in Lock- land, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1823, and lived there until 1857. He received a common school education and afterward read law with Judge McLean of that State. He was admit- ted to the bar shortly afterward at Cincinnati, where he practiced until 1857, and then went to Leavenworth, Kan., where he associated himself in the practice of his profession, with Hon. Daniel McCook, and afterward with Judge Brewer, who is now Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Kansas. He was also a partner of David Baily, who served as Consul at Hong Kong. While there he was a law partner of I. S. Kalloch, present Mayor of San Francisco. Judge Pendery's legal learning soon brought to him a large and lucrative practice. Through a combination of unfavorable circumstances he lost the most of his wealth, and in May^ 1878, he came to Leadville and opened an office on Lower Chestnut street, where he commenced the practice of his profession. At that time he had no money, in fact, was in a destitute con- dition, and depended on what practice he could then secure for his maintenance. The Judge, however, commenced to interest him- self in mining and located the Ypsilanti, and soon after the Pendery lode, out of which latter he realized a large sum, and created for himself a name which was heralded throughout the land, as one whose judgment could be relied on in mining matters. He is now interested in more than 150 mining claims, located in all the various mining dis- tricts of this State, and should but a portion of his expectations be realized, he will be one of the world's richest men. He is a gentle- man who has the friendship and esteem of all his acquaintances, and the success, which his judgment has been the means of earning him, makes him authority to many who seek him for advice. JOSEPH H. PLAYTER. Mr. Playter, City Treasurer of Leadville, is a young man well fitted and worthy of the honorable and responsible position to which the citizens of Leadville have chosen him. Born in York Co., Ontario, Canada, Septem- ber 5, 1854. His father was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and until about sixteen years of age the subject of this sketch lived at home, and only received such educa- tional advantages as could be obtained by the public schools of his native place; subse- quently attended the high school for one year, and spent also one year in teaching school. He is descended from a noble English family of great respectability and note. Mr. Play- ter was the only candidate elected on the Democratic ticket of the last election, which was a strong evidence of his popularity. In the spring of 1872, he emigrated to Kansas and engaged in the banking business at Girard, Kan., with his brother, occupying the position of Cashier of the Crawford County Bank until December, 1878. Leaving Kan- sas he came to Leadville and embarked in the hotel business. After a short period went to the Ten Mile District and commenced prospecting and mining. Returning to Lead- ville he opened an office as assayer and min- ing engineer, under the firm name of Towne, Playter & Co., in which business he contin- ued until January, 1881, when he was elected Cashier of the City Bank of Leadville, which position he resigned the following spring, after being elected City Treasurer. He also was elected Treasurer of the School Board. Although Mr. Playter is no politician and has never sought office or public favor, yet when elected he has always discharged the official duties pertaining to the office in a creditable manner, and he has established himself for one so young in years as a man of unusual promise and enterprise, and who will, at no distant period, ascend to an enviable rank of wealth and importance in the community in which he lives. During the mining riots at Leadville, in June, 1880, Mr. Playter ren- dered efficient service as an officer in the •<^ s~ ■.3 ^! tiL 368 BIOGRAPHICAL: State militia, to which organization he is still warmly attached. He is also Acting Eminent Commander of the Mount of the Holy Cross Commandery of Knight Templars, and during his residence in Kansas was twice elected as a member of the State Convention. Mr. Playter was married at Osage City, Kan., in 1876, and has two children. JOSEPH PEARCE. This gentleman was bom July 11, 1844, in Cornwall, England, where he received a lib- eral education. In the spring of 1866, he came to America and located at Central City, Colo., and engaged in mining. In the fall of 1868, he removed to Oro City, the present town of Leadville, and opened a hotel, contin- uing in that business for a period of seven years, besides prospecting and buying mines in which he was quite successful. He sold the mines known as Waterloo, Henri ett. Belle of Colorado, Gun Abroad, Maid of Erin, to New York companies, realizing quite a handsome sum from their sale, and still con- tinues in the business of speculating in mines. Mr. Pearce is a prominent Odd Fellow and is a Past Grand and Past Chief Patriarch of that order, and has been Grand Representa- tive to the Grand Lodge. He is also Chair- man of the Board of County Commissioners and Superintendent of the Poor. He was married in England and is an enterprising and prompt business man. HON. WILLIAM RAYMOND. William Raymond, Clerk of the County Court of Lake County, was bom in Kings County, N. Y., on the 8th of June, 1837. He remained there imtil 1854, in the mean- time receiving a collegiate education. Prom 1854 until 1870, he was located at Jersey City. He read law with Hon. John W. Edmunds, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1861, in the city of New York He practiced, in New York and in Rockland County, until 1862, when he entered the Federal army and was commissioned in the Sixth New York Heavy Artillery. He re- signed his commission at Harper's Ferry in January, 1863, and was then commissioned in the Fifth New York Infantry. He served during the war on various staff commissions; was at Appomattox Court House at the sur- render of Lee. He held brevet commissions as high as Major General. He holds army and civil commissions signed by Presidents Lincoln, Johnson and Grant; also commis- sions from Governors Clark, Seymour and Fenton, of New York; also from Gov. Parker, of New Jersey. Mr. Raymond took part in over forty engagements while in the army of the Potomac. He was a member of the Leg- islature of New Jersey, and was also Assist- ant District Attorney of Rockland County, N. Y. He came to Colorado in the summer of 1870. and located in Denver, where he re- mained until June, 1879, engaged in the practice of law, and was officially connected with all the courts of that city. He came to Leadville to accept the position of Deputy Clerk of the District Court, which position he filled until late in 1880, when he accepted the position of Clerk of the County Court. Mr. Raymond is one of Colorado's best-known attorneys. Through the many official posi- tions which he has occupied, he has made nmnerous acquaintances, who all testify to his affability, genial manners, prompt ability and well-known integrity. HON. A. W. RUCKER. This gentleman was bom in Harrodsburg, Ky., April 3, 1847; he received an academic education in the State of Missouri, to which State he had moved in his early youth. Upon the breaking-out of the war, he entered the Confederate army as a private, and spent some time in the military prison at Springfield, Mo. ; having been paroled, he, for some inex- plicable reason, was never exchanged. In 1867, he commenced the study of law at Lexington, Mo., and was admitted to prac- tice at the bar in June, 1868. In the fall of 1869, having formed a copartnership with his brother, T. A Rucker; they opened an office and commenced business at Baxter Springs, Kan., and remained there until 1873, when he moved to Kansas City and there re- sumed his law practice, until he removed to Leadville, in Febraary, 1879. Judge Rucker was appointed Judge of the Criminal Court of Lake County, which position he held for e) ^ r^ IH^ LAKE COUNTY. 369 only a short period, as the Supreme Court had decided that the act passed by the Legislature creating the court was unconstitutional; his administration, though brief and but of short duration, was characterized with such a de- gree of fairness and ability, and the vigor with which he meted out the law to those who were convicted in his court, won for him the esteem of ^is brethren of the law, together with the praise of the law-abiding citizens of Leadville and Lake County, for which his friends and himself are justly proud. Judge Eucker modestly avoids public life, and has usually kept himself and his opinions out of newspapers; he is regarded as a man who is devoted to principle, and who pursues prin- ciples to their logical results ; he is at present engaged in the active practice of his profes- sion, and has secured a large patronage. He was married in 1872, at Baxter Springs, Kan., to the eldest daughter of Hon. S. B. Caruth, who for several years was Mayor of that thriv- ing city. WILLIAM H. RHINEHART. Mr. Rhinehart, the pioneer telegraph oper- ator of Leadville and surrounding mountain towns, was born in Paxton, 111., Dec. 30, 1856; after attending public school until thirteen years of age, he served two years in the tele- graph office in his native city; in 1871, be went to La Fayette, Ind., and worked in a photograph gallery two years. In December, 1874, he came to Denver, and was in the em- ploy of Perry & Bohm, photographers, one year. In August, 1876, he entered the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and went to Dudley, Park Co., and opened an office; June 1, 1877, he opened an office at Alma, same county; October 1, following, he returned to Dudley, where he remained until June, 1878; he then came to Leadville, and followed placer mining in Iowa Gulch three months. September 6, the first wire was run into Leadville by the Western Union Com- pany, and he opened the office. In February, 1879, growing business compelled him to call for relief, which was sent him in the way of operators, and during the succeeding year he was manager of the office. April 1, 1880, he went to Kokomo, Ten Mile District, and opened an office, and there remained until November 9, when he was transferred to Lead- ville, in charge of the receiving department, which position he still holds. Mr. Rhinehart was married, February 23, 1881, to Miss Kittie Clark, of Denver. J. THOMAS ROBERTS. This gentleman was bom in Baltimore, Md. , in 1841, and resided in that city until 1861 ; a good common-school education was supple- mented by a thorough knowledge of the car- penter and builder's trade. During the civil war, he served in the Third Maryland Volun- teer Infantry, which formed a pait of the Fifth Army Corps, taking part in all the en- gagements of his regiment; after three years of service, he was mustered out, and returned to his home. In 1866, he came West to Junction City, Kan., and remained there until 1870. He was Master Mechanic at Fort Riley. In 1870, he came to Colorado and worked at his trade in Golden, and afterward in Central City ; after the destructive fire which destroyed most of Central, in 1874, Mr. Roberts rebuilt a large portion of the city. In January, 1879, he removed to Leadville, and is one of the oldest and most reliable builders there; among other prominent buildings which he has erected in Leadville are the Clarendon Hotel, Tabor Opera House, Daniels, Fisher & Co.'s Block, Owen & Chittenden's Block, and Manville & McCarthy's new block on the cor- ner of Fifth street and Harrison avenue. CHARLES M. ROLKER. Mr. Charles M. Rolker, the present General Manager of the Chrysolite Silver Mining Com- pany, a graduated mining engineer, comes, like so many of our present Colorado men, originally from New York State.. Brought up in the city of Brooklyn, he went abroad for his edu- cation, the collegial as well as technical; the latter he received at the Royal Mining School of Clausthal, taking, in ^ater years, a finishing course at the New York School of Mines. He has followed mining in its various branches since 1868, and, aside from his European ex- perience, has practiced his profession in the mines of New Jersey, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mich- igan (Lake Superior), Nevada, California and Utah, managing mines for the last five years, ti^ 370 BIOGRAPHICAL: notably among which are the famous Mariposa Laud and Mining Company of California, and the Stormont group of mines in Southern Utah. Mr. Eolker has established himself a high reputation as a competent aad trust- worthy mine manager, to which he has added during his short regime of the Chrysolite Mine. Appointed as General Manager Sept. 1, 1880, he found the property still loaded with a debt of over a quarter of a million, and pronounced by the majority of leading mining men as worked out; since then, by his persis- tent and systematic working of the mine, he has extracted ore which brought $756,600 net, over smelter's charges; after paying off the large debt and the heavy working expenses, which are occasioned by the nature of the Fryer Hill ore occurrence, he had accumu- lated, on April 1, 1881, a surplus of $300,000 net over all, in the New York Treasury — a simi sufficient to prospect the mines of this company for another year; the mine has been put in first-class condition; considerable bodies of ore are still standing, and the future of the once clouded mine is bright once more. AUGUST RISCHE. The peculiar freaks of fortune which some- times follow the pursuit of mining are apJy illustrated in the history of Mr. Eische. Au- gust Bische was bom in Minden, Prussia, in 1833, and in 1852 emigrated to America and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he worked at shoemaking. When the war broke out, he volunteered in the three-months service, in the Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, £md afterward for three years in the Twelfth Mis- souri Volunteer Infantry, under Gen. Oster- haus. At the close of the war, he still pm*- sued his vocation of shoemaker, and, in 1868, came to Colorado and opened a shoe-shop in Fairplay, and while there staked several pros- pectors, but always without any pecuniary success to himself. In the fall of 1874, Mr. Eische came to Lake County, California Gulch, and engaged in mining, taking lessons from Charley Field, S. D. Nevrman and William Pierce, in the celebrated mine known as the Printer Boy. In the spring of 1875, he leased a mine known as the Five- Twenty, which, not proving financially a success, Mr. Eische turned his attention to prospecting, and, while pros- pecting the head of Arkansas, discovered some valuable fissure veins. In the winter of 1877, while prospecting with George Freassle on Mount Zion, Freassle kicked Eische's dog, which caused hot words and a dissolution of partnership, and proved a lucky kick for Eische, as it placed him on the road to fort- une; on the 20th of April, 1877, he formed a partnership with George T. Hook, and, being grub-staked by H A W. Tabor, they proceeded to prospect Fryer Hill, and, on the 1st day of May, the Little Pittsburgh Mine was discov- ered by the striking of mineral at the depth of twenty-six feet; the New Discovery Mine would have disclosed the rich mineral of Fryer Hill, but the kicking of his dog shaped Eische's course and included Gov. Tabor in this fortunate streak of financial luck. Mr. Eische retired from ownership in this mine with a cash capital of $310,000; he owns a fourth interest in the New York Mine, and has large interests in San Juan and Eico Dis- tricts, besides owning some valuable real es- tate in Leadville and Denver. He married an 'estimable lady, and is now the happy father of a son and heir. Mr. Eische is a prominent Odd Fellow, being a Past Grand and Past Chief Patriarch, and a member of the grand lodge of the State, and takes life in a pleasant manner, being now content to enjoy the fruits of bis lucky discovery. He has built himself a handsome residence at Malta, three miles from Leadville, where he now resides. JOHN RILING. The subject of this sketch was born in Can- ton, Ohio, in January, 1836, and received a common-school education; at the age of fif- teen years, was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade; when out of his apprenticeship, he re- moved toFreeport, 111., and, after a brief stay, came to Lawrence, Kan., and worked at his trade there until the spring of 1859; in that year, with many others, he emigrated to Colo- rado, and was engaged in prospecting and mining, and located the placer mines of Lost Canon, and worked at placer mining in California Gulch. In the winter of 1861, he returned to Leavenworth, Kan., and was em- ployed by the Quartermaster Department at M.liili|ii I '>£ LAKE COUISTTY. 373 that point for a short time; he started busi- ness for himself, repairing and making wag- ons; afterward sold out and engaged to work for the Kansas Manufacturing Company, and remained in their employ until 1878. The following spring he removed to Leadville and started a blacksmith and wagon-making shop, in which business he has been quite suc- cessful, and isi still engaged in that line. Mr. Riling is married, and has a family of five children. RICHARD H. STANLEY. The present County Treasurer of Lake County is Mr. Eichard H. Stanley; he was born in Howard Co., Mo., in 1843 ; he soon afterward removed with his parents to Eock Island, 111., which place he made his home until 1870 ; he jSrst received a common-school education, and then engaged in farming; he was a member of the Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry dm-ing the war, having enlisted in 1861, and served three years, taking part in all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland. In 1870, Mr. Stanley came to Colorado and engaged as a clerk for one year in Denver, afterward going to Park County and remain- ing there until the fall of 1876, when he went to San Juan and settled at Lake City; there he engaged in mining until the spring of 1877, when he went Ouray, and, in the fall of that year, came to Leadville, where he has since resided. He was elected to his present position in the fall of 1879; he is extensively engaged in mining, and has met with finan- cial success. HON. WILLIAM J. SHARMAN. Mr. Sharman is one of the successful attor- neys of Leadville, and has a large and lucra- tive practice. He was born at Clonmel, Tip- perary Co., Ireland, December 24, 1845 ; when two years of age, he wentto Brideport, England, with his parents, his father being a clergymaiL Two years afterward, he came to America, and, with his parents, settled at Erie, Penn. ; when eight years old, he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and remained seventeen years; he received a collegiate education; graduated from the Law Department of the Ipwa Uni- versity in 1866; he has since practiced his profession at Des Moines and St. Louis for ten years. He located at Leadville in April, 1879, and engaged in mining, as well as his profession; he was in the Senate of Iowa when the late Secretary of War McCrary, and the present Secretary of Interior, S. J. Kirk- wood, were members. JAMES SHIRE. One of Leadville's popular officers is James Shire, who holds the position of Constable, a position he has held for the last two years. He was bom in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1840 ; he received a common-school education, and served in the British army for about eight years; was in India during the mutiny there. He came to America in 1866, and settled in Kansas, where he remained until 1879, when he came to (Jolorado and located in Leadville; he has been engaged in mining, and met with fair success. L. D. SPAULDING. One of Leadville's young and successful business men is L. D. Spaulding, the senior member of the wholesale and retail confec- tionery house of Spaulding & Woodruff; he was bom February 4, 1854, at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y. ; he moved to Northern Ohio with his parents in 1862, and to Middle Tennessee in 1867. He came to Colorado in 1873, and located at Colorado Springs; in 1876, he moved to Lake City, ajid was in bus- iness there until 1878, when he came to Lead- ville; since his advent here he has been in the same business, starting with limited means but an acknowledged credit; the house has been very successful; they are located on West Chestnut street, and carry a stock of confection- eries and toys to the amount of $20,000; they do a yearly business of 160,000, and own val- uable property throughout the city. Mr. Spaulding is one of the proprietors of the Mansion House, at 212 and 214 West Second street. Through his strict integrity and ster- ling business qualities, this gentleman has built up a trade and reputation that are a fit reward for his ambition and endeavors. CHARLES B, STONE. Mr. Stone is one of the members of the fij-m known as the Leadville Undertaking Com- pany; he was born in Franklin Co., Vt., in 9 fy ^1^ 374 BIOGRAPHICAL: 1843, where he lived as a farmer's son until eighteen years of age; he then entered the First Vermont Volunteer Cavalry as Lieuten- ant of Company B, and served in the Third Division Cavalry Corps, which was under com- mand of Gen. Custer: after serving three years and six months, he was mustered out, when he returned to his native State and de- voted his attention to the lumber business. He came to Colorado in 1871, and engaged in the same business at Denver; the panic of 1873 engulfed him, as it did others. He was appointed Chief of Police of Denver for two years. He came to Leadville in the fall of 1878 and engaged in mining for a year, after- ward buying out the interest of Albert Brown in the Leadville Undertaking Company. He is now Secretary and Treasurer of Evergreen Cemetery. Mr. Stone is a live citizen of Lead- ville, and has always taken an active part in all public matters. ROSWEIvL B. SPAULDING. Mr. Spaulding was born in 1880, at Wil- liston, Vt. ; he received a common-school edu- cation; at the age of twenty-one, he married a daughter of Judge "Whipples, and engaged in farming for five years; in 1857, he went to Illinois and commenced the manufacture of cheese, and the same year was awarded the first premium' for the same over exhibitors from all through the East; he afterward re- turned to Vermont; in 1862, he enlisted in the Federal army, and served two years as a trader; he then returned to Vermont and en- gaged in business, afterward going to Iowa, where he engaged in mercantile business. In the spring of 1879, he arrived in Leadville, since which time he has been in the livery business and operating mines to some extent. In the spring of 1881, he was elected an Alderman of this city. Mr. Spaulding is a gentleman of sterling qualities, a popular citi- zen, and a man of great moral force. W. CLEVES SMITH. The subject of this sketch was bom at Smith's Landing, Monroe Co., 111., January 7, 1858, about twenty miles below St. Louis, on the Mississippi River, the landing taking its name from his father, who was a large grain and produce shipper to the foreign markets. He received a good common-school education, and assisted his father in his business until eighteen years of age. In 1875, he emigrated with his parents to Kansas, and settled at In- dependence, twenty miles from the Indian Territory. Young Smith engaged as clerk in a dry goods store, where he continued for about one year; at this time, he determined to tiy his fortune in the Far West, and came to Denver, Colo., and took a course of mercantile studies in the Colorado Business College, in which his brother was Principal; after com- pleting his studies, he assisted for a short pe- riod in teaching the primary classes. In the winter of 1877, he returned to Smith's Land- ing and worked on a farm for about one year; he then moved to St. Louis and engaged with a boot and shoe factory, where he remained for about one and a half years. In November, 1880, he came to Leadville and found employ- ment as night clerk in a restaurant kept by his brother, and subsequently engaged with A. Brisbois in his photograph gallery as printer, where he still is employed. Mr. Smith is a young man yet, and, with his energy and busi- ness capacity, his future financial success would seem to be well assured. .JACX)B SANDS. Among the younger men of enterprise and business integrity who have been connected with the business interests of Leadville for a number of years is Jacob Sands. He was born in Poland December 25, 1851, and re- ceived his education in his native place. His parents emigrated to America in 1867, and settled in Utica, N. Y., where they remained for a period of three years. Young Sands en- gaged in the clothing business there, and came to Leadville and opened the store in which he is at present engaged, under the firm name of Sands, Pelton & Co. ; this firm is better known as the " One Price Clothiers;" their place is in one of the handsome storerooms of the Tabor Opera House, on Harrison avenue, where they have as complete and elegant a line of clothing, gent's furnishing goods and miners' supplies as there is in the city; each department is complete in every detail; the stock of clothing is particuliarly fine, the line -^ r LAKE COUNTY. 375 of ulsters and overcoats being one of the finest in the city; in miners' supplies may be found a complete stock of blankets, bedding and rub- ber goods, and all other things necessary to a miner's outfit; the furnishing goods depart- ment has in it only the best of articles, and lacks nothing it should have to make it com- plete in every detail. Sands, Pelton & Co. have been engaged in business in Leadville about fifteen months, and have in that time secured for themselves a reputation that only thorough business men, in whom the public could have perfect confidence, could secure. The success they have met with has quite ex- ceeded their most sanguine expectations, and has made it necessary for them to increase both their stock and accommodations, with which increased facilities for pleasing their patrons they have excellent reasons for expecting a continuance of the patronage extended to them. The firm of Sands, Pelton & Co. may be relied on as one that will deal fairly and honorably with their customers, giving them entire satis- faction in every respect. The firm consists of Jacob Sands, the subject of this sketch; B. Sands, who resides in New York and does most of the buying; and S. Pelton, who resides in Denver. This firm has branch houses at Idaho Springs and Black Hawk, Colo. Mr. Sands is unmarried, and is a fair representa- tive of the young merchants who have assisted in building up the mercantile interests in Colorado. RUFUS SHTJTE. The subject of this sketch was born in Clin- ton Co., N. Y., May 24, 1837; he received a Common-school education, and removed to Wisconsin at an early age and engaged in the lumbering business. At the outbreak of the Pike's Peak excitement, in 1859, he came to Colorado and was engaged in prospecting and mining for about one year, but, having an opening in his former business, he returned to New York and remained there for four years. In 1861, he removed to Michigan and engaged in sheep-raising for about three years. Kemoving back to New York, he again went into the lumber trade, in which he con- tinued for a period of seven years. In 1872, he removed to Boston, Mass., and embarked in the stock and livery business, in which he continued for five years. Having sold out, he emigrated to Colorado and started again in the lumber trade in Leadville, the firm being Hallock, Shute & Havens, in which business he was quite successful. In 1879, he sold out at a handsome profit, and engaged in mining and cattle-raising, which business he still fol- lows. Mr. Shute was elected Alderman and served for one year, but devotes his time en- tirely to his business and does not care for any preferment or political positions. H(! was married in New York, in 1858, and has a family of two children — a son and daughter. THOMAS STARR. Mr. Starr was bom in Ireland in 1835; he came to the United States in 1853. He spent two years in Lowell, Mass., and three years in Minnesota. In 1858-59, he made a trip to Salt Lake, and in 1860 made one trip to Den- ver from Missouri Eiver and back; he re- turned to Colorado the following year and located in California Gulch, where he en- gaged in gulch mining. He has since that time made his home in California Gulch, where he owns the property known as the Starr Placer Mine, consisting of about twenty- eight acres, and upon which part of the city of Leadville is built. This property has been worked for twenty years, producing about |7,000 per year. Mr. Starr is one of the few who remained in the gulch fi-om the first discovery, and has seen and shared the hard- ships of a new mining camp in a new coun- try. He at one time packed a sack of flour over the range on snow-shoes, having paid for the same the sum of $75. and after arriv- ing in camp divided with his neighbors. Mr. Starr has spent large amounts of money in developing mining property in Lake and other counties, and is at present engaged in several large mining ventures in four different coun- ties. He has a wife and three children. DANIEL BAYER. Daniel Sayer, Esq., the subject of this sketch, w-as born at West Town, Orange Co., in the State of New York, in the spring of 1840. He lost his father during infancy and at the age of four years went with the remain- ing members of his family to reside at •^ s l±^ 376 BIOGRAPHICAL: Goshen, the county seat of Orange County. He resided at Goshen attending the select school of Daniel Wells, Esq., until the age of fifteen when he went to Iowa, where he was employed in a mercantile establishment, then under the control of one of his brothers. After remaining in Iowa for less than a year he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was there employed in the banking house of his brother- in-law, Hon. S. S. Davis, ex-Mayor of Cincin- nati, and one of its most prominent business men. He commenced the study of law in said city in the year 1860, in the office of Judge N. Headington, and graduated at the Cincinnati Law College in March, 1861, about a month prior to the commencement of the late civil war. He was admitted to the bar in the early part of April, 1861, and im- mediately afterward started to make a tour of the Continent of Europe, and while at Wash- ington to procure a passport, news was received of the commencement of the civil conflict and of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, when he immediately determined to delay his contemplated visit and volunteer in the national service. He entered the service as Second Lieutenant of Company G. of the Fifth Eegiment of Ohio Cavalry, under the command of Col. W. H. H. Taylor, and within a month thereafter was made Adjutant of the regiment. The regiment was attached to the brigade of Gen. W. T. Sherman, and partici- pated in the engagements at Fort Henry, Shi- loh, the advance on Corinth and the other great battles in which the Army of the Ten- nessee were engaged under the command of Gen. Halleck and Gen. Grant. Upon the organization of the Seventh Regiment of Ohio Cavalry, which regiment was mostly officered from officers then serving in the field, the command of Company C in this regiment was given to Mr. Sayer, and he served with this regiment, and as staff officer until after the fall of Vicksburg in 1863. After the fall of Vicksburg he was assigned to duty as Lieutenant Colonel of a regiment stationed in the fortifications, which regiment was organized there for the defense of Vicksburg and embraced the best material and men in that city. About eighteen months after the close of the war he came to Colorado and engaged in mining near Central City, where he had a cousin residing engaged in civil engineering. Relinquishing the occupation of mining in which he was unsuccessfal, he went the succeeding year to reside at Denver, where he entered into a partnership with his kinsman, Alfred Sayer, Esq., and engaged there in the practice of the law, and remained there in practice for three years, when he again engaged his attention with mining in Gilpin County for two years. He came to Leadville in February, 1879, and entered immediately upon the practice of the law. He is now and for more than two yeai's past has been a member of the well known law firm of Thomson & Sayer, one of the leading law firms of the State, and in the possession of a large and lucrative practice. He was elected City Solicitor of the city of Leadville in the spring of 1880, and re-elected to the same office in the spring of 1881, which office he now holds. He was married in February, 1869, to Miss Gussie Young, of Central Ciiy, and has two children. HON. AZOR A. SMITH. A. A. Smith was born in Gratiot, Licking Co., Ohio, August 25, 1829. He was educated ill Aurora, 111.; graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the year 1857; came to Black Hawk, Colo., in 1859; in 1861, was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the First Colorado Infantry, and at the close of the war was mustered out of service as Surgeon. He then located in Linn County, Kan., and represented that county in the Legislature of 1867-68; he afterward practiced medicine in Kansas City, Mo., and in 1870 returned to Colorado and engaged in mining in Gilpin and Boulder Counties. He was appointed Physician for the Nederland Mining Company. He was Assayer and then Superintendent of the Nederland Mill. In 1874, was Repub- lican candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated. In October, 1876, was elected to the House of Representatives of the first Gen- eral Assembly — receiving 1,529 votes against 1,087, for James Stevens, Democrat. He resumed the practice of medicine at Black Hawk in 1878, and in July of the same year went to Leadville and engaged in mining on TT ^ ^ — ^ .w LAKE COUNTY. 377 Fryer Hill. In December of 1878, he received the appointment of Postmaster of the city of Leadville, which position he still holds. He is still engaged in mining and owns one-half interest in the drug firm of J. S. Miller & Co. MILO H. SLATER. This gentleman, the present Superintendent of the Breece Mining Company, was born in Hancock County, 111., November 27, 1841, near the old Mormon town of Nauvoo. His parents were of the old Vermont stock and his father was engaged in the business of a " nursery farm," which he carried on on a very extensive scale, and young Slater assisted his father in that business, receiving a good edu- cation in the schools that were in that local- ity. In the spring of 1860, though but a youth of nineteen, he came to Colorado and arrived in Denver the 19th day of May, 1860; after a brief stay he went to Central City and commenced prospecting and mining, which he continued until the breaking-out of the war. In 1861, he enlisted as a Private, join- ing the First Colorado Volunteers, afterward known as the First Colorado Cavalry, and served through the war, participating in the battles of Apache Canon, Pigeon Ranch, Peralto, Sand Creek massacre, and many minor skirmishes and engagements;- these were all on the frontier and west of the Mis- souri Biver. At the close of the war, he returned to Central City, where he was mar- ried to Miss Wilson, who died in six weeks after his marriage. He, after this bereave- ment, visited New Mexico and traveled for considerable time, retiurning to Denver in 1866. In 1869, was appointed to a clerkship in the United States Mint, located at Denver, and continued in that employment for ei^ht years, holding the position oE Chief Clerk when he retired. In the spring of 1878, came to Leadville and became interested in some valuable mining property. He organ- ized the Small Hopes Mining Post, subse- quently selling out his interest. He at pres- ent is Superintendent of the Breece Mining Company, and gives his entire attention to the management of that valuable mine. The present officers of that mine are Hon. H. A. W. Tabor, President; L. E. Eoudebush, Vice President; Hon. J. Y. Marshall, Managing Director; A. T. Gorman, Secretary; M. H. Slater, Superintendent. In the management of the affairs of the company, Mr. Slater has displayed ability and given perfect satisfac- tion to all parties interested. JOHN A. 8CHLAGETER. Among the pioneers of Leadville who have passed through the varied experiences of frontier life and become familiar with the history and growth of Colorado, is the subject of this sketch. He was bom in New York City December 25, 1853. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Wapello County, Iowa, and until he was eighteen years of age, remained with his parents on a farm, attending a village school during the winter months and working on the farm dur- ing the summer. In 1872, he took the advice of Horace Greeley and " went West," arriving in Denver April 4, 1872, and obtained em- ployment as a laborer in a saw-mill at $35 per month, where he continued for a period of three years. In the spring of 1876, hav- ing by the closest economy saved a small sum from his earnings, he visited the San Juan country where he engaged in buying and selling jacks for pack animals, making sev- eral trips to New Mexico and return; also was engaged in freighting stores from Fort Garland to Silverton, having at one time eighty-six head of jacks in that business. He opened a flour and grain store during this period at Silverton, which he afterward sold to good advantage. The 10th of November, 1877, he arrived in Leadville, and with but a small stock opened the first flour and grain store in the Carbonate camp, which he subse- quently sold out. He then engaged in the real estate and mining business, which he still follows. Mr. Schlageter is also inter- ested in cattle and stock raising, and owns a herd of 700 head, with forty head of ponies on the Republican River, about 200 miles from Denver. He owns some valuable real estate in Leadville together with some good mining property, and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of Leadville. He has long been an honored member of the — ® I^:" !k^ 378 BIOGRAPHICAL: I. O. O, F., holding the position oE Treasurer of Chloride Lodge, No. 31. Mr. Schlageter has, for one so young in years, shown himself a man of unusual promise and enterprise, and who, without disaster, will at no very distant period ascend to an enviable rank of wealth and importance in the community in which he lives. He married Miss Mary Sheean, of Indianapolis, and has one child. LBDYARD R. TUCKER. Mr. Tucker, the present Sheriff of Lake County, was born in Martinsville, Ind., November 19, 1845. He received a common school education, and, when twenty-one years of age, came to Colorado and engaged in min- ing in Lake County; also in 1875 and 1876 and 1877, he was engaged in the cattle busi- ness and has a large ranch sixty miles east of Denver, and devotes some of his leisure time to that branch of pastoral industry. He is unmarried and is now filling his second term of Sheriff of Lake County. HON. CHARLES I. THOMSON. The Hon. Charles I. Thomson is compara- tively one of the early settlers of Leadville, where he now resides. He was bom in New- burg, Orange Co., N. Y., March 3, 1836, where his parents located upon their arrival in this country from Scotland, and he claims with pride the coiuitry of his ancestry. He removed from Newburg, at the age of two years, to what is now Ashland County, Ohio, where his parents went to reside, a district of country then sparsely popiilated, and at a period prior to the introduction of railways in that State. His father there engaged in agricultiu-al pur- suits, and the subject of our sketch only enjoyed such opportunities for education as a new country and country schools afforded, until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he entered Oberlin College, remaining there for three years, but leaving there before he reached the graduating class. After leaving Oberlin College he commenced the study of law in the office of Judge J. K. Hord, at Tiffin, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1860, and shortly thereafter located at the town of Valparaiso, Ind., where he immediately entered in the active practice of his profession. He was married April 16, 1861, to Miss Olivia Weirick, a lady of cult- ure, character and refinement, and a leader in charitable enterprises, who is still the partner of his home. After practicing law for five years at Valparaiso with reasonable success, he removed in the spring of 1866, to, and located at Kansas City, Mo., then in its infancy, where he entered upon a large and lucrative practice. In the prosperous era of that city when all indications pointed to the greatness which it is now in the process of realizing as a commercial center, he invested largely in real estate, when the financial dis- asters which came upon that city with the other cities of the country in 1873, so depre- ciated the value of his investments, and resulted in such heavy pecuniary losses, that he was virtually compelled to start anew. With the hope of retrieving his fortunes he came to Leadville in the spring of 1878, and entered immediately into a first-class practice and was retained in nearly all of the impor- tant mining litigation then before the courts. He has made his mark in the professioQ he follows, and through his practice has become extensively known throughout the State. He is in the prime of his manhood, and a career of usefulness is before him. He is a man of literary tastes, and a terse, cogent debater. HON. HORACE A. W. TABOR. The man of true genius never waits for time to accomplish his plans, but only looks for opportu- nity, and when that comes, it finds him prepared to grasp and use it to the utmost advantage. — Disraeli. This saying furnishes the solution and ex- plains the reasons in those cases where men of native talent, determined will and rare busi- ness aptitude have leaped, at a bound, as it were, from a lowly condition to affluence and stations of high dignity and trust. To the surprise of many who measure cause and effect with a mere superficial glance, these "favorites of fortune," as they are often erro- neously termed, are found to move with ad- mirable fitness upon the unaccustomed plane they have reached, and, with a ready adapta- tion to circumstances, reflect credit upon the positions of responsibility and influence they have attained. iiL^ LAKE COUNTY. 379 The men who have left the deepest impress upon the character of the times in which they lived, who have shaped and controlled public events, who have been most effective in arous- ing the busy hum of industry where, but for them, it never would have existed, are rather noted for their pluck, intuitive perception and fidelity to purpose that concentrates all their powers upon the acquisition of a definite ob- ject, than for the extent of their early advan- tages or the amount of book learning they have acquired. Indeed, from the very ab- sence of theoretical knowledge, their minds become repositories where facts are stored, leaving no room for idle fancies and conceits. They set a high value upon the lessons of ob- servation and experience, and it is this class of men who display most fortitude in coping with present difficulties while grimly calculat- ing the chances ahead. They are persistent and irrepressible, ever on the alert for that golden " opportunity " of which Beaconsfleld speaks, and, when it comes within reach, they grapple it for all it is worth. It is this class of men who develop mines, endow churches and hospitals, build theaters, banks and rail- roads, create cities, and inaugurate systems of public improvement on a grand scale. And it is from this class the people, with unerring judgment, select capable executive officers, who are characterized by energetic and useful activity. The subject of this sketch is an ap- propriate illustration and exemplar of the class above described. Gov. Tabor commenced life where men of his climbing propensities usually begin — at the foot of the ladder. He was born in Ver- mont in 1830. After acquiring the rudiments of a good education, he served an apprentice- ship as stone-cutter, and plied his trade in various portions of New England until twenty- five years of age. He then moved to Kansas and settled down to the business of farming, raising corn, wheat and vegetables. He was a member of the Topeka Legislature when that body was forcibly dispersed by orders from President Pierce, and, with strong Union sentiments and sympathies, was an active par- ticipant in the local politics of that troublous time, which culminated a little later in acts of open violence and internecine strife. Weary of the increasing disorder, and the disasters tliat threatened the agricultural in- terests of that State, and catching the fever of the Pike's Peak excitement, he removed to Colorado in 1859, with the early pioneers, and has ever since been a resident of this State. His first venture was in the role of an indus- trious miner, with pick and shovel, in the vi- cinity of the present site of Idaho Springs, and there it was hp earned his first wages as a gold seeker, by hard manual labor. After wintering in Auraria (now known as West Denver), he started early in the spring of 1860 for Independence Gulch. After prospecting with unsatisfactory results at the mouth of Cache Creek, he came to California Gulch, where the first boom originated that drew a tide of hungry gold-dust-ers to this then un- explored section. Here he divided his time between mining and general merchandising. He secured a claim near the Discovery, which yielded handsome returns, and when he closed out he was the possessor of |8,000, and this sum gave him his first substantial start in life. As miner and merchant he gained the good will of air with whom he came in contact, and was universally esteemed as an honorable, up- right man. He next crossed the range to Buckskin, in Park County (then considered the coming town), and stocked a store with groceries and miscellaneous goods suited to the wants of a lively mining camp. Here he remained dispensing merchandise and officiat- ing as Postmaster until 1868, when he re- turned to Lake County. Oro was then a thriv- ing city of 8,000 inhabitants, and promised to be what Leadville has since become. Here he did business for awhile, but afterward trans- ferred his store and post office to New Oro, when the old town lapsed into premature de- cay. In the fall of 1877, he called in all his available resources in goods and chattels, and opened a store in Leadville, where he carried on a flourishing business until the fall of 1878, when he was relieved from any further neces- sity of engaging in mercantile pursuits. During all these years of harassing discom- forts and arduous toil, Gov. Tabor had kept the " main chance " steadily in view. He felt confident that within this vast mineral belt some newly discovered bonanza would open its ^1 :.4^ 380 BIOGRAPHICAL: stores to him. He had been a hardy pros- pector and miner himself, and knew how to sympathize with that class — one moment elat- ed with sanguine hopes, the next depressed by bitter disappointment. No sober, indus- trious man ev€)r asked him for a " grub stake " and was refused. He gave liberally of his money when he had it, and his store was the outfitting point for scores of expeditions — consisting each of two men, and a burro laden with provisions and blankets — that scoured the mountains, valleys, gulches and passes in all 'the country round, like the Argonauts of old, in search of " golden fleece," and, in the majority of instances, instead of gathering precious wool, they came back sheared. His books to-day will foot up thousands of dollars of unpaid accounts which Gov. Tabor long ago consigned to " profit and loss," never ex- pecting Qor even attempting to collect. If these mining ventures resulted in profit, he knew he would be reimbursed; if not, he would pocket the expense. He was one of your " pick-your-flint-and-try-again " sort, never complaining, never despondent, accept- ing the merciless snubs of coquettish fortune with an imperturbable serenity of temper. But the reward for his patient "watching and waiting " was at hand. The story is too familiar to render a repetition of details nec- essary. One investment of a $60 outfit in Hook and Rische — with the inevitable burro — bore fruit. Those experienced prospectors foimd and noted the surface outcroppings of the Little Pittsburgh. Systematic labor, as it progressed, broadened and deepened the area of mineral. The carbonate treasure seemed in - exhaustible as it was rich. Reports of " the great strike " spread abroad. Men of capital came to verify or disprove them with their own eyes, and went away dazzled by visions of un- limited wealth; Finally, after enriching the discoverers, Grov. Tabor's interest netted him nearly 11,500,000. This was but the beginning of judicious in- vestments which have since amplified his cap- ital, profits and sources of income tenfold. Confident of the unexplored value in contig- uous properties, he boldly expended large sums in their purchase, paying $125,000 for nine-sixteenths of the New Discovery alone. Strange as it may seem, he made no mistakes, but coined "a mint of money" with every deal. Like the fabled Midas, everything he touched seemed to turn into gold. He holds at the present time large interests (and of some he is the exclusive owner) in the following mines, the majority of which show a splendid record of tonnage, producing richly in silver: The Matchless, Scooper, Dunkin, Chrysolite, Union Emma, Denver City, Henriett, Maid of Erin, Empire, Hibernia and May Queen. All of these properties lie in the immediate vicinity of Leadville, and detailed accounts of them may be found in the historical department of this work. Gov. Tabor has not restricted his mining investments to one locality. Appreciating the future of Southern Colorado, and the perma- nent strength of its massive fissure veins, he has not hesitated to expend $127,000 in the purchase of six claims in the San Juan country. Gov. Tabor's acquisitions are in worthy hands. Prosperity has not upset his equipoise. With him, business caution has not shrunk into miserly meanness, nor a generous nature de- generated into the loose prodigality of a spend- thrift. "In medio tutissimus ibis." He has not misused the bountiful gifts of fortune. As an almoner of private gratuities and public good, he has liberally shared their benefits with others. In the fall of 1877, Leadville was a seeth- ing, surging, struggling mass of humanity, containing many elements fraught with dan- ger to the safety of persons and peace of so- ciety. Gov. Tabor, as the first Mayor, brought form and order out of this rudimentary chaos. He organized municipal law and found means for its enforcement. He put the wheels of conservative progress in motion, and steadied them in their course. His administration, ^ though brief, was eminently creditable. His ; successor found a camp rapidly maturing in I metropolitan size and strength, with a police I system, and streets and pavements and water and gas works, and the other concomitants of a city — if not perfected, at least well under way. Gov. Tabor then found time to devote more attention to the realization of other plans he had deteimined upon. A good theater, sacred to the legitimate drama, is the safety- ^-. ik^ LAKE COUNTY. 383 valve for a heterogeneous, amusement- loving people. The completion of the Tabor Opera House, the most beautiful brick structure in Leadville, satisfied a growing popular want. Its interior is elaborate and ornate; its audi- torium, roomy and convenient, seating 800 people; and its stage depth and appointments ample for the production of the best works of classic art. Its cost was in the neighborhood of $78,000. The Eank of Leadville was another prompt response to urgent financial and commercial needs. The necessity for a safe depository and medium of exchange for Eastern capital had become urgent. Gov. Tabor, like another Hamilton, was the Moses who " struck the rock of our torpid re- sources, and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth." The danger from fire to a city largely com- posed of wooden buildings and surrounded by combustible pine fqrests was for a long time imminent. Gov. Tabor called the special elec- tion which authorized the Town Board to de- vise an effectual remedy for apprehended con- flagrations, and he was the chief promotei of our magnificent system of water works, at a total cost of 1100,000, which was the result of their action. To the Tabor Hose Company of Leadville he presented a 11,200 carriage and 1,250 feet of hose, reeled. To the entire fire department he has proved himself ready at all times to provide whatever would most contrib- ute to their efficiency as firemen and their comfort as individual members. Anticipating another requirement of city growth. Gov. Tabor came to the front, in 1879, as one of the leading incorporators of the Leadville Gas Company. Works were built of the best design and construction, with the latest improvements in machinery, and with a capacity for producing 80,000 feet per day. The total cost was about $75,000. Since then, miles of mains and pipes have been laid, and the illuminating fluid furnished our streets, stores and dwellings is of a quality fully as good as any manufactured in the oldest East- ern cities. The Tabor Milling Company is another en- terprise in which Gov. Tabor invested $100,- 000. Its importance as an economical factor in the output of bullion from dry ores is highly appreciated by miners. Its machinery is of the best, and it can treat to advantage 100 tons of ore every twenty-four hours. The small percentage of lead in dry ores (the rich- est in gold and silver) renders them unsuitable for smelting. Hence the erection of a large stamp-mill supplied a general want in this and adjoining camps. The success of this venture (in which Gov. Tabor still holds a half interest) is indicated by the fact that tbe stock is at a premium and none of it for sale. It would be impossible to list the private benefactions of Gov. Tabor, for he is one of those " who do good by stealth and blush to find it fame." It may not be improper, how- ever, to state in this connection that the Tabor Light Cavalry (a body of fifty men) was equipped throughout at a cost of 110,000 by him. But this act may have been prompted quite as much by a regard for the public interest as from an impulse of personal generosity. Without particularizing, we can say that his donations to churches, schools, hospitals, and worthy objects of charity, aggregate ^10,000 a year. Denver, the charming " City of the Plains," began to feel the electric shock of the great Leadville boom about the time Gov. Tabor first invested therein building and real estate. Then, lots that had for years vainly sought a purchaser, suddenly assumed an abnormal value. Dwellings doubled in price, brick and lumber grew scarce and dear, beggarly rents became princely avenues, and the wages of laboring men — especially of carpenters and masons — advanced to an unprecedented figure. The magnificent Windsor Hotel, complete in all the appointments of a first-class caravan- sary, rose like a " proud exhalation " before the gaze of astonished spectators. Nothing west of the Missouri River had before been seen to equal it. Gov. Tabor is a heavy stock- holder, and his son is one of the managers in charge of this hotel. As much of his time is spent at the capital in the discharge of official duties and superintending the execution of business projects, Gov. Tabor purchased from H. C. Brown his residence and spacious grounds, covering an sntire block, at a cost of 140,000. This dwelling, though in the heart ^^ '^ 384 BIOGRAPHICAL: of the city, stands on a picturesque site, gently- sloping westward, and commands a fine mount- ain view extending from Long's Peak on the north to Pike's Peak, that looms up, shadowy but distinct, at the southern terminus of the Snowy range. He has since expended $20,000 more on it in improvements. The Tabor Block is by far the finest and most perfect structure of the kind in Deaver, or anywhere else west of Chicago. It is a five-story brick, with mansard roof, the fronts being of gray-oolored cut stone brought from Ohio. It is imposing in size, and elegant in finish to the minutest detail. Its interior is fitted up with every convenience for the uses for which it was designed. It is heated by steam; its oc- cupants are hoisted to their of&ces or rooms by elevators, and none of the " modern improve- ments" are omitted which could add to its comfort and security. The building complete, including ground, cost its owner $200,000. The Tabor Opera House is another fine specimen of architectural beauty, of which the citizens of Denver have just reason to be proud. Costing fully $200,000, it gives them a dramatic temple not surpassed in beauty of design, elegant finish and acoustic properties by any in the country, -East or West. Not content with investments involving the outlay of such vast sums, Gov. Tabor bought 890 of the 2,000 shares of the First National Bank of Denver, of which he is now Vice President. He is consequently the largest single share-holder in that concern. His con- nection with this bank would of itself alone give Gov. Tabor a high status in the financial world. In politics, Gov. Tabor has always been a straight Eepublican. There need be no beat- ing about the bush to find out precisely where he stands. He is a stanch party adherent and honorable opponent; a partisan without prej- udice, an enemy who, when the battle is over, never sits down to nurse with implacable re- sentment his political sores. When elected Lieutenant Governor of the State by a handsome majority, he did not be- gin to be so universally known and liked as he is now. As an executive officer, he has given general satisfaction. As President of the State Senate, he surprised even his most partial friends by the dignity of his bearing and his apt construction and application of rules of law to the decision of points of order. Gov. Tabor is now in the very prime of manhood, having reached that period which Victor Hugo exults in as the " youth of old age." He is genial, affable, accessible, unaf- fected, flaunting no parvenu airs in the faces of old comrades, generous to a fault, and aims to deal justly by all men. His past experi- ence as stone-cutter, miner, merchant, and in all positions of life a worker in the hive of human industry has given him physical stam- ina and mental grasp. His remarkable suc- cess is in part attributable to habits and methods induced by early business discipline. His quick perceptions, sharpened by adversity, his sound sense and unerring judgment ac- complished the rest. GEORGE W, TRIMBLE. G. W. Trimble, the Cashier of the Miners' Exchange Bank, of Leadville, was born in Pike County, Mo., in September, 1850; re-i ceived a good commercial education in his youth, and at the age of eighteen, removed to St. Louis, where he engaged as book-keeper in the Broadway Cattle Yards. After staying there a short time, he came to Colorado Springs, and was engaged in the banking business, and then came to Leadville, in Aj^ril, 1878, and assisted in starting the bank of which he now holds the position of Cashier. Tor a number of years he has been interested in mining operations, being Treasurer of the Highland Chief and Glass-Pendery Mines; also had large interests in the Winnemuc Mine. Mr. Trimble is married, and has a handsome residence in Denver. HOISr. A. K. UPDE6RAFF. This gentleman was bom in York County, Penn., in 1842. He received a common school education in Ohio. At the age of eighteen, he moved to Iowa, and at the breaking-out of the war, enlisted in the Second Iowa Infant- ry, serving three years. He read law, at Knoxville, Iowa, was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession in Iowa until 1877, and then came direct to Leadville. He was the first lawyer to hang out a shingle in the r A, !k^ LAKE COUNTY. 385 then small mining camp; in 1879, he was appointed County Judge, and in the fall of that year elected, on the Kepublican ticket, for the yet unexpired term. In the fall of 1880, he was defeated for the same office. He is largely interested in mining, which, at pres- ent, occupies his whole time and attention. THEODORE P. VAN WAGENEN. Foremost among the able managers of the leading mines of the California Mining Dis- trict, of Lake County, way be mentioned Mr. Theodore P. Van Wagenen, who is diily cred- ited with the success which attended the Leadville Mining Company during certain portions of the years 1879 and 1880, when he acted as their manager. Mr. Van Wagenen is now holding the same position in the Amie and Climax Mines, which he accepted in Sep- tember, 1880. Through his unremitting activ- ity and natural business capacity, in that direction, he has been successful in placing these properties on such footing as they were wont to stand in earlier days. He was born in the city of New York on the 15th of 'Sep- tember, 1849, and removed, with his parents, to Chicago when seven years of age. He was educated in the Columbia School of Mines, in New York, where he graduated in 1870. In the spring of 1871, he arrived in Colorado, and settled in Georgetown, where he remained until 1874; during the years 1873 and 1874, he held a position under Prof. Rositer W. Eaymond, in the United States Mining Com- mission. In the last year mentioned, he re- turned East, where he married, and returned to Georgetown, moving to Denver, in 1875. He came to Leadville, in 1878, and took charge of the Leadville Mining Company's property, as before mentioned. Mr. Van Wagenen spent the summer of 1880 in Mex- ico and Arizona, and since then he has spent most of his time in charge of the property under his management. He is a gentleman who has made numerous friends through his pleasant and aifable manners. Although of ripe experience in mining matters, he is un- pretentious in manner, never heralding or proclaiming his knowledge. He is largely interested in mining property throughout this section, and is one of the principal owners of the large hydraulic mining property at the south end of the county, laiown as the Twin Lakes Placer Estate. W. P. WOODEUPP. Mr. Woodruff was born at Poland, in Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1853. He resided in that State, where he received a common school education, until 1874, when he came to Denver, Colo. He there learned the butch- er's trade, following the same time, at Colorado Springs, in partnership with his present part- ner, at Leadville. He also engaged in busi- ness at Lake City. In October, 1878, he came to Leadville, where he has resided ever since being in the confectionery and stationery bus- iness, with L. D. Spaulding, starting with but little, but has since acquired a competency, and is on the road to wealth and permanent prosperity. HON. GEORGE G. "WHITE. The subject of this sketch was born in Nel- son County, Ky., December 3, 1845, where he resided, with his parents, until about six years of age, when he removed, with them, to John- son County, Ark., where he remained about ten years, being engaged, during a portion of that time, in farming, receiving a common school education. At the breaking-out of the war, he moved into Texas and lived there about two years. In 1863, he joined the Con- federate service, remaining one year; was cap- tured by Federal troops, near Fort Smith, and held as a prisoner for about six weeks. Tak- ing the oath of allegiance to the United States, he did not return to his regiment, but went to Leavenworth, Kan., and soon after to Liberty, Mo., where he attended William Jewell Col- lege for the next four years. For two years more, he read law with Merriman & Paxton, at Platte City, Mo. Was soon after admitted to the bar, and practiced at Liberty. In 1870, he came to Colorado and located at Golden, where he practiced for five years, then went to Georgetown. He next moved to Leadville, in the spring of 1879, where he has successfully practiced his profession. He is a gentleman of untiring efforts, is well versed in the prac- tice of law, and has held numerous positions of trust and responsibility. He was the Crim- ■^ ^! fk^ 386 BIOGBAPHICAL: inal Judge of the city of Liberty, Mo., when but a boy; has held the position of the Dis- trict Attorney for the First Judicial District, of Colorado; was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention, of Colorado, in 1876; was twice elected County Attorney, of Jefferson County, City Attorney of Georgetown, and is now County Attorney of Lake County, a posi- tion to which he was appointed, in the fall of 1880, by the County Commissioners, and re- appointed, in the spring of 1881, to hold for one year. Such positions are of themselves sufficient attestation of Mr. White's ability and success as a lawyer. EDMUND H. WATSON. During Mr. Watson's sojoiu-n in Leadville, since the winter of 1878, he has seen none other than official life, for shortly after his arrival here, he was appointed Deputy Sher- iff by Mr. Tucker, and acted as Under Sheriff. The night that Frodsham and Stewart were lynched, Mr.^Watson was acting Sheriff, and the Vigilantes captured him when he was on his way to his cabin. He was elected Mar- shal of Leadville, in the spring of 1880, and served one term; he was appointed City Col- lector, in the spring of 1881. During the time that martial law prevailed in Leadville, in the spring of 1880, Mr. Watson was a Lieutenant General and an officer of the Pro- vost Guard. He has made a brave and ready officer at all times, when necessity demanded. He was born at Portland, Me., November 28, 1846; received a common school education and entered the army, in 1861. After three years' service, he was mustered out, and re- turned to his old home, in Maine. He was one of the so-called famous Neal Dow liquor Sheriffs, of Maine, in 1876, which office he held until the time of his coming in Colorado. J. W. WIST. Mr. Wist is a member of the dry goods house of Boesch & Wist, who have done bus- iness on Chestnut street, in Leadville, since July, 1878. He was born in Hamburg, Ger- many, in 1855; received a common school education, and came to this country in 1873. He located in St. Louis, and engaged success- fully in the grain business. He arrived in Leadville in 1878. He is largely interested in mining, and is the owner of some very promising properties, situated in the Ten Mile District. JUDGE A. S. WESTON. There are persons in every community whose names become household words, and Leadville,, notwithstanding its recent and im- precedented growth, is no exception. The many thousands of people who flocked there a few years ago, hailing from every section of 'the Union, were mostly strangers to one an- other. But as soon as this community was formed, and the city of Leadville arose and was expanding, the names of the men who were fitted to influence, sway and lead this people, became familiar. Among the few who have attained to such honor in Leadville, there is not one whose name is more esteemed than that of Judge A. S. Weston. The sub- ject of this sketch was bom in Skowhegan, Me., on the 22d day of July, 1828. He re- ceived a good common school education in his native town. Afterward he attended the Bloomfield Academy. In the year 1845, at the age of seventeen, he settled in Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber business; after a sojourn of eight years in that State, he re- turned, in the year 1853, to Maine, and there engaged in the lumber business with his fa- ther. Again, in the year 1858, he left his native State, on accoimt of failing health, and settled in the town of Sumner, Kan. The Pike's Peak excitement breaking out the fol- lowing year, he set out for that supposed El Dorado, but returned, in the fall, to Sumner, Kan. The following spring he removed from Kansas, and conveyed his family across the plains with an ox-team, and arrived in Califor- nia Gulch on the 14th day of July, 1860, and there, and in that vicinity, he has lived ever since. During the first eleven years after his arrival in California Gulch, he devoted his time to mining. In the year 1 87] , he removed to his ranch, seven miles below Leadville. In 1872, he was admitted to practice as an attor- ney at law, in the courts of the Territory, and, for a niunber of years, he was the only prac- ticing attorney in the county of Lake. When Leadville was beginning to bid fair to be the city she has since become, he removed there ^7 /I^cjli *2f>ut/i^ l^ LAKE COUNTY. 387 and opened a law.ofi&ce. The noble qualities that Judge Weston carried always with him into his business relations, soon acquired for him in the rising city of Leadville, an im- mense practice. The few early settlers that remained in California Gulch, after the ex- citement of 1860, who, by patience and indus- try, disclosed to the world the wondrous car- bonate formation, that underlay the hills ad- jacent to their gulch, were his constant and steadfast friends. To these few pioneers the stranger would naturally turn, when difficulties arose respecting the working of his newly ac- quired mining property and could it be other- wise than that these new-comers, under such circiunstances, would be referred to Judge "Weston, by his early associates? Judge Wes- ton, if he has not attained that worldly pros- perity that some of his early companions in California Gulch have succeeded to, yet he has acquired that which is more abiding than wealth — a good name. His nomination by his party as a candidate for the State Senate, and his triumphant election, was an evidence of the high estimation in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. While the Democratic party, the opposing one, carried their National ticket, in the county of Lake, by over 400 majority, Weston carried the same county by 117 majority, and thereby polling considera- ble over 500 more votes than his own party's candidate for the Presidency of the nation. This compliment was paid Weston at a National election, when party lines are strongly drawn, but for that fact his majority would have been still more complimentary. Judge Weston occupies a leading position in the I. O. O. F. He and a few kindred spirits kept together a lodge in California Gulch, when there were few persons inhabiting that region of the Rocky Mountains. He is a true and active member of that brotherhood. Many a time has he been known, in the midst of his pressing and lucrative business, to lay it aside, for a little, in order to visit some brother, from a distant lodge, who lay sick and languishing in some cabin in or about Leadville; and numerous as were these ap- peals to Judge Weston, while presiding officer of Chloride Lodge of Leadville, yet they were never known to have been made in vain. JOSEPH H. WELLS. Mr. Wells is a man whose high sense of honor with his industry and strict integrity, has won for him a place among the promi- nent men of Colorado. He is one of her pio- neers whose spirit and generous disposition causes him to aspire to something more noble than mere personal gain and in consequence renders him a most valuable citizen. He was born in Bedford, England, January 30, 1842, and received the rudiments of a common school education until eleven years of age, when he came to America, stopping for a short period in New York, he came West to Kansas in 1854 and remained in that then young and growing State until 1860. In the fall of 1860, he came to California Gulch and engaged in mining and prospecting. He joined the Second Colorado Cavalry in 1862, and was in the famous pursuit after Quantrell, the guerilla, through the State of Missouri; also was in the last Price raid in 1864. In 1866, he returned to Colorado and was engaged in placer mining in Califcirnia Gulch, and has some large interests in several of the leading mines in the vicinity of Leadville. Mr. Wells was elected Clerk and Recorder of ■ Lake County in 1875, and re-elected in 1877 and 1879. He also was Chairman of the Republican Central Committee for four years. He is married and has one child. WILLIAM J. WILSON. The subject of this sketch was born in Weston, Platte County, Mo., February 19, 1846. He received a common school educa- tion and came to Colorado in 1862; was engaged in freighting for several years and came to Leadville in April, 1878. Is largely interested in cattle raising, having a herd numbering nearly 9,000 on the Republican River. He also is a large real estate owner and interested in mining property. Leadville was supplied for a period of "two years with beef from his herd. Mr. Wilson is unmarried and is known as one of the largest cattle deal- ers in Colorado. W. S. WARD. Among the many men who have sought homes in Colorado, but few if any have kept better face with the general forward move- ^rr ^± .u 3S8 BIOGRAPHICAL: ment or been more closely allied with the mining interests of the State than has W. S. Ward. Born in Madras, India, May 25, 1844, being the son of the Eev. Dr. Ward, then Missionary to India, an old-time resi- dent of Geneseo, N. Y. Mr. Ward com- menced his education at Williston Seminary, Massachusetts, afterward attending Princeton Collf g3, New Jersey, and the Columbia School of Mines, New York, thus laying the founda- tion for that knowledge of mining that was necessary to obtain success in the manage- ment of mines. He spent ten years in the United States Assay Office in New York, en- gaged in scientific and literary work, and came to Leadville to take charge of the Eve- ning Star Mine; at present he is General Man- ager and Vice President of that company, also General Manager of the Farwell Consol- idated Mining Company of Independence, Colo., and Manager of the Terrible Mining Company, formerly the Adlaide. He is also General Manager of the Ward Consolidated Company, the Adams Prospecting Company and the Sterling Mining Company of Gunni- son. Mr. Ward never makes a mistake in mining, a result which is due to his long experience and"excellent judgment, and also to the fact of his scientific education in early youth. Mr. Ward is not one who accumu- lates wealth to hoard it, but being a man of cultivated tastes, he spends his money freely in supporting a style of living proportionate to his medns. He has erected on the bluii' known as Capitol Hill in Leadville, an ele- gant residence with spacious grounds and adorned with the various articles of vertu which a refined taste can suggest and wealth supply. All measures for the improvement and elevation of society find in him a gener- ous and hearty supporter. He is Trustee and Treasurer of the Veteran Hospital, also Trust- ee and Treasurer of the Free Reading Room of Leadville. During the war he was an officer in the Mississippi Gunboat Squadron, and was captured while on the Gunboat Indianola, in the famous Ram encounter below Vicksburg, Miss., after running the batteries in 1863, and spent snmp time in the faraous prisons of Jackson, Vicksburg and Libby, and also was captured by guerrillas while on shore duty at the mouth of Red River, and was in the military prison of Alexandria, La. The active service being over, Mr. Ward renewed his studies at Williston Seminary. He was married in Chicago, and devotes his entire time to the mining enterprises, in so many of which he holds the position of General Manager, that he finds no time, if he had inclination, to engage in outside matters. Mr. Ward is a man of sterling qualities, and his energy and enterprise make him conspic- uous as one of the representative mine owners and ca})italists of Leadville. CHAKLES W. WESTOVER. Colorado claims Mr. Westover as one of her oldest residents. He first came during the gold excitement of 1860, but remained only a short time before letuming East. Mr. W. was bom in Rushville, Fayette Co., Ind. When quite young he removed with his par- ents to Huntington C unty, same State. There he worked on a farm and attended school. After a number of years he removed to Af ton, Iowa, and for a number of months was en- gaged in farming. He then made his first trip to Colorado, coming across the plains by wagon train. When he returned East he made Council Bluffs, Iowa, his home for a few years, when he again came to the Rocky Moimtains, and has made them his home ever since. He has resided in Central City, in the San Juan country., and Leadville. He came to the latter place in 1879. For ten years Mr. Westover has been engaged in gath- ering geological specimens in Utah, Wyoming, Dakota and Colorado, making a specialty of ftirnishing cabinets for schools and colleges with specimens. Mr. W, has the largest col- lection of any taxidermist in Colorado, in which art he excels. In 1881, he took his son, H B. Westover, into partnership, and the firm is largely increasing their business. In addition to the above occupation they are engaged in mining. Mr. W. has an extensive acquaintance throughout the New North- west, having spent the greater portion of the time since 1860 in the mountains. The firm is constantly receiving orders from the East for specimens, which they are filling from their well-supplied Leadville Museum. ^n^ £kv TEN MILE REGION. WHEN the multitude attracted by the dis- covery of the carhonate deposits at Leadville began to overflow and spread in search of new treasure fields, among the first districts to attract the attention of prospectors, was the one now known as the Ten Mile Con- solidated Mining District, beginning at the summit of the range, about fifteen miles north of Leadville, and extending along Ten Mile Creek, in Summit Countj'. Although its now well-known silver mines are of comparatively recent date, the district is not a new one, hav- ing been run over by gold hunters in the " flush times " of California Gulch, Buckskin Joe and other famous gold camps of early daj's. Gold was found in the bed of Ten Mile Creek, and in the connecting gulches, and for years gulch mining was successfullj' carried on. Many of these gulches are still worked with profit, among them McNulty's Gulch, said to have yielded more gold in proportion to its size than any other workings in the State, and many fine nuggets of unusual size were taken from it. A rare and exceptional feature of the Ten Mile placers was the number of silver nuggets, some of them weighing two and three ounces, occa- sionally found in them. Specimens of rich sil- ver ores, taken from near the summit of Fletcher Mountain, were sent to the World's Fair in London, many years ago, and as a result of the attention they attracted, a large tunnel was projected, which, starting at the base of the mountain in Clinton Gulch, was in- tended to cut the veins at a great depth. The enterprise was planned on a scale of consider- able magnitude, and after being conducted in a spasmodic manner for a number of years with indifferent success, reaching a depth of nearly 1,000 feet, now languishes for lack of funds to continue the work. The discovery, in 1878, of the famous Robinson group of mines, followed by the White Quail and Wheel of Fortune discoveries, attracted large numbers of prosjyectors to the new camp, and in spite of the ten feet of snow that covered the ground during the winter of 1878-79, locations were made and shafts and tunnels begun in every direction. During the winter the town of Car- bonateville was settled, and, for a time, promised to become a thriving camp. On the 8th of February, the town of Kokomo, which, with its younger rival Robinson is now a prosperous and growing mining camp, with two smelters in operation, was located. In the spring of 1880, Robinson's Camp began to build up rapidly, and under the support of the great Robinson Mines and the fostering care of the late Gov. Robinson, soon became a formidable rival to Kokomo. The many discoveries made dur- ing the spring and summer of 1880, brought the district into a prominence second only to that of Leadville, and a large amount of capital was invested in the development of its many promising mines and prospects. Two smelters were erected at Kokomo and one near the old town of Cafbonateville, while extensive works, consisting of furnaces, roasters, etc., were put up at Robinson to work the ores of the Robin- son Mine. A railroad to connect the district with Leadville on the south and Georgetown on the east, was projected and partially graded during the summer, but was finally absorbed by the enterprising managers of the Denver & Rio Grande Company, who with a watchful eye on the future, began the construction, under the name of the Blue River extension of the Den- ver & Rio Grande, of a road which, in spite of the many and great difficulties encountered, was completed to Robinson on the 1st of January, 1881. Much of the grading and most of the track-laying was done under a heavy fall of snow, the range being crossed in midwinter, :^ 890 TEN MILE REGION. affording a striking instance of the energy and contempj; for obstacles characteristic of West- ern railroad builders. The road will reach Breckenridge before " snow flies," and afford a second outlet to Denver, where much of the refractory ore of the district is now shipped. The ores of the Ten Mile District are not, so far as developed, so easily worked as those of Leadville, owing to the larger proportion of sulphurets. The bulk of the ore in the Robin- son Mine is of this character, and throughout the district the ores have not been oxidized to so great a depth as in the vicinity of Leadville. Elk Mountain has thus far produced the best smelting ores, and can continue to furnish a sufficient supply for the existing smelters for a long time. The supply of lead promises to be inexhaustible, and, though not of very high grade, can, with proper facilities, be worked at a fair profit. This district, like many others, has suffered from the folly of prospectors in lo- cating more claims than they ai-e able to work, but property is gradually passing into the hands of men of means, and in no district is the in- telligent use of capital meeting with better reward. Strikes that a few years ago would have created wild excitement are of daily oc- currence, and the present summer bids fair to witness not only the development of an ex- ceptional number of fine mines, but the sub- stantial testimony of a large bullion output. No district outside of Leadville is so favorably located, and none can show such substantial evidences of present prosperity or future prom- ise. SHEEP MOUNTAIN. The mountain which has probably given the greatest fame thus far to the Ten Mile District is Sheep Mountain, on which are located the Eobinson, Wheel of Fortune, Crown Point, Forest and Nettie B. Consolidated, Chicago Boy, Fairview, Michigan, Gray Eagle and other well-known properties. A large amount of prospecting is also being done, and strikes of considerable importance are reported from time to time. ROBINSON. Robinson, the youngest camp in the district, being scarcely a year old, is situated on the east slope of Sheep Mountain about eighteen miles from Leadville. The first dwelling was built by Mr. A. J. Streeter, afterward the first Mayor of the town, in June, 1881. It is now a thriving mining town with a handsome hotel, the Robinson House, built and furnished by Gov. Robinson for the special entertainment of his friends, excellent stores, a church, the bank of Ordean, Myers & Co., a live newspaper, the Robinson Tribune, published by Coe & McCready, and a population of about two thousand and rapidly increasing. While large- ly dependent upon the Robinson Mine and smelter for support, it has a considerable trade with the mines in the vicinity and a large prospecting element. THE ROBINSON MINES. The now famous Robinson Mines, constituting perhaps the best mining property in the State, were discovered in the fall of 1878, bj^ Charles Jones and Jack Shedden, who were sent out on a "grub-stake" bj' the late Lieutenant Governor George B. Robinson, to prospect the Ten Mile District. After looking the district over, they began work orr the lime ledge on which are located the Undine and Seventy-eight lodes. At a depth of about thirty feet, mineral from two to three feet thick was found. Afterward Mr. Robinson purchased the interests of his part- ners, and the mines were gradually and success- fully developed. An incline was run following theore down the Smuggler claim, and a large amount of ore was extracted and shipped to Leadville for treatment. The ore is chiefly galena and iron, though large pockets of oxi- dized ore, the so-called "mud carbonates," mill- ing from two to three hundred ounces in silver, and often twenty feet in thickness, were en- countered. In the spring of 1879-80, George B. Robinson sold a portion of his interest to Cali- fornia and New York capitalists, headed by George D. Roberts, and a stock company called the Robinson Consolidated Mining Company was formed with a capital of SIO, 000,000, in two hundred thousand shares. The property acquired by the company consists of the George B. Robinson, Seventy-eight, Undine, Pirate No. 1, Pirate No. 2, Howard, Sallie Mackey, Peori.a, Smuggler, Checkmate, Rhone, Ten Mile, Wind- sor, Robbie, Frank, Myra, and W. J., besides the Robinson placers, on which are located the Company's smelting works. J. C. Buron was the first manager under the new company, and projected and nearly completed a tunnel begin- ing about five hundred feet east of the main incline, cutting it about four hundred and ^; ■^ ^.^ Uiv TEN MILE REGION. 393 twenty-five feet from its mouth. It was at the moath of this tunnel that George B. Robinson was killed by an accidental shot from a guard on the night of the 27th of November, 1880. George Daly at once took charge of the mine, and held the management until the 10th of March, when it was turned over to Mr. Thomas Ewing, who, with Mr, Wilson Waddingham, had purchased the interest of the Robinson heirs, and who assumed personal charge of the prop- erty. The developments consist of the original main incline, five hundred and ten feet in length, from which numerous cross-cuts inter- sect the ore body. The work is now prosecuted and ore extracted through the tunnel, which is nine hundred and fifty-four feet in length at the point where it intersects the main incline, and is considered one of the finest specimens of mining work in the country. It is about nine feet wide by seven in height, very securely tim- bered, and is laid with double track its entire length. At a depth of eight hundred and forty- five feet, a large chamber has been excavated, in which is placed an engine and bolster for working the new south incline. This incline pitches to the east at an angle of thirty degrees and has two compartments, one with an iron track for hoisting ore, and a second provided with a stairway for the men to go up and down. It is very thoroughly timbered and is a fine piece of work. In addition to the main work- ings described, there are numerous levels and cross-cuts. The present developments demon- strate the existence of a continuous body of ore seven hundred feet in length, one hundred feet wide, and from six to twenty feet in thickness, and as the lowest workings show the ore body to be continuous with no signs of failing, the prospective value of the mine can only be decid- ed by the future. Recent developments tend to show the existence of a second aud parallel ore body at a distance of about three hundred and ninety feet from the mouth of the tunnel, which, if confirmed, will add largely to the alreadj' imriiense value of the mines. The surface improvements are of a character befitting such a property, and consist of a thor- oughly equipped smelter and roaster, built as a private investment by Mr. Robinson under the supervision of Mr. Albert Areirts, a practical smelter of large experience, but now the prop- erty of the company. The company has also erected commodious offices and other buildings necessary for the use of the mines. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE. The Wheel of Fortune is located high above timber line, and was one of the first mines dis- covered on Sheep Mountain. It belongs to S. H. Foss, Tim Foley and Gov. Tabor, and is developed by a sixty-two foot shaft, and two hundred and forty feet of drifting. Consider- able high grade ore was shipped from this mine soon after its discovery, but, owing to the other large interests of the owners, it has lain idle for a long time. A consolidation with the adjoin- ing Empire claim of the Silver Mountain Min- ing Company is now being arranged, and the property will probably soon resume its place as a producing mine. THE SNOW BANK. One of the largest properties on Sheep Moun- tain is that of the Snow Bank Mining Company, comprising the Snow Bank and a number of other claims. Great excitement was occasioned in the Spring of 1880 by the discovery, in the Snow Bank, of a ten-foot vein of galena carrj-ing sulphurets of silver. Ore and water were encountered at the same time, and con- siderable difficulty was experienced in handling the latter. Since then, work on the mine has been steadily continued, but, though occasional shipments have been made, it has been confined chiefly to development. Messrs. Stettauer, Neeley and Fenlon are the principal owners. ' THE FOREST CONSOLIDATED. This property is located just north of the Robinson, and adjoining the Snow Bank group. It is worked chiefly by an incline following the contact from the surface, and is said to show one the strongest ore veins in the district out- side of the Robinson Mine. Shipments of high grade ore have been made from these mines, but owing to litigation they .have not been worked continuously. The chief owners in the property are S. H. Foss, E. B. Ketchum and W. R. Breck. THE WASHINGTON. One of the most recent strikes on Sheep Mountain is the Washington, situated on its eastern slope near the base, and on a line with the Robinson. Over twelve feet of ore, from ^c V ^l4> 394 TEN MILE REGION. which some very high assays were obtained, were passed through. An engine shaft is being sunk to cut the vein lower down, and the prop- erty is being vigorously developed by the owners, 0. H. Harker and George Summers, of Leadville. THE PAT CORBETT. One of the most vigorously worked properties on Sheep Mountain is the Pat Corbett, situated on the eastern slope and within the city limits of Kokomo. The owners, Messrs. Sargent, of New York, have spent a large amount of money on their plant, which is one of the most com- plete in the district. The developments con- sist of two compartment shafts, one hundred and thirty feet deep. THE LITTLE CHICAGO. The Little Chicago is situated a short distance from the Chicago in a southerlj' direction, but on a different mineral belt. It is developed by an incline over one hundred feet in depth, on which is an engine and a bolster. The ore is principally galena and iron pyrites, with some carbonate of lead. Hoffman & Co., of Cincin- nati, are the owners, and are developing their property with commendable energy. THE TROPHY MINING COMPANY. ' The Trophy Mining Company own the Tro- phy, Seventy-nine and Yellow Jacket claims, just north of the Robinson Mine. On the Sevent3'-nine a double-compartment shaft has been sunk to a depth of one hundred and eighty- five feet, while the Trophy is developed by a tunnel one hundred and thirty feet in depth, in the face of which a four-foot crevice has been encountered. The property is considered a valuable one, and is well provided with machin- ery and suitable buildings. THE BLACK DRAGON. The Black Dragon, on the south of the Tro- phy property and owned by Boston capitalists, is worked chiefly by contract. Mineral assa}'- ing ninety ounces in silver is said to have been encountered in this property, and to exist in a considerable body. THE BLACK DIAMOND. The Black Diamond, adjoining and on the same mineral belt with the Trophy property, is another valuable property which is being en- ergetically worked with the aid of suitable machinery. Ore of good quality has been encountered in sniall quantities, and the indica- tions of the near proximity of a large body of mineral are considered excellent. THE CROWN POINT. The Crown Point, situated in the foothills on the south of Sheep Mountain, has furnished some of the richest ore ever found in the dis- trict. Mineral was first discovered in a shaft at a comparatively slight depth in the summer of 1880. A tunnel was then run to cut the vein at a greater depth, and at a distance of about two hundred feet a vein of antimonial galena carrying ruby and brittle silver was encountered, assays from which ran as high as fifteen thousand ounces of silver to the ton. A few tons of this rich ore were shipped to Leadville, and the work of development has been quietly carried on, no one but the owners being admit- ted to the mine. THE GREY EAGLE. One of the most promising mines on Sheep Mountain is the Hoodoo or Grey Eagle lode, the property of the G-rey Eagle Mining Com- pany, of which Hon. J. B. Belford is President. The development of this property progressed but slowly, owing to difficulties regarding the title. Since the settlement of these complica- tions and the formation of the company, devel- opment has been vigorously pushed, and the mine now makes a fine showing, and promises to become a large producer of fine smelting ore. THE MICHIGAN. On the same mineral belt with the Snow Bank is the Michigan, in which rich develop- ments have been made. The ore is mainly galena and iron of an excellent quality. Some fine specimens of native copper have also been found in this mine. It is considered a very promising property. THE CHAMPION TUNNEL. In the spring of 1879, a tunnel, known as the Champion, was begun in the bed of Ten Mile Creek, about fifteen hundred feet from the workings of the Robinson Mine, for the pur- pose of cutting the large bodies of ore known to exist in Sheep Mountain. It has attained the depth of 1,000 feet, and in this distance ;if- .4^—^ liL^ TEN MILE REGION. 395 has cut four " blind leads," carrying more or less silver. The owners are very reticent in re- gard to their discoveries, and, prefer to con- tinue their work without publicity. Among the many properties on Sheep Mount- ain in which strikes of sufficient importance to invite further development have been made, are those of the Silver Mountain Mining Com- pany, which has recently acquired the Wheel of Fortune group, the Crescent Consolidated Min- ing Company, the Gold Hill Mining Company, Sheep Mountain Mining Company, and such individual claims as the Champion and Ram- bler, Porter J. and Polar Star, Daisy, Ophir, American Eagle, Fairview, Black Lion, White Fawn, Last Chance and Triangle, all of which show mineral varying in value from a few ounces to hundreds, and, though comparatively little developed, of great prospective value. CHALK MOUNTAIN. South of Robinson, on the west of Ten Mile Pass, is Chalk Mountain, which has been as yet but little developed, the only mines of note being the Grand Union and Parole, the former, owned by the Inter-Ocean Mining Company; a large body of mineral, mostly low grade, has been developed. Mill runs of as high as 500 ounces have been obtained, however, and though the property has lain idle for a long time, it bids fair under new management to contribute largely to the ore product of the district. CARBONATE HILL. East of Robinson, and between McNulty's and Clinton Gulches, is Carbonate Hill, which promises in time to become the scene of exten- sive mining operations. During the winter of 1880-81, discoveries of suflSeient importance were made to warrant a considerable expendi- ture in the way of development, and a number of shafts are now being sunk with the aid of machinery. The Henriett has the best equipped shaft on the hill, being provided with engine, bolster, etc., and developments by this shaft are watched with great interest b}' owners of property on the hill. CLINTON GULCH. Running around, and for a long distance back of Carbonate Hill, is Clinton Gulch, the scene of some of the earliest mining operations in the district. In it begins the great tunnel, now nearly one thousand feet in length, that was intended to tap the treasures of Fletcher Mountain. A great deal of prospecting has been done in the gulch, and many promising veins uncovered, but owing to the excitement in the more accessible portions of the district, but little work has been done in the way of permanent development. Recent discoveries of gold ore, however, indicate that during the present summer Clinton Gulch will receive a great deal of attention. KOKOMO. Kokomo, which, until the founding of Robin- son, monopolized the trade of the Ten Mile District, and still holds the first place, is a pict- uresque mining town, lying on the southeast- em extremity of Sheep Mountain, at the mouth of Kokomo and Searle's Gulches, a mile and a half beyond Robinson, and about twenty miles from Leadville. The town was located on the 8th of February, 1879, by Mr. A. C. Smith, af- terward Mayor, one of the early pioneers of Colorado. For a time there was a sharp rival- ry between the young settlement and Carbon- ateville, but the proximity and support of the mines on Sheep and Elk Mountains gave Ko- komo an advantage that resulted in the aban- donment and depo,pulation of its rival, which remains but little more than a name. The sit- uation of Kokomo, with regard to the mines, most of which are directly tributary to its smelters, is very favorable. To the northwest is Sheep Mountain ; directly north is Elk Mountain, and to the northeast is Jack, with Tucker, Copper and Hornish Mountains below, while on the south side of Ten Mile Creek, di- rectly opposite the town, are Gold Hill -and Mayflower Hill. Since the spring of 1880, the town has been growing rapidly, and now pos- sesses two excellent hotels, the Summit House and Western, a new church, the bank of Or- dean, Myers & Co., the Summit County Ti.m^s, published by Coe & McCready, " at a higher al- titude than any other paper in the world," handsome stores, and a number of pleasant resi- dences. The recent wonderful discoveries on Elk Mountain, together with the bonanzas already known to exist in the surrounding hills, are such as to insure its substantial pros- perity for many years, and now that the rail- road has reached the town, and is being rap- idly extended to give another outlet on the •^ \ J^i ihL^ 400 BIOGRAPHICAL: was engaged in mining at Leadville and in the Ten Mile District. In January, 1881, he came to Eobinson, and opened a general mercantile store. Mr. Burns was married, April 30, 1872, to Miss Margaret E. Harrison, of Savannah, Ga., and has a family of five children — three sons and two daughters. JACOB BERGERMAN. This gentleman, a member of the grocery firm of Kalph & Bergerman, of Robinson, was born in New York Uity July 8, 1855. He at- tended public school until thirteen years of age. In the spring of 1868, he came with his parents to Colorado, and located in Pueblo. In 1874, he began an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, at which he served three years. He subsequently spent some time in the south- western part of the State, and clerked in Ouray sixteen months. In January 1879, he came to Kokomo, and was engaged in the mercantile business eight months. He then removed his store to Robinson, and iu August, 1880, formed a partnership with Frank Ralph, and has since been engaged in a general mercantile business. CASSIUS M. COE. Cassius M. Coe, editor of the Summit County Times, at Kokomo, and one of the proprietors, also, of the Robinson Tribune, was born in Ohio in 1855. At a very early age his parents moved to the vicinity of Des Moines, Iowa, and here on a farm he was reared. Tiring of this pursuit and longing for a more intellectual calling, he, in 1872, entered Simpson Centenary College, at Indianola, and remained three years. In 1875, he finished, the remaining two years at the University of Iowa, at Iowa City. Mean- time he had done considerable newspaper work, and in the winter of 1878-79, attracted by the silver excitement in Colorado, left for that State. Here he was employed on the leading dailies of Denver for several months. Wishing to become more permanently identified with the country, he left for the famous Ten Mile Mining District late in the year, and, with a part- ner, established the Summit County Times, the first paper ever printed in the county. He has always been identified with any movement which would lend progress to his section, and manifests a supreme pride in the rich mines of Ten Mile, the development of which he has noted from the ordinary prospect to bonanzas. The Times endeavors, as much as possible, to advance everything of public interest, and be a reflex of the best public opinion. THOMAS EWING. The subject of this sketch was born in Lan- caster, Ohio, November, 1837. After completing his education in the high schools of his native city, in 1857, he was one of a party who crossed the plains and journeyed through the wild mountainous regions, and across the range into California, and located in Marysville, where he was engaged in the mercantile business two years. He was subsequently engaged in that pursuit in Humboldt, Nev., three years, and in Oregon and Idaho Territories four years. In 1862, while in the mercantile business in Nevada, he began investing in and devoting considerable attention to mining enterprises. Since 1867, he has devoted his entire atten- tion to mining and the study of mineral belts throughout the Far West, extending his researches through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. In 1869, he went to Arizona, where he was engaged in mining three years ; then returned East and spent eighteen months traveling over the East- ern States. In 1874, he again went to Arizona, and continued mining operations and the studj' of the various mineral belts of that Territory three years. In 1877, -he went to California, where he became a large stockholder and Su- perintendent and General Manager of the Mur- chie Gold and Silver Mining Company, at Ne- vada City, where he remained two years. In De- cember, 1879, he came to Colorado, and after spending some time in examining the mines and in the study of the mineral deposit in the vicinity of Leadville, he traveled over the southwestern part of the State examining mines. He subse- quently went to Utah, and examined and made an extended report on the Horn Silver Mine. In October, 1880, he returned to Colorado and be- gan negotiating for the Robinson Mine in Ten Mile District, and had the papers drawn up ready for signing a few days prior to the death of George B. Robinson, the owner. On Feb- ruary 21, 1881, he and Mr. Wilson Wadding- ham purchased the interest of the Robinson heirs, amounting to three-fourths of the Robin- son Consolidated Mining Company, which was incorporated March 13, 1880, with a capital stock of $10,000,000, with 200,000 shares at - «s — 'v"* ihL^ TEN MILE REGION. 403 $50 each ; President. Bayton Ives, of New York City ; Vice President, L. B. Kendall, of Kalamazoo, Mich. ; Secretary, J. K. Selleck, 18 Wall Street, N. Y., of which he is General Manager. This property is one of the best paying mines in the State, and is well equipped, having four large roasting furnaces, a two-stack smelter and all the necessary buildings and machinery for economical working. The out- put is about one hundred tons of ore per day, with an average value of $100 per ton. The mine is well opened up and developed, and has from 25,000 to 30,000 tons of min- eral in sight. Previous to the purchase of the mine by the present company, it paid two dividends amounting to $175,000, and on the Ist of June a monthly dividend of $50,000 was declared. Since March 10, the present man- agement has remitted to the home office in New York, in cash, $100,000 ; in bullion, $150,000 ; bullion and ore in smelters and roasters, $40,- 000 ; 1,100 tons of ore at Argo, unsettled for, $75,000. Total cash resources, profit of less than seventy days' actual working, $350,000. In addition to this amount, a debt of $35,000 was paid and the working expenses of the mine, the cost of enlarging the tunnel and purchase of new machinery, which aggregated $75,000 more. With such a product the officers of the Com- pany can safely promise the stockholders suc- cessive monthly dividends. The workmanlike appearance about the mine, and the advantage- ous manner in which everything is done speak volumes for Manager Thomas Ewing, as an able Superintendent and a practical mining engineer. The above financial report corroborates the well-earned reputation of Mr. Ewing as one of the ablest and best mine managers in the coun- try, and warrants the retention of public con- fidence in his integrity, and honest and econom- ical management. CHARLES W. ELLIS. This gentleman, a successful miner, who came to Ten Mile District in the fall of 1878, and by energy and perseverance has become one of her wealthy and honored citizens, was born in Waldo, Waldo Co., Me., December 23, 1858. His education was completed in the High School of his native city. In 1876, he came to Colorado, and followed mining and prospecting at Kosita, Custer County, eighteen months. In October, 1878, he located in Ten Mile District and began prospecting. In No- vember following, he was one of the discoverers of the Aftermath Mine, on Elk Mountain. In March, 1881,' in company with Ed Lowe, he bought the Colonel Sellers group, consisting of five claims on Elk Mountain, all in pay, with good improvements, and producing, at present, about twenty-five tons of mineral per day, the ore body improving as depth is attained. DE ROBERT EMMETT. The above named gentleman, one of the first to locate on Ten Mile Creek, who is largely connected with the mining interests of this district, occupies a place among the real and substantial representatives of Colorado's chief industry, and since coming to this State has devoted his attention chiefly to mining opera- tions. With an experience dating back over a period of fourteen years, his success and place in mining circles have been attained deservedly and worthily. Mr. Emmett is of French and Irish descent and was born in Gloucestershire, England, May 26. 1838. He attended private schools until twenty -one years of age ; then spent eighteen months on a pleasure trip on the northern coast of Africa and subsequently returned to London. In November, 1861, he determined to come to America and sailed for New Orleans, where he shortly afterward en- listed in the Confederate army and served until the close of the rebellion. He then went to St. Louis, Mo., and accepted the position and took charge of one of the departments in the wholesale and retail dry goods house of Barr, Duncan & Co., where he remained until the fall of 1867 ; then crossed the plains and spent the following winter traveling over Colorado and New Mexico. In the spring of 1868, he located in Central City, Gilpin Co., and engaged in placer mining in Russell Gulch until fall, and lead mining during the winter. The fol- lowing year he speut in prospecting in the San Juan country, which then embraced the whole of Southwestern Colorado. In January, 1870, he returned to Central City, and engaged in prospecting and m ining. In the spring of 1 87 1 , he came to Summit County and began pros- pecting, principally for placer mines ; continu- ing until the spring of 1875, when he deter- mined that Clinton Gulch, on Ten Mile Creek, which he had discovered in 1869 on his way to San Juan, was the richest " placer diggings" •?V" -3^ iL 404 BIOGRAPHICAL: he could find, he located here and became ac- quainted with Ed Lowe, who has since been his companion and partner in mining operations. Thej' staked off about three hundred acres, just below the present site of Kokomo, since known as the Bmmett & Lowe placer claims, and dur- ing the succeeding three yearsj were engaged in prospecting them. In 1878, he and Mr. Lowe located the Elk Mountain ledge, on Elk Mountain, and the White Quail group of mines on that ledge. In August of that year, they located the Sunset, Pleasant View and Carbon- ate Vault claims on Sheep Mountain, which thev sold to George B. Robinson and Capt. J. W. Jacque, and are now known as the Smuggler, Checkmate and Pilot, of the Robinson Consoli- dation. During that year he also discovered the Idalia Mine on Sheep Mountain. The fol- lowing winter he and Mr. Lowe made the first shipment of gold ore from Ten Mile District, consisting of three tons taken from the Golden Eagle and Golden Belle Mines at the head of Mayflower Gulch, by pack train to Black Hawk, Gilpin County. During 1879, he again de- voted some attention to the placer mines, and in company with Ed Lowe discovered the Black Warrior, Lucky and other mines on Clinton Gulch. In January, 1880, he, in company with Dr. Neely, of Leavenworth, Kan., bought the Eagle and Raven claims on Elk Mountain, which he, as superintendent, has since been de- veloping. He has run over 1,000 feet of tun- nels and inclines, and at present has the mines in a shape that they are capable of producing thirty tons of ore per day without stoplng. This season he is again devoting a large amount of attention to working the Emmett & Lowe placer mines, of which he is superintendent. He has spent about 110,000 in equipping the mine for extensive operations, having put on a No. 2 Giant, 1,000 feet of pipe, 600 feet of flume, and over a mile of ditch to supply water, which gives him hydraulic pressure of 125 feet, besides numerous other improvements. HON. THOMAS H. GREER. This gentleman, owner of the Greer Smelting Works at Kokomo, was born in Albany, N. Y., October 6, 1837. At the age of nineteen, he graduated from the Albany Academy. In 1860, he entered a partnership with his father, Alexander Greer, the well-known and exten- sive tobacco dealer, under the firm name of A. Greer & Son. In 1873, his father withdrew from the firm, which has since been known as Alexander Greer's Sons, of which Thomas H. Greer is still a member. In January, 1880, he came to Ten Mile District for the purpose of looking up a site for a smelter, and in May fol- lowing began erecting his works, which are now completed and running. Mr. Greer is largely interested in the Texas Star Combination of Mines, and the Stalwart Combination, both lo- cated in this district. During the fall of 1878, he was elected a member of the State Legisla- ture of the State of New York, which ofBce he honorably filled one year. Mr. Greer was mar- ried September 6, 1860, to Miss Anna L. Scott, of Albany, N. Y., and has one son. GUST GAMER. Mr. Gamer is of German descent, and was born in Cook County, 111., September 12, 1853. He remained on the paternal farm and attended dis- trict school until eighteen years of age, th^n went to Chicago and served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade. After remaining there eighteen months he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he followed his trade six years. During the spring of 1879, he came to Colora- do, located in Kokomo, Ten Mile District, and opened a boot and shoe store, which he has since conducted in connection with his trade. HON. JOHN N. HARDER. The above named gentleman was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., April 29, 1842. At the age of sixteen he completed his education at Kinderhook Academy. He then removed with his parents to Niles, Michigan, where he re- mained on his father's farm three years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and four months. After be- ing honorably mustered out of the service he returned to Michigan and clerked two years. In 1866, he came to Colorado, located at Cen- tral City, Gilpin County, and followed mining until fall, then returned to Michigan. The fol- loynno- spring he again came to Colorado, and during the succeeding year was engaged in the hotel business at Fall River, in Clear Creek County. He was subsequently engaged in placer mining one year, in the hotel business at Idaho Springs four years, and in the bakery and confectionery business at Georgetown four s "V ^1 -^ — ^l»^^ TEN MILE EEGION. 405 years. In 1878, he went to Leadville and en- gaged in the bakery business. During the spring of 1879, he left his business in Leadville and removed to Kokomo and opened a general miners' supply and queensware store, with a bakery in connection, in which business he has since been successfully engaged. In 1879, he sold his bakery in Leadville. He has large real-estate interests in Leadville and Kokomo, and is extensively connected with the mining interests of Ten Mile District. In June, 1879, he was elected first Mayor of Kokomo, and served one year. Mr. Harder was married in 1868, to Miss Addle Stupplebeen, of Niles, Mich. LEONARD R. HILL. The above-named gentleman, a member of the firm of Hill & Butcher, attorneys at law, in Kokomo, was born in Spartansburg, S. C, March 6, 1852. He attended Oldfield schools until sixteen years of age. He subsequently attended Gowensville Academy ; Keedville High School ; Firman University, at Green- ville ; Wofford College, in his native city, and took a thorough business course at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Dur- ing that time he clerked in his father's store two years. In 1875, he went to Washington, D. C, and entered the Law Department of the Columbian University, from which he gradu- ated in June, 1877. He began practice at Parkersburg, W. Va., in company with Mr.' Butcher, his present partner. In May, 1878, he went to Salina, Kan., and, after practicing one year there, came to Kokomo, where he has since devoted his attention to his profession. In November, 1880, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds. J. J. HENDRICKS, M. D. Dr. Hendricks, one of the pioneers of Koko- mo, was born in Grant Co., Ky., January 10, 1851. He remained on the paternal farm until ten years of age ; then went to La Grange, Mo., and entered La Grange College, from which he graduated in 1873. He then determined to adopt the medical profession, and entered the Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated and received the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1875. He subsequently practiced at Basco, 111., three years. During the spring of 1878, he came to Colorado, located at Leadville, and opened a drug store, which he conducted in connection with practice. In January, 1879, he came to Kokomo, and during the first year of his residence here, followed prospecting, and is one of the discoverers of the John R. Mine ; also one of the owners of the Ida L. Mine, both located on Jack Mountain. In the spring of 1880, he opened a drug store in Kokomo, and resumed practice. He has since been successfully engaged in the drug business, in connection with the active practice of his profession. Dr. Hendricks was united in mar- riage, January 4, 1875, to Miss Mollie Musgrove, of Scotland County, Mo., and has one son. LOUIS HOMAN. Mr. Homan was born in Oswego, N. Y., April 7, 1849. He attended school until eleven years of age ; then went to California with his uncle, David Homan, and followed mining and work- ing in smelters six years. During the year 1866, he followed mining in Arizona, then went to Utah, and accepted the position of Superin- tendent of a smelter, where he remained three years. Thence, in 1869, to Idaho, where he was foreman in a smelter nine months. He subsequently erected a copper works for the Grand Gulch Copper Mining and Smelting Company. In 1873, he went to Nevada, where he was superintendent of smelters six years. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado, and after spending a short time at Leadville, accepted the position of Superintendent for the Pittsburg Smelting Company, at Kokomo, Ten- Mile District, of which he subsequently became a stockholder. During the spring of 1880, the company bought the White Quail group of mines on Elk Mountain, which they consolidat- ed with the smelter, and changed the name of the company to the White Quail Mining and Smelting Company, of which Mr. Homan is Superintendent. He is also one of the mem- bers and the Superintendent of the Red Line Mining Company. W. M. HELM, M. D. Dr. Helm was born in Williamsport, Md., July 14, 1832. At an early age he removed with his parents to Springfield, 111. After completing his education at the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, 111., in his eighteenth year, he went to Oregon and followed mining there and in California five years ; then he joined William Walker's expedition to Nicaragua and remained ^ 406 BIOGKAPHICAL: until the close of the expedition. In 1857, he returned to Springfield, 111., and began reading medicine under his father, who was a physician. In the fall of 1859, he entered Rash Medical College at Chicago and attended one course of lectures ; he then went to Menard County, 111., where he practiced until the fall of 1868, when he entered the St. Louis Medical College, at St. Louis, Mo., from which he graduated and re- ceived the degree of M. D. the following spring. He subsequently practiced in Christian Coun- ty eight years, and in Marysville, Mo., eighteen months. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado, and located in Kokomo, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. WILL A. HARRIS. Mr. Harris, of Bickford & Harris, attorneys at law, was born in Dj'er County, Tenn.. Feb- ruary 15, 1855. After completing his educa- tion at Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., he began reading law under Grant & McDowell, of Memphis, and in 1874, was ad- mitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1875, he went to California, and located at San Bernardino, and began practice ; in 1877, he was elected District At- torney, which office he held two years ; in 1879, he came to Colorado and began practice at Leadville, and was soon afterward appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Lake County. In Februarj', 1881, he lemoved to Robinson, Summit County, where he is at present engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Harris was married in April, 1876, to Miss Nettie Al- len, of San Bernardino, Cal., and has one son. JOHN A. HALL, JR. This gentleman, a member of the firm of Hall & Clement, attorneys at law in Robinson, was born in Warren, Penn., December 4, 1845. At an early age he removed, with (lis parents, to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where his early life was spent in attending public school. He sub- sequently spent one year at the Oswego Normal School, then taught school two years. In 1870, he went to Albany, N. Y., and en- tered the law department of the Union Uni- versity', from which he graduated and received the degree of L. L. B. the following year ; from there he went to Jamestown, N. Y., where he practiced eight years. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado, located in the Ten Mile District and devoted his attention to min- ing until the fall of 1880, since which time he has been devoting his attention to the practice of his profession. He received the appoint- ment of first Postmaster of Robinson. Mr. Hall was married in 1877, to Miss Felicia H. Parker, of Prewsburg, N. Y. ALFRED KERNS. Mr. Kerns, a member of the legal profession of Kokomo, was born in Lancaster, Penn., No- vember 1, 1856. At the age of 20 he com- pleted his literary education at the State Normal School at West Chester, having de- voted considerable attention to reading law during the last eighteen months of attendance at school. He subsequently read under E. H. Yundt, of his native city, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1878, and began practice. In the spring of 1880, he came to Kokomo, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. EDWARD LOWE. Mr. Lowe, one of the early pioneers of Ten Mile District, whose faith in her future has never been shaken, and who has taken an active and prominent part in all measures undertaken for her material improvement, which has made possible her brilliant achieve- ments, was born in Jersey' Co., 111., October 11, 1845. He attended public school until thirteen years of age, then began running on the river as cabin-boy. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Sixty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after serving eighteen months with that company, was transferred to Company C, Ninet3'-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorablj' mustered out of the service. He then returned to Jersey County, 111., and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits two years. In the spring of 1867, he went to California via the overland route, located at Marysville, and followed placer mining until the fall of 1869. Then went to Nevada, and followed lead min- ing six months ; thence to Utah, and was there engaged in prospecting for Ely & Raymond eighteen months. During the summer of 1871, he came to Colorado, and began mining in Hall's Gulch, Park County. In the spring of 1872, he came to Ten Mile District, where he has since been engaged in mining and pros- pecting. In the spring of 1875, in companj- IP' '^^:^^^- ^! liL^ TEN MILE BEGION. 407 with Robert Emmett, he located about three hundred acres of placer claims, just below the present site of Kokomo, since known as the Emmett & Lowe placer mines, which, during the succeeding three years, they were engaged in prospecting and working. In October, 1878, he was one of the discoverers of the White Quail group of mines on Elk Mountain, and has since made various other important dis- coveries. In the spring of 1881, he, in com- pany with Charles W. Ellis, bought the Col- onel Sellers combination, consisting of five claims on Elk Mountain, at present all in pay, with good improvements, and yielding twenty- five tons of ore per day. Mr. Lowe is still connected with the Emmett & Lowe placer claims, which they are working very exten- sively this season. FRANK R. LLOYD. Mr. Lloyd, of the firm of Bartow & Co., dealers in hardware, queensware, etc., in Rob- inson, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March^25, 1854. He attended public school until 14 years of age, then began an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade. In 1872, he came to Col- orado, and bought a ranch in Jefferson County, seven miles northeast of Golden, where he was engaged in stock-raising three years. In 1875, he went to Bosita, Custer County, and worked at his trade two years. Then went to California, and followed mining in Sonora County nine months ; thence to Globe District, Arizona, where he remained six months. He subsequently returned to Col- orado, and worked at his trade in Leadville for H. N. Webb two years. In July, 1880, he, in company with his employer, established a hardware store in Robinson, of which he took charge. In November following, H. N. Webb sold his interest to J. L. Bartow & Co. In April, 1881, Mr. Lloyd was elected a member of the Town Board of Robinson. EDWARD B. MOORE, Jk. Mr. Moore was born in Bridgeton, N. J., July 30, 1857. At an early age he removed with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended the public and high schools until four- teen years of age. He ther( went to Lawrence, Kan., where he clerked two years, and was subsequently engaged in the book and news business five years. In 1878, he came to Denver, and, in the spring of 1879, located in Ten Mile District, and began mining and pros- pecting. He is the discoverer of the Parole Mine on Chalk Mountain, one-half mile south of Robinson, and in April, 1881, organized the Parole Consolidated Mining Company, of which he is General Manager. D. W. McKENZIE. This gentleman who has, during the past thirty years, devoted his attention to mining and the superintending of mines in the Par West, was born in Ottawa, Canada, April 5, 1836. He acquired a limited education in the public schools of his native citj-. At the age of fifteen he went to California via the Isthmus route, and followed mining six years. He then began superintending mines, and during the succeeding twentj'-three years continued that vocation for various companies in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Montana. During the spring of 1880, he came to Colorado, and was employed as Superintendent of the Low- land Chief Mine at Leadville three months. Then came to Ten Mile District, and took charge of the Empire mine on Sheep Mountain, where he remained until Jantiary, 1881, when he accepted the position of Superintendent of the Aftermath Mine on Elk Mountain, which, under his able management, has become a very large producer. HERMAN D. MYERS. This gentleman, a member of the firm of Ordean, Myers & Co., bankers in Ten Mile Dis- trict, was born in Canton, Ohio, April 26, 1858. He completed his education at the age of sev- enteen, in the Canton Collesriate Institute. He subsequently clerked in the Canton Post Office four years. In 1879, he came to Colorado, located in Kokomo, and became a member of the banking firm since known as Ordean, Myers & Co. WILLIAMSON G. MOORE. Mr. Moore, a son of the late Hon. Joseph G. Moore, Consul from the United States to Cuba, and of Elizabeth T. Glover, of Alabama, was born in Columbus, Miss., April 12, 1857. He was under the instruction of a private tutor until thirteen years of age, then went to Macon Miss., where he attended a private school two years. He then spent two years with his father in Cuba. In the fall of 1874, he came to Den- \<^® r- 9 ^ <} 1^ 408 BIOGRAPHICAL : ver, and clerked for Daniels & Fisher two years ; he then returned to Mississippi, and clerked and traveled for Hudson, Humphreys & Hud- son, of Columbus, until 1878. During that year he again came to Denver, and entered the employ of Daniels & Fisher. In September, 1880, he located in Robinson, and opened a general mercantile store, in which business he has since been engaged. HON. JAMES A. McCUNE. Mr. McCune is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born near Huntsville, Ala., in August, 1851. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Philadelphia, Penn., where, at the age of fif- teen, he completed his education at Academia College. He then went to Leavenworth, Kan., and during the succeeding three years followed freighting across the plains to Government forts in the Northwest. He subsequently located in Virginia City, Mont., and there followed min- ing until 1875. He then returned to Philadel- phia, and was there engaged in mercantile bus- iness three years. During the spring of 1878, he came to Colorado, located in Leadville, and began mining operations. In June, 1880, he came to Kokomo, and has since been devoting his entire attention to mining. He is Superin- tendent for a Philadelphia company, who own large interests in this district, and of which John B. Stetson, of that city, is President. He is also otherwise largely interested in the mines of this district. Mr. McCune was elected Mayor of Kokomo in April, 1881, which office he still holds. JOHN M. MAISEL.- This gentleman was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, August 30, 1848. In 1850, lie came with his parents to America. His early life was spent in Jefferson City, Mo., and Spring- field, 111.. After attending public school until seventeen years of age, he served an appren- ticeship at the jeweler's trade. In 1878, he went to Lincoln, 111., and there worked at his trade, and had an interest in a news-stand, two 3'ears. In the spring of 1880, he came to Col- orado, and followed his trade in Leadville until February, 1881. He then came to Kokomo, and opened a jewelry store, in which business he is still engaged. GEORGE O'CONNOR, M. D. Dr. O'Connor is of Scotch-Irish descent, was born near Cobourg, Canada, December 12, 1852. He received his literary education at Victoria and Regiopolis Colleges. At the age of seven- teen he attended two terms at Kingston Medi- cal College at Kingston, Canada, and subse- quently entered the medical department of Canada Victoria College, from which he gradu- ated and received the degree of M. D., in 1874. After practicing two years in Canada, he re- moved to Jackson, Mich., and practiced there until 1878, when failing health compelled him to abandon practice. He subsequently spent eighteen months at Cheboygan and Mackinaw, Mich., endeavoring to regain his health. During the spring of 188p, he came to Colorado, located in Kokomo, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1880, he was ap- pointed County Physician of Summit County. A. L. ORDEAN. This gentleman, of the well known banking firm of Ordean, Myers & Co., of Ten Mile Dis- trict, was born in Pennsylvania, August 22, 1856. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Wooster, Ohio, and later to Canton, same State. In 1874, he entered the banking house of Harter & Sons, of that city, as book- keeper, and there remained until 1878. He then went to Abilene, Kan., as Cashier of the Abilene Bank. In April, 1879, he came to Colorado, and established the Summit County Bank at Kokomo. In June following, he ac- cepted the position of Assistant Cashier of the First National Bank in Leadville, where he remained until the fall of 1880 ; then returned to Kokomo, and in February, 1881, opened a bank at Robinson, under the firm name of Ordean, Myers & Co. WILLIAM F. PATRICK. Mr. Patrick was born in St. Louis, Mo., in May, 1853. He graduated from the Washing- ton University, of his native city, in his twenty- second year. In 1875, he went to the Black Hills, D. T., and there followed mining one year, then came to Colorado, located at Georgetown, and engaged in assaying during the succeeding two years. In the spring of 1 878, he went to Leadville and followed as- saying for various smelters until March, 1880. During the fall of 1878, he and J. H. Bridge, •i^ a ^1 -k. lii^ TEN MILE REGION. 409 grub-staked Charles E. Ellis and Val. Jones, who discovered the Aftermath Mine on Elk Mountain, Ten Mile District, on which they be- gan active work in June, 1880. The mine is now well developed, with a shaft 400 feet deep, and about 2,000 feet of tunnels and drifts, show- ing about 25,000 tons of mineral in sight, and is producing about fifty tons of ore per day, average value $50 per ton. The present owners of the mine are J. B. Bissell, of Leadville ; J. H. Bridge and S. B. Morgan, of Denver ; R. S. Grant, of New York City, and Mr. Patrick, who is general manager. HON. GEORGE B. ROBINSON. The history of Robinson's Camp during the first years of its existence, is so blended and interwoven with that of its founder as to be in- separable therefrom. Referring the reader to the historical portions of this work for a history of the town in detail, this sketch will be con- fined to a brief outline of the events which con- stitute in part the personal history of its orig- inator, its benefactor, the prime mover in its enterprise, and the main-spring of its prog- ress. George B. Robinson was born in the town of Gun Plains, Allegan County, Mich., January 28, 1 848. When he was two years old his father removed with his family to Kala- mazoo, and was engaged in business there for a number of years. After attending the public schools of Kalamazoo until he was nearly ready to graduate from the high school, young Robinson in 1863, went to Detroit and attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Returning to Kalamazoo in 1865, he became assistant in the office of the Register of Deeds, where he remained until 1867. Very soon after this he was employed as book-keeper by Messrs. Kendall, Mills & Co., who were engaged in the lumber business at Kendall, and was for a time interested in a lumber .enterprise with Mr. L. B. Kendall. In June, 1868, he returned to Kalamazoo, as book-keeper in the Michigan National Bank, which position he held until June, 1871, when he went to Allegan, to accept the position of Cashier of the First National Bank of that place, where his careful business training and acknowledged ability and integrity brought him well merited success. He retired from that position early in 1877, and spent that year and the following one in a visit to Europe, making quite an extensive tour of the continent. In February, 1878, Mr. Robinson entered upon that new era of his life which made him so prominent in commercial " and political affairs. Little dreaming what the near future was preparing for him, he purchased a ticket for San Francisco, with the intention of going direct to the metropo- lis of California, but on reaching Denver he was induced to change his course and started for Leadville, then just beginning to mal^e a stir in the world on account of its wonderful mineral richness. In going there he was lost for two days in the snow, but finally reached his destination and began operation. This was the beginning of a business career which has but few parallels. Purchasing a stock of min- ers' goods he opened a store in Leadville. He was successful from the start. His business grew with the wonderful camp until his house was one of the largest and most prosperous in the city. He erected a block on Chestnut street, which, at one time brought him a rental of $7,000 a month. Mr. Robinson had, in common with almost every one, engaged more or less in mining, but up to early in 1879, with little or no success. In the spring of that year he outfitted two prospectors, Charles Jones and John Y. Shed- don, to work in the Ten Mile District, he to have one half of the propertj' located. In June following, these prospectors discovered the '78 and Undine lodes, and subsequentlj' th^heck- mate, Rhone, Big Giant, Little Giant and others, ten mines in all, which constitute the Robinson group. In December following, Mr. Robinson bought the interests of his partners, and in April, 1880, organized the Robinson Consolidat- ed Mining Company, in New York, with a capital stock of $10,000,000, retaining a con- troling interest in the property. The town of Robinson, located on a beautiful site around the Robinson Mines, w^s laid out the same vear. Mr. Robinson took great interest and pride in the new town, and exerted himself in every way to stimulate its growth. He built a large hotel and other buildings, made arrangements to establish a bank, and erected a large smelter, convenient to the mines — entirely with his own capital— which should handle the Robinson ore and as much more as came and could be treat- ed. Besides these he had mining interests in various parts of the State and some in other States and Territories. In November, 1880, s %< -4>- 410 BIOGRAPHICAL: Mr. Robinson was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, and his political career promised to be as brilliant as his business career had been. Had he lived he would have rendered the State distinguished service. The circum- stances of his death are still fresh in the public mind. There had for some time been a dispute between the Robinson companj' and Capt. J. W. Jacque over the ownership of the Smuggler Mine. More recently a difficulty had arisen between the miners and the managers of the mine, and Mr. Robinson had gone over to ad- just matters. It was rumored that Capt. Jacque was coming over to take advantage of the situation and take forcible possession, and Mr. Robinson stationed a guard in and about the mine, with orders to admit no one, and to fire iipon anyone who should persist in entering the mine. On the evening of November 27, 1880, Mr. Robinson had been up on the hill near by, and hearing that the guard whom he had stationed at the mouth of the tunnel was not in his place, he went down to ascertain if that was true. Knocking at the door at the mouth of the tunnel, he was met by the inquiry " Who's there ?" With the remark that it was all right he turned to leave, when a bullet from the rifle of the guard struck him in the side. He was carried to the hotel, where he lingered till the morning of the 29th when he quietly breathed his last. In him the State lost a man of fine ability, excellent character and large experience, whose public career was one of great promise, and before whom a brilliant suc- cess was just opening. His prosperity was due entirely to his own exertions. Those who knew him best claim that he had the coolest head, the clearest thought, and was the bright- est, quickest financier of his age in Colorado, and probably in the west. He was the warm- est and truest of friends In his life he was upright and pure ; in his dealings with men he was always honest and honorable, always frank and fair. To those in his employ he was polite and charitable, befriending many and chiding few. Of a quiet, retiring disposition, he bore himself with a uniform courtesy, born of an innace apprehension af the rights of others, and a wide social experience at home and abroad. J. B. ROCKWELL. This gentleman, a member of the firm of El- lis, Rockwell & Smith, mine and real estate brokers in Robinson, Ten Mile District, is of Scotch-English descent, and was born in Seneca County, Ohio, August 11, 1833. He received a limited education in the public schools of his native county. In 1847, he removed with his parents to Allegan County, Mich. At the age of twenty he began an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, at which he continued six- teen years. In 1869, he began devoting his attention to architecture and superintending the construction of large buildings. In the spring of 1879, through the solicitation of George B. Robinson, he came to Ten Mile District, and made the drawings for, and had charge of, the building of the Summit County Smelter. After the death of Gov. Robinson, he was appointed agent for the administrators. FRANK RALPH. Mr. Ralph, of the firm of Ralph & Bergerman, grocers and dealers in miners' supplies, is a native of Pennsylvania and was born June 9, 1842. At an early age he removed with his parents to Philadelphia, where he attended public school until seventeen years of age, then served an apprenticeship at the wood mechan- ic's trade. In 1862, he went to Chicago, where he followed carpentering a short time. During the succeeding sixteen years he traveled over the West, working at his trade. In February, 1879, he came to 'Ten Mile District, and engaged in the mercantile business in Carbonateville in company with Jacob Bergerman, under the firm name of Ralph & Bergerman, and was appointed Postmaster of that camp. In August follow- ing they removed their goods to Robinson where they have since conducted a successful business. LORIN- A. STALEY. Mr. Staley, of the law firm of Staley & Saf- ley, was born in Newark, Ohio, February 12, 1854. At an early age he removed with his parents to Tama County, Iowa, where his early life was spent in attending district school. In 1865, he removed with his parents to Memphis, Tenn.; thence, in 1867, to Sedalia, Mo., and the following year to Cooper County, same State. During the latter year he entered the State University, at Columliia, Mo., from which he graduated in 1873. He then came to Denver and began the study of law ; in 1876, he was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Denver three vears. In February, 1879, he came to >? a IV A TEN MILE REGION. 413 Kokomo, formed a partnership with Ben. Safley, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In June, 1879, he was appointed City Attorney of Kokomo, which office he honorably and efficiently filled one year. BEN SAFLEY. This gentleman, a member of the firm of Stfiley & Safley, attorneys at law in Kokomo, was born in G-alena, 111., February 14, 1855. In 1863 he came with his parents to Denver, Colo., where he attended public school two years. During the fall of 1865, they returned East, and located in Burlington, N. J., where he received private school advantages two years. Thence to Rochester, N. Y., and there attended high school four years. In 1871, he went to Council Bluflfs, Iowa, with his parents, and was there engaged in the jewelry business one year with his father. He subsequently entered the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in 1876. Then returned to Den- ver, Colo., and began reading law under the law firm of Charles & Dillon, and two years later was admitted to the bar. In February, 1 879, he came to Kokomo, where he has since de- voted his entire attention to the practice of law. WILL C. STAINSBY. This gentleman, an enterprising young mer- chant in Kokomo, was born in Newark, N. J., May 24, 1855. He completed his education, at the age of sixteen, in the high schools of his native city. He then went to New York City and accepted the position of book-keeper in a bank, and was subsequently promoted to As- sistant Cashier. ' In December, 1879, he came to Colorado, located in Kokomo, and in Jan- uary, 1880, succeeded Lippelt & Bowman in the drug business, which he has since success- fully carried on. In June, following, in com- pany with J. F. Fort and George B. Colby, opened a hardware and stove store under the firm name of Stainsbv, Fort & Colby. JOHN C. THOMPSON. This gentleman was born in New York City, September 22, 1853. He attended public school until seventeen years of age, then spent two j'ears in the School of Mines at Columbia College, in that city. He was subsequently en- gaged in the broker business on Wall Street five years. In 1877 he went to Chihuahua, Old Mexico, and there held the position of Su- perintendent of the Santa Eulalia Mines and Smelter one year. He then returned 'home, and in April, 1880, came to Ten Mile District as Su- perintendent for the Trophy Mining Company, of New York, who own nine claims on Sheep Mountain, a group of six north of the Robinson Consolidation, and one of three south, with good plants of machinery on both. He is rap- idly developing the properties, and at present has a two-hundred-foot shaft on the south group, with drifts, which looks very promising. CHARLES B. VAN TRESS. Mr. Van Tress was born in Clinton County, Ohio, September 17, 1834. His early life was spent in attending district school. At the age of seventeen he went to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where, during the succeeding ten years, he was engaged in surveying, taking contracts for rail- road and bridge building and superintending public work. In 1861, on the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion he enlisted in Company C, fourth Iowa Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. After being honorably mustered out of the service he returned home. Shortly afterward he removed to Peoria, 111., and there worked three years in the sash, door and blind factory of William Truesdale & Sons. In 1869, he came to Colorado and has since devoted his entire attention to mining and the study of the ' various mineral belts and deposits. In March, 1877, he went to Leadville, where he associated himself with the leading mining men and gave his attention to the study of the mineral de- posit of that district. During July, 1880, he came to Ten Mile District, where he has since been engaged in examining and reporting on mines. HENRY C. WEBER. Mr. Weber was born in Warren County, Penn., December 13, 1846. His early life, until he was nineteen years of age, was spent on a farm and in attending school. He then went to Ogle County, III., where he was variously engaged four years ; thence to Storey County, Iowa, where he followed farming two years, and was engaged m the drug business in Kel- ley two years. In 1873, he went to Red Cloud, Neb., and during the succeeding three years was engaged in stock-raising ; he then re- turned to Storey County, Iowa, and resumed farming and at the same time carried on the D ^ ^1 -^ 414 BIOGRAPHICAL; drug business. In the spring of 1880, he came to Colorado, located in Eobinson, and opened a drug store, in which business he has since been successfully engaged. JAMES C. WIGGINTON. Mr. Wigginton was born in Louisville, Ky., November 18, 1853. His education was com- pleted in the high schools of his native city. In 1875, he removed to Charleston, Clark Co., Ind., where he was appointed Deputy Auditor of that county, in which capacity he served two years. He then returned to Louisville, and ac- cepted the position of book-keeper in a whole- sale liquor house. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado and located in Ten Mile Dis- trict, Summit Co., where he has since been en- gaged in prospecting and mining. During the fall of 1880, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 5, and in April 1880_ was elected Police Magistrate for the town of Rob- ^'. -® ""V HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY. '^ EY ,6.. s n E 1. 3D o isr . GHAPTEE 1. EL PASO COUNTY is composed of that portion of Colorado which is west of lon- gitude 103° 57', and east of longitude 105? 13' 40," and between the parallels of 38° 31' 18" and 39° 7' 49" north latitude, less seven town- ships in the southwest, which appertain to Fremont County. It is therefore, approximately, the central county of the State. It has an area of 2,646 square miles, of which 1,890 square miles are east of the mountains ; 567 square miles mountainous, 189 square miles pastoral and agricultural lands in mountain valleys and mesas, and 546 square miles generously timbered. Its topography, therefore, is very diverse and interesting. Pikes Peak, the unfailing land- mark and beacon to the Argonauts who crossed the Great American Desert in quest of the Golden Fleece, the peer of all the giant gems which stud our mountain rosary, grandly and fitly presides over the surrounding landscape, def3-ing the thunders, and battling the fierce storm, or smiling through an atmosphere the purest and most pellucid of the earth — the re- flected raj's of the genial sun. A subjacent coterie of inferior peaks, Monta Rosa, Rhyolite, Pisgah, Cameron's Cone and Cheyenne, rugged and grand, each stupendous and imposing if alone, but dwarfed and humilated in presence of a superior, amplify and complete a setting which is almost without a parallel in nature. This group of mountains virtually absorbs the southwestern part of the county. Along its northern boundry is the " Divide,'' an elevated region extending from the moun- tains with decreasing altitude eastward to the plains, and separating the tributaries of the Platte and Arkansas rivers. Near the extreme northwest is Crystal Peak, which has been an abundant source of topaz and amarou stone, and seven or eight mileS farther east is a sin- gular conical peak standing isolated, about a thousand feet above the adjacent valley, known by the stockmen and hunters who frequent there as Slim Jim. The mountainous portion of the county is generally ver}' rugged, and along the eastern foothills sends out sharp and unique ridges two or three miles into the plains. The plains themselves are more or less undulat- ing, and sometimes broken here and there by precipitous bluffs. The vales of these ridges afford to lovers of the curious and rare some of the most attractive features of Colorado, Monument Park and Blair Athol being, perhaps, the most noted. In the former a species of calcareous sandstone has been worn away by the action of heat and cold, rains and snows, and potent winds, in such a manner as to leave serried lines of monu- ments in fantastic outlines, in which the imagin- ation readily perceives human and "animal forms and works of art from the altar to the cathedral. These, interspersed through graceful glades and sheltering pines are, beyond question, wierd and fascinating. The general altitude of that part of El Paso County which lies east of the mountains is about six thousand feet — the southern portion being about five thousand five hundred, and the north boundary seven thou- sand five hundred feet above the sea. Nestling among the mountains at an elevation of about eight thousand feet is the beautiful amphitheater "v A ?ki> 416 HISTORY or EL PASO COUNTY. of Manitou Park, the field of the j\boriginal gods and paradise of summer pleasure-seekers, and lovers of piscatorial pastime. Its acicular peaks, its numerous glens; its gracefully trend- ing glades and wealth of sheltering pines ren- der it one of the most attractive.summer resorts in Colorado. Hayden Parb is a semi-timbered expanse ex- tending from near Manitou Park to the western boundary of the county, and having an elevation of about nine thousand feet. HYDROGRAPHIC. El Paso County is fairly supplied with tvater, though less abundantly than some portions of Colorado. The streams are numerous, but in- considerable in magnitude and, some of them, intermittent in their flow. The South Platte River cuts its northwestern boundary and re- ceives a number of tributaries, which drain the adjacent country, but is available only to a lim- ited extent for purposes of irrigation. Twin Creek and its tributaries flow from Hayden Park, and threading their numerous delightful valleys, here join their fortunes with the parent stream. West Creek, Rule Creek and Trout Creek have the same source, but take a north- easterly course, and find the Platte at a lower point, through the ruggedest of rugged canons. These are permanent streams, and, at times, carry considerable volumes of water. Four Mile has its origin on the west flank of Pike's Peak and, running to every point of the compass, finally looses itself in the Arkan- sas River, four miles below Canon City. This is Oil Creek of earlier date. At an elevation of twelve thousand feet, on the south flank of Pike's Peak, are seven small lakes, from which Beaver Creek, a considerable stream, flows, in a southeastward course to the Arkansas. These lakes are coming to be a fav- orite summer resort. The extreme purity and low temperature of this upper atmosphere ren- der their neighborhood a delightful retreat from the sometimes intense heat of the plains below. But contributing, more than all the other streams of the county, to the sanitary and in- dustrial welfare of its people, comes the beau- tiful and poetically christened " Fontaine, Qui Bouille." Beginning its brief career virtually in the clouds, and first condescending to con- tact with terra firma at an elevation of overfour- teen thousand feet above the sea, by numerous rills and brooklets, which flow from the north and east declivities of Pike's Peak, it finds its way to the plains through the Ute Pass and the Canon of Ruxton Creek, through Manitou and Colorado City, by Colorado Springs and Foun- tain City, and joins its fortunes with the Ar- kansas at Pueblo. Its approximate minimum volume at Colorado City, as determined in 1862, is represented by a' cross section of the stream, measuring 2,200 inches, with a flow of 150 feet per minute. Its principal tributary. Monument Creek, at times an ugly channel, and at times a devastating flood, has its origin in the mountains of the northwestern part of the county, and flows thence along their base in a southerly direction to the neighborhood of Colorado Springs, and there looses itself in, or pollutes, with its muddy ichor, the waters of the fountain. It is utilized to considerable extent for purposes of irrigation, but like all kindred streams, fails of efficiency when the need is greatest. The Big Sandy in the northeast, Horse Creek in the east, and Black Squirrel Creek, Chico, Jimmy's Camp and Sand Creeks, more westerly, are intermittent streams which flow southerly and southeasterly to the Arkansas. These are availed of but to a limited extent for agricul- tural purposes ; but are invaluable to the stock men, as forming the nuclei around which gather and subsist the immense herds and flocks which represent in some sense the indus- trial progress of the county. SCENERY. Its natural scenery is the most varied and interesting to be found in Colorado, embracing everj' form of landscape expression — from the soft and billowy aspect of the plain, to the wierd, rugged and overwhelming majesty of the mountains. Ruxton's Creek, Queen's and William's Canons, Grlen Eyrie, Cheyenne, Red Rock and Bear Canons, and the far-famed Gar- den of the Gods, are already names equally familiar in Europe and America. The soil is, generally, first-class, and, where water is available for irrigation, very product- ive. The grasses have the characteristic luxu- riance of the grasses of the plains, and are very nutritious. At all elevations of less than 8,000 feet, wheat, rye, oats and barley, of su- ^rior quality, afford to the husbandman benef- ^1^ ^&^Hju-^fy^a^^PvIl?H^ HISTORY OP EL PASO COUNTY. 417 icent returns for his labor ; and, at less eleva- tions than 6,000 feet, Indian corn is grown suc- cessfully. Such vegetables as are common to Pennsylvania are also produced in abund- ance. Fruit culture has hitherto been regarded as a doubtful experiment, but the last two years have rendered it no longer a matter of doubt, as apples, plums, pears, peaches, cherries, grapes, raspberries, currants and strawberries have been produced within this period, and of the finest quality. Indeed, the strawberry seems to have found here its peculiar habitat, as its productiveness and zest have astonished the most ardent of the friends of that delicious fruit, and rendered it an indispensable adjunct to the garden. A peculiar feature of that portion of El Paso County which lies east of the mountains that has not been generally recognized, is that it de- clines to the south with an angle of one and a half to two degrees ; or, in other words, is tilted toward the sun to that extent, and, there- fore, receives and reflects his rays less oblique- ly. This is, in fact, equivalent to the rediiction of our latitude by two degrees, and will find its most emphatic illustration in the reverse condition which obtains north of the '■ Divide," where the declination is to the north, and where the snows rest undisturbed much of the winter. A further illustration, more direct and decisive, is presented in the rincon enclosing Colorado City and Manitou, where the mountains receive and reflect perpendicularly the morning rays of the sun, and in winter afford those genial and balmy mornings so characteristic of that lo- cality. GEOLOGY. The geology of Bl Paso County has elicited a variet}^ of conclusions from those who have set themselves to study it ; yet, while tliere re- main many nugatory and confusing features, certain leading facts seem to have been quite generally accepted. The tertiary formation seems to be limited to the neighborhood of the summit of the divide, east of the mountains, and extends along this summit well toward the northeastern limit of the county. It has, ap- parently, been abraded by the action of the elements, and swept into the distant valleys, or possibly the conditions were such that its formation was impossible throughout the con- siderable extent where now it is not found. A few miles below this summit the post- cretaceous appears, and extends to the south- east corner of the county and beyond, and em- braces something like fifteen townships within the county limits. We next find the cretaceous — having about the same superficial extent, and embracing most of the residue of the county — east of the mountains. Along the base of the mountains, and over- lapping their flank, the Jura-trias crops out, having been tilted up by the grand process under which the mountains themselves had their being ; and here and there also, notably in the neighborhoods of Colorado City, the upper valley of the Fontaine Qui Bouille, and in Manitou Park, the carboniferous and Silurian are presented under similar circumstances. The mountains proper are evidently meta- morphic, with the exception of a group near the southwest corner of the county, including Pisgah and Rhyolite Peak, which is volcanic. In connection with the Silurian and carboni- ferous formations, as apparent near Colorado City, there seems to have been interposed a re- markable talcose deposit, which is, evidently, the muddy vomit of the volcano or the geyser. This formation carries both silver and gold, and, it is believed by many, can be treated for those metals with profit. Should this prove practicable, this point will become one of the most important mining fields in Colorado. In- dications of the presence of the precious metals are also found in the Cheyenne group, near Manitou, and in the neighborhood of Manitou Park, and, without doubt, several true mineral- bearing fissures have been uncovered in each of these localities, but whether these can be worked with profit is a matter to be determined by further experience. In the post-cretaceous, near Jimmy's Camp, and at other points northeasterly and north- westerly, is found a species of lignite coal of fair quality, which is being utilized to a consid- erable extent as fuel, and the mining of which, especially at Jimmy's Camp, promises to de- velop to a large and profitable industry. Two strata in close proximity are there already opened, which aggregate fourteen feet in thickness. i) >y 418 HISTORY or EL PASO COUNTY. 9 1^ CHAPTER II. HISTORY is the record of growth and de- cadence — of evolution. Incidents of ap- parent insignificance often constitute the germs of revolution, of reformation, or of empire. Nature's ceremonials are of the most silent order, and the fortuitous deposition of the acorn, where its vitality is nurtured to activity and growth, has little of emphasis and pa- geantry to herald its culmination in that glori- ous emblem of hardihood and strength, king of the forest — the mighty oak. Thus, to say that the little incident of at- tempting to wash the sands of the Kansas River in the neighborhood of Lawrence, in the year 1857, led to the early settlement of Col- orado, is undoubtedly to levy largely upon our credulity, and yet it is equally undoubtedly true. George Earle, since an engineer in the era- ploy of the Kansas Pacific Railway Company, having had some experience in California, and having also a genius to create a divertisement when it was not otherwise provided, quietly announced one day to a listless crowd gathered on Massachusetts street, that he could pan gold from the sands of the " Kaw " River. In those days, crowds on Massachusetts street were rather the order than otherwise, and as this constituted the amphitheater where polit- ical issues were discussed, and where the Free State men counseled together and matured their measures for the defense and furtherance of their cause, it need not seem surprising that such distinguished personages as Governor Robinson and grim Gen. Lane should be present. Earle was at once challenged to verify his assertion ; and, accordinglj-, a pan was pro- duced and the crowd, including His Excellency, proceeded to the river. Earle produced his gold, whether as the result of legitimate pan- ning or after the manner of expert and subtile miners who have a purpose to serve, is not to be here stated. Be that as it may, a majoritj' of those who were present believed in the honesty of the experiment and that the sands of the Kansas River were auriferous. Various conjectures were hazarded as to the source whence this gold was derived, but the dominant thought, the major conclusion, was that its source was the region of the Rocky Mountains, from which it was generally believed the Kan- sas River flowed. The matter continued to be the subject of conversation until visions of wealth, intensified under the refining influences of the imagina- tion, bourgeoned in the distant horizon with such splendor as to compel the consideration of de- tails as to the method by which it was to be compassed. The flame thus kindled was naturally augmented by certain vague rumors that a party of Cherokees, returning from Cali- fornia, had actually discovered gold in the very neighborhood where our incipient Argonauts had pre-determined it. A meeting of all those whose interest had been aroused was called to discuss the subject and to consider plans of or- ganization for an expedition to the mountains, or rather to Pike's Peak, which, by common consent was used as a synonym for them. The times were propitious. The financial panic which the country was then suffering had prostrated business and nipped, as by frost, the spirit of speculation which, hitherto, ran riot and Lawrence was swarming with sterling fellows, without occupation, but with stores of energy for any enterprise which prof- fered either profit or adventure. These, and such as these, were they who then met, and in true American style, through the deliberations of a public meeting, organized themselves as a body, determined plans, established regulations and elected oflBcers to traverse 600 miles across the great American desert and gather the un- certain treasures, stored by their fancy, in the sands of the streams and in the recesses of the distant mountains. It has been the habit of historians of Den- ver unjustly to award the credit of pioneer suc- cess in Colorado to the party of Georgians, un- der the leadership of Green Russell, which reached the Cherry Creek Region in the early summer of 1858, and prospected that stream and the adjacent tributaries of the South Platte River with such degree of success as to give assurance that gold in paying quantities might IV lI^ HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY. 419 be reasonably sought after in the neighboring mountains. But the actual settlement of Colo- rado was purely the work of the Lawrence party. The accretions of the rolling snow-ball are natural and inevitable, but the power which gives it motion is the genius of the snow-ball. This party, which, under the leadership of John Turney, arrived in the early part of July, 1858, came with the full determination to make, in some form or other, of their erratic expedition an unquestionable success. They had less ex- perience, perhaps, as gold-hunters, but they had system, organization and a keen, speculative sense of something wherewithal they should be profited. They had also their historian. " Bil- ly " Parsons had been a conspicuous feature of most of the political gatherings in Kansas, was a fluent speaker and an easy and graceful writer ; and on his return to Kansas in the fall of 1858, published a glowing account of ad- ventures in their march across the plains, of the fascinating beauty of the mountains and their environment, of the immense wealth which time and enterprise should yet unfold here, with instructions as to routes, localities and natural attractions, in short a rose-colored guide-book, having for its object to tempt the adventure quite as much as to lead the adventurer. Others who returned at the same time, con- firmed the statements of Parsons, and exhibited small quantities of gold-dust, usually in a goose-quill, as an earnest of the wealth they had discovered, alleging, as an excuse for its paucity, that they had been too much occupied in exploiting and traversing the country to find time to gather gold. That inevitable first act in the settlement of a new county — the location of town sites — had been faithfully attended to, and, among the many embryo cities which, under their fe- cundating eflforts attained to the dignity of a name, was El Paso, which, theoretically, cov- ered the genial plain now graced by the queenly presence of Colorado Springs. The contagion scattered by these enterpris- ing men was simply wonderful, and something like $^,000 worth of lots in El Paso were sold before their position had been decently platted on paper, or a street had been definitely sur- veyed. This was the beginning, if beginning it may be called, of the settlement of El Paso County. The eminent fitness of this neighborhood for a tovm site had early attracted the attention of others of our adventurers, and during the win- ter of 1858-59, a company was organized and measures were taken to make available the splendid advantages which the locality prof- fered. The leading names engaged in this enter- prise were L. J. Winchester, T. H. Warren, Lewis N. Tappan, W. P. McClure, M. S. Beach, R. E. Whitsit and S. W. Waggoner. The latter was the first Probate Judge who held that ofHce by the suffrages of the peoplfe of Denver, or, rather, of Auraria, which, in in 1859, constituted the center and principal strength of that settlement. He afterward en- tered the service as Captain of Company K, of the Second Colorado, and was ambuscaded and slaughtered near Independence, Mo., on the 4th of July, 1864. A braver man or a truer friend never shed his blood in the cause of his country. A tract of land, two miles in length by one mile in width, extending from the Gypsum Bluffs, west of Camp Creek, to the neighbor- hood of Monument Creek, was selected, and November 1, 1859, a beautifully lithographed map blazoned to the world that a new town had, by so much, enlarged the area of civiliza- tion, and that its name was Colorado City. The town was surveyed by H. M. Fosdick, now of Pueblo County, and building was begun with such zeal and energy that, in the spring of 1860, there were some three hundred houses of primitive architectural style, and about a thou- sand inhabitants, mostly transitory, as earnest that the town was, indeed, an entity. During the season of 1859, there was a quasi settlement on Monument Creek, some two miles above the present site of Colorado Springs, and near the ranche now occupied by Judge Williams, consisting of a log cabin, some wag- ons and tents, and the usual pharaphernalia of pioneers, where dreams of town-building were, for a while, indulged, but by spring, 1860, all this, save the cabin, had drifted to Colorado City. In the mean time, claims for farming pur- poses were " located " with such celerity that by the fall of 1 860 no valuable tract of land was left available within several miles of Colo- rado City. Every spring, and fertile margin of a stream became the nucleus of a prospective home, and the more esthetic turned their at- ?^ 430 HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY. tention to the glens, canons, and grotesque nooks, which so picturesquely emphasize our environments, drove their stakes and dreamed of palatial residences and the luxuries which awaited them when the mines should respond to their expectations. The " Soda Springs " constituted, at an early epoch of our history, an essential element of the data on which was predicated the prosper- ity of the settlement, and the '' claim stakes " by which they were sequestered, were among the first to be driven. The alliterative names, Whooten, Winchester, Wyatt and Warren ap- pear of record as sponsers of this monumental act, with that of R. E. Whitsett, afterward su- peradded. Some time in the fall of 1859, as the settle- ment was virtually beyond the pale of law, and lands could be held by no legitimate tenure, under the promptings of the law-making and law-abiding genus of Americans, a meeting was called, and, from its deliberations there resulted the organization known and chronicled as the El Paso Claim Club. The powers, duties and territorial limits of the club were defined, oflSeers, including a Presi- dent and Secretary, designated, and provisions made for the selection, under its segis. of jurors for the trial and adjustment of the difficulties arising between adverse claimants, and for the establishment of the office of District Recorder. This was the incipient organization of govern- ment. On the records of this club are found, as primitive claimholders, such names as A. D. Richardson, Col. Samuel Tappan, D. A. and C. B. Chever, William Larimer, S. W. Waggoner and many others equally well known as promin- ent men in the settlement of Colorado. Cabins were built along the Fontaine Qui Bouille by R. B. Willis, H. S. Clark, John Bley, Hubbard Talcott and William Campbell, and the first earnest, practical farming in the county must be accredited to the three last named, and to the year 1860. It was early perceived by our pioneers that it was vital to their success that they should have unobstructed communication with the mines, and, with a view to this, the labor and capital of each individual, so far as practicable was availed of The Ute Pass was assailed with a vigor which should have achieved great results, and which in fact did render it so far practicable for wagons that it became not only heresy, but the most outrageous presumption for any one the most remotely to intimate that the Ute Pass road was not onlj' the best, and for that matter, absolutely the only avenue to the mines. And indeed, when we consider that these hardy men expended the labor of months, without shelter, and often without other food than venison and beans and sometimes on venison alone, and without pay other than that which hope accredited them in the future, their jealous solicitude for the character of the work which their hands had wrought must, necessa- rily, challenge our charity. Immense stores of such goods as miners re- quire were transported to the embryo city, and the establishments of Tappan & Co., Lobb & Crenshaw, Dunn & Baily, " Jim " Sabine and others became as noted as are now some of the most prominent wholesale houses in Den- ver. The organization of the Pike's Peak region, as Jefferson Territory, met very little encourage- ment in this locality, and the code of laws passed by its soi disant Legislature was genei^ ally ignored. Misdemeanors, under a predom- inating sense of justice, were met as such, and courts were extemporized to dispose of them. A Mexican, convicted for the asportation of a horse belonging to another party, was hung from the limb of a pine tree, in what is now known as Hangman's Canon and the Devil's Gate, early in the summer of 1860, and thus constituted the beginning of the annals of capital punishment in El Paso County. Other offenses were tried, from time to time, with a just regard to the rights of all, though, in several instances the offender escaped through lack of zeal in the prosecution. In cases where one ruffian simply wreaked his innate fiendish- ness on a fellow ruffian, the event was recog- nized as of public service, but, in respect to the general sense of decency, the offender was usually banished from the settlement. Such cases, however, were less frequent here than in most other frontier settlements. One such oc- curred in the spring of 1861, and another in 1862 ; the former signalizing the prowess of " Jim " Loughlin as against " Pat " Devlin, and the latter that of Shaffer as against " Wash " Rice. It is but fair to add that, in Loughlin's case, the trial resulted in his acquittal on the ground that Devlin was a desperate fellow and had " threatened his life." •^ a r "7^ /^ <^7m^i4the growing ne- cessities of the institute, and as the tax was tardily realized, it became necessary to call 'on the Legislature for further aid. This call was liberallj' responded to, and an appropriation of $7,000, for building purposes, was added to the general fund. This served to increase the building to about double its former capacity, and rendered it thoroughly commodious. By subsequent legislative action, the func- tions of the institute were extended by a de- partment for the education of the blind, and $20,000 were appropriated for additional build- ings, thus rendering it a very important State institution, and an essential feature in the growth of Colorado Springs. That it has been the policj- of the colony compan3r, and the citizens, to render Colorado Springs as attractive through its educational facilities as by its social refinement and pictur- esque environment, will appear in the follow- ing exhibit, from the pen of Prof W. D. Sheldon. ' COLORADO COLLEGE. When the town of Colorado Springs was laid out, in 1871, the colony company set apart a tract of twenty acres as a college reservation, with the idea that this action might lead ulti- mately to the founding of a college at that place. At that early period in the history of Colorado, and indeed for some years before, the minds of many in difierent parts of the then Territory were impressed with the thought that something should be done to furnish here in our own midstthe facilities for a thorough liberal education. This feeling showed itself at the annual meeting of the Colorado Association of Congregational Churches in 1873, when a com- mittee was appointed to make inquiries in dif- ferent parts of the Territory as to the popular interest in the higher education, and to con- sider the feasibility of establishing a college at some eligible point. After due investigation, this committee made its report at an adjourned meeting of the association, January 20, 1874, recommending that a movement be made at once to found a college upon the general plan of the institutions of New England, with such modifications as the requirements of the new West might demand. This recommendation was adopted, and after carefully considering the advantages and offers of different localities, Colorado Springs was selected as the most suit- able site, and its propositions were accepted, namely : To give to the new enterprise the twenty acres already referred to, and to contrib- ute $10,000 to the building fund. A board of eighteen trustees was elected, including some of the leading citizens of different sections of the Territory. Among them Gen. W. J, Palmer, Dr. William A. Bell, W. S. Jackson. Esq., Gen. R. A. Cameron, Prof T. M. Haskell. Maj. Henry McAllister. Jr., Rev. J. M. Stui-te- vant, Jr., and Hon. H. W. Austin, of Chicago, The trustees proceeded at once to the work be- fore them and appointed Prof T. N. Haskell, formerly an instructor in the State University of Wisconsin, as financial agent of the college, who entered energetically upon the work of gathering the necessary funds with which to carry forward the enterprise. Arrangements were also made to open the preparatory depart- ment in May, 1874, and Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards, a graduate of Yale College, was elected principal of this department and authorized to employ such assistance as he might need. The sessions of the school were, for the time being, held in the hall in Wanless Block. Meanwhile during the summer, a small one-story wooden building, 22x54 feet and containing three rooms, was erected upon the lot, north of the Cumberland Church, to be occupied until the contemplated permanent edifice should be built upon the college gTOunds. This humble struc- ture continued to be used for the recitations of the students until the winter of 1880. It was soon after sold to Mr. A. D. Davis, who moved it a few feet further north and turned it into a dwelling house. Prof Haskell remained in the service of ^i :tv~ na^ 486 HISTORY or EL PASO COUNTY the college during the year 1874, obtaining subscriptions to the amount of some thousands of dollars, in Colorado and at the East. Prof Edwards retired from the work in the sprmg of 1875, after a faithful service of one year. In the following May, Rev. James Gr. Dougherty, a graduate of Brown University, was chosen President, and held the office until the spring of 1876. Profs. E. N. Bartlett, J. H. Kerr and S. T. French were associated with him in the work of instruction. Notwith- standing the diligent labors of the President, comparatively little progress was made in se- curing funds, in consequence of the coming on of the hard times, which continued for several years to hinder the work. During these early days, a society of ladies residing in Colorado Springs, in various ways rendered efficient aid. On the resignation of Mr. Dougherty, Rev. E. P. Tenney, who some years before had been a citizen of Central City, Colo., was elected Presi- dent in the summer of 1876, and Prof Winthrop D. Sheldon, a graduate of Yale, and formerly an instructor at Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio, was appointed Professor of Latin and Greek, and placed temporarily in charge of the work of instruction. In the summer of 1877, a successful effort was madeto complete the sub- scription of $10,000, as a building fund, by the citizens of Colorado Springs, and the colony company again came generously to the aid of the enterprise, by increasing their original gift of land, so that the whole amount donated has now reached almost one hundred acres. In the fall of 1877, the new building now occupied by the college, was begun according to plans pre- pared by Messrs. Peabody & Stearns, archi- tects, of Boston, Mass., and under contracts with Messrs. Clement & Russell for the stone work, and with Mr. Joseph Dozier for the in- side finish. At this time, also, Miss Emma Bump, an ex- perienced instructor, from Chicago, and Prof Frank H. Loud, a graduate of Amherst Col- lege, and formerly Walker Instructor in Mathe- matics in that institution, were added to the faculty. A noteworthy incident in the history of the college was the service rendered by Prof. Loud and others under his direction, in the ob- servation of the transit of the planet Mercury, and, later, the total eclipse of the sun in July, 1878, which excited such general interest among men of science everywhere. In the same year, the college was made a voluntary station of the United States Signal Service, with Prof Loud in charge. An organization of students under the name of the Signal Service Corps of Colorado College, was formed to aid in the duties of the station, and for some time a sum- mary of the daily observations was published weekly in the Colorado Springs Gazette. In view of the importance of the mining interests of the State, the trustees determined to establish as soon as possible a department of mining and metallurgy. For several years instruction was given to students in these branches, by Prof J. H. Kerr, in his private laboratory. In the fall of 1880, the basement of the college building was furnished with all the needful appliances for thorough work, and Prof William Strieby, M. E., a graduate of Columbia College School of Mines, was placed in charge of the Department of Mining and Metallurgy. The demand for instruction had proved so great, that the north wing now being added to the college building, through the liberality of Gen. W. J. Palmer, will be devoted to this department. The same donor is also erecting the south wing, in accordance with a promise conditioned upon the raising of a sufficient sum to free the college from debt. The generous action of a number of friends of the institution has enabled the trustees to meet this condition. With the completion of the wings, the building will present a handsome front of a little over one hundred feet. The fiine-toned bell, weighing about eight hundred pounds, which hangs above the center of the building, is the gift of the Hon. Henry W. Austin, of Chicago. In the spring of 1881, two additional pro- fessors were appointed — George H. Stone, a graduate of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Copn., as Professor of Geology, and George N. Marden, as Professor of History and Political Science. The Faculty, as now constituted, con- sists, besides the President, of a Professor of Mathematics and Physics ; one of Metallurgy and Chemistry ; one' of History and Political Science ; one of French, who instructs also in English -Literature ; one of Geology ; and one of Greek and Latin, who instructs also in Anglo-Saxon and German. The plan of in- struction comprises the college course of four years, corresponding in general to the academic course of Eastern institutions, but with con- ~a> V ^-<^^tM/l^n^ ^t^f^. 7 \ULerf l^ HISTOEY OF EL PASO COUNTY. 437 siderable liberty in the choice of studies — the Department of Mining and Metallurgy — and the academy with two courses of studies, each of three years ; first, the classical, which fur- nishes a preparation for the college course ; and second, the normal course. A library of about six thousand volumes, including one thousand donated in 1881 by the 131 Paso County Library Association, has been provided for the use of the students and of the people of the Colorado Springs. In the departments of Natural Science, the college has made an excellent beginning toward the formation of collections. The herbarium illustrating the botany of the State, and pur- chased of M. E. Jones, A. M., contains about twelve hundred specimens. The zoological and mineralogical cabinets have recently received valuable gifts from Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Fowler, Prof J. H. Kerr and others. The following gentlemen constitute the Board of Trustees : His Excellency Frederick W. Pitkin, Gen. William J. Palmer, Hon. Nathaniel P. Hill, Col. George De LaVergne, William H. Willcox, D. D., John R. Hanna, Esq., William A. Bell, M. D., Charles B. Rice, Irving Howbert, Esq., Joseph F. Humphrey, Esq., Hon. Henry W. Aus- tin, James H. Kerr, A. M., Henry Cutler, Esq., Secretary I. N. Tarbox, F. L. Martin, Esq., Rev. Richard C. Bristol, Edwin S. Nettleton, Esq., Hon. Matthew France. Officers: E. P. Tenney, President; J. F. Humphrey, Vice President ; Franc 0. Wood, Esq., Secretary ; Hon. William S. Jackson, Treasurer. CHAPTER IV. THE UTE PARS KOAD. THE project of constructing a practicable road to the mountains through the Ute Pass had virtually slumbered since the de- vastating grasshopper raid of 1865. Sev- eral futile attempts had, indeed, been made to induce the County Commissioners to favor the submission of the question of issuing county bonds for its construction to a vote of the people, but some of them were inimical to the enterprise, and those who moved in the matter had not sufficient confidence in the dis- position of the people to feel warranted in cir- culating a petition for it. This state of som- nolence had continued until the winter of 1870^ 71, when the necessity for the road had become too apparent to be longer ignored. To Judge E. T. Stone more than to any other man is due the credit of perceiving the ripeness of the occasion, and of stepping forward as its expo- nent. He was of the country ; was in no way identified with any town interest, and enjoyed the reputation of forming his conclusions from careful deliberation. Through his efforts, aided by those of the hitherto friends of the road, the subject was brought before the peo- ple, and; on the 20th day of June, 1871, author- ity was given the County Commissioners, by a liberal majority, to issue the bonds of the county for $15,000. Surveys were at once made, and the contract for the work was awarded to E. T. Colton, at $12,000 in bonds, at their par value. Colton began his work with vigor, but labor was high and money was scarce, and the most he could realize on his bonds was 65 to 75 cents on the dollar. Indeed, much of his monej' was raised by hypothecation of the bonds at a ruin- ous rate of interest. As the work progressed, it became apparent that, at even the full face of the bonds, he had taken his contract at much too low a figure, and the County Commissioners very justly awarded him the remaining $3,000. The rock work proved to be much more diffi- cult than had been anticipated, and the uncov- ering of the earth developed the fact that there was more of it, yet, with characteristic persist- ence, the contractor pushed it forward to com- pletion, and surrendered the result of his labor to the county, his private means exhausted, and himself a bankrupt. The road, when completed, fully justified the faith of its advocates, and became one of the most important thoroughfares in the county. The traflSc betweeh Colorado Springs and Lead- ^ (S~ i^ \iL^ 438 HISTOKY or EL PASO COUNTY. ville became so immense that, at one time, it was estimated tliat there were twelve thousand horses and mules employed in the transporta- tion of freight over it. In view of its great utilitj', it would seem that some means should have been found for the compensation of Mr. Colton, if not to the extent that he had been a benefactor, at least sufficiently to relieve his embarrassment. But no one seemed sufficiently interested to move in the matter, and the old gentleman was sufltered to go to his final rest without recompense, and almost without recognition. The completion of the railway to Leadville has detracted to a considerable extent from the importance of this road, yet it is still indispen- sable, and constitutes one of the most fascinat- ing drives in the countj'. CHAPTER V. MANITOU. INTIMATELY associated with the Ute Pass Wagon Road is the delightful watering place of Manitou. We have already mentioned the interest taken by the early settlers in the springs which constitute a leading feature in the attractions of this locality, and to detail the facts of the visitation of Vasquez Coronado, in 1540-42, of Pike in 1806, of Fremont in 1844 and of Ruxton, in 1847, would be but to repeat history. These springs seemed to appeal effectually, to the superstitious nature of the various tribes of Indians visiting them, and the Cheyennes and Arapahoes never permitted themselves to pass them without the observance of some religious ceremonial in the form of characteristic medi- cine dances, and casting various votive offer- ings and discharging quaintly decorated arrows into their waters. The following curious legend, related by Capt. Ruxton, and said by him to have been current at the time of his visit among the Shoshones and Comanches, seems to be pecul- iarly fitting in this connection. He says : The Indians regard with awe the "medicine" waters of these fountains as the abode of a spirit who breathes through the transparent water, and thus, by his exhalations, causes the perturbation of its surface. The Arapahoes, especially, attribute to this water-god the power of ordaining the success or miscarriage of their war expeditions ; and as their braves pass often by the mysterious springs when in search of their hereditary enemies, the Yutas, In the "Valley of Salt," they never fail to bestow their votive offerings upon the water-sprite in order to pro- pitiate the " Manitou" of the fountain and insure a fortunate issue to their "path of war." Thus at the time of my visit the basin of the spring was filled with beads and wampum, and pieces of red cloth and knives, while the surround- ing trees were hung with strips of deer skins, cloth and moccasins. The Snakes, who, in common with all Indians, possess hereditary legends to account for all natural phenomena or au}' extraordinary occurrences which are beyond their ken or comprehension, have, of course, their legendary version of the causes which created, in the midst of their hunting-grounds, these two springs of sweet and bitter water, which are also intimately connected with the cause of separation between the tribes of the Comanche and the Snake. Thus runs the legend: Many hundreds of winters ago, when the cotton- woods on the Big River were no higher than an ar- row, and the red men who hunted the buffalo on the plains all spoke the same language, and the pipe of peace breathed its social cloud of Kinnick-Kinnick whenever two parties of hunters met on the bound- less plains — when, with hunting-grounds and game of every kind in the greatest abundance, no nation dug up the hatchet with another because one of its hunters followed the game into their bounds, but, on the contrary, loaded for him his back with choice and fattest meat, and ever proffered the soothing pipe before the stranger, with well-filled belly, left the village — it happened that two hunters of different nations met one day on a small rivulet, where both had repaired to quench their thirst. A little stream of water rising from a spring on a rock within a few feet of the bank, trickled over it, and fell splashing into the river. To this the hunters repaired; and while one sought the spring itself, where the water, cold and clear, reflected on its surface the image of the surrounding scenery, the other tired by the exertions of the chase, threw himself at once on the ground and plunged his face into the run- ning stream. The latter had been unsuccessful in the chase, and perhaps his bad fortune, and the sight of the fat deer which the other threw from his back, before he drank of the crystal spring, caused a deep feeling of jealousy and ill-humor to take possession of his mind. \> \ IH^ HISTORY or EL PASO COU^SfTY. 439 The other, on the contrary, before he satisfied his thirst, raised in the hollow of his hand a portion of the water, and lifting it toward the sun, reversed his hand, and allowed it to fall to the ground — a libation to the Great Spirit who had vouchsafed him a suc- cessful hunt, and the blessing of the refreshing water with which he was about to quench his thirst. Seeing this, and being reminded that he had neg- lected the usual offering, only increased the feeling of envy and annoyance which the unsuccessful hunter permitted to get the mastery of his heart ; and the Evil Spirit at that moment entering his body, his temper fairly flew away, and sought some pre- tense by which to provoke a quarrel with the stranger Indian at the spring. "Why does a stranger," he asked, rising from the stream at the same time, "drink at the spring- head, when one to whom the fountain belongs contents himself with the water that runs from it." "The Great Spirit places the cool water at the spring," answered the hunter, "that his children may drink it pure and undefiled. The running water is for the beasts which scour the plains. Au-sa-qua is a chief of the Shoshones ; he drinks at the head- water." "The Shoshone is but a tribe of the Comanche," returned the other; "Waco-mish leads the grand nation. Why does a Shoshone dare to drink above him?" "He has said it. The Shoshone drinks at the spring-head; other nations of the stream which runs in the fields. Au-sa-qua is chief of his nation, The Comanche are brothers. Let them drink of the same water." "The Shoshone pays tribute to the Comanche; Waco-mish leads that nation to war; Waco-mish is chief of the Shos-Shone, as he is of his own peo- ple." "Waco-mish lies; his tongue" is forked like the Rattlesnakes; his heart is blank as the Misho-tunga (Bad Spirit). When the Manitou made his children, Shoshone or Comanche, Araj>ahoe, Shian, or Paine, he gave them buffalo to eat, and the pure water of the fountain to quench their thirst. He said not to one, 'Drink here;" and to another, 'Drink there;' but gave the crystal spring to all, that all might drink. " Waco-mish almost burst with rage as the other spoke, but his coward heart alone prevented him from provoking an encounter with the calm Sho- shone. He, made thirsty by the words he had spoken — for the red man is ever sparing of his tongue — again stooped down to the spring to quench his thirst, when the subtle warrior of the Comanche sud- denly threw himself upon the kneeling hunter, and, forcing his head into the bubl)ling water, held him down with all his strength, until his victim no longer struggled, his stiffened limbs relaxed, and he fell for- ward over the spring, drowned and dead. Over the body stood the murderer, and no soonerwas the deed of blood consummated than bitter remorse took possession of his mind, where before had reigned the fiercest passion and vindictive hate. With hands clasped to his forehead, he stood transfixed with horror, intently gazing on his victim, whose head still remained immersed in the fountain. Mechanic- ally he dragged the body a few paces from the water, which, as soon as the head of the Indian was with- drawn, the Comanche saw suddenly and strangely disturbed. Bubbles sprang up from the bottom, and, rising from the surface, escaped in hissing gas. A thin vapory cloud arose, and gradually dissomng, displayed to the eyes of the trembling murderer the figure of an aged Indian, whose long, snowy hair and venerable beard, blown aside by the gentle air from his breast, discovered the well-known totem of the great Wau-kau-aga, the father of the Comanche and Shoshone nation, whom the traditions of the tribe, handed down by skillful hieroglyphics, almost deified for the good actions and deeds of bravery this famous warrior had performed while on earth. Stretching out awar-club toward the affrighted mur- derer, he thus addressed him: "Accursed of my tribe! this day thou hast severed the link between the mightiest nations of the world, while the blood of this brave Shoshone cries to the Manitou for vengeance. May the water of thy tribe be rank and bitter in their tlu-oats! " Thus saying, and swinging his ponderous war-club (made from the elk's horn) round his head, he dashed out the brains of the Comanche, who fell headlong into the spring, which from that day to the present moment remains rank and nauseous, so that, not even when half dead with thirst, can one drink the foul water of that spring. The good Wau-kau-aga, however, to perpetuate the memory of the Shoshone warrior, who was re- nowned in his tribe for valor and nobleness of heart, Struck with the same avenging club a hard, flat rock, which overhung the rivulet, just out of sight of this scene of blood, and forthwith the rock opened into a round, clear basin, which instantly filled with bubbling, sparkling water, than which no thirsty hunter ever drank a sweeter or a cooler draught. Thus two springs remain, an everlasting memento of the foul murder of the brave Shoshone and the stern justice of the good Wau-kau-aga ; and from that day the two mighty tribes of the Shoshone and the Comanche have remained severed and apart; although a long and bloody war followed the treach- erous murder of the Shoshone chief, and many a scalp torn from the head of the Comanche paid the penalty of his death. With such a tragic origin it is not surprising that they are potent to interest the white man equallj' with the red, through other than their medicinal properties. These springs were an important feature in the plans of the colony company, and improve- ments were commenced there simultaneously with those at Colorado Springs. During the winter of 1871-72, the Manitou Hotel was com- pleted and made ready for the anticipated guests of the following season. But its accom- modations were found to be entirely inadequate to the occasion, so that when the summer came, the banks of the streams were literally thronged by the dwellers in tents, and almost every pri- Jdf l^L 440 HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY. vate house was forced to become a house of en- tertainment. Thus were the rosy hallucinations of Pitz Hugh Ludlow, indited ten years pre- vious to this time, prematurely realized. He said ; " When Colorado becomes a State, the Springs of the Fountain will constitute its Spa. In air and scenery no more glorious summer residence could be imagined. The Coloradoan of the future, astonishing the echoes of the Rocky foot-hills, by a railroad from Den- ver to the Colorado Sptings, and running down on Saturday to stop over Sunday with his fam- ily, will have little cause to envy us Easterners our Saratoga, as he paces up and down the piazza of the Spa Hotel, mingling his full- flavored Havana with that lovely air, quite un- breathed before, which is floating down upon him from the snow-peaks of the Range." Other improvements followed from time to time, including hotels, churches, stores, res- taurants, stables, school-building and the grad- ing of streets, until the incipient village began to assume the airs of a fashionable resort. During the summer of 1880, a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway was extended from Colorado Springs to this point, and, at the present time, the citizens of Manitou and her guests are accommodated by a train running to Denver and returning daily. There are now there three flrst-class and other minor hotels, numerous boarding houses and cottages for the accommodation of guests, and a permanent population of about six hundred. A system of water works, competent to sup- ply every house, is fed from Ruxton Creek, near the western limit of Manitou, and extends thence through Colorado City to Colorado Springs, a distance of five miles or more. These important works were inaugurated by Colorado Springs, in 1879, and successfully carried through during that year, at an ex- pense approximating to $100,000. THE PRESS. The press constitutes an insignificant feature of the early history of El Paso County. In 1861, a small sheet — the Colorado Journal — was published, nominally, at Colorado City, but printed in Denver. It was rather a spicy aflair during its fitful career, as might well be presumed, with the name of B. P. Crowell figuring prominentlj^ as its editor ; but it shared the common fate of precocity, and perished during the year. Several considerable attempts were subse- quently made to obtain a press and issue a paper to aid the development of local interests, but all failed through financial impotency. In 1872 the colony company commenced the publication of the Out West, issuing the first number on the 23d of March of that year. Mr. J. W. Liller, an able and facile writer, as editor, conducted this journal with such tact as to render it at once popular. Under the same auspices the Gazette (week- ly) became an entity on the first Saturday in January, 1873, and soon assumed position as one of the prominent papers of the Territory. Its neat appearance and scholarly editorials elicited general admiration. The Miner and Advertiser appeared in March, 1875, and the Free Press in the following April, but both were of short duration. The Deaf-Mute Index, edited and printed by pupils of the institute, was first issued in 1875, and still abide^ — a credit to both institute and pupils. The Mountaineer, under the patronage of citizens who desired a journal independent of corporate influence, was ushered into existence some time during the year 1876, to have a checkered experience, until it fell into the hands of the present editor and proprietor, Mr. Abe Roberts, some two years since, who is making of it both a financial success and a live journal. The Magnet is an advertising sheet published by A. H. Connan. The Capital City was published during the latter part of 1880, but is now no more. There was a spicy little paper published at Monument during several months, but it died for the want of financial support, though it should have been continued. CONCLUSION. In the foregoing paragraphs it has been our aim to be brief and yet to put the leading facts in our history as clearly before the reader as practicable. If we have failed in this, or in any other particular, we crave to be judged lenientlj-. Beginning with the whimsical incident which led to the organization of a party of adventurers to search for gold in the thten mystic region of ^1^ ^ fcc. far away Pike's Peak, we have faintly traced their wanderings, seen them endenizened as citizens on the hither margin of the " Great American Desert," seen their systematic method in the " foundation of empire " in the wilder- ness, their struggles for existence against pov- erty — the usual concomitant of the early pioneer — against those ordinary infelicities inseparable from such enterprises, against the Indian and his fellow scourge, the grasshopper, until we find them reinforced by their fellow countrymen, in a measure triumphant, and generally enjoying a just reward for their pro- tracted efforts. A summary of the result of these efforts so far as it has inured to the development of El Paso County would seem to be a fitting finale to our record. It is not sufficient to say, that so much of the wilderness has been con- quered to civilization, that so considerable a com- munity has been added to the productive ele- ments of the country, that so many homes have been achieved to the homeless by that praise- worthy exertion which forever endears the sense of possession, to impress the average mind that anyj;hing of value has been accom- plished ; but when we are enabled to present all these facts in terms of the Federal currency, all the essential features of the case are clearly rendered. We therefore submit the following statistics of the taxable property of El Paso County for the year 1880: Land, 250,434.11 acres; railway, 49 miles ; value of town-lots, 11,369,- 840 ; value of merchandise, $268,930 ; value of stocks, $30,000; manufacturing capital, $18,- 380 ; monev and credits, $394,390 ; gold, silver and other jproperty, $300,350 ; horses, 4,23^ ; mules, 4,235; cattle, 23,984; sheep, 122,153; swine, 374 ; total valuation, $4,320,320 ; popu- lation, 7,903. liL BIOGRAPHICAL. ROBERT W. ANDERSON. Mr. Anderson, of the firm of Anderson & Gaby, contractors and builders, of Colorado Springs, was born near Ottawa, Canada, Decem- ber 17, 1840. The early portion of his life was spent at working on the farm and in attend- ing public school. At the age of twenty-seven he went to Henrj' County, Mo., where he began work at the carpenter's trade and remained at it one year. He then removed to Eastern Kansas, where he carried on contracting and building for the subsequent six j"ears. In the spring of 1874, he came to Colorado and located in Colo- rado Springs, where he worked at his trade one year. He then began contracting and building and in 1878, formed a partnership with W. D. Gaby, in which business he is still engaged. Mr. Anderson was married in October, 1871, to Miss Mary C. Scott, of Zanesville, Ohio, and has a family of four children — one son and three daughters. DR. W. A. BELL. Dr. W. A. Bell was born in Clonmel, Tipper- ary, Ireland, on April 26th, 1841. His father is an eminent physician, well known in London, having resided in Hartford street, Mayfair, for twenty years. With the view of following his father in the medical profession, he went fi^om school to the University of Cambridge, where he graduated in arts, with first-class honors in the natural science tripos, and took his M. A. degree in 1863. After completing the usual course of medical studies at the London Hos- pital he took his medical degree at the Univer- sity of Cambridge in 1865, and in the winter of 1866-67, visited the United States for the first time, on a tour of recreation. In the spring of 1867, through the influence of Philadelphia friends, he became attached to the Kansas Pacific Railway Surveys, which were organized under the protection of the United States Gov- ernment to determine the best route for a southern trans-continental railway. These sur- veys were extended through New Mexico and Arizona, both by the thirty-second and thirty- fifth parallels to San Francisco, and the results obtained therefrom are contained in a valuable report made by Gen. W. J. Palmer, in 1868, who had sole charge of the expedition. It was during this long course of western travel and exploration that strong attachment first showed itself between Gen. Palmer and Dr. Bell, which has since developed into a life-long friendship and the closest business relations. Returning to England at the close of the ex- pedition in 1868, Dr. Bell commenced the prac- tice of his profession in London, but failing in health again joined Gen. Palmer in Colorado for a six-weeks trip in the summer of 1869. In the summer of 1870, the doctor made his third trip to Colorado, and then the first step was taken towards inaugurating the great system of narrow gauge railways throughout the Rocky Mountains, with which his name has since been associated. This step was the incorporation early in the fall of 1870 of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway Company, after which Gen. Palmer returned with the Doctor to England to study the narrow gauge systems in Europe, and to decide upon the practicability of a cheaper system than that of the standard, 4.8|^ gauge, and one better adapted to the necessities of a mountainous region. The result of their inves- tigations was the adoption of the three-foot gauge, which gauge has since been followed by all subsequent builders of narrow-gauge rail- ways throughout the United States. With Gen. Palmer as President head, with the subject of this as Vice President and Lieutenant, assisted by a small, though most efficient staff of steadfast men, men of whom Colorado will ever be grateful and proud, this great public work, the Denver & Rio Grande Narrow Gauge has prospered and grown to be the most marvellous, as well as one of the most successful railway enterprises on the continent. On the 8th of May, 1873, at St. James' Church, Picca- dilly, London, Dr. Bell married Cora Georgina Whitmore, elder daughter of Whitmore Scovell, Esq., of Weddon, Surrey. Returning with his D 1^ ^ fk^ EL PASO COUNTY. 445 bride to Colorado, he made his permanent home at Manitou, where he erected the first private house which was built in that lovelj' glen, now so well known and admired as the Valley of Manitou. The house is a comfort- able and unpretentious English home trans- ferred to the foot of Pike's Peak. The native shrubberj' and trees have been protected and cared for, shady walks have been cut through them, the dashing mountain brook, the Fon- taine Qui Bouille, has been crossed with rustic bridges, and four acres of land cap- tured from a state of rugged wildness, have been tamed and beautified, and made a bloom- ing garden. The collateral enterprises in which Dr. Bell has been engaged, and with which his name is and has been associated, are many, and are distributed all over the State. In 1869, he negitiated the bonds of the Denver & Pacific Railway Company in Europe, and assisted in the sale of the Maxwell estate, but withdrew from that company when the con- troling interest in 1871 opposed the immediate extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway into it, which he considered vital to the near success of that large property. In the estab- lishmenL of the Colorado Central Improvement Company, which has now grown into such a vast undertaking under its new name of Col- orado Coal and Iron Company, Dr. Bell took an active part, his English clients furnishing about half the capital. Prom 1870 to 1877, financial matters connected with this and the railway companj' obliged him to spend much of his time in Europe. In mining affairs. Dr. Bell has never taken a prominent part, but he has been the means of directing much well- expended capital to Colorado. The founders of the Colorado Mortgage and Investment Company were induced to chose Colorado as the field of operations through the representa- tions of Dr. Bell, at a time, too, when it re- quired confidence, pluck and wise foresight to venture as boldly as thej' did into vast invest- ments so far from home. With the characteris- tic instincts of his nationality. Dr. Bell became a large land-owner almost immediately upon his settlement in Colorado, and his landed estates are among the most beautiful in the State. He is the owner of Manitou Park, an estate of 10,- 000 acres, situated among ihe mountains some nineteen miles northwest of Manitou, and well known to tourists. He also owns the Clifton Hay Farm of 2,000 acres in the Wet Moun- tain Valley, opposite Westcliflfe— a farm that has probably no equal in the State. He is also part owner and trustee of two patented land grants in New Mexico, containing respectively 95,000 and 413,000 acres. In private life he is known to be a lover of music, painting, and especiallj' of architecture. It has always been a source of pleasure and recreation for him to erect a picturesque cottage or villa, or an ar- tistic railway station, such as that at Manitou. He is the owner of that priceless modern art treasure, Moran's picture of the Mountain of the Holy Cross. Manitou, his home, he has steadily promoted in every possible way, for- warding its interests by the erection of its two finest hotels, and in beautifying the place with buildings, fountains, ornamental lakelets, parks and shade trees. Among those who have been prominently connected with the many large enterprises for developing the natural resources of Colorado, none have entered into the work with a greater zeal and enthusiasm, or more untiringly and devotedly at all times to for- ward its progress, having its best interests at heart, than the subject of this sketch. COL. JOHN H. BACON. Col. Bacon is of New England parentage, and was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1828. At the age of twelve he removed with his parents to Coldwater, Mich., where he resided two years, thence to Hillsdale Co., same State. At the age of sixteen, after receiving a limited education in the public schools, he began an apprenticeship at the printer's trade. From 1847 to 1852, he traveled over the Southern States, and worked at his trade. In 1852, he married Miss Mary A. Weaver, of Princeton, 111. In 1854, he removed to Washington, Washington Co., Iowa, where he was engaged in the hotel and liver}' -business twenty-one years. During the late war of the rebellion, he was appointed Provost Marshal of the First District of Iowa. In 1875, he came to Colora- do, located at Colorado Springs, and again en- gaged in the hotel and livery business. During the first year of his residence here, he ran the hotel known as Bacon's Exchange, and from that time until May of the present year, when he sold out to his son, he devoted his attention to the livery business. In 1878, he built a livery stable on Pike's Peak avenue which "a) \ ~s> fe+. 446 BIOGRAPHICAL: at the time of its .completion, was the largest in the State. He is at present devoting his attention to the breeding of fine horses, of which he has a large herd on Four Mile, in the western part of El Paso Co. Col. Bacon was for twenty years an active member of the State Agricultural Society of Iowa, and during that time held various official positions in that so- ciety. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa State College. In the spring of 1880, he was elected Mayor of Colo- rado Springs, which office he honorably filled one year. Col. Bacon is a member of the Re- publican party, and an active politican, but has never sought political emoluments. He is also a strong Prohibitionist. HON. CHARLES W. BARKER. Mr. Barker is a native of New York, and was born in Jefferson Co. of that State, February 1, 1 839. He attended public school until eighteen years of age, and subsequently completed his education at Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio. In 1861, he went to Indianapolis, Ind., and in June of that year enlisted in the First Indiana Cavalry, and served three years as scout. After being honorably mustered-out of the sei-vice, he returned to Indiana, and during the succeeding four years taught school in that State and in Ohio. In 1869, he re- moved to Kansas City, Mo., and was there engaged in the real estate and insurance business six years. In 1875, he came to Colorado, located at Manitou Springs, the famous " health resort," and leased the Manitou House for a term of five years, and entered the hotel business. He then bought and enlarged the hotel, now known as the Barker House, which he has since conducted. Mr. Barker has served on the Town Board of Trustees of Mani- tou Springs two years, and as Secretary of the School Board one "term. In the fall of 1880, he was elected a member of the Lower House of the State Legislature from El Paso County. Mr. Barker was married in 1865 to Mrs. Rebecca S. Rand, of Philadelphia, Penn. PETER E. BAINTER. Mr. Bainter, the enterprising groceryman at Monument, El Paso Co., was born in Henry Co., Ind., July 29, 1848, and is of Holland-Dutch descent. At an earlj- age he removed with his parents to Jefferson Co., Kan., where he remain- ed on a farm and in attending school until six- teen years of age. He then completed his edu- cation at Lane University, at Lecompton, Kan., in 1871. He subsequently engaged in the mer- cantile business in the latter place one year, then clerked in a store at Perry ville, Kan., two years. In 1874, he married Miss Jennie E. Hinton, of that place, and the following year devoted his attention to farming. He then re- moved to Lawrence, same State, and clerked in a store two years, and followed farming one year. In November, 1878, he came to Colorado, located at Monument, and the following spring engaged in the grocery business, to which he has since added flour, hay and grain. Mr. Bainter has a family of two daughters. WILLIAM W. BRYAN. Mr. Bryan is of French and G-erman descent, and was born in St. Louis, Mo., June 15, 1854. He completed his education in the high schools of that city. In 1875, he came to Colorado, and after spending two years as clerk of the bar at the Grand Central Hotel, at Denver, he went to Leadville, where he was engaged in business one year. In 1878, he came to Manitou, and leased the bar and billiard-hall in the Beebee House for a term of five, 3'ears. He has large mining interests at Red CHff and Leadville, and is one of the Directors of the Golden Cornet Silver Mining Company, and of the Iowa Gulch Gold and Silver Mining Company, both operat- ing at the last-named place. T. A. BENBOW, M. D. Dr. Benbow was born in Guilford County, N. C, November 7, 1830. His early life was spent on a farm. At the age of seventeen, through his own efforts, he had acquired suffi- cient education to teach school, at which he was engaged the succeeding fifteen years. During this time he applied himself to reading medicine. In 1862, he was conscripted and taken to Camp Holmes, at Raleigh, N. C, where he was kept for three months, and during his stay there he was assigned a position with the Surgeon of the camp. During this time the rebel Congress passed a law exempting all non-combatants by paying a fine of $500. Dr. Benbow determined to pay the fine and thus free himself and get away from the rebel camp. He returned home the following November, 1862. and again taught school and continued -^ .^ vr ® r- s ^ ^1 l^ EL PASO COUNTY. 447 the study of medicine until the 19th of July, 1864, when he started with his family through the rebel lines, and arrived at New Providence, Harden Co., Iowa. At this place he entered into the old school practice of medicine, but only continued this system for a short time, when he was converted to the Hahnemann theory of practice, which he immediately took up and practiced. In 1866,-67, he attended the Hahne- mann Medical College, at Chicago, where he received a thorough medical' education in the theory and practice of homceopathy. Soon after returning home to his professional duties, he was elected a member of the State Medical Society of Homoeopathic Physicians of Iowa, and also Vice President of said society. lu June, 1873, he came to Colorado and com- menced practice, and in August, 1874, moved his family to Colorado Springs, where he has been actively engaged in his profession. GERRITT S. BARNES. Mr. Barnes, the well-known wholesale and retail dealer in hardware, agricultural imple- ments, etc., in Colorado Springs, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1818. In 1831 he removed to Jefferson County, same State, and subsequently completed his education at Court- land Academy, in Homer, N. Y. From 1836 until 1854 he followed farming, then went to Dodge County, Wis., where he was engaged in the hardware business nineteen years. In 1873, owing to failing health, he came to Colorado, located at Colorado Springs, and again em- barked in that business, and at present carries the largest stock of hardware and agricultural implements in the State. GEORGE C. BANNING. Among the pioneers of El Paso County who have endured the hardships and deprivations of frontier life and become familiar with the his- tory and growth of the State, is the above named gentleman. He was born in Lorraine County, Ohio, July 9, 1836. His early life, until his fifteenth year was spent on the paternal farm. In 1851, he went to Henry County, 111., where he worked on a farm three years. From there he went to Iowa City, and there drove a hack until 1858, then returned to Illinois where he remained one year. In the spring of 1859, when the news of the rich discoveries of gold at Pike's Peak were heralded throughout the East, he started for the new El Dorado ; but on arriving at Big Sandy, in the eastern part of this State, he met hundreds of parties return- ing, who gave such discouraging accounts of this country that he joined the stampede and returned to Illinois. In the spring of 1860, he again came to Colorado, and after spending some time at Boulder, Gold Hill and Denver, went to Central City, G-ilpin Co., where he engaged in mining a short time. He then began freighting between Denver and Central City, and in buying cattle for the markets of the latter place. The following fall he worked in a saw-mill in Georgia Gulch three months, then came to Colorado Ciiy, El Paso Co., and from here took an ox-train back to Plattsmouth, Neb., and from there went to Illinois. In the spring of 1862, he returned to Colorado City, and from that to 1866 was engaged in raising and buying and selling stock. During the latter year he removed with his family to Oregon, where he remained two years variously engaged. He then returned to Colorado City, and during the succeeding four years was en- gaged in freighting between Colorado City and the mountain camps. In 1872, he went to San Juan in Southwesterm Colorado, where he followed mining and teaming eight years. During the summer of 1880, he bought a one- third interest in the Luona Mine in the Elk Mountains of Gunnison County, which has since been stocked at $4,000,000, and located seven leads on the same mountain. After two decades Mr. Banning is reaping the reward for which he has earnestly labored and for which he left the civilization of the East for the wilds of the Far West. His home since 1862 has been principally at Colorado Cit}', where he still resides. Mr. Banning was married in 1858 to Miss Melissa Rose, of Newton, Iowa, and has a family of two sons. J. W. COLLINS, M. D. The above named physician was born in Green County, Ala., December 22, 1835, and is of Irish and Scotch descent. His education was completed in the University of Alabama, at Tus- caloosa. At the age of twenty-two he began reading medicine under Dr. James J. Forrester, at which he continued two years. At the expir- ation of this time he entered the medical de- partment of the University of Louisiana, at New Orleans, from which he graduated March "7^ I 3 I 9 > 448 BIOGRAPHICAL: 20, 1860. He then began the practice of medi- cine in Marengo County, Ala., until September 13, 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Third Alabama Cavalry, as Third Sergeant. He served in this ofHce until August, 1862, when, after an examination by the Medical Board, he was promoted to Surgeon, and was assigned to the Eighth Regular Tennessee Infantry. In De- cember, 1863, was re-assigned to the First Ten- nessee Infantrj-, with which he served until the spring of 1864, when he was assigned to his old company, the Third Alabama Cavalry. After the close of the war he located in Clark County, Miss., where he practiced his profession five years. He then removed to Jackson, Tenn., in 1869, where he continued at his profession until 1879. He then removed to Colorado Springs, and has been actively en- gaged in the practice of medicine. Dr. Collins was married in 1856 to Miss L. E. Gilmore, of Gaston, Ala., and is the head of a family of four children — two sons and two daughters. HON. JOHN B. COCHRAN. Mr. Cochran, a member of the legal profes- sion of Colorado Springs, was born in Spencer Co., Ky., July 19, 1824, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His early life, until attaining his eighteenth year, was spent on a farm and in attending private schools. He subsequently went to Lexington, Ky., and entered the Tran- sylvania University, from which institution he graduated. He then determined to adopt the legal profession, and began applying himself studiously to the studj' of law. After being admitted to the bar, he began practice at Shelby- ville, in his native State, and from that time until the spring of 1880 practiced there and at Louisville, Ky. He then came to Colorado Springs where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Cochran served four years in the Kentucky Legislature, an unconditional Unionist, and did much to prevent his State from seceding. He was married in 1855 to Miss Magdalen M. Cochran, of Virginia, a lineal descendant of Col. Charles Lewis, who perished at the head of his regiment at the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, and has a family of two sons. CAPT. GILES CRISSEY. Mr. Crissey, an enterprising lumber dealer of Colorado Springs, was born in Fairfield Co., Conn., April 9, 1840. At the age of seven he re- moved with his parents to Warren Co., 111., where he attended public school until fifteen years of age, and subsequently spent one year at Lombard College, in Galesburg, 111. He then clerked in a general mercantile store in Greenbush, 111., and from there went to x\von, Fulton Co., same State, where he continued in that occupation three years longer. In 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-third Illinois Voluntger Infantry, and was, by his com- pany, elected Orderly Sergeant. His company was sent to Fort Henry, and subsequently was stationed at Fort Donelson, and at Clarksville and Nashville, Tenn. In 1863, he was promot- ed to rank of Captain, and in the spring of 1865 was honorably mustered-out of the service. He then returned to Fulton Co., 111., where he was engaged in the lumber business until 1873. During the latter year he came to Colorado and located in Colorado Springs, where he has since been actively engaged in the lumber busi- ness. In 1878, he was elected a member of the City Council, which office he honorably filled one term. Capt. Crissey was married in January 1867, to Miss Ellen Mings, of Avon, 111., and has a family of four children — tw'o sons and two daughters. CAPT. WILLIAM L. CONANT. Capt. Conant, of the wholesale and retail grocery firm of Conant & Thedinga, in Colo- rado Springs, was born in New York City May 30, 1841. After attending the public schools of that city he completed his education at the age of nineteen, in Thompson's Boarding School, at Port Chester, N. Y., whither his par- ents had removed. He then entered his father's store in the capacity of clerk. In 1861, on the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, he en- listed in Company A, of the Forty-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, and remained with that company fifteen months. He then received a commission as First Lieutenant of Company P, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York Volunteers, and was soon afterward promoted to the rank of Captain and remained with his com- pany, participating in all of its engagements until the close of the war, when he was honor- ably mustered out of the service. He then re- turned home and from that time until 1871 clerked in his father's store, and during four years of the time held the position of Post- vn .1 1 '5) r --» — ^l^, EL PASO COUNTY. 449 master. He then came to Colorado, and after clerking in a store at Black Hawk, Grilpin County, one j'ear, removed to Colorado Springs, where he has since resided, being engaged in clerking for different firms until December, 1880, when he, in company with J. H. Thedinga, succeeded S. Sessler in the grocerj' business. Capt. Conant was married in October, 1870, to Miss Etta C. Downs, of Huntington, N. Y., and has one daughter. HAKVEY CLEMENT. Mr. Clement, of the well-known contracting firm of Clement & Russell, and the proprietors of the marble works on Nevada avenue, Colo- rado Springs, was born in Union County, Ohio, July 15, 1848. He is of English and Welsh descent. His early life was spent in attending the public schools and the high school of Marysville, Ohio. In 1865, he removed with his parents to Ottawa, Kan., where he com- pleted his education at the Ottawa College, in his twentieth year. He subsequently worked on his father's fruit farm three years. In the spring of 1872, he began an apprenticeship at the stone-cutting trade. The following spring he came to Colorado Springs and continued to work at his trade, until completing it in 1875. He then formed a partnership with his brother- in-law, D. A. Russell, and began contracting, and in January, 1880, established the marble works, which they have since carried on in connection with contracting. Mr. Clement was married in the fall of 1871 to Miss Arabella Russell, of London, Kan., and has a family of two children, a son and a daughter. NATHAN 8. CULVER, M, D. Dr. Culver was born in Milton, Rock County, Wis., May 1, 1842. He attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, then entered Milton Academy, where he remained until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion in 1861. He then enlisted in the Randall Guards of the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and after serving a short time was called home, owing to the serious illness of his father, and there remained one year in charge of the paternal farm. He then determined to adopt the medical profession, and went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he began to apply himself studious- ly to reading medicine, Dr. R. W. Hathaway being his preceptor. After remaining in that city four years, engaged in the study and prac- tice of medicine, he entered the Pennsylvania University in Philadelphia, from which he graduated and received the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1866. He then went to Roches- ter,' Minn., where he resumed and continued practice six years, and in connection therewith established a large wholesale and retail drug- store. In 1873, owing to overwork and bron- chial troubles, he closed up his business and came to Colorado, located in Colorado Springs, and gave his attention to the mining business until 1878. Dr. Clil\»fer is prominently identified with the mining interests of Colorado. He is one of the principal owners of the Osceola Mine at Sunshine, Boulder County ; President of the Culver Mining Company, operating in Ouray County ; Vice President of the Silver Wing Mining & Reduction Company of La Plata County ; the originator and one of the Directors of the Little Willie Mining Company of Gunnison County, and owns various other interests. When Colorado Springs was incor- porated as a city, he was elected Alderman of the First Ward, and subsequently served as Treasurer of the School Board. In the fall of 1878, he was elected State Treasurer. Owing to failing health, he could not stand confine- ment in the office, and appointed his brother George his Deputy, to take charge of the active work. During his term, he ably and efficiently conducted the business of the office by personal and written instructions, which were faithfully carried out by his trustworthy Deputy. Since his residence in this city. Dr. Culver has always been distinguished for his public spirit. He is a good financier and bears an untarnished repu- tation. He has always been an earnest, hard- working Republican, and deserves well of his party. MAJ. H. H. DE MARY. This gentleman ranks among the oldest pioneers of Colorado, coming here as he did in 1859. He was born in Genesee County, N. Y., December 4, 1814. His parents were farmers, and he remained with them until he was twentj' years old, working on the farm summers and attending district school winters. He was then given his time and started life for himself by chopping cord-wood for 25 cents per cord. At the age of twenty- two, he went to work on the Tonawanda Railroad, as foreman of a construc- tion train, at $1.25 per day ; was thus engaged K* A^ ^ku. 450 BIOGRAPHICAL: eighteen months. He was afterward proprietor of a butcher-shop in Westchester for two years. In 1840, he engaged to travel for the Zoological Company and Sand's American Circus ; was with them four years, two of which they spent in Europe. From 1844 to 1847, he conducted his father's farm, and during this time was married to Mrs. Jane Raworth. He has one daughter, who is married and lives in Chicago, 111. The next five years of his life he spent working on the railroad as contractor. In 1 852, he went to Chicago, where he remained until he came to Colorado. While there he was Con- stable two years and Justice of the Peace three years. The first year in Colorado he spent in mining and then sold out for $10,000. In 1860, he went back to Chicago, to vote for Lincoln, and engaged in the flour and feed business. But his taste for Western life was so strong, he sold out in 1861, and came back to Colorado. During the early part of the war of the re- bellion, he was Assistant Major General of the State Militia. Summoned to appear in Denver on his way to the latter place, he fell in with a band of jay-hawkers, commanded by a man by the name of Reynolds, who had been driven out of Fairplay only a short time before. They captured the Major and his party,, took them to a house and placed them under guard. The same afternoon they captured and robbed the mail-coach and disabled it by cutting out the spokes of the wheels, and placed all under oath not to leave until sunrise the following morning. The robbers took $120 from De Mary, and one exchanged hats with him. The hat the robber left was a curiosity, and the Major was obliged to wear it to Denver, where he had to introduce himself to his most intimate friends. The fol- lowing morning, by early dawn, the Major was out giving the alarm, and a short time after the whole gang were surprised by a party of pursuers from Gouge Eye Gulch who had been notified of their depredations, -and all were killed but one. The robbers, a party of nine, were men from the border of Arkansas and Texas. They had come to Colorado for the purpose of obtaining recruits to form a com- pany sufficiently strong to rob the banks in Denver. In 1862, Maj. De Mary was appoint- ed Provost Marshal for Park County ; held this position for eleven months. He then went to California Gulch and engaged in placer mining. He was County Commissioner for Lake County for three years. He was in the Council for Lake County for two years. He was appointed by Gov. Evans Major General of the Militia. In 1879, he went on to a cattle ranch, twenty miles north of Canon City, where he still lives. DANIEL DURKEE. Daniel Durkee, proprietor of the drug store on the corner of Tejon and Huerfano streets, Colorado Springs, was born in South Royalton, Vermont, September 1, 1852. He completed his education at the Royalton Academy at the age of seventeen. He then served three years in a drug store at Windsor, Vt., and subse- quently had charge of a drug store two years at Lebanon, N. H. He then went to Indian- apolis, Ind., where he held the position of book- keeper for Fairbanks Scale Company two years, after which he engaged in the drug business in that city. In the fall of 1879, he came to Colorado and located in Colorado Springs and opened a drug store, in which business he is still engaged. During the fall of 1880, he be- came one of the stockholders and was elected a Director of the East Leadville Town Site and Reduction and Smelting Works Company, of which he is at present Vice President. Mr. Durkee was married in May, 1880, to Miss Anna Downs, of Lebanon, N. H. GEORGE DELAVERGNE. This gentleman is, as his name implies, of French descent, and was born in Marietta, Ohio, August 9, 1837. At an early age he, with his parents, removed to Cumberland County, Tenn., where he spent the first years of his life, and by his own efforts acquired an education. At the age of nineteen, he went to Seneca, Kan., where he remained two years, but at the expira- tion of that time he returned to Tennessee, where he arrived just in time to cast his vote against the secession of that State, having had to go to the polls armed. The alarming situa- tion, however, compelled him to leave that State, and he proceeded to Brooklyn, N. Y., and when the war of the rebellion was finally de- clared, he enlisted in the Forty-Seventh Brook- lyn Infantry, who volunteered for the three months' service. He was promoted through the non-commissioned offices, and subsequently, upon the advice of his officers, and the recom- mendations of Gov. Brownell, he went to Ken- tucky, and formed a regiment of Tennessee 1^ ^a-^^ o<:^a^^9k. oO, 'M^ EL PASO COUNTY. 453 refugees, known as the Eighth Tennessee Vol- unteer Infantry. After serving in the subor- dinate offices, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Division of the Twenty- third Army Corps, under command of Gen. Hartsuff, at that time doing service in East Tennessee. At the battle of Lost Mountain, he was overcome by fatigue and concussion, and was sent to the hospital at Lookout Mount- ain, and subsequently to Cincinnati, Ohio. After partially recovering, not being able for field service, he was detailed on special duty under Gen. Hooker, at Cincinnati, and sub- sequently was sent to Detroit, Mich., under command of Gen. Ord, where, at the close of the rebellion, he was honorably mustered out of service. After peace was declared, he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at Chattanooga, Tenn., in which he was engaged until 1867, when he closed out his business. He then removed to Clinton, Mo., where he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1873, when he sold out his interests and accepted the joint-position of Secretary and Treasurer of a wholesale nursery in that county. In 1876, owing to his wife's ill health, he resigned his position, and, with his family, made a jour- ney to the Sandwich Islands, where he remained during that winter, and returned to Missouri .in the spring, but did not remain there long. He then emigrated to Colorado, and has found this climate to be very benefical to his wife's health. Upon his arrival here, he bought Kigg's ranch, one mile south of Colorado Springs, and since that time has been engaged in ranch- ing, stock-raising and the culture of fish, having a splendid fish-pond with facilities for hatching. He is also largely connected with the mining interests in Gunnison County, being the Vice President of the Silver Mountain Mining Com- pany. Mr. De La Vergne is a member of the Board of Trustees, and one of the Executive Committee of the Colorado College. He is prominently identified with the Presbyterian Church of this city, being its Kuling Elder, and has been the Superintendent of its Sunday School for the past three years. He is also a friend and strict adherer to the temperance cause. He was married at Nashville, Tenn., January 2, 1867, to Miss Emily Eice, daughter of Will- iam H. Rice, missionary to the Sandwich Islands, and has two sons. ANDREW J. DOWNING. This gentleman, a hardware merchant of Col- orado Springs, was born in Steuben County, Ind., September 21, 1851. His early life was spent on a farm and in acquiring an education, which he completed in the High School of Quincy, Mich., at the age of eighteen. In 1870, he came to Colorado, and during the succeeding six years worked at the carpenter's trade in various parts of the State. In 1876, he located in Colorado Springs and embarked in the butchering business. In February, 1880, he opened a hardware, stove and tinware store on Huerfano street, in which business he has since been successfuUj' engaged. Mr. Downing was married, in 1874, to Miss Louisa Melvin, and has one daughter. F. E. DOW. Mr. Dow, the well known ready-made cloth- ing merchant in Colorado Springs, was born in Erie County, N. Y., June 10, 1845. At an earljr age, he removed with his parents to De Kalb County, 111., where he attended public school until his eighteenth year ; then spent one year at Hillsdale College, in Hillsdale, Mich. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until February, 1866, his regiment having been de- tailed on guard duty after the close of the re- bellion. After being honorably mustered out of the service, he went to Chicago, 111., and entered Eastman's Business College, from which he graduated that year. From there he went to Courtland, 111., and embarked in the drug business, continuing the same until June, 1868. He then sold out, and went to Olathe, Kan., and engaged in the clothing business, in com- pany with his brother, J. H. Dow. In 1873, owing to failing health, he came to Colorado, and after spending three months traveling over the State, located in Colorado Springs, where he has since resided. In the fall of 1877, he opened a clothing store on Tejon street, and, through perseverance and close attention to business, is building up a good trade. During the past year, Mr. Dow has erected a fine resi- dence on North Tejon street, where he now resides, with pleasant and comfortable surround- ings. In the spring of 1876, he was elected to the joint office of Clerk aiid Treasurer of Col- orado Springs, and at the expiration of his terra of two years was re-elected ; but, owing to the ^i •k^ 454 BIOGRAPHICAL: pressure of private business, resigned the Clerk- ship, and continued to serve as Treasurer two years longer, having discharged his duties with ability, and with credit to himself and the city. Mr. Dow was married to Miss Helen E. Hayden, of Sycamore, 111., in 1867, and has a family of three daughters. DAVID DE GRAFF. Mr. De Graff, who, during the past ten years has been prominently identified with the stock- growing interests of El Paso County, was born in Ulster County, N. Y., in February, 1826. He remained at home on ]^is father's .farm until fourteen years of age, then followed boating on North River three years. He subsequentlj' served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, at which he worked eight years. In the fall of 1851, he went to California via the Nicaragua route and worked at his trade six years in San Francisco, and during the succeeding seven years followed mining in Trinity County. In 1864, he returned to Ulster County, N. Y., and bought a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits six years. In 1871, he came to Colo- rado and bought a stock ranch of 160 acres in El Paso County, eight miles southeast of Colorado Springs, and engaged in stock-raising. In 1873, he returned East and brought his fam- ily out. He has since purchased additional lands, until he now owns 10,000 acres, all under fence, 250 of it being agricultural land, and at present has a herd of 5,700 sheep and over 300 cattle. Mr. De Graff was married in the fall of 1866, to Miss Emma Varse, of Sullivan, N. Y., and has two daughters. CAPT. M. L. DeCOURSEY. Capt. DeCoursey, a real estate and insurance agent in Colorado Springs, was born in Phila- delphia, Penn., February 12, 1842. He received his education in the public schools of that city, graduating from the high school at the age of sixteen. He then entered the employ of Alfred Slade & Co., dry goods commission merchants, with whom he remained until 1861 ; then en- listed in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under command of Gen. William J. Palmer, now President of the D. & R. G. E. R. Co., by whom he was promoted tp the rank of Captain, in which capacity he served until 1863, when he was appointed Chief Clerk in the Provost Mar- shal General's office of the United States, at Washington, and Confidential Clerk to Gen. James B. Fry, Provost Marshal General of the United States. After the close of the rebellion, he entered the service of Jay Cooke, as travel- ing agent, and assisted him in placing his 7-30 bonds on the financial market. He was em- ployed in this capacity six months ; then em- barked in the dry goods commission business in Philadelphia, being the junior partner of the firm of Hamilton, Evans & DeCoursey. In 1871, he closed up his business and came to Colorado. Subsequently, he aided Gen. Palmer in organizing the National Land & Improve- ment and the Colorado Springs Companies, of which he became first Secretary and Treasurer. In 1876, he resigned his positions in Colorado, and returned East, accepting the position of Chief Clerk under the Passenger Agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Harrisburg, Penn., with whom he was employed until 1880. He then returned to Colorado, and located at Colo- rado Springs, where he has since resided, en- gaged in -the real estate and insurance business. Capt. DeCoursey was married, in 1868, to Miss Mary A. Stovell, of Philadelphia, Penn., and has a family of four children. S. DAVIS, D. D. S. Dr. Davis was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., November 20, 1839. He received his early education at Richmond, Ohio. In 1861, on the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the Second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry and served two years. He then deter- mined to adopt the' profession of dentistry, and began study. Prof G. T. Barker being his pre- ceptor. He subsequently practiced in Center- ville, Penn., a number of years. In 1870, he entered the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia, from which he gradu- ated and received the degree of D. D. S. in the spring of 1871, his number of years of practice being equivalent to one course of lectures. He then located in Parker City, Penn., where he practiced dentistry until he was burned out in 1878, when he came to Colorado, located in Colorado Springs, where he has since been actively engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. E. J. EATON. Mr. Baton, County Clerk and Recorder of El Paso County, was born at Tonica, -C c ^1 l^ 480 HISTORY or CHAFFEE COUNTY. irrigation, taking the water from the Cotton- wood Creek. This tract of land, and indeed all of the land bordering on the creek was easy of cultivation, having considerable depth of soil, and producing large crops of potatoes, oats, peas and turnips. Hay was also pro- duced in abundance for which there was always a ready market at f3;ood prices. The same year Benjamin Schwander took up a ranch on the east side of the river near the mouth of Trout Creek, which he has cultivated every year since and now owns. The follow- ing season William Bale, afterward Sheriff of the county, John McPherson and J. E. Gonell, with others settled along the Cottonwood, tak- ing up the ranches now owned and occupied by Hugh and James Mahon, J. T. and E. B. Bray. James McPhelemy occupies the ranch first taken by Frank Loan, who afterward took up the ranch, a part of which is included within the corporate limits of Buena Vista, and known as Loan's Addition to Buena Vista. August 7, 1865, Cottonwood was made an election precinct, embracing all the territory south of the bridge across the Arkansas, and J. E. Gonell, William Bale and Andrew Bard were appointed Judges of Election. During this year Galatia Sprague, E. Mat Johnston, John Gilliland, Matthew Rule and others had settled at Brown's Creek, and under the stimulus of successful farming as well as placer mining on the river near the mouth of the creek, so thriving a town had grown up that Browns- ville was made an electioh precinct iu Novem- ber of the same year, embracing all of the county from Chalk Creek to the southern line of the county, and John Gilliland, G. M. Huntzicker and John Weldon were appointed Judges of Election, the election to be held at the house of Matthew Rule. In the following spring, 1866, John Bur- nett and Nat. Rich with others, settled on the South Arkansas, near the present town of Poncha Springs, and in July of the same year the South Arkansas was declared an election precinct, embracing all of the county south of Sand Creek, and W. Christison liv- ing on Adobe Park, John Burnett and Nat. Rich were appointed Judges of Election, the election to be held at the house of Nat. Rich. At the election this year the question of the removal of the county seat from Oro to Day- ton, near the head of the upper lake of the Twin Lakes, was voted upon, and Dayton receiving the required majority of the votes cast, was declared the county seat. Septem- ber 3, the County Commissioners, Peter Caruth, William Bale and George Leonhardy held their first meeting at Dayton. At this meeting the road from the divide, near the head of Trout Creek, was declared a public highway. The following year a road was laid out from the top of the Divide at Poncha Pass, following along Poncha Creek, crossing the South Arkansas at the bridge on claim of George Hendricks, to the schoolhouse on Brown Creek, and thence to the bridge cross- ing the Arkansas River just above the mouth of Trout Creek. These roads opened, gave comparatively easy communication between the northern and southern portions of the county, and taking into consideration the difficulties attending the building of a road along the narrow canons of the Arkansas River, as became necessary between River- side and Granite, and the thinly scattered population of this part of the county, too much credit cannot be given these hardy pio- neers for their liberal expenditures of time and money in opening up the country. Dis- coveries of mineral about the head of Clear Creek during the early part of this season, 1867, created considerable excitement, and there being a sufficient number of votes in the district, it was in July declared an elec- tion precinct, called La Plata, and embraced all of the territory drained by the waters of Clear Creek. Granite was also made an election precinct this same year. In the spring tff 1868, R. B. Newitt took up a ranch on the divide, near the head of Trout Creek, which soon became knovm as " Chubb's " Ranch, and was the favorite stop- • ping place for all coming from Denver and Colorado Springs into the valley of the Arkansas, and has since become the center of a mining camp, which has very promising properties. During this year Charles Nach- trieb, living on Chalk Creek, built a grist- mill, which for a time was fully supplied with wheat grown on the neighboring ranches, but as transportation became less expensive, ;^ -T^Aajul^/X _S) h^ HISTOEY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 483 by the opening of new roads from Denver and Canon City, it was fonnd that other crops could be raised to greater advantage than wheat and the cultivation of this cereal was abandoned. Granite had now become of sufficient im- portance to aspire to the rank of "county seat," and at the election this year, there being a large majority of the votes cast in favor of Granite, it was declared the county seat, the , citizens contributing liberally toward defraying the expense of removing the Court House from Dayton to Granite. The first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held at the new county seat October 8, 1868, Peter Caruth being Chairman, Walter H. Jones and J. G. Ehrhart members, and Thomas Keyes Clerk and Recorder. The rich ores discovered in the lode claims about Granite, the success in placer mining along the river at Cache Creek and Lost Canon, and the abundant crops raised by the ranchmen gave a new and fresh impetus to the growth of the county, which had been somewhat checked by the diminishing prod- uct of gold from California Gulch, and for several years the county increased in wealth and population, but the failure to success- fully reduce the ores, which near the surface were free milling, but as depth was gained became refractory, reacted unfavorably and for a period of five or six years, or until about the time of the discovery of carbonates at Leadville, the county made but little prog- ress. Some discoveries of mineral had been made about Chalk Creek in 1872; but little atten- tion, however, was paid to mining in this and the southern part of the county. This portion of the county being peculiarly well adapted to grazing, the cattle men, among whom Joseph Hutchinson for himself , and as agent for Messrs. Gaff & Bailey, invested largely in cattle, and which for a few years proved a profitable investment; but as the lands became settled and the ranges for the cattle restricted, the business became unprofitable and at the present time but few cattle, com- paratively, are owned in the county. The numerous streams coming into the Arkansas from the west afford abundant water for irri- gation, but early in the spring of 1874 a difficulty arose in regard to water and certain ditches from Brown Creek, that resulted in the killing of George Harrington, a ranch- man, and a neighbor, Elijah Gibbs with whom he had had a dispute the day before, was arrested and tried for the murder but acquit- ted, there being no evidence against him, the trial taking place at Denver. After he had returned to his ranch in the fall of 1874, an attempt was made to arrest and lynch him, which resulted in his killing three of the party making the attempt. A safety com- mittee, so-called, was soon after organized, and several parties were ordered to leave the county. Judge E. F. Dyer, then County and Probate Judge, but acting as a Justice of the Peace, upon complaint being made before him, issued warrants for the arrest of certain of this committee. In obedience to the sum- mons, they with associates appeared at Gran- ite for trial, heavily armed, the Sheriff claim- ing his inability to disarm them, and after the dismissal of the case on the morning of July 3, 1875, Judge Dyer was brutally assas- sinated, shot dead in the court room. The assassins escaped and but little effort was made to discover or arrest them. In the set- tlement of a new, and particularly a mining country, there has always been more or less killing in disputes over real or fancied wrongs for which some excuse may be found or offered, but none has ever been offered for this cow- ardly murder of Judge Dyer, and it remains the foulest blot upon the early history of the county. Numerous murders have been committed and but few convictions have been had, one cause for which may be in this, that until the present year, there has been only one session each year in this county of the District Court, which alone has jurisdiction in capital cases, and the difficulty of keeping prisoners if arrested, having no jail, or of transporting them to some other county for safe keeping and of securing witnesses, added to the unwillingness of juries to convict in such cases as have been tried, has given courage to the assassin, in the belief that he could read- ily escape, to kill whenever there was the I >3 ■ ^ i±^ 484 HISTORY or CHAFFEE COUNTY. slightest provocation; but with the growth of the county since the advent of the railroad, and the rapid increase in population of more cultivated and law-abiding citizens, the intro- duction of churches, and it was not until 1879, that any building, erected for or devoted to religious purposes was built in the county; schoolhouses had been built and the appro- priation of money, both from taxes assessed and private subscriptions, had been liberal, and in these schoolhouses occasionally relig- ious services had been held — this rough ele- ment that had so long held sway in the county fast disappeared, and one may now feel as secure here in the possession and enjoyment of life and property as anywhere in the older States. Game was abundant in the early days, elk, deer, mountain sheep, antelope and bison. The bison had almost entirely disap- peared when the first settlers came in. Elk soon retired beyond the range to the west, and the mountain sheep have been found of late years only on the most rugged and least accessible mountain ranges. The " mule- eared " or " black-tail " deer and antelope are still found more plentiful, but are fast disap- pearing. Wild turkeys were common in the southern part of the county, now seldom seen. The streams, clear and cold from the melting snows, were literally full of trout, and even now the disciple of the gentle Isaac goes out in the early morning and returns with a more than "fisherman's luck," his basket filled with the speckled beauties. It was a paradise for the Indians who had made this their sum- mer hunting-grounds for years, and which they gave up with reluctance and retired to the reservation west of the Main Range. Colo- row and his band were here every summer, imtil the Government compelled them to remain on the Reservation, and whenever refused in the demands he would make for provisions, or whatever else he happened to want, would order the settlers to leave. Mr. John D. Coon, an early settler near Brown's Creek, was frequently ordered to leave, as were others, but no violence was com- mitted, nor do we know that the Indians ever committed any murders in the county. They were friendly to the whites, and the settlers never felt under any apprehensions of danger from them, until the White River massacre in September, 1879, when a rumor that they had crossed the range and were determined to drive the whites out of the val- ley of the Arkansas, caused the greatest con- sternation all along the river, and many pre- pared to leave, but it was soon found that there was no danger of any raid being made by them on this side of the range, and quiet was soon restored. It is impossible to speak in detail of the many personal experiences in the settlement and development of the coimtry, the depriva- tion and hardships endured and suffered by these hardy men and women through the first years, when communication with the outer world, for the larger number of them, was had only at long intervals, the bio- graphical sketches, included in this volume, of the older and more prominent settlers in the county affording a clearer and better his- tory of early days in the county than it would be possible for me to give. The first election in the county was held in October, 1879, and Josiah T. Bray Chairman, T. I. Briscoe and W. H. Champ were elected Board of Coimty Commissioners; James H. Johnston, Clerk and Recorder; L. J. Morgan, Sheriff; E. R. Emerson, Treasurer; Dr. A. E. Wright, Cor- oner; George L. Sinith, Superintendent of Schools; Daniel DeVroey, Assessor; W. R. Whipple, Surveyor. The present oflSicers of the county, 1881, are: W. H. Champ, Chair- man, T. I. Briscoe and C. A. Montross, mem- bers of Board of County Commissioners; James H. Johnston, Clerk and Recorder; T. M. S. Rhett, County Attorney; E. H. Stafford, Sheriff; S. S. Sindlinger, County Judge; E. R. Emerson, Treasurer; Dr. A. E. Wright, Coroner; George L. Smith, Superintendent of Schools; E. Shaul, Assessor; W. R. Whip- ple, Surveyor. The county has been well and ably repre- sented in the councils of the State. Before the admission of the State into the Union, and while under Territorial organization, it was represented by Hon. Julius C. Hughes, who was a member of the Assembly and afterward of the Council. J. G. Ehrhart, one of the early settlers on Brown Creek, was also a member of the Assembly. Joseph Hutchin- ^ HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 485 son -was a member of the Assembly before the admission of the State, and elected at the first election after, as Representative for two years. KED MOUNTAIN DISTBICT. Red Mountain District, located in the northwestern part of the county, on the head waters of Lake Creek. Discoveries of min- eral made here in 1864, created an excitement that pervaded nearly the whole State. Min- ing companies were organized in which the more prominent men of the State were inter- ested. The mineral was found in immense quantities, the belt being some three miles in length and deposits varying from one-half mile to one mile in width, generally sulphur- ets of iron and copper, carrying from $2 to $10, gold and silver, per ton, though assays of ,1 much higher grade were obtained. The decomposition of the iron had given to the quartz the red color of oxydized iron, and this was so general that the whole surface of the mountain appeared to be of this one color, and gave to the district its name. Difficul- ties of transportation, the low grade of ores and the want of facilities for treatment led to the abandonment of the camp, and but little interest has been manifested in the district since the first years. CACHE CEBEK. Cache Creek, a small stream that joins the Arkansas River at a point nearly opposite Granite, and has its source in the gulches of Lost Canon Mountains. Gold was discovered here early in the spring of 1860, and a town was started, that at one time had a popula- tion of over 300. The first post office in the county being established here, and prior to the settlement at Granite on the river, the town was located about two miles from the mouth of the creek. Placer or gulch mining was carried on at this time by the old process of Toms and sluices, the yield being from |2 to $20 per day to each man. The mining claims were 100 feet each along the creek and running back to the bank, the depth not being definitely fixed, and each claim had the right to a certain amount of water furnished from the ditch which had been dug. by the miners in common. In 1863, Cache Creek was declared an election precinct, including all the territory on the Arkansas River extending from Young America Gulch above Lake Creek on the north to Brown Creek south, a distance, of some thirty-three miles ; at this time, min- ers were at work all along the river, and Cache Creek was the settlement to which they resorted for supplies, letters and news from the outside world. "Richie's Patch," on Cache Creek Park, discovered and worked by Richie, was opened in 1864, and was famous for the amount of coarse gold taken out, nug- gets weighing several ounces being frequently found. It is now owned bj the Gaff Mining Company, but is not worked at the present time. In 1865, the Gaff Mining Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, purchased the claims in Cache Creek and have since added Bertschy Gulch, Gold Run, West Banks, Richie's Patch, Oregon Gulch, Long Gulch and Lake Creek Claims, with other properties, and dumping ground on the Arkansas River; some of these properties are in the new county of Lake, the line dividing the county of Lake passing through Cache Creek Park, which lies between Lake Creek and Cache Creek. The company are now working, principally, the Cache Creek Mines; they have constructed a bed rock flume nearly two miles in length, and the ground sluice has taken the place of the old Long Tom and sluices used in early days. The gold is known as " fine-shot gold," readily saved, and is disseminated through all the ground which is free from bowlders or large rocks, and is easily washed. The yield varies from 60 cents to $1 per cupic yard of dirt from surface to bed-rook, the depth varying from twelve to twenty feet. This property is held under under patents from the United States Government, and com- prises altogether about 1,100 acres of the best placer ground in the State. Want of suffi- cient water, which could be furnished by ditches from Clear Creek, has limited the production of gold, which is estimated to date at $800,000. Mr. Walter H. Jones one of the owners and a pioneer of May, 1860, is Man- ager and Superintendent, and to his thorouo'h knowledge and skillful management the suc- cess attained is largely due. ~s> V" d^ 486 HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. LOST CANON. These placer mines are located in a high gulch on Lost Canon Mountain, at and above timber line, an elevation of from 11,000 feet to 12,000 feet above sea level, and were dis- covered in 1860. The claims as first taken were each 100 feet along the gulch, and yielded to the first owners from $5,000 to $7,000 each claim. The gold was coarse, much of it in nuggets of from one to two pennyweights each to two and three ounces, readily saved, quicksilver being used only in the boxes in the final clean up. The claims were bought up and consolidated by Judge J. C. Hughes, in 1865, and are still owned and worked by him. Want of sufficient water, and the short- ness of the season during which work can be prosecuted, are the great difficulties experienced in working this placer claim. The only water comes from the melting of the snow in the head of the gulch above, and is not in sufiicient quantity to afford a con- tinuous stream for ground sluicing, but is caught in a large reservoir, through the dam of which a water-way is built, having a self- acting head-gate, that, when the water has reached a certain height is suddenly thrown open allowing 'the water collected to escape, and rushing out with great force it carries earth, rock and bowlders before it. The gate works automatically and continuously day and night, discharging every hour or as often as the reservoir is filled. The season for wbrking usually lasts from the first of June until in September. An instance, related by Mr. Walter H. Jones, illustrates the pecu- liarities of the climate at this elevation. " One day, in company with others, he had found a small field of ripe strawberries which they were enjoying greatly when a snow storm came up so thick and heavy that in a few minutes the strawberries were buried several inches and they were forced to strike out for camp." Water freezes every night, and yet the sides jf the Gulch abound in the most beautiful and delicate fiowers, that freeze solid every night and may early in the morning be broken as an icicle, and yet when the sun comes out appear not to have suffered the slightest injury. GRANITE. Granite, a station on the Denver & Kio Grande Railway, eighteen miles north of Buena Vista, and the former county seat, was the second settlement of note in the county — Cache Creek being the first — is pleas- antly located just above the mouth of Cache Creek, on the opposite side of the river, and at a point where the valley of the Arkansas widens out sufficiently to give room for one street and houses on either side between the river and the bluffs. It was made an election precinct of Lake County in August, 1867 and in September, 1868, declared the county seat, the citizens contributing $500 to defray the expenses of removing the county buildings from Dayton. It remained the county seat of Lake County until the division of the county in February, 1879, when it became the county seat of Chaffee County at the election in November, 1880, a majority of the voters having declared for Buena Vista the county records and offices were removed to that place. The discovery of the "Yankee Blade " lode, and the " Amizette " in August, 1867, by W. L. Millard and S. B. Kellogg, created an excitement that resulted in the building of two stamp-mills at Granite. The first with nine stamps, by Mr. Lewis Hayden on the east side of the river, he having become the owner of the Amizette and other lodes. The ore from the Amizette proved very rich and free milling when -first opened, and in one month's run after the stamp mill was started netted some over $5,000. The following season, 1869, a company having been farmed upon the "Yankee Blade," a stamp mill was built just above town, and the work of developing, the mine vigorously pros- ecuted ; the ore taken out proved to be free milling and quite as rich as that of the Ami- zette, and during the first season is said to have produced over $40,000, some of the ore running as high as $2,250 per cord in the stamp-mill, meanwhile numerous veins had been discovered and located, and a town called Hawkinsville had grown up about the mines, about one mile east of Granite. Two stamp-mills and two arastras had been built in Low Pass, a small creek in a deep gulch just north of the new town. The first aras- ^7= -& A,' ^ HISTOBY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 487 ^ tra was built by S. B. Kellogg and John Royal in the fall of 1867, soon after the dis- covery of the Yankee Blade and Amizette, from whicli they took their ores for treatment. But it was found that as depth was gained in the mines the ores became refractory and amalgamation in the stamp mill became a failure. This proved to be the case- with all the mines worked, the shaft on the Yankee Blade had reached a depth of 235 feet, the deepest shaft on the hill. The stamp-mills ing no longer able to treat the ores success- fully, work was suspended, and the town of Hawkinsville abandoned. In, the spring of 1874, Mr. George Leonhardy, one of the early prospectors in the district, and who owned a . large amount of mining property, gave one- half of all his claims to a Cincinnati com- pany, who, in consideration therefor, agreed to put up works that would successfully treat the ores. They sent out machinery and a superintendent to put up the works, and, after expending over $30,000 and failing to make their process a success, suspended operations. Improper machinery, bad management in the working of the veins and treatment of the ores brought discredit upon the camp, and all the work upon the mines was again suspended. Granite still maintained a precarious exist- ence, depending upon the placer mines of Cache Creek, Lost Canon and the river, and some little patronage as the county seat, until the discovery of silver at Leadville, in 1878, led to an examination of the old claims about Granite, many of which had in the early days been found to contain considerable quanti- ties of galena, which had proved a serious difficulty in the treatment of the ores in the stamp-mills, and to the relocation of such claims as had been abandoned, while those who had maintained a possessory right during the years of inactivity resumed work. The "O. K," formerly the "Dowley," the Alta, the Georgia and three other claims were sold to the Granite Consolidated Gold Mining Company of New York, together with the old Yankee Blade mill and mill site above Gran- ite. This company after spending nearly a year in developing their claims and making certain that there was an abundance of ore and that it was valuable, remodeled the old stamp-mill on the west side of the river at Granite, at a cost of several thousand dollars; but were not successful in treating the ores; they then rebuilt the old Yankee Blade mill, adapting it to the machinery and requirements of the Robinson process, which it was believed from tests made would successfully treat the ores; another failure has to be recorded. Mr. Walter Harris, a gentleman of large exper- ience and unquestionable integrity is in charge of the mines, and to his thorough knowledge of mining, his honesty and fidelity to the interests of his employers, the success attained in opening up the mines is largely due. He has a plan for the treatment of the ores based upon the methods pursued in the Old World, where he had had long experience and where similar ores are found and success- fully treated, that may be adopted here. The gentlemen owning the property are not satis- fied that the ores cannot be treated success- fully, and having abundance of capital are still experimenting, and it is believed will succeed. The Yankee Blade lode and others are owned by a company in Chicago. Nothing has been done as yet on this lode, but the owners contemplate putting up hoisting works, clearing out the shaft, which is 235 feet in depth, and further developing the property this season. The Granite Mountain Consol- idated Mining Company, organized in 1879, own several claims here, the best known of which is the Massachusetts, formerly the Webber, which they have developed quite extensively and have a large quantity of ore on the dump, awaiting the results of experi- ments made by the Granite Consolidated Gold Mining Company before building works for the reduction of the ores. Mr. A. M. Sperry is Manager and Superintendent at the mines. These mines are located within two miles of the railroad station at Granite, and have the advantage of the enormous water-power of the Arkanass for mill and other purposes. LA PLATA MINING DISTRICT. La Plata Mining District embraces all of the territory lying between the Arkansas River and the high ridges on either side of Clear Creek, to its source in the gulches on the eastern slope of the Continental lii^ 488 HISTOEY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. Divide. During the season of 1867, and while the excitement at Granite was high, prospectors made discoveries of lode veins about the head of Clear Creek and on the divide between Clear and Pine Creeks, ani organized this district, but the ores proving to be more of lead and pyritous iron than free gold, which at that time was considered the only ore worth seeking for; silver ores were not looked for, and, if seen, not recog- nized, or discarded as of little value; the dis- trict, which had for a time promised to become a flourishing camp was abandoned, and the La Plata Mining District became only a name. The discovery that silver existed in the ores about Granite in sufficient quantity to pay, revived the interest in the La Plata District, which it was reniembered had ores of lead in quantity, and prospecting during the season of 1880 became active, a number of promis- ing lodes were discovered, a tovm site located just above the mouth of the canon, called Vicksburg, which has already a good hotel, several saloons, stores and post office. Clear Creek, on the banks of which the town is located, is one of the most beautiful mountain streams in Colorado, having its source in the main range of the Continental Divide, and fed from the melting snows and from springs ; the water, clear as crystal and cold as ice, abounding in trout, flows through rough and rocky valley for six or seven miles when the valley opens out and continues to widen, a level broad plain nearly to the river. Several ranches have been taken up and improved, the most extensive of which belongs to Chris Kirsch, who with true German thrift and industry has made for himself and family a beautiful home, and though at too high an elevation to be considered good farming land, it produces hay of the best quality. The claims discovered and located during the sea- son of 1880 are very promising, though the ores, rich generally, are refractory, containing zinc-blende, iron pyrites, galena and gray cop- per. Small quantities only have as yet been shipped away for treatment, but enough work has been done to prove the existence of true fissure veins and give to the camp a promise of adding largely to the bullion product of the county. THE COTTONWOOD DISTBICT. The Cottonwood District includes all of the territory drained by the waters of the Cotton- wood Creek, and has already developed a number of valuable properties, though but little ore has been shipped away for treats ment. The best known claim is the " JButler Dandy," which has been recently sold for $20,000, though ' only assessment work had been done in developing it. It has been vig- orously worked since and has now on the dump quite a large amount of ore, containing sulphurets, brittle and native silver and galena, from which mill runs have been obtained of over 1,000 oimces of silver per ton. This claim is on the northeastern slope of Mount Princeton, above timber line, and adjoining this are a number of claims, not yet developed, that are equally promising, and that, when developed, are certain to add to the rep- utation of this district as among the most promising in the county. At the head of the South Fork of the Cottonwood is Jones' Mountain, which from the discoveries made may be considered a hill of mineral; numer- ous veins have been opened that furnish ore running high in lead and from forty to fifty ounces of silver per ton. On Fox Mountain are a number of prominent lodes, considered among the best in the district, discovered and owned by the Fox Brothers, for whom the mountain was named. The developments made in this district have all been done within the last two years, and the prospectors have not been able to do more than the assess- ment work required, but now that capitalists have recognized the possibilities of the camp and made investments in tlie mines, and for reduction and sampling works to be located at Buena Vista, the district will undoubtedly take a high rank for the quantity and rich- ness of ore produced. The Gunnison toll road passes up the valley of the North Branch of the Cottonwood and crosses the main range at a low elevation, being the most direct route to the eastern and northern por- tions of Gunnison County. The placer mines of this district are located on the river east of and below the town of Buena Vista; in early days considerable gold was taken out, but the difficulty of saving the gold, known as M ±ii^ HISTORY or CHAFFEE COUNTY. " scale and flour gold" in the ordinary sluice boxes has prevented much progress being made in their development. • BUENA YISTA. Buena Vista was incorporated in October, 1879; is 135 miles southwest from Denver and is the present county seat. Situated on the Cottonwood Creek, on a broad plain that extends westward six miles to the foot of Mount Princeton, and eastward about one mile to the Arkansas River. No more beau- tiful view can be found than that from this pla:ce. In plain view of the town to the north are the Buffalo Peaks ; to the north and west, Harvard and Yale; to the west Mount Princeton; to the south and west Mount Antero and Mount Shavano, while due south the lofty peaks of the Sangre de Christo Eange are plainly seen, and on the east are the Arkansas Hills, along the foot of which the Arkansas River flows. The climate is delightful, the winters mild and the summer's heat tempered by the cooling breezes from the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Being at the junc- tion of two lines of railway — ^the Denver & Rio Grande and the Denver & South Park— and situated practically at the foot of the Cottonwood Pass, the nearest and most access- ible point for the northern portion of Gun- nison County, even after the completion of the railway to Gunnison City, it is evident that it will continue as it is now, an impor- tant commercial point. It is also the center of an extensive mining country. Clear Creek, Cottonwood, Mount Princeton and Trout Creek mining camps are all tributary to the growth and permanency of the town, and the erection of a smelter and sampling works, on which work has already been commenced, will give an additional impetus to the growing town, and insure a substantial prosperity. The Buena Vista Land Company, in August, 1879, by Maj. W. M. Kasson, to whose clear foresight and keen business qualities, the success achieved after many and serious diffi- culties, the land company and the town are indebted. The land company have spent a large portion of the money arising from the sales of lots in public improvements, the building of streets, digging of ditches, so that each street occupied has an irrigating ditch on one, and on the principal street, on both sides, making possible the growth of shade trees, of which a large number have been set out, adding greatly to the natural advantages of the town site. In the center of the town several blocks have been reserved for a park, through which flows the Cottonwood Creek, the banks of which are lined with cottonwood and aspen trees of large growth, and the smaller willow and alder bushes. During the time that Buena Vista was the terminus of the railroad, and prior to the extension of the line to Leadville by the Den- ver & Rio Grande Company, the town was made the headquarters of gamblers, bunko men and desperadoes, who put in jeopardy both life and property, and by reason of which it gained an unenviable reputation abroad that hindered its growth, while those resident here suffered from the actions of a lawless minority; but a different class hold sway here now, and Buena Vista has become a prosperous, quiet town, having a large pop- ulation of cultivated and refined people, whose influence is directing public sentiment and firmly establishing a government of law and order. There are three churches here. The Catholic, Congregational and Methodist, hav- ing neat and commodious houses of worship. The public schools are graded, and parents will find here that their children can have the same course of study, and under as efiicient and competent instructors, as in any of the schools in the State. Rooms for the schools atte at present rented, but a contract has been made for a school building of ample dimen- sions, costing some $12,000, and all the mod- ern and improved school furniture will be provideci for the use of the scholars, the Buena Vista Land Company donating all grounds required for school purposes. Buena Vista has two weekly newspapers, the Chaffee County Times, the first established, and the Buena Vista Herald. Both papers are ably edited and conducted, and are Repub- lican in politics. THE GHATFEE COUNTY TIMES. The first issue of the paper was dated Feb- ruary 6, 1880, published by P. A Leonard IL^ 490 HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. and George Newland, and continued under their management until September, 1880, when Leonard purchased Newland's interest in the paper, and continued to publish the paper until January 3.1, 1881, when W. E. Logan purchased an interest in the business, the partnership continuing until March 31, 1881, when W. K. Logan retired, and since that date the paper has been under the sole management and control of P. A. Leonard. In July, 1880, Mrs. Agnes L. Hill, a sister of Mr. Leonard, and a lady who wields a sharp and trenchant pen, that at once brought the paper more into public notice, became asso- ciate editor, which position she held until April, 1881, when ill health compelled her to retire. From the first issue, the paper has been well and ably conducted. Great care has been taken to give reliable news from the different mining camps in the county, as well as items of general interest throughout the State. In politics, it is Republican — a point on which one can have no doubt who has read the paper. It has a large circulation in the county and State, and faithfully represents the interests of the town and county in which it is published. THE BUBNA VISTA HEBALD. This paper was started in 1881, published by W. E. Logan and George C. Hickey until in June, when Mr. Hickey sold his interest in the office to W. E. Logan, who continued the publication of the paper alone luitil in July, when Mr. A. E. Kennedy became associated with him in the management of the paper. The paper was well received from the first, starting with a good circulation, which it has increased both at home and abroad. Republican in politics, it is manag^ with skill and ability, and is devoted more particu- larly to the interests of the mining camps, of which Buena Vista is the center. BANKING. Hiller, Hallock & Co., take care of the bank- ing interests, which are ably managed by Mr. E. H. Hiller, for many years with the Colo- rado National Bank at Denver, and who enjoys a high reputation and has the confidence of the business men and banking institutions throughout the State. THE COTTONWOOD HOT SPBINGS. The O|ittonwood Hot Springs are worthy of especial mention, and are located six miles west from Buena Vista, at the very entrance of the Cottonwood Canon, in one of the most delightful places that one can imagine. The drive from Buena Vista to the springs is over a smooth and hard road, having an easy as- cending grade, but so deceptive are appear- ances that only in looking back is one con- vinced that he is rapidly gaining in elevation. This continues nearly to the springs, when, descending a steep bank, the valley of the Cot- tonwood Creek is reached. A hundred yards beyond is the Cottonwood Hot Springs Hotel and Sanitariiun. This edifice rests on a solid stone foundation, is built of frame, lathed and plastered, painted white, and its super- structure rises one story and a half. Gothic dormer windows peer through the roof, and a spacious piazza is in front. The dimensions of the main edifice are 80x40 feet, the two outside wings 40x16 feet, while the center wing is 56x30 feet. The building is one of the best-built hotels in the State, as well as best arranged. The reception room is large and commodious. On the right is the office, with a well-selected library and the daily pa- pers. Beyond this, the private rooms of the medical attendant, richly and elaborately fur- nished; on the left, the ladies' parlor, with Brussels carpet and elegant furniture; beyond this, the bridal chamber, sumptuously and ar- tistically furnished, and an adjoining room, also richly furnished. Back of the general reception room is the dining hall, and back of this the kitchen. The two outside wings are for sleeping apartments and for bathing pur- poses — those overhead only for the former. The bathing rooms are large, well arranged, carpeted, and have hot and cold water. Out- side of the hotel proper are several cottages, for sleeping rooms, storehouses and laundi-y, which, on account of the nature of the water used, renders everything washed therein per- fectly clean — linen, particularly, white as the driven snow. This leads to the consideration of these wonderful springs. The first or lower spring is close to the house. The water, which flows from the interior of the mountain is al- ways hot — not warm — and is used in the treat- V^^^^^-yT?^ HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 493 ment of catarrh, for which it is considered a specific, and for drinking purposes. The upper spring, always hot, flows from the interior of the mountain, and is conveyed to the house by pipes; is used for bathing pturposes, and is a specific for rheumatism and dyspepsia. The analysis of water in each spring is as follows : SOLIDS. GRAINS TO A PINT. UPPEE LOWER SPRING. spniwo. Carbonate of soda 4.7 4,8 Carbonate of lithia Trace. Trace, Carbonate of lime 3.0 3.0 Carbonate of magnesia J i Sulphate of soda i 3.3 Chloride of sodium 3.5 Trace. Silicia A Trace. Iodine Trace Trace. Bromide Trace Trace. Ammonia muriate 3 Ammonia combined Trace. Upper Spring — Free carbonic acid, hydrogen sup- plied. Lower Spring — Free carbonic acid. There are other springs hereabouts, but these two have only been utilized. The Hot Springs were taken up by A. A. Waite, and, in November, 1878, sold to the Kev. J. A. Adams and Mrs. J. A. D. Adams, M. D., and soon after a one-half interest was conveyed by them to George K. Hartenstein. At this time, no improvements had been made beyond the building of log cabins, and the rudest accom- modations for bathing. Since it came into the possession of the present proprietors, nearly $50,000 have been expended in the erection of this elegant and commodious hotel, built before there was any railroad into the county, and when all the materials and fur- niture had to be brought by freight teams from Colorado Springs, a distance of 100 miles. Mrs. J. A. D. Adams, M. D., is a physician of thorough education, rare ability and long experience, and under her care aided by these life-giving waters, almost certain restoration to health is assured to the invalid, and a longer and happier life to those who visit here and need no physician. TKOUT CBEBK MINING DISTBICT. It was not until after the discovery of car- bonates at Leadville, that mineral was discov- ered here. The settlement had for years been familiarly known as " Chubb's " ranch, and being within the carbonate belt as indicated on Hayden's map. Mr. E. B. Newitt, the pro- prietors of the ranch, with others began pros- pecting, and finding good indications located several claims, which have since proved val- uable properties. The Iron Chest at a depth of a little more than one hundred feet struck pay mineral, which has improved and the pay streak widened in the level run from the bottom of the shaft. The ore is a sand car- bonate, with galena, from which high assays have been obtained. This claim, with the Iron Mask and the Iron Heart, have been put into a stock corporation, with a capital of $1,000,000, but, owing to some disagreement in the management, no shipment of ore, of which they have a large quantity on the dump, except a test lot, has been made. A large number of locations have been made m this district, but, with few exceptions, only the as- sessment work required has been done. In some of the claims, carbonates have been struck at a depth of eight or ten feet, and in others, mineral has been found from the sur- face down, carbonates having been found only in a lime formation, and, this being a lime formation, with porphyry and iron in regu- lar horizontal strata, and, the existence of car- bonates having already been demonstrated, it is only in the results obtained from further and more extensive developments that the value of the district as a mining camp can be determined. The locations made extend from the Buffalo Peaks on the north, about twelve miles to the south, having a width oE from four to six miles. The group of mines, six in number, owned by the Free Gold Mining and Milling Company, are located on the western slope of the Arkansas Hills, just above the mouth of Trout Creek. An extensive vein of gold-bear- ing quartz has been opened, and a stamp-mill was erected near the Arkansas River, about one mile from the lode, for the reduction of the ore, which did not prove a success, except in the treatment of ores from near the surface, and work was suspended. The ores are very similar in character to the gold ores about Granite, and will undoubtedly require the IE/ :\L^ 494 HISTOKY OF CHAFFEE COUKTY. same treatment. The company have a large quantity of ore on the dump, and are now waiting for the completion of the sampling and reduction works at Buena Vista prior to resuming work on their claims, which are lo- cated within two miles of the town. Nathi'op is a station on the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, eight miles below Buena Vista, and the junction of this road with the Gimnison Extension of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad. The town is located on the plains above Chalk Creek, about one mile from the old Chalk Creek Post Office, and residence of Charles Nachtrieb, who, with the two railway companies, own the site of the new town. Connection is here made with trains to Hortense, Alpine, St. Elmo and Han- cock. A^ elegant and commodious stone de- pot has been built by the railroad company, and a large hotel convenient to the station, and commanding a magnificent view of the valley of the Arkansas River and the sur- rounding mountains, has been nearly com- pleted by Mr. Charles Nachtrieb. HORTENSE. Hortense, a station on the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, thirteen miles from Buena Vista, and formerly known as the Chalk Creek Hot Springs. In early days. Dr. ■ J. G. Stuart 'took up the lower spring, building a log cabin, and the Rev. W. Dyer — " Father Dyer " — located a claim, taking in the upper spring, which he transferred to D. H. Hey- wood, the present proprietor. In June, 1872, J. A. Merriam and E. W. Keyes located here, and in July discovered and located the Hor- tense Mining Claim on Mount Princeton, and soon after let a coitract to sink fifty feet on the claim. Dr. A. E. Wright, with Merriam and Keyes, this season built a substantial log cabin about one mile from the upper spring. The next spring, Keyes and Merriam built a neat and commodious log cabin near the upper spring, Mr. Keyes having brought his family from the States. They continued work on the Hortense, which constantly improved as depth was gained. Several new discoveries were made in the district, but nothing more than the assessment work on them was done. In the fall of this year, the Chalk Creek Mining District was organized, embracing all the ter- ritory drained by Chalk Creek, and the fol- lowing season E. W. Keyes was elected Re- corder of the district. Maj. G. D. Merriam this season bought a one-third interest in the Hortense Mine, which was steadily worked dur- ing the summer. During 1875 and 1876, but little wort was done, but in 1877, a lease on the Hortense was made to Brown & Ray, they shipping the ore to St. Louis for treatment, and receiving satisfactory returns, demonstrat- ing that the mine was " paying property." During this year, a post office was established here, and called Hortense. Maj. George D. Merriam was appointed Postmaster, which position he still holds. The following year, Maj. Merriam sold the Hortense Mine to the Hortense Mining Company, of New York, of which Col. Henry Altman is Managing Director, and E. H. Teats, Superintendent. The company have erected a neat and com- modious residence for their Manager and Superintendent; also stables and ore houses, on the mesa, above Hortense, where the trail from the mill connects with the wagon road. The ore is brought here from the mine, over a well-built trail, by "burros," and sorted for shipment to the smelters. The mine has been systematically worked, and a large amount of development work done, exposing large bodies of ore, from which the daily output of ore can at any time be largely increased. The coimtry rock is granite, with quartz gangue, and the ord, free milling, carries brittle silver and sulphurets. The springs at this place are noted for being the hottest in the county, and are considered a specific for rheumatism and in diseases af- fecting the kidneys 'the waters are reputed es- pecially beneficial. There are two hotels, affording ample accommodations for visitors. ALPINE. Alpine, a station on the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, twenty-two miles from Buena Vista, is located in the canon of Chalk Creek, about twelve miles from the Arkansas River, and in a location so hemmed in by lofty peaks — Mount Princeton on the northeast, and 1^ (r" :^ fw HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 495 on the south and west, Mount Antero and Boulder Mountain — that, during the short days of midwinter, the sun is not visible until nearly 9 o'clock in the morning, and, before 3 o'clock in the afternoon, has hidden behind the snowy range; but so sheltered is the town by these towering peaks that it is not severely cold even in the winter. The first discoveries of mineral were made in Chalk Creek District as early as 1872, but it was not until 1875 that it became of importance as a mining camp, and had become sufficiently populous to be declared an election precinct. The dis- covery of the Murphy Mines, on a spur of Chrysolite Moantain, in this year, by John Royal and others, attracted the attention of Eastern capitalists*and Col. J. A. J. Chapman and Mr. B. L. Riggins, recognizing the possi- bilities of the camp, organized the Kansas City Mining and Smelting Company, and, at great expense, brought in and set up a smelter, which, however, owing to the difficulty of pro- curing at that time proper fluxes for the ores, and the indifference or inability of the miners to develop their claims, was not successful. The discovery of the Tilden lode on Boulder Mountain in 1876, and the rich ores obtained, created considerable excitement for a time, and the prospects of the camp were most en- couraging. The mine was sold for a large sum, but, owing to difficulties among the owners, the mine is now idle. It is developed by a shaft 200 feet in depth, and has drifts at different levels, each of which discloses a good body of ore. There are a number of good properties situated on this mountain, which, when developed, will add largely to the output of ore in the district. In the summer of 1880, the Foster Smelting Company pur- chased the old smelter of the Kansas City Smelting Company, which they have remod- eled for sampling and concentration works, and are meeting with good success. About two miles above town is the Iron City Smelter, with a capacity of about forty tons per day, not yet in operation. The town has several hotels, stores and saloons, and is a delightful rqsort during the summer season. F. A. Rey- nolds has a bank here, which is ably managed by his courteous and r.ffable Cashier, Mr. J. C. Cross. ST. ELMO. St. Elmo, four miles above Alpine, and a station on the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, situated at the junction of Grizzly and Pomeroy Gulches and the North and South Forks of Chalk Creek, in the center of an ex- ceedingly rich mineral district, one year ago had no existence as a town, but is to-day one of the busiest and most thriving towns in the county. It is the starting-point of the Vir- ginia, Hillerton & Pitkin and Gunnison Toll Roads. In Grizzly Gulch, lying between Mamma and Chrysolite Mountains, are located the noted Brittenstein group of mines, ovmed by New York capitalists, and now considered among the richest mines in the State. The Chrysolite Tunnel, in Chrysolite Mountain, intended to cross-cut a number of lodes that have been discovered and opened on che sur- face sufficient to demonstrate their value. The tunnel has already penetrated the mountain 600 feet, and will cut the veins in a short dis- tance farther, the first of which is an extension north of the Quincy, one of the Brittenstein group. The Lake View Tunnel is another cross-out to strike the Minnehaha and St. 'Louis lodes, owned by an Eastern company. The Morrison Tunnel is intended to cut a group of mines believed to be an extension south of the Brittenstein group. Other valuable properties in the gulch, among which will be noted the Alamo and Kaskaskia, owned by T. I. Briscoe — the popular Mayor of St. Elmo — and others. The Lulu, the Comstock and Idlewild and the Norway Bay, are promising to be heavy ore- producers during the coming season. The Mary and Pat Murphy Mines, located on a spur of Chrysolite Mountain, west of the town, discovered by John Royal and Dr. A. B. Wright in September, 1875, and sold in 1880 to a St. Louis company, have been vigorously worked during the past year, and are now the largest producers of ore in the district. The mines are developed by shafts and levels, opening sufficient grounds to produce bystop- ing from seventy-five to one hundred tons of ore per day. The vein is about five feet in width, the ore, consisting of galena and iron, averaging a value of |125 in gold and silver per ton. The Black Hawk, one of the early Tf* ^^_ i^ 498 HISTOKY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY discoveries, is supposed to be an extension north of the Mary Murphy, and on the same mountain are the Livingston, another exten- sion of the Mary Murphy; the Iron Chest, the Mollie and Pinafore — all good properties, showing large bodies of ore, and certain to add to the bullion product of this section, and, being near, to pay tribute to St. Elmo. Six miles above St. Elmo, on the line of Den- ver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, is the new town of Hancock. Several very promising discoveries have been made near town, and, with the advent of the railroad, will become large producers of mineral. This town is only about two and a half miles from the mouth of the tuniiel which pierces the Con- tinental Divide and opens the way for the rail- road into Grunnison County. The completion of the railroad to this jioint this season will give easy access to a district rich in mineral wealth, and of wonderful beauty and mag- nificence of motmtain scenery. THE ST. ELMO MOUNTAINEER. This paper was established at St. Elmo, then Forest City, August 21, 1880, under the name of the St. Elmo Rustler, edited by How- ard Russell and published by H. Russell and J. E. Curran, under the firm name of Howard, Russell & Co. After the first issue, the name was changed to the Mountaineer. Up to No- vember 6, 1880, it was a four-column folio, when itwas enlarged to five columns. February 24, 1881, Hon. R. W. Evans purchased J. E. Curran's interest in the office; the business, however, was conducted under the old firm name. March 19, 1881, W. C. Shinn, founder of the Dodge City Times, Kansas, purchased Mr. Evans' interest in the office, and the firm name was changed to Rus^iell & Shinn. On the 15th of April, 1881, the publishers purchased a nine-column hand -press, and, on the 23d of April, the paper was enlarged to six columns. Previous to this, it had been printed on a half- medium job press. July 16, the paper was again enlarged, this time to seven columns. Since then, the old dress of the paper has been sold, and an entire new outfit of type has been procured, and the paper will appear in August in a complete new dress. The pa- per is devoted particularly to the interests of the rich mineral district in which it is pub- lished. St. Elmo having an altitude of about 10,400 feet, the paper may fairly be claimed to be edited in the clouds, at the highest point of any paper in the county, and, with perhaps one exception, the highest altitude in the United States. CLEOKA. In the summer of 1878, parties connected with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Rail- road, in anticipation of the building of that road through the Grand Canon of the Arkan- sas and to Leadville, secured the necessary ground and laid out a town about one mile below the mouth of the South Arkansas, which they named Cleora, in honor of the daughter of William Bale, Esq., one of the oldest resi- dents in this section of the county, and the proprietor of the stage house just above the site of the new town. The town, located on a delightful little park, through which the Arkansas has cut its way, and with high mountains on either side, grew rapidly during the season of 1879, and was the supply point for the newly discovered mineral camps about the head- waters of the South Arkansas River, and the Tomichi Dis- trict, in Gunnison County; but, when the difficulties between this road and the Denver & Rio Grande were adjusted, and the latterroad came into possession of the right of way along the river to Leadville, Cleora, which had been active in supporting the claims of the Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa F6 road, was denied any assistance, and existence, even. A new town was laid out by the officers of the Denver & Rio Grande Company, about two miles above, to which, in a short time, the residents of Cleora, with merchandise and buildingg as well, moved en masse, and Cleora became a town of the past. The new town was called 'It is 217 miles from Denver, and twenty- eight miles south from Buena Vista, aad be- ing the railway station and distributing point for Gunnison County, increased in population and business rapidly, until the building of the branch to Gunnison City had reached Poncha Springs, when the removal of the offices and ® ^ f* V/^^i^TA/'-C'*^'^ ^! ?1^ HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 497 business of the stage company, ando'' the for- warding and freight houses, to this point, somewhat checked the growth of the town. The railway company occupy all the space on the eastern side of the river back to the bluffs, a distance of about two hundred feet. An elegant stone depot and a commodious round-house for the engines of the Gunnison Extension have been built, and the company are intending to build machine and repair shops for the Western Division of the road at this point. A large and well-conducted hotel affords excellent accommodations to the traveling public. The business portion of the town is situated on the west side of the river, on a broad plain, that extends for miles along the South Ar- kansas. Ditches for water, of which there is an abundant supply, border the streets, and some progress has been made in setting out shade trees. • Excellent hotels for business men and for tourists, a neat and commodious church, several stores — carrying large and well-selected stocks of merchandise, that have a profitable and extensive trade with the sur- rounding tovras and mining camps — the Bank of South Arkansas, Dewalt, Hartzell & Co., and the ever-present saloon -in fact, there are several — make up the thriving town. THE MOUNTAIN MAIL. This paper, published at Salida, was estab- lished June 5, 1880, Moore & Olney, publish- ers, M. E. Moore, editor. The paper was started simultaneously with the town of Salida, the first issue coming out when not more than a dozen buildings were completed, and is a seven-column folio, all home print. The pa- per is ably edited and conducted, its columns well filled with matters of national and State interest, as well as of town and county, and clearly and forcibly inculcates the principles of the Republican party, to which, in politics, it is devoted. It has a large and increasing circulation, and exerts an important influence in all circles where circulated. PONCHA SPRINGS. Poncha Springs, a station on the Gunnison Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Rail- way, six miles west from Salida, on the South Arkansas, at the foot of the Poncha Pass into the San Luis Valley, and of the Marshall Pass into Gunnison County, and is the junction of the Maysville Branch and the extension of the main line to Gunnison City, that at this point leaves the valley of the river, and, climbing the steep and nar- row valley of Poncha Creek, crosses the main range by the Marshall Pass, at an elevation of 10,852 feet above sea level, into Gunnison County. On the south, the mountains rise abruptly from the river, while to the north the view is unobstructed for many miles, and the grand peaks of Antero, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and the Buffalo Peaks, are distinctly seen, and nearer, overlooking the tovrai in a westerly direction, stands majestic Mount SI vano. The valley of the South Arkansas in this . "cin- ity, as well as from its mouth to near IL ys- ville, a distance of twelve miles, is exc. d- ingly fertile and easy of cultivation, and i e number of well-tilled ranches, the neat and comfortable cottages, in coDtrast with the log cabins of the early days, attest the profits the hardy ranchmen have derived from the culti- vation of the soil. The town is better known from the hot springs that burst out from the side of the mountain, about one mile up the pass, south of and at an elevation of several hundred feet above the town. The springs have been famous for many years for the curative power of the waters in-cases of rheu- matism and in cutaneous diseases; but, from the inadequate facilities afforded for bath- ing, have not received the patronage and at- tention that otherwise would have been given. It is the purpose of the proprietors of the springs to put up a large and conveniently arranged hotel, which is greatly needed, the coming season. The advent of the railroad in the winter of 1880 gave to the town a new impetus, and, dur- ing the few months that intervened prior to the extension of the road to Maysville, and to Silver Creek, in the Marshall Pass, it enjoyed all the excitement and suffered all the terrors incident to being the terminus of a railway in the midst of a mining camp. The exten- sion of the road relieved the town of the dis- turbing elements, and it has again become the •^ s i^ 498 HISTORY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. most quiet and delightful oi summer resorts. The public library is especially worthy of mention, a neat and appropriate building and lot having been donated by Mr. James P. True, one of the early pioneers, and the library, of more than sixteen hundred standard works, being the selection and gift of Mrs. Magruder, a niece of ex-Gov. McCook. The town has several hotels, the Pohcha Springs Hotel being the principal one; a number of stores, with well-selected stocks of groceries and miners' supplies, and has a good trade with the neighboring mining camps. The Poncha Springs Bank, James P. True, President, takes care of the banking interests. The Neely Mining and Smelting Company have here a smelter, not yet in operation, but which will be able to obtain an abundance of . ores from the surrounding mining camps. MATSVILLE. Maysville is six miles west of Poncha Springs, 229 miles from Denver, and is the present terminus of this branch of the Denver & Eio Grande Railway. The town site was taken up several years ago, prior to the dis- covery of mineral in this district, by Amasa Feathers, as a stock ranch, located at the i auction of the North Pork with the South Arkansas, and at the extreme western point of the broad mesa that extends easterly to the Arkansas Eiver. It is the starting-point of the Monarch I'ass Toll Road, leading through Arbourville, Garfield and Chaffee, over the Monarch Pass into the Tomichi Mining Dis- trict, and is the nearest route to Gunnison City. A toll road has also been built along the valley of the North Fork about twelve miles, which it is proposed to extend to the head of Chalk Creek. This road is owned by Col. Altman, who also owns a large number of valuable claims about the head of this fork of the South Arkansas, Other valuable prop- erties, owned by companies in Pennsylvania, are located here, which are being rapidly devel- oped, and promise to become large ore-produc- ers this season. Two smelters have been built at Maysville, neither of which is now in operation, but which will have an abundant supply of ore from the neighboring mines. The growth of Maysville has been steady from the first discovery of mineral in the district, and has not been afflicted with " booms." It has now a population of about one thousand, which is steadily increasing. Good hotels, numerous stores, carrying large and well-se- lected stocks of groceries and miners' supplies, saloons, and all other branches of trade required in a new and growing town, are to be found here, and each receives a liberal pat- ronage. To the tourist, it offers maay attractions. There is good fishing in the immediate vicin- ity, and, in the short distance of ten miles . by trail, or twelve miles by a good road, the summit of the Continental Divide may be reached. To the west lies the beautiful val- ley of the Gunnison; to the south and east, the high peaks of the Saguache, or main range of the Rocky Mountains, and the Sangre de Christo Range, between which lies the de- lightful San Luis Park; to the east, the broad valley of the Arkansas aud South Arkansas — views not to be excelled for beauty and grandeur. THE MAYSVILLE CHEONICLE. This paper, published by H. B. Neal and 0. M. Daley, was started in December, 1880, and very soon gained a large circulation, claiming to have the largest circulation of any paper in the county. In April, 1881, C. M. Daley retired, and the paper was published by H. B. Neal alone until the 1st of July, 1881, and since that time has been published by a company. The paper is well and ably managed in the interests of the Democratic party, and enjoys the distinction of being the only Democratic paper published in the county. Its colums are well filled with items of home interest and the more important State and foreign news. THE SOUTH ARKANSAS MINER. This paper was started at Maysville in May, 1880, by E. D. Lunt and J. S. Painter. It was a seven-column folio, home print, edited, by J. S. Painter. In July, Mr. Painter sev- ered his connection with the paper, and Mr. Lunt adopting ~a " patent outside, " the pat- ronage of the paper, which had been good up ^^ liL, HISTOEY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. 499 to this time, fell off. In September, 1880, Mr. J. S. Painter, the present proprietor, purchased the paper, and at once restored it to a home print. Under his management, the paper rapidly increased in circulation, and was very so(3n placed upon a paying basis. Three months thereafter, it was enlarged to an eight- column sheet, making it the largest paper in the county. It has been devoted to the inter- ests of the Monarch and Tomichi Mining Dis- tricts, and has had great influence in bringing these districts into favorable notice, Mr. Painter is a sharp, pungent, as well as hu- morous writer, and Eepublican in politics. His editorials have influence in shaping the policy of the party in the county. AEBOUEVILLE. Arbourville, four and a half miles above Maysville, on the Monarch Pass Toll Eoad, is a prosperous little town having considerable trade with the surrounding mining camps. A smelter was built here the last season, but, owing to some difficulties among the owners, is not in operation. GAHFIELD. Garfield, or, as more generally known. Junction City, one and a half miles above Arbourville, on the Monarch Pass Toll Eoad, at the junction of the South and Middle Forks of the South Arkansas, is in the imme- diate vicinity of the rich mines of the Middle Fork and Taylor Gulch, and is, during the mining season, the busiest town in the district. Situated on the side of the mountain, south of and high above the town, is the Black Tiger Claim, sold the last season for $50,000, which is being worked. On the Middle Fork, at the head of Kangaroo Gulch, is situated the celebrated Columbus Mine, which was sold last season to a New York company for $100,000. George K Sabin, one of the bestr known and most reliable of mining superin- tendents, is General Manager, and Capt. Alex Cree, an old-time miner. Superintendent. The mine is thoroughly and systematically worked, no ore being taken out at present except such as is necessary in developing the property, and yet large quantities have been shipped to Argo for treatment. The company have com- menced the erection of a stamp-mill, on the banks of the creek, for the treatment of the ore, which is free milling, containing no lead, and the ore will be brought from the mine to the mill by a wire tramway, already nearly com- pleted, the loaded buckets suspended from the wire cable as they descend, carrying up the empty buckets, no power being required to operate it except that of gravity. At the head of Taylor's Gulch are the Mountain Chief, which, under a lease to Follett Bros., and A. 0. Babcock, the last season shipped large quantities of ore to Pueblo for treatment; the Eainbow, Denver, Mountaineer, Alaska, Desdemona and Ben Hill, with numerous others that have already a more than pros- pective value. CHAFFEE CITY. Chaffee City, one and a half miles above Junction City, on the South Fork, is the loca- tion of the Monarch Mine, from which this district received its name. The Monarch Mine was discovered in 1878, but not much development was made until the following year, when it was sold to Eastern parties. The large quantity of ore disclosed and taken out, resembling in character the carbonate ores of Leadville, led to the belief that the ore would be found here in deposits, as at Lead- ville, but, so far as developed, the mines already opened are more of the character of true fissure veins. The formation in the dis- trict generally is lime; occasionally one wall of a vein will be a blue lime, the other white; other veins will have one wall of a porphyitic character, the other lime; and the veins opened to any extent, except in the Columbus and Smith & Gray group of mines, like all veins in a line formation, have been pockety, the ore not lying in a continuous solid body, but being disposed in pockets, sometimes connected by a thin vein or streak of mineral, though often without any connection whatever between the ore bodies — the vein, however, remaining distinct and well marked. The Smith & Gray group of mines, recently sold to a New York company, are being put in a condition to ship the large quantities of ore on the dump, preparatory to more extended development o£ the property. The company are putting up a wire-tramway for the trans- t> ^ Jkl 500 HISTOEY OF CHAFFEE COUNTY. portation of the ore down the steep incline of the mountain to the road. Among other good properties located near those mentioned are the Lexington and Eclipse, which, having more development, show larger bodies of ore; but enough has already been accomplished to establish the fact that the Monarch Mining District will rival many of the older districts in the richness and amount of output of ore for the coming season, an amount which will be largely increased each year as the develop- ment of the mines already discovered is ex- tended, and the prospecting actively pros- ecuted shall open new claims. Reviewing the history of the county since the division, in February, 1879, the progress made is wonderful, and should be satisfactory to the old settlers who have had the faith and courage to make their homes within its bor- ders. Chaffee County -has increased, in value of property assessed, from 1409,000 in May, 1879, to 11,649,990 in May, 1881, and in pop- ulation frOm less than eight hundred to nearly eight thousand; nor has there been any un- healthy " boom," but the growth has been steady, as the mines have been developed, and, as these are all of the nature of true fissure veins, their permanence is assured, and for years to come Chaffee County must and will continue to increase in wealth and popula- tion; occupying, as it does, the better portion of the valley of the Arkansas, and having a large acreage of tillable land easy of cultiva- tion and producing abundant crops of vegeta- bles and grain, while the mountain ranges afford grazing for the limited number of cattle required, the county is not dependent upon its mines wholly for its continued growth and prosperity, though from its mines will come the greater increase in wealth, and the devel opment of these is now only just commenced. The mines that are shipping ore continuously and making a profit are few, but the mines that have been opened sufficiently to determine that another year will bring them into paying condition are numerous. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway, ex- tending the entire length of the county, with a branch in close proximity to the large and rich veins of mineral on the South Arkansas, and the Denver, South Park & Pacific Rail- road, with a line across the county, and ex- tending through the heart of the rich min- eral district on Chalk Creek, will develop and open the mineral resources of the whole county, and enable the capitalist and miner, working together, to accomplish more in one year than would have been possible, without their aid, in ten, or even twenty, years. Ores that could not be profitably mined at all become valuable when near the rails. To these roads, then, the county stands indebted for much the larger portion of the rapid increase made in the last year. The placer mines, to which, with few ex- ceptions, but little attention is now paid, will in the near future be extensively worked. It is indisputable that the river banks and beds for miles contain gold that will yet be profit- ably extracted. As the county becomes more populous, labor will become cheaper, and im- proved methods of separating the gold from the sand and gravel will be introduced, afford- ing support to thousands, and adding largely to the production of gold in the coimty. The climate is always delightful — neither excessively hot in summer, nor cold in winter. The scenery, whether viewed from the lux- uriously furnished coaches of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, gliding along the river banks, through the canons or over the plains, or seen on foot or on horseback, is grand and beautiful beyond the power of description. The fiill grandeur and magnificence of these majestic mountains can only be realized and appreciated when one has seen them through the varying changes of summer and winter, glistening in robes of white, or clothed in the rich greens of the foliage of tbe pine and spruce, and the lighter shades of the cotton- wood and aspen, while, above the growth of the timber, the gray of bare, uncovered rocks, seamed and furrowed by the storms of cen- turies, alike, and yet each preserving its own individuality, blends with the light, encircling clouds, and forms a picture that lives in the memorv forever, clear and distinct. VETA PASS. TOLTEC GORGE ABOVE THE TUNNEL. ^ 9 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL ASA ROGERS ADAIR. Mr. Adair was born in Giles County, Va., March 20, 1846. He was reared upon a farm and received a common school education. He was in the Confederate service for the last year of the war, and was in twenty-two bat- tles. In January, 1870, he went to Texas and went into the cattle business. He was driv- ing cattle to Utah, Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado for five years, after which he was shipping cattle along the Kansas Pacific Rail- road, till November, 1878. In April, 1879, he came to Colorado, and has been mining in Custer and Chaffee Counties since. He is the owner of the Kentucky, Stone "Wall and Old Dog Tray lodes, near Hancock. CHARLES F. ABBOTT. The name of Charles F. Abbott is f amiliax to all the old miners and early settlers of Colorado. Perhaps no man in Colorado has been through more thrilling scenes, seen more hardships, and located and handled more mines that proved valuable than the subject of this sketch. He was born in Montpelier, Vt., February 17, 1838; his father was a stone-cutter, and early in life lie learned the trade of his father. At the age of fifteen years, he went to Chicago, 111., and after one year, he and his brother carried on the stone- cutting business together till 1857; he then went back home for a year, and then returned to Chicago, and built some of the best build- ings there, one of which was the Michigan Central Depot. March 26, 1860, he started West, stopped in Omaha till April, 1871, and then he, in coifipany with his brother Rich- ard A. Abbott, and A. D. Cooper, now of Canon City, footed it all the way to Denver, Colo., having nothing to eat but Bologna sau- sage and crackers and tea to drink; he imme- diately .went to Mosquito Gulch and engaged to work for f 1 per day. Here he worked till he got $28, and then went to French Gulch and worked a claim on his own hook, taking out 1300 in one month, after which he and his brother bought a claim, 150x12 feet; and took out 11,600 in three weeks; they then started the Fega'gle Fluming Company; in the fall, they went to Mosquito Pass, and took a contract to find the lead in a mine for two tons of ore, when they found it. They did find it, by digging sixteen feet; they sold their two tons of ore for 11,600, but Mr. Ab- bott was severely injured while at work on this job, by a premature blast, having one arm and one leg broken, and his skull fractured. In 1864, he went to prospecting on his own account and discovered some valuable mines, but through a sickness of long duration, he lost them all. On account of poor health, he went back to Michigan, and farmed it for four years. In March, 1879, he returned to Colorado. After spending a short time in Leadville, he came to Buena Vista, where he has been mining since, with good success. He was one of the founders of the Free Gold Mining Company, and has several good claims outside of this company. MRS. J. A. D. ADAMS. M. D. The history of Chaffee County would be in- complete without a sketch of Mrs. Adams. When the county was almost unknown, she investigated the Cotton Wood Hot Springs, and after satisfying herself of their medical properties, set to work to get a hotel and san- itarium built, which she has accomplished, and now there is no place in Colorado which surpasses hers, as a place of resort, both for the ,sick and those who are in search of rest and recreation. Mrs. Adams is the daughter of Benjamin Wood, being born in Oneida County, N. Y., July 29, 1830. She was educated at Oberlin College, Ohio. In 1853, she married William P. Dunning, at Gaines, Orleans Co., ^ Is ±iL^ 504 BIOGRAPHICAL: N. Y. She and her husband had studied medicine together, and she assisted him very much with his practice. In 1866, the Doctor died. After his death, she attended lectures one winter, in New York City, after which she had charge of Dr. Cook's office for five months, in Bufi'alo, N. Y. After this she took a full course in Cleveland Homoeopathic College, Cleveland, Ohio, graduating in 1871, and in 1872, became a member of the American In- stitute of HomcBopathy. Immediately after graduating, she located in Corry, Penn., where she had a very successful practice, till April, 1878. She was married in Corry, to Rev. Joseph Adams, in 1875; he having come to Colorado for his health, she was induced to . give up her practice there, which she did, and came here, in 1878, and, in connection with her husband, and son-in-law, G. K. Harten- stein, built, and has since conducted, the Cot- tonwood Hot Springs Hotel. She has full charge, everything being under her immediate supervision. •JOHN BURNETT. A history of Chaffee County would be in- complete without a sketch of the late John Burnett; he was born in Canada March 1, 1839; he received a good common school ed- ucation, and, at twenty years of age, he went to Napoleon, Ark, to act as overseer in a large lumbering business. After a short time, he went to Iowa and engaged in farming, for one year; in 1861, he came to Colorado and located in California Gulch, working in a saw-mill, and later in mining. He was the discoverer and one of the locators of the prop- erty afterward known as the Star Mining Company property, and was one of the owners for some time. After selling out his interest in this property, he, in 1865, located a ranch, three- fom'ths of a mile from Poncha, Chaffee Co., and was engaged in farming, stock-rais- ing and mining, on a large rfcale, till he met his unfortunate death, October 16, 1878. He went out hunting with friends and was acci- dentally shot by the premature discharge of his gun. He was a man highly respected, and his death cast a gloom over the entire com- mimity. He had acceptably filled the office of County Treasurer and County Commissioner at different times. He was mfixried to Min- erva Maxwell in 1868. Mrs. Burnett still runs the ranch, with her six children, and is a perfect success as a manager. WILLIAM BALE. Perhaps no one who went to Leadville by stage, before the days of railroads, will fail to remember Bale's ranch, and the genial proprietor of the eating-house there. He was born in Butler County, Perm., August 19, 1820 ; he remained at home, upon his father's farm, till he was twenty-five years of age, after which he was farming for himself, till 1855, when he went to Iowa, where he lived for several years. In 1861, he went to Mis- souri, and had several contracts for carrying the mails ; in 1863, he emigrated to Colorado, and was engaged in mining in California Gulch, for one year. He then took up a ranch, on Cottonwood Creek, where Buena Vista now stands, and lived there two years. The grasshoppers ate up all his crops, so he ran for Sheriff of Lake County, and was elected and served two terms. He afterward bought the ranch upon which he lives, near Salida, and kept a stage station there for six years. He was married, in Butler County, in 1852, to Miss Sarah Williams. Mr. Bale is one of the best known and highly respected citizens of Chaffee County. THOMAS I. BRISCOE. The subject of this sketch, while not an " old timer," in Colorado, is largely identified with its interests, and was one of the first to start the flourishing town of St. Elmo. Mr. Briscoe was born on a farm in Pike County, 111., August 27, 1845. .\t the age of nine years, his parents went to Texas, but not find- ing that country all they expected and desired, soon returned to their native home; at the age of ten years, his father died, and he was deprived of advantages he would otherwise have enjoyed, but at the age of eighteen years, he commenced attending school, and at the age of twenty- three we find him teaching; he taught two years, and then entered the McKendree College, from which he graduated in 1873 ; he then taught school one year, and, in 1874, entered the University of Michigan, graduating from the law department of that 1^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 505 institution in the spring of 1876. In the fall of the same year, he commenced practice in Pittsfield, the county seat of Pike County, 111. After a successful practice for one year and a half, he emigrated to Colorado, locating in the Chalk Creek Mining District, in Chaffee County, and has been interested in mining since. He was elected County Commissioner for Chaffee County in 1879, which office he still holds to the entire satisfaction of the people. In 1881, he was elected Mayor of St. Elmo. ISAAC N. BARRETT. Mr. Barrett was born in Delaware County, Iowa, December 30, 1851; his father died when he was five years of age; he remained at home, on the farm, until he arrived at the age of twenty-four years. He then went to California and followed lumbering three years, after which he returned to Iowa and spent one winter, and in the spring of 1878 came to Colorado and spent the summer in the Gunnison, building the Pioneer Toll Road. In the spring of 1879, he came to Buena Vis- ta, Chaffee Co. , and has been engaged on the police force since ; is now Marshal of the city. Mr. Barrett was married, February 12, 1870, to Margaret K. Prentice, of Crescent City, Iowa. DANIEL H. BOWRING. The subject of this sketch is now spending the e-vening of his days in a beautiful spot near Poncha Springs. He was born in May, 1818, in York, Penn. He was educated at the academy, under Prof. Boyer. At the age of seventeen, he came to St. Louis, thence to Hannibal, thence to Palmyra, and finally set- tled in Wellington, La Fayette Co., where he remained three years. Here he met his brother^ Dr. Bowring, whom he had not seen for twenty years. This brother, singularly enough, was born with only one arm, and at one time was intimately associated with Dr. Buckingham, of Denver; was also a corre- spondent of Prof. Agassiz. With this brother, Mr. Bowring sttidied three years, but was em- ployed, mainly, in compoimding medicines. He then removed to Clay County, where he mari'ied, at the age of twenty-one. Here he was engaged as builder and farmer for over twelve years. About this time, Mr. Bowring became a religious enthusiast, and preached a few times. Discarding all forms, he advo- cated a purely spiritual religion. During the fierce struggle of the rebellion, Mr. Bowring left Missouri, returned to his native State, and then shortly after came to Omaha, and, join- ing a party at Plattsmouth, they started across the plains, with ox teams, bound for Denver, which they reached in fifty-two days. Mr. Bowring was one of the heroes of the Sand Creek fight, serving in the artillery, under Capt. Morgan, of Company C. In the fall of 1869, he went on a ranch, near Longmont, where he remained a number of years. From thence, he removed to Poncha Springs, where he married his third wife, Mrs. Caruth, also thrice married. Mother Caruth, as she was affectionately called in California Gulch ere Leadville was known to fame; was bom in Middle Tennessee. Her first husband's name was Maxwell, and their settlement upon its banks gave the name to Maxwell Creek. She has seen 200 Indians encamped about the ranch in summer time, grazing their ponies and hunting. She firmly believes that they are a " treacherous, indolent, heathenish set," and that those in the East, who admire and pity them so much, would soon change their views if once exposed to their brutal conduct. Her experience of frontier life would fill a volume. With a kind husband, a comforta- ble home, and surrounded by her children, she can now take life comparatively easy while passing on to the better land. EZEKIEL B. BRAY. Judge Bray, as he is called, was born in Somerset County, Me., May 5, 1835: his school facilities were very limited; at the age of eighteen years, he stajrted for himself, and for the next sixteen years he was engaged in lumbering and ship-building in different parts of Maine and New Hampshire; later on, we find him farming in his native State, till 1874, when, joining the throng moving West- ward, he came to Colorado and located a ranch on Cottonwood Creek, now Chaffee County, then Lake, where he has since resided. In 1877, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has also been a member of the School Board, at different times. He was married. K- ^^ 506 BIOGRAPHICAL: in 1863, to Mary A. Dodge, of Wilton, Me. Mr. Bray is a live, energetic man, highly re- spected by his neighbors. FRED W. BRUSH. Fred W. Brush was born in East Consta- ble, Franklin Co., N. Y., January 5, 1853. He was educated in the common schools and the academy. At the age of iifteen years, he went to clerk in a store, which vocation he followed for ten years, and during this time he also acted as telegraph operator. In May, 1879, he came to Colorado. After visiting several camps, he finally located in St. Elmo, Chaffee Co., when there were only three little cabins there. He is engaged in contracting, having built most of the buildings there. In April, 1881, he was elected Town Clerk and Recorder. JOSEPH J. BURT. Mr. Burt was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., April 23, 1843. He remained on the farm, with his parents, till the age of twenty- one, and then started across the plains to Col- orado. He located in (California Gulch, and was mining there for six years. In 1873, he went to Black Hills, and remained six months. He was one of the discoverers of the 520 Mine, which was supposed to be very rich; they erected a fifteen-stamp mill. In 1874, they sold one-fourth interest for $25,000. He then came to Chaffee County, where he has since been engaged in hotel business in Granite. ALBERT D. BUTLER. Among the first to start and build up the town of Buena Vista is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Columbia County, N. Y., July 5, 1839. He worked on the farm and attended the common schools till fifteen years of age; he then went to Batavia, N. Y., and learned the wagon-maker's trade, and re- mained at the same business till the breaking- out of the war, when he enlisted in the Four- teenth New York Volunteers, and at the end of his term of service, he went to Wash- ington and took a position in the Government repair-shops, and remained there three years, after which he went to North Carolina and held a responsible position in the Govern- ment Construction Corps, for six months; later on, he was employed in a carriage-shop in St. Louis ; in 1866, he came to Weld County, Colo., and engaged in farming till January, 1867 ; he then took charge of the wagon de- partment of the Government Post, at Fort Sanders; was there till August of the same year, when he was transferred to Fort Kussell ; here he remained till 1870, and then went into the wagon-making and blacksmithing business, in Cheyenne, and remained there till 1879, when he came to Weston, then the terminus of the Denver & Rio Grande Rail- road, and started the same business there. When the road was completed into Buena Vista, he came there, where he has since re- sided, carrying on an extensive business, at both Buena Vista and Silver Creek; he also handles, very extensively, the Bain and Schut- ler wagons by the car load; also is dealer in Trinidad, Elmoro and Canon City coal. He served upon the Board of Trustees, in Chey- enne, and was elected to the same position on coming to Buena Vista. GEORGE F. BATEMAN. This gentleman was born in New Ipswich, N. H., October 4, 1839. At the age of twelve years, he went to learn the tinner's trade, and when twenty-two years of age, started the stove and tinware business at Mattoon, 111., where he remained till 1873, when he came to Pueblo, Colo., and clerked for G. P. Haslip in a hardware store. In May, 1880, he start- ed the hardware business at Salida, Chaffee Co., and has built up a flourishing and paying business. He was married, in Mattoon, III, in 1860, to Miss Lizzie Horn, who died June 4, 1879. CAPT. JOHN T. BLAKE. Capt. Blake, a prominent merchant of Sali- da, Chaffee Co., was born in Cumberland County, Me., March 28, 1837. He received an academic education, and when only sixteen years of age, went to Ohio and taught school one year. He then attended Milton College, Wisconsin, for one year and a half, after which he went to Missouri and taught school. Later on, he was engaged as agent for the Overland Mail Company, in New Mexico, till the war broke out. He was Captain in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, and relnained with it S^Jc u^v^^ ^t '^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 507 till the war closed, and was on detached serv- ice for six months afterward. He then went into mercantile business, in Kansas City, and was also mail contracting until 1879. His business of mail contracting had often brought him to Colorado and New Mexico, and, in 1878, he concluded to locate permanently in the general merchandising, in Salida, Chaffee Co. He is now Postmaster and member of the Republican State Central Committee. While in Kansas City, he was Assistant United States Assessor. While he is a stanch Republican and very active in politics, he has never sought office. He is very enthusiastic over the State capital, arguing it should be located at Salida, as being the most central portion of the State. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Annie L. Maxwell, daughter of Dr. Joseph L. Maxwell, of Cass County, Mo. GEORGE H, BOON. Mr. Boon was bom in Holmes County, Ohio, July 27, 1837. His father was a farmer, and he received what education he could get at the common schools. In 1858, he went to Iowa, and, in 1859, crossed the plains to Colorado. He was ranching for two years, and then built a saw -mill, on Lake Creek. In 1863, he en- listed in the First Colorado Battery, and was in the army until the close of the war. He then went back to Ohio and remained until 1868, when he removed to Johnson Cotinty, Mo., where he was engaged in farming for six years. In 1875, he returned to Colorado, and located upon a ranch, near Poncha Springs, where he has since resided. JOSIAH T. BRAY. Among the " old timers " of Colorado, who was a resident of Chaffee County long before there were any towns or railroads there, is to be found Mr. Bray. He was born in Somerset County, Me., April 3, 1883. At the age of sixteen years, he bought his time from his father and ever after that took care of him- self. He worked by the month until 1854, when he went to Wisconsin and worked at lumbering for one year and a half; he then went to Iowa and took up a farm upon which he lived till 1859, when he went to Missouri and worked one winter in a tie camp, near St. Joseph. In the spring of I860, he came to Colorado, and spent the next nine years in mining, except three years, that he was farm- ing, near Pueblo. In 1869, he located a ranch on Cottonwood Creek, within three miles of where the flourishing town of Buena Vista now stands. At that time, there were not five families for miles around. Little did he then think, that, in so few years, he would have two railroads within three miles of him, and a market for everything he raised right at his door. But such is the case now. NOAH BAEB. One of the first settlers in Chaffee County was Noah Baer. He was bom in Rockbridge County, Va., March 15, 1820. He remained at home, upon his father's farm, till twenty- six years of age. He then went to Platte County, Mo. , and was engaged in blacksmith- ing for three years. In 1856, he went to Iowa, and worked at his trade until 1860, when he emigrated to Colorado and was work- ing at his trade in Fairplay till the fall of 1862, when he removed to Cache Creek. In 1868, he purchased a farm one mile from where Salida now stands. Then all was a wilderness, but now he can see the iron horse pass his door nearly every hour in the day. Mr. Baer was married, in 1877, to Miss Fran ces D. Ball. MARION BOON. Mr. Boon was born in Holmes County, Ohio, November 10, 1854. He was reared upon a farm and received a good common school education. In 1864, he came to Colo- rado, and, after spending one year in the cat- tle business, he went to prospecting and had good success. He now owns a ranch, near Maysville, Chaffee Co., and is also one of the owners of the Monarch and Gunnison and the Sage and White Pine Toll Roads. He was married, in October, 1880, to Miss Hai-tsell, of Park County. ROBERT B. CHISHOLM. Jr. This gentleman was born in Benton, Wis., May 8, 1849 ; his father was a miner, being one of the owners of the Emma Mine, in Utah; he took several trips there with his father. In 1879, he came to Colorado, and ^1 508 BIOGEAPHICAL located in Grizzly Gulch, in Chaffee County, and is extensively engaged in mining there. He has been very instrumental in building up the town of St. Elmo; built and owns one of the best stores in the Briscoe Block. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Helen Blish, of Delaware County, N. Y. She died in Febru- ary, 1878. GEORGE B. CARSTARPHEN. This enterprising young merchant was born in Louisiana, Mo. , in 1856. Mr. Carstarphen, Sr., was a banker in the same town for twen- ty-three years. Being desirous of giving his son a collegiate education, he sent him to a preparatory school, in New Haven, Conn., with a view to entering Yale College. But the young man was bent on business, and so, at the age of sixteen, he was managing a whole- sale grocery in Chattanooga, Tenn. After- ward he went to Taylor, Texas, and engaged in the lumbering business. Still unsatisfied, he came to Colorado, became Cashier of a bank, in Salida, and subsequently Cashier of the Arkansas Valley Bank, in Poncha Springs. This position he shortly resigned, in order to devote more time and energy to the hardware and lumber business, which he was managing at tlie same time. Mr. Carstarphen has the true elements of success, and is destined to become one of the solid men of Poncha Springs. He is now about to buy himself a home and settle down to the comforts of domestic life. PITT COOKE. This genial, open-hearted gentleman resides on one of the pleasantest ranches in the Arkansas Valley. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio, in the year 1857. He is the third son of the late Gov. H. D. Cooke, and a nephew of Jay Cooke, famous in the financial history of the United States Government. Mr. Cooke was educated near Philadelphia, at the Chel- tenham Academy. Early manifesting a fond- ness for machinery, he served about three years in the machine-shop at the United States Treasury, thus becoming a practical machinist and engineer. In 1875, he went to Texas, settled in McCullough County, where, for a wliile, he was engaged in the sheep business. This occupation proved dull and monotonous to a man of his temperament, and, in 1877, he came to Fort Garland, where he visited a brother, who is an of&cer in the United States army. "While here, he witnessed the advent of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway. In 1878, he came to Leadville, and became Chief Engineer of the Adlaide Mining Company. In the fall of 1879, .he removed to Poncha Springs, and purchased the Caruth Place, which he has since named Alamocita Ranch, which appellation literally means " Little Cot- tonwoods." The ranch consists of 160 acres of splendid farming land, including a beauti- ful grove of cottonwoods near the dwelling, beside a fine stretch of timber along the South Arkansas River. Here the owner dispenses a bountiful hospitality to his friends, in sum- mer, and, at the end of the season removes to the more desirable city of Washington, to spend the winter. Mr. Cooke is exceedingly fond of horses, of which he has some choice specimens on Lis ranch. In the summer of 1881, Mr. Cooke brought, from Georgetown, D. C, his newly-wedded wife, the accom- plished daughter oi Commodore Somerville, of the United States Navy. Under the bright skies of Colorado they have launched most aus- piciously their matrimonial bark. We bespeak for them a smooth sea, favorable winds, and a safe haven at the end of the voyage. WILLIAM W. CAMPBELL. This gentleman was bom in Fulton County, Penn., June 26, 1837. When but a few months old, his parents removed to Peoria, 111. He received a common school education, and, when twenty-one years of age, commenced attending the academy, at Princeville, 111. , When the war broke out, he enlisted in Bat- tery A, Second Illinois Artillery; was very soon made Captain. After his first three years had expired, he re-enlisted, and re- mained till the close of the war, after which he returned to Peoria and remained two years. He then moved to Topeka, Kan., and remained there, engaged in the real estate business and handling agricultural implements, until 1877, when he came to Colorado, and located at Alpine. He located a ranch on Chalk Creek, where St. Elmo now stands, and built the sec- ond house in what is now a thriving young ±hL^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 509 city. He is engaged in lumbering and ' mining, and has been very successful. Mr. Campbell was married, in Peoria, 111., in 1866, to Miss Anna H. Maxwell. FRANK J, CAMPBELL. Among the most enterprising young busi uess meti of Chaffee County is the subject of this sketch. He was boru upoa a farm, iii Oneida County, N. Y., December 31, 1855. He at- tended the high school, at Lockport, N. Y., till sixteen years of age, and then clerked in a hardware store for three years. He then started a hardware store for himself, in Medina, N. Y., and did a successful business for three years; his health failing him, in 1878, he came to Colorado, and worked for Ailing & Co., Canon City, for one year, and then started a hardware store in Alpine, in connection with his brother. In 1880, they started another store, at St Elmo, and also one at Tin Cup. Mr. Campbell was married, December 31, 1880, to Miss Ella A. Dearing, of Jackson, Mich. For strict integrity and good business principles no one stands higher in Colorado. ADELBERT A, CRANE. Dell Crane, as he is familiarly known, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y, July 18, 1848. At the age of sixteen years, he went to the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and clerked in a hotel for three years, and then started the hotel business for himself. Later on, he was proprietor of the Planter's House, in Dubuque, Iowa, for one year. In 1868, he came to Denver, Colo., and was engaged in the stock business, supplying meats for the different Indian agencies. In 1878, he spent the summer in Leadville, and in 1879, came to Maysville, and was one of the founders of the city. He was elected on the first Board of Trustees, and re-elected in April, 1881. He was married, in 1874, to Miss Estella J. Morris, of Denver. ALEXANDER JI. CREE. Mr. Cree was born in Perry County, Penn., July 28, 1842; he received a good common school education. In 1861, when the Presi- dent called for three months' volunteers, he was one of the first to respond, and went out in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania. After the three months had expired, he re-enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Reserves, and served four years. In the spring of 1868, he emigrated to Colorado, locating in Gilpin County. After five years, he removed to Boulder County, where he spent two years, and afterward three years in Lake City. In 1879, he came to Chaffee County, where he started what has been known since as Cree's Camp. He was one of the founders of Mays- ville, and in April, 1881, was elected one of the City Trustees. He has been interested in mining since he came to the State, ahd is now one of the owners of the Columbus Mine, near Maysville. He was married, in 1870, in Gilpin County, to Miss Ella Thomas, of Michigan. A. B. CHAPLINE. This gentleman was born in Shepherdstown, W. Va., April 2, 1850. In 1855, his parents removed to Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Baylie's Commercial College in 1874. He then studied law, with DeWitt C. Cram, of Dubuque, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. In 1876, he went to the Black Hills; he was there, engaged in the practice of his profession and mining, till the fall of 1878. In January, 1879, he went to the new town of Maysville, Chaffee Co. He was very soon appointed City Attorney, and has shown marked ability in his profession and manag- ing the city affairs. THOMAS CAMERON. Among the old pioneers of Colorado, the subject of this sketch holds a prominent posi- tion. He was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 31, 1830. He remained at home upon the farm long after he was twenty-one. His father died in 1855, and his mother in 1856. In 1858, he sold the old homestead and moved to Van Buren Coixnty, Iowa, and in the fol- lowing winter moved to Kansas. In the spring of 1860, he emigrated to Colorado; he started a hotel, and sold hay and grain, at Union Ranch, sixteen miles from where Lead- ville is now located. In 1869, he went into the Arkansas Valley, near what is now Salida, and took up a ranch, and has been farming .1^ .k 510 BIOGRAPHICAL: and cattle-raising since. He was married, in 1855, to Elizabeth Boon, of Holmes County, Ohio, and has ?. family of nine children. REV. THOMAS W. DbLONG, Rev. Mr. DeLong, Pastor of the Con- gregational Church of Buena Vista was bom February 12, 1849. His father died when he was seven years of age, and he then went to live with an uncle, near Omaha, Neb. "When fifteen years of age, he commenced freighting across the plains to Fort Kearney and other points. At seventeen, he entered Tabor Col- lege, Iowa, teaching during vacations to pay his way. He graduated in 1 873, after which he taught school for one year. In 1874, he went to Oberlin College, Ohio, and graduated from there in 1877. Ip the fall of the same year, he settled over the Congregational Church, in Sheffield, Ohio; his health fail- ing, he resigned his charge, and came to Buena Vista, Colo., in 1879. JARED R. DbREMER, This gentleman was born in Luzerne County,. Penn., July 2, 1844. At the age of fifteen years, he entered Kingston College, and graduated in 1861. He then enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and soon rose to the rank of Second Lieuten- ani After about fourteen months, he was transferred to the Sixth United States Caval- ry; he remained with this regiment fourteen months, and, being sick and wounded, he re- ceived an honorable discharge. After this, he read law with Lyman Hicks, of Wilkes- barre, Penn., for some months; his health gave out and he was unable to study for two years. He then learned telegraphy, at Easton, Penn., and ran the Western Union office there for two years; he was then agent for the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad for sev- eral years. In 1876, he came to Colorado, and accepted the position of agent for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, at El Moro; was there three years; was then mining, near Silver Cliff, for a year, and in June, 1880, accepted the position of agent again on the Denver & Rio Ghrande road, and is now located at Buena Vista, where he has built him a nice house and proposes to make this his home. In October, 1880, he was appointed upon the Board of Trustees, and in April, 1881, was elected to fill the same position. HENRY DAY. This gentleman is one of the leading farm- ers in Chaffee County. He was born in Lee County, Va., October 18, 1827; he started for himself, at the age of eighteen years, and worked upon a farm by the month in Van Buren Coimty, Ark. Afterward, he went to Texas and joined the Texas Rangers, and served with them three years. He then re- turned to Missouri, and engaged in lumbering for seven years. In 1857, he went to Utah, as Wagonmaster for the Government; here he remained eighteen months, after which he returned to Missouri, and the following spring went to Mexico. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service, and was with tne army one year. He then came to Colorado, locat- ing at Fairplay; was there and at Central City for four years engaged in mining. He then worked at the salt works one year, after which he settled upon a ranch on Cot- tonwood Creek, Chaffee Coimty, where he has since lived; he is extensively engaged in cattle-raising. He was married, in 1867, to Susan Warfield, formerly of Kentucky. WILLIAM J. DEAN. Mr. Dean was bom in Ohio March 16, 1857 ; at the age of six years, his parents re- moved to Chicago, 111. His father being crip- pled for life, he had to depend largely upon his own exertions for an education. After attending the public schools till the age of twelve years, he entered Dyhrenfurth College, spending four years in this institution. He then went to clerk for the hardware house of Hibbard, Spencer & Co., Chicago, and re- mained with them seven years, always doing his duties to the entire satisfaction of his em- ployers, but failing health obliged him to leave their employ, and in January, 1880, he came to Colorado. After traveling over the State for some time in search of a good business point, he finally settled in the new and thriving town of Buena Vista, and built him a store and opened up the hardware business. The firm. Dean & Friedenthal, have, by their vr M M^^i-u^^'^^^^ ^1>L^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 513 careful attention to business and honorable dealings, built up a large and paying business. EDWAKD E. ELLIOTT. Mr. Elliott, the first Mayor of Maysville, Chaffee Co., was bom in Ithaca, Yates Co., N. Y,- December 23, 1827. When three years of age, his father moved to Willoughby, Ohio. Mr. Elliott has taken care of himself since thirteen years old; he worked upon a farm, for f6 per month summers, and did chores for his board and attended the district school winters. At fifteen years of age, he went to learn the printer's trade at Springfield, 111. He was there until 1846, when he went into the Mexican war and served one year, after which he was in the milling and stock busi- ness, till December, 1849, when he went to Iowa, and in the following spring to Califor- nia, and engaged in placer mining for ten years. In 1861, he received a position in the San Francisco Mint, and remained there until 1870, when he went to Carson City, and helped to establish that mint; after six months, he went to Utah, and was mining until 1876. He then went back tc> Illinois for two years, and in 1878 came to Colorado; he spent that winter in Denver, and the follow- ing spring removed to Maysville, or rather, where Maysville now is; he has been very in- strumental in building up the town ; he was elected first Mayor, which office he filled ac- ceptably. E. R. EMERSON. E. E. Emerson, Treasurer of Chaffee Coun- ty, was born in Cumberland County, Me., and educated at the public schools. In 1858, he was in charge of a party, under Col. A. "W. Wildes, Chief Engineer, on the survey of the Marquette & Ontonagon Railroad in Northern Michigan. In the summer of 1859, he accepted the position of resident engineer on the Fort Wayne & Northern Indiana Rail- road, and was stationed at Grand Rapids, Mich., but the company becoming financially embarrassed the following j'ear, he returned to Maine and accepted a position on the Maine Central Railroad, which he held until the summer of 1861. He then accepted the posi- tion of Chief Clerk, in the office of Col. East- man, United States Army, then in charge of the Department of Maine and New Hamp- shire, which position he held until February, 1866, when he came to Colorado and engaged in mining with his brother, John L. Emerson, at Central City, but in the fall of the same year returned to Maine and occupied a posi- tion on the Portsmouth, Saco & Portland Railroad, till the spring of 1869, when he was appointed Chief Engineer 'of the Knox & Lin- coln Railroad, from Bath to Rockland, Me., which was completed in 1872, when he accepted a position on the Maine Central Railroad, and had charge of the construction of the two important iron bridges across the Kennebec River, near Waterville, and on completion of these, the following year, took charge of the building of the Lockwood Cotton Mills at Waterville. In the spring of 1877, he re- turned to Colorado, and located at Granite, where he engaged in mining, with his brother, who had remained in Colorado. In the summer of 1879, he was appointed Treas- urer of Chaffee County, and, at the election, in October following, was elected Treasurer, having no competitor. Mr. Emerson was married, in February, 1863, to Miss Ellen Russell, youngest daughter of Dr. Leonard W. Russell, a prominent physician and sur- geon of Maine, and has one child, a daugh- ter. Mr. Emerson is a gentleman of great personal popularity, possessing the unlimited confidence of the public. His extended ac- quaintance throughout the county and State, with his well-known reliability, render the history of Chaffee County in this work, which is from his pen, one of great interest and value. The publishers congratulate them- selves on securing the services of Mi. Emer- son in the capacity of historian for Chaffee County. GRIFFITH EVANS. Mr. Evans spent his life, until nineteen years of age, in Wales; he was born there October 10, 1834. In 1853, he, with his par- ents, emigrated to America and settled in Galena, 111. He was farming and working in lead mines till 1872, when he removed to Dodge County, Kan. In 1874, he came to Colorado and settled in Chaffee County (then Lake) on the Arkansas River. At that time, that portion of the State was entirely new; B "V -^ 514 BIOGRAPHICAL: the mineral resources had not been discovered. He took up a ranch and went to farming. In prospecting over the country, he put down a stake where St. Elmo is now, and said this would some time make a point for business. He started a grocery at his ranch; when the mines were discovered near where St. Elmo now is, he was one of the first to help start the town, and now, in connection with his brother, has one of the largest grocery stores in that thriving town. He was married, in 1859, in La Fayette County, Wis., to Miss J. M. Havens. Mr. Evans is one of the best- known and highly respected citizens of Chaf- fee County. CAPT. JOHN G. EVANS. Capt. Evans, the Clerk of the District Court of Chaffee County, was born in Scottsville, Ky., May 15, 1844. At an early age, he re- moved, with his father, who was a lawyer, to Glasgow, Ky. He received the advantages of the common schools, and, at the age of fifteen years, he entered the Urania College, Glas- gow, which institution he attended three years. At the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in the Twenty- first Kentucky Volunteers, and was made Captain, in which capacity he fought for the stars and stripes three years. In 1868, he went to Cameron, Mo., and en- gaged in the hardware business for two years, after which he removed to Hannibal, and was engaged in the forwarding and commission business. In 1871, he came to Colorado, and was engaged in the same business, in Denver, for four years. Later on, he was engaged in different pursuits at difierent places in the State. In 1879, he represented Boulder County in the Legislature; after the adjourn- ment of the Legislature, he came to Chaffee County, and was mining in the Monarch Dis- trict. In January, 1881, he was appointed District Clerk and now resides in Buena Vista. The day he was twenty-three years of aga, he was married to Miss Cornelia C. Hit- ter, of Woodland, Barren Co., Ky. CORNELIUS EUBANK. This courteous and intelligent gentleman is the present Mayor of the town of Poncha Springs. He was bom near Richmond, Va., in 1832. His education was received in the schools of Eiehmond. In 1850, he came to St. Louis, where he was in business a year or two with his uncle. He then went to Council Bluffs, where he engaged in general merchan- dising for thirteen years. In 1860, he visited Denver, going across the plains with a wagon- train. In 1869, he settled in El Paso County, and engaged in the cattle business. Here he was appointed Sheriff, by Judge Halleck, which position was filled "wisely and well." He witnessed the building of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway through Colorado Springs, and wondered at that time what could give support and success to a railroad running through those barren plains. But he has lived to see that once feeble corporation become wealthy and powerful, ever reaching forth its giant arms for new territory and in- creased power. Mr. Eubank believes in the possibilities of Poncha Springs and is patiently awaiting the day of her substantial growth and prosperity. HUGH H. FULTON. In the summer of 1881, this gentleman was Postmaster in the gi-owing town of Poncha Springs. He was born in Strattonville, Clar- ion Co., Penn., in 1849, where he attended the public schools. Here, for a number of years, he was engaged in the furniture busi- ness. In 1879, he came to Colorado, remain- ing awhile at Canon City. In October, 1879, he became Assistant Postmaster at Poncha, and January 1, 1880, he received the ap- pointment as Postmaster. Mr. Fulton mar- ried the daughter of Levi Meyers, dry goods merchant at Poncha. Though quiet and un- pretentious in his manners, Mr. Fulton enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him. He shows his business enterprise by keeping in the post office a general assort- ment of stationery and confectionery. ERNST FRIEDENTHAL. Among the enterprising German citizens of Chaffee County is Mr. Friedenthal, of Buena Vista. He was born in Germany April 16, 1850; he was educated by a private teacher till the age of thirteen years, and then com- pleted his education at Zuellichau College. ^7 .V CHAFFEE COUNTY. 515 At eighteen years of age, he started on a trav- eling tour, and for five years was traveling all over the Continent. In 1873, he came to America, and located at Pentwater, Mich., and worked in a saw-mill and pinery. Here he remained two years, after which he worked in a lumber-yard in Chicago, and traveled through the West for three years. He then went back to Germany, and after one year returned to America, and in 1879 came to Buena Vista, Colo., and started the Chicago Lumber Yard, which he still owns. In December, 1880, he bought into the hardware business with William J. Dean. Dean & Friedenthal have now an extensive store in Buena Vista, and also one at Gothic City. WILLIAM W. FAY. Mr. Fay was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., September 1, 1846. At the age of eleven years, he commenced to learn the printer's trade in his native town. He was afterward Superintendent of the Syracuse Daily Courier Printing Company, of Syracuse, N. Y, for nine years. Later on, he was Superintendent of the Eockford Register Printing Company of Eockford, 111., for three years. In October, 1879, he came to Denver, Colo., and was fore- man in the job department of the Times office till January 1, 1880, when he went to Buena Vista, as Cashier of the Lake House. In April following, he went into the Grand Park Hotel, as clerk, for Capt. Grey, and the follow- ing August took this hotel on his own account, which he has since conducted to the satisfac- tion of the ti-aveling public. In April, 1881, he was elected one of the Trustees of Buena Vista. Mr. Pay was married, in 1867, to Annie Sanders, of Belvidere, 111. AMASA FEATHERS. This gentleman was born in Eensselaer County, N. Y, June 12, 1846. He received a good education, and remained upon his fa- ther's farm summers and taught school win- ters till he was twenty-four years of age. He then started out selling sewing machines for a large concern in Albany, and later was en- gaged in the same business traveling through Ohio. In 1875, he started the same business for himself at Mitchell, Ind. After two years, he sold out and came to Colorado, and was in the same business at Pueblo for one year. In the spring of 1878, he moved to the South Fork of the Arkansas Eiver, and bought the Miller Eanch for the purpose of raising stock. There were no improvements except a poor log house. The following July, min- eral was discovered near there, and in August, 1876, they commenced building the city of Maysville on his ranch, and what he intended for a pasture is now covered with one of the best towns in Chaffee County. Mr. Feathers was married, in 1869, to Harriet Tabor, of Sand Lake, N. Y. MARTIN M. FRENCH. Prominent among the business men of the new and growing town of Salida is Martin M. French, who was born in Otse- go County, N. Y., January 29, 1837. He was reared upon a farm and received a good common school education. In 1863, he went to California and was mining in the principal camps there and in Nevada for six years. In 1872, he went to Bay County, Mo., and was engaged in the drug business for four years. In 1876, he went to Deadwood, and was clerk- ing in a grocery and clothing store. In Oc- tober, 1878, he came to Colorado, and was one of the first to start business in Salida. He is now doing a very nice drug business and is highly respected as one of the solid men of the town. He was married. May ] 6, 1879, to Miss Belle Chamberlain, of Canada. VOLNEY C. GUNNELL. Prominent in the legal profession of Chaf- fee County is Volney C. Gunnell. He was born in Saline County, Mo., August 12, 1851. At the age of eighteen years, he went to Christian University for one term ; his health failing, he went into merchandising at Bates, Mo. He remained in this business one year and a half, after which he spent one year upon his father's farm. He then read law for four years, in Pleasant Hill, Mo., and was admit- ted to. the bar in June, 1878; here he prac- ticed for one year-, and in the fall of 1879 came to Leadville. In February, 1880, he organized the Central Colorado Prospecting and Mine Developing Company, and returned «^^ s .KT- iht^ 516 BIOGRAPHICAL: East to sell stock. In April, he came back and opened an office in Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., where he has since practiced his profes- sion. In April, 1881, he was appointed Pub- lie Administrator for Chaffee County. Mr. Gunnell was married, to Miss Lizzie M. Small, of Salina, Mo., October 2, 1872. JOHN GRAVESTOCK. Mr. Gravestock was born in Hereford- shire, England, June 2, 1833. He followed the pursuit of gardener until he came to America, in 1865. He came direct to Colo- rado, and remained in Denver until 1868, when he came to Canon City, where he has since resided, engaged in his old pursuits of gardening, for which the soil and climate of that section is peculiarly adapted. He was married, in England, in 1854. When he came to America in search of a new home, he left his family there, but, after two years, finding the New World all he had anticipated, he sent for his family, and Mrs. Gravestock, with five small children, came all that long journey alone. They have now a nice home and are a very happy family, enjoying the fruits of their energy and enterprise. GEORGE K. HARTENSTEIN. This gentleman is among the wide-awake young lawyra's of Chaffee County. He was born in Montgomery County, Penn., January 31, 1852. He worked upon a farm summers and attended the public school winters until fifteen years of age. He then went to Mount Pleasant Seminary simimers and teaching school winters until twenty-one years old, when he entered Franklin and Marshall Col- lege, Lancaster, Penn., and graduated from there in 1875. He then read law and taught school to pay his way until 1876, when he went to Livingston County, Mo., and taught for five months. Three months after this he came to Denver, Colo., and was in the law office of Patterson & Campbell for nine months. He was admitted to the bar during this time. In February,- 1878, he went to Leadville and commenced the practice of law there. After six months, he quit the practice and engaged in mining. He discovered and located, in connection with A. P. Hereford, the Annie lode, on Fryer Hill; they sold that the following spring for 175,000. He made money rapidly until he got interested in the Wheel of Fortune in Summit County, when he lost most of what he had made. In the spring of 1880, he came to Buena Vista, and has been here since in the practice of his pro- fession. In the fall of 1880, he was appointed County Attorney. He owns, in connection with Mrs. Adams, whose daughter he married in 1879, the Cottonwood Hot Springs Hotel. Mr. Hartenstein has the entire confidence of the people, and, by his industry and close at- tention to his profession, is building up a large and lucrative practice. WILLIAM R. HARP. Mr. Harp was bom in Canada Mfirch 15, 1847, on a farm, near the town of Aylmer. His father was owner of the Otter Mills at that place. He left home when but nine years of age, and has battled life for himself since. At the age of sixteen years, he commenced the business of buying produce and shipping to New York City. Iq 1868, he built the steamer Shoecroft, on Niagara River, and ran it as a pleasure steamer between Buffalo and Grand Island. In the fall of 1870, he sold out, and removed to Kansas City; he remained here but a short time, and then followed the building of the L. L. & G. E. E. to the Indian Terri- tory. Mr. Harp was one of the founders of Coffeeville, Kan. Later on, he was in the wholesale feed business in Kansas City, till 1878, when he came to Leadville and opened a grain store there, with a branch in Canon City. In the winter of 1880, he came to Buena Vista and went into the grain and hardware business; he is quite extensively engaged now in mining. JOHN. H. HUGHES. Mr. Hughes was bom in New York City in 1841; his parents removed, when he was quite young, to Tioga County, Penn., and when he was eight years of age they emigrated to Dodgeville, Wis. In July, 1861, he went to Montana and built the first storehouse in Helena, and was engaged in mining, freight- ing and restaurant business for seven years. In 1868, he removed to Macon County, Mo., •^ ^f^ Mt i^ 526 BIOGRAPHICAL: doing the entire mining editorial and local work on the paper from December, 1878, until October, 1879, when he went to Lead- ville, and soon after to Buena Vista, estab- lishing, with a partner, the Chaffee County Times, in February, 1880, at that time the only paper published in the territory now comprised in Chaffee, Gunnison and Pitkin Counties; he has been very successful in get- ting a wide circulation for the Times, which is now recognized as a reliable mining jour- nal, and the leading paper of the section. From July, 1880, until April, 1881, Mrs. Agnes Leonard Hill, the accomplished and tal- ented journalist, as associate editor, gave the Times a reputation all over Colorado, and por- tions of the Eastern States, as a sparkling, ably edited journal. Being called back to Chicago, which is her home, by ill health, she severed active connection with the paper, though acting as editorial correspondent; she continues to contribute lively sketches of her impressions of Colorado. The chief boast of Mr. Leonard is that, in spite of great opposi- tion from bunko men, gamblers and a law- less element which made Buena Vista their headquarters, he set a standard of decency in the Times, which a gradual improvement in the tone of public opinion fully indorses, and recognizes as a valuable ally in the rescue of the town from the domination of the bad ele- ment, and renders it a desirable residence point, where law, order and decency are held pre-eminent. GEORGE LEONHARDY. Among the old-timers who came to Colorado in an early day, and have been closely identi- fied with its mining and agricultural interests since, appears the name of George Leonhardy. He was born in Switzerland March 15, 1835; he graduated from college in 1851, and in 1852 he came to America, and spent two years in school to familiarize himself with the En- glish language, after which he was engaged in contracting, handling railroad ties, etc., till the spring of 1863, when he came to Colorado and went at once to California Gulch; rhere he remained two years engaged in mining, after which he went to Twin Lakes, Lake Co., and, later on, to Granite, where he whs min- ing for seven years; he then moved onto a ranch at Riverside, Chaffee Co., where he has since resided, carrying on farming, and also handling mining timber and burning charcoal very extensively; he is also partner in the hardware store of Ludwig & Co., Buena Vista; he was Clerk of the District Court of Lake County for six years; was Sheriff of the same county ia 1864 and 1865; was United States Assessor from 1865 to 1870, and was County Commissioner in 1866 and 1867; he stands very high in Chaffee County as a man of ster- ling integrity. CHARLES J. LYDO^^. Mr. Lydon was bom in Pennsylvania, June 3, 1844. After he was eighteen years of age, he worked in the mines and saved money to take a full course in Critten- den's Commercial College, Philadelphia; after graduating, he went into the grocery business at Ashley, Penn.; after about one year, he sold out and went to Chicago and engaged in bottling business with James Block, under the firm name of Lydon & Block, for one year; the same firm then returned to Ashley, Penn., and was in the livery business five years; he then went to Missouri and was book-keeper for the Chicago & Alton Railroad for five months. He then came to Colorado, in April, 1879, and located at Alpine; here he engaged in mining until June, 1881, when he bought out the hardware store of Campbell & Co. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Eveline Hoyt, of Wilkesbarre, Penn. ■JOSEPH E. McCLURE. Joseph E. McClure, the Postmaster at Al pine, Chaffee Co., was born in Missouri De- cember 15, 1842; he received a good common- school education; at the age of nineteen, he went into the mercantile business at Laclede, Mo. ; he remained in this business four years, after which he was farming for four years, and, later on, was in the mercantile business at Keokuk, Iowa, till 1875, when he came to Colorado and located on Chalk Creek, and started a general store there; he was ap- pointed Postmaster in 1876, and, although a Democrat, still holds the office, with the ap- proval of all the people; he was one of the i) fy / la^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 527 founders of the town of Alpine, and was Trustee for two years. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Jennie C. Bostwick, of Glasgow, Mo. ; lie iias been mining for five years, and has been very successful. CHARLES A. MONTROSS. One of the self-made men and influential citizens of Chaffee County is the subject of this sketch. He was bom in Westchester County, N. Y., January 16, 1818; his father died when he was seven years of age, and ever after he had to depend very largely upon his own efforts; at the age of fifteen, he was bound out as a tailor's apprentice for six years, but, this proving distasteful to him, at the end of three years he severed this connec- tion, and, going to Buffalo, N. Y., clerked in clothing store for the next two years; return- ing to his native town, he worked at his trade for two years; after he was twenty years of age, he attended Mount Pleasant Academy for two winters, working at his trade during the summers to pay his way. In 1843, he com- menced traveling for Dr. Brandreth, and con- tinued in his employ two years. On the 31st of December, 1847, he was married to Martha F. Washburn, daughter of Oliver Washburn, of Sing Sing, N. Y. In 1849, he engaged in mercantile business in Columbus, Ohio, and, two years later, began his career as a rail- road man as conductor between Columbus and Cincinnati; in 1853, he removed with his family to Illinois, locating at Centralia, and for a number of years was employed as con- ductor on the Illinois Central Railroad. On the breaking-out of the rebellion, he entered the army as Sutler of the Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was after- ward in the employ of the Treasury Depart- ment as Assistant Special Agent, and had charge of all the abandoned goods and lands at Vicksburg. In 1866, he located in Alton, 111., where he was engaged in railroading and lumbering till January, 1879, when he came to Colorado and contracted along the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, and, in June, 1879, located at Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., where he engaged in contracting, merchan- dising, etc. He was elected County Com- missioner for Chaffee County in November, 1880. Mr. Montross has always felt a deep interest in educational matters, being for sev- eral years a Director of Schools in Illinois, and in coming to Colorado he has not suffered this interest in popular education to diminish. CHARLES A. MoGILL. Mr. McGill, the present proprietor of the Lake House, Buena Vista, was born in Pal- myra, Portage Co., Ohio, in the year 1831. Were his biography written in detail, it would make a book of varied and interesting advent- ure, partaking more of the nature of romance than of real life. Mr. McGill was educated in music at a very early age, and at twelve years of age executed the most difficult violin solos in public; he was a member of the first negro minstrel company who introduced har- mony in negro minstrelsy; this company was under the direction of Nelse Seymour, the composer of the old familiar song, "Ben Bolt." Mr. McGill quit the stage and de- voted his attention to railroading in its va- rious branches. At the age of twenty-eight, he married Irene, daughter of Dr. Ensign Benschoter, a prominent' jjhysician of Plym- outh, Ohio. After two years' service in the late war, he turned his attention to hotel- keeping generally till 1879, when he came to Colorado and occupied the position of ticket agent for the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, at Leadville, Malta and Buena Vista, resigning that position to assume the proprietorship of the Lake House, which he raised from a very low ebb to general favor as a first-class house. Mr. McGill is quite largely interested in Chaffee County, and takes a deep interest in the prosperity of the city of Buena Vista. HENRY C. MANARY, M. D. Dr. Manary was born in Carroll County, Ind., November 30, 1848. At the age of fif- teen years, he graduated in the scientific course at Tippecanoe Institute, Indiana; for seven and a half years following this, he taught school. In 1871, he commenced read- ing medicine, which he continued for three years, and then entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1875; he then went to Casey, D \ ^^ fc 528 BIOGRAPHICAL Iowa, where lie had a successful practice for five years. In May, 1880, he came to Colo- rado, locating in Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., where he has devoted his attention, since, to mining and assaying; he is also one of the drug firm of Manary & Yelton. The Doctor was married. May 30, 1878, to Josie Lowery, of Casey, Iowa. G. D. MOLL. Mr. Moll was born in Holland May 4, 1857. He received a good education in his native country, and, in 1878, came to America. He spent some time in Virginia, Baltimore, Md., and New York City, and in May, 1880, he came to Colorado, locating in Salida, Chaffee Co., where he has been engaged in the wholesale and retail tobacco and cigar business since. Mr. Moll is highly respected in Salida, and has shown business energy in building up his trade in that town. THOMAS F. McGIFF, M. D. This gentleman was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 10, 1852. At the age of fifteen years, he went to clerk in a large wholesale tobacco house in New York City; here he re- mained until twenty-one years of age, after which he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated from the Long Island College Hospital in 1878. Immediately after grad- uating, he sought a home and practice in the Far West; he first located in Denver, but, after one year, he removed to the young and grow- ing town of Buena Vista. His practice is keeping pace with the growth of the town ; his close attention to business and his gentlemanly deportment have won him many warm friends ; he has been eminently successful with his pa- tients, and has already built up a lucrative practice. WILLIAM 0. MORGAN. Mr. Morgan was born July 2, 1826, on a farm in Dearborn County, Ind. ; he received a good common-school education, and, at the age of eighteen years, he went to Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber business for him- self; he remained at this business five years, and then sold out and returned to his former home in Indiana. He was there married to Diana Clark, of his native town. They com- menced their new life upon a farm, upon which they lived for four years, and then went to Centralia, III., and ran a hotel and railroad eating-house for two years. At the breaking-out of the war, he was in Washing- ton, and raised the First Regiment of District of Colmnbia Volunteer Infantry, and was elected its Colonel-, he was in the service two years, after which he was in different kinds of business at various places till 1879, when he came to Colorado, and soon after located in Buena Vista as proprietor of the Lake House, but soon after sold out, and has since been engaged in mining. (CHARLES NACHTRIEB. Among the names of those who crossed the plains in 1859, and who have battled with privations and frontier life since, is the one which appears at the head of this sketch. He is a German by birth, born April 29, 1833. When he was quite young, he came to America with his parents, who located in Bal- timore, Md. ; he received a good common- school education. In 1859, he came to Den- ver with a small stock of goods; after one year, he went to California Gulch and en- gaged in merchandising; he has carried on business there since, but, to make a good home for his family, he located a ranch in Chaffee County, five miles from Buena Vista, where he erected a saw-miU and grist-mill;' the South Park Railroad now runs through his ranch. He has built an elegant hotel at Nathrop Station, where the South Park branches off to St. Elmo. Mr. Nachtrieb is a man of great energy, strictly honorable, and has been very successful in his business vent- ures. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Mar- garet Anderson. EDWARD R. NAYLOR. Mr. Naylor was born in Shelby County, Mo., April 27, 1852. At the age of seventeen, he went to Iowa, and, when nineteen years of age, went to California; he engaged in farm- ing for one year and a half, and then returned to Missouri and attended the North Missouri State Normal School, graduating, in 1873; he then came to Colorado and bought a ranch in the Arkansas Valley, Chaffee Coimty, where — [9, ihL^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 529 he has since resided; he has been elected twice to the office of School Conmiissioner, and one term as Justice of the Peace. He was married, in 1878, to Lydia Cameron. JOHN W. O'CONNOR. M. D. Dr. O'Connor was born in St. Charles, Illinois, August 22, 1849. When twelve years of age, he entered Dixon High School, in Lee County, 111., and graduated from there four years later. He then clerked in a drug store until twenty-one years of age. He then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Langan, of DeWitt, Iowa, and graduated from Eush Medical College, Chicago, 111., in February, 1879. On account of failing health, he came to Denver, Colo., in October, 1879, and was assistant physician in the County Hospital until April, 1880, when he came to Maysville, Chaffee Co. He has built up a large and lucrative practice. He was one of the City Trustees in 1880, and in 1881, City Treasurer and member of the School Board. He is also surgeon for the Denver & Eio Grande Eailway, at Maysville. In politics, he is a strong Democrat. He was married, in July, 1872, to Miss S. J. Gorham, of Chicago, 111. A. .J. OVERHOLT, M. D. Dr. Overholt was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1840, and emigrated to Christian County, 111., in 1852. His father died in 1854, and he lived with and assisted in the support of his mother until he had ar- rived at his twentieth year. In 1860, he came to Colorado and worked in the mines in California Gulch. Here he remained during the mining season of 1860, and returned to Sangamon County, 111., where he worked on a farm, attending school winters, until he accu- mulated enough money to bear his expenses at the Illinois State University for' three years. He then engaged in teaching for eight years, the last four of which he studied medicine. He then attended lectures at Eush Medical Col- lege of Chicago, until his course was com- pleted, after which he settled in Loami, San- gamon Co., 111., where he at once engaged in the active duties of his profession. In 1880, he again came to Colorado, aud located at Maysville, where he enjoys a large and lucra- tive practice. He is thoroughly a self-made man, having carried out his own way from comparative poverty to a well-to-do position in life. He was married, in. 1875, to Mary L. Franklin, of Edinbiu-g, 111., and has an inter- esting family of four daughters. ELIAS ORTON. Among the successful miners of Colorado is Elias Orton, who was born in Genesee Coun- ty, N. Y., April 21, 1837. When four years of age, his parents moved to Adams County, 111. He remained at home upon the farm till the war broke out, and then enlisted in the Fiftieth Illinois Volunteers, as musician; he was ill the service three years and three months. After leaving the service, he re- mained upon the farm two years, and then removed to Labette County, Kan. In 1873, he came to Colorado and was engaged in mining at Trinidad, Lake City and Cleora till 1879. He then went to the Gunnison and bought one-half interest in the Silver Queen Mine, which was then only a prospect. It has since been developed into a rich mine, and Mr. Orton has sold his interest for large money. He still owns valuable property in the Gunni- son, but has bought him a ranch and built a nice residence, two miles from Poncha Springs, where he intends to make his home. He was married, in Illinois, in 1857, to Miss Eliza- beth Davis. J. 8. PAINTER. J. S. Painter, lawyer and editor of the South Arkansas Miner, was bom on a farm near Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa, March 22, 1848. His father being an invalid, he was deprived of the advantages of an edu- cation until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the high school, at Keosau- qua, Iowa, and, by close application, soon fit- ted himself for teaching the common branches. He then taught three months in the year, and attended school nine, until he had pushed himself through college, carrying off the hon- ors of his class on the day of graduation. In the spring of 1870, he entered the law office of Hutchinson & Hackworth, in Ottumwa, Iowa, and began the study of the law. In the fall of that year, he was made Deputy Audi- tor of Wapello County, Iowa, a position which ^^_^ liU. 530 BIOGRAPHICAL: he filled with such satisfaction that the Board of Supervisors voted him $1 a day extra com- pensation for his sei^vices. On the 2d day of September, 1872, he was admitted to the bar in the District Court of Wapello County, and immediately engaging in the practice, soon built up a lucrative business. In December, 1873, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Iowa, and two weeks later, in the United States Circuit Court. He now holds certificates from the Supreme Courts of five different States. In April, 1874, he moved to Chicago, and engaged in the practice of his profession, also in the printing and publish- ing business. He was very successful in his new field of labor until the fire of July 14, 1874, swept over the city, consuoiing all that he had, left him almost in a penniless condi- tion. He then went into the newspaper busi- ness, and during the next two years was in the employ of various daily and weekly jour- nals of the Garden City, winning quite a rep- utation as a vn:iter of humorous paragraphs and comic and burlesque sketches. In the spring of 1879, he bought an office in Adel, Iowa, and started an eight-column folio, called the Dallas County Gazette. This' paper he edited with such ability that it soon gained a wide circulation, and the editor became known all over the State for his pungent par- agraphs and biting sarcasm. He sold this paper, in December, 1879, with the intention of taking up a residence in Kansas, but changing his mind, came to Colorado, in March, 1880, and located at Buena Vista, where he was immediately employed as editor of the Daily Clipper, then run at that place. In May, he moved to Maysville, his present home, and, in connection with Ed D. Limt, started the South Arkansas Miner. In the latter part of July, he severed his connection with the paper and again resumed the prac- tice of the law. About the middle of Septem- ber, he bought Mr. Lunt out, and the paper was soon enlarged and otherwise improved, soon taking a prominent place among the papers of the State. WILLIAM PARKER. "William Parker is a native of Fayette County, Penn. He was bom September 5, 1830; he is of Irish descent and the eldest of seven children. At two years of age, his par- ents removed to Ohio; it was here his boy- hood days were spent in clearing off the heavy timber, to prepare a comfortable home for his parents in their old age. At the age of twen- ty-two years, he went to Missouri and worked as foreman on the farm of Abe McPike & Bro., near Ashley; here he remained until the winter of 1855, and then returned (o Mon- roe County, Ohio, and married the daughter of ' Bennet Coen, one of the prominent fam- ilies of that county. In 1857, he returned to Missouri, and engaged in farming for two years; in 1863, as a civilian, he took charge of the transportation, in the Post Quarter- master's Department at Warrensburg and Lexington, Mo. After the war, he purchased a farm three miles from Louisiana, which he ran with success, for three years, and then went into the livery business, in Louisiana, which he ran till 1877. He filled the office of Mayor of the city for three years, to the perfect satisfaction of the people. In 1879, he came to Colorado, and is now the proprie- tor of Feather's Hotel, Maysville;* also fills the office of Justice of the Peace and Police Justice. CHARLES AUGUSTUS PETERSON. Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden August 31, 1826. He came to America in 1851, and was engaged for ten years farming in Illi- nois. He was one of the early pioneers of Col- orado, coming here in 1861, locating on Cache Creek, near Twin Lakes. He was stock-rais- ing and mining till the fall of 1865, when he located the ranch upon which he now lives, near Salida, Chaffee Co.. His was one of the first ranches located in this valley. He was married, in 1875, to Mrs. Ellen Malina Solo- mans. H. A. E. PICKARD. The name of Mr. Pickard will be familiar to all the old pioneers of Colorado, having come here in a very early day, and been an active business man in different portions of the State since. He was born in Syracuse, N. Y., July 11, 1839. His father was a Meth- odist clergyman, and they were moving around to different places. In 1845, they located in s> \ I v fl^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 533 Freeport, 111. He received a good education at the district schools and Mt. Morris Semi- nary, Illinois. In 1860, he joined the throng moving vrestward, and located in Missouri Gulch, Colo., and started the first hydraulic process in that part of the country; in 1861, he went to Denver and was engaged in keep- ing the Planter's Hotel, in connection with James McNasser, till 1867; from there, he went to Pueblo, and took the Pueblo House, and later on, the Lindell, which he continued to run till 1875. This house, during his management, was the home of all the officials of the Denver & Eio Grande Railroad. Mr. Pickard manufactured brick very extensively while in Pueblo. In 1875, he went to El Moro and kept hotel there for one year; in the win- ter of 1877, he went to Florida, and traveled through that State for pleasure; he kept the hotel at Argo in 1878; in the fall of 1878, he went to Hutchinson, Jefferson Co., and kept hotel till he came to Buena Vista in 1880; while there, he was also Postmaster, and was appointed Postmaster at Buena Vista in April, 1880, which position he still occupies. Sfi-. Pickard was married, in 1864, to Miss Hawkins, daughter of Samuel Hawkins. VAN BXJREN PURDUM. Mr. Purdum was bom in Brown County, Ohio, January 28, 1848 ; his father died when he was only five years of age; at the early age of fifteen years, he enlisted in the Seventieth Ohio Infantry, and, after two years, re-en- listed in the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, and re- mained till the close of the war. In the spring of 1866, he emigrated to Iowa, and .followed the building of the Union Pacific road. In 1877, he went back East for the winter, and in the following spring, he came to Colorado, and was mining near Georgetown till 1879, when he removed to Maysville, and organized the Continental Mining Company, and was elected its Superintendent. He was married, November, 1876, to Jennie Sarchet, of Burlington, Iowa. SAMUEL D. QTJAINTANCE. Mr. Quaintance is the upright, straightfor- ward proprietor of the Quaintance Hotel, Poncha Springs* He lived in Crawford County, Ohio, until twenty-one years of age, when he removed to Mercer County, III., where he was engaged in farming for several years. Again, he removed to Tunica County, Miss., where he remained one winter. As Colorado had now become an El Dorado for adventurous young men, Mr. Quaintance joined the outfit of the Black Hawk Com- pany, and, June 10, 1860, struck the spot on Clear Creek where Black Hawk is now lo- cated. Here he witnessed the advent of Prof. Hill, and the inception of his new enterprise, which laid the foundation for fame, fortune and a Senatorship. Several years afterward, Mr. Quaintance engaged in the feed and liv- ery business at Black Hawk, and in 1866 united to these a hotel business, and was thus engaged about fourteen years. From thence, he removed to Golden, and ran the old Barnes Flour Mill for a year and a half. Owing to circumstances beyond his control, Mi-. Quain- tance here lost money. From thence, he went to Como, and kept an eating-house some four months. This experience he repeated at Weston and Buena Vista, thus following the progress of the South Park Railroad. From thence, he came to Poncha Springs and started his hotel, which promises to be a per- manent and lucrative enterprise. Mr. Quain- tance has had a large share of experience in prospecting and mining. In 1862, he pros- pected all over the Leadville country, and was one of a party that first sunk a hole in Buffalo Flat, which afterward yielded thousands of dollars to the placer miners. He has ^Iso prospected extensively in the Gunnison coun- try and the Elk Mountain region. His career, in full, would occupy many pages. JOHN ROLLANDET. Mr. Rollandet was born in Holland April 23, 1848; he was educated at Leiden Univer- sity, Leiden, Holland. After completing his education, he traveled for eighteen months in Austria, Germany and Belgium; in 1873, he came to America. He spent the first year in the mines of Virginia, and then came to Col- orado. He was in various kinds of business at Rosita, Leadville and Denver till 1879 when he came to Buena Vista and started the grocery business as one of the firm of Krause •<^ 6 >^ ^1 [\^ 534 BIOGEAPHICAL: & Rollandet. They were among the first to start a business in what is now a live and prosperous town. They went through many a trying scene in the start, but have now a very flourishing business. "WILLIAM W. RIVES. Among the highly respected citizens of Maysville, Chaffee Co., is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was bom in Franklin County, Va., February 4, 1824; he received a good common school education and also two years at Emory & Henry's Col- lege, Washington County, Va. At the age of twenty- one, he embarked in the tannery busi- ness, in connection with farming. When the war broke out, he was a Union man, and did everything he could to keep his State from seceding, but when she did go out, he joined the Confederate service for one year; he was then exempted from the service and was ap- pointed Acting Sheriff for his county, which position he occupied till the close of the war. In June, 1865, he walked across the country, to Paris, 111., having just 25 cents when he got to the end of his journey. He got em- ployment in a store, as clerk, and in the fall moved his family there. After about a year, he engaged to do business for a fanning mill company, at Kenosha, Wis. In 1874 and 1875, he was- engaged by Beers & Warner, in getting up a history and atlas of Illinois, and later on was in the collecting business. In . January, 1879, he came to Colorado and lo- cated in Leadville; the following August, he went to Maysville, Chaffee Co., and is largely^ interested in mining in the Monarch District, and also the Tomichi and Gunnison. In April, 1881, he was elected Mayor of the city of Maysville; in 1845, he was married, to Sarah A. Thatcher, daughter of Capt. Thomas F. Thatcher, of Bedford County, Va. He has a family of four sons and one daughter. CALVIN O. ROGERS. Calvin O. Rogers was born in Lenawee County, Mich., March 8, 1841; he has taken care of himself since thirteen years of age, working on a farm by the month; at nineteen years of age, he went to Sheridan County, Mo., and was engaged in farming and saw- mill for one year. In 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Missouri Volunteers; after serving one year, he was discharged on ac- count of sickness. He lived in Missouri for sixteen years. In September, 1879, he came to Colorado, and ran a saw-mill in Pueblo County for about one year. In December, 1880, he moved to Maysville, and has been engaged in mining, railroad contracting and the grocery business; in April, 1881, he was elected one of the City Trustees. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Martha Hunt, of Sheridan County, Mo. COL. WILLIAM W, ROLLER. Mr. Roller was bom in Gowanda, Erie Co., N. Y., November 1, 1843. When the war broke oat, he was one of the first to respond to the call of his country. He enlisted as private, and was mustered out, after four years and five months, as Lieutenant Colonel. After leaving the army, he attended Dart- mouth College, and afterward went into the furniture business in Ottawa, Kan. He re- mained there six years. In 1875, he emi- grated to Colorado, and was engaged in the furniture and stock business in Colorado Springs, until June, 1880, when he removed his furniture business to Salida, while the surveyors were still laying out the town. Here the firm of Roller & Twichell have built up a large trade. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Clara M. Hayes, of New York. JAMES W. RULE. Mr. Rule, one of Chaffee County's most successful stock men, was born in Clay Coun- ty, Mo., March 1, 1847. He received a good common school education, and, at the early age of sixteen years, he started out to make his fortune in the Far West. He came to Col- orado, and was mining in the different camps for two years; he then returned to Kansas City and spent one year. In the fall of 1866, he again came to Colorado and was placer mining in California Gulch for two years, after which he located in the Arkansas Valley, near where Salida now stands, and has been engaged in the stock business since with the best success. V (2 (J;^ liL^ CHAT'FEE COUNTY. 535 CHARLES E. SEITZ. Charles E. Seitz was born in Lancaster City, Penn., September 8, 1845; his father was a distiller, and moved to Parkersburg, Va., when Charles was three years of age. At the age of seventeen, he went into the Confeder- ate service, and served under Gen. Lee for three years. He then went to New Mexico; he remained but a short time, and then went to Douglas County, Colo., and went into the cattle business. Li 1874, he removed to Ceu- terville, in Lake County; in March, 1880, he came to Chaffee County, and, in connection with others, surveyed and laid out the town of St. Elmo. He was appointed the first Post- master; also the first Town Clerk and Re- corder, and in 1881 was elected one of the Trustees of the town. He is also Secretary of the St. Elmo Land Improvement Company. ENOS SHAUL. Mr. Shaul was bom in Liverpool, Onondaga Co., N. Y., October 5, 1856; he went to the common schools and worked upon a farm until eighteen years of age, when he went to Rochelle, 111., and clerked in a railroad office till May, 1874, when he came to Colorado and remained in Denver most of the time till May, 1878, when he removed to Granite, Lake Co. (now Chaffee), where he has since resided. He has occupied the position of Deputy County Clerk, Deputy Sheriff and Justice of the Peace, and is now Assessor for Chaffee County. Mr. Shaul was married, July 31, 1880, to Minnie L. Pine, of Gi^nite. G. H. SIMMONS, M. D. Dr. Simmons was bom in England in 1853; in 1870, he came to Canada, and in 1871 to Nebraska. He had to educate himself by his own exertions, which he did, at Tabor College, Iowa, and University of Nebraska. His med- ical education, he received at the Bennett Medical College, Chicago, 111. He came to Colorado in May, 1880, and was one of the founders of St. Elmo, Chaffee Co. He was elected its first Mayor; he is also Notary Pub- lic; he is also one of the drug firm of Sim- mons & Helmer. He is a man highly re- spected, and has built up a large and lucra- tive practica AARON W. SINDLINGER. The subject of this sketch was bom in Center County, Penn,, July 22, 1847; his father was a Methodist clergyman, and we find them sent around on different circuits, as all Methodist clergymen are. Aaron re- ceived a good common school education, and, at the age of twenty, he entered the North- western College, at Plainfield, 111. After re- mnining here two years, he went to the Law School at Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating from there in 1872, and being admitted to the bar, he commenced his practice in Naperville, 111. In 1873, he was elected Police Magistrate, which office he held four years; in 1876, he was elected State's Attorney for Du Page County, 111., and held this office until Decem- ber, 1880; he then came to Colorado and lo- cated at Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., and formed a partnership with George K. Hartensteiii. The firm of Hartenstein & Sindlinger are doing a flattering and lucrative business. JUDGE SAMUEL S. SINDLINGER. This gentleman was born October 24, 1849, in Union County, Penn. His father was a Methodist clergyman. At an early age, they removed to Freeport, 111. At the age of four- teen, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry; he was in the army until the close of the war, after which he attended the Northwestern College at Plainfield, 111., for three years, and later on, was in the Ann Arbor Law School for one year. He entered into partnership with his brother, at Naper- ville, 111., where he practiced his profession six years. In the fall of 1878, he came to Colorado, and followed prospecting at differ- ent camps till the fall of 1879, when he lo- cated in Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., and has been practicing his profession since. In the fall election, 1880, he was elected County Judge, of Chaffee Co., which office he now holds to the satisfaction of the people. EDWARD B. STARK. The subject of this sketch was bom in Pike County, Mo., May 16, 1842; his father was one of the pioneers of that country, having moved there when the country was very new. Edward lived upon the farm until twenty-one r liL 536 BIOGRAPHICAL: years of age, when he started out farming for himself, and remained in Pike County till 1873. He then came to Colorado Springs, where he has beon very extensively engaged in cattle raising since. He is also largely interested in mines, near St. Elmo, Chaffee Co. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Mary E. Griffith, in Pike County, Mo. WILLIAM B. THOMAS. Mr. Thomas, one of the leading lawyers of Chaffee County, was bom in Darien, Ga., October 23, 1847. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Confederate service, and remained in the army till the close of the war ; after the war, he clerked in a dry goods store days, and attended Bryant & Statton's Col- lege evenings. In 1866, he went to Michigan and remained two years, after which he re- turned to Georgia and ran a saw-mill for awhile. In 1873, he came to Colorado, and took up a ranch near Denver; after living upon this one year, he went to Denver, and was local editor of the Denver Democrat for a time. He then returned to McVille, Telfair Co., Ga., and commenced the study of law with C. C. Smith. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1877, and commenced his prac- tice there in McVille. In 1879, he came back to Leadville, and practiced with his brother, C. S. Thomas, till February, 1880, when he came to Buena Vista, where he has since resided, practicing his profession with Slice 6SS FRED M. TOMPKINS. This name introduces to the reader the editor of the Poncha Herald, a young gentle- man who, among other qualities, possesses, to a marked degree, perseverance, courage and untiring energy. He was born in Neallsville, Clark Co., Wis., August 16, 1862, when clouds of civil war obscured the political sky. At a tender age, he went to Michigan, remaining eight years. From thence, he removed to Lamed, Kan., where he enjoyed the instruc- tion of a business college, under the tuition of Prof. F. E. Poole. Mr. Tompkins has been a printer since he was nine years of age. At the age of sixteen, he was local editor of the Lamed Chronoscope. In 1878, Mr. Tomp- kins came to Leadville, and, for a short time, was engaged as printer in the Democrat office. Then he started the True Fissure, at Alpine, which expired with the town, about the mid- dle of January, 1880. After this, he took the editorial charge 'of the Chaffee County Press, at Nathrop. Finally, he assumed control of the Poncha Herald, which has its mission, and will diligently and vigorously perform the same, if courage and energy are adequate to the task. May he live to herald the substan- tial grovrth of Poncha Springs until she shall rival the prosperity of other famous watering- places in Colorado. JOHN TOMS. Mr. Toms is a native of England, having been bom there July 1, 1837; in 1851, he came to America and was engaged in book- binding in Cincinnati, Ohio, till the breaking- out of the war. He then enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Ohio Volunteers; when his three years had expired, he re- enlisted, and when mustered out, at the close of the war, he was Chief Quartermaster of the Freedman's Bureau, at Vicksburg; afterward was ap- pointed Storekeeper in the Internal Eevenue Department, at Chicago, 111. After one year, he joined Sheridan in his expedition against the Indians; in 1869, he was appointed Chief Clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, at Camp Supply, I. T. In 1871, he" went into merchandising in Miami County, Kan. In 1879, he came to Colorado and located at Cleora; when Jimction City was started, he went there, and has resided there since, en- gaged in the stationery business in connection with James Martin, of Kansas City. He was marriedf* in 1870, to Martha Ellen Blackwell, of Carlisle, IlL ' I. G. TRUE. Mr. True was born in Brockport, N. Y., in February, 1838. He early came to Detroit, Mich., where he lived until the age of six- teen. In 1854, he came to Chicago, where he was employed in Laflin's paper house until the breaking-out of the war. He had for- merly been a member of Ellsworth's Zouaves, and now, at his country's call, he went with that gallant regiment to the front, and re- mained four years. After the war, he resided at St. Louis, and was employed by the Gov- ^ '•«% -JW^ 'J!^ !fev CHAFFEE COUNTY. 537 eminent in settling the accounts of Missonri, relative to the State militia. In these trans- actions, $3,500,000 were disbursed, reflecting great credit upon Mr. True's accuracy and fidelity. After this, he served in the Auditor's department of the Kansas Pacific Railroad several years. Then he engaged in the paper business, at Chicago, but his partner having absconded to the Black Hills with $18,000, their enterprise had to be abandoned. In 1877, Mr. True came to Colorado and engaged in mining, from which he bids fair to reap success. Mr. True is an intelligent, genial man, and well liked by all who intimately know him. He is especially interested in building up the new town of Poncha Springs, which he intends to make his future home. JAMES P. TRUE. This gentleman is one of the proprietors of the town site of Poncha 'Springs, and also runs a bank of the same name. He was born at Brockport, N. Y., in 1848, and in 1850 re- moved to Detroit, Mich. ; from there to Wis- consin in 1859, thence to St. Louis in 1863, thence to Montana in 1865, and to Colorado in 1871 ; he built the first house at Colorado Springs, and engaged in general merchan- dising under the firm name of Goodrich & True; he also built the fair grounds, which was an unsuccessful venture, financially. He removed to Poncha Springs in 1875, and laid out the town in 1877; here he engaged in general merchandise, stock-growing and pros- pecting; he has acquired a handsome compe- tence, and is greatly interested in the growth and prosperity of this new town. JOHN F. TYLER. Mr. Tyler was born in Cynthiana, Ky., December 12, 1846. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Naval School at Annapolis, Md., and was there three years; after this, he followed the sea for one year as midshipman, and, later on, was in the Confederate service; after leaving the army, he spent one year in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and then went to Lake Superior and was engaged in the mines for two years; from there he went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa,, and engaged in the stock business. In 1876, he came to Colorado, and, when Maysville was started, was elected on the first Board of Trustees; he is Superin- tendent of the Defiance Mining Company. H. J. VAN WETERING. This gentleman was born in Holland June 4, 1850; he was educated in Europe as a civil engineer. In 1871, he came to America and found his way at once to the mineral fields of Colorado; he was a resident of Boulder for eight years, engaged in his profession as United States Deputy Surveyor. In 1879, he removed to Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., where he is now following his profession; he has large interests in valuable mining prop- erty in Boulder. Mr. Van Wetering is a genial, whole-souled gentleman, and makes friends wherever he goes, and is said to be one of the best civil engineers in the country. WILLIAM VAN WERDEN. This gentleman was born in Keokuk, Iowa, January 20, 1857; he received a good com- mon-school education, and, later, attended college at Quincy, 111., for two years, and is also a graduate of Baylie's Commercial Col- lege at Keokuk. After clerking for a time in the drug store of Wilkenson, Bartlett & Co., of Keokuk, he went to Cheyenne, W. T., where he remained one year, and then went to Leadville, Colo.; after prospecting there for several months, he went to Buena Vista and took charge of a drug store for J. D. Hawkins; in 1880, he went to' Garfield and started the drug business on his own account; was one of the Trustees, and also Treasurer of the first City Council. JOSEPH WTWARD. Mr. Ward was born in De Kalb County, Ala., April 22, 1850; his father was a farmer and his school facilities were poor. In 1869, he learned telegraphy in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and, later on, he went to Lexington, Ky., and was in the employ of the Western Union Com- pany until July, 1880, when he came to Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., Colo., and has been Train Dispatcher for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at that station since. Mr. Ward was married, in 1877, to Miss E. N. Middle- ton, of Louisville, Ky. — ' ^9 ^ Mt i^ 538 BIOGRAPHICAL: SHERMAN S. WESTFALL. Among the substantial men of Chaffee County is numbered Sherman S. Westfall. He was born in Columbia County, N. Y., December 12, 1824; he received a good acad- emic education, and, at the age of eighteen years, went to Albany, N. Y., to clerk in a forwarding house; here he remained four years, after which he went to Rochester, N. Y., and managed a wholesale grocery house for a year. For sixteen years after this, he was in the hotel business in Buffalo, Roches- ter, Albany and New York; he made a large fortune at this business, but, like many other men, had the misfortune to lose it. He then went to the Black Hills and spent two years, and, later, had charge of the river improve- ments for the Government. He came to Colo- rado for the purpose of doing contract work on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, bring- ing with him over two hundred men, but these he soon transferred to other parties, and has since been successfully engaged in mining in Chaffee County; he has a nice ranch three miles from Buena Vista, where he now resides. PHILO M. WESTON. This gentleman, one of Chaffee County's honored and respected citizens, was bom in Broome County, N. Y., June 5, 1824; he re- mained at home, working on his father's farm summers and attending district school winters, till he was twenty- two years of age; he then went to learn the masons trade, and, in 1850, went to Rock Island, 111., where he worked at his trade and dealt in wood for two years ^ the next four years he spent in Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, after which he went to De Soto, Neb., where he remained working at his trade till he came to Colorado in 1859; for the next two years, he was in different camps, and in 1861 went to South Park, passing over the pass which has since borne his name (Weston Pass); here he lived till 1867, al- though he was prospecting at different times in Various places. In 1867, he moved to Twin Lakes, Lake Co., and in 1868 he built the first house in Granite, and moved there and en- gaged in mining, keeping boarding-house, etc., till 1870, when he located on a ranch on Cottonwood Creek, where he has now one of the best farms in the State. In 1876, he built him an elegant stone house, and has now all the comforts of an Eastern home. WILLIAM D. WHITE. William D. White, one of Colorado's live and energetic business men, was bom in Brooke. County, Virginia, October 28, 1849. AVhen he was three years of age, his pai'ents removed to Illinois. At the age of fifteen years, he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and served one year in the war for the Union. He then came to Colo- rado and worked upon a ranch one year near Denver ; he then went to New Mexico and was mining for a time, after which he spent three years placer mining in California Gulch; later on, he was engaged in the cattle business in Park County; he was one of the first settlers on CuiTant Creek; afterward, he ran a saw- mill near Garland. In the spring of 1878, he started in the lumber business on the South Arkansas River, and, 'in July of the same year, bought a ranch, upon which he lives, near Maysville, and is one of the pro- prietors of a meat market in Maysville. He was married, in 1873, to Mary McCandless, sister of Hon. James A. McCandless, of Fre- mont County. CAPT JOSEPH H. WILLARD. Capt. Willard, the present proprietor of the Granite Hotel, Granite, Colo., was born in Tioga County, Penn., June 10, 1841; he re- ceived a good common- school education, and also attended the academy at Wellsboro, Penn. At the age of twenty years, he enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served his country two and a half years; enlisted as private and was promoted to Cap- tain. In 1865, he came to Colorado; was mining in different camps for several years. In 1877, he located in Leadville and engaged in mining, and also carried on the wholesale and retail grocery business, in connection with liquors and cigars. In March, 1881, he removed to Granite, Chaffee Co., and assumed control of the Granite Hotel. Capt. Willard was married, in 1878, to Louisa V. Ahlquist, of Humboldt, Kan. ^' lii^ CHAFFEE COUNTY. 539 GEORGE T. WILLIAMS. Prominent among the ranchmen of Chaffee County is the subject of this sketch. He was bom in Platte County, Mo., November 14, 1840. He remained at home upon his father's farm until nineteen years of age, when he went to Texas on account of his health; he returned to his native town in the fall of 1860, and, when the war broke out, joined the Confederate army, and was at the front in all the important engagements west of the Mis- sissippi River till 1865 ; he then returned to Missouri and was engaged in farming till 1874, when he emigrated to Colorado, first locating in Canon City; in the following spring, he bought a ranch in the Arkansas Valley, near where the town of Salida is now located; he has an elegant farm of 320 acres, under good improvements. He was married, in 1866, to Sallie J. Woods, in Clay County, Mo. JOSHUA W. WOOD. Mr. Wood was bom in Belmont County, Ohio, August 5, 1839. After receiving a good common-school education, he graduated at Duff's Commercial College, in Pittsburgh, in 1859; he then spent one year as book- keeper in Cincinnati, Ohio; in 1861, he went into the general merchandising in Loami, 111., and followed this business for eighteen years. In 1879, he emigrated to Colorado and locat- ed, in the drug business, in Maysville, Chaf- fee Co. Mr. Wood was married, in 1862, to Bebecca Jane McKee, of Illinois. JAMES T. WILSON. Among the substantial men of Chaffee County is James T. Wilson, of St. Elmo. He was bom in Kentucky August 13, 1826; his father was a farmer, and, in 1833, moved to Pike County, Mo. He received a good edu- cation, and at the age of twenty-two years, engaged in teaching, which he followed for five years, after which he was in stock busi- ness in Illinois; from 1868 to 1872, he was in the stock-yard business in St. Louis, Mo. ; he then came to Colorado and ran a livery stable in Colorado Springs until 1876, when he re- turned to St. Louis and engaged in the live- stock commission business. In 1879, he re- turned to Colorado and bought into the Chrys- olite Tunnel property, in Chaffee County, and, in February, 1881, formed it into the St. Elmo Mining and Smelting Company; he is President of the company, and also its Super- intendent; they have a tunnel now 570 feet; they expect to cut seven distinct leads, includ- ing the Jim Wilson, Maid of the Mist, Gulnare, St. Louis, Ute, Eald Back, Fish, Maggie An- derson; these all crop out on the surface. JOHN W. YELTON. Mr. Yelton was born in Pendleton County, Ky., February 7, 1841. In 1853, he removed with his parents to Logan County, 111. When he ■ was twenty years of age, he enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry as private, and was afterward promoted to First Lieutenant; he was in the service five years, and was in active service all the time; he was in eighteen hard-fought battles; at the battle of .Stone Eiver, he successfully carried the colors all through the fight, but seven out of the ten Color Guards were killed. After the war, he removed his home from Illinois to Southwestern Missouri, and engaged in farming and merchandising. In 1877, he came to Denver, Colo., and, during the sum- mer and fall, was foreman of a coast survey- ing party ; the following spring, he went into the mercantile department of Best, Claxk & Co., at the end of the track of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad; he remained in their employ till February, 1881, when he went into the drug business with Dr. Manary, in Buena Vista, under the firm name of Man- ary & Yelton; in April, 1881, he was elected one of the Trustees of the city. Mr. Yelton was married, in 1866, to Miss Mary L. Dun- lap, of Springfield, Mo. 5 \ ^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. •Jf BY CAPTAIN B. F. ROCKAPELLOW. [Should the reader feel the same misgivings over the propriety of the following prologue to the region to be described that the writer did, he trusts that their charity raay be his justifica- tion, when he admits that, without tracing old webs of description, he could find no other simile that would permit of flights of fancy that could entwine the surface and reach the hidden recesses beneath.] The distinguishing physical features of Fre- mont County can be better understood by im- agining yourself in a position to take a bird's- eye view of some immense world's fair grounds, the principal fagade of which being the Sierra Mojada and the Thirty-nine Mile Ranges, traversing the county in a north- northwesterly and south- southeasterly direc- tion, its center arc de triomphe being the Grand Canon, whose cloud canopy rests on granite panels and pilasters 2,000 feet high, carved and grained in fantastic shades and shapes by the master hand of Time. The col- onnades, being the beautiful Sierra Mojada Mountains, range to the southeast, and the Thirty-nine Mile Range to the northwest, each terminating in Grand Pavilion Mountains — the first in the high mountains of Upper Hard- scrabble, in mining district of that name, and the latter in the high peak of the Thirty-nine Mountains — in which pavilions are stored, in the one to the south, gold, silver, and the marvels of nature's mineral wealth, while in that to the north, books of mica, chalcedony ♦Written and compiled by Captain B. F. Rnckafellow from the pamphlet, "illustrated," entitled "Southern Colorado: Historical and Descriptive of Fremont and Caster Counties," etc., by permis- sion of Messrs. Binckley & Hartwell, publishers. A very worthy, modest and inexpensive work, the circulation of whish we wish to recommend. Having had to present such a limited circnlation, what matter is copied from it will he new to most of our readers. Also from items furnished by Jessee Frazer, Al Toof, Jotham A. Draper, Anson P.udd, Warren B. Fowler and other pioneers. As also from the Fremont County Becord and official sources. in all the forms of onyx and agates, in which are seemingly encased the delicate breath of the Frost King, and cloudy fumes from na- ture's mysterious laboratory. From out of one of the buttresses bubbles and flows the Thirty-one Mile Soda Spring. Parks, where domestic animals graze, and the deer and her fawn sport, are interspersed between the main colonnade and the corridors of the Museum Mountains, of estinct animals, skirting Oil Creek Valley, where are ranged the Camarasaurus Supremus, the Trihedrodon, and other monsters of the wonderful past, which produced beings, compared with those of the present day as are our lives in length compared with the lives of the patriarchs. A red sandstone monument, seventy feet high, commemorates the scene where these brute Titans fell and are entombed, while the oil- wells below, by the escaping gas from the earth's hermetically sealed reservoir, are now bringing forth their fatness for the use of our generations. The marble caves northward furnish a delightfully -eool retreat The Sig- nal Mountain rears its head beyond and, looking on easterly over our portion of the Pike's Peak Range, we see its grassy glades and grottos seldom peered into by visitors. We descend to their southern base to the dormitories, or Sheep-back Range, hills of gypsum and lime, off toward Beaver, along the base of which are the troubled waters of numerous refreshing soda springs, which keep the spirits of our visitors evanescent by their joyous action. First, in front of the right colonnade are the grand avenues from Wet Mountain Valley, of Oak and Grape Creek Canons, cut through everlasting mountain storehouses, filled with ore chambers and- niches, only in later years ^ 4U. 544 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. opened for ethibition by invincible prospect- ors. In the first, majestic spruce trees furnish acceptable shade, and the moss- embossed rocks are set in beds of gauzy ferns. In the other, a Temple Canon leads to a Royal Arch, with its pulpit, gallery and dome; next, easi^ erly, come the hills and vales of the Canon City Coal Basin, beneath which are stored more tons of fuel than grows in the same space in the forests of Oregon or Michigan, and which are opened by miles of entry ways and hundreds of rooms, from which are daily drawn hundreds (and soon will be thousands) of tons of clean, bright coal, by powerful en- gines stationed here and there, in this our all- time fair ground, dotted with towns filled with buildings, representing every industry — Canon City the county seat, the grand stand. In the central foreground, on either side of the gateway, are the hot and cold soda springs, inviting the pilgrims to or from the mines to lave their limbs and dispel disease, to quaff the invigorating waters and renew age and strength.- Between them courses the Arkansas River, and its companion railway, through towns, by the Brantford quarries — the best in the land — and the dome- shaped mounds of Castle Rock series, by cultivated fields, lime quarries of Beaver and grassy ranges, bearing down from the highest al- titudes, the wonderful spirit of enterprise being everywhere developed, in valleys, gulches and on mountain sides, while still further on the scene spreads out the bright picture toward Pueblo and the plains. On these vast grounds, to the west of our cen- tral arch, the everlasting mountain build- ings, containing Cotopaxi's stores of zinc, and of silver and copper in the Sangre de Christo just beyond, in Hayden Pass, while forests of spruce, pine, and silver firs line the western background, and the keepers of the herds on Texas Creek and Pleasant Valley find diversion in the ever-fortunate chase, among these evergreen-clad heights; the shape of the county being oblong, with map appearance of end of Gothic building, with its roof peak in the high range bordering Poncha Pass on the east. It is sixty miles from east to west through the center, and thirty miles from north to south, comprising 1,500 square miles. CLIMATE ALTITUDE SPRINGS. Fremont County possesses all the favorable features of Colorado climate. The breezes common to the valleys, forerunners of storms — which are the exception, while fair weather is the rule — -are said here to be the spec- ial purifiers of the air, coming dovm from the rarified atmosphere of higher mount- ains to the westward, by the Grand Canon route; certain it is that, though the valley portion of the county is a mile high, or, in exact figures, 5,300 feet, that the average tem- perature is as equable as the lower altitudes in the same latitude, and, in times of great bar- ometrical changes throughout the country, in winter months, the weather is usually ten de- grees more favorable here than at other points, even in our own State. The records of the United States Signal Service at Canon City, during the months of November, December, January, February and March, in an average season, show mean bar- ometer 24,678; mean thermometer, 42 de- grees; highest thermometer, 73 degrees; low- est thermometer, 4 degrees; and 263 of the observations during that time, taken morning and evening, were with a cloudless sky. Sea- sons that show lower thermometer seldom make but few records below zero, and never yet has fallen into the twenties. For fur- ther proof, greater success in raising all kinds of fruit is attained here than elsewhere, and this is acknowledged to be the best winter sanitarium to be found in the Rocky Mount- ain region. The mineral springs of Canon City, temperature 102 degrees, though not as hot as some in higher altitudes, are sur- charged with greater quantity of those mineral properties beneficial in restoring the diseased and debilitated system. The writer refers to the tabulated analysis given in the Denver Tribune of July 7, 1881, in by far the best article on tourists resorts in Colorado yet published, in which is given analysis of four springs at Pagosa, two Ojo Caliente, N. M., three Parnassus, six Manitou, three Wagon AVheel Gap, three Canon City, the Carlisle, Hortense and Cottonwood Springs — from J 1^ ^! liL HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 545 whicli it can be seen at a glance how Prof. Theo. Lowe, of the Wheeler Exploring Expe- dition throughout this county, was enabled to report " that of all the mineral waters of the "West which I have analyzed, I find those of Canon City the best." The discovery of these springs, and the first occupation by white men of which there is any authentic record, was by Zebulon Pike. Dr. Eobinson and party, who camped, December 5, 1806, at the hot springs at the mouth of the Grand Canon, being on a Government expedition, in search of the source of the Red Eiver, finding bison, deer and wild turkeys in great numbers, they re- mained here until the 10th, when they resumed the miarch toward South Park, deflecting at Salt Springs, since salt works, and, following Trout Creek down to its junction with the Ar- kansas, which they supposed to be the stream which they sought — the error of which was not learned in following down its turbed wa- ter-course until they emerged from the Grand Canon, finding at its mouth the camp they had left one month before. Here they built a small block-house, the first habitation of white men in the county. On the 14th, he again started south in search of Red River, leaving two men in camp. This route, no doubt, lay up Grape Creek, as he, soon after starting, entered Wet Mount- ain Valley. Here he encountered snows to the depth of three to four feet. Many of his men had their limbs frozen, and were left at differ- ent points on the route. Finally, he crossed the Sangre de Christo Range into the San Luis Valley, and made a camp on the Rio Grande del Norte, and commenced building a fort, claiming the land in the name of the United States. This caused his being taken prisoner, the day after his arrival, by the Spanish soldiers, who kindly assisted him in gathering up the unfortunate stragglers. He was then taken to Santa Fe, and from there to Old Mexico. He was afterward released, and, on his return, was enabled, at last, and after so many trials and privations, to find the long-sought source of Red River. Maurice, a French trader who came from Detroit, is said to have established the fort and trading-post on Adobe Creek, near the west line of the lamented Samuel L. Gould's land, about the year 1830. The first agri- cultural settlement was by Mexicans, at near the mouth of Adobe Creek, soon after wiiere they built thirteen low, flat, earth-roofed adobe houses on one side of a projected square or plaza, which was completed by an adobe wall. One of the buildings, with dirt floor and one small box window, was used for a church. Their marriage custom was their principal peculiarity, being performed in the evening, and followed by a night of dissipa- tion; they would repair with their friends to church in the morning, and, after saying mass, would form a procession, headed "by the bride, in the whitest garments procurable, and, conducted by the groom, the procession marched around to music of violin and a sort of drum, the friends shooting off firearms and making grotesque gestures, until their future residence was reached, when each one took their departure from the newly married couple, after hearty pressure of body, by plac- ing hands to backs, and without further con- gratulations or salutations. They cultivated some land on Hardserabble, but had a life of constant hazard from the Indians. In 1838, on approach of the Sioux and Ara- pahoe Indians, they took refuge in Maurice's Fort. The Indians demanded of Maurice a Ute squaw who was living with him as con- dition of peace. He parleyed with them until a courier, sent to the Ute camp (then in Wet Mountain Valley) brought the braves, when, on the mesa south of the creek, one of the fiercest engagements of our early history was fought, resulting in victory to the side of Maurice and the Utes. The few particulars of this engage- ment obtainable were communicated by Mau- rice, in 1860, to J. A. Toof, Esq., who says the old Frenchman communicated all dates by moons. He told him that in 1844, four feet of snow fell all over his country, and lasted three moons, at the time of the great St. Louis inundation, and that it killed all the bison and many elk and deer. Mr. Toof thought it correct, as bison heads were seen all about the country. He was particularly impressed with the correctness of the state- ment on the following April 15, when he looked out on a clear sky at nightfall, and in the morning on an equally clear sky, but on » ^ ^kv 546 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. the ground covered with sixteen inches of snow. Civilization seems to have done away since, with these eccentricities of climate. TUe first American settlement on Adobe Creek was in 1840, by an association of hunt- ers and trappers. The following-named per- sons are known to have been the leading spirits of the company: Gov. Bent, Mr. Lupton, Col. Ceren St. Vrain, Beaubien, and Lucien B. Maxwell. These men are all well known in the history of Colorado and New Mexico, Maxwell and Lupton at one time being companions of Fremont, in his first trip to California. Gov. Bent, first Gov- ernor of New Mexico after the conquest by the United States, aJEterward murdered at Taos in an insurrection led on by an advent- urous Mexican, who expected to become as successful as other bandit chieftains have in Old Mexico; but, as he was resisting the power of Uncle Sam, his " revolution " (for it is known by that name to this day in Taos Val- ley, the scene of the massacre) was of short duration. Lupton, the well-known "Fort Lupton," of Northern Colorado, being named in his honor. Col. St. Vrain, a French Count, not only legally a nobleman, but one of nature's noblemen — a beautiful river in Northern Colorado is named for him. Beau- bien, another noble Frenchman, one of the grantees of the " Beaubien and Miranda Grant" of lands, now known as the "Maxwell Grant," and Lucien B. Maxwell, former owner of the " Maxwell Land Grant," with others whose names cannot be obtained. Beaubien had iinmediate charge and management of the post, the object of which was to supply the wants of the trappers who were then op- erating in this section of the country. The settlement remained on Adobe Creek, with few interruptions, until the year 1846, when it was broken up, and the inhabitants, except Maurice, went to other mountain lo- calities. The Plains Indians did not appear again in force until August, 1852. The Mexicans, who, having come and gone several times, had crops in, at first determined to go out and fight, but the Indians, seeing their movements, and not desiring a square conflict, withdrew to ambush beyond the Mexicans' corn-field. in which they left their ponies feeding. The Mexicans did not attempt driving them out, as they saw through the object of the movement, but made a show of preparing to do so imtil night, when they evacuated and made for Mexico by the way of San Carlos and Cuch- aras, leaving Maurice, with his family of In- dian and Mexican wives with his Ute allies, sole occupants of the country again. The settlers called his place Buzzard Boost. Maurice seems to be the only French trader who remained any number of years in the county. He spoke Mexican mainly, but nearly all the Indian languages fluently. He had, at different times, a great many squaw wives. By a Flatfoot squaw he raised a son, who, at the time of Mr. Toof's arrival, was nine years old. He also had a son by a Mex- ican wife, who was about twelve years old. He was at one time quite wealthy in his trad- ing post store and in ponies. He was most attached to his Mexican wife, whose death, in 1858, bore heavily upon him, and he even lost his power to kill game. He would get terri- bly enraged at once if any one failed to com- prehend his conversation, and would show the adaptability of his mother tongue whenever he cursed, which he did at a fearful rate when piqued The last seen of the old man was after all his worldly possessions had wasted away except his pony — his children having gone to Mexico — when, just at nightfall, he was mounted, dressed in his buckskin suit, with his gun slung across his back, going with the sfih over the mountains toward Music Pass and Mexico. Owing to his friendship with the. Utes, he would never communicate any facts concerning their great fight and loss on the Ute Trail, from Crystal, or Brewster Spring, across to where the wagon road now leaves Grape Creek. A few years since, Mr. George W. Griffin met a Spanish half -breed who was in the Ute Trail fight, and who said the Utes were off toward Mexico in 1847, some say in Huerfano, com- mitting depredations among the Mexican set- tlers, when they were pursued by troops under a regular Mexican army officer, whose name he could not remember; that the Utes did not make a stand imtil in the gulch, or canon, near this place, where they attempted to draw ;nv ^^^^^-'^-^-^. ^^"^^^^..^^^i^^^-^ ^ » ^ HISTOKY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 547 the troops into ambush, which the troops dis- covered, and, gaining an advantageous posi- tion over the Utes, who fled in great conster- nation, leaving strung along the trail 125 of their number, the slaughter continuing on across Webster Park and into the canon as far as Copper Gulch, where the last burial-mound yet remains. The rock-covered grave-mounds on this trail were strewn with evergreens by the Utes each season for years after the writer came to this country, at which times they are said to show much respect, as well as grief, over their fallen braves, and chanting mournful melodies, with all the guttural ca- dences peculiar to primitive song in every In- dian tribe. Another account of the Ute Trail battle is that, about the year 1845, the Utes surprised and massacred the settlers on Huer- fano, and who, following up the latter creek in their efforts to escape, gave that creek the name it now bears — Hardscrabble — and that St. Vrain gathered the settlers all along the eastern base of the mountains and gave them the terrible punishing shown by the burial- mounds that line this trail. THE EXPEDITION WHICH LED TO THE DISCOVEBY OF GOLD AND THE SETTLEMENT OF COLOKADO.* In examining the history of Colorado, I see that the historians have given to Green Rus- sell and a party of Georgians the credit of. starting the gold excitement in this country in 1858, which was the means of getting the country settled by white people. Believing the historians to be mistaken, I have conclud- ed to give my account of the expedition, of which I was a member. Green Russell and his party were not with the expedition until we had accomplished one-half tiie distance to the mountains. In the spring of 1849, when the California gold excitement started, a party of Cherokees went there, traveling by the Arkansas River route, over the old road by the Squirrel Creek divide and the head of Cherry Creek. They were formerly from Georgia, where they had attained considerable experience in gold min- ing, and, going to California, took with them their mining tools, which they used in pan- *By Philander Simmons, a member of tlie party who visited the park where Caflon City is located, with Bent's Indian traders, in 1842, and published in the Fremont County Record. ning out dirt along the different mountain streams, in many of which they found gold. Part of them were in favor of stopping and prospecting more thoroughly, but, the ma- jority prevailing, they continued their route to California, with the determination of thor- oughly prospectiag this country on their re- tu^ai trip. Disappointed in California, they did not succeed in getting up an expedition until the winter of 1858, when an expedition was organized to prospect the Pike's Peak country for gold, which at that time included the whole range from the Arkansas River to Long's Peak. Some of the Cherokees, who were then in Southwest Missouri, sent word to their friends in Georgia requesting them to go with them. It was in that way that Green Russell heard of it, and traced the mat- ter up until he found the organizers, to whom he wrote and proposed organizing a company in Georgia, who would overtake the main body of the expedition before they reached the mountains. Receiving their consent, he or- ganized the company and joined the main body of the expedition forty miles west of the Pawnee Forks. The Cherokees had also another object in this expedition — that of finding a suitable lo- cation for their tribe, as there had been some talk of selling out the Cherokee country to the Government, and they wished a location where buffalo and other game was plenty. Early in the spring of 1858, word was sent to some of their own people in Southwest Missouri to join the expedition. At that time, I was employed in the lead mines of Southwest Missouri, and, having had consid- erable experience in frontier life, both in the mountains and on the plains, I went to the Cherokee country and joined the expedition near Cody's ranch, on the Verdigris River, stopping over one night at Hon. George Hicks', who afterward became the leader of the expedition. He was a remarkable man, and exercised a powerful influence in the nation. A lawyer by profession, he had served on the bench as Judge. A war chief in his younger days, he saved the life of Gen. Andrew Jackson, who, with a small party of men, was surrounded by the Choctaws. Hicks, who was a personal friend of Jackson, raised •?|s s "V 4r B 2^ 548 HISTORY or FREMONT COUNTY. a relief party, and, routing the Choctaws, res- cued the party, who could have held out but a few days longer. In the latter part of April, they began to assemble, intending to starit about the Ist of May. The Osage Indians became scared at such a large gathering of the Cherokees, sup- posing they were on the war-path, and moved their villages and destroyed what, in their haste, they could not carry with -them. Even though assured that the intentions of the Cher- okees were peaceful, they remained away until after their departure for the mountains, which happened about the 12th day of May, with a smaller company than they anticipated, there being but thirty Indians and twelve white persons. Among the Indians were the Hon. George Hicks and son, George, Jr. ; John Beck and Zeke Beck, Jr. (who were the origi- nators of the expedition), and Pelican Tiger. The names of the few white people are Mr. Kirk, wife and family; Mr. Brown; George McDougal; Mr. Tubbs; Levi Braumbangh; Johns and Taylor, and a Mr. Kelly, who, with a Cherokee wife, her sister and myself, were all the whites in the expedition. There were in all about forty persons and seven or eight wagons, mostly drawn by oxen. Hon. George Hicks was appointed Com- mander-in-Chief, and John Beck, Esq., second in command. Upon his election as Com- mander-in-Chief, Mr. Hicks addressed the company, telling of the dangers of the expe- dition from the wild Indians, and enjoined upon all a close observance of the Sabbath, on which day no unnecessary work or traveling was to be done. But little of importance transpired during the early part of the way, with the exception of hunting deer and ante- lope, until they reached the buffalo country, when they engaged in the chase of the buffalo until they reached the trading-post at the Pawnee Fork of the Arkansas River, where a large camp of Arapahoe Indians were en- camped, with the chief of whom Mr. Hicks held a long conversation, in which he advised them to learn the manner of the white peo- ple and engage in farming, erect schools and churches, the same as the Cherokees had done. He explained to the chief that all the tribes were being surrounded by white settlements, and that the best thing they could do was to make peace with each other and live peaceably and quietly, so that their treaties with the whites would be more respected. After a distribution of flour, sugar and coffee to the Indians, we traveled forty miles west of Pawnee Fork, and, according to our rules, rested over Sunday. On Monday, as we were preparing to start, a young Frenchman, a member of Green Russell's party, overtook ue, and, hearing of the nearness of that party, we went into camp and waited for them. On Wednesday, we resumed our march, without previous arrangements having been changed, Mr. Hicks still being Commander, the orders of whom Green Russell and party strictly observed. A few days' travel brought us to Bent's new fort, where we found but three men in charge. They were nearly out of provisions, with nothing to live on but corn. We offered them flour and groceries, but, hearing we had whisky, they took the whisky and refused the provisions. Forty miles west of this we came to the old fort, and what was once the center of a large fur trade we found deserted, and not an Indian in sight, or buffalo within a hundred miles. Leaving the old fort, we, in four days' travel, left the Arkansas River and traveled over the prairie to the Fontaine Qui Bouille, a distance of seventeen miles, and, four days afterward, reached the Squirrel Creek Pineries. There we found the remains of Capt. Marcy's camp, who, in the month of May, had been caught in a severe snow-storm while on his way to Utah to join Gen. Johnson in the Mormon war, during which several of his men were frozen and several hundred head of horses and mules were lost, until found and returned by young Autoba. A large number of dead sheep were lying in piles around the camp. In looking at- the pinery, the Indians remarked what a pity it was that such a forest of pines should be so far away from any settlement, where they might be of some use, instead of furnishing shelter for Indians and wild beasts. They little thought then that that same tim- ber would furnish ties for railroads and lum- ber for cities and villages, in the early build- ing of which their expedition Wcis instrument- al. ^F « ^a !> i^ HISTORY OF FiBEMONT COUNTY. 549 In two days' travel from the pineries, we arrived at Cherry Creek, where we expected to find gold in paying quantities. The min- ing tools and rockers were put to work, but, after three days' labor, all the gold that had been washed out was a small quantity of flat gold, washed there many ages since. Having no faith in the mines, I went on a hunt, and on my return found them discouraged, and in a few days we started for the Platte River, where we arrived in two days' travel. As we approached the river, we saw several antelope where East Denver is now built. Cherry Creek we crossed a little below where Blake street is now located, camping that night in a large grove of cottoawoods, that, three yeeirs afterward, began bearing fruit with boots on. That was in the early days of Denver. Hunt- ing being good, the Indians killed several deer where the tovm is now built, and some of the Indians remarked that " there " — pointing to the present town site-^" was a splendid loca- tion for a city, and that there would probably be a tovni built there in the course of a hundred years." A few months after these re- marks were made, the town was started. Thirty miles north of the Platte, we came to a small stream, where Mr. Beck said we would realize our wishes, but we were again disappointed. Believing that gold could be found in the mountains, I finally, after much trouble, found a companion to go with me, the rest of the company agreeing to await our re- turn. After two days' travel, and swimming the Thompson's Fork, we got within two miles of the Cache la Poudre River, when we met a party of Mexicans on their way from Fort Laramie to New Mexico, who told us of the impossibility of fording the river, also telling us that 1,000 lodges of Cheyenne Indians were a little below the ford, and were very hostile, expecting some difiSoulty with the soldiers. My partner's courage failing him, and his re- fusing to lend me the pony to carry the bed- ding and tools, I was compelled to give up prospecting the south side of the river, and returned to the camp, made oiu: report, and, though I repeatedly tried to get some one to go with me, such was the fear and discourage- metit that all of our party and some of Green Russell's returned to their homes. Green Russell remained, and, through his instru- mentality, they prospected the balance of the season, and kept up the excitement by report- ing great discoveries and big strikes, which were in reality never made. Still, it was the means of starting the great immigration the next year. For this he deserves credit, but to the Cherokees, and the Cherokees only, be- longs the credit for originating the expedition which led to the early settlement of the Ter- ritory. This is fully confirmed by Jesse Frazer, Esq., of Fremont County, who, up to 1857, ran a foimdry and store at the lead mines in Southwestern Missouri, within four miles of the Cherokees, and knew the circumstances as related relative to the organization of the ex- pedition, and from Cheroke,e members of the expedition, after their return, who showed him some of the fine gold they gathered, and which they carried in goose-quills. Mr. Simmons, who is a strictly conscien- tious old gentlemen is probably one of the oldest and most reliable mountaineers now living in Colorado; he was well acquainted with Pierre Choteau, who came with Laclede to St. Louis, February 15, 1763, and were tbe iirst fur traders west of the Mississippi, who operated so far west as this valley. He died, in St. Louis, in 1849, aged ninety-nine years. He was also acquainted with Mr. Laramie and Joseph Roubadeau, whose principal location was at Scott's BluJEf, forty miles below Fort Laramie, who extended their operations to Upper Arkansas Valley, and the latter over the range long before Col. Ceren St. Vrain and Bent operated here. With old Bill Will- iams, also, who, he says, had been in the mountain country fifty years, and was the greatest and most noted mountain guide. He often heard Kit Carson brag over Bill Will- iams as being better posted than any other mountaineer, and, he says, Williams was old enough to be Kit Carson's father. The un- published incidents in the lives of these fear- less and noble old mountaineers, we trust, Mr. Simmons may yet give to the world before his span of life shall be run. When Henry Bur- nett, now living on Ute Creek, moved to Hard scrabble, in 1859, the old adobe buildings still remained, but were soon afterward appro- ^ s ^ S- 'iL^ 530 HISTOKY OF FBEMONT COUNTY. priated by American settlers and moved to ranches, Vicroy putting one up on the Widow Bruce place, and Mr. Hammit taking one to the ranch below the mouth of Adobe Creek. It is well known a deadly feud has existed for generations between the Indians of the mountains and those of the plains, in which the Utes, in many contests, from the nature of their country, and, perhaps, also from the bravery, inborn courage and spirit common to all mountaineers from earliest history, were usually the victors. They were also, latterly, better armed, discarding bows and arrows, spears, etc., long before the Indians of the plains. One of Fremont's parties, which win- tered in or near Canon City, upor breaking camp and traveling westward, came, in South Park, upon the hostile forces, in battle, at a time when the Arapahoes and Cheyennes (who generally united in their war parties) were about, from numbers, to overpower the Utes. They immediately allied themselves to the Utes, aud routed the opposing forces with great slaughter, whereupon the Utes made a treaty, which they observed as well as Indians usually do, till within a few years past. , During the latter part of November, 1860, a small band of Utes were camped on Oil Creek, a short distance below the present res- idence of Mr. M. J. Pelch. The Cheyennes and their allies offered to any white man, who would join them, a good horse and equip- ments, and some of the hot bloods of Canon were about to enlist for the coming fight, but were prevented by the cool counsel and deter- mination, not to permit them, of men better acquainted with Indian character, and foresaw endless difficulties from such a course. The fight, however, came off, resulting in the killing of three Utes. Twelve or fifteen years after, the petrified bone of a human arm was found on the battle-ground, which Was believed to have belonged to one of the slain, and was sent, by Dr. J. P. Lewis, to the Museum of Asbury University, Indiana. Ute Pass, near Manitou, was so called because usually employed by the Utes in going to and from their forays on the plains, while the plains Indians used the others. From 1847 until 1859, there was but little of interest to happen in the coimty. Owing to the splendid climate, the hot springs, etc., the beautiful park upon which Canon City is located, was always a favorite trading-post for the hunters and trappers, and also winter quarters for both Indians and whites. As it now is, one can be enjoying the luxuries of a spring day in the month of January at Caflon City, and jump on the cars, and, in a few hours' ride, be in almost a frigid winter. A lady may find it necessary to use a parasol, when going out shopping, and look up to the locality of Signal Mountain to see a terrific snow storm. About the middle of October, 1859, the first permanent white settlement was made in this county by a party of men (a part of whom had laid out Pueblo the year previous), consisting of the following-named persons: Josiah F. Smith and Stephen Smith, brothers, William H. Young, Robert Bearcaw, Charles D. Peck and William Kroenig. They followed up the river to where it debouches from the mount- ains, and laid out this town, naming it Canon City, because of its proximity to the Grand Canon above. The point of rocks at the upper flume, on the big ditch, was the initial point, thence down the river to about the place' where W. A. Helm now lives; thence north and west a sufficient distance to embrace all the level ground above the Soda Springs. They built a log house near where the road crosses the ditch, above the Soda Spring, which was occupied the ensuing year by Rob- ert Middleton and family, Mrs. Middleton being the first white woman to come to Canon. The following year, the house was occupied by Mr. A. Rudd as a blacksmith-shop. (That was the year Mr. Rudd took a seat on a cactus, and waited for twenty minutes to get a shot at a deer. He killed his deer, but had his pantaloons pinned fast to his body. It took Capt. B. F. Allen and M. V. B. Coffin, with a pair of tweezers, twelve hours to extract the thorns of the cactus. He has been quick to see the point to a joke ever since. But he captured the deer and waded the river to get it.) The building of this house was about the only improvement the company made on their site. They surveyed a road, however, to Tarryall, a distance of seventy-nine miles, and staked it with mile-posts, on which, at every '»^iS r- jrr ■'"''x-^ .f" :g 1,* ^C^,^e^^l^.^^ M ^ HI8T0RY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 553 mile, was marked, in red letters, the number of miles, beginning at Canon and ending at Tarryall. J0MPING TOWN SITE, 1860 CLAIM CLUB LAWS. Tn the spring of 1860, the town site was jumped by quite a large company, a portion of whom were from Denver, although several members of the old company were retained. They relocated the town site, extending its lines, so as to einbrace 1,280 acres. The site was surveyed and platted by Buel & Boyd, in April. The following are the names of the com- pany, which, together with the paragraph suc- ceeding them, we extract from Mr. Eudd's " Early History of Canon:" William Kroenig, E. Williams, A. Mayhood, W. H. Young, Dold & Co., J. B. Doyle, A. Thomas, W. H. Green, Buel & Boyd, J". D. Ramage, Harry Youngblood, W. W. Eamage, Alvord & Co., St. Vrain & Easterday, J. Gra- ham and M. T. Green. " After this extensive lay-out, the company were left without means to improve but a small portion of their property, which im- provements consisted of a few log shanties, barely sufficient to shield them from the ele- ments; this done, their energies seemed to play out with their .means, and, after a few limited and spasmodic attempts to induce im- migration, they appeared to manifest a stoical indifference as to results, seeming to say by their action, ' We've struck it, and if you are so obtuse as not to see it, we pity you.' But, knowing they were located on one of the great natural thoroughfares froiti the States, over which the thousands of gold-seekers could gain easy access to the rich mines clustered around the rim of the South Park, and the still richer mines on the head-waters, and tributaries of the Arkansas Eiver, was cer- tainly some excuse for their apparent apathy. "But events that were then in the near future, proved, in a measure, that their faith was well-founded; and, although they did not realize the full fruition of their hopes, they could, at least, take it as an earnest that a portion of the promises of the future would be fulfilled. " This brightening of their prospects was caused by the advent, at that time, of several merchants, with heavy stonks of goods, and the prospect of others following in a short time, and the rapid increase in population, which steadily gained until it obtained its maximum the ensuing winter." From the middle of winter to the beginning of spring, the farming population had in- creased so rapidly, and the claim-taking mania raged to such an extent, as to require laws of some kind to protect each in his rights. Accordingly, a meeting of citizens was called, to convene on the 13th of March. The meet- ing was well attended, and adopted ^a code of laws which served the purpose for which they were intended and gave very general satisfaction. Below will be found the preamble of their oonstitution. In point of brevity, it compares favorably with the Constitution of , the United States, but is far inferior to the " Declara- tion " as a literary production. What bothers us is to know how it was possible for "Canon City and the Arkansas Valley and its tribu- taries" to meet and form a code of laws. However, many extraordinary deeds were per- formed by those brave old pioneers, which cannot be done by the "tender- feet" of the present time. According to their record, those two " high contracting powers " met at some place and formed a code of laws, under which the people lived tranquilly until the- advent of lawyers, when Blackstone, Green- leaf, Chitty, etc., took the place of the plain, simple laws of the settlers for the protection of each against the unjust action of the other. Each little misunderstanding between- two neighbors was then settled according to what was ricfht, not what was legal. It may be claimed that, when disputes were settled by the great legal authorities, a higher degree of civilization had attained, but with it a lower grade of practical honesty, for each rogue would seek to shield himself behind the technicalities of the law. But here is their preamble. The constitu- tion itself is after the same order: "Mabch 13, 1860. At a meeting of Canon City and the Arkansas Valley and its tributaries : Whbbeas, It sometimes becomes necessary for persons to associate themselves together for the pur- ^ IK ik^ 554 HISTOBY or FREMONT COUNTY. pose of such as the protection of life and property; and as we have left the peaceful shades.of civiliza- tion—left friends and homes for the purpose of bet- tering our own condition, we therefore associate our- selves together under the name of the " Canon City Claim Club,'' or the ''Arkansas Valley Claim Club, ' and adopt the following Constitution: *# * * * * * * * The following true copies of claim records will show how imperfectly they described what they intended should become their future homes: description op the costans' farming claims: (two brothers located together.) They are situated in Mexico, and the south side of the river Arkansas, about seven miles from Canon City, down the river where there is a creek comes in from the bluff, commencing at a certain tree with our names on, running south one-half mile to a stake, thence following the meanders of the river to the place of beginning. Claim taking March 12, 1860. Containing 160 acres. B. H. BoLiN, Recorder. J. N. HAGUIS' claim. Commencing at the mouth of the creek, and running up the creek one-half mile to the north- west corner, thence south to the Arkansas River, thence with the river to the southeast corner to the place of beginning. Containing 160 acres. B. H. Bolin, Recorder. Vague as the description is, it was the ini- tial point for locating several other claims, and was the first to be taken in the coimty for farming purposes, January 1, 1860. The club claimed jurisdiction from the mouth of Beaver Creek to the eastern rim of the South Park, embracing ten miles on each side of the Arkansas River between these two points. Jesse Frazer took the claim first below Costan's, in April, 1860, Mrs. Frazer being the first white woman who settled in the county outside of Caiion City, and William Ash the next claim below, same year. Three French brothers, by name of Antoine, came ,to the county in the spring of 1860; one took the place above Costan's and two of them the Widow Bruce place, in Hardscrab- ble. The settlement being short of supplies, they sent a team to the States, which returned, loaded with flour and bacon, which they gen- erously divided among the settlers, at actual cost, being their main stay, as other expected supplies did not come. Mr. Pefieley took the claim above Antoine's. A history of these. and other claims, follows in a separate chap- ter. JUDGE fowler's COURT. From April, 1860, until September follow- ing, there was no law for any other purpose, for the protection of each in the possession of his claim, generally agricultural, and there was neither a civil nor criminal code. To meet this necessity, there was a meeting called, some time in September, 1860, and a code of laws, suited to the condition of the town, was drawn up, and presented to the people in mass convention, and adopted by acclamation; and also a committee of six per- sons, who were to act as police ofiicers, were elected in the same manner. At the same time, W. R. Fowler was elected as a Chief Magistrate, so to speak, whose duty it was to preside at all meetings of the people, for the purpose of adjusting matters of difference between citizens, etc. ; in short, had duties, similar to a Justice of the Peace, with almost unlimited power, both civil and criminal. One of the first cases to come before the court, was a Dr. J. L. Dunn, a man of pleas- ing address and smooth exterior, who was accused of selling counterfeit United States scrip to the amount of |300. Before coming to trial, the accused made reparation, and the prosecution was withdrawn. The mines closing up on account of the approach of winter, the mining population came flocking into Canon, and among them, desperadoes of the most violent kind. The m,ost noted of them all was named Charles Dodge, who passed through here to Pueblo. He became the executioner of three men with- in the space of one year. One of them had stolen a mule from California Gulch (now Leiidville), and was pursued by Dodge, and two others, to Bear Creek, twenty miles below Canon City, and there hung to the limb of a tree, and when dead, was taken down and dragged, by a rope, attached to the horn of a saddle, to a place by the roadside, and there partially buried, the toes of his boots sticking out of the ground for months afterward. The name of the unfortunate mule-thief was Dover. The second victim was a Mexican Constable, of Fountain City (East Pueblo), who had given a playful insult, and was shot by Char- fev HISTOKY or FREMONT COUNTY. 555 ley. The third was a man who had attempted to drive another from his ranch with a shot- gun. Charley tried to bring him to trial be- ■fore the people, but refusing to go, he was shot without hesitation. Bearcaw, " Ked," Juan Chikito, and others, figured in this local- ity, but did not properly belong to Canon. TRIAL OF WOLFE LONBONEE. During the month of November, or Decem- ber, a' case of aggravated importance came up before the court, and one which came very near causing the neck of the instigator to be stretched. The case is briefly as follows: There was a Mr. Gormsley living in Canon, who had an agent in California Gulch, and the agent sent a bag of gold dust to his em- ployer, Gormsley, in care of one Calkins, who was, at that time figuring conspicuously in building stone houses, spoken of more at length in another part of this book. Calkins was evi- dently a rogue, as his actions in this case, and others afterward, proved him to be. This instance afforded him an opportunity to gob- ble the money, and, at the same time, if he could fasten the deed on some responsible party, he would not hesitate to do it, even though it should result in ruining the charac- ter of an innocent man, and at the same time rob him of a considerable amount of money ($400). For this purpose, he very foolishly selected "Wolfe Londoner, now a wholesale merchant of Denver, and one who has almost a national popularity, and a gentleman dis- tinguished for his generous social qualities, his vast fund of wit and humor, his fine busi- ness qualities, and as " the prince of good fellows" generally. He was equally as pop- ular in Canon at that early day as he now is in the city of Denver, and, of course, his ar- rest caused an intense excitement. The court- room was soon packed full to overflowing. Lawyers were employed, witnesses summoned, etc. The Court, unused to matters of such' grave import^coming before him, could scarce- ly keep himself free from some excitement. Well, everything being in readiness, the pris- oner was arraigned for trial, amid almost breathless silence. Now comes Calkins' badly botched up " job " which he tried to put upon poor Wolfe. The time of the alleged theft was on the occasion of the first dance held in Canon, on the completion of one of the stone buildings Calkins was erecting " on contract," afterward occupied by George Hall as the " El Pro- gresso " saloon. Calkins says that he put the bag of gold dust into his hat, which was set- ting to one side, " just for a little while to be out of his way." During the evening however, Wolfe Londoner was seen " passing close by where the hat was setting," etc. Without going into detail concerning the evi- dence, suffice to say that before the witnesses were all examined, the audience, witnesses, jury and Court, were of the opinion that Calkins was endeavoring to put up a most villainous job on Wolfe, and a tornado of indignation was fast gathering which would burst, and, in all probability, end in dangling Calkins at the end of a rope. Of course the jury acquitted Londoner, and he came out, of the fuss with, if possible, more friends than ever, and a name untarnished. The job was done too bunglingly; and Maj. Miller, Londoner's lawyer, very correctly re- marked that Calkins must either be " an ass, a knave or a fool" to leave his money in the place he pretended to have left it. The following night, the Major slept in the printing office, which was fired into by some one, the ball lodging in one of the logs just above his head. Five persons were supposed to have been implicated in the affair, and were arrested, but were discharged for want of evi- dence. For a week or more everything was tumult, turmoil and confusion, and resulted, for a time, in completely overflowing every- thing like law and order. Calkins was com- pelled to leave town on short notice to escape the indignation of the people. MINING HOAX. Here comes in the mining hoax, which served for the subject of a thousand jokes on each other for months after. The report had been adroitly circulated (charging the most profoimd secrecy on all, of course), by three men, named, respectively, Cheseman, Smith and Cutler, that "rich gold diggings had been struck just above the Hot Springs." But the news was too good for one or two to r?T^ 1^ fk^ 556 HISTORY OF FBEMONT COUNTY. keep all to themselves, so it leaked out, little by little, until the whole town knew of the discovery, and all kept it a profound secret. "Each one silently detei-mined that before daylight next morning, when everybody, save themselves, would be asleep, to go stealthily up to the mouth of Grape Creek, and there stick his stakes. Dui'ing the whole night, men could have been seen with a roll of blankets upon their backs, moving toward the rich gold diggings, stealthily, almost breath- less, in order to get their first chance. Just before daylight was early enough for me. But, ' bad luck to it ! ' I had to go up fully a mile before I could get a place for my stakes. And so the creek, for two miles, was staked off early in the morning. All had gone up in great excitement, stumbling over rocks, creek banks, cottonwood logs, and other obstruc- tions, to find themselves completely sold." Mr. F. might have added, that Capt. B. P. Allen found his prospective fortune pre-occu- pied by a " grub " hunter of a more formida- ble nature than a man. The Captain con- cluded he would try his luck on the north side of the river, opposite the first supposed dis- covery. He kept his own coimsel, and pass- ing the night, until 12 o'clock, without sleep, but beholding glorious visions of golden nug- gets, ranging in size all the way from a pin's head to a cabbage head. Silently, and with palpitating heart, he stole away from the house of Mr. A. Eudd, where he was boarding at the time, and hastened to the point of rocks opposite the Hot Springs, thinking to fore- stall all competitors; but when he arrived on the ground, he found it already occupied by an " old timer," in the shape of a huge griz- zly, ready to dispute the right of any " tender- foot" to his "eminent domain." The Cap- tain bad pressing business some place else, and, in his eagerness to get there, one could have played marbles on the tail of his coat. Bjs golden visions were soon supplanted by visions in the shape of old bears and young bears, and he barely escaped from being ter- ribly chawed up by a nine hundred pound grizzly bear! The sequel of this sell is, that these men had conceived , the idea of " salting " a hole with gold dust, hoping, thereby, to cause an excitement and the organization of a new mining district, one of whom, beside what speculation in claims they might be able to accomplish, might be appointed Secretary, and have the recording of all the claims, then divide the spoils between them. But the thing was too "thin," and the whole project fell through before the recording was done. FIEST DEATH IN THE CAMP. " Soon after this an unfortunate occurrence took place, which caused the first death in our camp. One of the men — Cutler, by name, — who had played the hoax above spoken of, whilst in camp cooking his breakfast, had oc- casion to stoop, when his revolver slipped from the scabbard in his belt, striking the hammer on the bake-kettle — it discharged, killing him instantly. His remains were deposited about half a mile above where the penitentiary now stands, at the left of the public road." INDIAIiT SCAKE AT CHURCH. In the year 1860, the Ute Indians freely roamed through all parts of Colorado, hunt- ing deer and trading their skins to their new customers. Difficulties were liable to occur at any time, and sometimes did occur. At one time, when Mr. Fowler was reading a ser- mon to quite a large audience, a difficulty occurred, which, for a time, alarmed the peo- ple of the town. At near the close of the meeting, a much-excited messenger came in to inform the citizens attending service that the Utes were threatening trouble. The meet- ing was hastily dismissed and measures taken to pacify them. All were anxious to ascer- tain the cause of the difficulty, and the prac- ticability of bringing it to a favorable conclu- sion. An old mountain trapper, who was known by the name of Big Harry, told the timid ladies present they need not be afraid, for he could whip twenty-five Indians alone. This caused hope to spring up in their faint hearts. A man was found who could talk with the Indians in their tongue. Explana- tions were made, and true regard for them was assured, and the trouble was ended, and all breathed freely once more. Perhaps the most serious scare ever experi- enced at Cafion City was in the fall of 1860, ~s V ■ #^^^ M^WrW^ ; m ^^B_ ^il Mr A ^^^^^^. I^rR^I B^ ■' «iridSHHBBHBHk^^^^«ui«i^iH0^^^ ^^^HHIHHbBl-a^ ^itj^^S^B ^H^^h^^^HL ^^b! ^^ -iC. -^^^SBbH »^L > 14 "■ **! ': . -^ %-. ^1 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 557 when all was bustle and confusion, in build- ing houses of 1l^, and of plank, and of stone, and all were shaping their course for the fort- unes in store for them. Just before sundown one evening, Indian warriors were seen ap- proaching the town, in the rear of a point of mountain, just out of sight from town. These warriors, numbering about 1,000 horsemen, as was supposed, approached noiselessly, with bare horses and armed with spears and shields and guns, and assembled, just at dark, behind the rooky point, about a half a mile out of town. Every one feared a general massacre in the darkness of the approaching night. The inhabitants, some 1,000 in number, made haste to make the necessary preparations for the best defense possible. So rifles and pis- tols were put in order, and all available am- munition was brought into requisition. The strongest buildings of log or stone were used as fortresses, and all the women and children were placed in them for protection. Every- thing being in order, the men placed them- selves in attitude of defense, with hands upon firelocks, and waited the onslaught. Soon, in the darkness, with stealthy tread, appeared the front of the advancing line of these savage- warriors. The starlit firmament revealed their numbers, and brave hearts palpitated with fear. But no noise must be made, no gun must be discharged, until perfectly sure of the deadly inteations, now so apparent, were fully made manifest. This solemn line continued to advance till the center of the town was reached. Yet all was still as death, nor did it halt. Soon it was discovered that they were evidently passing through, but still there might be a recoil and assault. On they went and on they came, until the long line had passed entirely through and their forms were lost in the darkness, and they were gone. Now women and children began to breathe as they had breathed before. Two days subsequently, it was ascertained that these savage Utes were on the war-path in pursuit of their ancient enemies, the Arapahoes, and on their return they entered town promiscuously, and seemed very friendly, coming by daylight instead of night, as before. The reports of gold discovered near the mouth of Trout Creek, took many of the staid citizens who were not affected by the above hoax. Joshua Tatman and party started the latter par( of December, 1860, with ox-team, which, in a storm, left their camp, taking their trail toward the valley. On Current Creek, they came on a large portion of the warriors of the Ute nation, camped, for three miles, along the creek, each brave in full war-paint. He was not molested by them, but was by the young Utes begging matches, one even thrust- ing his hand in his pocket he had nearly emptied, for them. Mr. Tatman was vexed at this impudence, and rudely pushed him away. The young Indians took back to their tepe in great haste; soon after, he heard the clatter of ponies' feet, and saw, around a bend in the road, a dozen braves seemingly in hot pursuit. He tremblingly stepped aside, but they passed on without seeming to care for or notice him. He afterward learned that they supposed the Arapahoes were on Four Mile, and that he, being afoot, was too small game for them. Arriving about midnight. New Year's Eve, at Soda Point of Rocks, above Canon, he was startled by a command to halt, as his New Year's salutation, and in the familiar voice of Mr. Fowler. The people throughout the county were alarmed, and had massed in the town for protection. The Utes came oq, and camped at the mouth of Grape Creek, afterward resuming their march, with- out molesting any one. CANON "booming!" ADVENT OF ALEX MAJORS.* "Buildings sprung up like magic, until soon 200 houses and stores were completed. Large traders brought in their stocks of mer- chandise and provisions. Among the larg- est dealers was Alex Majors, whose extensive ox teams and trains frequented the plains from the Missouri River. This was a great and good man, supplying his teamsters with Bibles for their moral culture, and rifles for their defense against the Indians, and requir- ing them to maintain equable tempers and to use no profane language to their cattle or to each other. On being introduced to him as one interested in the distribution of tracts, he co rdially took me by the hand and said: * As described by W. E. Fowler in B. and H. Hlet. ^1 ^K 558 HISTORY OF PREMONT COUNTY. ' Sir, I have fought the devil on the plains for thirteen years.' I found he had been in the habit of calling together his men on the Sab- bath, while his oxen were feeding, and telling them the story of the Savior of mankind, and exhorting them to accept Him as their Savior. Our people felt interested in hearing his opinion of our new country, and asked him to address a meeting of the citizens upon busi- ness and finance, and our future destiny. He gave us to understand that we had a grand future before us, and promised, that, if the miners would develop the mines, he would carry their stipplies to them from the Mis- souri River. ****** " After speaking for some time, he paused for a moment. ***** The house was fUled almost to overflowing, with the old and young, the thinking and sedate, the desperate and dissolute; but most of them, however, had once known the pleas- ures of a hallowed home-circle. He proceeded by saying he never addressed an audience on business or finance without speaking on an- other subject, which he considered of far greater importance; that was, concerning the moral and religious well-being of those whom he addrssed. He then proceeded to give one of the best, kindest and most loving lectures it has ever been my fortune to listen to. The attention and sympathy of every soul present was fully enlisted. Who can tell the influ- ence of such a lecture, to such a people, so timely and so much needed, and so opportune ? I venture to say, no person who heard that lecture will ever forget it. He exhorted to religion, morality and sobriety, so that when they should return to their homes in the East, and were met by their mother, wife or sister, they would not blush with shame at having led a dissolute life while absent. Thanks to Mr. Majors for that speech, in this Rocky Mountain country, at a time when it was so much needed. ****** "Everything went on prosperous until spring opened." FIRST NEWSPAPER IN CANON CITY.* In the fall of 1860, miners from Park, Lake and Summit Counties (or as they were * By A. Rudd, in B. and H. Hist. known before our Territorial organizations, as California Gulch, Fairplay, Tarryall and Blue River Diggings), began to seek winter quarters in Canon City and adjacent country, which, added to our increasing immigration from the States, gave us, at the close of the mining season, quite a numerous population. The first number of the Canon City Times, senior, was issued some time in September of that year, which event marked a very impor- tant era in the history of Canon City. It was a racy little sheet, and its career, though brief, was brilliant, was rather of the meteoric per- suasion; but its short life was not void of in- cident. H. S. Millett, now of Kansas City, was its owner. On one occasion, its editor and one of its attaches narrowly escaped assassination. The sanctum, where nearly all connected with the office slept, was fired into, late at night, by some person or persons un- known (as there were several shots fired almost simultaneously, it was supposed there were more than one person engaged in it), the balls passing but a few inches above the occupants of the bed, and lodging in the wall. The affair caused considerable excitement among the people, and, on the following day, they arrested W. W. Ramage (without process of law — law being a luxury we seldom indulged in), as one of the parties, if not the principal in the attempted murder. In an effort to defend himself before the people, he unfortunately addressed them as a mob, which so intensified the feeling' against him that it was by the most strenuous exer- tions on the part of a few influential citizens, he was saved from hanging. They were finally persuaded to defer the matter for a short time, for the purpose of obtaining further evidence of his guilt, or to give him an opportunity to establish his inno- cence, as he claimed he could do by proving an alibi. Subsequently, Mr. Ramage was released, the people not finding sufficient testimony against him to warrant conviction. The affair, after having its run as a nine days' wonder, passed into history, and no doubt is duly recorded in the great book of mysteries, whose pages are accessible only to spirits. The editor, however, turned the affair to his ;rr ^l '•^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 559 advantage by making it a text 'of a sermoniz- ing editorial on total depravity, the article was highly sensational and caused a run on the office for that issue, the revenue from the sale of which gave him a short respite from his financial embarrassments. Soon after this, there were some changes in the office, which gave the Hon. Mat Eiddle- barger a controlling interest in the paper, but its glory was waning, and, after a few inef- fectual struggles for life, it had to succvmib to the inevitable. During the fall of 1872, the second Times was started by a Mr. Bowman, and was pur- chased by Henry Ripley & Bro., who removed to Ouray, in the spring of 1877. During 1874 and 181b, the Avalanche was started, and went through different hands until Mr. Frank Warner purchased it, and sold it to his brother, G. S. Warner, from whom it was purchased by G. M. Hinckley February 26, 1877, and sold to a company September 1, the same year. After several changes, the Cramer Bros, purchased it and changed the name to Fre- mont County Record. It is now owned and conducted by Mr. H. T. Blake, and is a lively, wide-awake local journal, and is the county organ. The ' Canon City Reporter, edited by the Udell Bros., was started in October, 1880, and is a fresh, spicy sheet, much quoted, and is earnestly devoted to the local interests; is now owned by Udell & Kelly. Among the distinguished arrivals from the mines were the late Gov. Hinsdale and fam- ily, from California Gulch, and Wilbur F. Stone (now one of the Supreme Judges of the State), from Tarryall. Messrs. Hinsdale and Stone were men of fine legal attainments, and John Howard was supposed to possess judicial elements in an eminent degree. Up to this time, the only government known by our people was that afforded by the claim club laws; and, as they were designed only for the special purpose of protecting the squatter in his rights, we yearned for laws of a more extended application — something that would reach the general cussedness of human- ity. Our moral inwardness had kept us within due bounds previous to this, but many were tired of the restraint that the old fogy moral had placed upon them, and longed to shift it to legal shoulders. "people's court" established. The advent of the above-named gentlemen offered an opportunity the people had long sought, and they were swift to avail themselves of it. Here was material, which, if properly manipulated, would furnish litigation until a Territorial organization would furnish them a District Court. Accordingly, the Solons of the place were called together, and immeditately set to work drafting a code of laws suitable to meet their wants. The document, after a careful revis- ion, was submitted to the people for ratifica- tion. It, like all other great reforms, had its enemies. A contractor and builder by the nam© of Calkins, was especially active in attempting its defeat. He employed one R. O. Old to run his whisky-shop in the anti- code interest on election day, but the code was adopted by a large majority. John Howard was elected Judge and A. Rudd, Clerk. The first case on the docket was R. 0. Old vs. L. W. Calkins, for whisky furnished to defeat the code. The code conferred on the court criminal and civil jurisdiction, and the court arrogated to itself chancery and all pther powers not delegated by the code. In fact, it was Supreme, there being no provision made for an appeal from its decision, and no recognized power outside of the district to question its acts. The district claimed as being under its jurisdiction reached from Canon to Beaver Creek, and from the Oil Wells to Hardscrabble, bearing the dignified title of People's Court. Our vote on the code showed the voting popu- lation to be over 900. The Calkins alluded to above was one of those peculiar things, one or more of which can always be found in every new, and often, old settlement, who have more' enterprise than brains. They are a peculiar species of the genus homo, and always succeed in making a certain portion of the community think they are men of genius, and are the "leading spir- its" to whom the people are indebted for every progressive movement in the settlement, when really, in the end, they are a nuisance p^ 560 HISTORY OF FREMOKT COUNTY. and a drawback. They are continually trying to bore an auger-hole with a gimlet, and would not hesitate to undertake to move Pike's Peak to a point on the plains midway between the Missouri Kiver and the range, with wheelbar- rows, in thirty days, provided they could get a contract to do it. The most useless member of a young community is that member who is always commencing something, but never fin- ishes; for if he would not agree to do it, oth- ers would not be prevented from actually do- ing it. Every community has such men, and there is still "some of the same sort left" in Canon. Well, about this time. Calkins began to build stone buildings by contract. The first one finished was the eastern end of the double one-story building (now owned by Thomas Macon), in which George F. Hall k^t a saloon, called the "El Pr'ogresso." In this was the first dance of the town, on its com- pletion. The company was rather mixed, but very gay. The next house completed by Calkins was that formerly occupied as the Methodist Church, but now (May, 1879), kept as a " Theater Comique " and saloon, by one F. Newton. Another coarse-haired dance cel- ebrated the completion of this, for Kitchen Bros. Calkins, after finishing the buildings alluded to, began, and got under way, some thirty or forty two-story stone buildings, but never completed any of them, getting only as high as the first story. He had no money to pay his hands, and, after getting what he could from his employers, skipped the town. Toward spring, a Jew drummer from Santa F6, came to Cafion and stayed several weeks. His name was Eosenbaimi, a himchback, hav- ing very long legs, but no body to speak of. One evening, while the usual crowd had assem- bled to smoke away the time, at Fred Solo- man's grocery, where it was customary to get off "sells" on each other, the following conundrum was propounded: "Why is Bosenbaum no taller than he is ?" — Given up by everybody, even Bosenbaum himself. Answer — "Because he was built on a con- tract by Calkins, and only got up to the first story." Pun ran riot in Canon that winter. Every department of pleasure was running up to its fullest capacity. The people made it lively for the court, and the court made it lively for the people. Judge Howard erected the hymeneal altar, and the blind degree of mat- rimony was confeiTed on several unfortunates. There were numerous drunks and free fights, and justice was abministered several times, according to the code; a lecture or two on phrenology, a case or two of (nameless here); an ineffectual attempts of Mr. Fowler to intro- duce religious exercises, and the Ute Indians were around all winter, swapping and pow- wowing with Dr. Beed. Game was plenty, both black-tail and seven-up. Venison, beaver and deer skins were legal-tender for all pur- poses. The doctors and lawyers took them for fees; the merchant for his goods; the court for his costs ; the phrenologist for his lectures, and the spiritualists for their seances. In fact, these and bogus gold dust, made on Hardscrabble by Vicroy, was almost the only currency we had. Although the court made many startling decisions, and his rulings occasionally raised a lawyer out of his boots, yet the crowning act of his judicial career was his answer to his wife's petition for divorce, and his ac- companying quit-claim deed Of her, of which the foUownig is a true copy: DIVORCE— JUDGE HOWARD'S QUIT-CLAIM DEED TO HIS WIFE. MARY E. HOWARD, Plaintiff, In Court of „, JOHN HOWARD, \ Denver City, Jefferson Ty. Defendant. PETITION POR DIVORCE — TO THE PLAINTIFF IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION: Whereas, having been cited through the press at Denver, to appear before one Judge Downing, of the above entitled court, to show cause why your prayer to be divorced from me should not be granted, I, the defendant, hereby state (waiving my own oath in the premises), that I don't know any such cause whatever, and therefore confess the corn! And said defendant, as Judge of the Canon City District Court, enter a decree in your favor accord- ingly; and in order to relieve you of any embar- rassment in the matter, I have executed and send you herewith attached as a part of this answer, a quit-claim deed of all my right, title and interest whatever in you, leaving a blank to be filled up by the name of the party grantee, by whom you may in future be claimed imder squatter title. -^ s i y / t j2» HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 563 Hoping you will fully appreciate my good feelings in the premises, I hereby attach the said deed as follows, to wit: Know all Men (and Women) by these Presents, That I, John Howard, of Canon City, of the first part, do hereby give, grant, bargain, convey and quit-claim, all my right, title and interest in and to the following (uu) real estate, to wit: The undi- vided of that ancient estate known as Mary How- ard (the title to which I acquired by discovery, occupancy, possession and use), situate at present in the town of Denver, Jefferson Territory, together with all the improvements made and erected by me thereon; with all the rents, profits, easements, enjoyment, long suffering and appurtenances there- to in anywise appertaining, unto of the second part, to have and to hold unto the said so long as he can keep her, without recourse upon the grantor or indorser. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 24th day of June, 1861. Signed, JOHN HOWARD. [seal]. Signed in presence of A. Rudd, Clerk of District Court. Per WiLBUB F. Stone, Deputy. ■ We regret that we cannot give more than one of Judge Howard's judicial actions. His rulings are said to be among the most extraor- dinary knovra in legal history. "We are told that Wilbur F. Stone and Gov. Hinsdale would frequently exclaim, " Shades of Black- stone! Truly, our Judge is a most learned one, for he is the law, the evidence and the Court." One thing is certain, however, jus- tice was generally meted out to the litigants — special statutes or nice technicalities often to the contrary. One of the trials before Judge Howard's Court was of Dr. Dunn, in 1861, accused of stealing eighteen head of oxen from Beaver Creek, that belonged to Stevens and Curtiss, of Canon, and sold in Denver. It was claimed that fie went about Denver with one boot and one shoe, pretending to be lame. A girl, who had seen him in Cafion, recognized him dis- guised, and, through the discovery, possession of the cattle was traced to him. Wilbur F. Stone (now Judge of the Supreme Court) prosecuted the case vigorously, gaining a ver- dict of guilty. The Judge fined him the reg- ular fine of the his court — 1300, fcr which, however, he succeeded in giving leg bail in a few days. Gold, up to this time, had been obtained mostly by washing in creek and river valleys, but now rich ores had been found in fissure veins of the solid rocks of the mountain ranges. With golden hopes, Mr. Fowler left Canon City, with his wife and young daughter of nine years, in June, 1862, with wagon, two yoke of oxen and his household effects. Pro- ceeding in the direction of F airplay and Montgomery, with his slow team, a distance of nine miles into the mountains, he was over- taken by a calamity, when his wagon, being too heavily loaded, at a rough point in the road swayed over and completely crushed one wheel. Now there was no alternative but to leave wife and daughter and return to Canon for repairs — a great trial for a mother and daughter, to be left alone in the wild mount- ain valley, where no person could be called upon for assistance, let the emergency be what it might. But there was no alternative; the journey must be slowly retraced and re- pairs made, and more than one day was nec- essary to effect this. Wife and daughter made the best of their condition and busied themselves as best they might, and guarding their property, when of a sudden there ap- peared two Indian warriors, with painted faces, spears and shields, on war horses. In a moment, two more warriors appeared, and in a moment more a company of thirty Arap- ahoes, thoroughly armed, galloped up around Mrs. Fowler and her daughter, frightened to an ashy paleness. An Eastern reader can scarcely appreciate the apparent danger of such a condition. Of what tribe were these Indi- ans ? What were they seeking for ? Were they as the mountain lion, seeking plunder ? These wild Indians were savage enough, without war paint and shields and spears and guns. They clamored for food to satisfy their hunger. The faithful dog seemed disposed to dispute their right to touch anything, but they soon fought it away, and Mrs. Fowler had to rely on her individuality, her presence of mind, her skill and force of character, to defend herself and protect her goods. She was obliged to resort to the strategem of making them think there were others of her party near, whom she was momentarily expecting. So, with some sternness, she informed them that they must not molest the dog, and that they must keep their hands off from the pro- visions and other things, and proceeded to ^7 "% 564 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. divide out provisions to them as she thought she could afford, and, by kindness and threats, she secured their respect. She — sotto voce — re- assured her young daughter, who had been so terribly frightened; and succeeded in sat- isfying these rapacious guests. Mrs. Fowler, having some knowledge of the Spanish lan- guage, iound that these Indians understood some words in this language, and she ascer- tained that they had been out on a raid against their mortal enemies, the TJtes, and, failing to find them, they were on their return to their tribe on the plains. They at length passed on peaceably, and left all things peace- ful and quiet behind. But might they not return, either boldly or stealthily, in the night. Still, Mrs. Fowler was in doubt, and waited anxiously, knowing her husband could not return that night. Night came on, and the wild scene was cov- ered with darkness. Some sticks, pieces of wood, had been gathered, and a fire built by the side of a log of pine, so as to scare off the wildcats, mountain lions and other wild beasts of the mountains. The cot had been arranged, and rest and sleep been sought, but not expected. An open ear was kept for any strange sound of Indians or other intruders At length, the dog had discovered something approaching, and its sharp bark seemed to bid defiance to any intruder. Again the hearts of mother and daughter bounded with excitement. Presently the clatter of horses' hoofs was distinctly heard, coming nearer and nearer. The thought was returning Indians, and in the darkness of night. Murder loves the darkness of night. The fire was burning, and gave light, and eyes were open to catch the first sight of approaching enemies. As the clatter of horses' hoofs came nearer, pres- ently there was a change in the barking of the dog from that of fierceness to one of as- surance and satisfaction, and soon Mr. Fowler himself came into camp. He had luckily fall- en in with a friend who had a pony, and, knowing the fear with which his wife and daughter must spend the night in that lonely place, and representing the same to this friend, was enabled to get the pony and hurry back to camp. The next day, he returned to Canon, brought in his wagon and reloaded and started for the gold fields. The road led among mountains and parks and valleys. There were no hotels on the way, and at noon and night they camped by some spring or rivulet, where there was grass for the faithful oxen. Before reaching Fairplay, Saturday night came, and a suitable camping-place was sought for remaining over Sabbath. At a pleasant spot in the great South Park, a de- serted cabin was reached, near a beautiful spring, and it was resolved upon to stop here. It had been built with the object of making it a supplying station for travelers, but had been abandoned. Some travelers had camped here the winter before, during a snow-storm, and, from what was written on the upper log of the house, one would suppose, became much discomraged. In pencil writing was written there: " Snow 100 feet deep, and still a-com- ing." There was no door to this cabin, and a blanket was hung before the doorway. Wood was procured and a fire kept blazing during the night. When all were sound asleep, at between 9 o'clock and midnight, the dog commenced barking furiously. Mrs. Fowlers eyes opened first, and — horrors! she beheld what was supposed to be the face of a huge Indian, and, instantly giving her hus- band a sudden jog, cried out, " Indians ! " Now, scared frantically, scared out of sleep, all eyes were open upon the swarthy face peering through the curtain at the door. A speedy and vociferous protest was uttered to the biped who carried that face, against his entering that cabin. Husband, wife, daugh- ter and dog, all frightened, were determinedly on the defensive. Soon came an utterance in Spanish "Mexican" (Meh-he-can-ah). After some conversation in Spanish, it was ascer- tained that this Mexican had been at work for a Frenchman up toward Fairplay, and, preferring to walk in the coolness of the night, and anxious to get back to his native clime, had come to this cabin to camp the rest of the night. He could not, under the circumstances, well be refused, and was per- mitted to spread his blankets for repose. But the wife volunteered to remain awake, so that, in case of treachery on the part of this stran- ger, she might give alarm. But, strange to ;k* ^'. f> >» HISTORY OF FBEMONT COUNTY. 565 say, all ^eil^Bsteep. and, before morning, the stranger had moved tis couch to a more favor- able situation, and no one knew of iite fact until morning, and all hearts breathed thank- fulness that no harm had been received. All were enabled to commence the Sabbath in quietness, and peaceful worship might be rendered to Him who is the Great Friend to all mankind. The journey was resumed on Monday morning, with bright visions of gold, and in another day Fairplay was reached, in full sight of the golden mountains. In the spring of 1861, while the writer, with two others, was clearing ground on St. Charles Creek, preparatory to planting, a small band of Oheyennes and Arapahoes ap- peared, on their way to a Ute camp up the creek. ' They succeeded in killing and scalp- ing one Ute, who was herding the ponies, but were driven off with some loss. One of our number, who had lived among the Sioux, said that in another moon they < would return, which they did, 600 strong, of Comanches, Kiowas, Apaches, Oheyennes and Arapahoes. They were very hostile and much excited, from the fact of our burning brush heaps, which they interpreted to mean warning to the Utes. Utterly helpless, all we could do was to lock our houses to prevent plunder, and meet them unarmed but fearlessly. A crisis was evidently, however, approaching, when our man who understood Sioux discovered a renegade Mexican whom he had known among the Indians, and addressed him in that lan- guage. This undoubtedly saved us for that time, although an Apache made a savage thrust with a lance at the writer, who dodged it, and, running to the liorse's side before he could shorten his lance, grasped it, till the In- dian was ordered on. This party, however, met an utter defeat, and were pursued many miles down the mesa east of us, which was found by us strewed with Indian commissary and quartermaster stores of all descriptions. This rout saved us again, for, if they had not been so closely pursued, we should certainly have been massacred. Shortly after this, the Plains Indians made another foray into the mountains, when they killed Benito, the head chief of the Utes. Ouray, lately deceased, was advanced from war chief to council chief, and, being taken by Agent Head to Washington, when McClel- lan's army of 250,000 men were camped there, had such impression made on &im by the fight- ing men he saw from West to East that he vowed to keep peace, if possible, with such a people. On returning, in council, he told of warriors like the blades of grass on the side of the moimtain, etc., and was nearly deposed from chieftainship for his supposed misstate- ments. By his force of character, however, he retained his position, and always remained consistently peaceable. Canon City at one time bade fair to become a formidable rival of Denver, but, after Govern- ment protection was withdrawn from the Ar- kansas Eiver route, and the stage line of Bar- low, Sanderson & Co., from Kansas City to Fairplay via Canon City temporarily dis- continued. Canon rapidly declined. News from the Eastern seaboard did not travel so fast after the withdrawal of coaches and miiils, when we had letters in twelve to twenty days, and the first account of the bat- tle of Bull Run did not reach this section for more than a month. To the praise of Canon be it said, however, more volunteers for the war were enlisted from it and vicinity, in pro- portion to inhabitants, than from any section of the State. The Knights of the Golden Circle had a branch in Pueblo County, and held regular meetings, one of their most prominent mem- bers, it is believed, being a Mr. Brovm, who ovmed a ranch near Pueblo. This Brown was from Mobile, where he had perpetrated various monetary irregularities, and had left sundry parties in deep and anxious mourning. A rendezvous for this kind of chivalry was sup- posed to be some fifteen miles east of Pueblo, where a certain well-known individual, gen- erally in Government employ, and professedly loyal, was believed by Union men to receive, pack, and cause to be forwarded to the South, such arms as their agents could buy up in the country. California . Gulch, now Leadville, were Imown to have been visited for that pur- pose. While hospitably entertaining army ofiB.cers en route, he did not fail to secure influence to obtain contracts for hay, costing him |5 per ^. -® ^^ .k 566 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. ton, and sold to the Government at $150 per ton, and upon one occasion, among many, re- ceiving a claim for damages of $3,500 for rails sworn to as burnt by soldiers on the march, when it was popularly supposed he had not a single rail on his premises. •A full half, at this time, of the settlers of the Arkansas Valley were Southerners, who were as bitter rebels as any during the civil strife. At times, it required considerable finesse to prevent serious difficulties, which were only kept in bounds by conservative men of both parties, who felt the uselessness of bloody guerrilla warfare, which would have ensued if once trouble commenced, and es- pecially where all the inhabitants were equally exposed to incursions of hostile In- dians. Upon one occasion, a partisan fight seemed inevitable. July 4, 1862, was cele- brated by a general gathering of all the Lower Arkansas settlers to a grand barbecue at Pu- eblo. An arbor of boughs was built some two hundred feet in length, on the bluff fronting the present First National Bank, under which the tables were spread, groaning with more of the substantial and delicacies of life than seemed possible to gather together where flour was $25 per sack, sugar and coffee 75 cents per pound, canned fruits from |1 to $1.50 per can, etc. The Union men decided that, it be- ing a national holiday of a nation, not a con- federacy, the old flag should be run up; the Southern element dissented, and each party departed in search for their " particular irons." The Southerners, especially, were loading up pretty heavily with "Taos lightning," obtained at the noted Jack Allen's plac ., and battle scarred and furrowed field seemed about being levelfid by rifle flash and leaden messenger of the defiant factions. After g^eat difficulty in parley, the strife was quelled and festivities were resumed. But "Old Glory" was run up, and waved triumphantly all day. H. J. Gra- ham, a candidate for Delegate to Congress, made a long, disagreeable and bitter speech, mostly confined to personalities, abase and tirade against all his opponents, whoever they were, which nearly precipitated another crisis. A young Mississippian was heard, late in the day, to say: "Well, boys, we were born under the old flag, and I doubt if we ever better our- selves." But, with the hot blood of the South coursing his veins, he, with a party of com- rades, soon started across the plains to join the Southern forces, but were surroimded by Com- anches and Kiowas and all massacred. Early in 1862, the writer, satisfied with the permanency of settlement in the Arkansas Valley, secured the services of a company, who, crossing the plains from Illinois in that summer, commenced the erection of the first flour-mill ever built in the State of Colorado, at Pueblo. Although laboring under every disadvantage conceivable,* a three-story mill was built, equipped, and in a week would have been doing custom work, when it was pccident- ally burned to the ground, parties owning it losing everything, even to clothing. The en- terprise was reluctantly abandoned in conse- quence of the disaster, till 1865, when a Mr. Jewett built a mill at Pueblo that is still at work. During the summer of 1864, the continuous Indian troubles became more pronounced from the necessary withdrawal of troops to the front. Train after train was attacked, capt- ured and burnt by the red devils, who were often armed and led by emissaries from the South. Consequent upon this, necessary supplies were often not obtainable at any price, the writer paying, on one occasion after some days' deprivation, $1 for a pound of salt — all that could be procured even at that price. In August, Jack Smith, the Cheyenne half- breed, son of John Smith, a Government in- terpreter, led a band of fifteen of the tribe to a short distance below Pueblo, where, from an ambush, they attacked and captured a Government outfit of three wagons, with sev- eral soldiers, a Government blacksmith, his wife and two children. The soldiers were killed fighting while the wife and children were compelled to witness the husband and father tied to a wagon, inhumanly tortured, mutilated in a way too shocking to relate, and burnt with the Wagon. The Indians, as they invariably do, then compelled the unhappy woman to, in their parlance, " pass over the prairie," every one of the fiends violating her in turn. The children, being in the way, were then brained by Smith, but the night t> "V ^-tOlva^ tyW^ d^yvi/ltyi^ ^ HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 567 following the wretched woman succeeded in suiciding by hanging herself to the lodge poles. By way of note, the writer, after the battle of Sand Creek, where Smith was taken prisoner during a charge on a rifle-pit occupied by In- dians, heard Smith confess to the above ac- count, and had the satisfaction of seeing him shot and instantly killed in his father's lodge by a soldier. . The occurrence above, and a rumor of a large band of Indians crossing the Fontaine qui Bouille a short distance above Pueblo, caused a stampede of all the settlers in the region to Pueblo, as fast as word could be gotten to them. The writer, having a large quantity of hewed timber, gave it to the general defense, and a stockade fort, 110 feet square and 12 feet high, with adobe bastions on opposite corners to permit enfilading fire, was built. Upon the hill in front of the First National Bank Block, a round tower, twenty feet in diameter and sixteen feet high, was built of adobes, with port-holes covering all the approaches to town. This tower, which would have been considwed a great curiosity, was afterward torn down by a vandal named Jack Thomas, who had jumped the town site of Pueblo. This state of terror existed several weeks, and nearly exhausted all the men, wh8 worked and scouted all day and did picket duty at night, till orders were received from Wash- ington to raise and equip a regiment of cav- alry for 100 days' service. The able-bodied men, with scarcely an exception, immediately enlisted, and, under the command of Cols. Shoup and Chivington, went into a winter campaign of forced marches, resulting in the battle of Sand Creek, Tuesday, November 29, 1864, which gave, ever after, complete im- munity in this section from the attacks of In- dians who had always before been hostile and dangerous. Not always, in those early days, was justice and all the belongings thereto administered upon by learned and ubiquitous magistrates. John Moran, who had been an able-bodied deck-hand upon a Mississippi steamboat, was elected Justice of the Peace. On one occasion, a couple who had fled from the Cottonwood shades of the corn-lined banks of the Huer- fano, from an angry father, at night, in great haste, called up the Squire. Crawling out of his blankets, barefooted, he ordered them to "catch hold of hands," and " Wud ye be promisin', in the presenceof God Almighty, to marry this girrul, an' if ye wud, my blessin' beonyez;" then stopped. The bride became uneasy, and told him that was not all. " Be- gorra it's mesilf that's done all I can fur yez."" "Oh, no," she said, "you haven't married me yet." " Och, sure, an' I haven't. Will yez marry the spalpeen wid yez ? " " Yes," she said. ' " Then," said he, " be afther gettin' out o' this, sure, you've got all yez come for now," and into his blankets he crawled, and tras fast asleep in a minute. OEGANIZATION OF COUNTY ADVENT OF DISTRICT COUET. Fremont County was organized and its boundaries established in 1862, by J. B. Cooper, Lewis Conley and Anson Budd, who were appointed by Gov. Gilpin for that pur- pose. Anson Eudd was the first Sheriff elected under the new organization, and David Powell, the first County Clerk, and also first represen- tative in the Legislature. LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS TO PRESENT DATE. County Commissioners — Jesse Frazer, B. F. Allen, Anson Eudd, Lewis Conley, S. D. Webster, Daniel Virden, James A. Toof , David Eoop, John Locke, John V. Callen, A. Sartor, Jacob J. Eisser, William J. Schoolfield, Ste- phen J. Tanner, Van Buren Hoyt, E. E. Utley, Allen Alexander, William Shepherd, Adam J. Hager (appointed by Governor), James E. Mc- Intire (appointed by Governor), James A. Mc- Candless (appointed by Governor), William H.Thompson, J. H. Harrison, Edwin Lobach, Joseph J. Phelps and Louis Muehlbach. County Clerks— M. G. Pratt, from 1861 to 1863; Samuel M. Cox, from 1863 to 1867; John Wilson, from 1867 to 1881, present in- cumbent. Sheriffs — Isaac F. Evans, December, 1861; Anson Eudd, June, 1862; Egbert Bradley, November, 1862; Joseph Irvin, October, 1863; James H McCollum, October, 1864; same, January, 1865; James W. Fletcher, October, 1865; Joseph H. Macon, February, 1866; same, October, 1866; Charles Paub, August, V At !l>^ 568 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 1867; Edward L. Taylor, April, 1868; same, November, 1868; Charles Pauls, February, 1869; Eli S. McNulty, September, 1869; Ben- jamin F. Gloyd, September, 1870; Jesse Rader, September, 1871; Frank H. Bengley, September, 1873; Benjamin P. Shaffer, 1877 to 1881, present incumbent. Probate Judges — J. L. Gray, 1861 ; Gideon B. Frazier, April, 1865; same. December, 1865; William Locke, September, 1866; same, October, 1867; Gideon B. Frazier, January, 1869; William A. Hawkins, October, 1869; John H. Terry, September, 1871; William Lock, September, 1873; Samuel P.Dale, Sep- tember, 1875. County Judges — Robert A. Bain, 1877; John H. Terry, 1880; Robert A. Bain, Jan- uary, 1881, present incumbent. County Treasurers — J. A. Draper, Septem- ber, 1863; Egbert Bradley, August, 1864; William C. Catlin, October, 1864; same, Sep- tember, 1866; Benjamin P. Smith, August, 1867; same, September, 1869; Benjamin F. Allen, September, 1871; Thomas H. Craven, Setpember, 1873; same, September, 1875; Francis Hartwell, October, 1877; J. H. Har- rison, October, 1879, to 1881, present in- c imbent. School Superintendents — Hiram Morey, 1864; B. M. Adams, September, 1866; War- ren R. Fowler, from August, 1867, to Septem- ber, 1873; John D. Bell, September-, 1873; James M. Hoge, September, 1875; Henry C. Hing, October, 1877; S. B. Minshall, October, 1879. Assessors — Samuel E. Blair, 1862; un- known, 1868; Lewis Conley, 1864; James Henderson, 1865; M. M. Craig, 1866; Jo- seph H. Macon, 1867; William A. Stump, 1868: IraH. Lucas, 1869; George W. Griffin, 1870; Thomas Virden, 1871; W. H. Hull, 1872; J. C. Baer,1873; W. W.Remine, 1874; J. C. Baer, 1875 and 1876; Silvester A. Saf- ord, 1877; William Burch, 1878 and 1879; W. Hodgson, 1880; H. Clay Webster, 1881. Surveyors— T. C. Wetmore, 1861, 1862 and 1863; Jesse Frazer, John E. Anderson, Sam- uel D. Webster, T. S. Brandegee, two terms; John F. Dodds, A. W. Puitt, T. S. Brande- gee, Jacob M. Hanks, H Clay Webster, John M. Gilligan. Coroners — J. J. Minor, E. J. Stanlick, H. M. Cramer, H Clay Webster, James L. Hyde, 1881. The following shows the increase in taxable property in Fremont County, as furnished by John Wilson, County Clerk: Assessment— 1871, 1635,998; 1872, 1980,- 958; 1878, $1,213,689; 1874, $1,364,695; 1875, $1,479,477; 1876, $1,56^,657; (county divided in April, 1877 ; Custer County formed mainly from Fremont County; $629,101 as- sessable property cut off;) 1877, $935,556; 1878, $946,368; 1879, $1,262,070; 1880, $1,- 897,000; 1831, $2,129,258. The following shows the increase in popu- lation: Population of county, census 1870, 1,064 (which was before Custer County was cut off) population of county, census 1880, 4,730; population of Canon City, census 1870, 229; population of Canon City, census 1880, 1,848. LIST OF HONORABLE GENTLEMEN WHO HAVE SERVED THE DISTRICT IN WHICH TREMONT COUNTY IS LOCATED SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION.* 1861 — Records do not show Fremont rep- resented in either housa 1862 — Council, J. B. Woodson, Fremont, El Paso, Huerfano, Conejos, Costilla and Pueblo; House, no one credited. 1864— Council, J. B. Doyle, Pueblo, El Paso, Fremont, and Huerfano; House, S. D. Webster, Fremont. 1865 — Council, Robert B. Willis, same dis- trict as last; House, Mills M. Craig, Fremont 1866 — Council, O. H. P. Baxter, district as before; House, William Locke, Fremont. 1867 — Council, O. H. P. Baxter, same dis- trict; House, M. Mills Craig, same district. 1868 — Council, B. B. Field, same district; House, Thomas Macon, same district. 1870 — Council, George A. Hinsdale; House, William Shepherd. , 1872— Council, J. Marshall Paul, Park, Lake, Saguache and Fremont; House, A. D. Cooper and J. G. Randall, same as Council district. 1874 — Council, Jairus W. Hall, same dis- trict; House, Joseph Hutchinson, William A. Amsbury, same district. *By Charles E. Waldo, Esq. i \ ^'t zifk- 'history of FREMONT COUXTY. 569 1876 — Council, James Clelland, same dis- trict; House, J. Y. Maxshall, I. N. Peyton, same district. State Legislature of 1865 — Senate, John W. Henry, Pueblo, El Paso, Fremont and Huerfano; House, D. P. Wilson, Fremont. Constitutional Convention of 1865 — D. P. Wilson, Fremont. Constitutional Convention of 1876 — Adam D. Cooper, Fremont. STATE LEGISLATUKES. 1877 — Senate, James Clelland; House, Richard Irwin and Charles B. Sieber. 1879 — Senate, Thomas C. Parrish, Fre- mont and Custer; House, William McLaugh- lin, James A. McCandless, same as Senate dis- trict. 1881 — Senate, Parrish, held over; House, James A. McCandless, James J. Rowen. SCHOOL STATISTICS. The following is the report of the school population of the various districts in this county for the current year (1881): NAME. No. District Male. Female. Total. Canon 1 ■2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 200 32 10 5 22 22 29- 12 14 129 3B U) 22 234 29 "i 6 14 is 22 15 22 140 36 8 18 434 61 24 41 Garden Park 17 Upper Beaver Upper Hardscrabble South Canon.* 10 36 66 Currant Creek 35 Texas Creek 51 Lower Beaver 27 Bobe Creek f 26 Pleasant Va ley.f 40 Tallahassee Creek 36 Coal Creek 269 72 Middle Beaver 18 Yorkville 4n Grand Total 1103 HISTORY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF COUNTY. J It is impossible to give any accurate history of school matters in Fremont County, as the t Ueport of last year. * Report of last year, but estimated at 75 this year. j:By Charles E. Waldo. records of the County Superintendent's office only extend back to the year 1877, when Fre- mont Co inty was divided and O. W. Lucas was appointed Superintendent. Whether Dr. Hoge, the Superintendent in office when Cus- ter County was organized, kept the old re- cords, or whether there were any old records, I never knew. The succession of Sfp'erin- tendents, as nearly as the same can be ascer- tained from the county records, is as fol- lows: Hiram Morey, January 4, 1864; B. M. Adams, August 7, 1866; Warren R. Fowler, appointed August ^6, 1867, and elected in 1869 and l872; William Locke, elected in September, 1868, and held for one year; J. D. Bell, 1873 to 1875; James M. Hoge, 1875 to spring of 1877; O. W. Lucas, spring to fall of 1877; Henry C. King, 1877 to 1879; Sam- uel B. Minshall, 1879 to 1881, present incum- bent. Mr. Lucas' record, in 1877, shows sixteen school districts then existing in Fremont County, after Custer County had been taken off, to wit: No. 1 — Canon City and its immediate vicinity to the north and west. No. 2 — Florence and its immediate vicinity. No. 3 — Below Florence, near the mouth of Hardscrabble Creek, known as Lower Hard- scrabble District. No. 4 — Lower Four Mile District, from east of Canon City incorporate limite, to and including the settlements, near the mouth of Oil Creek. No. 5 — Garden Park, on Oil Creek, some nine miles from its mouth. No. 6 — Upper Beaver Creek District, in northeast part of county. No. 7 — Upper Hardscrabble, near southeast corner of county. No. 8 — South Canon District, extending from the Arkansas River to the southern line of the county, since curtailed by the cutting off of District 19. No. 9 — Currant Creek, includes the region on Currant Creek, north and west of Canon City, District No. 1. No. 10 — Texas Creek, includes the neigh- borhood of Texas Creek Post Office. No. 11 — Lower Beaver, is on the east side -^K la^ 570 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. of the county, near the Arkansas River, in- cluding Toof and Juniper Post Offices. No. 12 — Adobe and Newland Creek District, lies south and east of Coal Creek. No. 13 — Pleasant Valley District, includes the upper end of Pleasant Valley. No. 14 — Tallehassee Creek District is a large region, mostly north of the Arkansas River, in the vrestern end of the county. No. 15 — Coal Creek District, includes the immediate vicinity of Coal Creek Village, and is the most populous district out of Canon City. No. 16 — This was a small district on Oil Creek, which has since become disorgan- ized. Since then, three districts have been organ- ized, to wit: No. 17 — Hayden Creek District, includes the lower portion of Pleasant Valley. No. 18 — On Beaver Creek, around Glen- dale Post Office, called Middle Beaver Dis- trict. No. 19 — Galena and Yorkville District, in- cluding those two thriving mining camps on the southern side of the county. Several years ago, School District No. 1, Canon City, owned Lot 16, in Block 10, where the Cincinnati Saloon now is. Some time among the earlier seventies, that site was ex- changed for a site in Harrison, Rockafellow & Macon's Addition, in the block where the railway depot now is. The late George Rock- afellow and his associates on the School Board, made strenuous efforts to build a schoolhouse there, in 1874, which was deferred for better times. For years, the schools of Canon City were held in rented rooms, and no schoolhouse was built. In 1879, the people voted unani- mously to issue bonds and build a school- house. The Board, in 1878, had exchanged their lots, then made worthless for school pur- poses by the proximity of the railway, for four lots on the corner of Seventh and A streets, and the citizens, perceiving that four lots made too small a site, purchased six moi e lots by a subscription, and donated them to the school district, and the present schoolhouse was built at a cost of $13,472.86, a repre- sentation of which will be found in this book. Over $1,700 has been expended in furniture and apparatus. It will seat 328 pupils, and has rooms provided for six teachers, yet the growth of the town in the last two years has been so great that there is but little hope that the resident scholars in the district can be properly accommodated therein for the present year. The taxable property in the school district has increased from $529,000, in 1879, to $740,000, in 1881, and it is thought that the maintenance of a good school has much influenced the increase. The South Canon District has a good brick schoolhouse, built several years ago, which they have lately furnished in the best . of style. With regard to the other districts in the county, they are fully up to the standard of similar schools throughout the State. riKST DISTRICT COUKT. In the spring of 1863, the People's Court was qu'etly laid to rest, when the more pon- derous machinery of the District Court, under a Territorial organization, was set up and put in running order, with Judge Hall as Chief Engineer. The Judge's first official act was the cause of his future unpopularity, and was taken almqgt as an insult to the peo- ple. It was in the appointment as Clerk, of one Dr. J. C. W. Hall ("Alphabet Hall" as he was called), who was what is known as a "dead-beat." The appointment was so obnox- ious to the people that they notified the Judge that, unless he reconsidered the ap- pointment, the mandates of his court would not be obeyed. However, they compromised with the Judge, which was, that the Clerk was permitted to serve that term only, after which he must "skip." The court then proceeded to organize; but the Judge was so mortified at his reception amongst us, that he did not put in a second appearance, and soon left this broad judicial field for some small inclosure east of the Mississippi River, bettef suited to his tastes and talents. Following Judge Hall's unpopular court, was the advent of Judge Allen A; Bradford, afterward twice delegate to Congress from Colorado. Judge Bradford's court was as popular here as Judge Hall's was unpopular. Judge Bradford stands high socially and in the legal profession. He was not a carpet- v1i= ^•^ ^ «-- ^^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 573 bagger from some of the older States, provided ■with an of&ce as a reward for pot-house polit- ical services. He is a thorough Western man, and did not think he was coming amongst semi-barbarians, when he came to Pike's Peak. This was the first term of court of any importance held in Canon. There was a very important mining suit tried, from Gilpin County, and all the principal lawyers of the TeiTitory were here. For a week or so, the town was full of strangers, many of them dis- tinguished, and things commenced to look once more as though we were hot always to remain the "Deserted Village." The Judge is now quietly enjoying private life in Pueblo, successfully practicing law, and "living under his own vine and fig-tree." The blight of war over the land, and especi- ally over the Arkansas Eiver Route, caused Cafion to be almost deserted, and, in 1863,- the town record of the second and legitimate town company was placed in the hands of A. Eudd, by the last of the " bloated corpora- tion," he being at that time considered as likely to be the only permanent citizen of Canon City, on account of his supposed inability to command means to accomplish his exit. An oppressive silence hung over the once busy town like the gloom of a pall. There was scarcely a ripple of visible life to disturb the profound solitude that reigned supreme. The strife and turmoil of men in their efforts to gain another dollar, or to obtain one more corner lot than his neighbor, frequently going so far as to bankrupt themselves, had all ceased. All had to yield to the inevitable, and they quietly gathered up what little they had not squandered of their means, folded up their tents and stole away, in quest of some more auspicious field in which to recuperate. Had it not been for the substantial monuments left behind in the way of stone houses, etc., the oppressive stillness would have suggested a primeval condition of things, only that the evidences of civilization surrounding us in- tensified the feeling. For days, weeks and months, the few that remained wandered about the streets, seem- ingly bewildered and objectless. The advent of any vehicle bringing strangers caused more excitement then, than the coaches of Barlow & Sanderson, or the railroad, or Cole's Circus — the first that ever appeared in Canon —May 15, 1879. ENTEKING THE TOWN PLAT. The first town company remained in pos- session of the location only a few months. Failing to perfect their organization, the town site was jumped in April of the following spring. This company remained in posses- sion until 1864, when the last one of them abandoned it, with the remark that Canon had "gone up," and advised everybody to leave it to the possession of its former owners, the In- dians. ~- A short time after this, a survey was made by the United States of all the land in the townships which were supposed to be available, and this included the town site^of Canon City. It was then pre-empted by Benjamin Griffith, W. C. Catlin, Jothan Draper, Augustus Macon and A. Budd, who deeded lots on which there were any improvements, to the former owners, when requested by them or their agents to do so. The few incidents that occurred during the Rip Van Winkle sleep that Canon City in- dulged in for the next five or six years, afforded meager material for a history. As the years went by,, persons going West, with their ox- teams freighted with the rudiments of civil- ization, would occasionally discharge amongst us some (to us) nondescript article, which would serve as a nine days' wonder, or until something of a more local or exciting charac- ter would put in an appearance and attract our attention. Among the important items which absorbed our attention were rumors of the threatened invasion of railroads, com- meincing with the I^ansas Pacific, and followed in their order with the Denver & Eio Grande and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa ¥6. The most exciting of our local items were generally made up of rumors of Indian inva- sions. Sometimes it would be the Utes, and then the Arapahoes and the Cheyennes; and, as each of the tribes claimed the ground on which Canon was built, we naturally felt a little anxious about the time we might get a notice from either one or the other to vacate the premises. But as the Utes were at war *?T® ^^ ^- -4^ 574 HISTOEY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. with the other two tribes, we felt sure of an ally in the opposite tribe, should either one serve a writ of ejectment. Eumors of the hostility of each tribe would become current about three times on an average each year; and, when we thought the evidences of their hostile intentions were of such a character as to warrant any precautionary measure, we gen- erally eorraled our women and children in one of the most eligible, vacant stone houses in town, of which there was a mnnber, and awaited results; in the meantime, one or more of us would scout the surrounding country for a " sign," in order to sooner determine our situation and relieve our families from confinement. But, although the Indians were, for years, our only neighbors, and vis- ited us frequently by hundreds, often staying for weeks amongst us, yet beyond several scares, minor thefts and a vast amount of beg- ging, they did us no damage. In fact, they were not so great a nuisance as the tramp tribe of civilization, for they would always give you a good " swap " for almost anything that could be worn or was edible. SIGNAL MOUNTAIN — PIHE TELEGRAPHS. We were nearly always • warned of the ap- proach of Arapahoes and Cheyennes by a sys- tem of telegraphy practiced by the Utes. This was by signal -fires, built on the most prominent peaks of the mountains bordering on the plains. The principal ones were Long's, Pike's and Spanish Peaks, and Green- horn and Signal Mountains ; but the only one accessible to our vision was the latter, situ- ated about twenty miles north of town, the name of which has been changed by some vandal to Mount Pisgah.* But the old in- habitants cling to its baptismal name (" bap tized in fire"). This oracle was often con- sulted, especially when there was an antici- pated raid from the plain tribes. * Some years ago there came to the mouDtaiDS a squad of stu- deatB, in charge of their " Profc." from Harvard Univeraity, ex- pecting, like Columbus when ho discovered America, to take possession of the great Snowy Range, together with all its " dips, spurs and angles," in the name of their scboolhouse and school- masters, and were impudently foolish enough to try to foist their names on the different peaks and other wonders and curiosities of the country — ignoringthe present nanips, which, in most instances, were in honor of some old pioneer, or from some important erentor peculiarity of the place, making it applicable. It is said that for a long time it was a subject of dicusaion among them whether or not they would name Denver in honor of the President of theircollege, and change the name of Pike's Peak and call it after their Presi- MEAGER POSTAL FACILITIES. Our postal facilities were very meager. The only avenue of communication we had with the States was through Denver, which was a weekly mail, divided into two routes, one end extending to Colorado City, and the other to Denver. T. C. Whetmore, of Pueblo, then a resident of Canon, took the contract of carrying it to Colorado City, a distance of sixty miles. On one occasion, he failed to procure a horse, when he deliberately took the mail-bag on his should(?r and carried it the entire distance, going in one day and return- ing the next, and arriving here on contract time. Mr. Whetmore was, at that time, sixty years old. This is a well-known fact by many old settlers now living. We also had a weekly mail to the mountains, with the termi- nus at Fairplay. At one time, it cost the Government 120 to carry a single letter, that being the price for a single trip, and the mail- bag containing but the one letter. RECRUITS FOB THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. In the spring of 1862, the exodus fairly commenced of those in sympathy with the Confederacy, endeavoring to get through the lines into the South. Those who were trying to reach Texas, usually crossed the river near- ly opposite the Soda Springs. This contin- ued during the season when the river was fordable. Many small parties, who wished to keep their movements secret, usually crossed in the night, making their rendezvous at A. C. Chandler's, on Chandler Creek. During high water, they were compelled to pass down the river on the north side until they found a crossing, generally at Rock Canon Bridge, six miles this side of Pueblo, as our bridge had a short time previous been swept away. One of the parties attempted to pass through the Comanche country, but were pursued and brought back to Colorado by Col. Shoup, of dent's wife or baby ! On a peak not far from Georgetown, named in honor of the gallant Dick Irwin, who is known throughout Colorado as one of the moat adventurous explorera, and who was the first white man known to have ascended it, which was on the 4th of July, 186-, and there planted the stripes and stars, they tried to foidt the name of " Torry." no doubt in honor of a " Piof." of Bonie kind of an *' ology" — perhaps one of those bug-catchers 1 Byers was in the News at that time, and when it became known to him, he lit onto them (the students) like one of their Professors on a " splendid specimen" of a first-class June-bug, and rebuked them for their impudence, claiming that the names oi the old pioneers should be perpetuated by attaching them to the lofty monument^ erected by Nature, that cannot be destroyed by the ravages of tim S ^ Mt fR HISTOEY OF PEEMOKT COUNTY. 575 Colorado Volunteers. When taken, the small- pox had attacked some of them. They offered no resistance, of course, and were easily capt- ured. Soon after they had got into camp, and after their surrender, the Indians came in large numbers and demanded a portion of their spoils, and one, at least, of the prison- ers to hold a scalp dance over, which request was firmly rejected. Col. Shoup, who was a brave and noble officer, telling the prisoners, that in case the savages persisted in their de- mands, and fighting was necessary (and the Indians numbered thousands), they (the pris- oners) should have their arms returned, and they would die fighting together, if necessary, rather than yield to the savages' demand. In fact, had they not been captiu'ed, the Indians would have murdered them all that night. THE BLOODY ESPINOSIAS. In the spring of 1863, three Mexicans, by the name of Espinosia (brothers), made a murderous raid through this county and the South Park country, which, from the mystery that surrounded their deeds, sent a thrill of terror throughout the entire population. Who were the perpetrators of the deeds, and for what purpose, was a mystery. The destroyers were abroad, and it appeared that their only object was the destruction of human life, for there was little plundering done. No one felt safe, for the deeds were committed by some unknown hand, and there was no secur- ity, either in one's house or on the high- way. Nor was it the lonely traveler only that was made the victim, but two or three at a time were, on several occasions murdered, and no one could travel the many lonely canons without fearing he would be the next victim. Why the murders were committed has never been known. Various rumors were afloat, one of which was, that their family had been out- raged by white men, etc., but the most proba- ble is, from some of the memoranda found on their persons, that they were sworn enemies of the white man on account of religious fanaticism. One thing is certain, their devil- try caused more terror amongst the citizens than the presence of a thousand Southern sol- diers would have done. The secret cowardly assassin is more to be feared than a l^rave enemy. Their first victim in this locality was Will- iam Bruce, on Hardscrabble Creek. He was at his saw-mill, twelve miles from his resi- dence on the creek, but was not running the mill at the time. For some purpose he went to the mill, intending to go and return the same day. Not returning, his family became alarmed, and parties, on going to the mill, found him shot through the heart. The horse he rode was not found. Every effort was made to find some clew to the perpetrators of the deed, but to no avail. Whilst yet the mystery remained unsolved, and the people had scarcely recovered from their astonish- ment, they were again startled by the news of the murder of an old man by the name of Harkins, also at a saw-mill on the Little Fontaine, in El Paso County (ever since called " Dead Man's Canon"), about sixty miles from the scene of the first murder. No clew could be had as to who committed the deed, as the man was alone at the time. Very little was taken, save some provisions, which could have been had by the asking. The murder apparently had been committed with a hatchet. Shortly after this, Addleman was killed at his ranch, on the road leading from Colorado City to South Park. Quickly following this was the killing of a brother of Lieut. Shoup (afterward Colonel), Binckley, Carter, Leh- man, and several others. The excitement was intense, and soon quite a large party were in pursuit, and trailed them from South Park to the head-waters of Oil Creek, thence down it to within about twenty miles of Canon City, where they were surprised in their camp, on High Creek, one of the tributaries of Oil Creek, and the largest one was killed by Joseph Lamb, who captured their entire camp outfit, including personal effects, memoranda, etc., from which they learned the number of victims they claimed to have murdered. The other one succeeded in making his escape to Mexico, where he was joined by his nephew. Both were soon afterward killed by a mount- aineer, by the name of Tom Tobins, now liv- ing in Costilla County, on the Trencharo Creek. The record of their butcheries showed IS IK ^ it^ 576 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. that they had killed thirty-two Americans, beside many other gringos and Mexicans. At this jancture, rewards were offered by different persons, amounting m the aggregate to $1 ,500. The Governor offered 1300 ; Lieut. Shoup, 1500; the balance was made up principally by the friends of those who were murdered. We are sorry we cannot give the particulars of this capture. It showed Tobins to be not only a brave man, but one of the most dexter- ous of woodmen. Tobins knew that it was a matter of life and death with him, for if his wily foe should gee sight of him first, his doom was sealed, for the Mexican was a dead shot. Hunting him was a far more risky business than hunting the lions and other wild beasts of Africa — they cannot shoot. After killing the monster, he cut off his head, for which there was a reward, but which was never paid the brave Tom. Certainly, if ever man de- served a reward it was him. Some time ago, there was a bill introduced into the Colorado Legislature praying a reward, we cannot give the amount, but the Solons of the State nig- gardly refused paying anything. Espinosia's head was taken to Fort Garland and preserved in alcohol, until Dr. Waggoner left the service, when he stole the jar contain- ing it, and was making his way to Pueblo, but upset his wagon in the Sangre de Christo Pass, losing the alcohol, head and all, from the jar. At Pueblo, he found the town, for the first time in its history (wonderful to re- late), without either alcohol or whisky! He then buried the head, but afterward exhumed it, and clearing the head from all flesh, etc., carefully preserved the skull until Prof. Den- ton came along and prevailed upon the doctor to give it to him. It is now said to occupy a place amongst the skulls of noted murderers in Prof. Fowler's collections. AS ACCOUNT BY A PARTICIPANT.* Early in the spring of 1863, the whole southwest part of the Territory was panic- stricken by the number of cruel murders com- mitted, and no trace of the perpetrators. Men were killed and robbed, and each fatality was veiled with the horrible shroud of mystery. *By John McCannoD. No one could be found near the spot of the victim, and only on one occasion were the tracks of two men discovered, but how many " two men " were doing the hellish work of wholesale assassination was the great mystery of mysteries. Nearly all travel was stopped, unless guarded by troops; no mail came into or went out of South P.-irk without being guarded; people abandoned their ranches and moved into the more thickly populated settle- ments. A perfect reign of terror prevailed i everywhere. All through the southeast part I of the country, as far as Canon City and ' Hardscrabble Creek, terror was on the coun- tenance of all. They first killed a soldier at ' or near Conejos. We next hear of them near Canon City, where they murder and rob a Mr. j Bmce, of Hardscrabble Creek; from there, i they proceeded to a saw-mill on Little Fon- taine Creek, and kill an old man. Again, we hear of them at the Kenosha House, Park County, where they kill Binckley and Shoup, the latter a brother of Col. G. L. Shoup. A few days after this double butchery, the body of Addleman is found, life extinct, in his ranch. Carter comes next in the list, being killed at Cottage Grove, near Alma. Two days following, Lehman and Seyga were killed at the Bed Hills. Lehman and Seyga were cit- izens of California Gulch, and upon the news of their murder reaching the gulch, a meet- ing was called by the citizens for the purpose of raising men and funds to ferret out and bring to speedy justice the murderers of their comrades. A call for volunteers was made, and speedily in response wero Joseph M. Lamb, Julius Sanger, O. T. McCannon, Thomas S. Wells, C. F. Wilson, William E. McComb, John Gilbert, Frank Miller, Fred- erick Fredericks, William Youngh, James Foley, John Landin, Charles Nathrop, John Holtz, John Endleman, William Woodward and John McCannon. The last-named was selected as Captain of the company. I sent a man at once to Cache Creek to get Alexander Morse to join me at Weston's ranch, and to bring some pack-animals with him, and to cross the range that day or night at all hazards. He met us, and with him were J. A. Hamilton, J. J. Spaulding, John Brovyn and Dr. Bell. We laid over one day ^ RESIDENCE of JOHN M? COMBE. LEADVILLE. COLO. HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 577 at "Weston's ranch, while I, with a team, went to Fairplay for a supply of provisions. Here I found the town guarded with United States troops, and the prevailing opinion was that there was a large camp of " bushwhack- ers" somewhere in the neighborhood of Pike's Peak, but this was simply conjecture. Notic- ing authentic could be ascei^iained. In the park, I met Charles Carter, a brother of one of the victims, together with Benjamin Grif- fiths, Charles Low and another man. They were on the same errand — looking up the foulest of the most foul perpetrators of crime. At Weston's ranch, I sent seven mounted men in a northerly direction to clean out a gang of known thieves and to scour the country to the northeast. This squad was composed of C. T. Wilson, Commandant; Alexander Morse, Will- iam E. McComb, J. A. Hamilton, John Brown, John J. Spaulding and Dr. Bell. They suc- ceeded in capturing some of the gang. One Baxter was hung by some recruits of the Sec- ond Colorado Eegiment near Fairplay. They then scouted through the country as far north- east as Deer Creek, within forty-five miles of Denver, and it is very probable that they drove the Espanosias from the vicinity of Kenosha House. With the balance of the company, I marched east to a point near Addleman's ranch, and made a camp, and divided the company, one section going east and the other north. We scouted the coun- try for one day, and, at night, lay so as to command the roads to the south and east. On returning to camp, the party to the east discovered the tracks of two horses going south. We at once came to the conclusion that this was a clew, so, accordingly, early the next morning, we were on the march in pursuit of what we were satisfied were the murderers. We stopped a few minutes at Addleman's ranch to examine the tracks, when, to the astonishment of all of us, John Endleman began to sing and yell, by turns, and, it being a serious affair, as we could not bend him back or leave him, so I detailed two of the strongest men I had to keep a steady watch on him, and to gag him when he became too noisy. We soon struck the trail leading to the head of Pour Mile Creek. The next day, after doubling two of their camps, we found a fire still burning, about one mile below the beaver dams, on Four Mile Creek. We camped one mile below where we found the fire, and got our suppers, as the country to the south was high and baiTen mountains, and the trail led across them. We lay in camp until dark, the night being clear, with a full moon. I then called on the men to vol- unteer for a night's march, and wanted those who could stand a forced march, as I was determined to see what and who they were as quickly as possible. Joseph M. Lamb, James Foley, Charles Carter, William Youngh, Julius Sanger, Frederick Fredericks and John Landin volunteered. We followed the trail about three miles on to a high shale ridge, or mountain, and, not being able to track farther, we laid down in a neighboring gulch until daylight, when we soon found the trail lead- ing down into a canon on the west side of Four Mile Creek, and near a dense thicket of willows. Here we found the two horses, one hobbled in a little park on the south side of the gulch. I dispatched James Foley, Will- iam Youngh, Frederick Fredericks and John Landin to go around the bluff and get into the canon below, and to carefully push their way along up the canon, while we covered the horses with our guns. In a short time, the largest of the Espinosias came out of the wil- lows and commenced taking off the hobbles that held his horse. Joseph M. Lamb fired, the ball breaking the second rib on the right hand side, passing directly through, breaking the second rib on the left hand side. Julius Sanger fired next with buck shot, but the horse stumbling over the desperado, it received the charge. The Espinosia raised up on his elbow, and commenced firing at me, as I had left my position to look after the other one, supposing that Lamb's and Sanger's firing had done the work. Charles Carter then fired, the ball striking the desperado between the eyes, ranging back, killing him instantly. The other one came in sight, but got off vvrithout a shot through a mistake. I had my gun leveled on him, when Julius Sanger cried out: "For God's sake don't kill Billy Youngh!" They were about the same size, and were dressed alike. I dropped my gun to get a better look, and he, seeing the motion, threw V ^•4^^ liL 578 HISTORY or FREMONT COUNTY himself over into the ravine and was seen no more, although he fired from the high-table lands afterward, cutting Lamb's hat and coat. We were unable to pursue him, not -having had anything to eat since 5 o'clock the even ing previous. The men with the pack-ani- mals lost the trail, and went to Canon City. We. found in their camp property of twelve of their victims, together with a memorandum book, in which they claimed to have murdered twenty-three men. At about 11 o'clock that night, we got to the settlement on Four Mile Creek, being thirty hours without anything to eat and without sleep. I found by morning that; three of the men were unable to travel, so I hired a team to haul them to Canon City, where we rested two days, and then retiu-ned home to Lake County. The crazy man got all right and went to Montana. The remain- ing Espinosia picked up a cousin in San Luis Valley, but they were soon discovered by be- ing tracked up where they had driven an ox into the canon and butchered it. Thomas Tobin, with a squad of soldiers, killed them both, thus exterminating the worst despera- does the country ever knew. The Legislature gave Tobin $500 bounty for his share of a job of three days' scout, already paid, and was furnished rations by the Government, but they forgot to even mention the people of Lake County, who went out and discovered who the murderers were, and killed the one who did the principal part of the terrible work, and the only one I ever learned of doing any killing. The small one was a very poor marksman, while the one killed west of Pike's Peak was a dead shot. The statement made by Maj. Wynkoop that the Espinosia that we first shot was first wounded and then hung is not trae. He was left where he fell. PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF GUERRILLAS- TWO MEN LEET IN CaSoN. -ONLY In the summer of 1864, a party of guerril- las, or Confederate soldiers, passed through Canon on their way to the mines, along the western rim of the South Park. Their object was to plunder, and raise recruits for the Southern army. James Reynolds, an old Col- oradoan, was their Captain. At the time they passed through Canon, Felix Burdett and A. Rudd were the only two men in the place. Jothan A. Draper, who was starting East with money in his pocket to buy a stock of goods, A. M. Casseday and D. P. Wilson having just left town, met the guerrillas in Canon City Park. They offered no violence, however, to apj one until they arrived in the South Park. They then robbed the Fairplay and Denver coach, capturing the United States Mail and express matter from California Gulch and Fairplay. They then cut the coach to pieces and took the horses — also taking several horses from McLaughlin's ranch, and hid for a short time in the mountains. But their career was short. They had reckoned without their host, for instead of meeting them with open arms, the miners rose, almost to a man, and hunted them down. The miners surprised them at night in camp, at the mouth of Hall's Gnlch, one of the tributaries of the Platte, near Hep- burn's ranch. They fired into them, killing one man, and brealdng the Captain's arm, scattering the others in every direction. Judge S. D. Webster, Oliver Kirkpatrick and G. W. Burdette, were of the assaulting party. They were scattered in the night charge on the camp, and Judge Webster wandered about the mountains for days, subsisting on a deer he was fortunate enough to shoot, and did not find a settlement until near Idaho. A large party of citizens rallied in pursuit, the most prominent being A. C. Hunt, U. S. Marshal, with two Deputies, Judge Wilbur F. Stone, and a Mr. Brown; Frank Hall, then with Hollister, editors of the Black Hawk Journal, Judge W. A. Hawkins, J. B. Cooper, now of San Francisco, the latter in charge of citizens, and Col. Shoup in command of soldiers. The pursuit now commenced, the guerrillas taking nearly the same route they had trav- eled in going to the mines. Three of their number were captured at the residence of Al and George Toof, by Toof brothers, Lewis Conley and Pete Baltof, then working for Mr. Toof. Early one evening, Mr. Conley thought parties were prowling^about, and sent Baltof for George Toof, who accidentally dis- charged his gun on the way up, which caused Al and his family considerable uneasiness during the night. In the morning, about day- break, three men came up and asked for break- li^. HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 579 fast. Mr. Toof invited them in, and making excuse to drive the cows to the upper field, really drove them into Conley's corn, where, fortunately, he found him cutting fodder. Hastily telling him his suspicions, he inquired for the safety of his brother, but being told he had gone over the hill on the trail, Mr. Toof started back, seeing him coming on the trail at full speed. He whistled and sang, attract- ing his attention, for he said it was about his first attempt at music, motioning him down. George slid down the bank about forty feet to the creek. Al went to the house, and, taking the water-pail, said something about getting water to mix mess for the pigs, went to his brother and explained the situation, arrang- ing to have him, with Con ley and Pete, make their appearance by the south door of their log houses, open covered space between them and the door from one to the other. Mrs. Toof slowly prepared breakfast, answer- ing their inquiries as to what the papers said about the guerrillas. Mr. Toof coming iu, assisted her, and they disposed the table to suit the approaches from the doors. Soon after they were seated to the table, Mr. Toof discovered the boys coming, and just as they reached the south door, he grabbed his gun, and commanded them to surrender. They jumped to their feet, and the largest one grabbed for his revolver, but the quick eye and steady nerve of George detected the movement, and he made him hold up in approved "Western style. Pete was ordered to disarm them, but being too much flustered, Mrs. Toof bravely came forward and assisted. They then sent word to Charles Pauls, living on Soda Springs ranch below, who went at once to Canon City, and informed ihe ofiicer in command, who took possession of the prisoners that night, and forwarded them to headquarters, at Den- ver, reporting his capture through the columns of the Denver News, but everybody in the county was on the alert for rebel raiders for a long time. DESPEBADOES, HOBSE ANB CATTLE THIEVES AND THEIR lATB.* From the latter part of the winter of 1860 -61 up to 1863, the country was infested •By Eugene Weston. with a gang of horse and cattle thieves, greatly to the annoyance of citizens, and apparently led by daring and cunning rascals, who almost defied detection. It appeared to be almost impossible to break them up, and, when an animal was once taken, it was very seldom that they were recovered. In fact, the thieves and their aiders and abettors were as thick around us as grasshoppers were in Kansas, and, although we felt certain as to who some of them were, we had not the proof positive of their guilt. They had a regular organized line, extending from the locality of Taos, N. M., via Trinidad, Pueblo, Canon City, to Cali- fornia Gulch. Among the principal actors in the business was one Charles Brown ("Dutch Charley "); Bateman, headquarters in this locality, on Beaver Creek; Bill Waggle and brother; Steel, from Minnesota, and others whose names are forgotten. They were in the habit of stopping at Jim Briner's and John Tyerly's, pretending to be friends. Waggle took Briner's horse, and some of the party took some horses from Eeub Frazier, who, with Edwards and Tyerly, trailed thpm to Mace's Hole. They found the cabin deserted. They then trailed them to Taos, and arrested Steel, who escaped from them, but was recaptured two miles from Taos. On the return to Taos with him, Tyerly thought Steel was trying to escape, and attempted' to tie him, when he re- sisted, and Tyerly shot him twice and killed him. But they did not succeed in getting the horses, there being too many of the gang close at hand to assist them to escape, and at the same time get away with the stock. Brown was arrested in Canon, but Bateman managed to get tools to file off his irons. " Alphabet " Hall also assisted him in the es- cape. Brown afterward went to Idaho Terri- tory, where he joined the vigilantes and en- gaged in the pursuit of horse thieves, whom they captured the other side of the divide, be- tween there and Denver, and assisted in lynch- ing them. Vincent Moore was also notorious. He stole two mules from A. Rudd, one from Wolf Londoner, one horse from D. P. Wil- son, and finally " got away with " everything. Waggle was afterward killed on the divide. Riley was shot, but recovered, and then joined ^ -4> 580 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. the United States troops, and was made As- sistant Provost Marshal, and stole a large amount of property and escaped to Old Mexico. Vince Moore escaped to Montana, and at last accounts was still running at large, ready to do any stealing or roguery offering an opportunity. There were many others, whose names are forgotten, but most of them are dead, all having met their death by vio- lence. One of the most noted desperadoes of our early days here was a man known as Charley Dodge, which name was presumably one of many aliases. A fugitive from justice in Wis- consin, with a price of $2,500 offered by the Governor on his head, his career was marked while here by the same bold crimes that drove him out a vagabond, with the marks of Cain upon his brow. He was first known in the summer of 1860, in California Ghilch, as a three-card-monte dealer, and, like sportive games, enforcing his will, as his victims "weakened," before the ever-ready six-shooter on the table to his hand. In the winter of 1861-62, he, with one of his "pals," piuBued a miner by the name of Noble, who, having made a " raise," was on his way home to the States. He was overtaken, camped in a deserted cabin, fifteen miles below Canon. The smrprise was so sudden and complete, that, although lying on his arms, he had no time for defense, but was bound and taken a few yards away and hung up like a dog, and afterward fastened by a lariat to the horn of a saddle. He was then dragged by the neck a quarter of a mile and thrown into a wash- out made by the rains, and a little brush, stone and dirt thrown over him, but not enough to cover his decaying body. Some thousands of dollars was the prize secured, with which Dodge soon appeared in Pueblo, where soon after he shot a Constable named Taos, who insulted him by asking for a cup of coffee. In March of 1862, having jumped the claim belonging to a man named Fred Lentz, who was temporarily absent, he sold it to another man. Lentz, returning, attempted to regain possession, and, having a difficulty with the occupant, went to Pueblo to lay it before the Claim Club, in the People's Court. On his return, with four of his friends, he met Dodge, with another desperado, named Berceaw, who claimed as prisoner. Lentz, mistaking the demand, but intending to comply with it, as is believed, took a few steps, after throwing up his hands to show that he had no weapons, when Dodge rode his horse round and shot Lentz five times in the back. As he lay wel- tering in his blood, to show the devilish sang- froid of Dodge, when Lentz's friends, recover- ing from their surprise, raised him up, and he, with death fast glazing his eyes, looking at Dodge, who still lignered, said: " Charlie, I call that taking advantage of a man." Dodge simply remarked: " Think I hurt you much, Fred? Well, die like a man." Which he did in a few minutes, after breathing, with failing utterance, into my ear, the name of his father and post office address, Cedar County, Iowa. Dodge and his accomplice gave them- selves up, if such a farce can be so called, to the People's Court, and stood trial with a couple of six-shooters lying on his lap. When a division of the house was called to decide " guilty " or " not guilty," not one cared to meet certain and sudden death by an affimative. We simply note this to show the efficiency of six-shooter logic and the reign of terror that such a man can induce. When, in 1862, the first Judicial Court was held in Pueblo, Dodge was indicted for all three of the offenses noted above, and summons issued for him. At that time, being in Montgomery, Park Co., no one could be found who cared to risk his life in arresting Dodge, until one Ike Evens, a citizen of Canon, attempted it. They being on good terms. Dodge did not shoot at first in- stance, but begged permission to step out a moment. He did so, of course, and, mount- ing a horse, fled across the mountains. The next heard from him was his death at Fort Hall, Washington Territory, of small- pox, being one of the few instances where men of his stamp do not " die in their boots." JONATHAN LEAPEK.* Below the salt works in the lower part of the South Park, in 1862, there lived a man named Leaper, who was the Einaldo of his time. He, robbed not entirely for the gain, but for the pleasure of the thing. He took »From Cafion City Reporter. ^ a i "V ^1 liL^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 583 delight in torturing his victims. For a pe- riod, he was the terror of the mountains. He had a cabin in a lonely gulch on the road leading to Canon City, about ten miles from the salt works. Here he cooked his meals, but spent the most of his time concealed in the rocks above the road. He seldom dis- turbed the travelers going into the mountains, for they were generally broke, but upon those coming out he pounced like a hawk upon a chicken. One day, an old man and woman were driving down the mountain in a buggy, and, from their appearance, Leaper thought they had money. In searching them, he found none, and was so mad that he pulled the bri- dles off the old man's horses and started them running down the hill. Fortunately, they ran until tired out, and then stopped, themselves, without injuring any one. Many men passed him without being robbed becaused they trav- eled in companies. It was the single way- farer he wetched for. At times, he had con- federates, but they were never caught. This man Leaper was a very powerfully- built man, weighing upward of two hundred poTmds, and stood six feet in his stockings. His countenance looked more like a beast's than a human's. He had small, snake-like eyes, set deep in his head, beneath a low forehead, and a thick black beard covered his entire face. He had a grum, beastly voice and a maniac's laugh. He was a maa of few words — in fact, he seldom spoke. He was a silent villain, with his mind upon his hellish business. The summer of 1862 had been a prosper- ous one in California, Georgia and McNulty Gulches, and many a roughly- dressed man hailing from them carried thousands of dol- lars' worth of dust in his pockets. They usu- ally traveled in pairs for protection. If so, Leaper let them alone ; but woe to the single pilgrim — he was in the jaws of a tiger if he came by the cabin. It was getting late in the fall, when, just at evening one day, there came a pale-looking man, riding a fine mule, and halted at Leaper's cabin to inquire if he was on the right road to Denver. He was in- formed that he was not, and that there was no other house within twenty miles; but, if he would dismount, he was welcome to stay during the night, and in the morning Leaper would take him across the mountain and put him upon the road. The traveler accepted the invitation, unsaddled his mule, picketed him by the roadside, and entered the cabin. The nights were getting cold, and a good fire felt comfortable after the sun had gone down. Leaper piled high the pine logs in the fire- place, and, as they burned and shone out upon the hearth, the traveler felt cheerful, and whiled away the time by relating his expe- rience in prospecting. Injudiciously, he boaeted that he had $1,000 in nuggets he had washed from the earth that season, little thinking he was setting a trap to lose his own life. This was about the last chance of the sea- son for Leaper. A long winter would sooii set in, and there would be nobody to rob. Men seldom traveled the mountains in the winter in those days, and it was necessary the robber should be prepared to den up like a grizzly bear for another spring. When morn- ing came, the traveler saddled his mule and Leaper his horse, and they started across the mountain to find the road to Denver. After traveling some distance, they dismounted in a gulch, when Leaper seized his victim by the throat and demanded his mbney and his pistol. He then ordered him back in his saddle, and, taking a long lariat, lashed his feet firmly be- neath the mule's belly, and his hands behind him. This done, the fiend pulled the bridle from the animal's head and turned him loose; at the same time, put spur to his own horse and rode rapidly away. The grass was fine in the mountains at this time, and the mule paid more attention to this than he did to the prisoner upon his back. Mild words, unaccompanied by rein or cud- gel, had no influence on the long-eared hybrid. He ate and drank until filled, then lay dovm for the night. He, however, lay upon his belly and knees, and indicated by his position that he would do the best he could for his un- fortunate bed-fellow. When morning came, the beast arose, and determined to leave for other fields. Over rocks and through tangled woods he went, often nearly tearing to pieces his rider, until he halted at a rippling stream to take a drink. At this moment, the rider heard the sound of an ax. He hallooed ^^ "~Q) ^.1 '-^ 684 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. loudly for help. In a moment, his call was answered, and a man dressed in a red shirt and buckskin breeches came in sight with an ax upon his shoulder. As he approached, the mule became alarmed at his appearance and started off on a brisk trot, but not until the axman had got near enough to learn from the rider his sad condition. The woodman now laid down his ax and started in pursuit. For hours ho followed the mule and its lone rider in vain. At times, he would almost lay his hands upon the creature, when, peculiar to a mule, with a snort, he would bound away with increased speed. Night was now fast approaching, and darkness would end the pursuit. The case was getting desperate. The pursuer had a pistol in his belt. He availed himself of the best oppor- tunity he could get, and sent a bullet whiz- zing through the animal's head. A moment, and the rider was released, but too much ex- hausted to travel. A fire was kindled, and the two strangers, who had met by chance in this unusual way, camped for the night among the rocks, with wolves all around them. In the morning, they succeeded in reaching a cabin a few miles away. After resting a few days, and partly regaining the use of his limbs, which were nearly paralyzed, the man of fate departed for Denver. Here he made known the robbery, and described the robber so minutely that he was easily traced as the mys- terious occupant of the lone cabin at the foot of " Warder's Hill," as it was called by the pilgrims of that day. Col. Famham, a United States Marshal, and a practical miner at Buckskin, was sent to ferret out and capture the robber. The Colonel will be remembered by all old settlers of Colorado as a sharp detective in the early days, and as a man of nerve. He soon learned that there was a probability of ttere being a band of robbers in this cabin, instead of one. To make himself familiar with the situation, he disguised himself as a tramp. "With a blanket and a coffee-pot strapped upon his back, he halted at the cabin and begged for something to eat. Here he found three men in the act of dividing some plunder, but, in- stead of giving him food, they robbed him of his blanket and a silver watch and told him to move on. The Colonel had a trusty revol- ver, which he carried in his boot, and which was not found by the villains. As he left the door, to more effectually deceive them as to his errand, he feigned to cry for the treatment he had received, when the burly chief and proprietor gave him a kick. This was a dear kick for the beast who gave it, as the sequel will show. Famham went a short distance away and concealed himself in a cleft of the rocks to watch his game. He was but a sliort time there when two of the men came out, saddled their-horses and started on the road toward Canon City. Waiting until they had got well away, the detective wandered back to the cabin and knocked at the door. The man within, who was Leaper,sang out, "Come in." As the door opened, Famham was confronted by the robber, with pistol in hand, who de- manded: " What do you want here, you d — d old beggar? I'll kill you if you don't go away." " Give me bat a crust of bread — I am starv- ing," said Farnham. When the robber, probably thinking it the easiest way to get rid of his unwelcome visitor, stooped down to pick up a piece of bread that had been thrown upon the ground, Farnham snatched the pistol from his boot, and, with one blow, felled him to the ground. He then disarmed him, drew a pair of handcuffs from his boot—where he always carried such trin-' kets when on duty — clapped them upon his hands and ordered him to arise. Losing no time, he walked him to the salt works, there . procured a wagon, and conveyed his prisoner to the jail at Denver. He was confined in the prison — the only one in the Territory at the time — on Larimer street, near Fourteenth, but, before the meet- ing of the court that was to try him, the only witness that could convict him — the man of the dismal ride — died from the effect of his injuries. Nothing could be done now but to dismiss him. Gen. Sam Browne was then the Prosecuting Attorney for Colorado, and, knowing there was no chance to convict, and to save the Government unnecessary expense, he entered a nolle prosequi and directed the prisoner turned loose. But Leaper would not turn — a fv i^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 585 loose worth a cent He said he was going to " board in this hotel or burn it down." To turn him out in the usual way was danger- ous. It was easier watching the tiger inside than out. On the other hand, it cost 11 a day to feed him, notwithstanding he took his meat raw, like a beast, and ate more in a day than a dog would in two. This was becoming mo- notonous to the jailer, who had to pay the bills. Just at dark one evening, he put up a job to rid himself of his pest. Stationing Detective Farnham on the outside of the prison, near a -side door that led into Four- teenth street, with instructions to fire his pistol in the air as the prisoner should emerge, to exhilarate his motions, the jailer entered the prison and informed his boarder that a party of miners had come from the mountains, and, inside of an hour, were going to hang him. The story took with the boarder, and he asked to be let out that he might run. The side door was opened and out he jumped, and, as he started down the hill toward Blake street, the detective fired one! two!! three!!! shots, and, ere the echoes had died away, the villain was jiunping like a running horse. Just at this particular time, the city was under mar- tial law, and the streets were patrolled both day and night by Col. John Wanless' provost guard. Two of these guardians were cross- ing the bridge on Holladay street, when • they spied a man running down the hill from the bastile at the top of his speed, and heard the shots fired apparently at him. They cried, " Halt !" but he had no time to halt until h volley of shots were sent after him, filling his hide too full for comfort. In less than twenty minutes, he was brought back to the prison, badly wounded, and had to be fed until he re- covered. He afterward went to Montana, and was there hung for a little indiscretion in robbing an Indian agent and not afterward dividing with him. Two desperadoes, who stole nine horses from the Frazier settlement in 1867, and crossed Raton Eange, near Trinidad, being the first place they came on to any traveled road, were pursued bj' Thomas Virden, I. W. Chatfield, James McClure, Dan McLaughlin and Henry Phelps, who could only track them by day, though the thieves kept going night and day, until below Fort Union, where three of the party, with a guide, came upon them while sleeping in camp, on Sapavenaro Creek, thirty miles southwest from the fort. The thieves each had two revolvers, which, as soon as surprised, they commenced shooting, and emptied every chamber before being overpow- ered. They killed the horse of the guide, and wounded him througli his chest, from which he recovered, which was better fate than the thieves met with. The stock was recovered, too. The first homicide committed in the county was by Henry Dyer (afterward of the firm of Clarke & Dyer, auctioneers, in Denver), near Oil Creek, about three miles below town. The victim was a German, whom Dyer claimed to have killed in self-defense, the man at the time following him with a knife. His plea was allowed, and he was discharged. In December, 1861, Burdett and Coy were camped, hunting, near Willow Springs, on the road to St Charles. An old gentleman by the name of Wales, with wife and two small children, en route to California, wish- ing to remain in some of the mountain parks for winter, were told by a Mexican at Canon that he knew of a beautiful valley — now known as Mace's Hole — where there was tall, wild blue grass, and game in great abund- ance, which, being pictured to suit the ideas of old gentleman, he engaged the Mexican to pilot him to it. When at the next little sta-eam south of Willow Springs, the Mexican said the teams, under charge of another old gentleman by the name of Wright, could go a route around, which he pointed out, while they could go across over the mountain and get game. Taking the old gentleman to a place yet called Deep Canon, and to a spring at the foot of a big flat rock, where they would naturally drink, and as was supposed, by tracks on the hillside, that the old man did lay down to drink while the Mexican kept on the side 'hill, and that, in cocking his gun, the old gentleman looked up, when the Mexi- can shot him in the left breast, entering above the heart, which, not killing him, he finished the work of death by beating him with his yager, or old South Carolina musket Then, rifling the body and taking his overcoat ^-. S) fy '^ 586 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. and gun, he went directly to the appointed camp and reported that they had killed an elk, and that the old man had stayed to take care of it until they could come with the team. Mrs. Wales was suspicious that all was not right, from his having both guus, and made an excuse for the Mexican to go in search of water, which he was only too glad for a chance to do. As soon as out of sight, she sent for the men of the camp on Willow Springs, and related her fears. William Burdett took up the gun, and discovered hair caught in the belt swivel, at near the muzzle end. Showing it, and asking Mrs. Wales if she could recognize her husband's hair, she at once fainted. This confirmed their suspicions, and Bur- dett and Coy at once started in pursuit, and found Philip Hayes, now of Canon, and party, encamped on the South Fork of the St. Charles, near Pete Dotson's, and found t! e Mexican had been there, and, getting into trouble, made an attempt on the life of Mr. Hayes, and hurriedly went on to the Green- horn. At 10 P. M., Burdett and Coy pressed on to Zan Hicklan's ranch, and found the Mexican had come there, and, upon retiring, had left word to be called at 1 A. M. Mr. Boggs was there, and interpreted for them, when they identified and aroused the murderer. He at first held to the elk story, afterward said that Mrs. Wales gave the gun to him, and then that Mr. Wales owed him, and let him have the gun. All being satisfied, they started back, with the Mexican walking be- tween them. When part way between the South and North Forks of the creek, he threw up his hat and the overcoat of Wales he had on, and frightened Coy's mule and ran, so that it threw him (Coy) off. At this, Burdett slipped off his pony, and, after twice order- ing him to stop without effect, sent a ball on its fatal course, stopping him instantly, fifty yards away. Coy planted the Mexican, heels upward, in a prairie dog hole. The second day afterward, they found the body of poor iVTr. Wales, in the gulch. The grief-stricken widow and children were taken back to Canon, and tenderly provided for by the citizens. She finally went to Denver, where she mar- ried a stage-driver, who moved to Utah. The record of capital crimes in this county, considering the length of time since set- tled, is very small, unless the killing of a Park County horse-thief on Currant Creek, while attempting to escape from ctistody, may be considered such, and the lynching, in Canon City, of the two Mexicans who murdered their benefactor, a Mr. Newman, in 1876, in the most treacherous manner, may be considered another. He came with a large band of horses, from California or Ore gon, via Utah, and the Gunnison route, spend- ing the winter among the Utes,*on the Uncom- pahgre, unharmed. He kept his stock on ar- riving in the vicinity of Three Mile Spring, and gave employment to these Mexicans, who, knowing he had money, and that the range was getting short, told him if he would go with them that they would show him, near the head of the Huerfano, a long park, be- tween foot-hills and the mountains, that only required fencing across the ends, to furnish grazing for his herd, should it increase many fold. He at once hired them, and prepared a liberal outfit for the journey. The second night out, they camped at Frink's Spring, about six miles from Eosita, and at midnight, without the least warning, while he was asleep, dashed his brains out with a rock. They rifled his pockets, btu-ied him lightly near some wash brush in the willows, and re- mained in camp until morning, when one ' went with the team to his friends near Badito, and the other, with most of the money — several hundred dollars — returned to his Mex- ican acquaintances, near Florence, only about ten miles from where they started, and com- menced a lavish expenditure of it. Only three days after, somn stock men riding near the spring, noticed a death- like smell, and, looking about, noticed, near the creek, by the wil- lowsi where the high water debrif^ had been disturbed. It was the work of but a few minutes to learn that a human body was there. The news spread rapidly, and, through the efficiency of the ofiicers, clew after clew was obtained until the crime was traced directly to the Mexicans, and the direction in which they each went. In a few days, they were lodged in jail in Cafion City, each accusing the other of committing the terrible deed. By «<^ a If iS3»iWli««Mei^, ^^_^ '.^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 587 their confessions, the citizens knew to a cer- tainty the Mexicans were the assassins, and determined to strike terror to the proverbial disregard of the race for human life, and ac- cordingly, in the night, about a hundred peo- ple took them from the Sheriff, and in the morning one was found hanging to a cotton- wood tree on the south side, and the other to a little stable down the ditch. There was not a murmur in the whole country over the ter- rible yet summary way of disposing of the brutal wretches. Joseph T. Musser, who owned the C. C. I. Co. Mine at Coal Creek in an early day, and used to freight coal to Denver in a cart and with oxen, selling it readily at $40 per ton, and who received several first premiums of silver medals at Colorado Territorial Fairs on Canon Coal, was murdered, January 23, 1877, by a man by the name of Hayes, over some slight misunderstanding between them. Hayes was tried, convicted, and sentenced to the penitentiary for life, and is serving his sentence. CANONS AND CAVES OF TEEMONT COUNTY THE AW- FUL CHASM WONDERS OP THE GHAND CANON OF THE ARKANSAS. We will not attempt a description of this " grandeur made most fearfully grand " — this " nature made terribly and awfully sublime." In fact, it is more than any pen can describe or pencil portray. When looking upon it, you are so overwhelmed with wonder and terrible admiration that you can only utter exclama- tions of amazement. Of the hundreds of attempted descriptions of this terrific chasm, there is none that can equal that given by Maj. Pangborn, in the "Eocky Mountain Tourist" of 1878. The Major comes as near doing justice to the sub- ject as can be done with the pen, for no one can give it full and ample justice, and the words are not in the lexicon to exaggerate a description of it. We have used the scissors freely in extract- ing from his splendid descriptions of this and other canons and scenery in the vicinity of Canon City: " Leaving the hotel immediately following an early breakfast, next morning, a drive of twelve miles brings us to the Grand Caflon of the Arkansas. Disappointment is bitter and feelings of resentment almost beyond con- trol, as nowhere can the eye discover the canon. In the immediate foreground, the pinon growth is' rank and dense; just beyond, great, bleak ridges of bare, cold rock contrast strongly with the profusion of foliage hiding everything beneath from sight, while away in the dim distance the snow-crowned peaks of the Continental Divide are outlined sharp and clear against the solid blue of the morning sky. Though grand beyond anything we have seen in amazing extent of vision, the mind is so wrapped up in the anticipation of full realization of the gloom and vastness and solemn grandeur of the Grand Cafion as to resent almost angrily the apparent absence. A half-dozen steps from the clump of pinon trees where the horses have been fastened, and all thoughts of resentment, of disappoint- ment and chagrin, vanish, and a very cry of absolute terror escapes us. At our very feet is the canon — another step would hurl us into eternity. Shuddering, we peer down the awful slopes; fascinated, we steal a little nearer, to circumvent a very mountain that has rolled into the chasm, and at last the eye reaches down the sharp incline 3,000 feet to the bed of the river, the impetuous Arkansas, forty to sixty feet in width, yet to us a mere rib- bon of molten silver. Though surging madly against its rocky sides, leaping wildly over gigantic masses of rock and hoarsely murmur- ing against its prison bars, we see not nor do we hear aught of its fury. The solemn still- ness of death pervades the scene — the waters, as we see them, are as if polished, and as stationary as the mighty walls that look down upon them -from such fearful height. Fairly awed into a bravado as reckless as it is strange , to us, we crawl out upon tottering ledges to peer into sheer depths of untold ruggedness; we grasp with death- like clutch some overhang- ing limb and swing out upon a promontory, beside which the apex of the highest cathedral spire in the world would be as a sapling in height. We crawl where at home we would hardly dare look with telescope, and, in the mad excitement of the hour, tread, with per- fect abandon, brinks, the bare thought of *C * i) >y 4± -^ 588 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. whioli, in subsequent sober senses, makes us faint of heart and dizzy of head. Eager now for still greater horrors of depth, blind to everything but an intolerable desire to behold the most savage of nature's upheavals, the short ride to the Royal Gorge is made with illy concealed impatience. If our first experience upon the brink of the Grand Canon was start- ling, this is absolutely terrifying, and the bravest at the one point become most abject of cowards in comparison at the other. At the first point of observation, the walls, though frightfully steep, are nevertheless sloping to more or less extent; here at the Royal Gorge they are sheer precipices, as perpendicular as the tallest house, as straight as if built by line. So narrow is the gorge that one would think the throwing of a stone from side to side the easiest of accomplishments, yet no living man has ever done it, or succeeded in throwing any object so that it would fall into the water below. " Many tourists are content with the appall- ing view from the main walls, but others, more venturesome, work their wa;y six hundred to a thousand feet down the ragged edges of a mountain that has parted and actually slid into the chasm, and, as we have come to see it all, the clamber down must be accomplished. For some distance, we scramble over and be- tween monstrous bowlders, and then reach the narrow and almost absolutely perpendicu- lar crevice of a gigantic mass of rock, down which we must let ourselves a hundred feet or more. As we reach the shelf or ledge of rock upon which the great rock has fallen and been sundered, we glance back, but only for a second — the thought of our daring makes us grow sick and diz2y. But a step or two more and the descent just made sinks into utter insignificance compared to what is be- fore us. Then we had the huge walls of the parted rock as the rails of a staircase; now we have naught but the smooth rounded sur- face of the storm- washed bowlders to cling to, and on either side of our narrow way depths at the bottom of which a man's body could never be discovered with htunan eye. Behind us, the precipitous rocks over and through which we came; ahead of us, the slender bar- rier of rock overhanging the appalling chasm. and all there exists between us and it Cow- ards at heart, pale of face and with painful breath, we slowly crawl on hands and knees to the ledge, and, as the fated murderer feels the knotted noose fall down over his head, so feel we as our eyes extend beyond the rocks to catch one awful glimpse of the eternity of space. Few dare to look more than once, and one glance suffices for a comprehension of the meaning of the word depth never before even dreamed of, and never afterward for- gotten. The gorge is 2,008 feet sheer depth — the most precipitous and sublime in its proportions of any chasm on the continent. The opposite wall towers hundreds of feet above us, and, if possible to imagine anything more terrifying than the position on this side, that upon the other would be, were its brink safe to approach. Overhanging crags, black and blasted at their summits or bristling with stark and gnarled pines, reach up into pro- foundly dizzy heights, while lower dovm, mon- strous rocks threaten to topple and carry to destruction any foolhardy climber who would venture upon them. Among all the thousands who have visited the Grand Canon and ithe Royal Gorge, harm has befallen none, for, despite the seeming horror of the situation, the appalling depths and rugged paths, the fasci- nation of the danger appears to give birtti to the greatest caution." WHAT GRACE GREENWOOD SAYS. Grace Greenwood is the pet author of Colo- radoans, and has a keener appreciation of the grandeur of Rocky Mountain scenery than any of the American authors. At Manitou, she has a pretty cottage, and each year she comes to spend some time amid the glorious scenery at the base of Pike's Peak, oftenex- tending her visits to the wonderful canons in Fremont County, and to other parts of the mbuntains. She is a great admirer of Colo- rado, and is always welcomed by the " Pike's Peakers " as their particular favorite, for she invariably has something pretty to say about us when she comes. The following extract is from her pen. What she will say this season (for all are look- ing for her as soon as the "heated season" commences), when she is drawn by a locomotive ;rr ^'. !>^ HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 589 through the Royal Gorge, will be looked for with more interest than ever before: " I was lost in a silent joy when I came to look down in that Grand Canon, the greatest siglit I have yet seen in Colorado. It is grander than the Yosemite, because of its color, which is everywhere dark, with rich porphyry tints. Looking down upon the river roaring along in a thousand plunging falls, it seems like a lazy river creeping on in the cold shadow. So awful was the chasm, so stupen- dous were the mountain steeps around it, so gloomy were the woods, so strange, and lonely, and savage, and out of the world seemed ^he whole vast scene, that it recalled to me the passage in the Inferno : ' There is a place within the depth of hell Called Malebolge, all rock, dark stained. With hue ferruginous, e'en as the steep That round it circling winds. Right in the midst Of that abominable region yawns A spacious gulf profound." "This great sight ought to draw thousands of tourists to Canon. I am amazed that there is no more said of it and written about it. To me it is infinitely more impressive than Nia- gara. If you, reader, come to Colorado, do not fail to see this canon. It is next to the great canon of the Columbia River." THE BEAUTIFUL GHAPE CREEK CANON. Again we clip from that charming writer, Maj. Pangborn. There are those who say that he has overrated the wonderful beauties of the above-named canon. Not so; for even the most imaginative brain could scarcelji guide a pen to exaggerate , the beauties of that caflon. And — we almost regret to tell it — the peaceful solitude of that beautf iul place is soon to be invaded by the shrill scream of the steam whistle, and the thunders of the ir- repressible, ever-advancing locomotive. Many of the vines from which it takes its name, that hang in beautiful festoons, or crown a hoary old " rock of ages," will be torn from their moorings and trampled under foot, and die. The Grand Canon of the Arkansas is gotten up on such an immense scale that a train of curs rushing through it will not cause much difference in its general appearance. But it will despoil Grape Creek CaQon of many of its beauties. Yet, the beautiful must fall, if necessary, before the useful. There are mill- ions upon millions in the mines of Ouster County, and they must have a railroad to make it available. This will make all that immense mining region east of and in the Sangre de Christo Range tributary to Canon City. The surveys and plats of the road are already in the office of the company, and only await the proper time to contract for the building. It is an event that will be hailed with joy by the citizens of CaQon City, Silver Cliff, Wet Mountain Valley, Rosita, and Custer County generally. Maj. Pangborn says: " Up with the sun, the bright, clear and bracing air acts upon the frame like cham- pagne, and, in the grandest of spirits, we give rein to the impatient horses and are off at a spanking gait over the hard, smooth and level road. Rattling over the bridge spanning the Arkansas at the city's feet, we speed on throu'gh clumps of richly foliaged trees, and in a few moments we are at the entrance of the canon, catching a glimpse, just as we enter between its towering walls, of the Grand Canon of the Arkansas and the cozy-looking bath-houses at the springs near by. A quick word of wonder at the height and closeness of the walls, a sharp turn of the road, and, looking back, the way is lost by which we came. Here in the solitary mountains we are alone. No world behind; no world before. Turn upon turn, and new walls rise up so abruptly before us as to cause an involuntary cry of terror, soon relieved, however, as our excited senses become more familiar with the new tension upon them. Awe still holds us bonden slaves, but the eye drinks in such beauty as fairly intoxicates the soul. On either hand, the walls loom up until only the slender opal of a narrow strip of sky forms exquisite contrast with the pine-covered heights. Rifled bowlders every now and then wall in the road on the river side, their base washed by the creek, wild and beautiful in its whirl and roar. Here the perpendicular piles of rock are covered with growths of trees that ascend in exact line with the wall, and cast their shadows on the road below. Nattu-e's grapevines trail along the ground and cling around the trunks of the trees, hanging like J^t '-^ 590 HISTORT or FREMONT COUNTY. Arcadian curtains and making bowers of the most exquisite character imaginable. Be- tween these, we catch bewitching glances of the creek, on its merry, tempestuous way to the Arkansas, its sparkling surface throwing back rapid reflections of masses of green fo- liage and trailing vines. Deep pools give back the blue of jthe cloudless sky, and as base ac- companiments come in the dark shadows of the canon walls, with their sharply drawn ridges and truncated cones. Here and there all along the wild way are rushing cascades, tortuous twists of the stream, gaily lichened or dark, beetling rocks, mossy nooks or glow- ing lawns, and overhead the cottonwoods, mingling their rare autumnal splendors of red and gold with the somber green of pine and cedar. The cafion is beyond question the most beautiful in marvelous coloring, won- drous splendor pf foliage, pisturesque cascades and winding streams of any in Colorado. The Grand Canon of the Arkansas is deeper, but it is awful as seen from the only point of view, that from the top, and the sensations caused in strongest of contrast with those ex- perienced in Grape Creek Canon. The walls of the latter are so gorgeous a variety of col- ors as to fairly bewilder with their splendor; red, from the darkest tinge of blood to the most delicate shades of pink; green, from the richest depths to the rarest hues of the emerald; blue, from the opal to the deepest sea, variegated until almost defying the rain- bow to excel in exquisite blending. These glorious transitions of color meet one at every turn, and the contrast formed every now and then by tremendous walls of bare, black rock, or broad seams of iron ore set in red or green, render all the more striking the singular beauty of the canon. Over the walls on either side, the grapevine, from which the cafion takes its name, climbs in wonderfully rich profusion, and in autumn, when the leaves become so delicately tinted, and the vines hang thick with their purple fruit, the effect is something to call to mind, but never to describe. Added to the indescribable beauty of the vines are the many- colored mosses which paint the rocks in infinite variety of hue, ofttimes growing so high and rank as to reach to the very pinnacle of the topmost rocks, and fringe their craggy brows so lav- ishly as to render them almost symmetrical in appearance, as seen below. At different points, these moss-covered walls rise to the height of a thousand feet, and so completely do they hem one in on all sides, that, with but a slight stretch of the imagination, the place could be viewed from below as a gigantic, moss- covered bucket, but one that never ' hung in the well.' " Just above Temple Canon, and where Grape Creek enters the canon of its name, the walls axe exceedingly high anii precipi- tous, and in the coolest nook of their shadows, where sunlight can never reach, is a quiet, placid pool of water, clearer than a crystal, and so faithfully reflecting back the curiously and brilliantly colored rocks overhanging it as to have gained the name of Painted Rock Pool. It is a very gem in itself, and, in its setting and the rare grandeur of the sur- roundings, is well in keeping. Those visiting the canon should not fail to follow up the course of the creek from the point where it debouches into the canon. It will have to be done on foot, but the wholly unexpected sur- prises of the hour-or-two's ramble will more than repay the exertion. The walls of the sides of the parent canon are fully 1,500 feet in height, and so narrow that the tall pines and cottonwoods keep the gorge in a tender hal Might, broken at midday by glaring rays that give a magical charm to the scene. On all sides from points in the walls of rock, tufts of grass and bluebells grow, forming with the grapevines most pleasing pictures in contra,st with many-tinted rocks, in the crevices of which their roots have found / nourishment. The walls are of almost as many colors as there are sharp turns in the creek's coiu'se, and rare and perfect in beauty is the amphi- theater of black rock, with pearly-white veins running in very direction, the whole over- hung by climbing vines and their pendant berries. " Just at the entrance to Temple Canon is a little grove of cottonwoods. Their pend- ant, swinging boughs meet in perfect arches overhead, and the profusion of their polished, brilliant leaves renders complete the most charming of bowers in which to take the noon- ;f^ ^y^Ty" i±^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 593 day lunch and prepare for the climb into Temple Canon, which must be done on loot. TEMPLE CANON. " Temple is a side canon with entrance from Grape Creek Canon some four and a half miles from Canon City. The climb is not steep, though rather rough, especially to effect an entrance into the Temple proper, which is to the right of the little canon, and can only be accomplished by clambering over several huge bowlders, which, if removed, would render the illusion of a temple and stairway all the more striking. Once passing in through the great rifts of rock, for all the world like the stairway to some grand place of amusement, the body of the Temple is reached, and, to the tourist's astonishment, before him is a stage with overhanging arch, with " flats " and " flies;" with dressing-rooms on either side, and a scene already set as if for some grnnd tableau. If so intensely realistic from the parquet, as the broad, circling floor might aptly be termed, or from the parquet or dress- circles, as the higher ledges would suggest, the clamber up to the stage itself renders it all the more so, for there is found ample room for a full dramatic to operatic company to disport upon, while in the perpendicular ledges and caves on either side, twenty-five to thirty people might retire and not be observed from the body of the hall. The stage is at the least thirty feet deep, and some sixty to seventy broad; the arch above, fully one hundred feet from the floor of the canon, the stage itself being about forty feet above the floor. The arch is almost as smooth and per- fectly proportioned as if fashioned by the hand of man, and, during the wet season, the water from a stream above falls in a great, broad sheet over its face to the floor of the canon below. At such times, the effect from the stage of the Temple is, as can be imag- ined, exceedingly fascinating, for there, en- tirely protected from the water, one looks through the silvery sheen out upon the scene below. Upon the rear wall of the stage, quite an aperture has been hewn out by some action, and the shape it is left in is peculiarly sug- gestive of tableaux preparation. Away up in the very highest crevice under the arch, a pair of eagles have mated for years, and, though most daring efforts have been made to reach the nest, none have succeeded. The coming of visitors is almost invariably the occasion of a flight from the nest, and, breaking in so sud- denly upon the supernatural stillneas of the place, is apt to cause a shock to the timid not readily forgotten. There is absolutely not a solitary sign of vegetation about the Temple; all is bleak, bare and towering walls, and a more weird spot to visit cannot possibly be imagined. Coming out of the Temple itself, the tourist should by all means clamber up to one of the lofty pinnacles in the adjoining canon, for the sight from them down upon the mighty masses of rock below, the cottonwoods, the stream in Grape Creek Canon and the lofty walls beyond, is one to be treasured up among the brightest and pleasantest recollections of the tour. OIL CHEEK CaSoN^TALBOT HILL, ETC. "A couple of miles over a road, the tamest imaginable, after the three miles of down grade, brings us to the base of Curiosity Hill, well named, as is speedily proven by the dis- covery of all sorts of odd and beautiful little specimens of ribbon moss, and linear agate, crystals and the like. The surface of the hill is one vast field of curiosities, and so plentiful and varied are they that even those usually wholly indifferent to such things soon find themselves vieing with the most enthu- siastic in exclamations of delight upon finding some particularly attractive specimen. By blasting, large bodies of the most perfect crystals are obtained, invariably bedded in ribbon agate of the most beautiful colors and shapes, and, polishing readily, they form be- yond all comparison the loveliest of cabinet attractions. Ma ay very valuable specimens of blood agate have been found on Curiosity Hill, and for agates of all hues and forms, it is possibly the most satisfactory field for the specimen-seeker in Southern Colorado. A half-mile from the mouth of the canOn, we come upon the oil wells from which the stream takes its name, and. about which its perfect purity is polluted by the petroleum that lies thick upon its surface. Some considerable surface work has been done at the wells in the >^ s~ A« '^ 594 HISTOKY OF FREMONT COUNTY. way of boring and the like, and they have been yielding more or less oil for the past seventeen years. Preparations are now being made, however, for boring for flowing wells further south, in the oil basin, the Grand Canon Coal Company having struck, inDe- cember, 1880, at a depth of 1,450 feet, a small basin of lubricating oil of different color and specific gravity, and are now (July, 1881) taking out casing with the intention of sink- ing for the main body, the C. C. I. Co. hav- ing struck gas veins in their borings below the coal measures in May. Beyond the wells on Oil Creek, the road winds around and about in enticing proximity to the stream, and then, leaving it, winds high above, crossing pic- turesque bridges, and finally emerges into the open Garden Park, hemmed in on all sides by ranges of sandstone that show a countless succession of rock sculptures the effect height- ened by the brilliancy and variety of the col- oring. High up on the ridges are fbe crum- bling ruins of castellated battlements, formi- dable bastions suggestive of frowning guns, lofty and imposing sally ports, portcullis, moats and drawbridges. Great cliffs have fallen, and avalanches of rock have plunged their way down the hillsides; yet here and there and everywhere upon the walls stand the grim battlements, as if defying wind, storm and time. Of the most imposing of these tremendous ruins are the Twin Forts, standing upon the very verge of a precipitous wall of 500 feet of alternate layers of creamy yellow and brilliant red. One looms up one hundred feet or more above the wall, but the other is sadly battered and rapidly crumbling away. Along the walls are nimiberless. towers of rock, worn by the action of the elements into fantastic shapes, and many of them look- ing as if the breath of a child would topple them over. Progressing on through the park, we fancy in each transformation of rock some familiar thing, while the mighty tiers extend- ing toward us of ttimes call vividly to mind the bulwarks of great ships of the sea stranded here to be worn away to dust. Directly ahead of us, as we near the center of the park, we catch full glimpse of new and singular rock sculpture, the entire south end of the park showing tier upon tier of rock so striking in resemblance to stockades and outlying fortifi- cations as to cause one to involuntarily seek, not only for the colors, but the soldiers defend- ing them. Back of the stockades, stern, dark and cold, rises Signal Mountain, and still back of it, the long, wave- like lines and great, snowy domes of the Sangre de Christo Eange, their stupendous proportions dwarfing all be- low into littleness. MARBLE CAVE. "Around the sharpest and steepest of curves, a dash across the madly surging stream, and a helter-skelter scamble up a low but exceed- ingly rocky ascent, and we are at the mouth of Marble Cave — so near, in fact, as to barely escape falling into it in looking for it. The ragged, jagged crevice by which the cave is entered is anything but enticing, and the sen- sation experienced as one's head is all there is left above ground is far from thepleasantest. The descent is almost perpendicular for a hundred feet or more, and the staircase formed by the broken ledges on either side of the chasm far from soothing to one's nerves, es- pecially as all the light obtained are the meager shadows which steal through the three- cornered opening above and struggle faintly half way to the bottom of the rift of rocks. Stumbling over imseen bowlders, and barely escaping serious contact with the encompass- ing wails, we grope to the point where our guide has kindled a fire, and find it the inter- section of the two main halls of the cave. The ghastly glare thrown upon the walls by the burning pine chills us to the bone, and a tremulous inspection of the situation adds no warmth. We are in a strange and awful rift in some buried mountain, the walls so narrow that our elbows touch on either side, and so weird and terrific in height, as seen through the heavily rolling smoke as to look ten times the 150 feet our guide informs us is the dis- tance to the roof. The pine burns brighter, the smoke grows thicker, but we press on, now crawling on all-fours into some wondrous chamber of stalactite and stalagmite, and anon tugging up a strand of rope over fright- ful bowlders that have fallen from the dizzy height above to obstruct man in learning the secrets of this awful convulsion of nature. ^^ "■r^^^i^ J^l fc^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 595 We penetrate into Satan's Bower, we look shudderingly into his Punch Bowl, and gasp as we throw ourselves into his Arm Chiir. We draw longest of breaths in Qu.een's Grotto, and shortest when thoughts of the way back over those fearful rocks crowd in and demand consideration. Certainly the clear blue sky was never half so lovely as when we stand under it again. The cave is, as its name im- plies, . encompassed by marble walls, and the specimens of marble brought from its inner- most recesses, as seen in the full glare of the sun, are exceedingly beautiful in their mot- tled surface of red and white. The marble is susceptible of the highest and richest polish, and parties in Canon City use it for artistic as well as practical purposes. All about the hill, from the low crest of which the cave is entered, are the finest specimens of jasper, agate and shell rock, and, not far distant, are immense trees, petrified to solid rock, and where broken often showing beautiful veins of agate and crystals. BONES OP THE MONSTEES. " Midway in the park, we pull up at the pleasant home of the gentleman who is to show us to the top of Talbot Hill, where Prof. Marsh, of Yale College, and Prof. Cope, of the Academy of Natural Scieoces, Philadel- phia, have parties at work exhuming the re- cently discovered bones of animals, compared to which in proportions and importance the mastodon sinks to insignificance. We at once leave the road and make direct for the wall of blood-red rock on the west side of the park, and, a short drive bringing us to its base, we alight. Reaching the summit, the long-drawn breath of relief is half choked by the indescribable magnificence of the view, and for the first time we appreciate the sub- limity and grandeur of the Sangre de Christo Eange. A few more steps and we are at the tent of Prof Cope's party, and all within and without is heaped-up bones — rocks, now — and many of them so perfectly agatized that at a casual glance it would stagger any but a scientist's belief that they were ever covered with flesh. As seen here, however, it is so palpably apparent that the seeming rock and agate are bone as to leave no room for shadow of doubt. Before us are perfect parts of skele- tons so huge as to prepare one for the belief that Noah's Ark was a myth; sections of ver- tebrae three feet in width; ribs fifteen feet long; thigh bones over six feet in length — and the five or six tons of bones thus far shipped East comprising only the parts of three ani- mals. In one pit, the diameter of the socket of the vertebrae measured fifteen inches, width of spinal process forty-one inches, and depth of vertebrae twenty-nine inches. In another place, there was a thigh bone six feet and two inches in length ; a section of backbone, lying just as the monster rolled over and died, with eleven ribs attached, the backbone twenty feet long and from sixteen to thirty inches deep, and the ribs five to eight feet in length and six inches broad. Just showing upon the sur- face was a thigh bone twenty-two inches in width and thirty inches in length, and near it a nine-foot rib four inches in diameter, a foot wide at six feet, and, where it articulated with the vertebrae, twenty-three and a half inches in width. The entire rib was fifteen feet in length. All over the hill we come upon little piles of broken bones, which will require days of patient labor and skillful handling to properly set in place. The first discovery of the fossils was made in April last, by a young graduate of Oberlin College — Or- mel Lucas — who, teaching a country school in the park five days in the week, spent his Saturdays about the hills hunting deer, and occasionally getting a shot at a grizzly. Im- mediately upon satisfying himself of the char- acter of the discovery, the young man wrote to his old Professor in Ohio, and subsequently to Prof. Cope, of Philadelphia. Hardly had the latter organized his party of exploration before Prof. Marsh had his, under the lead- ership of Prof. Mudge, of Kansas, duly equipped, and by the middle of May both parties were actively engaged excavating, set- ting up and preparing for shipment the bones which Prof. Marsh declares are seven million years old. The first animal discovered was of entirely new genus and species in scientific circles, and was named the camerasaurus su- premus, from the chamber or caverns in the centrum of the vertebrae. Of the first petrifac- tions exhumed was a femur or thigh bone six / 3 ^^ Ik, 596 HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. feet in length, scapula or shoulder blade five and a half feet long, sacrum, or the part of the backbone over the hips — corresponding to the four vertebrse united in one — forty inches. Vertebrae immediately in front of this measured in elevation tw^o feet six inches, and the spread of the diapophises was three feei '' Prof. Hayden, the widely known chief of the United States Geological Survey, upon visiting this place and inspecting these and other parts of the animal, declared it his con- viction that the beast must have been fully a hundred feet in length. The thigh bone, measuring some six feet, stood over the hips eighteen to twenty feet The animal was un- doubtedly shorter of front than of hind legs, and Prof. Marsh thinks it had the power to raise up like a kangaroo on its hind legs and browse off of the leaves of the trees from sixty to eighty feet in height. The Professor also gives it as his opinion that the " critter " fed entirely upon grass and leaves, the vertebrae of the neck being some twenty- one inches in length and the spread of the diapophises three feet, this being understood as cervical vertebrae. The skeleton is not completely exhumed, though between 7,500 and 8,000 pounds of bone have been shipped to Prof. Cope. A part of the jaw of a laelaps trihedrodon ten inches long and containing eight teeth, varying from five to eight inches in length, has also been shipped. Recently, a leg bone of this same animal was exhumed, and found to measure a little over four feet, and, with a portion of the head all crushed into small pieces, sent on to the Professor. A part of the femur of another animal has been found, it measuring six feet, but somewhat lighter than the others. The vertebrae are three feet six inches in ele- vation, showing a very tall but not so heavy a brute as the camerasaurus. When found, it was lying on the right side, with vertebrae and ribs of that side in place, the ribs measuring over six feet in length, and the prongs where they join the back fifteen inches in width. Many of the bones of the camerasaurus are mis- placed and broken up, quite a pile being found at the spot where several of the teeth of the trihedrodon were discovered, thus indicating the preying of the one upon the other. While the general estimate of the age of these petri- factions among American geologists is seven million years, English scientists declare them fourteen million years old. Both the camara- suras and the trihedrodon were of the Jurassic period, being found in beds which, according to Prof. Marsh, correspond with the Wealden beds of England. All this section of the country must have been a plain when so much of Colorado was covered by an ocean, and be- fore the mountains were formed. The fossils are found in rook long upheaved, its character now a sort of shale or marlite, which, upon being dug out and exposed to the air, crum- bles to pieces. In most instances, it is free from bone decay, the parts of animals taken out being remarkable for their clean and per- fect solidity. Marsh and Cope agree that the camarasuras was the largest and most bulky animal capable of progress on land of which we have any knowledge, it being very much larger than the mastodon, which was of a much later period. " Prof. Mudge, with his party, worked about three-quarters of a mile distant from Prof. Cope's camp, and discovered portions of an animal of even more monstrous proportions than those already referred to, and of entirely different genus and species from either. The explorations of the Marsh and Cope parties attracted the attention of the entire scientific world, not only in the work here on Talbott Hill, but in the setting up of the gigantic skeletons at Yale College and the Academy of Natural Science at Philadelphia. Animals quite as large as those above described are now (September 1, 1881) being exhumed. THE CANON CITY COAL FIELD. This comprises fifty square miles, commenc- ing on the south side of Arkansas River, opposite Canon City, and extending eastward nearly parallel with the mountains, and an average distance of four miles from them, nearly to Adobe Creek, about thirteen miles. The veins on the eastern portion of the basin crop out to the surface, showing general dip of thirty degrees to the northwest; on the western side, the vein rises unbroken to the mountains, to a point on Oak Creek, from thence northward to Alkali Gap are croppings nearly perpendicular, inclining eastward. ?t > S^^-^?>>H ^a^^<^^^. ^ C^Sa-.^--,^.^.^,,^ ^! ?k> HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 597 The deepest portion of the basin is supposed to be on a line two and a half miles west from the eastern line of croppings, though the western portion of the north line of the basin nearest Canon City, shows veins two and a half to six feet in thickness, dipping toward the south. The first claim staked in this coal basin was by Hosea Hoopingarner, Jesse Frazer, Clark Harrington and John W. Leland, in April, 1860, at the present site of Coal Creek, which afterward belonged to J. T. Musser, who sold to C. C. I. Co., and was first worked by them by Mr. Depue, in 1871 . Uncle Jesse Frazer mined out from the croppings the first coal mined in this now famous coal field. He had serious difficulty in attempting to take it by an ox team to the blacksmiths, Brimer & Larley, at Canon City, fording the river, which was too high, bounced his wagon along down against r jcks, breaking a wheel, until he struck the head of a little island, where he succeeded in cutting the team loose, and saving himself and them. The explorations of the past year show that, on the fifty square miles comprised in this basin, there are almost exhaustless stores of •this superior fuel. The developments being made are on the most extensive and perma- nent scale, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa ¥6 Railroad having built an expensive branch railroad, said to have cost over half a million of dollars, from Pueblo, tapping their lands at Eockvale, on Oak Creek, where the Canon City Coal Company have sunk and thoroughly timbered a working shaft, 9x22 feet, to the coal, and which is worked by immense en- gines, with capacity for hoisting 1,000 tons per day. They are working a smaller shaft, a mile down the creek, and are preparing for opening other collieries by inclines and hori- zontal workings. The Denver & Eio Grande Eailway have also built a branch railroad up Oak Creek, within one mile of Eockvale, where the Canon City Imp't Company are opening, in a most approved manner, inclines both to the east and west. The market, has not heretofore, been fully supplied with Canon City coal, but it is probable that in the future the demand will be met, and that this inter- est alone will, directly and indirectly, double the present population of the county. The mines of Coal Creek were opened in a sys- tematic manner, in 1872, by the direction of W. P. Mellen, deceased, then President of the Canon City Imp't Company; by E. N. Clark, M. E. ; Mr. Alex Thornton was also in charge for a time. George Hadden, Esq., has been Superintendent for the past five years. The Canon City coal, according to analysis by Prof. Cox, State Chemist of Indiana, shows 56.80 per cent fixed carbon, 34.20 gas and 9 per cent ash and water. The Out West mag- azine, in giving its characteristics, says: "It is hard and coherent — most valuable qualities in a country where even the granite and por- phyry give way to the disintegrating influ- ences of the atmosphere." ' Again we quote from the Tourist: " Our way is southward ten miles or more to the Canon City Imp't Company's mines, stopping at the Iron Spring, a little over three miles from town. It is up a short, dry gulch, lead- ing off from the road, and quite peculiar, in- asmuch as the water springs from and has worn its tiny channel up the very edge of a long, thin ridge that juts out into the gulch. Over the face of %e ridge the water has scat- tered its iron sediment with lavish freedom, but only in this is there anything that, to the eye, indicates aught but spotless purity in the wonderful clearness in the spring. To the taste, however, the iron at once asserts itself, and the water is so strongly surcharged with it as to render it the healthiest of beverages. We drink our fill, and are off for the coal mines. An hour, and we are bowling along in a coal truck attached to a blind mule, through a vein of solid coal, something over five feet in diameter. It is a weird ride, this mile or more into the inky bowels of the earth, the faint shadows from our diminutive lamps causing a ghastly effect, not at all lessened by the blackness of the coal on either side and overhead. Every few feet we peer into the dusky depths of the apparently unending series of sidechambers, catching qaick glimpses of the little fire-bugs, as the miners look to be, as we pass so swiftly on. We see not the forms of the men, their faces, nor their hands, only the lampwick's sickly flaring from the unseen hats. Every now and then piles of powder in canisters almost block up the entrance to ■^ 59S HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. the chambers, and, at one point, we are shown the very fuse that sent a poor miner to his death bat a day or two before. But still the old blind mule trots on, and the passing thro'igh and the rapid closing behind us of the heavy oak door, that preserves the little of wholesome air left in the drift, is as if it barred us forevermore from the world- behind. The ride in appears an age; the ride out of but a moment's time in comparison. There are eighty-six side-chambers, or rooms, as the miners know them, in the main entry, fifty- seven in another entry, and in all, four miles of track upon which the coal is carried to the outer world. The veins average five feet two inches. A hundred miners are at work, and the yield averages 400 tons per day. The gigantic solid lump of coal, eight feet, nine inches long, six feet across and four feet four inches high, that attracted so great atten- tion at the Centennial, being beyond all comparison the greatest single piece of coal on exhibition, was taken from this mine. It weighed seven tons, and was cut and brought out of the mine in three days. Caiion City coal is unquestionably the finest bituminous coal in the world, and is so extensively used throughout the West as to require the run- ning of special trains for coal alone, on the Denver & Rio Grande road, which has its owa track to the mines. The supply is be- yond all human calculation, for the valley of the Arkansas is one vast coal bed for mile upon mile. On the return trip, we make quite a detour to the east, to spend a little time at the gypsum ' beds of twelve feet in thickness. RICH SILVER AND COPPER MINES ARE OPENED. On Grape Creek, at Dora, Titusville, Soda Springs and three miles below the Iron Mountains, the El Plomo belt of silver ore commences, and shows well-defined veins for several miles. The El Plomo Mine is more developed than any other, having a tunnel about fifty feet, showing regular wall rocks, and three to five feet of solid mineral. It assays from a few ounces up to fifty ounces silver, and always a good trace of gold. It is thought by many, that, were this line above timber line, instead of within nine miles of Canon City, and few rods from a railroad, it would be developed to fully test its value. The formation is an old granite, and the region about is permeated by numerous veins of rich copper ore. The finishing of the rail- road to "Wet Mountain Valley, Silver Cliff, etc., will, in all probability, prove what the writer has contended for the last eight years, viz., that in these foothills, on Grape and Oak Creek, but a few miles from Canon, there will eventually be worked some of as good paying mines as there are in the State. They may not be as rich as some others, but considering their locality, they will pay as good dividends as any. MILES AND MOUNTAINS OF MAGNETIC IRON. One portion of the Iron Belt is east of Messrs. Beckwith Bros.' " Texas Creek Ranch." This magnetic iron is very pure, being about 70 per cent pure iron. The Iron Moimtain is ten miles easterly, on Pine Creek, a tribu- tary of Grape Creek, by way of which stream it is only twelve miles from Canon City. The solid black ore nearly crosses the hills of that region, which should be called Black Hills of Colorado. It is found to be a good flux in the treatment of argentiferous galena ores, hav- ing been shipped considerable distances for that purpose. Several times since the discov- ery of this great factor in the wealth of the world, works have been talked of, and news- paper men have called Canon City the "Future Pittsburgh of the West," etc., yet the muck- mills, nail-mills, furnaces, rolling-mills, and other works have only existed in their imagina- tion and our iron must be classed as among our undeveloped resources. But with the devel- opment of our mountain system of railroads, will come the necessity of manufacturing our own iron, thereby saving freight from the East. The motive power is here, free, and the coal can be had for the expense of digging. Grape Creek cuts through the Sierra Mojada Range, and enters the Arkansas one mile above Caflon City, opposite the gate of the mountains. IRRIGATION. In the methods of irrigation, our farmers consider they have learned much through ex- perience. First, that ground plowed in the ;f* fall, and thoroughly irrigated as late as may be, pulverized V by freezing and thawing dxir- ing winter, and is in perfect condition for early seeding in the spring, and, as a rule, yields one-third larger increase than spring plowing on ground not irrigated in early win- ter. That where ground cannot be plowed in the fall, it should have the water late in the fall, and will be in line condition for early plowing and seeding. The advantages of eaxly March seeding are that the crop gets ahead of the ravages of young grasshoppers and ripens before flying ones come in, should they be about. Another is, that the spring snows are usually sufficient to keep the ground moist, and to bring up the young plant, and to keep it growing until the main aceqnas can be well cleaned out and the water put in. It is a great disadvantage to be obliged to i:ut in the crop in ground not irrigated in the fall, because it often happens that there is not rain or snow sufficient to bring up the crop which must be irrigated to bring it up, and a good stand is nearly out of the question, besides makes the starting of the crop late and irrigation season longer, for when irriga- tion of a crop once is commenced, it must be continued until the grain is ready for the reaper. The matter of lateral ditches is of great importance; the plan, formerly, was to draw from a main ditch, by small ditches at right angles, and, in turning the water out on the ground, was next tp impossible to keep it from putting back into the little ditches, unless their banks were built so permanent as to be a great obstacle to reaping. Now, most of our farmers have only one right-angle ditch from the main ditch, with which they run water into ditches running parallel with the main ditch, which is always laid out with the gen- eral lay of surface, so as to secure only fall required for running the water. Then the water is, of course, let out onto the land, by little gates or breaks in the lower bank, where required, and it never can get back into the ditch Great pains are being taken to get the ground level on the benches, or terraces, be tween these parallel ditches; this is accom- plished by putting strawy manure, or straw, across all places where the water is inclined to settle or run, and extending the same on the sides, as far as the water is inclined to out and run. The wash, from the higher ground, soon fills all these low spots, and sometimes, in a single season, quite an uneven field is made sufficiently level to save the bulk of the hard labor of in-igating. Giving the straw back to the land, with the addition of all the manure possible, returns a great income for the expenditure, notwithstanding the soil is composed from the rich wash of the mountain sides. The propriety of irrigating on Sunday is thought to be the most serious theological point on which the men and women of Colo- rado disagree, the men generally contending it is right to give the crops and soil drink whenever dry, while the ladies are superstitious about hoisting the gates on Sunday. RAILROAD HISTORY OF THE COUNTY. The first organized effiart to secure a rail- road was in the fall of 1867, when Kev. B. M. Adams, B. ¥. Rockafellow and Thomas Macon, were appointed a committee to make arrange- ments to confer with Col. A. Gr. Boone, then about to visit Washiagton to confer with his old-time friend, John D. Perry, President of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, relative to the advantages of the Arkansas Valley Trans-con- tinental Eoute. The result filled us with hope which never flagged, as Col. Boone, after sev- eral interviews, wrote: "The President is much interested in the advantages claimed by our route, and has promised to order engi- neers, on their return from surveys across the continent, to report on the route by Poncha Pass and Canon City." Gen. William J. Palmer and Col. W. H. Greenwood, Chief Engineers, were then on their way to the Pacific, and agreeably to President Perry's promise, he ordered a com- petent engineer, Maj. Calhoun, who, accom- panied by Maj. Head, in the spring of 1868, viewed out the route down the river, giving a most favorable report. In August, 1868, the citizens were electrified by the appearance, in their midst, of Lieut. Miller and a party of live railroad engineers, young Gus Wright, of Chicago, being one of their number. Their report, as to distances, grades and country, were very favorable to this route. Lieut! Miller himself was so favorably impressed. if i 9 ^ ' A< tiL 600 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. and so sure the route would be adopted, that he staked a claim at the forks of the South Arkansas, which, he said, would be the junc- tion of the railroad system of the mountain region, as subsequent facts proved his fore- sight. His report being favorable, C!ol. William H. Greenwood, the Chief of the Kansas Pacific Surveys to the Pacific, soon followed, and, ac- companied by George Eockafellow, made the first thorough examination of the Grand Caflon of the Arkansas, with a view to railroad building. Upon Col. Greenwood's return to St. Louis, he recommended and urged the managers of the Kansas Pacific to deflect at Ellsworth from their line located toward Denver, and cross to and adopt the Arkansas River Koute to its headwaters, and by San Luis Valley, intersect their thirty-fifth paral- lel route. His foresight mapped out a rail- road way that encompassed nearly all of the immense mineral-bearing territory of South Colorado. The San Juan country was en- shrouded with mystery. Charley Hall, and the few adventurous spirits at the salt-works, who had penetrated it to that date, after suf- fering dreadful hardships — being obliged to eat their pack-animals and buffalo skins — only waited for a more propitious time to arrive to verify their belief in the great richness of the country. California Gulch was then only known for its gold, and the quiet of Oro, and A. S. Weston's cozy hotel on the present site of Leadville, which was not disturbed by more than a score of freighters a month, and they on their way to H- A. W. Tabor's store. For even in that day he furnished grub-stakes to many an unlucky prospector, which custom no doubt led him to furnish Kische the grub- stake which has made him famous every- where. The Tabor of that day, as the Gov. Tabor of the present, was the leading spirit of the gulch, a shining example of persever- ance in selecting a point with "advantages," and sticking to it till it won. Doc Burts and Tom Wells' Gulch and placer mines. Bob Berry's tunnel and Capt. Breece's prospect holes on a thousand hills, were then all the talk; yet, a cursory trip to the mines and Tennessee Pass satisfied Col. Greenwood that there was great wealth in those mountains. and if the Kansas Pacific Bailroad had fol- lowed his advice, they would not to-day be the tail to Jay Gould's kite. The Kansas Pacific aimed for what they saw in sight — Denver — which was, commercially speaking, Colorado, as she held nearly the entire trade. About the time of its completion to Denver, Gen. William J. Palmer, Chief Engineer, and Col. William H. Greenwood, Assistant and Manager of construction, left the Kansas Pacific and organized the scheme of building the Denver & Eio Grande, with ex-Gov. A. C. Hunt and Gen. D. C. Dodge, in 1870, the first narrow-gauge railroad of any importance in America. The first-named gentlemen made private investments in Canon, and their land companies were extensive purchasers. Fre- mont County, thus assured "f the good faith of the railroad, voted them the first 150,000 railroad bonds that were offered the company. Through some technicality they were lost in the courts. Gen. Palmer, in the meantime, meet- ing with great success in raising money to build a road from Denver to Pueblo, and Coal Branch to Labran, which was completed October 30, 1872, conceived the plan of abandoning this as the main route, and to push for the city of Old Mexico by Santa Fe and El Paso. Seeing no hope through the Denver & Rio Grande, we, on January 6, 1873, held our first public meeting looking toward securing the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad, Speeches were made by Gov. Anson Rudd, Dr. J. L. Prentiss, W. R. Fowler and others, and a committee, consisting of B. F. Rockafellow, James Olel- land and Capt. B. F. Allen, were appointed to draw up resolutions. They reported the following, which was adopted without a dissenting voice: Whbbbas, our county abounds in superior iron, coal, oil and precious minerals, building material and mineral springs; possesses unrivaled water- power, agricultural and pastoral advantages, and is accessible to the mining regions of Lake and Park Counties; therefore be it Resolved, That we, the citizens of Fremont County, deem it of the greatest importance that we should seek an Eastern railroad connection, and that we cordially invite the Atchison & Topeka Railroad to investigate the advantages referred to in this preamble, etc., etc, Li speaking on the question, Hon. Thomas Macon said, " that no man with sense eaough ^7 f* HON JAMES B.ORMAN'S RESIDENCE ON THE MESA^SOUTH PUEBL0,COL0. RESIDENCE OF HON J. N.CARLILE.ontheMESA, SOUTH PUEBLO, COLO. ^1 ^k> HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 60b to cross the plains could oppose railroads, and particularly a road with so fair a record as the Atchison & Topeka," etc. Our efforts at that time not indicating the speedy Eastern connection sought, we were forced to make renewed efforts to get the Den- ver & Rio Grande road, which, having aban- doned this as their main lire, and cormnenoed construction south of Pueblo, demanded $100,- 000 in county bonds. These were voted in the latter part of 1873 by only two majority, after a very bitter canvass, which, for some time, caused religious and political divisions on the stand taken by citizens concerning the question of "Bonds" or " No Bonds." The County Commissioners refused to issue the bonds voted, making allegations to suit their sympathies and prejudices in the case. Finally, on demand of the Denver & Eio Grande Railroad, Canon City, August 6, 1874, voted $50,000 in bonds, and the citizens deeded property which the railroad sold for 125,000, when the eight miles, from Labran to Canon, graded by Col. Greenwood and his personal friends in the winter of 187'2-73, was completed to Canon City July 1, 1875. A settlement of these bonds was effected in the latter part of 1880. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad not joining with the town, at that time, in the heajfty support expected, the company giving such full evidence of abandonment of route westward, by advice of Engineer H. R. Hol- brook, a local railroad company, called the Canon City & Saguache Railroad, was organ- ized, but did not do the work required by law for the first year. On February 15, 1877, the Canon City & San Juan Railroad was organ- ized. They immediately commenced surveys and location, plats of which were filed with the Secretary of the Interior, as required by act of Congress. ^ The officers were Ebenezer T. Ailing, Pres- ident; B. F. Rockafellow, Secretary; James Clelland, Treasurer, and H. R. Holbrook, Chief Engineer. Mr. Ailing having decided to open a branch store at Ouray, resigned, when Frederick A. Eaynolds was elected in his place. After the Directors of the Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa F6 elected Col. William B. Strong, Vice President and General Man- ager, Western people became satisfied that vigorous measures would soon be put on foot, and they were not long left in doubt. The successful movement, ably seconded by Chief Engineer A. A. Robinson and his assistant, Col. W. R. Morley, which resulted in his gaining and holding possession of Raton Pass, the gateway to the best route to the Pacific Coast, secured only one of the points of advantage, with which he sought the devel- opment of the mightiest empire in the New World. He urged upon President Nickerson the necessity of securing the vast mineral country of Southwestern Colorado, by taking possession of its gateway — the Grand Canon of the Arkansas. Not receiving sufficient en- couragement, and feeling confident that valu- able time was being lost, he telegraphed President Thomas Nickerson "that prompt, decisive action, followed by vigorous measures, were necessary in that direction, or all would be lost," receiving the reply "to take such steps as he thought necessary, he at once started from headquarters at Topeka, west, knowing that it would not do for him to look Grand Caiionward in person. He met Chief Engineer A. A. Robinson at Raton Pass, where it was arranged that the work of taking possession of the Grand Canon should be en- trusted to Engineer H. R. Holbrook, who was in charge of the work commenced from La Junta to Trinidad, and a courier was sent to him with orders, while Col. Morley went by rail to relieve him. Chief Engineer J. A. McMurtrie, of the Den- ver & Rio Grande, evidently suspicious over the presence of Vice President and General Manager Strong, and the departure of Col. Morley, on account of their bold dash and successful occupancy of the Raton Pass, broke camp at 4 o'clock that day, and went out of that pass, with all their men and grading outfit, in great haste, the men saying and supposing they were going to the Alamosa line. Col. Strong, perceiving their action, telegraphed the Superintendent of the Denver & Rio Grande, at Pueblo, for an engine to bring him to his line, at Pueblo, a courtesy which would have been granted at any other time. He could not telegraph his parties, as the Denver & Rio Grande, he had reason to believe, had ^ a If^ ^^ '^ 604 HISTORY or FREMONT COUNTY. fallen in possession of their cipher. He was informed, by the Superintendent, that it was impossible ior the company to spare an engine, and his hands were seemingly tied. Not so, however, because Engineer Morley, having learned that Mr. Holbrook had not arrived, started by the first train, and being seen by the Denver & Kio Grande officials to start east on the train, they rested complacently. When twd miles below Rocky Ford, he learned that it was likely no train would pass west until 4 o'clock the next morning, on which Mr. Holbrook could possibly go, and, stopping the train, he jumped off and re- traced his steps to Eoeky Ford, where he took possession of the telegraph office and over- heard the news over the wires of the Denver & Rio Grande evacuation of the Raton Pass line. He comprehended the situation at once, and grounded the wires east, cutting off connec- tion with the Superintendent of that division, who, he feared, might question him too much. Then seeking an opportunity, when the Den- ver & Rio Grande operator was out of the Pueblo office, he ordered an engine sent him immediately, which, being complied with, by the prompt action of M. D. Thatcher, to whom he telegraphed to have a team in readiness for his use on his arrival, which, being done, at 3 o'clock on the morning of April 19, 1878, he started the famous race of horse flesh and wind against the iron horse and steam, arriv- ing at Canon a half an hour ahead of the Denver & Rio Grande Chief Engineer Mc- Murtrie's train, with 200 graders, under charge of J. B. Orman, that left at 4 A. M., only one hour behind Mr. Morley. Through the assistance of Hon. James Clelland, Director of the Canon City & San Juan Railroad, a party of men were hired to " mend a break in the big ditch," and rushed to the objective point. Col. Morley intended for work on the railroad line just above the large flume of the big ditch, at the mouth of the canon. Imag- ine the consternation among the Denver & Rio Grande officials when they learned that Assistant Engineer Morley was throwing dirt on the line they coveted. After placing his men at work, and seeing recruits, under Mr. James H. Peabody, com- ing, he saw in the distance the Denver & Rio Grande forces coming. Having arranged for men to be sent by wagons, to take possession of the upper end of the canon as well, he at once mounted, and, in a short time, was at Mr. Bradish's place. The men folks were gone away some miles, at their work. He offered the ladies f 10 each to go at work, an hour or two, with hoes, the only available tools, on the point of rocks. As they did not understand the situation, and evidently looked upon CoL Morley as a madman, they declined, at which juncture the old gentleman Bradish came up, and, accepting the offer, went to work, scratch- ing over the rocks with a hoe, under orders to tell any parties who might wish to interfere, "that he was in possession of and working for the Canon City & San Juan Railway, under orders from Engineer Morley, and for them to go to h — 1." About the second hour, Mr. Morley's ex- pected force arrived, when the old gentleman, not being informed, suspecting them of being Denver & Rio Grande men, straightened his bent back, carried out his orders to the letter, telling them emphatically "to go to h — 1, there was no room for them there." On the other side, it is related, that Chief Engineer McMurtrie and Assistant J. R. DeRemer, had advised and urged their company to commence work at this grand entrance way, months be- fore, the movement being precipitated by Col. Strong's action. This was the commencement of the Grand Canon war, that will enliven the annals of railroad history of Colorado, long after many generations of worn-out rail on that line, shall have been re-rolled and resurrected, to span the cycles that shall follow until the final " wreck of matter and crush of worlds." That evening. Col. William B. Strong was elected General Manager, and A. A. Robin- son, Esq., Chief Engineer of the Canon City & San Juan Railroad, and within one week these gentleman, by wagon transportation, from Pueblo, put 500 men at work in the Grand Canon, and within two weeks the Canon City & San Juan Railroad had between 700 and 800 men at work, and the Denver & Rio Grande Railway about 500. The Grand Canon war was only in name, 80 far as loss of life was concerned, as not a »J^ a If* liL, HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 605 single life was lost. From Shipka Pass no projectiles more e^losive than rocks were hurled, and Fort DeKemer was a safe position on account of its difficult access. This point, under the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 man agement, called Old Judge City, was an engi- neers' camp. Each side being determined to hold the position, it is a marvel that no clash of arms was resorted to. Finally, an injunc- tion was granted, by County Judge R. A. Bain, against the Denver & Bio Grande, which was sustained by Hon. Moses Hallett, of the United States District Court, and the alarm that was felt gradually subsided. The transfer of the war to the courts, re- sulted in a long struggle, which ended in a compromise, the road falling into the hands of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, be- fore which the Canon City & San Juan Com- pany was merged into the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley road. The actual expense of the conflict for the possession of this great highway, which nature has cut through the Rooky Mountains, coiild not have been less than half a million dollars. To Chief Engineer Robinson the honor be- longs, of completing a work in less than ten months from the letting of contracts, that was set down as a work of years. In many places it became necessary to blast ofl the rocks for hundreds of feet back, by suspend ing men by ropes, to make the first drill holes and gain a foothold. Few who ride in easy cars can comprehend the dizzy heights from whence came the solid, rocky road-bed over which they glide, and few will award the meed of praise to the railroad President Nick- erson, his Boston associates and Vice Presi- dent Col. "William B. Strong, now that it is owned and operated by the Denver & Rio Grande. There were exciting periods during the con- troversy when both sides were jubilant. For instance, April 21, 1879, the United States Supreme Court decided that, although the Denver & Rio Grande had prior right to the Grand Canon, that they must be regarded as accepting under act of March 3, 1875. conse- quently, the Canon City & San Juan should be secured in the use of the t3-rand Canon, in connection with them, on equitable terms. Flaming extras were issued, rockets were sent up, bonfires built, and everybody was jolly. The Denver & Rio Grande had secured the " prior right," and the Canon City &, San Juan the right to build. While the contest waxed hot in the Grand Canon, , Vice President and General Manager William B. Strong struck what would have been a death blow to the Denver & Rio Grande had it been followed up in their then feeble financial condition, by ordering the work commenced, paralleling their lines from Pueblo to Denver and Canon City. His company thought otherwise, and the famous thirty years' lease of the Denver & Rio GraAde road, executed October 19, 1 878, was made to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6, as a com- promise; the railroad was turned over to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 by Gen. Palmer, December 13, by a general order. The lease was more honored in the breach than in the observance, and resulted in bloodshed and the nearest approach to anarchy ever witnessed in (Colorado. Preparatory to a decision from Judge Bowens, the court being held in Cos- tilla, guns were distributed along the line, and when, about June 10, 1879, a writ, with a forged seal, a writ of injunction — in effect, one of restoration of the road to the Denver & Rio Grande, and restraining the employes of the road in possession from interference — was sent to Sheriffs in counties along the line, they promptly showed their sympathies by serving it, notwithstanding the evidence of its illegality, on the 11th, on station agents and Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 employes, and by placing a large number of armed men, called deputies, on duty, guarding the prop- erty, except that at Pueblo, and on Cucharas, fell easily into their hands; in effect, taking forced possession of the road. Ex-Gov. Hunt, with war-trappings about him, taking a train at Alamosa, said to have been loaded with from 150 to 200 armed men, came northward as far as Canon City, casting consternation in their wake, it was supposed, to take possession of the Grand Canon, by replacing the broken connection between the Denver & Rio Grande and the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley, at Canon, and pushing his train directly into the Grand Canon. He showed his discretion by returning, .A^^ '-^ 606 HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. after a short stay at the Cafion City depot, for subsequent developments showed that Col. Morley's men had an engine, throbbing with escaping steam from a weighted down throt- tle-valve, and panting for liberty, to dash into the expected invaders' iron horse, had it made the threatened advance, while a force, with brave hearts and steady nerves, were awaiting in tie-pile forts, the onslaught, while beyond, in the Grand Canon, connected with electric batteries, charcoal and saltpetre jpines would have given them a lesson on lawlessness that eternity would not have effaced. That little act of discretion saved all. The United States Mails were stopped; telegraphic dispatches could not be sent; in fact, the line below Coal Creek was destroyed, and a conspiracy formed for lynching the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 operator, which was thwarted by a gentleman well known in Canon. Judge Bowen ap- pointed Hanson A. Risley, Esq., Solicitor of the Denver & Bio Grande, Receiver. On the 25th of June, Judge Hallett decided the case was not properly under the jurisdiction of the State Courts, and issued a writ, ordering the road turned back to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 within three days, which was not done until July 16, after Chief Justice Miller, on July 14, ordered the discharge of Mr. Ris- ley, as Receiver, and enjoined him to restore the road to the Denver & Rio Grande, and, for them to obey the writ of June 25, and turn the road over to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6, which was done in very emphatic terms. Judge Hallett then ordered that each company be restrained from building a line to Lead- ville, and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 not to be disturbed in possession. Col. Lewis S. Ellsworth was appointed, by Judge Hal- lett, Receiver, in July, 1879, to protect the interests of both companies. The Pueblo & Arkansas Valley construction had been pushed through the Grand Canon and to the Texas Creek Canon, twenty-two miles west of Canon City, to a point where the Denver & Rio Grande claimed the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley had trespassed on their right of way and grading, and where Assist- ant Engineer J. R. DeRemer had established a dead-line and enfilading forts of stone on the mountain sides, where he had lain with a force of armed men for weeks and months. It is said that this position was mined for quite a distance, and ready to be sprung by electric batteries at any moment, and that here discre- tion on the other side came in play. At any rate, when DeRemer's bristling guns were made ready for action, and the leader gave the order to fire on I. Naramore's Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 construction party, June 17, if another tie was laid, the Santa F6 men, being un- armed, withdrew, under orders, and took to the court's evidence of the proceedings. The Santa F6 officials' orders were not to make armed resistance at any point, and this was steadfastly adhered to through all of the herd- ing about of their men in the Grand Canon, even after their camps had been broken up in the night-time, by armed men, and their opponents were reported in disguise of Ute Indians. These outrages were too much for the equanimity of as peacefully disposed gen- tlemen as Chief Engineer Robinson, and when the men finally were better prepared, he did not attempt to resurrect the dead order against it. After the Fort Dodge men came up. Col. Lamborn himself -suspicioned affairs were get- ting to a desperate climax, and accosted Col. Morley with : " Is it possible ? I am told you have armed men." Morley, in a cool manner, replied: " I understand Utes have appeared at the upper end of the canon, and you need not be afraid, Colonel, none of your men shall be harmed by the red skins. We'll protect all laboring men against Indians." A rich episode of the Denver & Rio Grande officials' preparation to take the road by force, is related. The arms for Canon were shipped by express, marked to Davidson, Silver Cliff, care of Dr. Craven, Canon City (who was not apprised of the shipment); there were several cases of guns, pistols and ammunition, marked "Hardware," and valued at only 150. The keen eyes of then- opponents fell upon the sus- picious-looking boxes of hardware, and affi- davits were made of their supposed sedi- tious character, uader which Judge Bain could not, without violating his oath of office, do otherwise than issue writs of attachment. When the cases got through the toils of law, the emergency for the use of their contents :>"*«? t#f ?-' ^ ^ ^^^^..^..-t.^^ ^- HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 607 ■^ i had passed, and they were ordered shipped back to Denver, but by some unaccountable legerdemain, rocks were found in place of about ninety guns and forty revolvers, with large quantities of ammunition. It is not known whether those are the guns that bris- tled beneath the tie-piles above the water- tank, on that great Sheriffs' restoration day in June, 1879, or whether they are stored in Vulcan's gun factory, below Pier No. 2, in Eiver Bridge. Certain it is that Gen. P — waxed exceedingly wrothy, and suit was or- dered commenced against parties for $4,000 damages, as only the $50 valued at on the shipment could be collected of the express company. No progress has been made in the suit, however, as it is said Gov. H — 's Ala- mosians killed off all the evidence at the Cucharas. Be that as it may, time has poured its guiac on the lacerated feelings of both sides, and the suits for contempt of injunc- tions, and other violations of the letter and spirit of the law, in those days of excitement and wild excess has lapsed into oblivion. When the United States Courts decided that the Denver & Eio Grande should have full possession of the Grand Canon upon pay- ment for the road constructed, and that the Santa P6 should hold the line from South Arkansas to Leadville, and a commission of the highest authority and ability, consisting of Gen. William Sooy Smith, of Chicago, Col. William E. Gray, Chief Engineer of the Cen- tral Pacific, and Andrew N. Kogers, Esq., Superintendent of the Bobtail Mine, of Gilpin County, were appointed to decide upon the cost of construction, and decide the points where not practicable for two lines to be con- structed, and made their elaborate report, which was followed by the celebrated Santa F6-Rio Grande Compromise and entire with- drawal from the courts. From this day, the Rio Grande entered upon a career of progress seldom equaled by any large corporation. It is not questioned, but the apparent defiance of law in not carrying out orders of the courts, and. keeping an armed force in Texas Creek Canon, to impede the progress of the Santa P6 into Pleasaat Valley, had its effect in intim- idating the Boston management, and in caus- ing them to yield points they must have ulti- -r* mately gained in the highest courts, and their share of the fatness of this precious mineral- bearing domain. The office-maneuvering was quite as bold, and had an equally demoraliz- ing eff^ect, for Gen. Palmer saw that the Santa F6 was not a unit in support of Vice Presi- dent Col. Strong's vigorous measures, and in turning the control of the Denver & Rio Grande virtually over to Jay Gould and the banker, Woreshoffer, gaining strength for the purposes of the contest, and then, by a com- bination with Woreshoffer, or other bankers, taking in a large share of Gould's stock, throvm by him on the market to break it, and secure more, thus leaving him so far in the minority as to be powerless, while they effected the famous thirty years' lease compromise, in which the Santa F6 were to cease work on lines to Denver & Canon City, and build to Leadville, bonds to that end being figured in the estimate for exchange of stocks, and sup- posed they were purchasing ten more than a majority of all the stock of the Denver & Rio Grande, the mistake in which, covering mill- ions or stock claimed to have been previously voted, but not issued; they realized, after get- ting a law passed, entitling the majority to the control of the books, the company's books of the Denver & Rio Grande's custodian, and all, disappeared. When they, by this time, had gained, financially, so that they were enabled to cover all of their transactions, by absolute purchase, effected in the great final compro- mise, which has thrown control of Southern Colorado almost exclusively into their hands. The people of the section of country in- terested were right in looking upon a road, the coupons of which had lapsed four pay- ments, as being bankrupt, and unable to give them the railroad facilities they sought; and, believing their officials were impeding for personal gain, the progress of other corpora- tions, able and anxious to build, and fearing, in their desperation shown in the struggle, that they might resort to a brokerage expedi- ent, by selling out filings and " prior rights of way," claimed as their exclusive right along all the streams, and up all the gulches leading to every possible mining camp that might ever prove valuable, in all this vast Southwestern mineral country, now that money has flown 9 \ '-^ 608 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. into their coffers in a ceaseless stream, and their schemes have crystallized into realities, by the completion of the lines to Leadville and beyond, to the Blue and toward the Grand, to Silver Cliff and the Gunnison, to Espanola (near Santa F6), as well as Durango and Wagon Wheel Gap, ete., the country is finding they are able and willing to furnish much-needed railroad facilities, and now applaud with "vive la Rio Grande! and go ahead, Gen. Palmer and Woreshoffer,i Gov. Hunt, Gen. Dodge & Co., we admire your pluck and vim, and wish you success with your net- work of rails entwining ours of ore-veins, in this our glorious realm! " It is specially gratifying, also, to see that the generalship that was shown throughout the controversy, as well as at the opportune moment, by Vice President and General Man- ager Col. William B. Strong, which would have given his company this same field, is now appreciated by his company, and that he has been elevated to the office of President of the only company that can hold independ- ent control of transportation across the conti- nent, as against the machinations of the syn- dicates of Gould. The Santa F6 completed a well-constructed line from Pueblo to Eock- vale, in October, 1880, which, at present, is to be used for coal business only, and the people of Fremont County cannot hope for competition from their lines for ten years, under a provision of the compromise, unless abrogated by parties concerned sooner. The Denver & Eio Grande completed their exten- sion, from Canon City to Silver Cliff, in May, 1881. This well-organized division force at Canon was soon after put to severe test, when, after Cole's Circus passed up, June 26, the large Grape Creek Bridge, seven miles from Canon, was burned, which it took weeks to construct, but was replaced in thirty-six hours, being a fair illustration of the energy shown on their lines throughout the country at the preseut time. The railroad, or in fact any history of this county, would not be complete without allu- sion to the sad fate of Col. William H. Green- wood who went to Old Mexico in the interest of the Rio Grande, or rather Palmer Sullivan roads, summer of 1880, on a salary of $10,- 000 per year. August 18, 1880, he was out on the line with his assistant engineer, Mr. Miller, and a servant. Separating from them at a baranca to examine country but little off the line near Eio Hondo, less than a mile from the baranca, but a short time having elapsed, they came upon his lifeless body, which was perforated by two bullets; his money, watch and papers undisturbed, but his horse and revolver, gone. Was on the road between Tlalnepantla and City of Mexico, only eighteen miles distant. The mysterious assassination caused a general feeling of regret. President Diaz exhibited much indignation and ordered the entire police of the district to apprehend and punish the perpetrators. The State Department of the Interior sent dispatches to all the Governors of the several States, and August 30, an offi- cial order to Governor of the State in which the crime was perpetrated. His funeral in City of Mexico was attended by all the lead- ing foreigners in the city ; the leading repre- sentative Mexicans, military, legal and official in the capital. The pall-bearers were repre- sentative Mexicans and Americans. Sixty coaches were in the procession that bore his remains to the American Cemetery. On the anniversary of the sad event in 1881, his grave was decorated by Mexican friends. Mrs. Eva D. Greenwood, his noble-hearted widow, received a memorial signed by forty of the leading Mexicans of the city, which is so beautifully worded we deem it proper to produce it in this connection, as follows: " When you return to your lonely home, tell those who will come to mourn with you, that if Mexico, as all other nations of earth, unfor- tunately has her criminals, she has also hon- est hearts that repel them, and authorities to prosecute them. Tell your friends that if there are vile men, as there are in all human societies, there are thousands of souls that worship the good and see a brother in every worthy man. And tell them, too, that amongst them not a single tear of the widow or orphan fails to find a friendly hand extended to wipe it away." Col. Greenwood was forty-eight years of age ; was native of Marlboro, N. H., and resided in Dummerston, Vermont; was one of the rr 'iL HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 609 most noted civil engineers in the country; was through the war of the rebellion, perform- ing great service as engineer of works requir- ing great skill, as well as dispatch. For which, and a constant round of successful and daring exploits, he was promoted to Colonel on the staff of the General commanding the Army of the Cumberland. In 1869, he purchased considerable property in and about Caiion City, and after his resign- ing the Chief Engineership and General Manager's office of the Denver & Kio Grande Eailway, in 1874, made Caiion his Colorado home. Latter part of 1878, he had charge of the construction of the line from Canon City to Leadville. Afterward built the Mc- Pherson Branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F(?. He started from here for Old Mexico in May. Mrs. Greenwood retains their property in Cafion, seeming to have imbued Col. Greenwood's spirit of hopeful- ness over the brilliant future for Canon City and the Arkansas Valley. CANON CITY. ' The Arkansas River debouches from the mountains about twenty-five miles from the eastern limits of the coimty, and enters into a beautiful crescent-shaped park — as it is familiarly called here — " sweeping off grace- fully to the north and south, its circumfer- ence crowding the foothills of the mountains, its horns bending to the east till they sink from view among the low hills which form the incipient features of the great plains. Caiion City, the capital of Fremont County, occupies a position at the apex or bow formed by the crescent. It is located on the north bank of the river, and elevated above it about thirty feet. " As we near Canon City tall masses of rock rise abruptly like great buttresses, or still more like the massive and forest-grown ruins of mighty rock-structures. Now the scene is simply indescribable in its grandeur and beauty, for upon three sides tower the bald, bold frowning masses of rock, and beyond mountain lines upon mountain line'i luitil the very heaven^ appear peopled with craggy heads set against the exquisitely tinted clouds that hang so lovingly above them. Almost in the very center of this amphitheater is Canon City, set as in a frame, and the eminences rise undulating now into cones, now into broad rotundity broken here and there by jagged cliffs and abrupt descents. " Canon City is well-named, for from it radi- ate many of the most remarkable of Colorado's canons — Grape Creek, by many pronounced the most beautiful, and the Arkansas, unhesi- tatingly accorded to be the grandest of fill. It is a clean and scrupulously neat place, much frequented by tourists and invalids, the center of the greatest coal regions in the State, the location of several important min- ing interests, and outfitting headquarters. Her vegetable, horticultural and floral gar- dens 'are a joy forever.' "* Caiion City is a remarkably well-built town; buildings mamly of brick, the newer ones — court house, schoolhouse, Masonic Temple, stores and residences — being fine specimens of architectural taste. The solid standing of her business firms, with their established reputation for honorable dealing, is attracting to them a large and growing wholesale trade with the dealers in the mountain towns throughout Southwestern Colorado. At the present time there are twenty-five stores car- rying quite heavy stocks, some of which have a trade of one-third of a million dollars annually, besides a large number of shops, representing most branches of trade, together with boot and shoe manufactory, one reduc- tion works and flouring-mill. CHURCHES IN CANON CITY. During the year 1864, there came a colony of perhaps twenty families from Iowa. They were all industrious and religious people, and members of the " Missionary Baptist " denom- ination. Divine worship was again revived with vigor. People of other denominations also came and settled with them. It was now the settled custom of the place to be religious.' Intemperance or profanity were seldom seen or heard on the street. No pub- lic saloons were to be found, and whatever of alcoholic drinking was done, must have been done in a private way, for the effects could not be seen on the streets. Pistols and bowie *Bv Maj. Pangltoni. -% ^ 610 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. knives were laid aside. Returning prosper- ity now began to dawn upon us. Farming began to be revived. Attention was directed to cattle raising, and the foundations were laid- for fortunes, which so many have realized in that business, and the whole country was dotted with growing herds. The town and county were fast recovering from the four or five years of paralysis occasioned by the desertion of the southern mines and the '' southern route," and the consequent deser- tion of Canon. About bhis time a great revival of religion broke out in the town and spread through the county. Revival meetings were held daily and every evening, until all the old professors were revived greatly, and the converts reached nearly to the number of one hundred. This was a delightful season. Christians met together with much cordiality and unity of feeling. It would have done the soul of almost any one good to have witnessed the handshakings that took place at some of those meetings. Christians of all denominations joined heartily in these exercises. This condition of things was hopeful for the coiinby. It was making a good commence- ment upon which to base the moral well- being of a community. Canon had already had a population that had mostly deserted her, and were scattered, as it were, " to the four winds of the earth." This was a second beginning. Some of the more substantial of the old settlers still remained and used their best efforts to establish a good condition of things. For years Canon was tauntingly called by her somewhat unrestrained neigh- boring towns, " a town of Christians " —a name which we would have been only too glad to have been worthy of. It is to be hoped that the influence of these times will never cease to be felt. The fact must never be forgotten, that a town or community is likely to con- tinue, as they. commence, either in the line of good or the line of evil. The first church formed in Canon City was the Methodist Episcopal, by Rev. Mi. John- son, of Kansas, in the winter of 1860-61. Its membership consisted of from eight or ten persons. Mining and military interests took away the entire membership and left the town without a church until the year 1864, when Rev. George Murray, whose memory will ever be revered by Canon City, and we might say by all Southern Colorado, engaged here in active church labor, and re-organized this church, placing it upon a solid basis. Through his efforts, a stone building was pur- chased and fitted up for a church. He was especially active in the great revival men- tioned elsewhere. Membership 108, September 1, 1881. Rev. E. C. Dodge, Pastor; Stewards — E. B. Ailing, W. R. Fowler, A. W. Lucas, E. R. Copps, F. L. Smith, W. M. Andrus, A. T. Richardson; Trustees — E. T. Ailing, Thomas Prescott, A. T. Richardson, J. S. Bowlby, W. R. Fowler, Henry Sartor, S. T. Ferrier; District Steward, E. B. Ailing; Recording Steward, W. M. Andrus. The present Pastor has served them faith- fully and well during the past two years, and under him the society completed and paid for, in 1880, a fine ^othic church edifice, costing $4,500. Is built of brick with stone trim- mings, and considered the finest church in this portion of the country. At the recent conference, August, 1881, Rev. Dodge has been returned to his work in Canon — this the third time, much to the joy of his con- gregation and the people. The Baptist Church was the next church organized in 1865 by Rev. B. M. Adams, who has organ- ized more churches in this State than any other Pastor in this denomination. He caused the erection of a church and purchase of a bell. A portion of his five years' pastorate, he received very light compensation, but on his farm the earth yielded bountifully her increase to his support, and his devoted Christian wife sustained his hand heroically in the church work, as well as in her matronly duties. Present membership, sixty. Pastor, Rev. E. H. Sawyer; Deacons — Samuel Bradbury, Joseph J. Phelps, George O. Baldwin; Trustees — Dr. J. L. Prentiss, J. J. Phelps, George O. Baldwin; Treasurer, J. L. Prentiss, M. D. ; Clerk, H. Clay Webster; Superintendent Sunday School, George O. Baldwin. Through the pastorate of the ener- getic and talented Dr. Sawyer, a period of great success is predicted for the Baptist Church. JV« !,^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 613 The Cumberland Presbyterian Churqli at Canon City was organized by Eev. B. F. Moore, in 1867, with Stephen Frazier and Dr. J. Blanchard as Ruling Elders. They built the largest church in Southern Colorado at that time, the means being mainly furnished by Hon. Lewis Jones and Rev. B. F. Moore. They have had one hundred members enrolled at different times, some of whom have died, the lamented Stephen Frazier being one of the niunber; others have changed their resi- dence. They have at present sixty mem- bers. Officers, September 1, 1881: Pastor, Rev. W. W. M. Barber; Elders— Gideon B. Fra- zier, Ira Lucas, Benjamin Curtis, George Kelso; I'rustees — George Phillips, Jesse Rader, J. B. Frazier; Clerk, Gideon B. Fra- zier. Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, was organized in 1872, through the instrumental- ity of Rt. Rev. George M. Randall, D. D., Missionary Bishop of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, etc. He was thbroughly imbued with the spirit of the Master he served. Some of the towns that were favored by his visitations, were tmable to furnish a suitable room in which to hold service; as an alterna- tive, he preached in bar-rooms, dining-rooms, or wherever he could gather a congregation. The democratic spirit displayed by him, always attracted the people, and gave him good congregations wherever he went, and he was the means of accomplishing much good. His thorough acquaintance with the country impressed him with the advantages of Canon City for location of schools of learning, and he arranged for ihe building of a church and school in one large building in Canon Cily, furnishing the plans, authorizing the work and subscribing liberally himself, as also the noble Rector, Rev. Samuel Edwards, and the citizens. The firm foundations and walls of a building one hundred feet long, with cut stone water table, sills and caps were mainly completed above the first story, door and window' casings in, and joice for fioors laid, when the calamity to the Diocese, in the death of the good Bishop came and the work was suspended. The avenues in the East through which Bishop Randall had been fort- unate in raising money for the work of the churches and schools in Colorado, being thus abruptly closed, resulted disastrously for the completion of the church-school in Southern Colorado, as his successor, Rt. Rev. John F. Spaulding, determined upon abandoning the work, and instead of comprehending the necessity for such a high school and appreciat- ing the sacrifices and efforts of the citizens, he attributed the wish for a church-school to mercenary motives, and in an article to the home and abroad Missionary paper of the church, of September 15, 1875, said: "A Bishop must deal with some sharp people in the West. He is very popular if he acts upon their views, and gives money to enhance the value of their lands. He is sure to incur their ill-will if he is independent of such influences." A portion of the church and school building was taken to build a neat gothic structure on lots they secured in a cen- tral locality for a chui'ch. They have a rec- tory attached, together valued at $4,500. The present membership of the church is' thirty- five. Rector, Rev. D. C. Pattee. Vestry — David Caird, Senior Warden; Eugene Weston, Junior Warden; James H. Peabody, Treas- urer; Capt. Ramsden, Secretary; Thomas S. Wells.' The First Presbyterian Church was organ- ized by Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D., in 1872, assisted by the faithful, earnest-hearted worker, J. K. Brewster, Esq., as Ruling Elder. Rev. Christian Vanderveen, from Grand Ha- ven, Mich., who located here for a time with his interesting family for his health, though of a different branch of the church, preached acceptably to them, and labored unceasingly to secure the completion of a comfortable church before leaving, to which is attached a large fine-toned bell. The church has been extremely fortunate in growth and in securing talented clergymen. Their present munber is eighty-six members. Pastor, Rev. Gtorge W. Partridge; Elders — John K. Brewster, John W. Mack, Adam D. Cooper; Trustees — Anson Eudd, Charles E. Waldo, 0. B. Myers, Henry Mack, Henry N. Beecher, J. M. Bradbury; Superintendent of Sunday School, Charles E. Waldo. '^ M'- t 2* 614 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. In the faU of 1862, Eev. E. M. Slaughter, a Presiding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from Colorado City, came to Canon for the purpose of organizing a church. He made an appointment to preach at night, thinking that all classes would have more leisure to attend at that hour. In this he was correct, for his congregation embraced the entire population of Ca5on. After looking it over, and being assured that all were present, he uttered a deep sigh, for the sum total cx)n- sisted of six persons, viz. : his son, who came with him, P. J. Burdette, A. Eudd, wife and son, and " Queen Adelaide," better known as the "old crazy woman." The reverend gentle- man concluded the foundation was too frail for the contemplated superstructure, and started for home the next day, discouraged and dis- heartened — leaving the six faithful ones to their fate, and liable, at any time, to be gob- bled up by " ould Clootie," if they should die unshriven. Eev. B. M. Adams and family settled on Oil Creek in the spring of 1865, and Col. Ebenezer Johnson made his permanent resi- dence there in June of the same year. They organized a Baptist Church and held regular Divine service, bringing in the settlers from long distances. Owing to the success of this church, the fame of which had reached the States, a large party of Baptist settlers, under the lead of the Warfords, located there. They were from Appanoose County, Iowa, and were called by Judge Hawkins and Mr. Bradley, and the Eastern settlers, "The Arapahoes." They were a company of " Kindred hearts, firmly knit By electric bands of Holy Writ." They remained but two seasons, when, for various reasons, they returned. The reason given by one of their number, Mrs. Davis, was, that she "wanted to get back to the States, where she could get hard-wood ashes to make soap! " Before the bhnd left, the church had a farewell meeting, and many feeling speeches were made by the brethren. Col. Johnson, in his characteristic manner, told them he " expected they would go back and become vagabonds on the face of the earth! " Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 15, A., F. & A M., was institutea under a dispensation granted by Henry M. Teller, M. W. G. Mas- ter r.f Colorado, dated November 8, 1867, naming G. B. Frazier, W. M ; B. F. Smith, S. W., and Stephen Frazier, J. W. A " char- ter" as a regular constituted lodge of Masons was granted by the Grand Lodge of the Ter- itory, held at Central City, Colo., on Octo- ber 7, 1868. Henry M. Teller, M. W. G. M., and E. C. Parmelee, G. Secretary. The char- ter members were G. B. Frazier, B. F. Smith, Stephen Frazier, W. H McClure, W. E. Fowler, C. Pauls, E. J. Frazier, H H Marsh, B. F. Eockafellow, G. W. Depp, H M. Bur- roughs, S. M Cox, M M Craig. J. H Depp, George T. Phillips, and W. H Thompson. The first officers elected were: G. B. Frazier, W. M. ; B. F. Smith, S. W. ; S. Frazier, J. W.; W. H McClure, Treasurer; S. M. Cox, Sec- retary; E. J. Frazier. S. D. ; Charles Pauls, J. D.; S. D. Webster, S. S.: W. H Thomp- son, J. S., and d. W. Depp, Tiler. Of the charter members two have died, three have moved from the State, two have been dropped from membership, and Ihe others all maintain their relations to the Lodge. From the report of September 1, 1881, we have the number of members, seventy- two; Initiated during year, five; passed during year, four; raised during year, two; admitted during year, six; re-instated during year, two; suspended during year, one; removed from jurisdiction during year, three. The officers for 1881 are: James H Pea- body (Past Master), W. M.; Benjamin F. Shaffer (Past Master), S. W.; A E. Eudolph (Past Master), J. W. ; James Clelland, Treas- urer; H Clay "Webster, Secretary; Gideon B. Friizier (Past Master), S. D. ; John W. John- son, J. D. ; J. M. Bradbury, S; S. ; E. J. Fra- zier, J. S. ; John Gravestock, Tiler. The utmost harmony prevails, and fraternal feeling abounds. Stated communications, first and third Saturdays each month. They are now, September, 1881, building a Ma- sonic Temple. ODD FELLOWS. Canon City Lodge, No. 7, I. O. O. F., was the first lodge of the I. O. O. F. that was ;r^ ^^ ) ^ HISTOBY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 615 instituted soutli of the Divide. Of the older lodges in Colorado, two were in Denver, three in Gilpin County, at Central, Black Hawk, and Nevadaville, and one was in Georgetown. Canon City Lodge was instituted November 10, 1868, with E. J. Frazier, G. B. Frazier, S. D. Webster, B. F. Smith and B. F. Moore as charter members, by B. F. Gloyd, P. G., from Indiana. On the night of institution W. A. Helm, John M. Espy and Ambrose Flouraey were admitted as members, thus giving the new lodge eight members. R. J. Frazier and W. A. Helm are the only ones of the eight that are now in active membership. The first elective ofiicers of the lodge were: B. F. Smith, N. G. ; B. F. Moore, V. G. ; W. A. Helm, Secretary; A. Floumoy, Treasurer. In March, 1869, O. H. P. Baxter, Eugene Weston, Henry Hiney, Jacob Wildeboor and E. P. Graves were admitted to membership and granted cards for the purpose of starting a lodge in Pueblo. Including these, Canon City Lodge has had 108 different members. Its present membership, forty-six, is the larg- est it has ever had. The present officers are: Charles W. Sharp, N. G.; Ernst Sell, V. G.; Charles E. Waldo, Secretary, and E. Jeske, Treasurer. The Past Grands now in membership are: S. H. Boyd, James Clelland, M. M. Engleman, E. J. Frazier, W. A. Helm, E. Jeske, E. A. Johnson, B. F. Montgomery, George T. Phillips, L. C. Thompson, S. V. Turner, Charles E. Waldo and Albert AValter, the last named of whom is representative elect to the Grand Lodge of Colorado. E. J. Fra- zier, W. A. Helm and Charles E. Waldo have held office in the Grand Lodge, and the latter is now a prominent candidate for the office of Grand Master of the State. Grand Canon Encampment, No. 18, was instituted on July 29, 1881, by Charles E. Waldo, M. W. Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Colorado, in person. The charter members and first officers were: E. Jeske, C. P.; L. C. Thompson, H. P.; C. W. Sharp, S. W.; W. A. Helm, Treasurer; S. H. Boyd, J. W.; E. A. Johnson, G.; E. J. Fra- zier, Ist W., and E. H Downer, I. S. A. Page, Ernst Sell and A. Walter were received into membership on the night of institution and two members have since been received, giving a membership of thirteen at present. UNITED WORKMEN. Eoyal Gorge Lodge, No. 7. A. O. TJ. W., was instituted June 25, A. D., 1881. The lodge numbers twenty-four members. The officers of the present term and elected at the institution are as follows: T. M. Eobinson. P. M. W. ; Fred Bandholt, M. W. ; C. D. Sut- liff, F.; Charles W. Sharp, Recorder; J. A. Sterling, Overseer; John Bandholt, Finan- cier; G. O. Dewoody, G. ; Julius Euf, Ee- ceiver; F. Hess, L G.; E. W. Hively, O. G; Trustees — S. E. McKesseck, Julius Euf, Fred Bandholt. CITY OmCEBS. Canon City was incorporated April 1, 1872. Its present officers are: Mayor, J. F. Campbell; Eecorder and Treasurer, Fred H. Skeele; Board of Trustees, E. S. Lewis, S. T. Ferrier, T. M. Harding and J. T. Ashby; Marshal, E. J. Frazier; Justices of the Peace, J. J. Miner and George W. Clelland. The town is clear of debt. Warrants have risen from 60 cents to 98 in the last four years. BOAED OP TEADE. Canon City organized a Board of Trade in 1879, which is found to be an excellent medium for working up schemes for the public good. In July and August, 1879, ttie confi dence men, gamblers and prostitutes were carrying matters with a high hand here, when the law and order element held secret sessions and resolved on a course of the most effective nature. Their perfect organization and determination became known, and it did not become necessary to carry their plans into execution, neither has it been since. The better element holds control in Canon, and proposes to for the future. The people of Canon are proud of their churches, their schools, their press, their so- sieties, the management of their ' town and county officials, and their town itself, in its past success and promising future. SCHOOL BOARD. The Canon City School Board for the years 1879, 1880 and 1881 are as follows: ^' "©fv l^ 616 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. Charles E. Waldo, President; Mrs. M. M. Sheets, Secretary; John Wilson, Treasurer. Principal of Canon City Graded School, W. M. Andrus, with four assistants. The present School Board are entitled to a perpetual record, of rememberance by this people for the work in the cause of education they have accomplished for them. Thej labored successfully to secure the nec- essary bonds for the purpose of building the commodious schoolhouse since erected. They negotiated the bonds favorably for the time, selected a very perfect plan, carried it out honestly and economically when labor and material were cheap. The gentlemen on the board honorably and franMy ascribe to Mrs. M. M. Sheef.s' advice and judgment, in a great degree, the favorable results arrived at. The history of this district is given in its order, with other districts in the county. The Prin- cipal, Prof. Andrus, is a polished scholar of experience in the exalted profession of teach- ing, and fully deserves the success his efforts are met with. Canon City has a building and school that is her constant pride and boast. WATER WOEKS. On the 17th day of December, 1879, a joint stock company was organized in Canon City for the purpose of constructing water works in this city, representing a capital of $50,000. The following gentlemen composed the stockholders: James Clelland, James H. Peabody, George R. Shaeffer, Ira Mulock, August. Heckscher, Willbur K. Johnson, David Caird and O. G. Stanley. Immediately after the x>rganization of the company, the stock was put upon the market and advertised for sale. Messrs. Caird and Heckscher were not original stockholders, but were the only pur- chasers of stock, and there seemed . to be no interest or confidence manifested in the enter- prise, and, after offering the stock, the origina- tors of the scheme issued bonds and put them upon the market, but the effort to sell bonds proved as fruitless as the effort to sell the stocks, $2,000 being the total amount sold, Gould & Ostrande', of St. Louis, being the purchasers. The company, failing' in their efforts to sell bonds or stock, determined to push the enterprise forward, and went down into their own pockets, and the result of their enterprise is an evidence of their judgment and foresight, as the stock to-day finds bidders at $2 for |1, but holders refuse to sell them at these figures. The citizens of Cafion City are under lasting obligations to the gentle- men who originated and carried forward an enterprise, the value and benefit of which can- not be estimated. The company's indebted- ness is less than $10,000. After thorough investigation of the merits of the different pumps and machinery, the Knowel pump and Stowell turbine wheel were adopted, and ex- periments have proven them to be eminently successful and satisfactory. The company sent W. K. Johnson to Boston with Jesse Peabody, of the S to well Tiu-bine Wheel Company, and the draftsman of the Knowel Pump Company, who got up the drafts and plans for the ma- chinery and gearing connecting the Knowel pumps with two of the Stowel wheels. The pumps and wheels came, Mr. Jesse Peabody accompanying them, and superintending the setting of them up. Mr. David Caird has acted as Superintendent for the company from the first to the present time, with entire satisfac- tion to all persons concerned. The wheels, pump and machinery weigh about thirty tons, and occupy a space of but twelve by twenty- four feet. The company has excavated a ditch for the water 1,250 feet long by 6 feet wide at the bottom and 9 at the top, which carries water from the Arkansas River to the wheels; a tail ditch from the wheels back to the river, one- fourth of a mile along, seven feet wide and ten feet deep. The well to furnish the supply of water is 25 feet wide by 100 feet long, and is 10 feet below the water in the river. It will be walled up and roofed over when completed. The water percolates through the ground from the river into the well. It is thence drawn from the well by the pumps and forced through an eight-inch main a dis- tance of about 2,600 feet upon the "hog-back," where the company propose to excavate a reservoir 39 feet wide by 6 feet deep, and 1,000 feet long, which will also be roofed over. The reservoir is 150 feet higher than the surface of the ground at the McClure ^r PUBLIC SCHOOL, CANON CITY, COLO. FREMONT-COUNTY COURT HOUSE, CAN ON CITY, COLO. ^ VL HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 617 House. The company will furnish water lor fifteen hydrants for the town at |75 each per year; also a public fountain on Main street, and water for the public schoolhouse, free of charge; also water for the penitentiary for $400 per year. Water rates are about the same as is charged in Denver. The company has bought the Fickes property on the bar south of town, comprising about twenty acres. The expense of running the works, including everything, will be about $1,300 per year. In most of the towns in Colorado that have con- structed water works, bonds have been issued by the town, and a large bonded indebtedness burdens the corporations, upon which the citi- zens must pay an annuity for a long series of years. This is purely a private enterprise, and the people have not saddled an indebted- ness upon themselves that will be a burden for years to come. Everybody can enjoy the blessings and benefits of an abundance of pure water within their household, for a small consideration, or continue to get their supply as of yore. " You pay your money and take your choice." In any event, property owners have been largely benefited by the enterprise, as real estate has advanced, within the limits of the mains, fully 25 per cent. There will be an extension of mains at an early date, the present length of which is five miles. The expense of running the water works of Pueblo and Colorado Springs is nearly twenty times as great in each city as is incurred in our city. The citizens of our flourishing and beautiful city have great reason to rejoice over the suc- cess of one of their great enterprises. FIRE DBPABTMENT. The Canon City Fire Department was or- ganized January 27, 1879, and consisted of one hook and ladder company, with twenty members. In November, 1880, the F. A. Reynolds Hose Company No. 1 was orgau- ized, and joined the department with thirteen men. Present report of department: Relief Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 — George T. Conway, Foreman; Ike Stone, First Assistant; J. F. Rodgers, Second Assistant; and twenty-three men. F. A. Raynolds Hose Company No. 1 — S. T. Ferrier, Foreman; J. A.. Hawker, First As- , Second Assistant; and sistant; R. A. Johnson, twenty men. James H.Peabody, Chief; Robert S. Lewis, Assistant Chief. The people are justly proud of their effect- ive fire department, as well as of their hand- some appearance in uniform. NOTABLE BDILDINGS. July 9, 1881, was a day in Canon City that is indelibly impressed upon all the people of our county who were so fortunate as to be present. It was the laying of the comer- stone of two of the finest edifices yet erected in the county — the court house, and a Masonic temple — by the Masonic order, assisted by other orders, the band and firemen in regalia and uniforms, and county and bity officials, with citizens en masse. The present Board of County Commissioners — Edwin Lobach, Louis Muehlbach and Joseph J. Phelps — deserve greater respect than is usually paid to public servants. They were foremost in persuading the people that the best thing to do was to vote bonds and build a court house. "When they were voted, they negotiated them at above par, and selected a plan approved by every one for its symmetrical appearance and stability. The people's money has been faith- fully appropriated, and they are more than satisfied — they are exceedingly well pleased. COLORADO COLLEGIATE AND MILITARY INSTITUTE. Board of Trustees, 1881— F. A. Raynolds, President; D. Or. Peabody, Vice President; W. R. Fowler, Secretary; J. F. Campbell, Treasurer; E. H. Sawyer, J. L. Prentiss, A. Rudd, Samuel Bradbury, J. J. Phelps. Collegiate Committee —E. T. Ailing, Esq., Mrs. M. M. Sheetz, G. O. Baldwin, Reuben Jeffries, D. D., J. Fletcher, D. D., J. B. Hen nesly, E. C. Brooks, S. Cornelius, D. D., M. B. Thatcher, L. F. Cornwell, E. P. Stevens, J. R. Palmer, D. D. Military Committee — Gov. W. F. Pitkin, Capt. B. F. Rockafellow, Hon, J. B. Chaffee, Hon J. B. Belford, Capt. J. J. Lambert, Judge R. A. Bain, Hon. N. P. Hill, Gen. D. J. Cook, Hon. H M. Teller, Col. W. B. Felton, Judge W. Colbum. Corps of Instruction — Collegiate Staff — E. ^ a K ^ 618 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.' H. Sawyer, M. A., D. D., President, Professor of Moral and Mental Science, and Instructor in Ancient Languages; ,* Professor of Military Science and Tactics and Instructer in Civil Engineering; H. S. "Westgate, M. A., Professor of Mathematics and Instructor in Physical Science; Franls: Prentiss, B. L., Pro- fessor of History, Geography and Civil Gov- ernment; J. M. Willard, M A., Professor of Modern Languages and Assistant in Greek and Latin; C. Uttermoehlen, B. A., B. M., Pro- fessor of Vocal, Instrumental and Band Music. ' Military Staff— Col. E. H. Sawyer, Com- mandant; ,f Adjutant; Eev. M. Dodge, B. D., Chaplain; T. H. Craven, M. D., Sur- geon; Samuel Bradbury, Quartermaster and Commissary; Maj. J. F. Campbell, Treas- urer and Paymaster; , Aids-de-Camp. OTHER TOWNS. Florence was platted in the spring of 1872, being the center of a rich farming neighbor- hood, and point of junction of Coal Branch of Denver & Eio Grande Eailroad. It has a post office, Adams express office, and had at one time a lodge of Patrons of Husbandry. Has a large district schoolhouse. Labran, one-half mile east, was platted about the same time, but afterward vacated. Coal Creek — The settlement was commenced in 1871; to this date, has been the center of operations of the C. C. I. Co. in Canon City Coal Field; had a population of 500 at the census of 1880; is irregularly laid out — exactly as Boston was — on the cattle trails; has several stores, carrying large stocks ; plenty of saloons, drug store, bakery, post office, ex- press office, etc., and has a good trade with the country. Rockvale, three-fourths of a mile west, on Oak Creek, is the terminus of the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley Railroad, and to be the center of operations of the Caiion City Coal Company; plat will be recorded September 1; has now about one hundred inhabitants. Yorkville, Galena, Wetmore, Cotopaxi and Palmer are the leading centers for rich min- ing camps. *It is expected that this chair will be filled by an < fflcer detailed from the regular army. fOificer detailed from the United Slates Army. COLORADO STATE PENITENTI AET. * The Colorado State Penitentiary was first open for the reception of convicts on the 1st of June, 1881, with M. A. Shaffenburg as Warden, and Albert Walters, J. Holt Rice and M. Duelaer as guards. At that time, there was one cell building, containing forty-two cells. In April, 1874, the institution was turned over to the Territory of Colorado by the United States Government. The institu- tion was of very slow growth up to 1877, at that time consisting of the cell building be- fore mentioned, and two or three other small buildings. Since the spring, of 1877, its growth, in substantial p^ermanent improve- ments, has been rapid, and it is now assuming the proportions and appointments of first-class institutions of like character in the older States. The State now owns thirty-six acres of land for penitentiary purpose, upon which is a sandstone and lime quarry. About five acres are inclosed by a stone wall twenty feet high and four feet thick. There are two cell build- ings, one 170 feet by 44 feet, and 28 feet high, containing forty-two double cells and 120 single cells. The other is 70 feet by 44 feet, and 28 feet high, containing forty-eight cells. The boot and shoe shop is 150 feet long, 40 feet wide and 42 feet high. The office building at the front entrance is a two- story stone building, 44x44 feet. The din-, ing-room, kitchen, blacksmith-shop, carpenter- shop and bath and wash room, are all in a long, narrow building, 350 feet long and 20 feet wide. The boiler house is 40x28 feet, and contains two large boilers for supplying the institution with steam for heating and cooking purposes, and a boiler for supplying kitchen, bath and wash rooms with hot water. All of these buildings, except the boiler build- ing, are substantial stone buildings, walls two feeb thick and well put up. The boiler build- ing is built of brick. The institution has the benefit of the excellent water works of Canon City. The industries carried on at the institution are the manufacture of boots and shoes by the Colorado Boot and Shoe Company (they employ forty convicts) ; the burning of lime, *Furnibhed by Hon. W. B. Felton. :^ 'A HISTORY OF TREMONT COUNTY. 619 which is shipped to all parts of the State; quarrying and cutting stone, which is used upon permanent improvements of the institu- tion and for sale; and, during the sumnier seasons, brick are manufactured. Between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 bricks will be made by convict labor during this summer (1881). About three thousand bush- els of lime are burned per week. Anson Eudd, of Canon City, was the first Territorial Warden, and was followed by David Prosser and B. P. Allen. M. N. Megnie was the first Warden ap- pointed under the State Government, having been appointed in April, 1877. In February, 1879, he was re-appointed. In December, 1880, he resigned, and W. B. Pelton, one of the Conmaissioners, was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy, and in February, 1881, was appointed for two years. Under the State Government, there is a board of three Commissioners, who have a general superintendence of the affairs of the prison. The first board was appointed in the spring of 1874, and consisted of B. H. Eaton, Joseph T. Boyd and John B. Eice. In February, 1876, O. H. P. Baxter was appointed in place of John B. Eice. In February, 1879, D. H. Nichols and W. B. Felton were appointed in place of B. R Eaton and Joseph T. Boyd. In April, 1880, O. H. P. Baxter resigned, and W. S. McCutcheon was appointed in his place. In December, W. B. Felton was appointed Warden, and resigned his position as Com- missioner, and Frank A. Taylor was appointed in his place. The present officers are as fol- lows: Commissioners, W. S. McCutcheon, President of the Board; D. H. Nichols, Sec- retary; and Frank A. Taylor, Warden; W. B. Felten, Deputy Warden; M. Dueber, Phys- ician; J. W. Dawson. There are (August 20, 1881) twenty-nine guards and 221 convicts, all males. The health of the institution has been and is better than that of any like insti- tution in the country. POST OFFICES. Ten years ago, there were but two post of- fices in the county. Now, the number is em- braced in the following list. At most places are stores, and centers of considerable local trade: Canon City, Colo., Coal Creek, Cotopaxi, Currant Creek, Florence, Galena, Glendale, Wetmore (old). Greenwood, Wellsville, Palmer, Hayden Creek, Parkdale, Pleasant Valley, Texas Creek, Toof, Yorkville, Fairy, Fidler, Ford, Juniper. Names of Postmasters who have filled the office in Cation City: M. G. Pratt, to 1863; J. A. Draper, 1863 and 1864; Anson Eudd, W. E. Fowler, 1864 to 1865; Samuel M. Cox, 1865 to 1869; B. F. Eockafellow, 1869 to 1879; A. D. Cooper, present incumbent. THE COLORADO PIONEER ASSOCIATION. The Colorado Pioneer Association of Fre- mont County was formed in March, 1881; object, as expressed, " to cultivate social inter- course, form a more perfect union among its members, and create a fund for charitable pur- poses in their behalf; to collect and preserve information connected with the older settle- ment, and subsequent history of the country, and to perpetuate the memory of those whose sagacity, energy and enterprise induced them to settle in the wilderness and become the founders of a new State. Signed Anson Eudd, President; J. H. Terry, Vice President; Eu- gene Weston, Secretary, and W. A. Helm, Treasurer; and the following members, all of whom came to Colorado on or before 1860: Paul S. Eoss, William Shepherd, Eeuben J. Frazier, W. H. Emery, John A. Kounts, Thomas S. Wells, G. W. Burdette, William Cooper, Jesse Frazer, L. U. Coffman, A. D. Cooper, Edward Pauls, H. H. DeMary, J. J. Phelps, C. P. Wilson, J. A Toof, James Lewis. As many more will be present and sign at the next meeting." PERSONAL MENTION, INCIDENTS, ETC. When Hon. James A. McCandless', with seven families, with ox teams outfitted at Kansas City April 1, 1864, it was then no more pretentious than some of our foothill cities DOW. They fell in company with seven- ty-five persons, having fifty-eight wagons, at Cow Creek, about fifty miles east of Great Bend; traveled with them to Fort Lamed, where their families stopped, owing to a large force of Indians passing them the day pre- V ^1 tiL 620 HISTOBY or FEEMONT COUNTY. vious. The fifty-eight wagons, loaded with merchandise for Fort • Sumner, N. M., went on, and next morning were attacked by about one thousand Arapahoes and Cheyennes, and all their arms, money, goods and stock stolen, and wagons burned, but none were killed, all getting back to the fort that night. In a week, Mr. McCandless and party had a chance to start out with a detachment of soldiers bound for Fort Lyon. Their oxen seemed to realize they were in a region of hostiles, and kept up with the mules for two days, finally seceding from the long- eared party, not meet- ing with any trouble vmtil they reached Sand Creek, about the time of the Cherry Creek flood. The Arkansas Eiver was then three miles wide, and they turned off to the hills up Sand Creek and ran into a camp ot 500 Arapahoes and Cheyennes, the same afterward engaged in the Chivington unpleasantness in the fall, and about twenty -five miles above, having drawn rations from the post — old Fort Lyon — while their braves were out commit- ting depredations. However, their party were with the Indians two weeks unmolested, and furnished antelope meat in exchange for am- munition to shoot the game with. They here learned how to cross quicksand streams. Mr. !^oggs, who now lives on Purgatoire, came to their camp with a mule outfit, and, fearing to trust the treacherous Indian character, pro- posed to Mr. McCandless to give him $25 and insure safety of his oxen if he would pack the quicksand for them in the crossing. He con- sented, and, stringing his oxen out, straddled the lead near ox, and pressed forward. Under and out they plunged, in the seething of water, mud and quicksand. He said he thought Boggs was in for it sure on the insurance money. They noticed the teams that followed did better and, as they struggled through, concluded to try again. Working better each time, they kept crossing and re-crossing until it became sufficiently hard so that the mule train safely crossed. They then bade the Indians good-bye and crossed their own outfit. On arriving at the Fountain, they found that in the same swollen condition. They hired some Mexicans, for 110, to get on each side of the oxen and herd them across. They gave such unearthly gibberish and yells in Mexican that it nearly frightened their American oxen to death, and, notwithstand- ing the water went over the wagon boxes, they were snaked through in safety. Pueblo then had about a dozen houses. John A. Thatcher had the only store, in which goods were considered cheap for the times. For instance, they paid him $2.50 for a gallon tin pail. On the way up to Caflon City, Mc- Candless says he shot his first jack rabbit, which, as all jack rabbits have done before and since, went off on three legs, with pil- grims in pursuit, expecting to pick up the game next jump; but, oh, no! that is not the intention of that kind of an eared animal. He sayp he has always had a spite against them since, as he followed the rabbit for miles. Arriving at Canon City, they found J. A. Draper, Anson Rudd and Felix Burdette in sole possession. He took possession of Wolfe Londoner's cabin, as they learned he was not one of the " hostiles," but as peaceful as mirthful. In August, he went to Lake Creek and went to work for Judge W. B. Felton (present Warden of the Penitentiary) and his partner, Tippin, working the bank diggings between Lake Creek and Granite. In 1867, he returned to North Carolina and Tennessee, and in the fall brought out forty-five of his relatives. He then lived at the Big Spring ranch at Twelve Mile Ford, since Bridge, since Parkdale Station. In March, 1868, he took up the first ranch taken in Wet Mountain Valley, which he afterward gave to William Voris, and is now owned by him. Mr. Mc- Candless did not consider it was worth hold- ing, as the valley was full of Indians. Not a single claim was taken on Texas Creek. His first visit to the valley was with a party of ten, who, getting separated, he got lost, there being no good trails, and had a serious time. The following fall, 1869, he and Ral Cooper and Kurg Ellington went on a bear hunt in the Wet Mountain Valley, McCandless on horseback jud they on foot He came on a she. grizzly with two cubs, chasing them and killing one with his pistol. The old bear chased him furiously, and then would run back after her cubs, when she would ixnm after him again and again. They let her alonel When Mr. J. J. Phelps crossed the plains, ^l ;^ ^f !l^ HISTORY or FREMONT COUNTY. e33 in April, 1865, he was inducted to the noble- ness of the Indian character by seeing the lifeless form of Mr. Storey, an old settler, just as he came to his ranch, on Wood Eiver, twelve miles east of Fort Kearney, on the north side. Buffalo had been crossing the river in great numbers, and Mr. Storey's two sons and sons-in-law went out on each side of the river and lay under the edge of the river bank, with guns cocked, and waited for what they supposed to be a band of buffalo coming. It proved to be half a dozen Indians on ponies. Seeing the boys had the drop on them if they wished to use it, they threw up their hands in token of surrender, saying " How ? " in a quiet way. The old gentleman was between them and the house, on bottoms, with his team. After getting well away from the boys, the Indians made directly for the old gentle- man, killing and sealping him within sight of them, and cutting his team loose and making their escape before they could get near enough to stop the fiends in their terrible work. Mr. Joseph Lamb, who resides on Texas (,'reek, came from Illinois, in 1859, to Denver, and thence to Central, seven days after the discovery of Gregory. He came to Canon in 1860, and was in the Sand Creek fight. In 1864, in company with Deputy United States Marshal Dr. D. E. Hewitt, and George De- Mary, in pursuit of horse-thieves, they went from Mayols, now Riverside, to near Conejos, without seeing a settler. After five days' pur- suit, they came on a band of three thieves, who had stolen ten horses from Colorado Gulch. They captured one of the thieves and eight of the horses, two thieves with horses making good their escape. In 1863, Nantoosfe's band of thirty Ute warriors came by his mining camp in Union Gulch, on return from a war trip on the Laramie Plains, where they had stolen Bouvie's herd of ponies, and the soldiers had pursued them into Middle Park, where the Utes gave up the chase and let the ponies go. They were very mad over their being chased. They demanded flour from Mr. Lamb. He offered Nantoose what he felt he could spare, which was indignantly refused, he demanding " Sack ! " He then made a speech to his warriors in Indian, then said in English to them, " Only two Americanos," holding up his fingers; "shoot um ! " Mr. Lamb grabbed his six-shooter and bowie knife from under a pillow, and cocked his gun, eying the chief all the time, and they kept that pos- ition for fully fifteen minutes, Mr. Lamb being determined to sell his life dearly if the chief made the least motion to carry out his threat. The death-like stillness was finally broken by the chief patting his breast, saying, " Me heap good Indian; Americano heap juano; Indian hungry; flour, give me some." Mr. Lamb said, "Yes, three cups." Chief answered, " Yes, three cups wano." Mr. Lamb, John D. Hawkins and Mont Hill were the first settlers on Texas Creek, in 1869. Mr. Lamb is the most successful hunter in the county. He has been known to kill 150 deer during the hunting season, which is the latter part of fall and ewly winter, and as high as nine in twenty-four hours; generally gets about fifty deer in a season. In 1860, the first season he lived near Canon, he killed seven deer and a bear one week, the bear having nearly eaten up one of his deer he had left hanging to a tree. He tells a good story of the valor of old gentleman Matthew Rule, well known to our people as the Hardshell Baptist preacher. It was in the spring of 1861, when the Utes were out toward Beaver, and quite overbear- ing. He happened to stop at the house of a lady on Eight Mile, whose husband was absent, and she informed him how the In- dians were acting. Scarcely had she finished the narrative when she? saw a large band com- ing over the hill in th6 direction of her house. Mr. Rule grabbed an ax-helve he saw near by, and stepped behind the door to await events. The Indians insisted on food for all their band. She protested she did not have it in the house, wlien they proceeded to take pos- session. At this juncture, the old gentleman jumped out from his hiding-place, and, welt- ing them to right and left, drove the last In- dian from the premises, and they never mo- lested that ranch in the future, and whenever any of them met him, they treated him with the utmost deference. DIGRESSION VIEWS ON INDIAN QUESTION. It seems to be the natural conclusion for Eastern people far removed from barbarous -f ^!=^ 624 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. savages that Indians must be noble, they say, communing with nature, in her grandest heights and deepest recesses, and most terrible moods. They forget the depravity of human nature — how uncurbed license and low asso- ciations lead downward toward beastliness always, and that, in their great cenlprs of civ- ilization, even as vicious^ unfeeling and de- praved beings exist as roam the plains, yet they never think of sympathizing with theni, but fill their prisons with them as the only safeguard to life and property; yet, with holy horror raise their voices against flesh of their own flesh, and in favor of the ignoble savage, whose greatest glorification is over the scalps of our race. For shame! that men, basking in the light of the highest development, should be the sympathizers with and apologizers for the worse than Fejeeaus, who consider murder an honorable action. Verily, if man in the future is to be held accountable for not living up to the precepts of the light available to him, how great must be the moral crime our Eastern friends have at their doors to answer for, because, but for their course, the strong arm of the Govern- ment would have interposed protection in fact, instead of a sham claim to it, which has led so many brave pioneers to sacrifice their lives. The basis of the so-called humanitarian side is founded on the flimsiest fallacy — that of ownership to unlimited millions of acres of God's footstool. For, since Grandpa Adam stepped out of the Garden of Perfection, and it was decreed all creatures should eat their bread by the sweat of their brow, did not the Creator virtually decree, as governments have since, that ownership to soil shall only accrue by development with appropriation ? Gov. Bross well expressed the thought when he asked what share of Chicago any child pos- sessed, simply by reason of having been born within its limits. What outrageous nonsense that a papoose, inheriting only the beastly impulses of generation after generation of brutal ancestors, should have a property right to all the soil it can roam over! After the close of the rebellion, the Michi- gan -Cavalry Brigade, under Gen. P. Stagg, were ordered on the plains, and Capt. Rocka- fellow's Company I, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, wa,8 with the middle coluron of Gen. P. E. Connor's Powder Eiver Indian Expedition. Upon reaching the North Fork of the Chey- enne, the guides, Maj. Bridger, Juanesse and Brenan, were, all at a loss as to next water at which to make camp. Gen. Connor left com- mand in camp, taking his Aid, Lieut. Jewett, of the California regiment, Capt. Kockafellow and the guides, and started in search of water, which he did not find until just night, in the Dry Fork of Powder River. Their rations be- ing exhausted, they were delighted to see a band of buffalo across the bottoms. The Gen- eral indicated his wishes by taking the lead for meat. It was a most exciting chase, as the buffalo went pell-mell to the bluffs, which were cut by numberless water-runs made in times of heavy storms and away they bounded and trundled, in and over them, the party, with feet flying from stirrups, after and shoot- ing into the buffalo at every bound. Finally, his mare he now owns, and known by all Canon people as " Old Jule," as frisky yet as a colt, struck into a blind hole and turned a complete somersault with him, the pommel of the saddle striking his chest, crushing the cartilage and breaking a rib on his left side, where he was wounded in 1864. It is a ques- tion whether it was not a lucky fall, as up to that time he was a confirmed smoker, but then could not inhale without pain, and has never since taken up the habit. During the day, the old guide, Maj. Bridger, became detached from the others, and, watching the antelope, found their watering-place and returned to camp. The General not coming in, Col. James H. Kidd, of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, next in command, sent out Pawnee scouts, aziA sent up rockets, but, no trace being found by morning, he concluded the party were killed by Indians, and, with Maj. Bridger, sole guide, he resumed the march, meeting, just at night the following day, the General, with our patient in a hxunped-up position on old •Tule's back, where he had been obliged to ride all day. A sorrier-louking, hungrier party is seldom met with on the plains. The command reached, in three days, the first running water on Powder River, where they established Fort Connor, since called Fort Reno. That evening, a party of bad ^ ^^ -^ — gp- HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 625 (jheyennes were made " good Indians" in the hills near by, and the company of Pawnee Indian scouts with the expedition had two grand war dances, in which eight of the scalps of said Cheyennes were the central figures, suspended on poles. It proved to be a band of Cheyennes who massacred an escort to sup- ply train of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, between Forts Collins and Halleck, and whom they tied to the wagon-wheels and piled bacon about and burnt. Photographs, memorandums and pocket articles belonging to the poor fellows were found on one of the Indians killed, who was a very plucky, gray-haired Cheyenne, who shot a whole quiver of arrows at his assailants after being mortally wounded and cornered so there was no possible show for his escape. Capt. Kockafellow's first attempt at riding after his injury was in chase and killing of a grizzly bear that came to Powder Eiver to water, in sight of the fort, just at daybreak one morning. Sergt. Croninger, of the guard that night, feeling sympathy for the siege Eockafellow had with his bruised chest and broken rib, quietly informed him, as also Col. Kidd, when, on quick time, they took up the chase, his servant, James Kyle, now of Canon, accompanying them. Two Pawnees, getting wind of what was up, started into the timbered bottoms above, turning the bear back, and giv- ing Capt. Eockafellow a splendid chance for a shot at short range, shooting the bear through the vitals. He circled in toward the little party and threw himself back on his haunches, with his paws hanging down and gnashing his teeth, and looking as fierce as his bearship could. At this juncture, the Pawnees dashed in and blazed away at the noble game from their ponies, being afraid to dismount. The bear dropped, and yet they would not dis- mount until Eockafellow put a ball into bruin's head, when they dismounted and cau- tiously touched the dead bear, when, finding no signs of life, they became suddenly brave, and, thrusting their hands into the mouth of the bear, smeared their faces with the fresh blood that came gushing out, at the same time grunting, " Ugh ! ugh ! " and looking fierce and brave. They claimed the bear, took him on one of their ponies, out of the timber in the bottoms to the bluffs, where they went to skinning him, when Eockafellow's Spencer carbine ball dropped out from the skin on the opposite side from which it entered, and, themselves being unable to show marks of their shots, they gave up the game, and it was divided through the camp, the Indians get- ting the claws, which they hung on their breasts as charms. This company of Pawnee scouts, under command of Capt. North, were at times quite unmanageable, and under fir^ wholly so, as they would drop under cover of a knoll and shoot, then dart to some other point for protection, and chance to use their guns or arrows, and thus scatter over a large extent of country, leaving their ofiicers the points of observation in the field. When one refused to obey when in range of the officers, they would welt the Indian over the head with the saber, or, grabbing a club, knock the offender to the earth, when his comrades would jeer at the sufferer. Their rations were issued to them in small quantities, as, if three or five days' rations were dealt out to them, as issued to either soldiers, they would eat all at once, and the gormands would be as inactive as snakes full of toads. At the main engagement of the ex- pedition, in the latter part of August, 1865, between Tongue and Powder Eivers, they did good service as scouts by their way of discov- ering the location of the hostiles' camp, promptly notifying Gen. Connor, when he kept on in the direction he was going until after nightfall, when he changed to the direc- tion of the camp of the hostiles, and, by a forced march, struck it at daybreak, scatter- ing the warriors in every direction, killing and wounding very many, and capturing 600 ponies, the white soldiers pursuing the sav- ages until many, who skulked behind rocks and bluffs, began to be troublesome, when all fell back to the camp, where the Pawnees had stayed, plondering, and treating the squaw captives in their usual brutal way of treating female prisoners. Gen. Connor was much in- censed toward them for ceasing their efforts toward annihilating the hostiles, and he or- dered them drawn up in line, and all the buf- falo and other skins, and jerked meat, and promiscuous Indian plunder they had capt- 3 "V '^ 626 HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY ured, placed in a pile and burnt before then,. Gen. Connor had ordered pack-saddles and snpplies up for a winter campaign among the Indians, calculating to destroy their winter stores of jerked meat, and give them no rest until made peaceable. Gen. Connor showed quite too much zeal to suit the Eastern sentiment and he was re- called and ordered to Utah. The Mormons togk the arrival of troops from the Eastern army, as an aggressive act toward them, and they were not far out of the way, as Gen. Con- nor confidently expected and longed for an order to arrest all the leaders who were prac- ticing polygamy, and bear them safely over tneir Jordan, to be tried by courts away from Bigamistic and Brighamistic influences. Hav- ing fostered the Gentile element, which is said to have numbered three thousand shrewd, determined people, and having one of the most vigorous newspapers in the West, the Salt Lake Vidette, which daily bearded Brigham and his cohorts in their den. It was published by Rev. Norman McLeod, who was Pastor of the Congregational Church, who, in his Sunday evening lectures, poured hot shot into the Endowment House and its votaries ; it was the ■first evangelical church in Salt Lake Valley. He was also Chaplain of Camp Douglas. Gen. Connor believed these people, after Mormon leaders were removed, would be able, with the aid of Gentile immigration that would come into the mines, to convince the dupes of the manner in which they were being wronged by the "tithe-gathering apostles, and that their system would soon waste away. It is to be regretted his theory could not have had a practical test. The Mormons knew well the stuff of which he was made, as on his first advent to their valley, Brigham Young ordered him to halt on the west side of the city and not pass through it with an armed force. The Gene- ral did halt and issue full rounds of ammuni- tion to his men, at the same time sending Brigham word that he came there by the authority of the United States, and he pro- posed to go into and through Salt Lake City, \ if they all went to h — 1 the next minute. It is needless to add' that the Mormons, who | assembled to resist his advance, went tumbling j over the back-yard fences, with their trailing shot-guns, not a shot, except accidental, being fired. The General then established Camp Douglas, commanding the city, which remains to the present day. Capt. E tells an in- cident of James Kyle (colored) before men- tioned, as showing that a dark skin can cover acts of nobleness, while a white one despica- ble acts of ingratitude. Bell Douglas, an actress of the theater there, was the only pas- senger in the four-horse coach for the city, when the team, temporarily left driverless, getting frightened, came tearing down the street like maddened demons set loose, sud- denly turned down between the ofiicers quar- ters, and just about dashing the coach, with its human freight, against a corner of the building, when Jim, at the wood-pile near by, quick as thought, comprehended the situation, and, rushing in front of the leaders, changed their direction and saved a fearful catastrophe, and actually unaided stopped the infuriated team. A crowd soon gathered about, whep. the heartless actress remarked, she guessed she would have been killed if it had not been for that buck nigger. Jim walked quietly away, saying, she is a sweet-scented thing. Capt. R tells an incident of Plains life, when Maj. Egbert Bradley, his brother, B. F. Brad- ley, L. D. Tatman, James Johnson and him- self, crossed the plains, by the Arkansas River route, in the winter of 1867-t)8, with two teams. January 7, two miles from Au- brey's Station, they saw two men get a buf- falo detached from a large band of them, and actually drove him into the corral at the sta- tion, and shot him right where they wished to dress him. They saw one party of Indians in war-paint, on th« opposite side of the river from them, two of their number coming across to their wagons. A few days after, they saw, coming over a bluff parallel with the road, one Indian galloping, then two, then four abreast, and following them in short time, quite a number appeared on the crest of the hill, marching quite regulai'ly as a company of soldiers in line, very unlike Indians. The little band determined to sell their lives dearly, and got their fire-arms within easy reach. On the India as came, until within a short distance of the teams, and halted, when their chief ^ %• t- 7*Miss«?» J^A (yL^.^,^~m B. Alf i^ HISTOBT OF FREMONT COUjSTTY. 637 advanced, gave the sign of their tribe, which was by partly doubling his right hand and drawing it down the right side of his head backward, meaning Shaved Heads, or Kaws, then galloped to the advance wagon, making a sign to stop. He extended his hand to shake hEinds, asked for tobacco, in plain En- glish, and said, thank you, for it. Said his name was Henry Davis, and that they were out on a buffalo hunt. Asked about game and the Plains Indians, bade the party good-bye, and let them go on their way rejoicing that their hair was left, as they, like the Indians, had superstition that, where one is scalped, he is of no further account, and that his spirit will never reach the happy hunting grounds. For that reason Indians never bury a scalped man, not even one of their own tribe; they think it is waste of time. The following are the signs by which the different tribes are known: The fore- finger rubbed up and down, on the right side of the nose, is the sign of the Arapahoes. The fore-finger of the right hand drawn across the neck, is the sign for the Sioux. The fore- Bnger of the right hand sawing across the fore-finger of the left, near the hand, is the sign for the Cheyennes. The palm of the hand under the chin, and stroked outward, means Kiowas. A stroke of the fore-finger of the right hand, up and down the fore-finger of the left hand, and across, for the Apaches. Stick ttie fore-finger of the right hand out- ward, and draw toward you, in zigzag, for Comanches. Run the fore-finger of the right hand out- ward, in zigzag, for the Snake Indians. Double the hand partly back and draw it down the right side of the head, backward, for the Kaws or the Shaved Heads. Osage Indians the same. Pawnees the same, with the exception that they use but two fingers of the hand, extended, and stroke forward. The Utes rub two fingers of the right hand on the front side of the back of the left hand. The Crows elevate both hands, extended as high as the face, and motion right and left. The Blackfeet rub the fingers of the right ■hand on the right foot. For sign of riding on pony, straddle the first two fingers of the right hand across the fore-fingers of the left hand. Dog soldiers from the Cheyennes are known by drawing the two fingers of the right across the breast. If you have nothing to give Indians, when asked, shake a finger of the right hand back and forth, before you, and then, with the right hand, stroke the palm of the left hand, outward. For a good Indian, point straight to the front with the fore-finger of the right hand, saying at the same time, "pow- wow." It means good, and the pointing, truth. For American, rub the fore-finger of the right hand across the forehead. There are times each month when squaws are not allowed in the tents with the Indians. THE FIRST GRIST-MILL. The first grist-mill in Fremont County was built by Lewis Conley, in 1860, on his ranch, now owned by John Palmer, Esq., on Beaver Creek, above Messrs. Toof's place. It ground about six bushels of wheat a day, and took one-fourth for toll. Wheat was then 10 to 12^ cents per pound. The second post office in the county was established in Beaver, in 1864, with Lewis Conley as Postmaster. When ex-Gov. A. C. Hunt was United States Marshal, the Indians stopped all transit of mails across the plains for a time. Lieut. Albert Walter, of Canon, then of Company B, First Veteran Battalion, Colorado Cavalry, was sent with forty men of the Second Colorado Cavalry, to escort the United States Marshal, with a lot of United States prisoners and a large train, with three weeks' mail, and teams that had gathered to cross the plains; in all, 250 civilians. When about fifty miles out, they were attacked by Sioux Indians, who were handsomely repulsed. The following night, the Indians made another attempt, but being repulsed by Lieut. Walter ( and his men, did not molest the train again during the entire journey. There was great consternation among the women and children during the attacks, and they showed their gratitude to the Lieutenant in command, by sending him, from the States, a handsome gold \^W T^ ~® "V^ i^ 628 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. watch chain, which , he still wears. United States Marshal A. C. Hunt presented him with his splendid field-glass that cost |80. On his return, the Sioux Indians had at- tacked Moore's ranch, near Valley Station, and captured 500 head of stock. Lieut. Wal- ter promptly pursued them, by a forced m^arch, killing twelve of them, and re-capturing 250 head of the stock. He lost but three of his command, wounded. On his arrival at Denver, he was appointed Provost Mar- shal of the District of the Plains for tiiree months, at the expiration of which time he was appointed Quartermaster and Commissary of Port Garland, Capt. Kirber being in com- mand. At that time, the Utes and Mexicans were having constant trouble, which resulted often in loss of life on either side. The mil- itary having instructions to adjust the diffi- culties, in April, 1865, summoned the aggrieved parties to the post, when a general rehearsal was had. A debtor and credit balance was struck over the lives lost on either side, and the difference made square by payments of ponies and cattle, after which matters went along peacefully. After Lieut Walter was mustered out, Capt. Kirber (from whom Kir- ber Creek takes its name) and he, with twen- ty-five men, started the settlement in the northern end of San Luis Valley, on Kirber and San Luis Creeks. Kirber Creek was be- fore then called Eio de los Abequisonos, mean- ing, men from Abique. Lieut. Walter was appointed First Warden in charge of the Col- orado Penitentiary, being then under the con- trol of the United States as a Territorial institution in direct charge of the United States Marshal. The old gentleman Wetmore seems to have been rather frisky in his younger days, ac- cording to the annals of Canon, in 1860 and 1863. When he came from the mountains, he claimed to have been a mighty discoverer of mining claims, and nearly all the settle- ment at Canon took stock in it, and furnished him bountifully that winter. In fact, it is said he was the best- fed man in the county. In the spring, he marshalled his command to go and show them their wealth, but on ap- proaching the locality described, a big storm came up, and he got lost, so effectively that the victims searched in terrible earnest for him, as all who know Uncle Benjamin Griffin knows well he knows how to do. " Wet," as they called him, waited for many a storm to cool their passions before resuming his official duties. When he did come back, he swapped claims to pilgrims for flour, but made no more sales to Barnacles, except a $5 sale to Will Burdette. He set up claim for surveying cer- tain club claims, including Uncle Jesse Fra- zer's, which Mr. Frazer claimed was done unbidden, and that he did not propose to pay volunteers for services. He finally sued, claiming |5 of Uncle Jesse, who every man in the country knew rendered at all times to all men that which was justly their due. Suit was brought before young Justice Gid B. Frazier, and was one of his first trials, being afterward twice elected Judge of Probate. Thomas Macon and D. P. Wilson volunteered as cotmsel for Uncle Jesse, while Reuben Frazier appeared for plaintiff. Benjamin Griffin, smarting under the disappointment of the mining joke of the previous year, came down to swear he would not believe " Wet " under oath, and all the neighborhood turned out. D. P. Wilson, who, it is said, never was too young, and never will be too old for fun, propounded with an expressive " Squire," to the young Justice, questions in law never be- fore or since heard of. Finally, after consid- erable sparring, the counsel for the defense brought matters to a standstill by insisting on the plaintiff giving security for the costs, which he could not do, and which caused a deal of merriment, as great stories bad been told about his possessions in the East, upon which he paid annually many thousand dol- lars taxes. Notwithstanding the barrenness of the day in results to plaintiff, it was a very profitable one to the pioneers, who relied upon such events to give spice to the routine of labor, isolated from all news. This was said to be Thomas Macon's first law case in the county. " Wet," when visiting this neighbor- hood later, had a narrow escape from the ven- geance of I. W. Chatfield, who was a Lieu- tenant in the service, and disabled and honor- ably discharged, but had been called by " Wet," a deserter, for which indiscretion, Mr. Chatfield determined to chastise him, and so c ^ T) ^ ^^ HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 629 closely EoUowed liis tracks, that the old gen- tleman had to flee to the Provost Marshal for protection In 1863, J. A. Draper was appointed Post- master, over Mr. Wetmore and other aspirants for the office, who, like office-seekers in later days, fought him without mercy. Mr. Wet- more set up claim to having newspaper mail containing tax lists of his Eastern property, and of great value to him, tampered with, and entered complaint before the United States authorities, caused Mr Draper's arrest, and being cited to Pueblo to answer. Mr. Draper fortified himselE with a document, signed by about forty of the patrons of the office, in which, among other damaging things, stated that they would not believe "Wet" imder oath; also a document signed by a great majority of the people, setting forth that Mr. Draper managed the office impartially and honestly. Sam Brown, who was United States District Attorney, at once threw the case out of court, though Mr. Draper was subjected to cruel, because causeless, expense. Of late years, Mr. Wetmore has been quite successful in mining pursuits, and, fortunately, is not worried in his later years by continuation of the hard struggles of pioneer life. FIRST SAW-MILL. In the fall of 1860, an " original share " in the town was offered to the first men who would establish a saw-mill in the vicinity of Canon City. The lucky parties were J. B. Cooper, J. C. Moore Harkins (afterward murdered by the Espanosias) and A. C. Chand- ler. The mill was located above the Soda Springs, near the mouth of Sand Creek. R. R, Kirkpatrick ran a shingle machine in con- nection with the sawmill. Cooper is now operating in mining stocks, in San Francisco, after having been engaged in an Arizona dia- mond enterprise. OIL SPRINGS. Gabriel Bowen was the discoverer of the Oil Springs, six miles above Canon City, on Oil Creek, and he also brought to town 'the first argentiferous galena, from the vicinity of or in the Wet Mountain Valley. The precise place at which it was discovered is not now known. He melted it, thinking it pure lead, with which he intended to make bullets for his rifle, but found it too hard for practical use, owing, no doubt, to the large amount of silver contained in it. This was in the fall of 1860. He claimed to have discov- ered large quantities of it, but no one thought it of sufficient importance to look after it. This was before the dawning of the " Silver Age," of Colorado. THE FIRST CHILD. The first child (still living) born in Cafion City was Anson Spencer Rudd; he was born on the 23d day of June, 1861. Mr. M. D. Swisher, now of Colorado Springs, had a child born about the same time; there was a lot donated to the little fellow, by the town authorities, but he did not live to enjoy the honor. Mr. Rudd's child has now grown al- most to manhood, and is ol splendid physical organism. Although not yet grown, he weighs about 160 pounds, and we, with pleas- ure, say that he is noted for his industry, cor- rect habits and, courteous demeanor. He has inherited good principles and honesty, with an intellect above the " common herd," and with tiie proper application to mental im- provement, and a strict adherence to princi- ples of honor, taught by his father, he will doubtless become an honor to his parents and to the town that gave him birth. Jesse Frazer, or " Uncle Jesse," as he is familiarly called, settled in this county in the spring of 1860, on a piece of land on the Arkansas River, about eight miles below Canon City. To him is conceded the honor of having plowed the first furrow in the county toward making him a farm. His plow was as primitive as that of the Mexicans'. He says: " I used a cottonwood plow, cutting a forked tree, using one pr^mg for the plow beam, the other for the plow share. We managed to raise considerable vegetables and some Mexi- can corn Some five or six ranches succeeded in raising some produce," etc. They found a ready market for all they raised at enormous prices. In common with nearly all the early set- tlers, he was subjected to exposures, privations and hardships incident to a border life. But he belonged to a family of pioneers who were W \ « 680 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. not easily intimidated, and no ordinary events could turn them aside from their purpose. His grandfather was one who accompanied Daniel Boono in his migration from Kentucky to Missouri. He has a gun in his possession which belonged to his grandfather. On one occasion, when Boone's settlement was attacked by the liidians, this gun, in the hands of his grandfather, brought down two of them at one shot. It is a wonder for its length, though Uncle Jesse says that a considerable portion of it has been cut off. Such men as Uncle Jesse Frazer are the salt of the earth, and it is with pleasure that we chronicle the fact, that, after years of toil, privations and som,etimes danger, he is now the possessor of a good home and farm, with an orchard of over 2,000 bearing apple trees, and a great variety of other fruits, the product of which alone will give him a comfortable support, without mentioning the various other products of a good farm. That season he wounded a grizzly bear, in the road between his house and the river, and finished him up with a shot gun. The rather long, large, frank face of Uncle Jesse is pleas- , urably brightened whenever the subject of old times is brought up, and the large dimple observable in his cheeks, as seen in the pic- ture in this volume, is the plain reflex of joy or sadness throbbing in a warm, generous heart Mrs. Frazer was the first white woman known to have settled in the county, outside of Canon City. The twain are, indeed and truth, truly one. SOME OF UNCLE JESSE's BEAR STORIES. The bears were very thick in the early set- tlement of the country; came down from the mountains to the valleys as early as July, after the wild currants, and staying until after the wild plums were gone. In July, 1860, Uncle Jesse shot a cinnamon bear within thirty rods of the house. He hitched his oxen onto the bear, and drew it to the house. That night bears were growling about all the time, and they counted, in the morning, half a dozen different-sized tracks in the trail where he dragged his game. Uncle Jesse, I "W. Chatfield, Clark Har- rington and Henry Phelps, went on a hunt to Willow Springs region. On going along by a small creek with wooded banks, they started an immense grizzly, that Uncle Jesse s^id made him think of the body of a roan steer. He hissed his dog on, and tried to drive the bear out of the underbrush. Uncle Jesse ran to point above, expecting to get a better view, while the bear, seeming to want to under- stand what the hissing, noise was, came out in the direction it came from. The dog, understanding his business well, barked, and tried to attract the bear's attention from his master. Finally, Uncle Jesse stepped on a little point to look further, as the beaf emerged from the brush directly in front of him, and only fifteen feet away, and stood up directly facing a ad grinning defiance at him. Uncle Jesse gave him a shot that took effect in the neck, fearing to risk one in the head, least the ball might glance. The bear dropped, but, rallying, Uncle Jesse being in too close quar- ters to reload, was forced to drop his gun and take to a pine tree near by, to keep out of the bear's way. The old grizzly, finding himself thwarted, dragged himself a little ways, and finally, got away on all fours. They shot an elk, and saw quite a large herd of them, which they pursued to the higher Greenhorn Mount- ains. The dog started up a black bear and partly treed him, but by grabbing his tail, he worried the bear so that he fell back and Uncle Jesse dispatched him. On another occasion, Grandpa Smith, Flem Oldrum, Uncle Jesse and Samuel Callen, were hunting on the John Smith Island, watching on foot, while Beuben Frazier and John Witcher, on horseback, were to drive the bear out of the brush. At a prong of the river where they usually crossed, a bear appeared, when all but Uncle Jesse shot. The bear jumped straight up in the river, when Uncle Jesse gave him his reserved shot and finished hiuL Each one thought it his bear, Oldrum being sure he hit it in the hip, Callen in the neck and the others in the breast. Jim Briner and John Lgrley, living at Canon, in 1860, two jolly bachelor black- smiths, who worked ^f or light compensation, making hoes, much needed by the settlers, out of old shovel-blades, for all their acquaint- "7!^ ^a^^t^^c/^ %^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 633 ances, frequently hunted in the vicinity of Castle Eock, opposite Uncle Jesse'a. At one time, he brought a young Connecticut Yankee out with him to let him Mil a bear. The Yankee started in the brush on a bear's trail, while Larley run around the thicket and suc- ceeded in starting up a cinnamon bear that happened to run in on the very same trail to get out of the way, and met our Yankee friend, face to face, where the thicket was too close for him to handle his gun, so he decided he was the one to give the path, and, as h? crowded into the brush as far as he could, he had to thrust his hand out as the bear was passing, in order to preserve his balance, or fall directly in front of his antagonist. The bear grabbed it, giving it a terrible tearing, and passed directly on. Larley took his companion back to town, where Dr. Reed, who would do anything in the world for a man, carefully dressed it, and cured him up without charge, as he was su9picious that Larley had a private arrangement with that bear to take that trail. In other words, did not properly consider the consequences of starting up a bear who might go in the thicket by the trail his companion took. But the Yankee had seen enough of Western ways, and hied himself for the clam-clad coast of the East in early spring. Col. Ebenezer Johnson sold TJncle Jesse his bear-trap in 1865. He set it in the thicket on the bottoms of John T. Smith, who went with him on one occasion on his one-eyed mule he called Dick. Arriving at the thicket, through which' there was a good trail, it was arranged that John T. should enter on old Dick, one way, toward where the trap was set, and Uncle Jesse another. But a few moment's elapsed before Uncle Jesse heard a terrible thrashing in the bush, and John Smith call- ing out, "Dick! Dick!" at the top of his voice. He turned and saw Dick plunge out of the brush like a tiger from his lair in which a hornet's nest may have dropped, and away they went, with John jumping so high above the saddle that he could get glimpses of the hill tops between them. Old Dick, who had always heeded his master's command before, paying no more attention to the stern call of Dick! Dick! than if deaf. The trouble proved to be that a black bear caught in the trap had broken the chain, and appeared before Dick at an angle in the trail where the chain and trap became tangled in the brush and held him directly in their road. He went one eye on him for a second, then came to conclusion to vamose, and could never again be got within gun-shot of that trail. Uncle' Jesse got the bear, but his tall, slightly stooping frame quivers with suppressed mirth when he recalls the incident. In later years, the chances of the bear not returning from their trips to the lower valleys, in wild fruit sea- son, seem to have been calculated by them, and their f.jrays have nearly ceased; but not so with Uncle Jesse's on them. In autrunn of 1866, he in company with Hon. J. A. Mc- Candless and Jeff Lester, who also have great fondness for hunting and are crack shots, went on a hunt to Oak Grove Creek, between Texas Creek and Pleasant Valley. They camped near Dr. W. K. Eggleston's ranch. Mr. Lester soon got his eye on a large buck which he shot It ran down in a thicket of Quaker asps to the creek and Mr. Lester stopped to load, during which time the deer kept up an unusually loud bawling. Soon as ready Mr. Lester pushed through the close timber and nearly to the buck, when he heard by the crackling underbrush a heavy animal running. An instant more he saw across on opposite hillside a monst(ir black bear, which with his never-failing aim he brought down at a single shot. He found that in the short time he was loading his gun, the bear had attacked the wounded deer and actually eaten out one of his hams while yet alive. Mr. Lester finished dispatching the buck, when they got the bear down to the creek, and their trophies of the chase were witnessed lying peacefully side by side, by Dr. Eggleston and the neighbors, all of whom were bountifully supplied with bear and ven- ison steaks. They then took the head of the buck, and, at a secluded place, put it up and between two trees, at foot of which they set Uncle Jesse's bear trap, to which was attached a ten- foot log chain. The next morning the trap was gone, and the head of the deer down. They trailed a bear about half a mile, finding *^ i) \ ♦^^ ^ 634 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. him entangled in underbrush. William Voris and party hunting from Wet Mountain Valley with good hunting dogs, having come up, one of the dogs rushed up to the plucky beast that scarcely had room to stir in; the dog [was soon twirling in the air fifteen feet away, Elnd never got over the blow. They were soon ready for furnishing more steaks out of this one, which proved to be a cinnamon bear weighing 300 pounds. The closing event of this series was not told by Uncle Jesse, but as it relates to his household, and his doings impressed visions of bear upon them, so we must give Mrs. Fra- zier a chance to tell one story. Bear had been very thick, and fresh encounters with thera were eagerly and anxiously listened to. Uncle J.'s stepson. Will Ash, while irrigating in the corn-field, came upon fresh bear tracks in great number. He hurriedly went to the house, his father being absent, and persuaded his mother to take Uncle J.'s big gun, while he had the other, and to go out and assist him kill the bear, saying we'll show father we can hunt, too, as well as he. Word was sent to Stephen Frazier's, when hiuriedly loading their guns they joined the search for Will's bear. He acting as guide, they soon struck the tracks in the freshly irrigated sand, and tracing them all about, in their windings among the corn, came back toward the house to a little mound where Will had taken off his moccasins to irrigate barefoot. The tracks were his own. In the fall of 1863, a Mr. Henderson wounded a large bear on Beaver Creek, and followed it into the thick underbrush, when the bear turned upon him, tearing his scalp and one ear off at a single stroke, and bit through his cheeks, left arm, and thigh. He lived in this terrible condition two weeks, being tenderly cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Morey. His sad fate did not in the least check tiie sport of hunting the bear, which is regularly engaged in to this day by some of the earlier settlers. In the fall of 1867, Dr. B. F. Smith, of Canon, and Reuben and Gid B. Frazier went on a hunt on Newlan Creek. They decided on a position toward the head of the creek to surprise the bears as they returned from their forays in the valleys to the mountains in the night About daybreak they were gladdened by the approach of a large bear with two cubs. They waited until the animals were within a short distance, when they gave them such a salute as to startle even themselves, as the echoes reverberated through the canon fastnesses behind them. Yet this was not so bad as the action of the old she bear at bay, who made directly for the huge rock where the hunters were concealed. It leaked out that Dr. Smith, who is rather portly, made a blunder in attemptia^ to clam- ber up the rock and fell back almost on the bear. As the boys tell it, no sooner had the bear got a drug store snuff of the doctor, than he turned away in utter disgust, leaving him with a barked shin and broken gun stock. The doctor told the story that the boys were so excited in shooting at the bear and cubs, that the bullets banged against the rocks about and above him so that he fell back to keep from being shot. At all events, that time they missed their game, for the bear and cubs got to the underbrush along the creek, and got away before the Doctor's condition was ascertained. One of the most exciting of these tales con- cerns our last member of the Legislature, Hon. James A, McCandless, who, with a party of friends, in the fall of 1874, sought their lost bear in this locality. McCandless wounded a fine fat fellow at short range, who turned on his assailant, forcing him to " leave this world and climb a tree " in such haste as to leave his gun behind. Bruin was about gathering for a bound up the tree when oth- ers of the party came within range and relieved Mr. McC., who soon found his gun and brought down the gamy brute, that stood back striking and grinning defiance at them, even after he received the death shoi Another bear adventure in which Mr. Will- iam Cooper came very near losing his lire: Bruin made regular nocturnal visits to his corn-fields and that of his neighbor, Hon. A. D. Cooper, and was stripping his fields of corn when it was very valuable. Mr. Cooper had wounded a bear, and was following him into a plum thicket, gun in readiness to fire. Suddenly he came upon the bear, or rather the bear upon him, and was so close that he -^ ;^ ±^ HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 635 could feel his breath upon his cheeks, and had his clothing torn by a stroke of his pon- derous paw. The next stroke perhaps would have scalped him quicker than a Cheyenne or an Arapahoe could have done it; but quicker than lightning, with steady nerve, Mr. Gibson, his companion, drew a bead on bruin and sent a bullet through his brain. Mr. Gibson deserves much praise for his extifaordinary presence of mind and bravery, which saved the life of Mr. Cooper. This feat of Mr. Gibson has never been excelled, even by the bravest of mountaineers, for one instant's indecision, or the slightest unstead- iness of nerve, would have been death to his friend by the bear, for his jaws were already open to maim Mr. Cooper. Bits of the bear was disti'ibuted among the settlers of the Park, who rejoiced over the deliverance of their friend, and over the fat morsels of the bear he hunted for and found. Mr. Prazee, one of the &st settlers of Pleasant Valley, with three or four men, was out prospecting on Hayden Creek, a new mining district, some two years since. They came on to on old bear and her two cubs, who did not see them. The cubs were not very large — about the size of coons, and Mr. Fra- zee proposed to shoot the bear with a navy revolver, their only weapon. They all said it was too dangerous, but Mr. Frazee insisted and finally seized the revolver and fired. The ball struck the old bear and the boys yelled like a bloody pack of Indians; it was not without its' effect, for she set off dovra the creek as fast as she could go; cubs tried to keep up, not succeeding very well, she turned around and gave each of them a box on the ear, which meant, scatter and, hide. They did so, climbing trees. Frazee followed one up the tree with a slipping noose, but as fast as the noose was put over his head he would knock it off with his paw. Mr. Frazee then tickled the bottom of his foot until he straight- ened his leg out, which was quickly noosed. They captured the other cub in same manner, the creek making such a noise that the old bear could not hear her cubs bawl, or she probably would have made it hot for the " bear " prospectors that day. In 1875, Dr. J. F. Lewis, on return from Texas Creek, drew his pocket pistol, saying " I have shot a bear with that since I left home." Mr. Talbot looked incredulous and said: "Now Doc!" Doc answered true! Mr. Duck- ett's sons saw an old bear and cubs and set their bear trap. They caught a cub and shot it in the trap. The next day, several went with them to seethe sport; they found another cub in the trap, and the old cinnamon bear mother about. I dispatched the cub, and the young man Duckett shot the old bear, which fell. His father coming up, he cautioned him to look out. The old gentleman said: "I'll bring him if he stirs." The beai' raised his head, and the old gentleman gave him a shot in it, which glanced, going over and down the bear's spine. This staggered him, but he rallied directly, setting up, and there was a great scattering among the party. Young Duckett climbed a Quaker asp, and going too high where it was too limber, it came over with him, while Chancy Hayden says he went at Maud S. speed, and in attempting to jump a swampy place came down in the mid- dle of it leg deep. Dr. L. said he found a soft spot too, but not so with old gentle- man Duckett, whom the bear grabbed by the leg and was gnawing it awfully, when his son John , whose heavy gun was empty, came up. He struck the bear, breaking its jaw and his gun-stock all to pieces. Then taking the barrel, he beat the bear's head to a jelly, relieving his father, who was seriously injured for life. It was most fortunate that the bear did not ward off John's blow, which he certainly could have done had he not been so bloodthirsty. SOME OF THE PIONEEB MERCHANTS AND RESIDENTS. Dold & Co. opened the first store of any importance in what is now the first story of the Centennial saloon. The stock was quite an extensive one for so young a community. A complete outfit could hero be obtained by the miner or prospector, " or any other man." Wolfe Londoner was then in his glory, and presided over the destinies of the establish- ment with his usual grave, dignified and sedate manner. Then followed Doyle & Co., represented by Solomon Bros., located in a log building. I ;w^ ^^ 636 HISTORY or FREMONT COUNTY. standing where Ed Paul's restaurant is now located, with a large stock of general mer- chandise. C. W. Ketchen & Bro. occupied the build- ing in which the Record is now printed. Their stock was similar to the others named. Stevens & Curtis were located in the stone building occupied by Humphrey &, Tapping. Majors & Russell built and occupied what is now the lower story of the Sanderson House Block. The building was of stone, well and massively built, over 100 feet in length, and was stored with goods from floor to roof. It was the largest stock of goods in the Territory at that time, and sold almost exclusively wholesale. It was presided over by Thomas G. Waggaman. E. O. Old was located in a log building opposite the new Methodist Church, and Mr. J. A. Draper in what is now the Fremont House, and a number of others followed, whose names cannot be obtained. Then followed James Gormly, James Ketchen, G. D. Jenks, Paul Bros., Harrison & Macon, D. P. Wilson, et al., all of whom, as they said, kept a " general assortment of merchandise, merely to accommodate the wants of their friends." In fact, we think we can be safe in saying that at that time the stocks of merchandise in Canon City would aggregate as large an .".mount as that of Denver; and certain it is that the prospects of the town were far supe- rior to any other place in the Territory. War, however, cut off the " Arkansas route," caused the depopulation of the Southern mines, and the consequent collapse of Canon City, the then " Future Great " of Colorado. The advent of the lirst billiard table was caused by Billy Gamble (what a name for keeper of such a table!), and its location was in the old post office building, up-stairs. The first meat market was opened by Cus- ter & Swisher, in 1860, and E. B. Southerland established the first bakery. W. C. Catlin was the distinguished author of the first brick-yard, the first production of which was used for the purpose of confining obstreperous rapskallions in the cells of the penitentiary for defying the laws of God and G. D. Jenks, now of Salt Lake City, was the first to open a hotel in ihe place, and gave the best accommodations to be found south of the divide. He set a table that was far in ad- vance of the county. It was apparently a Godsend to many members of the town com- pany, as there were very few sales of lots, and many of them had run short of money, and, as Jenks would take lots for boarding, he soon became one of the heaviest lot-owners in the place. But in a short time he had to engage in other business to gain a livelihood. He was the last of the company to abandon the town, and reluctantly shook the dust of Canon from his feet. Harry Youngblood was quite a noted char- acter here in an early day. He was a man of powerful physical organism, but was genera lly on the side of law and order, and of a gener- ous and good-natured disposition, and, being generous, of course was brave and magnani- mous. His prominence in the community was in a great degree owing to his supposed con- nection with the death of Jo Smith, the founder of Mormonism, at Warsaw, 111. His real name was known to but few, but it cer- tainly was not Youngblood. He came here with Robert Middleton in 1859. As is elsewhere stated, Mr. Middleton intro- duced the first white woman (his estimable wife) in June, 1859, and the first white chil- dren, and also the first milch cows that we have any knowledge of. In fact he came to stay. We cannot refrain from giving what "Uncle Jesse" Frazer says about it. Here are his.own words: " Then Canon was somewhat like it is now, had some bachelors, but had no wash-tubs or paper collars; then they had to pop round the corners to see the lady pass up the street to her residence, around the point about the Soda Springs." Although it may be a little out of place, we will insert the next para- graph following the above, taken from a letter from the old gentleman: '' Finally, a train loaded with flour arrived (the first flour in the county), but, the owner of the flour not being along, the wagonmaster would not sell any for some days, but finally let the poor, starved inhabitants have a few sacks at |18 per sack. I got a sack and packed it on my shoulder to where I now live (ten miles). About the 1st of s~ ^ f.'f^'^t.'pSv jt c 5 ^ HISTORY OF FEEMONT COUNTY. 637 July, another lady came in the county, a Mrs. Smith, but stopped but a few weeks and went back to the States." James Alfred and George H. Topf came from Ohio to Illinois in 1847; Illinois to Colorado in April, 1860 ; mined in Georgia Gulch that sea- son, coming that winter to this county, and locating on Adobe Creek ; moved spring of 1862 six miles below to ranch, now occupied by George Kendrick. Winter of 1864, they bought of William Burdiek the ranch they now own at mouth of Beaver Creek, About this time the IJtes spent much of the fall and winter there. Their ranch, beautifully located in the deep valley, is one of the best conducted in the county. Prom the day they moved to it, it has been the favorile stopping-place on the road between Canon and Pueblo. George H. was appointed Postmaster of the Beaver Creek Post Office in 1866. They are unusually robust men, who attend strictly to business at home ; they have not of late years taken much interest in politics, though their preference is decidedly to see the Republican party nominate and elect the best men. Hon. Thomas Macon may be called the " leader " (as he, like the two children of Israel, had previously been here to spy out the land of promise) of a party of about twenty, which came here September 16, 1864, and gave quite an impetus toward the process of resurrecting the dead Canon City, which was then commencing. This party was quite a valuable acquisition to the settlement. In Pike's Peak parlance at that time, they were " well-heeled," being well provided with horses, cattle and live stock of various kinds, wagons, farming implements, household goods, provisions, cash, good sense, and hos- pitable and refined manners. In short,, they " came to stay." Mr. Macon, on his arrival, at once took an active part in everything which tended to promote the speedy recuperation of the once dead or " badly wounded " Canon, and has ever since occupied a leading position in the community. "Whilst a member of the Legis- lature, he procured the location of the peni- tentiary at Canon, though meeting the strong- est opposition from most of the principal places in the then Territory. He is now among the most prominent lawyers in the State, and although, for the present, a resi- dent of Denver, yet he has large real estate interests in Canon and Fremont County gen- • erally, and is still claimed as belonging to Canon, the "Ancient Southern Metropolis." S. W. Humphrey came to Canon about the year 1872, and engaged in the grocery busi- ness. He is an old resident of Colorado, be- ing among the original " Pike's Peakors." For many years before coming to Canon, he was known to the writer in Gilpin County, where he engaged in mining, and was known throughout the mining regions of Northern Colorado as one of the most thorough practical miners and millmen in the State. For a long time, he managed the extensive works of the Barrett Mining Company, during which time it was always successful. Mr. Humphrey built up a fine trade in Canon, by pursuing a systematic, impartial, plain, blunt and honorable business manner; has his own way in doing things, and " if you don't like it, you can lump it;" has been very successful, and has shown confidence in the future of Canon City by building some of the finest business houses in the city, and is always liberal with an enterprise which he thinks will improve the town or county; is Repub- lican through and through. H. W. Saunders came to Colorado for his health, from St. Louis, having regained it while actively engaged in business, in which he has been quite successful, being owner of several fine, pieces of property in the city. He is a member of the Baptist Church; in politics, Democrat; is a Southern gentleman of extensive acquaintance and pleasant ad- dress. Capt. William H. Green, from Chicago, one of the founders of Canon, was widely known as an energetic, aspiring young man. He en- listed in the early stages of the war, and was elected Captain, and afterward distinguished himself beyond any other of his rank in Southern Colorado, both for skill and valor, at the battles of Apache Canon and Pigeon's Ranch. He now lives in the San Juan country. Mr. Folsom, one of Canon's former official^, is a true gentleman, who early enlisted and was terribly mangled in the war, and made an "^ i) >y l^ 038 HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. invalid and cripple for life. He now lives in Michigan. Judge Piatt, an early settler in Canon, was well known as a good-hearted man. He has' been, ever since 1860, an industrious worker in the development of Southern Colorado. Dr. J. Reid was the first to establish a drug store in this place. He arrived in the summer of 1860, and with his own bauds built the small stone house which formerly stood where now stands Humphrey & Co.'s new block. Dr. Reid will ever be remembered by the old settlers in this county with the kindest of feel- ings, and, by many, with gratitude. He was a good physician, a perfect gentleman, and a man of unbounded charity and kindly feel- ings toward all. In principle, he was a strong sympathizer with the South, but was ever ready to go to the relief of the sick Union soldier, and many no doubt owe their lives to his kindness and medical skill. On one occasion, failing to procure a horse, he walked to the Greenhorn, a distance of fifty miles, to minister to a sick man, when he knew there was no prospect of reward; and this, too, when he was in quite feeble health. He is now, and has been for years, the leading physician in Black Hawk; has a veiy exten- sive practice, and is called the " poor man's doctor and friend." Benjamin F. Griffin was born in Ohio in 1811 ; moved 1o Kansas in 1857. He came to Colorado from Anderson County, Kan., in July, 1860, and, passing through Denver into the mountains, located in California Gulch and engaged in mining, which he prosecuted successfully for two or three seasons, spending his winters in Canon, having made a home there in the fall of 1860. He now owns a good farm, claim bought of Mr. Bassett; is well improved, adjoining South Canon, to- gether with quite a large herd of cattle. He enjoys hunting very much, and is known as one of the most successful hunters in the country. On such trips, he wears a buckskin suit and moccasins, that he may not be easily seen, and move about noiselessly, his hunting- grounds usually being Upper Beaver Creek and Oak Creek. As late as 1866, he killed an extraordinarily large silver-top, a species of grizzly bear, on Oak Creek. The fat was nine inches thick over the backbone, and the hide eight feet long. He first put a ball through the shoulder into vital parts, and another into his foot. The bear made toward him, but, a steep bank intervening, he could not climb with broken shoulder, gave Mr. Griffin chance to reload, and, when the grizzly, about five rods below, found a lower place in the bank, he was ready for him, and, as soon as he got on the same level, shot him through the heart, after which the bear went some dis- tance down the gulch before giving up. Mr. Griffin is extremely agile, and, even at his present age, has never been outjumped. His son, George W., was bom in Ohio in 1847, and is one of the first citizens in the county. He resides now at Yorkvale, where he settled long before the road was built to places that now bear the names of Rosita and Silver Cliff. He married Miss Sarah Shepherd, daughter of Rev. William Shepherd, then of Canon, whose death he was called to mourn from disease of the heart, leaving them a promising son. He follows the business of stock-raising, and has a herd of fine cattle. Both father and son axe stoadf ast Republicans in politics. ARRIVAL OF THE " RESUBBECTIONISTS " 1864. The improvements made in Canon during the flush days of travel in 1861 were of the most substantial kind, stone houses being erected with cut-stone fronts, and the three families who remained, believing in a town with such a foundation, were gratified, on September 16, 1864, by the arrival of Thomas Macon and family; Mrs. Ann, Harrison and sons, Henry, James and Robert; Mrs. George and her daughter Annie, with two sons, John and Allie; John Wilson, our County Clerk; Joseph Macon; Mr. Fletcher and wife; Au- gustus Sartor, Zach Irwin, and others, twenty in all, who started from Omaha in June of that year, on the perilous journey across the plains. For years, the events of that journey fur- nished fireside topics, not only for the actors, but their acquaintances. Their wagons, known as prairie schooners, were all drawn by oxen, except one team, drawn by two cows. Only three of the men had ever driven a yoke of •i^'js r- ^' .iL HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 639 cattle. The names given to the parts of their schooners were equal to a landsman's ideas ol the parts of a full-rigged, spa-^oing vessel. For instance, when the long line of cattle took it into their heads to go on the run down some of the ridges or little hills, Mrs. H would, with great haste, showing much alarm, thrust her head out from under the wagon-cover and shout, "Hi! hi! Henry, tie up the hind leg of this wagon," meaning to lock the wheel. Henry, realizing the first duty to be performed was to stop "the cattle," would run for the lead team and grab the near ox by the horns and yell out, " Which ? " like a Comanche In- dian on securing his captive. Learning that party how to steer the steers cost nearly every ox a horn before the journey was performed. The whole party rested upon the Sabbath Day, except to secure their herd of eighty head of cattle and a few horses, at which duty their preacher took his turn after service. " HEAP BUENO PAPOOSE !" The Indians were considered peaceable, yet, when forty miles west of Port Kearney, on Plum Creek, the Sioux, on their way after their annuities, came upon them, and, it being Sunday, found them in camp. They were soon prying into every wagon, and were do- nated many a little article. Finally, on the old chief giving a signal grunt, they all started on their journey. Soon after they left, there was great consternation in camp, as Mrs. Thomas Macon's little baby Willie was miss- ing. Without thought of fear, the mother, at the head of a pursuing party, overtook the In- dians one mile away. Going, as if by in- tuition, directly to the squaw who was carry- ing Willie under her blanket, she took her boy, the only excuse of the savages being, " Heap Bueno papoose! " After having the freedom of the savage in this mountain air for fifteen years, could the would-be squaw mother see said papoose, she would consider him now rather too heavy a load to be coveted. In 1875, when the Indians of the plains got very bad, and the settlers of the valleys occasionally built stockades for protection, and most of the houses had port-holes in con- venient places, near which the trusty rifle always hung, stories of Indian cruelties and poor " Lo's " conduct for general cussedness were often canvassed and dreamed over. At such times, all unusual noises in the night season were saddled onto Mr. Indian. As an illustration, we relate the following ludicrous " INDIAN SCARE." Upon the arrival of the paj^ at Canon, the owners, heirs and assigns of the stone build- ings before alluded to having generally left, said houses were pre-empted, calculating in due time to complete the title. The house that Thomas Macon occupied, at the corner of Main and Third streets, had no ceiling and no bed- rooms, yet, with their characteristic hospitality, they urged all their acquaintances to stop with them, and, having come to the country well supplied, their larder was rather ahead of the average, and was much appre- ciated and frequently enjoyed. On one occa- sion, when several beds had been made on the fio.jr, after the rehearsal of many thrilling stories of border life had been told before the I glowing pitch-pine fire, which seemed to stimulate the cracking of that kind of nuts, all hands, without agreement, but intuitively, turned their heads in the right direction to permit one after another to undress and seek the repose of the primitive couch allotted to them. As the night wore on, the glowing logs, not having been punched, were draped with a covering of white, downy ash, and darkness and stillness held sway, a shriek, sharp and piercing, that even brought a flicker of light from the smoldering logs, like the flash that follows the discharge of a rifle, brought every one in the household en dishabille to their feet. All were confident the Indians were upon them, and all were going in what- ever way started, to seek a corner of safety, one blundering onto Mrs.H.'s bed who added to the consternation by crying out, at the top of her voice, " Conscience alive! what are you foolish people doing ? " A light was found after a while, when there was the greatest squatting yet known on the border. Nellie C and Johnnie A , with Henry H accomplishing a double stumble over the same bed, while a general cry of " What's the mat- ter?" involuntarily escaped from every one. *?p ^ ±\i 640 HISTORY OF PREMONT COUNTY. Directly a moment of sobemesp came over the scene, and Mr. M rushed out to see if they were really surroimded by Indians and were about to be scalped. Everyt.hing with- out was as calm " as when the morning stars first sang together." When he returned to the inside to learn the cause of the commo- tion, it was soon discovered in the person of Bob H , who was crouched on a beam overhead, close up to the roof, and not yet aroused from his somnambulistic condition, who, when disturbed, only turned about, say- ing, in darkey dialect, "Hukum! hukum!" Not until this transpired did all realize what garments they wore. Soon all were dressed, and Robert aroused and got down from his peculiar sleeping-place, when he explained the cause, which was simply a dream that he was pursued by Indians, who, yelling, threw a tomahawk at him, and arrows whistled by his ears and through his hair, when he fan- cied he dodged them, and, quicker than thought, climbed a tree, and breathlessly snugged up so close in the crotch of a limb against the body of the tree that he was un- observed, while the savages (his friends be- low) kept up their unearthly yells for his blood. This episode was too much for Chat-' field, who was ever afterward superstitious about visiting Mr. M 's, always refusing invitations, even to dinner. The Utes spent a good deal of time in Fre- mont County during the early settlement of the country. Buckskins in those days were almost legal tender with the merchants; and ammunition, sugar, domestics, utensils and calicoes were swapped at enormous profits for them. They were used for foxing pants, as well as other ways. Of late years, we seldom see a Ute, since their agency was moved to the Uncompahgre, about two hundred and seventy -five miles west- ward. As they generally behaved well in the settlements, having a greater hatred of the Plains Indians than the whites even, the early settlers considered them just so many in addi- tion to the fighting strength of the county in case of incursions of the Sioux or Arapahoes from the Plains. In those days, in the early part of the win- ter of each season, bands of Utes made incur- & sions on the Plains tribes' territory after buf- falo, and not unfrequently coming in collision with their enemies. On one of these occa- sions, in December, 1869, the Utes were very successful, killing many of their enemies, and suffering but slight loss themselves. They captured a large number of ponies, dry goods, groceries and canned goods, including brandy peaches, which the Arapahoes had recently stolen from captured train?. On the return of the Utes, they built signal fires on Signal Mountain, near the head of Oil Creek, about twenty miles north of Canon, which rallied all of their tribe in this region at the Thirty- one Mile Soda Spring sufficiently far from the Plains to be secure from pursuit, while they had the greatest war-dance and Indian spree they were ever known to indulge in. After they left, the vicinity was scattered over with tepees, or tents of raw hides cut into" shreds, camp kettles mashed in, empty bottles and cans almost by wagon loads, showing that they had not only gorged themselves, but had been filled vrith the evil, destructive spirit- so often engendered by " fire-water." The Utes were very successful hunters. The white settlers knew by the presence of the Utes late in the fall, before seeing a deer, that the deer were coming down from the high altitudes to winter in the valleys. The writer, in his trips through the stock country, often ran on to the Indian drives, as we called the places where they put up winnows of brush to turn the direction of bands of deer to the reception-places where the Indians lay con- cealed, waiting the arrival of their game, which was being driven toward them by scouts, who seldom fired a shot. It is said that the Indians may hunt through a country for years, and never frighten the game away, but a single season of the white man's appearance will percepti- bly thin out the game. In the winter of 1872-73, the Utes made a very successful foray on the Plains Indians, between Bijou and the Republican, captiu-ing several hundred ponies. The Plains brutes were claiming then to be friendly, and made a great howl about it, and made strong efforts to have the Governor interfere and make the Utes give up the captured stock. As the Sioux ~a "^ C^y^^Tfr^^nMl^ jh^^ l^ HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 643 and Arapahoes had made a raid a few seasons before on the Divide Valley stock men, cap- turing stock, and also into the South Park, killing a few TJtes and stealing some of their stock, the TJtes thought this only fair play, and jeered at the overtures made concerning the return of the ponies. In January and February, 1874, large bands of TJtes squatted in Wild Cat Park, the present horse range of "William F. Bailey, Esq., but then occupied by Judge S. D. Webster as a cattle range. They killed one or two of his steers, and, when expostulated with, answered, " White man come — deer go. Beef come; we take beef — umph! " The Governor, learning about it, arranged with Kev. Mr. Bond, then Indian Agent, to issue rations at Canon City to them and get them back to their agencies, then at Los Pinos. The streets of Canon were filled with them, and Mr. C. W. Talbot thought it an opportunity to secure photographs of the tribe. He had no sooner jumped up behind his instrmnent to get a focus than the Indians discovered what he was aiming at, and scat- tered in the twinkling of an eye, as the In- dians have a superstition that, if their likeness is taken, they will be taken sick and die in a short time. The Yankee was not to be baiHed in that manner, and retreated gracefully to his store in the post office. Slipping out at the back door with his instruments and as- sistants, and going by a back street, he got a position in the upper story of the Shepherd blacksmith-shop, near the mill, in front of which the Indians were to receive iheir rations of floiir. Just as the issue was com- pleted and their ponies packed preparatory to a start for the camp, the artist leveled on them and secured a fine photograph of the band. When shown to some of them, they said, " Bad medicine, no tell TJtes; make heap mad." This was the last visit of any considerable band of the tribe to this region. PAETIAL (VEHV) HISTORY OF BANCHES. Jesse Frazer took the farm where he now lives in April, 1860. He has on it a bearing orchard of ten acres, that yields about two thousand bushels of fruit annually. It brings 2^ to 6 cents per pound. The Edwin Lobach ranch was taken up by William Costan, in 1860, who sold to Stephen Frazer in 1 862, and he to Mr. Lobach about 1872; is a very rich grain farm, and always has good crops. Alf alya has proved a success on it. A young Frenchman by the name of An- toine took the next claim above. He sold to James H Nelson, he to Henry Johnson, he to J. A. McCandless and he to C. C. I. Co., now owners; not much worked. Mr. Peaseley took next ranch above, in 1860, and sold to S. D. Webster, who made the first improvements in 1864. He sold to Mills Craig, whom Dr. Reed sent down from the mountains where he could get vegetables, he was so feeble then; now he raises them by the car load. He Fold to John T. Smith in 1865, and he to C. C. I. Co. The next claim above was taken by Judge John Howard and Wilbur F. Stone, in 1861, they making arrangements with Mr. P. A. Mc- Cumber to improve it, and they furnish grub, which the old gent said was too scarce, and hence he took the ranch to raise his own grub off of. William H. May, Hopkins and Jim Stocker took the claim above, in 1860. Mr. May, being the oldest and leader of the crew, and withal a civil man, was, by Judge S. D, Webster and them, dubbed Colonel, which title he has bom ever since. The floods came in the spring of 1861 and dissolved the partner- ship, which was each week racy with amusing events. The floods left them with only a yoke of oxen and a wagon, which were conceded to Col. May. Mr. McCumber gave him employ- ment to haul rock to fill a water-hole at the head of his irrigating ditch, near the place now known as Elephant Eocks. There being no end to the capacity of that * hole to take rock, they decided to cut and put in a big Cottonwood tree, which did not navigate to suit, when Mr. McCumber got oato it to rush it around. The current helped him too much, and off he went; amidst the splurge and struggle, he gave vent freely to his kind of cuss words, just as the Colonel was about plunging in to make an effort to save him. This was really a magnanimous act on his part, as neither of them could swim at all. A hint of reproach was too much for the 644 HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. Btaid, matter-of-fact Colonel, and, saying, " Damn, will you 'i Well, I'll let you stay in one;" geed the oxen, and left to take up a ranch of his own. It is not necessary to add that Mr. McCumber came up out on top, as he always has ever since. The ranch Col. May got next was in com- pany with "William H. Phelps. They bought out Clark Harrington's Bowlder ranch, on the south side of the river, below the mouth of Beaver Creek, where the floods again washed him out, and he decided to try his fortune on Oak Creek, on a stream too small to swell. The very day he took it, in 1866, Jesse Rader was there for the same purpose. Well, it proved to be in the right place, and he is now as comfortably off as any of his neighbors. W. H Phelps went to clerking for D. P. Wil- son, the little episode which dissolved the con- nection being a bit of the unfortunate unvyrit- ten history which it is best oblivion should cover. The Colonel rather liked the Utes. In passing np and down Oak Creek, he says they always put up the bars, and on one oc- casion, when Ouray asked permission to go through with about three hundred of his tribe, and himself stayed at the Colonel's house until the last one passed, and he went through and put up the bars. His friend, John Mills, who came in 1865, located on Chandler Creek. He, like the lamented Squire Richardson, of Canon, died from lock or knotting of the bow- els, for which there was no help. William Ash took the claim of Uncle Jesse's. He sold to Ira W. Chatfield and Clark Har- rington in 1863. Harrington sold out to Chat- field in 1866, and moved to Lower Hardscrab- ble, and in 1869 he moved to Upper Hard- scrabble. Chatfield sold to Mr. McCandless in about 1871. It is now one of the most productive ranches in the county; has a fine orchard, partly in bearing. The next ranch below was taken up by Syl- vester Sturgis, in 1860. He sold to John Shields, he to J. Frazier, he to Henry Frazier in 1862, he to William A. Helm Who that now knows Wills would ever suppose he was a festive, hard-working farmer. He sold to Jack Beers, he to Jacob [J. Reisser in 1866, and he to Stephen Tanner. Mr. Tanner still owns it, and cultivates it thoroughly, having the largest successful alfalya fields in the county. He finds it very valuable food for making milk, considerable quantities of which he furnishes to the Leadville market John Striker took the next claim below, in 1861, and John Tenasse worked with him. Uncle Jesse said, one being a Dutchman and the other Italian, he could scarcely understand either of them. Butter, in those days, was worth $1 per pound; eggs, $1.50 per dozen; corn, 10 cents per pound; wheat, 10 cents; flour, $18 to 120 per sack. Mr. Tenasse went into the stock business, and to the mountains afterward, accumulating over $10,000 in cash, which, taking his family with him, he thought to return to visit his old home in Italy. In Paris, he was robbed of the whole sum, and left penniless. The American Minister generously assisted him to return to America, and he is now working at mason work for a livelihood, at Rockvale. He says, " Thank God we got our healths yet," and is working away with undaunted spirit, and is sure of a competency. Thomas Virden farmed the Webster-Smith ranch in 1863, and he and John Witoher bought the Castle Rock ranch in 1864. Tom was very gallant among the pioneer young ladies, and fancied Nellie C , but "Chat" wanted her to encourage the attentions of Russell B , while he traded him out of some of his blooded cattle. As Tom would not stand any foolishness, he went over to visit Uncle Jimmy Smith's daughter on Hardscrab- ble. As she was not dressed to receive com- pany, she got under the steps, and could not be found until after Tom left. It leaked out, however, and, " they say," so disgusted him with Colorado girls that he went back to the " home of his childhhood," and triumphantly returned with the present Mrs. Virden. Robert Pope and Ambrose Floumoy farmed here afterward, and Uncle Frank Moore now ovsTQS it. It is said Will McKinney, step-son of Hon. Lewis Jones, well known as "the wild cow-boy of Fremont," before he was married, was irrigating for Mr. Moore, in grass- hopper time, in 1876, and was overheard to sing: I ;f J^ \iu HISTOEY OF FREMONT COUNTY. 645 "Oh! Ise an irrigater. Got grasshoppers in my crop, And hay seed In my hair. Son of a gun and centenariah square — whoop !" On Adobe Creek, Ed Pauls, who was in trade in Cafion in early days, sold hie ranch to Eev Samuel L. Gould in 1871, taking up another near by. Eev. Mr. Gould, a thorough classical scholar, formerly from Boston, and, for a few years previous to his coming here, Superintendent of large reduction works at Black Hawk, sought this place for rest and to enjoy the charms of our climate. He built a cozy home, was getting together a herd of blooded stock,, and, not forgetful of his duties to his fellow-men, also prepared some of the finest essays on religious topics ever delivered in Canon. But his usefulness was cut short by a sad accident. He fell from a load of wood, which broke one of his limbs in such a manner that amputation became necessary, and from the effects of this he died In and around the small parks with scattering pines hereabouts, wild-cats delighted to visit, and on one or two occasions actually attacked grown persons' who were out cattle-hunting on foot. "William C. Catlin took up his ranch opposite , Canon nearly as early as any in the county. He has some of the finest fruit-trees in bearing in the county. All the brick-yards here are on his place. This year, over four million of brick will be made on it. Harry Baker's fa- mous garden is located on this tract Mrs. Catlin has been one of the most faithful mothers and self-sacrificing women in the county, and deserves kindly remembrance from all old-timers. The beautiful place of Mr. O. G. Stanley, joining, also, where South Canon is located, was taken up a few years later, by some of the Arapahoes who went back East for reasons given on another page. The jubilee, about 1866, over the completion of the bridge which joined them with Canon, whether the ford was f ordable or not, was held in the Wilson, now Agard, hardware store, and was one of the pioneerest to perfection jollifications known in the country. Every- body was there, and men, women and children were beguiled by Wills Helms' seductive native wine. Feeling jolly himself, and hav- ing such a vein of mirthfulness coursing through his nerves, how could he resist sugar- ing the wine so freely that no one but he knew its strength. Those days are past, and " taste not, touch not " days are said to have taken their place. Jonathan Higbee, who, as Justice, made never-to-be-forgotten decisions, as good, in- dustrious, honest-hearted soul as ever lived, took up the places now owned by Mrs. Col. Grreenwood, Arthurt T. Eiehardson, Augustus Sartor and others. John Griffin once lived on the next farm south, where A. Macon's, and Harrison's, Eockafellow's and Macon s Additions are, and it is said Sam Hoyt and others connived with him to get the start of Mr. Augustus Macon and take in his ranch, but that was a hard thing to do. " Gus " got a Government patent, and has quite a city built on it now, besides one of the most prom- ising gardens and young orchards in this sec- tion, and is raising more fruit and setting out more large orchards than all the State besides. The next ranch was owned by Mr. Warf ord. He sold to Eeuben Prazier, and he to Judge J. H. Terry, who has sold 13,500 worth in railroad right of way. Dr. Thomas H Craven has a fine, ten-acre young orchard piece, Henry Sartor a twenty- acre tract, and, the Judge thinks, about as good a farm as -anybody left. The next ranch north was taken up by our present County Treasurer, Henry Harrison, which is improved in first-class order by him- self and brother, Eobert. The writer took up the ranch joining in the winter of 1866, an undivided half of which he has sold to the industrious, [persevering gar- dener, fiorist and horticulturist, John Grave- stock, and his son, John G. They have com- menced orchard-planting on it, which they do not propose to stop until 100 acres are thus planted. A portion of Delray was platted, in 1861, on this place, and the balance on that taken up by Mr. W. E. Fowler, joining, the object being to bring down the high ideas of the lot speculators of Canon in that day, by opening out a suburb, with cheap lots. This may or may not be taken as a gentle reminder to Caiionites of the present day; should say ""* as their formidable piles of brick and not. ^J — — -k. ^ ^k> 646 HISTORY" OF FREMONT COUNTY. mortar bear a decided air of permanency, that has DO fear of competitors. Mr. Fowler's farm has been worked longer than any other near Canon on the north side. Late years, a portion for grazing a nice herd of milch cows, with which he supplied milt to Cafion in person for several years, the boys say, until he was becoming generally known as the " milk man," which he could not for- give them for, it being understood he desired to be known as a "cold-water man," temperance being his hobby. He will not institute libel proceedings for this fearful pun. Candor suits the writer's gray hairs best, and through it he must admit Mr. Fowler's improved cir- ciunstances caused his turning over the milk- wagon "to the boys," and riding in a carriage himself instead. In the days when most of the stocks of goods in Canon consisted of gro- ceries and provisions, and there were no ladies' shoes to be had in the country, he made shoes for Mrs. Fowler out of the goat- skin part of his boot-tops, and that faculty of adapting himself to circumstances has carried him cheerfully, thu4 far, through a life of more than usual vicissitudes. The publisher says this has gone far enough, and the writer regretfully stops, without being able to do Uncle Dick Parker, S. H. Davis or Col.Ebenezer Johnson, and his sons, John and Tom, justice, or the many " characters " on Beaver and other creeks in the county. The pioneer is excusable for many of his irregular actions. The bacon and beans epoch of every far-away, inaccessible region is enough to make a Christian forget the tenets of faith, and make the devil in a naturally depraved man more devilish, while the Indian and grasshopper are not calculated to tone down humanity much, or the 2 per cent era to allow one to settle in faith or works. The advent of railroads, with the comforts of civiliza- tion and cheap money following in their train, are working the great wonders for us they do in every land. There is seldom a field of grain without some smut or chess or tares, yet the flinty kernel grows perfect among them. So with mankind ; the majority will bear in- spection and class as No. 1, while others must go to lower grades, and among the screen- ings, and, as it is our boast that Colorado's improved climate and cultivation bears the finest grain, so it is that she is developing the noblest manhood, and fast weeding out the foul, tough and worthless specimens. Fre- mont County combines all the elements of mineral, agricultural and grazing wealth, health in the air and healing in her waters. Who can foresee the bright future that lies before her? As pioneers, we have dimly and very imperfectly outlined the past Ciiltivat- ed historians will more satisfactorily hand down the records of the wonderful future. ^ S r- - — - e^ C^-^^l-^-^ X- (/-hyL/C^^^^4L.&,yo^i »y. BIOGRAPHICAL. JAMES A. ADAMS. This gentleman has spent nearly all his life in Colorado, having come here with his parents when he was but thirteen years of age. He was born in Jackson County, Mo., March 30, 1850. His father was a Baptist clergyman, and also a farmer. James received the benefits of a good school while in Missouri, but his advantages in that line were very limited after coming to this new country — schoolhouses which now adorn so many towns were then un- known. After arriving in Colorado, his father located at Bent's Old Port, where he resided two years, after which they removed to Fre- mont County, where the subject of this sketch has since lived. After arriving at manhood, he engaged in stock-raising and farming, which he has carried on with success. He was married, in 1875, to Emma Prazier, daughter of Keuben Prazier, of Canon City. WATSON K. AGARD. Mr. Agard was born in Portage County, Ohio, August 27, 1837. In 1840, his parents removed to Illinois, and settled in Adams County ; this was before the Indians had entire- ly given up their right to that part of the public domain. He was brought up a farmer, and given a good common-school education. He served his country in the Second Missouri State Militia. His father died in 1854 ; he being the youngest son, he remained at home with his mother, and in 1865 they removed to Missouri. In the same year he was married to Miss Ophelia De Groodt. His mother died in 1870, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. In 1873, he emigrated to Colorado ; after wan- dering through the mines and mountains for two years, he settled in Canon City, where he has since resided, and, through appointment or election, has occupied the position of peace officer almost constantly. Mr. Agard's ances- tors, as well as himself, were men who believed in fighting for their country. His grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, and his father in the war of 1812. E. T. ALLING. , Mr. Ailing, the senior member of the firm of Ailing & Co., Canon City, was born in Connecti- cut, Oct. 26, 1827. He graduated in the class of 1851, at Brown University ; he then went to Tennessee, and was engaged in teaching till 1857 ; after which he went to Minnesota, and in 1864 commenced the hardware business, where he was very prosperous for several years. His health failing, he sought a Colorado cli- mate ; came to Canon City in 1875, and started the hardware business, under the firm name of Ailing, Curtis & Co., and later as Ailing & Co. The firm has built up a large wholesale and retail trade. Mr. Ailing is also senior member of the firm of Ailing & Co., of Silver Cliff and Ouray. He has regained his health, and is one of Colorado's most energetic business, men, highly respected by all. EBENEZER B. ALLING. Mr. Ailing was born in Mississippi December 26, 1852. The family moved to Minnesota, where he lived until 1875. He first attended the Northwestern University, at Evanston, 111., and afterward the University of Minnesota, at Minneapolis. He also took a thorough business course at Curtiss & Hyte's Business College, at Minneapolis. After two years of active bus- iness, his health failed him, and he removed to Canon City, Colo., in 1875, and became partner in the hardware house of Ailing, Curtis & Co., soon after changed to Ailing & Co. Like many other invalids, he has regained his health in a Colorado climate, and has built up a large and lucrative business. He was mar- ried, in 1876, to Miss Julia P. Pitch, of Anoka Minn. ' HENRY BELKNAP. Mr. Belknap was born in Virginia April 1, 1836. His father still resides there, and is now 100 years old, and still retains his faculties remarkably well. Henry attended the common schools, and worked upon the farm till he was nineteen years of age, when he started out to battle with life for himself. He went to Mis- i) >y ' ^ tl ] 648 BIOGEAPHICAL: souri, where he worked by the month for two years. He then crossed the plains to Salt Lake, Utah, with an ox team. After remaining there, one year, he returned to Missouri. In 1862, he came to Colorado, and located upon a farm in Fremont County, where he has since resided. In 1863, he was married to Miss Nancy Young, of Jackson Count)', Mo. JACOB A. BETT8. Mr. Betts was born in Washington County, Md., November 12, 1830. His father was a blacksmith. The early advantages Jacob had for an education was a subscription school till he was fifteen j'ears of age. He then went to learn the tailor's trade. He worked at this business twelve years ; afterward went to Illi- nois and farmed two years. In 1859, he turned his face Westward, and in May he arrived in Den- ver, just before the great snow storm which caused so much suffering on the plains. He went to Central City, and remained there till fall, when he went to New Mexico. In the spring, he returned, and .spent the summer in Central. In the fall, he started for San Juan County, but was taken sick on the way, and stopped on the Greenhorn. Here he remained three years. Subsequentlj' he was in the gro- cery trade in Pueblo for three years. In 1873, he bought the ranch he now lives on, in Custer County, near the line of Fremont. He owns 320 acres of land in Custer County, and 420 acres in Prpmont. He is very extensively engaged in raising horses and cattle. Mr. Betts was Sheriff of Pueblo County in 1864 and 1865. He was married, November 8, 1866, to Sarah E. Parker. H. T. BLAKE. Among the live editors of Colorado is to be found H. T. Blake, of the Canon City Record. He was born in Philadelphia, Penn., May 27, 1846. At the early age of fifteen years, he enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Infantry, and served three j'ears and two months. He was the youngest man in the regiment. He was always at the front ; he was in the hottest part of the fight in the battles in Western Virginia, Pitts- burg Landing, Corinth, Stone Kiver, Chicka- mauga. Mission Ridge, finishing up with Sher- man's march through Georgia, and still he nev- er was wounded, and was always well and ready for duty. In 1865, he was clerk in the Brooklyn, N. Y., Navy Yard, and from 1865 to 1868 was Clerk of the Union League Club of New York City; from 1868 to 1871,»,was clerk on Lake Champlain steamers. In 1871, he came to Colorado, and engaged as book-keeper in a bank in Greeley. In 1872 and 1873, was proprietor of the Manitou House at Manitou Springs. In 1874, was clerk of the Colorado Springs Hotel, and in 1875 was book-keeper in the First National Bank of Colorado Springs. In 1876, he went to Rosita, and was cashier of a bank there ; was appointed the first Sheriff of Custer County, in 1877. He was sixteen months Superintendent of Mallett's Reduction Works. In February, 1879, he bought the Canon City Record. He has made of that pa- per not only a financial success, but one of the liveliest weekh' papers in the State. He also carries on an extensive real estate business in connection with his paper. Mr. Blake has always stood high with every one whom he has done business for, and has never left a man's employ but what that man stood ready to give him the best kind of recommendation. He has always been a stanch Republican, but is always ready, through his paper, to deal fear- lessly with anything like fraud or corruption. He is very liberal — always ready to respond to any laudable enterprise. Mr. Blake was mar- ried, in 1870, to Miss Austin, of New York, who died at Greelej' October 15, 1871, of typhoid fever. He remained a widower till June 4, 1876, when he was married to Miss Cornelia Davis, at Rosita ; her father was one the oldest prospectors in that district. Their first child, Harry Custer Blake, was born March 8, 1877, and died at eleven months_of age; their second, Percival A. Blake, born April 7, 1879 ; the third, Harry T. Blake, January 30, 1881. Mr. Blake stands high in the estimation of the people of Canon, as a man of ability and strict integrity. ALEXANDER BOWIE. Mr. Bowie was born in Linlithgowshire, En- gland, in 1845. He came to America in 1865, and as practical coal miner and pit-boss in mines of Cape Breton, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, has been thoroughly educated in all the minutiae of this important industry. In June, 1877, he was a candidate for Mine In- spector for the first division in the bituminous coal region in Pennsylvania, and in a class of sixty of the expert miners of the State, only ^ fr IL^ FREMONT COUNTY. 649 fifteen of whom passed the rigid inspection of the State Board, he was first among the, number of successful candidates. He has since been Superintendent of leading mines, until called to the superintendency of the Canon City Coal Company, in 1880, with headquarters at Rock- dale, Fremont County. Being also an experi- enced mining engineer, and having a thorough understanding of coal formations in diflerent portions of the country, his practical explora- tions in the Canon City Coal Basin have re- sulted in some of the most valuable discoveries yet made in the basin, far exceeding the deduc- tions of all the geological experts who have re- ported on the region since its discovery. MRS. RUTH C. BRUCE. This history would not be complete without a sketch of this lady. She has seen so manj' hardships and went through so many trying scenes, and still, when it became necessary, taken the part of a man in bringing up her family and managing her extensive ranch, that she has be- come extensively known all through Southern Colorado. She was born in Vermont October J3, 1808. At the age of fifteen, she removed with her parents to New York State ; they re- mained there seven years, when they removed to Ohio. At the age of twenty-four she was married to Owen Marsh, and they removed to Hillsdale, Mich. After seven years of married life Mr. Marsh died ; she afterward married Franklin Bruce. They lived at different times in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Kansas till 1860, when they came to Colorado. They first went to California Gulch, but in the fall removed to Fremont county, on Hardscrab- ble Creek, where she has since resided. In 1862, Mr. Bruce had occasion to go to a saw- mill a few miles up the creek. He did not come that night as was expected. Mrs. Bruce was alarmed for his safety and started parties early the next morning in search of him. They found his body, he having been murdered by two Espanosias, who had taken his horse and fled; these same parties kept on their course of murder and robbery until some thirty persons had been killed by them. They were finally hunted down by the settlers and shot. Al- though Mrs. Bruce had lost her husband in this tragic manner, she still remained on her ranch with her children, and to-day has one of the best farms in Fremont County. She lives with her daughter, Mrs. Jones. She has another daughter who married Henry Burroughs, and lives a short distance from her down the creek. Mrs. Bruce is very higlily respected by all her neighbors. SAMUEL H. BOYD. Among the old pioneers who came to Colo- rado in an early day is the subject of this sketch ; he has seen a great many ups and downs ; made money and lost it by misfortunes and made it again several times. But he is a man of nerve and pluck and never gives up. He is now proprietor of the Boyd House, Canon Citj', and is doing a thriving business. Mr. Boyd was born in Wheeling, Virginia, De- cember 9, 1827. At the age of twelve years, he learned the wire-working business, when he was so small he had to stand upon a box to reach the work-bench ; he worked at this business twelve years. He then went to Missouri, and was traveling salesman for Elliott, Hay & Stanly, selling wheat fans ; he was engaged at this for five years. He then went to St. Joseph, Mo., and was at one time City Marshal ; he was also in the grocery business, till 1862, when he came to Colorado, leaving his family in St. Joseph. In 1863, he went back for them. He was engaged in various mining camps, until 1864, when he went to Fremont County and engaged in farming. When his crops were nicely started and everything look- ing finely, including thirty acres of wheat and sixty acres of corn and other vegetables, the grasshoppers came and completely destroyed the whole crop, almost in a night. He has been engaged for several years in hotel-keeping in Canon City, and always kept a good house. He is a genial, whole-souled man, and every one is his friend. He has been Trustee of the city at diflferent times, and, in 1880, was elected its Mayor. MARTIN BRUMBLY. This gentleman is an old-timer in Colorado. He is a rustler in business. He has been all oyer the State since 1859, ever ready Ui turn his hand to anything honorable where he could see money in it. He was born in Ohio February 3, 1834. At the early age of thirteen years, he started out in life and has taken care of himself since. At the age of twenty-three he took a teip through Iowa and Minnesota—' sometimes working at the carpenter's trade, at others farming. In 1859, he crossed the plains to TV '^ 650 BIOGRAPHICAL; Colorado. He has been in various businesses at different points. In 1864, was in the Sand Creek Indian war, under Capt. Talbot. In 1866, was master mechanic in building Fort Reynolds, after which he went to Pueblo, re- maining there till 1874, when he went to Ros- ita, then a new mining camp, and engaged in merchandising and livery business. Later on and during the railroad war, he came to Canon Cit}', where he has since resided. He has a nice livery, well stocked, and Mrs. Brumblj' has an extensive millinery store. HENRY BURNETT. Among the old-timers who crossed the plains in '69 is found the subject of this sketch. He was born in South Hadley, Mass., July 15, 1815. At the age of fifteen years^he went to learn the mason's trade ; he worked at this business till 1849, when he was one of the first to emi- grate to California. A company of 126 bought a ship, and went around Cape Horn ; was seven months on the voyage between New York and California. After remaining there eighteen months engaged in mining, he returned to Massachusetts. In 1853, he went to Kane County, III, farming and working at his trade for two years. He then went to Minnesota, and took up a farm, and lived there till 1859, when, hearing of the rich gold and silver regions of Colorado, crossed the plains with the throng, and located for the winter on the Hard- scrabble. In the following spring, he went to the mountains prospecting. He was in the Tarrj-all placer diggings for three years. In the fall of 1863, he went to Montana, and remained there three years. In 1866, to Fre- mont County, where he has been engaged in farming and stock business since ; he has been very successful. He is highly respected, and has concluded to make Colorado his home while he lives. J. F. CAMPBELL. Among the j^ounger men of enterprise and business integrity who have been connected with the business interests of Canon City for three years past, is J. F. Campbell. He was born in Madison, Wis., March 10, 1857. "When eleven years of age, his parents moved to Can- ton, Ohio, at which place he received a com- mon-school education. At the age of seventeen years, he entered upon a clerkship in one of Canton's leading book stores. Here, by his strict attention to business, faithfulness and pleasant ways, he made many friends. In two years' time, he left this position to accept the better one of book-keeper in a large hardware store of the same place. In February, 1877, he came to Colorado, and entered the Fremont Count}' Bank of Canon City, as book-keeper. After two years of faithful service in this capac- ity, he was made Cashier of the bank, which same position he still holds. He was married, in January, 1881, to Miss Hattie N. Banner, of Canton, Ohio. In the April municipal election of the same j'ear, he was elected Mayor of the city of Canon, being at the time but twenty- four years of age — the youngest man on the ticket, and the youngest Mayor in the State. GEORGE R. CA8SEDY. Mr. Cassedy was born in Luzerne Countj', Pennsylvania, April 16, 1849. His father was a coal miner, being the one who opened the first coal mine in that county. In 1872, he went into the jewelry and music business ; he con- tinued in that business till April, 1880, when he came to Canon City, Colo., and entered into partnership with Mr. Shaffer ; and now Shaffer & Cassedy have one of the finest jewelry stores in the southern portion of the State. HON. JAMES CLELLAND. James Clelland was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 20, 1823. He was married to Miss Anna Bayne in 1845 ; they have one son and one daughter. He came to America in 1848, located in Iowa City, Iowa, and for ten years engaged in the construction of railroads. In 1860, he removed to Atchison, Kan., and with mule and ox trains followed the overland freighting business, making about six round trips to Den- ver each season, passing unharmed through all the perils of life on ' the plains. He was with the well-known wholesale firm of Stebbins & Porter, in Denver, for several years, gaining through them a large acquaintance throughout the State. In 1871, he removed to Canon City, becoming at once permanently identified with the county, by purchase of real estate, and by engaging in trade, the grocery portion of which he had specially fitted himself for by his long coimection with the above-named firm. By his close attention to business, he has endeared himself to a large following of customers. ^1^ -^WZ li ^W^A ,„■? *■ 1 * I i^ FREMONT COUNTY. 653 among whom he is known far and near as " Uncle Jimmy." In politics, he is a Democrat. He was member from Fremont Countj- in the last Territorial Council in 1876, and Senator from this (the Fourteenth) district in the first State Senate, in 1877, where he won consider- able distinction for his ready manner of dis- patching business, and his aptness in adapting himself to the phases of legislative life. In the famous railroad war of this county, conceiving it to be the only way to correct the misunder- standings existing between the Denver & Rio Grande Railway and the people, he early fos- tered schemes to secure a competing line, and punish them in turn if possible, being a Di- rector and Treasurer of the Canon City & San Juan Railroad, which was the first company to beard the Denver & Rio G-rande lion in its claimed exclusive Grand Canon fastness. The opportunity came in that never-to-be-forgot- ten — by people of this county — April 19, ISYS, commencement of the Grand Canon war, in which he entered with spirit, which did not lag until the courts and compromises ruled out the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6, to which the local company was allied. It was not his province to pour oil on the troubled waters : the sinews of war were his forte, and the Den- ver & Rio Grande toppled on the verge of bankruptcy over the contest. That Mr. Clel- land, as well as the antagonist, have come out strong financially, shows the stufi" of which the contestants were made. He is acknowledged to be a natural leader, so much so that in whatever station he occupies, it is calculated his counsels must prevail, which, being a man of sound judgment and large experience in business and among the people, there is seldom any objection to, the more especially as success uniformly crowns his schemes for himself or the public. The social amenities of life have some attractions for him, but generally show a tendency toward financial ends ; while in his son, George W., the opposite trait predominates — ^overflowing with wit and good feeling through whatsoever shadows may darken his pathway. His only daughter, Frances, now the wife of James H. Peabody, Esq., is a model wife, and a great favorite among a large circle of friends. To his connection with the Canon City Water Works, the public are in a large measure in- debted for this inestimable blessing to the town. He has just completed another fine store, the most substantial and best- finished store in town, in which he inaugurated the use of the beautiful Roekvale buflF stone for trim- ming purposes. He is a working member of Royal Arch Masonry, also Treasurer of the Blue Lodge, and active in all public enterprises. WILLIAM C. CATLIN. Among the early pioneers of Colorado who came in search of fortunes was William C. Cat- lin, and right well has his anticipations been realized. He was born in Lincolnshire, En- gland, in 1827. At'the age of twenty-two years, he concluded to seek his fortune in a new world ; he came to America with "his young wife, and first located in Medina, Ohio; after four years h(? went to Nebraska, but being desirous of seeing what was still further west, he crossed the plains into Colorado. He spent two years in mining in California Gulch, after which he removed to Fremont CountJ^ He has shown great enterprise in farming, raising stock and brick-making. He has furnished all the bricks used in building up the nice blocks in Canon City. He has a very handsome residence and grounds in South Canon, and is one of the most active business men in the community, highly respected by all the people. HON. A. D. COOPER. Mr. Cooper ranks among the old pioneers of Colorado, he having emigrated here in 1859. He was born in Venango County, Penn., Sep- tember 22, 1822. He received a good district school education, and also attended Farming- ton Academy, at Trumbull, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two years, he went to Kentucky, where he was engaged in teaching for three years. He then returned to his former home, and^was engaged in farming and buying stock, which he wOuld drive to Eastern markets to sell. In 1B58, he moved to Nebraska ; after remaining there one year, he again turned his face toward the setting sun, arriving June 16 at Auraria. In August, he crossed the range and located on the Blue. He was one of the number who built Fort Mary B. He was elected Delegate to the first Constitutional Con- vention, from Summit County, which met in Golden, in July, 1865. He was elected State Senator to the first State Legislature, which met at Golden, in 1865 ; was Enrolling Clerk for two years in the Territorial Legislature. In «?1s r- ~® \3» l^ 654 BIOGKAPHICAL: 1867, he moved to Clear Creek County, where he engaged in mining till 1869, when he came to Fremont County, where he still lives. He owns a nice farm, nine miles from Canon City, but he lives in the city, and has occupied the position of Postmaster for two years. He represented Fremont, Lake, Park and Saguache Counties in the Ninth Territorial Legislature. He also represented the same counties in the Third Constitutional Convention, which framed the present constitution. In all his oflScial capacities, Mr. Cooper has performed his duties to the perfect satisfaction of his constituents ; and for honesty and strict integrity, no man in Coloradcf stands higher than Mr. Cooper. JABEZ T. COX. Mr. Cox is one of the leading lawyers of Southern Colorado ; he being one of the firm of Macon & Cox, Canon City. He was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January 27, 1846. He was educated at Westfield Academy, Indiana ; after which he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He practiced his profession in Tipton, Ind., till 1875, when he removed to Hutchinson, Kan. In 1878, he was nominated by the Democrats and indorsed by the G-reen- back party, for Attorney General. He was beaten by Willard Davis, by only six thousand votes, while the head of the ticket was beaten by over forty thousand. He polled the largest vote ever given for any Democrat in the State of Kansas. In 1879, he came to Canon City, Colo., where he has had a very successful prac- tice since. M. MILLS CRAIG. Among the substantial farmers of Fremont County is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Craig was hoin upon a farm in Burke County, N. C, October 16, 1832. He remained at home, receiving a good education at the com- mon schools and high school at Burnsville, N. C, until he was twenty-one years of age ; after which he taught school for five years. In 1860, he joined the throng who were marching west- ward in search of gold. He first went to Fry- ing-Pan Gulch, and later to other camps, till 1861, not finding mining all he expected, he re- moved to Fremont County, and has been ex- tensively engaged in farming since. He owns 320 acres of nice land four miles from Canon City. In January, 1869, he was married to Re- becca E. Brown, of McDowell County, N. C. THOMAS H. CRAVEN, M. D. This gentleman was born near Richmond, Mo., May 26, 1837. His boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm. He received a common-school education. In 1856, he took a position as clerk in his brother's store at Cam- den, Mo. Here he remained four years, after which he began the study of medicine with Dr. W. W. Mosby, of Richmond, Mo. He attended one term at Richmond College, but in 1862, feeling that his country needed his services, he recruited Company H, Fifty-first Regiment of Blissouri Volunteers, and was elected its Cap- tain. He served principally on scout duty in the "Western Department, until May, 1863, when he resigned his position on account of failing health. He then went to Philadelphia, Penn., and continued the study of medicine at Jeffer- son Medical College. He began practicing at Kearney, ■ Clay Co., Mo., in April, 1864. In August of the same year, he removed to Colo- rado, and resumed practice at Nevada, Gtlpin County. In April, 1869, removed to Canon City, where he has continued the practice of his profession with marked success. In 1873, he was elected Treasurer of Fremont County, re- elected in 1875, and declined the nomination in 1877. He has never sought official positions, but the office and the people sought him. He is President of the Fremont Medical Society, and ,a member of the State Medical Society. He is Surgeon of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway Company. The Doctor enjoys a lucra- tive practice, and has the respect and esteem of the people. BENJAMIN CURTIS. Among the worthy foreigners who have come to America in search of homes, and found them in Colorado, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in England August 25, 1825. At the age of fifteen years, he went to learn the machinist's trade, and followed that business in his native country till 1857, when he removed, with his wife and two small boys, to Canada. After remaining there one year, they went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he followed his old busi- ness in connection with railroading. In 1863, he came to Colorado, and was in Central City and Black Hawk till 1868, when he removed to Fremont County, and located upon a farm on Four Mile Creek, four miles from Canon City, where he and his two. sons still •€ms ^ ^ A FEEMONT COUNTY. 655 reside. They have an elegant place, with all the modern improvements and comforts of home around them. Mr. Curtis is very highly respected by the people of Fremont County. SYLVESTER H. DAVIS. Mr. Davis has been upon the frontier most* of his life. He was born upon a farm in Ken- tucky June 6, 1814. At the age of twenty- three, he went to Arkansas as agent for Cooper, Tanner & Brickson, in herding cattle and sup- plying the Indians. In 1840, he went back to his former home, and was engaged till 1849 in farming. He was then one of the first pioneers who went to California ; here he remained till 1852, when he returned to Missouri. In the fall of 1853, he went to Texas, where he remained during the winter, and in the spring of 1854 removing to Kansas, then almost entirely a new country. Here he lived ten years, becoming familiar with the Indians, learning to talk their language, and trading with them extensively. In 1863, he removed to, Colorado, locating near Colorado Springs ; afterward removed to Fremont County, where he has since resided, on a farm on Fonr Mile Creek, and about three miles from Canon City. J. A. DRAPER. Mr. Draper was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., March 26, 1813. He received a district school education, and at the age of eighteen years he commenced learning the hatter's trade ; he worked at his trade for twelve years in difier- ent places. In 1843, he moved to Waukau, Winnebago Co., Wis., where he engaged in farming for six years. The following seven years were spent in mercantile business. In 1861, he removed to Fremont County, Colo., where he has since resided, engaged in farming and mercantile business. He has been very successful in his business and now owns con- siderable real estate in Canon City. He has occupied the position of County Treasurer and Postmaster at difierent times. He has the respect of all his neighbors and is looked upon as one of the substantial old pioneers of the country. A. W. DENNIS. A. W. Dennis, photographer. Canon City, was born in Rockland, Me., Decembar 29, 1858. At the age of five years, he moved to Hallowell, Me., and attended school there for six years. In 1869, he removed to Melrose, Mass., and in 1870 was thrown from a wagon and was so in- jured that he has never entirely recovered from the effects of the accident. The injuries were so severe that the best medical skill in this country seemed to be unable to afford relief, and, in 1871, he was removed to London, where he was admitted to the St. Thomas Hospital and soon after began to recover, but did not fully recover his health so as to do business until nearly five years later. In 1876, he re- turned to America and settled in Austin, Minn., where in the next year, he began to learn his present business. He remained in Minnesota till April, 1880, when he came to Canon City, which he expects to make his permanent home. Most of the Fremont County portraits in this book are from photographs taken by him. GEORGE E. DUDLEY. George E. Dudley is the oldest son of Henry and Emily E. Dudley, and was born in Vassal- boro, Kennebec Co., Me., December 29, 1847. His ancestors were English. Thomas Dudley, the first of the family who came to America, arrived in "old colonial times," and was chosen Second Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The subject of our sketch entered the Sophomore class of Waterville College, Maine, in the autumn of 1879. After leaving that institution, he accepted a professorship in the Hope Street College of Quakers in Providence, K I, where he remained until his health be- came impaired. At about this time, he was offered the superintendency of the Westboro (Massachusetts) Statejleform School, but de- clined to accept the position. He went to Canon City in June, 1875, and had charge of its public schools four years. In the summer of 1879, he engaged in mining enterprises in Gunnison County, and was one of the pioneers in locating the present beautiful city of Gothic in the Elk Mountains. At its general election in 1880, for City Directors, he received its banner vote, not having a vote cast against him. He has his residence in Canon City, and will make it his home. MICHAEL DUEBER. Mr. Michael Dueber is a Prussian by birth. He emigrated to America, with his parents, in 1854, being then but nine years of age, locating at Newport, Ky. At the early age ^: 656 BIOGRAPHICAL: of twelve years, he went to Cliillicothe, Ohio, to clerk in the dry goods store of C. J. Miller ; he remained in Mr. Miller's employ four years. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, as clerk for C. W. De Land, and remained there four years. In 1865, he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and engaged himself to B. Flesher & Co. ; in the fall of tlie same year, being only twenty years of age, he was sent by this firm with a stock of goods to New Mexico. The next year, he en- tered a partnership with Vicente Romero, a Mexican, in the general merchandise business, at La Cueva, Mora Co., N. M. He remained there one year, and when gold was discovered in the Morano District he went there and was one of the founders of the town of Elizabeth- town. He was engaged there in merchandis- ing, hotel keeping and mining, till 1869. He was also Justice of the Peace there three terms. He then went to Arizona and California, re- turning to Denver in 1870. In 1871, he came to Canon City to open the penitentiary ; was one of the guards till 1874. He then engaged in the manufacture of brick and in stock-raising till April, 1877, when he was appointed Deputy Warden in the Penitentiary, which position he still occupies. WARREN R. FOWLER. W. R. Fowler was born in Central New York in 1815, one j'ear after the close of the last war with Great Britain, in which his father had been a soldier. His father was descended from the first Chief Magistrate of the Colony of New Haven, Connecticut, and his mother from Lord Raymond, of England. The family of seven children, though busily employed on a farm, were comfortably reared and given a good com- mon-school education. When nineteen years old, Mr. Fowler began teaching during the winters, preparing himself for the regular ex- amination by employing every spare moment during the intervals of farm labor in sum- mer, and attending a short term at the academy in the autumn. He continued his studies in the sciences, the higher mathematics and the Latin language, all of which he taught to some extent during the seventeen years in which he was engaged in teaching. At the age of twenty- two years, he married Miss Charlotte J. Cheese- bro, a cultivated and much esteemed young lady of Whitestown, N. Y., with whom he has since lived most happily. Thej' have one son and one daughter, both of whom are married and have families. In 1 849, he decided to seek his fortune in California. He embarked in a sailing vessel, all available steamers having been fully engaged three months ahead. Dur- ing a voj'age of nearly six months he suffered continuously from sea-sickness. It would be extremely interesting to trace in detail his many exciting adventures while in pursuit of wealth in the Golden State, his hardships, and hairbreadth escapes from savage Indians, but our space forbids it, and we must be content with a mere allusion to one or two, and hasten on to record subsequent events of his life. On one occasion, while making his way from San Francisco to Horse Shoe Bar, op American River, he became separated from his compan- ions, and following an Indian trail became lost among the hills. Night came on and with it a meeting with eight wild Indians, from whom, however, he esCaped unharmed, and retracing his way reached the main road, where he fell in with a party of sailors, who were traveling by night to avoid the intense heat of the day, and accompanied them to his destination. On an- other occasion, he swam the American River, near its mouth, pushing before him a raft of brush, upon which he had placed his clothes, con- taining a purse of gold and other valuables. Each twig of his brush heap furnished resist- ance to the water, and it was only by putting forth almost superhuman exertions that he escaped being swept into the rushing Sacramento just below. He at last succeeded in touching bottom some three rods from the opposite bank and landed his cargo safely, but it is safe to say he never afterward attempted to cross a river with a brush heap for a bark. This satisfied his de- sire for river navigation, but he afterward be- came interested in a vessel engaged in the lum- ber trade, also a vessel in traffic with the Celes- tial Empire, in teas and other products, which returned large profits. In California, he suc- ceeded in amassing about $8,000 in gold, and turned homeward after an absence of two years. While at Sacramento, he had passed through one of the most terrible cholera seasons ever ex- perienced in America, and now on the Isthmus of Darien he contracted a lingering fever, which came near ending his life. Upon his recovery, he engaged in the lumber trade at Utica, N. Y., and continued in that business for three years. About this time, the Great West, of which ^ (■ ^?V* ■*-. >: v^ !l±^ FREMONT COUNTY. 657 Chicago was the center, opened up vast fields for enterprise. Thither he went with a friend, and purchased 8,000 acres of native prairie land, from which he realized a splendid profit within two years. After two years more spent in selling merchandise, he made such invest- ments in Chicago, that in one year he was the owner of property worth $50,000. In the finan- cial crisis of 1857-58, he lost much of his prop- erty, and became so disheartened as to abandon much that might have been saved. Completely discouraged, he sought relief in the new country known as " Pike's Peak," a land said to abound in gold. Financial trouble had caused him to pause and consider whether money and its pur- suit were the desideratum of life. Kiches had taken wings and flown away when least expect- ed; that which had been acquired through years of toil had vanished. Heartsick and discour- aged, he sought comfort in the promises of the word of God, and found rest and peace. Joy and hope took the place of gloom and despair, and he entered cheerfullj- upon the Christian life, which he has continued faithfully to the present time. He united with he Presbyterian Church, was elected Deacon and acted as such till he left for Colorado. He set out with an ox team, consisting of three j^oke of oxen, tak- ing his family and an outfit, among which were some bibles, theological text-books. Sabbath- school books, a package of tracts and. some sermons, he being determined to bring his religion across the Missouri River, a thing many have failed to do. Arriving at Canon City on the 10th of August, 1860, he found a wide field for his Christian eflbrts, which he was not slow to occupy. Public services were held every Sunday, a Sabbath school was established and no Sabbath passed without the distribution of tracts throughout the entire settlement. Very soon a simple code of laws was enacted, and Mr. Fowler was unanimously chosen to administer them. Before long a Methodist preacher came to the place and established a small society of that communion, with which Mr. Fowler then united, and has since remained connected. During his residence in Canon, he has been for six years Superintendent of Schools, and by him were organized most of the school districts of Fremont and Custer Counties. Mr. Fowler has had personal acquaintance with some of the Utes, notably with Ouray, who came on one occasion to his house to buy powder. Its sale to Indians being unlawful, the demand was refused; but when the request was for a present of fiour it was readily granted, the chief promptly returning the sacks in which had been packed the "shorts" given to him and his people. Mr. Fowler is a strong advo- cate of total abstinence principles, in relation to the church, to society and to politics. He will not vote for any candidate for any public office who drinks intoxicants, or who favors their use. He has taken a lively interest in politics, and has several times been proposed as a candidate for the State Legislature, but as he neither believes in asking for a nomination nor soliciting votes, it has always been found neces- sary to put forward some other person. Al- though Mr. Fowler came into the country with an ox team and used no other for several years, he has long since discarded their use and adopt- ed horses and carriages, which he greatly pre- fers. Yet he has great regard for the peaceful, quiet ox, which served him so faithfully for five or six years, and with which he has traveled thousands of miles over mountain roads, camp- ing under the blue sky, encountering rains and snows, often sleeping, moistened by the one or covered by the other, during all of which his patient oxen have been his companions and friends. This sketch but outlines the remarkable inci- dents and experiences in the career of this rep- resentative pioneer, who, by his maijy sterling qualities, has won an enviable standing among his fellow-citizens and in the community at large. HON. WILLARD B. FELTON. Mr. Felton is a descendant of Nathaniel Pelton, who came to America from England in 1633. Since coming to Colorado, he has been very closely identified with its growth and prosperity, having been elected to some position of trust nearly every year. He was born in Massachusetts Nov. 26, 1837. His father owned a large gi-ist and saw mill ; he remained at home till he was fifteen years of age, when he went to Boston, and engaged with the whole- sale dry goods house of Austin, Sumner & Co. as assistant book-keeper. He remained with the same house till the spring of 1862 ; he then came to Colorado, and located in Fryinc-Pan G-ulch, Lake County ; from there he went to Cache Creek Gulch, Lake County, where he re- mained till 1870. While there he organized s "V^ M' -^ 6r)8 BIOGBAPHICAL the Treasury Mining Company, and built a fifteen-stamp mill. He was elected to the Con- stitutional Convention in 1864; he was Enroll- ing Clerk in the Council in 1865. In 1868, he was elected Superintendent of Schools for Lake County, also appointed County Judge the same year. In 1870, he went to Saguache County, and engaged in farming and stock-raising till 1875. He was Superintendent of Schools for 1871. In 1872, he was Assessor. He was County Judge from 1873 to 1881 ; he was Chief Clerk in the house for the first and second terms of the State Legislature. He was one of the members of the Constitutional Convention in 1875 ; after the Constitution was enrolled, Mr. Felton discovered that the}' had made no provision for appointing Presidential Electors for 1876, and through his foresight and influ- ence. Section 19 of the schedule was added, empowering the Legislature to appoint electors to represent the State, thereby securing the election of Hayes. He was publisher and pro- prietor of the Saguache Chronicle from April, 1876, to January, 1881. In February, 1879, he was appointed one of the Commissioners of the Penitentiarj-. He was Clerk of the District Court of his county for 1880. He was ap- pointed Warden of the Penitentiary in Decem- ber, 1880, to fill a vacancy ; and in February, 1881, he was re-appointed to the same position for the full term of two years. He was Secre- tary of the Republican State Conventions in 1876 and 1880. He was, in 1869, married to Rhoda Roj'al ; he has one son and one daughter. CAPT. SAMUEL T. FERRIER. Prominent among the business men of Canon Cit3' is Capt. Ferrier. He was born in a log cabin, in the woods of Indiana, January 3, 1839. The countr}' being new, his school advantages were limited till he became twenty-one years of age ; he then entered Waneland Collegiate Institute, where he remained one year. When the war broke out, he was one of the first to respond to the call of his country. He enlisted in the " Bloody Ninth " Indiana Regiment ; after three months' service, he entered the Second Indiana Cavalry, with which he re mained till the close of the war ; first as pri- vate, afterward Captain. He was in Gen. Thomas' command, and he and his regiment were always at the front. After the war closed, he went back to Indiana, and engaged in farm- ing and handling stock. In 1866, he was mar- ried to Mary Eversol. In 1877, he removed to Canon City, Colorado, where he has since re- sided, engaged in the transfer business, being a member of the Ca5on City Transfer Company. He is one of the City Council, elected in 1880, and re-elected in 1881. AMBROSE FLOURNOY. This gentleman was born on a farm in Jack- son County, Mo., September 1, 1832. He re- ceived what education he could get from the common schools. He remained at home with his father until twenty-three j'ears of age, and then went to Johnson County, Kan., where he ran a saw-mill till 1858 ; he then returned to his former home, and in 1860 he started "with a saw-mill with ox teams across the plains. He put up his mill in El Paso County, near Pike's Peak ; this he ran for awhile, and sold out, and returned again to his home in Missouri. He, like manj- others who return East, was not con- tented, and in 1863 he came back to Colorado and located at old Port Lyon. In 1865, he moved to Four Mile Creek, in Fremont County, where he has since resided engaged in farming. CHARLES W. FOWLER. Mr. Fowler was born in New Hartford, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1840 ; was one of the first graduates from Bryant & Stratton's College at Chicago. Readily taking to the forms of business and a favorite generally, he was called upon to leave the home of his good parents, Mr. and Mrs W. R. Fowler, to try pioneer life in Montana, being ofiered choice between clerkship in the Bank of Helena, or clerkship of the U. S. District Court for the Territory- He accepted the latter, which he filled with great credit for years 1863- 64-65-66. He was one of the first to mine in Washington Gulch, in Elk Mountain country, and advertised Gunnison County with his. pen extensively years ago, while traiveling agent and correspondent through the Southwest for the Colorado Chieftain, and during same period, he wrote one of the best articles descrip- tive of advantages of this count}' yet written, large numbers, of which were, circulated by our citizens. During his younger days, his pocket was a veritable horn of plenty. Now that he is married and has a bright family of little pets, as with us all, the horn must be carried to keep the ducats in for use rainy daj'S. At present he ^ ^1 fe. FREMONT COUNTY. 659 is in the Railway Mail Service, and acknowl- edged to stand at the head of the list in the West. Long live Charles W. JESSE PRAZER. " Uncle Jesse Frazer " as he is familiarly called bj every one, is one of the pioneers of Colorado. While he came here in 1 859, with the throng who came in search of the precious metals, he had a different point in view, it was to find lands upon which to found a home for the balance of his life. And right well has he succeeded, as one who reads this sketch will see. Perhaps no person in Colorado has seen greater hardships, add underwent more priva- tions in an early day, than " Uncle Jesse " and his estimable wife. He was born in St. Charles County, Mo., April 12, 1819. In 1827, he re- moved with his parents to Illinois. He was in Quincy when it was composed of only two houses, and those built of logs. Reared in a new country, his advantages for an educa- tion were very limited. He remained in Illi- nois and.Missouri engaged in farming till 1859, when he came to Colorado and stopped for one year on the Platte River, above Denver; he then came to Fremont County, and located on the Arkansas River, eight miles below Canon City, where he now resides. In that early day. the nearest point at which they could buy any supplies was Denver, except occasionally from a trail wagon going through the country. At one time he heard of a supply wagon at Canon City, and went there on foot and bought a sack of flour, for which he paid $18, and carried it upon his shoulder home — eight miles. Just before leaving Denver, he was married, to Mrs. Ash ; and well did she do her part in this new country, often staying alone surrounded by In- dians, while her husband went to Denver. She was the first white woman in Fremont County. Mr. Frazer commenced tilling the soil with a novel plow, made from a crooked stick ; with this he put in quite a crop, and raised quite an amount of vegetables the first year. In 1867, Mr. Frazer put out a few apple trees ; finding they did well, he has added to them, till now he has by far the best orchard in Colorado. In fact, the writer has been all through the East, in what are known as fruit-growing counties, but never saw so thrifty and beau- tiful a young orchard anywhere. It comprises 2,000 trees, consisting of apples, pears and plums, all set out at uniform distances from each other, and the ground nicely tilled. He also raises extensively all kinds of berries. Mr. Frazer sold in 1879 and 1880, each year, over $2,000 worth df fruit. He is also exten- sively engaged in raising bees, from -which he gets a good revenue every year ; besides, he raises all kinds of grain. Although Mr. Frazer has seen many hardships, he has now in his old age the satisfaction of looking over his vast fields of the richest land on earth, with plenty of everything to make him comfortable. He no longer has to go to Denver on foot or with an ox team, for the onward march of progress has brought the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad right through his lands, with a station at Florence, only one mile away. He is held in the highest respect by every one. REUBEN J. PRAZIER. The subject of this biographj' was born in Randolph County, Ind., January 23, 1834. Removed with his parents, in 1837, to Iowa, then Black Hawk Territory. He was engaged on the farm till 1859, when he came to Colorado ; has been a resident of Fremont County since 1860, engaged in farming and dealing in cattle. He was married, in 1856, to Miss L. J. Smith ; he has a family of eight children, all born in Fremont County, except one. He has held the office of City Marshal and Deputy Sheriff at different times. GEORGE HADDEN. Mr. Hadden, the Superintendent of the Colo- rado Coal & Mining Company at Coal Creek, Colo., is a native of Scotland. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1846. He came to America in 1863. He first commenced coal mining, on George's Creek, Maryland ; later on he was in Kentucky, where he spent two years. In 1870, he was appointed Superintendent of the Hazleton Coal Company in Kansas ; he was -there three years. He then came to Cedar Point, Colo., and opened up the mines there for the same company. This proved a failure, and the company was merged into the Jefferson Coal Company. He then went to Gold- en and opened up their mines there. In 1872, he came to Coal Creek and took the position he has held since. Mr. Hadden is a man of rare ability as a miner. He is a perfect gentleman, and is held in high esteem by all. #- ^ 660 s. BIOGEAPHICAL: THEODORE M. HAEDLNG. We hear the remark made frequently, " I did not come to Colorado for my health." Mr. Harding did come for his health. Having been given up to die in the Bast, he came here as a last resort. He has not only regained his health but has built up a large and lucrative business in Cafion City, in the short time he has been here. ^He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 6, 1855. At the age of sixteen years, he entered the hardware establishment of Perrin & Gaff, in his native city, where he remained for eight years. In 1879, he came to Colorado. After being here a short time, and his health improving rapidly, his brother came on and they engaged in the hardware business, now having two stores, one at Canon City and one at Irving. He was elected one of the Board of Trustees of Cafion City in 1880, and was re-elected in 1881. JOHN H. HARRISON. Mr. Harrison is the County Treasurer of Fre- mont County. He was born in Henry County, Ky., March 23, 1844. His father was a Presbyte- rian clergyman. John received a good educa- tion, spending four years at Westminster College, Pulton, Mo. In 1864, he came to Colorado and located at Canon City ; has been farming, mer- chandising, or in the real estate business since. He was County Commissioner from 1876 to 1 879. In 1879, was elected to his present office. He was married to Miss Mary E. Franck in 1879. WILLIAM A. HELM. One of the early settlers of Colorado is Will- iam A. Helm, of Cafion City. He was born in Bedford, Penn., September 19, 1831. His father was a cabinet-maker, a trade which William learned, and worked with his father till 1852, they having moved to Indiana when William was nine j'ears of age. In 1852, he went to Iowa, and spent one year, after which he went back to Indiana, and in 1854, he went into bus- iness for himself, at Wintersett. After six months, he returned to Oskaloosa, and went in partnership with his father. Very soon after, his father died, after which he carried on the business at different places till 1 860, when he came to Colorado. He first stopped in Golden^ and in the fall went to Denver. In 1861, he went back for his family, and that winter locat- ed near Canon Citj' on a ranch. After three years, he came to Canon City, where he has since resided. Mr. Helm saw some hard times in those days, when there was no place to buy provisions nearer than Denver. But he fought it through, and says, with all his privations, he was happy in anticipation of the future. After coming to Canon, he opened the flrst hotel ever here, which he ran for three years. He has now an elegant home in the heart of the city, surrounded with plenty. He has taken great interest in growing fruits, and has a lovely orchard of all kinds of fruits, of which he is justly proud. He has also a very nice farm of ninety acres, two miles east of the city. Mr. Helm is also interested quite extensively in mines near Gothic City. PRANK HARTWELL. Frank Hartwell, one of the publishers of the "History of Fremont and Custer Counties," was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., December 12, 1833. At the age of sixteen, he went to learn the blacksmith's trade. In 1865, he came to Colorado, first locating at Georgetown ; here he remained three years, and then removed to Pueblo. After one year there, he moved onto a ranlch in Fremont County, where he spent one year, since which time he has resided in Canon City, engaged in his trade. In 1879, he, in connection with Mr.. Brinkley, published a his- tory of Fremont and Custer Counties, a very interesting and worthy work. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Eliza Harris, of North Hamp- ton, Mass. GEORGE HENRY. Mr. Henry was born on a farm in Hardin County, Ohio, April 27, 1843. When sixteen years of age, he started out in life for himself He worked by the month for four years, and then, in 1863, came to Colorado. He first worked in a quartz-mill at Black Hawk for six months, after which he removed to Fremont County, where he has been engaged in stock- raising and farming since. He was married to Margaret Brewster in 1866. RUDOLPH JESKE. Mr. Jeske was born in Prussia July 1, 184^. Twenty-five years of his early life was spent in his native country, six years of whicn he was in the Prussian army. In 1867, he sought a new home in America. He spent two and one-half years in Chicago, 111., in the wholesale tobacco •7 1^ ^^ FREMONT COUNTY. 663 and cigar business. At the end of this time, there was a large German colony formed in Chicago for the purpose of locating in the West, and Mr. Jeske was one of the committee who was sent out to find a desirable place to locate. They decided upon the Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado, and the colony came on in 1869. In 1872, he came to Cafion City, and embarked in his old business of tobacco and cigars, and has succeeded in building up a very large trade, occupying the whole of one of the largest stores in the city. Mr. Jeske enjoys the respect and esteem of the people to a high degree. JOHN W. JOHNSON. Perhaps no man in Colorado has seen more of the frontiersman's life than the man whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Galla- tin County, Ky., June 30, 1826. He was a farm- er's son, and received only the advantages of the common schools of that day. In the spring of 1848, he went to St. Joseph, Mo., and served his apprenticeship as brick-layer. In the fall of 1849, he went to Iowa, where he worked at his trade till 1855, when he crossed the plains to California. In the spring of 1859, he went to Trinity County, where he remained two years. The summer of 1861 he spent in Ne- vada. In 1862, he went to the Caribou Mines in British America. In 1864, went to Idaho City. In 1869, he came to Fremont County, and bought him a farm. He went to Pueblo, and remained five years, working at his trade. Many of the fine brick blocks of that city, and also Canon City, wgre built by him. He is now turning attention to farming, having recently added to his possessions two large farms adjoining. Mr. Johnson is highly respected, and considered one of the solid men of Fre- mont County. WILBUR K. JOHNSON. This gentleman was born in Hopkinton, Mass., April 18, 1852. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Iowa City, Iowa, where he enjoyed good advantages for an edu- cation, first at the common.schools and later at the State University at Iowa City. At the age of twentj'-one years, he took a position as trav- eling salesman for Diebold, Norj-is & Co., safe manufacturers at Camden, Ohio. He traveled for this firm two years, and then took a similar position with J. M. Butler, a paper dealer of Chicago, 111. He remained at this business till became to Colorado, in 1879, arriving in Canon City July 20. He, seeing the need of a good system of water works, first got the franchise of the town, then formed a stock company, com- posed of the citizens of Canon. Mr. Johnson was sent to Boston by the company, to select the pump and machinery, and the people of Canon are largely indebted to Mr. Johnson for originating, and, in connection with the com- pany he formed, carrying on to completion one of the best systems of water works in the country. Mr. Johnson, though young in years, has demonstrated that he is a practical business man. Haying a great amount of energy and sound judgment, he carries to a successful ter- mination anj;^ enterprise which he undertakes. WILLIAM E. JOHNSON. Mr. Johnson was born in Hopkinton, Mass. , October 26, 1 857. When he was six years of age, his father, who was an extensive contractor, moved to Iowa City, Iowa. He received a good education at the common schools and later at the State University at Iowa City. Feeling that the Far West was the place for young men with pluck and energy, he started for Colorado with only $17 in money. He worked his way along, and arrived in Alamosa July 4, 1878. He at once went to work, and soon fortune be- gan to smile upon him. He soon after came to Canon City, and commenced the real estate business in a small way. It soon grew into a large business and he was eminently success- ful. In the fall of 1879, he opened the bank- ing house of William E. Johnson ; this proved another very successful move. In August, 1880, he sold out to what is now known as the Exchange Bank. He was very instrumental in connection with his brother, Wilbur K. John- son, and 0. G. Stanly, in forming the company for building the water works, and to their efforts Canon City is indebted to a great extent for one of the best systems of water works in the country. HON. LEWIS JONES. Hon. Lewis Jones was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1799 ; he subsequently moved to Boone County, Mo., in 1808 ; was mar- ried 'to Mrs. Elizabeth McKinney in 1818, and moved to Shawnee Nation, where he was' Government Blacksmith for four years ; moved from there to Independence, Mo., in 1823, be- s iv" Jjc 664 BIOGRAPHICAL: ing the first settler on the ground ; served as Justice of the Peace and Judge of the County Court ; took an active part in the Mormon troubles of the years 1835-36, and in the fall of 1 837 was Commissary on expedition of Missouri State Militia against the Osage Indians. He afterward engaged in the Santa Fe traflfic, making his first trip in 1829, when he trusted a treacherous guide and was robbed, in the Taos Mountains, of his large pack train and every- thing except his private horse and a small quantity of provisions. It was some years before he recuperated, when he embarked in the same trade, extending his operations to Chi- huahua ; he soon made his losses up, as he cleared on some trips $10,000, or more. On one trip, when he was furnished with an escort of 200 Mexican soldiers, when bn the Cimarron Eiver, Indians appeared with the cross carried, hoisted high before them, at which the Mexican officer was inspired with confidence as to their peaceful intentions, and invited them into camp and were passing the pipe of peace, when the Indians, at a signal, gave the war-whoop and fired promiscuously among them, killing only the officer in charge of the troops. Mr. Jones and the train men being more suspicious of the Indians, were not in the parley, grabbed their firearms and in turn so surprised the In- dians that they fled in consternation, being hot- ly pursued by the entire force, who slaughtered the Indians without mercy. They afterward reported their loss to Mexicans at 125. He extended his operations to near the City of Old Mexico, and was there at the time of the proclamation of war with the United States in 1846. He succeeded in escaping with 40,000 pounds of silver and $3,000 in gold. In 1849, when he proposed to go to California, his fame as a traveler caused 300 people to apply to go under his leadership. He fitted out a large train, accompanied by Rev. B. P. Moore, of Cajaon, his son-in-law and Green J. Jones, his son, now living on Currant Creek ; taking with him supplies for eighteen months. Before starting, he freed several slaves he was owner of At the sink of the Humboldt, many of his animals having given out, he abandoned three prairie schooner wagons loaded with pro- visions and closely sheeted, marking on them, " Let every hungry man who comes this way help himself" In California, quite a number reported to him that the provisions found in his wagons saved their lives. He remained but two years in California, when he returned, when he engaged in real estate operations, which proved more lucrative than his trip to the Golden Gate. He then finished the Jones Hotel (fall of 1852), at Independence, which cost $22,000. In 1859, he made a trip by wagon to Texas, accompanied by his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Moore. In 1860, he fitted out a train loaded with miners' supplies for Colorado, coming the Arkansas Eiver route, and leaving a part of his stock at ' Colorado Springs, and taking the balance to Hamilton, where he established a store. In the fall of 1861, he moved to Montgomery, where he did extensive mining, sinking one shaft 285 feet, expending in his operations $35,000. He was elected to and served in the Territorial Council from Park County District. He went to Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1864, where he made a sale of one-third of his interest ; he received $35,000 cash, and $50,000 was placed to the working capital fund of the Pittsburgh Company they organized at that time, and machinery was brought on. He afterward built fine large stores at Lin- coln's (now called Little Buttes), also at Colo- rado City. In 1867, retiring from trade, he engaged successfully in the cattle business, when he moved to Canon City, where he built two of the largest, most substantial residences of brick and stone we yet have. For the last twenty years of his life, he was an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and used his money freely for its sup- port, and in church edifices, being one of the largest subscribers toward the church in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had a great pas- sion for traveling among the mountains, being at the ages of eighty -one and seventy-five when on their last trip, and annually made a trip to visit their children in Missouri. He was stricken with paralysis in August. 1875, from which he never recovered, and from that time until his death, April 20, 1876, was confined to his bed, much of the time perfectly helpless, though always patient and resigned to the approaching close of his earthly career. He willed to the Canon City Cumberland Presby- terian Church $300 a year for four years,' and to the Rocky Mountain Presbytery the same ; sum for the same period of time. A good j man in the full sense of the term gone to re- I ceive his reward. ;^ ^ FREMONT COUNTY. 66S J. W. LESTER. Mr. Lester catae to Colorado twenty-two years' ago, and has had his full share of ups and downs incident to pioneer life. He was born in Bucks Count}', Penn., November 17, 1828. At the age of nine years his parents moved to Ohio. His chances for gaining an education were very limited. In 1852, he moved to Indiana ; he came to Colorado in 1859 in search of gold and silver, and right hard did he work to find it, for twelve years in Colorado and Nevada. Not finding the precious metals as plentiful as his ambition desired, he turned his attention, in 1871, to farming. He now owns 240 acres of fine land four miles below Florence, on the Arkansas Kiver. Mr. Lester was married, in 1852, to Elizabeth N. Wilson ; he has lost two sons by death, and has two daughters living ; one, Mrs. Cyrus R. Hen- line, who lives at the homestead ; the other, Mrs. C. C. H. Bruce, who lives in Custer County. JAMES F. LEWIS, M. D. James Fletcher Lewis was born July 21, 1844. In his youthful days he developed a talent for medic-1 studies, and while attending Vsbury University, at Greencastle, Ind., he prosecuted the study of medicine under Dr. J. W. Hall, an eminent practitioner of that city. He left his studies to serve his country durino- the rebellion, and performed gallant service! On his return he completed his college course, graduating with the highest honors of his class. His health at this time partially failed, and his life was threatened with an early and untimely end. His alma mater has considered herself honored in conferring upon him honorary titles these later years, and in adding his name to her si^ieutific societies. He pursued the thor- ough medical course of the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving its diploma in 1870, with all the honors it and the personal commendation of the faculty could confer. In October of the same year, he was married, and, after practicing for a time at his old home, his wife's health failed, and they moved to Missouri; and, finally, in August, 1872, they were both obliged to seek the boon of health in the in- vigorating atmosphere of Colorado. They pre- sented letters to the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place, and were received in full fellow- ship, the doctor takiug more than ordinary interest in church work. He also was an ^. honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was appointed Medical Examiner by the Pension Bureau. Constant in his studies, he sought to give his patients the benefits of the most approved practice of the times. To re- lieve suffering he was called upon, and respond- ed, night and day, until typhoid fever fastened its fangs in his own debilitated system. Still he attended to his practice, until forced to seek his bed, and then the fever raged with such fury as to baffle the utmost skill of his faithful attendants. He was literally worn out. His statement that he could do no more, and that he could not recover, proved too true, and he died at Canon City September 30, 1879, after a life rich in labor and sacrifice for the good of his fellow-men. ROBERT S. LEWIS. Among the younger men of enterprise and business integrity who have been connected with the business interests of Canon City for a number of years, is R. S. Lewis. He was born in New Haven County, Conn., January 1, 1850. His father was a farmer, and had a family of eight children, Robert being the youngest. He received a good education at the common school, and afterward at the high school in a neighboring village. At the age of eighteen years, he started out in life to make his way in the world for himself He engaged as traveling salesman for a cutlery house, and remained in this business three years, after which he clerked in a drug store two years. In 1873, having a desire to see the Western world, he came to Colorado, and located in Canon City, where he has since resided, engaged at one time in the drug business, and later on in the McClure House, and now is a member of the Canon City Transfer Company. He was married, October 29, 1880, to Miss Helen M. Sheetz. He, has been one of the City Council for two years. JOHN LOCKE. Mr. Locke was born in Marion County, Ohio, October 4, 1829. When he was one year old, his father moved to Indiana, and afterward to Michigan ; was living in Michigan during the Black Hawk war. His father being a farmer, the only education he got was by attending dis- trict school winters and working on the farm summers. In 1850, he went to Illinois, where A^ l^ 666 BIOGBAPHICAL: he remained till 1859, when he came to Colo- rado. He spent one year prospecting for gold and silver, after which he freighted across the plains till 1863. He then located in Fremont County, where he has since resided. He has held the office of County Commissioner six years since he has lived in the county. He has a nice farm in the suburbs of Canon City, over- looking the entire city, and takes great interest in fitting up and gathering home comforts around him. He was married, in 1861, to Barbara Ann Welch. EDWm LOBAClI. It is safe to say that there is no man in Colo- rado who has had a more chequered life than Edwin Lobaeh. If all were written of his travels and hardships, his ups and downs, it would fill a volume. He was born in Pennsyl- vania August 1, 1834. When only seven years old, his parents both died, and his uncle was appointed his guardian, and he went to live with him. At the age of fifteen years, he went to learn the saddler's trade. Two years later, he went to Freeport, 111.; hot finding a job there, he footed it to Mount Carmel ; there he was more fortunate, and got employment for the winter. In 1854, he went to St. Louis, from there to Independence, Mo. ; here he engaged to drive a team of five yoke of oxen to Salt Lake, Utah ; he was three and one-half months on the road. After arriving at Salt Lake, he started with a party of sixteen to foot it to California. At that time, there was but one settlement or ranch upon the whole route. They had one pony team to take provisions for the whole party. He followed mining, staging and work- ing at his trade, at diflerent points in California and Oregon, till 1858, when he returned to his native State, and attended school one winter. In 1859, he started for Pike's Peak. He was at several points trading with the miners till 1860, when he went back to Leavenworth, Kan., and commenced freighting. In 1862, he fitted out a freighting train of twenty-six wagons, six yoke of oxen to the wagon, to haul freight be- tween Leavenworth and Denver. In 1865, he went to Salt Lake again ; from there to Helena, Mont. ; remained there trading and mining for a year ; then back to Salt Lake. He then fit- ted up ten six-mule teams to haul freight from the Colorado Kiver to Pahranagat, but they could not get up the river with the freight, so he loaded up with salt at the salt banks, and brought that back, He then went to Los An- geles, and freighted back a quartz-mill. After- ward he went to Julesburg, and freighted for Wells, Fargo & Co. In the spring of 1868, he went to grading on the Union Pacific Railroad; continued with them till the road was finished to Promontory Point. He afterward went from point to point, east and south, till 1870, when he located in Fremont County, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. In 1871, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Crouch, a very estimable lady. He then quit his roving, and settled down on one of the best farms in the Arkansas Valley. He has all the comforts of a home atound him, and with his happy little family, he seems just as contented as though he had not traveled all over the world. He does not aspire to political honors, but rather spends his time looking a,fter his ranch and herds of horses and cattle. AUGUSTUS MACON. Mr. Macon is senior member of the law firm of Macon & Cox, Canon City. He was born in Chris- tian County, Ky., September 10, 1832. In 1839, his father moved to Bloomington, 111. At the age of twenty-two years, he began the study of law, and two years later was admitted to the bar. He at once located at Omaha, Neb., where he had a very successful practice until 1 865, when he came to Colorado, and located at Canon City, where he has since resided, practicing his profession. The firm of Macon & Cox is con- sidered one of the leading law firms in the State. Mr. Macon never aspired to political honors, but has preferred to give all his time and energies to his profession. He not only stands high as a lawyer and advocate, but also as a gentlemen by all his brother lawyers. By his strict integrity and his liberal views in all mat- ters pertaining to the welfare of his adopted city, he has won the respect of all the people. COL. WILLIAM HENRY MAY. This gentleman was born in Vermont June 13, 1832. He remained on a farm with his parents till he was twenty-one years of age, after which he worked by the month till 1857, when he went to Nebraska. In the fall of the same year he went to Iowa, where he, remained till 1860. He then came to Colorado, locating in Fremont County, where he has since resided. ^ 6 If^ t ^t y'd-Ao, !> 1^ FREMONT COUNTY. 667 He has been engaged in farming most of tlie time. He at one time owned the land where the Canon City coal mines are now located. He is a stockholder and director in that company now. He is a bachelor, having always preferred single blessedness. HON. JAMES A. McCANDLESS. The subject of this sketch was born in North Carolina February 28. 1836. He was a farm- er's son, and the means for getting an education were very limited, and what he did get were by his own efforts. At the age of nineteen years, he went for himself and engaged in the mer- cantile business for three years. He then went to Jones County, Neb., where he engaged in farming and stock-raising till 1864, when he removed to Colorado. He followed the pursuit of farming at the head of the Grand Canon, Fremont County, for two years, after which he moved to Florence, in the same county, where he now resides, largely interested in raising horses and general farming. In 1877, he was appointed by the Governor, County Commis- sioner. He was elected to the Legislature in 1878, and re-elected in 1880. He was married at- the early age of seventeen years to Sarah Franklin; in North Carolina. Mr. McCandless is a genial, whole-souled man, respected by every one. In his official capacity, he has worked hard for the interests of his constitu- ents, and given general satisfaction, as his re- election shows. WILLIAM H. McCLURE. This gentleman is one of Fremont County's most worthy citizens, and has been very largely instrumental in building up her interests, especially in Canon City, where he resides. He is a native of Kentucky ; born on a farm in Pulaski County, January 16, 1837. He re- ceived only such an education as could be ob- tained at the common schools, but enough to make him a thorough business man. After attaining his majority, he engaged in mercantile business in Iowa for one year, subsequently followed farming for seven years. He came to Colorado in 1864, and located at Canon City, and was engaged in mercantile business for ten years, and has since then been in the real estate business. He built the first frame house in Canon City ; it was for a long time the finest residence in Fremont County. He also built the McClure House, one of the finest brick hotels in Southern Colorado. He also built some very handsome brick blocks of stores, which are certainly an ornament to the town. He and his brother, J. C. McClure, built the Crape Creek wagon road. Mr. McClure's faith in Canon City, and his indomitable push in business, led him to invest more largely than his means would warrant. The depreciation in real estate caused his failure, and he had to succumb to the fate of many other good men, and the splendid blocks of buildings passed into other hands. But his perseverance and keen business tact has enabled him to come out from under the cloud, and he is now in possession of most of the old property again. WILLIAM B. McGEE. Mr. McGree is one of those men who sought a Colorado climate for his health, he being troubled very badly in the East with that ter- rible disease, asthma. He was born in Massa- chusetts March 9, 1834. His parents were farmers, but he got a good common-school edu- cation. He went to Illinois, where he re- mained a few years, but his health was such that he found he could not live there, and, in 1876, he came to Colorado and located in Canon City. He has not only regained his health, but has built up a very large wholesale and retail grocery business. The firm is McGee & Mack, and they sell goods all through the southern portion of Colorado. Mr. McUee is one of those genial, whole-souled gentlemen one loves to meet, and by his fair dealing and strict in- tegrity he has gained the confidence and esteem of every one in Caiion City. REV. B. P. MOORE. The subject of this biography was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1820. He removed to Jackson County, Mo., in 1837 ; he entered the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church when twenty-one years of age. He was married to Miss Nancy C. Jones, in Independence, 'Mo., in July, 1844. Went to California in 1849, not remaining but two years on account of the distasteful recklessness dis- played in every department of association, though he enjoyed occasions when permitted to preach to the miners, owing to their unusual interest when their attention was once secured While returning, via Panama, an episode >^ J^ ^k^ 668 BIOGRAPHICAL: occurred which brought out the fighting pluck of the Parson. There were no wharfs, and ships anchored twelve miles out, passengers and baggage being transferred to within three- fourths of a mile of shore by natives in small boats. On disembarking, he was placed in charge of the gun, and his father-in-law, Lewis Jones', trunk containing their treasure. It was a heavj' tug for the natives, through the water, mud and shells, to the beach, yet they managed to get far ahead of the balance of the party, and on approaching the beach, kept yelling Oro ! Oro ! Spanish for gold. By the time they were ready to drop it on the beach, quite a number of natives were gathered, and they made at- tempts to take the trunk to the hotel for the traveler. He resolutely thrust them aside, cocked the gun and threatened to give the con- tents to any who might venture to interfere with his baggage. There was a great turmoil amongst them, and a Frenchman, coming out of the crowd, told Mr. Moore he was in great dan- ger. He made him, too, stand back, and in various ways gained time until the main party approached. There was no load in his gun, and the party joked him about playing bluff too well for a parson. In 1862, he first came to Colorado, being attacked with lung fever on the way, and was in a very low condition when he arrived. He took up his permanent resi- dence in Montgomery in 1865 ; came to Fre- mont County in September, 1866. These were the special days of fraternal feeling among the members of the churches in Canon, and it is still their boast that there is one town in the country at least, where " brethren can dwell to- gether in unity." He early set to work in the erection of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, placing .upon it the "First Church Bell " in the Arkansas Valley whose silvery tones invited the wayward to come into the fold. He is a Royal Arch Mason and Chaplain of the Blue Lodge in Canon. THOMAS D. PALMER, M. D. Among the active and prosperous young pro- fessional men of Colorado is Dr. Thomas D. Palmer, of Caflon City. His genial and gentle- manly ways, strict integrity and close attention to his business and profession has already, in the short time he has been there, gained him a very lucrative practice. He was born in Jack- son, Miss., February 28, 1 850. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Wirt Johnson, in his native town in 1869 ; after which he attended lectures at Jeflferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn., receiving his degree of M. D. in 1871. After his first course of lectures he was appointed assistant to Dr. Charles Car- ter at the Northern Dispensary, Philadelphia, where he enj03'ed great advantages for clinical studj' and practice. He located in Mendon, Mo., in June, 1871. He enjoyed a large prac- tice there for eight years, but on account of failing health, he left to see what a Colorado climate would do for him. He came to Canon City in 1879, and has built up, in two 3'ears, a lucrative practice, besides regaining his health. He was married, April 5, 1877, to Mary Bell Freeman, daughter of Gen. John D. Freeman, of Jackson, Miss. REV. JOHN W. PARTRIDGE. Rev. John W. Partridge, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Caiion City, was born in Princeton, Mass., September 24, 1844. He was prepared for college at Wooster, Mass. He graduated from Yale College in 1867, and took a theological course at Princeton and Andover. He commenced the ministry at New Haven, Conn., where he remained three years and a half, but poor health compelled hira to resign. He came to Colorado, but after six months re- turned to Scranton, Penn., and took charge of the Second Presbyterian Church for two years. His health w.is such he was obliged to abandon the East permanentlj*. He returned to Colorado and located at Greeley, where he remained two years; here he lost his wife and little boy. Later oh he came to CaQon City, where he has since resided, beloved by his church and re- spected by every one. DAVID GEORGE PEABODY. This gentleman is an old-timer in Colorado, having crossed the plain in 1860, with four yoke of oxen, lauding in Denver without money, but with plenty of energy and pluck. He made a large fortune in Denver merchandising, but in the panic of 1873 he was obliged to succumb. But he has rallied again and is one of the lead- ing drj' goods men of Canon Citj-. He was born in Vermont March 23, 1835. At the age of thirteen years he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, he worked at his trade and clerking till 1855, he then went to Illinois, and ^ 'V FREMONT COUNTY. was agent for the New England Union Store at Dover, for one year. He was for a time in the real estate business in Minnesota, and finally turned his face toward the Rocky Mountains. He at once went to Georgia Gulch, over the Ute Pass ; he was engaged mining and merchandis- ing until 1862, a part of which time he was Postmaster, when he returned to Denver, where he engaged in merchandising till 1875, when he came to Canon City. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and also of the first State Legislature. He was married in 1864, to Julia Penfleld, also again in 1878, to Fannie E. Thayer, of Brandon, Wis. He has one son and one daughter by his first wife. JAMES H, PEABODY. Among the highly respected and thorough business young men of Canon City is James H. Peabody, of the firm of Clelland & Peabody, grocers. He was born in Orange County, Vt., August 21, 1852. He received a good district school education, and afterward a thorough course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at Burlington, Vt. He came to Colorado in 1872, and was for two years book-keeper for J. 0. Jordon, in Pueblo. In the spring of 1875, he removed to Canon City and was book-keeper for James Clelland for one year and a half. He then took one-half the business. They are one of the leading grocery firms in the city. In 1878, he was married to Mr. Clelland's daugh- DR. WILLIAM K. PERKINS. This gentleman, although not a pioneer, has come to Colorado to stay. He carpe to Canon City in May, 1880, and established himself in the dentistry business, and has already built up a very large practice. He was born in Bethel, Conn., March 18, 1856. At the age of seven- teen years, he commenced the stuay of den- tistry, in Cumberland, Md., and graduated at New Haven, Conn. He then went to Cumber- land, Md., and formed a partnership with H. Virgil Porter ; remained there with a very suc- cessful practice till he came to Colorado. JOSEPH JUDSON PHELPS. Mr. Phelps was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., July 17, 1825. His father moved to Ohio when he was eight years of age. The only advantages for an education was the com- mon district school. After spending several years in Ohio and Illinois, he came to Colorado in 1860. After spending one year and a half at Black Hawk, Colo., he went back to Illinois, and engaged in farming, except six months that he was in the army, until 1865, when he again returned to Colorado, engaged in team- ing and raising stock in Caiion City, where he now resides. In 1879, he was elected County Commissioner for Fremont County. Mr. Phelps is a very exemplary man, and is held in high esteem by all his neighbors. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1848, and takes a very active part in church affairs. He was married to Rosilla Fossett, in Illinois, in 1856. IRA R. PORTER. Among the substantial farmers of Fremont County is Ira R. Porter. He was born Decem- ber 8, 1838, in Knox County, Ohio. At eight years of age, his parents moved to Iowa. When eighteen years of age, he began life for himself, and engaged in farming till 1864, when, becoming anxious to see more of Western life, he started for Colorado, arriving in Canon City on the 4th day of May. He was engaged in freighting for four years. Then he bought a ranch on Hardscrabble, where he now resides. He is a mpdel farmer, and a man who enjoys the universal respect of his neighbors. Mr. Porter was married, in 1862, to Catharine Kelly, of Iowa. JOSEPH L. PRENTISS, M. D. Dr. Prentiss was born in Norwich, N. Y., June 8, 1842. He removed with his parents to Kansas His father was a physician and druggist. He worked in the drug store and studied medicine for four years ; then entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated from there in 1865. He took ad eundem degree in Belle vue Hospital in 1867. He was medical cadet in the army in 1863. He received the appointment as Surgeon of the First Kansas Volunteers. He had charge of the general hospital, at Tale- quagh, Cherokee Nation, for six months. He was one of the youngest surgeons in the army. He came to Colorado in 1872, and has been practicing his profession and conducting a drug store since. He was Physician for the Peni- tentiary for five j'ears. He was married in Kansas, to Mary Anderson, who died in 1875. In 1878, he was again married, to Marian N. Little, of Denver ; he has three sons. ^(9 nr ^- HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 699 elected County Commissioner in 1871, which office ho ably filled imtil his si:ceessor, V. B. Hoyt (then President of the Hoyt Mining Company of Rosita, and now Superintendent of the Del Norte Mining Company of the same place), was elected in 1874. By the creation of the new county of Custer, all the old officials of Fremont County living within the new county, were legislated out of office, and a new set " in harmony with the party in power," was appointed by the then Gov. J. L. Routt. The Rev. William Amsberry came to Wet Mountain Valley in 1873, from Georgetown, Colorado, and was elected on the Democratic ticket as Representative from Fremont County, to the Territorial Legisla- ture in 1874. The Hon. James Clelland (Democrat), representing the county in the Territorial Council, under the State Govern- ment; he was re-elected State Senator in 1876; and Hon. Charles R. Sieber (Democrat) and Richard Irwin (Democrat), both of Rosita, were elected as Representatives. They were succeeded in 1878 by Hon. Thomas C. Parrish (Republican), of Rosita, State Senator; and Hon. William McLaughlin (Democrat), of Rosita; and Hon. James McCandless (Repub- lican), of Fremont County, Representatives. They were succeeded, in 1880, by Hon. J. J. Rowen (Republican), of Silver Cliff, and Hon. James McCandless (Republican), of Fremont County, re-elected. Hon. Thomas C. Parrish holding over through the four year term in the Senate, Fremont County, until April, 1877 ; and since that date Fremont and Cus- ter have constituted the Fourteenth Senatorial District, entitled to one State Senator and two Representatives. By the last apportion- ment (of 1881), Custer County becomes the Seventeenth Senatorial District, and is enti- tled (until further change shall be made), to one State Senator and two Representatives in the Lower House of "the General AsserAbly." The first appointed officers of Custer County were: H. T. Blake, Sheriff; J. A. Davis, County Clerk; William F. Gowdy, Treasurer; George S. Adams, County Judge; T. W. Hull, R. S. Sweetland and H. E. Austin, County Commis- sioners; Dr. J. M. Hoge, County Superintend- ent of Public Schools; and A. J. Davis, Assessor. Ula was selected by the Governor as the place at which the records should be kep'^ and courts held, etc., until the coanty seat should be established by a majority vote at the next election, which was held the ensuing iall, and Rosita established as the county seat, "by a large majority." The following county offi- cers were also elected at that time: William D. Schoolfield (Democrat), Sheriff; John H. Leary (Democrat), County Clerk; James A. Melvin (Democrat), Treasurer; W. A. Offen- bacher (Republican), County Judge; George E. Blake (Republican), Alex Thornton (Dem- ocrat), and James Waltz (Democrat), County Commissioners; James H. Tebbs (Democrat), County Superintendent of Public Schools; and B. H. Kennedy (Democrat), Assessor. They were succeeded on the first of January, 1880, by William D. Schoolfield (Democrat), Sheriff (re-elected); John H. Leary (Demo- crat), County Clerk (re-elected); Ellis Ser- geant (Republican), Treasurer; Joseph W. Brewster (Republican), County Judge; W. W. Draper (Republican), George Hanley, and G. H. F. Meyer (Republican), County Com- missioners. W. W. Draper had previous to his election been appointed to fill a vacancy in the last board, caused by resignation of George E. Blake. Dr. D. M. Parker (Republican), County Superintendent of Public Schools, and B. H. Kennedy (Republican), Assessor, which office he resigned and Lame Barton was appointed to fill the unexpired term. These last are the present incumbents. At the first assessment of taxable property in Custer County (made in May, 1877), there was a valuation of $549,845. In 1880 (the last assessment), it had increased to $1,594,- 191. This is exclusive of the value of mines, which by a constitutional provision adopted in 1876, in conformity with the organic act of the State, are to be exempted from all State or county or school taxes for a term of ten years from the date of the adoption of the constitution. This was to foster the growth of one of our main industries, and conciliate many who opposed State government with its additional taxation at that time as premature. When Custer County was organized and its financial connection with Fremont ceased (by agreement of the majority of both Boards of County Commissioners), on the 15th of April, sr> 700 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 1877, the portion or Fremont County indebt- edness to be assumed by the new county of Custer was agreed upon as about |6,000. The present indebtedness of Custer County is: Warrants ' outstanding, $24,603.28; still due Fremont County, $4,202.20; and Custer County bonds, $651.44; (mating a total of $29,456.92. County warrants sell readily at 90 cents. Taxes average about 3 per cent POLITICAL STATUS. Custer is one of the doubtful counties, though so far the balance of power has seemed to be with the Democracy, who still hold the two principal offices of the county, but have lost in the State offices. The independent voter is a powerful element in Custer County elections, and the politician (of either -party) is rather reckless with " what doesn't belong to him," when he pledges the vote of Custer County to his party, "in convention assem- bled" The Greenback vote " on the face of the returns," amounted to but thirty-four, at the last election in this county, though many of Greenback tendencies voted for the man of their preference in either of the older parties, rather than throw their votes away " for prin- ciple's sake." The vote for Governor, by pre- cincts, in 1880, was: Dem. Rep. Gb. No. 1. Greenwood in Hardscrab- ble Park 26' 39 .. No. 2. Silver Park (six miles east - of Rosita) 8 20 . . No, 3. Rosita 219 270 2 No. 4. Colfax and upper end of the valley 28 56 . . No. 5. Ula... 36 64 3 No. 6. Lower end of Wet Mount- ain Valley 25 38 3 Tvr., 7 a-1 „ rn-fF lEastDiv... 265 269 6 No. 7. Silver Cliff -j ^^^^ pj^ 34^ 354 5 No. 8. Dora 23 31 . . No. 9. Querida 80 127 14 No. 10. Clinton ■. 37 31 . . No. 11. Bull Domingo 39 32 1 1,026 1,321 34 Total vote of the county, 2,381. The Republican vote for Governor was a majority of 261, over the Democratic aad Greenback vote, but can hardly be considered a fair criterion to judge by, as Gov. Pitkin is very popular, and ran about 5,000 votes ahead of his party ticket in the whole State. The resources of Custer County in addition ' to the mines (which have yielded over two millions and a half of dollars since their dis- covery nine years ago, and of which one-half has been taken out in the last three years), consist of valuable hay lands in "Wet Mount- ain Valley, corn, wheat and vegetables, from Hardscrabble Park, and live stock (cattle, horses, etc.), all over the county besides the improvements on the surface of the earth in town, on fai-m, and on the mines. In Wet Mountain Valley, 2,000 tons of choice "upland" hay, valued at $20 per ton; total, $40,000; 400,000 pounds of potatoes of fine quality, valued at 2 cents per pound, $10,000; and oats, barley, turnips, peas, etc., valued at $15,000, are raised annually; total in the val- ley from farms, $65,000. In Hardscrabble Park, 20,000 bushels of wheat, valued $1 per bushel, and 10,000 bushels of corn, valued at $1 per bushel, a total value of $30,000 of grain is raised annually; besides which gar- den vegetables, honey, chickens and pork, valued at $10,000, are raised annually, and sell readily in the Custer County mines, or in adjacent towns. Under the present im- petus of a good home cash market, in which three-fourths of the articles of food are im- ported from the East, it is reasonable to expect that the farming land of Custer County will soon be utilized if it is possible and eco- nomical to procure water from below, or to hoard it ap in reservoirs for the time of need. There may be another change, now slowly occurring, that may become sufficient to dis- pense with both artesian wells and reservoirs. This change is in the increased rainfall, traces of which may be seen along the eastern side of Wet Mountain Valley. Natural ditches have been washed out since the coun- try was settled, and where, a few years ago; only smooth flats or gentle slopes were to be seen, and the traveler could "lope" his horse with safety, he now must look well to the ground lest he fall into a deep and narrow ditch washed out by the recent rains. The springs have been commencing earlier than they used to, this season (1881), fully a month earlier than usual. If the seasons should continue to improve and the rains increase in the next ten years, as they have in the last s y ^S***i4r^ z::^ "iZ^^C"^ ^f -■^ HISTOEY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 703 decade, the area of available farming land will be greatly increased by nature. Accord- ing to the last assessment, there were only .16,612 acres of land purchased from the Gov- ernment in Custer County, valued at $112,844, and the improvements on the land at $25,- 805. Improvements on public lands not yet purchased were valued at $74,970. LIVE STOCK. The assessment rolls for 1880 show that there were in May of that year, in the county, 13,802 head of cattle, valued af $164,386; an average of less than $12 per head. With few exceptions, these are a hardy half-breed cross, between Texas and American cattle. They range over the valley and among the sur- rounding hills during the whole year until "rounded up" or gathered together and the young stock branded. The round-ups gen- erally commence about the 20th of May and last all summer, after which, until November, those who have beef cattle to ship or sell make extra round-ups, and may be said to keep in the saddle all through the summer season. The losses from severe weather, dis- ease, etc., average about 5 per cent annually; sometimes an unusually severe winter and late cold spring, carries the percentage of loss to twice that amount The annual increase is from 15 to 25 per cent, as a gen- eral rule. Most of those who came into Cus- ter County at an early day with cattle, have become wealthy from sales of their stock, or have their wealth in larger herds of " beef on foot." In the valley, but few cattle are fed over winter for spring beef, it having been found cheaper to buy Kansas-fed beef during the late winter and spring months, and sell hay at $20 per ton. The compliment is returned, however, and the balance of trade kept largely • in our favor, by heavy shipments East every fall, of cattle that have fattened during the summer, without any cost to their owners. According to the last assessment, there were in the coimty 1,890 horses, valued at $90,817, an average of nearly $50 apiece. Horse-raising is a very profitable business, as they winter much better than cattle, though more " prone to wander," and more liable to be stolen. However, this last is a light risk to take, at the present time, as Indian raids are among the incidents of the past, and no organized gang of horse-thieves could long survive in Siis changeable climate. " Loco " is more dreaded. This is a poison weed, which causes, in horses that eat it, a nervous affection that renders them useless and unreliable for years, and, often, for life. It affects horned cattle in the same manner, but in a lighter degree. It has caused so much injury that the State Legislature passed an act, ordering a premium of H cents per pound, to be paid on delivery of the dried weed, to the County Clerk, if dried out to the depth of three irfches below the surface of the ground, during May, June or July, and presented within two months of the time it was dried. Thsre is a great deal of it in Custer County. Probably $2,000 will be required to pay for what will be dried next year, but its destruction will be a great bene- fit to stockmen. The number of mules in the county is re- turned as 304, and only 178 sheep could be found in the county when the Assessor made his last annual pilgrimage. The average stock of Doerchandise was assessed at $125,- 596. Taking it all together, it seems rather a light assessment for a county containing three banks, four newspapers, twelve miles of railroad, ten large reduction works, about twenty steam -hoisting works, a large brewery, Holly Water Works, a telegraph and a tele- phone line, a stage line and about one hun- dred business houses, besides all the improve- ments in Hardscrabble Park and on farms in Wet Mountain Valley; also the improvements and real estate in the towns of Silver Cliff, Eosita, Querida, Ula, Dora and Westcliff, and the homed cattle, the horses, mules and sheep that feed upon a thousand hills. CATTLEMEN, HOESE-OWNEES AND EOUND-UPS. The cattlemen having the largest herds in Wet Mountain Valley, commencing at the upper end of the valley, are W. T. Prink & Co., Hudson & Sieber, W. J. Schoolfield, William H. Hall, and on the eastern side of the valley, Eeuben Spaulding, Ed Gould and "Com." Johnson, and at the lower end of the valley, Richard Houle and the Beckwith Bros. :fv" A'z k* 704 HISTORY OF CUSTEK COUNTY. (Edward and Elton), who have the largest herd in the county. In Hardscrabble Park the principal cattlemen are W. W. Draper, Betts & Pierce and "Williaca A. Watkius. The principal horse-owners in the county are the Hunter Eros., Caldwell Bros., W. T. Frink & Co., Hudson & Sieber and Beckwith Bros., in Wet Mountain Valley, and in the Sierra Mojada, east of Rosita some ten miles, Sol Wixon and Ed Lobach. In Hardscrabble Park, J. A. Betts and W. W. Draper own large herds. Hardscrabble Park is in Round-up District No. 3, which extends from the St. Charles Creek to Grape Creek, and from the Arkansas River to tht summit of the Sierra Mojada, taking in all the eastern slope of that range. Wet Mountain Valley is in Round-up District No. 4, which includes all of Custer County not embraced in District No. 3, and that por- tion of Fremont County lying south of the Arkansas River between Grape Creek and the west line of the county (which crosses the Arkansas River a short distance above Badger Creek); so that District No. 4 includes all of Wet Mountain " Valley, Texas Creek, Oak Grove and Pleasant Valley. The latest laws provide for a State Board of Inspection (to be appointed by the Governor of the State), consisting of five members, who have authority to appoint eight inspectors, who shall take measures to prevent illegal sale, slaughtering or shipping of cattle, to support which a gen- eral State tax of one-fifteenth of a mill shall be levied, etc. The law also provides for the appointment of three Commissioners for each round-up district, who shall appoint captains, or foremen, of round-ups, and designate the times and places of rendezvous for round-ups. It also provides for the sale, by foremen of round-ups, of all " mavoricks," or unbranded stock, the proceeds of which sales are to be turned over to the general fund of the stock association of that round-up district, if not claimed and proven within six months after the time of such sale (in which case the own- er receives the amount for which his stock was sold). In case there should be nostock association in such round-up district, the re- sults of such sales are to be paid over to the Treasiu-er of the County, and credited to the general county fund. Until recently, the law required that all moneys, derived from the sale of " mavoricks," should be paid into the gen- eral school fund. HISTORY or THE MINES. The first discovery of mines was made by the Smith or Pueblo party in 1863. Not pay- ing, they were abandoned as soon as located. The next discovery was by Daniel Baker, who, while riding in the hills on the east side of the valley, to look after his cattle, in the fall of 1870, picked up some pieces of bright galena croppings, near the Senator Mine within the present town limits of Rosita. He took "Pap" Grimes and Dick Allen, of Gil- pin County, who happened to be in the valley, up to show them his discovery. They didn't think much of it, though a hole about a foot deep was dug on the vein, and some speci- mens taken down and put in Mr. BaJrer's cabin window to await results. The writer, while passing through the val- ley, in June, 1870, on a trip to New Mexico, picked up some pieces of "good-looking float," which, on panning out, showed a few specks of gold, and concluded to come in and try it a little more that fall. So, in company with Jasper Brown, of Georgetown, Colo., who traveled with him from Fort Garland, they came over into the valley. It was a very stormy night, in December, 1870, and the snow was nearly a foot deep, as they crossed the dividing ridge with pack-animals, and, fortunately, got to the house of Daniel Baker, in time to get a good supper and shelter for their animals. The Remine brothers, living near by, volunteered to go up into the hills in a couple of days, and Mr. Baker, who at first refused to tell where he had gox his speci- mens that sparkled in the cabin window, finally concluded to show the place, and the whole party went up and made camp at the Rosita Springs, where, in two weeks, the G. W., Lu- cille, Virginia and Alabama, near Rosita, and a couple of copper and gold-bearing veins, in the granite east of Rosita, were located, and specimens sent to the Denver Mint to be as- sayed. The results were to be telegraphed to Pueblo. The writer went down therej and, after waiting a day, and telegraphing for 'J^ HISTORY OF CUSTER COUKTY. 705 them, finally got the returns: The G. W., twenty-seven ounces of silver; the Sena- tor, three to eleven ounces of silver, and the rest from $2 to $7 in silver and gold. This would hardly do to start a new camp on, outside of the mineral belt, at that season of the year. The excitement about the Little Cottonwood Mines, of Utah, was then at its height, and Coloradoans who had gone out there, had sent back encouraging news ; so the writer settled with Jasper Brown for what work he had done, sent |20 to sink a ten-foot shaft on the G. "W., which was four feet deep in loose dirt, and, putting his horses on a ranch, near Denver, took the cars for Salt Lake City and the mines beyond. Jasper Brown took up a ranch in the valley, which he, after a couple of years' occupancy, sold to Hon. Charles Sieber. In 1871, Louis Wilmers, a member of the " segregated " German Colony, who had, with his family and brother, located on the first gulch east of Eosita (or, rather, where Rosita was afterward built), and in which the Game Eidge Mining Company's forty-stamp mill is now being built, located some mining claims near the G. W., one of which was on the " Dia- mond X " ground, a claim recently located in contact, between the granite and porphyry, and now owned and worked by the Orr Bros., with flattering prospects. Louis Wilmers got some Pueblo parties interested with him, but did not get anything rich, though he dug several other holes near his ranch, and finally he moved out with his cattle to the San Juan country, after Eosita got to be quite a town. While out in Utah mining, the writer met V. B. Hoyt, of Pueblo, Colo., who was then (July, 1872) taking a drove of cattle through to Idaho Territory. During the conversation, these old discoveries in Wet Mountain Valley came up for discussion, the writer stating that he believed there were some good mines there, and it was agreed that, if the writer returned to Colorado that fall, and, if he should make any locations at the old camp in Wet Moimt- ain Valley, Mx. Hoyt should be " located in," and the vrriter was also authorized to draw on him (through Ferd Barndollar & Co., of Pueblo), for Hoyt's share of the expenses of locating, development, etc. In September, 1872, the writer came from Utah and went on a prospecting trip, with William J. Eobinson and James Pringle, through Western Colorado, from California Gulch to Washington Gulch and to Grand Eiver, then up Blue Eiver to its head, and over the range to F airplay and down Currant Creek to Canon City, in Fremont County; then up Hardscrabble Canon, to the old camp, in Wet Mountain Valley, where he arrived again, very late, on a cold, stormy night in November (the 14th). The next day, the Hard- scrabble Mining District was organized, the old claims relocated and a cabin commenced. The abandoned Senator claim was opened out, after paying Mr. Baker a few dollars for his claim, and a new shaft was commenced on a parallel vein to the one first opened, which, at the depth of twenty feet, the next spring, yielded ore that ran 145 ounces of silver per ton by the car-load. The Cymbeline, Levia- than, Tennessee, M. T. and Stephen, were located early in the spring of 1873. The Remine Bros., Joseph Schoolfield, Thomas Barrett, Bill Dorman and others came up from the valley and made locations; and Charles F. Eognon, from Pueblo, and Nick Mast, from Ten Mile, came in, and thus the camp started at that time .(April, 1873), con- sisting of one cabin, two windlasses and a dug-out. Bill Bobinson gave free musical entertainments nightly, on the violin, which were attended by the elite, haul (on and the other fellows of the camp, his loudest efforts being received with great eclat and vociferous cheers. We lived a happy life of contented luxury, regardless of the charges of fashion, the mistakes of politicians, or the probabili- ties of another panic. So long as the pitch- pine was convenient, and venison could be had on short notice, we were happy, and borrowed no trouble. Satisfied with our lot in life, we laid off and rested up half the week, and, out of regard to the superstitions inherited from our ancestors and the customs of their more ceremonious descendants, we rested on Sun- days also. On the principle that " change of employ- ment is rest," we would all go out and " shoot at a mark " for fun, and then have a dance on the cabin door, turned down on the floor for "^i ^1 i±. 706 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. the occasion; James Pringle, Master of Cere- monies, who gave lessons in highland flings, Scotch reels and jig steps, on conditions that the rest of us would do the cooking, wash the dishes and chop the wood, which was cheer- fully done, and thus rapidly and pleasantly passed the festive days away until winter was over, and Mr. Hoyt arrived with a disposition to " rush things," and now " business " meant work. The Hoyt Company was soon fully or- ganized. F. BarndoUar, of Pueblo, buying an interest in the company's property, sup- plies were got in and a boarding-house was built, which example was followed by a dozen more log cabins with dirt roofs, and Rosita assumed a local habitation and a name. Frank Kirkham and Louis Herfort hauled up a small wagon-load of goods from Pueblo and opened a store. Edward P. Smith, from the valley, started a saloon. Prynk Roff started a black- smith-shop, and thus, in short order, a live town was started. Among the many new ar- rivals of that spring were Amos Mcl)uffey, of Wyoming Territory; George L. Hanson (the Deacon), from Boston; Hugh Melrose, Ste- phen Vaughn and J. Reese, from Hardscrab- ble Park; Stephen Smith, of Pueblo, who, with L. Herfort and W. Holmes, located the Stephen Mine; Hobson brothers, of Pueblo; Toner Thomasson, James A. Gooch, Frank Thomas, Lem P. Kyger, Frank Roff and family, S. D. Woodrufl" and family, from Mis- souri; William Rumpf, from Montana; James A. Melvin, from Gilpin County, Colo.; Law- rence Panter, an old-timer, from Pueblo; Henry Shriver and Leonard Fredericks, of Maryland; James and William Duncan and D. Bruner, from Parsons, Kan.; H. K. Swift and family, fi-om Pueblo; Samuel Bradbiuy and family, also his sons, Dr. D. J. and Charles Bradbury, with their families, all from Bax- ter Springs, Kan.; L. W. Pattison (who started the second store and made assays) and family, from Monticello, 111.; Hank Kelly, of Illinois, and " our own " A. V. Temple, latest . from Nevada, the scientific oracle of the camp. He was a young man of unusual attainments and alarming experiences. He had been educated at Columbia School of Mines, New York; had edited a Democratic newspaper in New Jersey; had surveyed a portion of the line of the Central Pacific Railroad, and had managed the Candelaria Mine in Old Mexico long enough to use up the company funds, and a kindly freak of fortune induced him to accompany V. B. Hoyt from San Francisco to Colorado. " Eu- clid," as he was soon nicknamed, had a Shakes- perean intellect, and could pan out the few grains of gold from the black sand of the ar- guments of old philosophers, and drop the concentrated wisdom of the ages in gentle showers on his hearers' heads. The camp would have backed him to the last prospect hole against Prof. Tyndal on heat, Proctor on astronomy, or Homer's ghost in description of Mexican customs, and Spinoza, James Stuart Mill, or even Herbert Spencer, couldn't hold a candle to him in metaphysics. Discussion was his forte, hunting his amusement, and any kind of work " his pet aversion." He made assays for us in those early days, and, when he was disturbed by a piece of " improbable " rock, he analyzed it by the cold-dry process, making the chemical re- actions with a lead pencil, and charging $2 for the result on a printed certificate. He lived with us two years, and we both admired and felt proud of him to the last, when the place became too monotonous and " rushing " for him, and he followed his inclinations back to the land of the cactus, the centipede, the senorita, the siesta, the mozo, and of " Poco tiempo." After "Euclid" and L. W. Pattison left Rosita (in 1874), there was no assayer in camp until Theo F. Braun was appointed Territorial Assayer in the summer of that year, at a salary of $500 per year, with his office established at Rosita, which office he held until all Territorial Assayers were legis- lated out of office, in 1876. He has earned the enviable reputation of being " always cor- rect." Joseph Nunviller is the only other as- sayer now at Rosita, while Messrs. Nichols, Cline and Coombs are assayers of good repute at Silver Cliff. We also, in those halcyon days, had David Livingstone, " the nephew of his uncle," the illustrious African explorer, who was soon known as " Little Dunk," who arrived in Rosita shortly after "Euclid." He came from Scot- land by way of the East Indies, Japan, the ^: ;r^ J^l t^ HISTOBY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 707 Polar regions, Arizona and Hardscrabble Canon. By the exuberance of his imagina- tion and the versatility of his invention, com- bined with an elastic memory and fine de- scriptive powers, he kept the camp, in cheerful spirits for two long, dreary winters. In 1875, it became too busy for him. He was suited to the early, struggling days that tried men's souls and stomachs, when pioneers had to live on faith and venison (principally venison), but, when faith became a certainty, and civil ization crowded genius to the wall, it was time to go, and he left. After a three-years run on the Northern Plains, he has lately returned to the scenes of his former success, and, hav- ing taken to himself a wife, has settled down in Custer County, at the town he named, Querida. In 1873 and 1874 was " the winter of our discontent." The Senator ore was " spotted," and the mine would not pay for working. The Chieftain (discovered by Tom Barrett and Frank Thomas), the M. T. (dis- covered by Nick Mast), the Leavenworth, and a few others, were yielding some good ore, but there was no shipping ore in camp. The Humboldt vein had only been opened on the Virginia claim, and had not yielded much high-grade ore. Times were dull, and the camp seemed likely to die a natural death for want of ore rich enough to ship, or for means of reducing what ores we had at home, when Col. Ira James, of Mattoon, 111., early in the spring of 1874 came to our rescue, having concluded that, as the pork and corn Ibusiness was dull in Illinois, he would start a smelter and try his luck in Colorado. So he got a boiler and engine and a large Root blower, which were set up under his own supervision; then he built a stack furnace. The Colonel hadn't had any experience in mining nor in treating ores, but he had " handled hogs " and " knew a good thing when he saw it," and, with the usual self-con- fidence of a Western man, he was ready to take hold of anything that offered a large mar- gin. There was considerable business and wit about the Colonel. He soon had the smelter all complete and ready to fire up, with "Prof." Charles Eognon in charge, who was assisted by an experienced fireman from Golden, Colo- Ropes were stretched around to prevent the crowding of the Professor and his assistants as they piled in the charges, mixed the fluxes, and would remove the bullion as it should run out. The eager crowd of miners and real estate owners sat around on the hillsides outside the ropes and compared notes with the distinguished visitors from the valley. Speculations were indulged in and discussed as to the local effect, and also the general effect, on the value of the precious metals when our ores could thus be economically treated at home. Plans were suggested as to the best method of displaying our first run of rich bullion to an admiring world. The plan that had most advocates was to run it out into 100-pound pigs, and, loading down a train of heavy wagons, draped with American flags and accompanied by a brass band, to send our first shipment to Pu- eblo, and then to St. Louis, and finally to Mat- toon, the home of our illustrious deliverer. But somehow-the bullion wouldn't run at first. The Professor said the uyerts were too low, or the blast was too high, or the flux wasn't just right, and he rushed around frantically, tapping it in front and shoveling in more charcoal and lime in the rear. At last the slag began to run out of the tap-hole. Real estate and undeveloped mining claims rose rapidly in value as a triumphant • shout from the assembled multitude rent the air and echoed from the surrounding hills. It was well the shout came in early on the pro- gramme, for the furnace soon chilled and the charge " froze " in the furnace. For three successive days it was started anSw. Once it was coaxed into yielding a little lead with the slag; but alas! for mining hopes and real es- tate speculations, it finally settled down to a steady blast and a painful chill. Then Col. James was convinced, by the irresistible logic of facts, that it would be more successful as an ice cream freezer than a smelter of ores, and, beijig satisfied that the community had hardly yet advanced to that stage of luxurious effem- inacy when they needed ice cream on a wholesale scale, he joked over his experiment with the Professor, bought a mine, and, say- ing he still had lots of faith in the ores of the camp, and would return as soon as they could be reduced to the liquid form, he bade the ^1^ 'U\ 708 HISTOKY or CUSTEB COUNTY. camp a gay good-bye, went back to Mattoon and got married. Such is life. Soon a change came o'er the silence and gloom of the camp. Those who had reasoned well, from long expecience in the West, that when there is the least sign of Indians, then it is advisable to look out for them, and also, when there seems no chance for success, to have the strongest hopes. Events occur without any adequate cause, and unexpected success from an invisible source is always over- taking som.ebody out West. When a mining camp is considered dead, it is the proper time to look for a big strike and good times for those who wait. In the spring of 1874, the Humboldt was discovered by Leonard Fred- ericks, and sold to Paul Georke, of the valley, a prominent member of the old German colony, and soon after, " bonanza " was struck by O'Bannion & Co., in the Pocohontas, on the same vein. It seems strange that for two years this rich ore body, from which $300,- 000 was taken in a little more than a year, should have been ran over for two years at the edge of town, and not opened before. But such was the case. The same vein had pre- viously been opened and located, along the line on each side of this rich chimney, in the Virginia and Jersey, east of the Humboldt, and on the East Leviathan, West Leviathan, Stephen and Leavenworth claims, west from the Pocahontas. Such is mining. The Bassick was not opened till 1877, and California Gulch was worked nineteen years before the Leadville carbonate mines were found. Mr. Georke sold half of the Humboldt Mine to Messrs. Melvin and Bowles. Both mines were " in bonanza," yielding large quantities of 200-ounce ore. They were also in conflict for 300 feet where the pay was richest. The Humboldt, being the oldest location, over- lapped on the contested ground. A satisfact- ory boundary was soon established by written compromise, and all went merry as a mar- riage bell. Alex Thornton, who had been at Eosita a few months from the Canon City Coal Banks, where he had been in charge for two years, bought the Humboldt Mine for himself, his brother Thomas, and some friends in Sharon, Penn., and had got actively at work taking ore out of the mine, when he was enjoined from any further work on the mine by a court writ, issued on the affidavit and at the request of Gen. Adams, a New York min- ing speculator, who had by some means secured the claim of William Bland, who had set up a stake on the disputed ground before the owners of the Humboldt and Pocahontas had compromised. The General made his boast that he could starve the owners out in six weeks, but missed his calculations, was beaten in the courts, then bought a controlling inter- est in the Pocahontas, paying part cash (which was furnished- by Theo W. Herr, of Denver), and, shortly after commencing to mine in a legitimate manner, he died. Theo W. Herr & Co. then got possession of the mine, paying 75 per cent of the amount due the workmen by Gen. Adams, and soon had sixty to eighty men at work on it. The Humboldt was also running with a full crew. While working a large force of men and shipping rich ore by the car-load, the Poco- hontas Mine was seized and held a week by Boyd & Stewart, of the Bank of Rosita (as described elsewhere). During this change of possession, which was made by the assistance and with the consent of the Superintendent left in charge by Herr & Co., the mine was worked right along, with but little change in the workmen, and was soon back in the hands of Herr & Co., the men who had worked for Boyd & Stewart being out the value of one week's work. At this time, Rosita was at its best. There were 1,000 people living in the town, and all branches of business were flour- ishing. But soon again a change came o'er the busy scene. In their earlier stages, all small mining camps have their ups and dovms, especially when the rise or fall depends mainly upon one or two mines. Below the 200-foot level, the ore streak in both the Poca- hontas and Humboldt got both thin and lean, until it "pinched out," and the Pocahontas shut down, and the Humboldt company dis- charged most of their workmen. The Penn- sylvania Reduction Works shut dowti, the Vir- ginia shut down, the East Leviathan shut down, the Leavenworth shut down; in fact, it came near being a shut down all around. The Lucille, Invincible, Tecumseh, Twenty- six, Polonia, Chieftain and Victoria all fur- *C <> 8 y^ *# k. HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 709 nished a little shipping ore, but not enough to keep up the town, and it seemed as if it would die a natural death for want of ore to ship or capital to develop, when, in January, 1877, the Bassick Mine was discovered, and over half a million dollars taken out in less than a year and a half, and the mine sold to a New York company for big money. Although this mine only gave employment to some fifty men, its "richness and the yield of so much gold gave encouragement to other owners of mines in that vicinity, and development became ac- tive in the vicinity of Eosita; but it was be- ginning to get dull again when the Silver Cliff Mines were discovered by K S. Edwards, Eobert Powell and George S. Hafford, of Eosita. Hafford had crossed the plains with a wheelbarrow in 1859, and Powell and Ed- wards had prospected and leased mines around Eosita for three or four years. • The low, black- stained cliff in the prairie, near the old road which crossed the valley from Oak Creek Caflon to Grape Creek, passing by the north side of Eound Mountain, had often at- tracted the attention of passing prospectors. Joseph Schoolfield and the writer picked into it in 1873, and had a test made of the rock, which only showed two ounces and a half of silver per ton. In August, 1877, E. J. Edwards brought some of it into Eosita, and got Edward Norris to join him in getting it assayed and doing a few days' work on it. One assay, made by Prof. Braun, gave twenty-four and three- fourths ounces of silver per ton, and quite an excitement was raised by an assay of twenty ounces of gold per ton, made by Prof. Buell, and several claims were located in that vicin- ity by other parties. By the assay proving to be a mistake, the claims were abandoned until the following summer, when Mr. Edwards proposed that they should all go over and try the cliff again. The Eacine Boy was located on the 29th of June, 1878. It was a few weeks before rich ore in quantity was found, but specimens rich in horn silver were found from the time of location. The mine was bonded for $26,500, for three months, to J. W. Bailey, of Denver, in August, $1,500 being paid down, and, within a week after, both the owners and the parties bonding were taking out from the top of the cliff, and some seventy - five feet back from, its face, ore that ran by the car-load from 80 to 800 ounces of sil- ver per ton. It is claimed that the money to pay the bond was thus taken out while the or- iginal owners, who had reserved the right to work the mine also until it should be p&id for, took out an eq[ual amount before the mine was paid for. Other horn silver and choride infiltrations were found in that vicinity, but none so rich nor extensive as this one. There seems to be ng reason why these in- filtrations may not be found below the surface debris anywhere else in the valley. Had this cliff been covered with the usual surface wa.sh or alluvial deposit, the probability is that the richness of those horn silver ores would not have been known for ages to come. Having been discovered shortly after the Leadville carbonate mines had begun to pay immensely, and the whole country was getting the Leadville craze, a rush was made to Silver Cliff, which had, in addition to its horn silver mines, carbonate fields, but which have since developed into fissure veins of low-grade py- rites of iron and zinc blende ores, that, as yet, have not furnished much metallic wealth to the world; but development is still going on, and, if continued, will doubtless result in something. "The Cliff" grew apace, and soon was a town of importance, with lively competition for the town offices, and most of the modern improvements were adopted on short notice. Mines were sold and stocked, mills built, and times were booming. In two years. Silver Cliff ranked as the third city in the State, and is now in the third year of its rapid growth. The excitement about the mines around the Cliff drew attention to the mines about Eosita, that had been neglected by capital for years, and the whole of Custer County has had a steady growth for the last two years and a half. Mines have been opened along the Sangre de Christo Eange, and all through the Sierra Mojada. Even at Hardscrabble Park, within a mile of Greenwood Post Office, tel- luride mines have been opened that yield rich ores, and cobalt and nickel have been found in the Gem Mine, a few miles northwesterly from Silver Cliff. ^f 9 1^ 710 HISTORY OF OUSTER COUNTY. THE MINES DESCRIBED. The Senator was the first mine from which paying ore was shipped. It is situated within the town limits of Bosita. The ore shipped in 1873 and 1874 was taken out at a depth of twenty to forty feet, and consisted of silver glance in round globules, imbedded in a very hard, blue, flinty quartz. The mine is now opened to a depth of 200 feet, and shows a large, soft fissure vein, with fine particles of low-grade mineral scattered through it. The croppings of this vein stood up above the sur- face like a stone wall, three feet high in some places, and could be plainly traced for 600 feet in length. It has the best surface show- ing of any mine in the county to-day, but, so far, development shows no more of the rich surface ores which assayed over one thousand ounces of silver per ton, and by the car-load ran 145 ounces per ton. This mine was worked extensively in 1873 and 1874, but, with the exception of assessments (the $100 worth of work per year required by act of Con- gress), there has not been much done on it since. There is a parallel vein some fifty feet below the main vein which carries quite a body of low-grade galena ore near the surface. This mine is in the condition of many other good prospects; part of the present owners will neither work themselves, nor sell, nor lease on such terms as would induce other parties to take hold and pay something for the chances of success. The Humboldt, Pocahontas, Leviathan (East and West), Stephen and Leavenworth Mines were all extensions of the Virginia Mine, first located by the Hoyt Mining Company in 1872. The Pocahoaitas happened to open the vein " in bonanza," and all along the line, in 1874, 1875 and 1876, the vein was opened for two miles in length. The rich pockets were along most of ttie Pocahon- tas claim, on part of the Humboldt and East Leviathan claims, on the west end of the Vir- ginia acd on the east end of the Leavenworth claims ; that is to say, out of two miles opened in length, about two thousand five hundred feet were found to pay, at (or near) the sur- face, and continued to pay to the depth of 250 feet or 300 feet. Although the theory is that a vein which pays in one place will pay all along its course, if sunk deep enough, it has not as yet proven true in this case; perhaps more depth will find it. There is twice the development done on mines in Nevada, with- out expectation of pay, than has been done on the unprofitable claims on this great fissure vein. Most of the rich surface ores, which were mainly gray copper and sulphuret of copper in baryta, contained in a clay " gouge " or soft-rock crevice from two to four feet wide, gave out at the average depth of 800 feet, and all the mines on this vein have now shut down excepting the Humboldt. Most of them have been unworked for about tw.i years. The Humboldt, which, imder the able management of Alex Thornton, had yielded a quarter of a million of dollars above the 300-foot level, was carried down through a " fault " 400 feet deeper. Part of the time, there was very little yein, and no ore, to follow; the vein was badly broken up. At the depth of 700 feet from the surface, the formation became solid again, and Mr. Thornton commenced drifting, at right angles with the vein, up the hill. The vein had previously been dipping dovm, and with the hill, at an angle of about thirty degrees from perpendicular. He "cross-cutted"- at the depth of 712 feet, until he found the vein in place again. It was 208 feet ■ up the hill, on a level, from the bottom of the main shaft, and had a good granite hanging wall and a solid porphyry foot-wall. The vein was larger than at the surface (five feet wide), and the ore similar in character, and the con- tact vein thus foijnd pitched up or into the hill, at an angle of about fifty-five degrees from the perpendicular. A shaft, or winze, has been sunk to the depth of 100 feet on this lower portion of the vein, showing it to be a continuous and well-defined mineral vein. Practically, this gives unlimited extent to the mine, and there is no doubt that work will soon commence all along the line. The indi- cations at present are that the Pocohontas^ East Leviathan and Leavenworth will com- mence deep development in a few weeks, and probably E. N. Daniels will also start up the West Leviathan again, as he had a well-de- fined, large vein of spar, with galena and gray copper of low grade in it, at the depth of 350 feet, when he stopped work a few weeks ago. This development in the Humboldt also indi- ;r^ '-^ <^ S" HISTORY OF CUSTER COUKTY. 113 cates that all veins found in the porphyry- belt, within a distance of half a mile from its northeastern surface contact, with the granite formation, will most likely be in contact be- tween " the two formations before they shall have reached the depth of 700 feet. This is going to add greatly to the value of mines along this northeastern edge of the porphyry belt; as a contact between two formations, go- ing down nearly vertical, is considered the surest for permanency and the most favorable for the formation of large bodies of rich ore. The Oomstock Mines of Nevada, the Tomb- stone Mines of Arizona, and the Horn Silver Mine of Utah, are all contact formations ; and many of the best mines in Old Mexico, that have yielded immensely for generations, under the Spanish rule, were contact veins. With the exception of the flat carbonate of lead contact deposits of Leadville (which lie below porphyry and above limestone), this is the only extensive contact vein, or ore body, known, ' and partially developed, in Colorado. The results of proper development on this mineral- bearing contact may soon bring Custer County to the front as one of the few big-paying min- ing camps in the world. The contact is plainly marked at the surface from Rosita to Grape Creek, a' distance of about ten miles, and carries ore in veins and chimneys all along the edge, and, within a distance less than the Humiboldt main shaft is from the edge, may be mentioned the following prom- ising mines: The Diamond X, adjoining the Game Eidge Consolidated Company's new mill; the Game Eidge properties; the G. W., Cymbeline, Victoria, Index, Polonia, Del Norte and Twenty-six, all near Rosita; the Horton, Dominion, Hector, First National, Bassick, Poorman, Carolus Magnus and Ophir, near Querida; the Ophir, Del Monte, Melrose and Bunker Hill, near Carolina Gulch ; then comes four or five miles of prairie, carrying the con- tact to the Bull-Domingo on the one side (in the granite), and veins of the carbonate beds on the other side (in. the porphyry), with an immense oxide of iron vein directly on the contact, which here seems to be nearly vertical, judging by the results of boring 300 feet on the large iron deposit mentioned above. The greatest mineral curiosities of Custer County are the chimney deposits, principal among which is the Bassick Mine, now 700 fcet deep. For a few feet below the surface, it was only a small streak of watery quartz, and so discouraging that the first discoverer abandoned it. Mr. Bassick, who was then at work by the day in a tunnel close by, noticed the quartz streak in the four-foot hole that had been abandoned, as he passed it daily going to and coming from his work, and concluded to get some of it assayed. It ran seventy-eight ounces of silver per ton, which was much better than anything he had been getting out of his own prospects, so he located the abandoned prospect, and, at twenty feet, had opened up a chimney, ten feet in diam- eter, of bowlders coated with ore, that ran up to two hundred. ounces of silver, worth $1.15 per ounce, and one ounce of gold, worth 120, per ton ; and so it kept on increasing in value of gold and in width, with a close pinch at sixty feet deep that looked as though the mine was gone; but it came in all right again a few feet deeper, with pieces of wood charcoal im- bedded in the bowlders of country rock at from 100 to 200 feet deep, and has continued to widen as it has been sunk, until it is about sixty feet in diameter at 700 feet deep. It has never had any pinch since the first one encountered at sixty feet deep, which was rather a split and break in the ore body than a pinch, and the proportion of gold to the silver in the ore, in value, has increased to 80 per cent of the whole amount. The coating, which was light at the depth of ten feet (where the bowlders were first found in the shaft), was quite light, and contained a good deal of chloride of silver; at 200 feet deep, the coating on the bowlders (which lay in a gangue of gouge cement and white talc), was from half an inch to three inches thick, many of the shells being broken loose from their bowlders and into small pieces, presumably by being moved around after they were formed. The chimney of ore does not run down verti- cally, but dips to the south about ten degrees for 260 feet, then dips to the west and north- west, so that it is, at 700 feet deep, about one hundred feet from the perpendicular shaft which starts from the tunnel into the mountain, at the point where it has tapped the ore body. to iii, 714 HISTORY OF CUSTEK COUNTY. about three hundred feet in and almost under the center of the top of the hill. At this point, an engine-room has been excavated, and hoist- ing works erected. The ore, when hoisted to the engine level, is sent out in cars and dumped into the concentrating mill at the mouth of the tunnel, where about ten tons of everything in the chimney are concentrated into one ton of ore, which averages about 1400 per ton. This mine paid largely, about three fourths of a million dollars being taken out, while under the management of the discoverer, E. O. Bassick, who sold for |330,- 000, in July, 1879, to the present company, re- serving one-tenth interest in the mine. Under the scientific management of the new stock company, there has been one dividend of $25,- 000, or 25 cents a share, paid (in March, 1880). There are several hills in the vicinity of Rosita that closely resemble the rounded knoll in which the Bassick mine is situated. Similar quartz resembling chalcedony has been found in the Iron Mountain Mine, and rounded bowlders in a clay and quartz crevice have been found in the Geyser Mine, near Rosita, and gold has been found in the Ophir, Silver Coin, Cymbeline, and in several other mines near Rosita. It would not be surprising nor unex- pected if several other rich chimneys of ore- coated bowlders should be opened in that vicinity within a year or two,- The Bassick Mine had very little showing of quartz, and no bowlders on top, so it will probably be by tun- neling into similar hills that similar deposits will be found. "Whether this Bassick Chim- ney will lead to a contact fissure between por- phyry and granite, as the Humboldt, no far- ther from the contact on the surface, has, at the same depth, developed, or whether it will always continue down, as a chimney, getting larger and richer (or poorer), are problems that can only be solved by deeper develop- ment. In the meantime, it is to be hoped that another dividend will be paid to encour- age the stockholders to sink deeper. The Bull-Domingo, situated about three miles northerly from Silver Cliff, is a "blow-out," or deposit in granite, of galena ore, running high in lead and low in silver, and which has been opened to the depth of 350 feet. It is claimed that 20,000 tons of ore have been taken out already, which have averaged about thirty-five ounces of silver per ton, being a total yield for the mine, to date, of $700,000. The company owning this mine is another $10,000,- 000 stock concern that has paid no dividends, though the previous owners made money work- ing it, and the mine was sold for about $300,- 000 to the present company when it was less than one hundred feet deep. The company have a fine "plant," a cage, and complete hoisting works, and a good concentrator, which concentrates about sixty tons of the ore as it comes from the mine into about twenty tons of 70 per cent lead and sixty ounces silver ore daily, when the supply of ore is sufficient to keep the concentrator running. The ore has been running very low in silver lately, and the stock selling at $2 per share, but both may improve as depth is gained. The ore body . is irregular, averaging, perhaps, forty feet long and twenty feet wide, being in some places much larger, in others, closed out, almost, by a " horse," as was the case between 200 and 300 feet deep. The ore is not at all like the Bassick Mine. It seems to be a ga- lena " blow-out," from some larger body, pos- sibly a contact deposit below, for it is but a few hundred yards in the granite from the line of contact on the surface; and, while the porphyry has overflowed the granite at Rosita, as shown by recent Humboldt developments, it may be that the granite overlies the por- phyry along the line of contact near Grape Creek, and it may, at the depth of 600 or 700 feet, be found directly under the Bull-Domingo shaft. The ore has bowlders of all sizes, but not much rounded, and " horses " of granite imbedded in it, so that not over one-third of the ore taken out concentrates into shipping and smelting ore. The Ben Franklin is a chimney deposit now down about 300 feet deep. It lies between the Bassick Mine and head of Carolina Gulch, and about two miles northwesterly from Rosita. Over $65,000 have been taken out of this, but owing to unfortunate " hitch- ings " between the owners, it has remained idle for over a year. The character of the ore in this chimney is a mixture of carbonate of lead and pyrites of iron and copper, with gray copper, chlorides and silver glance, in small •K ^ HISTORY OF CUgTER COUNTY. 715 quantities, the " gangue," or crevice material ' accompanying the ore is blue flinty quartz in immense masses, near the surface, changing into a softer " gouge matter " at the lower depths. There is a great deal of ore in the bottom workings of this mine. Like all the other chimneys in this section, it dips away from the perpendicular shaft. If it has any origin from below (the accepted theory) it must certainly lead at a greater depth to a large body of rich ore. The LeavenwortU Mine, the farthest west- erly of the claims developed, and paying, on the great Humboldt-Pocahontas vein, has helped very materially in the last two years to keep up the reputation of this famous vein. While the Humboldt Mine has yielded about $300,000, the *Pocahontas $200,000, the Vir- ginia $20,000, the East Leviathan $25,000, the Stephen and West Leviathan have furnished but little ore, and that end of the vein would be in disrepute if it were not for the hand- some returijs from the Leavenworth just beyond them, which has yielded about $100,- 000 since 1879. The mine is now in unfort- unate litigation, which will in all probability, soon be settled, and the mine set to work again in the old style. This mine is opened for 600 feet in length and the main shaft is over 300 feet deep. The mines of the chlo- ride flats around Silver Cliff come the nearest to being "free-milling" ores of any in Col- orado, though only about 65 per cent of these ores can be saved by raw amalgamation. The word " base," which is used all over the Pacific coast to distinguish refractory ores (as they are not very rich nor abundant there), is sel- dom used in Colorado, for nearly all our ores of silver are base, and have to be roasted before either smelting or amalgamating them. This roasting causes an additional expense, varying from $10 to $30 per ton, above the expense of free-milling or raw amalgamation. If the jRacine Boy, Plata Verde, Vanderbilt, Milkmaid and other Silver Cliff mines were "base," there would be a loss in treating them; as it is, they have to be worked on a large scale with the most improved machin- ery and cheap transportation from the mine to the mil], to leave a margin above the expenses of taking out and milling the ore. The Eacine Boy Mine has yielded (according to C. C. Perkins, the practical and gentle- manly Superintendent of the company's mill), 10,000 tons of ore which averaged $35 per ton, with the old dry crushing-mill in operation, and the new forty-stamp wet crusher has probably taken out nearly as much since it started up, over four months ago. The expense of treating this ore is estimated at $8.50 per ton, including interest on money invested, wear of machinery, and all running expenses. The tailings from this mill is concentrated by stirring up as it passes, with a stream of water, through a long flume, and is quite an item in the list of " results," these tailings being the heavier manganese ores that carry considerable silver, but not in the chloride form, and will not amalgamate raw. These Silver Cliff chloride deposits seem to be super- ficial infiltraticms in the crevices and seams of the porphyry, which, in this immediate vicinity is not different from the country rock for miles around, until the granite is reached. This Eacine Boy and part of the Silver Cliff Mine adjoining it, seem to be the only ones of those deposits that will pay at present, but perhaps with similar large mills of the wet crushing pattern put up on the mines, many that are now sleeping might awake to active and profitable life. As this ore extends only, on an average, in the best mines, forty feet deep, there is, of course, a limit to the paying capacities of these mines. Although true fissures and contact veins are generally con- sidered the best mines (because more exten- sive in depth and more even in their width) there is a limit (between 3,000 and 4,000 feet deep) when hot water, bad ventilation, cost of hoisting to the smf ace, pumping and timbering overbalance the profits of treating ordinary ores, in the best mines. The history of mining in the United States will show that among sil- ver mines a considerable number of comfort- able fortunes have been made from the uncertain deposits (or rather the deposits that are certain to give out). Considering the amounts expended in actual development and the time they have been vyorked. White Pine, Nevada, Little Cottonwood, East Canon, Dry Canon and Leeds District in Utah, Lead- ville and Silver Cliff in Colorado, Pioche, ±iL 716 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY Paranaget and Eureka, Nevada, and many other "deposit" camps (including the chim- neys around Rosita), furnish proof that they are a good class of mines to have. They are generally easy to work, and when worked out, there is no further waste of capital and energy hunting for a continuation of the deposit beyond reasonable limits, while mill- ions of dollars have been thrown away in trying to make fissure veins pay that " had good walls, good indications, and were in good formations" but did not carry ore in paying quantities. The Game Ridge Consolidated Mining Company's property, situated on Game Ridge at Rosita, is similar to the Plata Verde and other claims on Round Mountain near Silver Cliff. It is evsti mated by the company's expe- rienced Superintendent, Gen. Carl Wulsten, C. E. and M. E., that, in a b.)dy of ore already exposed in this property, 800 feet long, 100 feet deep and 200 feet wide, averaging twen- ty-five ounces of silver per ton, there are over $2,000,000 profit " in sight;" estimating the cost of taking out, transporting on a tramway, and milling the ore, at $5.50 per ton. As soon as the large forty-stamp mill (a dupli- cate of the new Silver Cliff Company's mill) now being erected, gets at work, treating 100 to 120 tons of this ore per day, " we shall see what we shall see." The "carbonate beds" lying between the chloride deposits of Silver Cliff and the gran- ite formation in which the Bull-Domingo is situated, are simply soft clayey fissure veins carrying refractory, low grade ores. There are several mines being developed in those carbonate beds, that promise well, and some ore has been shipped that paid a profit above expenses. The Lady Franklin, the Song Bird, and several others now being worked (some of which are over 200 feet deep) will soon determine the value of deep mining in this section. Most of the ores are pyrites of iron, zinc blende, and decomposed quartz, with oxide of iron in it. On the Sangre de Christo Range, west of Ula,' in Verde District, the Verde, Alta, Zoo, Venez- uela, and other well-defined veins, carrying galena, gray copper and quartz, have been opened up, and developments indicate that. with capital to assist, some of these mines will soon become prominent bullion producers. All along this range, from the Yeoman Mines neai- Music Pass to the Lake of the Clouds and the head of Lake Creek, good prospects have been found. In the granite formation, from four to six miles east of Rosita, gold has been found in "encouraging" quantities. A shipment of 800 pounds frojn the Golden Eagle Mine to Argo yielded $19.50 in gold and four ounces of silver per ton. The Orinoco, Gold Hunter and others in this vicinity furnish free-gold ores also. These ores are oxide of iron and sulphuret of copper in large fissure veins of quartz, stained by iron. Several good pros- pects have lately been opened at the head of Antelope Creek. The great inducement to capital to purchase or assist in developing Custer County mines is the fact of a continu- ous contact for ten miles in length, between two mineral-bearing formations, the granite, similar to that in which the rich and perma- nent fissiu:e veins of Boulder, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties are foimd, and the por- phyritic trachyte, which is always a good sil- ver formation. Next is the softness of the rock in the porphyry formation or the con- tact, and of the easy working "gouges" that accompanies the ore, in almost every such vein. And last, but not least, are the con- veniences of the locality, its pleasant climate the whole year round, its railroad facilities, and the cheapness of all supplies. Coming from the East to Wet Mountain Valley, either by way of Hardscrabble Cafion with its towering walls and dark ravines, or up Oak Creek Canon from Cafion City, over "the grade" (where we have a fine view of Pike's Peak and " the wide plains that lose themselves to the vision in the dimness of distance"), then down into the tortuous gorge, through which Oak Creek dashes and mur- murs, the appreciative traveler will be charmed by the variety of grotesque shapes carved out of the solid rock beneath a restless sea, " when time was youn^" and by the sudden changes that confront him at every turn. Or, if the cars are taken up Grape Creek Cafion, its -,^ !l^ HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 717 wierd windings and dizzy depths furnish enough suggestion of danger, to delight, with out overawing the beholder. And then, after a few hours' ride by either route, the top of the hills are reached, the eye is startled by a rare vision of the Sangre de Cristo Range piled up in rugged masses against the west- ern sky, and reaching from end to end of "Wet Mountain Valley, with only one depression ^ (the Music Pass) in sight, beyond which, to the south, it loses its continuous range char- acter, amid a dazzling collection of snow-clad pointed peaks, the highest in Colorado, the famous Sierra Blanca. Nowhere else in Colo- rado can the tourist so easily and so sud- denly arrive in the immediate presence of such grandeur. The eye has hardly become accustomed to the change from] prairie to mountain scenery before the glory of the snowy range is upon us; we are at a proper ■ distance to drink in the full extent of the view while the memory of the monotonous plains is fresh in the mind. Before us stands, in silent majesty, the bewildering array of lofty ragged peaks, reaching above the line of vegetation, and beyond the line of snow, in sharp pinnacles, that carry the mind up into the inaccessible region of thin air and ether, " where the stars have their orbits and comets maintain their erratic flights." Vast snow-bands in midsummer, clinging to the bare rocks wherever they can maintain their hold among the higher summits, give us a vivid idea of the " age of ice," when immense glaciers plowed their way over these mountain tops, and when, by desolation and death, the surface of the young earth was being pre- pared for the preservation of the lower orders of life, and finally for the habitation of " man with an immortal soul." In our times, this desolation has passed; the various forms of life have existed, appropriated the means of continued existence from their surroundings, and after transmitting life to their progeny, " each kind after its kind," they have died and many, species have passed away forever. Who can say also but the Mound Builders of the Mississippi Valley, the Aztecs of Mex- ico, or the more ancient race of Toltecs whom they supplanted, and who are supposed to have moved South from the mysterious North- ern lakes; or even the earlier " cave dwellers," who drew ladders up after them, to their holes in the rocky canon walls along the San Juan River and its branches, in Southwestern Colorado, and who also were extinguished, may not have gazed in admiration and won- der at these same snowy peaks as we do now. We know the unprogressive and brutal Indian has been here for ages before the Mexican hunters, herders, and small farmers came in, and gave names to these mountains and streams, that it is our part of the great plan to occupy, possess and develop. Reasoning by analogy, we cannot help wondering if we, too, must pass away, and be succeeded by another stiperior race, who will pity our igno- rance and blame our superstition? When Macauley's New Zealander gazes in silent speculation on the ruins of St. Paul's Cathe- dral, a few thousand years hence, will some Siberian philosopher gaze in equal astonish- ment on the railroad grades and deep mining shafts of Custer County, and conclude that the former were thrown up by savages for defense, and the latter, were dug to live ml But let us return from the region of fancy to the scene before us — ^those mountain peaks, the scarred veterans of a past age that have sur- vived the many and severe shocks of old Father Time. At early mom, or late at even- tide, they assume so many fantastic changes with their moving retinue of clouds, that the mind is- constantly being pleased, or awed, by the variety of combinations " presented to the brain through the eye." Occasionally at morn the mountain tops pierce " the blue cold vault of heaven," while half their height is hidden by murky clouds, which overspread the valley at their feet, as though sulphurous fumes from nature's laboratory below had found vent, and impending ruin was at hand. Again, thp rugged range "the Blood of Christ," shows through a misty veil, its high- est gorges, and its glittering peaks, dim as an incumplete picture, suggestive, mysterious, sublime. And 6ft at eventide the western sky is speckled o'er with a gorgeous proces- sion of fleecy clouds, all aglow with nature's gayest tints, such as the artist's memory may capture, but his hand can never paint. And thus the constant sun goes bravely down along ^ i) >^ 718 HISTORY or CUSTER COUNTY. the far-off sky behind the snowy range. Again, it is a chilling, blinding snow-storm from those ancient sentinels, that sweeps across the valley and drives all living things into their artificial shelter, or into the pro- tecting "lesser hills" beyond It was only last September that Mr. P. H. Kelly, a strong young man, lost his life in such a storm, while crossing this range. Silver Cliff is pleasantly situated in the Wet Mountain Valley, between Grape Creek and Bound Mountain, the Denver & Rio Grande station of Westcliff, being about a mile and three-quarters from town, and Grape Creek about a quarter mile further. It has not the surrounding, half-timbered hills of Rosita and Querida, to break the occasional severe winds that sweep the level plain, but is compensated, to a certain extent, by a finer view of the Sangre de Christo Range. The dis- covery of horn silver in the summer of 1878, in the stained porphyry cliff, thirty feet high, standing up like a wall on the side of a prai- rie hollow, was the cause of our metropolis coming into existence. Messrs. Mcllhenney & Wilson built the first house, a small frame building, in September, 1878, and kept a store and accommodation post of6.ce on Cliff street. The town grew rapidly, the assessed valuation of town property for last year (1880), was about $510,000. Being on Sec- tion 16, which with Section 36, in each town- ship is set apart for public school purposes by the organic act of the State, there was some "nice figuring" to throw that benefit into the hands of private speculators; and it was suc- cessfully accomplished. The town site of Silver Cliff, consisting of 320 acres, was pat- ented 8th of December, 1879. Thus another slight fact is added to the proof of ages, that in cases of contest between enterprising and liberal private individuals, and salaried public officials, where valuable public property is at stake, the State " gets left." There are two daily and three weekly newspapers published at Silver Cliff. One of the largest and most complete mills in the State (the Silver Cliff Mining Company's forty-stamp mill), which treats 100 tons of Racine Boy ore per day. by the wet, raw amalgamation process, is steudily pounding away, night and day, just outside the city limits. The sampling works of the Silver Cliff Milling Corapany, under the able management of F. Dillingham, with a capacity of fifty tons per day, is also located outside of the city limits, and adjoining the forty-stamp mill mentioned above. This company has sampled and bought nearly all the ore from the Bassick, Bull-Domingo and other leading mines in the county for the past two years and a half. The Plata Verde forty- stamp mill, dry crushing and amalgamation process, is also situate within a short distance of the town. Silver Cliff is the base of sup- plies, and the trading-point for the mining region immediately around it and for all the settled lower end of Wet Mountain Valley. The following is a list of town oflSicers since the town was organized in 1878 : Elected February 12, 1879— Mayor, J. J.' Smith; Recorder, G. B. McAulay; Trustees —Frank S. Roff, Walter B. Jeness, Mark W. Atkins, Samuel Baeden. Elected April, 1879- Mayor, Frank S. Roff; Recorder, G. B. McAulay; Trustees — Webb L. Allen Samuel Baeden, Samuel Wat- son, O. E. Henry. Elected April, 1880— Mayor, S. A. Squire; Recorder, C. D. Wright; Trustees— O. E. Henry, John Dietz, William French, Alfred Wood. Elected April, 1881— Mayor, H. H. Buck- waiter; Recorder, George W. Hinkle; Trust- ees— R. Rounds, W. T. Ullman, William Fei- gle, E. Meyers. Rosita, the county seat, is situated on the eastern edge of Wet Mountain Valley, among high, rounded hills, and about seven miles southeasterly from Silver Cliff. It was the first town built up by the mines, and dates back to a short time after the organization of Hardscrabble Mining District, in November, 1872. The town was first laid off into thirty- nine lots of 200x100 feet, around the present town plaza, in which the spring is situated which furnishes the town water at present. The town site, consisting of 360 acres, was patented March 22, 1876. Like all mining towns, it has had its ups and downs. It did not amount to niuch of a town until 1874, i) 1^ A^ -^ HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 719 when it went up with a rush, and was ex- tended to nearly a mile square, laid off into lots of the originally established size. Dur- ing the earlier days, parties locating were limited to one lot (i. e., no two lots located by the same party could be held within one-half mile of each other), and there was a general district law for acquiring building lots by putting $20 worth of improvements on each lot within sixty days, and recording it. While the present population of Rosita is only about 1,00U— in 1875, the town had over 1,500 inhabitants, three churches, a bank, a couple of good hotels, and a dozen business houses. It gradually drooped and became duller as the Cliff arose in 1878-79, many of the houses being moved away to that metropolis ; but the discovery of paying ore in many of the fis- sure veins in the immediate vicinity of the town has, within the past year, given the place a new lease of life, and it seems now fairly entered on an era of active prosperity. The Humboldt-Pocahontas vein, opened to the depth of 800 feet, and located for two miles in length, is partly in the town site. The Eosita Brewing Company's "plant," costing $70,000; the Pennsylvania Reduction Works ; with a capacity of ten tons per day by the roasting, chloridizing and amalgamating process, costing $20,000; the Haverly Reduc- tion Works (roasting and leaching process), with capacity of eight tons per day, and cost- ing $15,000, are all in the town limits, and the large forty-stamp wet process, raw amal- gamation mill (with Bruckner cylinders to roast the concentrated tailings), now being erected by the Game Ridge Consolidated Mining Company, and estimated to cost $160,- 000, is within half a mile of town. Although the business part of the town was closely .built up of light frame buildings, and a sweeping fire had been expected for years (as is the common fate of hurriedly-built mining towns in the West), it did not come until the 10th of March in the present year, when it made a clean sweep, leaving the business portion cleared off for a better class of build- ings. The estimated loss was $130,000, only partially covered by insurance. The fire broke out about 2 o'clock A. M. in an ice house in the rear of F. L. Miller & Co's. store on Tyndal street, and from there extended impartially along on both sides of the street from Slavick Bro.'s store and saloon (on the corner of Euclid avenue and Tyndal street), to the schoolhouse, and burning out the entire four blocks (with that one exception of Slavick's building). These four blocks have since been established by town ordinance, as "fire limits." There being no fire depart- ment in Rosita, the rates of insurance were high, ranging from 5 to 10 per cent, but nearly all buildings burnt were partially insured, and all the merchants were busy- selling goods again within a few days. Since the fire, C. 0. Smith, Slavick & McLaughlin and F. L. Miller & Co., have put up large fire-proof buildings. The County Recorder's [of&ce is a neat and tasty building. A city hall, used as a court- room, and costing $2,000, has lately been fin- ished. A large brick hotel, and several other fire-proof' buildings, are projected to be built as soon as the material can be got on the ground. The result of the late fire has been to scatter out the business that had been con- centrated on Tyndal street, Euclid avenue. Grouse and Quartz streets, all getting a share of the business, which must increase as the mines are developed. Rosita depends entirely on springs for a water supply. There is no large stream nearer than Grape Creek, seven miles distant, though plenty of water for mills and domestic purposes can be procured in Wilmer Gulch, where the large mill of the Game Ridge Con- solidated Mining Company is now being erected. It is probable that water for the town: supply will be pumped into a reservoir above the town, from which point its own gravity will throw it over the top of the highest building. Rosita is the highest town in Custer County, having an altitude of 8,600 feet above sea level, which makes it a delightful summer resort, with, perhaps, a few rather warm days, but the nights are always cool and comforta- ble. In winter, there is generally a cold spell of a month or six weeks, including ihe holidays, and sometimes enough snow for sleighing. The timbered hills and pleasant drives, with variety of scenery, make Rosita an attractive place to live in. ^■P 9 \ ' ^:^l ?^ 720 HISTORY or CUSTER COUNTY. The first Boaxd of Town Trustees consisted of W. H. Holmes, President; James Pringle, Edward P. Smith, John Hannenkratt and Martin Bromley, Trustees, with James A. Gooch as Town Clerk. They held office from 1874 to 1876, and were succeeded by Toner Thomasson, President; Alexander Thornton, Ellison 0. Cheely, Charles Eognon and James A. Gooch, Trustees, with John H. Leary as Town Clerk, who were succeeded, in January, 1879, by Edward A. Austin, President; Charles F. Blossom, Alex Thornton, Moses Blancett and James A. Melvin, Trustees, with J. "W. Brewster as Town Clerk. They were succeeded, in January, 1880, by Samuel L. Chapin, President; H. W. Kelly, Henry Shriver, Edward Norris and Louis Slavick, Trustees, with F. A. Tuttle as Town Clerk In March, 1881, Rosita became an incorpo- rated town, and, in the next month, April, the following People's Ticket was elected: C. C. Smith, Mayor; James A. Gooch, Charles Schaale, D. S. Smith and H. "W. Kelly, Alder- men, and P. A. Tuttle, Clerk and Recorder. Querida has been built up within the past two years, around the Bassick Mine, and about two miles northeasterly from Rosita. It has a population of about 500. The concentrat- ing-mill and the offices of the Bassick Mining Company are here. There is a daily mail and there is a telephone connection with Rosita. Todd Bros., McKee & Ryan and Wilson & Lawrence, keep stores here, and Dr. J. Wal- ters has a drug store. A lai^e three-story hotel is also now being built. Ula, the oldest town in the valley, and sit- uated about three miles northwesterly from Silver Cliff, has a post office and had a store in 1870. It was headquarters for the valley trade for years, but after the mines began to yield, it was first eclipsed by Rosita, and afterward, almost extinguished by Silver Cliff. It has about 100 inhabitants. A. J. Falk- enburg keeps the only store, and is Post- master. Dora is a small, quiet and pretty place, built up around the Chamber's Concentrator, about six miles northeasterly from Silver Cliff, and rather out of the main mineral belt, though there are some well-defined fissure veins in the granite formation in the vicinity, that show encouraging indications. The Cham- ber's Smelter has a capacity of twenty tons per day, and has a fine location, as it is at the head of Grape Creek Caflon, where there is plenty of water, and is on the line of the Den- ver & Rio Graade Railway, so that ores from the adjacent mines, or even those at a distance, can be economically transported there and treated. Blackburn is a station on the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, and, in Grape Creek Caflon, near the line of Fremont County, about twelve miles northeasterly from Silver Cliff. There are some promising mines in that vicinity, and at Titusville, near by, and it is fast assum- ing the shape of a permanent town. KESOBTS or CUSTER COUNTY. As yet there has been no wonderful mineral spring discovered in this county, not even an ordinary hot spring, though Pueblo furnishes the Red Creek Springs, twenty-five miles east- erly from Rosita, and near the county line; and Fremont County furnishes the Soda Springs, only a few miles over the county line, in Grape Creek. Caflon. With the large amount of unsettled country in the Sierra Mojada and Sangre de Christo Range, it will not be surprising if some of the best medici- nal springs in the State, should, erelong, be found in some of these mountain recesses, that, as yet, are almost imexplored, .outside of the small mineral-bearing sections. The sit- uation of Wet Mountain Valley is so pleasant and its scenery so magnificent, that it seems complete in its glory without the addition of Chalybeate Springs or romantic caves. But a remarkable cave has been lately found by J. H. Yeoman, who, while engaged in pros- pecting for mines, near the Music Pass in the Sangre de Christo Range, discovered an open- ing into the limestone mountain, above tiinber line, which he has since, with other parties, followed into the mountain some 600 feet, where he found a circular shaft about three feet in diameter, which they followed down to a depth of 275 feet on a rope. There is a current of air coming up through this shaft, indicating another opening into the mountain. Further explorations may lead to startling discoveries. Only small chambers ^^ iJy. Xj^^^^^J^Myt^^-tyfj;? A' J^ HISTORY OF ' CUSTER COUNTY. 723 and inferior stalactites have been found in the explored portions of the cave. The Lake of the Clouds, situated high up on the side of the Sangre de Christo Range, is one of Custer County's favorite summer resorts. It is reached by a trail of six miles from Judge Waltz's ranch, which is pleasantly situated in a picturesque spot, about nine miles northwest from Silver Cliff, where the Judge and his amiable lady keep hotel during the summer months. It is one of those delight- ful retreats where one can fish with some hope of success in the adjacent streams, or can, with rifle, prowl among the hills and get an occasional shot at large game, or can " read and rest and feast in peace, the happy summer days away. FISHING. The man who is patiently enthusiastic, and who also understands the peculiarities of taste and the retiring disposition of the voracious speckled trout, may yet find "quiet pleasure" in catching many a fine mess of the daitity beauties, on either Colony, Taylor, Brush or Texas Creeks (tributaries of Grape Creek), that have their sources among the everlasting hills and ancient snowbanks of the " Blood of Christ" Range, or even among the fenced ranches on Grape Creek, if the villainous deceiver is thoroughly proficient in the " bloodshirsty pastime of capturing the poor innocent fishes, by the vilest deceit." And yet, there is a lurking possibility of danger, and a ducking, in the pursuit of this cruel sport. Some of the " old residenters" of the finny tribe, among the Rocky Mountain streams, are large enough to suggest a hope that the old Puritans' poetic prayer, on Isaac Walton's account, may be answered by some of his followers out West: "Behold Old Isaac with his barbed hook, How treacherously he prowls along the brook. Avaunt! thou wicked man of sin. May God then grant thee strength, thou little trout When he, with cruel haste, would pull thee oat, That thou mayst pull him in." PERILS OP HUNTING LARGE GAME. The " range bears,"' a sort of small grizzly bear, are numerous in the mountains of Cus- ter County, and seem to be more ferocious than bears generally are in Colorado. The large " silver tip," or the " cinnamon bear," more frequently found farther north and west, do not seem to range much in this section, though occasionally found here. Most bears will run, and even she bears will leave their cubs and hurry ofi^ when shot or shot at, but these savage fellows that range around the borders of Custer County, have attacked and almost killed two men, beside wounding sev- eral others. In September, 1873, a young Ken- tuckian, named Crawford, while out hunting some four miles east of Rosita, was attacked by a bear. Without shooting, he dropped his shot-gun, and started to climb a tree near by, but was caught by the bear and his leg pawed and bitten, so that he was laid up for several days; by leaviag part of his boot and pants and a little of the calf of his leg behind, he managed to get out of the bear's reach, and set up in the tree until the bear got tired of watching him, and left, when he, too, con- cluded to go home, and got to camp safely, but with a lame leg. In the fall of 1875, James Duckett, an old hunter, and the father of a family of hunters, was attacked, at the lower end of Wet Mount- ain Valley, by a bear that he and his two sons had caught in a trap. The old man was so badly injured that his life hung by a thread for weeks, but he finally recovered. The bear had been shot twice in his vital parts, before he got hold of the old man, and would, without doubt, have " completely killed " him, if his son, John, had not completely killed the bear, by a desperate blow on the head with his rifle-barrel; which broke its skull in. In 1877, "Moccasin Bill" (William Per- kins) was attacked by a panther, while out hunting in the Sangre de Christo Range, and, if a friend hunting with him, had not arrived on the scene in time, it would have gone hard with him. As it was, there were eleven bul- lets sent through him (three of them in its head) before it consented to die. In the Spring of 1881, William Nues was attacked after breakfast, at his camp-fire, near Humboldt Gulch, in the Sangre de Christo Range; not being armed, he attempted to get his pick out of a log, in which it was sticking near the fire, but before he could do so the bear had him knocked down, tore his scalp V, !>^ 724 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. nearly off, chewed his right arm in a horrible manner, and tore great pieces of flesh out of his left leg, and then left him lying helpless. After awhile, he recoverec^ sufficient strength to crawl three miles to the cabin of Samuel Isabel, who sent for Dr. ShoemaJfer, at Silver Cliff, who came and dressed the wounds. Several have had narrow escapes, and, by climbing trees, saved themselves from m.utila- tion, or death, "'or both," as the court might see fit to inflict. Messrs. Crow and Grivens, of Rosita, in 1874, were chased by a bear, which first saw them across a lake, Jiigh up in the mountains, on the Sangre. de Christo Range, and, as he seemed to be in earnest about getting hold of them, and they were not out hunting bear that day, they dropped their guns, and climbed a tree a piece, where, from their perches of safety, they watched the bear paw the bark off their trees in vain attempts to get at them, and, after he had given it up and left, they came down, rejoiced to think they had de- feated him, and returned home. Colorado could furnish a number of in- stances of men killed, or badly used up, by bears. Young Vance was killed, in 1868, by a bear that he had mortally wounded, and which was found dead beside him, near his father's ranch, about ten miles south from Idaho Springs, and near the head of Bear Creek. William Yule, of Gunnison, was badly used up by a bear which attacked him without provocation, on the head of Rock Creek, Gim- nison County, in 1877, and several Mexicans have been killed by bears around Sierra Blanca and the Spanish Peaks, and along the Sierra Mojada. EEDUCTION WORKS. In addition to the 40-stamp wetrcrushing- mill and the sampling works, managed by F. Dillingham, at Silver Cliff, and the Penna. re- duction works, dry crushing, 30-stamp-mill and Bruckner roasting cylinder, is the Hav- er ly reduction works, roasting in reverberatory furnace, and the experimental lixiviation works, of six tons capacity per day, at Rosita, all of which have been previously mentioned. There are, near Silver Cliff, the dry crushing 40- stamp-mill of the Silver Cliff Mining Com- pany, and its duplicate, the Plata Verde 40- ' stamp dry crushing and amalgamation-mill, the Adelia 10-stamp amalgamation- mill, near Westcliff, on Grape Creek, the St. Joseph Smelting Works, reverberatory and cupola fur- naces, of twenty tons per day capacity, about two miles northwesterly from Silver Cliff on the east bank of Grape Creek, the Bull- Domingo Concentrator, making twenty tons of concentrates out of sixty tons of ore per day, on Grrape Creek, two and a half miles from Silver Cliff, and at Dora, the Chamber's Smelter, twenty tons capacity per day, with concentrator attached. There seems to be something wrong about these reduction works. The only mills that have run successfully were the Penna. Reduction Works, for a year and a half, at Rosita, and the dry 40-stamp- mill, first used in treating Racine Boy ore, and the new wet crushing 40-stamp-mill, which has been treating 100 tons of Racine Boy ore per day for the last four months, and which is still grinding up 100 tons per day. It may be said to be the only mill now in suc- cessful operation in the county, and it is one i of the best in the State. All the other mills failed after a few months (or weeks) of " suc- cessful" running; for whoever knew the man- ager of a quartz-mill, smelting works or new process, to acknowledge it a failure until cold, stubborn facts compelled him to submit to the inevitable and shut down. The smelters hardly got started before they were shut down. And yet it pays to ship the higher grades of ore from Custer County, for treatment, to other counties in this State. The concentra- tors and the sampling-mill (at Which ores are bought for shipment), do a good business, while every mill and smelting works in the county is idle, with the exception of that 40- stamp wet- mill at Silver Cliff. It is merely a repetition of the old experience, that milling on a small scale will not pay, and that the ores of one section must be mixed with those from another section, to make a good smelting ore, the different varieties of rock and ore helping to smelt each other, and saving the expense of artificial fluxes. Smelting is the cleanest method of reduction known (excepting lixivi- ! ation for some special classes of ore), saving I from 95 to 98 per cent of the precious metals; V ^^=±1 v^ HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 735 while by roasting with salt and amalgamating (the mill process), on about 80 per cent of the assay amount can be calculated on, and by raw amalgamation it is oftener under than over 70 per cent of the assay value of the ore. In all cases, reduction on a small scale is very wasteful. NEW PROCESSES. We have now three new processes being constructed to utilize the low grades (25 and less per ton) ores of Custer County, which have to be removed in getting out the higher grade ores, that will bear assorting and ship- ping abroad. Prof. Waitz has commenced experimenting, at Eosita, on a working scale with his new process, and, if successful, of which he has no doubt, intends to erect reduc- tion works of fifty tons per day capacity. The Duryea process, which will soon be running at Silver Cliff, consists in applying a hot blast and burning coal oil spray, to a charge of ore in a cylindrical furnace, thirty feet long and six feet in diameter, reyolving, with a slight incline to it It is lined with asbestos and plumbago, to prevent the intense heat from sublimating the whole concern. ThR thedry is, that all the metals will be vol- atilized and driven out of the furnace, into salt water and fresh water-chambers, where the metals will be precipitated and washed off in sluices, for separation, which completes the process, at the rate of 13 per ton of 2,000 pounds. The ore, as the metals are volatilized and driven off, runs out of the lower end of the furnace in the form of bar- ren slag. Dr. Fawcett's process consists of a furnace, with secret chemicals and mysterious patent attachments, for desulphurizing, freeing and generally " fixing the ore up," to yield its all and a little more, at the usual new process rate. Experience, that cruel but reliable teacher, has demonstrated that, while carefully selected ore can be treated successfully, on a small scale, and with all the conveniences of a com- pletely equipped laboratory at hand, when the same principle applied on a working scale won't work. Those who have watched the successive attempts to revolutionize the art of treating ores, and "payoff the national debt " with the surplus saved above the amount taken out by the " old-fogy processes," and at " less than half the cost," will still smile, as they hear of another, and still another, new-process man, fresh in the field, as sanguine and "absolutely certain" as all the previous fail- ures have been. BANKS. The well and favorably known banking firm of Stebbins, Post & Co., for years in the same business in Cheyenne and Laramie, in Wyo- ming Territory, and at, the noted gold mining camp of Deadwood, in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory, established a bank at Silver Cliff in Tebruary, 1880, with J. V. Jillich, Cashier. Though only in business a year and a half there, they seem to be doing the most o'f the business. They have the custody of the county funds, and return considerably more capital for taxation than both the other banks in the county. The Custer County Bank, F. A. Eaynolds and F. W. Dewalt, proprietors, with Fred S. Hartzell, Cashier, was established at Silver Cliff in November, 1878. Its officers re- turned $2,500 capital for taxation, in May, 1881. The Merchants' and Miners' Bank of Eosita is the successor of the old Bank of Eosits, which was started by Stewart & Boyd in 1875. After they had* "burst up," in their attempt to jump the Pocahontas Mine, H. A. Mclntyre bought the fixtures, and kept the bank going a year or two, with W. T. Blake as Cashier, until he (Mclntyre) got in- volved, by some indiscretions in connection with a bank at Lake City, Colo., in which he skirmished beyond the bonds of legal safety and was doomed to pine behind the prison bars a couple of years. The Bank of Eosita collapsed through sympathy, and Eaynolds Bros., of Canon City, Colo., bought out the fixtures and good will, and kept it, under man- agement of F. Dewalt, Cashier, for a year or so, when he became a partner in the concern, and afterward. President, the name having been changed to Merchants' and Miners' Bank, with P. J. Sours as Cashier. We learn from Mr. Sours that both Eaynolds Bros, and F. Dewalt have no further interest in the bank, having sold out to Ohio friends of Mr. Sours, ^ -^^ tk^ 726 HISTOKY OF GtiSTER COUNTY. who still remains as Cashier; |5,000 was re- turned for taxation, in May, 1881. TUNNELS. Custer County furnishes additional proof that a tunnel is all right when run to strike an ore body already found, and which can, by tunneling, be worked to much better advan- tage; but that tunneling for blind lodes is very uncertain. It generally happens that, if the blind lode is found at all, it is struck in a " lean place," by the tunnel. There are a doz- en tunnels in this county, based on fine calcula- tions that were founded on rich jGloat, and the supposed course of prominent veine, that are, to a certain extent, failures; that is, they are failures to the extent that they have found no " pay," but establish the facts that " indica- tions are favorable," and "further develop- ments might result in something," The Michigan Tunnel has been pushed 900 feet into Tyndal Hill, near the Bassick Mine, about two miles northeasterly from Eosita, with, so far, only favorable indications. The Nemaha Tunnel, the Centennial Tunnel and the Indian Tunnel, all in the same section, were equally unsuccessful, while the Bassick Tunnel, to work the mine, which was already opened, is some 280 feet long, taps the mine about 200 feet deep, and saves hoisting and pumping to that extent. There is a 'tunnel also into the Pocahontas Mine, tapping it at a depth of 180 feet; there is also a tujinel, about 500 feet long, on the Silver King Mine, in Verde District, which taps the mine 300 feet deep. Among the many ventures of tunneling for blind lodes, the Custer County Tunnel, running into Eobinson Hill (about a mile and a half northerly from Eosita), stands alone, a par- tial success — at least, not a total failure, so far as finding profitable ore in quantity is concerned. At the distance of 360 feet in, the First Chance lode was struck, which carried from a few inches to two feet of ore, averag- ing seveiity ounces of silver per ton, some of it yielding as high as 250 ounces per ton. This vein has been worked by drifting fifteen feet easterly and eighty-five feet westerly, from the tunnel, and also by a fifty- foot shaft at the west end of the west drift, from which another drift has been run fifty feet westerly — all on an ore vein of gray copper and chlo- rides, in decomposed quartz and soft gouge. At the distance of 650 feet into the mountain, another vein has been struck, and some good sulphiuret ore taken out; but development has not yet been sufficient to determine its extent or value. The officers of the company are W. A. Ofienbacher, President; George S. Adams, Vice President; E. N. Daniels, Treasurer, and Dr. D. M. Parker, Secretary. This com- pany was organized in January, 1879; the stock is divided into forty shares of the par value of $100 each, being a total stock valu- ation of $40,000, which is a decided improve- ment on the "ten million" stock companies, without any development. DIAMOND DRILL. The Custer County Prospecting Company have arrangements with the American Dia- mond Drill Company, of New York, to use their drills in Custer County. The result of their search underground, as we learn from their Superintendent, Mr. J. H. Taylor, are: At the depth of 465 feet in the Ben West claim, near Silver ClijEf, the ore showed pyrites and sulphurets of iron, and black sand, containing a little silver and less gold, about twenty feet thick. On the Augusta claim, near Querida and the Bassick Mine, three holes were sunk — 393, 408 and 420 feet re- spectively. It is claimed a body of rich ore, similar to the Bassick, was found, but the claim is not sustained by subsequent workings. A prospect drill hole has also been sunk, about 400 feet deep, between Querida and Eosita, which resulted in nothing like pay. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Silver ells' has the only fire department in Custer County, which is a volunteer depart- ment, composed of the G. B. McAulay Hose, the H. M. Zeigler Hose, the W. J. Eobinson Hooks, No. 1, O. Guiles, Foreman, and Hooks No. 2, J. Nugent, Foreman. This department has done good service since its organization, and hardly receives the support it deserves from the citizens. An indignation meeting was held lately, at which there was some talk of disbanding, but wiser counsels prevailed. '«'^^^-'^$'Vt--^:S>-t Atz '^ HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 737 and the organization still continues to be on hand when duty calls. At a tournament held at Colorado Springs lately, the McAulay Hose team, in competi- tion with the best in the State, took the first prize, beating the time of the celebrated Bates Hose team, of Denver, previously the best record in Colorado. There is a fire association, also, at Silver Cliff, of which H. E. Austin is Chief, J. J. Mitchell, Assistant, and "W. H McKoy, Secre- tary. The Western Union Telegraph Company carry messages from Silver Cliff to the out- side world. Between Silver Cliff and Ro- sita, the Union Telephone Company have stretched a wire, and do business on a basis that makes the former grasping monopoly seem like a benevolent institution. The charge for transmitting messages over the seven mile line, is 65 cents, nearly as much as the coach fare between these two places. Rosita will not be content until she has railway and telegraphic communication with the rest of the civilized world, the absence of which can hardly be explained when we consider the importance of her business and the value of her mines. A survey is now being made for the extension of the Denver & Kio Grande Railway to Rosita. ROSITA BEEWINQ COMPANY. This company was established at Rosita, with a capital of 11,500, in 1874, has grown to be one of the large manufacturing enter- prises of the county, it being now one of the largest breweries in the State. The establish- ment consists of a three-story concrete build- ing, 40x60 feet, with iron roof and capacious cellar, besides a large granary, engine-house, boiler-house, large vats for freezing ice and an ice-house, capable of holding 200 tons, bot- tling- house, etc. Recently, a new boiler, 30- horse-power, has been added. The brewery has a capacity of twenty barrels at a brew, which could be made daily, but, at present, only two brews (forty barrels) are made per week. The quality of the beer is excellent, equaling the best Milwaukee beer, the cli- mate and water being favorable to the manu- facture of an extra article. This beer was shipped in large quantities to Leadville and to Saguache County, until recent home com- petition in these places has taken away the profit. The establishment is worth 170,000. BENCH AND BAR. There are three terms of District Court held annually in Custer County, on the fourth Tuesdays in March, July and November. Judge Charles D. Bradley is Judge of this Sixth Judicial District, including Fremont, Custer, Saguache, Rio Grande, Costilla and Conejos Counties. J. W. Brewster is Clerk of the District Court for Custer County. Previous to the recent establishment of this Sixth Judicial District, Custer County was in- cluded in the Third Judicial District, since the organization of the county, John W. Henry being Judge' of that district. There are four terms of County Court held annually in Cus- ter, a well as in other counties in Colorado. Terms commence on the first Mondays of March, June, September and December. George S. Adams was the first County Judge, having been appointed to that office soon after the organization of the county, in May, 1877, by Gov. John L. Routt. He was succeeded, in January, 1878, by "William A. Offenbacher, who was elected in the previous October, and he was succeeded by Joseph W. Brewster, who "donned the judicial ermine" in January, 1881. Cases arising luider the revenue laws, or in which titles to public' lands are concerned, or cases of crime committed on Indian or mili- tary reservations, or in cases arising between citizens of different States, etc., in which the amount involved exceeds $50O, etc., come under the jurisdiction of the United States Courts. Custer County is in the Southern or Pueblo Division of the district of Colorado, in the Eighth United States Circuit, which includes the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Colo- rado. Judge Samuel P. Miller, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, is assigned to this circuit. John W. McCrary, late Secretary of War, is the present Circuit Judge, and Moses Hallett is the Untied States Judge for the District of, Colorado. These Judges are all appointed by the President of ^7. V 728 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. the United States, and confirmed by the United States Senate. They hold their of&ces during life or a term of good behavior; they cannot be removed, except for cause, and by impeach- ment, and their salaries cannot be dimin- ished while in office; so they are practically above the influence of popularity, fear of dis- missal, or having their salaries cut down, and their impartial decisions regardless of the parties interested or the clamors of the peo- ple, as exemplified in the late struggle for possession of the Grand Canon of the Arkan- sas Kiver, by two powerful railroad corpora- tions (the Denver & Rio Grande and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6), gave a fine illustration o E those wise provisions imbedded in the Constitution of the United States, while at the same time it exposed the weak- ness of our State and county authorities, who are elective and dependent, to a certain ex- tent, with short terms of office, and are kept busy figuring for the futmre; they allowed both parties to keep an armed force in the canon for months. The first lawyer who flung his war-like banner to the raountain breeze in Custer County, and " for a consideration proportioned to the merits of the case," offijred to assist and hasten, or to delay and defeat, the course of justice, according to the statutes, in such cases made and provided, was William H. Thurber, of Kansas, who arrived in Rosita in the simamer of 1873, and immediately began to instigate a paying case; but times were too dull, and undeveloped mining property hardly worth the cost of litigation in any in- stance, where there was a prospect of a case being worked up. Finding the practice of law unprofitable, Mr. Thurber secured a posi- tion as chief manipulator on a windlass, until, by " actual manual labor," he had secured the means to convey himself further East, where there were greener legal fields, with better picking for men of genius, well versed in the intricacies of the law. The next to arrive and hang out his shingle as attorney at law was George S. Adams, who arrived at Rosita on the 22d of February, 1874, and he came to stay. He built up a good practice from the start, and has taken up his abode perma- nently at the county seat Among the other leading lawyers and law firms of Rosita, are Judge John W. Warner, and his son, Frank P. Warner, M. M. Kellogg and Judge W. A. Offenbacher. At Silver Cliff are A. J. Rising, Col. B. F. Montgomery, Lee R. Seaton, Sampson & Adams, J. T. McNeely, Paren England, C. E. Moreman, J. K. Smith, W. D. Kiddoo and J; J. Rowen. It has been truly said that the practice of law was a sure stepping-stone to political preferment. In Colorado, it seems to be a sure stepping-stone to mineral wealth. There is hardly one of our prominent lawyers who has not secured valuable mining inter- asts, as "contingent fees." Instance: Rising & Montgomery, who hold large amounts of stock in the Bull-Domingo and other noted mining claims. At present, the Justices of the Peace are: For Precinct, No. 1, "Com." Stephen Decatur, one of the Commissioners from Colorado to the Centennial Exposition; Precinct No. 2, none; Precinct No. 3, M. M. Kellogg and J. I. Council; Precinct No. 4, none; Precinct No. 5, Art Wallers and Eli Gill; Precinct No. 6, J. P. Gavin; Precinct No. 7, Alex Stewart and C. F. Berry; Precinct No. 8, R. H. Hoffman; Precinct No. 9, Daniel Todd; Precinct No. 10, Addison Law; Precinct No. II, none. MEDICINE MEN. Dr. Perry, who could hardly have stood up as an M. D. against the iron-clad provisions of the " act to regulate the practice of medi- cine" passed at the last session of the State Legislature, was a free genius, untrammeled by the prejudices of the old school, or any other school of. medicine. He arrived in Ros- ita early in the fall of 1873, and, by way of introduction to the public, gave a series of free lectures in the town hall, on "Hygiene," which were both amusing and startling. He displayed a wonderful ignorance of the pro- nunciation of the most ordinary chemical terms, was perfectly at home among theories he did not comprehend, and, like Columbus, or Napoleon, he scattered accepted theories to the winds, and planted his own conclusions proudly on their ruins. Still, with all his originality and disregard for old fogyism, somehow he didn't take. He was probably J) >y A. it, HISTOBT OF CUSTER COUNTY. 729 considered a little too advanced in his ideas, and then it wasn't a good time for doctors anyway. Times were too hard to indulge in any sickness or other extravagance. There was very little whisky drank, and no killing going on. Alter awhile, the doctor concluded he could manufacture nitro-glycerine as well as anybody else, from a receipt he had cut out of a scientific newspaper, and was negotiating for the raw material, with the intention of introducing its use among the miners, which might have given him and the county seat a raise, when some one told him of a fine chance for a talented lecturer, in Kansas, and he left. The last heard of him, he was lecturing on Phrenology and Kindred Sciences, and exhib- iting the wonders of a magic lantern to the benighted inhabitants of that region. Shortly after his departure. Dr. O. E. Sperry, of Virginia, located at Eosita, and, in September, 1874, Dr. W. Sharp Camp, of Denver, located at Rosita also. Dr. D. M. Parker, of Vermont, arrived in 1878, and Dr. P. L. Eice, of Georgetown, Colo., located here in November, 1879. All of those physicians still reside and have a good practice at the county seat; most of them have acquired val- uable mining interests in this vicinity. At Silver Cliff, Dr. H. C. James, who is one of the appointed State Board of Medical Ex- aminers, has had an extensive practice since his arrival in the metropolis in 1879. Among others who have located there since are Drs. George H. Russell, D. T. K. Deering, F. A. Limberg, H. B. Pinney and E. T. Shoemaker. There are only two dentists, and not a single new- school practitioner in the county, as yet, neither hydropathic, botanic nor mag- netic healers, which leaves a good opening for competition in the life-prolonging line. SECRET SOCIETIES. Masonic — Eosita Lodge, U. D. (under dis- pensation), was instituted on the 8th of April, 1879, with George S. Adams, W. M.; H. G. Dickson, S. W.; and Richard Lloyd, J. W. It was chartered as Rosita Lodge, No. 36, A., F. & A. M., in September, 1879. The char- ter members were George S. Adams, H. G. Dickson, Richard Lloyd, R. N. Daniels, F. A. Tuttle, William S. Schoolfield, George W. Wheeler, George S. Hafford, William Yeo- mans, Moses Blancett, Ellis Sergeant, James Duncan and A. H. Titus. The first officers under the charter were privately installed on St. John's Day, Decem- ber 27, 1879, for the ensuing year, and were George S. Adams, W. M. ; H. G. Dickson, S. W.; h. N. Daniels, J. W.; Ellis Sergeant, Secretary; James Duncan, Treasurer; and William Rumpf, Tiler. The first jewels used were made of tin, which were soon replaced by more costly material. Meetings were held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, in the Odd Fellows Hall, which was rented for that purpose. This hall was burnt up, and everything, excepting the charter belong- ing to the lodge, was burned. However, there was no interruption of the meetings; new furniture and new jewels were pur- chased, and meetings, held, temporarily, in the schoolhouse, until the new fire-proof Masonic Hall, now being built, which will be an ornament to the town and a credit to the order, shall be completed and dedicated. There are now twenty-foui' members of this lodge in good standing. The present officers, privately installed last St. John's Day, are: George S. Adams, W. M. ; Ellis Sergeant, S. W.; F. A. Tuttle, J. W.; A. W. Manning, Sec- retary; Charles F. Nelson, Treasurer: and A. H. Titus, Tiler. Sangre de Christo Lodge, A., F. & A. M., U. D., was instituted at Silver Cliff in April, 1880, with William R. Frisbee, W. M. ; O. A. Hem-y, S. W. ; and Benjamin C. Adams, J. W. It was chartered as Silver Cliff Lodge, No. 38, A., F. & A. M., in September, 1880, and O. A. Hem-y elected W. M., in December, 1880. There are about forty members of this lodge, which is in a flourishing condition. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, in Odd Fellows Hall. It is expected that a Chapter will soon be organized at Rosita. ODD EELLOWS. Rosita Lodge, No. 21, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted in February, 1875, with Samuel V. Vernon, N. G., and C. W. Rash, V. G. It now consists of some sixty members in good standing, and is well sustained in all works *?; 9 fy fk 730 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. of benevolence connected with the order. This lodge is probably better off financially (though they lost their hall by the fire of the 10th of March, 1881) than any other lodge in the county. Meetings are held every "Wednesday evening. They are now building a good fire- proof lodge as an upper story to Slavick Bros. ' new granite building on Tyndal street. Silver Cliff Lodge, No. 35, L O. O. F., was instituted. The charter members were B. C. Parcells, George J. Hanley, John Daily, W. A. Staples, Edward A. Mitchell, W. E. Howe, J. J. Mitchell, S. Spahn, George Pairchilds, George Turner and Andrew Gormley. There are, at present, about fifty members in good standing. The following officers were elected for the present year: B. C. Parcells, N. G. ; George J. Hanley, V. G. ; John Daily, Record- ing Secretary; W. A. Staples, Permanent Secretary; Edward A. Mitchell, Treasurer. Meetings are held every Tuesday evening, in their hall over Stebbins, Post & Co.'s Bank. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. Silver Cliff Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 14, was organized in November, 1880, with the following officers: H. A. Whitney, P. C. ; J. T. McNeely, C. C. ; Hy Zeigler, V. C; E. T. Clarke, Prelate; Frank Shur, K. E. S. ; J. J. Vetter, M. E. ; W. Terry, M. F. This lodge has fifty-two members, and meets every Friday evening over Stebbins, Post & Co.'s Bank. They are now organizing a Uniform Division of Knights of Pythias. ANCIENT OKDEK OF UNITED WORKMEN. A branch of the Ancient Order of United Workmen has lately been organized at Silver Cliff PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. In October, 1877, Colfax Grange was organ- ized at the upper end of Wet Mountain Val- ley, with O. F. Sanford, Master; Benjamin Worth, Secretary; W. Louther, Chaplin; Daniel Baker, Treasurer; Mrs. Sanford, Po- mona; Mrs. Worth, Ceres; and Mrs. Freeman, Flora. This Grange had twenty-eight mem- bers, and, being the means of much social en- joyment among the settlers in the valley, until it was disbanded in 1879. It also was the means of furnishing, without the charge of "the middle man," any goods purchased through the Grange agencies that were estab- lished in Eastern cities. A Glrange was also established at Hardscrabble Par^ in 1879, which did a great deal of good in bringing neighbors together for frequent social amuse- ment and mutual improvement; but this Grange, we understand, was also allowed to die out. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Custer County is divided into twenty school districts, the principal ones being Silver Cliff, No. 13, with 490 enrolled scholars; Rosita, No. 1, with 288 enrolled scholars; Querida, No. 12, with 100 enrolled scholars; Ula, No. 5, with fifty -five enrolled scholars; and Wet- more, No. 9, with 50 enrolled scholars. There are about 1,400 of school age, in the county, that is, between six and twenty-one years old, of which number some 1,100 are enrolled, and about 600 is the average attend- ance. Rosita has a new schoolhouse, with three departments, costing |4,000, for which bonds have been issued, payable at the option of the School Trustees of that district (No. 1), in from five to twenty years, and drawing 12 per cent per annum interest. Silver Cliff has a schoolhouse with four departments, costing 12,000, and almost every school district in the county is well provided with the means of a good common-school education for those who seek it. The first public school taught, in what is now Custer County, was in School District No. 8, in Fremont County, in Wet Mountain Valley, about four miles southwesterly from Silver Cliff; a five months' term was taught here in the winter of 1871-72, by Miss Louisa V. Virden, in a log cabin, with an average attendance of about a dozen scholars. There had previously been a school taught in con- nection with the German Colony, for a short time. The school fund is kept up by a county tax of 5 mills on each dollar's worth of prop- erty — amounting, this year, to about 14,000 — that will be collected, in the different school districts, by the share of apporbionment of the State School Fund, which, at present, amounts to about, 1600 per annum, in the case of Cus- ter County, by fines collected for crimes com- mitted, and from sales of "mavoricks," that ^rv ■rs^-. ,• '^arf. /-^^^<^^^^ ^^^..^i^^^^^^^ ^'. >]^ HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. 733 is, the unknown and unbranded stock collected in the round-ups, ai-e supposed to be sold at auction for the benefit of the public schools. Mr. Fowler, of Canon City, was the first County Superintendent of Public Schools, having jurisdiction over the public schools of Wet Mountain Valley, from 1870 to 1872. He was succeeded by Dr. J. W. Bell, and he by Eev. Mr. King. Dr. J. M. Hoge was elected County Superintendent in 1875; was ap- pointed by Gov. Boutt on the organization of the county of Custer; he was succeeded, in January, 1878, by J. H. Tebbs, who was suc- ceeded, in January, 1880, by Dr. D. M. Par- ker, the present incumbent, who has system- atized the affairs of his office, and is evidently the right man in the right place. POST orrioBS. Ula was the first post office established within the present confines of the county; it was established in the spring of 1870, J. A. Davis, Postmaster. J. P. Falkenburg is the present Postmaster. Colfax, at the upper end of the valley, for the accommodation of the German Colony, was established in June, 1870, with Mr. Judd, President of the Colony, and successor to Carl Wulsten, as Postmaster, who was succeeded in the fall of 1870 by Mr. Danforth, and he by Mr. Todd in 1871, and he by Azor Palmer in 1872, and the post office was removed, after the breaking-up of the colony, to the Palmer ranch, lower down, but still in the upper end of the valley. After Mr. Palmer's death, in 1875, Daniel Baker was appointed Postmaster. In 1878, the name of the office was changed to Blu- menau, and it was removed to Grape Creek, back toward its original location, and Mr. Haynes was appointed Postmaster. He was succeeded by Carson Kanruth, the present incumbent. Rosita Post Office was established on the 8th of July, 1874, with Toner Thomasson as Post- master, who was succeeded by his Deputy, James A. Gooch, in April, 1878, who is the present incumbent, with W. R. Samuels, Deputy. It was made a money order office in July, 1877. The business of the office from January 1 to May 1, 1881, was: Re- ceipts from stamps, etc., 13,441.52; box rents. $124; number of money orders issued, 1,654, amounting to $24,633.90. Silver Cliff Post Office was officially estab- lished on the 28th of January, 1879, with k. M. McEl Hinney as Postmaster. W. L. Ste- vens, of Alamosa, had got the appointment, but Mr. McEl Hinney was determined that no ''stranger from a foreign strand," should oust him from the office he had started, and the fight began, which Mr. McEl Hinney won, but has had to keep up the fight against odds, and Gen. McNeely, Chairman of the County Republican Committee ever since, even to this day. At last accounts, Mr. McEl Hinney was monarch of all he surveyed in the post office, and the- opposition somewhat discour- aged, but still in the field. The receipts of the office, which is also a money order office, for the last quarter of 1880, were 12,779.37; number of money orders issued, 94'' ; total receipts for the year 1880, $9,456.06, making it the third post office in the State, in amount of business, and the position of Postmaster worth striving for. Greenwood Post Office, in Hardscrabble Park, was established in 1873, with J. Q. A. Mom^oe as Postmaster, who still retains the. same official position. Querida Post Office was established in February, 1880, with D. McKee as Postmaster, who was succeeded by Daniel Todd, the present Postmaster, on the 12th of November, 1880. Dora Post Office was established December, 1879; I. Mears is Postmaslier. Clinton Post Office (seven miles easterly from Silver Cliff), Clayton Naylor, Postmaster, and Wetmore Post Office, below Greenwood Post Office, in Hardscrabble Park, S. H. Callen, Postmaster, have lately been established. Rosita, Silver Cliff, Querida, Dora and Ula have daily mails both ways; Blumenau, Clinton, Greenwood and Wetmore, have tri- weekly mails. Camargo Post Office, situated about three miles easterly from Ros- ita, was established about July, 1880; W. H. Smith is Postmaster. It has no established mail route, since the coaches were taken off between Pueblo and Rosita. THE PBES8. In September, 1874, Charles Baker, of Col- orado Springs, started the weekly Rosita ^^ ^ IH^ 734 HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTT. Index, with Ben Lane Posey, of Mobile, Ala., as editor, who left, in 1876, and went to Den- ver to practice law. The paper was a success from the start. At first, it was neutral in politics, but soon became thoroughly Demo- cratic, and aided materially in carrying the coimtyfor that party. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Baker sold out the Index to Charles F. Johnson, who changed the name of the paper to The Sierra Journal, and its politics to the Eepublican extreme. It has been ably man- aged under the new regime, and has done a great deal to advertise the camp and to keep its party down to the old Republican princi- ples. The Silver Cliff Prospect, daily and weekly, is one of the best conducted papers in the State. Its tone is always spicy and refined, its politics liberal Democratic, and its col- umns well filled with local, business, social and mining items. It was started on the 5th of May, 1879, as the weekly Silver Cliff Pros- pector; on the 5th of June, 1879, it came out as a daily. After changing hands a couple of times, it became the property of the pres- ent management, on the 11th of February, 1880, when the paper came out as the Daily Prospect. W. S. Montgomery is now editor; W. B. McKinney, city editor, and J. L. Lytle, business manager. Its circulation is large, and its job office equal to the demands of the business. The Silver Cliff Republican was started April 1, 1880, by the Custer County Publish- ing Company, Dr. G. W. B. Lewis, manager, and came out as a daily (evening) and weekly on the 27th of April, 1880; on the Ist of Jan- uary, 1881, N. H. Lacey assumed charge as manager of the new company, styled the Cus- ter County Printing Company. On the 4th of March, 1881, the issue was changed from evening to morning. It is a live paper, full of local news, and takes an active par u in local politics. The Mining Gazette, of Silver Cliff, is one of the best mining papers published in the State. It is a weekly, started on the 13th of November, 1880, and is fast attaining a high reputation under the able management of C. E. Hunter and H. W. Comstock (editor) for its able and accurate summary of mining news. On the 9th of August, 1881, he added, by way of postscript, that the daily Prospect, has been purchased "by a committee of citizens," an4 will be edited by J. H. McDevitt; it is to be, at least, for a season, run on a Re- publican political basis. CHURCHES. Services were occasionally held in the early days, at Ula and Rosita, by the Rev. Stokes, a Methodist minister, stationed as a mission- ary, on an insufficient salary, in Wet Mount- ain Valley. A Methodist Church was estab- lished at Rosita, in 1871, with L. W. Smith, Pastor in charge, who was succeeded, in 1875, by A. Warren; he byH. C. Langley in 1877; he by J. H. Scott in 1878, and he by the present Pastor, J. A. Smith. This Methodist Church may be said to be the only live church organization in Rosita at present. They have a comfortable church building, with a pleas- ant-toned bell to wake the late Sunday sleep- ers; a Sabbath school of some forty scholars, and the church is well supported and at- tended. There was a Presbyterian Church in good running order at Rosita a few years ago, but, for some reason, it sank to rest, and quietly died, as it were, over a year ago. Rev. W. P. Teitsworth, the Pastor, subsequently organized a chmrch at Silver Cliff; also one at Ula. The Episcopal Church society have a fine building, painted, ornamented and dedicated in 1876, as St. Matthew's Church, with a good organ in it, at Rosita. It flourished for awhile under the pastorate of "Parson" Hoge, but has been as quiet as a whited sep- ulcher for lo, these two years, with the excep- tion of an annual visit from the Bishop, or an occasional service by the Rector from Silver Cliff. There is a small but neat Roman Catholic Church at Rosita (built, in 1877, through the generosity of the Hon. William McLaughlin and other citizens of the town). Father Fin- neran, the Roman Catholic priest, stationed at Silver Cliff, performs vesper services and preaches there every Sunday evening at pres- ent; but his present parish is too large a field to do justice to his several congregations. It is to be hoped he will soon have assistance. ^ s~ ;%" ^ iha^ HISTOEY OP CUSTER COUNTY. 735 Churches flourish at Silver Cliff. The first Episcopal services were held by Rev. A. D. Drummond, in March, 1879. A commodious church building was erected the following months, and services held there on the 29th of June, 1 879, by Eev. A. D. Drummond (the Rev. O. E. Ostenson acting as his assistant), until the following spring, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. W. Estabrook, and he by the Rev. S. G. Gaynor in May, 1881. The parish was "canonically organized" on the 27th of September, 1880, as St. Luke's Church. The present Vestry is composed of W. S. Smith, Senior Warden ; W. H. Nicholls, Junior Warden; J. R. Smith, William Sanders, W. E. Cox, G. W. Lawrence and J. W. Ellis. Present number of communicants, forty-four. The Central Presbyterian Church of Silver Cliff was organized on the 15th of June, 1875, with ten members. During the sum- mer, a church property, worth |3,000, church, parsonage, etc., were erected. Rev. W. P. Teitsworth was Pastor until November 1, 1880, when he was succeeded by Rev. Josiah McLain. There is a membership of fifty-two persons, and an average attendance of. eighty at the Sabbath school. The church buildmg is not completed. Rev. J. H. Scott, of Rosita, organized the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Silver Cliff on the 29th of June, 1879. The first Pastor was Rev. William G. B. Lewis, who was appointed on the 10th of Jnly, 1879. From the 7th of -June, 1880, to August 12, of the same year. Rev. S. D. Longhead, of Ros- ita, officiated as Pastor, when Rev. J. H. Merritt, formerly Presiding Elder, was ap- pointed Pastor, which position he still fills. In 1880, a church was built and dedicated, on the 12th of September of that year; cost of building, etc., |2,500; number of members, fifty- two; of Sabbath school scholars, on roll, 212. The Roman Catholic Church of Silver Cliff is a fine structure, neatly finished, beau- tifully ornamented with altar furniture and paintings, and the only plastered public edi- fice in the city. The congregation is large and wealthy. Father Finneran, the resident priest, is noted for his zeal and liberality, and is beloved by his parishioners. This church has an excellent organ, proportioned to the church building; has also a well-drilled choir, and is in a flourishing condition. There is a Presbyterian Church building at Ula, but for reasons to the writer unknown, ser- vices are seldom held there now. Dora, Black- bum's ranch and the upper end of the valley are still without houses of worship, but will not be so long, if we may judge by the in- crease of population and wealth in those places. There are not, as yet, either Uni- tarian Churches or Liberal Halls in Custer County, though there are many sympathizers capable of sustaining such institutions. CRIMES, JUMPING MINES AND MTJKDEES. While Custer County is noted for its fine schools, its numerous churches, the great pro- portion of families for a mining section, and its good society, there have been several atro- cious crimes committed within its borders since the county was settled. Passing over the lesser cases, the first cold-blooded murder of which official notice was taken, was that of Mr. Bruce, an old citizen of Fremont County, whose son, Russell Bruce, afterward settled and married in Wet Mountain Valley. The old man was shot dead, 'in 1863, by the Bspanosias, who had started in to murder all the whites they could. They were two fanat- ical Mexican desperadoes, from Conejos, Colo., and kept a diary of their exploits, one-half of which was a mess of prayers to the saints and the Holy Virgin, in Spanish, and the rest an account of their victims. They seemed to think that if they made themselves "terrors in the land," they would get pardoned for their crimes, and be bribed by a good office under the Government, to array themselves on the side of the law, which is often the case in Old Mexico with noted robbers. These Espanosias killed twenty-three men, accord- ing to their diary, before they were killed themselves — one, near Caflon City, by a party who had followed their trail through the mountains, around the eastern edge of the South Park, in which section they had killed several persons; the other was killed by Tom Tobin, a noted mountaineer and scout, living near Fort Garland, who took a few soldiers with him, and surprised them ^ ^' 736 HISTORY OF CDSTEK COUNTY. (there were two again, a nephew having joined the old one that escaped), in their camp, in the Veta Pass. It seems they passed through Wet Mountain Valley, going north from the Huer- fano, and killed the first white man they saw, Mr. Bruce, who was working at a saw-mill near the mouth of Hardscrabble Canon. He was found shot through the head. Reginald Neave was killed by Theodore Pryce, an Englishman, who was a guest of his at the time (in December, 1872). It was unprovoked and cold-blooded murder. Pryce, having called Mr. Neave out-of-doors, in the dark, stabbed him through the heart; he died in a few minutes. The only pallia- tion, if ther^ can be any, for such base ingrat- itude, was that Pryce had been drinking to excess for some days, and was not in his sober senses at the time of the murder. He did n t try to escape, but admitted that he had killed his best friend, and tried to get a pistol to shoot himself with. He was convicted of the murder, and sentenced to imprisonment for life, though his relatives in England sent over a "distinguished barrister" to defend him, and have made strenuous efforts for his release several times since his punishment began. He still remains " a prisoner for life" in the Canon City Penitentiary. He was severely punished, for refusing to work, last winter, and is now dragging out a weary existence, which will probably be hastened to an early end by suicide or insanity. In 1873, "the winter of our discontent" was npon us in Bosita. Times were very dull, and the camp was very dead. No ore was being shipped out, and no sales of mines were being made. The Hoyt Mining Com- pany's boarding-house, the only hotel in town, and kept by John Hannenkratt, lingered along in solemn suspense, the proprietor being doubtful whether to shut down and lose all bills due, or to keep on and lose more. The only store in town (Frank Kirkham and Louis Herfort, proprietors), under the heavy pressure of the popular credit system at home, and the disadvantage of a light credit with the whole- sale dealer abroad, soon succumbed to the inev- itable and many who had fared sumptuously on canned goods and sugar-cured hams were compelled, by the exigencies of the situation and the yearnings of their bowels to strike out with the rifle in hand and scour the hills for the festive rabbit, the melancholy grouse, or, perchance, the substantial black-tail deer. Thus passed the winter. In 1874, a bonanza was opened in the Humboldt and Pocahontas Mines, and the boom that was bound to come overtook us. Ores running high in the hun- dreds were shipped by the car-load. Lawyers were called in to help divide the various con- flicting claims among themselves and the original owners " according to the statutes in such cases made and provided." The creation of wealth in the mines, the payment of good wages for putting up' buildings and extracting the ore, made a good market for the valley produce, and the valley folks in turn became mildly extravagant in the purchase of the nec- essaries of life, which helped out the mer- chants in the town, who, in their turn, built beyond the requirements of the time and place. Thus we had good times all around. Such a state of affairs always attracts the dan- gerous criminal classes, and they came to Rosita. There had been considerable wi-an- gling Qver the boundary line between the Hum- boldt and Pocahontas claims. A Gen. Adams, of New York, bonded an interest in the Poca- hontas, and enjoined (for a short time) work on the Humboldt. He afterward purchased this interest, and sold it to Theo W. Herr, of Denver, and then died. Both mines were worked without further trouble until the fall of 1878, when " Col." Boyd, of Baxter Springs, Kan., arrived at Rosita and went into the banking business with a Mr. Stewart, from Denver. They purchased some of the old claims in the Pocahontas Mine, and engaged "Maj." Graham, an ex- convict, who had been previously shot and captured near Rosita, where he had escaped from prison two years before, and imported several rowdies to jump the mine, which was done with the connivance of Mr. Topping, Herr's Superintendent, who kept on at work with those of the miners who cared to stay and work for the new claimants. It was thus held for a week, when Graham and his gang went a little too far. "While down town dnnking, one night, they fired off their pistols, and James Pringle, one of the old-timers of the camp, was shot in the foot s ^ ftv HISTORY OF CUSTEE COUNTY. 737 while returning from his work at the Virginia Mine. Next morning, October 13, the few saloons in town were ordered- closed, and the main roads leading from town were guarded. A party marching up to take the rowdies pris- ones met Graham coming down from the mine, and shot him dead. The rest of the gang fled from the mine, and were pursued by men on foot and others on horseback. A few shots from Sharp's rifles caused them to hoist a white handkerchief on a pole, when they sur- rendered, and were permitted to leave camp at once, which they gladly did, leaving Gra- ham to be buried by the people. The Herr party then took possession of the mine again, and thus ended the Pocahontas war. Col. Boyd was kept prisoner for a few hours, then allowed to go. His partner, Mr. Stewart, had sniffed the danger beforehand and escaped, but was shortly after arrested and sent to the New York State Prison for forgeries com- mitted years before. The men who worked for the new claimants got no pay. When the bank safe was opened, some worthless Kansas bonds and a few postage stamps were all the valuable assets it contained. Shortly after the first tidal wave of prosperity reached Silver Cliff, in 1879, Leslie McCoy, the black sheep of a respectable family in Georgetown, Colo., without provocation, shot a gambler named Green, in the eye, at a gaming table, one night, and was shot through the body and instantly killed by Green, who has since be- come a preacher of the Gospel, and is living' a respectable life in Iowa. Shortly after the Bassick Mine began pro- ducing largely, in October, 1877, an old citizen of Rosita, named W. A. Eoche, noted for his in- dustry, honesty and sobriety, while at work at that mine assorting ore, was shot from behind over the shoulder and through the thigh, by a drunken fellow named William Fulbrite. There was no provocation nor any warning in this case. ' Mr. Roche was over sixty years of age, a little deaf, and had a family to sup- port by his labor. He was probably the best friend Fulbrite had at the mine, where he had been an ore-sorter, and was generally disliked. Fulbrite was bound over in the sum of $400 to appear at the next term of the District Court. While Mr. Eoche had a doctor's bill to pay, and was not able to work again for a long time, Fulbrite made his arrangements leis- urely, and left the country, and his bonds re- main unpaid to this day. Had he been sus- pected of stealing a calf, he could not have escaped so easily. On the night of the 18th of May, 1879, E. A. Egglestone shot and killed William H. Connett, whom' he had induced to come out to Colorado from Newark, N. J., to take a posi- tion as Cashier, on a good salary, of an imag- inary bank. Connett had been in the employ of George Opdyke & Co., bankers, of New York, for twenty years, and was induced to come through correspondence with Egglestone that grew out of a newspaper article Eggle- stone had written to some Eastern paper. He was a smooth and versatile writer, but utterly without principle or character. He had tried to get up an excitement about Silver Circle, on the head of the St. Charles Creek, about seventeen miles east of Eosita, in Pueblo County, and did make a living out of the swindle for about two years, when, getting starved out there, he inflicted himself on the people of Rosita, where he continued his old practices of writing for the papers, and with such adroitness that his letters werejpublished in the Boston Post^ Louisville Courier- Journal, St. Louis Globe- Democrat, New Orleans Times, New York Mining Record, etc., etc., and he fared sumptuously on the results of his vil- lainy, though several times exposed in Colo- rado papers, and published as a fraud and a confidence man. He was merciless in his swindling, and was known to draw sum after sum (small amounts) of money from a poor widow by the basest sort of misrepresentation in reference to fictitious mining claims, and which was shown up in the Eosita Index at the time. Most of his ill-gotten money went for whisky and at the gambling table. It seemed as if there was no getting rid of him. He corresponded with his victims under var- ious fictitious names, as H. H. Horton, M. D., C. D. Crestone, etc., but, as there were prob- ably no such persons in existence, there was no false personation nor forgery, and the amounts he got from each individual were not sufficient to warrant arrest for swindling, with the chances of the law against punish- l^ 738 HISTORY or CUSTER COUNTY. ment, and lie " cheeked it through like a inar- tyr " Jde had borrowed some money from Mr. Connett, who was preparing to leave. It hardly seems possible he could have deliber- ately planned the murder of the man he had robbed, but the evidence at the inquest showed clearly that he had done so. His pistol had been fired several times and re- loaded. His victim left a family. The murderer was taken prisoner half an hour after the shooting. He was bound over as usual, and got bonds as usual for his appearance at the next term of the District Court, and did not appear, as usual, and as usual, the bonds; were not paid, being "straw bail." As "Hugh Marshall," he kept a little store at the Cerrillos Mines, near Santa F6, N. M., where he was arrested, in May, 1881, but, after being arrested, he managed to elude the vigilance of the officers, and is again " at liberty in a free land." SUICIDES. It is always a matter of surprise when any sane person attempts to hun-y up the inevita- ble hour that awaits us all, and tries prema- turely to shuffle off this mortal coil, especially in a land so tempting to live in as Custer County, Colo. There are some places that furnish so few attractions, or are so disagree- able, that any person of liberal ideas and ex- tensive experience would hardly regret leaving under any but the most painful terms. But such is not the case with Custer County, and yet there have been several suicides committed here, though the question of sanity might be raised in each case. Conrad Schmit shot himself dead at the house of Mr. Eathjen, in Kosita, in the sum- mer of 1876. He was worried over the loss of a ranch situate about two miles from town, and worth about $3.75, through his neglect in complying with the United States laws on that subject, and which was relocated by Mr. Rains. The next one had even less cause for leaving this sweet world of ours, unprepared and uncalled for. He was a young man named Armstrong, infatuated with a young woman who would not reciprocate his infatua- tion, and, while thinking over the worthless- ness o£ this world without her love, etc., he blew his brains out one night on Tyndal street, Rosita, a few yards from the business part of town. In Silver Cliff, in the spring of 1880, William Giles, while on a spree, or " tapering off," took a dose of poison to ease his mind, and passed on to that bourn whence no traveler returns, and where head- aches are unknown. While in a fit of tempo- rary insanity, Mrs. Susan B. Johnston, of Silver Cliff, committed suicide by poisoning, early in August, 1881. ACCIDENTAL DEATHS SHOOTING, ETC. Pulaski Smith, while riding at a round-up in the valley, iu' July, 1874, was thrown from his pony and had his skull fractured so that he died next day. There have been several legs and arms broken by being thrown from horses in CastM^ County. It is a great wonder there are no more killed, considering the number of " bronchos," or wild horses, ridden at a high rate of speed, and the number of prairie-dog holes to be avoided. On Sunday morning, the 7th of May, 1876, Jake Webber, , a quarrelsome and fighting character, tried to break into the saloon of Townsend & Son, connected with their brew- ery at Rosita, about 2 o'clock in the morning. Some rowdies had previously taken possession of the saloon and destroyed the fixtures, and evaded the law by leaving the county. On this occasion, O. P. Townsend, the proprietor, had closed up at an early hour on Saturday night, to avoid trouble. Webber and some com- panions were breaking in the window of the saloon, when a shot, fired from within by Mr. Townsend, injured him so that he died diu"- ing the day. The Coroner's inquest and sub- sequent trial acquitted Mr. Townsend of any crime in protecting his property. , A few months after Silver Cliff became a lively town, November 19, 1878, M. D. Skelton was accidentally shot by Thomas Kane, in the Silver Palace saloon, where McCoy had been shot and killed a short time before. Kane was shooting at a colored man named " Wash," who had been making a fuss and endangering the lives of those around him, and accidentally hit " Charley" Skelton in the abdomen, who died shortly after. John Greenstreet died in March, 1878, from the effects of a broken leg and internal in- "^f ±' liL^ HISTORY or CUSTER COUNTY. 739 juries sustained by a heavy quartz bucket fall- ing down into the shaft of the Bassick Mine, where he was working at the time. The rope broke as the loaded bucket neared the surface, and, without any warning, dropped to the bot- tom of the perpendicular shaft and struck Mr. Greenstreet down. On Christmas Eve, 1879, two prisoners were burned alive in the calaboose at Silver Cliff before the door could be broken open or the key procured. It is supposed one of them, who was arrested for drunkenness, set fire to the log building, and their cries were said to have been piteous as they burned to death in the edge of the town. But little was known o£ either of them. They seemed to have no friends, or friendly acquaintances there at that time. On the 17th of July, 1880, Wilmot B. Knabb, a young man fi'om Pennsylvania, was killed by falling down the shaft of the Pay- well Mine, near Rosita. The shaft was 154 feet deep, and so poorly ventilated that a can- dle would hardly burn at the bottom, It seems a shot had just been fired, and Mr. Knabb went down to see the result and send up the rock it had broken. On his arrival at the bottom of the shaft, he found he was un- able to stand the foul air, and signaled to be hauled to the surface again. When up almost to the top of the shaft, he fell from the bucket, on the side of which he was standing, before he could be caught, and was imme- diately killed by the fall. It seems, in all cases of this kind, that, in- haling the pure air at the surface, after breathing foul air, acts instantly as an anaes- thetic, and the asphyxiated person becomes helpless and unconscious. ^1 ^^ ^^^>.^^^^a ^^p^^-^^jc-^^ ^#^ t^MM^g~^ra^^ K^^yfM ^^^^^( ^^y||^ffi^^)j '^^^^^S^^'^^Oi ^^ ^m^ "^j^^^i^i^li iy/^ v<»3 HQiilllliiggiCTg'*^^ ^^^^K J^l ^_£^ BIOGKAPHICAL. HON. GEORGE S. ADAMS. Hon. George S. Adams, attorney at law and member of the bar of Bosita, is a native of Kentucky. He was bom at Lexington June 12, 1832. He removed with his parents, at an early age, to Illinois, and located on a farm, preparing himself for college at Mount Sterling Academy, after which he attended, two years, the Waynesburg College, of Penn- sylvania. Subsequently, entering the law of- fice of Black & Irvin, at Mount Sterling, he was admitted to the bar in February, 1858. He then removed to Decatur County, Iowa, where he was married to Miss Emma D. Mar- tin, and commenced the practice of law. He practiced successfully in Decatur, Lucas and Mahaska Counties, until 1869, when, on ac- count of failing health, he came to Colorado. He spent the first year practicing in Denver, Black Hawk and Central, locating at Pueblo in the fall of 1870, where he still continued the practice of law. Judge Adams came to Bosita in 1875, being the first attorney in the coxmty. He assisted in organizing the town, drew up the by-laws, etc., and was elected the first Town Attorney. The Judge is one of the representative men of his county and town, having been active in building up all of their material interests. He was appointed the first County Judge of Custer County, by Gov. John L. Boutt, in the spring of 1877, holding the of&ce until the following January, since which time he has successfully continued the practice of law, in the meantime having ac- quired interests in several valuable mining properties. Judge Adams enlisted twice dur- ing the late war, but was rejected both times on account of ill health. He has two children — a son and daughter, the former now attend- ing college at Waynesburg, Penn. WILLIAM I. ADAMS. William I. Adams is a descendant of a noble family of Switzerland, who came to this country at an early day and settled in Mary- land and Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was bom in Huntingdon, Penn., and, at the age of eighteen, with his parents, moved to Loretta, on the Alleghany Mount- ains, where he spent several years as a student at St. Francis' College. The family moved to Davenport, Iowa, about ths year 1862, W. I. remaining there seven years in the practice of dentistry, when he returned East, to Altoona, Penn., where he engaged in the manufacture of window curtains and chairs, being among th6 unfortunates in being burned out twice in two years, sustaining losses to the amount of $10,000^ which crippled him to such an extent that he took a partner, in Miss Susie Holler, to be a joy with his sorrows. Bemaining three years in Altoona, he, with his wife, re- turned to Western Iowa, moving to Burling- ton, from where he came to Silver Cliff to en- gage in the business of mining, at which he has continued to the present day, being among the organizers of different mining companies, being interested, through the Hankey Com- pany, in the Duryea smelter. He is also the prime mover in the Silver Cliff Gas Company, in the Lake of the Clouds Water Works, and the Silver Cliff & Bosita Bailroad, being one of the kind of men to make any town in which he may be, prosperous, being a live man, full of energy, which no drawbacks nor bad luck, as some men term it, can deter from success. Being among the early settlers of this won- derful camp, he has seen it prosper, with the many discouragements all new camps must have, but with full faith in it being what it has succeeded in being, sustaining his opinion by securing considerable real estate and min- ing property. GEORGE AITKIN. George Aitkin, another industrious anu sober prospector, who has pounded quartz and shot deer from the Big Horn Mountains to the Mountains of Durango, in Old Mexico, lives •^ « rr' J- ^7 iSS- -iftm'f <^ . Ct,'U^-'>^^ 'Ml^ CUSTER COUNTY. 743 (when he is at home) in Rosita. He was born in Vermont, of Scotch parents, in 1844. He came to Colorado in 1867, and prospected around Georgetown for three years. One year was spent in Southwestern Colorado, with Richard Irwin and John Baker; one year in Utah, two at Rosita, then two in Old Mexico, mining in the States of Durango and Sinaloe, then back to Rosita, and off to the Black Hills for two years, then to Arizona another year, and back to Rosita. He has now been several months at Tombstone, Arizona, but remembrances of the mines of Old Mexico in Chihuahua have called him farther south, hope for the "big strike," which is sure to come, keeping him beyond civilization's edge three-fourths of the time, while the attractions of home bring him often to Rosita. CHARLES H. ALDRICH. C. H. Aldrich, a native of New York, was born at Batavia in February, 1834, where he received a thorough academic education and learned the profession of civil engineer. He was subsequently engaged for two years in Detroit, Mich., by the Michigan Central Rail- road Company's line of steamers. In 1855, he started for the Northwest being connected with the Northwestern Railroad survey for three years, and spent the summer and winter of 1859 in the Lake Superior country. In March, 1860, he came to Colorado and located at Black Hawk, where he engaged in milling and mining for ten years. In 1865, he was married to Miss A. J. Barber, of Jackson County, Mich.; has three children — one son and two daughters. In March, 1870, he moved to Custer County and located in the Wet Mountain Valley, on his present farm, which is fine meadow land, and consists of 320 acres, two miles from the present city of Silver Cliff, Mr. Aldrich is one of the sub- stantial pioneers of the Wet Mountain Valley and of Colorado — public- spirited, and an en ergetic business man; he stands high in the estimation of the community in which he lives. HARVEY E. AUSTIN. Mr. Austin was born at Rouse's Point, N. Y., September 3, 1832. Seven years of his boyhood were spent as waiter on a boat on Lake Champlain. He then went to Rochester, N. Y., and engaged in the lumber business for two years. He then went into the New York .Central Railway shops and learned the paint- ing business, being engaged in fine car paint- ing. He then removed to Rockford, 111., and engaged in the painting business for five years. He subsequently engaged in the gro- cery business, in which he continued for fom- years. He was married to Miss Maria A. Hagevon in 1860. In 1865, he came to Den- ver and engaged in the grocery business on Blake street, and subsequently in the sutler business at Pond's Creek for a short time. He was then engaged in the cattle business on Running Creek for eight years. He sold out in July, 1873, and moved to Denver, where he remained one year, and then came to Rosita and engaged in the mercantile business. He was President of the Town Board of Rosita two years, and was a member of the first Board of County Commissioners. He was one of the first to move to Silver Cliff, where he has been engaged in the mercantile business, and is one of Silver Cliff's most honored citizens. B. F. BALDWIN. Mr. Baldwin was bom in Vermilion County, 111, March 19, 1848, At the age of twenty- two years, he went to Kansas, where he was engaged in the drug business for seven years. He was subsequently Vice President and Cashier of the Winfield Bank, at Winfield, Kan. He came to Colorado on account of his health, in May, 1880, and engaged in the livery business, where he keeps one of the finest liveries in, the Southwest, He was mar- ried to Miss Mary Ferguson, of Leavenworth, Kan., in 1878, and has one child, a daughter. WILLIAM E. BARRETT. Among the substantial business men of Rosita is thf< subject of this sketch. Bom in Rome, N. Y,, November 18, 1843, his early life was spent on a farm, where he acquired a common-school education and learned the carpenter's trade. He served two years in the late war, being then mustered out, and worked the following year for the Grovemment. He was subsequently employed by the State of New York as foreman, working eight years on the Erie Canal. Mr. Barrett came to Colo- ^1^ ?lA 744 BIOGRAPHICAL: rado in 1874, and, after looking over the country, located at Rosita, where he engaged in mining and contracting and building. He is one of the public-spirited men of the county, and -was specially active in obtaining the division of the county. ELTON T. BECKWITH. Mr. Elton T. Beckwith, of the firm of Beck- with Bros., the leading stockmen of Custer County, was bom in April, 1847, in Island of Mount Desert, Me. , and educated at Cambridge, Mass. He was subsequently on the sea for four ye;irs, three years of which he was First Mate of the vessel. He then embarked in the wholesale flour and grain business in Phila- delphia, in which he continued until April, 1870, being very successful. He then came to Colorado and located in Wet Mountain Valley, where he and his brother engaged extensively in the stock business, now owning nearly seven thousand head of fine grade cattle and two hundred head of horses. They also have one of the finest stock ranches in Southern Colo- rado, consisting of 2,300 acres; 1,500 acres is nearly all fine meadow land and under fence. The subject of this sketch is one of the lead- ing men of the county, and takes an active part in politics. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Elsie A. Davis, of Chicago, and has one child, a daughter, four years old. CHARLES F. BLOSSOM. C. F. Blossom, the leading dry goods mer- chant of Eosita, was bom in Morristown, Vt., February 14, 1837. His early life was spent on a farm, where he received the educational advantages afforded by the public schools. At the age of nineteen years, he accepted a posi- tion in his uncle's store as clerk, where he re- mained until, having acquired a thorough knowledge of the business, he embarked in business on his own account, in which he con- tinued seven years. Then, on account of fail- ing health, he sought a change of climate; going first to Iowa, but finally locating at Eosita, Colo., in 1874, where he still continues the dry goods business, having been very suc- cessful. Mr. Blossom has served three years on the Town Board, and one term as School Director. He was married to Miss Esther H Stevens, of Baltimore, Md, in 1868, hav- ing two children, a son and daughter, aged respectively ten and seven years. HON. CHARLES D. BRADLEY. Charles D. Bradley was bom in Albany County, N. Y., February 11, 1839. His pa- ternal ancestors were among the earliest set- tlers of this coimtry. They emigrated from England and settled in Fairfield County, Conn. Here they lived until the latter part of the last century, when they moved to Albany County, N. Y. His mother was a Gardiner, belonging to a family from New- port, E. I. The Gardiners, at an early period of our history, settled in Newport and Gardi- ner's Island. Mr. Bradley is the youngest of twelve children, ten of whom attained ma- turity. He was raised on a farm, and, in his youth, performed all kinds of farm labor. He, however, had advantages for acquiring the rudiments of an education not usually pos- sessed by farmers' sons. His father owned quite a good library. His brothers and sisters were well educated. But, above all, his mother, who possessed rare intellectual and moral qualities, was the great instructress of her children, from the cradle until they left the parental roof. These advantages were not lost on Mr. Bradley, for, at the age of fifteen, he successfully passed an examination and was licensed to teach in the public schools; but his age then forbade. Next year, how- ever, in the fall, he went to Will County, 111., where one of his sisters resided, taught a public school there during the winter, and re- turned home next spring, having earned enough money to pay all the expenses of his trip, with a small surplus in his pocket. This, among his comrades, was regarded as quite an achievement for a youth of sixteen. Mr. Bradley was pleased with the great West, and was then anxious to remain and pursue his fortunes there; put filial duty overcame his inclinations. He was the youngest of the family, and all the older brothers and sisters before this had left home. He would not permit his aged father and mother t6 live alone. Among ten sons and daughters, he thought one should remain to cheer the par- ents in their declining years. Hence, after •^ 6 -' .'9 ^ ^* i^ CUSTER COUNTY. 745 his trip to Illinois, he continuously made his home with his father and mother, until they wore carried to their last resting-place in the family burying-ground. During that period, he worked on the farm, studied and taught school. This duty having been performed, he entered the law office of Jenkins & Cooper, in the city of Albany, as a student at law. In the spring of 1867, he was examined by the Supreme Court of the State, and admitted to the bar. At this time, his oldest brother, Hon. Joseph P. Bradley, of Newark, N. J. then enjoying one of the largest and most lu- crative practices of any lawyer of the country, at present one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, very generously offered him a partnership in his business. This Mr. Bradley, while highly ap- preciating, declined to accept, preferring to go West and rely on his own resources for success. Accordingly, in July, 1867, he moved to Colorado, remaining a few months in Denver. He was employed as attorney for a New York mining company, but, the company not having much to do, and the times being dull in Colorado, he joined the throng going to Cheyenne that year, and began the practice of law there some time in the month of September. He continued here with suc- cess for two years. During this time, Chey- enne was in Dakota Territory. In the fall of 1868, Mr. Bradley was elected to the Legis- lature. He served at Yankton, the capital of that Territory, in that body, during the ses- sion of 1868-69, resigning, however, the posi- tion of Assessor of Internal Revenue, to which place he had been appointed without request, to take his seat in the Legislature. At the close of the session, he visited friends in Southeastern Iowa where he was induced to go into a land and cattle speculation. This consumed two years of his time, and all his money. Mr. Bradley at once concluded he had better return to the practice of law, and for that purpose went to the city of St. Louis. Here he remained engaged in his profession until he was appointed United States Attorney for the Territory of Colorado. Upon receiv- ing this appointment, he returned to Denver. He held the latter office until Colorado became a State, in the admission of which he took an active pai-t. With the Governor and Chief Justice, he prepared rules and regulations, un- der the enabling act, for the election of a con- vention to form a State Constitution. During the early settlement of Silver Cliff, Mr. Bradley removed to that town, where he soon acquired an extensive law practice. The Legislature of 1880-81, having created three additional judicial districts, and devolved on the Gov- ernor the appointment of Judges therefor, Mr. Bradley received the appontmeat for the Sixth District, embracing the counties of Custer, Fremont, Saguache, Rio Grande, Conejos and Costilla. He now holds that office and dis- charges its responsible duties to the satisfac- tion of the people of the district. Mr. Brad- ley* married in 1872. His wife's maiden name was Mary Hastings Rush. She was born in Pennsylvania, but was raised in Ten- nessee. One child, Joseph Markly, born in St. Louis County, Mo., in December, 1874, is the fruit of this union. Mr. Bradley is now only in the prime of life. He is studious and temperate, and, if his life is spared, his great- est achievements are undoubtedly yet to be ac- complished. HON. HENRY H. BUCKW ALTER. Mr. Buckwalter, Mayor of Silver Cliff, was bom near Philadelphia, Chester Co., Penn., July 7, 1842. During his boyhood days, he was basily employed on the farm, but he had opportimities of securing a liberal education. He attended the schools at Reading, and pur- sued a part of the collegiate course at Free- land, Montgomery Co., in his native Statie. After leaving college, he started out in the world to fight its battles, depending upon his own energies and exertions for a livelihood. In 1863, he was employed as a clerk in the navy yard at Philadelphia. In 1865, he lo- cated at Sioux City, Iowa, where he formed the acquaintance of Mr. T. J. Stone, who was just starting a private bank, and was employed to assist in the clerical duties of the institu- tion. The bank was soon changed to the First National Bank at Sioux City, with Mr. Buck- waiter as Teller. This situation he filled for ten years faithfully and honestly. In the meantime, he married Miss May E. Jandt, an accomplished lady, now well and favorably -,6' — ^' ^ i \> :K. 746 BI0GRA.PH1CAL: known in social circles at Silver Cliff. He first came to Colorado in November, 1878, and, becoming favorably impressed with the grand outlook Colorado then presented, after going back to Sioux City, he immediately returned to the State and settled at Silver Cliff, where he has invested to some extent in real estate, but more especially in mining interests. He was a delegate'to the Republican State Con- vention held at Leadville in 1880. And, when Custer County was offered- the position of State Auditor on the ticket, by the other delegations, Mr. Buckwalter was indorsed by the delegates of his county, but, as he lacked twelve days of being in the State two years, the nomination was given to Joseph Davis, who now fills the position of State Auditor. Mr. Buckwalter was nominated for Mayor by a Republican convention, and, owing to ille- ' gal voting at the primaries, the blame of which never has been attached to Mr. Buck- waiter, and as this fraud was openly charged by the Chairman and one of the Tellers, there was a split in the party, and he owes his elec- tion to his own personal popularity more than to any faction. His business experience has been of sufficient scope to make him a good executive officer, which he has proven himself to be. COL. HENRY W, COMSTOCK. The subject of this sketch. Col. Henry W. Comstock, the founder and editor of the Min- ing Gazette, was born in Columbus, Ohio, Feb- ruary 22, 1832, and was engaged in business both in that State and in Wisconsin many years. He came to Silver Cliff early in 1879, and has been prominently identified with the mining interests of Custer County, being firmly convinced from the first of the vast wealth of the immense amount of low-grade ores to be found there, he has devoted his energy and talents to the solution of the great problem of successfully treating them. His letters to the Despatch, of Columbus, Ohio, of which he was the Colorado correspondent until his connection with the Mining Gazette, have been such as to attract capital and in- dustry to this locality from all parts of the great State of Ohio. In November of 1880, he founded the Mining Gazette, which, from a sniall beginning, has, in the short space of eight months, come to be regarded as one of the leading mining joiu-nals of the coimtry, and has a national reputation. It is devoted to the mining interests, and especially those of Custer County, and it aims to furnish only reliable and trustworthy mining news, hav- ing no connection or complicity with stock- jobbing schemes. Upon this basis it has achieved its success, thus showing that honesty is not only right of itself, but also the "best ■ policy." WILLIAM E. COX. William E. Cox was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in December, 1839. Mr. Cox received a good common-school education, and served through the war, after which he re- turned to Ohio and engaged in the stock bus- iness in Delaware County, in which he con- tinued until 1878. He then came to Colorado and located at Silver Cliff, and engaged in mining. Mr. Cox erected the first building on Main street in Silver Cliff. He was mar- ried, in July, 1866, to Miss E. B. Cooke. CAPT. HIRAM S. CURRIE. Capt. Currie was bom June 21, 1840, at Quebec, Canada. He removed to Vermont with his parents at an early age, where he re- ceived a good common-school education. He learned the miller's trade, and, at the age of twenty-one years, enlisted in the First Ver- mont Volunteer Infantry as private, being sub- sequently promoted to Captain. In 1864, he went West to Chicago and engaged in hand- ling grain for two years. He then spent sev- eral years handling stock in Kansas, Texas and New Mexico, subsequently engaging in the milling business at Fort Scott for five years. He came to Colorado in February, 1875, and engaged in contracting and grad- ing on the Cafion City Railroad. He came to Custer County in March, 1879, where he has since been engaged in mining and con- tracting. He was married to Miss Mary Betts, of Belleville, 111., in July, 1875. S. S. DAVIDSON. S. S. Davidson, machinist, was bom in Steuben County, N. Y., December 12, 1830. He received a thorough academic education in the State of Ohio, where he emigrated with r .^:::f'^^tm^ ]^.^^^-/^ V^! -^ — g'P ^ CUSTER COUNTY. 747 his parents while one and a half years of age. His father being a thorongh machinist, young Davidson was educated to the trade, and, at the age of twenty- one years, went to Iowa, where he followed the millwright business for several years. He then returned to Michigan, and, with the Montana excitement, started West in 1863. He located in Denver, Colo., where he built the Davis flom-ing-mi}ls, sub- sequently going to Black Hawk, where he had charge of the Black Hawk Foundry for six years. He then engaged in the lumber business with Nelson Hallock, at Dudley and California Grulch. He sold out in 1875, and went to Denver and formed the Colorado Iron Works Company, and erected the same, holding the position of Superintendent for the company for four years. He sold out his interest in 1879, and came to Silver Cliff and engaged in the hardware business with Tompkins & Co. The following year, he formed a new partnership with Ailing & Co. SAMUEL P. DALE. Samuel P. Dale, attorney at law and mem- ber of the Silver Cliff bar, was born on a f aim in Lawrence County, Ind., February 3, 1842. He graduated from the Hanover College, In- diana, in 1865, and then learned the mason and plasterer's trade. He removed to Illinois in January, 1866, and located in Cass Cotmty, where he read law and worked at his trade. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in the spring of 1868, and practiced law five years in that State. He was married, June 14, 1870, to Miss Jennie Norbiury, of Beardstown. He came to Colorado in May, 1873, and began the practice of law with Judge Blackburn, in Denver. He removed to Canon City in 1875. The year of 1879, he lived and practiced law at Rosita. He came to Silver Cliff in Decem- ber, 1880, where he is still in the active prac- tice of the law, being one of the most success- ful and honored member of the bar. He still continues a member of the law firm of Black- burn & Dale. JAMES A. GOOCH. J. A Gooch, the present Postmaster of Rosita, was born on a farm near Belvidere, 111., the 10th of August, 1842. He acquired an academic education, and, in 1855, moved to Rock County, Wis., where he engaged in farming. In 1858, he started West, going as far as Omaha, where he engaged himself to the American Fur Company, going up the Missouri River for the season. He returned in April, 1859, and started for Pike's Peak, going as far as Julesburg, but changed his mind and went up North Platte, returning to Illinois in the fall, where he spent the winter. He came to Kansas in 1860, and, in June, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Kansas U. S. Volunteers, being mustered out in May, 1865. He then took a trip to Wyoming Terri- tory, returning to Missouri River in the fall of 1866, where he engaged in the mercantile business.. He came to Colorado in 1873 and located at Rosita, where he has served several years on the Town Board; was appointed Post- master in 1878, which office he still holds. During this time, he has been engaged in mercantile business and mining. He was married to Miss N. A. Tempi,;, in January, 1880. HON. PETER R. HAMMA. Hon. Peter R. Hamma was born in Cairo, Greene Co., N. Y., January 20, 1839; lived on a farm and attended district school until the age of fifteen years. He then started West, going first to Indiana. From there he went to Topeka, Kan., where he remained one year; thence to Nebraska, where he lived ten years, during which time he was elected the first Sheriff of Johnson County. In 1869, he re- moved to Cheyenne, W. T., where he remained ten years, during which time he filled success- ively the following offices, viz. : City Marshal for the term of one year, President of the City Council for four years, served six years on the School Board, and two terms in the Territo- rial Legislature. Mr. Hamma refers with just pride to his six years' service as member of the School Board, where, by untiring efforts, he succeeded in organizing and maintaining one of the best schools in the West. He re- moved from Cheyenne to Silver Cliff, Colo., in 1879, where he has managed successfully several different branches of business, being Superintendent of the Silver Cliff & Rosita Stage and Cafion City & Silver Cliff Forward- ing and Commission Companies; also pro- prietor of -the largest wholesale liquor house ^1 'A 748 BIOGRAPHICAL: in the county. Mr. Ham ma was married in Nebraska, in 1860, to Miss Naomi Slaughter, and has three children, the eldest, a daughter, being teacher in the Cheyenne High School. GEORGE J. HANLEY. Mr Hanley, a member of the present Board of County Commissioners of Custer County, was born in G-oldsboro, N. C, in September, 1841. At the age of eighteen years, he crossed the plains to Salt Laie, Utah. In 1861, he returned to his native State and en- listed in the Confederate army, in which he served until the closing of the war. The years from 1865 to 1870 were spent in Cali- fornia and Nevada mines, and in the mer- cantile business. He came to Colorado in 1871 and located at Colorado Springs, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until September, 1878, when he removed to Silver Cliff and engaged in the mercantile business at that place. He was elected County Commissioner in the fall of 1879. He was married, in Manitou, to Miss Delia Harkness, in 1874. EDWARD A. HILBURN. The subject of this sketch, a native of Geor- gia, was born at Atlanta the 4th of September, 1842. He moved with his parents, at an early age, to Texas, where his early life was spent on a farm and acquiring an education. He served, during the late war, in the Confederate army, after which he engaged in the stock business, in which he continued until the spring of 1873, when he came to Colorado and engaged in mining in Custer County, be- ing very successful. Mr. Hilbum has located many valuable mining claims. He was one of tibe discoverers of the Plata Verde Mine, and sold his interest for the sum of $25,000. He was married to Miss Adaline A. Ellis in 1867. HON. RICHARD IRWEST. The life of the prospector is a peculiar one. It balfles the biographer; it beggars descrip- tion. In its commonest aspects, it presents phases to which ordinary experience is a stranger. Romance mingles with its realities. Hope alternates with despondency, though hope predominates and illumines its darkest passages. To him, the unattained is never unattainable; to-morrow is sure to bring what yesterday was to bring, but did not Every cloud has a lining of silver and a fringe of gold. Hardships spur him onward, and dan- ger but heightens his zeal and gives variety to his life. With his patient burro, he pene- trates the most hidden recesses of the mount- ains, and the sound of his pick resounds where naught but its echo is heard in return. He is the forerunner of civilization, the ad- vance guard of progress. At the head of the few hardy pioneers who, for years, have occu- pied the veiy outposts, the skirmish line of the advancing army of civilization, is Richard Irwin, the subject oE this sketch, known throughout Colorado and the West as " Dick Irwin, the noted prospector." His face is a familiar one in every miner's camp in the State. Born in Montreal, Canada, September 30, 1841, he attended school until he was six- teen years of age, after which he was em- ployed for six months in a commission house. In April, 1858, he left Canada and set out on his career of exploration and adventure. Ar- riving in Utah during the fall of that year, he left Fort Bridger for Camp Floyd the fol- lowing winter, where he rode express for the Quartermaster at the camp till July, 1859. From this time until July, 1860, he remained with the Indian traders on the Sweetwater, and riding a pony express for the Overland Express Company. Coming from Fort Lara- mie to Denver in July, 1860, in company with a couple of Mexicans oa horseback, and accom- panied with three pack animals, he started, in August, into the mines of Gilpin County, wintering in Leavenworth Gulch, in Russell District, and, the next spring, started out prospecting on Snake River and the head of the Platte, opposite Georgetown. During the next three years, he prospected along the western slope, from Middle Park to Buckskin Joe, working at Georgia Gulch, Delaware Flats, Gold Run, Buffalo Flats and Tarryall; also at Empire, and again in Leavenworth Gulch, in Gilpin County. In 1864, he went in- to the vicinity of Fort Garland with Gov. Gil- pin's party of prospectors, to prospect the coun- try in San Luis Park known as the Gilpin Grant. The years 1865 and 1866 were spent in min- ing about Georgetovyn, where he was inter- •? e ^^ ^ ^ CUSTEB COUNTY. 749 ested in the Baker, Chihuahua, and other prominent mines. He spent the winter of 1867 in the East, mainly in Philadelphia, and, the next summer, prospected in New Mexico and the Ute Reservation. He discovered the copper mines on the Ojo Caliente, and those near Fort Garland, now owned by the First National Bank of Denver. In the spring and fall of 1870, he prospected in the "Wet Mount- ain Valley, discovering several mines about Eosita, and, in January, 1871, went to Utah, and prospected and mined at Camp Floyd, Mount Nebo, American Fork Canon and Little Cottonwood, owning an interest in the Pio- neer and other mines, returning in April to the East. In August, 1872, he went, with J. Pringle and W. J. Robinson, prospecting in the Ute Reservation, west and north of Wash- ington Gulch, returning via Breckenridge and Hoosier Pass about the 1st of Nov.ember, 1872. While there, they made the first dis- covery of anthracite coal in the State, on An- thracite Creek, Gunnison County, and also discovered ore in Ruby District and on Rock Creek. On his return Erom the reservation, he went to the Wet Mountain Valley and lo- cated the Hardscrabble District, and re-located several of his old discoveries. In June, 1875, he went to the Black Hills, returning in Au- gust, and again went to the Hills in the fol- lowing November. While there, and without his knowledge, Mr. Irwin was elected a mem- ber of the first State Legislature, and served with credit. He was married, on the 16th of January, 1876, to Miss Louisa Virgina Virden, of Fremont County, Colo. The town of Irwin, or Ruby Camp, is named in honor of Mr. Irwin. He is now engaged in mining there and at Rosita. Such, in brief, is a sketch of one of the most noted pioneers in the West. Mr. Irwin is personally popular, and possesses no small influence among the miners of the State. A gentleman of kindly feeling and social disposition, he is withal a man of pluck and nerve, endurance and per- severance. The history of Custer County in this volume is from his pen. HENRY C. JAMES, M. D. Dr. James was born in Wales, December 25, 1840, and emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1847. He received a thorough academic edu- cation, and, at the age of twenty years, com- menced the study of medicine under a compe- tent M. D., subsequently taking two courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College; he graduated in the spring of 1870. He then practiced medicine four years, and came to Colorado in 1874. He was married, to Miss Agnes L. Murray, daughter of Hugh Murray, of Wilkesbarre, Penn., November 10, 1870. He spent the year of 1875 in Denver; 1876, 1877 and 1878 were spent in San Juan County. Dr. James was a delegate in the State Convention of 1878. from Ouray County. In the fall of 1878, he removed to Silver Cliff, and engaged in the practice of medicine. He has been speculating, more or less, in mining; he owns the Empress Josephine. Dr. James is physi- cian and surgeon for the Bull -Domingo and Silver Cliff Mining Companies; is a careful and thorough physician, and his prominence in the profession and merits as a practitioner, were recognized in his recent appointment, by Gov. Pitkin, as a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners. .JOHN V. JILLICH. Mr. Jillich, of the banking firm of Steb- bins, Post & Co., was born in September, 1833, at Cambridge, Mass. He received the educa- tional advantages afforded by the Boston High Schools, until he attained the age of fifteen years. He then accepted a situation as clerk in a wholesale dry goods house, subsequently removing to Ohio, where he embarked in the mercantile business, for a short time, when he engaged in the banking business. In 1867, he removed to Atchison, Kan., where he continued the banking business for nine years. He then removed to Cheyenne, Wyo- ming, where he connected himself with the well-known banking house of Stebbins, Post & Co. In February, 1880, he removed to Sil- ver Cliff, Colo., to take charge of the branch house at that place. He was married, Octo- ber, 1859, to Miss Mattie Morrison, and has two children. C. A. JOHNSON. C. A. Johnson, editor of the The Sierra Journal, of Rosita, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, October 10, 1854, being now twenty- r ^2: '-^ 750 BIOGRAPHICAL: seven years of age. He removed to Illinois, with his parents, when ten years of age. At the age of sixteen, he completed an academic course in the Illinois State University. Leaving home, he came to Colorado, in 1868, and engaged in mining and prospecting, and traveled considerably through the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. He came to what is now Custer County in 1873, but engaged in mining at Mt. Lincoln, Park Co., and in the San Juan country, from 1874 to 1878, returning to Rosita, Custer Co., in the latter year and engaged in mining. He pur- chased the Rosita Index of Charles Baker, in June, 1880, the paper having a circulation, at that time, of 250. Since Mr. Johnson took charge, the circulation has rapidly increased, and is now about 1,200, being the second larg- est circulation in Southern Colorado. He changed the name of the paper to The Sierra Journal. He makes a special feature of the mining interests of the county, and has done much to advertise the resources of the Wet Mountain Valley and adjacent ranges. JOHN H. LEART. John H. Leary, the popular and obliging County Clerk of Ouster Couuty, was born in Edeuton, N. C, January 8, 1852, and edu- cated at a private school in his native State. He went to Kansas City, Mo., in 1871, and engaged in mercantile business for two years, coming to Colorado in 1873, and locating a ranch in the Wet Mountain Valley. He re- moved to Rosita, in January, 1874, purchased several town lots and erected buildings there- on that winter, and the following spring lo- cated the Shetland Mine, in Carolina. Gulch, about three miles northwesterly from Rosita, in which he still retains a half- interest. He was, for a short time, engaged in merchandis- ing. He was elected County Clerk and Re- corder, in October, 1877 (the first election for officers in the county), was re-elected in Octo- ber, 1879, and still holds the office. He has also held the office of Clerk of the District Court, during three years of that time. He was, for some time. Chairman of the Demo- cratic County Central Cormnittee. Mr. Leary was married, in November, 1880, to Miss Rose Schoolfield, of Custer County. Mr. Leary is an efficient and faithful public offi- cer, and the many important trusts imposed upon him are evidence of the estimation in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. REUBEN C. LUBSLEY. Mr. Luesley, who is a native of Ohio, was born in Brown County November 1, 1836, where he received a thorough academic edu- cation. In 1860, he was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Leibee, subsequently embarking in the dry goods business, at Geneseo, 111. In the spring of 1869, he went to Iowa, and engaged in farming, which business was a failure, on account of Mr. Luesley'having no knowledge whatever of farming. After a three years' trial, he left Iowa and came to Colorado and again engaged in the mercan- tile business at Colorado Springs. He re- moved his business to San Juan County, in 1875, where he remained five years, two years of which time he was Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Luesley was also the discoverer of the Cleveland Mine of that county, which he sold for the handsome sum of 126,500. He came to Silver Cliff in November, 1880, and engaged in the clothing business, which business he still continues. J. w. Mccracken. J. W. McCracken was born, July 23, 1825, in Columbiaua County, Ohio. He received a thorough academic education, and, at the age of nineteen, went to Memphis, Tenn., where he spent three years in clerking and running on the river. He then engaged for fifteen years in the mercantile business in Mem- phis. In 1861, he removed to Illinois, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. He came to Colorado in March, 1872, and engaged in shipping stock and provisions, subsequently engaging in the sheep business, for three and a half years. He then sold out and removed to Silver Cliff, and engaged in mining and real estate business. Mr. Mc- Cracken was married, in 1866, to Miss Mary Malone, and has three children. ALEXANDER M. McELHINNEY. Mr. McElHinaev, the present Postmaster of Silver Clifif, was born Feb. 23, 1838, in Wash- i) ^ ' ^ o -^ CUSTER COUNTY. 753 ington Co., Ohio, his early life being spent on a farm. He received a thorough academic education, and, at the age of twenty-five years, embarked in the photographic business in Pittsburgh, Penn., following the business two years. He subsequently engaged in the mer- cantile business for four y^ars; he then re- moved to Lincoln, Neb. Here, Mr. McElHin- ney engaged successively in the real estate, auction and commission business. He then took the Tichnor House, which he kept for two years, but owing to the panic of *873, he failed in business, losing over $38,000. To retrieve his losses, he then came to Colorado, and located at the new mining camp of Bos- ita, and engaged in the mercantile business. He removed to Silver Cliff on the 9th of Sep- tember, 1879, opening the first store in the Cliff. He received the appointment of Post- master, January, 1880, previous to which time he kept an accommodation office. Mr. McElHinney is one of Custer County's lead- ing and public spirited men. He was mar- ried, in September, 1872, to Miss Lizzie P. Ellis, daughter of Dr. Ellis, of Gresmipsburg, Ky., and has five children. GEN. JOHN T. McNEELY. Gen. McNeely was born in Menard County, 111., in May, 1841. He attended district school, and, at the age of fifteen years, began to learn the printer's trade. The year of 1858 was spent in Texas. He returned to Peters- burg the following year, and completed bis trade. In 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Illinois United States Volunteers, and was discharged the following year on ac- count of disability. In 1863, he re-enlisted, receiving the commission of Second Lieuten- ant. In 1864, he went on the stage as John Tilton, meeting with brilliant success for f our years. In 1868, he began the publication of the Petersburg Republican, which he conducted successfully for three years, reading law at the same time. He was admitted to the Illi- nois bar in 1871; this year, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Petersburg, which he resigned the following year to run for the office of County Attorney, being de- feated. He then went to Kansas, where he practiced law one year, thence to Denver, Colo. He went to Colorado Springs to spend the winter, and in January, moved to Ula, Custer Co., and was there occupied in his pro- fession until 1878, when he removed to Eosita, and thence to Silver Cliff, in the spring of 1879. He was elected Chairman of the County Republican Committee in 1877, which position he still holds. Gen. McNeely was one of the attorneys in, the celebrated Bull- Domingo case, where he distinguished himself as a mining lawyer, receiving for his services the handsome fee of $7,000. At the State Convention, in 1880, he was urged by his ^Eriends, for the nomination of Congressman, but withdrew his name, and, in a telling speech, placed in nomination the name of James B. Belford, who received the nomina- tion. He received the appointment of Briga- dier General of the Second Division of the Colorado National Guards in the spring of 1881, by Gov. Pitkin. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Carrie Snape, and has six chil- dren. JAMES A. MELVIN. J. k, Melvin was born in Maryland in 1826; his early life was spent on a farm and attend- ing the public schools; at the age of twenty- five years, he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, in which he continued until 1868. He then came to Colorado, and spent four years prospecting and mining in Gilpin County. He then removed to Rosita, Custer Co., con- tinuing the mining business and buying and selling real estate, being very successful. In 1880, he removed to Silver Cliff, and formed a partnership with Judge Walts, in the real estate business, the firm now being known as Walts & Melvin. HON. B. F. MONTGOMERY. This gentleman was bom in Ohio in 1835, and graduated at Ashland University in that State. His parents being poor, he worked and taught school to obtain means to finish his education, and may be termed, emphati- cally, a self-made man. He afterward read law, while teaching school, to obtain a liveli- hood, and in May, 1857, was admitted to the bar on application to the Supreme Court of Ohio, Judge Noah H Svsrayne being a mem- ber of the examining committee. He irmne- ^^ i±. 754 BIOGRAPHICAL : diately commenced the practice of law, at London, Madison Co., Ohio, and in December of the same year he was admitted" to the bar. He was married, to Miss Edethe Riddle. He removed to La Crosse, Wis. , in the spring of 1860, and there resumed the practice of his profession; he remained there for eight years, during which time he made a State reputation as a trial lawyer, and especially as an advo- cate before a jiuy. "While residing there, two sons were born, W. S. and M. H., who are now residing at Silver Cliff, Colo., the former editor and proprietor of the daily and weekly Prospect, the latter connected with the banking house of Stebbins, Post & Co. At La Crosse, he had the misfortune of losing his wife, who died of typhoid fever on New Year's Day, 1865. In the fall of 1866, he was nominated by the Democrats of La Crosse County as their can- didate for the State Senate, and made the contest against the Hon. Angus Cameron, now United States Senator from that State, and was beaten by a few votes, but ran largely ahead of his ticket. Li 1868, at the request of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany, he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and became the attorney ot that corporation at that point, and, during his ten years' residence there, was connected with several of the rail- roads at that point as their attorney. He was the Democratic nominee for Congress from the Sixth District of Iowa, in 1870, his com- petitor being Hon. Frank W. Palmer, now Postmaster of the city of Chicago. In 1876, he was the Democratic candidate for the State Senate, and, although defeated, led his ticket by over 500 votes. He was four suc- cessive times a member of the National Dem- ocratic Conventions, from 1864 to 1876, in- clusive. In the convention of 1876, he was appointed the member from Iowa on the com- mittee to notify the nominees of the action of the convention. He also served his party ably as the editor of the Council Bluffs Daily Times, the Democratic organ of Western Iowa, for several years, as well as on the stump, in each successive canvass. As a terse, forcible writer and speaker, he has but few equals, if any superiors, in the West He married his present wife in La Crosse, in 1867. In No- vember, 1878, he came to Colorado on a tour of recreation, but became interested in some valuable mining property, near where Silver Cliff now is, and was also employed in the celebrated and notorious mining litigation, in the case of Hunter vs. Rarich et al., known as the Bull-Domingo suit. This case was contested in court under cover of revolvers, and out of court, by large armies of armed men on either side. In June, 1869, the de- fendants, for whom Mr. Montgomery appeared as counsel, obtained a decree in their favor, which, on appeal to the Supreme Court, was affirmed. The ability, nerve and determina- tion displayed by him in this contest, gave him an enviable reputation as a lawyer, and he is now recognized as a leading member of the profession in Northern Colorado. All over the State, he is recognized as a repre- sentative man, who, by his own energy, perse- verance and ability, has amassed a comforta- ble fortune. He is largely interested in mines in Colorado and is engaged in the active man- agement of several properties, beside which he owns a handsome residence and farm prop- erty at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. Mont- gomery is positive and uncompromising in his views on all questions of the day, open- hearted and benevolent, has warm friends and bitter enemies, neither of whom he ever forgets. He is unrelenting in the cause of his clients, and is always listened to with marked attention and interest in the discus- sion of legal propositions before the courts. He has probably done more for the develop- ment and building-up of the mining and mate- rial interests of Silver Cliff and Custer County than any other single one of her many good citizens. W. 8. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Montgomery is the eldest son of Hon. B. F. Montgomery, of Silver Cliff, Colo. He is editor and general manager of the daily and weekly Prospect, published at that point. He is now but twenty-three years of age, a practical printer and a remarkably strong and pungent VTriter, and is making the journal he edits a )>ower in Northern Colorado. D. M, PARKER, M. D. Prominent in the list of the medical pro- fession in Custer County stands the name of '-if ^ .k CU8TER COUNTY. 755 T>. M. Parker, bom in Franklin County, Vt, in April, 1848. He received an academic education, at Fairfax (New Hampton) Insti- tute. At the age of nineteen years, he com- menced studying for the profession, with the firm of Drs. Hamilton & Smith, subsequently taking three courses of lectures in the medical department of the University of Vermont, graduating in 1870. He immediately com- menced practice, in Orleans County, where he remained seven years, being very successful. Being compelled to change climate, on account of failing health, he came to Colorado, in the fall of 1877, locating at Rosita, where he at once resumed practice, devoting part of his time to the educational interests of the county. He was elected County School Superintend- ent, in the fall of 1879, having sincere-organ- ized and re-districted the schools of the county. Dr. Parker having confidence in the future of the town, began to invest his money, being rewarded by now being the owner of much valuable real estate. He was married to Miss Nettie H. Pinney in 1871. CHARLES C. PERKINS. Mr. Perkins was bom in May, 1826, in New Castle, Me. His boyhood was spent on a farm and at sea. He then learned the car- penter's trade, and, at the age of twenty-one years, he started to California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco in June, 1850. He there engaged in the lumber and mining business for twelve years. In 1862, he went to Virginia City, Nev., and engaged in min- ing and milling. He had charge of the con- struction of the Treasure Hill Mining Com- pany's mill, in "White Pine country, and was made Superintendent of the Treasiu-e Hill Mining Company, and subsequently had Charge of the Meadow Valley property. He remained in Nevada nine years, and subse- quently spent five years in Utah. He then returned, through Nevada, to California. In 1878, he had. charge of the Murchie Mining Company's property. He then went to the Black Hills, where he was connected witli the Father De Smet Mining Company. Mr. Per- kins has superintended the construction of many of the best mills in California and Nevada. He came to Silver Cliff in January, 1880, and took charge of the property belong- ing to the Silver Cliff Mining Company, and has superintended the construction of their new 40-stamp mill, just completed. Mr. Per- kins was married, in 1853, to Miss Deborah Robinson, oE Maine, and has one daughter. JAJVIES PRINGLE. James Pringle, one of the oldest and most successful prospectors in Colorado (or North America),was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, near the early home of Thomas Carlyle, in 1838. He came to America in 1855, lived a year in New York State and a year in Western Canada, and went to California in 1857, mined in placers on American River, for six years, with varying success. In 1865, he went to Boise Basin, Idaho Territory, and put in four years mining in Idaho and Montana Territories. He joined the rush to White Pine, Nev., in 1869. Not finding fortune there, he tried Southern Utah and Arizona, where he soon got enough oE that arid land and Apache interference, and came to Colo- rado, in 1870, via Prescott, Ariz. Ter., and the Moqui villages, and the Navajo country, to the Mexican settlement of Tierra Amarilla, fifty miles southwest from Conejos, Colo., hav- ing a Navajo Indian guide. Settling down in Canon City, in 1871, he spent the summers prospecting, and was one of the first locators in Rosita, being one of the three who organ- ized the Hardscrabble Mining District (W. J. Robinson and Richard Irwin being the other two), and was one of the members of the Hoyt Mining Company. He has made a fort- une out of the mines around Rosita, but still, from force of habit, goes out into the mounts ains every summer, in search of a new camp. This season he is in Eastern Utah. He genei- rally spends the winters in his comfortable bachelor's quarters at Rosita, with his books and his friends. He represents an energetic class of our best citizens, who explore the wilderness and prepare the way for a more crowded and luxurious civilization — a . CUSTER COUNTY. 763 & Bro. ; had charge of census office in Denver in 1870; in the fall of 1870, went to Pueblo and commenced surveying for Government; in the fall of 1871, went to work for the Colo- rado Chieftain as agent and correspondent, and, after the Daily Chieftain started, took charge of the local department, and remained on the Chieftain until February, 1873; was married, in January, 1873, to Miss Frances Stayton, of Independence, Mo. ; went into the stock ' business in 1875, and remained in that business until 1878, and then accepted an ap- pointment in the Internal Eevenue service, and moved into Ouster County; was one of the delegates to ^Denver, in May, 1880, to the convention to select delegates to the National Convention same year ; was Chairman of Cus- ter County delegation at State Convention at Leadville; farmer by occupation. CARL HERMAN REINHOLD WULSTEN. Mr. Wulsten was born July 8, 1833, in Col- berg, Prussia, his father, a leading jurist, being at that time Mayor of that city. His mother was the older sister of Franz Kugler, the poet, historian, and biographer of Freder- ick the Great. The subject of this biograph- ical sketch was educated in the Latin School at Stargard, in Pomerania, where he received his early training. Upon a change of resi- dence of his parents to Frankfurt-upon-Oder, he attended school at the City Collegiate School there. He showed an early desire for travel and adventure, being rather unruly at his dry studies, but always at the head of his class in mathematics, natural history and geography. This desire led him away from his home at fourteen years of age, when his father apprenticed him to an old sea Captain. During seven years of absence from his home, he sailed around the world, and landed, in July, 1849, in Ssm Francisco Bay, California, with a Scottish ship. Of course he went to the gold fields, and, during the next five years, followed gold mining; amassed several fort- unes, but was unable to keep them, and again landed at his parents' home in 1854. Here he took up his studies, and with great energy pursued them, so that he was in command of a noble ship by 1857. Not having good luck, and being engaged to be married to his pres- ent wife, a daughter of William Graffemder, the President of the Criminal Senate of the Court of Appeal of the Province of Branden- burg, who, by her mother, was a descendant of the ancient noble family of the Von Dir- ingshofen, he resigned his career and emi- grated again to America, after having married his old love. Since he landed in New York, he led the chequered life of all the educated GermaQS of this country — editor, commercial agent, engineer, surveyor, school-teacher and farmer; it landed him in Wet Mountain Val- ley, then a part of Fremont County. His early training here came again to his rescue. He brought a hundred German families into this garden spot of the Eocky Mountains, in the shape of a colony, which did not hold to- gether beyond one year, when it collapsed, be- cause, as Mr. Wulsten told our reporter, "Wherever two Germans argue, there are three opinions." As early as 1871, Mr. Wul- sten gave his observations and opinions in re- gard to the mineral wealth of the Wet Mount- ain Range, in a series of letters he wrote to the Colorado Chieftain, then a weekly newspa- per, published, as now, at Pueblo, Colo. Step for step, word for word, Wulsten's predic- tions have come and proven themselves true and reliable. In 1873, Carl Wulsten built himself a log house in the then just appear- ing mining camp of Rosita. He went to work with an energy and determination which have crowned his efforts of years with success. Mining, surveying, engineering, map-making, draughting, speech-making, corresponding all over the United States with mining journals and capitalists, he slowly but steadily worked himself out of want into comfort, and through it into independence and opulence, until he is to-day one of the most wealthy and well-to-do citizens of Custer County. Mr. Wulsten's career is the history of all energetic, honest and fair-minded men. He works hard from twelve to fifteen hours a day; he works intel- ligently, and upon rational principles. He is outspoken and truthful. His word is as good as his bank check. He is a fast and reliable friend of the poor man and worker, and his hand is ever open toward the deserving needy. He has made for himself an enviable reputa- tion as man, minsr, mine manager and engi- ■^? 5 X< ^^ 764 BIOGRAPHICAL: neer. Carl Wulsten is a stout Republican, and, as such, not a blind partisan, but he as- saults openly and energetically any and all abuses within his party. Carl Wulsten is, to some exetnt, quite an artist. His pictures in aquarelle and India ink are marvels of neat- ness, accuracy and genius. His maps of min- ing properties are already of national repu- tation, and can be found by dozens in the New York Mining offices. Carl Wulsten has raised a family of four children — two girls and two boys — all bright and accomplished children, full of energy and vim, who will make their marks in their lifetime. He is a model father and husband; temperate, good- natured, sometimes hot of temper when pro- voked, but never vicious, and always noble in his aspirations, liberal in all his views to a fault, a Deist in his religious ideas, but un- compromising in his disbelief of sectarianism. To Carl Wulsten, Custer County owes much — more than it ever will repay him — for mainly his energetic perseverance has brought the Wet Mountain Valley to the notice of the world. Since the summer of 1878, he has gone up rapidly. He has sold some good mining properties and made large sums of money. He was mainly instrumental in the consolidation of the Game Eidge Mines into a great stock company, of which he is the Su- perintendent, being, at the same time, one of its largest stockholders. He has lately also formed the Bunker Hill Consolidated Mining Company upon his Bunker Hill Mines, and has yet several very valuable mining proper- ties in his county. He may be considered one of the representative men of Colorado, who do not allow grass to grow under their feet. -^ A HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY 3«n. STEviEjsrsoasr. THE county of Pueblo, when organized in 1862, consisted, of the territory now cov- ered by the counties of Pueblo, Bent, Huer- fano and Las Animas. In those days, though land was abundant, people were few, and Judge Lynch administered even-handed jus- tice, rendering district courts and county gov- ernments almost unnecessary. It is probable that one of the first settlements within the borders of what is now Pueblo County, was located at Charlie Antobee's ranch near the point where the Huerfano River flows into the Arkansas. Charlie, who was an old himter and trapper, formerly in the employ of the American Fur Company (and who still resides on his old ranch), seems to have taken up his residence there at an early day and drawn around him a party of Mexicans and half-breeds who looked up to him as their ruler and leader in their many skirmishes with hostile Indians. Settlements of Mexi- cans were also made at the mouth of the St. Charles and at the junction of the Fontaine qui Bouille and the Arkansas. A trading-post was afterward located near where the Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa F6 depot now stands in Pueblo. It was a sort of rude fort constructed partially of adobes and the remainder of Cot- tonwood pickets, and furnished .a good defense against hostile Indians. This place was called Napesta, the old name of the Arkansas River. "W= ±k. CHAPTER I. THE OX-TEAM PERIOD— EARLY SETTLEMENT— THE UTE MASSACRE- ZAN HICKLIN— FONTAINE CITY— WAR WITH MISSOURI— A LIVELY ELECTION— QUALIFICATIONS OF A PROBATE JUDGE- PUEBLO LAID OUT— JACK ALLEN— A TRANSACTION IN BACON— "HEVEN'T YER GOT THE BEANS?"— AN EGGNOG PARTY. On Christmas Day, 1854, this fort was the scene of a terrible massacre. The men who occupied it were engaged in " keeping their Christmas holiday," after the manner of their more civilized brethren of the States. Tradi- tion says that a liberal supply of the liquid that both cheers and inebriates had been obtained by the inmates of the fort and in the midst of their jollity a band of wandering Utes came by and were invited to join in the revel. The " artless children of the forest," nothing loath, partook freely of the white man's " tarantula juice " and the natural result was an attack upon the whites which resulted in all of the latter being killed. Some who escaped from the fort were followed and shot, their remains being found several miles away by parties of emigrants coming in from the East several years later. One of the occu- pants of the fort had gone to the St. Charles with his team on the day of the slaughter, and on his return he found but one man alive to tell the tale, and that man died a short time afterward. Seventeen men lost their lives as the result of Christmas hospital- ity extended to Indians. A settlement was also made on the Green- horn Creek by Alexander Hicklin, better known throughout Colorado and New Mexico as Zan Hicklin. He came up from Santa F6 and located on a portion of the Vigil and St. Vrain Grant, which he became owner of -4^ 766 HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. through his wife, who was a daughter of Col. Bent. He cultivated a large tract of land, raised immense quantities of grain, was an extensive stock- owner and gathered around him a number of Mexican peons. His house was a renowned stopping-place for travelers, and his genial humor and kindness of heart endeared him to everybody. He died a few years since in reduced circumstances. Other settlements followed along the Ar- kansas, the Huerfano, the Fontaine and other streams in the county, and as long as corn would bring from 5 to 15 cents a pound the valleys of all these streams throughout the summer and fall were waving fields of corn. In fact the valleys of the Arkansas and its ' tributaries supplied the whole neighboring country with that variety of grain. But now things are somewhat different. According to the stories of the ranchmen the land refuses to grow corn at 1^^ cents a pound, and the corn-fields are far and few between. True, the climate and soil are the same and the water as abundant, but the inducement to work is not quite so great, and hence it is "never a good year for corn" in that locality nowa- days. The discovery of gold in the sands of Cher- ry Creek brought about the outbreak of the Pike's Peak excitement in 1858. The news was carried to St. Louis by returning plains- men, and in the fall of that year a party of adventurous spirits came across the plains by the Arkansas Valley trail and located at the mouth of the Fontaine qui Bouille, where the old trail from Santa Fe to the Laramie plains crossed the Arkansas. This party was com- posed of Josiah F. Smith, Otto Wijmeka, Frank Doris and George Lebaiun, who were afterward joined by Capt. William H. Green, "William Kroenig, Charles D. Peck, Eobert Middleton, George Peck and others. Corn in those days was worth fabulous prices, and in fact provisions of all kinds were sold at outrageous rates, and these explorers thought they could make more money by farming and trading than by hunting nuggets in the mountain streams. They made friends with the Indians, who in those days wintered in large numbers in the Arkansas Valley, owing to its mild climate, and in the following spring they took out a ditch from the Fontaine and planted crops of corn and vegetables. Of course a new town on the frontier must have its baptism of blood, and the infant metropolis of Fontaine was no exception to this rule. When the com had reached a con- siderable height and the prospects for a good crop gladdened the hearts of the little settle- ment, a number of "yahoos" from the State of Missouri, who had been to the mines and having been so unfortunate as not to have been able to pick up ten-poimd nuggets on top of the ground, were returning to their former homes, damning Colorado as a hum- bug, camped near the settlement. Their oxen were poor and they turned them into the growing crops. The ranchmen remonstrated, but without effect. The gallant Missourians were the biggest crowd and they would do as they pleased. The settlers found that they must take desperate measures or lose their crops. The cattle were eorraled and the Missouri party informed that they could have their cattle when they paid for the damage done. The Missourians attempted to take the cattle by force, when the settlers, who had intrenched themselves in a log house opened fire. A lively battle ensued, during which several Missourians were killed, and three or four on each side wounded. The strangers paid the damage, took their cattle and went home leaving Fontaine City material where- with to open its first graveyard. In the fall of 1859, the residents of the settlements at Denver, Golden, Central City, etc., concluded that a new Territory ought to be organized. Colorado at that time was part of Kansas, and the Pike's Peakers were of the opinion that 500 miles or more was almost 'too far to travel to the seat of govern- ment. Hence it was proposed to organize the new Territory of Jefferson, and to hold an elec- tion for officers to form a provisional govern- ment for the same. The residents of Font- aine City were notified of this election, and like all good citizens determined to exercise their suffrages " early and often." There could be no trouble about placing any num- ber of ballots in the box, but then the registry law had reached Kansas and it became neces- sary to make a registry. The Fontaine City TT ^ m^ HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. 769 men were equal to the emergency. They first registered all the voters in their town, amounting to twenty-five. Then they called in Juan Chiquite, a leading spirit among the Mexicans, who gave them the names of all the descendants of the Montezumas that he had ever knovm in New and Old Mexico, but still the registry wasn't large enough. A lucky thought struck one of the party. Among his effects he discovered an ancient directory of the city of Cincinnati, and from that the required number of names were copied. As to how many votes were cast, history is silent; but when the returns reached Denver they showed that only 1,500 ballots had been de- posited at Fontaine City, all for one set of candidates! The first store in Fontaine City was opened by Messrs. Cooper & Wing. About this time Messrs. S. S. Smith, W. H. Young, Matthew Steel, O. H. P. Baxter, George M. Chilcott, John W. Shaw, Gov. Hinsdale, Col. Francisco, Mark G. Bradford, Judge Howard and others arrived and assisted in swelling the population of the Southern Metropolis. Judge Howard was a character. Possessed of considerable ability as a lawyer and an inexhaustible fund of dry humor, he soon became well known throughout the country. He had a curious affection of the facial nerves which caused one side of his face to jerk and one of his eyes to wink in a manner that gave a peculiarly laughable effect to his trite say- ings. Hon. Wilbur F. Stone tells the fol- lowing anecdote regarding him : " Judge Stone had been absent from Pueblo for some time, and during his absence an election had been held for Probate Judge. Howard was a candidate and his opponent was a ranchman in the neighborhood who knew nothing of law and had a very limited education. His name has been lost to history, but we will call him Brown. On Judge Stone's return he met Howard, when the following conversation ensued: Judge Stone — " Well Judge, how are polit- ical matters?" Judge Howard — " We've held an election for Probate Judge since you left." S — "Who were the candidates?" H- — "Brown and myself." S— " Who was elected? " H— "Brown." S—" Has he qualified?" H — " Well, he has filed his bond and taken the oath, but all h — I wouldn't qualify him!" In the winter of 1859-60, the present city of Pueblo was laid out under the auspices of Dr. Belt, Dr. Catterson, Wesley Catterson, Cy Warren, Ed Cozzens, Jack Wright, Albert Bercaw, W. H. Green and others. Green and Bercaw built the first bridge across the Arkansas at the foot of Santa F6 avenue. Messrs. Buell & Boyd, two survey- ors, were brought down from Denver to lay out the future city. It may be that Buell & Boyd were paid by the day for their services, or that they spread themselves because land was plenty and cheap, but be that as it may, the original survey of Pueblo was made on a scale of magnificence that was appalling to the ordi- nary tenderfoot. Comer lots were made as numerous as possible, and the streets wide and straight. In the language of Judge Stone, the survey extended " from the river back two or three miles toward the divide and from the Fontaine on the east to Buzzard's Eanch on the west. Near the mouth' of Dry Creek was an extensive city park, filled with serpentine drives and walks, rare shrubbery and exotic flowers, amid which the alkali dust was gently subdued by the spray of a dozen refreshing fountains." Jack Wright built the first house in Pueblo. It was located in the rear of the northeast corner of Front street and Santa F6 avenue. Dr. Catterson also built a cabin on the north side of Second street near Santa F6 avenue. About this time an important event in the history of every new Western town, took place in Pueblo. The renowned Jack Allen arrived and established the first gin-mill. The distill- ery from which Jack purchased his whisky, the only liquor which the pioneers of Southern Colorado considered fit for men to drink, is lost. Tradition has it that his fine old pri- vate stock was manufactured from alcohol, chilli, Colorado tobacco, Arkansas water, old boots, aqua fortes, rusty bayonets, soap weed and cactus thorns. In the language of the pioneers, it was good liquor, because it cut «? i j^S ±=^k^ 770 HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. like a three-cornered file as it went down. The delay which often happened to the ox teams from the East never affected Jack's stock of whisky. Sometimes the supply would give out, but the whisky famine was only temporary and in an hour or two his bottles would be replenished, though no sup- plies had arrived in the settlement for a month. The whisky always had the same flavor and the same startling effect upon the drinker. In addition to his gin-mill, Jack kept a small stock of bacon, beans, etc. One day a stranger came along with a team and going into Jack's place purchased a large side of bacon, paying for it at the rate of 75 cents a pound. The purchaser fastened the bacon to the back of his wagon and went around the house to get some water. After he had dis- appeared. Jack remarked to some bystanders, that "it was a d — d shame that one man should have so much bacon when so many other good men needed it.'' So he deliber- ately cut off about half of the side and car- ried it back into his house. The purchaser did not discover the theft and drove off down the river toward " America." Of course gambling was a favorite amuse- ment at Jack Allen's resort. An amusing story is told regarding a game of poker which took place there. A party was made up and had commenced to play, when an old-timer, still a resident of Pueblo, came in ancl wanted to take a hand in the game. Knowing him to be an expert, the players ruled him out much to his disgust. He sat down and watched the game determined to play them a trick if possible. The table was covered with an ancient gray blanket in which there were several holes. The money staked on the game was pushed through one of these holes, near the edge of the table, between the blan- ket and the table top. The players used beans for chips. The rejected gamester noticed a ramrod belonging to a musket, standing in the comer. On the end of the ramrod was a worm, such as is used for cleans- ing the barrel of the piece. He slily intro- duced this worm under the blanket and while the players were intent upon the game abstracted the greenbacks. After some hours' playing, one fortunate player succeeded in accumulating all the beans, amounting to about a quart. He searched for the money in vain and in his disgust cried out: " Now I've won all the chips and what in the d — 1 have I got for my trouble?" Jack cocked his weather eye at the speaker and responded : " Ye dumed fool, haven't yer got tlie beans f" Among the arrivals of 1860, was Judge Wilbur F. Stone, now of the Supreme Bench of the State. The first family in Pueblo was that of Aaron Sims and Josiah P. Smith, present Police Justice of the city, was the next to set up his household gods. Col. Boone opened a store on the lower end of Santa F^ avenue, of which Dr. Catterson took charge. Pjmory Young, son of William H. Young, was the first male child bom in Pueblo, and Miss Hattie Smith, daughter of Josiah F. Smith, the first female child. Even at this early age in her history, the convivial propensities of the people of Pueblo began to crop out in an unmistakable manner. One day, a returning tenderfoot, who had been to the mining regious with a load of groceries, stopped in the settlement on his way home to Missouri. He had a portion of a barrel of whisky left and offered to sell it to a party of the Puebloites. They purchased the liquor, and soon manufactured a washtub full of egg nog. The scene of the revel was in Pat May- wood's blacksmith-shop, down by the river bank The male inhabitants of the town all gathered there and, after several fights, many of the revelers were overcome by the bilious compound. An eye witness gives the closing scene as follows: One man hung doubled up over the bellows ; another sat sound asleep in the tub of water where the smith cooled his hot iron; a third reposed with his face in the ashes of the forge; a dozen more slept in various positions in the dust on the earthen floor of the shop. But two showed signs of life. In one comer lay the proprietor of the shop and astride his breast sat an individual, afterward a well-known citizen of Pueblo, armed with a funnel and a tin cup and en- gaged in pouring egg nog down the prostrate man's throat, the victim mildly protesting that he couldn't drink another drop. Iv M HISTOEY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. T71 CHAPTER II. THE STAGE COACH PERIOD— ORGANIZATION OP THE COUNTY— COUNTY OFFICERS— COURT HOUSE —JAIL- -GEN. BOWEN— HOTEL— FREE AND EASY WAITER- FINANCIAL CRISIS— STAGE LINE ESTABLISHED— POSTAL FACILITIES— THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE— RELIGIOUS SERVICES— INDIAN SCARE— PUEBLO IN THE LATE WAR— VIGILANTES— THE CHIEFTAIN— CHURCH BUILD- INGS—BRICK—SALE OF TOWN LOTS— DANCING —MASQUERADE— SITUATION IN 1868— PUEBLO INCORPORATED. IN 1862, the county of Pueblo was organ- ized. Messrs. O. H. P. Baxter, E. L. Wooten and William Chapman were appointed Commissioners; Steve Smith, County Clerk, and Hank Way, Sheriff. At the next county election, Steve Smith was elected Clerk; Will- iam Chapman, Probate Judge, and John B. Eice, Sheriff. The following gentlemen have since held the offices of County Clerk: Eugene Weston, John D. Miller, Sam McBride, O. P. Eandall, George H. Hobson, and John T. Crawford, the present incumbent. The office of Sheriff has been held by the following per- sons: H. E. Price, Z. G. Allen, Abe E. Ellis and H. E. Price (second time). The latter is the present incumbent. The first term of court was held by Hon. A. A. Bradford, in a house belonging to Col. Boone, on the lower end of Santa F^ avenue. An adobe building, now occupied as a cigar store, on Santa F4 avenue, near Third street, was afterward erected by the county for a court house, where court was held up to 1872, when the present handsome structure, the finest court house in the State, was erected. Previous to 1868, the county had no jail, and prisoners were kept under guard in all sorts of places. In that year, E. N. Daniels erected a stone building, on the east side of Santa F6 avenue, for that purpose, and rented it to the county. But the new jail leaked so badly that the Commissioners soon after erected the brick building, on the court house square, which was demolished a few months since, after the erection of the jail now in use. The cells were made of planks, spiked together. and fitted with iron doors, and the place was unfit for any human being to live in, the ven- tilation being defective, the bed-bugs numer- ous and a perfume, not that of Araby the blest, being always present to invade the nos- trils of the visitor. Some of the iinest legal talent in the State attended the Pueblo County Courts. Among the queer fish was Gen. Bowen, of Denver. Bowen was a good lawyer, but had a strong propensity for getting drunk, generally just at the time that he was most needed. When he had an important case on hand, he would be full to the bung, with Jack Allen's "Taos lightning," and many and varied were the plans adopted for sobering him. On one oc- casion, he had an important case on hand in the afternoon, and in the morning he was so industrious as to succeed in filling himself before breakfast. An empty stage coach stood near the river bank, and Bowen climbed into it and went to sleep. His client found him there, and persuaded the employes of the stage company to pull the coach out into the middle of the river and leave it there, hoping that Bowen, thus imprisoned, would become sober in time to try the case. The coach was left in the middle of the stream, and its occu- pant, waking up from his tipsy sleep, and thinking he was traveling, would, from time to time, roundly abuse an imaginary driver for the slowess of his team. At length, Bowen awoke in earnest, and, after vainly calling to those on the bank to come to his aid, at length Succeeded in coaxing the driver of an ox-team, that was crossing at the ford, to de- s, \ :k^ 772 HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. liver hiin from his unpleasant imprisonment. The scheme didn't succeed, and, in a short time, Bowen was as drunk as before. The first hotel in Pueblo was kept by Aaron Simms, and the next by John B. Rice. Mr. Rice's house is now part of what was formerly the Drover's Hotel, on Santa F6 avenue, near Second street. The building is now decupled as a restaurant and saloon. The famous old City Hotel, on the east side of Santa F6 ave- nue, between Second and Third, was kept by Moody & Alexander, P. K. Dotson and Messrs. Keeling & Thomas. Uncle Tommy Suttles also kept a hotel on Santa F6 avenue, east side, in a one-story log building, just north of the Riverside barn. This building was destroyed, a short time since, to make room for a large brick business house. The manners of those days were decidedly free and easy. All men were on the same level, and the waiters were not required to show any particular respect to guests. At one of these hotels, a tenderfoot from the Par East, ordered beefsteak and coffee for his breakfast, and was astonished a short time afterward, while sit- ting at the table, by the appearance of a long- haired desperado of the plains, with revolver on one side of his belt and butcher-knife on the other, appearing at the dining-room door with the desired eatables, and bawling out, "Where's the d — d son-of-a-gun that wants beefsteak and coffee?" The tenderfoot, with pale face and hair on end, meekly acknowl- edged that he was the man and seemed su- premely happy when he escaped from the dining-room without losing his scalp. In Uncle Tommy Suttles' hotel occurred the first financial crisis, followed by enforced payment, that took place in Pueblo. The facts of this case are familiar to many of our old citizens. Previous to 1862, there was no regular means of communication between Pueblo and the outside world. The mail was carried from Denver semi-occasionally, on horseback, and the post office was kept by Aaron Simms. The letters, when the mail- bag arrived, were emptied on the floor and each man sorted over the pile, and took what belonged to him. D. J. Hayden, who kept a store on the corner of Second street and Santa F6 avenue, in an adobe building, now used as a grocery, succeeded Simms as Postmaster. The office afterward fell into the hands of S. S. Smith, who sent in his resignation, and, having received no reply from the post office department, placed the effects of the office in a barrel, and set it out in the street. Some- body took it in, and carried on the business of the office as before. About 1862, the mail contract between Den- ver & Pueblo was let to a man named Weib- ling. The service was once a week. A man named Jones was the next contractor. Mr. A. Jacobs, of Denver, afterward obtained the contract, and put on a fine stage line between Denver and Trinidad, three times per week Messrs. Barlow & Sanderson succeeded Mr. Jacobs, and the service was made daily until the advent of the Denver & Rio Grande Rail- way, in 1872. ' In 1862, John A. Thatcher, Esq., arrived in Pueblo, from Denver, with a small stock of general merchandise, and commenced busi- ness in a small log cabin, on the south side of Second street, between Santa P6 avenue and Main. His enterprise proved successful, and a few years later, he was joined by Mah- lon D. Thatcher, Esq., his brother. Through hard work, sterling honesty and close atten- tion to business, these gentlemen have become the wealthiest citizens of Pueblo, and are well-known and highly respected throughout Southern Colorado and New Mexico. As early as 1863, the people of Pueblo be- came impressed with the importance of pro- viding for the education of the rising genera- tion. A comfortable frame schoolhouse was erected, by private subscription, on the rear of the lot now occupied by the Stockgrowers' National Bank, on the west side of Santa ¥6 avenue, between Fourth and Fifth streets and a school taught therein by Miss Weston. This building was used for school purposes until about 1871, when the adobe structm'e, which still stands near the new schoolhouse, was erected. In 1876, the new school building was erected, which is pronounced by experts to be among the best in Colorado. The schoolhouse of South Pueblo School District No. 20 is a large square brick; it has two sto- ries; four large apartments; and, though it lacks the height of some Colorado' school- ;iv* h~^^^'^st&■^-^. ■^-^yt^u.i^^t. t^ ■HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. 775 houses, it covers a greater superficial area than many, and, standing as it does, on the brow of the mesa, overlooks South Pueblo, and is as conspicuous in its own city as any school- house in the State. In the summer of 1864, the first regular religious services ever held in Pueblo, took place in the old schoolhouse first mentioned. Eev. Mr. Hitchings, then Eector of St. John's Chuijch, Denver, officiated. During 1864, a war broke out between the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians, and the entire country was placed upon the defensive. The old El Progressio saloon building, on the southwest corner of Third street and Santa F6 avenue, was used as a temporary fortifica- tion, and the women and children placed therein. A block-house was built near Third and Main streets, and a round tower, con- structed of adobes, crowned the point of the bluffs overlooking Santa ¥6 avenue. The foundation of this structure can still be seen. Armed men patrolled the neighborhood day and night, but no collision with the Indians took place. During the war of the rebel! ion, Pueblo was frequently occupied by the Colorado troops and Company Gr, of the Third Regiment, was recruited chiefly in Pueblo County. This regiment participated in the celebrated Sand , Creek fight, the hardest blow ever given to the Indians in Colorado. The Indians were surprised in their camp, just at daylight in the morning, and upward of 500 slain — more good Indians than were ever known within the boundaries of the Territory at any one time. The officers of the company were: O. H. P. Baxter, Captain; Swaim J. Graham, First Lieutenant, and Andrew J. Templeton, Second Lieutenant. Among the rank and file, were Charles D. Peck, Joseph Holmes, John "W. Rogers, James O'Neal, Abe Cronk, W. W. McAllister, John Brunce, John C. Norton, John McCarty, William H. Daven- port, Jesse "W. Coleman, H. W. Cresswell, Henry B. Craig, Joseph W. Dobbins, Tom C. Dawkins, A. A. Johnson, L. F. McAllister, H. H. Melrose, Noah Puntenny, F. Page, Eugene Weston and others. This regiment was armed with Belgian rifles and mounted on bronchos. They weren't pretty soldiers, but they would fight. At the completion of 100 days' service, they were mustered out at Denver. From 1864 to 1868, but little of interest occurred in Pueblo. The town was gradually increasing in size and prosperity. "Tex" and "Coe," two desperadoes, had finished their evil lives by hanging to a tree, on the banks of the Fontaine, and one or two other bad characters shared the same fate. Pueblo had a bad name throughout the Territory, but property was safe there, and but few people locked their doors day or night. The Vigil- antes were a terror to evil-doers, and the town was carefully avoided by that class of gentry. The year 1868 was marked by the advent of the Colorado Chieftain, then published weekly. A paper called the Times had been published at Canon City during the boom there, but it had departed this life, and its proprietors, Messrs. Millett & Eiddlebarger, sold the material to other parties to publish a paper in the mountains. Hence, for some time previous to the publication of the Chief- tain, no newspaper was printed between Den- ver and Santa F6. Dr. M. Beshoar, now of Trinidad, was the father of the Chieftain. The Doctor had had some experience in jour- nalism in the South, and conceived the idea of establishing a paper at Pueblo, H-e obtained some assistance from the business men of the town, and gave Sam McBride, a practical printer, then working for George West at Golden, an interest in the business, provided he would remove to Pueblo and manage the mechanical portion of the work. The first issue of the paper made its appearance June 1, 1868. Hon. George A. Hinsdale and Hon. Wilbur F. Stone, the latter now on the Su- preme bench of the State, were the editors. Gov. Hinsdale was one of the finest vsriters in the Western country. His solid arguments and sonorous sentences will long be remem- bered by the old readers of the Chieftain, while the sparkling wit and biting sarcasm of Judge Stone, gave a spice to the sheet that rendered it popular wherever read. Mechan- ically, the paper presented a beautiful appear- ance, and was everywhere considered a model of typographic art. The building in which the paper was then printed stood on the north side of Fourth ^-. ~5) ^ -l^ 776 HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY.. street, between Santa P6 avenue and Summit, OB the site of the present handsome office. It was frame, one story in height, and originally occupied as an office for a lumber-yard. A small addition was made to the building, and in these limited quarters the Chieftain com- menced its successful career. Bunks after the style of those on the lower deck of a river steamer were erected in one end of the build- ing, and in these the proprietors and printers slept One Washington hand-press did the newspaper and job work. In the winter of 1868, Samuel McBride sold out his interest to Dr. Beshoar, who in turn sold his entire in- terest to McBride. McBride afterward sold the paper to Capt John J. Lambert, its pres- ent proprietor. George S. Adams was for a short time editor. E. G. Stroud, followed, and, in 1872, a daily edition was issued, with C. J. Reed as editor. A. P. George succeeded Heed, and, in 1874, R. M. Stevenson occupied the editorial chair, retaining it until 1880, when he resigned, and became Private Secre- tary to Gov. Pitkin. Con Conover was the next editor. He died after a few months, and was succeeded by Gart Shober. The latter remained but a short time, and G. G. Withers, the present editor, was his successor. Under the able and careful management of Capt. Lambert, the Chieftain has become one of the most valuable newspaper properties in the State. In 1868, the first church was erected in Pueblo. It was St. Peter's Episcopal. Mr. Winslow was the Rector. The church edifice was at that time considered out of town, and there were but one or two buildings beyond it. Rev. Samuel Edwards succeeded Mr. Winslow. Revs. Green, Brouse, Bray and others afterward officiated. Mr. Gaynor is the present Rector. A church was afterward erected by the Methodists, Rev. O. P. Mc- Manis being the first Pastor, Revs. Merrill, AVallace, Edmondson and others succeeding him. The Presbyterians also erected a church, and Rev. George took charge. He was succeeded by Rev. I. H. Montfort, and that gentleman by the Rev. H. B. Gage, the present Pastor. The Catholic Church came next, with Father Pinto as parish priest. Rev. F. X. Gubitosi now fills that position. The Methodists, north and south, also erected churches in South Pueblo. Previous to 1869, brick buildings were unknovm in Pueblo. Adobes, logs and boards were the materials used in the construction of houses. In that year, Messrs. Morgan, Bamdollar and Mullaly, and Moses Anker established brick-yardi. A lively competition arose between the parties, which ended in the former fiifm selling oat to the latter. The old county jail was th^ first brick building erected in Pueblo. True, the bricks were very soft, and it was necessary to handle them like eggs, but still they were bricks. In 1869, the County Commissioners ordered a sale to be made of a number of town lots in the county addition adjoining the town proper. The sale was at auction, and one gentleman paid $185 for a choice lot on Seventh street, near Main. He was considered crazy, and the wise ones winked their eyes and chuckled to think how the greenhorn had been bitten. If the purchaser owned the property now, he could probably get his money back for it. About the only amusements of the people of Pueblo at this period of the town's exist- ence were card-playing, horse-racing and dan- cing. The dances ^took place in the large room in the second story of Thatcher Bros.' store, on the southeast corner of Santa F6 avenue and Fourth street. There were but two unmarried ladies in the town, but the married ones liked to dance just as well as if they were single, and a small room was pro- vided for the reception of the babies, while the mothers tripped the "light fantastic." Fifteen minutes notice was all tiiat was re- quired to get up a ball. The toilets of the ladies were not elaborate, nor were " scissors- tailed " coats required on the part of the gen- tlemen. Joe Cox was the fiddler, and he played the "Arkansas Traveler," and "Dog Bit a Rye Straw," while the male and female pioneers " hoofed it " until the floor and windows rattled. Vet Clark and his brother Luke succeeded Joe Cox as purveyors of dance music, and Tom Willey occasionally came down from the mountains and regaled the people with the dulcet notes of his violin. The first masquerade ball ever given in Pueblo took place in the room above alluded to. ^rr .^ HISTOEY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. 777 Among the maskers were Judge Hart as Don Juan, Dr. Thombs as a Prussian officer, E. N. Daniels as a German peasant, Ferd Barn- dollar as a wharf-rat, M. Anker as a colored lady, D. B. Berry as a clown, Aug Beach and George Morgan as colored gentlemen, Ezra Graves as a priest. Dr. Beshoar as a " what-is- it," and divers and sundry others. Many of the costumes were home-mado, but the fun was fast and furious, and the disguises, in many cases, excellent. At this time, Messrs. Thatcher Bros., Eett- berg & Bartels, Berry Bros., James Eice, D. G. Peabody and Cooper Bros, were the lead- ing merchants. Judge Hallett presided in the District Court. The bar consisted of Hon. A. A. Bradford, Hon. George A. Hinsdale, Wil- bur F. Stone, H C. Thatcher, James Macdon- ald, J. W. Henry and G. Q. Eichmond. Drs. P. E. Thombs and J. W. O. Snyder repre- sented the medical profession, and Lewis Conley, Flynn & Beach and Gus Bartlett were contractors and builders. In 1870, Pueblo became a corporate town. Lewis Conley was the first President of the Board of Trustees, and Hon. G. A. Hinsdale, Sam McBride, Henry Cooper and Cal Peabody were members of the board. CHAPTER III. THE RAILROAD PERIOD— DENVER & RIO GRANDE RAILWAY— UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE- THE PEOPLE— SOUTH PUEBLO LAID OUT— COUNTY COURT-HOUSE— RAILROAD BANQUET— BOOM— WHITE LYNCHED— PUEBLO BECOMES A CITY— WATER WORKS BUILT— FIRE DEPARTMENT— ADVENT OF THE PUEBLO & ARKANSAS VALLEY RAIL- ROAD—A THREE-DAYS JUBILEE— SAM McBRIDE DEPARTS WITH THE SCHOOL FUND— THE PUEBLO DEMOCRAT— CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION— SMELTING WORKS— INSANE ASYLUM —STEEL WORKS— STREET RAILROAD— GAS WORKS— GENERAL PROSPERITY. IN 1871, the question of voting bonds of the county in aid of the Denver & Eio Grande Eailroad was agitated. The road was at that time constructed as far as Colorado Springs, and the people of Pueblo County were solicit- ed to subscribe $100,000 in bonds to the stock of the. road, the company threatening that, in case the subscription was not made, to construct the road south via Canon City, and leave Pueblo out in the cold. The bonds were voted by a large majority, and the road in consequence came to Pueblo. The United States Land Office was opened in Pueblo during this year, with Judge "Wheeler as Eegister and Mark G. Bradford as Eeceiver. In September, the Vnehlo- People, a weekly journal. Democratic in politics, was estab- lished by a joint-stock company, with Hon. George A. Hinsdale as editor. The office was located in the brick building on the northeast comer of Fourth and Summit streets. The paper was well edited and handsomely print- ed, but bad financial management proved its ruin, and in 1874 the material was sold under a trust deed, and purchased by the proprietors . of the Chieftain. About this time, the Colorado Central Im- provement Company, a branch of the Denver & Eio Grande Eailroad Company, having purchased the Nolan Grant, proceeded to lay out the town of South Pueblo, on the southern bank of the Arkansas, directly opposite the city. The first buildings were the Grand Central Hotel, and the building next to it on Union avenue. Other buildings followed rapidly, and nmnerous handsome residences were erected on the mesa, which is now one of the most attractive places of residence in Colorado. South Pueblo has a city corpora- tion of its own, water works, etc., and is a thriving business point. In 1872, the county court house was com- pleted, Mr. E. H. Barber being the contractor. ^^ i) >y ^1 :£hL^ 778 HISTOEY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. This building, the finest of its kind in the State, was paid for by the money received from the sale of town lots in a quarter-section of land pre-empted by the county authorities and filed as an addition to the city. Hence it cost the people of the county nothing. During the same year, the Denver & Eio Grande Eailroad was completed to Pueblo. The first depot_was located on the Fontaine, a short distance north of the court-house, but was shortly afterward removed to South Pueblo. The completion of the railroad was the occasion of a banquet given at the court house, which was attended by many leading citizens from all parts of the State. Grace Greenwood was present, and delivered a short address. At the time of the advent of the Denver & Bio Grande Railway, Pueblo experienced a genuine boom. Hundreds of buildings were erected, and the streets of the town weye crowded day and night. Dance halls, variety theaters and gambling rooms flourished, and the crack of the pistol was common on the streets. Among the rough characters who arrived in the city at this time was a Chicago sneak-thief named White. One night, he went through a number of rooms in the Na- tional Hotel, and also several in the upper stories of business blocks, securing a quantity of valuable property. Next morning he de- camped and went to Denver. By means of telegraphic dispatches, he was captured at Denver and promptly returned to Pueblo. On the night of his arrival at the latter place, he was taken from the jail and hanged to a tele- graph pole. In 1873, Pueblo was incorporated as a city, with James Eice, Esq., as Mayor. Mr. Eice was succeeded by Messrs, John E. Lowther, M. D. Thatcher, W. H Hyde and George Q. Eichmond, the latter gentleman being the present incumbent. About this time, the construction of water works was agitated, and an election held to decide whether the city should issue $130,000 in bonds to carry out this important enter- prise. The election was carried in favor of the bonds, with but one dissenting vote, and in 1874, the present Holly "Works were con- structed, the contract having been let to the National Building Company of St. Louis. The fire department was organized shortly after the completion of the works. It con- sisted of two hose companies and one hook and ladder. W. E. Macomb was elected Chief; E. M. Stevenson, Assistant Chief; W. H. Middaugh, Foreman of Hose Company No. 1; W. H. Eedfield, Foreman of Hose Company No. 2; and C. J. Hart, Foreman of Hook and Ladder No. 1. The Pueblo & Arkansas Valley Eailroad, connecting with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6, was completed to Pueblo in 1875, thus giving to Southern Colorado a direct line to the Bast. The people of the county sub- scribed $850,000 in bonds of the county to the capital stock of the road, which stock was afterward sold at a good figure. The com- pletion of the road was the occasion of a mon- ster excursion from Kansas, as well as from Denver and other points in the State. The jubilee lasted two days. On the first day, a parade took place of all the firemen, civic so- cieties, etc., followed by a banquet, the guests being the visitors from Colorado. On the second day, the Kansas people arrived, and were hospitably entertained. A reception and ball in the evening closed the festivities of the occasion. The handsome school building now in use in Pueblo was erected in 1876. The people of the district voted bonds to the amount of $14,000 to erect an appropriate school build- ing. The funds recieved from the sale of the bonds were placed in the hands of Sam McBride, Treasurer of the School Board. Samuel went East that year, and failed to return. After his departure, it was dis- covered he had embezzled a large portion of the money placed in his hands. The courts released his bondsmen from liability, and the tax-payers of the district footed the bill. The Democrat, a daily and weekly newspa- per, was established in Pueblo about this time. Dr. A. Y. Hull, a veteran journalist from Se- dalia, Mo., purchased the Republican, founded a year or two before by Mr. J. M. Murphy, and, changing its name and politics, published the first regular Democratic organ in Pueblo County. The paper then passed into the hands of Messrs. Hull Bros., who afterward >? Q •r ^J^eAAy^r ^,f liL^ HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY. 781 sold it to Judge Royal, formerly of St. Jo- sepH, Mo. The name of the paper has been changed, and it is now the Daily News. The Centennial of the independence of the United States was celebrated in fine style by the people of Pueblo. A large procession, consisting of civic societies, firemen and citi- zens, paraded the streets and marched to Con- cordia Park, where an oration was delivered by Rev. Brouse, Rector of St. Peter's Church, followed by a historical sketch of Pueblo, by Hon. Wilbur F. Stone. Judge Stone's address was printed and from it the writer has gleaned much valuable information. Messrs. Mather & Geist inaugurated the first great manufacturing enterprise in Pueblo in 1878, by the erection of their extensive smelting works at the crossing of the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley and Denver & Rio Grande Railroads near the southern boundary of the city. This extensive establishment, one of the largest in the State, has now in operation six smelting furnaces of forty tons capacity each, with the requisite number of calcin- ing furnaces and other apparatus. Ores from all parts of the State have been successfully treated here. Several hundred men are now employed, and the enterprising proprietors are extending their works in order to handle the increasing supply of ores. The Legislature of the State during the session of 1879-80, authorized the establish- ing of a State insane asylum at Pueblo, and appropriated a fund for procuring land and buildings. Under this act, Messrs. James Macdonald, Theo. F. Brown and J. B. Romero, were appointed Commissioners by the Governor. The board purchased the commodious mansion of Hon. George M. Chilcott, a short distance west of the city, and made the necessary improvements to render it suitable for the purpose. Dr. P. R. Thombs, of Pueblo, was appointed Superin- tendent. Mr. Macdonald resigned shortly afterward and was succeeded by R. M. Ste- venson, who in turn resigned and was suc- ceeded by O. H. P. Baxter. The asylum was opened in October, 1879, with accommoda- tions for forty patients. The building was soon crowded to its utmost capacity and the Legislature of 1880-81, found it necessaiy to make an appropriation of $60,000 for the erection of another building, which is now in com-se of erection. Dr. Thombs' manage- mient has been very successful and numerous cures have been effected. The Colorado Coal & L-on Company are now erecting extensive iron and steel works on the mesa, just below South Pueblo. The iron ores of Colorado will be smelted and from the product thereof will be manuf actui-ed pig iron, bar iron, steel rails, stoves, machin- ery, etc. The works are being constructed on an extensive scale, and when finished will fur- nish employment for upward of 1,000 men. Several million dollars will be invested in the enterprise. The Pueblo street railroad, which was constructed in 1880, furnishes ready means of communication between Pu- eblo and South Pueblo. William Moore, Esq., is the President of company. The cor- poration is now preparing to extend its lines in several directions. The wave of prosper- ity which swept over the entire country reached Pueblo in 1880, and since then the two cities have enjoyed a veritable "boom." Business has been exceedingly brisk; stran- gers in great numbers arrive daily, and num- erous fine buildings are in course of erection on both sides of the river. The works of the Union Gas Company are in course of con- struction and in a short time both cities will be illuminated by gas. Pueblo has the geo- graphical location and railroad connections requisite to make her a great city, and within a few years the site of the little trading post of 1854, bids fair to be covered by a populous and busy ii etropolis. s \ BIOGRAPHICAL. tiiL JOHN V. ANDREWS. This gentleman is a well-known merchant of Pueblo, being the sole proprietor of an exten- sive wholesale grocery house. He was born on a farm in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 5, 1845. He attended the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and graduated in the liter- ary department in 1861. He afterward at- tended the law department and received his diploma in due course. In 1863, he located at Dayton, Ohio, and began the practice of law, but was soon compelled to abandon it, owing to the condition of his health. From Dayton he moved to Kingston, Mo., where he lived more than a year. From Kingston, he removed to Lin- coln, Neb., at which place he engaged in the gro- cery business. After about two years, he dis- posed of his store and went to San Diego, Cal., where he lived, with the exception of a time which he spent in Nevada, until 1870. In the spring of that year, he returned east as far as Colorado and located at Pueblo. He first opened a general store at Pueblo, but subse- quently embarked in the wholesale grocery business, which he has since continued with fine success. Mr. Andrews now carries a large stock, and has an extensive trade, receiving his custom from the various points in Southern and Western Colorado and New Mexico. HOX. O. H. P. BAXTER. Mr. Baxter was among the early men in Colorado, having come West in 1858. For nearly twenty-two years he has steadilj' re- mained and advanced with the country, and now he is a proqiinent citizen and capitalist of Pueblo. He was born at Madison, Ind., Octo- ber 31, 1835. He received a common school education, and learned the trade of a black- smith. In 1855, he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he pursued blacksmithing for a short time ; he also afterward worked for a time at Moline, 111. In 1856, he located at Nebraska Citj', where he followed his trade for about two years. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Baxter started for Pike's Peak, and, in October, he arrived at the mouth of Cherry Creek, where Denver is now situated. For about two years, he engaged in prospecting and mining in the mountains. Soon after the discovery of the famous Gregory lode, in 1859, he went to Central, where he re- mained some months. He spent some time in South Park, and was among the early ad- venturers in California Gulch. In September, 1860, he came down to Arkansas Valley, and located upon a ranch about five miles below Pueblo. The following spring, he sold out and removed to the mouth of the St. Charles River, where he located a ranch, and be- gan farming. He was one of the first farm- ers in the county. In 1864, Mr. Baxter volunteered in the United States service for a term of three months. He raised a company, of which he became Captain, in the Third Colorado. He was with his regi- ment at the noted battle of Sand Creek. After the expiration of his term, he returned to his ranch and continued farming ; he also kept up his stock business, in which he had been interested since 1862. Mr. Baxter was a member of the Territoral Legislature in 1864-65. He was a member of the Council during the sessions of 1865-66 and 1866-67. He removed to Pueblo, in 1866, and bought a half interest in the well-known Jewett Grist Mill, which in- terest he has since owned. He was one of the first town company which located the town of Pueblo in 1861. The town was afterward jumped by parties who obtained a patent, but some years later, owing to priority of title, it reverted to the original company. In 1870, the County Commissioners appointed Trustees, who proceeded to organize the town of Pueblo on a permanent basis. Mr. Baxter was one of the Trustees and continued as such for several years afterward. He was, for a number of years, a County Commissioner, and was also a Commissioner of the State Penitentiary several >^ ««*^' ^^-t-t- Cf^C^,-^ ^t liL^ PUEBLO COUNTY. 799 framing a code of laws and organizing the first people's court for the government of that dis- trict. In 1863, he settled in Pueblo, when there were scarcely a dozen families living there, in the rudest of huts. In 1864, he moved to San Luis, in Costilla County, where he lived nearly two years, during which time he ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the Spanish language; and in the summer of 1866 he moved hack to Pueblo, where he ever after- ward resided, and ei gaged in the practice of law. At the election upon the adoption of the State Constitution in 1865, Mr. Hinsdale was elected Lieutenant Governor upon the Demo- cratic ticket, being the onlj' Democrat elected on the State ticket ; and as such he presided over the joint session of the State Legislature, which was held in Denver, in December, 1865, and which elected G-ov. John Evans and Hon. J. B. Chaflfee, United States Senators under the Enabling Act for State admission, the bill for which passed Congress, but was vetoed by President Johnson. In 1868, he was elected a member of the Territorial Council, and at the session of 1870 was chosen President of that body. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of the town of Pueblo after its incor- poration, and at the time of his death was President of the City School Board, and County Attorney of Pueblo County. He filled nu- merous offices of public trust and honor, and was ever identified with the history and growth of Southern Colorado. In politics, he was always a Democrat of the firmest type, and, as one of the leaders of the party in Colorado, he ever held the respect of his political opponents by his ability no less than his sincerity, fidelity and conscientious integrity. As a lawyer, he was a- profound thinker, forcible in logic of argument, zealous in the interest of his client, and one of the most successful criminal lawj'ers of his judicial district. As a scholar, he had few equals in the Territory, and was one of the most forcible, graceful writers for the press. When the Chieftain as, the first newspaper in Southern Colorado, was started in Pueblo, Mr. Hinsdale became one of its editors, and for over two years assisted in contributing gratuitous services to this means of promoting the develop- ment of Southern Colorado. He was after- ward one of the leading organizers of the Pueblo Printing Company, publishers of The People, and, until about one year previous to his death, was one of the editors of that paper. He was President of the Public Library Asso- ciation of Pueblo, and took an active interest in fostering that, one of the most creditable institutions of the young city. We estimate the need of such men in communities by their loss. They are the men who rule the world for good, and hold a rein upon its evil course. In all that was good in the development of his community and of the Territory, Mr. Hinsdale was an element. He could read the history of Colorado, whose every mountain and valley he loved, and in the fabric of whose civic life he felt the pride of a builder, and might be well entitled to exclaim : Omnia vidi et quorum pars fui! His life of unostentatious good should ever be an example to those who have outlived him. DR. ANDREW Y. HULL. To successfully edit a newspaper in Colorado requires unusual tact and ability. In the Eastj. ern States, where the country is thickly settled and scores of journals are published on every hand ; where sensations are frequent, and in- numerable news items are floating on every breeze, ,the average writer can have no great difficultj' in gathering material for a weekly or a daily. But in the New West, far from the center of the journalistic world, where the country is sparsely populated, where the towns are many miles apart, and but few newspapers are published for hundreds of miles around, the reporter must sweep clean for his locals, and the editor-in-chief must ransack his brain and clear the eastern sky for his editorials. Dr. A. Y. Hull is widely known in Southern Colorado, as, for a number of years, the able and esteemed editor of the Pueblo Democrat, which he him- self founded, and continued to April 27, last, and the writer of this takes peculiar pleasure in noting his career. The Doctor is by nativity an Ohioan. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, July 28, 1818. He received an average academical education, and, at the age of twenty, began the study of medicine, pursuing his first studies mainly at Frankfort, Ohio. He took lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincin- nati, and received his diploma from that insti- tution March 2, 1841. He then located at Bourneville, Ohio, where he lived and practiced his profession for more than eight years. He was married, at Frankfort, Ohio, August 17, 1847, to Miss M. E. Tiffin, a niece of Dr. Ed- 800 BIOGRAPHICAL: ward Tiflfln, first Governor of Ohio. In Sep- tember, 184&, the Doctor removed to Des Moines, Iowa. For a time he practiced medi- cine there, and dealt in real estate, but, tiring of medicine, he decided to study law, which he did, and was admitted to the bar at Des Moines. He was elected to the State Senate of Iowa, in 1861. In 1863, he took an active part in pro- curing the removal of the State capital from Iowa City to Des Moines. During the late war, he was a strong Union man, but was opposed to the war and took no part in it. In 1866, on account of the failing health of Mrs. Hull, the Doctor removed to Sedalia, Mo. In 1868, he took charge as editor and business manager of the Sedalia Democrat, a daily and weekly paper. He entered upon his editorial career at a time when the Democracy of Missouri was in the mi- nority, owing to the disfranchisement of the ex- rebels, and fierce was the war he made upon the dominant party. In 1876, still having in view the restoration of his wife's yet impaired health, Dr. Hull disposed of his interests at Sedalia and removed to Pueblo, Colo., where he has since resided. He started the Pueblo Demicrat, a semi-weekly paper, March 1, 1877. Since then it has been continued, part of the time as a daily and part as a weekly, and has ever been strong in its advocacy of Democracy. The Democrat is now owned by the Hull Brothers, sons of Dr. Hull, and, since April 27, 1881, Dr. Hull then resigning, has been under the edito- rial management of Col. David R. Murray. Having arrived at that age where men natural- ly require rest and retirement. Dr. Hull has bade adieu to public life. He retires with honors, and to the regret of many admirers. He has interests at Pueblo and will make his future home at that place. WILLIAM H. HYDE. Mr. Hyde is well known in Southern Colo- rado as a manufacturer of wagons and dealer in agricultural implements. He was born in Joli- et, 111., in 1839, where he was raised and early learned the trade of blacksmith and wagon- maker. In 1857, he went to California and worked at • his trade, until the breaking- out of the war in 1861, when he enlisted in the First California Volunteer Infantry after- ward serving through Arizona and New Mexi- co, until December, 1863. He then quit the army, having served his time, and located at Denver, Colo, resuming his trade. In 1866, he went to Golden, Colo., and remained there until 1868, when he again returned to Denver. He located at Pueblo in November, 1870, and opened a blacksmith and wagon shop. Since then he has erected large and capacious build- ings which he now occupies. He was elected Mayor of Pueblo in April, 1879, and was re- elected in 1880, his second term of office ex- piring April, 1881. He was married, in Pueblo, December 1, 1871, to Miss Laura S. Loy. Mr. Hyde has succeeded well in the West, and is now doing an extensive business, dealing in farming implements of all kinds, and manufact- uring wagons for a large custom throughout Southern Colorado. His business is constant- ly increasing, and has become an important factor in the growing interests of Pueblo. J. LOUIS ISENBERG. The subject of this sketch is a prominent architect and builder of Pueblo. His ances- tors were among the early settlers of Virginia, near Yorktown, but at about the beginning of the nineteenth century they moved to the then wilderness of Central Pennsylvania, and en- gaged in farming upon the borders of Blair County, where young Isenberg was born No- vember 15, 1849. At two years of age, he moved with his parents to Alexandria, Hunt- ingdon Count}', Penn. He was educated in the graded public schools of that place and at Cassville Seminarj' (now a Soldiers' Orphan Home), at Cassville, Penn. While attending the institution above mentioned in 1864, when the Confederate army under Gen. Lee invaded Pennsylvania, young Isenberg, with two com- panions, deserted school and joined the State Militia at Harrisburg. After the war, he served an apprenticeship at millwrighting. In 1869, he turned his attention Westward, and emigrated to Sharon, Penn., on the extreme borders of the State, where he entered the office of an architect and remained two years. He afterward engaged in business with his father-in-law as contractors and builders, in which he was successful until 1873. The panic of that year swept away almost all Mr. Isen- berg possessed. He then turned his face to the " Land of the Setting Sun," and, accompanied by his wife, arrived at Pueblo, Colo., August 7, 1873, where he located, and has since re- sided. He was married at Brookfield, Ohio, ^^ If^ ^l 'A PUEBLO COUI!fTY. 801 December 14, 1871, to Miss Nettie T. Taylor. At Pueblo, he has continued in his line of contractor, architect and builder, and has planned and constructed a number of the im- portant buildings in and around the city. He was the first builder in the construction of the smelting works, also the steel works. He planned and constructed the present Insane Asylum. Mr. Isenberg has always been a stanch advocate of and believer in the future greatness of the Arkansas Valley and the city of his choice — Pueblo — as his many published letters will testifj^, he having at various times been the correspondent of different Eastern journals and the newspapers of the city. In the spring of 1880, he was elected Alderman for the city from the Fifth Ward, and was after- ward instrumental in getting the city water mains laid in his ward, much to the gratification of his constituency at that time. He now de- votes his exclusive attention to building — has met with much success, and is well established among the business men of Pueblo. GEORGE W. INK. Mr. Ink was born in Luzerne County, Penn. His mother's death necessitated his being raised by her parents, and he was ac- cordingly put under their care. By them he was sent to school winters till he was fifteen, and from fifteen till he was twenty, was kept at work on their farm. Mechanism came natural to him, and, without serving an apprenticeship, he took up carpentry and followed it success- fully for* five years. He went to Lawrence, Kan., when he was twenty-seven, and worked in a saw- mill, afterward buying a mill and sawing lumber in several counties in the State. In partnership with others, he has owned two saw- mills on the divide, Colorado, and sawed many million feet of lumber there. One of those mills he moved to Bergan's Park, near Pike's Peak, and, in connection with it, opened a lum- ber-yard and set up a planing-mill in South Pueblo. He dissolved partnership with his partners in 1873, taking the lumber-yard and planing-mill as part of his interest in the prop- erty. He sold the lumber yard and planing- mill in 1878, and has been engaged exclusively in building and contracting from then to the present time. Mr. Ink is the owner of much town property, residences and lots, and is con- sidered a wealthy man. Hb is Justice of the Peace and Police Magistrate, and has gained more popularity by his willingness to accom- modate than he can ever gain through moneyed and official positions. THEODORE R. JONES. Mr. Jones is well known as a prominent stock man of Southern Colorado. He is num- bered among the " old timers," almost his en- tire life having been spent in the West. He was born at Port Wayne, Ind., September 2, 1847. He moved with his parents to Missouri in 1856. The following year they moved into Western Kansas, to Bent's Port, now in Colo- rado. They afterward removed to Booneville, Colo. In 1862, when but fourteen years of age young Jones was placed in charge of the Gov- ernment stores at Booneville or Camp Fillmore. He disbursed supplies until the next year. He had become quite proficient in speaking Span- ish, and in 1863 he went to Tucson, Arizona, where, for a number of years, he acted as in- terpreter for the Quartermaster's Department of that district. In 1871, Mr. Jones came to Pueblo County, Colo., and embarked in the stock business. He was for several years in partnership with H. S. Stevens, but he is now connected with his brother in business, and de- votes his attention entirely to sheep. The sheep interest has become quite important in Colorado. Mr. Jones and his brother handle immense flocks of sheep. Between September, 1880, and January, 1881, they sold 42,000 head. They expect to excel all their former opera- tions in 1881. Mr. Jones has been very suc- cessful in his undertakings, and has grown - quite wealthy. He was married at Booneville, Colo.j October 5, 1876, to Miss Harriet Boone, a descendant of the noted Daniel Boone. LUDWIG KRAMER. This gentleman is numbered among the "old- timers" of Colorado. He was born in Witten- berg, Germany, September 24, 1825. He came to America in 1852, and located in Iowa. He was married in Germany, and brought his wife and son with him to America. In 1858, he re- moved from Iowa to Jackson County, Mo., where he lived about two years. He came out to Colo- rado in the spring of 1860, and prospected in California Gulch about six months, after which he returned to his family in Missouri, and re- mained with them until 1863. In the spring of «^ S "tj « i±^ 802 BIOGRAPHICAL: that year he removed to Colorado and settled in Pueblo County, where he has since lived and engaged in ranching. He is now a large stock owner, and is one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of the country. In 1878, Mr. Kramer w£ts elected one of the County Commissioners of Pueblo County, which office he nows holds. CAPT. JOHN J. LAMBERT, John J. Lambert, proprietor of the Colorado Chieftain at Pueblo, was born in Wexford, Ire- land, January 26, 1837. When ten j'ears of age, he moved with his parents to America. They settled at Dubuque, Iowa, where young Lambert afterward learned to be a printer. He worked at the trade until the beginning of the late war. He entered the Federal army in 1861, and served through the war, first as Lieu- tenant, and later as Captain of a company in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry. His regiment was mustered out in the spring of 1866, immediately after which, Capt. Lambert was commissioned Lieutenant in the Fifth United States Infantry. He ^as for five years Post Quartermaster and Commissary at Fort Reynolds, Colo., twenty miles below Pueblo. During that time, in the fall of 1 868, he purchased the Chieftain, a paper which had been established at Pueblo the June previous. His brother then came West and took charge of the Chieftain, continuing with it until 1872, when Capt. Lambert resigned his commission in the army and took charge of the paper in person. Under his' management the Chieftain has grown rapidlj', and increased largely in value. The elegant office, a two-story brick, was erected in 1879. The Chieftain is a daily and weekly. It has an extensive circula- tion, and has become one of the most impor- tant journals in Southern Colorado. Capt. Lam- bert has the confidence and esteem of his fel- low citizens. He was married at Dubuque, Iowa, in December, 1873, to Miss Sue E. Lorimier. JAMES LIVESY, B. A. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining more particulars, this sketch of Mr. Livesy's life is much shorter than it is wished it were, for the history in detail of a gentleman of his pure tastes and delicacy would, it is believed, be read with great interest by the perusers of this book. He is the son of a wealthy cotton deal- er of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, and was born March 15, 1850. He attended the public schools of Blackburn till 1867, and then, after having been engaged a j'ear and a half with his father at Uppingham in the cotton business, he became a student of Cambridge University, and graduated in four years, and had the degree of Bachelor of Arts conferred upon him. His father desired him to make theology his pro- fession, but having a strong love for agricultural pursuits, he attended the agricultural college at Cirencester, Gloucester, a year, with a view to making farming his calling in life, and came to America, in 1875, in search of ground to farm. A six months' search in Colorado, failing to find ground on which he wished to locate, he went to New Zealand, but having learned that he could invest money in Colorado to better advantage than there, he returned in 1876, and in partnership with his brother, bought what is known as the Goodnight and Cresswell propertj', a large tract of land ten miles from Pueblo, and has since been engaged in dealing in stock, cattle, sheep and wool. THOMAS J. LIVESY. Mr. Livesy is an educated gentleman and the largest land-owner and stock-dealer in Pueblo County. Though of a retiring disposition and no desire to come into public notice, his wealth and large business transactions have made him a noted and prominent man. He was born in Lancashire, England, November 16, 1847. He received his education at the English public schools, a preparatory school for the army, and in Switzerland. An army life would )^ve been his chosen profession, but for circumstances transpiring which changed the whole direction of his mind and brought him, in 1869, to Texas. After residing in Texas a year, he returned to England to buy cotton, which, being a more hazardous business than he cared to follow, was discontinued at the end of three years, and an- other trip to America planned and made. A location to suit him was not found, and he ex- tended his journey to British Columbia, New Zealand and Australia, and returned to En- gland, to again come to America. He came to America the third time, and bought steers /)n the Pan Handle, Texas, then settled in the Ar- kansas Valley, ten miles above Pueblo, on the Goodnight and Cresswell property, an eight thousand acre tract of farming and grazing land, which he and his brother purchased, intending ® "v fe^ PUEBLO COXnSTTY. 805 to raise beeves. Sheep proving more profit- able, they sold off much of all other stock, and now raise, buy and sell sheep. An idea of the purchases and sales he makes can be formed when it is read that he has constantly on his range from ten thousand to eighteen thousand sheep, several thousand head of cattle, and buys and sells by the hundreds and thousands. He sheared 50,000 pounds of wool last year and will increase the amount next year. ED J. MAXWELL. Although Mr. Maxwell is comparatively a new man in Colorado, yet he has become prominently known as a lawyer at Pueblo. He was born in the city of New York April 21, 1841. He attended Union College, graduating there in 1863. After finishing school, he en- tered the Federal armj', and served to the close of the late war, being Captain of a company in the Irish Brigade. He was also for a time on Gen. Miles' staff. After the war. he returned to New York and began the study of law. He graduated at the Albany Law School, at Albany, N. Y., in 1867, after which he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of law. He was married, in Albany, in 1866. During the years 1872-73, he was Assistant Adjutant General of the New York National Guard. In 1875, Mr. Maxwell went to South Carolina where, during the political canvass of the fol- lowing year, he stumped the State for Tilden and for Hampton. After the election, he was one of the counsel for Hampton in his cele- brated contest with Chamberlain for the Gov- ernorship. In the spring of 1880, he came to Pueblo, Colo., where he at once entered upon the practice of his profession. He has rapidl}' established himself, and is doing a lucrative' practice, the people having soon discovered in him a man of unusual ability and business acumen. Mr. Maxwell is at present associated with Mr. E. Bray ton. JOSEPH McMURTRY. Mr. McMurtry is a well-known lawyer of South Pueblo. He was born in Hardin County, Ky., November 27, 1848. He attended school at Litchfield, Ky., and when sixteen years of age he quit school and began clerking in a store. He studied law at the same time, and when twenty-one years of age, in 1 869, was ad- mitted to the bar at Elizabethtown. At the age of twenty-three, he was elected Judge of the Police Court of Elizabethtown, which office he held two years. Mr. McMurtry's health began to fail during his terra of office, and he con- tinued to decline until 1875, when, in the fall of that year, hoping to be restored by the salu- brious climate of Colorado, he came West. He spent several months in the mountains, and, in spring of 1876, located at South Pueblo, where, his health being much improved, he has since resided and practiced his profession. Besides doing a good law business, he is now dealing considerably in real estate. JOHN D. MILLER. This gentleman, now a prominent merchant at Pueblo, was one of the earliest settlers of Colorado. He was born in Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1836. He came West in 1857, as far as Kansas, where, locating a quarter-section of land, he engaged in ranching about a year. His prime object in going to Kansas was to join the movement to suppress slavery there. In May, 1858, young Miller started with a party for the Eocky Mountains. The summer of that year, they spent in prospecting for gold along the foot-hills. They surveyed and located the town of Mortana. In September, Mr. Mil- ler returned to his ranch in Kansas, and the following winter he went to New York, where he procured means to purchase a stock of goods. He bought his goods in Leavenworth City, the following May, and started for Den- ver, arriving there in June. From Denver he went to Deadwood, taking with him his stock of goods, but on the way he had the misfortune to lose most of his stock by accidental burning, and disposing of the remainder in Deadwood he afterward engaged in mining, which he continued to follow in different parts of Colo- rado for about two years. He served three years in the late war as a soldier of the First Colorado Cavalry. In October, 1864, his time expiring, he left the army and went to New York, where he remained until the next spring. In May, 1865, he again returned to Colorado and went to Pueblo, at which place he has since lived. For about two years, he engaged in various employment, driving a team for a while, and clerking for a time in a store. In 1867, he was elected Coupty Clerk for the county of Pueblo, which position he held four years. He was married, at Pueblo, December 2, 1869 "7i= ,^ 806 BIOGRAPHICAL: to Miss Lizzie Dodson. In the fall of 1871, he embarked in the grocery business with Thomas W. Sayles as partner. The partnership was continued till 1876, when Mr. Miller bought Mr. Sayles' interest, and since then he has continued the business alone. Mr. Miller has been emi- nently successful in business. He now has one of the largest and best assorted stocks of goods in the the general grocery and queens- ware line in the city, and in point of custom he is second to no merchant in Pueblo. DAVID C. MONTGOMERY. The subject of this sketch is descended from one of the oldest families of Pennsylvania. His ancestors came from Ireland to America in 1732, and settled in Pennsylvania. Their de- scendants have become quite numerous, and are now among the prominent people of the State. David C. Montgomery was born in Northumberland County, Penn., March 20, 1833. He received his education in the high school at Wj'oming, Penn. In 1855, he went to Minnesota, where he entered a body of land and engaged in farming. He was married, at St. Paul, Minn., in 1855. In 1864, he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he lived for years and pursued farming, until com- ing West, in 1877. In November of that year, he located at Pueblo, Colo., where he has since resided. Mr. Montgomery has been liberal in investing his means. He now owns much valuable property at Pueblo, having himself erected a number of buildings. HON. WILLIAM MOORE. On the 31st day of October, 1827, the sub- ject of this history was born on a farm at Car- rollton, Carroll Co., Ohio. Up to the age of fifteen, he attended a district school and there obtained the education which, in after years, was to become an invaluable aid to his modest, yet resolute mind, in the direction of a uniform and unfailing success in all affairs of a business nature with which he had to do. A moment is spared to go back to his youth — to see him a boy persevering in all his undertakings and precise in all particulars — to see him with that noticeable precision which is conspicuous in the strong features of the gentleman of fifty- four, and which doubtless has been instrument- al, as much as any other trait, in obtaining for him the position and influence of one of the wealthy men of the county of Pueblo. At fif- teen he left school, laid away his books, and be- gan on a farm in his native State, the active life which has resulted in his popular and financial aggrandizement. With excellent re- sults, he gratified in Ohio his love of farming until he was twenty-five, when he removed to Kansas to farm, and improved on his Ohio suc- cess. During his residence in Kansas, he made several visits to Ohio on pleasure and business, and bought and sold many tracts of land and town properties, having engaged in the real estate business soon after his arrival in the State. In 1860, with an ox train of ten teams, he came to Colorado, intending to remain only a year and then return to Kansas, but Colo- rado's climate, people and business opportuni- ties pleased him so much more than he expected they would, that he did not hesitate to pronounce them superior to any he had elsewhere met with and to decide to make his permanent home within her borders. Mining was the business to engage in in 1860, and Mr. Moore per- ceiving at once its sure returns if properly managed, turned his attention to prospecting and emploj'ing prospectors, and received grati- fying and satisfactory returns. In 1866, to see the Territory as to the business advantages, he made a trip to Montana with the freight outfit of J. N. Carlile, but not being pleased w,ith the country or its business prospect, he returned to Colorado, content to " let well enough alone," and to follow mining, which he followed until 1868. His mining record records the sale of a number of mines at moderate prices, yet for an amount suflSciently large to allow him to re- flect with pleasure on the seven years he de- voted to Colorado's chief industry, and the old- timers of the Central City and Blue River placer mines, who read this description of his 1 ife will readily recollect him and place him among the lucky placer miners of their acquaintance. The railroad contracting done by Mr. Moore reaches a large amount when brought down to a total in dollars and cents. In 1868, he aban- doned mining and entered into partnership with J. N. Carlile, under the firm name of Moore & Carlile, for the purpose of taking rail- road contracts to build railroads. The flrst mile of railroad built in the State of Colorado was built bj' them on the Denver & Pacific Railroad. He was interested in contracts to build forty miles of the Denver & Pacific Rail- v< ;l^ ^■J® — 1^ u PUEBLO COUNTY. 807 road ; to build the Colorado Central from Dea- ver to Golden ; to build the greater part of 230 miles of the Kansas Pacific Kailroad from Sheridan to Denver, and in contracts to build the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad from Den- ver to Pueblo, and ninety-seven miles of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa ¥6 Railroad. The Orman Brothers were admitted to partnership with Moore & Carlile, in 1874, before the tak- ing of the contract on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa P4 Railroad, and the firm given the title, Moore, Carlile, Orman & Co. In order to give his whole attention to real estate and building in South Pueblo, he drew out of the firm of Moore, Carlile, Orman & Co., in 1877, and en- gaged exclusively in his choice pursuit. In 1878-79, he made a number of transfers and erected several buildings, but, in 1880-81, the transfers he made and buildings he erected ex- ceeded those of any two years previous — were on a larger scale and more in harmony with the scope of his intellect adapted for real estate negotiations. The most costly and finest build- ing built bj him is the Moore & Carlile Opera House, J. N. Carlile assisting. At the time of gathering of this data, he was interested in build- ing a large block, to be called the Moore & Orman Block. Independent public enterprise is one of Hon. William Moore's most promi- nent qualities as is illustrated by the fol- lowing : Pueblo, or North Pueblo, as it is some- times called, and South Pueblo, are separated by the Arkansas River, and each controlled by its own city government. Mr. Moore conceive of the project of building a street railway from citj' to city, and in opposition to the honest fears of the public for the success of the enter- prise, he organized the Pueblo Street Railway Company, and built a street railway from the limits of one city to the limits of the other. Stating that the enterprise was a success, when it is known that he was the organ- izer and manager, is seemingly super- fluous, yet necessary to complete the his- tory. The road paid from the day of its com- pletion, and the stock is in demand at a figure considerably above its par value. The build- ing of the road is a benefit to each city which will long be remembered by both. The origi- nator and his co-worker in it and other public enterprises, the Hon. James N. Carlile, are two of South Pueblo's most public spirited men, and entitled to the respect and public honors so generously bestowed upon them bj' the grateful citizens of the recipient city. In the fall of 1873, Mr. Moore was persuaded, against his ex- pressed wishes, to be a candidate for election to the last Territorial Legislature held in Colo- rado and convened January 1, 1874, those who urged him to accept the nomination well know- ing that as soon as he should consent his elec- tion was insured. He was elected bj' a large majority, served his full term and to-day wears a legislative laurel which grows as time in- creases. When the interview to obtain some of the particulars for this history was had, he was a hale gentleman of fifty -four, with the vigor of a much younger man. He was direct and dig- nified, but pleasant in conversation. His por- trait can be found in this volume, and any one examining it cannot fail to be struck with the earnestness and sincerity which marks every lineament of his face. HON. JAMES B. ORMAN: This gentleman was born November 4, 1848, in the State of Iowa, at Muscatine, from which place he removed at an early age to Winterset. Madison County, and at the age of twelve to attend school from Win- terset to Chicago, 111. At Chicago he at- tended school, public and select, as long as he desired — about four j^ears — and returned to Winterset to extensively farm, deal in and raise stock on a large farm owned by his father. The next four years was passed in successful farming and speculation in stock. The infor- mation of the opportunities for business pre- sented by Colorado attracted his attention in 1866, and induced him to close his unsettled business, and take the stage for Julesburg, Colo. Prom there he traveled with the mule teams of his brother, W. A. Orman, to Denver. In the early day of 1866, the shipping into Denver on wagons nearly all supplies for man and beast used in Colorado, created a constant demand for freight animals of all descriptions, particularly for heavy mules and horses, the Mexican mustang, California broncho and In- dian kuise, with which the country was stocked, being too light for serviceable freighters. With characteristic foresight, he took advantage of this demand, and for several years he brought large numbers of mules to Denver from Kansas City and St. Louis, and rapidly disposed of them. Railroad contracting has been his busi- '^. ;^ m^ 808 BIOGEAPHICAL: ness for the past twelve years. It is a busi- ness for which he is naturally qualified, and he is as well known by the name of " the railroad contractor" as by the name of Or- man. He began railroading, in partnership with his brother, by taking contracts on the Kansas Pacific Kailroad, when that road was being built from Sheridan to Denver, a dis- tance of 230 miles, and helped to complete it into Denver. H^ and his brother then began contracting on the Denver & Rio Grande Rail- road. He has been contracting on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad from the grading of the first mile to the present time. In the diflTerent firms of Orman & Co.; Moore, Carlile, Orman & Co.; Carlile, Orman & Crook, and Orman & Crook, he has helped to build five-sixths of the main line of the Denver &, Rio Grande from Denver to Leadville, and nearly the whole of all its extensions, which are El Moro, San Juan, Del Norte and Wagon Wheel Gap ; Silver Cliff, Kirber Creek and Kokomo Extensions, and the Iron Mine Branch, twelve miles out from South Arkansas to a rich and productive iron mine owned by the railroad company. Orman & Crook, in June, 1881, bought the interest of the Hon. James N. Carlile in all railroad contracts they were interested in together, and now carry on the work alone, and have added to their other contracts a contract to build fifty miles of the Kokomo Extension down Blue River. He has accumulated a fortune. He owns a large number of building lots on the mesa, and on several of them he has built fine dwellings, which he rents to tenants. A view of his resi- dence is presented in this volume. He owns stock in the celebrated mineral water artesian well, and in partnership with his former railroad contracting partner, the Hon. William Moore, he is putting up the Moore & Orman Block, a large block in South Pueblo. Mr. Orman has had many public honors thrust upon him. He is Vice President of the Pueblo Street Railway. He has been City Councilman since the city's in- corporation, and was Representative from Pueblo County to the third State Legislature, held in 1881. The J. B. Orman Hose No. 1, honored him by giving his name to their company. The loss of his brother, W. A. Orman, by death, on the 19th of March, 188(t, will be a sorrow to his sympathetic nature till his own occurs. His portrait speaks the energy and ready action he possesses. DR. WILLIAM R. OWEN. Dr. Owen is a popular and well known phy- sician of Pueblo, and he is, perhaps, the oldest resident homcEopathist in Southern Colorado. He was born in Indianapolis, Ind., April 23, 1844. When eleven years of age his father moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, where he re- ceived his education, being brought up in a drug store. He began to read medicine at an early age, and attended lectures at the regular schools of medicine in St. Louis and Chicago ; but subsequently becoming a convert to homoeo- pathy, he took a course at the the Missouri School of Homoeopathy at St. Louis. He prac- ticed his profession in Iowa about two years. He was married'^t Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1 865, to Miss Mattie Andrews. In June, 1872, Dr. Owen came to Colorado and located at Pueblo, where he at once entered upon an excellent practice, being the first doctor of homoeopathy in the place. He returned to St. Louis in 1876. and took his last course of lectures, graduating in homoeopathy. Afterward resuming his practice at Pueblo, he has since remained steadily at that place. The Doctor has estab- lished a wide reputation, and is now doing an extensive and lucrative practice, having even more patronage than he can well respond to. He has been peculiarly successful, and at the time of this writing, is building for himself an elegant residence in the city of Pueblo. AUGUSTUS B. PATTON. Mr. Patton has been many j'ears in Colorado, and is now a prominent citizen and attorney of Pueblo. He was born in Fayette County, Penn., January 13, 1846. His parents moved in 1851 to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he received his education, which was first-class. He came West when but seventeen years of age, in 1863. For a number of years he lived in different parts of Colorado, mining most of the time, and in 1869, he returned to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for the purpose of reading law. He graduated in the Law Department of Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1872. He practiced for a short time in Iowa, and in the spring of 1873, he came to Pueblo, Colo., where he located, and has since engaged in the practice of his profession. He was elected Superintendent of Public Schools for the county of Pueblo in December, 1877, and was re-elected to the same ^^;^'Tlv^'~^'<'^:»'«-i'<^ *- ^''^^ ^1 \^ PUEBLO COUNTY. 811 office, which he now holds, in December, 1879. He has recently associated himself in business with Mr. D. P. Urmy. The firm of Patton & Urmy have an excellent law practice in Pueblo and adjoining counties. They also deal considerably in real estate. Mr. Patton is one of the enterprising and best established citizens of Pueblo. He was married October 21, ] 875, to Miss Ada L. Glisan, of Mount Pleas- ant, Iowa. HENLY R. PRICE. This gentleman, the present Sheriff of Pueblo County, was born in Montgomery County, Va., November 10, 1831. He was raised on a farm and received a common-school education. He immigrated West to Missouri in 1855. In the spring of 1860, he came to Colorado. After living about three years in different mining camps, he located, in the fall of 1863, at Pueblo, where he has since made his home. He was married on Mount Lincoln, September 10, 1861, to Miss IJelaine Rowe. He was elected Sheriff of Pueblo County in 1869, which office he held three years. He afterward filled the office of Constable, and was also at one time City Mar- shal of Pueblo. He was again elected Sheriff in 1877, and was re-elected to the same office in 1880. Mr. Price has acquired extensive means, and is now one of the most prosperous and influential citizens of Pueblo County. CAPT. JAMES RICE. The town of Pueblo was j'et, as it were, in its infancy when Capt. Rice came there in 1868. He built the first brick storehouse in the place, and was himself the first Mayor of the town. The Captain was born in the State of Vermont, at Hartford, December 29, 1830. After his school- days, he learned the trade of a machinist, subse- quently working at his trade at various places in Vermont for several years. He was married in Greensboro, Vt, July -9, 1861, to Miss Carrie E. Stevens. He served through the late war; first as a musician in the Fifth Vermont Volun- teers, and latterly as a Captain in the Eleventh Vermont. After the close of the war, he locat- ed in business at Providence, R. I., where he lived until coming West in 1868. In April of that year he settled at Pueblo, where he opened a tobacco store. In 1870, he began the busi- ness he is now engaged in — dealing in books and stationery. He then erected the building which he now occupies, and which also contains the post office. Capt. Rice assisted in organ- izing the town of Pueblo. He was one of the first Trustees, and was Mayor of the town dur- ing the first three terms of that office. He was a member of the Legislative Council, represent- ing the counties of El Paso and Pueblo in 1875 -76. In November, 1880, he was elected Regent of the State University of Colorado, which office he now holds. Capt. Rice has ever been a public spirited man ; and he has labored much for the general interests of Pueblo, for which he re- ceives and well deserves the esteem of his fellow- citizens. HON. GEO. Q. RICHMOND. George Q. Richmond, a prominent lawyer and the present Mayor of Pueblo, was born in Kennebec County, Maine, August 4, 1844. When fourteen years of age, he left home and went to Boston, where he worked for a time, and afterward attended school. In 1863. he took a trip through the West, spending about a }rear in California and Nevada. In the sum- mer of 1864, he returned to Boston and enlisted in the Sixtj'-first Massachusetts Infantry. He served in the U. S. Arraj- to the close of the late war, being commissioned a Lieutenant during the time. After the war he remained in Washington City, and attended the Colum- bia College, graduating in both the literary and law departments in 1868. He practiced law in Washington for a time, until coming West in 1870. In April of that year, he located at Pueblo, Colorado, where he has since resided and practiced his profession. In 1876, he was a candidate for Attorney General of the State on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by a small majority. In that year he was a Centennial Commissioner, by appointment of the Governor of Colorado, at the National Exposition at Philadelphia. In 1880, he was a candidate for Supreme Judge, being the unani- mous choice of the Democratic convention which met at Leadville. He was elected Mayor of Pueblo at the last municipal election, which office he occupies at this time. Mr. Richmond has established a wide reputation as a lawyer, and is now doing a large and lucrative practice. He was married at Philadelphia, Penn., October 24, 1878, to Miss Jennie S. Siner. M. SHELDON. Mr. Sheldon is a resident of South Pueblo of eight years standikig, which entitles him to ^i r^ ^i=±: !^ 813 BIOGEAPHICAL: be styled " an old-timer," by which he is well known in his city — and to a place in the- ranks of its pioneers, and, in reality, in the ranks of the pioneers of the State, for while the experience of those who came to Colora- do between 1870 and 1875-76 was not gener- ally as severe as the experience of those who came in " '59 and '60," no more than the latter's was equal in hardships to that of Carson and other scouts of his day, yet it was at least similar in privation, and the application now of " Old-Timer," pioneer, etc., to them, is appropriate. He was born on his father's farm in Vernon, Trumbull Co., Ohio, August 31, 1844. For a few years he attended the Vernon District School, but being desirous of receiving higher education and culture than was conferred at Vernon, he entered the West- ern Reserve College in Farmington, Ohio, for a thorough course of study and graduation. During vacations, he worked on the farm at home. The summer he was eighteen, overwork in the harvest field injured his health to a de- gree which made close application to study impossible, and necessitated his immediate de- parture from college and the engaging in em- ployment which would not further injure his health. To recruit, he went to his father's and stayed on the farm four years, working or not, according to his health conditions. At the end of four years there was no change for the bet- ter, and in hopes of finding a climate in which his health would improve, he left Vernon, and made a tour of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, and settled in Prairie City, Jasper County, Iowa. At Prairie City he formed a partnership with D. M. Bartlett and H. C. De Wolf, and began retailing general merchandise under the firm title of Bartlett, Sheldon & De Wolf. Another four years passed and health again demanded a change. This time, to meet the requirements of his failing health, he sold his interest in the stock and business of Bartlett, Sheldon & De Wolf, to Bartlett & De Wolf, and moved on a quarter-section of land which he bought in the township, resort- ing the second time to farming for a restoration of health. Working the raw land, putting up buildings and otherwise improving the section occupied his mind and gave promise — in ap- pearance only — of improvement, to disappear at the end of two years, when the quarter-sec- tion was transformed from a tract of wild prairie land into an improved farm, comforta- ble and desirable home, which he would soon be obliged to leave to another to enjoy. At the close of the two years just mentioned, in 1873, with no financial consideration in view, but solely to seek the health he lost years be- fore, he and his estimable lady loaded a few necessary articles into a wagon, hitched a span of mules to it, and, taking a lingering look at the farm which had witnessed the beginning of their housekeeping, in a cabin by themselves, at a considerable distance from any neighbor — but the happier because of the newly married life they had just entered upon — the farm which together they had made and surrounded with conveniences and luxuries, with manj- silent and spoken regrets at having to leave, they sadly yet courageously, and resigned to the will of Him who " doeth all things well," got in and started across the plains for Colorado, the El Dorado of health for the invalid as well as that of precious minerals for the fortune hunt- er. Greeley was their objective point, where they arrived after days of tedious riding in a variety of weather. His he3,lth being the same as when he started, he had a desire to travel farther and drove on to Denver, South Park, Colorado Springs and Canon City, finding no place where he wished to locate until he arrived in South Pueblo, in September of the same year. Four years more was passed in a vain pursuit after complete health, by camping in the mountains during the summer, and particu- lar care during the winter. With the same spirit which has enabled him to endure and accomplish so much in the face of poor health, he commenced the business of selling the best brands of heavy wagons, in 1877, and shortly thereafter opened a lumber j'ard. He is doing probably the most extensive retail business in Eastern and native lumber of any dealer in the city, and is one of the citizens of South Pueblo who has accumulated a competency. His in- tegrity is above question and a refined organi- zation has made him deservedly popular. For several years he has been 'Treasurer of the School Board. He was Treasurer the first year of the organization of the South Pueblo Loan Association, an eminently successful enterprise, and re-elected to the same ofllce, which he holds at the present time ; he also was a member of the City Council during the year ended April, 1881, and was elected City Treasurer at the :^ -♦re- '/ PUEBLO COUNTY. 813 expiration of tlie term of that office, for the ensuing year. When he left Ohio, he had hemorrhage of the lungs, which continued up to the second year of his residence in Colorado, and was so frequent when he left Iowa, as to make it impossible for him to ride all day. In the winter of 1880-81, he enjoyed the best health he had enjoyed in eighteen years. His health improves every year. He is strictly temperate, seldom ever drinking a cup of tea or coffee. He has not had an hemorrhage since the first year of his residence in the State. Mr. Sheldon is a (,'hristian ; a member of the Con- gregational Church and an efficient worker in that body, and Superintendent of its Sabbath School. JOHN V. SHBPAKD. This gentleman was born at Palestine, 111., in 1846. He served through the late war as a soldier of the Sixty-second Illinois Yolunteers. In the fall of 1866, he went to Charleston, 111., where he clerked in a store for about three years. Subsequently, he traveled a number of years for a Boston shoe house, until coming West in 1872. In the fall of that year, Mr. Shepard located at Pueblo, and began business, keeping a general store, in partnership with the Wilson Brothers, the style of the firm being Wilson Brothers & Shepard. Mr. Shepard con- tinued a member of the firm until July, 1880, when, disposing of his interest, he opened a boot and shoe store on the opposite side of Santa ¥6 avenue. Mr. C. E. Dudley has since become a partner of Mr. Shepard, the firm now being Shepard & Dudley. They have a fine custom, and carry the largest and best assorted stock in Pueblo. Mr. Shepard was one of the first Directors of the Stock-Growers' National Bank, and is now a Director. He was married at Pueblo November 9, 1875, to Miss Margaret Newcomer. THEODORE A. SLOANE. Mr. Sioane was born in Kush County, Ind., in 1847. He was educated at Greencastle, Ind., where he graduated in 1871. Soon after finishing school, he came West, and settled at Pueblo, where he became connected with the People, a newspaper then being published. He was afterward managing editor of the People about two years. He studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1876. He was County Superintendent of Public Schools two years— from 1876 to 1878. In the fall of 1878, he was appointed Clerk of the District Court at Pueblo, which position he now holds^ Mr. Sioane is highly regarded by the citizens of Pueblo. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Hinsdale, a daughter of ex-Gov. Hinsdale. J. K. SMILEY. J. K. Smiley is the son of a grain specu- lator of Latrobe, Westmoreland County, Penn., where he was born on the 19th day of Febru- ary, 1846. At the Brothers' Loretta College, a Catholic college in Latrobe, he graduated in 1863, and the same year secured a situation as salesman with the large wholesale hardware firm of Linsay, Sterrit & Co., of Pittsburgh, Penn., with whom he remained until 1865, when, believing that his country needed his services, and that it was his duty to give them, he enlisted in Company H, of the Two Hun- dred and Eleventh Kegiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers ; served one year, and was dis- charged at the close of the war. As soon as he returned from the army, Messrs. Linsay, Ster- rit & Co. urged him to take his old situation with them, an arrangement highly pleasing to him, and adopted by him. His engagement with them as salesman in their warehouse, be- fore his enlistment and after his discharge, covered a period of four j'ears. At the expira- tion of four years, he was sent out as traveling salesman, and for a period of between five and six years more he represented the firm in all the cities, towns and villages to which their trade extended. The fame of Colorado's mines attracted his attention, and 1876 witnessed his departure from Pennsylvania and arrival in Leadville, Colo. He mined two years in Lead- ville, traveled around the State for a time, and finally located in Pueblo, contented to remain there during the remainder of his life. JOSIAH P. SMITH. Notably among the " old-timers " in Southern Colorado is Josiah P. Smith, a prominent citi- zen, and the present Police Judge of Pueblo. He was raised in Dayton, Ohio, where he was born September 2, 1829. He came West in 1848, and for ten years traded among the Indians through Wyoming, California and Ore- gon. In 1858, he returned to Missouri, going to St. Louis, where he lived more than two years. Coming West again in 1860, he located in "^i s "V ^'- .^ 814 BIOGRAPHICAL- Southern Colorado, on the Fontaine qui Bouille, at a point which became a village, known as Fontaine City, but which is now covered by East Pueblo. Mr. Smith has been prominently connected with the varied changes and growth of Pueblo from its very infancy. In 1866, he pre-empted a quarter-section of land bordering on Santa F6 avenue, which he afterward sold in town lots, realizing considerable money there- from. He was Sheriff of Pueblo County in 1864-65. He was a Deputy under Gov. Hunt when he held the oflBce of United States Mar- shal. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1859, when Colorado was a part of Kansas Territory, and has since held that office at various times in Pueblo County. He was elect- ed to the office of Police Judge in May, 1881. Pew men have been more intimately associated with the history of Southern Colorado, and few have figured more in the shifting scenes of Western life than Josiah P. Smith. The Judge has not been unmindful of his individual inter- est. He has long been interested in the stock business, and by his various enterprises has grown quite wealthy. Long may he yet live among the people whose growth he has watched, and whose vicissitudes he has shared for over twenty years. IRVING W. STANTON. This gentleman is one of the remaining " old- timers " in Colorado. He came to the country when Denver was composed of log houses and shanties, and when the flourishing city of Pueb- lo only existed in the dreams of a few early pioneers. Mr. Stanton was born at Waymart, Wayne County, Penn., in 1836. Before he was fully grown, he started West. Coming as far as Kansas in the early part of 1855, he lived there about five months, after which he went to Iowa, in which State he lived over four years. In 1860, he again journeyed Westward, arriving at Denver in June of that year. He prospected in the mountains during the summer, and re- turned to Denver the following fall. He lived in Denver, clerking in the post office and book- store there until the spring of 1862, when he went to Buckskin Joe, and bought out a book and stationery establishment, which he kept until the ensuing fall. Then disposing of his business, Mr. Stanton enlisted in the Third Colo- rado Infantry, and continued in the United States service to the close of the late war. After the war, he went to Washington City, and was there connected with the Department of the In- terior to 1867. In that year he received the ap- pointment of Register of the United States Land Office at Central City, Colo. That position he held over three years, until, during 1871, he was appointed Register of the Land Office at Pueblo. He held the office at Pueblo until June, 1875, when he resigned. During his inter- vals of business, Mr. Stanton had pursued the study of law. This he continued to the fall of 1875, when he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice at Pueblo, in partnership with Hon. Gr. Q. Richmond. He and Mr. Rich- mond have since continued together, doing a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Stanton was married at Potosi, Mo., in 1867, to Miss Mary A. Singer. GEN. R. M, STEVENSON. About twenty years previous to the outbreak of the war of independence, George Stevenson, Edward Shippen and John Armstrong were appointed His Most Gracious Majesty George the Second's Judges of the Courts of Quarter Sessions, and general jail delivery for the counties of York, Lancaster and Cumberland, in the province of Pennsylvania. George Stevenson, an Irish barrister, and an LL.D. of Dublin University, was the great-grandfather of the subject of the present sketch, and the first of the family who settled in America. When the colonies threw ofl' their allegiance to the British Crown, Judge Stevenson, then a resident of Carlisle, Penn., became an ardent patriot, was Chairman of the Committee of Safety in his section, and was marked by the British Government as on arch rebel. His son, George Stevenson, Jr., became an officer in the Revolu- tionary army, and served during the entire war. During the whisky insurrection in Western Pennsylvania, about the close of the last cen- tury, George Stevenson left his home in Carlisle, in that State, as Major of a regiment of State troops sent there to restore order. He foresaw the coming greatness of Pittsburgh, and settled there ; was President of a branch of the Bank of the United States located at that point for many years, and was also Chief Burgess and first Mayor of the city. His son, Thomas Col- lins Stevenson, M. D., returned to Carlisle, at which town Raymond M. Stevenson was born, March 4, 1840. At the age of sixteen, he com- ^ s~ ^1 ^ PUEBLO COUNTY. 817 menced his career as a journalist, his first work in the profession being a report of a political meeting in the campaign of 1856. He was educated at Dickinson College, in his native town, and after trying several other professions, returned to his first love, and settled down to journalism. After serving in the quarter- master's department of the army during the early years of the war, he was obliged to return home with a constitution badly shattered by typhoid fever. In 1863, he was appointed by President Lincoln Vice Consul at Sheffield, England, where he remained until 1866. Ke- signing his position, he returned to the United States and to journalism. In the summer of 1868, the attractions of Colorado became too strong to be resisted, and thesubjectof our sketch joined the army of emigrants bound for the Rocky Mountain region. After remaining in Denver for a few months, he removed to Pueblo, and was connected with the Colorado Chieftain for nearly twelve j'ears (with the exception of a few brief interruptions), the last six years as managing editor. In 1879, he was appointed by Gov. Pitkin one of the Commissioners oft he State Insane Asylum at Pueblo, which posiion he resigned in April, 1880, to accept that of Private Secretary to the Governor. The latter position he resigned in the fall of the same year to take a situation on the Denver Tribune, which he was obliged to resign on account of illness. Upon the meeting of the General Assembly of the State in January, 1881, he was unanimously elected Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, and at the close of the session appointed Adjutant General of the State. Gen. Stevenson was married in Pueblo, in 1871, to Susan C, eldest daughter of Rev. Samuel Edwardes, then Rector of St. Peter's Church in that city. WILLIAM W. STRAIT. He whose name forms the caption of this history was born April 3, 1839, in Sylvania Township, near Troy, in Bradford County, Penn., on his father's farm. When he was seven years old, his father moved to Centerville, Lake County, Ind. ; two years after, to Pleasant Grove; and, in 1852, being elected Sheriff, he moved to Crown Point, the county seat, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and attended to the duties of his office. In 1855, he sold his business, and bought 1,000 head of stock cattle, and moved to Scott County, Minn. William W. was then sixteen ; he had clerked a short time at Crown Point and at Shakopee. An opportunity to break prairie land at a price he could lay up considerable money occurring, he broke from 1855 till 1858. His school ad- vantages were not the best, but he made the most of them, and observation and study after leaving school has made him a business scholar. He again began clerking, in 1859, for his father, and remained with him until 1862. At the residence of his bride's father, eight miles from Shakopee, with Miss Amanda Haw- kins, he entered into a contract of marriage, June 18, 1861. He had saved, in 1862, enough capital to do business for himself Jordan, in the same county, was selected by him as a place where merchandise could be turned fast and with profit. He opened a general mer- chandise store there, and sold it in 1864, to start a livery, which he continued in till 1867. In partnership with his brother, the Hon. H. B. Strait, who was sent to Congress from the Second Congressional District of Minnesota, in 1872, he recommenced merchandising at Jor- dan, and sold goods there till 1876, when he and his brother sold their store, and he came to South Pueblo. He was appointed Postmaster at Jordan, Sand Creek Post Office, in 1862. One of the most exciting times of his life took place that year, in August, when Yellow Medi- cine and Red Wood Agencies were massacred by Indians, and Fort Ridgely besieged. For safety, he sent his family to the county seat, then left his business in charge of a boy clerk, and joined a company of mounted Independents, made up mostly of business men, and went to the relief of the fort. They scouted from Henderson to St. Peter, in advance of the volunteers, made a short halt at the latter place waiting for ammu- nition, and in face of expected ambush, pushed on through the ravines to Port Ridgely. All the settlers west of the fort were killed, and he witnessed a spectacle of the mutilation of-the dead as is seen only where Indians have been on the war-path and held might in their grasp. The Indians were apprised of the coming of the company, and left the imprisoned defenders of the fort to peacefully and joyfully welcome the arrival of the would-be self-sacrificing com- pany who had saved them from massacre. Hearing of the beneficial effect the climate of Colorado has on invalids, he accepted of the verdict of the many, and brought his invalid ^^ -^ 818 BIOGRAPHICAL : wife to the State, without even first making the journey to ascertain if the reports were corrob- orated by the cure of those who had preceded him. Like hundreds of others had done, she gained her health, and rather than risk a change, he bought the Grand Central Hotel, one of the largest in the city, intending to make Colorado the future home of himself and family. In the spring of 1878, he leased the hotel to a renter, and spent the summer visiting relatives and friends in Washington, D. C, returning to Colo- rado in the fall. He has built four cottages in " The G-rove," and was one of the projectors of the mineral- water artesian well, and is now, by developing the mineral resources of the State, at- testing his readiness to increase the wealth of the State as much as his has .been increased by it. JOHN A. THATCHER. Few of those men who came out in the early days of Colorado have been more successful, or become more identified with the business in- terests of the country than John A. Thatcher. He was born August 25, 1836, near Newport, Penn., where he was raised and educated. In 1857, he came West to Holt County, Mo., where he lived about five years. In 1862, fol- lowing the " Star of Empire," he came /to Den- ver, Colo. After remaining there a few months, he went to Pueblo, where he located, and has lived for nineteen years, growing up with the place from its very infancy. At Pueblo he first engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued himself until the spring of 1865, when his brother, M. D. Thatcher, joined him, becoming a partner with him. Since then, his interests, and those of M. D. Thatcher, have been identical. In January, 1871, they insti- tuted a bank at Pueblo, which was operated as a private bank until the following June, when it became a national bank, taking the name of " The First National Bank of Pueblo." The capital stock of the bank was originally $50,000, but in 1874 it was increased to $100,000. The bank is owned and managed entirely by the Thatcher Brothers, 31. D. Thatcher being the Cashier, and John A. Thatcher, President. Having amassed great wealth, the firm of the Thatcher Brothers now constitute one of the strongest and most influential in Southern Colorado. The First National is the principal bank, and is doing a large and increasing busi- ness. John A. Thatcher has been married a number of years, and is now surrounded by an interesting family. MAHLON D. THATCHER. Mr. Thatcher is well known, especially among the business men, in Southern Colorado as a large capitalist and banker of Pueblo. He was born in Perry County, Penn., December 6, 1839. When fourteen years old, he moved with his parents to Martinsburg, Penn., where he re- ceived an academical education. After finish- ing school, he kept store for a time with his father at Martinsburg. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1865, and located with his brother in the mercantile business at Pueblo. He and his brother, John A. Thatcher, have since been together in all their business trans- actions. The Thatcher Brothers have been and are connected with many of the most impor- tant enterprises of Pueblo, the most notable of which is the First National Bank Thej' in- stituted the bank and now own and conduct it themselves exclusively, John A. Thatcher being the President, and M. D. Thatcher, Cashier. Mr. Thatcher has amassed a large fortune and is to-day one of the leading business men of Colorado. His residence at Pueblo, is said to be the finest at this time in the State. He was married at Pueblo, August 1, 1876, to Miss Luna Jordan. DR. PEMBROKE R. THOMBS. This gentleman is well-known in Southern Colorado and throughout the State as an emi- nent physician, and the present Superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane at Pueblo. He was born at Yarmouth, Me., in 1840, and received his education principally at Water- ville College. In the spring of 1859, he went to Chicago, 111., and there attended lectures at Rush Medical College, graduating in the spring of 1862. Soon after receiving his diploma, he entered the United States Armj-, becoming As- sistant Surgeon of the Eighty-ninth Illinois In- fantry. In the spring of 1864, he was promoted to Surgeon of the regiment, and continued as such to the close of the war. In June, 1 865, his regiment being mustered out, Dr. Thombs returned to Chicago, and soon afterward he re- ceived from the Government a staff appoint- ment as Surgeon of United States Volunteers ; was assigned to Murfreesboro, Tenn., as Post Surgeon, and he remained there until June, ■> >> PUEBLO COUNTY. 819 1866, when, again quitting the service, he re- turned on a visit to his old home in Maine. In July following, he came to Colorado, and about the middle of August located at Pueblo, where he has since resided, practicing his profession with eminent success. He was married at Pueblo September 30, 1871, to a Miss Shaw. On May 1, 1879, Dr. Thombs was appointed, by the Governor, Superintendent and Resident Physician of the Hospital for the Insane at Pueblo, which position he has since continued to fill to the entire satisfaction of the State. The institution is one of the most important in the State, and under the vigilant eye and care- ful management of Dr. Thombs, it is steadily improving. The last Legislature made an ap- propriation of 155,000 for new buildings, which are now being erected, and which, when com- pleted, will prove a notable credit to the com- monwealth. THOMAS J. TARSNEY. Mr. Tarsney's history is interesting. He is the son of a blacksmith and was born in the small village of Medina, Lenawee Co., Mich., September 16, 1842. To do a larger business than he was doing in Medina, his father changed his residence to Ransom, Hillsdale Co., in 1854, removing his son from the place of his birth at an early age, and just as he was becoming of an age to appreciate a birthplace's happy an(i sacred associations. He lived at Ransom, working on a farm, excepting the first three winters, which were spent at school, till he was nineteen. At the first call of the United States in 1861, for volunteers, he enlisted for three months, in Company E, Fort Wayne Rifles, Indiana Volunteers, and was discharged at the close of his term of enlistment at Fort Wayne. That was a prelude to the life which was ad- mirably adapted to his nature and which he was destined to follow six years, in a war which was second to few, if any, which have been waged on the globe. Two of his brothers were in Company E, Fourth Michigan Volunteers, and to be with them he went to Washington where their regiment was, and joined their company, enlisting for three years. Fighting was " the order of the day " with the Fourth and he began a soldier's life in earnest shortly after his enlistment. Gaines' Mill was the first battle in which he was engaged. In the Penin- sular campaign he took part in the battles of Savage Station, White Oak Swamp and the big battle of Malvern Hill. He was at Bull Run, but not in the fight. In McClellan's command he marched against Lee in Maryland and was in the fight of Antietam, and at Mayre's Heights in the Fredericksburg campaign. Un- der Hooker, he fought at Chancellorville. Win- ter quarters were endured on the Rappahannock. In the spring of 1865, he joined the veteran organization, and received a thirty-day furlough, which he used b^ going to Michigan on a visit. When he returned from his visit,'the command of the Army of the Potomac had been given to Gen. Meade and with his amassed forces he marched into Maryland and carried the colors of the company at Gettysburg and in the chase of the confederates into Virginia. After the re-organization of the army under Gen. Grant, he was wounded by a ball in the shoulder-blade at the battle of the Wilderness, on the 6th of May, and did not again join his company till fall, but in time to be in the fights of Yellow House Tavern and Gravely Run. Only two companies of the old Fourth veteranized ; they served with the First Michigan, and at the close of the war were ordered to join their own regiment. Col. Jairus W. Hall commanding, which had been fighting in Tennessee and was on its way to Texas. He overtook his regi- ment at New Orleans, and with it went to San Antonio. There he resigned the oflSce of Or- derly Sergeant, to which he had been elected by his company in 1864, to accept of the ap- pointment of Orderly on the Colonel's Staff. The mustering-out of the United States service, of this regiment and his return to Hudson, Mich., occurred in the summer of 1865. He and Miss Lucy A. Smith were married May 8, 1866. From that date he began railroading ; first as fireman on the Wabash Railroad, being promoted to engineer in three years, and given an engine on the Michigan Central Railroad, which he ran two years. He then took an en- gine on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad ; then one on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, which he ran till 1878. Taking an active part in the great railroad strike of that year, he was imprisoned at Topeka until the trouble was over. Since his release, he has run an engine on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and one on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. At the present time, he is proprietor of the Clifton House, South Pueblo, Colo., and does a fair •f c ^ A 820 BIOGRAPHICAL: share of the general hotel business, besides receiving an extra share of the patronage of railroad men. EDGAR A. TIBBETTS. Edgar A. Tibbetts was born at Brook- field, Carroll County, New Hampshire, De- cember 8, 1848 ; but Wisconsin, where he was moved at the age of six years, is entitled to the credit of being the State in which he did his studying. He early developed an insatiable love for the study of languages and mathe- matics, and in whatever situation, under favor- able or unfavorable circumstances, he has been placed in life, he has not failed to add to his knowledge of his favorite studies. He began the study of German at fourteen years of age, without an instructor, and is now the master of seventeen different languages — among them Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Sanscrit. He was a student of Ripon College, but left it before graduating. After beginning life for himself, he followed various occupations — teaching, clerk- ing in a lumber-yard, farming, and finally com- mencing business at Ida Grove, by dealing in farming implements and grain, which he dis- continued in 1880, to come to Colorado. He founded the Conejos County Times, disposing of which, he bought the South Pueblo Banner of A. J. Patrick, and is now the able editor of the latter-named paper. He is a close student, and familiar with the works of many of the great authors of the world. CAPT. WOOD F. TOWNSEND. It does not require many 3'ears for a man of enterprise and merit to become established in the " growing West." Although Capt. Town- send has lived in Colorado not quite three 3'ears, yet he is prominentlj- known, and has become identified with many of the im- portant interests of South Pueblo. He was born in New York City May 3, 1841. When five years of age, his parents moved to Pennsylvania, and settled at Minequa Springs, where he was raised and educated. He enlisted in the Federal army when nineteen years of age, and served through the late war. He was in many of the famous battles in Virginia, was wounded at Antietam, and afterward detailed upon Gen. Schenck's staff. He was also for a time Enrolling Clerk for Gen. Wallace. He was mustered out of the service in 1 864, but entered the army again in a few months, having organized a company, of which he became Captain in the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio. After the war, Capt. Townsend continued his law studies, in which he had already made some progress, and was admitted to the bar on his birthday in 1866. Soon afterward, he located at Danville, 111., and then began the practice of law, living at that place continuously for about twelve years. In 1878, his health failing, Capt. Townsend decided to come West, and in No- vember of that year he located at Pueblo. In May following, he began the practice of la^, which he has since continued with eminent suc- cess. He assisted in organizing the South Pueblo Water Company, and is now the com- pany's Superintendent. Was one of the incor- porators of the Pueblo Street Railway, and is now a member of the Board of Directors and Attorney for the company. He is City Attor- ney for South Pueblo, and is also Local Attor- ney for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Capt. Townsend has been twice married. He was unfortunate in losing his first wife and children b}- death in Illinois, and was married to his present wife in November, 1878. HON. STEPHEN WALLEY. Mr. Walley was born September 5, 1837, near the city of Albany, Albany Co., N. Y., and worked on a farm and at the butcher's trade until he was nineteen, except a part of four winters when he was sent to school. Suc- cessfui. farming and speculation in stock, cattle and sheep, at home, occupied his time from his nineteenth year up to his twentj'-eighth. Dis- continuing farming and dealing in stock, in 1860, he learned masonry in Chicago, and either with the trowel in hand, or contracting to fur- nish material for buildings or to build them, he has worked at his trade ever since, all but two 3'ears of speculation in horses in Topeka, Kansas, and Denver and South Pueblo, Colo- rado, to which places he shipped manj' car- loads of horses and realized a " margin " on them. On the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad, and tjie Kansas Pacific Railroad, he did masonry in 1868, 1869 and 1870. The breaking-up of his camp by Indians on the latter road, terminated his railroading, and the fall of 1872, after his stock speculating in Topeka and Denver, witnessed his arrival in South Pueblo with two car-loads of American 4 , "■, l^-i ^j ^ "-■* iL±. PUEBLO COUNTY. 823 horses, and the exchanging of them for town property. Two years of work at his trade in South Pueblo, during dull times, resulted in his looking elsewhere for work, and the taking of a contract to build the Malta Smelter, at Malta, Lake County, and the burning by him of the first brick burnt in California Gulch. Returning to South Pueblo in December, he worked a year, and again went to Malta, and burned 40,000 bushels of coal for the Malta . Smelting Company. South Pueblo was to be his home, and 1878 found him witiiin its limits completing the Walley Block, a building 50x125 feet, occupied on the ground floor by a wholesale and retail grocery, above by room renters and . the Masonic lodge, and which brings him in a monthly rent of several hun- dred dollars. Contracting to furnish stone from a valuable stone quarr\' he owns, brick from a brick-yard in which he manufactures a million bricks ever^ month, and to build buildings of any dimension is now done by him on a scale which astonishes. He has on hand and will complete them this month, July, 1881, contracts to build four wholesale houses for H. L. Holden, the large new found-house for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, the Alexander & Beacham Block, Holden Brothers Bank Block, Moore & Carlile Opera House (nearly finished), a store for L. McLaughlin, the Masonic Temple and the Baptist Church on the mesa ; and residences each for Rev. Mr. Tompkins, Daniel Kellen and J. N. Kline. He was a member of the South Pueblo Council in 1878-79, elected Mayor of the city April, 1880, and re-elected in 1881. CHRISTOPHER WILSON. Mr. Wilson was of Irish parentage. He was born in Kanawha County, Va., in 1847. When ten years of age, his parents moved to Kansas and settled on a farm near Louisburg. He re- ceived a common school education and pursued farming until 1872. In that year he came to Colorado. For about two years he was en- gaged in the lumber business, in the employ of S. P. Gutshall, at and above Colorado Springs. In 1874, he came to Pueblo and took charge of a lumber-yard for Mr. Gutshall, in which capacitj' he continued about two years. From October, 1876, to January, 1880, he held the office of Police Justice in South Pueblo. He was also City Clerk and Treasurer of South Pueblo from April, 1877, to April, 1879. In Januarjr, 1880, he became Deputy County Treasurer under Mr. Carlile, which position he still holds. Mr. Wilson is now popularly known, and well established in the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was married at Pueblo June 17, 1879, to Miss Emma R. Divel- bliss. I 5 >y "^ M 9 k_ -« 9 ^ ^ ? r- ;^ ^'. HISTOET OF BENT COUNTY. S"Z" aH-A-IiXjES "W". BCVWI/E-A-IT. CHAPTER 1. GEOGRAPHY. FOLLOWING the thirty-fifth parallel westward across the continent, the trav- eler is directed to notice that, at the intersec- tion of his route with the 102d degree of lon- gitude, he is about to enter the region which now bears and is likely to retain the name of Bent County. Finding himself on the banks of the Arkansas River, he may diverge from his original path and follow its sinuous mean- derings for perhaps three miles further when he will pass within the Colorado and Bent County lines. Sixty miles to the north, twen- ty- four to the south, and one hundred and ten westward will comprise the dimensions of the county, making an area of 9,500 square miles. The Arkansas, the vital artery of the county, will be found traversing it from west to east a little below the middle; its principal tributary, and second in importance, the Pur- gatoire River, flowing northeastward from the Raton Mountains, and emptying into the first named about midway of the county. Smaller tributaries of the Arkansas from the south, beginning at the eastern border, are Two Butte Creek, so named from Twin Mountains standing out in the plain forty miles from its mouth, at the base of which it runs; Gra- nada, Wolf, Clay, Mud, Caddo and Rule Creeks, east of the Purgatoire; Crooked Arroya, Timpas Creek and Apishapa River, west. Most of these rise beyond the southern line of the county, and with the exception of Granada, Wolf and Clay, have considerable timber about their sources and for some dis- tance along their banks. Plum Creek, a trib- utary of Two Butte, has some fine bodies of Cottonwood. The Purgatoire, with its tribu- tary canons, is also wooded, making a pretty continuous belt of timber ten to fifteen miles wide along the southern border from Apishapa to Two Butte Creek, The streams mentioned head in a broken and mountainous country, and all of their valleys, with numerous tribu- tary arroyas take the form of canons with precipitous rocks on either hand. This rocky and broken region adjacent to the streams and canons is timbered with a scrubby, white cedar. On the banks of the streams are found the cottonwood, box-elder and willow, with occasionally an undergrowth of plum, mountain currant and wild grape. Crossing to the north side of the Arkansas at the Apis- hapa and traveling eastward, water-courses are met in the following order: Bob Creek, fif- teen miles long, taking its rise at Antelope Springs; Horse Creek, having for tributaries Breckenridge, Pond and Steele's Pork, all heading on the divide, and timbered about their sources with pine; Adobe, or Coffee Creek, forty miles long, marked by a few scat- tering cotton woods; Limestone, ten miles long, with a few cottonwoods; Graveyard Arroya, ten miles long, with a few cotton- woods, so named because near its mouth was located a military burying ground; lastly, Big Sandy, which heads north of Horse Creek, flows eastward, enters the county about mid- way of its northern line and bearing south- ward reaches the Arkansas thirty miles from the eastern boundary of the county. A pecu- liarity of all the streams in the county, except- ing the Arkansas and Purgatoire, is that ^.— - ^^ ?w 826 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. before reaching the river their waters are absorbed by their sandy beds. In many of them there will be found at intervals ponds or holes where the water comes to the surface. It is usually fresh and appears to have a cur- rent. Near the heads of the larger ones, such as Two Butte, Big Sandy and Apishapa, the water will be found running continuously on the surface. The smaller ones, in some cases, have only a spring at their heads, with a water- hole or two below, while the remainder, of the bed appears as dry as the surrounding plains. In the rainy season these harmless and quiescent arroyas often wake to danger- ous life. The rainfalls are characteristically sudden, frequently taking the form popularly described as a "cloud-burst;'' the streams draining a large area, are quickly bank-full, and the water descends in a wave, sweeping away crops, stock, buildings and even the unsuspecting camper who may have sought a night's repose amid the tempting verdure of its banks. In a country where mineral springs are not the rule. Bent County would be consid- ered fortunate. Several are already well known within her borders and others will probably be indicated in the future. No scientific analysis has yet been made, so that the possible value of their waters may be even greater than is now supposed. The best known is the Iron Spring, situated on the Timpas, thirty-two miles from its mouth, the waters of which compare favorably with those of the Iron Ute at Manitou. Another fine spring, affording a cold, delicious iron water, is found in Spring Bottom, north side of the Arkansas, ten miles from the western county line. At the mouth of Baker Canon, fifteen miles up the Purgatoire, is a spring reputed to be beneficial in diseases of the kidneys. Its diuretic effects are very marked. Further up the Purgatoire, in Schell Canon, is found an alum spring, and at various places near alum is found in crystal form. A fourth spring is reported in Caddo Creek, twenty miles from its mouth, the general character of whose waters has not been ascertained, but no doubt exists of their medicinal properties. The superficial appearance of Bent County is that of a grassy plain. Geologically, its surface would be classed as belonging to the cretaceous formation. Gray, brown and red sandstone are abundant, as also gypsum and chalk. The gray sandstone measures crop out along the Arkansas, the red and brown along the Purgatoire. The Arkansas Valley or bottom averages perhaps one and a half miles in width the entire length of the county. It is described by a series of low bluffs on the south side, known as the " sand hills," and on the north side by alternating banks of whitish clay and ledges of rocks. The sur- face of the county, whether bottom or up- land, produces a short but nutritious grass, the gramma predominating on the uplands. On some choice tracts along the rivers are taller varieties, some of it seed-bearing, which, when cut and cured, is superior h^y. These native grasses are peculiar, not alone in being able to survive the long summers with little or no rain, beneath the blazing rays of the sun, but in retaining in glutinous form all their rich properties through the winter, thus affording feed for countless numbers of wild and domestic animals. Originally, and up to 1872, large herds of buffalo grazed upon them, supplemented by antelope even mo:fe numerous. The latter are still found in con- siderable niraibers, but the chief occupants of the plains are cattle, sheep and horses, vast herds of which subist the year round without other sustenance ihan that provided by the generous hand of nature. The soil for the most part is a sandy loam of alluvial origin. Its fertility is proven by the native vegetation seen along the banks of streams and in low bottoms where the neces- sary moisture is supplied. Experiments in farming in these valleys during the last twenty-five years show that, by the processes peculiar to arid countries, generous crops can be produced. Mammoth specimens of petrified trees have been found along the banks of Two Butte Creek, supposed to be of the pine. Samples exhibited 'to the writer have the appearance of agate. Large trees, it is said, are to be seen lying on the surface, broken into sec- tions from five to ten feet long, all of adaman- tine hardness, but most of the remains are buried in the soil and may be seen cropping ^ tU. S.t\)ct>v-ct ^1 _9 ^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. 827 out along the baiiks. In the same vicinity there was picked up a few years ago a chunk of amber-colored resinous substance of the consistency of horn, which, upon trial, readily ignited and burned. The finder was unable to give it a name, but the conclusion seems reasonable that it was gum-copal, a deposit made by these same ancient pine trees. A curiosity, whether natural or not remains to be seen, is found on the Purgatoire, twenty miles from its mouth. It consists of a life- size picture of a cinnamon bear delineated on the face of the cliff. History nor tradition has been able to give the date of its appear- ance, or a date when it was not there. The Indians testify that it was there when they came to the country. A common theory with the whites is that it is a photograph made by the lightning at an opportune moment as bruin was passing, and while the face of the rock under some atmospheric condition was sensitized. Others argue more plausibly that it is the work of some Indian artist. It is at least a curiosity, well deserving a visit from the tourist. CHAPTER II. THE BEGINNERS. HAVING surveyed the natural aspects of the country, we proceed from a view of the arena to discuss the actors. History, in its proper acceptation, has to do with men. Bent- County, though not presenting as much of the picturesque in nature as some of her neighbors, can perhaps antedate any of them in her annals. So far back are we enabled to go that the story even now begins to be clothed with a gauzy film of romance. The early past with its heroes rises before our vision veiled in a bluish haze like the distant mountains. The stories of James Pursley, who, in 1802, is reputed to have crossed the plains to Santa F6, and of Pike, Lewis and Clark, who in 1804, explored the Arkansas to its mountain gorge, have been told. The faint traces of their footsteps had long been obliterated when the real drama opened in Bent County. The firm of trappers known as Bent, St. Vrain & Co., consisting of Charles Bent, Ceran St. Vrain, and Robert, George and William, brothers of Charles Bent, came to the site of Bent's Fort in 1826, from the Up- per Missouri or Sioux country, whither they had gone from St. Louis in the service of the American Fur Company. They at once con- structed a picket fort, containing several rooms as a place of defense and headquarters preparatory to opening trade with the Indians. Two years later, they commenced at the same place a large adobe fort, which was finished in 1832. These were the first improvements made by white men in Bent County, and for ten years thenceforward the firm and its em- ployes were the only white traders in the country. They found the country occupied by the Comanches and Kiowas, who, previous to this time had had no dealings or communications with the whites. Those were halcyon days for the Indian. He had never felt the con- taminating toach of a Government treaty. He was in innocent ignorance of the use of firearms, of sugar, poffee or rum. He used a rawhide vessel for boiling his meat and a flint knife for carving it, and for war and the chase his weapons were the spear and arrow. The Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, Coman- ches and a small band of Apaches peopled the plains, while the Utes, Apaches and Crows held the mountains. Between the Plains and Mountain Indians hostility had always existed. The Cheyennes also had a traditional enemy in the Pawnees. Pawnee Rock was named from a battle fought between them, at which the Pawnees resorted to the rock for defense. The Comanches numbered from 4,000 to 5,000, the Kiowas about 4,000. These two tribes, with the band of Apaches before mentioned, occupied the Arkansas River and 'the country D, "^y ■^ 838 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. south. The Cheyennes and Arapahoes occu- pied generally the country between the Ar- kansas and the Platte. In 1836, William Bent went to the Platte and won for a wife, a Cheyenne maid, the daugh- ter of a chief, a man of large influence in his tribe. After this matrimonial alliance, the chief made frequent visits to the Arkansas Valley, always accompanied by a considerable number of his tribe. The result finally was, that the larger portion — ^perhaps three- fourths of the tribe — moved to the Arkansas perma- nently. From that time, there were two divisions of the Cheyennes, knovm as North- ern and Southern. With the exception of an occasional personal difficulty between an In- dian and the trader, the Indians were entirely friendly. William Bent was the principal trader for the firm. With an outfit of pack mules, it was his custom to go to the Indian villages during the winter and exchange blankets, paints, trinkets, beads, cloth, sugar and coffee for furs and robes. The Indian camps or villages were moved from time to time to the places where game was most abundant. George and Robert remained at the Fort, where there was more or less trading all the time. St. Vrain spent most of his time at Santa F6 or Taos, New Mexico. Charles Bent, though the head of the firm, soon estab- lished his home at Taos. Among those earliest in the service of the firm were William Bransford, now of Las Animas County, Ben Ryder, Metcalf, Chat DeBray, Bill Williams and John Smith. The last named was a young man of consid- erable education, from Philadelphia. He spoke the Cheyenne and Sioux languages flu- ently. It was suspected by the trappers that he had fled from home to avoid the penalty of some peccadillo, and that Smith was not his real name. In 1831, Kit Carson came to Bent's Fort, ^ and was employed by the Bents as a hunter, at which, it is supposed, he continued up to the time of Fremont's first expedition. From the first the firm established direct communication with the East and made an- nual trips by w^on to Independence Land- ing. At that point they received their sup- plies, shipped by steamboat from St. Louis, and there they forwarded by boat to St. Louis their robes and peltries. Freighting to Santa F6 was begun by Mex- icans perhaps as early as 1846. Maj. George C. Sibley had located a route at least as far as the United States boundary, afterward known as the Santa F6 Trail. Isolated expe- ditions from the American frontier to Santa F6 are reported from the year 1822 to 1840, but it is safe to assume that the freighting business was irregular and unimportant till after the establishment of peace at Guadalupe Hidalgo, in 1848. William Bent began haul- ing annuity goods in 1849, and from this on made two trips a year. Charles Bent and St. Vrain became identi- fied with the people of New Mexico, and their relation to the firm was finally severed about the fall of 1847. In that country they found congenial society, or at least a society, which was preferable to the solitudes of the plains. William Gilpin brought out in 1847, an expe- dition against the Indians, and applied to Bent, St. Vrain & Co., for provisions. Charles Bent was opposed to furnishing them, but William buying out his brother's interest became head of the firm and undertook the contract. Groceries were brought from Santa F6 on pack mules for this purpose; beef was raised at the Fort. The contract looked a little hazardous, but the vouchers were faith- fully paid by the Government. Robert Bent died October 20, 1841, at the age of twenty-five years, and was buried near the Fort. George died not far from this date and was also buried there, but the remains of both were subsequently removed to St Louis. About this time came out from St. Louis, a young man who afterward became somewhat conspicuous as a politician, viz., Frank P. Blair. He accompanied Bent's train in the summer, and remained imtil the next spring. William Bent's first wife bore him five chil- dren, named respectively, Mary, Robert, George, Julia and Charles. Her death fol- lowed closely the birth of the last, and her husband married her sister, then living with the tribe. The years 1842 to 1849 includes the period of Capt. Fremont's various exploring expedi- rr ^t ta^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. tions, on the first three of which he was accom- panied by Kit Carson. On the second expe- dition, in the summer of 1843, Fremont being on the Fontaine qui Bouille, sent Carson to Bent's Fort (or Fort William as it was called by its proprietors) for a re-enforcement of mules, which were furnished by Bent to the number of ten, each equipped with a bact-saddle. In 1845, on his third expedi- tion, his route being along the Arkansas, Fre- mont halted at Bent's Fort, from which point he sent a message to Carson, then settled at Taos, that he wished him again to accompany him as guide. This Carson hastened to do, selling his property at a sacrifice, and plac- ing his family imder the care of Charles Bent, also resident at Taos. Col. Fremont's fourth expedition, which started in 1848, brought him to Bent's Fort a second time. From a letter written there under date November 14, 1848, to Col. Ben- ton, at St. Louis, the following extract will prove of interest: "We found our friend, Maj. Fitzpatrick, at a point about thirty mil6s below this in what is called the " Big Timber," and surrounded by about 600 lodges of different nations. Apa- ches, Comanches, Kiowas and Arapahoes. He is a most admirable agent, entirely educated for such a post, and possessing the ability and courage necessary to make his education available. He has succeeded in drawing out from among the Comanches the whole Kiowa nation witn the exception of six lodges, and brought over among them a considerable number of the Apaches and Comanches. When we arrived, he was holding a talk with them, making a feast and giving them a few presents. We found them all on their good behavior, and were treated in the most friendly manner; were neither annoyed by them nor had anything stolen from us. I hope you will be able to give him some support. He will be able to save lives and money for the Government, and knowing how difficult this Indian question may become, I am particular in bringing Fitzpatrick's operations to your notice. In a few years, he might have them all farming here on the Arkansas." This expedition proved a most unfortunate one for Col. Fremont, who in the dead of winter undertook to cross the range to Grande River, a venture which would not be under- taken now eicept on snow-shoes, and that with Convenient stations in reach. The result was he lost most of his men, animals and stores, and was compelled to fall back on Taos, which he reached the latter part of Jan- uary. The mistake which led to this disaster, according to Fremont, was in having engaged Bill Williams, a hunter at Bent's Fort, as guide. Williams, he says, "proved never to have in the least known, or entirely to have forgotten, the whole region of country through which we were to pass." At Taos, Fremont again met Kit Carson, and was for several weeks his guest, in the meantime re-organizing preparatory to proceeding to California by a more southerly route. While at Taos, Col. Fremont met Messrs. St. Vrain and Aubrey, en route from Santa F6 to St. Louis. On these two latter expeditions Fremont obtained at Bent's Fort considerable supplies of provisions and equipments. As an example of the business methods of those days at Bent's Fort, the following copy from an original paper is of service: $300. [Copy.] FoBT William, Arkansas River, March 13, 1843. ' [ On or before the first day of September next, I promise to pay to the order of Bent, St. Vrain & Co., the just and full sum of Three Hundred Dollars! without defalcation, for value received, payable in good, merchantable beaver, at the rate of four dol- lars per pound. "Wn^LiAM S. Williams. Test. : W. A. Train. I have four beaver traps, belonging to Bent, St. Vrain & Co., for the use of which for my present hunt, I am to pay them one pound good beaver, each ; and, if they are not returned, I am to pay them eight dollars each for them, or thirty-two dollars. William S. Williams. Fort William, Arkansas River, ( March 13, 1843. f Test. : W. A. Train. Sterling Price and his command en route to Mexico in 1847-48, traveled by way of Bent's Fort, and was accompanied by Will- iam Bent in the capacity of guide as far as Taos. From this brief association with the military, Bent fell heir to the title of Colonel, and this title ever afterward distinguished him from other members of the family. if vy K" ,^ 830 HISTOKY OF BENT COUNTY. Bent's Fort was blo-wn up in 1852, by its proprietor. The Government had been mak- ing overtures for its purchase, and had made Col. Bent an offer of $12,000, while his price was $16,000. He very emphatically refused the offer, and one day while on a spree loaded all the goods he could get on his wagons, sixteen in number, set fire to his premises and pulled out. A considerable quantity of powder remained in the fort, and, as the train wound its way down the river, the ascending flames accompanied by a succession of loud reports told how effectually the fortress was being converted into a ruin. Thus the Ark- ansas Valley was again devoid of human hab- itation. The first camping place for the caravan was at the mouth of Horse Creek. In the spring of 1853, Col. Bent commenced a new fort forty miles east of the first, on the same side of ■Hie Arkansas. This he completed the next year, and here he continued his former business of trading with the Indians and freighting. In 1859, Col. Bent was appointed United States Indian Agent for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, but resigned the next year. In the fall of 1859, he leased his new fort to the Govenunent, when it was occupied by troops and called Fort Wise, in respect to Gov. Wise, of Virginia. The same year, Bent also began improvements near the mouth of the Purga- toire, at the place now known as Judge Moore's. This was the first improvement in the county, outside of the forts. The struct- ure consisted of a stockade inclosure 100x100 feet, with rooms on the north and west sides. The year 1860, E. M. Moore, a son-in-law of Bent, came out from Jackson County, Mo., and occupied the stockade. Col. Bent began to haul goods for the Government from Leav- enworth to Fort Union in that year, and con- tinued as freighter and Indian trader till his death, May 19, 1869. While en route from New Mexico to the States to buy goods, he became indisposed and stopped at his son-in- law Moore's house. Here he gradually grew worse, his ailment proving to be pneumonia, and in spite of skilled medical attendance, died in seven or eight days from the time of attack. Col. Bent was the latest survivor of the original firm. His brother Charles was ap- pointed Governor of New Mexico, but had been assassinated by Mexicans and Pueblo Indians of that Territory at his home at Taos. St. Vrain died of disease about the year 1867, and as a monument of his endeavor while in New Mexico, left to his heirs and assigns a half-interest in the immense tract of land granted to him and Cnmelio Vigil by the Mexican Government, of which more particu- lar mention is made in another chapter. rv* M: iH^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. 833 CHAPTER III. OTHER PIONEERS— THE INDIANS AND THE MILITARY. MAJ. FITZPATRICK retained tlie agency for the Indians of the Upper Arkan- sas till the time of his death, in 1855. The rendezvous for the Cheyennes and Ara- pahoes was at the Big Timber, that being the name of the site of Bent's new fort. A con- siderable body of gigantic cottonwoods grew there at the time; in fact, large timber was then quite abundant along the river. The Kiowas and Comanches received their annui- ties at the old Cimarron crossing of the Ar- kansas. Fitzpatrick was greatly esteejned by the Indians, and among white men since is re- puted to have been the best agent these tribes ever had. His wife was a half-breed Arapa- hoe, a daughter of John Poisal. Poisal was an interpreter for several tribes, and was known by the Indians as " Old Red-Eyes," on account of the inflamed appearance of his eyes. Fitzpatrick's successor was Robert Miller, who had been acting as agent in Kansas. His administration lasted only during 1856. He was accompanied out by John W. Prowers, then a youth of eighteen, who acted as his clerk in the distribution of goods. There were still no improvements in the eoimty outside of Bent's new fort. Charles Antobees, with a small settlement of Mexicans, was on the Huerfano, a few miles from its mouth; and Dick Wootton, with a few of the same sort, lived at the foot of the Greenhorn, at the place still known as Greenhorn. Both were farming, and found a market for what they could not consume at Fort Union, N. M. Robert Miller was succeeded by Col. A. G. Boone, whose administration was distinguished by the first important treaty with the Indians, whereby they surrendered the ownership of the plains country of Colorado to the Government, and accepted a reservation. This occurred in 1860. The reservation assigned to them lay along the Arkansas on the north side, was bounded on the east and north by Big Sandy, and extended westward to within six miles of the mouth of the Huerfano. The considera- tion was certain annuities, the erection of a nxunber of buildings, and a supply of imple- ments and seeds for farming purposes. Un- der Agent CoUey, in 1863, the agency was re- moved from Big Timber to the Point of Rocks. Buildings were commenced there on a large scale, and, the next spring, from 300 to 400 acres of land was broken up, planted, and an irrigating ditch taken out. But, as the farm- ing scheme progressed, the Indians grew rest- less, and their dissatisfaction finally culmi- nated in hostility, They opened the ball by stealing all the horses belonging to the con- tractor, and from that event forward, till 1865, there was no permanent peace. The experiment at Point of Rocks- has since had a parallel in that by N. C. Meeker at "White River. The enthusiastic prediction of Fre- mont has scarcely been realized, but there is reason to believe that, under a different admin- istration than CoUey's, better results would have been reached. A treaty was made in October, 1865, on the Little Arkansas, which removed the Indians entirely from the country, and located them at Darlington, Ind. T., where they have re- mained till now. At this council, William Bent and Gen. Carson acted as Government Commissioners. In the interval preceding this treaty, however, Col. Bent had held a "talk" with" the Cheyennes and Arapahoes (summer of 1864), and procured a cessation of hostilities on their part, which continued in effect till the massacre of Big Sandy in No- vember. An important provision of the treaty of 1865 was the allowance to each part -blood Indian, child or adult, of one section of land, to be selected from the reservation on the Ar- kansas. These tracts have since been desig- nated as Indian claims, and are numbered seriatim. They were selected by the claim- ants, as suited their fancy, usually embracing W^i= ^0 :±=lhL^ 884 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. choice hay bottoms, their lines being governed by the ArisansaR on one side, and the varying line of the bluffs on the other. From their irregular shapes, they have sometimes been denominated "beef-steak claims." Jn each case, a patent, with a carefully drawn plat, was issued to the claimant. The first regular military post in Bent County was Bent's new fort, named by the Government Fort Wise. It was garrisoned by four companies of the First Cavalry, Col. Sedg- wick commanding, in 1860. The troops had come out on an Indian campaign the year before. One column moved up the Platte un- der Col. Sumner; another, up the Smoky Hill under Col. Sedgwick. The latter took post at Fort Wise, and was joined by two companies of the Tenth Infantry. A. B. Miller, since of Denver, was post trader. A. T. Winsor, of Lexington, Mo., was next, and he was suc- ceeded by Stewart & Shrewsbury. To J. W. Prowers is due the credit of es- tablishing the first permanent herd of cattle in the country. It consisted of 100 cows, bought of John Ferrill, of Missouri, and brought out by Prowers in 1861. Their range was from the mouth of the Purgatoire to Caddo. Upon the opening of the war of 1861, the regular troops left Fort Wise, and were suc- ceeded by various detachments of volunteers, usually Colorado cavalry. A notable war in- cident — perhaps the most important which oc- curred on Colorado soil — was the capture, in 1862, by Capt. Otis' company, First Cavalry, of a party of fifteen to twenty Confederate volun- teers, under Capt. McKee. The capture was made on Clay Creek. McKee had organized his recruits at Denver, and was headfng for Texas. The same year, a band of peaceable Indians, known as the Caddos, having been compelled to leave Texas on account of their fidelity to the Union, the Government undertook to lo- cate them on the Arkansas. For this purpose, a site was selected by Gen. Wright, at the mouth of the creek still known as Caddo, where three large stone buildings were erected, designed as quarters. A few of the Caddos came up and inspected the place, but decided not to accept it, and the preparations for their accommodation were accordingly discontinued. The place was occupied by John W. Prowers, in 1863, as a ranch, from which he furnished supplies to the troops. L. A. Allen and twelve other young Mis- sourians arrived at Fort Wise (then called Fort Lyon) in June, 1863, driving a herd of 700 cattle for Solomon Young, of Jackson County, Mo., and, while encamped there, were required by the post coromander, somewhat to their distaste, to take the oath of loyalty, after which they proceeded to Spring Bottom. The third improvement outside of the fort, as it appears, was that of old Thomas Kule, at the mouth of the stream which still bears his name. He came out in the fall of 1863, bringing his three sons, two of whom were married and accompanied by their wives. They built a small stone house, but soon abandoned it on account of the hostile attitude of the Indians. " Elder Eule " became well known in the several pioneer settlements, which he visited in the capacity of a mission- ary of the "Hardshell" Baptist denomination. Ho subsequently located on Turkey Creek, where, at last accounts, he still resided. Thomas O. Boggs and L. A. Allen came' over from Hicklin's ranch, on the Greenhorn, in the fall of 1863, bringing a large herd of cattle, the property of L. B. Maxwell. These they held on the Purgatoire, near Bed Eock, till the next fall, when they returned, with what had not been killed or stolen by the In- dians, to New Mexico. It was not long pre- vious to this that Joe B. Doyle, B. B. Fields, Mr. Kroenig and others had settled on the Huerfano and begun farming operations, sell- ing their produce at Forts Union and Lyon. Nine Mile Bottom, a fertile and attractive park, nine miles in length by one and a half in width, on the Purgatoire, thirty miles above its mouth, also began to attract settlers. Urial Higbee, Samuel T. Smith, William Eichards, Bob Jones, John Carson (nephew of Kit) and Jim Elkins settled there in 1865, and at once engaged in farming and stock-raising. Thomas O. Boggs returned from New Mexico in 1866, accompanied by Charles L. Rite and L. A. Allen, and began his improvements at the place since known as Boggsville, three miles from the mouth of the Purgatoire. The first important enterprise was a large irrigat- i \ ^: ±=^U^ HISTOBY OF BENT COUNTY. 835 ing ditch, in whicli Mr. Boggs was joined by John "W. Prowers and Robert Bent, a son of Col. Bent. Under this ditch, farming was at once commenced at Boggsville and at the Bent place on a large scale, and carried on with suc- cess. Over one thousand acres were in culti- vation. It is needless to remark that good prices were realized, as, for example, corn, 8 to 12 cents per pound; flour, $8 to 112 per hundred; vegetables in proportion. A lot of potatoes brought from the mountains sold at 25 cents per pound. Wheat was hauled to Pueblo or Trinidad, where it was ground, and the flour brought back. The same year, sev- eral other ranchmen made locations on the Purgatoire and Arkansas, and a few herds of cattle and sheep were introduced. During 1866 and 1867, the Indians were comparatively quiet, and the settlements were quite rapid in various parts of the coimty. CHAPTER IV. KIT CARSON. IT is not the purpose in this sketch to re- write Kit Carson's biography, but merely to present a few facts gathered from local sources, which properly form a part of the history of the times. Carson's engagement with i^Bent, St. Vrain & Co. has already been alluded to. Subsequent to this, his home was at Taos, from which point he accompanied the expeditions of Fremont. We again hear of Carson in 1859, as Indian Agent at Taos, from which it seems probable he had continued his residence there after his return from Fremont's last expedition, in 1849. His varied experience as a guide and hunter, and his intimate acquaintance with Indian character, had fitted him in an eminent degree for the post of agent. As showing his con- clusions on the policy necessary to be pursued by the Government with the Indians, the sub- joined extract from a letter written by him to the Superintendent of Indian affairs at Santa F6, is apropos: Ute Agency, Taos, N. M., j March 31, 1859. \ * * » * The Indians of this agency have always depended on the chase for a subsistence, and as game is fast disappearing, and their hunting grounds either being settled by the whites, or in- vaded by their hereditary foes, the Indians of the plains, it behooves the General Government to do something for them if it wishes that they be perpet- uated. I only know of one mode of saving them from annihilation. It is this : Remove them as far as practicable from the settlements ; settle them on a reservation ; give to each family a sufficiency of ground, that Dv its cultivation they may be able to raise produce for their maintenance ; also cattle to stock their farms ; have troops stationed on the re- serve, not only for the purpose of guarding them from their enemies but to deter them from leaving the homes the Government chooses to assign for their habitation ; with Indians arrived at the age when habits of life are permanently made, compulsion to retain them on the reserve will be required ; but the benefit to be received by the rising generation will justify such a course. I am confident that many of these Indians can be made to support themselves ; but Government must render them assistance. Give good laud ; have com- fortable houses built, and allow no persons to remain among them excepting those employed as their in- structors, and such others as the Indian Department may consider uninjurious to their welfare ; and, be- fore the expiration of twenty years, the Indian, that to Government is now a cost, will be able to render aid, etc., as any citizen. Liquor is the cause of great destruction to these Indians. So long as they are permitted to visit the settlements, they can always procure it. There are disreputable men living in each settlement, who, for a blanket, or in fact, any' ai'ticle the Indian may have, are ready to furnish liquor. On the 6th of this month, at the ranches, three miles from here, arrived three Jicarilla Apaches ; a Mexican of said place joined them ; and, I presume, entered into the traffic of liquor. He was not long in their company, when a difficulty arose. Liquor, the main cause ; the consequence being that the Mexican was shot dead by one of the Indians ; In- dian tried to make his escape ; Mexicans, hearing of the murder, and perhaps not knowing the cause, pursued him. He was overtaken and carried here, to be turned over to civil authority ; died a few minutes after his arrival ; cause, maltreatment from the hands of his captors, The deceased Mexican was a man of the lowest character, and the Indian the same. I have stated the circumstances to some of the principal Jicarillas, and they consider the case properly disposed of, life for a life being justice. Difficulties of the above description will often occur, if the Indians continue, as heretofore, in the settlements, and perhaps never again be so easily settled. If the deceased had been a Muahuache, I ^. i) Vy "■ A^ £i^ _g> 836 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. am satisfied that the band would, at least, have killed four or five Mexicans, and stole a number of horses to pay the friends of deceased. I will do all in my power to keep them out of the towns. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. Cabsok. During the war of 1861-65, he was com- missioned a Colonel of volunteers, and em- powered to raise a regiment in New Mexico, under which authority he organized what be- came known as the New Mexico Battalion. In 1864, he was in command at Fort Union, and in 1865 and 1866, in command of the post at Port Garland, holding the rank of Brevet Brigadier General. The next year, he re- moved with his family to Boggsville. He had obtained title, under his friend St. Vrain, to two ranches on the Purgatoire, the first about one mile south of Boggsville, since purchased by Henry Kellogg; the other at the southern extremity of Nine Mile Bottom, afterward known as Maine ranch. He made some slight improvements on these ranches, but took up his residence at Boggsville, in a house belong- ing to Thomas 0. Boggs. He was in poor health at the time of his ar- rival in Boggsville, and, on a trip to Washing- ton that winter, contracted a severe cold, from which he was unable to rally. The trip was taken much against his will, but at the earnest solicitation of Gov. Hunt, who wished him to accompany a visiting party of Utes. He was a sufferer from heart disease, but the immedi- ate cause of his death does not appear. Dur- ing the later months of his illness, he was a guest at the house of the Post Surgeon, Dr. Tilton, at Port Lyon. Here he was visited for several weeks by Capt. Pfeiffer, an inti- mate personal friend, who had commanded a company in the New Mexico Battal- ion. Pfeiffer remained with Carson till the death of the latter, which, as near as can be ascertained, occurred in May, 1868. His wife had preceded him only a few days, and their remains were buried side by side in the garden of C. L. Rite, at Boggsville. The following winter, their bodies were taken up and removed to Taos, N. M. Carson's age was probably fifty-nine, though authorities conflict as to the date of his birth and of his death. In appearance, he was vm- der the medium height, rather stooping (prob- ably from infirmity), his hair gray, eyes blue and small, with a merry twinkle about them. He was sociable and humorous in nattire, though unassuming. Among his neighbors, he took rank with such men as Zan Hicklin, L. B. Maxwell, William Bent and Thomas Boggs. He was by no means profane or rough, but was noted for gentlemanly de- meanor. One of his favorite amusements was. horse-racing, which he indulged in even as late as 1868. Carson's wife was a Baabien; her mother, a Mexican. By her were born six children, named respectively, William, Kit, Charles, Estiphena, Rebecca and Josephita. Upon the death of their parents, Thomas O. Boggs be- came guardian of the Carson children, and administrator of their father's estate. The children remaining unmarried are still in Mr. Boggs' family, in New Mexico, he having re- moved there about the year 1875. The Car- son estate was appraised at about 19,000, and consisted principally of stock. Carson was reputed one of the best hunters in the West. It is related of him that, on a wager, he once took five balls, and, with a rifle, killed six buffalo on one run, loading his gun while his horse was at full speed — a feat which is the more conspicuous when we remember that rifles were then loaded at the muzzle, and fixed ammunition was not known. Another incident illustrates his daring, as also that of Col. Bent. The Pawnees had come to Bent's Port and stolen a lot of horses. Carson, Bent and a Mexican started in pursuit at 10 o'clock the next morning, and rode eighty miles be- fore dark. In the evening, snow was falling. After dark, they discovered a light in a log hut, and the stolen horses picketed close about. Waiting till 10 or 11 o'clock, they drew near, picketed their ovm horses, and crawled up near enough to see, through the crevices in the hut, the Indians lying around a fire. They then crawled quietly around and cut the lariats which held the stolen horses, and, by throw- ing snow in their faces, caused them to stam- pede. Quickly mounting their own, they fol- lowed, and drove the herd into the fort next morning, having ridden over one liundred and fifty miles. r Ml 1^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. 837 CHAPTER V. LAS ANIMAS GRANT. CEEAN ST. VEAIN, having become a citizen of the Kiepublic of Mexico, and resident at Don Fernando de Taos, in con- junction with Cornelio Vigil, also of Taos, in 1843 applied to the Governor of the Province of Nevsr Mexico for a grant of land. It had been the custom of the Mexican Government, as well as the Spanish rulers before, to make concessions of land in the form of grants to prominent citizens. Usually, this was done for some meritorious act in the public service. St. Vrain and Vigil had been of invaluable service to the Mexican frontier in maintaining peace with the Indians, and now proposed to colonize and cultivate portions of the tract asked for, which would be an additional guar- antee of the safety of the frontier. In their petition, they used the following language (translated from the Spanish) : " That, desiring to encourage the agriculture of the country to such a degree as to establish its flourishing condition, and finding ourselves with but little land to accomplish the object, we have examined and registered, with great care, the land embraced within the Huerfano, Pisipa and Cucharas Rivers, to their junction with the Arkansas and Animas, and, finding sufficient fertile land for cultivation, an abun- dance of pasture and water, and all that is re- quired for a flourishing establishment, and for raising cattle and sheep, being satisfied there- with,, and certain that it is public land, we have not hesitated to apply to Your Excellency, praying you to be pleased, by an act of justice, to grant to each one of us a tract of land in the above-mentioned locality." The grant was made without hesitation, from which it is probable the applicants had consulted with the Governor before making a formal request. The grant was a simple in- dorsement on the back of the petition, as fol- ^'^'^^' [Translation.] To the Justice of the Peace of the proper juris- diction, who will give the possession referred to by the petitioners, as this Government desires to encour- age agriculture and the arts. Armijo. The petition was accompanied by a map showing the water-courses and the boundaries of the tract desired. In order to a proper comprehension of its extent and raagnitude, as also showing its relation to Bent County, the following description, furnished the writer in 1873 by one of the heirs, will prove useful: Beginning on the north line of the lands of Miranda and Beaubien, at one league east of the'i Rio de Las Animas, where there was placed a corner, thence following a straight line to the Arkansas River, one league below the confluence of the Animas and Arkansas, made the second corner, on the bank of the said Arkansas River; thence continuing to fol- low up the same Arkansas River to a point one league and a half below its confluence with the San Carlos, made the third corner; thence following a straight line toward the south, to the foot of the first mountain, two leagues west of the river Huerfano, and placed the fourth corner; thence continuing on a straight line to the top of the mountain, where the Huerfano rises, and placed the fifth corner; thence following the top of the said mountain toward the east until it encounters the line of Miranda and Beaubien, and placed the sixth corner, thence following said line to the beginning corner; within the counties of Pueblo, Huerfano, Las Animas and Bent in the Territory of Colorado, and the county of Colfax in the Territory of New Mexice. By the terms of the treaty with Mexico in 1848, it was provided that private land claims of this description in the territory ceded to the United States should be secured to the owners by this Government the same as under the Mexican authority. Accordingly, in 1860, Congress passed an act confirming, among others, the Las Animas grant, known as Claim No. 17, but providing that said claim should " not be confirmed for more than eleven square leajrues to each claimant." In the interval preceding, the grantees had conveyed away numerous and large tracts of ' ^ a ;k- l^ 838 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. the land to various persons, and really ex- ceeded, in such transfer, the amount con- finned to them by Congress. This has more recently led to some conflict between the claimants of the grant and settlers thereon, the latter claiming the right to occupy under the homestea' 1 laws of the United States, while the former say that the decision of Congress is unjust, and that their right to the whole tract will certainly yet be confirmed. To this view, not a few persons are still committed, and steps are now being taken by heirs and assignees of the original holders to procure this confirmation. As a sample of the conveyances made by Vigil and St. Vrain, the following copy is sub- joined: rTranslation.T DEED OF CONVEYANCE TO CHARLES BENT. The undersigned owners and possessors of the lands, included from the waters of the Rio de Las Animas and of the Huerfano, within the boundaries designated in the act of possession, for the purpose of effecting and procuring means to settle those lands, for which purpose we have solicited and obtained the concession of the Government ; and, of our own free will, we cede to M. Charles Bent, and to his successors, the one-sixth part of the land contained in our possession at said place, to which we hereby renounce all of our rights, hereby obligating our- selves not to prescribe him in that which we hereby grant unto him ; it being our voluntary act and deed, it being understood that we are to give to such fam- ilies as may transport themselves to said place, lands free of charge for settlement, subject to the guaran- tees and benefits to each party, as may be agreed upon, in order to protect the settlements to be formed ; and, by this extrajudicial document, which we execute on this common paper (there being none of the corresponding seal), we, thus, as oiu: entire voluntary act, covenant ; and this indenture shall be as valid as if it was duly authenticated ; and, by the same, we may be compelled to observe and comply therewith ; and, in testimony whereof, we sign this, in Taos, on the 11th day of March, 1844. [Signed] Cornbuo Vigh. Ceban St. Vbain. CHAPTER VI. THE SAND CREEK MASSACHE. THE Indian outbreak which originated with the farming experiment in the spring of 1864 was not effectually subdued till the treaty next year at the Little Arkansas. The In- dians were determined not to submit to the sort of life proposed at Point of Hocks. There was m.ore or less killing and stealing all through 1864, if we except a brief armistice secured by Col. Bent, with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, lasting from some time in the sum- mer of 1864 till the last of November, and it is probable that scattered bands of these had hardly been gathered in before the new incen- tive to war was given by Chivington's deed at Sand Creek. Col. Bent's effort for peace had been sec- onded by Capt. Wynkoop, in command at Fort Lyon, who assured the Indians, as they visited the fort from time to time, that, if they would discontinue their depredations and go into camp, he would issue rations to them. The visits of the Indians became quite regular, and were of the most friendly character. They came in parties of twenty to forty, often in- cluding women. They visited the houses of citizens and officers, ate with them, and on every occasion passed around the pipe as an assurance of their friendly feelings. "When this condition of affairs had existed probably three months, there were in camp on Big Sandy, on the line of their reservation, 600 men, women and children, including several chiefs, of whom Black Kettle was most con- spicuous. Rations were being issued to them about once every two weeks as they applied. About the 25th of November, Wynkoop, the Post Commander, had occasion to leave the fort on a trip East, and was succeeded by Capt. Anthony as Post Commander. Capt. Soule, with a company of Colorado volunteers, was a part of the garrison. Wynkoop met the overland coaches not far from the site of Dodge, on which Robert L. Lambert and wife, Walter Stickney, and several military officers with their wives, bound for Fort Union, were passengers. Capt. Wynkoop was especially ^rr V^! _© K HISTORY or BENT COUNTY. 839 particular to inform the passengers that they need have no fears of the Indians. Mr. Lam- bert quotes "Wynkoop as saying: "Now, gen- tlemen, the Indians are all friendly. I have just completed a treaty with them, arid have a good understanding. If you see any of them, don't fire on them; allow them to come into your camp, for they are perfectly friendly." Mr. Lambert had left, the fort only ten days before, and says no trouble had been antici- pated, and such was the sense of security that the party had in no sense prepared for danger. Without inquiring into the military condi- tion, the particular rank of officers, or the number or name of regiments stationed in Colorado, it is sufficient to premise that those were war times with the whites. The nation was engaged in a vital internecine st:fuggle, so that it is probable few officers or men of the regular army remained in the country. Fort Lyon was occupied by a company or two of Colorado volunteers and a section of the Ninth Wisconsin Artillery. The white settlers were few and isolated. Col. Boone's, eighty miles west of Fort Lyon; a stage station at Bent's old fort; Moore and Bent, at the mouth of the Purgatoire; Prowers, at the mouth of Caddo; and Fort Lyon, comprised the white settlements on the river. On the 27th of No- vember, these settlers witnessed Col. Chiving- ton, with a regiment of what were known as " 100-day men," including a company of Mex- icans, marching down the Arkansas from the direction of Pueblo, arresting all persons found on the way, and placing guards at the ranches and stations. Beaching Fort Lyon on the 28th, he at once assumed command. That night, with the additional troops available at the fort, he started for the Indian village on Sandy, thirty miles distant, taking Robert Bent as guide. The camp was reached at daylight of the 29th. The Indians were asleep in their lodges, their ponies grazing on the hillsides, the American flag flying, from the tent of the head chief. Black Kettle. No time must now be lost. A rush was made upon the camp, and the Indians, completely surprised, awoke to meet death and resist it as best they could. They were shot down as fast as found. The soldiers at first found easy work, but the Indians, within a few min- utes, began to defend themselves with their bows and arrows, but, before the superior weapons and overwhelming numbers, they were as nothing. The Mexicans became frantic, threw away their guns and pounced upon the more defenseless with their knives. Women and children were seized by the hair and their throats cut or their bowels ripped open. The Indians began to scatter with in- tent to escape, and, being pursued, many hand-to-hand conflicts ensued. Chief 0-kin- nee, it is said, after having escaped beyond danger, deliberately returned to his fate, choosing rather to die with his people than survive them alone. The Indians were pur- sued that day and a part of the next, when the troops went into camp at Pleasant En- campment, not far from the State line. It is worthy of record that Capt. Soule, with his entire company, after having marched to the spot, refused to participate in the attack on the village, but stood by as silent witnesses of what must have impressed them as something akin to crime. The Indian loss, as repeatedly stated by them, was 128, principally women and children. The whites lost from twelve to fifteen, most of them dying from arrow wounds in hospital, at Fort Lyon. Very few were killed outright. Maj. Colley was the Indian agent at this time, and was assisted in the business of the office by his son. " Old John Smith," repre- senting young Colley, was in the Indian camp at the time of the attack, having gone there to trade. During the engagement. Smith's son. Jack, was shot by a soldier while sitting near his father in their tent. George and Charles Bent were also in the camp. The former received two wounds, but both escaped. Chivington captured from 500 to 1,000 ponies, /being the major part of what the Indians had, and there can be no doubt that numbers who made their escape did so on foot; in fact, for several days afterward, half-starved old squaws and children were occasionally picked up on the plains and brought to the fort. At Pleas- ant Encampment, the stage passengers who had previously met Capt. Wynkoop, saw the troops and were first apprised of the fight. Chivington was in command, and had with u^ 840 HISTOET OF BENT COUNTY. him his baggage- wagons, a few tents, and a large band of Indian ponies under herd. The writer is aware that various and far different accounts of this massacre have ap- peared. Public opinion has nevertheless prop- erly named it a massacre. It is no matter for wonder those engaged under Chivington should have sought to justify themselves in the part they took. The same might be expected of their friends; and, considering numerous outrages and atrocities committed by the In- dians along the lines of travel about this time, it is not strange that the whites should have become incensed against them as a whole. The Indians do not write for the newspapers, heiice their cause must wait, like truth, tHrough "the eternal years of God," for vindication. When passion shall have given way to candid reason in the generations to come, the tragedy of Big Sandy, if not classed as a crime against civilization, will at least be denominated a mistake. In the council of 1865, as appears from Sec- tion 6 of the resulting treaty, the s abject of the massacre was fully canvassed, and the con- clusion there reached, by such men as William S. Harney, Kit Carson and William Bent, Commissioners, and embodied in Jihat treaty, is worthy of large acceptance. Said section, as ratified by the Senate of the United States, contains the following striking language: "The United States, being desirous to ex- press its condemnation of, and, as far as may be, repudiate the gross and wanton outrages perpetrated against certain bands of Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians on the 29th day of No- vember, A. D. 1864, at Sand Creek, in Colo- rado Territory, while the said Indians were at peace with the United States, and under its flag, whose protection they had, by lawful au- thority, been promised, and induced to seek, and the Government, being desirous to make some suitable reparation for the injuries then done, will grant 320 acres of land, by patent, to each of the following-named chiefs of said bands, viz. : Make-tah-vey-e-to, or Black Ket- tle; Oh-tah-ha-ne-so-weel, or Seven Bulls; Alik-ke-home-ma, or Little Robe; Moke-tah- vo-ve-hoe, or Black White Man; and will in like manner grant to each person of said bands made a widow, or who lost a parent upon that occasion, 160 acres of land, the names of such persons to be ascertained under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior: Provided, That said grants shall be conditional that all devices, grants, alienations, leases and con- tracts relative to said lands made or entsred into during the period of fifty years from the date of such patents, shall be unlawful and void. Said lands shall be selected under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, within the limits of countiy hereby set apart as a reservation for the Indians parties to this treaty, and shall be free from assessment and taxation so long as they remain inalienable. The United States will also pay, in United States securities, animals, goods, provisions, or such other useful articles as may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, be deemed best adapted to the respective wants and conditions of the persons named in the schedule hereto annexed, they being present and members of the bands who suffered at Sand Creek on the occasion aforesaid, the sums set opposite their names, respectively, as a compensation for property belonging to them, and then and there destroyed or taken from them by the United States troops afore- said." ^I^ ^^J^^^^E^ ^ ») fe- HISTOBY OF BENT COUNTY. 843 CHAPTER VII. EVENTS OF 1865-68. IN 1865, Fort Lyon was garrisoned by Com- pany G, Second United States Cavalry, and two companies of volunteers, distinguished, from the fact of their doubtful loyalty, as " Galvanized Yankees." Capt. David S. Gor- don was Post Commander. In the fall, the cavalry company was relieved by Company I, Third Infantry, when Lieut. I. W. Hamilton became Post Commander. On the 1st of No- vember, Company G, of the Third, arrived at Port Lyon, and Lieut. E. A. Belger assumed command. The " Galvanized Yankees " left about the middle of November, for Port Leavenworth, where, with other detachments of the same class of troops, from Garland and Union, they were mustered out. In the fall of 1866, two companies of the Seventh Cavalry, then lately organized, reached the fort, and Capt. G. Robeson (brother of Secretary Robeson) assumed com- m and. Robeson retained command till March^ 1867, when he was relieved by Capt. W. H. Penrose, Company I, Third Infantry, Brevet Brigadier General. That spring, an unprecedented rain oc- curred, beginning about the 10th of May and continuing daily for a month. No such flood had been known from the earliest times. The Arkansas was out of its banks, and the water two feet deep on the level in Port Lyoh. The troops were consequently obliged to evacuate the fort and take refuge in tents on the ad- joining bluffs. This abandonment proved to be permanent. Capt. Kirk, the Quartermas- ter, proceeded with a force of mechanics twenty five miles westward to the site of the present Port Lyon, about the 1st of June, and began the improvements which afterward developed into Fort Lyon. Thenceforth, the former post became Old Fort Lyon, which name it still retains. Capt Kirk had among his employes at this time, Holbrook, Chief Clerk; George Hunter and Philip Lander, the McMurtrie brothers, Mark B. Price and Harry Floyd. On the 11th of June the Post Commander moved his headquarters and command to the site of the new Fort Lyon, where the troops went into camp. The post traders at Fort Lyon from 1865 were Lyman Fields, till 1867, when he sold out to A. E. Reynolds and B. D. Smith. Rey- nolds & Smith removed with the troops to the new fort, and continued business only a few months. Two stores were next opened, one by J. A. Thatcher & Co., the other by A. E. Rey- nolds. In 1869, one store was discontinued by order of the "War Department. A. E. Rey- nolds & Co. remained till 1870, when they were succeeded by S. G. Bridges. Bridges held on till 1877, when he was superseded by George M. Brown, present incumbent. About the time of the removal from Old Fort Lyon, Company G, of the Thirty-seventh In- fantry, was added to the command. The In- dians continuing hostile, it was necessary to run escorts with all the stage coaches, and maintains guards at the stations. The infantry was accordingly distributed to the various stage stations to the east as far as Dave Keener's, known as the Baltimore ranch. During the month of June, three members of Company G, Thirty-seventh, were surprised and killed at Pleasant Encampment. The stages were fre- quently fired into and robbed, but no passengers - killed. The method of the Indians was to dash up, fire a volley and gallop away. Charles Bent, son of Col. Bent, was head chief of the Southern (Jheyennes, and was credited with leading these forays. All trains of immigrants and freight- ers were required by the military commander' at Fort Riley to organize in parties of fifty " wagons, form a military organization and thoroughly arm and equip before proceeding, the Government providing arms and amnnini- tion. The year 1868 is memorable to all old set- tlers as the year the Indians were bad.' They not only harassed travelers and freighter's i) \, liL^ 844 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. along the routes of travel, but killed and drove off the stock of the settlers. E. E. Sizer, J. W. Prowers, William Bent, Thomas Boggs, Kit Carson's estate, all lost stock, and had some herders killed. Sizer's ranch was at- tacked two or three times, and his bam burned. The soldiers were out as often as two or three times a week for the purpose of guarding ranches or rescuing the inhabitants. In cases of extreme peril, the settlers on the Lower Pur- gatoire gathered at Boggsville for defense, and in Nine Mile Bottom, at the ranch of IJrial Higbee. On the morning of September 8 (election day), an attack was made all along the creek. Thomas Kinsey, a Judge of Elec- tion, was killed while on his way from Sizer's ranch to the voting-place, Boggsville. Word was conveyed to the fort, and troops at once started out in pursuit of the Indians, Gen. Penrose in command, accompanied by several citizens. The Indians proved to be only a small party. They were pursued and over- taken twenty- five miles south of the fort, and four of them killed, with a loss of two soldiers. The remainder of the Indians escaped, taking with them a lot of stock stolen from Boggs- ville. A month later, or the next full moon, the Indians, two or three hundred strong, made their appearance near Boggsville. Fortu- nately, the settlers had been expecting them, and were able to make such formidable dem- onstrations, aided by the troops, as caused the foe to withdraw without attacking. Nor did Gen. Penrose dare pursue them, as it seemed evident, from their maneuvers, they desired he should. They contented themselves by killing or driving away what stock they found, and, turning aside from their usual southeasterly course into the valley near Big Sandy, they found and attacked the train of George Pool, and cut out and drove off a wagon containing Mrs. Flynn, a sister of Mrs. J. F. Buttles. From this captivity Mrs. Flynn never escaped, but was killed by the squaws the next winter during an attack on the In- dians by Gen. Custer. In the autumn of 1868, a mammoth expedi- tion against the Indians was organized at Port Lyon, under Gen. Carr. Gen. Penrose moved out in advance, with the Tenth Cavalry and parts of the Third and Fifth Infantry. Gen. Carr followed with the Fifth Cavalry and one company of the Third Infantry, and overtook Penrose on the Palo Duro, where he assumed command of the whole expedition. But it was resultless, the grand army returning without striking a blow. Perhaps something should be credited to its moral effect on the Indians, as there were no more raids on the Purgatoire. Gen. Penrose reached Fort Lyon with his original command February 16, 1869. The return of the troops was the signal for the re- turn of the settlers to their several ranches, and the resumption of travel and freighting. In 1867 and 1868, an organized band of stock-thieves, under the lead of William Coe, operated between Colorado and New Mexico. Their principal rendezvous was at a stone ranch and corral on the Dry Cimarron. They also had a station at the Hoemer ranch, on the Purgatoire, twelve miles above Boggsville. A number of murders were known to have been committed by them. A detective sent out from Fort Lyon, among others, met death at their hands. In the spring of 1868, a flock of 3,000 sheep, stolen in New Mexico, was found in their possession on Adobe Creek, which led to their arrest. A Sheriff from Trinidad, assisted by troops and citizens, sur- rounded eight of the gang while they were engaged at a game of cards at the Hoemer ranch, and, by shoving the muzzles of nine or ten rifles in at the door, compelled an uncon- ditional surrender. The officer and posse proceeded next to a house above Higbee's and captured Coe. The prisoners were sent to the fort for safe keeping, but, within two weeks, made their escape. Six were re-capt- ured, including the leader, and turned over to the civil authorities at Pueblo. Shortly after this, Coe was taken from the jail at Pueblo and privately hung by a committee of sol- diers — it was believed at the instigation of their superior officer. Certain it is, they were not court martialed, nor was there any pub- lic demonstration of sorrow for the de- ^ i ■^ 'V[ g ^1>^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. 843 CHAPTER VIII. NEW TOWNS AND RAILROADS. AFTER the establishment of the present Fort Lyon, a town was soon begun on the opposite side of the Arkansas, three- fourths of a mile distant. In February, 1869, Capt. William Craig, previously Post Quarter- master at Fort Union, had the site surveyed and platted, and named it Las Animas City. Craig had large possessions of lands under the title derived from Vigil and St. Vrain, and it was under this title that he laid claim to the site of Las Animas City. By the next winter, the place had a store, by Bichard Simpson; a livery stable, by J. B. Smith; a hotel, by John Coplin; a restaurant, by H. S. Gilman; and saloons, by Bob Brown, Tim Ballou, O. M. Mason and Charley Eawles. A toll bridge was built across the Arkansas during the summer, connecting the town with the Fort. K. M. McMHirray, from Cheyenne, and A. E. Reynolds & Co., from Fort Lyon, opened stocks of goods in 1870. From this time forward for four years, the town contin- ued to grow and prosper, enjoying a large and valuable trade. An immense freighting business between the termini of the railroads and New Mexico was carried on from 1867 forward. Wagons were constantly in sight during the summer. The entire bottom around West Las Animas was at times covered with camping trains. In 1873, a printing press was taken to Las Animas City, by C. W. Bowman, and on May 23 the first number of the Las Anirhas Leader issued. The paper met with a generous recep- tion, and has since come to be regarded as one of the permanent institutions of the county. Upon the organization of Bent County by legislative enactment in February, 1870, Las Animas was designated as the county seat. The territory had previously been included in Las Animas and Pueblo Counties. The establishment was due in considerable meas- ure to the efforts of Capt. Craig. At the first general election, however, the county seat was removed to Boggsville. THE TOWN OF KIT CAESON. Field & Hill put up a small building on the site of Kit Carson late in the fall of 1869, and opened a store there. They came with the grading outfits of the Kansas Pacific Railway, which were scattered along the line in camp that winter. Joe Perry built a hotel that winter, and William Connor followed with another in the spring. During the win- ter, also, James Dagner started a wholesale liquor house, Frank Fageley, of Denver, a livery stable and Luke Whitney a dance hall. The Kansas Pacific track reached the spot on the 4th day of April, 1870, and within ten days thereafter Carson had a population of 1,500. Immediately upon the arrival of the railroad, large commission houses were estab - lished by the firms of Otero, Sellar &Co., W, H. Chick & Co., and Webster, Music & Ca- niffe. A stage line to Denver was established by the Kansas Stage Company; another to Pueblo via Antelope Springs, of which Sam Carpenter was a proprietor; and the Barlow & Sanderson line to Santa F6 moved up from Sheridan and connected at Carson. Among the more prominent business men of Carson, not already mentioned were Marcus Bidell, merchant; Abram Rhoads, railroad beef con- tractor and builder; John H. Jay, blacksmith and repairer; H. R. Johnson, merchant; J. A. Soward, Postmaster; Buttles & Logan and Pat Shanley, grading contractors. Kit Carson and the grading camps to the west were raided by the Indians June 24, 1870, and fourteen men killed. Two Mexican herders were killed within half a mile of town. The Indians drove two teams out of Billy Patterson's grading camp at Wild Horse, with the scrapers attached. A man named Aleck Irwin was run down and received three spear wounds in the head, but still sue- ,^ 846 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. ceeded in knocking his pursuer from his horse with the butt of his whip and making his escape. Greenwood County was erected in Febru- ary, 1870, by legislative act, the same bill which established Bent County. It was named in honor of Col. Greenwood, engineer in charge of the construction of the Kansas Pacific Railway. Kit Carson was designated as county seat, and remained as such till the abolishment of the county in February, 1874, when the town with a large portion of terri- tory was included in Bent County. The first Commissioners of Greenwood County were John F. Buttles, John J. Bush and A. C. Clements. WEST LAS ANIMAS. In 1873, the Kansas Pacific Company built a branch road from Kit Carson to the south side of the Arkansas, reaching the site of West Las Animas October 18. The town was plat- ted and lots offered for sale by the Weit Las Animas Company, consisting of Robert E. Carr, of the Kansas Pacific, and D. H. Moffatt, Jr., of Denver. There was at the same time a popular distrust about titles, inasmuch as the land on which the town was laid out, as well as a large body adjacent had been fraud- ulently pre-empted, and patents issued there- for in the names of persons entirely unknown in the country, while actual settlers on the same tracts were ignored by the land depart- ment. The first actual settler on the town site was George A. Brown, who took it up as a pre-emption, before it was known that a town would be located there. Among the first builders in the town were Hunt, a saloon keeper; William Connor, who moved the American House over from Carson; Hughes Brothers, lumber dealers; Shoemaker & Ear- hart, merchants. Commission houses were very shortly established byKihlberg &Bartels Bros., and Prowers & Hough. In the meantime the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 was extended twelve miles westward from the State line to the site of Granada, where it arrived July 4, 1873. A town had already been laid out there by the commission firm of Chick, Browne & Co. Upon the com- pletion of the road, the two prominent com- mission firms of Chick, Browne & Co., and Otero, SeUar & Co., moved from Kit Carson to Granada, transferring at the same time their influence and business to the new road instead of the Kansas Pacific. This fact and the extension of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 no doubt prompted the building of the Carson branoh by the Kansas Pacific. Within two weeks from the time the cars reached Granada the place had three restau- rants, a hotel and about a dozen other busi- ness places. The hotel was by Mr. Winram; a complete hardware store by Mitchell & Smith. LA JUNTA. In the fall of 1873, Granada and West Las Animas became competing points for the New Mexico trade, or rather freight business, and this relation continued until the extension of the competing railrc>ads to La Jtmta, in De- cember, 1875. During that winter a lively commission business was done at La Junta by both roads. On the 26th of February, 1876, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 road reached Pueblo, from which point the exten- sion of the Denver & Rio Grande road to El Moro was then well under way. The com- pletion of the Denver & Rio Grande to that point, April 15, finally removed the southern commission business from Bent County. La Junta, while enjoying this trade, had a popu- lation of from 300 to 500, and cast a vote in 1876, of 109. After the railroad extensions, it gradually declined, and within a year its buildings had been mostly moved away. In June, 1878, the Kansas Pacific track was taken up from La Junta to Kit Carson, and about the same time the Santa F6 began its extension southward from La Junta. This gave the point a new interest, and since that date it has regained somewhat of its original importance. The railroad company has erected a handsome two-story depot, an en- gine house, repair shops, and several cottages for employes, and the Superintendent of the Colorado division has his headquarters there. In the "spring o£ 1881, La Junta became an incorporated town under the lawsoE Colorado, and elected a Mayor and Board of Trustees. To J. C. Denny, the station agent, belongs IK*- %f^in^ti^ %/ Jh-e/l^ ^! lii^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. 847 the honor of being the first Mayor of the place. KOCKY FORD. About the time Las Animas City was laid out in 1870, a village was begun fl,t Rocky Ford, a point forty-five miles further up the river. A large store was opened by Russell & Swink, at which a po^t ofi&ce, was kept. The settlers were more numerous along, the Arkansas in the next three or four years succeeding than at present, and Bocky Ford received a liberal ranch trade. Upon the completion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 road to Pu- eblo, the post office was removed from the river to the railroad, where a town was laid out by Messrs. Denness & Swink, retaining the old name. Surrounding this point is a community engaged largely in farming, ren- dering it perhaps the most homelike neigh- borhood in the county. Other stations in the county of growing importance are Catlin, ten miles west of Eocky Ford; Caddoa, near Caddo Creek, and Prow- ers, about midway between Granada and West Las Animas. CHAPTER IX. FRAGMENTS. THE first Commissioners of Bent County were John W. Prowers, Philip Lander and Theodore Gaussoin. They met at Las Animas City March 12, 1870, and organized by electing J. W. Prowers Chairman. They appointed the following persons as county officers: R. M. Moore, County Superintendent of Common Schools; Moses R. Tate, Assessor; Harry Whigham, Clerk; the Governor ap- pointed Thomas O. Boggs, Sheriff; Mark B. Price, Treasurer ; E. M. Moore, Probate Judge. The county was attached to Pueblo for judicial purposes till 1872, when one term of District Court a year was provided by the Leg- islature. At the fall election, September 13, 1870, L. A. Allen was elected Sheriff; M. B. Price, Treasurer; R. M. Moore, Probate Judge and County ' Superintendent of Schools; M. R. Tate, Assessor; George Hunter, County Cierk; Charles M. Bmrr, Coroner. A vote was also taken on the county seat question, resulting in its removal to Boggsville. By vote taken again in 1872, the county seat was returned to Las Animas City, where it remained till October, 1875, when it was removed to West Las Animas. The County of Greenwood having become so reduced in population by the year 1874 as to be unable to sustain a court or maintain its organization, it was by act, approved Feb- ruary 6, broken up. At the same time a new county was formed out of a portion of Green- wood and Douglas, to be known as Elbert. The remainder of Greenwood, or about half, was added to Bent County. In March, 1875, a proposition to subscribe for $150,000 worth of stock of the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley Railroad was submitted to the voters of the county and carried by a large majority. The bonds of the county for this amount were accordingly issued, payable in thirty years, with interest at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum. In the winter of 1879- 80, the stock commanding a good price, it was by consent of the people sold, returning the sum of $86,000, which was at once applied in reducing the bonded indebtedness. A private or subscription school was opened at Boggsville in the fall of 1869, by Miss Mattie Smith, and the next year a school dis- trict was organized with R. M. Moore as President, C. L. Rite as Secretary, and J. W. Prowers as Treasurer. The next teacher for two terms was Peter G. Scott, present Cash- ier Bent County Bank. Upon the accession of Moore as County Superintendent, new dis- tricts were formed at Las Animas and Nine Mile Bottom. Other districts were formed as the population justified till the number ^ « ^ ^^_^ 848 HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. reached nine. At West Las Animas, a bonded indebtedness of $5,000 was assumed in 1876, for building a schoolhouse, and a neat two- story building completed the same year. On the subject of church work there is but little to record. The scattered situation of the people has been unfavorable to the organ- ization of churches as well as schools, but the establishment of permanent railroad stations and post offices promises a better state of things in the near future. Ranchmen, as they find their families growing up, begin to by the last foiu- named. Since then, however, the field has been abandoned by all except the Catholics and Presbyterians. Sunday schools and occasional preaching services have been held within the last year at Gra- nada, Nine Mile, La Junta and Catlin, and one or more Sunday schools have been main- tained continuously at West Las Animas from the beginning. As a whole ttie people are liberal toward the churches, though if we are to regard external evidences, the converts made in the last decade have been few. This PUBLIC SCHOOL, WEST LAS ANIMAS. cast about for educational and church priv- ileges, and to this end many have moved to the railroad stations, thus rendering organ- ization for social and religious purposes pos- sible. As early as 1872-73, Rev. John Stocks, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, traveled and preached in the county, and from that time till tjie present there has been almost a continuous succession of itinerant preachers of that church in the county. In 1874-75, the Presbyterians, Methodist Episcopals, Bap- tists, Southern Methodists and Roman Catho- lics were represented at West Las Animas by ministers, and church buildings were erected -^ may be attributed rather to the unsettled con- dition of the people than to the lack of abil- ity or zeal on the part of the messengers of Christ. The principal industries of Bent County at this writing are cattle, sheep and hay. The former two have heretofore taken prece- dence, but the latter within the last few years has steadily grown in importance. The hay meadows are being inclosed with fences, and machinery for cutting and bailing has been generally introduced. Farming is not car- ried on as extensively as in the early days. Many of the small farmers and stock-owners •? s- i) \> Mt ^ HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY. 849 have sold out to the more wealthy, so that the business of the county, though aggregating vastly more in value, is probably in fewer hands than eight years ago. Considering, however, the unequaled facilities for irriga- tion, the fertility of the soil, and the growing demand of the adjacent mining regions, it is not improbable ttiat the farming industry will grow. Already a number of cattle men have turned their attention to raising alfalya as feed, and the success they have met war- rants the belief that it will in the future be largely produced. Fruit-growing has also proved successful, and the same causes which shall encourage a return to farming will induce the cultivation of the grape, plum, currant, apple, cherry and strawberry. ^^ -a) \ ^ )L_ ,> BIOGRAPHICAL. ALBERT J. ANDERSON. Mr. Anderson and family are among those who have had strange experiences on the fron- tier of Texas. Indians were numerous as well as troublesome, and for many years they were constantly sm-rounded by them. In or- der to protect his stock, as well as himself, Mr. Anderson was obliged to go thoroughly armed. He buckled on his pistol every morn- ing while he resided in Texas. Mr. Ander- son was born in Arkansas February 15, 1836, where he lived until he weis eleven years of age. His schooling was limited. "When he left Arkansas, he removed to the eastern por- tion of Texas, and afterward went to the west- em portion, where he remained until he set- tled in the Arkansas Valley, near La Junta. From the time he left his native State, Mr. Anderson has been engaged in stock-raising, and, notwithstanding the Indians frequently ran off his cattle and horses, he was reason- ably successful in his enterprise on the fron- tier. When the war broke out, he enlisted in a Texas regiment, and served in the army four years. October 1, 1865, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Nancy Wilson, a sister of Billy Wilson, who is well known in Texas as having many narrow escapes of being killed by the Indians. Mrs. Anderson has spent most of her life on the frontier of Texas. In the spring of 1871, Mr. Anderson came to the Arkansas Valley and located on a honie- stead claim, and afterward added a pre-emp- tion right. A portion of this land he has since cultivated, though he has paid most of his at- tention to stock-raising. He commenced with a herd of Texas cows and steers. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Anderson moved his whole stock to the Pan Handle District of Texas, where he remained until June, 1879. He then sold out to Mr. Charles Goodnight and returned to the Arkansas Valley. He then bought another herd of American graded cattle. He had, in 1881, about five hundred head. Mr. Ander- son believes in the Hereford stock as being well adapted for the plains. Mr. Anderson has also a herd .of 100 horses. He is making a specialty of raising trotting and saddle stock. His stallion, Bullet, has gotten some of the finest colts in the Arkansas Valley. They are noted for their gentle and quiet dis- position. A. H. H. BAXTER. Mr. Baxter is located on a ranch in the Ar- kansas Valley, a few miles east of Granada, in Bent County, Colo. Mr. Baxter is a native of Indiana; was bornAugust 31, 1845, in Jeffer- son County, where he worked on a farm and attended school until he entered the army, in October, 1861. He enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, a one-year regi- ment. After serving his time, he was dis- charged, but immediately re-enlisted in the Fifty-fourth regiment. In this he served his time, and again enlisted in the First Indiana Heavy Artillery, serving two years and two months. During his army life, he was engaged in many heavy battles in the Department of the Gulf, and others to which he belonged. In the first attack on Vicksburg, December-25, 1862, the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try had left Indianapolis, Ind., only two weeks previously, with full numbers; it sus- tained a loss of 660 men in an engagement of three hours' duration. Mr. Baxter was finally discharged from the army as a veteran, Jan- uary 21, 1866, having served his country faithfully for four years and two months. After the war closed, he returned to his home in Indiana, where he remained until 1872, employed in farming. About this time, he went to Pueblo to learn from his brother, O. H P. Baxter, the best location for agricult- ural pursuits and stock-raising. He selected ;^ iiL^ BENT COUNTY. 853 his present site. He has 160 acres of land, mostly in grass, which he cuts and bales for market Mr. Baxter was married, in 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Robinson, of Jefferson County, Ind. He was School Director of District No. 8, and Secretary of the Board for three years, before the district was divided in 1879. Since then, he has been a Director and Secretary of the Board of District No. 9. He is much pleased with Bent County, and expects to mate it his perma- nent residence. JAMES W. BEATY. Mr. Beaty has been successful in his enter- prises in the Arkansas Yalley as a ranchman and stock-grower. He has relied upon him- self for support since he was but a boy, and has always been a hard worker. He was born in Carroll County, Mo., April 6, 1843. He was raised on a farm, and attended school for a few terms. In 1862, he removed to Fre- mont County, Iowa, where he remained but a short time. During 1863, he made a trip to Fort Hallock, W. T., and from there to Den- ver, where he remained a brief period. About this time, he commenced the life of a freighter. Denver was the point he started from, and to Denver he frequently returned. He spent some months in a saw-mill on Running Creek, and also a short time at Fort Lyon, Bent Co., Colo. The winter of 1863-64 he spent in Denver, and from there he proceeded to Fort Union, N. M. He returned to his starting- point before going to Council Grove, Kan. He again returned to Denver. On a trip be- tween Council Grove and Fort Lyon, while with a wagon train belonging to John Pol- lock, he had three '•jibes of Indians follow him. He passed five wagon trains where the stock had been run off and tha men were powerless to move. In 1864, when passing between the same points, after corraling their teams, seventy-five Indians appeared, but the train was so well protected they re- treated. From Omaha he went to Iowa, op- posite Plattsmouth, on the Missouri River. Here he spent a few months feeding mules. After he had finished this engagement, he went to Nebraska City. Up to this time, his brother, Jasper N., had been with him. It was in 1863, during his first trip from Den- ver to Fort Lyon that Mr. Beaty saw three men who belonged to a Government train who had been scalped by the Indians. It was at a place called Wolfe Bend, thirty-five miles below Pueblo. While at Nebraska City, Mr. Beaty, in company with his brother, bought five yoke of oxen and a wagon, and com- menced freighting for themselves. After mak- ing several trips to Cottonwood, Neb., and to Fort Carney, they bought another team, con- sisting of four yoke of oxen and a wagon. They then freighted between numerous points, including Nebraska City, Fort Laramie, Cot- tonwood, Neb., and Julesburg. They had a contract with the Government to haul 125 tons of hay thirty miles, unloading it at Jules- burg. From the latter point they went to Fremont County, Iowa, and bought forty acres of land, well timbered. The timber they cut off and sold, and afterward they disposed of the land. They then began freighting again, with six teams, to and from various places in Colorado. In 1868, they bought- four more wagons and twenty yoke of pxen. Their whole outfit now consisted of ten wagons and 100 head of cattle. They freighted for two years mdre, a portion of the time for the Union Pacific Railroad Company,' going as far west as Salt Lake City, wintering, during 1869-70, 125 miles south of the latter place. In January, 1870, they sold out and went to Bent County, Colo., and bought 400 head of Texas and American cattle. Since coming to Bent County, they have taken up Government land and acquired by purchase until they had, in 1881, 2,000 acres, mostly under fence. They also have bought many head of cattle; together with the natural increase, they now have 10,000 head. In addition to the above, they have a bunch of 250 horses, which they claim to be as well bred as any in the State of Colorado. Their stallion is a half brother to the dam of Iroquois, the winner of the En- glish Derby in 1881, the only American horse that ever won that race. They bought the stallion of Alexander, of Kentucky. He is thoroughbred running stock. James W. Beaty was married, January 26, 1872, to Miss Laura M. Gerde, of Missouri. They have two chil- dren. ^ ^ l^ li^ 854 BIOGRAPHICAL : CHARLES W. BOWMAN. Charles Wesley Bowman, editor and pro- prietor of the Leader, 'S^esi Las 'V.nimas, Colo., was born near Jacknon, Cape Girardeau Co., Mo., February 23, 1840. His parents, Joshua Bowman and Elizabeth Bowman, n6e Spencer, - were natives of North Carolina, and trace their ancestry to one of the London colonies which settled at Jamestown. Joshua Bow- man was the son of Shepherd B., born in "Vir- ginia in 1770. Shepherd's father, named Edward, was born in the same province" in 1690, and was a son of one of the original colonists. About the year 1847, Joshua Bowman removed with his family to Muscatine, Iowa, and thence, in 1851, to Northwestern Missouri, where he entered the ministry of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. As a result, his chil- dren had only such educational advantages as could be obtained from district and private schools while moving about the country from year to year. These limited advantages were, however, well improved by his five sons. At the age of seventeen, the subject of this sketch had acquired a pretty thorough English course, and was considered competent to take charge of a public school, which he did for a term of three months. About this time his literary bent began to be manifested in sundry con- tributions to the local press. His initial at- tempt at journalism was a manuscript paper with a head engraved by himself on wood. This publication had one paid-up subscriber. The labor of printing it with a pen in small italic letters was too laborious to have justified a larger circulation at the ruling prices. His next step was to enter the ofiice of the Holt County News, Oregon, Mo., as printer's devil, August 3, 1858. He proved an enthusiast in the art In six months, he had advanced to the foremanship, and, at the end of two and a half years, was made a partner with a new proprietor. He left the office at ihe expiration of the usual term of apprenticeship, August 3, 1861, at which time the war flame began its devastating work. Entering the Union serv- ice on the 7th of October, 1861, he served in the several capacities of private. Corporal, Hospital Steward, Sergeant Major and First Lieutenant and Adjutant, till May 18, 1865, when he was honorably discharged, having received, in the meantime, recommendations from his superiors for further promotion. Returning to his former home at Oregon, he was enabled, by the kindly aid of the citizens aiid the savings from his salary, to start in the newspaper business on his own account, and, on the 30th of June, 1865, issued the first number of the Holt County Sentinel. The pa- per occupied conseryative Republican ground, and received a cordial support from all par-" ties. September 11, 1865, Mr. Bowman was married to Miss Nettie G. Morgan, of "West Virginia, a graduate of the Academy of the Visitation, St. Louis. He disposed of his in- terest in the Sentinel in February, 1869, with a view of establishing a paper at Sedalia, for which inducements had been held out to him by prominent citizens of that place. In this enterprise he was disappointed, and abandoned the undertaking, but not without considerable loss of time and money, besides being thus T,hrown entirely out of business. His next move was to Pleasant Hill, Mo., where he purchased the type and material of an effete advertising circular called the Journal. Here he estab- lished, on the 14th of May, 1869, the Pleasant Hill Leader. This proved a prosperous venture for a time, but the trade of the place began, after a year or so, to decline, and it soon became apparent that there were too many newspapers in the county. In 1870, Mrs. Bowman was taken with consumption, which resulted in her death February 3, 1871. The personal care of three children was thus added to that of an expensive printing office. His domestic calamities, together with the decline of busi- ness, compelled Mr. Bowman to look for a new location for his ofiice. This he found at Las Animas, Colo., where he removed his press in the spring of 1873, and began the publication of the Las Animas. Leader. The paper was removed to West Las Animas in February, 1874. where it is now published. The nota- ble features of Mr. Bowman's editorial career have been the advocacy of advanced ideas, politically, socially and industrially; war against dishonest administration of local affairs, and the exposure of land- grabbing rings. He is precise to a fault in his writing, even upon the most trivial matters. His pa- per is characteristically neat in appearance. «? a BENT COUNTY. 855 and its matter of a thoroughly moral tone. In 1875, Mr. Bowman was appointed Probate Judge for Bent County, to fill an unexpired term of E. F. Long. In 1876, he was elected School Director in the town of "West Las Animas, and served as Secretary of the School Board until the spring of 1881. In the fall of 1879, he was elected County Super- intendent of Schools for two years. Since his election, he has endeavored to arouse an in- terest in the cause of education among the residents of the county, and has succeeded in instituting a number of needed reforms in the schools. In the Press Association of the State, Mr. Bowman is held in high esteem by his brother editors, having served as Presi- dent of the association from July, 1879, to July, 1880. He was chosen orator for their annual meeting in 1881, but circumstances prevented his appearing on that occasion. Aside from his school duties and constant edi- torial labors, he finds time to devote many hour's to literary study. For more than two years, he has been a member of the Chautau- qua Literary and Scientific Circle, a society which has more than twenty-seven thousand members throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to all his other labors, Mr. Bowman has found much pleasure and real enjoyment in his active Sunday school work, in which he has taken a deep interest during the past ten years. He is a coiiscien- tious student and a hard worker. The names of Mr. Bowman's three children are Miriam v., born July 29, 1866; Anna Gertrude, born January 30, 1868; Edna L., born November 13, 1869. Anna Gertrude was adopted, after her mother's death, by Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Black, of Sabetha, Kan., and died January 18, 1880. HOSEA B. CARTTBR. Mr. Cartter was born in Blandford, Ham- den Co., Mass., in July, 1833. The farm on which he spent his boyhood has been in the possession of liis family for a long term of years. At the age of sixteen, Mr. Cartter moved to Ohio and began the business which occupied his time until he removed to West Las Animao, Bent Co., in 1875. For twenty- five years, he was engaged in bridge-building for railroad companies in Tennessee, Alabama, Iowa and Illinois. During the last eight years he was thus engaged, he made his head- quarters at St. Louis, Mo., in company with his brother. When he removed from St. Louis, he went directly to "West Las Animas and took up a pre-emption claim and bought a herd of 3,000,head of sheep. At the end of three years, he sold out his flock and bought 800 head of native graded stock of cattle. In 1881, he had 1,000 head. Like many other stock men, Mr. Cartter is improv- ing his herd by keeping a good grade of bulls. His object is to raise beef, and is not aiming to raise thoroughbred cattle. Mr. Robert L. Lambert is engaged with him, and is inter- ested in his herd. Mr. Cartter was married, in 1871, to Miss Mary Frances Brinsmade, of Iowa, and have two children. Mr. Cartter is pleased with the Arkansas Valley, and will make it his home for the present. ALLEN E. CARPENTER. Mr. Carpenter came to Colorado in August, 1872, and for a few months engaged in min- ing. Returning from the mountains, he locat- ed in the old town of Las Animas, Bent Co. During the winter of 1872-73, he fitted out a hunting expedition, in company with G. J. Da Lee, and hunted buffalo for two and a half months, principally for their hides. They killed 500 during this time. The hides were shipped East from Sargent, Kan., which was the terminus of "the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad at that time. From the spring of 1873 until the winter of 1874, Mr. Carpen- ter was engaged in the carpenter- shop of the Quartermaster's Department at Fort Lyon, when he removed to "West Las Animas, where he now resides. 'Since moving to his present residence, he has been engaged in the hotel business, ' For a number of years, he kept " Carpenter's Hotel," the only one in the place, having purchased it in April, 1877. In the fall of 1876, Mr. Carpenter was appointed Coroner for Bent County, to fill an unexpired term of R. D. Reedy. In the fall of 1877, he was elected to fill the of&ce for two years, and again in 1879. Mr. Carpenter was born in Somerset County, Penn., in 1845. His par- ents removed to Fulton County, same State, when he was quite young. For two years, he ir^ A 856 BIOGRAPHICAL attended the Normal School in Millersville, Lancaster Co., Penn., from which he graduat- ed. He taught for four years in his native State, and one term in the State of Missouii. In 1870 and 1871, Mr. Carpenter was engaged at Independence, Kan., in contracting and building, and buying and selling real estate. In 1876, he attended the Centennial Exhibi- tion, and, while absent, married Miss L. J. Akers, of Akersville, Fulton Co., Penn. DAVID CLARK. The gold excitement of 1859 induced Mr. Clark to leave his home in Illinois, where he had resided twenty-five years. He was born in Sangamon County, and lived there ten years. He then removed to the adjoining county of Logan, where he remained until the fame of Pike's Peak reached his native State. He was raised a farmer. He attended the common schools a portion of several years until he was eighteen years of age. When he came West, he went directly to Denver, arriv- ing there June 14, 1859. After remaining there a short time, he engaged in mining on South Clear Creek. In company with a num- ber o£ men, he built a dam across the stream, and, by cutting a channel, changed the course of the creek, with the view of working the bed. He was employed in mining for four years in various portions of the State. In 1860, he was in the famous California Gulch, near Lead- ville, and then in Breckenridge.add vicinity. He enjoyed a fair success in his mining oper- ations. After concluding his search for gold in the mountains, he went up the Platte eight- een miles north of Denver, and worked a ranch of eighty acres of his own, together with some land he had leased. The hay crop was an important one with him. He remained there until the spring of 1867, when he went to New Mexico and located on the Cimarron, where he farmed one year on the Maxwell Land Grant. At the expiration of this time, he went to work in the Moreno Mines, noted for their rich yield of gold. These mines were rented for f 1 a year. Here he remained until the spring of 1872, and then removed to Pueblo, Colo., where he freighted for a year. In 1873, he located at the mouth of Big Sandy Creek, in Bent County, and took up a home- stead, where he now resides Mr. Clark has a bunch of 150 head of graded cattle and a small herd of horses. He was elected County Commissioner in October, 1879, for a term of three years. WILLIAM E. CULVER. The name of William E. Culver for more than six years has been familiai' with the in- habitants of Bent County, as druggist at West Las Animas. Though born a farmer, he early in life evinced a desire to study medicine, and would have finished a course of study, which he had commenced with Dr. C. G. Barnes, of Burlington, Mich., had not the war of 186l broken out. His patriotism was too great to remain at home, and, to an early call for soldiers, he responded, and en- listed for three years in the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Company C. He was in active field service only six months, on account of a severe sickness. After recovering, he was detailed to do dispensary work, where he remained but a few montks, when he was or- dered to headquarters of his division in the Army of the Potomac, and detailed as Orderly under Gen. Frero and Gen. Wilcox. He was afterward sent with the Ninth Army Corps through Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi , and saw service under Gen, Grant at Vicks- burg. He was engaged in twelve regular bat- tles and many skirmishes, but came out from them all unhurt While his corps was on the North Anna River, Virginia, his term of en- listment expired, and he was discharged. But he immediately joined the Second Battalion of a Construction Corps as First Lieutenant, and had entire charge of the construction of Battery Petterson, on Charlotte Pike, at Nashville, Tenn., while Gen. Hood was there. In the spring of 1865, he resigned, and re- turned to the farm at Newton, Mich., where he remained until 1869, when he came to Fort Lyon, Bent Co., Colo. In 1867, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary B. Smith, of Elyria, Ohio; has had two children, but a little girl, who was born in Newton, MiCh., in March, 1869, is the only child living. When Mr. Culver first came to Colorado, he commenced raising stock, and continued in the business until 1875, when he sold out, and entered his pres- I !kv BENT COUNTY. 857 ent occupation. He was elected Assessor for two terms — 1872 and 1873. In 1881, he was elected Secretary of School Board; for three years, has served as Secretary of Bent County Eepublican Committee, holding these of&ces in addition to that of Librarian and Treasurer of Bent County Bible Association. Mr. Cul- ver certainly has the confidence ,of the people of Bent County. ISAIAH DENNESS. Mr. Denness came to Colorado during the winter of 1875-76. He took up a soldier's homestead claim, having served three years in the army. He enlisted in the Twenty- eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was with the Airmy of the Tennessee, taking part in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Belnaont and siege of Vicksburg, and many other important engagements. He rendered valu- able service in Gen. McPherson's command as engineer. At the siege of Vicksburg, in the absence of engineers, Mr. Denness mounted several heavy guns, though it was entirely out of his line of duty. At the close of the war, he returned to his farm in McDonough County, 111., which he still (1881) retains, where he remained until he came to Colorado and settled at Eocky Ford, Bent County. At this time the Atchison, Topeka & Santa P6 Railroad had been constructed only ten miles west of the place. Soon after arriving, he bought the store and stock of goods of William Beghtol. At this business he still continues, carrying a general stock of mer- chandise. I\Ir. D. was married in 1842 to Miss Esther Bruner. They have two chil- dren, both married and living in Illinois. JAMES C. DENISTY. Every town has its representative, and emphatically Mr. Denny is La Junta's prom- inent citizen. He came to Bent County in 1878, and located where the city of La Junta is now situated. At that time there were only two or three buildings in the place, and the first night after his arrival he slept on a counter in the railroad station. There was at this time no town nor city organization, no voting precinct, no school district, and not much to indicate there ever would be. But through Mr. Denny's indefatigable persever- ance, and with the assistance of the railroad company. La Junta has now a city organiza- tion, with Mr. D. as its first Mayor. He was elected to this office May 1, 1881, receiving a majority of fifty votes over all competitors. He is President of the School Board; was instrumental in building a fine schoolhouse, and furnishing it more completely than, any other school building in the county. Janu- ary 15, 1880, Mr. Denny was admitted to practice in all the courts of Colorado. Was appointed Postmaster in 1879, but in July, 1881, resigned in favor of E. B. Hollings- worth. He has charge of the station at La Junta of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad; has fifteen men as clerks under him. In 1868, he was married, in Cedar Eapids, Iowa, to Miss Emma Brundage. They have one daughter living, having buried two boys in Iowa. Mr. Denny was born in Geneva, Harrison Co., Penn., November 4, 1846. There he lived four years before moving with his parents to Ohio. In 1852, they moved to Mount Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. He worked on a farm during his' boyhood and attended school only one sum- mer and two winters. In 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Ninth Iowa Cav- alry, J. J. Lambert, of the Colorado Chieftain, as First Lieutenant. He served in Lhe Sev- enth Corps of the Army of the Southwest under Gen. Steele, and afterward Gen. J. J. Eeynolds. He was noticed by Gen. R. in Special Order 144 for bravery, having carried important dispatches from Searcy, Arkansas, to Little Rock, same State, notifying of Gen. Price's last raid. He was wounded ai the battle of Hickory Station. He was promoted to the Telegraph Corps and detailed in the Military Telegraph Office at Duvall's Bluff. He was discharged from the army April, 1866, having served nearly four years. Mr. D. remained in Madison, Arkansas, for one year after the close of the war. He then returned home and was employed by the Chicago & North- Western Railroad for a time at Mount Vernon, and afterward at Mechanicsville, Iowa, where he resided five years, three years with the railroad and two years he was engaged in mercantile life. La Junta, Bent ^7 fe> 858 BIOGRAPHICAL: County, owes much to Mr. Denny's enterprise for its present prosperity. THOMAS J. DOWNEN. Among the successful stock-raisers and ranchmen on the Arkansas River, the name of Thomas J. Downen stands prominently. He was bom a farmer. "When only nine years of age,his'father died and he was left in charge of 360 acres of land. Mr. D. was bom August 8, 1844, in MoDonough County, 111., where he lived until he was eighteen years of age. He attended the common school. In July, 1862, although too young according to mili- tary regulations, hs enlisted in the United States Army, and served until he was disabled by a gun-shot woimd, and discharged. The wound caused a permanent disability, for which he receives a pension. His regiment was the Seventy- eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; he served with Company I. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. He was with the army about two years. After his discharge, he returned home where he remained but a short time before entering Union Christian College, located at Merom, Indiana. On account of failing health, he was obliged to discontinue his studies. He was preparing for a professional life. For two years he was an invalid. After his recov- ery, he entered mercantile life at Industry, McDonough Co., 111., in company with an older brother, with whom he remained three years. In the fall of 1868, he was married to Miss Jennie McCollum, of West Virginia. She died in 1870. Soon after this, he sold out his interest in the store to his brother, on account of poor health. His family was pre- disposed to pulmonary diseases, and fearing a fatal result in his own case, he removed to Colorado in 1872, to engage in ranching and stock-raising. He has made a success both in his enterprises as well as in regaining his health. Mi. D. settled at Rocky Ford, Bent County, on the Arkansas River. By home- steading, pre-empting and purchases, he acquired land until he owned 800 acres, which he inclosed with a wire fence. In 1873, he bought 250 head of Texas cows and calves of Reynolds Bros. These he retained eighteen months and sold Ihem. For two years afterward Mr. D. was engaged, in rais- ing horses. Before disposing of these he again purchased a small bunch of American graded cattle and a thoroughbred bull, which was the foundation of his present herd. In the fall of 1875, Mr. D. was married to Miss Susan McCollum, a sister of his former wife. In 1879, his brother John Downen joined him and they formed a partnership under the firm name of Downen Bros. Since then they have added to the original farm 4,500 acres. The rf.nch now consists of 5,300 acres, all inclosed with wire fence. Mr. D. is an advo- cate of alfalya, of which he has forty acres, and he will continue to increase his acreage year by year. In his opinion it is the grass for Colorado. At the time his brother joined him he brought with him eleven head of pure breed short-hora heifers and two bulls. They also bought of Albert Crane, of Durham Park, Kansas, two imported short-horn bulls, and from other parties 250 head of American cows and heifers, from which they are raising a high grade of bulls. He is disposing of his original cows as the herd increases, thereby improving his stock. He is furnishing a superior grade of animals for crossing pur- poses, to roam on the range. He has been unable to supply the demand made upon him for this class of stock. They have also a small bunch of pure-bred short-horn cows, from which they are raising pure-bred calves. In addition to cattle, they have a small herd of pure-bred Berkshire hogs, direct from the imported stock, for which there is quite a demand. They are building up a reputation for furnishing a high grade of animals, and in a short time their bulls will be nothing under three- fourths pure blood. Mr. Thomas Downen is confident there is no better place for consumptives thaa the valley of the Arkan- sas in Colorado. JOHN P. EDWARDS. Mr. Edwards was born January 30, 1830, in Sag Harbor, Long Island. There he lived until he was twenty-two years of age, working on a farm and attending school. He gradu- ated from an academy located at East Hamp- ton, Long Island. In 1852, he took a six months' voyage in a sailing vessel to several ^ d & ""V ik^ BENT COUNTY. 859 foreign ports. Leaving New York City he went to Havana, Cuba, then to Portland, England, and to Smyrna and India. For five years he followed the sea, sailing most of the time from New York City to West Indies. The last two years of his nautical life he was second mate and mate. In 1857, he went to Henry County, Iowa, where he remained more than a year. He traveled through Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa before settling in Kan- sas City, Missouri, in 1858. There he remained until the spring of 1861, engaged in the dairy and gardening business. He paid $25 in gold for his best cows, though common ones could be obtained for half the amount. He would have none but the choic- est animals. During the following three years he was a resident of Fremont County, Colorado, engaged in ranching. In 1865, he freighted to different points, making one trip to Fort Union, New Mexico. Returning to Kansas City, Missouri, he was obliged to remain one winter on account of sickness. After his recovery he came to Colorado, stop- ping at the mouth of the Purgatoire Creek, where he built a house for Kit Carson and resided in it for a few months. Mr. Edwards took part in the Indian war of 1867-68. He removed his family to Fort Lyon and scouted for the Government until the Indians went into winter quarters. For some months after- ward, he furnished wood for Fort Lyon, and the people of the old town of lias Animas, when he removed to Fremont County and remained one year, at the expiration of this time he returned to the western portion of Bent County, engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Edwards has been improving his herd by crossing with thorough- bred short- horn cattle, in which he thoroughly believes. Mr. E. has been elected to the o£S.ce of Justice of the Peace. He was married in 1866, to Miss Sarah Hayes, who resided near Bowling Green, Kentucky. They have one boy and one girl. In 1881, Miss Minnie, their daugh- ter, had spent two years at school in Sag Harbor, L. I. Mr. Edwards has a quarter section of land fronting on the Arkansas River. Mr. E. has the reputation of being a great hunter. He killed the last baud of wild turkeys ever seen in Bent County. JOHN FISHER. Mr. Fisher is managing the mercantile bus- iness of Jones & Weil at La Junta. This firm was the pioneer one in the town. MJr. F. was born in 1845, in Mobile, Ala., and lived only six years before moving with his parents to Fulton County, 111. He completed his educa- tion at the Webster School in St. Louis, one of the largest schools in the city. Soon after this he removed to Newton, Kan., and opened a furniture store, where he remained until the grasshopper incursion, which destroyed all crops and business. He then went into the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, with whom he remained three years. Afterward he was employed by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad. He had charge of the telegraph 1 ines from Granada to Santa ¥6. Mr. Fisher built the line from La Junta to the Tunnel, near the Mexican line, a dis- tance of 100 miles. His mother was a native of Connecticut. His grandfather was Dr. Viets, who was a graduate of Yale College, and had charge of a hospital in Albany, N. Y. His father was born in Louisville, Ky., and was engaged in fitting out steamboats with carpets and curtains, before the days of state rooms. At the first municipal election in the city of La Junta, Mr. Fisher was elected Councilman for one year. The elec- tion occurred in May, 1881. JAMES GARDNER. Mr. Gardner was born near Manchester- England, in 1840. He left his native country when he was seventeen years of age and came to America Previous to this time he attended school, but not after he was twelve years old. Before leaving home he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed many years since he came to the New World. It was his intention when he decided to leave England to sail for Australia from Liverpool, but the vessel at that port was detained and he took passage in another for New York City, arriving there August, 1857. From New York he went to Providence, R. I., where he was employed in a bleachery, remaining there until the war broke out. He then enlisted in the First Rhode Island Light Artillery, and served in the Army of the s "V^ d^ 860 BIOGEAPHICAL : Potxjmac for three years and at the front all the time. He was in the first battle of Bull Rtm, and after the fight he was fortunate enough to encounter a Congressman's aban- doned mess wagon, in which he found liberal stores of both a solid and liquid nature. He was engaged in all the large battles and came out of them unhmt. June 18, 1864, he was discharged, having served his adopted coimtry faithfully for thirty-six months. At this time he made a short trip to Europe, remaining there only three weeks before returning to America. He then sought a fortune in the oil regions of Pennsylvania. His efforts were of a short duration; he remained there only a few weeks, having made an investment of all his funds, from which dividends were extremely meager. He was rich enough to ride to the oil fields, but he walked away. He then went to work for the Government, building bridges and supply depots in Ten- nessee and Georgia until the spring of 1865. Afterward he found employment at various places in Kansas and Nebraska at his trade, which he followed until 1871. At Omaha, Neb., he married Miss Lottie Hesse. In the spring of the same year (1871), he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he left his family and went to the Indian Territory and Texas, where he worked on the Missouri, Kansas & ' Texas Eailroad, remaining there during the winter of 1871-72. He came to the Arkan- sas Valley in the spring of 1872. The fol- lowing winter he hunted buffalo, making a success of his trip, killing 1,300 in one month. In the spring of 1873, he went to Granada and built the first house in the place. There he has mad^ it his home until the present time, working at his trade. Since 1878, he has found constant employment with H. S. Holly & Co., at their home ranch six miles east of Granada, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad. HEN^RY THOMAS GALBREATH. Mr. Galbreath was bom in Audrain County, Mo., December 31, 1842, where he resided until he was seventeen years of age. He attended such schools as the county afforded during his boyhood. In 1860, he came to Colorado. The following year he was en- gaged in teaming between Missouri River and points west, and hauling lumber from the forest to Denver. In January of 1862, Mr. G. went to Omaha, where he remained but a short time before he proceeded to Missouri. In July following he returned to the mount- ains, but his stay was short, as he went to Fort Wise (now Fort Lyon), in the Arkansas Valley, in August of the same year, where he was engaged in hauling hay for the Govern- ment for a season. Immediately afterward, he was employed on a ranch belonging to a Mr. Haynes, until the spring of 1863. At this time he made his first purchase of cattle, which consisted of ten head of yearling steers. The following few months he was engaged in freighting, having taken a load of Govern- ment goods from Denver to Fort Garland. He then proceeded to Fort Lyon and again furnished hay for the Government. After conchiding his contract, he went to Cherry Creek, near Denver, and remained until Feb- ruary, when he returned to the Arkansas Val- ley and commenced herding cattle for Will- iam Innis. He moved the stock to Mace's Hole, remaining with them imtil November. During the summer he built the first cabin ever constructed in that place. He did not winter there, but drove his herd down the Arkansas Valley to a point east of Pueblo, where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he returned to Mace's Hole, in the em- ploy of N. W. Cresswell. In the following July, he. drove the herd to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and sold them to the Government to feed the Navajoe Indians. From this point Mr. G. walked to Denver, where he took pas- sage aboard a mule train for his old home in Missouri, from which he had been absent six years. In the spring of 1866, he bought seventy head of one and two year old cattle and brought them to the Arkansas Valley, west of Pueblo. He was also employed by C. D. Peck in herding cattle on a little creek that empties into the Arkansas River, which is known as Tom's Creek, having been named for one of Mr. Galbreath's given names. In February of 1868, he sold his cattle to L. Haden and returned to Missouri, remaining until May. Again he found his way to Colo- rado. On the road he purchased 124 head of "V >^Z^1 ' ^ BENT COUNTY. 883 cattle of S. M. Hays, of Council Grove, Kan. The herd was^in the Arkansas Valley, where he kept them until the spring of 1869, when he traded them to Tom Patterson, a well known Texas drover, for a herd of steers, and then went to Missouri. In June, 1869, Mr. G. was married to Miss Virginia Switzer. He now resides in Catlin, Bent Co., Colo., engaged in stock-raising. HENRY S. OILMAN. Immediately after the close of the war in 1865, Mr. Gilman came to Colorado, arriving in Denver in September of the same year. Here he found employment for two years, working most of the time for J. J. Reithman and Mr. Charpiot. From Denver he went to Pueblo, where he remained until May 7, 1869. Leaving the latter place he took up his resi- dence in the old town of Las Animas. His family was the second one in the place. There they remained until September 1, 1877. He then moved his family to the Meadows, a tract of territory west of Granada, Bent County, where he had a ranch. Selling his property to Mr. John W. Prowers, he removed to his present location on the Arkansas Eiver, southeast of Granada, February 26, 1879. He has a homestead of a 160 acres. His principal crop is hay, though he cultivates a few acres, raising grain and vegetables. He was married, March 1, 1869, to Miss Nancy Williams, of Pueblo. They have three chil- dren — Fannie E., born January 9, 1870; Eli P., born June 14, 1872; John Arthur, bom February 9, 1874. Mr. Gilman is a native of Massachusetts, bom January 1, 1830, at Pra- mingham, where he lived until he was twenty- one years of age. He did not have the school advantages he would have liked, for he was set at work driving a freight wagon when only nine years old, from his native town into. Boston, and this he followed until he became of age. At this time he removed to Boston and commenced business for himself, opening a restaurant on the corner of Harvard and Washington streets, in which location he remained eight years. Having disposed of his business he went to New York City, and remained there until September, 1861, and then enlisted in the First Massachusetts Cav- alry, Company B. He was injured by falling from his horse at Hilton Head, S. C, in 1862. He was sent to Washington and from there to Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia. As soon as he was able, he was detailed to take charge of convalescents and deserters, and returned with them to Washington. He was engaged in this duty for eight months. He was discharged from the army September, 1864, having served three years. Returning to Boston, he remained there until he came West. 8. J. GRAHAM. Mr. Graham has resided in Bent County for many years, and has passed through experiences common to early settlers in a territory occupied by Indians. Mr. G. was born in Adair County, Ky., October, 1834. He attended school but very little. In 1 854, he went to Carroll County, Mo., as an overseer for a large farmer, where he remained four years. In 1858, he went to Salt Lake as wagon master for the gentleman he had been employed by in Missouri. He was seven months on the journey. After a short stay in Missouri he returned to Denver, arriving there in March, 1860. During the following summer and fall he prospected in South Park. He went to Central City for the winter. In the spring of 1861, he went to the Tarryall Mines in the edge of the Park. They were rich gulch mines ; here he remained until fall .and then went to Canon City. In the spring of 1862, he removed to Booneville, Pueblo Co., Colo., and put in a crop of corn and potatoes, but in July the river suddenly rose and washed away eveiything he had planted. In the fol- lowing September, Mr. Graham went to Spring Bottom, on the Arkansas River, and built a mail station for Sanderson & Co., and kept the same for ten years. August 13, 1864, the station was attacked by Indians. The inmates of the station consisted of Mr. Graham, a hired man, a female cook and two children. The cook's husband was away at the Indian Agency, which was in the process of construc- tion at Point of Rocks, but it was never com- pleted, as the Indians ran off the stock and stole everything they could find. At the time of the attack, the savages appeared on the night of the 12th. A few hours previous. IV li^ 864 BIOGBAPfflCAL : Mr. Graham had returned from Fort Lyon, being obliged to travel mostly by night in order to escape danger from the Indians. The attack was made early in the morning. Late in the evening before, Mr. Graham dis- covered one Lidian in the stock corral attempt- ing to run o£f the horses. Mr. G. drove him out and as he (Mr. Graham) jumped over the fence, he landed in the midst of a dozen In- dians who were waiting an opportunity to attack the station. As the Indian leaped the fence, Mr. G. jBred at him with his pistol, but he escaped unharmed. The whole band then fled, Mr. Graham discharging his pistol at them. During the remainder of the night, he stood guard in company with Mr. Monkers, his hired man. In the morning, Mr. G. went out to see if the Indians had departed. He had proceeded only 250 yards, when suddenly twenty mounted Indians appeared and gave him chase. He ran and succeeded in reach- ing the station in safety, but when within fifteen steps of the house he tm-ned and fired his pistol at them, wounding one, which had the effect of stopping the whole band. One time Mr. G. was telling this experience to a Government officer. The officer inquired how he escaped, when he was on foot and they mounted. Mr. G. replied that he had on a pair of "Government shoes." Soon after this, the savages again appeared, attempt- ing to surround the station, but were pre- vented. He kept them at bay for several hours. During the fight, the Indians killed four horses belonging to the stage company, and four mules belonging to Mr. G. Mr. Monkers killed one Indian. The savages then departed and did not appear again. The same day, the Indians went up the river, and, meeting a train of Government wagons, killed three men, took one woman prisoner, and ran off the stock. That night the woman committed suicide by hanging. This occurred at Antelope Springs, about fifteen miles from the river. The Indians left Mr. G. one young horse, this he took into the house, and after saddling him he sent his hired man to the fort to inform the commander what had taken place, while he (Mr. G.), took his cook and her two children in a boat down the river. Ten miles below the station, they met the husband and a few soldiers. Mr. G. returned with them to ^ the station. Dming the fight the Indians had killed sixteen head of cattle on their retreat. He took the remainder of his stock to Booneville, where he remained a short period. At this time, the Indians were causing a good deal of trouble in Southern Colorado, and there was a call for 100-day men. Mr. G. enlisted and was elected First Lieutenant of Company G of his regiment, and served his tima He had charge of a squad of men at the Mail Station. The main portion of the company was encamped east of Pueblo. At the time of the Sand Creek fight, the command was ordered there, and Mr. G. joined them on their way. He did not participate in the engagement, as he was placed in charge of twenty men to watch prisoners at the mouth of Purgatoire Creek. When the regiment returned, he joined them and proceeded to Denver, where he was mus- tered out of service. Most of the time from 1865 to 1868, Mr. Graham was at the Mail Station. In 1860, he removed to his present location on the south side of the Arkansas Kiver, near Catlin, where he is engaged in ranching and stock-raising. He has a small bunch of good graded animals, and a few head of pure blooded cattle. He is improv- ing his stock by introducing pure blood. Mr. Graham is a firm believer in alfalfa, and will engage in the future in raising it, as well as all kinds of fruit, having taken out a ditch for that piurpose. In 1869, he was married to Mrs. Hattie Tedling, and they have one child. He has 700 acres of land, 300 of which is bottom and timbered land. Mr. ' Graham has the first wagon ever built in Pueblo, which, in 1881, was in good repair. RICHARD GRUBB. Mr. Grubb was bom in County Tipperary, Ireland, July 11, 1837. At the age of fifteen, he went to Australia, and, in company with a relative, he was handling cattle for ten years, when he branched out into business for himself, buying and selling cattle on commis- sion, which occupation he followed for eight years before returning to his native country. He left Australia in 1871, and spent three years traveling in Europe. In the spring of ihL^ BENl^ COUNTY. 865 1874, he left Ireland with the intention of re- turning to Australia via San Francisco. In Denver he met parties who induced him to visit Southern Colorado and New Mexico. Here he found a section of country that pleased him, and would have made it his per- manent home had the Indians left him unmo- lested. He resided in Denver until the fall of 1876, when he took a herd of 100 milch cows to Huerfano Park, on the south side of Wet Mountain Valley, but was obliged to re- move on account of the high altitude, it being 8,100 feet. In 1879, he came to West Las Animas, where he has resided until the pres- ent time. Within a few years, cattle men west of the Missouri River have been much interested in the subject of spaying cows, and many extensive dealers are having large num- bers operated upon, learning that, when the operation is skillfully performed, the losses are but a small per cent, and the advantages gained are great. The opinion among cat- tle men is growing in favor of the treat- ment. By this means, they are enabled to turn to beef much earlier in the season than they otherwise would be, many of their cows, and also to weed out their inferior stock. The art of spaying Mr. Grrubb learned in 1855, but did not follow it as a profession until 1874, when he was the .first gentleman west of the Missouri River who successfully operated on large herds. The late Mr. Iliff, of Denver, during the year 1874, after a con- sultation with Mr. Grubb, engaged him to spay a large number for him. Since then, he has made it a profession, operating in var- ious portions of Colorado and New Mexico with eminent success. URIEL HIGBEE. Mr. Higbee was one who early ventured to settle in the West. His .first trip was in the spring of 1850. He came with three Roube- doux brothers. Mr. Higbee was bom October 12, 1834, in Mansfield, Ohio. He went to Berrien County, Mich., when quite young. Soon afterward, his parents moved to Platte County, Mo. His father died when he was thirteen years of age. He attended school only a short time. St. Joseph, Mo., was the place he started from to come West, and Scott's Bluff, on the North I'latte River, was where he landed. This was a trading-point. Prom there he went out for hundreds of miles around, trading with the Indians. Buffalo robes and tongues, and elk-skins, horses and mules were the articles he dealt in principally. In the spring of 1857, he took them to St. Jo- seph, Mo. From 1851 till 1853, he was em- ployed by Campbell, Choteau & Co. in the same business. For the following two years, Mr. Higbee was engaged in running a train of freight wagons from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to Fort Laramie and Fort Bridger. He made two trips a year. Mr. Higbee was present during the big Indian treaty of 1852. A long train of wagons loaded with Government goods, in charge of Fitzpatrick, came to Horse Creek and distributed them to the var- ious tribes. There were 30,000 Indians pres- ent, composed of Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapa- hoes. Crows, Blackfeet, Snakes and Plat Heads. One evening, the Indians killed 250 oxen belonging to the train. July 2, 1855, Mr. Higbee stood guard, with 300 others, around Fort Leavenworth. The morning of the 3d, he started, with a train, of twenty-six wagons, for Albuquerque, N. M., for Majors, Russell & Co. From this point, he went to Tucson with thirty-six wagons. The train was escorted by Maj. Newell, with 200 dra- goons. The goods belonged to the Government. After he delivered them, he sold out his teams and returned to Albuquerque. On his way to the latter place, he had a fight with Indians, and came near starving. In November of "the same year, he was employed by the Govern- ment in runni.'ig trains with supplies to differ- ent posts. la the spring of 1856, Mr. Hig- bee went to Salt Lake City, at the time of the Mormon oatbreak. Col. Lovering command- ing, joining Gen. Johnson at Port Bridger. The command was 9,000 strong. The Mor- mons had abandoned the city and strongholds, and there was no fighting. Only about thirty persons could be found. All had gone to Provost City. Mr. Higbee went out to Salt Lake, passing over the ground where Denver now stands, but returned over the Gunnison trail, with Le Daux as guide, to Port Union, N. M., in the fall of 1858. In the winter of 1858-59, there was serious trouble in New BIOGRAPHICAL: tiu. Mexico, and all were ordered out of Fort Union to Fort Burquin. About this time, he left Government employ, and was engaged with citizens in filling Government contracts. In the spring of 1860, Fort Burquin was abandoned He then settled, with three others, on Purgatoire Creek, about where Trin- idad now is situated, where he remained until 1866, ranching and cattle-raising. He then removed to Nine Mile Bottom, where he has remained until the present. Higbee Post Office and the precinct of Higbee were named for hirn. Since residing in Nine Mile Bottom, Mr. Higbee has held the offices of Sheriff and Constable for ten years. In com- mon with others who lived there, he suffered from Indian and grasshopper incursions. THOMAS J. HICKMAN. Thomas J. Hickman came to Bent County, Colo., in 1873. He was born in Randolph County, Mo., in May, 1832, where he lived the first eighteen years of his life. Then he moved with his father to Macon County. He received his education from the ungraded common schools prevalent in that part of that country. After locating in Macon County, he divided his time between the farm and store which his father ovmed until 1856. In 1857, having spent a few months in Adair County, he went to Salt Lake, where he resided but a short time. After a trip back to Macon County, he again made a journey across the plains, and became one of Denver's " fifty- niners." But even Denver had not sufficient attractions to hold him, and Missouri became once more his stamping-ground. After serv- ing in the Confederate army from 1861 to 1864, he went to Plattsmouth, Neb., but re- mained there only a year. Atchison, Kan., claimed him for a citizen from 1865 to 1869, when he commenced selling goods for himself in Platte City, Mo., remaining there until 1878. Leaving Platte City, he came imme- diately to Las Aniraas, and received the ap- pointment of Sheriff for Bent County from the County Commissioners, to fill an unexpired term of Sheriff Spiers, who had resigned. Having given entire satisfaction in the per- formance of his official duties, he has since been twice elected to the office at general elections. March 11, 1881, he received a severe injury in a railroad accident on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 road, which will necessitate his resigning the office of Sheriff. Mr. Hickman enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. HIRAM S. HOLLY. At the eastern portion of Bent County, ex- tending to the Kansas line, is situated the home ranch of H. S. Holly & Co. The loca- tion is admirably adapted to carry on the ex- tensive operations in which they are engaged. Having a river frontage of thirty miles on the Arkansas, and the same on Sand Creek, it gives them an immense territory for grazing pur- poses and hay-fields. To obtain a correct idea of their haying operations, a few figures may be well employed. During the haying season, which commences between the 20th of June and the 1st of July, and continues for three months or more, they employ from ten to fourteen mowing machines. They cut 3,000 tons of hay from 2,500 acres of grass land. Four wagons are constantly employed in gathering the hay into stacks; one horse- rake for every two mowing machines; one or more "go-devils'' (a large rake holding a ton or more of hay), to assist in gathering the hay; a hay-loader, and a horse- fork for un- loading the wagons, and a hay-press for bail- ing the crop preparatory to market. From forty to sixty men are employed during this busy season, and from seven to thirteen men are engaged the year round. The company are also among the largest cattle-raisers and dealers in the State. In the summer of 1881, their herd, which had been gathered from their ranges, together with what they had under contract, numbered 15,000 head. In the fall, they ship 2,000 beeves. Their stock is a mixed one, but they are improving it by crossing with thoroughbred short-horn and the Hereford stock. To carry on this branch of their business, they have a complete set of cattle-pens, corrals and scales at the home ranch, where they make their shipments. Their object is to raise beef, and not thorough- bred cattle, though they are constantly in- creasing their stt>ck of thoroughbred bulls. Mr. Holly is manager of the enterprise, and i ""V ^ li:^ BENT COUNTY. 867 on whom depends the success or failure. He was bom in Stanford, Fairfield Co., Conn., July 13, 1843, where he attended school and worked on a farm until he was fifteen years of age. After one year's experience in the army, in the Twenty-eighth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, he was discharged, and went to New York City, where he remained six months. At the expiration of this time, he was em- ployed in the Quartermaster's Department in Tennessee for one year. After a short visit home, he came to Colorado. He left the cars at St. Joseph, Mo., then the terminus of rail- roads in the "West, and came by boat to Neb- raska City, and then with ox teams up the Platte River Valley. He found his first em- ployment in Colorado at North Empire, where he was engineer in a quartz-mill. For six months, he took charge of it for other parties, and then ran it for himself. During this time, he had men out prospecting. In 1868, he started for Arizona, with the intention of mining, but remained only a brief period, as the Indians were exceedingly troublesome. He then returned to Gilpin County, Colo. Again Mr. Holly found employment in a quartz-mill. He had charge of Whitcomb's mill before leasing the New Bedford, in Ne- vada Gulch. In company with a Mr. Potter, he erected a mill costing $11,000, at the head of the same gulch, which he ran until 1870, when he sold out to his partner. After dis- posing of this property, Mr. Holly went to Black Hawk and leased a fifty-five-stamp mill in company with a Mr. Wheeler, which he managed until the spring of 1871. He then abandoned , the mining and milling business and soxight other fields of employment. Un- able to find such a herd as he wanted in Colo rado, he made a visit to Texas, and bought a bunch of 1,800 head of mixed cattle, and drove them to his present location, arriving there October 5, 1871. Since then, Mr. Holly has been buying and selling, and shipping in im- proved heifers and thoroughbred bulls, until his herd is fast becoming a most satisfactory one. It requires 175 head of horses to run the business, but he raises only enough for his own "use. His improvements at the home ranch are of the most substantial order. His dwelling, horse-barn and spring-house are of stone. His hay-bam was erected in 1877, 125x36 feet, and will contain 400 tons of hay. He has forty miles of fence — cedar posts and wire. Mr. Holly was married, January 1, 1877, to Miss Sarah P. Jones, of Stamford, Conn., and they have two children living. NATHAN HUGHES. On the north side of the Arkansas River, two miles from La Junta, is situated the home ranch of Nathan Hughes. Here he has 943 acres, in one body, of as good land as there is in the Arkansas Valley. It is peculiarly adapted for sheep-raising, having the natural protection of high bluffs. Mr. Hughes has 640 acres under ditch, and sixty acres of fine grass land, and also 300 acres of timber. His stock consists of graded animals, but believes the Hereford stock is best adapted for the plains. Mr. Hughes was bom in Macon (3ounty, Mo., in 1841, where he lived sixteen years, working on a farm and attending school. A portion of the time from 1862 till 1865, he was freighting across the plains. Afterward, he lived nine years in Missouri, engaged in farming. He then tried his fortune on the Cimarron Creek in stock-raising, where he had 400 head of cattle. From the Cimarron he removed to San Luis Valley, engaged in stock-raising and in the grocery business. Here he remained two years. He was Under Sheriff in Conejos County. In 1878, Mr. Hughes came to his present home. He mar- ried, September 5, 1865, Miss Mary J. Har- rison, of La Fayette County, Mo. Their son, Thomas Hughes, was accidentally killed by being tlirown from a horse, May 31, 1881, eight miles north of West Las Animas. Though only twelve years and eight months old, he had worked on the range three years with cattle men, and understood herding thor- oughly. He would stand night guard, and perform the duties of old and experienced herdsmen. RAYMOND B. HOLLINGSWORTH. Mr. Hollingsworth was born in Henderson County, 111., in October, 1853. During his early life, he attended school and worked^n a farm. The handling of cattle was a prom- inent feature of the work. The raising and •FW' T^ [Hl 868 BIOGRAPHICAL : feeding and buying and selling stock was car- ried on extensively. At the age of fourteen, he removed with his parents to Tecumseh, Shawnee Co., four miles east of Topeka, Kan. . There he farmed until the spring of 1870, then removed with his parents to Lindsey, in Salmon Valley, in Ottawa County. There he clerked in a country store for three years. At this time, his health failed him, and he came to Colorado. He visited Denver and George- town. After a brief illness at the latter place, he returned home In August of 1874, he went to Salina, Saline Co., Kan , and clerked for Litowick & Wittmann in a dry goods store. He commenced as a boy, and in two years was chief clerk. Again his health failed him. He traveled 750 miles by wagon to Salt Lake City, where he spent a summer. In the fall of 1877, he went back to Salina and worked for the same firm until May 1, 1878. He then went to West Las Animas, Bent Co., Colo., and was employed as book-keeper for Jones & Weil for three years. Though not of a strong constitution, yet Mr. Hollingsworth has performed much hard work. For six years, he did not lose a day when able to be on duty. Mr. Hollingsworth went to La Junta about the 1st of April, 1881. On the 15th of the same month, he opened a store, stocked with groceries and men's furnishing goods. May 1, 1881, he was elected Coun- cilman at i the first municipal election i a La Junta. In July of the same year, he was ap- pointed Postmaster. He is doing business in the old Russell building; is the oldest in the town. JAMES C. JONES. The name of James C. Jones is familiar to the stock-raising men of Colorado and Texas, Mr. Jones having spent much of his life in the latter State. He was born in Cannon County, in Middle Tennessee, August 12, IS-tl,. where he Jived with his parents until he was ten years of age. He attended school in his native town, when it was in session, and his physical condition would allow; for, when a boy, Mr. Jones had the misfortune not to appear entirely engrossed in storing up useful knowledge, and the schoolmaster spared not the rod. His father's name was Erasmus Jones, born in Virginia in 1799. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Kiddie Bond, a native of North Carolina, and born in 1805. From this union thirteen chil- dren were born, and the subject of this sketch was the fifth son and eleventh child. While Mr. Erasmus Jones resided iu Tennessee, his house was always a hospitable one, and many a poorly paid minister was filled to repletion at his table, while frequently the meatless backbone of the chicken found its way tn James' plate. In 1851, his parents moved to Red River County, Texas. He resided there six years, attending school and working on a farm, preparing himself for the hard but suc- cessful life he has since followed. From Red River County his family moved to Park County, on the frontier of Texas. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he joined the Confederate army, serving under Gen. Tom Green until the close of the war. At this time, he was without a dollar, and none too many clothes. But the experience he had had in early life served him to a good advantage. He had become familiar with the stock-raising business. In company with three brothers, he commenced raising cattle on shares in Texas, where he remained until 1870, though, in 1869, they brought a portion of their herd, at this time numbering 4,200 head, into Nine Mile Bottom, on the Purgatoire Creek, where he has remained until the present time. With pains- taking care and watchfulness, together with purchases, he has increased his stock, until they now number 15,000 head or more. His ranches comprise 8,000 acres of land. In 1875, he came to West Las Animas, where a brother had opened a store in company with Mr Weil. In 1878, he traded a farm in Kansas for his brother's interest, and has since then continued a partner in the firm. In 1868, he married Miss Lizzie Ham, a daughter of B. L. Ham, a man well known throughout Texas, having taken an active part in the war with Mexico, under Col. Ford. Mr. Jones has four children — three boys and one girl — all living. For several years, it has been his aim to im- prove his stock Vjy crossing it with thorough- bred short-horn cattle. His original stock came from Texas. He has every prospect of being successful in his undertaking, and is very decided in his opinion that the short IKT ^ !k^ BENT COUNTY. 869 horn breed is the stock for this country. The experiments he carried on during the winter of 1880-81, in feeding different kinds of cattle, were highly satisfactory, convincing him that his opinion is correct. To accom- plish this end, he bought, in 1877, four thor- oughbred cows. In February, 1878, one of them dropped a bull Calf that weighed, when thirteen months old, nearly 1,200 pounds; when two years old, 1,650 pounds; and when three years of age, he tipped the scales at 2,000 pounds. This animal is a favorite with Mr. Jones, and justly so, for through him he is rapidly im- proving his stock, getting larger frames, for which there is a demand among Kansas cattle feeders. Mr. Jones is a hard-working man, and has been eminently prosperous in his en- terprises, and owes his success to the thorough apprenticeship he served before entering bus- iness for himself. JOHN H. JAY. Mr. Jay is a direct descendant of the Jay family of Revolutionary fame. He was born March 30, 1820, in Otsego County, N. Y. His grandfathers were in the Revolutionary war. His father's father was killed in the army. John Jay, a signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, and second Minister to England, was his grandfather's brother. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents in Otsego County most of the time until he was fourteen years of age, when they removed to Cattaraugus County, remaining three years. At this time, they settled in Erie County, Penn., where he lived until 1842. Before moving West to reside permanently, he took a trip through the then Western States; was in Chicago in 1834. Pronl this time until 1839, he was employed on merchant vessels on the lakes. Before leaving Erie County. Penn., in 1843, he learned blacksmithing. It was during this year that he removed to Michigan and *orked at his trade. Mr. Jay resided in the latter State nine years. A por- tion of this time, he cultivated a farm. In 1852, he removed to Ogle County, 111., where he was engaged in grading Eor the Illinois Central Railroad. Then he was employed in the hotel business until 1863, when he went to Denver, Colo. He crossed the plains with a wagon train of twelve horses and mules. There were three families in the company, and he made the distance from Omaha, Neb., to Denver, Colo., in sixteen days, and was complimented by the people of the latter- place as having the best looking outfit that had arrived after so long a journey. He es- tablished a restaurant on F street, what is now Fifteenth street, where he remained some time before removing to Latimer street. His home was in Denver until 1869, when he re- moved his family to Sheridan, Kan. It was in 1867, that he was employd by the Union Pacific Railroad in grading, and continued with the road until it united with the Central Pacific. After leaving this employment, he returned to Sheridan, Kan., where he bought a blacksmith- shop and worked at his trade. At this he continued until he removed to Kit Carson, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, in the spring of 1870. While a resident of Kit Car- son, Mr. Jay was Sheriff of the county two years, and County Judge until the county of Greenwood was discontinued. He came to West Las Animas in October, 1873, at the time a branch of the Kansas Pacific Railroad was completed to the place, where he has re- mined until the present time. In 1877, Mr. Jay was elected County Judge, which office he held three years. While residing in Den- ver, he was Chief of Police in 1864 and 1865. Since coming to West Las Animas, he has been employed at his trade and in stock-rais- ing. In both of these branches of industry he is now engaged. PEYTON SMITH JONES. Mr. Jones is one of the largest cattle-raisers in Bent Coimty. At present, his herd num- bers 15,000 head or more of cattle, and 250 head of horses. His ran'ches are on the Pur- gatoire Creek, and composed of many thou- sands of acres of land. He was born in Can- non County, Middle Tennessee, October 28, 1829, and resided in his native State until he was twenty- one years of age, attending school and working on a farm. In 1850, he removed with his parents to Red River County, Texas. In 1852, he was employed as an overseer on a large plantation, which occupation he fol- lowed for five years. At the expiration of this time, he bought a bunch of cattle and re- S 1^ ^'- ,l> 870 BIOGRAPHICAL: moved to Palo Pinto County, Texas, where he remained until the civil wax broke out, when he entered the Confederate service in 1862, and continued in it until the close of the war. In 1865, in company with three brothers, he engaged in stock-raising at Fort Chadboume, Texas, and remained there until 1869, when he removed to Bent County, camping, the first night, December 12, near where the Higbee Post Office now stands. Since coming to Colo- rado, Mr. Jones has at times been associated with his brothers in the cattle business. At present, he is alone. During his early settle- ment here, he farmed some, but discontinued it, believing his grain was costing as much as he could obtain for it, though he was raising twenty bushels of wheat to the acre. He has some fine blooded stock, and is endeavoring to improve his herds by th^ best of crosses. HENRY KELLOGG. Mr. Kellogg is a native of Troy, N. Y., bom in 1829; he resided in his native place thirteen years. His parents died when he was quite young. Not having naturally that robust constitution that has proved a fortune to so many young men, he was not able to carry out some of his early plans of life. He prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and entered the class of 1846, at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. His health failing him, he left college, and spent a year in studying medicine. In 1848, not gaining in physical strength as fast as he would like, he took passage iji a sailing vessel from New York City for China, where he was absent eleven months. In 1849, he sought the hills of Vermont in quest of health, and resided there six years on a farm. Then he was obliged to move again on accoxmt of pul- monary troubles, to another climate, and f oimd his way to Waukesha, Wis., living there on a farm six years. After leaving Wisconsin he went to Chicago and. resided two years; from there to Kansas City, Mo. Before entering upon his present occupation, Mr. Kellogg was a suc- cessful commercial traveler for seventeen years, , working for a New York City firm four years, and thirteen years for Keith Bros., of Chica- go. In 1879, he abandoned the road, and has since resided on his ranch, where he moved in 1875. His place is known as the "Old Kit Carson " ranch of 640 acres, on which is the largest Cottonwood tree in the State, its branches covering a space of ninety feet in diameter. Since Mr. Kellogg has turned his attention to stock-raising, it has been his aim to produce as fine a quality of cattle or sheep as possible, rather than for mere numbers. To this end, he is breeding a high grade of Merino sheep, seeking to obtain a choice flock, and not a large one; and for cattle, he strongly favors the Hereford stock, believing it to be the kind to raise in this portion of Colorado. In 1850, Mr. Kellegg was married to Miss Sarah C. May, of Westminster, Vt. He has three children — one girl and two boys. The oldest is engaged with his father in rais- ing cattle, and the youngest in raising sheep. ROBERT L. LAMBERT. Wheri a boy, Mr. Lambert did not have the advantages many boys have. His father died when he was two years old, and many a day has he spent in the field, dropping corn for 5 cents per day. He never attended school but one year. He was employed, when only a boy, by a liveryman, living thirty miles from Roch- ester, N. Y., and, although only ten years of age, he drove a pair of horses and a large family carriage to Rochester three times a week. He would return at night. After driv- ing out of the city a few nules, he would fasten the lines and go to sleep on the back seat of the carriage, and the horses would return the remainder of the distance, twenty- five miles, unguided and alone. This he did many times. After he left the livery stable, he went to Belvidere, Boone Co., 111., where he clerked four years in a hardware store, for his brother-in-law. In company with two young men, Mr. Lambert went to Pike's Peak in 1859. He stopped in Denver a week be- fore going ±0 the mountains. He went beyond Golden City to Ralston and camped. Mr. Lambert's two companions returned East, but he went to Russell's Gulch and bought a claim, and mined about four months. The following winter he spent in Golden City. While there, he got ou<^ timber for a store. Very early in the spring, he went back to the mines and took along a stock of goods, but was obliged to con- «^ ® ;^ liL^ BENT COUNTY. 873. struct a log store in which to put them. He also opened a meat market. He sold his claim for $1,100, and sent his partner to' California G-ulch. This was in. 1861. In May, Mr. Lambert went to the Gulch. After re- maining there during the summer, he sold out and went to Buckskin Gulch. For a time, he freighted from Denver to the Gulch, and at the same time bought and sold goods. In the winter of 1862, he went to Fort Lyon, and was agent for the mail company four years. Mr. Lambert kept the station and ran the stages to Fort Lamed, a distance of 240 miles. There was no station between the two forts. The stages would make a run of twenty or thirty miles and then camp. While at the fort, he had a train of wagons on the plain, in charge of Frank Smith. In 1866, Mr. Lambert went onto the Purgatoire Creek and worked a ranch. He is interested in the herds of H. B. Cartter, both cattle and sheep. He has been employed for many months by Jones & Weil, as clerk, at West Las Animas. In 1862, Mr. Lambert was married to Miss Julia S. Brinsmade, by the Chaplain at Fort Lyon. They have four children — ^three girls and one boy. JOHN M. McCLAIN. In the western portion of Bent County, Colo., on the banks of the Arkansas Eiver, is located the ranch of the McClain Brothers. The firm consists of John M., James W. and Robert O. McClain. The first two named are brothers. Robert O. is their cousin. These three young men were born in Carroll County, Mo., where they lived and worked on farms until they came West and became interested in stock-raising and ranching. James came to Colorado in 1872, and worked on cattle ranches for several years, as did also the other members of the firm, before buying land for themselves. John M. and Robert O. came in 1873. Neither one of the firm had but a few dollars at the time they arrived. They saved their earnings and bought cattle. James W. made the first purchase, buying ten head in 1873. In 1874, they added to their stock thirty more, making a bunch of forty head. They started out with the determination not to run in debt unless they knew where the money was coming from to cancel it. By hard work and close attention to business, they were enabled, July 17, 1878, to buy a hay ranch of 600 acres. In 1880, they bought an adjoining tract of land, making a ranch of 776 acres, all in one body and under fence. From year to year they have been buying cat- tle until, 1881, by purchases and natural in- crease, they have a herd of 900 head. Until 1880, they had their cattle on the Apishapa and Temps Creeks, when they moved them, in company with a herd belonging to the Beaty brothers, to the Cimarron and Bear Creeks, adjoining the Pan Handle district in the Indian nation. In the winter, their stock ranges on the Canadian River. Their object is to raise beef, and they are improving their stock, shipping bulls from Missouri that are three-fourths and seven-eighths pure blood, of the short-horn breed. In addition to their hay and cattle interests, they are raising horses, having a bunch of thirty head, besides their saddle stock. They raise all the horses they employ in their business, and are improv- ing their herd by introducing the stock of a high-graded stallion, brought from Missouri. They also believe that the Arkansas Valley is specially adapted to hog growing and poultry culture, which interests they will add to their already rapidly increasing business. John M. McClain was married to Miss Beaty January 12, 1881. JOHN L. MITCH. Mr. Mitch was born of Prussian parents, in America, in 1847. His boyhood was passed in Ohio and Kentucky. He attended common schools in Ohio, though none after he was thirteen years of age. He had one sister. Mr. Mitch was obliged to rely on his ovm re- sources early in life for a livelihood. At the commencerdent of the war, he was in Ken- tucky, and entered the army, and was asso- ciated with Gen. John T. Croxton. Though' too young to be a commissioned officer, in a general way he performed staff duties. Mr. Mitch was wounded in the battle of Chicka- mauga. He received three shots, and was left on the field three days. He was taken to a hospital, where he remained for a long time. But his friend. Gen. Croxton, did not forget T^ ±1^ 874 BIOGRA.PHICAL: him. He hunted up Mr. Mitch, and, after tlie General was wounded, they were together at his rooms. Mr. Mitch attributes his re- covery to the kindness of Gen. Croxton, in ad- dition to the attention and assistance of Col. Hunt. After the defeat of Gen. Croxton at Love joy , Station, south of Atlanta, Ga., Mr. Mitch was the only man of his staff who re- mained with him. A good portion of the troops were captured, and the command cut off. Three — the General, Mr. Mitch and an- other soldier — started out for a place of safety. The third party was killed the first night out. For fourteen days and nights, the remaining two of the party were alone, living on berries and melons. They finally reached a place of security unharmed. After the war closed, Mr. Mitch attended Kentucky University at Lex- ington nearly four years, and would have graduated had his health not failed him. Again he became indebted to his friend, Gen. Croxton, who was instrumental in procuring a situation in the revenue service in Kentucky. In this position he remained until after the fall elections of 1867, when he resigned, as he had different political' views from the incom- ing administration. In 1868, Mr. Mitch came to Kansas and Colorado, and remained a year before returning to his old home, on account of wounds he received during the war. After his retmm, he was associated with the Farm- ers' Home Journal, published at Lexington, subsequently at Louisville, and corresponded with a number of other journals. He was obliged to relinquish this labor on account of ill health, and seek out-door employment. Mr. Mitch then engaged in shipping stock, in company with W. E. Oldham, from different points in Kentucky and Ohio, to New York City and Boston. He was thus employed until 1877, when he came to El Paso County, Colo., and engaged in wool-growing for one year. In 1878, he removed to Bent County and continued the business, where he took up land, and, together with purchases, he now has two sets of ranches — one for summer and one for winter. In 1880, Mr. Mitch vis- ited his old home in.Kentucky, when his friend and former partner joined him in his Colorado enterprises. They now have about three thousand five hvmdred head of sheep. They lost many during the severe winter of 1880-81. Although they consider they have been reason- ably successful, they are making efforts to im- prove their stock to as high a degree as the country and climate will admit. Too fine stock will not bear the rough handling used in Colorado. Mr. Mitch is enthusiastic in his chosen work, and is deserving of success. BENJAMIN F. MIXON. ' Mr. Mixon was a native of Alabama. He was born in Marion County April 17, 1845. He was nineteen years of age when he went to the frontier of Texas. During his boy- hood, he attended school and worked on a farm. After he arrived in Texas, he became interested in a herd of cattle, and attended stock for various men uUtil 1870. Then, for one year, he drove cattle from Texas to Mex- ico. From this time until 1876, he was on a ranch in Mexico, attending stock. He then went to the San Juan country; engaged in freighting for four months. In 1864, Mr. Mixon joined the Southern army, and re- mained until the close of the war. During this time, he had a good deal of trouble with the Indians, and also, when crossing the plains, he had many narrow escapes. In 1876, he came to La Junta and worked for the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company in their transfer department. At this work he was employed for two years. At the expiration of this time, he returned to the Pan Handle dis- trict of Texas, and remained one year. In July, 1879, Mr. Mixon returned to La Junta, where he has remained until the present time. For a year, Mr. Mixon worked at bridge-build- ing and repairing for the Atchison, Topeka & Santd F4> Railroad. In the fall of 1879, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff for Bent County. When La Junta took on a city organ- ization, Mr. Mixon was elected Councilman for one year, and also member of the School Board, of which he is Secretary. In 1880, he was elected Constable. He was married, in July, 1879, to Miss Jennie Job. R. M. MOORE. Among those who sought an early resi- dence in Bent County, the name of R. M. Moore stands prominently. In June, 1860, ^ « ly dn^ BENT COUNTY. 875 he settled within twenty-five miles of Tort Wise, afterward changed to Fort Lyon. He was born in New Haven, Huron Co., Ohio, August 26, 1833, where he spent his early boyhood. He is a direct descendant from Sir John Moore, of Glasgow, Scotland, for a long term of years the only Moore family in that country. At the age of fourteen, he went to Fredricktown, Knox Co., Ohio, as a clerk in a country store. A portion of the time dur- ing the following few years he spent at school at Ashland and Norwalk, Ohio. In 1853, he went to Cleveland, where he entered and graduated the same year from the Cleveland Commercial College, one of the oldest com- mercial colleges in the United States. For two years after his graduation, he was em- ployed by the Great Western Indian Company at Niagara Falls, a company that dealt largely in Indian goods. Tiring of the life of a clerk, he sought other fields of occupation, which he found in the town of Hastings, Minn., twenty- five miles south of St. Paul.' It was at a time when land speculation ran high, and capital and capitalists were pouring in by the boat-loads from the East, eager to invest. Mr. Moore, with many others, was ready to assist them. By strict attention to btisiness during the three, years he remained in Hastings, he accumulated a small fortune for a young man at that time, having started with only a mea- ger capital. In 1858, he removed from Hast- ings, with the full determination of visiting Oregon, but circumstances changed his plans, and for the following two years was engaged in business in Kansas City, Mo. In April, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary E. Bent, the only daughter of Col. William Bent, for whom the county of Bent, Colorado, was named. Col. Van Horn, the editor of the Kansas City Journal of Cmnmerce, speaking of the wedding, says: " It was such a wedding as could only be given on the western frontier of Missouri, and at the mansion of Col. Bent." The following incident of the occasion is worthy of quotation: " For the fij-st time in years, the host was siurounded by a party of his old companions and sharers of the toils and dangers of mountain life, and, to bring back the reminiscences of early years, they met in solemn Indian council, and, passing around the pipe of friendship, renewed once more the common perils, and cemented again the bonds of long life friendships." Mrs. Moore spent most of her early life in the family of Col. Albert G. Boone, a descendant of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. The follow- ing two years were spent between what is now Bent County, Colo., and Jackson County, Mo., Mrs. Moore passing much of the time with her father, near Fort Lyon. During an early period of the war, their old home in Jackson County, Mo., was raided by the Sev- enth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, carrying away horses, mules and jewelry, though a portion of the live-stock was subsequently regained. In August, 1862, Mr. Moore and family, then consisting of wife and two children, the youngest only three weeks old, started in an ambulance across the country for Fort Lyon. There they riemained until the close of the war, when once more they made the trip to Missouri. But the fall of 1866 found him and his family again near their old Colorado home, where he has remained ever since. His wife died May 6, 1878, leaving him six chil- dren — four girls and two boys — who are now living. In 1870, Mr. Moore was appointed Probate Judge, by Gov. Evans, for Bent County, which office he held until the follow- ing general election, when he was elected to that position for two years. Immediately after the organization of the county, he was appointed County Superintendent of Schools, and was afterward elected for two terms, serv- ing in all about five years. At present, he holds no office. Judge Moore is one of the large stock-raisers of the county. He owns 6,000 acres of land, and occupies 2,200 acres more, the title of which is in dispute. He has 2,200 head of cattle, and to this industry he is adding sheep-raising, for which purposes he has admirable facilities. By the inhabit- ants of Bent County, Judge Moore is regarded as one of its solid and reliable men. JESSE NELSON. To fully understand the trials and hard- ships of frontier life, one must either experi- ence them, or listen to their narration by actual sufferers. Mr. Jesse Nelson, the com- panion and relative by marriage of Kit Car- K tn^ 876- BIOGRAPHICAL : son, has incidents to relate that would fill a volume were they all written. He was born in Boonesboro, Madison Co., Ky., in 1827, where he resided during his early boyhood. When ten yearsi of age, his parents moved to Mis- souri, and he remained there until he was twenty-one years old. It was at a tinie when passengers and freight were transported across the plains in wagons, and freighting was one of the chief occupations for young men. From Wayne City, on the Missouri River, to Santa F6, N. M., wagon trains were constantly pass- ing, and young Nelson was in charge of some of them, being employed by Mr. Aubrey, who distiijgulished himself as a fast rider. At one time, he rode from Santa F6, N. M., to Inde- pendence, Mo., in five days and sixteen hours. In 1848, in company with Kit Carson and a party of men, Mr. Nelson went from Santa P6 to Tort Leavenworth, Kan., with' the United States mail, it being packed on mules. The journey was through a territory occupied by Indians, who were exceedingly troublesome. But, through the manag'ement of Kit, who was in charge of the party, they arrived safely at the fort. When passing through the most dangerous portion of their jom-ney, they would build a fire at night, by which they would get their evening meal, then, leaving the fire burning briskly, the party would move on eight or ten miles and camp for the night. The journey occupied twenty-five days. In 1851, Mr. Nelson went to Rio, N. M., and was employed by Kit Carson in farming and rais- ing cattle on shares. Here he remained for some time, then returned for a visit to Mis- souri. A few months afterward, he again made a trip to Santa F6. On this journey, the train was attacked by Indians. In a party who were bringing relief were a Mr. White, wife and child. AH were killed except Mrs. White, though it was believed by some the child was not destroyed. But Kit, who after ward was on friendly terms with the Indians, could never learn just its fate. Mrs. White was finally killed by the savages when an at- tempt was made to rescue her. Maj. Grier, who was in command of the rescuing party, was struck by a ball in making a charge upon the Indians, and ordered a halt. Had he not done so, Mr. Nelson believes she would have been saved. The halt gave the Indians an opportunity to slay and scalp her, which they did. The train was on its way to Texas, loaded in part with Government stores. In 1851, Mr. Nelson married Miss Susan Carson, a niece of Kit Carson. In the spring of the same year, in company with a number of others, Mr. Nelson and Kit started from the Missouri River for New Mexico. Mrs. Nelson was one of the party, and also a daughter of Carson's. They were the only ladies in the company. The journey was up the Arkansas Valley, and, just above what is known as the old Santa F6 crossing, the train was suddenly attacked by Indians. At the onslaught, an exciting tableau was formed. Kit was set upon, in a helpless condition, by an Indian, notwithstanding he was well armed with a long-handled tomahawk. Mr. Nelson, who was armed with a musket, placed the muzzle of it at the side of the Indian, while another savage covered Mr. Nelson with a bow and ar- row. In this position they stood until calmer councils prevailed, and no one was injured. The Indians were Cheyennes; a part of whom were - friendly, and through them the party were saved. After reaching Rio, N. M., the point set out for, Mr. Nelson was employed in ranching and stock-raising from 1851 till 1862. Then he removed to the vicinity of Trinidad, where he remained till the fall of 1866, when he went to Nine Mile Bottom, on the Purgatoire Creek, where he now resides, farming and stock-raising. In 1868, the In- dians were on the war-path, and all the resi- dents in Nine Mile Bottom were obliged to leave their homes, which they did in Septem- ber, and moved to Boggsville. From there Mr. Nelson went as a scout into the Pan Han- dle district, and was absent four months. In the spring of 1869, he moved back to his pres- ent home. Since residing in Nine Mile Bot- tom, the grasshoppers have destroyed his crops several times. Mr. Nelson has four children living — three boys and one girl. While living on a ranch on the Cimarron, one evening, after Mrs. Nelson had milked the cows, the Indians ran off twelve head from the corral, which was only fifty yards from the house. Mrs. Nelson and a Mexican woman were the only persons at home. At the time V ' / '"'•1 • 3ie » r\ *y (A I u. O U z ia , when he went to Kansas, where he enlisted, June, 1861, in the Second Kansas Volunteer In- fantry, served five months, and was dis- charged, but re-enlisted, December, 1861, in the Third Kansas Volunteers, which was com- posed of cavalry and infantry, but was subse- quently transferred to the Fifth Kansas Vol- unteer Cavalry. Diu-ing his service, he was wounded four times. At one time, he was wounded and left on the battle-field, near Mount Vernon, Ark. He also received a wound at the time Gen. Lyon was killed at Wilson Creek. For ten months, he was a prisoner, having been captured at Mark's Mill, Ark. He was discharged in April, 1865. On accoimt of being captured, he lost his de- scriptive list, and was consequently detained at Leavenworth for some time before receiving- a duplicate from Washington. After leaving the army, he went to Linn County, Kan., and worked at carpentering. He was married. May 13, 1866, to Miss Sarah Summers. In the spring of 1873, he came to Colorado. His first stop was on the divide, during the sum- mer. In the fall, he went to Ked Creek and hauled ties to the river. In the spring of 1874, Mr. Spane moved to Eiche'srancfh and farmed two years. In February, 1876, he moved to Pueblo and commenced working for the rail- road. In April, 1877, he went to La Junta, in charge of a section; subsequently, was em- ployed at the station, in the transfer, and also in the car and seal record, departments. AVERY TURNER. Mr. Turner has spent much of his life on railroads. He has served in various capaci- ties, as civil engineer, conductor and Train Master. Mr. Turner was born in Quincy. Ill, March 8, 1851, where he resided until he was sixteen years of age. He attended, for three years, the Scientific Department of Cornell University, at Ithaca, N. Y. From 1870 to 1874, he followed his profession as civil engineer for difierent railroads in Mis- souri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois. In 1874, he entered the service of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F6 Railroad and stationed at La Junta as Train Alaster. May 1, 1881, Mi-. Turner was elected City Treasurer of La Junta, at the municipal election. His parents came from New England, and were pioneers in the West. JACOB WEIL. Jacob Weil is a native of France, born in the town of Soultz-sous-Forets in 1842, where he resided until the fall of 1859, when he landed in the city of New York the day Abra- ham Lincoln was first elected President. He entered mercantile life young, commencing as a clerk in his native town. After arriving in America, in order that he might acquire the English language as rapidly as possible, he spent a few months selling goods about the country, making his headquarters at Wheel- ing, W. Va., where he resided six years, en- gaged in business. Having disposed of his interests in the latter place, he removed to Ohio, where he continued in the mercantile -.^ ^t ik^ BENT COUNTY. trade for two years. Finding his healtli rapidly failing, lie sold out his business and went to Kansas and bought a ranch and a herd of cattle. There h.6 remained for several years, but did not increase his property, hav- ing lost heavily in the wiilter of 1871, which was a severe one for all cattle men throughout Kansas. He left the State with the full de- termination of-visiting Arizona. But in 1875, West Las Animas was having a boom. Busi- ness was good, with a large number of in- habitants, and two railroads running to the town. The place appeared to offer extraor- dinary inducements for Mr. Weil to locate, and he cast his lot in that place, where, for six years, he has been a member of the firm of Jones & Weil, who are conducting a thriving mercantile business. Mr. Weil enjoys a large acquaintance in the county of Bent, by whom he is held in high esteem as an honest and upright merchant He was married, in Kan- sas, in August, 1874, to Miss Amanda Divel- bess, and has two children, who are both liv- ing. He takes an active interest in stock-rais- ing, though not largely engaged in it at pres- ent. GILBERT M. WOODWORTH. Mr. Woodworth is a prominent sheep-raiser in Bent County. He came to Colorado in 1873, to the old town of Las Animas. In the spring of 1874, he engaged in the livery bus- iness at West Las Animas, in which he con- tinued until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and bought a herd of sheep. Mr. Woodworth is improving his herd with the best stock. He has found, from experience, that sheep do not do well when carried beyond a certain de- gree of fineness. Mr. Woodworth has four ranches in different parts of Bent County. Li 1876, he was on the Republican ticket for State Senator. He has been Chairman of the Republican Committee since there has been a party organization in Bent Coimty. He ex- pects to remain in the Arkansas Valley. Mr. , Woodworth was born in Lycoming Coumly, Penn., November 5, 1840. His paifents re- moved to Wayne County in 1842. There he lived eleven years. For four years afterward, he resided in Virginia, and then removed t-o Kansas. During his boyhood, he attended school and worked on a farm. In August, 1860, he went to Denver from Atchison and Leavenworth, with a train of freight wagons. . From the latter place, he made five trips to Old Fort Lyon. Mr. Woodworth served three years in the war. He enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, serving his time west of the Mississippi River; was stationed a portion of the time at Helena, Ark. He was in thirteen general engagements and many skirmishes. During the three years, he was on duty all the time, he was not sick, nor did he have a furlough. He was detailed to carry important dispatches from Springfield, Mo., to RoUa. The route was through the enemy's country, and he was obliged to frequently , ride out of the road in order to escape detec- tion, He rode the distance, 110 miles, in twenty-four hours. He was discharged from the service at Pine Bluff, fifty miles below Little Rock, Ark. D ^