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REFERENCE
AMERICANA :iOI_L.ECTION
THE WORKS
OF
HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT
THE WORKS
HUBERT HOWE BA^'CROFT
VOLUME XXV
HISTORY OF NEVADA. COLORADO, AXD WYOMING
15i0-1888
SAX FRAXCISCO
THE HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1890
Allen County Pit::lic Libfify
WO Webster Street
PO Box 2270
Fort Wayne. IN AbbOl-Znff
Entered according to Act of Congrosa In the Tear 1889, by
HUBERT H. BANCROFT,
In the Uilice of the Librarian of Congress, ut Washington.
AU JHy/Us Jiteerved.
*
^\
.\^
^ PREFACE.
In this volume I have grouped together the history
of what are commonly termed the silver and centen-
nial states, including also the partially intervening-
territory of Wyoming, which, with Utah and south-
ern Idaho, whose annals are related elsewhere, form
the central division of our Pacific coast domain, extend-
ing eastward from California to the limits of the field
occupied by this series. Here is a region full of natu-
ral wonders, with a climate and configuration, a moun-
tain, lake, and river system, a fauna and flora, a
geology and mineralogy, all of them peculiar and
distinct. 12.167C9
As the discovery of gold peopled the state of Cali-
fornia, so did that of the Comstock mines draw popu-
lation to Nevada. Virginia City and a number of
smaller towns in this vicinity sprang up almost in a
night. Year by year the output of the great lode
increased, eclipsing even the glories of Potosi, and so
reducing the value of silver that men began to say it
would soon be ranked among the base metals. After
the advent of the railroad the heaviest machinery in
the world was here erected, and with the develop-
ment of two immense bonanzas, the total yield swelled
into the hundreds of millions. Elsewhere in Nevada,
especially in the Pioche aud Eureka districts, rich
mineral deposits have been unearthed, but none of
vi PREFACE.
tliem api)roachin^ the marvellous treasures of Corn-
stock.
Next to lier niininj^ interests comes stock-raising,
flocks and herds thriving on the nutritious bunch-grass
common to the entire region between the Sierra Ne-
vada and tlic Rocky Mountains, Though witli an
average rainfall of little more than five inches a year,
in places the soil is fertile, and the climate favorable
to the production of cereals and fruits, a yield of 30
or 40 bushels to the acre of wheat or barley being
not unusual. In 18G0 there were less than 100 farms
in the entire territory; in 1889 there were over 2,000,
with about 10,000,000 acres classed as irrigable land.
Since her admission to statehood, the p(jlitical an-
nals of Nevada are such as would do honor to an older
and more conservative community. Especially is she
to be commended for her liberality in the support of
public institutions. Her financial condition, also, is of
the soundest, with a revenue largely in excess of ex-
penditure, a surplus in the treasury amounting, at
the close of 1888, to about $1,250,000, and a school
fund of equal amount invested in state and national
bonds.
In the same year that witnessed the discovery of
the Comstock lode occurred the great migration to
Pike peak, when, in the summer of 1859, an army
:»f 150,000 men traversed the plains between the
Missouri and the base of the Rocky Mountains. Of
these at least one third turned back, discouraged by
evil reports, and of those who arrived on the ground
probably less than 20,000 remained as permanent set-
tlers. ]^ut here was the nucleus of a population, and
that of the best material for empire-building — men
PREFACE. vii
resolute of will, inured to hardship, and with all the
energy and adaptability of the typical pioneer. As-
suredly there was no lack of resources in this great
and goodly region, with its magnificent soil and cli-
mate, its majestic canon and. river systems, its series
of natural parks, its gardens of the gods, its virgin
forests, and its untold mineral wealth.
Much attention has been given to irrigation, several
thousand miles of canal, with branches of much greater
length distributing their waters over the thirsty earth.
And yet not ten per cent of all the irrigable land in Col-
orado is under cultivation. Within recent years stock-
raising has attained to the second rank among her
industries, and is probably destined erelong to surpass
even minino' in aggregate value. In manufactures a
beginning has been made, and in this direction also the
outlook is of the brightest. The public institutions
of the centennial state, and especially her public
schools, are second to none, and in this respect the
young commonwealth is worthy of all commendation.
No less remarkable is the character of her legislation
and her public men, the former never being disgraced
by the misappropriation of the people's funds or the
latter by deeds of violence.
In Wj^oming, with the awe-inspiring grandeur of
her scenery, with her rare geologic formations, her
mountain peaks, among the highest on the continent,
her magnificent plateaux and rolling plains, her gey-
sers and volcanoes, and her water-shed, dividing the
streams that flow toward the Atlantic and Pacific, we
have a veritable wonderland. Here, as elsewhere, the
trapper w^as followed by the gold-hunter, and the lat-
ter by the farmer and stock-raiser, causing this region
viif PREFACE.
to bloom forth into civilization like a tiowcr in the
wilderness. Almost before the world was aware of
its existence, tliere was established here a flourishing
commonwealth — full-tledged as sprang Minerva from
the cranium of Jove. With resources unlimited,
though as yet almost untouched, a great future is
assured for this territory, soon to be admitted among
the sisterhood of states.
In preparing the material for this volume, I have
consulted, in addition to all the printed books, period-
icals, and public documents bearing on the subject-
matter, a large number of valuable manuscripts
i'urnished by the actors in tlie scenes which they
describe — men representing all classes of people,
from the pioneers to those who now control the
affairs of state or the channels of trade and industry.
CONTEXTS OF THIS TOLr:\IE.
HISTOEY OF XEYADA.
CHAPTER I.
THE GREAT BASIN. p^^^
Plain of Evaporation, or Elevated Sink— Its Situation— Prominent Char-
acteristics— -The Xame Great Basin Inappropriate — A Group of
Basins — Wonders of the Region — A Trapper's Story — Caves — Cli-
mate— Atmosphere — Aridity — Sand — Storms and Cloud-bursts — The
Mirage — Soil, Configuaration, and Scenery — Rain-fall and Tempera-
ture— Change of Seasons — Altitude and Geologic Formation — Moun-
tain System — Lakes and Sinks — Rivers — Springs — Deserts — Plants
and Animals — Birds and Fishes — Minerals and Metals — Soil and
Agriculture — Nomenclature I
CHAPTER IT.
EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
1540-183.3.
Near Approach of Coronado's Expedition, and Especially of Pedro de
Tobar — Party of Spaniards under Anza — Wanderings of Father
Francisco Garces — Peter Font's Journal and Map — Mythical Streams
—Other Ancient Maps — Approach of Dominguez and Escalante to
Nevada — Peter Skeeu Ogden for the Hudson's Bay Company — Dis-
covery of Mary or Ogden River — Advent of Free Trajjpers — Henry,
Ashley, Bridger, and Green — Expedition to California of Jedediah
S. Smith — Nevada Traversed from West to East — Influx of Trappers
■ from the North — The Wolfskill Expedition — Parties under Nidever,
Frapp, and Wyatt — Encounter with the Savages — Joseph Walker's
Visit to California and Return — Ill-treatment of Indians — Meek's
Statement — Something of Carson and Beckwourth , 26
CHAPTER III.
PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
183-i-1846.
Trapping Becomes General — Opening of the EmigratioQ Epoch — The Road
to California — Progress of the Bartleson Company through Nevada —
.^dwell, Henshaw, and Nye — Belden, Rickman, Chiles, and Weber
(ix)
COXTKN'TS.
PAUB
— What they Soverally Sai.l ..f It -Sianli for Ogden River— Tljey
AImikIoii ilifir Wag«)iw - Fru-iuUy IntcrcouriHj with the Slioshunes —
Varifil Adv-oiituri-it— I>iiMcniiiiiu — Search for a I'aiw- Over the Sierra
— Haatings ami hin Itook — C'hilea over a New Kouto — Walker (iuidcs
a Tarty into California over hi« lU'turn Route of I S;M— First Wagons
to Traverse the Kntiru Country — Fn-niont'a Kxi>«<lition8— Klinha
Stevens or the Muq)hy Company — Snyder, Swasey, Blackburn, and
Tod<l Coniitany — Suhlotte from St Louis — Walker, Carson, Tall>ot,
and Keru— Expedition of Scott and the Applegates from Oregon. . . 46
CHAPTER IV.
8rm.KMKST.
1847-1860.
Ceiwion from Mexico — Ailvent of the Mormons — Colonization — Mormon
Station — Tratlic witli Kmigrants — IntercourHC with California — Gov-
ernment A.Hsunied — L;iiid Claims M;ide and Recorded— Cattle Trade,
Farmint;. and Building— First .Settlers— Petition for Annexation to
California -Movements toward a Territorial Government — Conflicts
■with the Latter-day Saints— Political and Judicial 65
chapt?:r v.
THK C-OM.STOfK I.OHK.
1849 1800.
Configuration — Placer Gold — Early Mining in Gold Cafton— Silver Found
l>y the Grosch Brothers — I>eath of the Discoverers — Comstock, Old
Virginia, and Associates — Johntown and Gold Hill Claims and Loca-
tions— ^Ophir, Silver City, or Virginia Town -Discoveries Elsewhere
—Walsh and Woodworth — Testing and Separating— lntro<luction of
Mills — Processes — Description of the Califo^ni!^ a Representative
Mill 92
CHAPTKli VI.
KfltTIIKIt IiKVKLOI'MENTS ON TlIK COM.STOfK.
1860-1888.
Siiocnlation and Litigation— Fight between the Ophir and Burning Moe-
tow— Violent Fluctuations of Supposed Values— Mining Laws— State
of Society — Wild Extravagance San Francisco Stoek-boanl— For-
tunes Made and Lost — Miner's Life — Association and Obligatitms —
Yields and Dividends — The Ik)nai /ji Firm, Mackay, Fair, FlomI, and
O'Brien — Manipulations— The Sutro Tunnel — (»oology of the Com-
stock Lode 121
CONTENTS. xi
CHAPTER VII.
TERRITORIAL ORGASIZATIOX.
1859-18G4.
The Name Nevada — Area and Limits — The Question of Boundary —
Commissions and Surveys-^Difl&culties with Calif ornia^Territorial
Officers — Governor Nye — First Legislature — Code of Laws and
Course of Legislation — County Organizations and Officers — Capital
— Judicial Districts and Judiciary — State of Society — Educational
— Newspaper Press — Corruption of Lawyers and Judges 150
CHAPTER VIII.
STATE GOVERXMEST.
1864-1881.
Legislation — Movements toward State Organization— The Union Party —
Union Sentiments- — Military Companies — Governor Blasdel — First
State Legislature — Finances — Taxation — Struggles for Senatorships
— Money All-powerful — Governor Bradley — Governor Kinkead —
Politics of the Period — Monopoly and Political Corruption — Silver
in Congress — Public Institutions 176
CHAPTER IX.
IXDIAX WARS.
1849-1882.
California Emigrants of 1849 — Subsequent Deeds of Violence — Winne-
mucca and the Pah Utes — Outbreak of 1860 — Attitude of Young
Winnemucca — The Shoshones — Attack on Williams' Station — Or-
ganization of Forces — Battle of Pyramid Lake — Death of Ormsby —
Movements of Troops — Further Fighting — Continued Troubles —
The Gosh Ute War — Treaties and Reservations 205
CHAPTER X.
MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
1849-1S86.
Questionable Value of Mines — Transportation— Roads and Railroads —
Mail Routes and Telegraphs — Stages — Pony Express — Steamboats —
Fisheries — Metals — Book Reviews — Agriculture — Climate — Whirl-
winds and Earthquakes — Flora and Fauna — Live-stock — Cattle
Raising— Lands and Surveys— Counties of Nevada — Summary of
Resources — Society — Educational, Religious, and Benevolent Insti-
tutions— Newspapers — Bibliography .... 224
xii CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
PROaRE.S.S OF EVENTS.
1881-1888. ^^„
Finances — Reduction of Expenses— Public Buildings — State Prison War
—State University— Public Charities- Kducational AflFairs— Pro-
posed Annexation of Southern Idaho— Mining— Railroads— Politics. 310
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Mountain System — Primeval Waters — Upheaval, Evaporation, and Gla-
cial Action — Dry Rivers — Flora ami Fauna — Primitive Man — Caflons
ami River Systems — Series of Parks — Climate — Soil— Forests — Ceo-
logical Formations — Minerals and Metals — f!olil and Silver — Coal
and Iron— Precious Stones — Land and Water Elevations 323
CHAPTER II.
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION
1541-1853.
What Coronado Failed to do — Escalante's Expedition — Spanish and
French Occupation— Pike's and Long's Expeditions — Early (iold
Discoveries — Adventures of the Williams Party — Santa Fe Trail —
Trappers and Traders — Forts — The Bents, Vasquez, St Vraiii, and
Otiiers— El Pueblo— La Junta — Immigration — Fremont's Efforts —
The Mormons at Pueblo — Military Expeditions — Government Sur-
veys by Gunnbon, Hayden, Wheeler, and King 338
CHAPTER III.
GOLD DISC<)VERIE.S.
1853-1859.
Mythological Mines— Men from Georgia— The Cherokees- Hicks and
Russell — The Lawrence Party — Other Companies— Auraria versus
Denver— The Town Builders— Early Merchants ami Manufacturers
— First Guide Books and Journals — Gold Discoveries on Boulder
Creek and Clear Creek — Russell and Gregory — Central City and
Fair Play— Pioneer Biography 363
CHAPTER IV.
PR0GRE.SS OF SETTLE.MENT.
1859-1860.
The Arkansas Valley— Road into South Pari -El Paso Claim Club-
Colorado City Company — Irrigation— The Fighting Farmers of Fon-
CONTENTS. xiii
PAGE
taine City — Canon City — Clear Creek — Pueblo — California Gulch —
Pioneers in the Several Localities — Ore City- — Leadville — Frj-ing
Pan Gulch — Road-making — Mining Developments — Freighting —
Mail Facilities — Pony Express — Stage Companies 387
CHAPTER V.
ORGANIZATION OF GOVERSMEKT.
1858-1861.
Bleeding Kansas — Representative from Arapahoe County — Provisional
Government — Territory or State of Jefferson — Elections and Conven-
tions— Governor Steele — Divers Governments — Popular Tribunals
— The Turkey War — Squatters — The Name Colorado — Territorial
Organization — Gilpin, Governor — Boundaries — Condition of the
Country — Seal — Mint — Legislative Proceedings— Gilpin's Military
Operations — The Colorado Regiments in the Civil War 401
CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
1861-1886.
Gilpin's Heroic Successes — Superseded by John Evans — Weld and Elbert
— Legislative Action — Coinage — Bennett — Failure to Establish State
Government— Further Efforts and Final Success — Current Terri-
torial Affairs — Organic Law — Governor Cummings — Bradford — Chil-
cott — Hunt, McCook, and Elbert — Governor Routt — Chaffee— Postal
Routes — Patterson, Boone, and Bromwell — The Judiciary — Politics
under State Organization — Teller — Population and Lands — Govern-
ors Pitkin, Grant, and Eaton— Senators Hill and Bowen 425
CHAPTER VII.
INDIAN WARS.
1860-1880.
Tribes and Treaties — Aboriginal Brigandage — Unrecorded Outrages of
the White Men — Appropriations — White Force in the Field — The
Colorado Regiments — Depredations on the Overland Mail Company
— Communication Cut off — The Sand Creek Massacre — Chivington
Censured by Congress, but Thauked by the People of Colorado — •
Forts and Reservations — West of the Mountains Wide-spread Hos-
tilities and Battles , 455
CHAPTER VIII.
MATERIAL PROGRESS,
1859-1875.
Placer and Quartz Mining — Refactory Ores — Processes — Smelting —
Swindling Corporations — The Flood — Indian Hostilities — Agricul-
xiT CONTENTS.
PACK
ture — Prwlucta and Prices — Discovery of Silver — Localities and
Lodes — '1 liu San Juan Country — Adventures of Jolin Haker's Party
— (Jreat Sutlerin^js— Ar<-liitectural liiMuains of Primitive Peoples —
Pile's Kxi>cditioii — Treaty Violations — Opening of Koads — Silver
Lodes — San Miguel Gold District — Ouray 482
CIIAl'TKK IX.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
1875-1886.
California Oulcii Redivivus — Hills of Silver— The Carbonate Mines— Men
of the Period— Organization of Leatlville — Monetary and Political
Institutions — Output of the Mines — Vigilance Committees — Miners'
Strike— Martial Law Proclaimed — Disaflfccted Utes — The Gunnison
Country — Scientific and Mining Expeditions — Tlie (iunnison Colony
— Coal — Towns Established— Bibliography — Jlewspapers 504
CHAPTER X.
AORICL'LTURK AND .STOCK RAISING.
1861-1886.
Land Surveys — Analyses of Soils — Altitudes — Irrigation — Importance
of the Subject — Convention — Laws and Regulations — A Most Per-
fect System— Ditching — Greeley and the Union Colony — Land-in-
vestment, Canal, and Irrigating Companies — Grain-growing Districts
— Products — Horticultural and Agricultural Societies — Granges —
Failure of Cooperative Commerce — State Board of Agriculture —
Agricultural College — Stock-raising — Native Grasses — Incorporated
Cattle Companies — Sheep and Horses 5.33
CHAPTER XI.
DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
1859-1886.
Sur^'ey — Denver I^ands — Municipal Organization — Tlie Queston of Capi-
tal—Post-office and Assay Office— Railways— Telegraphs— Street
Railways— Public Buildings — Scl)ools and Churches— Style of Archi-
tecture— Water System and Drainage — Manufactures— Smelters —
Chamljcr of Commerce— Exposition Grounds and Buildings — Bank-
ing— Society and Culture— Biography 548
CHAPTER Xn.
COUNT1E.S oy COLORAIXX
1859-1886.
Bent County— Industries, Towns, and People— Boulder County— Early
Settlers— Quartz Mining— Coal and Iron— Ciiafl'ec County— Discor-
CONTEXTS.
eries and Development — Clear Creek County — Earliest Smelting —
Stamp Mills — Conejos County — Costilla— Caster— Men and Towns
—Mining— Delta, Dolores, Douglns, Eagle, Elbert, El Paso, and
Fremont Counties— The Great Railroad War— Canon City and its
Institutions 5/4
CHAPTER Xiri.
COUNTIES OF COLORADO CO>'CLUDED.
1 859-1 8S6.
Garfield County — Its Great Possibilities — Gilpin County and Central City
—Express, Telegraph, Newspapers, Banks, Schools, and Churches,
Library, Fire Departments, Military and Benevolent Institutions —
Biography — Grand County — Gunnison and Huerfano Counties — Va-
riety of Products in Jefferson County — Golden, Lake, and La Plata
Counties — Biography — Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Montrose, Ou-
ray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan,
San Miguel, Summit, and Weld Counties — Society — Retrospect C09
CHAPTER XIV.
LATER EVENTS.
1886-1888.
Elements of Greatness — Mining versus Agriculture— Land and Water
Monopoly — Material Progress — Railroads — Development of Denver
— Election Campaign — Legislation — Excellence of Statutory, Insti-
tutional, and Social Regulations — Character of Public Men — Bio-
graphical t>13
HISTOKY OF WYOMING.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Boundaries and Surface — The HiUs and Plains of Laramie — Geologic
History— The River Platte— Black Hills— Deserts \Miich are not
Deserts — Mountainous Formations and Upheavals — Minerals and
Metals — Fontana, the Land of Pcivers — Rolling Plain of the North-
west— Forests and Lakes — Falls of the Yellowstone — Scenes of
Beauty and Grandeur — Atlantic and Pacific Creeks, and Two-Ocean
and Other Passes^-Specimens of World Forgings and Weldings —
Geyser Basins — Mud and Water Volcanoes — Paint Pots — Sulphur
Mountain— Subterranean Rumblings — Climate — Animated Nature . .
XTi CONTENTS.
CllAlTKK II.
KABLY EXJ'LUHATIO.NS.
IG0O-I80O.
Unfounded Rumors of Spanisti Occupation- Preduutoric Aboriginal In-
liahitanU — Westward Exploration — \'ereudrye, Lewis and Clarke,
Lisa, and Williams — Missouri Fur Company — Henry Fort^ — Long's
Expedition — Ashley on Utah Lake — Other Trappers and Traders —
Fort Bridger — Mi-ssionaries of Oregon — Tlie Callant Tathtinder —
liattalion of Mounted Volunteers — Forts Leavenworth, Kearny, and
Laramie— Scott and his Bluffs— The Pathway of the Nations 672
CHAPTER III.
SETTLEMENT AND GULD-HUNTINO.
1847-1863.
Pathway to the Pacitic — Coming of the Latter-day Saints — Military
Men — Prospecting for Gold — An Angry Englisiinian — Bridger and
his Fort— Mormon War — The Latter-day Saints Aljandon Wyo-
ming— Movements of Army Forces — (lovernment Expedition —
Koiids Ordered Opened — Placer Gold Discovered — The Morrisites
— Indian Hostilities — Military Men and Frontiersmen— Legends of
the Wind River Mountaius — Swift Petrifactions 694
CHAPTER IV.
INDIAN WAR.S.
1841-1868.
Emigrant Parties — Cheyennes and Sioux — Force at Fort Laramie-
Fleming's Attack — (irattan's Defeat— A Bloody War— Life at Fort
Laramie — Movements of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes — Effect of
Colorado Immigration and Civil War — Continue«l Depredations —
Peace Proposals — Hold-hunting on the Bighorn — Carriiigton's Expe-
dition— Fetterman's Defeat — Affairs at the Forts — Continued Hostil-
ities— Treaty Commission 706
CHAPTER V.
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
1867-1888.
(iold Discovery — South Paaa City Organized — Organization of Coun-
ties— Foun<ling of Cheyenne — Advance in Town Lots — Ba<l Element
— Vigilance Committees — Newspapers Est<il)lished— A Magic City —
Tlie Name Wyoming — ^Territorial Organization — Female Suffrage — •
Ju<iicial Districts —County Seats and County Officers— Elections —
Law Making — Military Posts— Administration of Ctivernor Camp-
bell—Tliayer, Hoyt, and Hale— Massacre of Chinese— Ixjgislation, . 736
CONTENTS. XTU
CHAPTER VI.
MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
1849-1886.
Stansbury's Observations — Belief in the Presence of Gold — Indian
Treaties — Attitude of the Savages — Smith's Exploits — Military Mas-
sacre of Indians — Indian Chiefs at Washington City — Divers Mili-
tary Expeditions — Gold Appearing — Inevitable Destiny of the Red
Race — Broken Pledges — The Army of the United States Brought
out — Long, Continuous, and Bloody Fighting — Final Triumph of
Civilization — Slavery and Savagism Exterminated. 764
CHAPTER VII.
RESOUPXES AND DEVELOPMENT
1868-1888.
Division of Territory into Counties — Birth of Towns, and Growth of
Population — Pioneers and Prominent Men — Commerce and Indus-
tries— Grasses and Grazing — Ranches and Rcinges — Stock-raising —
Some of the Great Cattle Men — Land Surveys and Sales — Improve-
ment of Breeds — Cattle Driving from Texas and Oregon — General
Condition of the Country — Agriculture and Mines — Biographical . . . 783
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED
HISTORY OF NEVADA, COLORADO, AND
AYYOMING.
Absaraka, Home of the Crows. Philadelphia, 1868.
Agricultural Statistics of the State of Colorado. 1883.
Alamosa (Colo), Democrat; G-azette; Independent; News.
Allan (Alex.), Reminiscences. MS.
Amador (Cal.) Despatch.
American Almanac. Boston and New York, 18.30 et seq.
American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal. Cleveland and Chicago, 1878
et seq.
American Quarterly Review. Philadelphia, 1827 et seq.
Animas City (Colo) Southwest.
Antioch (Cal.) Ledger.
Anza (.Juan B.),'Diario de un Expedicion desde Sonora. MS.
Applegate (.Jesse), Views of Oregon History. MS.
Appleton's Haud-book of American Travel. New York, 1881, 1838, and
1867.
Arricivita (J. D.), Cronica Serafica y Apostolica. Mexico, 1792.
Aspen (Colo), Sun; Times.
Atlantic Monthly. Boston, 1858 et seq.
Aurora (Nev. ) Times.
Austin (Nev.) Directory 1866. Austin, 1866.
Austin (Nev.) Reese River Reveille.
Aux (George), Mining in Colorado and Montana. MS.
Avery (A.), Hand-book of New Mexico. Denver, 1881.
Ayer (E. L.), Leadville and its Sdver Mines. Chicago, 1879.
Babbitt (A. T.), The Grazing Interest and Beef Supply. MS.
Baker (\Vm and P. -J.), Gardening and Agriculture in Colorado. MS.
Balch (WmR.), The Mines, Miners, and Mining Interests of the United
States. Philadelphia, 1882.
Baldwin (Charles P.), Mining in Colorado. MS.
Baldwin (Benjamin F.), Statement. MS.
Ballou (W. T.), Adventures. MS.
Bancroft (Charles), The Footprints of Time. Burlington, 1877.
Bancroft (F. J.), The Air We Breathe, n. p. 1878.
Bancroft (Hubert H.), Colorado Springs. MS. ; Colorado Notes. MS.
Bancroft (Hubert H.), History of California, 7 vols; History of Arizona and
New Mexico; History of Texas and the North Mexican States, 2 vols;
History of the Northwest Coast, 2 vols; History of Oregon, 2 vols; His-
tory of Utah; History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana; Native
Races of the Pacific State, 5 vols; Popular Tribunals, 2 vols.
(xix)
XX AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
Bancroft Library, Newspaper Scraps Classified under Headings of AgricuUare,
California, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Mininy, Indians, Kail-
roadu, etc.
Barber (John \V. ), and Henry Howe, Histiiry of all the Western States and
Territories. Cincinnati, I^>U7.
liiircla (C. ), Biography. MS.
Hariiel.y (W. Henry), Life and Labor in the Far West. London, etc., 1884.
Birne.'. (I>eiiia.s), Kr.mi tlie Atlantic to the Pacific Overlaii.l. N. Y., 18G(i.
Bajikin (O. L)& Co., Hi.story of tlie Arkansas Valley, Colora lo. Chicago,
ISSl. History of the City of Denver, Arapahoe Lo., Colo. Chicago, ISiiO.
Bissett (Alden), Sutcnient. MS.
Bittle Mouiit;iiii (Nev.) Messenger.
liavle (Wdliain), Politics an.l Mining. MS.
Beadle (.J. H.), The Undeveloped West. Philadelphia, 1873. Western
Wilds. Cincinnati, 1879.
Beattie (A. S.), The First in Nevada. MS.
Backer ((leorge F.), Monograph on the Geology of the Coinstock Lode.
W:ushington, 1882.
Beckwith (E. G.), Report of Exploration for a Pacific Railroad, n. p., n. d.
Belden (Josiah), Statement of Historical Facts. MS.
Belmont (Nev.) Courier.
Benicia (Cal.) Chronicle.
Bennett (.John), Mining and Smelting in Colorado. M.S.
lieatley (J. A.), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Best (liumphrey). Stock-raising in Colorado. MS.
Bickley and Hartwell's Southern Colorado.
Bi<lwell (.lohn), California, 1841 8. MS; Journey to California, 1841. MS.
Bigney (F. O. ), Colorado Tales and Legends, etc. Puel)lo, 187.">.
Bird (Isabella L.), Laily's Life in the Rocky Mountains. New York, 1881.
Bismarck (Dak.) Tribune.
Black Hawk (Colo), Colorado Miner; Journal.
Blake's Review (in Mining Magazine, 18G0, 221-5).
Hlatchly (A.), Mining and Millmg in the Reese River region. N. Y., 1857.
Boettclier (Charles), The Flush Times of Colorado. MS.
Boise City (Idaho) News.
Bond (N. T.), Early History of Colorado, Montana, and Idaho. MS.
Bonwick (James), The Mormons and tlie Silver .Mines. London, 1.S72.
Boulder (Colo), Bouliler County Herald; New.s; Pioneer; News and Courier;
Rocky Mountain Eagle; Sunshine Courier; Valley News; Mirror.
Bowles (.Samuel), Across the Continent. Springfield, ISGfi; Tlie Switzerland
of America. Springfield, I8G9; Our New West. Hartford, 18li9.
Boyer (Lan.son), From tlie Orient to the Occident. New York, 1873.
Bozema:i (Mont.) Avant-Courier.
Brackett (Albert G.), in the Western Monthly, April, 1869.
Bradford (.\. A.), History of Colorado. MS.
Bradley (Lewis R.), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Briggs (Roi)ert), Biographical Notes. M.S.
Bristol (Samuel A.), Tlie Newspaper Press of Wyoming. Cheyenne, 1884.
Browne (.1. Ross), Adventures in the Aiiache ('oiintry. A Tour tiirough
Arizona and Sonora, with Notes on the Silver Regions of Nevada. New
York, 18G9; Report upon the Mineral Resources of the States and Ter-
tories West of the Rocky Mountains. Washington, 18G7-8.
Buchanan (T. B.), A Plea for Silver Coinage and the Double Standard.
Denver, 1SS5.
Buckland's Indian Fighting. MS.
Buckinan (Geo. Rex), Colorado Springs and Manitou. Boston, n. d.; Ex-
Iierieuces in Colorado. MS.; Historical Rocky Mouiit;iin Outpost,
..ipliiiicott's Magazine, Decemlter, 1883; Rmclies and Ranchers, Lippiii-
cott's Ma'^azine, May, 1882; Correspondence Topeka Capital, Boston
Home Journal, Philadelphia Press, etc.
AUTHORITIES CO:;yULTEU xxi
Buel (J. W.), Heroes of the Plains. Kansas City.
Bueua Vista (Colo), Miner; Herald; Cliaff>ie County Times; Democrat.
Burchard (H. C), Report upon the Production of the Precious Metals in the
United States. Washington, 1881 et seq.
Burke (John), Dictation. MS.
Burton (Richard F.), The City of the Saints. London, 1861; New York,
1862.
Byers (Wm N.), The Centennial Stete. MS.; History of Colorado. MS.;
Interview with. MS.; The Newspaper Press of Colorado. MS.; The
Sand Creek Affair. MS.; In Dead Men's Gulch. MS.; Correspondence
with Mrs. Jackson, in N. Y. Tribune, Feb. 5, 22, and March 3, 1880; also
in Out West, Oct. 1873.
Cadwallader (Allen), Map and Guide to the White Pine Mines. San Fran-
cisco, 1869.
Cahill (Luke), Recollections of Kit Carson. MS.
California Senate and Assembly Journals. 1850 et seq. Statutes. 1850
et seq.
Campbell (L. M.), Climate and Agriculture of Colorado. MS.
Candalaria (Nev.), True Fissure.
Canon City (Colo), Democrat; Mercury; Record; Times.
Canon City Grand Army College and Military Institute, Catalogue and
Regulations.
Canon City Land Investment Co. Prospectus. Canon City, 1882.
Capyless (Edgar), Dictation. MS.
Carey (J. M. ), Politics and People of Wyoming. MS.
Carlin (Wm P.), History of Fort Bridger. MS.; Experiences in Wyoming.
MS.
Carmichael (D. F.), Statement. MS.
Carpenter (C. H.), Mining in Colorado. MS.
Carpenter (M. B.), Mining Code. Denver, 1879.
Carson City (Nev.), Appeal; Independent; Index; Nevada Tribune; Post;
Silver Age; State Democrat; State Register; Territorial Enterprise;
Times.
Cassidy (James), Capture and Execution of Coe's Band of Horse Thieves.
MS.
Catalogue of the National Mining and Industrial Exposition. Denver, 1884.
Central City (Colo), Colorado Herald; Evening Call; Mining Life; Miners'
Register; Register; Register-Call; Rocky Mountain Gold Reporter;
Times.
Chamberlain (H. D.), Dictation. MS.
Chambers (Alex.), History of Fort Bridger. MS.
Chapnis (J. E.), Statement. MS.
Cherry Creek (Nev.), White Pine News.
Cheyenne (Wyo.), Directory, 1883-4; Cheyenne, 1883.
Cheyenne (Wyo.), Argus; Leader; News; Rocky Mountain Star; Sun.
Cheyenne Board of Trade Report. Cheyenne, 1888.
Chiles (Jos. B. ), A Visit to California. MS.
Chipley (.James N.), Towns aljout Leadville. MS.
Chivington (J. M.), The First Colorado Regiment. MS.; The Prospector.
MS.; Speech in Hett's Tales of Colorado Pioneers.
Chubbuck (Theo.), The Battle of Sand Creek, Colorado. MS.
Clark (C. A.), Statement. MS.
Clark (C. M.), Trip to Pike's Peak. MS.
Clark (W. M.), Statement. MS.
Clawson (C. C), Letters in Deer Lodge New Northwest, May 18 and June
1, 1872.
Clear Creek and Boulder Valley, Colorado, History of. Chicago. 1880.
Clear Creek County, Colorado, Statistical History. Georgetown, n. d.
Cleveland (Ohio) Leader.
xxii AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
Coast Review. San Francisco, 1871 et acq.
Cocliraa (V. H.), History ol Fort Laramie. MS.; Colorado. MS.
Cochran (Wni A.), liiograpliical Skelcli. MS.
Cortiu (O. C), The Battle of Saii.l Creek, Colorado. MS.
CoUina (Charles), The Kocky Mountain Ciold Region. Denver, 186L
(^.llins (Thos B), Stitenieiit. MS.
Colorado. A Chance Discovery. MS.
Colora<lo Antelope.
Colorado College.
Colorado Condensed Industrial Information. Denver, 1881, 1883.
Coloratlo Directories.
Colorado Farm Lands. Denver, 1879.
Colorado, History of. Chicago. 1880.
Colora lo Historical Society, Extracts from Early Records. MS.
Colorado Mining Camps. MS.
Colorado Mining Directory, 1883.
Colorado Notes. MS.
Colorado Pocket Guide. Denver, n. d.
( 'olorado I'ress and People. MS.
Colorado Register.
Colorado Reminiscences. MS.
Colorado. The Legend of Fair Play. MS.
Colorado Mines and Settler's Guide, etc. Denver, 1880.
Colorado State and Territorial Documents; Journals of the Legislature; Gov-
ernor's Messages; Reports of Secretary of State; Treasurer; Auditor;
State Geologist; State Board of Agriculture; Penitentiary; Mute and
Blind Institute; Sup't of Instruction; State Board of Health; Laws;
General Seliool Election, Stock, and Mining Laws; Code of Civil Pro-
cedure; Constitution of State; Contested Election, etc.
Colorado; Treaties with the Indians. MS.
Coiuo (Nev.) Sentinel.
Congressional (ilobe. Washington, 1836 et seq.
Congressional Record (continuation of Cong. Globe).
Contributor. Salt Lake City, 1879 et seq.
Cook (D. J.), Hands Up ! ! or Twenty Years of Detective Life. No imp.
Corbett (Thos li.), Colorado Directory of Mines. Denver, 1879; Legislative
Manuil. Denver, 1877.
Corbett (\V. W.), The Founding of Cheyenne. MS.
Corbin (H. H.), Dictation. MS.
Corregan (R. A.), and D. F. Lingane, Colorado Mining Directory, 1883.
Denver.
Coyner (David H.), The Lost Trapper. Cincinnati, 1850 and 1859.
Carter ((Jeorge E.), Biography. MS.
Cradlebough (VV. M.), Nevada Biography. MS.
Crofutt ((icorge A.), Crofutt's (rrip Sack Guide. 1881.
Crowcll (B. v.), Farming in Colorado. MS.
Culver (\Vm E.), Land Frauds in West Los Animas. MS.
Cushman (S. H.) and J. P. Waterman, The Gold Mines of Gilpin County,
Colorailo. Central City, 1876.
Cutler, Tiie Maxwell Dynasty. MS.
Dailey, Early Times in Colorado. MS.
Daly (Charles P.), Annual Aildress in American Geographical Society's Re-
port, 1873.
Darrow (George G.), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Dartt (Mary), On tlie Pl.iins and Am<mg the Peaks. Philadelphia, 1879.
Davidson (Wm A.), Indian A<lventures in California, and Mining and Agri-
culture in Colorado. MS.
Davis (C. C), History of Colorado. MS.
l>avis (J. C), Dictation. MS.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. ixiii
Dayton (Nev.) Lyon County Sentinel.
Dead Men's Gulch, and Other Sketches. MS.
De Coursey (M. L.), Glenwood Springs. MS.
De Groot (Henry), Report on the Mineral Deposits and Other Properties of the
Nevada Consolidated Borax Company. San Francisco, 1871; Sketches
of the Washoe Silver Mines. San Francisco, 1860.
Deer Lodge (Mont.), Independent; New Northwest.
Del Mar (Alex.), History of the Precious Metals. London, 1880.
Del Norte (Colo), The Prospector.
Delano (A.), Life on the Phins, 1861.
Dennison (Charles), Rocky Mountain Health Resorts.
Denver National Mining Exposition 1884, Catalogue.
Denver Municipal Reports.
Denver University, Circular 1884.
Denver Newspapers: Colorado Farmer; Gazette; Great West; Inter-Ocean;
Journal of Commerce; Opinion; Republican; Rocky Mountain Herald;
Rocky Mountain News; Tribune; Vidette.
Denver and Rio Grande R. R., First Annual Report. Philadelphia, 1873.
Descriptive America.
Dilke (Charles W.), Greater Britain. Philadelphia, 1869.
Dixon (William H.), New America. Philadelphia, 1867.
Dobbins (James S.), Mining, Stock-raising, and Indian Adventures in Colo-
rado. MS.
Documentos Historicos Mexicanos. MS. 15 vols.
Dolloff (John W.), Biography. MS.
Dominguez y Escalaate, Diario y Derrotero, etc., in Doc. Hist. Mex., 2d
series, i. 375-588.
Dotson (Peter K. ), Doings. MS.
Dow (T. K. ), A Tour in America. Melbourne, 1884.
Downieville (Cal.) Mountain Messenger.
Dunbar (Mrs S. J.), The Health Resorts of Colorado Springs and Manitou.
Colorado Springs, n. d.
Duggan (Martin), The Marsbalship of Leadville. MS.
Dunraven (Earl of). The Great Divide. New York, 1876.
Durango (Colo), Democrat; Herald.
Earle (Frank), Solidad, in Chaffee County. Colorado Springs, 1884.
Earhart (W. R.), The Climatic Influence of Colorado. MS.
Eaton (H. C), Gunnison, Yesterday and To-day. MS.
Edwards (Melvin), Letter to E. P. Newkirk. MS.
Effinger (W. H.), Statement. MS.
Elbert (Samuel H. ), Public Men and Measures. MS. Speech before the Con-
vention of Trans-Missouri States. Denver, 1873.
Elich (John, Jr), Statement. MS.
Elko (Nev.) Independent.
Elliott (Ezra T.), Statement. MS.
Elliott (Wallace W. & Co.), History of Arizona Territory. San Francisco,
1884.
El Paso County, As It Has Been and Is. MS.
Elzel (Gabriel), Statement. MS.
Ernest (T. P.), Statement, MS.
Esmeralda (Nev.) Herald.
Eureka (Nev.), Leader; Sentinel.
Evans (Albert G.), White Pine, Its Geographical Location, Topography, etc,
San Francisco, 1869.
Evans (Gov. John), Interview with. MS.
Evanston (Wyo.), Age; Chieftain; Times; Uinta County Argus,
Everett (Wm R.), Statement. MS.
Extract from Early Records, MS.
xxiw AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
Faithful (Emily). Tliree Visits to America. New York, 18S4.
Farayre (M. E. (J.), Exploration Miiiuralogiijue, 186'J.
Fanner (E. .).), Kewources of the llocky MounUiiis. ClevelauJ, 1883.
Farnhain (Thomas J.), Travels in the Great Weateru rraines. Poughkcep-
sic, 1H41.
Farrell (N. E.), Colorado as It Is. Chicago, 18G8.
Faurot (C. S. ), Farniinj^ in Colorado. MS.
Fisher (1. K), Camping in tlie iiocky Mountains. New York, 1880.
Fisher (John), Sutement. M.S.
Fislier (L. 1*.), Newspaper List.
Flowers (.liicoh), Dictation. M.S.
Folir (Franz), .Smelting in Colorado. MS.
Folsom (Cal.) Telegraph.
Folwell (J. A. ), Early Experiences. MS.
Fonda ((leorge F.), Statement. MS.
Font (Pedro), Journal. MS.
Fort Collins (Colo), Courier; Express.
Fossett (Frank), Colorado. Denver, 1878; Colorado: Ita Gold and Silver
Mines. New York, 1880.
Fowler (Warren R.), Around Coloratlo. MS.
Fowler (W. R.), A Woman's Experiences in Colorado. MS.; Around Colo-
rado. MS.
Fox (J. J.), Mason Valley Settlers. MS.
Fox (M. P.), Coal Mines of Colorado. MS.
France (Cyrus W), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Fremont (John C), Exploring Expedition. New York, 1849; Wa^hiugton,
1845.
Foebel (Julius), Central America. London, 1859.
Galaxy, The. New York, 1872 et seq.
Galveston (Texaa) News.
Garces (Francisco), Diario y Derrotero, etc., in Doc. Hist. Mex., series ii.,
totn. i., 2-25-374.
Gazlay's Pacific Monthly. New York, 1865.
Genoa (Nev.), .Scorpion; Territorial Enterprise.
Georgetown (Colo) Colorado Miner.
Gibbons (General), Lecture on the Wonders of Yellowstone Park, in Helena
Ga^tte, Sept. 29, 1872.
fJilpin (William), Notes on Colorado. London, n. d.
(Jilpin (Wm), Pioneer of 1842. MS.
God.lard (F. B.), Where to Emigrate and Why. New York, 1809.
Gold Hill (Nev.), Message; News.
Golden (Colo), The Transcript; Golden Globe; Golden Eagle.
Gordon (S. Anna), Camping in Colorado. New York, 1879.
Gove (Aaron), Education in Denver. MS.
Governor's Message, in Western Mountaineer, Nov. 22, 18G0.
GraflF(J. F.), Graybcard's Colorado. Phdadelphia. 1882.
Graham (J. C.) & Co., Utah Directory, 1883-4. Salt Lake City, n. d.
Grand Junction (Colo) News,
(irass Valley (Cal.) Union.
Greeley (Horace), Overland Journey from New York to .San Francisco. Nrw
York, 18G0.
ftreen River (Wyo.) .Sweetwater Gazette.
(Jreenhow (Robert), History of Oregon and California. New York, 184.">;
Boston, 1844, 184.'», 1847; London, 1844.
Gunnison (Colo), News; Press; Review; News-Democrat; Review-Press; .Sun.
(iunnison (Almon), Rambles Overland. Boston, 1884.
Gunnison's Journal, in Pacific Railroad Reports, Vol. II.
Hague (James D.), Mining Industry. Washington, 1870.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. xxv
Hall (Edward H.), Guide to the Great West. New York, 1865-6.
Hall (Frank), Auuual Report of the Denver Chamber of Commerce. Denver,
18S4.
Hall (Wm H.), Report on the Problems of Irrigation. Sacramento, 1884.
Hallett (Moses), Colorado Courts, Law, and Litigation. MS.
Hallowell (John K. ), Gunnison Colorado's Bonanza County. Denver, 1883.
Hansen (P. N.), Mining about Eureka. MS.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine. New York, 1856 et seq.
Hart (H. Martym), Boy-Education. Denver, n. d.
Hastings (Lansford W.), Oregon and California. Cincinnati, 1845, 1849.
Hawes (Jesse), Charlatanism in Colorado. No imp.
Hawley (A. H.), Lake Tahoe. MS.
Hayden (F. V.), The Great West. Bloomington, Ills, 1880.
Hayden (F. V. ), U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of Colorado and
Adjacent Territory, 1874. Washington, 1876.
Hayes (A. A. Jr), New Colorado and the Santa Fe Trail. New Y"ork,
1880.
Hayes (Benjamin) Scrap Books; Indians; Emigrant Notes; Mining; Nevada;
Railroads; Politics.
Hayford(J. H.), Dictation. MS.
Health, Wealth, and Pleasure in Colorado and New Mexico.
Heap (Gwin H. ), Central Route to the Pacific from the Valley of the Missis-
sippi to California, etc. Philadelphia, 1854.
Helena (Mont.), Gazette; Herald; Independent; Democrat; Post; Repub-
lican.
Helm (W. A.), The Gate of the Mountains. MS.
Hiko Silver Mining Company's Report, 1866.
Hill (Alice Polk), Tales of Colorado Pioneers. Denver, 1884.
Hittell (John S.), Hand-Book of Mining. San Francisco, 1861.
Hollister (0. J. ), The Mines of Colorado. Springfield, 1867; History of the
First Regiment, Colorado. Denver, 1863.
Horn (Hosea B.), Overland Guide. New York, 1852.
Horn (T. G.), Report on Mineral Springs in Colorado, in State Board of
Health Report, 1876.
Horn (T. G.), Scientific Tour. MS.
Howard Quarterly (The). San Francisco, 1867 et seq.
Howbert (Irving), Indian Troubles of Colorado. MS.
Huflfaker (Granville W.), Early Cattle Trade in Nevada. MS.
Idaho City (Id.) World.
Industrial Gazetteer of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.
Ingersoll (Ernest), Crest of the Continent. Chicago, 1885.
Inman (Col Henry), Stories of the Santa Fe Trail. Kansas City, 1881.
Irving (Washington), Bonneville's Adventures. New York, 1860.
Jennings (William), Carson Valley. MS.
Johnson (A. B. ), Good Times in Gunnison. MS.
Johnson (E. P.), Memorial. Cheyenne, 1880.
Johnson (A. R.) and Tuthill (T. H.), Cheyenne Directory, 1883, Chey-
enae, 1883.
Johnson (Nev.), Gold Canon Switch.
Jones (Evan), Indian Fighting. MS.
Jones (John P.), Speech on the Silver Question, April 24, 1876; Speech on
the Optional Standard, June 22 and July 15, 1876; Speech on Silver
Demonetization, Feb. 14, 1878,
Jones (W. A.), The Reconnaissance of Northwestern Wyoming. Washing-
ton, 1875.
Jouesborough (Tenn.) Sentinel.
xxvi AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
1
Kansas Laws. 1859.
Kansas City (M<». ) Times.
Kiilly (J. \Vl'11s), Nevaila Directory, 1S62. San Francisco and Virginia Citjr,
18ii'2.
Kelly (William), An Excursion to California, etc. London, 1801, 2 vols.
Kelso (Wni F.), SUteuient. MS.
Kennedy's Dictation. MS.
Kent (L. A.), Leadv ille in Your Pocket. Denver, 1880.
King (Llaienoe), Mnuiitaincering in the Sierra Nevada. Boston, 1S74, 1882.
Kinkead ((Jov. J. H.), Nevada and Alaska. MS.
Klein (Jacob), Founders of Carson City. MS.
Kneeland (Sam.), The Wonders of Yoseinite. Boston, 1871.
Knox (Thomas W.), The Underground World. Hartford, 1878.
Lake City (Colo), Silver World; Crescent; Mining Register.
Lamb (Levi), Early Mining Camps. MS.
Laramie (Wyo. ), Boomerang; Frontier Index; Sentinel.
Laramie (Mrs S. L.), Tlie Capture and Escape. Thdadelphia, 1871.
Las Vegas (N. M.), Mining W»>rld.
Leailville City, Directory, 1880.
Leadville Chronicle Annual, 1881.
Leatlville, Carbonate Chronicle; Democrat; Herald; Reveille.
Leadville, Colorado, The most Wonderful Mining Camp of the World, ete.
Colorado Springs, 1879.
Lee (D.), and J. H. Frost, Ten Years in Oregon. New Y'ork, 1844.
Leddy (M. A.), Dictation. MS.
Le Fevre (O. E.), Statement. MS.
l^igenil of Fair Play in San Juan. MS.
Lcsseg (W. H.), in Report Sec. of the Interior, 1867-8, iii., p. 40-2.
Lewis and Clarke, Exi>eilition to the Sources of the Missouri, etc. Phila-
delphia, 1814; N. Y., 18G1; London, 1814-15.
Leyner (Peter), Boulder County, Colorado. M.S.
Londoner (Wolfe), Colorado Mining Camps. MS.
Londoner (Wolfe), Vigilance Committees in Colorado. MS.
Long (Stepiien H. ), Account of an Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Moun-
tains. Philadelphia, 182S.
Longmont (Colo), Sentinel; Press; Ledger; Colorado Banner; Post Valley
Home and Farm.
Loomis (Abner), Biography. MS.
Lord (Elliot), Comstock Mining and Mines. Washington, 1883.
Los Angeles (Cal.) Evening P]xpress.
Loveland (Wm A. H.), Dictation. MS.
Luman's Dictation. MS.
Lytle (George), Dictation. MS.
Manitou Grand Caverns. MS.
Marcy (R. H. ), Tiiirty Years of Army Life on the Border. New Y'ork, 1866.
Mariposa (Cal.) Gazette.
Martin (Thomas S.), Narrative of Fremont's Expedition in 1845-6. MS.
Marysville (Cal.), Appeal; Democrat.
Mater (Charles), Business in Leadville. MS.
Mattliews (Mrs M. M.), Ten Years of Nevada, 1870-80. Buffalo, 1880.
Maxwell (James P.), Biograpliical Sketch. MS.
Mayer (Brantz), Mexico, Aztec, Spanish, and Republican. Hartford, 1852,
2 vols.
Maysville (Colo), Mining Ledger.
McAllister (Henry, .In, Cnlorado Land and Improvement Companies. MS.
McCabe (James I)., Jr), A Comiirehenaive View of Our Country and its
Resources. Pliiladelphia, 1876.
McCammon (Hugh), Dictation. MS-
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. xxvii
McClellan (R. G.), Republicanism in America. San Francisco, 1869.
McClure (A. K.), Three Thousand JMiles through the Rocky Mountains.
Philadelphia, 1869.
McHattou (C. K.), Statement. MS.
Mclntire (A. W.), Statement. MS.
Meagher (.James F.), Observations. MS.
Mears (Otto), Road Construction in Colorado. MS.
Meldrum (A.), Colorado Mines. MS.
Meldrum (N. H.), Indian Depredations in Colorado. MS.
Meliue (James F. ), Two Thousand Miles on Horseback. Kew York, 1867.
Meteorological Observations Made at the Carson Observatory, 1S83-4.
Mexico Financier.
Meyer (Ferdinand), Statement. MS.
Milwaukee Monthly Magazine, June, 1872.
Mining Industry (The). Denver, 1S81.
Mining Magazine. New York, 1853 et seq.
Mining Review and Stock Ledger, 1876 and 1878. San Francisco, 1876 and
1878.
Minniss (J. F. ), Climate and Soil of Colorado. MS.
Miscellaneous Historical Papers. MS.
Missoula (Mont.), Missoulian; Pioneer.
Mix (M. D.), Oil Districts of Colorado. MS.
Mixon (Frank), Statement. MS.
Moffatt (D. H.). Sketches on Banking. MS.
Molinelli & Co., Eureka and its Resources. San Francisco, 1879.
Montana Historical .Society Contributions. Helena, 1876.
Montana Council Journal. Virginia City and Helena, 1866 et seq.
Montgomery (A. W.), Statement. MS.
Moore (.John C), Early Days in Denver. MS.
Moore (M. R. ), Press and People of Colorado. MS.
Morrison (R. .S.), and Jacob Fillins, Mining Rights in Colorado. Denver,
1875 and 1881.
MuUan (.John), Report on the Construction of a Military Road, etc. Wash-
ington, 1863.
Munkers (G. W.), Statement. MS.
Murphy (John A. ), Climate and Agriculture in Colorado. MS.
Nagles(H. M.), Dictation. MS.
National Almanac, 1864. Philadelphia, 1864.
Nelson (W. H.), Stock-raising in Colorado. MS.
Nevada Constitutional Convention, Debates and Proceeedings. San Fran-
cisco, 1866.
Nevada, Senate, Assembly, Council, and House Journals; Governor's Mes-
sages and Reports; Laws and Statutes; State Controllers' Reports;
Attornies-general's Reports; State Treasurers' Reports; Secretaries of
State's Reports.
Nevada Silver Convention, 1885, Proceedings.
Nevada City (Cal.) Democr-Bt.
Nevers (Samuel A.), Nevada Pioneers. MS.
New Mexico, Pointers on the Southwest. Topeka,[]883.
New Mexico Revista Catolica. Las Vegas, 1876.
New York Financier; Herald; Mining News; Times; Tribune; World.
Newland (Wm), Statement. MS.
Newlin (J. W.), Proposed Indian Policy. Philadelphia, 1881.
Nidever (George), Life and Adventures. M.S.
Niles' Register. Baltimore and Philadelx^hia, 1811 et seq.
Nims (F. C), Across the Continent by the Scenic Pioute. Chicago, n. d.
Nisbet (Robert C), Colorado Climate and Asriculture. MS.
Norris (P. W.), Fifth Annual Report of the Yellowstone National Park, 188L
North American Review. Boston, 1819 et seq.
xxviii AUTHORITIES C0XSULTI:D.
North Pacific Review. San Francisco, 18C2.
Norton (H. I). Wonderland Illustrated, Virginia, Mont., 1873.
Ohmertz (Millie), Female Pioneering. MS.
Ol.l (R. O.), Sutcnieiit. MS.
Olyiiipia (Wash.) Pioneer.
Omaha (Neb.), Republican.
Oregon City (Or.) Knterprise. 1
Osboru (Win B), Politics in Gilpin an<l I>arimer Counties, Colorado. MS. 1
Oswald (A. F.), Californicn und Seine Verhaltuisae. Leipzig, 1849. |
Ourav (Colo), Times; Solid Muldoon. j
Out West. Dec. -Jan. 1873-4. J
Outcalt (John B.), Crazing in Gunnison. MS. ?
Overland Monthly. t
Owyhee Avalanche. *
Pabor (W. E.), Colorado as an Agricultural State. New York, 1883. j
Pabor (Wm E.), Farmers' Guide to Northern Colorailo. Denver, 1882. i
Pacific Coast Annual Mining Review and Stock Ledger. San Francisco, '
1878. ■•
Pacific Coast Directories. J
Pacific Coast Mines. San Francisco, 187G. ;
Pacific Railroad Reports. Washington, 13 vols. (
Packard (D. C. ), Insurance in Colorado. MS. ;
Painter (Cliarles F.), Statement. MS. %
Parker's Letter-book. MS.
Parker (Samuel J. ), The Northwest. MS. ;
Parsons (C. S.), Biography. MS. ,
Parsons (George H.), Colorado Springs. MS.
Parton (James), The Discovery of Pike's Peak. MS.
Patterson (A. H.), SUtement. MS. ■
Petaluma (Cal.) Argus. i
Peter (De Witt C), Life and Adventures of Kit Carson. New York, 1859.
Peterson (A.), Irrigation, etc. MS. '■
Peto (S'T S. Morton, Bart), Resources and Prospects of America, etc. Lon- i
don an<l New York, 18GG. I
Pettengill's Newspaper Directory, 1878. New York, 1878. j
Philadelphia Press. ]
Phillips (G. W.), Climate and Irrigation in Colorado. MS.
Phillips (J. Arthur), Mining and Metallurgy of Gold and Silver. London, I
1853. 1
Pierce (John), Report in U. S. Mess. an<l Doc. Interior Dept, 18GG-7.
Pike (Z. M.), An Account of an Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi,
etc., 181)5 7. PhUadelphia, 1810. '
Pike's Peak Discovery. MS. i
Pioche (Nev. ) Record. I
Pitkin (F. W.), Political Views. MS. j
Pitkin (Colo), Independent; Mining News. |
Placerville (Cal.), American; Mountain Democrat; Observer.
Player- Frowd (J. (J.), Six Months in California. London, 1872. j
Poore's Congressional Directory.
Poore's Railroad Manual.
Porter (Rol>ert P.), The West; Census of 1880. ,
Portland (Or.), Oregonian; West Shore. i
Poto.si Mine, Annual Report, 1881. j
Potosi Mining and Smelting Co., Prospectus. San Francisco, n. d. i
Powell (Nevada), The Land of Silver. San Francisco, 187().
Powell (J. W.), Exploration of Colorado River, etc., 18G9-Z2. WashiDcrton,
1875. . i
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. xxix
Preble (George H. ), History of the Origin and Development of Steam Navi-
gation. Philadelphia, 1883.
Prentiss (Oweu), Statement. MS.
Pre.jCott (.A.riz.), Miner.
Prescott (Thomas), Through Canon de Shea. MS.
Price (Sir Rose Lambert, Bart), The Two Americas, etc. Philadelpia, 1877.
Prince (Hiram), Colorado Experiences. ilS.
Proceedings First National Convention of Cattlemen. St. Louis, 1884.
Prowers (Mrs J. W.), Indian Depredations. MS.
Pueblo (Colo), Chieftain; Democrat; Daily News; Banner; Evening Star;
Commercial Standard,
Quincy (Cal.) Union.
Rae (W. F.), Westward by Rail, the New Route to the East. London,
1870.
Rand (George), Agriculture in Colorado. MS.
Rand, McNally, & Co. 's Overland Guide. Chicago, 1883; Illustrated Guide
to Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Chicago, n. d., and 1879.
Randall (G. M.), Biography. MS.
Raper (W. H. H. ) & Co.'s Directory of Colorado Springs.
Rawlins (Wyo.), Journal; Tribune.
Raymond (R. W. ), Camp and Cabin, etc. New York, 1880; Mining Indus-
try of the States and Territories of the Rocky Mountains. New York,
1874; Silver and Gold, etc. New York, 1873; Statistics of Mines and
Mining. Washington, 1873.
Raynold's Report in U. S. Sen. Ex. Doc, No. 77, p. 14, vol. ii., 40th Cong.,
2d Sess.
Reed (Herbert W. ), Biographical Sketches. MS.
Reese (John), Mormon Station. MS.
Remy (Jules), and Julius Brenchley, Journal. London, 1861, 2 vols.
Reno (Nev.), Crescent; Daily Nevada Democrat; Daily Record; Gazette;
State Journal.
Revue des Deux Mondes, 1839 et seq.
Reymers (B. H.), Statement. MS.
Rice (James), Politics in Pueblo, MS.
Richards (George J.), Biography. MS.
Richardson (James), Wonders of Yellowstone Park. London, 1874.
Richardson (Sylvester). History of Gunnison County. MS.
Richthofeu (Baron F. ), The Comstock Lode, its Character, and the Probable
Mode of its Continuance in Depth. San Francisco, 18G6.
Rico (Colo) News.
Rische ( A.ugust), Statement. MS.
Roberts (E. ), Colorado Springs and Manitou. Chicago, n. d.
Rocky ilouutain Directory and Colorado Gazetteer, 1871. Denver.
Rocky Mountain News Illustrated Almanac, 1882.
Roller (W. W.), Colorado Sketches. MS.
Rosita (Colo), Index; Sierra Journal.
Ross (.Tames), and George Gary, From Wisconsin to California and Return.
Madison, 1869.
Rossi (I'Abbe), Souvenirs d'un Voyage et California. Paris. 1864=
Rnutt (John L.), Territory and State.' MS.
Rowell (Charles J.). Leadville, Colorado. MS.
Rowell & Co.'s Gazetteer.
Pi,ndd (Anson), Early Affairs in Canon City. MS.
Rus«el I A..), Irrigation and Indian Affairs in Colorado. MS.
Ryan (John J.), Laramie Co. MS.
Sacramento fCal.), Bee; Record; Record-Union; Union; Transcript.
Safford (A. K. P.), Narrative. MS.
XXX AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
Salida (Colo), Mountain Mail; Sentinel News.
Salt Lake (Utali). Herald; Tribune.
San Fraiicisfo (Cal.) Newspapers: Alta; Bulletin; Cal. Courier; Cal. Farmer;
Call; Chronicle; Courier de San Franci.sco; Examiner; Golden Era;
Herald; Mercantile (iazette and Prices Current; Mining Review and
Stock Lo'dger; News Letter; Post; Report; Stock Exchange; Stock Re-
])ort; Times.
San Jose Archives. MS.
San Jose (Cal.), Mercury; Pioneer.
San Juan and Other Sketches. MS.
San Rafael (Cal.) Journal.
Santa Fe Trail.
Saunders (William), Through the Light Continent. London, 1879.
Scenes in tlie Rocky Mountains. Pliiladelphia, 184G.
Schell (H. S.), History of Fort Lara;uie. MS.
Scibird ((Jeorge A.), Biography. M.S.
Scott (Cliarles H.), Report of the County Clerk.
Scribner's Monthly Magazine and Century Magazine. New York, 1871 et seq.
Seely (\V. L. ), The Nicliols Mining Company. MS.
Selig (Josepli), DictJition. MS.
Seligman (Henry), Short Biograjjhy of Jesse Seligman. MS.
Sheldon (M.), South Pueblo. MS.
Sheridan ((Jen.), in Secretary of War's Report, 41st Congress, 2d Ses.sion.
Shinn (Charles H.), Mining Camps. New York, 1885.
Silver (Samuel D.), The Mines of Cororado. MS.
Silver City (Nev.), Times.
Silver Cliff (Colo), Miner; Prospector; Tribune.
Silver.smith (Julius), Practical Hand book for Mines. New York, 18G6.
Silverton (Colo), Democrat; Herald; Miner.
Simonin (L. ), in Revue des Deux Mondes, Nov. 1875, 305-12.
Simpson (James H.), Exploration of tlie Great Basin. Wiishington, 1876.
Slater (M. H.), Indian Troubles in the Early Days of Colorado. MS
Slaughter (John), Life in Colorado and Wyoming. MS.
Slaugliter (Wm .M), Early Experiences in Colorado. MS.
Smith, Report on Development of Colorado, 1881-2, in State Geologist's
Report.
Smith (J. Alden), and M. Beshoar, Coal and Iron Lands near Trinidad, Col-
orado. I'rint and MS.
Smith (Jas P.), Statement. MS.
Smith (Samuel T), Dictation. MS.
Smithsonian Annual Reports. Washington, 1853 ot seq.
Snider ((Jeorge W.), Discovery of the Cave of the Winds and Manitou Grand
Caverns. MS.
Snyder (A. C), Dictation. MS.
Solly (S. E Iwin), Colorado for Invalids. Colorado Springs, 1880.
Sonoma (Cal.) Democrat.
Sopris (Riciiard), Settlement of Denver. MS.
Spence (Tiionias), The Settlers' Guide in the United States. Nev/ York,
1802.
Stallcup (John C), Statement. MS.
Stendart (Stephen H.), Live Stock in Colorado. MS.
Stanley (Edwin I.), Rambles in Wonderlaihl, etc. New York, 1878.
Stansbury (Howard), Expedition to the Valley of Great Salt Lake. Phila-
delpliia, 1855.
Stanton (I. N). Statement. MS.
Stead (J. H ). Town Building in Colorado. MS.
Stebbins (T. C), Statement. MS.
Steele (Alden H.), With the Rifle Regiment. MS.
Stewart (J:iineH G.), Settlements in Colorado. MS.
Stewart (Wm M.), Speech on Courts in Nevada. Washington, 18G5,
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. xxxi
Stewart (Wm M.), Lecture on Mineral Resources. New York, 1865.
Stewart (Wm M.), The Silver Question. San Francisco 1885, also MS.
Stockton (Cal.), Evening Mail; Independent.
Stoddard (Wm), Biography. MS.
Stone (W. F.), General View of Colorado. MS.; Land Grants. MS.; Inter-
view with W. F. Stone. MS.
Storey County Records. MS.
Story (Wm), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Strahorn (Robt E.), Gunnison and San Juan. Omaha, 1881; Hand-book of
Wyoming. Cheyenne, 1877; Montana and Yellowstone Park. Kansas
City, 1881; Resources of Montana Territory. Helena, 1879; To the
Rockies and Beyond. Chicago, 1881.
Strait (W. W.), The Pueblos. MS.
Stuart (Granville), Montana as It Is. New York, 1865.
Sturgis (Thomas), The Ute War of 1879. Cheyenne, 1879; Common Sense
View of the Sioux War. Cheyenne, n. d.
Summering in Colorado. Denver, 1874.
Sutro (A.), Advantage, etc., of Deep Drain Tunnel. San Francisco, 1865;
Mmeral Resources of the United States. Baltimore, 1868; The Sutro
Tunnel.
Sutro (Nev.) Independent.
Sutro Tunnel, Bank of Cal. against Sutro Tunnel, Argument and Statement
of Facts.
Sutro Tunnel and Railway to the Comstock Lode, 1873.
Sutro Tunnel Company, Superintendent's Report, 1872; Annual Reports,
1880-82.
Sweetwater Miner.
Syracuse (N. Y.) Journal.
Tabor (Mrs), Cabin Life in Colorado. MS.
Tabor (H. A. W.), Early Days in Colorado. MS,
Tarryall (Colo) Miner's Record.
Taylor (W. S.), Statement. MS.
Telluride (Colo) Journal.
Tenney (E. P.), Colorado and Homes in the New West. Boston, 1880.
Texas Prairie Flower, 1885.
Thomas (John J. ), Colorado Cavalry in the Civil War. MS,
Thomas (L. R.), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Thombs (P. R.), Mexican Colorado. MS,
Thompson (Charles I.), Progress in Colorado. MS.
Thompson (Julius), Statement. MS.
Thompson and West, History of Nevada. Oakland, Cal., 1881.
Thornton (J. Q.), Oregon and California in 1848. New York, 1849.
Tice (J. H.), Over the Plains and on the Mountains, 1872.
Toft (B. A.), Biography. MS.
Tombstone (Ariz.) Epitaph.
Tourists' Hand-Book of Colorado. New Mexico and Utah. n. p., 1885.
Townseud (F. T.), Ten Thousand Miles of Travel. London, 1869.
Travis (Wm), The Ben Butler Mine. MS.
Treaties with Indians. MS.
Tucson (Ariz.) El Fronterizo.
Tucker (Selden H.), Statement. MS.
Tullidge (E. W.), History of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City, n. d.
Tuscarora (Nev.) Times-Review.
Twain (Mark), Roughing It. Hartford, 1874.
Tyler (Daniel), History of the Mormon Battalion. Salt Lake City, 1881.
Unionville (Nev.), Gazette; Humboldt Register; Silver State.
United States Geolog. Explo. of 40th Parallel by Clarence King. Washing-
ton, 1870.
XXXV. AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
UniU'd Ooog. Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (Oeo. W. _\Mieeler);
HuUetiii; Keports ;iiul Various I'uliiicatioiis. \Va«hiiigton 1874, et Be«j.
Uiiitoil SUilo8 (lovcruiiieut Docuiiioats: Accounts; Acts uiitl Kesolutiuus;
Agriculture; Army lU-guhitiuus; Army Metc-i>rol..gKal Register; lianks;
Bureau ot Statistics; Census; Charters ami Cimstitiitmns; Commerce and
Navigation; Commercial Relations; Congressional Directory; Educa-
tion; Kngineers; Finance; In<lian Affiirs; House Kxecntive Documents;
House Journal; House Miscellaneous Documents; House Committee
Reports; Interior; Land-office; I*iws and Treaties; Message and
Documents; Mint Reports; Official Register; Ordinance; Pacific Rail-
road; Patent-office; Postmaater-general; Post-ojHces; Quarterniaster-
(leneral; Revenue; Secretary of War; Senate Kxecutive Documents;
Senate Journal; Senate Miscellaneous; Documents; Senate Committee
Reports; Statutes.
Utali Hand-book of Reference. Salt Lake City, 1884.
Valdes (J. A. J.), Biographical Sketch. MS.
Valverde y Coces, Diario y Derrotero, 1719.
Van Diest (P. H.), The Orand Island Mining District of Boulder County,
Colora(io. Denver, 1870.
Van Sickle (H.), Utah Desperadoes. MS.
Van Tramp (J. C), Prairie and Rocky Mountain Adventures. St Louis,
18G0.
Vickers (W. B.), in Hayden's Great West, p. 98."
Victor (.Mrs F. F.), River of the West. Hartford, 1870.
Victor (F. F.), in Overland Monthly, August 1809.
Virginia City (Xev.), Chronicle; Occidental; Territorial Enteqirise; Union.
Virginia City (Mont.) Montana Post.
Virginia Mining District Records. MS.
Waite (Mrs C. V.), Adventures in the Far West and Life among the Mor-
mons. Chicago. 1882.
Walker (James A.), Auriculture and Stock-raising in Colorado. MS.
Walla Walla (W. T.) Statesman.
Walters (J. H. E.), Dictation. MS.
Warren in Pacific R. R. Reports, xi. 30.
Washoe City (Nev.) Eastern Slope.
Watkins (John F.), Mining in Colorado. MS.
Webb (E. H.), Salida an<l its Surroundings. MS.
Webb (L.), Statement. MS.
Weis (<J.), Stock-raising in the Northwest. MS.
Wells ((ieorge), Book of Deeils of the White and Murphy Oround. MS.
Wenban (Simeon), Mining Developments. MS.
West Las Animas (Colo) Leader.
Western Monthly. Chicago, 1809.
Weston (Eugene), The Colorado Mines. MS.
Wheeler (Oeorge M.), Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian;
Bulletins, Reports, etc. Washington. 1874, et seq.
Wheeler (Wm H.), Law in Colorado in S. F. Chronicle.
Wheelock (II.), (iuiile and Map of Reese River, etc. San Francisco, 1864.
White (Fred.), Tlic Melvina Mine. MS.
Whittiker's .Milwaukee Monthly Magazine. Milwaukee^ 1872.
Williams (Henry F.), Pacific Tourist and (Juide. New York, 1876.
Williams (Thomas), Dictation. MS.
Wilson (P. S), Dictation. MS.
Winneinucca (Nev.) Silver State.
Winser (H. J.), The Great N.irthwest New York, 18S.1.
Withn.w (Chase), Central City, Colorado, in 1800. MS.
Wolfe (.f. .M), .Mercantile (Juide, Gazetteer, etc. Omaha, 1878.
Wood Brotliers Live Stock Movement. Chicago, 1884.
HISTORY OF NEVADA.
CHAPTER I.
THE GREAT BASIN.
Plain op Evaporation, or Elevated Sink— Its Sitttation — Prominent
Characteristics— The Name Great Basin Inappropriate — A Group
OF Basins — Wonders of the Region — A Trapper's Story — Caves —
Climate — Atmosphere — Aridity — Sand — Storms and Clocd-bursts
— The Mirage — Soil, Configtjration, and Scenery — Rain-fall and
Temperature — Change of Seasons — Altitude and Geologic Forma-
tion— Mountain System — Lakes and Sinks — Rivers — Springs —
Deserts — Plants and Animals— Birds and Fishes — Minerals and
Metals — Soil and Agriculture — ^Nomenclature.
About midway between the Pauam^ Isthmus and
the Arctic Ocean, and midway between the great
Cordillera and the Pacific, lies a broad Plain of Evapo-
ration, or following the popular idea an elevated sink,
the Great Basin it has been called, being almost wholly
rimmed by mountains, though not always and alto-
gether concave, and whose waters have no visible
outlet to the sea. From three to five thousand feet
above the level of the ocean, it extends irregularly
over some nine degrees of latitude and nine of longi-
tude, that is to say from the 34th to the 43d parallel,,
and from the 111th to the 120th meridian, the Wah-
satch and Nevada ranges standing as its eastern and
western bounds, narrowing off between the ranges
north of Salt Lake and the Humboldt Pi ver toward
the Blue Mountains of Oregon, and narrowing likewise
in the south toward the Colorado plateau. Nearly
all of Nevada comes within this compass, and a large
(1)
2 THE GREAT BASIX.
part of TTt^ih, toj^cthcr with smaller portions of Ore-
gon and California. The eastern rim extends through
Utah, which lies between latitude 37° and 42°, and
longitude 109° and 104°, and divides the area almost
equally into two natural sections, one being the dis-
trict of the great basin, and the other the region
drained b}" the Colorado and its tributaries.
One of the most prominent features of the great
basin is that it is so little like a basin. To call it
a platter, a gridiron, or a well-filled cullender, or a
basket of chips would be to apply a more character-
istic designation. When Frdmont gave to the region
this name he had seen the Wahsatch and Nevada
ranges, the two great sides, and he knew something
of the Blue Mountains; but the interior of this vast
circle he had not visited. He was not aware that his
basin was full of mountains, some of them as high as
the rim, completely filling the dish, so that in truth
there is little dish left. It makes no great diflference,
however, what we call a thing, so long as we under-
stand what is meant by the name.
Far more appropriately we might cut up the inte-
rior and enumerate a series of basins, rather than call
it all one basin. There are the two great ranges, how-
ever, which border so great a portion of the area, the
Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, so far ex-
ceeding in length the minor divides, as to give and leave
the impression of oneness, notwithstanding the dis-
tinctiveness of the Great Salt Lake basin, whose low-
est point is 4,170 feet above the sea; of Lake Sevier
basin, 4,690 feet; of Humboldt River basin, 4,147
feet; of Carson River basin, with an altitude at
Carson Lake of 3,840 feet; of Walker River basin,
its lowest point above the sea being 4,072 feet; of
Mojave River basin, 1,150 feet, and so on.
But call it what we may, and we may as well call
it great basin as any other name, the country is full
of peculiarities — I would say wonders, were it true
that one part of the universe is more wonderful than
WONDERS OF THE REGION. 3
another. Its altitude and distance from the ocean, the
aridity of the soil where there is so much water, the
succession of desert and oasis, of mountain and plain — ^^
innumerable basins within basins — and all well sprinkled
with metals; of streams fringed with green foliage,
willows, alder, and cottonwood, of salt-water lakes
and those that are fresh, or nearly so, of hot and cold
springs, of sinks and swamps and mud-flats, of lonely
buttes and rocky chasms, of sulphurous valleys and
delightful sun-bathed summits, not to mention foot-
prints of races and species long gone by, men and
beasts, land animals and sea animals, of which we talk
much and know little. There are elevations of life
and depressions of death, one of the latter literally so
called, Death Valley, one of the dry sand-lakes 00221-
mon in the region through which passes the old trail
from Salt Lake to Los Angeles, a spot seemingly
accursed, forty miles long by twenty broad, and sur-
rounded except at two points by steep mountains.
Wonderful things are said of it, namely, that it is far
below the level of the sea; that it never rains there
and is totally devoid of moisture; that nothing grows
there, not even sage-brush; that it is inhabited only
by horned rattlesnakes and scorpions, and that the
shadow of a bird or wild beast never darkens its white
glaring sands. The quietude of death must indeed be
present, if it be true as stated, that the wagon-tracks
of a party which perished there in 1848 are apparently
as fresh and distinct now as the day they were made.
Many strange stories the old trapper James Bridger
used to tell; for instance, how in the winter of 1830
it began to snow in the valley of the Great Salt
Lake, and the snow fell for seventy days, until the
whole country was white-coated to the thickness of
seventy feet. Vast herds of buffaloes were caught
by this snow, caught and pinched to death, and the
carcasses preserved; and finally, when spring came,
all Bridger had to do was to tumble them into
Salt Lake, and have pickled buffalo enough to feed
\ THE GREAT BASIN.
himself and the whole Ute nation down to the time
of their extermination. And this is why there have
been no buffaloes in that re^^ion since. Another
phenomenon, witnessed only by this keen observer
and most truthful narrator, is that since his arrival
in the country, Bridger Butte has changed consider-
ably its locality.
Caves are more remarkable than crags, I suppose,
because there are fewer of them in the world; and
for the same reason we notice specially stone trees
when we pay but little attention to trees of wood. I
cannot enumerate all the crags in the great cullender,
nor all the natural trees, but I can mention a cave or
two, and tell of a petrified forest. What has been
regarded a rival to the great cave of Kentucky, and
called the mammoth cave of Xevada, and sometimes
IMormon Cave, by reason of historic pretensions given
elsewhere, is situated in the White Mountains, some
twenty miles from Patterson. Through a low open-
ing, requiring a man to stoop to enter it, the visitor
passes twenty feet to a rapidly widening vault, and
thence to a succession of immense chambers with
limestone pendants, or having a roof so high that the
torch-light fails to discover it. He may go a great
distance in this way and still not find his progress
barred. There is a cave near Fort Kuby which dis-
charges quite a stream; another in the Shell Creek
range, one of whose apartments is sixty by eighty
feet in area, and which likewise figures somewhat
in history; another in the mountains east of Carson
River; and 3'et another near Rush Lake. On the
plain, thirty miles or so from the Blackrock Moun-
tains, is a petrified forest, the stumps of solid rock
standing alone amidst the stunted sage brush.
The climate is likewise distinctive. The air is light
and dry, the sun bold and brazen-faced, yet harmless
and kind. There would be moisture enough were it
not so quickly absorbed. The atmosphere, which
CLIMATE. 5
may be called Asiatic, is so light, elastic, and porous
that water seems never to satisfy it; and what the
air does not secure the soil stands ready to absorb.
There are sand-clouds and sand-storms at regular
seasons, and in the southern and western parts of
Nevada frequent cloud-bursts. There is a westerly
wind which prevails in the spring and autumn with
disastrous effect; it is equivalent to the north wind
of California; and so full is the warm air of those
saline particles which floating in it make the mirage,
that often on the deserts and by the salt lakes this
hallucination presents itself.
In the valleys, and especially round the great lakes,
every variety of soil presents itself; likewise through-
out the whole region there is infinite variety of con-
figuration and scenery. But although anomalous, the
climate is very uniform. Though barred by the Sierra
from the sea, the country is nevertheless near enough
to the ocean to feel the general ameliorating effect of
Pacific currents, and yet so isolated and inland as to
share some of the quaHties possessed by the climates
beyond the Rocky Mountains which those west of
the Sierra do not enjoy. There is a marked individ-
uality in the atmosphere about Salt Lake, which so
rapid evaporation tinges with a blue haze, while almost
everywhere else in this region the air is exceedingly
pure and transparent. It is in the spring that the
atmosphere is most fully charged with moisture, the
winters being cold and drier, though the temperature
seldom reaches zero.
The average rain-fall of Utah is twenty inches for
the year, four tenths of which comes in the spring,
one tenth in summer, three tenths in autumn, and
two tenths during winter. The summers of Xevada
are generally hot, and except in the more sheltered
spots the winters are cold. But in the several deep
valleys, though the wind is sometimes strong, and
there is frost everywhere, the fall of snow is light, and
the temperature generally mild. Thus we have here
6 THE GREAT BASIN.
what may properly be called a wet and a dry season,
but the tbruier is not 8o jtronounced as in Calitbrnia,
nor is the dry season wholly dr}'.
Climatic changes are not so abrui)t here as in many
other localities. Seasons glide one into another al-
most imperceptibly. Due warning is given of the
approach of winter by the masses of dark clouds
which come moving slowly over the jilains, and which
hover in the mountains about the higher peaks. An
increasing wind is significant of a gathering storm, and
the winds are often busied several days in sweeping
up a storm, after which they assume some degree of
regularity. S[)ring comes in ^larch, often with snow
or cold rains and wind. April drops some showers,
and even May spurts thunder and lightning between
her smiles. Then comes summer settled and serene.
Over the central, northern, and western portions of
Nevada, the temperature is at 90° at midday, rising
sometimes to 100° to fall at night to 70°. Toward
autumn the heated air becomes giddy, and sends the
dust dancing in whirlwinds over the plains. Thunder
storms are frequent in eastern Nevada from midsum-
mer till autumn.
The basins proper are for the most part ranged
round the edge of the so-called great basin, and are
lower than the central area, whose valleys will average
an altitude of 5,500 feet, while many interior ranges
of mountains assume great height; hence the bottom
of the basin should be pictured in the mind as raised
in the centre; that is as not being of basin-shape at all,
as we have seen; and while around the base of the
rim of the still so-called basin there may be a land of
lakes and sinks and streams, the middle interior is
high-ribbed with compact ranges and narrow valleys.
As to geological formations, the mountiiins between
Utah Lake and the Kobah Valley may be called of
carboniferous origin; thence to the Sierra Nevada,
and over the desert to the Goshuto region, the ground
GEOLOGY. 7
shows signs of igneous action ; while about the Hum-
boldt Mountains the characteristics of the Devonian
age appear. The strata of the sand-stone and siliceous
limestones around the porphyritic and other igneous
rocks composing the Champlin Range seem to have
been much disturbed when these mountains were
made. From this point toward the north and toward
the south-w^est ashy elevations are seen, dark, scorched,
and vitreous, as if the fashioning-fires had not been
long extinguished. Here and there throughout the
whole region post-pliocene formations appear. Lime-
stone predominates in the mountains of Nevada, then
granite, sienite, serpentine, and slate, all marked by
overflows of basaltic trap-rock and trachytic lavas.
Over the blue walls of the Wahsatch toward the
east, outside of the great basin though still in Utah,
we have the great valley of the Colorado and Green
rivers, with the usual mountains, plains, and valleys,
and the more unusual buttes, lines of clifis, outlying
masses of high angular stratified rocks, and deep nar-
row gorges, to whose escarpments the strata of shales
and limestone give a terraced and buttressed appear-
ance.
The region drained by Bear River is for the most
part rugged and sterile; some of the ranges of hills
which divide the country into a succession of parallel
valleys are bare, or covered only with grass, while
over the low mountains are scattered dwarfish pines
and cedars. Here are wide areas void of vegeta-
tion, dreary wastes of rock, with here and there clay
baked by the sun until it resembles stone rather
than soil. Volcanic action is everywhere apparent,
lava and scoriated basalt prevailing, with bituminous
limestone, trap, and calcareous tufa. The lava forma-
tions west of Soda Springs, in whose vicinity rise sev-
eral extinct volcanoes, are worthy of special attention.
In south-eastern Nevada is a volcano basin covered
with lava and scoriae, and having withal a crater-rim
two hundred feet broad and eighty feet deep. Not
8 THE GREAT BASm.
far from the sink of the Humboldt is another
crater. ,
North and cast of the Carson Lake country are
high mountains and intervening jjlains; sout)\ of the
same region, after passing some distance, a gradual
dei)ression occurs, which terminates in Death Val-
ley, four hundred and sixty-four feet below the sur-
face of the ocean.
The Uintah ^fountains are a branch of the Wah-
satch, stretching off toward the east. At the junc-
tion of the Wahsatch and Uintah ranges the gulches
of the summits are high, and filled with never melting
snow; thence the latter range gradually declines
toward the eastern end, where it breaks into little
ridges and hills. Through the Uintah Mountains,
cutting for itself a channel slowly as the mountains
uprose, and which now appears as a series of canons,
runs Green River.
North of the Uintah, Green River continues through
a deep narrow valley or canon about a thousand feet
below the open plain of country yet farther north.
All the watercourses are eroded, and the rocks, com-
posed of hard limestone, laminated shales, and sand-
stones, appear to be the sediments of a lake. To the
west is a stretch of buff maitvaises tenses, with rocks
of shales and sandstone so soft as to be easily rounded
into beautiful forms by the wind and water.
South of the Uintah are many isolated ranges, trend-
ing for the most part to the north-east and the north-
west. There is a district here of low rounded eleva-
tions called the Yellow Hills, whose rocks are yellow
clays and shales, some of the latter of a slate color,
and others pink. " Looking at it from an eminence,"
says Powell, "and in the light of the midday sun, it
appears like a billowy sea of molten goltl." South
«)f this is a stretch of bituminous bad-lands, and then
a series of canons and cliflfs.
The mountain system comprising this region may
MOUNTAIN SYSTEM. 9
be likened in form to a gridiron. Enclosed within
the rim are ranges rising abruptly from the plain,
being at the base from one to twelve miles wide, and
all trending off toward the north, almost always con-
fining their variations between the true and the mag-
netic north. And their distance apart is scarcely
greater than their breadth of base; so that this re-
gion called plains is in truth more a succession of
minor mountains and valleys, the tops of the eleva-
tions alone being anywhere near upon a level. The
length of these ranges is from fifty to one hundred
and fifty miles, and their height two or three thou-
sand feet, though there are peaks in the Goshute
Range five or six thousand feet above the plain, or
ten or eleven thousand above the sea. Floyd, the
highest peak of the Oquirrh Range, is 4,214 above
the plain and 9,074 above the sea. The pass through
the Ungoweah Range is 8,140 feet above the sea.
The Wahsatch Mountains are the meteorological
monarch of Utah, dividing the state into two un-
equal parts, the greater being the eastern. Rising
in the Bear River region, they curve gently toward
the east, passing the eastern borders of Great Salt
and Utah lakes, then sweep round south-west to the
Rio Virgen. Next stretching southward from the
southern end of the Great Salt Lake, in the order
given, are the parallel ranges, the Oquirrh, the Onaqui,
and the Lakeside and Cedar mountains. Then comes
the Great American Desert. After that, entering
Nevada, we have the Goose Creek, Toano, Antelope,
Snake, Cedar, and Mormon line of elevations; next
west the Peoquop, Shell Creek, Ely, Highland, and
Valley ranges; then the Goshute, East Humboldt,
East Ruby, Eagon, Butte, White Pine, and Hiko
line, and so on through eight or ten other lines and
lateral ridges until the entire state is covered and the
great Sierra Nevada reached.
The mountains of Nevada are made mostly of
granite, limestone, slate, sienite, and porphyry, dome-
10 THE GREAT BASIN.
sliaped or with otherwise rounded contour, but some-
times sliooting up in i)yraniidal spires.
The first explorers of this country, namely the
fur-hunters and emigrants, were warned by the natives
to avoid alike the entanglements of the deep canons
leading northward from the river discovered by Og-
den, and the heart of the arid desert which no man
had yet dared to penetrate. Both the savages and
the emigrants were right in bending their trail to the
course of the Humboldt, as subsequent surveys proved,
though not altogether for the reason named. Besides
waterless plains there are many minor ridges running
north and south which must be passed over or round
by one travelling straight across from Utah Lake to
Carson Lake.
Were there fewer mountains there w^ould be more
deserts; for besides breaking withering blasts, the
mountains act as reservoirs, holding about their sum-
mits masses of snow, enough to fill a hundred lakes
and rivers, portions of which are slowly melted
during summer, and distributed over the parched
plains.
There are many places in both Nevada and Utah
which show signs of having been once the beds of vast
bodies of water. One of these is the region round
Truckee Meadows and Steamboat Valley, including
Washoe and Carson valleys, where there is to-day
much good arable land which may be watered through-
out the season from the Truckee and other streams.
At Great Salt Lake, Stanbury counted on the slope
of the ridge thirteen benches, one above the other,
each of which had been successively the border and
level of the lake. The highest of these water-marks
is two hundred feet above the valley, which is itself
now well above the lake. Here then was an inland
ocean, whose islands are now mountain tops. Thus
as this whole vast mountainous interior was once
beneath the surface of one body of water, so we may
GREAT SALT LAKE. 11
safely conclude that later there were many inland seas
and lakes now dead.
Great Salt Lake is in several respects one of the
most remarkable bodies of water in the world. Its
equal, approached perhaps in Asia, is found nowhere
in America. It is in form an irregular parallelogram,
some seventy miles in length, and from twenty to
thirty in width. Stanbury calls it three hundred
leagues in circumference and thirty in breadth. It
contains twenty-two per cent of solid matter, that is
to say 20.196 common salt, and 1.804 sulphate of
soda; it is six and a half times denser than the ocean.
Where the water has been and retired, wagon loads of
dry salt may be shovelled up. The surface is ordina-
rily quite motionless, though at times it is stirred into
briny foam. It is not inhabited by fish. The shores
are bare and forbidding ; its airs lack the invigorating
qualities of ocean breezes. It receives the waters of
Bear River and some smaller streams at the northern
end, and several from the east and south. The lake
has periods of rising and receding, being ruled some-
what by the rain-fall in the regions whose drainage it
receives. On the whole its area seems to be increasing
rather than diminishing, owing perhaps to increased
moisture in the atmosphere caused by civilized occu-
pation, and resulting at once in greater falls of rain
and less evaporation.
A promontory, fifteen hundred or two thousand feet
in height, juts into the lake from the north. It is
some ten miles in leno^th, the northern end beinor com-
posed of sandstone, shales, and hmestone; while at
the southern end, instead of limestone, there is a sur-
face rock of conglomerate, with bowlders of serpentine
and porphyry. All along the base of the promontory
the water springs forth, sometimes pure and fresh, but
often highly impregnated with salt and sulphur. The
rivulets scarcely reach the lake, however, before they
sink into the intervening sand and mud-flat, which is
W THE GREAT BASIN.
about two miles in width, and wholly void of vegeta-
tion. Several islands break the surface of the dense
water. The largest, Antelope Island, is a long rocky
eminence, three thousand feet above the water, six-
teen miles long, and from three to five wide. It is
connected with the mainland by a sand-Hat which is
usually dry in summer.
On Castle Island, sometimes called Fr(5mont Island,
eight or nine hundred feet high, and ftjurteen miles in
circumference, is a place where through the argillace-
ous schist three holes have been worn, and u\)on the
summit stands like a ruined castle an oblong rock
whence the island derives its name. There are no
trees or water upon this island, but on its sides grows
grass in which the blue heron lays its eggs; and the
wild onion and parsnip are found there in profusion;
also a highly nutritious bulbous root the natives use,
called scgo. Sage near the summit attains remarkable
size, being sometimes eight feet high, Mhile the stalk
is six inches in diameter. Then there are Stanbury,
Carrington, Gunnison, and Hat islands which were
explored and named by Stanbury, the first after him-
self, the second in honor of his Mormon friend, and
the third after his lieutenant. Hat Island was named
by his men by acclamation.
Utah Lake is a magnificent body of water, all the
more acceptable in this arid and salt-stricken region
from being fresh, having an outlet through the Kiver
Jordan into the Great Salt Lake.
After the Great Salt Lake, in size and importance,
come Pyramid Lake and Walker Lake, the 6rst lying
near the eastern rim, and the other two near the
western. Indeed, most of the great lakes are at the
base of the two great ranges of mountains. The
size, shape, and relative positions of P^Tamid and
Walker lakes are noticeable, the former being thirty-
two by nine and a half miles, and the latter thirty
miles in length by about nine in width. The shore
of Pyramid Lake is in places rocky, elsewhere pre-
LAKE SYSTEM. 13
senting a beach like the sea. The large granite
bowlders which lie scattered about the border have a
calcareous coating from an inch to a foot in thick-
ness. There are precipices on the side next the
Sierra, which rises precipitously in places three thou-
sand feet above the surface. During winter the lake
is sometimes almost obscured by storms of snow,
which raise the waves six feet high and send them in
foaming surf along the narrow beach, in good imita-
tion of the ocean.
Not a single lake in the great basin has a visible
outlet. Pyramid and Walker lakes are called fresh-
water sheets, though the former at least holds in
solution a little salt. The waters of Carson Lake
are slightly alkaline. Tahoe, a picturesque sheet
thirty miles long, and from eight to fifteen wide,
though partially in Nevada is not within the basin
proper, but rather perched upon the rim, a mile and
a quarter above the ocean level ; its waters are purely
fresh, very deep, and exceedingly clear, and have out-
let by way of the Truckee River into Pjrramid Lake.
The small streams flowing intp Tahoe would not be suf-
ficient to sustain the volume of water throughout the
year without the aid of the springs hidden beneath the
surface. Three varieties of trout here make their home,
some of which attain a weight of nearly thirty pounds.
Lake Winnemucca is a shallow basin stretched be-
side Pyramid Lake ; at times it is nearly dry, like the
mud-lakes to the north which during the dry season
are mere alkali flats.
Walker Lake is an irregular fresh-water sheet, fed
by Walker Piver, and containing fish. To the south-
west in California is Lake Mono, and a little beyond
a salt pond about twelve miles across, in which fish
cannot live. The borders of Columbus, Fish, and
Teal lakes, now nearly dry, are bordered by marshes.
Indeed we must not too closely follow the map in
estimating the areas covered by water in Utah and
Nevada, as many of the spots so represented are mere
14 THE GREAT BASIX.
nnul-flats, and covered only occasionally if at all.
The term mud lake comes in this wise. Over many
of the valleys and jdains of Nevada is spread an im-
pervious surface of stiff clay. This surface is in
places level, and a;^rain plate-shaped, and in the de-
pressions water gathers during the rains to the depth
perhaps of a foot or two, to he evaporated when the
sun comes out. Evaporation accomplished, a thin
argillaceous deposit is left, beneath wiiich the ground
is usually miry. Then there are lakes like the Hum-
boldt and Carson whose waters rise during the rains
and overspread a wide area, receding during the sub-
sequent evaporation leaving the same result, namely,
mud-tiats. Round some of the lakes and along some
of the rivers, notably the Humboldt, are what were
originally tule lands, which being readily drained are
converted into rich meadows.
The term sink was applied by the early immigrants,
who followed the Humboldt River to its end, where,
as they supposed, it sank into the ground; so that
Humboldt Lake was first called the sink of the Hum-
boldt, or rather of Ogden River. The part j^layed by
evaporation was not at first fully considered. There
is still the sink of the Carson, which takes the waters
of Carson River after a rest at Carson Lake. Both
Humboldt and Carson lakes are shallow; the former
is fifteen miles long and eight or ten wide, and the
latter is ten miles in diameter. The waters of both
contain salt and alkali. The sink of the Carson is
surrounded by sloughs, tule swamps, and sandy wastes,
wide over which the brackish water spreads in winter,
contracting again during summer. The waters of
Washoe Lake are alkaline; they spring from beneath,
and have an outlet into the Truckee.
The rivers of Nevada are not large, but they are
many and serviceable; and though as a rule swift
running there are few important water-falls. They
all send their waters in the end to some lake or so-
EIVER SYSTEM. 15
called sink. Among the more notable rivers here
and in Utah are the Humboldt, three hundred miles
in length; Bear River, two hundred and fifty miles
long; Sevier, Spanish, Jordan, Timpanogos, Malade,
and Weber, springing from the Wahsatch range, and
the Carson, Truckee, Walker, Owen, and Mojave
having their source in the Nevada range. These are
from thirty-five to one hundred and twenty-five miles
in length, from four to forty yards in width, and from
one to twenty feet in depth, varying with locality and
the season. Precipices and canons mark the course
of many of them, even of the smaller streams —
instance Pumbar Creek.
The water flowing through Carson Lake outlet,
leading into the sink of the Carson, fifty feet w^ide and
three or four deep, although of a suspicious milky cast,
is nevertheless pronounced good. Walker Piver, one
hundred yards wide and five or ten feet deep, is of a
yellow color, something like that of the Missouri; to
the taste the water is soft and palatable. The banks
in places are grassy, besides growing willows and cot-
tonwoods.
The Timpanogos is a bold, dashing stream, from
thirty to a hundred feet in width, and two feet deep.
The water is beautifully clear and pure, and no wonder
the trout delight in it. Of the same character is Weber
River, twenty or thirty yards wide, with its thickets
of willow, and its groves of cottonwood and maple.
In the progress of westward-marching empire few
streams on the North American continent have played
a more important part than the Humboldt River of
Nevada. Among the watercourses of the world it
can lay claim neither to great beauty nor to remark-
able utility. Its great work was to open a way, first
for the cattle train and then for the steam train,
through a wilderness of mountains, through ranges
which otherwise would run straight across its course.
It is the largest river of this region, and the only one
hereabout running from east to west. Most of the
18 THE GREAT BASIN.
others arc \vitli the mountains, north and south. The
source of the Iluniholtlt is in the Goose Creek range
seven thousand feet above tlie ocean, and it follows
a south-westerly course to Humboldt Lake where it
ends.
After leaving the Humboldt, the Truckee River
proved the next best assistant to the emigrant, direct-
ing him as it did by the best route over the steep
Sierra. It was rugged and difficult enough, but it
was the best. Carson River, coming in from the
south-west, has served a good purpose in floating wood
down to treeless districts below. Next in size to the
Truckee of Nevada are Walker, Quin, and Amargoso
rivers, which pursue their tortuous courses for a hun-
dred or a hundred and fifty miles, the latter disappear-
ing in Death Valley. Las Vegas and Rio Vi'rgen are
tributaries of the Rio Colorado.
The drainage of Utah is divided by the Wahsatch
Mountains, the Colorado drainage being on the east
side, and the desert drainage on the west. Green
River in many places flows over a narrow bed be-
tween walls of white and red sandstone. From its
mouth the Colorado cuts for its waters a canon to the
ocean. Deep Creek, on the west side, and which
sinks at Curlew, is an important stream for ]jurp(jses
of irrigation. The Jordan, called also the L'tah, car-
ries the waters of Utah Lake rapidly down the in-
cline to Great Salt Lake, nearly losing itself, however,
before reaching its destination. The little streams
of melted snow coming down from the mountains are
subject to considerable fluctuations, consequent ujion
the quantity of snow and the progress of its melting.
The hot and cold springs are almost innumerable.
The rattlesnake chooses as a resort those in Round
Prairie, in the vicinity of Rattlesnake Creek. In
one of these springs the thermometer marks a tem-
perature of 109° 50'. Time was when the snakes held
full possession of this watering-place. The springs of
SPRIXGS AND DESEET& 17
Bear River are many of them impregnated with divers
minerals. Twenty Wells a valley is called having cold
springs from half a foot to several feet in diameter,
in which the water rises to the surface of the ground
as fast as it is drawn out. From several large crev-
ices in a low mound a mile long, and seven hundred
feet in length, emerges the sulphuric vapor which gives
the name to Steamboat Springs, the surgings of the
boiling water being heard below. Sixty columns of
steam may be counted on a clear cool morning, rising
to a height of fifty feet. There are also Steamboat
Springs in Utah, on Bear Biver, and hot springs all
along the western base of the Wahsatch Mountains.
In most of these waters are found sulphate of mag-
nesia, carbonate of lime, chloride of sodium, and sul-
phate of lime. Near \yalker Biver is a spring having
a temperature of 165° at the surface.
From a basin ten feet in diameter within another
basin ninety feet in diameter, near By ram id Lake,
comes with sulphuric smell a thick dark hot fluid
which looks like tar. The rocks lying within the
outer basin are covered to the thickness of nearly a
foot with a black resinous substance.
There are deserts and deserts, not to mention dry
valleys, alkaline valleys, and the like. There are the
Smoke Creek desert, the Granite Creek desert, the
Black Bock desert, and the Sage desert of northern
Nevada, and the large deserts in the south. West
and south of Great Salt Lake stretches the Great
American desert for a distance of a hundred miles, a
flat surface, declining slightly northward toward the
lake, and broken occasionally by isolated mountains.
It is a spot shunned alike by man and beast; even the
birds seem loath to fly over it. Whatever of soil
there may be is of an argillo-calcareo-arenaceous char-
acter, in which appears a small growth only of arte-
misia and greasewood. Near the lake the lower and
yet more level and salt-covered ground, which was
IS THE GREAT BASIN.
once part of the lake bottom, is little more than a
mud-liat, on uliich wagons cannot safely venture.
Indeed, there is little doubt tliat this whole desert
area was at one time submerged.
Indigenous plants and animals are few, not how-
ever I'rom lack of possibilities. ^lark the prophecy:
the valleys of this whole region will onu day be rich
fields and gardens, supporting flourishing populations.
At some seasons of the year the flora of Nevada
appears to be little else than sage-brush and grease-
wood; at other seasons hills and plains are brilliant
with flowering herbage. Large tracts are wholly
destitute of vegetation. Among things man may eat,
besides insects in abundance and some reptiles, are
pine-imts, currants, and gooseberries. Then there is
a sugar coming fi-om a kind of cane gi'owing in the
tule swamps al)out Humboldt and Carson lakes, while
in the neighboring hills flax and tobacco are sometimes
met with. In the south there are the cactus and
mezquite.
On most of the mountain ridges of Utah are dwarf
cedars; mahogany is likewise frequent, that is to say
mountain n)ahogany as the people call it, and also
pine, balsam, and ash. At a distance the mahogany
of these mountains looks like an appletree with a live-
oak leaf Along the Timpanogos and its tributaries
are found l)ox-elder, cotton wood, and oak; willow,
sugar-maple, and birch; in the mountains are pine,
fir, and juniper, and in the valleys are red and black
currants, service-berries, and a blue berry called the
mountain grape. The rolling highlands between
Weber liiver and Salt Lake are heavily timbered, and
supp(jrt in |»laces a dense undergrowth. The Sevier
district also abounds in timber. Along the Colorado
as it leaves Utah are low and stunted pines on river
banks so high that the Spaniards who were first there
fancied themselves amidst the clouds; even during
suunner the cold wind son)etimes sweeps in from the
north in a manner most uncomfortable. The streams
FLORA AXD FAUXA. 19
of Nevada are bordered by cottonwood, willow, birch,
and wild cherry, with here and there a mixture of
wild vines, and rose and berry bushes.
On the hills of Xevada are two kinds of bunch
grass, which may be distinguished as coarse and fine,
the former being in smaller and more scattered bunches
and seeking the lower levels. Both are very nutri-
tious, the finer variety bearing an oat-shaped seed.
Clover is sometimes found on the river banks.
Washoe valley is a natural meadow; so is Mountain
Meadow, the latter a plateau seven or eight thousand
feet high, walled by mountains, watered by melted
snow, and carpeted with luxuriant grass. Utah pre-
sents a great variety of grasses.
Into the arms of the commonwealth in some way
should be twined the artemisia, or wild sage, so
abundant is it everywhere throughout this region.
Beside it place some greasewood and lynogris, under
which last let a rabbit be seen. This aromatic shrub
clothes the land in gray, which mingling with the
green of the greasewood bronzes all nature.
Among mammals may be mentioned the bighorn,
or Rocky Mountain sheep, the great-tailed fox, the
mink, ermine, badger, wolverene, and muskrat. There
are sage-hens and hares to shoot; a few coyotes may
be heard on the hills. In the reptile line, besides
rattlesnakes there is not much to boast of but horned
toads and spotted lizards.
Curlews, pelicans, and ducks frequent the region
round Carson Lake. Myriads of geese and ducks,
with swans, cover the surface of the Great Salt Lake
at certain seasons, there shrieking their discordant
notes, while at other times and places there is the
stillness of the grave, a dead sea indeed. There are
also on the lake blue herons, white brant, cormorants,
and gulls, which lay their eggs in the crevices on the
islands. Other birds might be mentioned as frequent-
ing these and other parts of the great basin, such as
the hawk, and burrowing owl, the long-winged blue-
20 THE GREAT BASIN.
bird, the titmouse, lark, snow-bird, finch, woodpecker,
kill-deer, sajjje-coek, crane, bittern, and so on.
Fine larj^e trout abound in the iresli-water lakes;
in Carson Ijake are fish of a sinalli-r kind, notiibly
chubs and mullets. In Reese Kivcr trout are found
two and a halt" pounds in weight. Of four-lej^^j^ed rep-
tiles, and insects, there is j)resent the usual variety.
In that section of Nevada of which Carson Lake
is the centre, the mineral deposits are the wonder of
the world. Not to mention the silver veins of the
Comstock lode, whose history in a sense and during
an epoch is the history of Nevada, there are salt
marshes, borax beds, and chalk, soda, and sulphur
beds almost without end. The waters of North
Soda Lake which cover an area of 400 acres to a
depth of 270 feet contain thirty-three per cent of
soda. Coal is likewise there, and peat beds, and
quicksilver. The sulphur and cinnabar deposits of
Steamboat Springs have attracted much attention.
In Veatch canon is magnesia; in the Kuby Kange are
mica mines; south-east from Pine Grove is a valley
of salt; east of the Rio Virgen are salt blutfs; in the
Peavine district is copper; a mineral wax in southern
Utah is mentioned; Utah has also copper, bismuth,
graphite, alum, and gypsum.
Coal has been found in the vicinity of the Timpa-
nogos River where there is a stream called Coal
Creek; and on Weber River iron, coal, chalk, and
gold exist in quantities. Then there are the scores
of districts on either side of the river Jordan, between
Great Salt and Utah lakes, containing names world-
famous, and significant of precious metals; and in the
regions of Green and l^ear rivers, in the Juab Valley,
and all along down the Wahsatch Range to the Se-
vier country are vast coal fields, and on to the south-
west, which region is thickly .studded with cedar and
bullion cities, sulphur s])rings, salt lakes, coal canons,
and granite, iron, and silver mountains.
There is iron and other mineral wealth south of
MINERAL AXD ALLUVIAL LAXDS. 21
'Filmorei'in the Elko district are gold, silver, lead,
antimony, coal, and mineral soap; in the Esmeralda
•region silver, gold, borax, salt; the Eureka district
has its Sulphur range and Diamond range of moun-
tains, and its mines, mining companies, and mills with-
out end.
To the north agriculture has somewhat usurped the
place of mining. Wheat, barley, oats, rye, and pota-
toes grow abundantly, as well as berries and fruit.
There are good grazing lands, and stock-raising has
assumed considerable proportions. Antimony and
sulphur have attracted attention, and many gold and
silver mines have been worked. Gold, silver, copper,
lead, and antimony are found in the Battle Mountain
country, and in the Pioche district are many famous
mines. Round Pyramid Lake mines have been opened,
and Esmeralda, Eureka, Reese River, and White Pine
have long been terms synonymous with great wealth.
In a word, throughout the entire length and breadth
of the great basin mineral and metalliferous deposits
abound, the largest veins thus far having been found
in high altitudes; and who shall tell whether the half
of them have been yet discovered.
This country though sometimes called desert is by
no means all desert. There are many valleys, such
as Carson, Walker, Rush, Ruby, Pleasant, Steptoe,
Antelope, and Crosman, portions of which are good
for cultivation. The altitude of Steptoe Valley is
C,146 feet, while the lower part of Carson Valley is
3,840 feet above the sea. The higher valleys grow
roots, cereals, and the more hardy plants, while in
Carson Valley and in the region of Great Salt Lake,
and elsewhere, garden vegetables flourish. And when
I see so much of this earth which was at first pro-
nounced worthless for man afterward placed under
tribute, and made to bloom and bring forth, I hesitate
before I wholly condemn any portion of it. Water
transforms the sage-covered alkaline soil into an Eden,
ft THE GREAT BASIN.
and water abounds on every side if only it may be
utilized. Nevertheless, there are here some desert
Bpots which will never be reclaimed — instance the
ret,aon between Carson Lake and the Sedaye Moun-
tains, and that extending from Simpson Springs in
the Champlin Mountains to Sulphur Springs at the
eastern base of the Goshute Mountains.
One cause of the barrenness of certain tracts in
Utah and Nevada is the rapidity with which water
is absorbed after it comes down from the mountains.
I have observed that the lakes and rivers are gen-
erally at the base of mountains, where likewise, of
course, are found the fertile spots, while the deserts
are somewhat removed from high elevations. As a
rule the mountain streams disappear before finding
another stream; the thirsty earth drinks them up;
and thus are irrigated patches along the foothills,
which are oases, as compared with the unwatered
plain, growing coarse grain and shrubs.
Significant names are White Valley and Alkali
"Valley; but these in reality are scarcely more efflor-
escent than the margins of Steptoe and ]Meadow
creeks, and of Reese and Walker rivers. At a little
distance the appearance there is as if the ground was
covered with pure snow, which, bordering the gen-
erally bronzed aspect, produces a new scenic effect.
It is said that the alkali poisons vegetation and ren-
ders worthless the soil ; but to this an antidote may
yet be found. It does not seem to injure the water
of running streams, though wells dug under it are
often worthless. There is, nevertheless, much good
agricultural land along Walker River, as well as on
the banks of the Truckee and Quin.
As in much of the water, so in most of the soil,
there is a little salt, this being the result of universal
confinement. Often it is found, as at the Malade
River, that the lowlands are rich and moist, while the
higher plains are dry and gravelly. Then again there
are large tracts like that westward from the ^lalade.
AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES. 23
where the land is poor and with no water but a few
brackish springs. East of Utah Lake is a strip of
good land from three to ten miles wide; and over the
mountains broad fertile tracts are found along the
borders of Green River and its tributaries. In the
valleys about the Carson sink is much good land,
while the foothills bordering the deserts afford food
for numerous herds. Washoe and Steamboat valleys
offer great advantages to the farmer and stock-raiser.
Combined with agriculture in this section are the
mining and timber interests.
The Jordan "Valley is low, yielding but little water,
though most of it may be irrigated from the Jordan
River. Wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, and the vine
grow well here. At the northern end, near the
great lake, are extensive saleratus flats, and on the
border of the valley many springs of brackish water.
The land in Tuilla Valley is much of it too strongly
impregnated with alkali to permit production.
Apples grow in the valley of the Great Salt Lake,
and also peaches, apricots, and melons; but wheat is
the great staple, from forty to seventy bushels to the
acre being sometimes produced. It is only in the
warmer valleys that corn is raised, but barley and
oats thrive elsewhere. There would be great pas-
toral possibilities but for lack of means for the pres-
ervation of stock in winter; such at all events is the
complaint, but in more rigorous climates than this
large herds are frequently raised.
In regard to nomenclature, I will mention here the
origin of a few names, leaving that of others to
appear during the progress of this history. The ori-
gin of the word Utah I have given in a note at the
end of the second chapter of the History of Utah.
The word Nevada, in Spanish signifying 'covered
with snow,' 'white as snow,' 'snow-fall,' is borrowed
of course for the naming of this state from the moun-
tain range upon its western border. Skull Valley, in
24 THE GREAT BASIN.
the Great Salt Lake desert, was so called from the
skulls of Goslmtes whose bodies had been buried in
springs, according to their custom. Captain Simpson
named a valley after George H. Crosman, deputy
quartermaster-general; a peak in the Oquirrh Moun-
tjiiiis, Floyd, in honor of the secretary of war; Bean,
and Jicese, from whom comes Reese River, at first
called New River, were long residents, and served
as guides for Simpson and others; Shell Valley was
.so called from being covered with shale. Simpson
named a stream after Lieutenant ]\Iarmaduke, of the
United States army, a stream and canon after Lieu-
tenant J. L. Kirby Smith, his assistant, a valley
after Captain I. C. Woodruff, a creek for Lieutenant
Putnam; a pass, creek, and canon he called Gibral-
tar. He named Dryflat Valley, Alkali Valley, Black
Mountains, Edward, Clay, McCarthy, and Dodge
creeks, Fountain, Lee, and Barr springs, Phelps Val-
ley, and many others, mostly after his men, com-
paratively few of which names have been retained.
Steptoe Valley is from Colonel Steptoe, of the United
States army; while all that is Carson comes of course
from Kit Carson, the famous frontiersman. There
was a class of path and pass finders, such as Hastings,
Beckwourth, and others, whom the readers of this
history will well know. The aboriginal names will be
easily recognized.
In the northern part of Rush Valley is a small lake
filled with rushes which gave th© place the name.
"Mount Davidson was called Sun peak by the early
settlers, who thereby fixed in the imagination a high
})()int touched l)y the sun's rays. Later the name of
an eminent scientist was very properly substituted.
The name and naming of Lake Tahoe have first
and last caused no little discussion. In his report of
1845-G Fremont calls this sheet Mountain Lake, but
on his map of 1848 he lays it down as Lake Bonpland.
There were those who thought to do John Bigler
further honor than making him governor of Califor-
NOMENCLATURE. 25
nia, by setting on foot the name Lake Bigler. Noth-
ing could have been in worse taste — particularly when
we consider that only a portion of the lake belongs to
California — than in applying to a liquid so beautifully
clear and cool the name of one who so detested water.
A legislature might make the name legal, but no stat-
ute-book could render the proceeding reputable. The
Indian name, always the most appropriate, in this in-
stance the most beautiful and most applicable that
could be devised — Tahoe, 'big water' — the lake has
been fortunate enough finally to secure.
CHAPTER II.
EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
1540-1833.
Nkar Approach of Coronado's Expedition, and Especially of Pedeo
DE To BAR — Party of Spaniards under Anza — Wanderings of
Father Francisco Garces — Peter Font's Journal and Map —
Mythical Streams — Other Ancient Maps — Approach of Domin-
OUEZ AND EsCALANTE TO NEVADA— PeTER SkEEN OgDEN FOR THE
Hudson's Bay Company— Discovery of Mary or Ogden River —
Advent of Free Trappers — Henry, Ashley, Bridger, and Green —
Expedition to California of Jedediah S. Smith— Nevada Trav-
ersed from West to East— Influx of Trapper-s from the NoiiTH —
The Wolfskill Expedition — Parties under Nidever, Filvpp,
and Wyait — Encounter with the Savages — Joseph Walker's
Visit to California and Return — Ill-treatment of Indians —
Meek's Statement — Something of Carson and Beckwourth.
In my History of Utah and elsewhere I make men-
tion of the visit of Pedro de Tobar, of Coronado's
expedition of 1540, to the Moqui villages, then called
Tusayan, where he heard of a large river to the north
and west. I have told how, when Tobar returned
to Cibola, or Zuni, where the army rested, Captain
Garcia Lopez de Cdrdenas set out with twelve men
to explore said river. Some say the direction he took
from Moqui was westerly; some intimate it was to
the north of west; I am inclined to the latter view.
In either event it is not probable that the territory
now called Nevada was entered, or that any portion
of it was seen by the members of that expedition,
though .such discovery is possible.
There may have been expeditions into the country
of the Yutas from Cibola, or Zuni, from Moqui, or
from the country of the Mojaves, of which there is no
CORONADO A2fD CAEDENASl
record. After the occupation of New Mexico by the
Spaniards, excursions in every direction were com-
mon; so that it is unsafe to say of any one of them
that it was the first. It is true that in making and
placing upon record an expedition of any considerable
importance, any other important excursion then known
to have taken place at some former period would
be likely to receive mention; and, indeed, was often
mentioned.
Pkobable Route of Cardenas,
The first European to enter within the present
limits of Nevada of whom we now have knowledge,
and without doubt in my mind absolutely the first to
enter, was Father Francisco Garces, of the order of
St Francis, who set out from Sonora in 1775 with a
party under Colonel Anza for California, and who
stopped at the junction of the Colorado and Gila to
explore for a mission site. Of the expedition to Cali-
fornia was Father Pedro Font who wrote a narrative
of it, and drew a map which included not only his
^
EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
own waiulerini^s l»ut tliose of Oarces.^ If Garcds is
riu'lit ill liis ivc-k()iiiii«,% and Font's map is correct, the
friar was in Xevacla at the time.
The month of January 177G was occupied in estab-
lisliinu^ a residence on the spot wliere later stood Fort
Yuma, the i-xumination of the ranehfiia of San liable,
Pa DUE Font's Map, 1777.
below on the river, which was found to be a suitable
site for a mission. In February he visited the Yam-
ajabs, that is to say the Mojaves, arriving on the
' These wjinilerings are «le8if,niatcd by dotted lines. f^eeAiuui, Pinrio, MS.,
198 ut Hcq.; I-oiit'x Juiininl, MS., 4.'» et seq. ; Anicirit/i, Crdii. .Strd/., 4«4 et
Betj.; //iV. Cat., i. 27.H-8, tliis Bcries.
» 'AcroHH a sierni to S.into Angul Springs 34° 31' (in Chc-nu-hnevcs couu-
tr>'); <'l N. K. and n. w.; 71 N. N. K. acrosa ii sierra to VutM.ij.al> nation, wlioso
ninclKTias, 1^ l»:i«i<in, were acrouB the river (35 on Font's map).' JJi«l. CaL,
i. 273, note, this series.
TRAVELS OF GAECfiS. 29
west bank of the river nearly opposite their village on
the 28th.3
Garces did not cross the river at this time, but two
thousand people of a nature superior* to that of the
Yumas came to him on the west side. "I showed
them a picture of the virgin," says the friar, "and
they w^ere well pleased, but the picture of the damned
they thought it sorrowful to see." The Yamajabs
spoke of their neighbors and enemies, on the north-
east the Yavipais-cuercconaches, on the east the
Yaguallapais, and on the south the Yalchedunes. Be-
fore penetrating farther these parts the friar deter-
mined to visit his brother priests at San Gabriel.
Some of the Yamajabs accompanied him, and the
month of March was chiefly occupied in the journey
west.
On the 9th of April Garces set out from San
Gabriel and proceeded by wa}^ of San Fernando Val-
ley to the Tulare Valley, whence he crossed to the
Mojave River, and returned to his former position on
the Colorado, after having traversed as discoverer a
wide extent of country. Garces then took up his east-
ward line of exploration which extended to the Moqui
country as elsewhere explained.
The people inhabiting this part of Nevada, and
located to the north of the Yamajabs, are named on
Font's map the Chemeguabas, and north-east of these
the Payachas, and the Baoniora. Two large rivers
toward the north-west are likewise given on Font's
map, both flowing from Xevada through the Sierra
into California. Garces did not explore these rivers
but was told of them by the natives when in the
^ For detail of the route from the mouth of the Gila to the Mojave country,
which was along the west bank of the Colorado, see Hist. CaL, i. -275, note.
*See Native Racex, i. 477 et seq., this series. 'Esta gente es muy sana y
robusta, las mujeres las mas agraciadas delrio. . .ellos dicen que son muy fuer-
tes, especialmente en aguantar la hambre y sed.' Diario y derrotero que sigidd
el M. R. P. Fr. Francisco Garces en su viaje Jtecho desde Octubre de 1773 hasta
17 de Setiembre de 1776, al Rio Colorado para reconocer las naciones que habitan
sus mdrgenes, y d los pueblos del Moqui del Nuevo-Mexico. In Doc, Hist. Alex.,
86rie ii. torn. i. 225-374.
30
EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
Tulare Valley, and he in turn reported them to Father
Font. Tlu V are named in the map " Rio de San
Phelipc," and ** Rio de (jue se viene noticia por el
P. Garces," and are fuobaljly the origin of tlio San
Buenaventura River myth. (iarecH states: " I wa«
also told that hence seven days' journey to the north
_^ / \ V f.S.An.lrew 8.1 <»— X/ ^.^. or _ \
^ </ \ ^\ .,. ,^. . „ NEW ^Ncw Mrxko^^---N_.A^^_
■ C "^ ^ t.^^ _(JltKNAiJA k^ L. 1
Map bv John Hakkis, 1(305.
was a great river'^ running north-east and connecting
with the San Felipe, the latter diviiling, ami one of
* The friar thought this might Ikj the Saii .Ton<|uin, emptying into 5>an
Francinco IJuj-, whidi indei-d it wa«, or juThapH it wa« a branch of tlu- Cohnn-
bia. ' Kstc gran rio fiue cone A Ioh .'{(i j»uftle hit il (|iU' entni al puorto da
San Fraucinco en la California, 6 al brazu del rio Colombia.' JJiario, in Ifoe.
J1%»1. Mex., »«'rie ii. tom. i. '2^ft.
SOME OLD MAPS.
31
the branches flowing toward the north. They gave
me to understand that the first was three times larger
than the other. They wanted me to go and see it,
saying that all along the way were good people. This
I greatly desired to do. They estimated the distance
to be from thirty-five to forty leagues, a trip of seven
days, as they march slowly on account of their fre-
quent bathing and unprotected feet. I concluded not
to go, having no present to give. Here runs the
Sierra San Marcos® to the north-west, and between
GrANATA l^OVA.
this sierra and that of the San Luis can be seen vast
plains which without doubt are the tulares mentioned
by Father Font in his diary and map; this Sierra of
San Marcos being the one seen by him at the distance
of forty leagues, white with snow, and east of the
tulares ;^ and although the distance is not so great, the
mountains open gradually, so that farthest away can
be seen only the Sierra of San Marcos."^
8 On Font's map the mountains north of the 'Eio de quien se viene noticia
por el P. Garc(5s' are called the Sierra Nevada, and south of that stream and
down to the 'Rio de San PheUpe' the Sierra de San Marcos.
' 'Dij6ronme tambien, que siete dias de camino al norte habia una agua ^
EARUEST EXPLORATIONS.
There are many curious old maps showinj^ the gen-
eral concej)ti<»n of tlic country ahout that time, or
rather show iii!4 the al^ility of map-makers for clrawinj^
on their ima;;inati(»n, which I mi^Hit reproduce; and,
indeed, many of them have been ^nven in various
volumes of this hi.storical series, notably in the His-
tory of t/ic Nort Incest Const, in connection with an
elucidation of the {.jreat Northern Mystery. A map
drawn by John Harris in 1G05 seems to give the
name Quivira to a vast region which embraces Ne-
Utah and Nevada, 1795.
no muy grandc, que corria del nordeste y bo juntaba con el de San Felipe,
porquc »'-8te, coino dirii, cuaiido so divide en doa lirazus llcva el uno el niinbo
del nortc; y dalian Ji entender que el priniero era tres veces mayor que el
otro; querian que fuera & Terlo, que p<jr UAo aquel caniino liahia buona gentc.
Yo lo ileHuiba muclio, porque cunMidcraW de diHtancia ha«ta tivinta y cinco
6 cuarenta leguas, puea auntjue ellos reputiilwn iiecesarioB siete diuB, es iM>r(|ue
andan p<jc() li causa de que bo liaiWin inuclio y no ticnen dcfciiKa en lus pii^a.
I'or lUtimo no nie di'terinin«5, asi jxinjuc no U-nia que rcgalar conio por lo tpie
dije arrilia «le Selja«tian y los jainajul>8: iKjr aqui corre la sierra de San Mar-
cos al iiorueBte, y cntro ella y lade San Luis bo vcn unos llanos dilata^Ksiinos,
que sin duda Bon los tularcs do que liaccn inenci<in en su dario y nia]« el
padre Font, sicndo esta Bierra de San M.lrcos la (jue como & distancia <le cua-
renta U-guas veia nevada al oricntc de los tulures; y aunouo aqui no hay esta
distancia, se van abriendo las sierras, de nimlo que 6k lo ultimo solo so v6 la de
8an Mdrcos: 2 Icguas.' JJiario, Doc. llUt. ilex., %6n6 u., torn. i. 207-S.
FROM WINTERBOTHAM. 33
vada in common with other undefined countries.
From the Histoire Vniverselle des hides Orientales,
Diuisee en deux liures, faicte en Latin par Antoine
Magin, Dovay, 1611, I copy the Granata Nova et
CaKfornia, which, however, presents httle historical
sio'nificance. The work from which it is taken pur-
ports to contain an account of the " descovuerte,
nauigation, situation, et conquete, faicte tant par les
Portugais que par les Castillans, Ensemble leurs
moeurs et Religion." A Latin poem of twenty-four
lines introduces the general history, which begins
Rector's Map, 1818.
with comments on the ancient cosmographers and
the discovery of Columbus, the first book giving the
history of the Spanish Americas, and closing with a
sonnet in French. Book ii. contains numerous maps,
with a brief description of the countries, fourteen
lines being devoted to California.
In a map of North America drawn to accompany
Winterbotham's history, published in New York 1795,
Nevada is a blank save the delineation of a stream
with its tributaries flowing eastward into a nameless
lake, presumbably Great Salt Lake, the three towns
of Axaas, Bagopas, and Quivira, and a section of
Hist. Nev. 3
34 EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
the Sierra Xevada from (»j>poHite San Francisco Bay
southward towanl Lower California.
In January 1818 was filed in the j^a'neral land office
a map of western North America hy AVilliani ] Sector,
United States surveyor for ^lissouri and Illinois,'
whose greatest peculiarity so far as the western slope
is concerned lies in drainin<^ into the Willamette the
whole region north of the latitude of San Francisco
Bay, and east of the Colunihia and Colorado rivers,
tlie Siskiyou Mountains heing crowded south to ac-
commodate this arrangement.
Finley's Map, 1826.
In 182G A. Finley, of Philadelphia, presented quite
an elaborate map, the unknown regions being well
filled from ill-founded reports, or from the imagination.
Thus the Kio San Felipe is made to tlow from south-
ern Nevada due west through tin; Sierra into Mon-
terey }:}ay. The Kio Buenaventura mystery is here
multiplied, so that I'rom the great lakes three large
streams are made to flow in the most direct course,
regardless of intervening mountains, to the ocean.
The one most southern, the Rio Buenaventura, rises
•Licnt. Warmi, who pro«entj» a roiluccd copy in Par. li. lirpt., xi. 23,
nys tlic map, though the most coinpletc up to that time, waa never published.
PETER SKEEN OGDEN.
35
near the source of the Lewis branch of the Columbia
and empties into Lake Salaclo, which may be Great
Salt Lake, or Utah Lake, as one chooses; thence it
takes up a direct course for San Francisco Bay.
From Lake Timpanogos, the original Lake Ashley,
or Utah Lake, but now greatly enlarged and placed
north of Salt Lake, if indeed Timpanogos be not itself
Great Salt Lake, flow directly to the ocean the rivers
Timpanogos and Los Mongos, the former finding the
1216709
Escalante's Route.
sea below Cape Mendocino, and the latter just south
of Cape Orford.
Although the San Felipe was purely an imaginary
stream. Friar Garces' branch of it running toward the
north was a reality, being none other than the San
Joaquin. From the Colorado Garces proceeded east-
ward and visited the Moqui towns, returning to the
Yamajabs after a month's absence. Then he descended
the Colorado.
Next to enter Nevada, or at least to touch its
3C EARUEST EXPLORATIONS.
border, following the record, were the two friars,
Francisco Atanasio Doniinguez and Silvestre Velez
de Escalante, wlio were near Nevada, on or not far
distant fioin the ]>ath later calle<l tlie old Sjtanish trail
between Great Salt Lake and Los An^^eles when they
determined to abandon their |)urj>ose of going to
^lonterey, and turned eastward from the eastern line
of Nevada, near its junction witli the southern bound-
ary of Utah, crossing the Colorado in latitude 37°.
An account of this expedition, which is of primary
ini])ortance to the history of Utah, is given at length
in the volume of this series relating to that subject.
We come now to more defined discoveries. In the
spring of 1825, while pre[»arations were in progress
for the transfer of the metropolitan pcjst of the Pacific
from Astoria, or Fort (ieorge, to Fort Vancouver on
the Columbia, Peter Skeen Ogden," then in the ser-
vice of the Hudson's Bay Company, set out from
head-quarters with a party of tra])pers for the region
round the head-waters of Snake lliver, or the Lewis
branch of tiie Columbia. Passing by the country of
the Walla Wallas, they set their traps, working their
way south w^ard up the stream until they reached the
point where later was built Fort Boise. Thence they
struck to the west of south, followed up the Owyhee,
and after some exploration of its tributaries at length
dr()|)ped down upon the Hundjoldt, now first beheld
by Europeans.
It was now mid-summer, and one of the party
becoming enamored of a damsel native to that region,
he married, that is to say bought, her, thereby secur-
•He wa.s a son of Cliief Justice Ogdcn of QucWc, and prior to this time
had served lK)tli in the Pacific Fur Company ami in the Northwest Company.
Later he rose to the position of chief factor an«l manager. At Fort Vancou-
ver lie ^^■^ls second only to Dougla^t, who succeeded Mclxjughlin, and indeed
at one time was chief factor in charge. lie was short, dark, and exceedingly
tough, with an inexhaustible fumi of humor, ui.d conse»|uently a great favor-
ite, lie died at the age of GO in Oregon City in 1S.">4. See //int. Urt-ijon, i.
3*i, this series: AjiplrgiUr'a ViewH, MS., 13; AUan'a lifm., MS., 9.
MARY OR OGDEX RITER. 37
ing, with tlie greater safety of the party, wife, ser-
vant, and beast of burden. This was the way the
British fur-hunters managed the business, in strong
contrast to which we shall presently see how the first
band of trappers from the United States behaved
toward these same Shoshones. To the native woman
thus honored was given the name Marie, or Mary,
who in turn gave her newly acquired appellation to
the stream, which for a time was called Mary River.
But as usual in such cases the wife Mary was soon
dropped; and then the river dropped the name Mary,
havino- no claim to it on aborio^inal oTounds, and took
on the more appropriate one of Ogden, from its enter-
prising and humane discoverer, which name by right
it should bear to-day, instead of that of Humboldt,
by which it is generally known. ^"^
During this same summer of 1825 free trappers
from the United States percolated through the hills
from the Bear River region, where Henry and Ashley
were in camp the previous winter, and came down
into north-eastern Nevada. In the History of Utah
I have told how James Bridger discovered the Great
Salt Lake while endeavoring to determine the course
of Bear Biver on which a wager had been laid. After
reporting his discovery to his comrades at the rendez-
vous in Cache Valley, Bridger with a few others set
their traps on the western side of the great lake, and
gradually working their way westward, before the
season was over they came upon Ogden and his party.
And thus met in this isolated sterile wilderness, com-
ing from such widely different quarters, these Euro-
peans— French, Scotch, Irish, and English — some by
way of Canada and the Columbia Biver, others by
way of the United States and the Biver Flatte, but
all animated by the same lofty sentiment, all aiming
at the same noble object, the skins of wild beasts.
Duriuo^ the followinor seasons there were manv more
^" See Warren, in Pac. R. Rept. , xi. 36. The name Humboldt was con-
ferred by Fr6mont -vritbout a shadow of right or reason.
38 EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
American trapiurs wlio found their way into Nevada,
ko niuc-li so as to render the Ogden Kiver rejrion less
attractive to the i)eoj>le of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany. For \vhile Brid;^^er was trapi»inir and exploring
to the west of Great Salt Lake, Willium II. Ashley
was brinj^ing his company of one hundred and twenty
men irom St Louis, and was building Fort Ashley
on Utah Lake. Tl*^'"<^c i" IS2G many Americans
{)enetrated the wilds of Nevada: so tliat soon the fur-
)earing parts were well known to mountain men,
among the most prominent of whom was Mr Green,
who gave his name to Green River.
In August of the year last named, Jedediah S.
Smith set out from Great Salt Lake with fifteen men,
and journeying southward past Utah Lake, turned
.south-westwanlly, and following the old Spanish trail
from the great lakes to Los Angeles, cros.^ed the
south-eastern corner of Nevada, and r(;ached San Ga-
briel Mission in December. After divers adventures
and misadventures in southern California, he pushed
northward up by the western base of the frowning
Sierra to the lands of the Mokelumnes and Cosumnes.
On the 27th of May, 1827, he found himself with but
two men, seven horses, and two nmles laden with pro-
visions and hay, attempting the ascent of what he
calls Mount Josej>h, whose summit was then crowned
with snow. The mountains were crossed in eight
daj's, with tlie loss of two horses and one nmle.
Twenty days' mareh to the eastward from the base of
Mount Joseph brought him to the south-western cor-
ner of Great Salt Lake. The country traversed he
pronounced arid and without game. For two days he
was wholly without water, working his weary way
over a plain which yielded no vegetation. Afterward
he came upon some springs, gathered round which
were hordes of natives, whom he pronounced the most
miserable wretches on earth. When he reached Utidi
lie had but <^ne horse and one nmle lelt, and tliese
were so exhausted that they could scarcely carry the
WOLFSKILL, XIDEVER, FRAPP, AXD WYATT. 39
few tbiDgs yet remaining. ^^ Before the season was
over, with fresh supphes and eight men Smith re-
traced his steps to Cahfornia where part of his orig-
inal company had been left. Thence he proceeded to
Oregon.
It is worthy of remark that the first crossing by a
white man of the Sierra Nevada, and of the entire
breadth of what is the state of Nevada, was not in
the usual direction of marching empire, but from west
to east, a doubling of progress upon its own track, or
like a ray of scrutinizing intelligence flung back from
the ocean.
In 1828-9 some of the Hudson's Bay Company's
trappers who were in Nevada under Ogden pas'sed
over the Sierra into California, probably following
Smith's last trail. During the next decade the few
trappers on the Columbia seeking the Sacramento
took McLeod's more western route, while those en-
tering California by way of Santa Fe did not touch
Nevada.
A trapping party under Wolfskill came from Taos
in 1830, and followed one old Spanish trail toward
Salt Lake, and another awa}^ from that region toward
Los Angeles. As this countr}' had been explored
before, and as nothing worthy of note happened on
the way, we will look in upon the doings of the trap-
pers who every year rendezvoused in the Green Biver
region, and thence spread out in every direction in
search of the much loved beaver-skins.
After lengthy trapping excursions on the eastern
side of the Rocky Mountains between Texas and
Nebraska, George Nidever in November 1831 crossed
from the Platte to Green Biver where he w^ent into
winter quarters. Early in August 1832 three parties
under Nidever, Frapp, and Wj^att set out from the
Pierre Hole rendezvous on trapping expeditions to
" There is nothing further known as to Smith's route. For a full account
of his adventures with all the evidence see Hist. Cali/omia, and IJkt. Xorth-
we>>t Coiisl, this .series. It is possible that he made this passage without dis-
covering Humboldt Kiver, though it is not probable.
40 EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
the westward. Xidivor's (lostiiiation was Oprden
River, which he then calletl Marv Kivtr, "a stnall
streuin ahniit south-west of" Salt J^ako." Frapp's coin-
pan}' wore mostly Canadians an«l half-hrccds. F(^r
Boine distance the route of the three bands was the
same, and they continued toj^ether. Their first ciunp
was fifteen miles from the rendezvous. Next morn-
ing,' on stiirtiii}^ they discovered a band of four hun-
dred war-painted Blackfeet coming down ujxjn them
fierce for fight. ILtstily throwing up a breastwork of
their packs, they despatched a boy on one of their fleet-
est horses back to the rendezvous to notify the a.s.sem-
bled trapj)ers, and then turned to receive the enemy.
As soon as the savages were within range shooting
Bet in on both sides. Si)reading out in a long line the
I^lackfeet attempted to surround the tra])pers. Con-
8i)icuous among the savages was a tall and well-built
chief, arrayed in a bright scarlet coat and mounted on
a UKignificent horse. Wishing to be regarded a greater
and braver man than his companions, he rode some
distance in advance of them, intimating that he would
fight single-handed any one of the trappens, or all of
them together. Presently one of Wyatt's men, Godin,
a Canadian, advanced to meet the chief. Godin wim
also well mounted, and carried a short rifle concealed
from view. The antagonists continued slowly to ad-
vance until they were separated by less than fifty
yards, when quick as a fla.sh Godin raised his gun and
fired. The proud chieftain fell dead to the ground.
In an instant Godin was U[>on him; the scarlet coat
was strip|)e<l from the fallen hero; and before the
savages could arrest him, he flew back under heavy
fire to his c(»mrades, whom he reached in safety with
his trophy. Keenforcenients from the rendezvous ar-
riving the ]^lackfeet retired. A council of war was
held and William Sublette chosen leader. The sav-
ages were well posted in some timber near by; never-
theless the trappers determined on i!nmodiate attack.
In the encounter which followed \\ iiliani Sinclair,
WALKER'S EXPEDITION. 41
Phelps, Sublette, and others were wounded and fifty
Blackfeet killed.
Hastening forward from that hostile region the
three companies soon parted, and Nidever set his traps
on Ogden Kiver, where he remained with fair success
till October, when he returned to the eastern slope for
the winter, and came again the following spring to
Green River. ^^ It may have been this expedition
that caused one writer to make the somewhat ludi-
crous mistake of sending Nathaniel Wyeth with Sub-
lette to trap on Ogden River in 1832. It is scarcely
necessary to say that Wyeth was never on Ogden
River.
Joseph Walker was of Bonneville's expedition
which encamped on Salmon River during the winter
of 1832-3, and in the spring divided into trapping
parties, taking various directions from the Green
River rendezvous. With thirty-five or forty ^^ men
Walker set out as Irving says to trap beaver on the
northern and western sides of Great Salt Lake, in-
tending to pass entirely round that brackish sheet
before the season was over; but finding the country
along the north-western border desolate and void of
water, the party turned about and trapped toward the
north and west.
Nidever, however, who accompanied the expedition,
and who was fully aware of Bonneville's purpose, and
the intentions of the party before leaving the rendez-
vous, says nothing of any intended survey of the lake,
and that idea probably arose in the mind of Bonne-
ville while reciting his adventures to Irving.-^*
^'^ Nidever' s Life and Adv., MS., 49-55.
'^Nidever, Life and Adv., MS., 58, says 36; Bonneville 40.
"On the other hand Nidever, Life and Adv., MS., 58, distinctly states:
' In the spring there were a large number of trappers gathered at the rendez-
vous in Green River Valley, and among them Capt. Walker and company
bound for California. We joined him, making a party in all of 36. Upon
the bi^eaking-up of the rendezvous we started southward, intending to trap a
short time on the Mary's River.' A party of 15 free trappers under Sinclair
is mentioned by Irving, Ailven.. Bonneville, 72-3, as present at the rendezvous
of 183'2, and taking part in subsequent events, but not as part of Walker's
company. Geo. Nidever #vas one of the 15, and he relates in his Life and
43 EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
But whotlicr orij^inally iiiiprlled Uy tlic Salt Lake
survt'V or the Califoinia I'Xpeditioii, tlicy had not pro-
ceed«.'«l far hct'ore the hanviiiiess of" the country and
the alisenee of watir turned tlieir attention toward
the snowy mountains seen in tlie north-west. Tliero
they would Ix- sure to tinil cooHnj^ streams, and doubt-
less multitudes of beavers; so striking out in that
direction they soon came upon a little brook, which
increased in size as they f(jllowed it toward the
mountains, until it disappeared in a lake to which
there wjis no outlet.
On the way they found the Shoshones exceedingly
troublesome. They stole the traj)s and comj>elle«l the
white men to kee[) a constant guard to prevent atUick.
Finally they otl'ered to permit the strangers to jnuss
througli their country if tliey would give uj) their
horses and provisions. *' This the wliite men refused
to tlo; and alter some stray shots on both sides, one
of which struck a man named Frazier, further attemj)ts
at trapping were abandoned, and both sides prepari'd
for battle. Nevertheless the white men continued
their march, doubling their guard, and making a de-
tour from the trail when necessary to avoid ambus-
cade when passing through narrow defiles and thickly
wooded places.
One day in passing a thick and fpiite extended
growth of willows, from which as usual they had
turned aside to avoid surjtrise, four hundred Shoshones
emerged and formed into several distinct l)ands ac-
cording to the villages to which they belonged.
AdvrnturfM, MS., most of tlie cvcnta of the time an<l place noticed 1>y Irving,
with Bunie vuriationM in detail whicli it <loot» not couceni my pivMcnt purixiite
to mention. Tlic original company under UoUrt \Wi\\\ ha<i l<ft Fort Smith
aljout 40 Htrong in .Miiy 18.30. It included many men afterwanl well known
in California, which country they entered at dill'ennt times ami hy ditleix-ut
routes. Such were (Irah.im, Naile, Niiliver, Williai.is, i'rice, Le<-»e, and
I)yc. Their adventures are related at wtme length hy l>oth Nidevi-r and Dyo
«lown to the time that the party w;i» divided in .New .Mexico in the spring of
lK:il, and the later adventures of the luirty of l.'i that went north to(J|-een
Kiver hy Nidever, who says tlmt (>raliam, Naile, and I'rice were still with
him.
'"They sjMike thu Snako tongue, a lan;..,'iiage whioli moat of our men wero
familiar with.' Sidctir'a L'\ft cuiU AJc, .\is., 58. *
BATTLE WITH THE SHOSHONES. 43
Presently thirty-four of the enemy advanced, and
fifteen white men stepped forth to meet them. The
latter permitted the savages to approach quite near
before making a move; but when they did fire, if we
may believe one who was present, it was with such
telling effect that but one of the number escaped alive. ^^
During this march there were many dastardly deeds
committed which Mr Nidever fails to remember, such
as shooting down the unoffending of either sex or any
age, and that without pro vocation.^''
As to the way by which they left the sink of the
Humboldt, and crossed the desert and the Sierra into
California, there is much uncertainty. Said Bonne-
ville, "they struck directly westward, across the great
chain of Californian mountains. For three and twenty
days they were entangled among these mountains, the
peaks and ridges of which are in many places covered
with perpetual snow. For a part of the time they
were nearly starved. At length they made their way
'^'^ Nidever" s Life and Adv., MS., 59-60.
"The first published narrative of this expedition was in the Joncsborough,
Term. Sevtinel of Mai'ch 8, 1837, a brief account from the statement of
Stephen Meek who had returned to Tennessee, and reprinted in Niks' Rerj-
ister of March 2oth, vol. lii. 50. Meek says that on Sept. 9th they were
surrounded and attacked by a large body of natives with a loss of five men
wounded, and one — Wm. Small — killed, the natives being repulsed with a
loss of 27 killed. On Sept. I6th the hunters attacked 150 natives, seated and
smoking, killed 18, and took 5 captives, who were beaten and released.
Bonneville represents that the natives were peaceful and timid, keeping
aloof by day but pilfering somewhat at night. A trapper having lost his
traps vowed to shoot the first Digger he saw, and did so. Subsequently
guilty conscience led the party to imagine themselves in a hostile country,
and at a ford farther down the river they attacked a crowd of inofiensive
people, shooting 25, and meeting no resistance. Irving paints this outi'age in
vivid colors. Nidever by way of excuse says that the natives were increas-
ingly bold and hostile from the first, stealing all they could lay their hands
on, and attempting to shoot Frazier while setting his traps. It was neces-
sary to give up trapping almost entirely, and only by the greatest precau-
tions did the company escape annihilation. Finally they turned aside from
their trail just in time to avoid an ambush, and were attacked by some
hundreds of savages, of whom 33 were killed. Nidever admits, however,
that a little later he could not resist the temptation to kill two Indians with
one shot, thus avenging his brother who had been treacherously murdex'ed
sometime before. Finally Joseph Meek, according to Victor's Birer of the
West, 146, admits that the attack — in which 75 savages fell, but Meek exag-
gerates everything, stating that Walker had 118 men — was unprovoked ex-
cept by the thefts and constantly increasing numbers of the Indians; but he
defends the act as a necessity, though it did not seem so to Bonneville, who
was not an experienced Indian-fighter.
44 EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS.
throucirli thorn, and came down upon the plains of
New ("aliiornia. They now turned toward the south,
and arrived at the Spanish vilhii^e and post ot" Mon-
terey." Stephen Meek tells us "they travellcil now
four days across the salt plains, when they struck
the Caiilornian Mountains, crcssin^' which took fif-
teen days, and in fourteen days more they reached
the two Laries" — Tulares; "killed a horse, and sub-
sisting on the same eleven days came to the Spani.sh
settlements." Joseph Meek is represented as i^iving
the route somewhat definitely westward to Pyramid
Lake, up the Truckee River, and across the moun-
tains— by the present railroad line very nearly — into
the Sacramento Valley, and thence southward. This
authority also states that they met a company of
soldiers out hunting for cattle-thieves in the San
Jose Valley, and were taken as prisoners to Mon-
terey— a dramatic ending to the long journe}' em-
anating ]irobably from the trapper's imagination.^'^
Finally, a newspaper version, founded on Walkei-'s
own statements, and corroborated to some extent by
that of Nidever, gives what I suppose to have been
the correct route from the sink, south-westward by
way of what are now Carson Lake and Walker lake
and river, over the Sierra near the head-waters of
the Pierced, and down into the San Joaquin Valley.'^
]:>onneville had been quite lavish in fitting out this
expedition; and when Walker and the men returned,
and the captain learned that such of his proj)crty as
had not been consumed in the desert had been scpian-
'* Yet Sebastian Peralta with a party of vecinos from San Jos6 did meet
early in Novtinl>cr a company of so-called French trapixirs bound to Alon-
teriy. Snii Jom', Arch., MS., v. 27.
'• l}iogra])hical sketchca of Cant. Jos. R. W^alker, in Sonoma Dnnocrnt,
Nov. 2,'>, 1870; and in .sVuj Jotu' I'latner, Sept. 1, 1S77. Mr Tliompson, of
the Jtfiiiocriil, was well acquainted witli \Valker; and the artiile in tho
J'ioueer was founded on an inter\iew. One account says lie saw Mono l.Akc,
and tlie other tliat he discovered Vosemitc. Acconling to the I'ioiiefi; 'his
first attempt to descend to the west waa near the head-waters of tho
Tuolumne, which he found imijossible; but working a little to the south-
west he struck the waters of tiie Merced." Nidever states that tiny camo
down between the Merced and Tuolumne, and soon arrived atCiilroy's rancho.
CARSON AND BECKWOURTH. 45
dered in California, together with the furs which they
had gathered, he was very angry.
It has been stated that Christopher Carson and
James P. Beckwourth were of this party ; or that they
were in Carson vahey in 1833 and with seven others
passed over into CaHfornia. Carson and Beckwourth
were not of tlie Walker party, nor did they cross the
Sierra Nevada to California in 1833. They may have
been in Carson or some other valley during that or
some other year; indeed, Carson was there in that
year; they were trappers, guides or Indian-fighters
according to circumstances, and as such were moving-
hither and thither in and around the great basin. Of
the wanderings of the fur-hunters there is no com-
plete record ; but of the names of visitors to Califor-
nia during these years there is a record. Carson had
been to California before this by the Santa Fe and
Los Angeles trail.'"
2" Kit Carson was born in Kentucky in 1S09. In 1828 he went to New
Mexico, and tlience proceeded witli Ewing Young to California the following
year by tbe old Los Angeles trail. Trapping on the San Joaquin be encoun-
tered a party under Peter Skeen Ogden, who went from there to the Colum-
bia river while Carson returned to New Mexico by way of Los Angeles. In
1830 Carson trapped on Green and Salmon rivers, visited Jackson Hole, and
in 1831 trapped on Bear river, then to Green river, and back to New Mexico.
The follnwiug j'ear lie was again on Green and Snake rivers, wintering on the
latter stream, and in 1833 he went with Tlioinas McKay of the Hudson's Bay
company and five others to the head-water, of Ogden river, and followed it
to tiie sink. Thence McKay proceeded to AValla Walla, and Carson to Fort
Hall. During 1834-6 Carson trapped on the Yellowstone and Platte,aiid the
following year went to Bent fort, where for eight years he was official hunter
for the post. In 1842 he visited the United States, met Fremont on a steam-
boat, and engaged to act as his guide. Ptters Life of Carson, and Abbott's
L'ff of Carson, passim.
CHAPTER III.
PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
18.34-1846.
Trapping Becomes General — Opening of the Emigration Epoch— The
Road to California — Progress of the Baiitlf-son Company TiiKorcn
Nevada— liiDWKLL, Henshaw, and Nye— Belden, Kukman, Chiles,
AND Weber— What Thky Severally Said of It— Search for Ogdek
RiVEii — They Abandon theik Wagons — Fhiendly Intercocrse with
the Shoshones — Varied Adventckes — Dissension — Search for a
Pass— Over the Sierra— Hastings and his Book— Chilf^ over a
New Rdcte — Walker Gviues a Party into Calikoknia over his
Retcrn Kocte of 18.34 — First Wagons to Tkaveisse the Entire
Country— Fremont's Expeditions— Eldjha Stevens or the Mcrphy
Company — Snyder, Swasey, Blackiscrn, and Todd Company — Scb-
LETTE FROM St LoiIS — WaLKER, CaRSON, TaLBOT, AND KeRN — EXPE-
DITION of Scott and the Applegates from Oregon.
After tlie return of Walker in IS^A trappinjj^ par-
ties in Nevada were freqiu'iit until game hrcanie
scarce. As one was vcr}' like anotiier, and all unin-
teresting in detail, it is not necessary to report them
further, l^resently a fresh impetus was given to
westward-marching empire along the line of horder
settlements. It was no longer furs that niost filled
men's minds, but broad fertile lands of easy tillage,
temperate airs, and a near market. Where there
were so many blessings provided by nature without
])rice, as presented themselves to the settler in the
then so-called western states, it is no wonder that
he Ijecame discontented and demanded yet greater
favors. Thus it was that from 1839 to 184G we see
parties of emigrants wending their way to Oregon
and to Calil'ornia, some of which pass through Nevada,
giving us a view (jf the country as it then a])j)eared.
(iO J
THE CARTLESOX COMPAXY. 47
Among others was John Biclwell who in company
with George Henshaw and Michael C. Nye came
from Missouri to Cahfornia in 1841; also families or
parties under Josiah Belden, Robert Rickman, John
Bartleson, Joseph B. Chiles, and Charles Weber,
sometimes uniting in larger companies, some bound
for Oregon and some for California. There was pres-
ent one woman, Mrs Benjamin Kelsey, and her child.
Together came the two emigrations by the usual
route, up the Platte and through the South Pass to
Bear River Valley, and when near Soda Springs
they parted company, those for Oregon, and with
them some who had originally intended to go to Cal-
ifornia, proceeding northward to Fort Hall, while
the others directed their steps to the south, and pass-
ing down into Utah turned toward Xevada about ten
miles north of Great Salt Lake. Later emigrants
passed round or just touched the north-west corner
of Utah.
Nothing was known of this region except w^iat the
trappers had reported; none were known to have
passed across the country from and to California save
the parties under Smith and Walker respectively. As
these had followed the O^-den River, the emio-rants
deemed it necessary first of all to find that stream.
I have a manuscript narrative by Mr Chiles entitled
A Visit to California, in which he states that they
travelled seven months with no guide, no compass,
nothing but the sun to direct them. They had learned
from Dr Marsh the latitude of San Francisco Bay;
they knew the latitude of their starting-point; and it
was thus they cast themselves adrift upon an ocean
of wastes and wilderness.
In answer to inquiries of Mr Grant at Fort Hall,
they were told that west of Salt Lake "there w^as a
great and almost impassable desert which we were
liable to become involved in if we went too far to the
south; that there was a stream running west which
had been visited by some of the trappers belonging to
48 PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
tlic Iliklsoii's Bay Company, amonj^ whom it was
known by the name of Mary's, or O^nlcn's river; that
we must try to strike that stream, for to the south of
it we would iintl no feed for animals; that we must be
earofid not tt) ^o too far to the nortli, for if we did we
would become involved in a maze of canons, and
streams with precipitous cliffs which led off into the
Cohnnbia Kivcr, and where we should be sure to
wander and starve to death. "^
After travcllin*:^ for seven days wostwardly from
Bear River, round the northern end of Salt Lake,
meanwhile sufferinj^ greatly from thirst, they camped
the 27th of August on a grassy spot beside a sj)ring
of good water, there determined to remain until a way
to Ogden River should be found.
Being told by a Shoshone who came into camp that
not far away were Indians who had horses, Bidwell
with a small party went in search of them but with-
out success. They found, however, five miles from
camp a native curing some venison which he had just
killed, half of which they bought for twelve cartridges.
Before proceeding further with the train it was
deemed advisable to examine the country before them.
To this end, on the 29th Bartleson and Hopper started
out, and in ten days returned saying tliey had found
Ogden River, distant five days' travel. ^Meanwhile
tlie weather had become cold, ice forming in the water
buckets, and the company had moved slowly forward.
Signal fires had been kindled by the natives and the
atmosphere was filled with dense smoke.
This is the w^ay Mr I^eldcn tells the same story in
liis manuscript entitled Statement of ll'tstorivnl Facts:
" We went on, hunting our way along the best we
could, amongst the rocks and gullies, ami through the
sa<'e-brush, workin<r alonir slowly for a number of
days, aiming to travi'l westward as fast as we could,
liHviiig no other guide than an intention to get west.
^ IliUinliH CulljoniUt, /cS'.;/-,s', MS., 3-J-3; DidwtWa Journnj to Cal., 1841
12.
WAGONS ABA]ST)ONED. 49
After travelling several days, passing over a very-
desert country where there was scarcely any food for
our animals, and very rough getting along with our
wagons, we finally came to a spot where there was
moist ground, some springs, and a little patch of green
grass, which we denominated the oasis. We camped
there about a week to recruit our animals. While
there we did not know which direction to take, nor
how to go; but we had heard before leaving Missouri
that there was a river somewhere in that section of
the country, which was then called Mary's River,
which ran to the westward, and this we thought
might be a guide for us in some measure, if we could
strike the head-waters of it and follow it w^est. So
while the company were camping there, three of the
party who had the best animals started out in a west-
erly direction to explore by themselves, and see if-
they could find any such river, any water running
west. After waiting there several days these men
came back and reported that they had found a small
stream of water that seemed to be running westward,
and they thought that might perhaps be the head-
waters or some branch of the Mary's River that we
wished to find. After they returned, we raised camp,
and under their direction, as near as we could follow
it, we travelled two or three days I think, and struck
this little stream they had spoken of We followed
it down and found it trended westward, though vary-
ing its course, and it proved to be the south fork of
Mary's River. We followed it all the way down to
the sink of it."
It was the 15th of September when after a hot day
they passed through a gap in a ridge of mountains
and entered upon a high plain. " It was painfully
evident," writes Bidwell, '' that we must make greater
progress or winter would set in before we could reach
the Pacific coast. That night we determined to leave
our wagons. So, early the next morning we set to
work making pack-saddles for our animals. We had
Hist. Nev. i
,fiO PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
to pack mules, horses, aii<l the oxen. On the after-
noon of tlie second (hiy \vc were ready to start. No
one of us liad seen liorses packed. . .tlie packs would
turn and <ret down intt» the dirt. Old mules that
were almost skeletons would run and kick at the
packs. The work oxen woultl jump and hellow and
try to thn^w off their loads."
The night hefore they had cooked supper with
fires made from some of the wafjons l)roken up for
that purpose; and as they were ahout to start a Sho-
shone sage appeared, sent thither from the mountains
as he said hv the great s])irit, who had told him that
on the plain helow he would find a strange peof)le who
would give him many things.- There were, indeed,
many articles which could not be carried in the ab-
sence of the wagons, and the good savage might as
well be placed in possession in due form. " The first
thing given him," says Bidwdl, " was a pair of panta-
loons. He immediately turne<l toward the sun, and
commenced a long and eloquent harangue. As he
was perfectly naked he was shown how to wear the
pants. As article after article was given him during
the day, he turned toward the sun and gave thanks
in a long speech. As the day wore on and he had
many things given him his talks grew shorter, but
for each he made somewhat of a speech. The first
two addresses nmst each have been fully half an hour
long. We called him the Persian."
It was late in the day before all were ready. Be-
fore them was a range of mountains, in crossing which
the company were scattered and some of the animals
lost. All were suffering for water. Dawson and
Bidwell were sent in search of the cattle, but the
fonuer soon returned leaving the latter to ])roceed
alone. The cattle fell into an Indian trail wliieh led
into a grassy country where was water. Observing
Indian tracks mingled with those <.t the cattle Bid-
^ niihrrir^ Cnli/ornln, 1S.',1 S, MS., .'W-7; BiJutirg Jourury to Cal., 1841,
18; IkUltnif SlcUe'tiinU, MS., tt
DOWN THE HUMBOLDT. 51
well prepared himself as well as possible against sur-
prise/ and continued the search until he found the
oxen lying side by side with their packs undisturbed.
Meanwhile the company had moved forward, and
Bidwell, unable to follow, and fearing to approach any
of the numerous Shoshones to the west, hid himself
till morning. Even then his situation was not greatly
improved. On his north were mountains, and on the
south a plain of hard indurated clay, which yielded no
impression to the foot of man or beast. Tying his
oxen to a willow bush, in the absence of trees, Bid-
well rode hither and thither not knowing what to do.
Presently he saw horsemen approaching from the
south, and supposing them to be Indians he hastened
toward the oxen to use them for a breastwork in case
of attack; but suddenly his horse sank into a slough,
filling its very eyes and ears with mud. Thereupon
the horsemen came up, proving themselves to be his
friends Cook and Thorne. '
Following a south-westerly course along the base
of mountain ranges for several days " we came to a
dry desert region, without grass or water, and with
few or no hills to the south. Being obliged to camp
without water it was the opinion of all that we had
come to the borders of that desert spoken of at Fort
Hall. The only remedy was to go north and cross a
mountain chain which was in sight. The first camp
after crossing the divide was on a small spring branch
which had trout in it." Indians appeared from time
to time in some numbers, but as the strangers were
weak they were respectful, and no trouble ensued.
The trout stream which they followed soon sank into
the ground, leaving the foot-sore animals on the dry,
rocky bed, between banks impossible to scale. The
' ' I examined my arms, which consisted of a flint-lock rifle and a pair of
dragoon pistols also flint-lock. All our company had these guns and pistols.
Old hunters in Missouri, whom I asked what kind of guns to bring, said,
"Don't have anything to do with those new-fangled things called caps; if
you do you will lose by it. If they once get wet you are gone; but if you
lose your flint you can easily pick up a stone that will take its place."'
BidioeWa CcUi/ornia, IS4I-8, MS., 40.
n PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
course was northerly, and the travellers hegan to fear
that they were in one of those IVi^^htriil eafions spoken
i»f at Fort Hall, and wliieh wonld lead them to the
Coluinhia. Their hearts were filled with joy, there-
fore, as they emerged into an open eountry on the
20th, and came upon a stream whieh they felt satis-
fied was (Jgilen Kiver. Its course was at first north-
west, and this troubled them, for " according to the
map Clary's Kiver ran w. s. w.," to which course it
presentl}' changed. There had been some antelope,
but now they had to kill their oxen for food. On the
21st they came to some boiling hot springs, twenty
within the circumference of a mile, and exceedingly
beautiful and transparent. The white sediment and
the rocks which walled the water gave to it a variety
of biilliant colors, Ijlue, green, and red. One spring
in ])articular was of striking beauty; "it was about
four feet in diameter, round as a circle, and deeper
than we could see; the cavity looked like a well cut
in a solid rock." The natives were becoming more
numerous. *' From signs the valley contained thou-
sands."
All the misfortunes of the journey were as nothing
in comparison with that which now befell them. It
was ascertained one day as they followed down the
Ogden that the party were out of tobacco. Some
had consumed their supply, and one man, William
Belty, had lost his that morning. He swore the Ind-
ians had stolen it, and was ready to shoot the first
savage he saw in consequence. Some cut out their
old jtockets and chewed them. Belty ofiered his mule
to ride to any one who would give him tobacco to
chew for the day.
It was now the beginning of October; and at the
Humboldt Mountains J^artleson determined to press
forward and cross the Sierra, leaving tho.sc to follow
w ho could. With Bartleson were seven of the com-
pany, who killed an ox, and taking a double share of
the meat started off. Those in charge of the cattle
OVER THE MOUNTATN'S. 53
were unable to follow, which caused much ill-feeling.
Of the advance party was Charles Hopper, thought to
be the best mountaineer and guide in the compan\-.
" All had confidence in his ability to find the best
route through the mountains. As long as we could —
about one day — we therefore followed their tracks.
The Humboldt River was extremely dry that year,
and as we approached the sink it ceased to run, and
we were enabled to cross dry shod in several places as
we descended it. The seceding party having passed
what is now known as the Humboldt range of moun-
tains, and followed down the east side of the Hum-
boldt River, we traversed a sandy plain, where the
wind had completely obliterated the tracks of the
party who had left us."
Thus thrown upon themselves to find their way
over the mountains into California Benjamin Kelsey
came to the front. " As soon as we reached what we
supposed to be the furthest sink of the Humboldt,"
continues Bidwell, " but which I am now inclined to
think must have been what Fremont afterwards called
Carson Lake, we endeavored to make our course more
westerly; for we knew that the Pacific ocean lay to
the west . . . The first stream crossed was that now
known as Walker's River, so called by Fremont in
1844 I think. This river we ascended to the foot of
the high mountains whence it came. Here we deemed
it best to give our animals a rest, for men and animals
were much in need of it. In the mean time men were
sent to scale the mountains to the west, to discover if
possible a pass. They were gone a day and a night,
and reported that the mountains were barely passable.
At this time we had but two oxen left, and we had
just killed the best one of these, and were drying
meat preparator}^ to scaling the mountains the next
day. The meat was dried to make our loads as light
as possible, because neither men nor animals were able
to carry heavy burdens over the mountains."
While thus engaged, the party who had deserted
M PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
nine (In^'s iK'foro, came up, weary and halting, from
the east. Thry liad gone soutli too lar, jtrohahly as
l*ar as Walkrr l^ako, and now returned crestfallcri and
weak witli dysentery brought on l»y pine nuts and
fresli fish given thein hy the natives. " Boys!" ex-
elainied the now liunibled Captain liartleson as lie Fwit
eating the wholesome food jirepared for him hy his
late abandoned comrades, "my hogs in ^Missouri fared
better than have I of late, and if (;vcr I see that spot
again I swear to you I will never leave it."
All set forward next morning, the 17th. Tlu* as-
cent was ma<le; the great divider of waters was
passed; and on the second da}' the party were out of
Nevada, and upon the tril»utaries of the Stanislaus,
where we will leave them to tind their way into the
valley of C'alifoinia.*
♦Mr BcMcn's account is as followal 'Before we dtruck this river, we
found we were bo <kliiycd l>y our wayons tliat mo concluilid to uljuiidoa
tlioiM, and we took what thiuLK we could and jMickcd tliein on our lion*e» an<l
oxen, and what we coidd not carry we left with our wagons standing in the
jdains. ^Ve were tlien within sight of tiu' Sierra Nevada mountains, which
Me knew we had to cro.s«. But wc could see no appeanince of any o|>ening
or depression which we might avail of to get across. Then we stnick south,
until we linally came to wliat is known as Walker's Kiver. \\'e then fol-
lowed tiie west liranch of this river, I think, up into the mountains. When
we struck that river, however, after following it for some distance ami get-
ting into the neighlKjrhcxxl of the mount^iins, without finding any depres-sion,
or any place where it seemed possible to cross, there was some division *»f
opinion aniong the members of the comimny. Our pro\ isions had given out
before, while we were ti-avelling down Mary's River, and then we commeiicetl
killing the cattle we had with us and cutting them. At the sink of the Hum-
iMjhlt iiiver a jmrtion of the com|>any who ha«l the In-st animals, aU(Ut nine
of them, jKirtetl from the others, and siiid they were going to travel fast<r,
and get in la-fore they iH-caine exliausted. The Italance went on, and an I
said, got to Walker's Uiver. When we reached there, there was a diHereiKe
of opinion about whether we should attempt crossing the moiintains, or give
ui) tlie ex]>idition then, ami turn back, and try to get Iwtck to Fort Hall.
\Vhile we were stojiping tliere, one day two others and myself left tlie juirty,
and went up to Bome ot the higher jteaks of the mountains to exphin- and see
if we couhl lind any place wliere we could cross. We returned and rei>orted
that we could see no o|>ening in the mountains, that so far as Me could se*-,
the mountains seemed rather higher l)eyond than lower, and there wa» no
apitearance of any einl or tennination of them, an«l very little chance to get
tiirough. There waj* a voti- tjiken in tiie comjwiny to det<Tmine m hether we
should go on and try to get across the mountains, <»r turn lnuk and try to
reach hort Hall. 1 think Me had only one majority for going ahea4l.
Although it l<M>ked discotiniging on the mountitins, my idea miis that mc
should perish in trying to g'-t Imck t^i Ft. Hall, and Me had U-tter take our
chances of getting acrosw the mountains. So Me decidi-«l to travel on. The
next morning mo were packing up to start iulo the uiouuljuus, aud iu looking
CHILES' SECOND ADVENTURE. 55
In 1842 L. W. Hastings led a company of one
hundred and sixty to Oregon. The following year
Hastings passed with a small party into California,
In 1845 he published at Cincinnati The Emigrant's
Guide to Oregon and California, copies of which were
found distributed along the road the following year.
Joseph B. Chiles, of the Bartleson company of 1841,
having returned to the States, organized a company
which in 1843 followed the usual route to Fort Hall,
w'here they divided, some of the men proceeding by a
new route by way of Fort Boise and the Malheur and
Pit rivers to the Sacramento Valley, leaving the wagons
and families in charge of Joe Walker, acting as guide,
to be taken to California by a southern route, through
Walker pass and by Owen Peak, the one by which he
had returned from California to Great Salt Lake in
1834. This they accomplished, following down the
Humboldt to the sink, then to Walker Lake, and over
the Sierra; theirs being the first wagons to cross the
state, as Bartleson's had been the first to enter Nevada.
When Fremont returned from Oregon in the winter
of 1843, he kept along the eastern base of the Cas-
cade and Nevada ranges, entering Nevada late in
December. Snow and sage brush covered the valleys,
but grass for the animals was found on the hills of
back we saw the dust rising on the trail we had travelled the day before, and
we waited to see what it was; and presently we saw the nine men who had left
us several days before with the idea of going ahead, coming up on our trail,
very hungry and forlorn-looking. We had a quarter of beef left from the
last animal we had killed, and gave them something to eat. They had made
a kind of circle, and reached our camp, having struck our trail. We then all
went on together. We worked our way into the mountains with a great deal
of difficulty and hardship. The way was very rough, and one day in wind-
ing round the side of a mountain we lost four of our animals, who missed
their footing and rolled down the mountain. We finally reached the sum-
mit with great labor and difficulty, and after getting a little beyond the
summit on the other side, we struck a little stream of water that seemed to
run westward, and we judged that we had got over the divide, and thought
that by following the stream as well as we could, it would lead us down the
westerly slope of the mountain. Meantime we had eaten the last of our beef
from our cattle, and we were reduced to the necessity of killing our horses
and mules, and living on them.' Historical Facts, MS. For continuation of
the nariative after crossing the Sierra see Hist. C'al., this series.
PASSAGE OF TOE EMIGRANTS. »
vatinii, ilividii»f( tlic huccosjsive plainft, while
ill tilt' liMUliitaiii passes were seen larj^e cedars
Th
S1u»nIu)Iu'S lure •,MK'()Untereil st<»le horses, eau«,'lit liare,
in whose skins they sometimes sou«^ht to cover them-
Bc'lves, ami hiicKlled almost naked o\ i-r a s«'i;^e tire.
Followinj^ a gra.ssy lu»llow, into some meadows, on
tho 21)th thu party came to a willow grove, where they
made camp. Next day they saw a stream enter a
canon which they could not follow, but douhtetl not
it flowed into Mary Lake. "On both sides the moun-
tains showed often stupendous and curious-looking
rocks, which at several ])laces so narrowed the valley
that scarcely a pa.ss was left for the camp. It was a
FREMONT'S EXPEDITIOX. 57
singular place to travel through, shut up in the earth,
a sort of chasm, the little strip of grass under our feet,
the rough walls of bare rock on either hand, and
narrow strip of sjky above."
New Year's day, 1844, saw them continuing down
the valley "between a dry -looking black ridge on the
left, and a more snowy and high one on the right."
The grass was gone, and a finely powdered sand and
saline efflorescence covered the ground. Next day
they crossed south-easterly the dry bed of a large
muddy lake. In a dense fog which scattered the men
and animals, on the 3d of January, the search for
Ogden Kiver was continued. "Our situation had now
become a serious one," writes the leader. "We had
reached and run over the position where, according to
the best maps in my possession, we should have found
Marj^'s lake or river. We were evidently on the
verge of the desert which had been reported to us;
and the appearance of the country was so forbidding
that I was afraid to enter it, and determined to bear
away to the southward, keeping close along the moun-
tains, in the full expectation of reaching the Buena-
ventura River." In fact the search for this mythical
stream brought upon the expedition much confusion,
its absence being scarcely less bewildering than the
continuing fog. They had but to ascend a hill, how-
ever, to find it all bright sunshine. Then they crossed
the bed of another lake, where were traces of sheep
and antelope, and came through grass to some hot
springs. Since leaving The DaUes the party had lost
fifteen animals.
On the 6th, with Godey and Carson, Fremont pro-
ceeded in advance to explore. They soon came to
grass w4th springs overshadowed with cottonwood,
harbingers of better lands. On the mountains they
saw heavy timber, which led them to infer that they
were not far from the Pacific. While Carson and
Fremont were again reconnoitring they came upon a
sheet of green water, which they estimated to be
fi PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
twenty miles in width. "It l»r<»kr iijK)n our eyes like
the ocean. The neijjfhborinjj^ peaks rose hij^h above
us. . the waves were eurlin;.,' in the breeze, and their
dart Ljreen color showed it to be a body of deep
water.' It lay at the foot of the Sierra, eonnnuni-
cating at what they call the western end with a series
of basins. Wild sheep were seen; also ducks and fish,
liising from the middle of the lake was a remark-
able rock, estimated by them to be six hundred feet
in height, in form like the pyramid of Cheops, where-
upon they called the sheet l*yramid Lake. They
were surj)rised to find at the southern end a large
fresh-water inlet instead of an outlet; the latter did
not exist, as they were then informed by the natives.
There wa.s here an Indian village, whose inhabitants
brought fish of excellent quality to trade.
The natives made a drawing on the ground repre-
sentinsr this river as issuin<r from another larLre lake,
three or four days distant over the mountains toward
the south-west. Then they drew a mountain, and
beyond it placed two more rivers, from all which the
explorers concluded they were not on the waters of
the Sacramento, or even of the Humboldt, though at
every turn they still expected to come upon the great
Buenaventura. The 10th they continued their jour-
ney along the beautiful Truckee, which they called
Salmon Trout Kiver; on their right was the great
snow-enshrouded Sierra, while at their feet fiowed the
limpid stream in places almost hidden by large cotton-
woods. Carson searched everywhere lor beaver cut-
tings, which he maintained would be found (»nly on
streams flowing into the ocean, and failing to find such
signs he became convinced that the waters thereabout
had no outlet from the great interior.
They then crossed to Carson River. Smoke-signals
rose on every side; yet the natives iK'ing unmolested
gave no trouble, and even brought pine-nuts to trade.
The shoes of horses and n)en were becoming worn
out, and the conmiander determined at this juncture
THE MURPHY COMPANY. 59
to pass over the mountains into California, which,
after proceeding southward up the eastern branch of
Walker River for some distance and returning, he
accomplished under the guidance of natives near where
Walker, Bartleson, and others had crossed before him,
and still searching for his Buenaventura.^
Fremont next entered Nevada from southern Cali-
fornia by way of Tehachapi pass in April 1844. The
view of the great basin eastward from this point was
not pleasing. White and glistening, under a hot mist,
lay an apparently illimitable desert, with blistering
buttes and isolated black ridges. A spur of the
Sierra, stretching easterly some fifty miles, showed
peaks of snow pronounced by the natives perpetual.
Descending the eastern slope the party followed the
Santa Fe trail, over which the caravan had not passed
this year, so that at the camping-grounds was found
good grass. They were troubled occasionally by the
natives, through whom they lost one man, and one by
accident. They were joined by Walker at Las Vegas,
and on reaching the Rio Virgen they ascended that
stream and arrived at Utah Lake the latter part of
May. Thence they proceeded by way of the Uintah
River and Three Parks to the Kansas.
A party under Elisha Stevens, sometimes called
the Murphy company, passed though Nevada in 1844,
by the usual route down the Humboldt to the sink,
on their way from the Missouri River to California.
The names of the party, who were the first to trav-
erse the entire distance in wagons, are given in my
History of California. There were one or two women
present; and save the fact that the party underwent
some suffering at the sink of the Humboldt, where
» Fremont's report shows that in this expedition he had not seen, or did
not care to give heed to, the iireviously published history and map of the ex-
plorations of Bonneville; for had he done so he would probably not have been
led into the error to which he attributed a great deal of his hardships, of con-
stantly looking for the hypothetical river of Buenaventura, which, as he sup-
posed, taking its rise in the Rocky Mountatus emptied itself into the bay oi
San Francisco, and upon which he expected to winter.
they arrived about the first <»f X<»veml)or and re-
inaliK'd a month, later narrowly csrajiin;^ the tlirillin<^
adventures afterward involvinj^ the Donner party,
there is nothinLj <»l" special interest to mark their pro-
gress througli Nevada.
It was common Cor part of the Orejijon immii^^ration
to hranch off at Fort Jlall and go to California.
Amon*^' the lirst so to do in 1846 was a party of
twelve youn;^ men, amon«^ whom were Jacoh U Sny-
der, William F. Swasey, l^lackhurn, and Todd, who
with pack-animals preceded the wa;^ons. Following
these was a party of fil'tecn under Suhlette iVom St
Louis; and next the Grigsby-Ide company. As the
emigrants njercly passed through the country by a
Well beaten road, on their way to California, seeing
nothing new, doing nothing in particular, making
no stay in Nevada, and leaving no mark, there is
little to be said «jf them in this place. Speaking of
their journey along the Humboldt Mrs llealy, who
was of the l>arty, says: " None (tf our company were
killed by the Indians; but John (ireenwood, son of
the pilot, shot down an Intlian by the roadside, and
afterward boasted of it." And Thomas Knight in
his manuscrijit Stntcimnd writes: " We left Independ-
ence in Ajtril 184.'3. After we had learned about this
country from Col. Joe Walker, (Jeorge McDougall,
Snyder, Blackburn, and njyself determined to come
here if po.ssible, as we did not like the idea of going to
Oregon. We came on to Fort Bridger, in the Snake
Indian country. There we fell in with hunters from
whom we got more information, and we crossed the
Bear River, and went north to Fort Hall, not the
Salt Lake r<jute, for that was not known till the year
afterwards. We got a book written by Hastings,
Lxt<)lling the country highly, and depicting it in glow-
ing colors. We read it with great interest. W'e met
Hastings on the way. At Fort Hall we campe<l
some time, and recruited our animals, which had be-
NOMEXCLATUEE AGAIN.
61
come very much jaded at that tioie, feed being scarce.
There the party divided, and those of us who were
bound for CaHfornia joined some others, and a new
party was made up, with about 15 wagons. We
started, and went down and struck the head of Mary's
River, at that place onh' three or four feet wide.
The Indians killed some of our cattle, and some of
the Indians were killed, the Shoshones; they had no
fire-arms at that time. They would come around after
dark, and make a noise like a coyote, and call to each
other."
Fremont with a party of sixty came again this year
by way of Bent Fort, the Arkansas River, and Utah
Lake. Thence they passed on to Xevada, entering
Feemoxt's Route, 1845.
near Pilot Peak. On the 5th of November at Whit-
ton Spring, in the vicinity of the head-waters of
Ogden River the company divided, Fremont with a
few men striking due south-west, and reaching Walker
Lake the 23d. The stations named by the explorers
were Crane's branch of the south fork of the Hum-
boldt; the head-waters of the south branch of the
Humboldt; Connor Spring; Basil Creek; Boiling
Springs; Moore Creek; and Secondi Spring, Sheep
Mountain, meaningless terms for the most part to-day,
although the latitude and longitude are given. The
main body followed the Humboldt to the sink, and
then turned south, reachino: Walker Lake the 27th.
62 PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
Tills j)arty was uinltT Joseph Walker, from wlioiii the
lake was naiiud.
Jl. rt' tiny all remained for two «lays, when Fre-
mont with filU-en men crossed into California l»y way
of AValkrr an<l Tniekee rivers, while the others,
ainonij whom were Theodore Talhot, Joe Walker,
and \']. M. Kern, ni\ the Hth of J)eeeml)er proceeded
southward to Owen Lake and on to Kern Kiver.*
We have seen the veteran trapper and pioneer Jede-
<liah Smith erossin^r Nevada IVoni west to east al<»nix
what was later the track of the emi;^nant road and
the railway. A more dithcult and dan^a-rous jdurnry
was that achieved hy tifteen men from Onir,>n in
1840, under Levi Scott, Jesse Applep^ate, and Lindsey
Apple^^Mte, a full account of which is j^iven in my
Jlistnri/ <it Onyon. Their object was to find a pass
thn>u;;h the southern end of the Cascade Mountains,
hy means of which immij^rants could enter the Wil-
lamette Valley direct hy travellin;^ due west fmm
Great Salt Lake, or rather by bending south and fol-
lowing the California trail along the Ihunboldt for
Bome distance, then striking northerly toward the
Modoc country and Klamath Lake, and thus avoiding
•Thomas S. Martin, in his Knrmlirt of Frt'mont'^ Krprdifion in IS^S-t;,
MS., yiO, gives tlie following version: 'We li-ft Iiar<Ucrnl*lile with aliout
CO men; followed the Ark. to its luiul. Here we cro!iM.-(l the diviiling ri«lge
W'tween the lK!a<l-wiit4r« of the .\rk. iinil <tmn<l riven*. On or near the top
of this ridge we found a tine lake aUmt half a niilo aen>8s. Striking th«
Grand Kiver we followed down it for several days, and then left it, going
alwut due west, I tliink, at-n.HS to Hams Fork, whuii we followed down to
Utah Lake. Thence h)- Jonlan Kiver to Salt Ijike. Here we remained '2*2
days taking soundings. Fn>m here we erohsed to .Mary's Kiver, foliowe«l it
to its sink, thence due south t*) a large lake, and thence to Carson sink just
above I^ike. Here Fremont took 1.') men to cross the Sierra Neviula at llcar
ICiver, while the rest of us, under Lieut. Tall»ot, nnK-eeded s<»uthwanl and
cni<»s.-d at the forks of the Kern Kiver. Bill Williams, ("apt. W.dker, and
Kit Carsi.n were with us, the former two as guides. Hill \\ illiams left us I
think Ik fore wi' left Salt Ljike. Fn'inont was to me<'t us at the iH)int of the
Sierra Nevada, or rather a little alxtve it, at the forks of the Kern Kiver.
llavin;; reache«l this a])|>ointed |<la« e \se waited IH days without hearing any-
thing of Fn'mont and [mrty. Ky this time provisions had given out, and all
the men tlircat«:ne<l to h«\eTail>ot if he di<l not move. We then crouaed
ever to the San Joa<|iiin ami loUowed it down to where the railroad now
it, where wc arrived Feb. 17, IH4<J.'
EXPLORATIONS OF THE OREGOXIANS. 63
the Rogue River Valley. Thence their course was
along the banks of the main stream until they en-
countered its southeast branch, which they followed
to the base of the Siskiyou Range, and from this
turned eastward toward the Cascades, passing through
a region now for the first time explored, and only a
few miles north of the boundary line of California.
Ascending the slopes of the latter, a stream named
Keene Creek conducted them to a small valley, after-
ward known as Round Prairie. A day or tvro later,
Long Prairie was reached, and near it a pass from
which, following a ridge trending toward the north,
the}^ reached the summit of the Cascades on the 4th
of July.
Crossing the mountains, they entered the valley of
the Klamath, and following the course of the river
to a point where it separates from the lower Klamath
Lake, crossed by a ford to the western shore of the
lake, skirting its banks until they arrived at Hot
Creek, where tbey encamped on the ver}^ spot where
three of Fremont's party had been murdered a few
weeks before by the Modocs. From Hot Creek they
made their way to Modoc Lake, thence to Goose Lake
and Surprise Valley, and over the ridge dividing the
Pacific lake basin from the great interior basin, and
after innumerable hardships, they finally struck the
Humboldt River about wdiere now stands Humboldt
City. They were now upon a well known road,
which it would be useless for them to travel for pur-
poses of exploration. So striking northeasterly they
examined the country in that direction to ascertain if
any better or more direct route might be found than
that which they had just now for the first time
marked out. They continued their course to Thou-
sand Springs Valley, and satisfied that further search
was needless, the company divided, part going to
Bear River and part to Fort Hall.
It was the intention of the Oregon company to
locate a direct road to Bear River, but one not less
C4 PASSAGE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
than fifty miles to tlio Routliwanl of Fort Hall, wliicli
|>oiiit would bo avoided l»y AiiuTicans in tlio event of
liostilities with Enijflaiid, tluu threatened hy the de-
termineil attitude of hoth nations in regard to the
boundary question. But a.s provisions ran short, the
party dividid, some proeeedint; to l^ear Kiver, anti
the reniaindir turninj,' otf toward Fort Hall for sup-
j)lics, hopinuj also to induce a portion of the enii-
i^rant.s, then firobably in its nei^hlKirhood, to journey
by the new route, and thus o[>en the road for travel.
CHAPTER lY.
SETTLEMENT.
1847-1860.
Cession from Mexico — Advent of the Mormons — Colonization — Mormon
Station— Traffic with Emigrants— Intercourse with California —
Government Assumed — Land Claims Made and Recorded — Cattle
Trade, Farming, and Building— First Settlers— Petition for An-
nexation TO California — Movements toward a Territorial Gov-
ernment— Conflicts with the Latter-day Saints — Political and
Judicial.
In the sudden occurrence of remarkable events which
followed the war between the United States and
Mexico, the settlement of the great American basin
was included. Much notoriety was given to Fre-
mont's explorations, and less to a far greater move-
ment— that of the Latter-day Saints, who founded a
city two thirds of the way across the continent, and
in so doing forestalled the necessity about to arise for
such a station in such a place. The treaty of Gua-
dalupe Hidalgo was no sooner signed than the new
owners of the California territory, by discovering gold,
attracted toward it a stream of immigration. The
founders of Salt Lake City, saved from nakedness by
the advent of trains of starving but better clad pil-
grims to the land of gold, were glad to sell grain and
vegetables to the westward bound, which saved the
latter much suffering. This mutually beneficial ar-
rangement of demand and supply was not confined to
Salt Lake, but Mormon and other traders soon posted
themselves along the line of travel to the mines, and
particularly in the valley of Carson river, where, in
Hist. Nev. 5 (65)
flS SETTLEMENT,
1849, they founded the first settlements in what is now
the state of Xtvada.
Ceded to tlie I'nited St«ites at the same time, and,
indeed, as one witli California,' this region of the
Spanish domain had not, like that west of the Sierra
Nevada, a distinctive name, but was described by
local names, and divided into valleys.
In March following the treaty with Mexico and the
discovery of j^old, the inhabitants of Salt Lake valley
met and on^anized the state of Deseret, the l)oundaries
of which included the whole of the recently accjuired
Mexican territory outside of California, and somethin*^
more.'
Soon afterward a company was organized among
the same people to visit the mines, consisting of
eighty men, led by a. captain named De Mont, and
Iiaving for secretary H. S. Beatie,* who, becoming
enamored of the valley of the Carson, and the oppor-
tunities offered for turning an honest penny, took
possession of the site of the present town of Genoa,
and thereupon erected a log house. Several of the
company remained with Beatie, while the others con-
tinued on to the mines.*
After putting up the walls of the first house' l)uilt
^StiitutrHoj'Ciil., IS.%, IG; IIutflvnH (trriU Went, a ImkjIc hiatorical, scien-
tific, and ile«tTij>tive, l)y I'rof. F. V. Hayilcn, once U. S. geologist, in a Krief
sketch of Neva4ia history, says that it was at rirst a 'part of California terri-
tory, anil was subsequently attached to Utah,' a statement which is some-
what misloatling.
'The Mormon Stat* of Deseret included what has since l>ccom© Nevada,
Utah, Arizona, portions of Colorado, Wyoming, and Ortynn, anil in Califor-
nia the counties of San Diego and Los Angeles as f;ir nortii as Santa Monica,
whence the line extendetl north to the Sierra, takiu«5 in half of Kern, a part
of Tulare, all of Inyo and Mono, a part of Alpine, the whole of I^asscn, and
a part of Shasta and Siskiyou counties. See H'utt. i'tnh, this series.
* Beatie, from wliose manuscript narrative, Thr First in A'»i«r</(i, I take
the history of this expedition, was horn in Va in 1S2G. He moved with his
parents to Mo. at the age of 10 years, and in 1H40 to Ky, returning to Va
an<l entering college. In 1S48 he immigrate<l to Utah with hiji wife, whom
he had married in Mo. From that period his history is a part of the history
of UUh.
• De .Mont, Aimer IMacklnirn and hrother. Kimhall, and Carter were five
of the men who remaincil in Carson valley. Brotlr's Firnt in Xnytiln, MS., 2.
Three otlier names are given in Itciitie's MS. —^ Pearson, Smith, and Brown — •
but I am not certain that they remained.
'The Htnicturc is what is called a double log house — that is, two com-
partmcuta coanocted by a covere<l 2)as8age-way, after the style of the Mi»-
BEATIE IN CARSON VALLEY. 67
in Nevada since the disappearance of the old-time
fabulous cities,* Beatie and one of the Blackburns
crossed the mountains by the Carson pass to the
American river, to purchase supplies for the re
mainder of the summer. There he learned that a
large immigation might be expected from the United
States to California; so he sold three yokes of cattle
for a good price, and purchased provisions. Return-
ing to Carson valley, the cargo was quickly disposed
of to the immigration, and another journey made to
the mines, this time with pack animals, and by the
way of a pass over the mountains three miles south
of Beatie's claim, the adventurers crossing the streams
on bridges and floats of logs.' At the end of the sum-
mer the little party in Carson valley found itself better
off from the profits of trade than many who had spent
the time digging for gold in California. Other traders
had come over the mountains from the west, and dis-
posing of their goods disappeared with the immigra-
tion. Wlien he returned to Salt Lake in September,
Beatie sold his house and claim to one Moore, of
whom I know nothing further,^ except that he prob-
ably sold in 1851 to John Reese. It is certain that
one of the Mormon party kept possession until Reese
came. Two of Beatie's associates went to California.
The other five, with ten who came back from the
mines, travelled back in company to Salt Lake, and
were attacked by the Bannacks in the vicinity of
Bear river, losing all their horses and provisions, and
souri frontier in the past generation, It had neither floor nor roof, but as it
did not rain that season, was not uncomfortable. A corral was also con-
structed, in which to keep cattle and horses.
*It has been claimed that the Morgan exploring expedition to southern
Nevada and Utah found in a desert valley, two days' journey south of Reeje
river, remnants of an extensive city, with regularly laid out streets and
good masonry. The ruins were covered several feet deep under sand. The
reader may take this statement at what he deems it worth. Corr. N. Y.
Tribune, in Elko Inrfependent, Oct. 23, 1877.
' This was probably the route opened by the returning Mormon battalion
in the spring of 1848. See Hist. Gal, this series.
8 Beatie says his house was directly west of Reese's saw-mill, subse-
quently erected, and about 50 yards from where Reese built his trading post.
First in Neoada, MS., 3.
68 SETTLEMENT.
bein;^ relieved by a oompany from Ore^ifon cam*ing
provisions t«) Fort Hall tor tlit- new military post.*
Ill 185U there were about twenty tra^^hnj^ posts,
built of sjiplin*i;s and «rreen boughs, at intervals ulon*;
the length of the Carson valley, most of them estab-
lislied by men fnun California, who this year ditl not
reap the same profit as before, the prineipal part of the
immigration having taken the route by the Truckeo
river. As there was no communication between the
two routes, the traders could not Uike their Hour,
which the immigrants greatly neederl, to them; in
conse([Uence of wliich failure to meet in Carson valley,
the former sutiered loss and the latter hunger."
A disease resembling cholera prevailed in the val-
ley, which took otf ten or twelve daily, the iimnigrants
fiilling easy victims, owing to [)revious exhaustion.
These several circumsUmces retarded the settlement
of the Carson valley, and in 1 852 there had been no
houses erected, although the returning Mormon gold-
hunters made selection of several claims as they passed
homeward." Reese's cstal)lishment was called the
Mormon station, and was known to all immigrants
between 1851 and 1857." Reese's capital in trade
•I fin<l that 8ome have placed the advent of the Mormons in Nevada as
early a< 1H47 S; liut for such assertions there areno cnuinil!*. TIk- founding
of Salt L<ike did not take place till 1847, and the .Nlorinonx were in no con-
dition to Hi-iid out colonies at that time; nor was there any oi>jectfor ho (h>ing
befi)re the State of Deseret waa organized. Potrrll'n Xmviti, a lMK>k which
should have Itcen more correct, makus the same mintake, and the additional
one of Htatuig tliat gold was iliMcovere<l in Nevada 'during the ahsence'of
the Mormon settlers in 1H4'J. In Bminir'i Miii. HmourrrA, 87. the same error
in dat<-M is rejie.ited wliicli occurs elsewhere; as in KrllijH Xrv. I)ir., 18(i*i,
95; Vir jiiii iCity EtilTju'nr, June 6, 1S7."); Sun Jdjo' I'mutrr, May 2(», 1S77.
'• Tlwue wlio did reacli the immigrants on the Humlioldt «lcsert couhl get
a horse, an ox, or mnle for I'J, 10, or even *2 i»ounds of flour; winle the TiO.OtM)
Eiuiids of tliat commodity at the trading ]>ost8 on the Carson route— so said
. Kyn-, a trader —could l>e purcliased for 15 cents a pound. Sarraniento Trait-
arriu, O. t. 14, IS.V); <'>tL V ,un>r, July '2.1, 18.^).
'' I tike this statement from a manuscript hy A. II. Hawley, calletl lAike
T'Uix, full of {>ertinent facts and 8Uggestions. Hawley. who was Lorn in
Vt in 1H1:{ immigrated to the Pacific coast overland ifi'lS.VJ. He H|KMks of
seeing no other l)uilding than the 'Old .Mormon Station.' kt-jtl liy.lolin Heesc,
except the ahamled and never cotnpletod one ereotf-il l)y lk>atie, and IG
mdes farther up the valley a hrnsli U-nt called Lucky Hdl's trading post. See
also S f. Trnnnrript, in^'-i/. Cimrirr, July 'l'.\, 1H.V).
" Ucese's station was a two-story log structure sha|KMl like an L. It had
a frontage of 30 f.-et, a depth of 50 feet, and at one time formed '1 nidus of a
REESE'S MORMOX STATION". 69
consisted of ten wagon-loads of flour, butter, eggs, and
other articles. His company from Salt Lake com-
prised John and Rufus Thomas, Stephen A. Kinsey,
two or three of the name of Lee, Condie, Brown, and
Gibson, and a few passengers for California — sixteen
in all. He stopped for a short time near the eastern
end of the valley, at a place which, from the debris
around the camping-ground, acquired the name of
Ragtown, by which it was long known ; but Kinsey
having proceeded to the western end of the valley
and reported Beatie's former location a better one, he
removed in July to that spot.^^
On the 9th of September, 1850, congress defined
the boundaries of Utah, which did not extend west
of the Sierra Nevada.'* In the autumn of 1851 a
little handful of settlers, part Mormon and part gen-
tile, in order to be enabled to take and hold land
claims, assumed to form a government for themselves
in this remotest western valley of Utah. The popu-
lation at this time did not number more than one
hundred, and of these not more than twenty were
actual settlers. The first meeting for this purpose
was held on the 12th of November, A. Woodward
presiding. The resolutions passed provided for a peti-
tion to congress to erect a distinct territorial govern-
ment in the valley ; for the survey of land claims, and
the appointment of James H. Haynes as surveyor.
The governing and appointing power was vested in a
committee of seven, namely, William Byrnes, John
Reese, E. L. Barnard, A. Woodward, H. H. Jameson,
T. A. Hylton, and N. R. Haskill. The committee on
pentagon-shaped fort. The land which Moore purchased from Beatie, and
Reese from Moore, was also purchased again from a chief of the Washoes,
named Captain Jim, for 2 sacks of flour. Wriijht's Big Bonanza, 20.
I'' Reese was born in N. Y. state in 1808. He came to Utah in company
with Enoch Reese, his brother, in 1849, and was in business in Salt Lake as a
member of the firm J. & E. Reese at the time he removed to Carson valley.
Reese's Mormon Station, MS., I.
^* The boundaries of Utah as first organized were, west by California, north
by Oregon, east by the summit of the Rocky mountains, and south by lat.
37°. _ . , ..
n SETTLEMEXT.
n-solutions, or laws. coiisisU*! <)f Jolin Reese, J. P.
liarnard, William Hymen, Wasliiii^toii l^mmiK, uiiil
11. II. Jameson. The amount t»f laml which coulil l>o
taken wa.s limited t^) one (juarte-r-hectiiui ; a recoiding
ortirer was a|»|H)inted, who was als«j treasurer.
At the seetind meetiiii;, held on the lUtli, John
IWiie presidinj^, this pioneer legislature resolved t<>
i;ivc claimants a right to sell their claims and take
new ones; required improvenjents to the amount i>f
Hvc dollars before the expiration of six months; j^ave
authority to comj)anies to take claims for eacli njem-
ber, and to hold the whole by improving one claim
to the amount of five dollars each ; and dec rud that
timW'red land should Ik; common to all. except in the
case of luml>cr manufacturers, who should be limit<^'d
to a certain numln-r of acres.
At the third meeting of the settlers, wliich occurred
on the 20th of Xovember, the same officers presiding,
it was agreed that a justice of the peace, a clerk of the
ct)urt, and a sheriff should be eh'ctid. and that E. L.
Barnard should be magistrate. ^Villiam liynies sheriff,
and T. A. Hylton clerk. To provide against abuses,
citizens should have the rigiit of apjual to a court of
twelve men summoned in the manner of a jury, from
whose decision tlure should be no appeal. A con-
stable and clerk of these courts were al.so provided for.
At another meeting, in May 1852, J. C. Fain being
chairman, it was decided that to any one who shouki
buihl a saw-mill, the riglit to take up a section <»f
timber land should bo gninted.'* Xo further action
ajipears to have \>vvu tiiken in the matter of govern-
ment l)efore the intervention of the territorial autiior-
itiesof Utah."
•*The M!%'er«l authnritin conflict concerning the d*t* of the first saw-mill.
Beatie aava that in 18r>3, <iii n-viMitin)( ('ars4iu valley, ht- foumi houava built
of sawed lumltcr, but there ia rcaaon to beheve thoae be meutunu were Dtada
of wasdD-boxes.
**rt haa (teen lat«r rep<irtc<l of thone livinK in Carson valley in 1851-2,
that John R«5c»o is a coni^uiratively jMK>r man in Salt I^ke (."itv; Frank
BamanI wa^ Willed by an iiiiini^rant in the winter of IK.Vi; A. \V<MMlward
wa« killed by Indiana at lU^-ky Tuiut uu the Humboldt, about the end of
L,AJNL»S, KMiLi::,, AMU ED EM'. 71
The first land claim recorded under the govern-
ment of Utah, on December 1852, was that of Reese,
which extended from his trading house south "to a
lone tree," and included all between the river and the
mountains on the west. Five other claims were re-
corded south of Reese's, in the order following: E. L.
Barnard, S. A. Kinsey, James C. Fain, J. Brown,
and William Byrnes. J. H. Scott and brother took
a claim north of Reese, these seven being all that
were recorded previous to 1853."
The land law was amended by a citizens' meeting
in 1853, when it was decreed that notice of a claim
must be given, and $100 worth of improvements put
upon it within 60 days. A married man might take
640 acres, and a single man half that amount. Joseph
P. Barnard, Frank Barnard, George Follensbee, A. J.
Rollins, Frank Hall, and W. L. Hall came over the
mountains from the California mines in November
1851 to look for gold in Carson valley ; but not finding
paying diggings, they took up the land where Carson
City now stands, and erected a trading-post. Frank
Hall one day shot an eagle and stretched its skin on
the front of their cabm, from which circumstance
travellers first called this Eagle station, then Eagle
rancho, and lastly spoke of Eagle valley, which name
the retjion still retains ; but these men disreo:arded the
authority of the self-constituted government in the
matter of land claims. In the autumn of 1852 a man
named Clark erected a cabin under the shelter of a
timbered spur of the mountains, near the site of
1851; E. L. Barnard, one of the firm of Reese & Co., absconded in the autumn
of 1854 with the proceeds of the sale of a large drove of cattle, and broke up
the firm; X. R.. Haskill, in the spring of 1852, attempted the assassination of
William Byrnes, shooting him full of bullets, and leaving him, as he believed,
dead. A miner's court compelled Haskill to leave the country, together with
his partner, Washington Loomis, who was afterward hanged at Los Angeles
for stealing. Byrnes, who had been a Texan ranger, recovered from the
shooting, and became an inmate of the Stockton insane asylum. Thorring-
ton was accused of murder and theft, and hanged.
^" The records of this government, made by T. G. Barnard and T. A.
Hylton, are preserved in a book of 60 leaves, 6 by 7 inches in size, in the
possession of Martin M. Gaige of Carson City,
72 SETTLEMENT.
Franktowii, and called liis place the garden of Eden,
to which faiilcd spot he fancied it bore some reseni-
hlance." Like the first Adam, he deserted his para-
dise after a short residence for a more lucrative exist-
ence in the outside world.
The Utah legislature, on the 3d of March, 1852,
created out of western Utah the counties of Weber,
Deseret, Tooele, Juab, Millard, Iron, and Washing-
ton. The territory was divided by parallel lines run-
ning east and west, and the first three named divisions
occupied the northern part of what is now Nevada
down to about the i)resent northern line of Washoe
county. The next two divisions on the south, Juab
and Millard, included all of the Carson valley settle-
ments. Judges were appointed for a term of four
years. For Weber and Deseret, Isaac Clark ; for
Tooele, Alfred Lee; for Juab, George Bradlev ; for
Millard, Anson Call ; for Iron and Washington, Chap-
man -Duncan. It would seem from these appoint-
ments that the Mormons were scattered over the
whole territory, or that it was their intention to send
out colonies.
In roads, bridges, and mail contracts they became
prominent. In December 1852 John Reese and Israel
Mott" secured a franchise for five years to construct
a toll-bridge over the Carson river, and improve the
" B. L. King settled in lSr>2 at the month of a caflon in Eagle valley, which
beam his name. A man nameii Howcn tarried thruu^di the summer and raised
a crop, hut went away in the autumn. A few otliers in Carson valley in IS.VJ-
.3 were Lee, ("<)n<lie, and ( Jihhon. Mormon.s; and J<>8ei)h Wehl), T. (J. liamard,
and JimeH Fennimore, or Old Virginia an he was called, gentiles. Jacoh H.
or • old man ' Rose, was another atom of humanity whieli found lodgment
about this time at the mf)Utli of King's caflonin h^agle valley, (i. W. Podgo
and John CampheU, who had l>een mining in Gold taflon, took up a claim in
Washoe valley, and ("iiriatopher West located himself near them. On the
Truckee meadows lived a Mormon named Jameson. I)agget took a place
two miles west of It^ese, ami John Keihling in Jack's valley. Jones, James,
and Hayward settled in Carson vaih-y aluiut 18.VJ.
» M<.tt, with his wife, left Salt Ukc for Cal. with a train in May 18.')2.
He first Ht'ttled 4 miles ahovo lU-e.^e, and huilt a house out of the l>eds of
wagons ahandoned in the valley. He nia<le a window-sash with a jack-knife,
paying IT^ cts a light for 7 hy 9 inch glass to jnit in it. He was the foujider
of MottHviliu. His wife, wlio was the fir.st female settlcT, married a second
time to A. M. Taylor, and later resided in Carson valley
PROGRESS m 1852-53. 73
road up the mountains beyond. A mail route was
established between Salt Lake City and San Bernar-
dino, and a post established at Las Vegas spring,
which- was for the protection of this route. At Car-
son valley this was a prosperous year. The immi-
gration was large and hungry. At Mormon station
turnips grown in the virgin soil of the valley sold for
a dollar a bunch ; watermelons, potatoes, and corn
brought extravagant prices ; wheat and barley were
also marketable for cash, or cattle, w^hich were better
than cash. Reese, who was the principal trader,
bouo-ht out a would-be rival, Ben Holladav, after-
ward famous as a stage-owner.
In 1853 the settlements had very much increased,
and land entries became frequent.'* A number of
families had been added to the population, aud some
of the forms of social life begun to be observed that
year, notably a marriage, a divorce, and a ball." It
was a year later before a school was opened.
^J. H. Scott and Charles Ferguson filed a claim April 11th; also the same
day J. H. Haynes and David Barry, and Thomas andE. H. Knott. On May
12th Charles A. Daggett filed a claim; May 17th R. T. Hawkins in Jack's
valley; July 22d, L. M. Young and James Greene; Sept. 30th, L. Olds and
John Olds; Oct. 5th, John L. Carj' and Thomas Knott sold a farm to W. B.
Thorrington for St300. Oct. 6th, fovir sixth of the Eagle rancho was sold by
Frank and W. L. HaU to E. L. Barnard, two sixths having already been sold
to them by their former partners, A. J. RoUins and George Follensbee.
=iMrs Laura M. Dittenrieder, who arrived June 9, 1S53, was at that time
the wife of James B. Ellis. Her husband took a land claim 1^ miles below
where Dayton now stands, and erected a substantial log house. Oct. 4, 1854,
Ellis accidently shot himself. Mrs Ellis, like an intelligent woman, kept a
journal, in which she wrote the following facts: Spafford Kail, from Fort
Wayne, Indiana, kept a trading post and station at the Gold canon, on what
is now Mine street. Opposite to it was a blacksmith shop made of wagon
beds. The only women she found in western Utah, outside of Carson valley,
were Mrs McMarlin, Mrs Cosser, her 12-years-old daughter, and the wife of
the blacksmith named Henry Van Sickle, who went to Cal. before winter.
In her place, however, came a family with several daughters, one of whom
marriea Lucien Olds, and another Al. Squires, both of Carson valley. The
Halls, after selling Eagle rancho, returned to Cal. and Frederic Bishop
resided at the rancho, later the property of Reese and Barnard. 'Ihat
autumn Walter Cosser began business in the mercantile line, at a point
which eventually became known as Johnston. In March 1854 Thomas
Knott began building a saw-mill for John Cary, at the head of Carson valley.
The first plank was sawed on the 26th of July; the first lumber produced in
western Utah bringing -SlOO per 1,000.
The marriage and divorce occurred under the following circumstances:
An immigrant named Powell, whose wife had died on the road, had among
his children a daughter 14 vears of age, named Mary, "While the father was
74 SETTLEMENT.
Ill February 1P53 there was presented in tlie legis-
lature of Calitornia a petition of forty-three citizens
of Carson valK-v, praying to l)e annexed to California
for judicial purposes until congress should otherwise
abient looking for a place to live, Benjamin Cole, a young nan from Missouri,
iiitluceti thu chilli to marry him, the ceremony lieing pvrforme<l by a justice
(if tlic peace nainetl Parker. Having no home to Uikc lit-r t<>, lie left her with
Mrs CoH-ser while he proceeded to erect a caliin, and that motherly Scotch
woman advised Mary to remain with her until her father's return, to which
tlie girl consented. The husband demanded his wife, but Mary declined to
leave the protection of Mrs L'osser until her father should sanction it. Thia
late prudence created a feud in society, s<)me approving it, and utliers a*lvo-
cating the riglits of Cole. Ua the return of INiwell he tf>ok itossession of hia
chdd, and started with liis family for Cal., followed by the irate bridegroom
and his frioud-», with the nurpose of abducting the girl. I'.ut the C'osser-
Powell party also mountea their hor.sea and rode after them to prevent any
forcilde measures. To avoid a bloody conflict, Powell at length otiered to
abiile l»y the decision of his tlaughter if the oilier })arty would do tiie same,
to which they agreed, and Mary declaring her desire to g<i with her father,
Cole returneil to (Jobl carton. The divorce was even less informal tlian the
mirriage, for no other proceedings were ever instituted.
Tlie first liall was lield on the last niglit of 1853, in a room over Spafford
Hall's store, at the mouth of (iold carton. There were jirescnt 9 females,
great and small -all of Wf>mankind there was in western Utah except three
— and about 100 men. While the dancing was going on tlie \Vashi>es matiea
descent on the horses of tlie company, and drove them all off. The animaLi
were recovered, witli the exception of two which had been roasted and eaten.
Spatford Hall, having been accidently wounded and disabled, sold his sta-
ti m to .James McMarlin, his clerk, early in 18")4, and returned to Indiana.
John Mc.Marliu, on the way to join his brother, was killed l)y In<lians at
Slippery Ford a few years later. Asa Kenyon located himself at Ragtown,
where the overland road first touched Carson river. Above liagtf.wn 4 miles,
a blacksmith, Thomas Pitt had a statiim, and called his place The Willows.
James and Harvey Hughes, from Mo., established themselves not far from
Honey lake on Carson river; and John Smith purchased the trailing post of
a Califomian at tho west eml of Twenty -six Mile Desert, which place became
later known as Coonie's raucho. (Jeorge Brown settleil at a station on the
river about .3 miles above old Fort Churchill. J. S. ChiM and Moses Job
were traders who established stations near Cosser's. Job's peak was named
in honor of tlie latter; and the former l>ecame an inlluential citizen of Nevada.
On the 1st of .May, 1H.')4, the first white child was born in western Utah, a
boy. nam';ii James Brimmel Ellis, who died in 1809 at Virginia City. In
July 18jt Charles H. AHirecht ami family, from St Louis, were encamped at
Ellis' place. Among his j.arty was liachel F. Albrecht, his sister, who cap-
tivated a miner named James Dover. The enslavement was mutual and the
couple wished to marry, but there was neither justice of the jn-ace nor minis-
ter on that side ot the mountains. In this dilemma, by the advice of Mrs
Ellis, a marriage contract was drawn up, vigned in triplicate, and witnessed,
as follows: ' Cars(m River, July 4, 18.'>4. By these preients we hereby cer-
tify, in the presence of witnesses, that we will, from this time lieiueforth, to
the end of our lives, live together as man and wife, oln-yiiin all the laws of
the U. .S., as married persons. In witness we set i>ur hinds and stwils, thia
4th day of .July. 18o4. James Dover, liachel F. Albrecht. Witnesses: James
B Kills, Charles H Albr«-<ht, Augustus C. Albrecht." The <-ontract was
publisheil in the Pla<erville Mouiifiin Deniornit of July •2'^, 18.">4. For 8
years the oldigation was kcut. but at the end of that time Mrs Dover left
her husband, and went to live witli her brotlier at Placerville, and finally
was regularly divorced.
CARSOX COUXTY CREATED. 1$
provide. The committee to which the petition was
referred asked that jurisdiction be extended east-
ward to 120° of longitude, as far north as tlie 42d
parallel," and south to the intersection of the 35th
parallel with the Colorado river. This action on the
part of the people caused the Utah government to
take action for their relief.
On the 17th of January, 1854, the legislature of
Utah passed an act creating the county of Carson,
w^hich embraced all of western Utah, from above the
present southern line of Humboldt county, south as
far as about latitude 38°, and east as far as to about
the 11 8th meridian. It was made the 3d judicial dis-
After Thomas Knott had built the saw-mill for John Cary he erected a
saw and grist mill, with a stationary thrasher, for Reese, at Mormon station.
The dishonesty of E. L. Barnard, before mentioned, crippled Reese finan-
cially, who was unable to pay for his mill, which added debt to his disaster.
The land claims recorded in 1854 were J. C. Faia and E. L. Barnard, Feb.
28th; H. Van Sickle and Post, March 28th; R. De Frost and Frederick
Bishop, April 2d; John Stephens, April 6th; Joseph Williams, May 18th;
A. C. Stewart and A. Clark, and C. D. Daggett, May 27th; George Lambe,
October 30th; Nicholas Johnson, Dec. 4th; R. Sides, R. Abernethy, and J.
M. Baldwin, Dec. 20th. There were also several transfers of claims. The
claim of Samuel Blackford in Jack's valley had passed into the hands of
Julius Peltier, who sold it to George Fogle Nov. 29th. The farm of one
Brown was sold by the constable, and bought in by Samuel Blackford for
§787.32. G. B. Parker, who had purchased the Clear Creek rancho, first
taken by George Mires and C. Phillips, sold it to R. Sides and Rolland Aber-
nethy Dec. 7th. Joseph Brown sold a farm to Rufus Adams Dec. 26th.
Jan 3, 1856, W. P. Cosser recorded a claim; A. L. Kenyon, Jan. 12th; 1. N.
flix, Jan. 20th; Reese & Co. transferred land and property to Thomas
Knox, valued at 84,000, to pay him for erecting the mills already mentioned-
Thft transfer was made Jan. 23d. On the same day J. & E. Reese & Co.
sold or conveyed to William B. Thorrington $23,000 worth of property to
make good a loan. The Eagle rancho was included in this transfer. On the
10th of Feb. the same firm conveyed the remainder of their property to their
creditors. On the 12th of March W. P. Allen and E. A. Parkerson recorded
a land claim. Nicholas Ambrosia recorded a claim on the 24th of March. The
last entry on this record was of a sale by Julius Peltier, of land, to R. D.
Sides, J. M. Baldwin, and L. B. Abernethy. James B. Ellis kept a record
of arrivals of Cal. -bound emigrant wagons, in 1854, up to July 1st, finding
them to foot up 213 wagons, 360 horses and mules, 7,528 cattle, and 7,150
sheep. In this year John Reese, accompanied by a sergeant and 3 men of
the U. S. troops, pioneered a new, shorter, and straighter route between Salt
Lake and Carson valley than the one previously travelled down the Hum-
boldt. It was expected that Steptoe, who was to march to Oregon with
troops, would come this way. Tlie road was not opened until 1860, when
Reese again piloted Capt. Simpson, of Johnston's army, with 10 wagons,
across the country by this route, afterward adopted as the mail route and a
wagon-road. A school was taught in the winter of 1854-5, at the residence
of Israel Mott, by Mrs Allen. Prices were high, but not so high as they had
been, which is proof of a full market.
■^■^Cal. Jour. Sen., 1853, 90, 130-1, and App. Doc., 46.
7B SETTLEMENT.
trict of tlic territory, United States Judge George P.
Stiles being assigned to preside in it. IStiles, Hyde,
and Haywood were also connnissioners to establish ap-
proximately, togetlier witli connnissioners from Cali-
fornia, the boundary between Utah and that state.
The organic act authorized the governor to appoint a
probate judge, whose duty it should be to organize
the county, the person selected being Orson Hyde.
Accordingly, on the 15th of June, District Judge
Stiles, Probate Judge Hyde, United States Marshal
Joseph L. Haywood, and John and Enocli K(!ese,
with an escort of thirty-five men, arrived at Mormon
station from Salt Lake City. An election was called
to take place September 20th for the choice of county
officers, which resulted in the election of James C.
Fain, sheriff ; Henry W. Niles, surveyor;" Charles
D. Daggett, prosecuting attorney ; " R. D. Sides,
treasurer; H. M. Hodges and James A. Williams,
constables ; Nicholas Ambrosia and Henr}^ Van
Sickle, justices of the peace;" Henry D. Sears,
William P. Allen, and James McMarlin, selectmen,"
whose duties were to act as associates with the probate
judge, and attend to the care of the county's poor,
orphaned, and insane. There was but little business in
the courts during the ante-mining period of western
Utah history." The first criminal j)rosecution oc-
" Niles was appointed clerk of the i)robate court Oct. 2d, by Orson Hyde,
also ex-oHicio clerk of the county court
^* Ai>pointed assessor and collector in Dec. 1855.
*^ James McMarlin was a2)pointed justice of the peace for (Jold Cafion
Dec. .3d.
'^Fain resigned in May 185(5, Russell Kelly appointed. Nile<j resigned in
May 185G from the tiflice of surveyor, Orson ilytle appointed, llesigned
from the clerk's ofHce Dec. 185."j, S. A. Kin-sey appointed in Marcli 1856.
Htidges resigned in May 185G, Daniel Woodford appointed. Woodford waa
killed by Indians at Slippery Ki'rd in 1857.
"The lirst lawsuit on record was l)rought by John Reese against fJeorge
Chorpenning, the surviving partner of \\'oodward & t"o., in March 185Ii, to
recover ?t>75 for supplies furnished tlicm m hile carrying the mail from Salt
Lake to Cal. It was brought before K. L. liarnard, nifigistrate, and judgnunt
rendered against Woodwanl & Co. for tlie amount and ?'J5 costs. Tlic prop-
erty sold to satisfy the juilgnient brought !?41K»; but as Reese b otight it all in,
it is ].rob,able that he obuined full value. Among the efFeets sold was ' .M<.r-
mon Station to J. Reese, §130.' The second suit was brought in April 1854
f
ORGAXIZATION OF COURTS. 77
CTirred November 2, 1855, a negro man named
Thacker having been arrested for using threatening
language against A. J. WyckofF and Mrs Jacob Rose.
The judge held that " a man may have malice enough
in his heart to kill another, and judgment and dis-
cretion to prevent him from committing the deed ; he
may have the ability to cut a lady's heart out and
roast it upon the coals, and at the same time he may
have the good sense not to do it." The judgment
rendered was that Thacker should pay $50 and the
costs of the suit ; he was advised for his own safety to
return to California. At the first meeting of the pro-
bate court Charles D. Daggett and Samuel C. Perren
were admitted to practise in that court.
Judge Stiles appears to have returned to Salt Lake
with Marshal Haywood after settling upon an approx-
imate western boundary for Utah,'^ as no proceedings
of the United States court are recorded before 1856.
Meanwhile few events of importance had occurred, the
most noteworthy act of the people being an attempt
to shake off the authority of Salt Lake by draughting
a territorial constitution or compact for the govern-
ment of Carson valley." On the 27th of October,
1855, a special term of court was held at the house of
John Reese for the purpose of granting *' the sole and
exclusive right to take out any portion of the waters
of Carson river which they may desire in a ditch or
canal, for mining and other purposes, in the vicinity
of Gold canon, to J. C. Fain, John Reese, Stephen A.
Kinsey, John McMarlin, James McMarlin, Christo-
pher Merkley, Morris Fitzgibbon, and Orson Hyde."
This is the first mention of any enterprise of this
by Henry McCalla vs Thomas Knott, judgment rendered $113.43. No other
appears on record before the organization of Carson county. The first session
of the probate court was held Oct. 3, when the complaint of James Mclntyre
vs Asa A Knouse, to recover $187.75, was filed. The case was tried on the
12th, at the house of one Cowan. Mclntyre lost his case, and was ordered
to pay $38.50.
'■^Beatits First in Nevada, MS., 7.
»Thi3 instrument was draughted by William A. Cornwall of Cal. S. F.
AUa, Oct, 27, 1854.
7i 8ETTLEMEXT.
iiaturt'.'* Tliore wuh some iiHTcast- in the ix)pulatl(>n,
but the iiuiubcT i)f Women was btiil small.*'
Ill January 1856 the inhabitants <>f Carson valley
again petitionetl the California assembly to annex
them for judicial and other purj)oses. A resolution
was passed in that body asking congress to make the
llHtli meridian the east boundary of California/'
Tliis move a second time aroused the Utah authori-
ties, although congress denied the prayer. No at-
tempt to form a religious colony in Carson was ma<le
before 18.')fi." At this time there was a movement on
foot in Salt I^akc and eastern Utah to reinvigorate
the churcli of Latter-day Saints by founding new col-
onies or missions, and also by preaching a reformation
among the members. A cohmy of between sixty and
seventy families was ordered to Carson valley in the
spring, most of which arrived before the election in
September, when the Mormons took the conduct of
ati'airs into their own hands, being considerably in the
majority over the gentiles.** With this colony came
••On the 27th of May, 18S4, at a citizens' meeting, it was resolved that in
the use of water no settler shoulil l»cileprive«l of sutticient for hoiiseholii pur-
poses; that it should not l)e diverted from its original cliannels, an«l when two
or more levied on the same stream they should share water accnrding to the
numlter of acres cultivated, each using on alternate days when water wa*
scarce. The sole right to take water from Carson river compelled settler*
to pay a water rate. Jacoli H Rose fell heir to the ditch l>cf<>re its comple-
tion, and when the work was finished found the foot to l>e higher than the
bead.
"The Reese brothers had hrought their families from Salt I-ike, .Mex-
ander Cowan ha<l arrive<l with his wife, destineil to become famous a few
years later as the richest woman in Nevada, and the wife <>f Sandy Bower-'.
Mis* .Mary Wheeler was married (Jet. '28, IH.VS, to S«iuire .Mott, s..ii of Hirnm
Mott, tlie officiating justii-e being Orson Hyde. >liss .Mary <Jibs..n was
married Nov. 0, 18.'>5, t^) Henry Van Sickle by .Judge Hyde, at tiie lunise of
Niles and Scars. Miss Sarah Jane Thompson was marrie«l Oct. 2, 1 8436, to
Stephen A. Kinsey, at the house of .Judge Hyde, in Washoe valley, by that
dignitary.
".SV«. Mise. Doe., 48; 34th cong. Ist sess.; //. Com, Ilrpt, 11 C. .-Mth cong.
3d B«M.
»» William Jennings, in his f'ariton V,ilUy, MS., 2, Bays that a mission was
got up in 1852 by the two Reeses and others. On iwge 3 he says: ' The Car-
■on valley |>eople, I think, were mostly a|M>Mtate Niormons Infon' 18.V). The
Ree«e»t.' he continues, ' were only jiartially connected wi'.h tlie church."
"The following Mormon officers were elected: Richard liently, reconler;
RuMsell Kelly, sheriff (joined tlio .Mormon church): William Nixon an. I I'er-
mcns Jackm'an, selectmen; Chcst<:r lA>velan<l, justice of the i»cace; Nelson
THE MORMONS. 79
another judge of the 3d district, W. W. Drummond,
who held a term of court in Mott's barn, four miles
above Mormon station. No business vras really exe-
cuted beyond convicting two men of grand larceny,
who escaped after being sentenced, and impannelling a
grand jury, which brought in no indictments. Drum-
mond, who was not beloved by the authorities of tlie
church, departed almost immediately for San Fran-
cisco, whence he sailed for the east.
The new-comers settled in Carson, Eagle, Washoe,
Jack, and Pleasant valleys, founding several towns.""
Genoa, at Mormon station, was named by Judge
Hyde after the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
A saw-mill was erected by Hyde in Washoe valley,
and Franktown was settled and named. The little
burg of Dayton, at the mouth of Gold canon, also
took its rise in 1856."
An attempt was made to form society on the plan
of eastern Utah. The settlements were laid out with
broad, regular streets, on either side of which ran
small ditches carrying water for irrigating gardens
and fields, as well as for supplying families. The
architecture was of the simplest and rudest; nothing
was done for ornament, but everything for use. In
dress the same principle prevailed ; personal adorn-
ment was unknown. To work and get the most with
the least self-indulgence was the law laid down to
these patient builders of Zion. Their one amuse-
Merkeley and Seth Dustin, constables; Charles D. Daggett (gentile) was ap-
pointed assessor, collector, and treasurer. Placerville American, Sept. 13,
1856; Sac. Union, Sept. 15, 1856.
^ Among the members of the mission •who came in 1855 were Christopher
Merkley, Jesse M. Perkins, Reuben Perkins, Shepherd, and William Hutch-
ins, who were sent on the special business of the church. Bmtk's First in
Nevada, MS., 7. Other colonists of the same year were Chester Loveland
and George Hancock. In 1856 came William Jennings, Christopher Layton,
William Nixon, R. Walker, Peregrine Sessions, who founded Sessions^ set-
tlement, Albert Dewey, William Kay, founder of Kaysward, George Nebe-
ker, Ckerry, and otiiers.
^Kleins Founders of Carson City. MS., 2, 6; S. F. Golden Era, May 11,
1856; Carson State JRcjUt^r, July 29, 1871: Kellv's Xei: Directory, 1862, 54-5;
Wriqht's Biq Bonanm^ 23, 24-5: 5. F. AUa, Oct. 6, 1856; Sac. Union, Dec.
19, 1859; Id., Jan. 2, 1860; S. F. Bulletin, June 8, 1860,
80 SETTLEMENT.
mcnt of (lancliicj was for)»itkleu to be prartised in the
coiiipaiiy of i^^t-ntilt'S, and to wash away their sins re-
j)oatrd l)apti.snis were enjoined. Still, the autlioiities
in tlie west did not neglL-rt the Kubject t)f in.struction.
At tlie Deccaiiber term of court in IHjO it was ordered
that Carson county should be divided into four school
districts. A school-liouse was erected at Franktown
in 1857, which was afterward sold to Lucky Bill, who
moved to (ienoa and used it for a stable. Affairs
were already so shapin*; themselves in Salt Lake that
nothin<4 less than the conijjlete al)andonnu'nt of west-
ern Utah would make the city of the Saints secure.
In November 18f)G Orson Hyde left Carson county
to return to it no more. When he depart<'d he leased
his saw-mill in Washoe valley to Jacob Rose, that
being the best that he could do with it at tlu^ time.
In the following year tiie colony of the faithful was
ordered home to Salt Lake to defend Zion against
Johnston's army. As the order was peremptory, they
were forced either to abandon their property or sell
it at a small ])artof its value, and they chose the latter
course." A})ostate Mormons, some of whom had fled
from the reformation at Salt Lake, and gentiles,
scarcely less hateful in the eyes of the saints, became
the possessors of their improvements ; for which result
of a futile undertiiking the fortunate heirs of Mormon
enterpri.se suflered condenmation, even to a curse
uttered by Orson Hyde in 18012."
'^ On tlie IGth <»f July, 1857, P. Ci. Sessions' train from Cal., consisting of
3! men, 10 women. 18 cliildrcn, 17 wagons, 40 lionsus and ',i'2 uiiiles, left
Eagle valley fur .Salt I^ike. 0:i the ."Sth of Sept. tlie C'oiiover express from
Salt Lake arrived in Washoe valley late in the afternoon, ami on the 'JOth
4.'i0 per:4ons, some of whom were from Cal. and Or., started with I'i.S wagons
for Salt l.Ake, which they reached N.iv. 2d. Ueesc left with this train,
travelling l>y the route south of tho Humboldt to avoid the Indians. Jen-
nin'/M Curs m l'<illn/, MS. 4.
'*> In a letter of'Or»<m Hyde, dated .Tan. 27, 1SG2, a.ldressed to the i>co|)lo
of Carson and ^Vashoe valley «, in which he relates the history of his null,
he says it Mas huilt l»y himself and a Mr Price; that the jiroj^-rty was worth
SIO,00.) when he left it; that for the rent of it he had received in advanco
' I span of small iinlifferent niiil<-<4, an oM worn-out harness, 2 yokes of oxen,
and an old wagon,' things wliich he nipiin-il for his journey to Salt I..ake.
A war fi.ll.iwc.l Ixtwccn the MoriiK'in and the l^ .S. novt, an event which
wod uufavurahlu to the ^lerfectiou uf Mormuu titles, after the urgauiatiuu
THE MORMONS. 81
The abandonment of Carson county " by the Mor-
mons left it with a scant population, and for a time
without a government, although attached by an act
of the legislature to Great Salt Lake county for elec-
tion, revenue, and judicial purposes. From July 5,
1856, to September 12, 1859, the operation of the
probate court was suspended, although the county
was allowed to retain its organization so far as a re-
corder, surveyor, and precinct officers were concerned,
and these might be elected in accordance with exist,
ing laws, "until further directed by Great Salt Lake
county court or legislative enactment; " but the " rec-
ord-books, papers, blanks, and seals, both of probate
and county courts, shall be handed over to the order
of the probate court of Great Salt Lake county."
This act was passed January 14, 1857. On the 13th
of April the county court, Chester Loveland presid-
ing, adjourned to the following week, but without
meethig again for three years."
of the territory of Nevada, upon the abandoned premises. Hyde gave the
people of Carson val'ey choice between paying him $20,000, or being cursed
with earthquakes, floods, pestilence, and famine, and they took the risk of
the latter. Hyde was accompanied on his return to Salt Lake by Simon
Baker, James Kathall, John Vance, Wdliam Price, Durffee, Carter, Har-
shee. Woodland, and Butcher and family, and travelled the route explored
by Reese in 1854. He died Nov. 28, 1878, at Spring City, San Pete county,
Utah, a man distinguished among his sect as a faithful and gifted servant
of God.
39 There is a statement in the S. F. AUa, Sept. 29, 1857, that Brigham
Young had ordered an organization of secret cavalry to western Utah. It
was certainly not to Carson. Much comment on the exodus of the Mor-
mons is to be found in the Alta. They were ordered in from Cal. also.
Mention in Nevers' Nevada Pioneers, MS., 1-2; Cradlehaufjh's Nevada Bioq-
raphj, MS., 3; Gold Hill News, May 16, 1873; San Jos6 Pioneer, May 26,
1877.
*'' Samuel A. Nevers was born in Boston, March 1, 1824, came to Cal. in
1849 by sea, in the ship Sweden; settled in Eagle valley in 1859, and mar-
ried thereabout. In a manuscript account of Nevada Pioneers, in my collec-
tion, he says: 'There were but 4 persons settled in this part of the valley at
that time, to wit, B. L. King, Mart. Stebbins, Jacob H. Rose, and John
Mankin, who were settled on land taken up by them under the laws of
Utah. . . .None of the above named were Mormons. . . .Nearly all the Mor-
mons, when leaving for Salt Lake, sold their land to John Mankin for a
nominal sum, payment to be made in wheat, which was sold for a very low
price. This sale carried a strip of land from King's canon down to the Hot
springs, but Mankin subsequently claimed the whole lower portion of the
valley. . . .Society was on a low plane, every man doing about as he pleased
There was no law here until Judge Cradlebaugh came, who to a great
extent broiight order out of chaos.*
Hist. Nev. 6.
82 8ETTLEMKNTS.
Before the Mormons liad made tlu'ir final exodus,
the remainiiiL; iiiliahitants Htizc-d tlie opportunity to
prevent tliiir return hy a^ain pt-titioning congress for
a territorial organization m Wtsttrn Utah, with por-
tions of California and New Mexico " At a mass-
meeting held at (ienoa August 8th, by appointment
of a previous informal meeting held on the 3d,*' it was
declared, in a series of resolutions, that it was the
sense of the inhabitants of that region that the security
of life and property t)f immigrants passing through it
dei)ended upon the organization of a territorial gov-
ernment. No other reason for the proposed division
of Utah was given in the resolutions, hut in the
memorial accomi)anying it other causes were set forth ;
namely, that no law existed in \v(.*stern Utah except
theocratic rule, wliich was exercised by the MornRHi
church without reference to statutory regulations.
The Utah legi.slaturc had abolished the courts of the
county of Carson, leaving no officers to execute the
laws except two justices of the peace and one con-
stable, whose authorit}' no one respected. The county
was reduced to an election precinct, in which no one
voted, or cared to vote. There were bad men in the
community, whose crimes could only be punished by
resort tolynch-law ; tlie country was cut off from Cal-
ifornia four months of the year by snow, and equally
from the then seat of government by distance. In
claiming a white population, however, of between
7,000 and 8,000, and 75,000 to 100,000 natives, the
*' Tlie petition makes the Gooso Creek mountains the eastcni, the Colo-
ra<lo river the southern, Oregon the northern, an<l the Sierra Nevada tlio
western huundary.
«n'he tirst meeting was hehl at Gilhert's saloon, ami wasi)rtHi.le<l over hy
John Iteese, William Nixon heing secreUry. 'Die mass-meeting wiis also
presided over hy Keese, tlie vite-presidints heing Isjiao Koop, K. ('. Snnth.
B. L. King, an<l Solomon Perrin. The conmiittee <in resolutions consisted
of William M. Ornishy, K. D. Sides. Klijah Knott, Tliomas J. Singleton,
B. L. King. Daniel W.»o<Uord, S. Stephens, Warren Smitli, and John Mc-
Marlin. The meeting was a<ldress..l hy James M. Crane, a California
journalist of some repute, in a si>eecli of an hour's length, tlio sulwtanco of
wliieh w.M prohahly contained m the memorial wliich he was elccU-d to
present U> congrcsa.
SEPARATION. 83
memorialists greatly exceeded the truth." In October
a mass-meeting was held at Honey Lake valley, which
was presided over by Peter Lassen, approving the
action of the Genoa meeting, and in January 1858 the
CaUfornialeo-islature and Governor Johnson endorsed it.
As an inducement to congress to grant their peti-
tion, it was submitted that all the routes across the
continent would be guarded by the people of the pro-
posed territory. A. committee" was appointed to
solicit signatures, and James M. Crane was chosen to
proceed to Washington city with the resolutions and
memorial of the meeting, and also to represent the
territory as delegate, when it should be organized, in
congress. Committees were also appointed to '' man-
age and superintend all matters necessary and proper
in the premises," *' and the newspapers of California,
Oregon, Washington, Utah, and New Mexico were
requested to publish the proceedings of the conven-
tion, as well as the leading papers in all the eastern
cities.**
The attitude of the Mormons had its influence on
congress. Crane wrote to his constituents from Wash-
ington in February 1858 that the committee on ter-
ritories had agreed to report a bill, and that it would
be pressed through both houses " as a war measure,
to " compress the limits of the Mormons, and defeat
«,9. F. Alia, Sept. 5 and Oct. 21, 1857; Cal. Jour. Assembly, 1858, 56;
Cal. Stat., 1858, 350; Sen. Mis. Doc, 181, 35th cong. 1st sess.
" W. W. Nicola, R. D. Sides, Orrin Gray, J. K. Trumbo, and William
Rogers.
** lu Honey lake valley, Isaac Roop, Peter Lassen, William Hill, Mc-
Murtry, and Arnold; Eagle valley, B. L. King and Martin Stebbins; Carson
valley, William M. Ormsby, James Mo^NIarlin, C. D. Daggett, John Reese,
William Rodgers, Thomas J. Singleton, Moses Job, William Thorrington,
Isaac Farwell, Daniel Woodford, Orrin Gray, and D. E. Gilbert; Willow,
town, Solomon Perrin; Ragtown, James Quick; Twenty-six Mile desert,
Jefferson Atchison; Sink of Humboldt, Sanmel Blackford; Walker river
and valley, T.J. Hall and James Mclntyre; Hope valley, S. Stevenson;
Lake valley, M. Smith.
*^ A memorial addressed to President Buchanan was presented by him to
the house April 19, J 858. It was signed by William M. Ormsby and Martin
Smith, and indorsed by Gov Weller. H. Ex. Doc, 102, 35th cong. 1st sess.
"The house committee reported favorably May 12, 1858, in a bill to
organize the territory of Nevada. H. Jour., 789, 1221, 35th cong. 1st sess. j
H. Com. Ecpt, 375, 35th cong. 1st sess.
84 SETTLEMENTS.
tlieir efforts to corrupt and coMfcdcratc with the Ind-
ian trihcs." So crrtaiu was the prospective dek-j^ato
that an orj^anizati»)n would he effected that he ad-
vised tlie sowiii'4 and phintin<^ of heavy crojis, whicli
he propliesied tliey would he ahle to sell for^ood cash
prices to the sjjovernnient to supply the army and the
Indian reservations. But tlic army under Johnston
liavini:^ made it possible for federal officers to reside in
Salt Lake City, and a governor being appointed for
Utah in place of Brigham Young, the necessity no
longer existed of creating another territory, and the
project slumbered. Under (Governor Cummings
Carson county was reorganized, so far as the appoint-
ment of John S. Childs pn)batc judge, and the ord( r-
ing of an election, were concerned. Previous to the
election, and in the absence of courts, a connnittee of
citizens had hanged \\'illiam B. Thorrington f )r com-
plicity in the murder of a cattle-owner, and selling his
herd. Thorrin«rton's truilt was not clearlv establi.died
by the evidence, but from the facts of his being aLr«am-
bler, acquiring property with extraordinary rapidit}',
and having sheltered the real murderer, he was con-
victed in a citizen's court, and suffered the extreme
penalty." This exercise of the judicial functions by
♦* It seems that in spite of his known character, Lucky Bill was a popular
man on the frontier. Ho was born in N. Y. statf, removing to Michij^an in
1S48, and to Cal. in 1850, across the plains. He ha4l little education, hut
possessed a fine person, a handsome face, and a gay and i)enevolent tlisjKv
Hition; benevolent in the sense that Kobin H<«m1 was so, he robl>ed tliose that
h:id money or i>roi)erty, and gooil-natu redly gave of his easily gotten ga na a
Hinall portion Ut tliose wlio iiad not, wlu-n they aii|>eaK'd to hii sympaihics—
a trait which often distingushe< the gambler. B<'ing a large and powerful man
lie had the reputation <»f great courage; ami often defending the weaker ]>arty
in a quarrel gave him a character for magnanimity. He owned a fanti and
a t<dl-roa<l, in additifm to his trading-po^t. an<l he acquired a large amount of
mi-icellaneons property from travellers at thimble rig. In tlie sjvring of 1S38
William P'dward*. who hail shot a man in Cal., took up his «|uarters with
Tliorrington, to whom it was said by the friends of the latter he denied his
guilt, (.ater he stopped for a time with W. T. ('. Klliott and John \. (Jilpin,
at Honey lake. Afterward, with one Mullins, he munlered Harry (Jonlier,
for his pro|MTty. including a herd of rattle, an innocent man named Snow
Wing hanged for tin- act. Circumstances coining to liirht which point4'd to
the guilt of Kdwards. he fled to C.iriou valley, and declaring hi* inno<'<'nce,
claimed Thorringtfm'n protection from thn-ateneil jM>ril. K Iward* wi-^hed to
leave the conntry, ami In-gged his friends to s«dl a vabiabh- horse which he
rode, and help bim to e»cape. While euduavuriug to effect tlieiie eud*, two
ELECTION. 85
the people created a division of sentiment, and the
formation of two pohtical parties, the sympathizers
with Thorrington being called Mormon, and the op-
posite party anti-]\Iormon/' The latter party accused
the former of condoning Thorrington's guilt because
he was conveniently blind to certain practices of their
own; and they also made war upon Judge Childs as a
Mormon appointee. At the election, October 30, 1858,
the votes of four out of six precincts were thrown out
because ot alleged illegal voting, and a majority of the
''Mormon" candidates elected. H. B. demons was
chosen representative; M M. Gaige treasurer; L.
Abernethy sheriff; W. G. Vyatt, James ^IcMarlin,
and R. T). Sides selectmen; C. X. Xoteware surveyor;
S. A. Kinsey recorder; Benjamin Sears and James
Far^vell justices of the peace; T. J. Atchison and J.
A. Smith constables. Sides and Abernethy did not
belong to the Mormon party.^* Little heed was given
to the officers elected, whose duties were not of an
onerous nature.
detectives from the vigilance committee, Elliott and Gilpin, purchased the
horse and M'ormed themselves into the conhdence of Edwards and Thorring-
ton, learning of the proposed elopement of the former, whereupon both men
were arrested and tried by a citizen's court, the evidence being recorded by
C. N. Noteware, afterward secretary of Nevada. "W. T. C. Elliott acted as
sheriff, John L. Cary as judge, and IS others as jurors. Edwards finally con-
fessed, and declared the innocence of Thorrington; but the jury, prejudiced
by the loose character of the latter, and the fear of other crimes, committed
one themselves by convicting a man without evidence. Edwards was banged
at the scene of the murder, in Honey Lake valley, June 23, 1858, and Thor-
rington at his farm at Clear creek, on the 19th, two days after the trial.
Thorrington had a son, Jerome, who died, whde his wife went to the insane
asylum at Stockton. There were 2 accomplices of Edwards, who were fined
$1,000 each, and ordered to leave the country. VanSickk's Utuh Degperadocs,
MS. ; 3. See also Pop. Tribunals, this series.
*' It should be borne in mind that there were not enough professed Mor-
mons left in Carson valley to make a part}'; but there were apostates, and
perhaps also secret believers. Ihey were too well drilled in obedience to
venture upon the vigilant system of justice unless ordered to do so by the
officers of tlie church. Reese names the families of Moore, John Dilworth,
John Hawkins, and Perkins, who were Mormons and remained in Carson
valley.
^The candidates of the anti-Mormon party, in the order given aljove, were
Martin Stebbins; H. Mott, sen.; George Chedic; John L. Carey, J. H. Rose,
and W. Cosser; John F. Long; S. Taylor; A. J. Hammack and H. Van
Sickle; J. M. Herring and J. M. Howard. The vote between demons and
Stel)bins was a tie, but the result was 'declared in favor of Mr Clemons, ac-
cording to the Utah statute?, page 234, sec. 12.' Had the votes of 4 pre-
cincts not been thrown out, Stebbins would have had a majority of 48.
m SETTLEMENTS.
In this year Carson City was laid out in Eagle
valley by Al)ialuuii V. Z. Curry, ' wlio erected a
stone liousti, whicli was followed the same year by
three or four others;" but no rapid inHux of popula-
tion followed that year or the next. ** Only at one
point was there any perceptible increase in population,
and that was at what is now Gold Hill, where the
discovery of rich placers in 185U had attracted the
usual rush of miners which follows a report of new
gold di'jfi^mijjs.
]^y til is mixed and migratory population the need of
some laws and regulations was felt, and they accord-
M A. V. Z. Ciirry was an energetic pioneer. He settled in Warm Bprinffs
and built tlie liotcl ami swimtning Itatlia. He discovered the cxtenHive Hand-
stone deposit at Carson, and erected the stone buildings in the town. He
M-as with (Jould in the (louUl and Curry mine; was a niemlter of the terri-
torial council, and active in various hranciies of business. ' He liclunged to
that sturdy class of men who found e:npires and build up states.'
*■• Nevers, in Xevuln Piimfru, MS., 2, states that he himsdf built the third
house, 'in wliat is now Carson valley,' in IH.VJ. O. H. I'ierson. writing in
the Car^m Tri'mur, Aug. 5, 1S70, says that wlien he entered Eiigle valley in
I8.VJ he found there three houses only, one of v.hich was fK;cupied by Abram
Curry, one by William M. Ormsby, and another by Martin Stebi)ins.^ Pier-
son also says that he erected the fourth house, which was the St Nicholas
hotel.
"Granville W. Huffaker, in a manuscript entitle<l J^ir/y CnUU Tnulr in
NrvivliL, mentions some of the settlers in western Utah whom he found in
ISoU. Hutfaker was in Salt Lake in 18,')7-H, when the gentiles were ordered
out. Among those who left were John H. Kinkea<l, Bell, (iill»crt, and (Jear-
ish, the latter two settling in I>os Angeles, California. Huffaker \\aA iM-Tmis.
sion to remain, couched in tlie following tremhant phrase, ' Keep your
tongue in your head, ami you will not Imj molested.' He remained, on those
terins, until 1S.V.», and then sold his stm-k of goods, and with a drove of cattle
removed to the Truckeo Mea.l<.ws in western Utah, where he took a land
claim of |(jO acres, ami by ])urcha.He from other claimants acipiireil a total of
WO acres. Huff"akcr was \>on\ in Ky in \K\\; was educated at .Iack-<onvillo
collej^e, 111.; remove<l to St Louis in'lMd and to Salt Lake in 1S.'»1, bringing
a train of 40 wagon-loads of gixwls, which lie sold in throe weeks. He con-
tinued in trade in that i.lrice till 1H.")9. Huffaker says that he found in
Truckeeand StcamlK>at valleys 0 or 7 white men. Henry Miller and Kdward
Ing were on the north of Truckee; four miles south of tl.ein, at the dairy
farm of James ami .M. F. K.vans, called the stone-house ranclio, and living
with them, were Richard Martin and Henry Ik-rryman. IVleg Hrown was
another settler of this region. In I'lea.sant valley was ' .Mormon ' Smith.
Tlie<Mlore, Joseph, and .Folin I). Winters, with their mother, w.n- settled in
Washoe valley, where they had been since l.S.'>7. Kichanl 1). Sides and
William liest were al.so in Washm- valley. South of the sink «.f the Hum-
boldt was tlie trailing j.ost of .lohn F. Su.no and C. C (;ates. where (Jlen-
dale now is, then called Stone and dates' cr.xtsing. Bucklanil imiitiona
Jac.ib Winterx as living in .lack's valley as early as 18.')7; and Kvan Jonea
in i'.irsoii valley next or nearest to McMarliii's raucho, at the same time.
Indkm Fijlain'j, MS., 1.
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT. 8^
ingly, on the 11th of June, agreed among themselves
to adopt certain simple rules of conduct, and to enforce
them on others/*
At the same time certain politicians stooa ready to
avail themselves of the suggestion toward another
effort for a separate territorial organization, and to
make use of the feeling against the Mormons of east-
ern Utah to give force to their arguments. These
patriots called a mass-meeting for the 6th of June at
Carson City, which meeting divided Carson county
into precincts for election purposes, and called an elec-
tion to take place on the 14th of July, to choose a
delegate to visit Washington city and complete the
work begun by Crane of getting a bill through con-
gress creating the territory of Nevada, and to elect
delegates to a convention to be held at Genoa on the
18th of July, when the votes for delegate would be
counted, and other business connected with the pro-
posed change of government be attended to.
The convention met pursuant to appointment, re-
maining in session nine days." It was not altogether
a harmonious session, the majority being determined
to consider it a convention to frame a constitution for
a provisional government, which congress would be
asked to recognize, as in the case of Oregon, and a
minority insisting that the delegates had been elected
merely to provide for a constitutional convention to
be held in the future by other delegates elected for
the purpose. A constitution was, however, framed,
modelled closely after that of California, and adopted
by a vote of the people on the 7th of September.""
**Tliis was the miners' code: for murder, hanging; womiding, robbing,
and other crimes were to be punished as the jury should determine. 'No
banking game shall, under any consideration' be allowed in this district,
under the penalty of final banishment from the district.' Under these laws
George Ruspas and Uavid Reise had their ears cut off for stealing cattle.
Wrif/Iit's Big Bonanza, 72.
^Manjn-llle Democrat,, July 26, 1859; Carson Valley Territorial Enter-
prise, July 30, 1859: Sac. Union, Sept. 18, 1859; Kelly's Nev. Dir., 1862, 26-7.
^In the declaration of cause for separation, two principal evils were
complained of: the usurpation and abuse of power by the Mormons, and the
danger to life and property upon the routes leading to the Mormon capital.
88 SETTLEMENl-S.
No record lias Wen preserved of tlie election re-
turns/* but there is evidence that tlie njajurity for a
constitution was ahout four huntired, that Crane was
reelected delej^ate, and that Isaac Koop was elected
governor, althou*;h the board of canvassers failed to
meet to canvass the votes, and the certificate of the
president of the board, J. J. MuFser, alone testified
to the result. The cause of this sudden indifference
to politics and patriotism will be given in the next
chapter.
Immediately after the election the probate judge,
John S. Child,'' appointed by the Utah legislature,
attempted to reestiiblish the authority of the probate
court in Carson county, by giving notice of a term
commencing on the Tith of September, at Genoa, P.
H. Ijovell clerk; but the only business transacted at
the term was the appointment of a coroner, W, P.
Morrison, to sit upon the body of John Buckley, killed
in a quarrel, and the application of Rebecca A. Bristol
for a divorce from Essie C. Bristol, which was granted.
Judge Child made a further effort to reorganize the
county by calling an election fcjr the 8th of October,
first dividing the county into ten precincts. Out of
the ten, only three opened any polls, and the officers
elected in these refused to qualify, although their
commissions were forwarded by Oovernor Cummings,
successor of Governor Young, with his urgent advice
to them to do so, and the county continued to be
without a proper corps of officers.
But if the courts of VUih could not sustain their
authority against the people, neither could the United
" From some partial returns it is probable that the following persons were
elected; together with tlic adoption of the constitution: Isaac U4)<)|) g.ivenu.r.
A. S. iJorsey secreUry of sUtc, John D. Winters auditor, B. L. King
treasurer.
^('liild was bom in Vt in 1S2.'J. At the age of 21 years lie came to the
Pacific coast by sea, via Nicaragua. After mining two yearn in ("al. lie went
t) Carson valley. In iN'il) lie married A. K. Lufkin of i'lacervillc. C'al., who
died ill 1H7.S. He married, in 1N74, Kveline A. (JillK-Tt of ("arson ("ity.
Child w.iH appointed commissioner of Douglas county, and elected to the as-
sembly in 1670.
POLITICAL MATTERS. 89
States court properly administer the laws of the
country. John Cradlebaugh, one of the district
judges appointed to Utah, was assigned to Carson
county, and arrived in the summer of 1859 at Genoa,
where the grand jury of the second district congratu-
lated him, in their report of October 25th, upon the
oro-anization of a court of justice, "under the immedi-
ate protection of the United States flag,"" but they
had not taken into account the difficulty of establish-
ing courts, against which the laws '' practised in them
raised insuperable obstacles, controlling, as they did,
the marshalships and the juries, to say nothing of the
witnesses. The people, instead of welcoming Judge
Cradlebaugh, were opposed to his holding court as a
branch of the Utah government, and his position be-
came as disagreeable to him as it was useless to them.
In October 1860 R B. Flaniken superseded Cradle-
baugh, and held his court in Carson City until the
organization of the territory, in the midst of a rebel-
lious people, the prosecuting attorney being P. H.
Clayton."
All efforts to revive the county organization had
failed, but the hearts of the patriots had not. A mis-
fortune had befallen them in the loss of their delegate
elect, Crane, who died suddenly of heart disease on
the 27th of September, at Gold Hill." An election
*• Hayes' Mining Scraps, xi. 24-6. Alfred James was clerk of the court,
and George W. Hepperly U. S. marshal.
«*In Clarke's Statement, MS., 10, he mentions that the lawyers practising
in the courts quoted the laws of Utah.
«i The persons chosen at the late election who refused to qualify were
C. H. Fountain representative, W. C. Armstrong and L. Drixley selectmen,
E. 0. Morse sheriff, Henry Van Sickle treasurer, and J. F. Long surveyor.
The only legally constituted officers in 1859-60 were the probate judge and
county clerk, road commissioners, D. G. Gloyd, A. Kinne, and James
White— the la^t four already named, the recorder, S. A. Kinsey, the sur-
veyor, P. C. Rector; three being appointed in the spring of 1860.
*2 Crane ran against Frederick Dodge, U. S. Indian agent, beating him by
61 votes. The election was irregular on both sides. Crane was a native of
Va, about 40 years of age, and a printer. He was a well-informed politician,
and founded the first whig paper in Cal. — the California Courier. After the
discontinuance of this journal he made careful researches into the Spanish
records, arranging his knowledge of history in the form of lectures. Before
his researchea were completed he died. Kelley's Nav, Directory, 29-30.
te SETTLEMENTS.
for liis succossor was held Xovomhor 12tli, rcsultinf^
ill tlie clinire of J. .J. MusMi;'* also an t-lectioii tor
im-inlurs t)t the K-;^islalivo asstiiibly, whii-h was ap-
jK)inU'cl to iiifct in Di-ccihIkt. The vote tur ;^overnor
was canvassed; Koop waa declared tlected, and duly
sworn in by F. }>l. l*reston, United States coniniis-
eioner for the second judicial district.
On the 'Jlst of November the inhabitants of Car-
son valley held another nieetinj^, at which a memorial
to congress was adopted, askiii;^ for the orj^anization
of the territory of Nevada. On the 1 5th of December
four nu'mbers of the lej^islature elect met at the house
of J. 1^. l^lakc of (ienoa. O. If. l^ierson ** speaker,
H. S. Thompson clerk, and J. H. McDouji:al serj^^eant-
at-arms. (jrovernor ]lo()[) delivered his messajxc,
some resolutions were ]iassed, a committee appointed
to draw up a memorial to conjjjress, and the le«,Mslature,
being without a (juorum, was then adjourned to the
first ^lonilay in July. In his message the governor
alluded to the peculiar condition of western Utah,
and the helplessness of the United States judge,
Cradlebaugh, to administer the laws of the country,**
but expressed his confidence in the justice of congress,
and in the disposition of the ]>eople to wait upon its
action. The administration of (Governor Koop was
entirely of the negative kind, and corresponded in this
respect with the two other governments exercising a
nominal authority over the country." ]^ut the faith
of the people in congressional interposition was des-
"Musser left Carson for Wasliington city I>oc. 12, ISTiO, carrying a larcQ
piece of silvur ore from the Ophir mine for the Washington monument. H. /'.
Alia. Dec. 12. 1859.
*• Piermm came to Carson City in 1N.'»9, antl Imilt the first hotel — the St
Nicholas on the corner <if Carson anil First strecta. It was filled as BCMm
as comiilctcil. lie erecteil 12 other houses iu Carson. A ]iortion of the town
was called I'icrson's .\(l<lition. (\ir/tnn Triftinr, Aug Ti, IhTO.
*The courthouse at (ienoa is descriltcd a.<i a ImihlinK .TO hy fiO feet, IJ
Btorier high, in the upp«T part of which .Tuilge Cra<llel«angh held his first
V. S. I), court, access to it Iwing liad hy means of a lathler from the street.
Later, stairs were liuilt from the sidewalk.
"The only iiistnnceH of Koojt's otVnial action were in connection with the
Lidiau ditlicultics of 18G0, uf which I shall sjteak hereafter.
POLITICAL MATTERS. 91
tined to another year of trial. Delegate Musser re-
turned from Washington, having done no more than
to reiterate the appeals of his constituents and his
predecessor, which reiteration may have served to
deepen the impression already produced, and thereby
to hasten in some degree the end.
CHAPTER V.
THE CUMSTOC'K LODE.
1H49-1860.
Configuration— Placer Gold— Early Mining in Gold Canon — Silvkb
Found by the (iKoscu Brothers— Death or the Dl-ooverers— Com-
STocK, Old Viroisia, and Associates— Johntown and (iuLD Hill
Claims and Locations— Ophir, Silver City, or Vikcima Town —
Discoveries Elsewhere— Walsh and Woodworth^Testino and
Separatino— Introdcction of Milus— Procekses— Dkscriition o»
the Caufornia, a Representative Mill.
The state of Nevada came into bein<ij tliroupjh the
discovery and development of the Coinstock lode. No
doubt the corruption of the federal judieiary hastened
the formation of a state <^overnment. Nowliere else
in the annals of the world do we find a society sjiring-
ing up in a desert wilderness, so wholly dependent on
a mountain of metal, so ruled by the ever-changing
vagaries attending its development, and which finally
attained the full measure of a fair and prosperous
commonwealth. Hence it is that the history of the
Comstock lode is to a great extent the hist«)ry of Ne-
vada. The yield of this vast deposit aided greatly in
enabling the nation to resume specie payment after
the close of the civil war.
The range of mountains in which the great mineral
vein of western Utah was situated is separated from
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada l)y a continu-
ous parallel depression, which is divided into the
smaller valleys of the Truckee, Washoe, and Cars(»n
rivers. Irregular in outline and height, it gradually
slopes at the south into the basin of the Carson, be-
coming more elevated farther south, where it uiergea
GEOLOGY. 93
in the Pine Nut range. Toward the west the hills
sink rapidly to the detrital beds of the Washoe and
Truckee valleys, being connected with the Sierra
Nevada by tw^o granite ridges crossing the northern
and southern extremities of Washoe valley. To the
north the range extends, with several breaks, to the
boundary of Oregon, and to the southeast it melts
away abruptly into the Carson valley. The culminat-
ing point of elevation is a peak something over thirty
miles from Genoa, and eighteen from Carson City,
known as Sun peak by the earliest settlers, and some-
times as Mount Pleasant by subsequent mining in-
habitants. It was named Mount Davidson^ in later
years by the California state geologist, who ascertained
its height to be 7,827 feet.
Down from the south side of this peak runs a ravine
to the Carson river, a distance of several miles, which
is the Gold canon referred to in the previous chapter.
It obtained its name from the fact that some gold
mining had been carried on in it ever since the settle-
ment of the valley. It comes quite down to the im-
migrant road, and consequently was well known to
early passers-by. Beatie relates that in 1849, while
he and one of the Blackburns were on their first visit
to the California gold mines, Abner Blackburn occu-
pied himself in prospecting in the lateral ravines of
Carson valley, and discovered gold in this canon in
the month of July," but not in quantities sufficient to
cause a fever in the blood of the saints. No mining
1 After Prof. George Davidson of the coast survey — a fitting tribute to his
genius.
'^ Fir.'it in Nevada, MS., 4-5. There are various versions of the first dis-
covery of gold in western Utah, but none more authentic. See Brmcn's Min.
Resources, 87; Virjinia City OcridpnUd, in Downieville Mountain ihssemjer.
May 14, 1864; San Josi Mercury, April 14, 1S&4; Sac. Transoipt, Aug. 30
1850 (steamer edition); S. F. Herald, July 1, 1850; Mariposa <?rtz^«^, March
23, 1878; M-rrian's Tnp (1849). 19-20; Wri'jht's Bij Bonanza, 26; OM Hill
E7X. Xevs, Fel). 24. and May 18. 1880; Cal. Courier, .July 23, 18.50; Pptaluma
Arym, June 18, 1880: S. F. Alta., May 17. 1880; ElJco Independnd, Mav 20,
and 2.3, 1880. The Reno Gazpttf. of Feb. 12 1880, gives the date as 1851.
That 18",0 has been so generally named as the year is due, probablv, to the
fact that the newspapers did not publish the Mormon discovery until miners
began to go to Cal.
M THE COMSTOCK LODE.
was done by Beatie's company, which returned to
{Salt Lake tlie same sea.s«jn. H\ii on his second visit
ti» Calitnrnia, Beatie intonncd tlie MornuMi (oinpany
in tlie niiiu'S of the discovery, and suhsequently some
of them, with imnjiLfrants from the sUites on tlieir
way to California, Htoj)|>ed to mine for a while in (jold
canon. The *^old it pHxluce'd was poor, bein<( worth
no more than fourteen dollars to the ounce; l»ut as
Caicsun N'allky.
the difjfrin^s continnofl to yield a fair day's waives,
there were at woik generally in the mininLj season
from one to two hundri'd n>en, some of whom liad
madesettlenients upon land claims near hy. ]^ut down
to the period where the last chapter ends, there had
never been any marked reco^^nition of western Utah
as a mininj:ij country.
(iold canon was the otdy mininL; <j;round worked in
this district before 1857, It o[)ens from the north-
GOLD CA:S0N. 95
west near where the Carson river turns rather abruptly
to the southwest. At the distance of about four
miles from its mouth it forks, the middle branch of
three being called American Flat ravine. Near the
head of this ravine is a mound, which in 1858 acquired
the name of Gold hill, to distin^^uish it from Gold
canon. This hill is a mile or more from Mount Da-
vidson. Coming from the north side of the mountain
is another large ravine, whose head is within a mile
of the head of Gold canon, whose mouth is on the
Carson river, a few miles northeast of Gold canon,
and which was known as Six-mile canon. It had no
settlement at this period, but at the mouth of Gold
canon was the little town of Dayton, then known as
Chinatown, from the presence there of a camp of
Chinese employed in digging the canal before men-
tioned, for which Reese obtained a franchise, and
which was finished by Rose. The white inhabitants
called the place Mineral rapids, and it never received
its final christening until November 3, 1861, when in
a public meeting this important matter was decided.'
About four miles up the canon was another camp,
known as Johntown. Neither of these places had a
dozen houses of any kind, the migratory habits of
the miners and the scarcity of timber, with the entire
absence of lumber in that part of the valley, causing
them to live in tents, which at the end of the season
were easily removed. Nor were there ever more
than 150 or 200 miners in Gold canon at one time
before 1859.
That mysterious something which is called fate by
pagan, and providence by Christians, and which like
WngMs Big Bonanza, 28-9. William Wright, whose nom de plume as a
popular writer on Nevada journals was Dan De Quille, was reporter on the Vir-
ginia City Territorial Enterprise for 16 years, and had the best facilities for
acquiring historical facts. His book is made popular by the introduction of
facetious anecdotes, and a style of raillery much in vogue in writing of min-
ing affairs, with no better reason than that in early times one or two humor-
ous journalists set the fashion, which few have been able to follow with
similar success. Wright's book is, however, a storehouse of information,
generally correct, on current events connected with the mining history of
Nevada, which givej it a permanent value among my authorities.
96 THE COMSTOCK LODE.
love and justice slioulil \w painted witli Uaiulajxed
eycA, with out' (.'xteiided hand liolihii}^ a crown, and
tlu' otlicr tlie enihleniatic cap-and-bt'lls, that whoever
passed un<lir the one or tlio other sliould l>e itH pos-
sible recipient, liehl now suspendetl above the mining
camp of Jolnitown the fateful wnath. How it fell
where tlie cap-and-bells would have been more fitting
let n»e here relate.
As early as 1849 two brothers, E. Allen Grosch
and Hosea B. Grosch of Keadin*;, Pennsylvania, sons
of a universalist preacher, educated and serious-
minded younj^ men, came to the Pacific coast via
Tami)ico and Mazatlan, and eiiixaijed in minin*; in El
Dorado county, California. In 1851, hearing of the
Gold canon placers, they paid them a visit, returning
the same season to California. In 1853 they made
another and longer visit, |)rospecting in Carson, Lake,
and Washoe valleys, (jold canon, and in some' of the
adjacent mountains. In (Jold canon they found what
they called "carbonate of silver," which they described
as a "dark gray mass, tarnished probably by sulphuric
acid in the water. It resembles thin sheet-lead
broken very fine, and lead the miners supposed it to
be. The ore we found at the forks of the canon ; a
large qliartz vein — at least, bowlders from a vein close
by here — shows itself. . . Other ore of silver we have
found in the canon, and a rock called black rock, very
abundant, we think contains silver."*
In 1857 the (irosch l)r<<thcrs were living in a stone
cabin in Anjerican Flat ravine. In their later corre-
spondence with their father they mentioned a mine
which had been named the Frank, after a Mi'xican
called Old Frank, an experienced miner, who corrob-
orated their impressions concerning the nature of
their discoveries. Th( y spoke also of " our monster
vein," and of a " smaller but richer vein," and " suits
of veins crossing the cafton at two other points."*
«I>ettcT tn A. B. r,ro«rli. tlie fathor. in 18.1.T
*Thu» dc»cnpUou should lix Uic fact of the discovery of the great ailver
THE GROSCH BROTHERS. 97
But the development of silver mines requires capital,
in order to obtain which a company was formed in the
east of the friends of the young men, called the Utah
Enterprise company, and another partly in El Dorado
county, California, and partl}^ in Carson valle}^. There
seems not to have been much money in either, for in
the autumn of 1857 they were waiting for a partner
named Brown, who kept the mail station at Gravelly
ford on the Humboldt, to close his season's operations
and bring his profits to be applied to opening what
they called the Pioneer claim.
While they waited, they heard of the murder of
Brown, by which, and the loss of the expected aid,
they were much cast down. About the same time
Hosea struck a pick into his foot, from which blood-
poisoning resulted, and he died on the 2d of Septem-
ber. A friend had, however, in the meantime, offered
pecuniary aid;" and Allen, having to go to California
on business, started about the middle of November,
with one other person, to cross the mountains,' They
were caught in a terrible snow-storm, compelled to
kill and eat their pack-mule, and to abandon their
baggage and specimens, while they wandered about
in the trackless waste of snow for eleven daj^s, at the
end of which time they reached the camp of a Mexi-
can miner on the west side, with their legs frozen to
and above the knees. Grosch would not submit to
amputation, and died December 19, 1857.
It was said that when Allen Grosch left for Cali-
fornia, he placed his cabin in charge of Henry T. P.
lode with the Grosch brothers, as it crosses the heads of both canons. Wright's
Big Bonanza, 31. Two of their claims were near the forks of the canon, as
described in their letters. See account of Comstock lode, in Mhung Review
and Stock Ledger, 1878, 149-61; Xec. Sen. Jour., 1866, app. no. 7, 19.
*This was Mrs Ellis, afterward Mrs Dittenreider, who was so much im-
pressed by the faith of the Grosches in the value of their discoveries that
she offered to sell some property in California and furnish them .§1.500. Mrs
Dittenreidf r states that she saw the brothers at their cabin, and that Allen
took her to some elevated ground, and pointing to Mount Davidson, said that
the Pioneer claim was ' down at the base of that point. '
' This person was R. M. Bucke, since superintendent of the Dominion
insane asylum, at London, Canada.
Hist. Nev. 7
98 THE COMSTOCK LODE.
Coinstock,' ft mlnrr in Ciold ranon, who also lived
al)<»ut Jnlmtowii, and liad Ik'cm in wcstoni I'tali since
1H5(). How niucli or liow littlo ConiKtock knew of
the |)h\ns of the Groscli ))r(>thers previous to coining
into tlie possession of their l)o<iks and pajjers throuj^h
tlie death of Allen (irosch is uncertain ; but probably
he had never been atlinitted to their confidence fur-
ther than to eiiL'aj^e his services, and to explain to
him what the consideration wouhl be,* with assurances
of the prospective value of their mininj^' claims. The
total disappearance of their books and pajters, with
all the evidences of their company and individual
rii^hts, is strong j>resum[>tive evi«lence against Corn-
stock as the j)erson in charge'. What<-'ver knowledge
lie had he kept to himself, and with ecjual care re-
moved the traces of their claims/* which might lead
•William Jennings, in hia C<irf>on Vnlley, MS., 3, states that Conwtock
came inti> the valley in IH.Vi, driving a Hook of Hlieeji, luit that ' the Indians
fot most of the sheep.' ConLHtocl" says of him.nelf tliat his name was Henry
'hoinas Paige ConLstock, and tiiat lie was the son of Noah Com.stttck of Cleve-
land, Ohio, ami was i»orn in Canada in 18'J0. He declareil that lie ha4l l>c'en
in the wililerne<s from childli 1 hunting and trapiiing, except wlien he was
serving in tlie Black Hawk. Tatriot, and Mexican wars. His mind was ill
balanced, or if not so naturally, he h.vl sutlered ho many shocks of fortune
that the list years of his life were Imt the record of a feehle struggle against
a<ivancing dementia. After leaving Nevada, which he did in IsG'J to go to
the eastern Oregon and Idaho mines, he wandered al'out in those countries
for several years, an<l constructed a road from Auliurn to liiker ( 'ity, Oregon,
before going to Boise, ami finally going to Montana. He accompanied the
Bighorn exjwdition in IS70, and on his return. .SeptcmlK-r 'iTth, when near
Bozemin. committed suicide hy shooting himself in tiie head with his revolver.
Writht" li'il linvtnzt. H'J 7; .SV/jv r r;/»/ y,,Mdu Time,*, Aug. '27, I87y; Eurtka
Seniiu't. .July 14, 187.'»: <l,bl Hill .Wth, Aug. :«). Ih75.
•A writ4;r in the Sur. Cni m ot Aug. 17, 1S(»3, signing himself " ••••^•»
but siKiaking as one who knows, says that .Mhn (Jrosch made a written con-
tract with Comstock to go into his cabin and take cliarge of tlie ' Hdl ' claim
during his ali'teiico for the wint<.'r, for which service he was to receive a
fourth interest in that claim; said claim being recorde<l with a di.igram and
marked by posts, the claim eoveriim 3, ".'"><) feet north of the lodge where the
fir-'t notice was |>ost4'd, and extending beyoml the ravine on the north side
of Virginia C'ity. This, if true, would fix the locality and the value of the
Grosch mines.
''Wriglit says that ho saw the old fumares of the Orosoh brothers
nneartlurd in IWJO, thoy having liren covered iiii witli a foot of mini ami sand
from (iold cafton. They were 'J in numU-r, only '2 or .'< feet in length, a foot
in height, and \\ feet in widtli Om? had Ikhmi useil as a smelter, and the
other as a eu|>el furnai-e The remains of mrltingpots nnd fragments of
Cup<'U were foiiuil in and about tlie liiriia<-es; nUri a l.irg<- jiiece of argentifer-
ous gal<-na, which had doubtless Im.mii priMiired a short distance we-*! tif
Silver City After the dwcuvury uf the luruacvs therv was luucb se«r;h by
GOLD DISCOVERIES. 99
to identification by either of the companies, or by the
heirs of the Grosch brothers. For more than a year
after the death of Allen Grosch, Comstock remained
in Gold canon, keeping a silent watch upon the pro-
gress of discovery, and ready to profit by it. At the
last it came, as he expected. ^^
Returning to the history of mining for gold by the
residents of Johntown: during the summer of 1857
a number of men from Gold canon, prospecting in
Six-mile canon, discovered a new field about a mile
below the ground now occupied by Virginia City.
The gold was not found in auriferous sand and gravel,
but in blue clay so tough that it had to be dissolved
to free the metal. From $5 to $13.50, the value of
an ounce, was a day's wages, and in 1858 the same
miners returned to these diggings, puzzled to under-
stand their peculiar features, but satisfied with the
pay. With them came a few others, who were forced
to take claims higher up the canon.
Among the newer comers was James Fennimore, an
intemperate Virginian, without either brains or educa-
tion, who for some breach of lawful etiquette com-
mitted elsewhere, had found it convenient to remove
to Carson valley in 1851,^' where he had remained
ever since, digging his season's w^ages out of the earth
to pour it down his throat in bad whiskey during his
leisure months. When he first came to Carson valley
he called himself James Finney, until outgrowing his
a]3prehensions, he acknowledged his true name to be
Fennimore. But although so well supplied with ap-
pellations,^^ he was dubbed by the miners Old Virginia,
miners in the neighborhood for the mine they had been prospecting, but it
was not found. Big Bonanza, .34.
^' Wright relates that Comstock obtained the sobriquet of Old Pancake
among the miners, because he could not take time to make bread. ' Even as,
with spoon in hand, he stirred up his pancake batter, it is said that he kept
one eye on the top of some distant peak, and was lost in speculations in
regard to the wealth in gold and silver that might rest somewhere beneath
its rocky crest.' Big Bonanza, 41.
1'^ It is said that Fennimore came to Carson v^alley with Reese's company
in 1851 as a teamster. Thompson d: West's HiAt. JSfev., 31.
" He is often called Mr Berry. See Territorial Enterprise, Sept. 24, 1859:
S. F. Alia, Sept. 28, 1859.
10«) THK COMSTOOK LODE.
a Robriquet slt^nificant <»f liis charactcrisiics rather
than of his years, whicli really were not 3'et in the
dt'clini" of life. In coni|mny with Fenninjore were
Vi'Ur O'Kilt'y. Patrick McLaui^hlin, Josrph Kirhy,
and Nicholas Ambrose, the latter not a miner, hut a
n'stauratt'ur. They worked contentedly in tluir new
claims throuj^h the summcrof 1 85S, returnin*^ to .John-
town to winter, l^ut in January 185i), during some
warm weather, which nu'lti-d the snow, and LCave plenty
of water, prospectiniL!: in (iold canon was resumed by
the residents of Johntown, and among others, by
James Fennimore, John Bishop, and 11. T. 1*. Com-
stock.
On the 29th, after further examination of the mound
at the head of the canon, aud finding the prospects
rich, though the gold was very fine, Comstock, Fenni-
more, Bishop, ai»d others staked otf claims, and calleil
the]ilace(4old Ifill. In connection with their claims,
Fennimore discovered and claimed a spring of water,
which could he brought to their ground. Several log
liouses were soon erected at (jlold Hill, which h(>came
the centre of the mineral region, the miners in Six-
mile canon, who had worked to within a mile or two
on the north side, making it their heachjuarters.
Although the gravel in which the (hdd canon
miners were now working w^as evidently decomposed
quartz, and almo.st black in color, no one appears to
have guessed the secret of it at this period.'* The
miners also in Six-mile canon conthiued to work their
claims, which, as they advanced t<»ward the head, be-
came darker in color. Early in June, being short of
water, they excavated a small reservoir a short dis-
tance above their claims, in which to collect it from a
"James Thomiwon, a Norwi-gi.in, who carried tlio mail from Carmm val-
ley to California on miow-HluK-H, iiv.l to l.riiij{ i«pecimoii8 to Frank Stewart,
geologist, cnnnfctcfl with tlie I'lurrrnlU 0/wr»vr. Among othi-rH, in the
winter of 18.')7 N he l.nmght t.. Sto-wart a BUjall package ..f l.la.k lucking
rfK.-k. rich in gold, wliich lie nai.l came from (Jol.l carton, and the miners
desireil to l>e informed of it» nature Stewart calh-d it Mack milplmret «'f
■ilver, containing gold. Vinjinui KiilrrjTiMr in StorLlmt /niirjtriiiliut, .Fune 10,
IST.'i. The writer is evidently more than a year too early in his dato, unlcjn
the package came from Comstock, and wan found in Gr<»»ch » cabin.
THE DISCOVERERS. 101
rivulet for the use of their rockers. On the 10th, at
a depth of four feet, they came to a stratum of strange-
looking earth, the nature of which they did not under-
stand. It is upon record, however, that Comstock,
who appears to have been extremely watchful of the
movements of prospectors, immediately appeared upon
the spot, with the remark, "You have struck it, boys,'"'
the persons addressed being McLaughlin and O'Riley.
At the same time he made known that the spring
from which they were conducting the water was
claimed by himself, Emanuel Penrod, and Fennimore
(Old Virginia), the latter owning but one share. As
McLaughlin and O'Riley tested their discovery, and
found it as rich as it was queer, Comstock further in-
formed them that the ground they were on belonged
to some persons then absent ; namely, Fennimore,
Joseph Kirby, James White, and William Hart, and
thereupon proposed an arrangement by which these
persons were to be bought off, and himself admitted
to a firm consisting of Penrod, Comstock, McLaughlin,
and O'Riley.'" As the claim was evidently a valuable
one, and as it could not be worked without water,
which Comstock controlled, the proposition was
agreed to. Penrod was employed to obtain a bill of
sale of the claimants, only three of whom could be
found. To these he paid 850 for their rights, and
Comstock negotiated the purchase of Fennimore's
interest in the spring for an old blind horse. But
there yet remained one of the original claim-owners,
who was not satisfied, and Joseph D. Winters seeing
that it was yielding $300 a day to the rocker, made
haste to find the missing share-owner, and secure his
ritrht, without informing^ him of its value To avoid
1^ This exclamation has been taken as proof that Comstock knew of thig
deposit, or at least that he recognized, its value from knowledge obtained
from the contents of the Orosch cabin, such knowledge not being possessed
by the other miners. If this were true, he acted with consummate tact
throughout the whole subsequent proceedings.
16 Booh of Deeds of tU White and Mui-ply Ground, by George Wells, :MS.,
2 In this document it ii stated that 'they also busied themselves that day
to secure the surface claims previously bicated. ' This manuscript is a history
of the Great Bonanza, from evidence found in searching for title.
102 THE COMSTOt'K LODE.
litij^ation. Winters was admitted as a partner, after
the lode was discovered uix)n wliich the fame of the
state of Nevada was so soon to be built.
For only about one week did the claim continue to
pay in the rich decomposed ore, of which the miners
were iujnorantly throwiiiir away the greater part of
the value," when the miners came, on the 11th of
June, to a solid led^^e four feit in width, which l\-n-
rorl declared to be a (juartz vein, but which Comstock
at first denied, and Hnally admitted, the other two
partners still assentinj.; and oi)jectin<^ to " locating " as
sucli. Pcnrod and Comst<K'k, however, prevailed,
giving notice of their claims, which included 1,500 feet
on the ledge — 300 for each man in the company, and
300 additional for the discoverer, according to the
mining laws in California." Comstock claimed 100
feet to be segregated to himself and Penrod, whcre-
ever he should chose in the company's claim, in con-
sideration of their services in securing O'Kiley's and
McLauglilin's claims to them by including them in
the location. This segregated claim became the
famous Mexican, from which millions of dollars were
taken. By these methods, without ever having dis-
covered anything, and always claiming everything,
by nmch loud talking and a disjilay of st<jlen knowl-
edge— ft)r the hints obtair.ed from the papers of
the Grosch brothers, never before well understood,
now enabled him to discourse with a show u(
learning — Comstock caused people to talk about the
Comstock lode. Many located claims U})on it. The
ore was sent to California to be as.siiyed, and with
the astonishing returns came hordes of new adven-
" Assays frrun tl»o top of tliis mine (tho Ophir) yielilc<181,r»9.') in goM and
$4.71H Hilvur. S. F. AU'i. N..v. IG, 18.VJ; .V. Pat-, /{ttiiew, i. 149-01; Blair a
Urvirw, in Min. Mn,f., l.H<JO. 'J*21 .').
^'JfitUir^ Hmyi-BtxJc of Minim,, 181. In WrlCa Boot of D^nlA, MS., it
in iiaiil that the public meeting mentioned in tho previoUH chaittor wan calle<l
l>y ('«mHt<K'k and aMociatci the day after tlicir discovery, and iH-dnre it waa
made known, in order to induce the mineri to pans laws and n-gulations
which would ciiaMc them tn lioM (juartz claims. Ihia ii an error, as it wa«
not known to l>o a cjuortz claim uutil about tho 17th, and the uioctiiig waa
bold oa the 1 1th.
CLAIMS LOCATED. 103
turers, who quickly converted the quiet haunts of
western Utah into roaring mining camps. Such is
fame/'
Penrod, Comstock, & Co., this being the name of
the firm in Book A of the miningr records of Viroinia
City, called their mine the Ophir, and it was the first
claim recorded on this lode, but it was not the first
recorded in western Utah. On the 2 2d of February
Fennimore located a claim on a large vein lying west
of the Comstock, which came to be called the Virginia
lead, after the nickname of the claimant.
Among the "notices" recorded at Virginia City
appears one of a location made May 12, 1859, by A.
Curry, J. E. Clark, H. F. Clark, and C. W. Curry,
but on what vein is not stated, though it could not
have been the Comstock at that date.'"
Other mines, both placer and quartz, had been dis-
covered in different parts of what is now Nevada,
previous to any locations in Carson valley. As early
as 1849 an immigrant named Hardin, while hunting
with two other men, discovered silver in the Black
Rock range, in the Humboldt country, one and a
half miles from Hardinville."' In 1857 quartz mines
^' There are many who speak of Old Virginia as the discoverer of the
Comstock, but without shadow of truth. It a^^pears probable that his claim
on another large lead, above mentioned, gave rise to the belief. It was at
one time thought by some to be the mother lode of the range, as the Com-
stock appeared to dip toward it. The purchasers of Fennimore 's claim began
a suit against the Ophir company, asserting that they were on the lead located
by' Fennimore. The Ophir company finally paid $60,000 to quiet title.
Wriijhi's Bi'j Bonanza, 53^4. This was probably the ' monster vein ' of the
Grosch brothers. Accounts, varying according to recollection or prejudice,
abound of the discovery of silver in Nevada. Instance //a?-per"sJ/a^., June,
1877, 72; Browne s Min. Resources, 27-36, 87-8; Knox's Underground, 94-101.
Mining Rev., 1876, 11-12; Sec. Int. Reft, i. 261-6, 44th cong. 1st sess.; Xev.
Sen. Jour., 1866, app. 7, 19-20; Reese's Mormon Station, MS., 3; Jennings
Carson Valley, MS., 3-4; Clark's Statement, MS., 12; Min. Mag., 1860, i. 35;
Barber's Western States, 490; Gazlay's Pac. Monthly, 3t-40; Western Monthly,
236-41; Bois6 Neios, March 5, 1864.
2" Leaves from an oil Book of Comstoclc Locations, in Virginia City Evening
Chronicle, Aug. 30, 1878; Gold Hill Eve. Neivs, Apr. 10, 1880. This early
record shows evidences of altered dates in more than this instance.
^^ Hardin brought specimens to Cal. ; but the Indians being troublesome,
nothing could be done until 1858, when he revisited that region with Albert
E. Jamison and others. They failed to find the spot, and on the following
year he repeated the search with like result. In 1800 several hundred pros-
pectors were looking for the lost mine, but their search was interrupted by
104 THE COMSTOCK IX)DE.
were (lisoovorod In the Reese river countr}', eio^hteen
inilc'S tr«>in Kiiij^stou .si)riii«;.s, on the /oatl to Salt
Liike. A San Francisco company jmrcliased tlie
Arniaj^osji mine, and sendinLj out an expensive mill,
soon sunk themselves in dtht. The mill n-maiiu'd for
some months with a guard of a few men, when down
upon it swoo[)ed a hand of Piutes, and both i^uard
and mill were destroyed, which ended Reese river
mining for tlie time.
The Potosi silver mines, situated eighteen miles
from Las Vegas, in the extreme southern ]>art of
western Utah, were discovered by the Mormons
about the time the Reese river mines were ftund.
Believing them to be lead, Brigham Young sent a
party of miners to work in them, in anticipation of
the war with the United States troops, hut the
product })roved too liard ft)r bullets, and the mines
were abandoned.''
About the same time tlic silver mines of the dis-
trict lying at the head of Walker river, in what was
later Mono county, California, but which was then
claimed as a part of western Utah, were begimiing
to attract attention, and in 1859 were well known.
Rich diggings were also reported in the Truckee val-
ley. But the principal interest centred in the so-
called Washoe mines, another misnomer, not so
easily accounted for as the first, since tluTe were no
mines in the Washoe valley," whose name was applied
Indian hostilities. Lato in 18(55, however, Janiiion discovcreil ricli nrosiwcta,
and in ISGG Hardinville was HuttictL S. F. AUn, March I80'J, ana Sept. 6,
18CG. Mining in Hunilxildt county liecamc |irotitalilu about ISCi).
"Afterward $'J(),000 was oxiKiudcd on tlii-se mined hy ("ajit. Allen, who
dcrivc<l no hencfit from it, tlmugh the wealth of tlic mine was un<|ue>itioncd.
Assays made hy the ' camel ' boundary line expedition showed $ii') jier ton in
«ilver. The want of railroad transportation was the cliief drawback. Seo
SuUi iiiinit ll'iil on Potui't.
*"Tlio name of WashcKS mines has Itof-n derived from Washoe valley,
which is Home '25 miles distiut (aitual disUmce \'2 miles), and in n<> way con-
nected with t)ie mines.' H. ()., in S. /•'. liitllftin, Oct. 1 1, IS.V.I. In the S'n>i,l,i
(Cal.) Driiinrnit is the f<»llowing, furnished by Fiwter, expressman l»etween
Nevaila City and ('arH<m valley: 'Collins k Co., immigrants, htcated a letlgo
almut the 1st of (k-tobi-r. 4 miles from W.-tsli.H? lake, whioli assjiyed jUMO |kt
ton in gold. SubHfi|iirntly a nunilKT of {..cations wtn- made in the valley,
and luiuiug dutricUi urgauizcd; but thurc u uutlung lu this to account for the
EARLY DEVELOPMENT. 105
to the system of mines on the great silver lode, and
all the region thereabout, until the name became as
widely known as Comstock's.
The discovery of diggings yielding several hundred
dollars a day caused from the first a fever of excite-
ment, the existence of a valuable lode beneath being
to most persons a matter of doubt and of secondary
importance. Locations of quartz were made, because
it could do no harm, so long as the same results were
obtained on the surface. Miners from California
hastened over the mountains to secure claims. Soon
the whole country was covered with prospectors. By
the time the ore had been further assayed by com-
petent mineralogists, and pronounced to be richer in
silver than in gold, all the ground on the Comstock
had been taken up for the gold known to be present.
The Ophir company proceeded at once to make a
practical test, and in order to be able to do so, ad-
mitted a sixth partner, J. A. Osburn, Avho with J. D.
Winters agreed to construct two arastras worth $75
each, and furnish the horses or mules to propel them,
the proceeds of the mine on working to be equally
divided between the six owners, any member of the
company to have the preference should one or more
desire to sell. In a few months not one of the orig-
inal owners of this pioneer bonanza " firm owned any-
thing on the Comstock, while more than a hundred
others had claims there."
Among the first, if not quite the first Californians
to arrive at tiie new mines were James Walsh and
lesser giving its name to the greater. In some of the earlier Mormon records
it is written Wassaw.
2^ The Spanish word bonanza, signifying prosperity, fair weather at sea,
good fortune in mining, was introduced by the Mexicans, and here applied
to the large finds.
''■^Browns Min. Resources, 88-9. The names of locators up to Sept. 1,
1859, according to the record, are as follows: Thomas Winters, James Webber,
John S. Butler, G. F. Rogers, John Bishop, ]SL L. Powell, F. Leary, W. P.
Morrison, P. T. Heally, H. Johnson, H. B. Camp, A. G. Hamack, A. White,
Joseph Curly, W. Henderson, James Finney, John Berry, L. C. Savage, A.
O. Savage, W. Sfcurtevant, C. Cha^e, R. Crall, B. Abernather, L. S. Bowers,
John Murpliy, James Lee. James Buchanan, Abe Field, A. Cower, Ephraiin
G. Scott, W. W. Capen, F. McNeil, Gecrge C. Pvosenbaker, John Carter, A.
lOfl THE COMSTOCK LOEE.
Joseph Woodworth (»f Clrass Valle}'. Walsh haj
procured an assay of a piece of tlie ore from the
Ophir early iu July, and iiiiiuediately started with
W't tod worth to i!isi>oot it. Tlie re.sult of the exam-
iuatioti was that on the TJth of Aui^ust Walsh ottered
anil Coinstock accepted $11,000 for his one-sixth in-
terest in the Ophir mine, which was exclusive of the
100 feet owned hy Pen rod and Comstook in the midst
of the claim.'* The transfer from Comst«K'k conveyed
als»> "one undivided half of 200 feet of mininjj; ground
heini; worked hy the California company at the ]>rcs-
ent time under an aj^reement made with me," hesides
certain claims in Six-mile canon known as the Cald-
well claims, one half of the sitrin*:; before mentioned,"
and "also my recorded title to a ranch, on which the
aforesaid villaj^e of Ophir is located."" In Septem-
ber McLaughlin sold his interest in the company's
Bell, S. P. Randall, M. Guinness, S. Stogie. G. A. McBridc. J. McConmll,
T. A. Rci.l, L. S. Pickering. H. liacon. K T. Martin. A. R. .Tinkin«. S. S.
Pcnry, J. S. Crenshaw, diaries Whitehea«l, Davi.l Elaugh. Ellen Cowan.
Benjamin Cahuon. J. E. Squire. Eilwin C. Morse. M. Benhain, N. I'earnian,
W. Ross, I>. R. LoyJ. Hiram Eckert, P. C. Van Horn. Alexander (ulniore,
John L(.wc, Joseph H. Gardiner. A. K Cole. lU.bert Jolinsou. S. M. Beanl,
William Justice. I. W. Hastings, G. W. Heperly, A. D. Allen, William
Pratt. John Havens. A. Tliornton. Jolin Correr. W. B. Bov.len. A. Lovcwell.
E. Scott. Melville Atwoo.l. A. Delano. W. K. Si.enccr. A. H. Walsh. Richard
Tihhals. Joseph W<.odwortli, A. E. Hea.l. W. P. Morrison. M. S. Powers.
AV. NV. Caperton. J..sepli Wel.b, A. Richar.l. R. Wilkins. W. (;ill. I. I. Co'.-
lin, G. Wilson. Nicholas Mellon, D. H. Rule, Fre.l Miller. C. W. Aurgin,
Edward Connor. T. J. Atcliisoii, H. J;u<.l.s. D. F. McNeil. E. Hekhrr. John
Blackl.urn. Geo. Stead, Thomas Stead. Arthur E. McHu;;h. John Braclim.
S. P. Lord. Jolin Vigiiot. Stephen Woo.l, John Black, D. E. Rice. J. W.
Rice, I. W. Rice. I. (Jreen. L. (ireeii, E.l R. Buckliii, T. P. Mallone. NeUon
Brohrant. Micliael Daley. Michael (Uoona. (J. S. Fisher. G. H. Ingersoll. (;.
Kenny. E. Payne. F. t^atoii. John Ikcke-, M. B. Tliompson, D. S. Blanding.
Cook, Vm. a. Whitney. J. Spitzer. James Corey. William Vaughn. The lii-t
is not complete, owing to tlie wear to which the hook of record has Ikjcq
Buhjected, having reiidend pome name* umlecipheraMe.
'« In Octol>er Walsh and Woodworlh shipped l'J,()()0 pounds of ore. and
the Central .Mining Company .1.<KK)l)ound3. About I.j0i>er8ons arrived from
Dowuicville during the last week of the month. .S'. /'. Alt'i, Oct. 31. 1859.
"In the contract it is siiitl that the three owners of the mine were only
entitled to use the water so long as they continue to oMm in the tniue.
Wrvjht'it Bi'i Bonntan, 73. ,.,,., tt-
^ Whether this claim of Comstock's to 100 acrc^ of land on which Vir-
ginia City was erected, with the water supply, was bona fide is open to
doubt. In a communication written for the jmblic i.ress a short time lieforo
his death. au<l when his iiim.l waiid.r. .1, he a.H.terted that he used to raise all
his poUtoes an.l vegeUl.h-H on it, hiring Iii.lian-* to do the work. In the same
letter to the public ho nUtea that RiUy and McLaughlin were working for
TRANSFERS OF CLAIMS. 107
mine for $3,500 ; Osburn sold for $7,000 ; O'Riley,
who was the last to sell, received $40,000— all being
well satisfied with the prices obtained. California
miners knew nothing about silver-mining, expected
their claims to be worked out in a few months, and
were pleased to part with them for a few thousand
dollars. In November Penrod sold his share in the
100 feet segregated to Gabriel Maldonado, a Mexi-
can, for $3,000.'^ He had already sold his interest in
the company mine for $5,500 to prevent being, in
mining phrase, " frozen out," by the threatened erec-
tion of a costly mill, and the consequent assessments.
The claim in which Maldonado had purchased a
half-interest was called the Mexican. John H. Atch-
ison also obtained a share equal to one-eighth ^'^ in
him when Ophir was discovered, and that he gave the other members of the
company their claims; also, that he located the Savage and Gould and Curry,
and owned the Hale and Norcross and the principal part of Gold Hill, giving
claims to Sandy Bowers, William Knight, and Joe Plato. He entertained
the idea of bringing suit to recover all these properties, of which he imagined
himself deprived. That he did set up a claim to the ground on which Vir-
ginia is located at the time of the discovery of O'Riley and McLaughlin,
basing his right upon the fact of having paid a Mexican something for the
spring claim, seems to be corroborated by other circumstances, and does not
seem to have been disputed; but all his right to the land was conveyed to
Wahh. There is no record in existence showing Comstock's claim, and at
the best he could have had only a squatter's title.
^8 It is interesting to follow the subsequent histories of these sports of for-
tune. Comstock engaged in merchandising in Carson City. He had married
t'le wife of a Mormon in regular orthodox fashion before a gentile preacher in
Washoe valley. But she ran away from him, as she had from her first hus-
band; and after many ineffectual attempts to bind her to him indissolubly, he
allowed her to go her way. He soon failed in his mercantile venture, and
finally ended his life, as I have said, in Montana by suicide. O'Riley
received a considerable fortune for his interest, and erected a stone hotel in
Virginia City with a portion of it. He then indulged in stock-gambling, and
soon was forced to resort to pick and pan for a living. Like most illiterate
persons who have lost money, he became extremely superstitious, and finally
insane, dying in a private asylum at Woodbridge, Cal., about 1874. Mc-
Laughlin soon spent the little he received, and in 1875 was engaged as cook
at the Green mine in San Bernardino co., Cal. Penrod also soon became a
poor man, living at Elko, Nev. Osburn went east; and Winters to Cal.,
where he was no better off than the others.
•'"Penrod says that while the original company still held the Ophir, a
threat was made to change the mining regulations, and reduce the width of
a claim to 200 feet. Under this apprehension the company each selected a
man to whom was deeded fifty feet off the north end of Ophir, thus voluntarily
limiting their ground to 1,200 feet. This 300 feet was afterward called the
Atchison. Some of the ground was recovered subsequently. Ihe mining
law was changed in the Virginia district September 14, 1859, the first article
reading, 'All quartz claims hereafter located shall be 200 feet on the lead,
106 THE COMSTOCK LODE.
this mine." BuyinL,' and selling were of daily occur-
rence. Before the end of the year there were four
thousiind people in Carson and the adjacent small
villai^es, where in June there were hardly so many
Imndreds. A town sprani; up ahout the Opliir mine,
which, as I have just shown, was first called after the
mine. It was afterward named Silver City by Com-
stoek, but by a drunk«n whim of Fennimorc's became,
in October, \'^ir<.(inia Town, after himself A month
later, at which time it had eight stone houses, it was
proposed to call the place Winneiimcca, after the
J'iute chieftaiii of that name ; but the idea being u».i-
popular. \ irginia City was fmally adopted.
The importance of the new town was at once per-
ceived," and it was spoken of with respect as "the
most important town in the newly discovered dig-
gings," even at this time. It was descrii)ed as situ-
ated in a " kind of mountain amphitheatre leading
down the eastern slo[)e of the Sierra Nevada into
Carson valley," distant fifteen miles from Carson
City, six from Steamboat springs, and ICrl from Sac-
ramento. A hundred miners were at work, and
(juartz was being broken in fifteen arrastras. There
was no hotel, and onl}' one restaurant, where half a
dozen persons at a time could be supplied with poor
meals at seventy-five cents. Travellers found lodg-
in«'S bv spreading their blankets on the east flank of
including all itJi ili|iH ant] angles.' But this repulatinn did not affect titlea
alrea.ly at-.|iiiii:d t<. :«J0 feet. //i//>-ll- Hn,„llix>k of Mhiiwi, \W.
•"It w.w from tlii« |>art of tlie orijjiiial ^nmiid that tlie tirst ore was
taken. Virjinin Union in Mir. (iiKwUf awl Pi-irr Current, Xcv. 17. 1841,').
*-' Wright, in lii« lii'i B mniiz/t, 28. f)!), 84, quotes ('onistoek'n aeeount:
•Old Vir^'inia and the other l»oyH got on a drunk one night there, and Old
Virginia fell down and liroke his hottle, ami when he got uj* he said he l»aji-
tized that ground -hence Virginia City.' Fcnniniore. who is inuih ]mraded
l)y all the historians of Ncvaila. withotit any di»eoveralile reason, unless a
fondness for whixkey may he aeeount<-d a distinguished as well a« distinguish-
ing trait, was killed at Payton in .Fiily ISOI. l»eing thrr.wn from his horse
while intoxieat4'd, and Huffi-ring a fracture of the »kidl.
^O. H. Pierson laid off the town in lots some time in Julv. rom«toek
offering him the lanrl on whieh at that tini<- .Ti.hn L. Hlarklmrn and one other
man ha.l spread their t.-nts; l.ut Orm-l.y of Carson City, for whom Pierson
had Ix-.n a .h-rk in IK40 at Sieraiu'-ntM." offered him a corner lot in his town,
and thither he went. Caraon TrifMiu, Aug. 1870,
GOLD AND SILVER. " 109
Sun peak, or Pleasant hill, as it was not infrequently
called. The country being treeless in the immediate
vicinity, and the one or two saw-mills at a considera-
ble distance, lumber was worth $50 per 1,000 feet,
and was scarce at any price, being more valuable for
mining purposes than for houses. These facts did not
deter people from hurrying to the new diggings, and
during the severe winter which followed many lived
in excavations in the earth.
At Gold Hill, which was nature's dump of tailings
from the Comstock lode, was less excitement, but
equal industry, and eight or ten arrastras were grind-
ing up quartz for the gold it contained, without refer-
ence to the silver. In truth, the Californians wished
to conceal the actual value of the ores until they could
buy at a low price. ^* A few mule-loads were sent to
^*I find in the Virginia City Union of Oct. 14, 1863, the following accoimt
of the Gold Hill mines and their first owners: 'Late in the fall of 1858 [it
was really in January 1859] four men, named James Finney, alias Virginia,
John Bishop, alias Big French John, Aleck Henderson, and Jack Yount, were
prospecting in the vicinity of the place where Gold Hill is now situated. . .
As they were passing along the ridge immediately east of the canon in which
the town of Gold Hill is now located, Virginia pointed to the large mound,
now known as Gold Hill, and remarked to his comrades, ' Boys, I believe
there are some good diggings over there. In a few days we will go over and
try it. ' They returned, . . . and in a few days went to the mound pointed
out by Virginia, as agreed upon. . . . Virginia in hunting around over the
mound, discovered a hole which had been made by a gopher. From this
they took out a considerable quantity of gold and carried it down to Crown
Point ravine. . . . All there immediately thought that they had at last
found the long looked for El Dorado, . . . and the bleak mountains which
surrounded them echoed and reechoed their wild shouts of delight. They
immediately staked out 4 claims of 50 feet each ind divided them among
each other, giving Virginia, as the discover, the first choice. A few days
afterward 5 other men, named James Rogers, Joseph Plato, Sandy Bowers,
Henry Comstock, and William Knight, who had been prospecting in and
about Spanish ravine, came down to the newly discovered diggings and
staked out another claim of 50 feet, ^Ijeing 10 feet to each.
' Of these 4 discoverers, not one owns a foot of ground on Gold Hill, and
of the second locators, only one and the heirs of another now own an interest.
Virginia first gave John Vignot, alias Little French John, 9 feet in consider-
ation of his having attended him during a spell of sickness. This 9 feet is
now incorporated in the Logan and Holmes claim. He then sold 21 feet to
Dugan & Co. for .?50 per foot. Of this, 10^ feet now compose the Coover and
Stevenson claim, and Wh feet the Lindauer and Hirschman claim. The re-
maining 20 feet he sold to L. E. and J. W. Rice. Of this, 6| feet is now in-
corporated in the Logan and Holmes claim. The remaining 13| feet is still
known as the Rice claim. John Bishop sold his claim to Logan and Holmes
for $r>0 per foot. Jack Yount sold .30 feet to J. D. Winters, and 20 feet to
Henderson and Butler. Aleck Henderson retained an interest until last
year, in partnership with his brother W. Henderson, when he sold out and
returned to the states.
110 THE COMSTOCK LOPE.
California to be tested, in tlic autumn of 1859, and
tl»e owners suspecting something untair in the returns,
the following s[)ring put up a (quantity of ore in sacks,
reserving every alternate sack for assay by experienced
Mexican miners, and found that the ore tested in
California yielded but about half as much as that
assayed by the Mexicans." A San Francisco firm"
'Of the 5 later locators, Rogers sold liis 10 feet to Mrs Cowan (now Mre
Samly B..wers) for $\00 per f<H)t. Tliis, with the 10 feet whieh Sautly B<iwers
owned, and still retains, form wliat is now known as the liowers claim. Corn-
stuck sold to one Frink. This 10 feet is now known as the Harold k Co.
claim. Knight's interest was sold, an<l also passed to HaroM & Co. These
2 interest are now incorporated in the claim of the Empire Mill and Mining
company. Plato died, hut his wife inherited an<l still owns tlie 10 feet which
he located. Finney, alias Virginia, Plato, and Rogers are now dead, the
latter having committed suicide a few months since. Bishop still lives about
Virginia . . . Comstock, immortalized hy the famous lead in tiiis district
wliicli l)ears his name, is now in the northern mines. Sandy Bowers and wife
reiiile in Washoe county.'
=^The process of testing consisted in heating the rock to a powder in a
mortar, or grinding it tine on a large flat stone with a lesser stone. Tiie
pulverized ore was placed in a small canoe-shaped vcsel, made of a split ox-
horn, and carefully waslied out, mucli in the same manner in which auriferous
gravel was worked in a pan. The gold would he found lying in a yellow
streak at the bottom of the horn. This was a very simple process, ami any
miner could prospect his discovery of gold rock to decide whether it would
pay to work it in a mill. In testhig for silver, acids were used. The cjuartz
was pulverized as in the first instance, and the lighter matter washe<l out in
the iiorn. The residuum was then washed from the horn into a mattrass (a
flash of annealed glass with a narrow neck and broad bottom). Nitric acid
was then poured in until the matter to be tested was covered, when the flask
was suspended over a lamp an.l evaporated by boiling until tiie fumes es-
caping changed from red to white. After cooling, the litpiid contents of the
fla'jk were poured off into a vial of clear, thin glass, called a test-tube. A
few drops of a strong solution of common salt were then poured into the
vial. If the ore contained silver, the licjuid in the tube would take on a
milky hue where the salt first came in conUct with it, changing gradually
toward the bott<ira. If much silver was present, the milky matter formol
little ropes, wliicli sank to the bottom of the vial. Muriatic acid was some-
times used in place of salt, to produce the formation of chloride of silver.
To dispel all ihmlits, the prospector held tlie test-tube in the strong light of
the sun for a short time, when the chloride wouhl assume a rich inirple hue.
To reduce the chhiride to a metallic state, it was dried an<l j)lared tn a small
excavation scooped out in a piece of charcoal, and the flame of a candle
blown upon it until it was melted, when a button of pure silver would be
formed.
Chloride ores of silver coulil not l>e tested by this process, Injmg already a
chloride, but had to be smelted in a crucible. Leail ore treated with nitric
acid, as in testing silver, produced a chloride somewhat resembling silver,
but more granular in api>earance. It diil not turn purple in the sunlight,
and it dissolved in 20 times its bulk in water, whereas the chloride of silver
did not disstilve in any amount of water. If copper was iireseiit, a niece of
bright inm wire or the blade of a penknife dip{»ed m the solution would show
a coating of it.
••Donald Davison & Co. Tcrrilorial Unterprue (Genoa), Oct. 1, 1859.
MILLS AND REDUCTION. Ill
purchased 200 tons of ore, at $200 a ton, to be sent
to England for practical testing. The first arrastra
put in operation was at the Ophir mine. Others
quickly followed at the Mexican and other claims,
which were operated by horse-power. Woodworth
and Hastings erected two arrastras at Dayton, to be
run by water-power from the Carson river. The
next advance in milling in 1859 was a horse-power,
four-stamp battery, erected at Dajiion by Logan and
Holmes. This was followed in August 1860 by two
steam quartz mills, erected by E. B. Harris and Al-
marin B. Paul, both of which started running on the
11th in close competition, Harris' mill blowing the
first whistle."' The introduction of mills, by saving
the cost of freight to California, where the ores were
being sent to be crushed, was an important step in
advance. At first the process called dry crushing was
practised, which was found unprofitable, one Howland
battery of nine stamps crushing only a ton in twenty-
four hours. In October the Pioneer mill adopted the
wet process, and was soon followed by the others. By
this method ten times the work was done, and a larger
amount of gold saved. The cost of crushing and
working the ore was about $6 a ton, while the mills
charged $100, falling to $75, and afterward to $50
per ton. The retorted bullion was worth from $10 to
"5. F. Alta, Aug. 7, 1S63. There was but a few minutes difiference in
the time of starting up. C. W. Coover was associated with Harris. Their
jiiill was built on the east side of the roart, nearly opposite the present Levi-
athan hoisting works, the site being one formerly located by Overman for
arrastras. The mill consisted of one of Howland's 9-stamp portable rotary
batteries, the engine and boilers being from Goss & Lambert's, Sacramento,
and hauled over the mountains by ox-teams, at 4 and 5 cents a pound, taking
18 days to the passage. On the 13th of August this mill began on custom-
work, running continually on ore from the Bowers and Gould and Curry
claims until October, when it was stopped to make the change from the dry
to the wet process. Paul's first mill was erected at Devil's Gate, 5 miles
from Virginia City, and if we are to believe the S. F. Bulletin of Aug. loth,
was in operation Ijefore Harris'. He built another, the 3d in the territory,
consisting of 8 Howland batteries (72 stamps), below lower Gold Hill. The
4th mill was by the Ophir company; and the 5th by Staples at Gold Hill; the
6th by W. S. Hobart at Gold Hill; the 7th by the Nevada company, in Six-
mile canon. Wood being required to run steam-mills, what there was in the
vicinity brought a continually increasing price from §4,50 to $15 pe" cord.
lit THE (OMSTOl^K LODE.
$14 an ounof, and even at tliis low rate tlieConistock
mines yielded $1,800 and $*J,()00 per ton in ijjold.
As soon as it was settled in the jmblie mind that
the mines in A'ir«;inia and (it)ld Hill distriets were
upon the same lead, it heeame of lmi>ortance to know
the ixtent and dip of the <:;reat vein. There was, as
nii'^ht have heen expected, a eoiiflict «>f opinion. Some
placed their faith np<»n the Flowery district, east of
Virijinia City ahout live miles. In this district were
the KodLTcrs, ^lorninu' Star, Mammoth, Desert. Nary
Ked, Lady l^ryan, Marco ]*olo, and Cedar com])anie8.
It was asserted with much confidence that this dis-
trict excelled the ^'ipJJinia ilistrict. The mines of the
Devil's (late district, south of (lold Hill, were said to
be the next best in the territory.
All the wt>rk done which could serve as an indica-
tion of the actual value of the mines was beinjj^ done
in two or three mines of the Vir*;inia district, namely,
the Ophir, Mexican, and Californian. The Mexican
was bein<4 worked after the nicthod pursued in the
mines of Mexico. A shaft was sunk, about fourteen
bv ei'^ht feet in size, which came to the vein ten or
fifteen feet from the surface. From this point the
inclination of the vein was sufficient to allow of rude
steps beiii<; cut on the lower side of the shaft, up
which clambered the Mexican miners, carryin;^ on
their backs, suspended by straps round their foreheads,
ox-hide baskets filled with ore. In this primitive
way, with little expense, they brought up from the
bottom of the shaft a richly payin<; quantity of ore.
Forty or fifty feet below the surface drifts wire run,
and from the drifts other shafts were lowered. This
system left standinj^ pillai-s of ore, which supported
the mine, and obviated the necessity f<»r expensivo
timberinL;. A tunnel was. however, run in at a depth
of cij^hty feet, and when the miners had n-achcd that
depth, and a «:jreater depth, the tunnel was utilized
for a roadwav to brini^' <»ut the ore in loaded cars, an
approach to American methods of mining.
MILLS AND MACHINERY. 113
The Opliir company employed steam hoisting and
pumping machinery in 1860, driven by a fifteen horse-
power donkey-engine. It was worked by an incHned
shaft following the dip of the vein, up which the ore-
car was hoisted. In December 1860 the Ophir com-
pany had reached a depth of 180 feet, using the post
and cap supports common in California mines, and
found the ore body to be of the unexampled breadth
of forty -five feet. They had not followed the Mexi-
can plan of leaving pillars of the rock to support the
weight of the superincumbent earth. Timbers of suf-
ficient length and strength to prevent the sinking in
of the roof of the mine over so wide a space, could not
be obtained, even if they would have had the required
imperishability to make them safe.^^ This difficulty,
encountered in the heart of the bonanza, became of
the most serious import, and the company sought the
aid of the engineering genius of Philip Deidesheimer,
a German miner of scientific attainments
Deidesheimer was equal to the occasion, inventing
in three weeks of study and observation a system of
timbering without which the Comstock mines would
have remained sealed below a certain depth. The
plan was simply that of timbers framed together in
square sets, forming cribs of from four by six feet in
size, which could be piled one upon the other to any
required height, and which could be made to conform
to any circumstances of lateral as well as downward
pressure. These cribs, filled with waste rock, could
be made enduring pillars reaching to the roof of the
deepest mine. Here at once, in the beginning of its
3^ On the morning of the loth of July, 1863, half of the Mexican mine,
from the surface to a depth of 225 feet, caved in. It carried the ponderous
mass of rock, earth, and timbers over into the Ophir, demolishing 50 feet of
the 4th gallery, and portions of the 2d and 3d galleries. The main shaft
of the Mexican was closed up, and a part of the mill undermined. Not
a life was lost, all the men in the mine barely escaping. Lord's Comstock Min-
ing mid Miners in King's Siu-vay, 217. On the 5th of March, 1865, a great
cave rent open Gold Hill, filling the upper levels of the Empire, Imperial,
and Eclipse mines. Many accidents of this nature happened, and made re-
course to cribbing imperative. Gold Hill News, May 31, 1869, Jan. 3, 4, June
29, 31, 1870.
Hist. Nev. 8
114
THE COMSTOCK LODE.
mining histor}'. tlio Ccimstock lode received exactly
the service iifi'dcd tor its coiiijilete development. Xt)r
was it the fertile American hrain which achieved the
triumj)!! over an ol)stacle that threatened to be insur-
niounUii)le, hut the sturdier (Jerman intellect" Other
sugj^'estions uf Deidesheimer's were afterward adopted,
with tjjreat profit, regarding the kind of machinery to
be used.
PlA.N of C'KlllBINO.
••DcideHheimer's device was particularly adapted to the extraction of the
ore iKxlieii of the ConiHtook, aii<l would have obviated tlie ditliculty encoun-
tered in tlic early dcvclopincnt had it Iteen applied. Wrifjht iles'crihes tiie
former method oh follnw.i: * Tlit- only HUpp<^*rtti u.sed in the mines were round
logH cut on tlic surroundiuj' liills. These logs were from !(') to .'i') feet in
length; when of the lattc-r length, they were manufactured, that is, were
ma<lc of two logs spliced and luld together hy means of iron holts and hands.
Owing to tiic stunted character of tlie pines and cedars found in the neighlwir-
h<HMl, it was almost impossihie to procure a log more than '20 feet in length.
After setting up two of these logs, a log 18 feet long was placed H]*im them aa
a cap. Tliese ]H>»U and caps were place<l aN close Uigether as they could Iw
ma<le to sUn.l, hut they wouhl not hold un the ground when it hegan to
■lack an.l swell from exposure to the air. IJesi.les this diHicultv. then- was
no safe way of working either ahove or i»elow tiiese sets in tiie ve'in. To take
out ore, citlicr under or over the fimbcra, looecncd them and caused a disaa-
TIMBERING. 115
The discovery of the new method was made none
too soon, for at the level next below the one hundred
and eighty-foot, or third gallery, the ore body had
widened out to sixty-six feet. Locators not in the
bonanza mines were watching with much anxiety the
dip of the Comstock, hoping to secure claims on
the lode where it should make its appearance beyond
the limits of known locations. For a time it seemed
to dip toward the west, and to run beneath Mount
Davidson, on the eastern slope of which the croppings
plainly appeared. Locations on the east side of the
Virginia range were then eagerly sought after; but
when the depth of 300 feet had been reached in the
Ophir mine, the lead was found to have been bent
and deflected from its true course by the pressure
from above, and that its true dip was toward the east,
and away from Mount Davidson. This discovery
gave a new interest to the Flowery district.
Mills for crushing ore rapidly having been intro-
duced, the question of entering upon silver-mining
trous cave. Many accidents happened, and many men lost their lives while
this method of timbering was practised, but no lives have ever been lost in
timbering by the square-set, or Deidesheimer plan. In the mines at Gold
Hill was where the timbers 35 feet in length were used, and there was where
the greatest number of accidents happened; but in the Ophir mine timbers
16 feet long had been used.... In 1861 the new style of timbering was
adopted along the whole line of the Comstock, and has been in use ever since.
The Ophir was probably the fir.st mine in any part of the world where such a
system of timbering became a necessity, as no ore body of such great width
had ever before been found.' Big Bonanza, 135. See also Lord's Con stock
Mining and Miners, one of an interesting group of monographs belonging to
thr report of the U. S. geog. siir., of which Clarence King was director, the
expenses being paid and the books published by government.
Philip Deidesheimer was born in Germany in 1832, and came to California
via Cape Horn in 1851, where he remained until 1860. In Nov. of that
year Mr W. F. Babcock, agent of the P. M. S. S. Co. and leading director
of the Ophir mining company of Nevada, sent for Mr Deidesheimer, who was
then mining in El Dorado county, to ask him to propose a plan for working
the Comstock mines, for unless some way of supporting the ground was dis-
covered they could not be worked, on account of the width of the vein, 60
feet, and the softness of the earth. In his earnestnes.a to assist Mr Babcock
Mr Deidesheimer took no thought of himself, or he would have patented hi;
invention. This he did not do, and all the mines seized upon it as quickly
as it became known. It would seem that some reward should volunfar'ly
have followed, though none did. He was made superintendent of the Opi r,
and earned his salary as mining engineer the same as another, and ^'; • mine
owners became rich through his invention.
116 THE COMSTOt'K LODR
propor was tlie next consideration. Ophir, ^Mexican,
aiul otlui" X'irgiiiia oiv^ of sutKcicut value, after assort-
ing, to be sent to Knglaiid for reduction had Weeii
Bcnt, and the reuiaiiuK'r, as second and tliird class ores,
were allowi-d to accumulate. At ( iold Hill they hiul
not yet worked through the gold to the silver ore,
when experimenting with the latter began at Vir-
ginia. It was a ditiicult i)roblein f«>r the unlearned
and inexperienced American miner and mill sui»erin-
tend(Mit. The man of science might have found many
battling peculiarities about the silver ores of western
Utah; therefore it is not surprising that the merely
practical man, without experience, encountered many
discouragements. The surprise is that they so readily
conquered them.** During the c^xperimentid j)eriod
millions of dollars went to waste in the "tailings," or
pulverized ore, which ran away from the mills after
l)assing through the pans and other apparatus used in
amalgamating silver by the wet process. Thiy were
swept into the Carson river through the canons in
which the mills were situated, and deposited finally
in the sink of the Carson, where they lie embedded.
Only the Mexicans knew the value of these tailings,
♦"Says Wright, in Win Bonn nyi, 130, 'The amalgamating pans in the mills
Burpassed tlie caldron of Maohetli's witches in the variety and vdlainou.sness
of tlieir contents They pouretl into their pans all manner of aciii.s; dum|K>d
in potash. Ixirax, saltpitre, alum, and all else tliat c-oid<l he found in tlie drug
stores, then went to the hills and started in on the vegetalili; kingdom.
They peeled i>ark off the cedar-trees, boiled it down until they had ol.tained
a strong tea, and tlien poured it into the pans where it would have an op|Mir-
tunity of atUcking the silver stuhhornly remaining in the rocky jiarts oi the
ore. ... A genius in charge of a mill conceived the idea uf making a tea of thii,
(sage-hrush or arteniesia) and jiutting it into his pans. Soon the wonders of
the Ha2e-l>rushl)rocess, as it was called, wereheing heralded through the land,
The superintendent of every mill luid his secret process of working the silver
ore. . . I'rocess j»eddlcrs, with little vials of chenucals in their vest ]x>cketa,
went from mill to mill to show wliat they could do, jirovided they reccivcJ
from .•?.'..(KK) t<j §20,000 for their secret." J/ltoW<t //■in'lHix.kof Mlnin;,, pub-
lished in ISO!, mentions without describing the Ilaghy and Veat<"li processes,
and says that the Oiihir company u^eil the former, and the Central company
the latU-r. The Oi>hir comi)auy finally paid S10,(KK) and a royalty for the
Veatch i)rocess. The ' sulphuret jMizzle is cUscussetl in the S. F. 7/- niA/,
March '^1, IHtil»; S. F. TiiiirM. June 'I'A, 1H<57. Ke.lurtion meth<Kls continued
to l»e iliscusseil and changed for several years. The chlorini/ing iiroccsB
received much attention alxiut 1S71. (Jold Hill y<irH, Sept. 3 and Oct. 28,
1871; Carson Aj^'il, June 18, ISG'J.
PROCESSES. 117
or attempted to save them, a few of them securing
several thousand dollars each by the patio process/^
at a small expense. But afterward pieces of amalgam
were frequently found in crevices of the rocks over
which the tailings had flowed, large enough when
melted to make rings or buttons. It was only after a
long time that any systematic methods were adopted
by mill-owners to save the gold and silver in tailings."
The California company, which was located next
south of the Ophir, was the first to run a tunnel in
upon the ore deposit, which it did in 1859-60, having
to timber it, on account of the slacking of the earth.
All the other mines at first opened downward from
the top simpl3'^ by a well or shaft, which collected the
water in the earth, and required pumping machinery
long before its depth should have rendered pumping
necessary. This machinery as well as the earlier
mills soon had to give way to that which, if more ex-
pensive, was also much more efiective. Engines of
fifteen horse-power were replaced by those of eighty
*^ The patio process, as practised in this small way, consisted in placing
the tailings on an inclined table, and carefully pouring water over them with
a small dipper, beginning at the top and working down. At the bottom
would be found, washed down, some pounds of sulphuret of silver, and parti-
cles of amalgam and quicksilver. This they placed in a patio, or amalga-
mating yard closely paved with granite, or sometimes having a well packed,
hard clay bed, and when several hundred pounds had been saved, sulphate
of copper, salt, and quicksilver, in the proper proportions, were added to the
mass, and the whole mixed together into a kind of mortar, and left in a heap
to sweat and digest. This operation, several times repeated, the mass Ijeing
mixed by the trampling of horses or mules, completed the amalgamation,
when the silver could be washed out with a rocker. See Famyre Exylor.
Mineral, 15-18. There is an account of the discovery of a natural amalgam
of gold, silver, and quicksilver, in S. F. Call of May 4, 18(55, quoted from
Vin/inia Union, said to be worth $10,000 per ton; also in Sac. Union, May 4,
1865.
*^The wonderful divisibility of the precious metals and of quicksilver
has been shown by placing a copper bowl, coated with quicksilver, where the
water from the flume of a quartz mill should fall into it, and also some copper
riffles, coated in the same way, in the flume itself. Although the water had
a perfectly clear appearance, at the end of 3 months, from the bowl and the
rifles, §100 in amalgam was obtained. The water came from the Carson river,
and was conducted for a considerable distance through a wooden flume, in
wliich, on repairing it, was found amalgam adhering to the nail-heads, which
must in the first place have received a coating of quicksilver, and all came
from the tailings swept into the river. An interesting question has been
raised of where goes the 734,400 pounds of quicksilver once annually used in
the Comstock mills. It disappears, and the millmen say that 'wherever
quicksilver is lost, silver is lost.' See Gold Hill News, Aug. 9, 1871.
118 THE COMSTOC'K LODE.
h<»rsc-p)Wor, and fitially l>y those of five liundred.
The (luestioii of ^vat»-■r, Ijoth in the mines and t>ut,
was one tliat has led to some mi<:^lity engineering
frats. Silvir-minin«4, as at present carried on, is an
achievement of scientific and enijineering skill which
was not dreamed of in the period antedating the ad-
mission of Nevada as a state. What it has to do
with the hi8U)ry of the state will appear hereafter.**
♦^ As a contrast to the small Ixgiimings «les(ril>e<l in a previfmH note, an
arcoiint of tlie C'lmsolulattd Virginia mill in inserttil in tliu iiloti.-. Tliia
null was nlanncd \>y .lames <!. Fair tlie bonanza manager. It xt^'od *J00
f»'et Dortli-ea.st of the company's main hhaft and hoihting-M orks. The
groiintl inclined toward the east, allowing of a convenient descent, and wa«
terraced to accomminlate the several departments. First came the battery
r<K)m with ore hin, being 1(J0 l»y 58 feet in size. Adjoining it <in the
east, ami on a terrace a few feet lower, was tlie am.ilgamating-room, 120
l>y 1>*J feet. A little lower, ou another terrace, was tiie room containing
the settlers, 1)2 l>y 20 feet. North of the amalgamating room was the
engine room, 92 by 58 feet. Tlie whole of the machinery was «lriven by
a comiHiund condensing-engine of CAH) horsepower. The main hhaft from
thi-i engine was 14 inciies in diameter, ancf weighed 15,000 pounds. A
fly-wheel on this shaft, which was also a band-wheel ami carried a large belt
by which the batteries Were driven, wa.s 18 feet in diameter, and weighed ICJ
ton-j. On the extreme end of the main driving-shaft was coupleil a hhaft 11
inclics in diameter, which extended into the amalgamatingroom an<l drove
the pans and settlers, and all the machinery not connected with the batteries.
Tlie whole weight of the engine was tifty tons, and it stoinl on 450 cubic yards
of masonry laid in cement, weighing C()0 tons. There were 4 jiairs of boilers,
each of wliich was 54 inches in diameter, and which c<iuld l>e u.sed sc)>arately
or in connection witli the others. A portion of the walla were tif stone, and
22 feet high. To the ri.lge-pole of the roof was 50 feet; to the top of the 4
Bmoke-stacks 90 feet. In the engine room were two largo steam pumps tol»e
used in fee<ling boilers or in extinguishing fire. The mill consumed 42 corda
of wcMid iK-'r day, which was brouglit to the mill from a side track of the Vir-
ginia anil Truckee railroa<l, on trucks hoMing two cords eiich. The truck wag
emptied into a chute which carried the wood into tlie boiler-room. On the
the west, or highest side of the mill, higher tiian tlie roof, w:is a covered
track, 278 feet in length, leading directly to the main shaft of the hoisting-
works. Wlien the loaded cars were brought up on the cages they were tlrawa
in trains of 10 cars along the track to the chutes which led down from the
roof of the mill to the ore bin ImIow. The track, with the buildini; which
inclosed it, re8te<l on strong trestle-work, 44 feet above tlie ground at the
highest point. A car load of ore was fed to the batteries every 5 minutes.
It fell first upon an iron sireen through which the fine orejia-s-sed; tliat which
had to Ixj broken was <luuiped near the crusher, which resembled a huge
lemon-squeezer, ami was inventeil by Klake, and after being broken
was distriliuted by chutes to the batteries or near them. There were 8 of
these, with 10 stamjis each — 80 stamps weigiiiuK 800 jM.unds each -and either
could be worked, started, and stopjKsd in<le|>endently of the rest. From the
ore-liin, machines called self-feeders, invent4-d by Janus Tull(»ch of C'al., and
o]>erate<l by the motion of the stamps, drop}>ed the ore into the batteries
witliout the intervention of human muscle.
Here began the process of extracting the silver. Tlio pulp which ran
from the batt'-ries was c<indu(ted to the settling-tanks in the amalganinting-
room by sluices. Wheu it was settled to the cuiuutcucy of thick murt&r, it
HOW IT WAS DONE. 119
was shovelled out upon a platform extending along the rows of amalgamating-
pans. 2 rows, 16 pans in each, each pano^ feet in diameter, and holding 3,0U0
pounds of pulp. In the bottom of the pans were cast-iron plates, called dies,
aud revolving upon these other iron plates, called shoes. These pans were
the invention of Henry Brevoort of Sonora, Cal., who improved upon the
original amalgamating pan designed by Israel W. Knox of S. F. The pulp,
to which some water was added, was again pulverized between these plates
by revolving the upper upon the lower, steam being admitted to the mass,
which was tightly covered, during the grinding. The steam was substituted
for the sweating process, which requires days, where the steam effected the
same work in hours. The idea was originated by Seiim E. Woodworth of S.
F. After 2^ hours of heating and grinding, 300 pounds of quicksilver were
added to the contents of each pan, there being added besides a certain amount
of salt and sulphate of copper, and sometimes soda and other chemicals,
■when the grinding was continued for 2h hours longer. It will be perceived
that this process did not differ from the patio process, except in the superior-
ity of the mechanical arrangements, which were equal to the best in the
world. At the end of this time the amalgamated pulp was drawn off into the
settling-tanks, from which it passed through strainers of heavy canvas bags,
when the earthly matter separated from the metallic, and only the silver and
quicksilver were collected in the bags, where the mass remained until the
superfluous quicksilver drained off. When no more passed through the can-
vas strainers, the amalgam was removed to another, called the hydraulic
strainer, a heavy cast-iron vessel, shaped like a mortar-gun. Over the mouth
of this vessel was fastened a strong iron cover, through which passed a pipe,
also of iron. A water pipe was then connected, and water under pressure
amounting to 150 pounds to the square inch was turned on. By this method
much more quicksdver was removed than by any other, but there was still
much left. An iron car, which ran on a track in front of the strainers, now
received the amalgam and carried it to the retort house, removed from the
mill a short distance. This was a brick building 24 by 60 feet, containing 6
cast-iron cylinder retorts, with a capacity of 5 tons of amalgam per day,
though retorting usually only half that amount. The amalgam when placed
in the retorts, had a dull, gray, muddy appearance, showing neither silver
nor quicksilver. By the gradual application of intense heat the latter, which
really constituted f of the whole, was finally separated from the silver. The
next process was that of assaying. The assay office of the Consolidated Vir-
ginia, a large, fine building near the main hoisting- works, had in the melting-
room 6 furnaces, with melting-pots made of graphite, having a capacity of
300 pounds of silver each, but seldom containg much over 200 pounds. Here
the silver wa,r, melted, the dross being skimmed off after stirring. When
sufficiently cleared of impurities, it was pouredinto iron moulds, which formed
bars weighing something over 100 pounds. A small ladleful of the molten
metal, taken from the top and bottom of the melting-pot, was thrown into
water, where it assumed various shapes, some beautiful in form, as flowers and
leaves. An assay was made of these first and last granulations, which had
to agree, or the melting be done over. The assay was performed by wrap-
ping a gramme of the silver in a thin sheet of pure lead, placing the package
in a cupel made of bone ashes, and subjecting it to the heat of a furnace.
^Vhen liquefied, the lead and all other base metals were absorbed by the cupel,
leaving a button of fine metal. This bit of bullion was then hammered into
a thin sheet, placed in a flask of annealed glass, and strong nitric acid poured
upon it. The flask was placed in hot sand bath — an inch or more of sand on
the bottom of a very hot oven — and the sheet of bullion was boiled until the
silver was all dissolved, and the gold in the form of a powder settled to the
bottom of the flask. This precipitation was placed in a crucible of unglazed
porcelain, dried, and melted in a furnace, when the particles united, after
which it was carefully weighed. The loss of weight sustained by the origi-
nal button represented the silver which it had contained. The bars of bul-
lion being weighed, and their relative proportioa of gold and silver ascer-
120 THE COMSTOCK LODE. ]
taincd from the awiay of ono gramme, their value was markcnl on them ia
degrees of lineiieiM. '1 he calt-ulatious Vere assisteil by tahleii of values.
When silver, for instance, is IHXi tine, it is wortli lfl.lG^''o''^^ per ounce; when ;
gold u 9UU tine, it is worth $lh.(i4)\. Assay of ore was sinular; 'JUO grains, i
hnely powdered, were nielu-d in a cxuciMo witli jironer tlux, and the metal ]
deiKisited was suhjecteil to the proecss just de»cnl>eil, from whuli the value
per t«n was calculated. Many ingenious contrivances for saving (juicksilver
were in oi>eration at this mine, Mhich, although interesting, were not a i>art j
of silver priKluctiou, which is here brietly descriln-'d, as practised after fifteen
years of progress. The cost of tlie reduction works at the Cons<didated I
Virginia mine waa $350,000. Other nunes may have had less exi>cni>ive !
works, but the methods pursued were tlie same in all. An interesting chap-
ter might Ije written on the improvements in hoisting, ]>umping, and other
machinery, full descriptions of which, with diagrams, are contamed in Clar-
ence King's repfirt on Miiiin;/ Iiultmtry, an elegant <juarto, tilled with instruc-
tive and entertaining matter concerning the Comstock mines, from their I
diacovcry dowu to IbTO, '
I
CHAPTER YL
rURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCK.
1860-1888.
Speculation axd Litigation — Fight Between the Opheb and Burning
Moscow — Violent Fluctuations of Sutposed Values — Mining Laws
— State of Society — Wild Extravagance — San Francisco Stock-
board — Fortunes Made and Lost — Miner's Life — Association and
Obligations — Yields and Dividends — The Bonanza Firm, Mackay,
Fair; Flood, and O'Brien— Manipulations — The Sutro Tunnel —
Geology of the Comstock Lode.
The first result of the opening of the Comstock
mines was wild speculation, and the second almost
endless litigation. Men from San Francisco, Sacra-
mento, and other California towns hastened to get
possession of all the ground possible, which they held
at extraordinary prices. Out of their operations grew
a mining vocabulary new and peculiar. Bonanza,
signifying good fortune, became not inaptly the
sobriquet of the discovery mines on the Comstock
lode. It is a noteworthy fact that almost all the great
discoveries were made at the heart of the region dis-
covered, and not on the outskirts;^ thus Ophir and
Mexican, and the mines into which they were subdi-
vided, being more productive than the groups farther
south which participated in their fame, were bonanza
to everything on the lode. Unproductive mines were
in borrasca, or a squall, signifying bad fortune. As-
^ 1 find after making this observation that Wright, in his Big Bonanza,
490, remarks that the Consolidated Virginia, to which he applies the title of
Big Bonanza, was found ' near where the first silver ore was turned up to
the light of day. '
(121)
122 FURTHER DE\'ELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCK.
sessiiii^ the small sharehoklors of a mine until they
were forced to part with tlicir interests was a "freez-
in^-out" [jroeess. "Kiting "a mine was j^ivin*^ it a fic-
titious value in the market. Tlieselatter two practices
were very frequent, even as early as April 18G0, and
getting rich hy swapping jackets was carried on with
zeal on the Virginia bourse. The "bulls" of the
mining towns, or of San Francisco, who performed
the kiting, sometimes saw their favorite mine pulled
down by the " bears," as became the custom after the
formation of a stock board. During the winter of
1859 Ophir was selling for $1,000 and $1,200 a foot.
In April following it was offered on the street for
$G00 or $700. The cause of the decline was pros-
pective litigation. A company calling them.selves the
Luckv company of the Burning Moscow ledge, but
afterward the l^urning Moscow company, located on
ground first claimed by the Ophir.'
It was asserted by them that the ledge they were
on was entirely distinct from the ()i)hir, was twenty-
three feet wide, and as rich as the Comstock. The
shares were eagerly bought u^) at from $40 to $275,
according to the market. The Madison company first
sued them for infringing on their rights; and the
Ophir also brought suit to recover pos.session of the
ground in dispute. To establish their case, cross cuts
were made by the 0[)hir conipany opening into the
works of the Jiurning Moscow, and on aj)plication to
Judge Oordon N. Mott, an order was obtained re-
straining that company from further work until the
arguments in the application for a permanent injunc-
tion had been decided upon.
The question involved in these suits, and which
divided the miniug connnunity, was whether there
was one great lode or many smaller ones. Mott was
a believer in the one-lode theory, an<l while he held
the office of judge the Ophir was triumphant, and
Burning Moscow shares were at a minimum. There
' y'injinia Miniitj Uutrkt liuvnU, Book E, 101,
LITIGATION, 123
came a reversal when Mott was succeeded in office
by James A. North, who beUeved m divers lodes, and
the Burning Moscow shares went up again, while the
Ophir's dropped.
To check the rise of their enemy, the Ophir made
an assault on the Moscow's works October 23, 1863,
and skirmishing underground was carried on for sev-
eral days; until Philip Deidesheimer, superintendent
of the latter mine, procured the arrest of the super-
intendent of the Ophir, with eighteen of his men, for
riotous conduct. The prisoners were released on
bail, but their wrath was not in the least cooled by
the experience, nor by a temporary injunction restrain-
ing them from working within the limits fixed by the
rival company, followed by the dismissal of their suit
against it, which brought their stock down from
$1,750 to $1,150.
A new suit was begun in another district, and soon
after a discover}^ of exceedingly rich ore in the north-
em end of the Ophir carried the stock up $500 a foot.
In an effort to possess themselves of a controlhng in-
terest on the Comstock, the rivals had further com-
plicated their affairs. The Ophir, in September, 1860,
purchased of James Fennimore and John H. Berry
205 feet of their location on the Virginia ledge dis-
covered by Fennimore in 1858, this being named in
the deed as their " entire remaining interest in the
ledge." * It was, however, over a hundred feet more
than they possessed, for they had already sold all but
95 feet 9 inches of their original 600 feet.
By the Moscow company and many persons it was
contended that the Virgrinia ledge was the main or
mother lode, of which the Comstock was a spur. The
Ophir, instead of following up their plan of buying
out possible rivals in toto, found themselves fore-
stalled by William H. Garrison, who secretly bought
up all the other interests in the Virginia ledge, and
notified them, in October 1862, that he was prepared
s Storey County Records, Book D, 626.
124 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCK.
to contest tlu'ir title to tlio Coinstock. Tliis threat
(M'oasioiK'd anotlur rajiid fall iii the Ojthir stock horn
$.'i,0()0 to .^1,SU0 jxT toot, and torct-d the ('oin|»aiiy to
coiujiroinise hy payin«r $G(),()()0 or .^100,000 for (j}ar-
rison's title, which was ohtiiincd, to'^ether with an-
other claim, described as located hy .Jacob Whitbcck
on the " Virj^inia lead of the \'ir«;inia company," in
February 18()'2.* Another, or middle lead, liad al-
ready been purchased from McCall and others l>y the
Ophir company, which now had possession of no lesa
than four so-called ledges within a distance of 1,400
feet
Four others were alleged to exist within less than
half that distanc*-/ and one of these was the ^loscow,
which was being harried by the Madison and ad jacent
companies in nmcli the same manner as that by which
the owners of the Middle and A^irginia ledg<'S had
been worried into compromise purchases. On the 19th
of November, 18G3, the Burning Mosc(>wrid itself of
its minor enemies by consolidating with them, and
uniting the strength of the whole against the Ophir.
Its capital stock was increased from less than half a
million to three millions.
As I have said, the (Ji)hir company began a new
suit in October, soon after which they struck a body
of rich ore in their mine. The consolidation of the
^Moscow com})anies immediately followed, and a suit
for the ejectment of the Ophir was begun. The legal
conflict was continued, the l)est tidcnt of California
and Nevada being employed on this and other mining
suits of equal im])ortance for several years, during
which questions of law, of geology, and of veracity
were about equally contested. The question of geol-
♦ Some name one amount and some another; Init it does not signify in this
plane wliether it was $<iO,OiiO or $1(H),0(X). The (JarriHon tlaim wa* merely
Bi>eculativf from tlie oub*ot. C'l.iiniH wc-ri* ]Mircha»c<l that never exist««l. sim-
ply t4i avoiil litigation, which, aft<-r all, could not l>e avoi<led. The wealth
of the Opliir was waste<l in suits at law a« well as in titlier ways.
'I^-dgcof I>a Crosse conijKiny, l<.o.it«d Peoendxr '.•, IS-VJ; fW-ller ledifO
(HarriH(»ncoMipany), located JuiiJ 17, IM«». ledge of .Madison (Jold and Silver
Mining company, locatcilJuly 3, IbGJ; and ledge of tlio Burning Moscow
couipauy.
litigatio:n". 125
ogy was of all the most perplexing, because it could
be settled by nothing but actual exploration of the
ledges in dispute, which proceeded slowly as the dif-
ferent companies developed in a partial degree their
several claims ; and even the testimony of scientific
experts was not permitted to have much influence on
one side or the other.
By February 1864 it began to appear that the
Burning Moscow was intrinsically valueless as com-
pared with its rival, and while it still held on to its
pretensions, the stock went down to $12 a foot, to
rise again, by the kiting process, to $82 before the
end of October. When the "new vein" which had
brought it up was assayed it receded to $20 ; but in
November skilful management gave it another toss,
when every share in the company changed hands
three times during the month. This was the last
*' deal " of the Moscow company, and was made pre-
paratory to the trial of their suit for ejectment, which
was set for the 21st of June, 1865. When the trial
came on, which lasted for two weeks, the jury disa-
greed, and a new trial was ordered in July, which re-
sulted in an equal division of the jury and no verdict.
The people and the press were about this time
weary of litigation, which retarded the prosperity of
the mining industry,^ while the companies themselves
were compelled to stare ruin in the face. The stock
of the Moscow had fallen to five dollars per foot, with
few buyers. At this juncture the Ophir cautiously
bought up the stock of its enemy until it secured
nearly 3,000 shares, which gave it a controlling inter-
est. But they found themselves confronted with an
assessment of $15 a foot, which they hesitated to pay,
when the board of directors advertised the stock for
sale upon the 18th of October. On the afternoon
preceding the day of sale the stockholders made an
application to have the shares on the books of the
Moscow company, which had its office in San Fran-
^ Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, July 14, 1865,
126
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OX THE C'OMSTOCK.
CISCO, transferred to a sinj^le person, but the secretary
refused to permit tlie transfer bef».re tlie assessment
was paid. The holders then wished to restrain the
Company from selUng their stock, and applied to Jud«^e
Sawyer for an injunction ; hut m* injunction could be
granted, because, by thi California law, this was aday
ti)r the election of the judiciary, and no sherirt* could
serve the writ. The sale consequently went on, and
the Moscow company bout^ht in the stock at a low
price, there beinj^ few bidders. On the succeeding
day an injunction was obtained restraining the trans-
fer of the stock U) other ]»urchasers until the courts
should determine the legality of the assessment sale
under the circumstiinces.
The long and disheartening contest ended a few
days later by the ()[»liir surrendering the stock of the
Moscow, and giving besides $7,500 in money for the
possession of that part of the Moscow claim which
had been in dispute, and which was of no value except
to establish a boundary. There had l>een expended
in this contest $1,070,000, and it was only one of
many similar ones selected as an example because it
was the first important mining suit, and involved the
first discovered silver mine.'
' The following tablu shows the drift of litigation in regard to the leading
Name of Mine.
Suits Inwhirli
CompHiiy wan
IMalutiff.
SiiltK In whirl!
Coiiitmnv wujt
iK-fc-udaut.
ToUd.
Oiiliir
28
'2i
22
20
18
7
7
12
11
'.»
8
9
8
7
7
5
10
8
3
4
4
7
:i7
Yclh.w jacket ■■.".'.
32
29
Gould & Curry
27
23
Chollar
17
potosi
15
Crown Point
Bullion
15
15
Belcher
13
13
Halo tc, Nureross
9
1C8
77
245
One of the most protracted and expcosive contents was that between the
INEFFICIENCY OF MINING LAWS. 127
The troubles which beset quartz mining companies
on the Comstock came from the looseness and ineffi-
ciency of the mining laws prevailing when quartz was
discovered. The first locations were taken as placer
claims under the regulations of mining districts as
they had been in California in early mining times, and
very inadequately described. When it was known
that the richest claims were on top of a ledge they
were again located and recorded as quartz, the locators
claiming all the " dips, spurs, angles, and variations"
of their discovery. It was this going after dips and
spurs which made the war between the contestants.
The first Nevada legislature passed an act providing
that action for the recovery of mining claims should
not be maintained unless it was shown that the plain-
tiff or his assigns had been in possession of the ground
for two years before the suit was brought,^ or since
1859, when the Comstock claims were taken, the in-
tention of the act being to confirm those titles. But
it was easy to evade this law by bringing suit in Cali-
fornia, where most of the corporations had been or-
ChoUar and Potosf companies, in which the former brought suit to recover
{)ossession of a surface claim of 400 by 1,400 feet, including theComstock
edge, with all its dijjs, angles, spurs, etc. Proceedings were begun in ISGl
and continued til 1865. After .81,300,000 had been expended the suits were
setttled by a compromise uniting the 2 compcinies in the ChoUar-Potosi.
Another famous suit was that brought bj' the Grosch Consolidated against
the Gould and Curry and Ophir, m the 12th dist. court of Cal. This suit
was brought by persons in El Dorado county, in 1863, who had Ijeen mem-
bers of the companies formed by the Grosch brothers, whose unhappy fate
changed so materially the prospective fortunes of these companies. These
men had furnished means to the Grosches during their explorations. In the
spring of 1860 they formed the Washoe Gold and Silver Mining company
and employed an agent to go to the states to contract with the father of the
young men for his claim as heir, and the claims of the Western Utah Enter-
prise company, which they secured, after which they began suit as above.
Sac. Union, Ang. 17, 1863. The actions were dismissed at the cost of the
plaintiff, March 9, 1865. S. F. Bulletin, March 9, 1865. This suit cost the
Gould and Curry company .812.993.30. Mining property valued at 850,000,-
000 was in litigation in 1863. It was e.stimaterf by S. H. Marlette, sur.-gen.
of Nevada, that there was expended in lawsuits during 1860-5, 89,00,000,000,
which was one fifth of the product of the Comstock lode. Brrnme'^- Min Bes,
ed. 1867, 32. William M Stewart, who received annually as much as S200,-
000 in fees as the principal attorney of several Comstock companies, esti-
mated the entire cost of litigation up to .January 1866, at 810,000,000. Liti-
gation did not cease with the settlement of these great suits.
^Nev, Laws, 1861, 27. This law was amended in 1869 by changing 2 to 5
years,
128 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCK.
ganized, and where most of the iiniiiiig cases were
decided or compromised.
Another act in 1802 required transfirs of mining
property to be conducted witli all the formalities of a
transfer of city lots,* and made it impossihlc to trump
up a story of a sale which had ht'in made for an old
blind horse, and yet involving millions in gold and
silver. Had these laws existed before the discovery
of tlie Ccmstock lode the liLstory of silver mining in
Nevada would have been different, but as it was, the
legislature had no power to interfere with the title to
mineral lands," and no minhig laws atfecting these
titles was passed by congress before 1866. In July
of that year congress confirmed tlie tithes already ac-
quired under district laws, and ]K'rmitted the owners
to take out ))atents ;" but it still left the disposition
of the mineral lands as they were before, subject to
the rules and regulations of mining districts, it being
assumed that the mmers knew best what was for
their own good, and that if they were agreed in re-
gard to following dips and spurs, and sustaining law-
suits, there was no occasion to interfere. A subsequent
act made some amendments to the first, and enabled
the legislature to regulate the rect)rding of claims,
togetlusr with other minor matters, but left the great
cause of legal warfare where it had been from the
first. '^
The first period of quartz mining was distinguished
by every species of extravagance. It began while
yet California retained in a great measure the reck-
less hal)its of its first decade. Most of the o|K'rators
were Californians. Everything cost a great deal in
that state, and to its first co.st tliere was added the
expense of transporting it over the Sierra Nevada at
a heavy expense. The richness of the mines encour-
•ATfo. L.nm, 1802, 12 1.1.
^SUtiyirt'ji SprrcA on CimrU in Xnyvla, 1865, 10.
»» [J. S. 6tai., iv. 221. S. F. AUa, April U, 1805.
" U. S. Stai., xvii. yi.
f
STOCK BOARD. 129
Aged prodigality. While money was being so freely
spent wages were high, and the working miner
shared in the general prosperity. But in 1864 the
tide began to turn. The rich deposits near the top
of the Comstock mines were evidently exhausted,
while the cost of mining increased with the depth
below the surface. Millions had been expended in
costly works and costlier litigation, and the older
companies were being brought face to face with the
disagreeable fact that they had seen the end of their
bonanza. While endeavoring to dispose of their
shares, the public became alarmed, and stocks dropped
until " feet " fell from thousands to hundreds, from
dollars to cents.
On the 1st of September, 1862, was organized the
San Francisco Stock and Exchange Board,'* the first
of the boards of this kind on the Pacific coast. It
was formed by thirty-seven brokers, who sold raining
shares on commission, and issued printed certificates
of the same, which were transferable without the
trouble and expense of a deed. Through this board
mining shares were bought and sold over and over,
the shares of a mine equivalent to its whole stock
sometimes changing hands twice a week. When
stock went up there was a lively time in the board.
Morning and afternoon sessions were held, and the
reports of sales telegraphed to Virginia City, Gold
Hill, and other mining centres, as fast as they were
made, the prices ruling being marked on a bulletin-
board, and placed in the windows of the Nevada
brokers for all to see. In times of excitement dense
crowds were always to be seen around these bulletin-
boards ; and in San Francisco it was difficult to get
within a block of the exchange. But whether the
broker bought or sold for his customers he made a
fee by the transaction ; and could he have refrained
" Cat. Annual Mining Rev., 6-18. The California Stock Board was organ-
ized in January 1872. The Pacific Stock-exchange was organized in April
Hist. Nev., 9
130
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCK.
from speculatinjjj for liiinsflf, or rarrviiij^ tlic stock of
otliers "oil a inarijjin," niiLClit liavi' rcaprd a harvest
from tlu' misfortune's of his cHcnts. The stock ex-
chaiij^e in 1804 was a scene of melancholy interest to
the simple observer, and of painful anxiety to tlie
owner of minin<jj shares.
The working miiuTS were not infrequently owners
of some stock ; therefore, wlien it fell rapidly in the
market they liad h)st as much of their wages as the
shares represented. And when in addition to this
tlie mine-owners or superintendents set about re-
trenchment by cutting down their pay, they l)ecame
stul)bornly rebellious. Deep mining is severe and
dangerous work ; and four dollars a day liad not been
considered too nmch for the labor. Even before they
were asked to take less they had decided not to do it,
by organizing, in May 1803, a Miners' IVotective
Association, consisting of between three and four
hundred members.
A sturdy and peculiar class, delving in the dark
and sweltering" bowels of the earth, as naked nearly
"The temperatures of the Comstnck mines, as tested from SeptemWr 1878
to August 1881, at the Fonnan C'omltiiiatiou shaft <>f the Overman, Caledonia,
lielcher, Crown Point, and Segregated Beleher comi)anie8, were as ftillows:
Depth.
Temperature.
Depth.
Temperature.
Frtt.
Degrees
Fft.
Degrfet.
100
50i
1,'JOO
m
200
55
1,.S00
9U
800
62
1,400
IMii
400
60
1,500
101
500
68
1,600
10.3
600
71i
1.700
104i
700
74J
1.800
lU5i
800
76i
1,900
106
900
78
2,000
111
1.000
81J
2,100
119i
1.100
M
In some mines, and some parts of mines, owing to defective ventilation,
and sometimes to unascerUined causes, the heat was actually insujiportahle,
taken in conjunction with the had air in the mines even the l>est ventilated,
and men not infrequently fell diad in consequence. In the900feet level of
the Ikl lier in 186«) the nun ccaild wnrk hut a few minuU-s at a tune, and
Bwuat tilled their loose shoes ' uutil it ran over the tops," while iu the
IN THE DEPTHS. 131
as when they came from their mother's womb, real-
izing that a terrible fate might at any unlooked-for
moment overtake them, yet with wives and children
above ground depending upon them for support, their
circumstances seemed to warrant their establishing a
minimum price for their labor. In March 1864 a re-
duction to $3.50 a day was made by the superintend-
ent of the Uncle Sam. But the miners made an
example of hini.^'' Other owners began to cast about
for cheaper labor, seeing which, on the last day of
July the Miners' Protective Association began to act.
Tliey paraded the streets of Virginia City and Gold
Hill shouting, "Four dollars a day!" in intervals of
music by the band at their head. Halting in front of
the International hotel, they called upon Frank Til-
ford to address them, which he did in a flowery and
sympathetic speech. All was done in an orderly
manner, and the crowd dispersed to meet again the
next day and demand of the several mining superin-
tendents uniform wages at $4 a day. The mill-men
not being prepared to resist the demand made the
concession without an exception, and a week later was
Julia mine the water was scalding hot. Although the revolving fans which
were put in use in 1868 modified this suflFering to some extent, it continued
to be great. Some of it was due to the presence of the hot water springs,
which were in time pumped dry, when the temperature was lowered. The
therinometer registered 130 ° and 140° in a drift in the Imperial shaft at a
depth of 1,700 feet, but fell to 100" when air-currents were established. In
spite of the best devices for cooling the mines — and it was computed by John
A. Church that there was yearly ab3tracted from the rocks as much heat as
would be produced by 55,472 toni of anthracite coal — the miners could only
work l)y consuming tons of ice daily. In 1877 a hot spring was uncovered in
the Savage mine, and the vapor from water at a temperature of 157° was let
into the incline. Picks could only be handled with gloves, and cloths M^et in
ice-water were wrapped around drills. Men were attacked with cramps and
lost their consciousness. Thomas Brown, a miner in the Gould and Curry
in 1878, after breathing an atmosphere heated to 128° for some time, fainted
and was carried to the surface, but did not recover his recollection when
aroused, and behaved like an infant. He M'as gradually restored. Water
and heat troubled the miners as early as 1871. S. F. Examiyier, Jan. 26, 1871.
Peculiar diseases caused l)y the inhalation of poisonous gases also troubled
the miners at an early period, a remedy for which was coal tar used as a
disinfectant. S. F. Herald, Jan. 19, 1869.
^^His name was John Trembath, a Cornishman. He was taken, bound,
and lashed to the main hoisting cable, with a label fastened to him, ' Dump
this pile of waste-dirt from Cornwall.' He was hoisted and lowered and
hoisted again, and finally ' dumped, ' glad to be freed from the coils in which
he was wound up. Virginia City Territorial Entei-prise, May 31, 1863.
13J FUKTIIKK DKVKl.ol'MKNTS ON THE C'OMSTOCK.
organized tlio Minors' Leaj^uo of St<»roy county, by
tlu' laws of wliicli eacli member was required t<> pledge
hinjself not to work in Storey county for less than $4
a day in coin. Upon information that any mombcr
had broken his pledge, the president of the leage was
required to call a special meeting to remonstrate with
the otlending nu-nibcr ; should the remonstrance be
disregarded, then the president nmst "call out the
entire force of the league.'
This thri'at did not deter miners who were not
members of the league from covertly accepting lower
wages, and gradually crowding out the four-dollar
men, who finally withdrew from some of their least
tenable j)ositions, and the league was finally dissolved.
But the mine-owners had never been able to estab-
lish a uniform ]mce lower than $4, while the miners
formed "unions" to maintain that rate, in which
effort they were never defeated."
During the first four years of working, the Ophir
bonanza yielded fifteen millions in gold and silver, less
than a million and half being j)aid out in dividend.s.
During the same time other mines on the lode to the
south had been takhig out their millions," and cx-
'* There were 3 miners' unions, one at Virginia City, one at GolJ Hill
and one at Silver Citjy, the object of which was the keeping up of wages to
the HtaiKlanl of four (lollars per day of S hours.
'• ( Miuld anil Curry, organized in IWM), owned '.KJl feet, about half of which
was protluctive. TIk- rich ore in tliis mine lay within 4(X) feet in Icngtii. ,%0
feet in hciglit, an<l :i width of about 1(K) feet. Total amount of a-sHeMHincnti
to Nov. IS?.'., «;l,(;4(),0(X); total auK.unt of dividends, §;i.S'JG.800, divided
among 1().S,(M)<) Kliares. Savage, the next mine soutli of (iould and Curry,
with irj.ONJ shares in 800 feet, assessed ^'J.lMi.OOO, and paid out in divi-
deiiil.t .*4,4(i<),00(), in tlie same time. Hale and Norcross, witli a claim cover-
ing 4()0 fi-et, divided into IG.OOO shares, began oi>erati(ins in I.SUI or 18(]*2.
It w.is down ab(»ut *J,'_'tH) feet in 1875. The assessments levied amount<^>d to
j:1.77i>,(MKt. an.l the divideii.ls to $1,598,000. Chollar-Potosl, covering 1.400
feet on the Coinstock, was divided into 28,000 shares. Its assessments iire-
vious to 187G were ^I.O-J-i.OfK). and its dividends ^i(>S(),(K)0. Yellow .laclcet.
with a">7 feet divided into 24,0(10 sliares, assessed the lioblern S2,:i5,S,(K¥l. and
paid in dividends, ^2, 1K4,000. in the same period. Crown Point, having 540
feet on the Comsto<-k. was.livided into 100,000 shares. It assessed $073,370,
and ]iaid $11,. 5.S8.000 in dividends. This mine had an unusual iHinanxa. In
1H70 it was ajiparently exhaust<-d, when the largest ore body ever fouml, up
to that time on the Comstork lode was discovered. In 2 years it yielded
$y,l>44,783,57, and continued tu yield largely for acveral years. Belcher, iu-
ANNUAL PRODUCTION. 133
pending them in much the same manner. The aggre-
gate production of the mines on the Comstock during
the first twelve years has been estimated at $145,100-
000, which would be at the average rate of about
$12,100,000 annually, though the production varied
after 1861 from two to seventeen millions. In 1873
the production suddenly rose to more than double the
amount ever obtained in one year, or to $35,254,507,
which productiveness was increased for several suc-
cessive years. The immediate cause of this advance
was the discovery of the ^'great bonanza," whose
brief and brilliant history was the wonder of the
world.
There was a group of mines lying south of the
Ophir, known as the Central, California, Central No.
2, Kinney, White and Murphy, and the Sides^ which
covered together over thirteen hundred feet.^* In the
eluding Segregated Belcher, covered 1,040 feet of the lode, divided into 104,000
shares. It was one of the deep mines, being down 1,900 feet. Total assess-
ment in 1875, $660,400; dividends .$15,085,200. Overman, adjoining the
Segregated Belcher, was located in the autumn of 1859 by John Overman, an
immigrant from Indiana. He ran a tunnel in the side of the hill for a pros-
pect, and sold his claim for $5,000. The mine, like so many others, was in
litigation, and cost its owner a much larger sum. It was 1,200 feet in ex-
tent, and had paid no dividends in 1876, though it had assessed to the amount
of $1,876,680. Imperial-Empire had a depth of 2,000 feet, assessed its share-
holders $1,670,000, and paid in dividends $1,007,500. Sierra Nevada, owning
3, .300 feet at the north end of the Comstock, was down 2 000 feet in 1875,
and had made 42 assessments previous to 1876. It has since reached 650
feet lower without reaching a bonanza. Bullion, over 1,400 feet down, Cale-
donia 1,076 feet down, Andes, Arizona, and Utah, Alpha, American Flat,
Baltimore Consolidated, Bacon, Best and Belcher, Confidence, Gold Hill
Quartz, Challenge, Crown Point Ravine, Dardanelles, Eclipse, Empire Mill,
Exchequer, Globe, Julia, Justice, Kentuck, Knickerbocker, Kossuth, Lady
Washington, Leo, Mexican, New York Consolidated, Rock Island, Silver
Hill, Succor, French, Union Consolidated, Utah, Whitman, and Woodville
had all their place on the lists of the stock exchanges in 1875, and had ex-
pended more or less large sums in development. Powell's Land of Silver,
101-20.
^*The history of these claims is given in Wells' Booh of Deeds, MS., 3-4,
thus: ' All the ground, from the south line of tlie Ophir down to the south
line of the White claim, was taken up and located by various claimants, with
the exception of 110 feet of ground lying between the south line of Bishop &
Camp's ground and the north line of White & Co. 's 100-feet location. This
piece of vacant ground was taken up by John Murphy and Lee James, who
filed a notice of location calling for 600-feet; . . . but when they came to take
possession they found that Bishop & Camp were in possession of 150 feet ad-
joining James Cory's line on the south. . . . Thie White location was an older
location . . , 1 10 feet south of Bishop & Camp.' In July 1859 a settlement of
134 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCK.
days of the Opiiir cxcitoinent, the owners liclj the
gnmnd at prices liigher than would-be purchasers
offered, and tlie companies undertook the develop-
ment, which i)r«x*eeded slowly, and without any cn-
muraj^inj^ discoveries. A shaft had been sunk on the
Central to a depth of over 600 feet, and several tun-
nels driven in, intersectinj^ the shaft at depths of
from 300 to GOO feet, two of which were costly and
extensive, but which fiiiled of their purpose, nothing
beini,' found except S(jme small bunches of rich ore in
the California. So persistent was this barrenness of
the lode over so great a space that the fact at length
attracted the attention of those who were versed in
the geological features of the district.
In June 1807 four of the six companies — Central
No. 2, Kinney, White and ^Murphy, and Sides — com-
bined under the incorporated title c>f the Virginia
Consolidated Mining company, but without attempt-
ing any signal exploitiition for two years longer. In
18G9 they\'xpended $101,349.41 without discovenng
an ore deposit of any value, their power to assess was
exhausted, and the whole mine worth, at the price
their stock was bringing in the board, but $18,850.
The most discouraging feature of their enterprise, in
the minds of the owners of the Virginia Consolidated,
was that the Ophir bonanza had failed at about the
d<'pth of their hite.st explorations, and that the Gould
and Curry had also given out 1,000 feet below the
surface — coincidences which seemed to fix the depth
to which they might go for rich ore bodies. At this
juncture the mining firm of James G. Fair, John W.
Mackay, James C. Fh)od, and William S. O'Brien
made an offer of $80,000 for the propert}' of the Con-
solidated Virginia, which was transferred to them,
boun<Iaric4 was agreed upon. .T..sct>1i Wtlil) was allowc.l .VJ feet on the
nortli ].art of Bi.shon & Cainj/s >{r..uii(l; Wliite. Hainiii.uk. A Kirliy ItK) f.et
lyini; to the soutli, .Tatnes & Murjiliy 110 feet l>etwcen the White and WeM)
ground, and John D. Wi. iters and Sides & Co., got noniething over '.WO feet
on the south. This setth-iiient w.ih never duturbeJ, and waa the l>aiiia of
the title purchased l^y the buuouza liriu.
THE BONANZA FIRM. 135
and soon after also a controlling interest in the Cali-
fornia mine/'
The mining experience of Fair and Mackay, with
their knowledge of the leading features of the Corn-
stock, justified the venture which they had under-
taken as much as any unknown undertaking is ever
13 The history of John W. Mackay is that of a favorite of fortune. He was
born in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 29, 1831, and there received his education. In
ISoO he migrated to the United States with aspirations after a -ft-ider field of
action than was afforded him in his ancestral island. For a year or two he
■was employed by a commercial house, but hearing much of the land of prom-
ise on the shore of the Pacific, bade farewell to steady -going Boston, and
joined the army of gold-seekers, landing at San Francisco, and going to work
in the mines near Do^vnieville, in Sierra county, Cal. As a placer-miner he
made small advance towards the coveted fortune, but being j^oung, and hav-
ing some claims to manly beauty, he employed a part of his time paying court
to a daughter of Daniel E. Hungerford, to whom he was afterward married,
and who has become kno^^^l to all the world as a woman of rare social quali-
ties, and benevolence of character. ^Vhen the Comstock lode was discovered
Mackay, along with the rest of the mining world, hastened to Washoe, where
he worked at first as a common miner, but saving his money and watching
his chance for an investment. He purchased an interest in the Kentuck
mine at Gold HilL, and patiently worked a few years more, during which he
acquired a valuable knowledge of the great lode. In 18(39 he j'-'ined .James
G. Fair in a contract to develop the Hale & Xorcross mine, which from pay-
ing dividends had fallen otF to requiring heavy assessments. Mackay and
Fair believed the mine could be made to pay largely again, and formed with
Flood and OBrien of San Francisco the company which finally 3ecured con-
trol of a bonanza. From this period Mackay has enjoyed unparalleled
financial prosperity. His family has resided in Paris, where Americans of
distinction have been royally entertained by them, and his daughter has been
married to a prince of the Italian house of Colonna. Many are the deserv-
ing persons and charitable enterprises which have received aid from the in-
telligent application of the wealth acquired by this member of the bonanza
firm.
James G. Fair was a native of Clougher, County TjTone, Ireland, born
Dec. 3, 1831. He came to the United States with his parents at the age of
12 years, residing for 6 years in 111., and joining the Argonauts in California
in 1849. His first mining was done on Feather river, but having a tendency
toward quartz, he was led to study this branch of mining, his intelligence in
his regard coupled with this extensive knowledge of mechanic j, placed him
in the position of superintendent and manager of extensive mines in Califor-
nia, and finally of the Ophir and Hale & Xorcross. While at the latter mine
he proposed to ^Mackaj^, Flood & O'Brien to form a partnership for the con-
trol of mining property. The Hale & Xorcross gave the firm its first start on
the road to wealth. Fair was a man of a striking personal appearance, and
a bright, active mind, and probably originated some of the most successful
moves of the bonanza firm. His further history belongs to politics.
James C. Flood and William S. O'Brien were engaged in retaUmg liquors
in a saloon patronized by mine operators, and having gained some useful in-
formation, made capital in stock operations. To these men Mackay a,nd
Fair, with a fuU knowledge of their capabilities, applied for aid in taking
the contract for the development of Hale & Xorcross. O'Brien was another
Irishman, and Flood was a native of New York. Xeither of these men pos-
sessed any other talent than money. J. M. Walker was a member of the
firm at the beginning, but soon sold out to Mackay.
136 FURTHER TEVELOPMENTS OX THE COMSTOCK.
justifiable. A drift from the l,200-fo()t level of the
(ioulcl mill Curry was continued tlirough Best and
Bflc'licr into Consolidated Viri^nnia in 1872. At tlie
same time the shaft already beL'UJi was deepened, and
a drift run from a depth of 500 feet, east and west,
ini[)rovements made in the hoisting-works, and the
shaft deepened. During all these operations the
search for an ore dept-sit diHerent from the low-grade
ore found in drifting, and more continuous than the
hunches sonjetinies encountrred, was being jirosecuted
by the untiring manager Fair, who was following up
in the lower drift a thin seam of ore, from day to day,
of which he never lost sight, although it sometimes
narrowed to a mere film. There had been expended
thus far $200,000, and the miners began to think it
was borrasca in the Consolidated Virginia for the new
proprietors as well as the old.
In March 1873 a fifteen-foot stratum of ore, milling
$34 to the ton, was reached in the drift, abcjut eighty
feet north of the south line of the Best and Belcher.
The size and richness of the ore increased throughout
the year, the deposit spreading out like a wedge with
its apex at the top, until it showed a width of between
300 and 400 feet. The shaft was carried down to
establish its extent in a vertical direction. A number
of mills were employed on the ore, and the monthly
shipments of bullion from the Consolidated Virginia
reached in a short time a quarter of a million of dol-
lars. The shares of the company went up from $40
to $400 before the close of the year; the capital
stock having been increa.sed from $7,080,000 divided
into 23,000 shares, to $10,800,000 represented by
108,000 shares.
In Deceml)er the California company was organ-
ized l>y consent of the management of the Consoli-
dated Virginia, which conveyed to them the ground,
and took a controlling interest in their stock. The
new arrangement gave the latter company 710 linear
feet, covering the Sides and White and Murphy
STOCK VALXJES. ISJ
ground, while the Cahfornia company received the
Central, California, Central No. 2, and Kinney claims,
comprising 600 feet between the Consolidated Vir-
ginia and the Ophir — between two bonanzas — the
amount of capital stock and value of the shares being
made to correspond to those of the Consolidated Vir-
ginia.
Notwithstanding that a rich ore-body, constantly
growing richer, had been found extending downward
from a depth of 1,167 feet, where it was first en-
countered, to 1,300 feet, yet with working expenses,
costly buildings, and stock manipulating, the shares
were bringing in the market in January 1874 but
$85. They increased to $110 in October, and in mid-
winter, when still richer ore had been found on the
1,500-foot level, to $580, the Consolidated Virginia
carrying the California along with it in the market.
This enormous advance, though largely speculative,
had a known wealth to justify it greater than the his-
tory of mining since the beginning of time could
equal, and a suppostitious wealth dazzling to the im-
agination, which led stock-buyers to believe their
shares mi^ht yet be worth $1,000. In January 1875
they did indeed reach $700. California shares, which
were considered as essentially the same, went to $780,
makingr the market value of these two mines too;ether
$159,840,000. A careful inspection of the ore in
sight by the director of the mint caused him to declare
that it should produce $300,000,000. Practical
miners saw in the two mines $1,500,000,000." The
actual product of the Consolidated Virginia and Cal-
ifornia mines for five years was $104,460,713.69.
From 1878 to 1882 they produced together only
$7,971,202.05, and were assessing instead of paying-
dividends in 1881. The Consolidated Virginia con-
tinued to pay dividends down to 1880, paying $540,-
20 U. S. Mint Director, Rf«pt, 1875, 81-3. This estimate was based on the
theory that the ore-body was oval or lenticular in shape and that its greatest
zone of expansion had not been reached. Powell's Land of Silver, 94.
138
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OX THE COMSTOCK.
000 in that year. California paid the last dividend
in the year 1879."
It is j)lain that rich as was the ^reat bonanza it
had reached a ruinous point of inflation in 1875, for
even if the actual value of the shares had been equal
to the })rice })ut u[)()n them in the stock-market they
did not represent available capital to that amount.
The bonanza mines had carried up the otlier mines on
the Comstock, and few in the whirl of excitement
cared to inquire whether or not their stock was of any
intrinsic worth. To-day they bought for a rise to
sell to-morrow, and everybody turned stock si)eculator.
But til is could not last long. Kumor began to whis-
per that the bonanza mines were not what some said
they were; the fever of hope was succeeded by the
rigors of fear, and panic ensued. People were as anx-
ious to sell as they had been im})atient to l)uv. The
decline was rapid. Consolidated Virginia fell $200 a
share within a week. California fell oft* more than
two-thirds of its late market price. Other stocks
'^*The following tallies show the amount of ore ami Imllion taken from
the C'ousoliilated Virginia ami California mines during their bonanza
period :
CONSOLIDATED VIRGINIA.
Year.
Am'nt Extracted
Tons.
Bullion Product.
ivi7:{
$ 64.5, 58-J 17
1S7-4
91,168
iG<»,:i()7
1+4.400
1-_"2..S.S1
4,1)81,464 Or>
1875
l(),717,:V.t4 76
1876
16,6r>7.64!t 47
1877
i:{.7:u.oii» 07
1878
7.<)<»6.7r..S 11
Total .
G0.7:{-J.SS'J 63
CAUFORNIA.
Year.
^"''"'T,KxtracU>.l I Bu,i,^„ i>n.duct.
1875
5,l-_'4 S 4.-aO60 46
1876
128,801
2I7,4:V2
134,888
l.T4(K)..S41 40
1877
l,s.'.C_'4.>s:)0 27
1878
10,«.»4»,078 93
Total
$43,727,831 06
SPECULATION AND DISASTER. 139
fell from 50 to 250 per cent; and while a few per-
sons had profited by the excitement, many had been
ruined, even some of those whose judgment in mming
matters should have been trustworthy."
" Who is to blame ? " the victims cried. The bo-
nanza-owners were accused of speculating in their
own shares, of causing declines in order to buy in,
and creating a *'boom" in which to sell. Vox populi
is not always vox Dei. The voice of the people is
sometimes the voice of the devil. The bonanza firm
became immensely wealthy, and were regarded with
more or less envy and suspicion by their less fortu-
nate fellows. But the fact remains that they paid
out $73,170,000 in dividends to shareholders, and
that their works at the mines were of the most ex-
pensive kind, while the force employed was large and
well paid.
The haste with which the great bonanza was ex-
tracted was not due altogether to the desire for sud-
den riches. The Comstock lode was not one regular
vein of hard quartz, with walls nearly equi-distant
throughout its whole extent, but was swollen with
ore-bodies of great richness at irregular intervals, and
strung with smaller branches more uniformly, yet
having some barren rock in places. Wherever the
ore occurred there were masses of a percolating clay
and crumbling feldspar, which, by swelling, flowing,
shifting, and breaking down, constantly endangered
the mine. It was to support the roof and walls of
drifts, and prevent accidents and losses, that the
Deidesheimer method of timbering was resorted to;
but timbers of any form decay rapidly in the heat
and moisture of the mines. The larger the body of
ore, the greater the difficulty and expense of keeping
it in place. The sooner, therefore, that the ore was
removed, the greater the security from danger by
caving, or from fire, which might attack so large a
2^ Philip Deideshesmer, and a thousand others as intelligent, were brought
to bankruptcy.
UO FURTHER DEVELOI'MEN'TS OX THE COMSTOCK.
body of timber with disastrous effect." For these
reasons, liad there been no other, it was deemed the
most economical mode of working a bonanza to ex-
haust it (juiekly.
Tiic a'^^n-egate yield of all the mines on the Com-
stockdown to the^lst of January, 18M1, was$30G,000,-
000 worth of bullion extracted from 7,000,000 tons of
ore. There had gone into the mines, l)esides the un-
productive labor, and small means of prospectors and
pioneers in mining, and the timber" of the country,
$()i!,000,000 in assessments. There had been paid
back to shareholders $1 IG, 000,000, and the small,
incorporated companies had derived profits amounting
to about $2,000,000 more=8l 18,000,000. The diticr-
ence between the outcome and the costs to the share-
* Comparatively few accidents happened on the Comstock, Imt these were
Berious. On tlie "tli of April ISlilta tin- lirokc out in tlif VlIIow Jacket, in
which 4") men lost their lives. S. F. BuU.ti,,, April 8, •», 10. Ki, 18(19; S. F.
CiiU, April 8, 9, and May 1, 5, 18(59; Cirxon Ayj-'il, April 8, i;}, lS{i9. The
fire coiuuiunicateil to Crown Point ami Kentuck, the rr>cks in the 800-f<M>t
levels heing found to lie greatly heated 3 years afterward. In .Sept. 187.3
a second tiro and series of exiilosions took place, Ity wliich 6 men h»st their
lives, and others were injured. On the •J4th of -May 1874 the hoisting-work*
of the Succor were destroyeil by fire, and '2 men killed. On the .30th of Oct.
the Belclier air sliaft caught fire, and was burned for a distance of 1,000 feet.
It was not completed, hut had cost l)ctween $.3.1.000 and ^),000. It being
necessary for men to descend into the mine t<> close the drifts leading from
the burning sliaft, 18 volunteered to go. While en),'aged in blocking up the
moutli of a drift a cave occurred, and a strong draft of air sucked back into
the drift, bearing fiaines upon the naked men, scorching nine of them to
deatli, aTid burning others. Volunteers took tlieir places until the work of
completing the bulklieads wasaccouiplishcd. In .May 1875. when a new sliaft
was being constructed, the workmen encountered great masses of rocka
still alintst at a wliitc heat, or hot enough to .set on fire the new timlwrs.
Fires l>roke out in the abandoned levels of the Ccmsolidated Virginia and
California, wliich could only be extinguished by bulkhea«ling all commu-
nicating lirifts, an>l allowing the tiinl»ers to smouMtr, until from hnk of
oxygen the fire was smotliered. Wn iht'n Bvi Bitintiai. 170 llHi; Vir-jiiiii < 'Uy
T-rrU>riil EiiUrprhr, -May 4, ."). (>, ISSI; llrlewi MnnOiwi /'•^t, April .30. \M'J;
(Ml Hill \rmi. Sov. 1. r871; /./.. Miv 12 and Aug. 17, 1^74; A/.. Ma -h 11,
187t); liiilrhx MhtrAnwl Mm-TH, 7'.Kt SOI; <;.hl /fill X'liv, Oct. 'Jti. 187.''..
•'* It is estimate I that the annual consmiiptioii of firewood on the Corn-
stock was. at thclea-t. I'JO.OOO c<.rds. Bn.wiie, Afinin't Rr*. ed. 18fi7. makes
the amount •207.320 cords, which is jirobably too high. The lumlier used
in building and mining timlKjra was estimated at 2.>,000,(XX) feet (iMwrd
mnanure) yi-arly. including that used for domestic purjHwcs. The cost of
this wr>od in its several Mha|K's wa.s figured by Hrowiie at .<S<K).0()0 annually.
See also, hvvl Ofi. /fq^. 1S(>7. 31."); S^ir. r„io„, .July 24, 1805. .Sec aUo
Sunonin, in licvuc Deux Muiulte, Mov. 1875, 305-312.
COST OF METAL. 141
holders was $56,000,000, spread over twenty years,
certainly not a great profit on the investment. But
the other $88,000,000, besides enriching a few, had
been expended in the payment of labor, and in various
enterprises. Too much, it is true, had gone into liti-
gation, costly machinery, in many instances almost
without value — into miles of mills and hoisting-works
whose usefulness in a few years had ceased — the sight
of which suggests the query whether the government,
which owns the mines, could not have devised some
means of economical working which would have pre-
served to the people for a greater length of time their
benefits.'^
Coequal in interest with the bonanza features of the
Comstock lode was the conception and completion of
an extensive piece of engineering, known as the
Sutro tunnel. The mode of working the mines
by shafts, which soon collected bodies of water
requiring expensive pumping machinery at an early
date, has been referred to. Floods, from tapping
.water-pockets in Ophir, Belcher, Crown Point, Over-
man, Yellow Jacket, and other mines, had frequently
caused the suspension of mining, and threatened the
lives of the men employed underground. To furnish
drainage for the mines, a less expensive means of
taking out ores from the lower levels of the deep
mines than by hoisting, and better ventilation also,
the Sutro tunnel was planned.''
''^ It is the argument of Alexander Del Mar, in his History of the Precknis
Metals, 265-266, that a dollar's worth of bullion from the Comstock cost five
dollars. Del Mar had been director of the Bureau of Statistics of the United
States, and was member of the Monetary Commission of 1876, his book being
the result of his researches in this direction. If he reckoned in all the money
that had been wasted — if money ever is wasted — in stock speculations, he
might have made out a case against mining. There is, indeed, a saying,
even among Calif ornians, that ' it takes a mine to work a mine. ' Undoubt-
edly there are greater risks encountered in this business than in almost any
other, but perhaps the failures are no more frequent, where much capital is
invested, than in other lines of heavy investment. See Review of Com. and
Finance, 1876, 11-12, containing tables showing bullion yield from 1859 to
1876 inclusive; also Balch's Mines and Miners, 959-61, 985-990.
*^It should be said that several tunnels had been cut on a level with the
heads of the canons, which became useless when the shaft had pierced to a
U2 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COMSTOCF.
The author of the scheme \v<as Adolpli Sutro, who
had a quartz-mill on the Carson river, but was net
known as a niining engineer. The Nevada kgisla-
ture, by an act passed February 4, 18G5, incorporated
the Sutro Tunnel company, with the exclusive privi-
lege, for fifty years, to excavate and c-onstruct an adit
intersecting the Comstock lode at a depth of 1,G00
feet, 8 inches below the mouth of the Savage shaft,
sufticiently wide for a double line of railway, and ex-
tending fro.n a point between Webber and Corral
canons, a distance of over three miles. Besides effect-
ing the drainage of all the mines to that level, it
would cross-cut Several veins in its course, and afford
means of trans})orting the t)res to Cars(3n river, where
M'ater-power and wood were more cheaply procured
than at the mines. The four intervening canons
would afford facilities for sinkhig shafts to the level
of the tunnel, and from these the work could be ex-
tended in both directions as well as from Carson val-
ley. This was the plan. The incorporators of the
tunnel compan}^ were Adolph Sutro, William M.
Stewart, 1). E. Avery, Louis Janin, and H. K.
Mitchell, Stewart being president.
In the si>ring of 18GG Sutro secured contracts from
twenty-three of the })rincipal mining companies repre-
senting most of the ca})ital on the Comstock,"' binding
them to pay to the tunnel company two d()]lars a
ton for ore extracted above the tunnel level after
the extension of the tunnel and its lateral drifts
to points within their boundaries. The privilege
was granted to the mining companies of transport-
ing ore, tools, tunbers, waste rock, and workmen
depth l)clow them. In ISfi.S tlie Gold Hill and Virginia Tunnel and Mining
cniiiiiaiiy hcg.into pierce tlie ('iiMiKtf)ck lode at a depth of MM) feet, with a
tunnel OA 1)}' 7 feet, and it li;id Inen extended &4C feet in May KStW, when the
panic C()n8e(iuent on the exhaustion of the Ophir lionan/a paralyed, for a
time, tlie mining industry. Bcfuro tlie return of confidence Siitro's enter-
prise had l)cen set on foot, an<l t<iided to revive the mining; interest. Mivhn/
Beview mvl Stork L<;l,,,r, 187H. 107. IIM; ,S\ F. SoH- Exrlmwie, Marcli '2^1,
1877: .S". F. AKn, March 12, ISCm: RnH,-, Mines nw! Mhurn, \y\S T^X
^ n<nJ: o/ Califonua cujmiust StUro Tunnel, Avjuinent ami SUUemeiU oj
Factt, 17.
THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 143
through the tunnel on the payment of stipulated tolls.
To insure the completion of their work within a rea-
sonable time, the tunnel company engaged to secure
subscriptions to the amount of $3,000,000 before the
1st of August 1867.
The question was then mooted whether the legisla-
ture of Nevada had the power to cede to the tunnel
company privileges so valuable as those contained in
their charter, and affecting the title to ground belong-
ing, as mineral land, to the United States; and the
company next undertook to obtain confirmation of
their franchise by act of congress, in which they were
successful.'* A geological and an engineering survey
had been made.'' Nothing remained but to secure
the requisite $3,000,000, and Sutro made his first
effort in this direction in the city of New York.
There certain capitalists agreed to make up the $3,000,-
000 after he should have obtained subscriptions to the
amount of a few hundred thousands on tJie Pacific
coast. Before the end of May 1867, $600,000 had
been subscribed by mine-owners, and an extension of
a year's time obtained in which to secure the remain-
der. The Nevada legislature of 1867 also consented
to memorialize congress to grant financial aid to the
construction of the tunnel, whose completion, it was
assured, would increase the nation's revenue.^* The
legislature of the state never did anything else but
encourage the enterprise. Sutro himself worked un-
tiringly, securing a favorable report from the lower
house of congress in recommendation of giving mate-
rial aid to the tunnel.^'
At the moment when perfect achievement seemed
ready to be grasped, the mine-owners on the Comstock
28 /r. Ex. Doc., 47, pt 2, 1087-8, 46th cong. 3d sess.; S. F. Alta, Jiily 16,
1866; S. F. Bulletin, July 13, 1866.
'^ Eichthofens Comstock Lode : Report to the Sutro Tunnel Company on
the geology and structure of the lode. PoicdVs Land of Silver, 122. R. G,
Carlyle made an accurate survey of the work to be done.
^^ Nev. Jour. Sen., 1867, app. no. 7.
"/T. Com. Bept, 50, 40th cong. 2d sess.; S. F. Call, July 4, 1868; Elko
Miependent, Nov. 17, 1869.
144 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE COM STOCK.
withdrew their subscriptions, an act wliich rendered
it impossible for Hutro to call u|)on eastern capitalists
for the promised aid, and the failure of the enterprise
seemed imminent, and would have been brought
about had the projector possessed less pluck and
energy. He appealed to the peo[)le to take shares;
he wrote letters and books, addressed meetings, legis-
latures, and congressional committees. On the I'Jth
of October ISGU ground was broken for the Sutro
tunnel,'' at a point on the Carson river north of Day-
ton, and Sutro continued his indefiitigable labors at
Washington and elsewhere. As a result of his per-
sistency, congress passed an act on the 4th of April,
1871, authorizing the president of the United States
to appoint a commission, consisting of one civil and
two military engineers," to report upon the ** import-
ance, feasibility, cost, and time required to construct"
the Sutro tunnel. A favorable report was rendered
concerning the first two points," so far as its value as
an exploring work was considered, but its cost, esti-
mated at $4,418,329.50, wasi)ronounceddisproportion-
ably great for the benefit to be derived from drainage
and ventilation in the mines.
No committee could make a report U|>on these
matters without consulting the mine-owners on the
M VirrjMa City Tfrrilnrial Ent/rpHse, Oct. 20, 1869; S. F. Call, Oct. 2.3,
1869. Levi Laiuh, master carpeuter of tlie Sutro tunnel, says tlie work of
constructing the tunnel 'was actually conuneuced in Seutenilier 1869.' Lanil)
was born in N. Y. state in .June 1829. He came to Cal. via tlie Isthmus in
1850; mined on the American river, and afterward on the Feather river an<l
Downicville. He went to several other mining camps, and was in the lumber
business at Marysville. He built tlie first 12 houses at Howland Flat in
Nevada co., Cal., in 1855-6, antl assisted in sinking the first shaft on a mine
at tliat place. In 1.S5D lie went to farming in Tulare co., and tliere remained
till 1862, when he removed to Dayton, Nevada, Mhere he worked in a (juartz-
mill. LhjiiJi'h E(irl>i Minimj, MS., 1-5, a brief account of hia own experience
in Cal. and Nevada.
"The commissioners appointed were H. G. Wright and J. (1. Foster, in
conjunctif.n with Prof. NewcomI).
»« //. A>. Dor., 47. pt 2, 1()H8, 46th cong. 3d sess.; Sfii. Ex. Dor., 15, 42d
cong. 'Jd sess.; Srr. War Rfj>t, 102, 1126 72, 42d cong. M sess.; Howe Coin.
lifTt, 94, 42d Qong. 2d sess.; Sen. Vow. It>y^, 405. 42«1 cong. .3d sess.; Courier
lie S. F., 7th July, 1871. llth Jan. 1872, and 20th April 1872; S. F Stock
/i<^>ort, Oct. 11. 1872; Vinjiiua CUy TerrUoruil EnUrprise, Feb. 25, 1872; S.
F. AUa, Feb. 2«, 1872.
THE SUTRO TUXXEL. 145
Comstock, and as they had set their faces against the
tunnel, on the ground that the mines would have been
drained by puu^pmg before the tunnel reached them,
and that the royalty agreed to in the contract with
Sutro was too large, it could not be expected that
their representations would be in favor of the tunnel
from this point of view. In this manner the opponents
of the tunnel, or as Sutro understood it, of himself
personally,^' were enabled to paralyze to some extent
iiis efforts in Washington. But so earnest was his
advocacy that the house congressional committee, re-
ceiving the report of the examining committee, recom-
mended a loan from the government of $2,000,000,
Sargent of California presenting a minority report
against it. But the bill failed to pass. In the mean-
time Sutro obtained subscriptions in the United States
and Europe to the amount of $2,100,000,'^ and the
work was urged forward. Progress was slow and
difficult during the first three or four years, all
drilling being done by hand. In October 1873 con-
nection was made between the drift advancing from
the east and that from the west starting from the
first shaft. In the spring of 1874 experiments with
a Burleigh drill having demonstrated the advantages
to be derived from its use, a carriage supporting six
of those drills while at work was constructed, and
four of them put in operation on the 22d of June.
The progress now became as rapid as it hitherto had
been slow, and two more drills were added in August.
The average progress per month down to April 1877,
when the Comstock mineral belt w^as entered, was
300 feet per month. Here the heat becoming intense,
-5 Sutro believed and asserted that it was the influence of the Bank of
California, which controlled several millions- worth of property on the Com-
stock, which was opposed to him — not because his scheme was not a good
one, or feasible, but because when that corporation saw its merits they
determined to drive him out of it and seize upon it for themselves. The
most formidable opposition certainly appeared to come from them, whatever
their motives, and against them he directed his continuous assaults.
^^ Siitro Tuvnel Com. Hept, 956-06,5; S. F. Nnos Letter, Feb. 21, 1S74; Sac.
Reroril,inS. F. Alta,, May 15, 1874; Pioche Record, March 12, 1873; Gold
HUl News, Oct. 28, 1873.
Hist. Nev, lo
146 FXJRTHER DEVELOPMENl-S ON THE COMSTOCK.
only 250 feet a m<Mitli could be made." Ci)nncction
was effected witli tlie nearest mine sluift at the Savaj^e
works on the evcnin<^ of the 8tli of Jul}'. The last
obstruction was rent away by a blast in the Savaije
mine. Sutro liiniself was on the spot, and was the
first to crawl tliroujjjh the opening, "overcome by ex-
citement,"" as well as lieat. He had acliieved a
triumph of eni^ineering, and ])ut the Comstock lode
under contribution of two dollars per ton of ore ex-
tracted thereafter.
But there remained yet to be overcome the reluct-
ance of the late hostile companies to pay this tax.
The Savage com])any offered no remonstrance, but an
attempt was made t(> drain tlieadjoining mines through
the Savage levels. To prevent this use of his tunnel
witlH>ut compensation, Sutrostarted a drainway, which
would conduct the incoming water back into a lower
level of th(; Savage mine, from which it waspum])id,
only to return again, on discovering which in Febru-
ary 1879, the workmen were arrested, and the prt)gress
of the shaft stoi)ped when nearly completed. They
were released immediately, but the cutting of the
drain was prohibited by order of the court. Soon
after a rise of water in the Hale and Norcross mine
caused an overflow in the comblnati<)n shaft of the
Hale and Norcro.ss, Savage, and Chollar-Potosf, to
hold which in check the water was pumped into the
Sutro tunnel, driving the workmen from their posts.
Sutro then threatened to erect a water-tight bulk-
head. Although still unwilling to carry out their
contract, the incident of the t)verflow was not without
effect, and joined with the threat to hermetically seal
the tunnel, brought about a compromise.
"The temperature in the tunnel from 1873 to and through IST") was 83*,
although 2 powerful Hoot hlowers were constantly forring air iuU» it At
the en. I of 187G it wa« 'M\ an«l on tlic tirnt of .Tan. 187H reached 96°^ The
atmonphere was foul as well as hot. During the la^tt months, in 1S78, the
miiiLTH were two miles from tlic nearest ventilating shaft. The force was
changed four times a day, and the men could then only work a small jmrtion
of the nominal hours of'lalmr. Tlie tcmiK-raturo rose to 109" in April, and
then to no an<l 114".
» Vinjinii Cily Terrilorinl EnUrprisr, July 9, 1878.
CHARACTER OF ORES. U7
By the new contract the mining companies agreed
to furnish money to extend the lateral branches still
uncompleted, those benefited to pay one dollar per ton
upon all ore raised from the mines which assayed
forty dollars or less, and two dollars upon all ore assay-
ing more than forty dollars per ton, payment to com-
mence as soon as one of the lateral branches should
be completed for half its distance. This contract
terminated the long struggle of one tenacious spirit
against that enemy hardest to be beaten — a " soulless
corporation."
The main tunnel measured 20,480 feet in length.
The height was nine feet five inches, and the width
thirteen feet outside of timbers. The north branch
in October 1880 had extended 4,403 feet, and the
south branch in March 1881 was 4,114 feet in length,
making together more than a mile and six-tenths of
tunnelling eight by seven feet in the clear. From
these were discharged daih^, in 1880, 3,500,000 gallons
of water, increased on some days to 3,942,720 gal-
lons, or 1,277,500,000 gallons annually, the weight of
which was 4,752,605 tons. After being made to pro-
pel a small amount of machiner)^ in the shops of the
company at Dayton, the only use of the water has
been for irrigatmg purposes. The total cost of the
tunnel, not including the expenses incurred by the
management in the prosecution of the design, was
$2,096,556.41, or less than half of the amount esti-
mated by the committee appointed by congress to de-
termine its feasibility. Its benefit to the Comstock
mmes was great.
Unlike the South American and Mexican silver
veins, the indications are that it will not be found
^Nev. Jour. Sen., 1879, app. no. 16, 81-5; Argument on Sutro Tunnel^
70-71; Sutro Tunnel Com. Rept, 1872, 931; Sutro Tunnel Company Supt Bepf,
1872; Sutro Tunnr-l and Railway to the Comstoci: Lode, 1873, with maps; Bank
of California W4 Sutro Tunnel, Argument and Statement of Fact's. All these
books and pamphlets are devoted to showing the character of the work and
the opposition encountered, and afford an instructive record of political as
•well as financial conditions in Nevada, with illustrations of the power of
money to defeat the right.
14S FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OX THE ( OMSTOCK.
pr()fital)le to work tho inines of the Coiii.stock at a
very threat depth.** Unlike nilvcr in otlier parts of
tlie worhl, its only jjjan^^ue is (juartz, which is rarely
solid, but is much fnwtured, and often partially soft-
ened by chemical action. The princijtal ores are
ste})hanite, vitreous silver, native silver, ruby silver,
lioni silver, and polybasite, with occasional small
quantities of arLjcntifcrous galena. Native gold, iron
and ((ippcr ]>yrit(S, Ijlende, and carbonate an<l phos-
phate of lead in minute quantities are found iri con-
nection with the silver «»res.
The jihenomena observed as connected with the
occurrence of silver ore in theComstock havel>een thus
summarized: In the northern part it is in chinmeys
dipping to the south, in the southern ])art it forms
continuous sheets of great length, but comparatively
narrow. The ore deposits are enclosed in the eastern,
and sometimes in the middle portion of the vein,
while the western branches are poor or barren. The
largest and richest deposits have been found where
the outcrops were nK)st prominent. At the north end
the vein is invariably poor where it jtasses a ravine,
but not so in the south end. The richest ])ortions are
south of each ravine crossed b}' it. All the chimneys
in the northern jiart occur where the walls after close
♦• With regard to the depth of tlie different mines, Kmct'm Umhrground
Worlil, a collection of niatU-r loosely thrown togethiT concerning mint's, caves,
tunnels and other siihterranean plaies and affairs, contains the following inter-
esting facts: Ophiraml Mexican discovered at the surface, faile<l in ore at the
tlepth of r)00 feet; (;onl.l an<l Curry also extended .XX) feet from the Burfacc;
Savage, which was a continuation of the Could and Curry Ixman/a, extende«l
2,:W() feet helow the croppings; Hale and Norcnma Ixinan/Mi was tirst found
4'»0 feet Ijclow tho Hurface, and extended down to I.'JIK); Chollarl'otosl waa
found at a depth of 5()0 feet, and extended to the 1.7tX)-f(«.t level; (;<.ld Hill,
discovered on the surface, extended 500 feet dow^>w•ard and .'UK) feet on the
vein; Villow Jacket, discovered on the surface, went to a dejitli of 70(t feet;
Kentuck to a depth of Am f.et, 3(M) feet on the loch-; Crown l'..int and
IJclcher honanza, discovered on the l,40<)-foot lev. 1. extended (KKt feet l.clow;
Consolidated Virginia and California honan/a was discovered at the !,.'"iOO-
foot level, and extended ahove it. and helow for a distance of 4()0 feet. U-ing
000 feet in h<-ight and 700 on the vein. Since the puhlication of Knox •
hook. 1H7S, several of these mines have l>een sunk a considerahle distance.
California was <lown '-',700 feet in isH'J. Consolidated Virginia 'l.WXS feet.
Hide and Norcross 3.(t(H) feet. Sierrri Nevada '2.700 feet, and a number of the
older mine* were down nearly 3,000 feet in lb88.
GEOLOGY. 149
contact suddenly diverge." When I have added that
the mountain in which the Comstock lode" is found is
a mass of volcanic rocks, through which older rocks
are found obtruding, syenite, propylite, granite, with
trachyte, andesite, and metamorphic rocks, and that
geologists recognize the vein as a fissure caused by
rending, which subsequently became filled with quartz
and ore, 1 have said all that is of interest concernino-
Nevada's great silver lode."
^1 These observations occur in Baron Ferdinand Richthofen's work, entitled
The Comstock Lode, its Character, and the Probable Mode of its Continuance in
Depth. Tlie subsequent history of the lode has borne out this statement of
its characteristics. They are quoted with other remarks on the geology of
the lode, in Mining and Metallunjy of Gold and Silver, by J. Arthur Phillips.
••- Accompanying the Monograph on the Geology of the Comstock Lode, by
George F. Becker, Washington, 1882, is a beautifully illustrated Atku<, giv-
ing the location of all the mines on the Comstock, and in the Washoe district,
and also the position of the several rocks composing the Virginia range, in
situ, and in distinctive coloring. It shows the earlier hornblende andesite,
later hornl)lende, andesite, andangite andesite, and quartz porphyry, to be the
prevailing rock. Next in prevalence are diorite, mica diorite, metamorphic
diorite, metamorphic mezozoic, and quatenary. In smaller quantities occur
feisitic quartz porphyry, granite, basalt, and diabase. The quartz-vein lies
principally between the earlier hornblende andesite on the east, and diorite
on the west. A vertical section of the Sutro tunnel in the same atlas shows
the andesites to prevail along the tunnel.
Mines and Miners, by William Ralston Balch, a quarto of 1,200 pages,
Philadelphia, 1882, contains good descriptive matter concerning the Com-
stock lode, with illustrations. Balch, who is simply a compiler, adopts for
the country rock of the Virginia or Washoe district, the term of probylite
for the east side, and syenite for the west side, which distinction is in com-
mon use among resident miners.
King's Geological Explor., iii. 11-96, contains a full description of the
Comstock lode, with drawings and minute information of a valuable character.
■•^John Percival Jones, who for years was prominently connected with
the Comstock, was a Welchman by birth, and came with his parents to the
United States in 1830, while yet an infant. After receiving his education in
the pul)lic schools of New York city, his first occupation was in a marble-
yard, and as a worker in stone. In 1850 he came to California, and was
afterwards employed in various capacities, serving in the state senate between
1863 and 1867, and in 1868 being appointed superintendent of the Crown
Point mine. In this company there was afterward disclosed a large body of
rich ore, and its ctock arose from $2 or S3 to $1,800 a share, whereby he
became very wealthy. In 1873 he was elected U. S. senator for Nevada,
and reelected in 1878, and again in 1883, and while a member of that body
was recognized as a clear and cogent speaker, a man of liberal views, of
great erudition, and unsparing in research. The senator was twice married,
his first wife being the daughter of Judge Conger, and the second the daugh-
ter of Eugene A. Sullivan, a most accomplished and benevolent woman.
CHAPTER VII.
TERRITORIAL 0R( J AN 1 Z ATION.
1859-1804.
The Name Nevada— Area and Limits— The Qcestiok of Boundary-
Commissions AND SrRVEYS— DlKKIClI.TIKS WITH CALIFORNIA— TeKKI-
TOKIAL OkFICKKS (JoVERNORNyK FlItST LK.filSLATl'RE — CoDE OF LaWS
AND ColltsE OF Lk<JISLATION — CoiNTY OKc;AMZAriONS AND OFFICERS
— Caimtai. — .TrniciAL Districts and Juuu'IARY — State of Society —
Educational — NEwsrArEu ruEss — Corkuitios of Lawyers and
JUDt;ES.
How tlie territory, which in answer to so many
pravcTS was organized out of western Utah on the 2d
of March, 1801, came to be called simply Nevada,
snowy, is not altogether clear. Wiien Delegate
Crane wrote to his constituents from Washington in
Fel)ruary 1858, he assured them that a territorial
government was about to be established under the
name of Sierra Nevada. On the 12th of May, 1859,
a bill was introduced in the house to organize the
territory of Nevada.' The assembly which met at
Gtnoa in December 1859 was rej)orted as the first
legislature of the " territory of Nevada.'" At a later
period, when Nevada was applying for admission as a
state, motions were made in convention to change
the name to Washoe, Humboldt, and Esmeralda.*
Sierra Plata, silver mountains, was mentioned in de-
bate in allusion to its mineralogical features, but it
>//. Jmir., 789, 3.")th cotir. Ist sess.; Xrt\ Lmn^, ISfil, ix.-xiv., 1864-5,
23-.SI: LL S. Cmvft. and ChnrUrs, ii. 1240-5; Hou«^ Ex. Doc., 47, pt3, 1081-2,
46 cong. 'M HvuH.
^S'lr. Cnhn, Deo. 17. ISf)!!; Ifm/'A Xrt\ .Smi;w. xi. 40.
»yer. CotiMfU. D>IkiU«, 1804, 33-35; S. F. Call, July 7, 1804; Uoioard
Quarterly, i. pt iii. 90.
(150)
NAME AND AREA. I5l
came in competition with Oro Plata, gold and silver,
and even with Bullion. Having escaped all these
perils of nomenclature, it remains simply snowy-white
Nevada.'
The area of Nevada, as defined by its constitution,
was 81.539 square miles, ^ but after being allowed
some additional territory its area is stated at 112,090
square miles, of which surface 1,690 square miles is
water.*
The boundaries established by the constitution
adopted in 1859 commenced at a point on the Sierra
Nevada where the 4 2d parallel touches its summit,
following the crest of the mountains south to the
35th parallel, thence east on that line to the Colo-
rado, thence up that stream to the mouth of the Rio
Yirgen, thence ascending to its junction with the
Muddy river, and thence due north to the Oregon line. ^
In the organic act, however, it was bounded on the
north by the 4 2d degree as above, east by the 39th
meridian, south by the northern boundary of New
Mexico, and west by the summits of the Sierra Ne-
vada to the 41st parallel, whence it ran due north to
the Oregon line. This gave the territory a consider-
able portion of the counties of Mono, Alpine, Lassen,
and Siskiyou, subject to the consent of the state of
California.*
The boundary between California and Utah had
always been in dispute. The first United States dis-
* Various persons, at various times, have claimed the honor of having
proposed the present name, but the facts, as I have presented, make clear
the merit of such pretensions. The act of Dec. 20, 1862, calling an election
for delegates to the constitutional convention, states that it was to frame a
constitution for the state of Washoe. Nev. Lmos, 1862, 128-9; PoHland
West Shore, April 1879, 121.
^In Kelly's Nev. Directory, 1862, the area is given at 65,000 square miles.
^Land Off. Rept., 1867, 61; Mess. andDoc, 1868-9, ab. 825-9: Nev. Jour.
Sen., 1877, ap. 8, 1; ^. Ex. Doc, 47, pt 4, 419, 46th cong. 3d sess. The
area of Nevada is stated by a writer in S. F. Alta, June 24, 1866, at 104,000
square miles. Henry Gannett, geographer of the 10th census, reported the
area, approximately, at 104,700 square miles, of which 960 were water, Cher)~y
Creek White Pirn Neivs, Jan. 21, 1882; Eureka Sentinel, Jan. 15, 1882. I
have adopted the sur.-gen. report.
" Carson Valley Territorial Enterprise, July 30, 1859.
^Nev. Stat., 1864-5, 25; Sac. Union, April 6, 1861.
102 TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION.
trict judtj^e in Carson county, W. W. Druniniond, in
1856 addressed a communication to United States
senator Weller, and conj^ressnien Denver an<l Her-
bert o\' California, inforniiniL^ tluni tliat the Mormon
residents claimed Carson valley as a part of Utah,
ami tliat "a large and respeetahle portittn" of the citi-
z.'ns of the valley contended in j^ood faith thatthey were
residents of California ; that he himself had held court
there, believini^ he was in Utah, and now he was con-
vinced of his error; that an important case had been
taken to the supreme court of Utiih to be arj^-ued the
followiiiijj January, in whieh it was extremely doubt-
ful whether the parties to the suit and the ])roperty in
controversy were not in El Dorado county, California;
and that a very bitter feelin<^ pervaded the minds of
the anti- Mormons against i)aying a revenue to sup-
])()rt Utah, which was in open rebellion against the
United States, Drummond accordingly reeommended
that a boundary commission be set on foot.*
The California legislature, in A]jril 1858, passed a
concurrent resolution asking congress to appoint a
commission to act in conjunction with one from that
state for the survey of a line conforming to the con-
stitution of California." In February 1859 the Cali-
fornia legislature again instructed its delegation in
congress to urge upon the president the apj)ointinent
of the boundary commission. Nt)thing was done,
however, until the spring of 1800, when congress
passed an act authorizing the 'president to ap[>oint the
required commissioners." The legislature, without
awaiting congressional action, had already directed
»iS. F. Ihnilil in //./;/'•*' mn. SrmpM. xi. 5. The grand jury of the 2<l
district of Utah, (Vadklmugh juiigc, in Oct. 18'>9, tleclartMl tliat tlieunNottU-d
condition «>f tlie lioumlary wan 'a fruitful source of annoyanct- and dittiiuU-
tion . . . For thin rea«on criminals charged with gnive offence« have wicapetl
conviction; crime has l>cen Ixddly connnitted without fear of accusation, and
vahiahle property remained without asseHsment and taxation,' etc., and
urged that congress should create a boundary commisMion. Trrritoruit EnUT'
prini-, in /'/., '2.'» <>
^•CaL Stilt., IH'tH, a.'W 7; J/ouMr Jour.. 977 8. ,3.">th cong. Ist sess.
"Coii'j. (t'lnlx-, 1S.'('.( (50, ajip., 47.'>. Scott of California had pn'vi<ni«ly in-
tro<luced a hill to change the eastern buuudary uf Ualiforuio. Jloiue Jour.,
671, J307, 36tb cung. 1st sess.
BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 153
the surveyor-general of the state to survey the line
between the 42d parallel and the Monte Diablo base
line, aboat at the 38th parallel/'
The discovery of silver, and the development of the
Comstock mines gave additional importance to the
subject. The California governor, in his message to
the legislature in January 1861, mentioned that the
population of the mines was desirous of being arnexed
to California, and recommended that congress be me-
morialized to grant the right to California to extend her
boundary to the 118th degree of longitude. In the
following month the territory of Nevada was organized
with its floating western boundary as above, and on
the 26th of March, the California legislature passed
an act providing for the election, in joint convention,
of a commissioner to cooperate with the United States
commissioner in determining the eastern limit of the
state. ^^ At this time the terms of the act of congress
organizing the territory were probably unknown to the
legislators.
Governor Nye of Nevada addressed a communica-
tion to the first legislature recommending the ap-
pointment of a committee to memorialize the California
legislature, asking for the grant of all that portion
of their state lying east of the summits of the Sierra
Nevada. ^^ Two commissioners, Isaac Roop and R.
M. Ford, were, in accordance with this advice, elected
in joint convention November 16, 1861, to proceed, in
company with the governor, to the California capital,
soon after the meeting of the next assembly, and re-
quest that body to cede to Nevada the territory in
question; and on the 29th of the same month an act
of the Nevada legislature was approved authorizing
the governor to order the survey of that portion of
the west boundary from Lake Tahoe '^ to below Esme-
^^ Cat Stat., 1860, 184-5.
13 Ca/. Jour. Sen., 1861, 38; Cal Stat., 1861, 587-8.
^*Nev. Jour. Council, 1861, 96-7; Nev. Laws, 1861, 513-14.
i^Lake Tahoe is called Lake Bigler in the act, by which name it was
known to Calif ornians for some time. 1 he name was distasteful to many, and
certainly not so appropriate as its Indian appellative.
IM TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION.
ralda, and an aj>pr<)priati()n was made tlicrcfor, with a
j)r«)\is(» that thf survt-y was to l)e cuntingunt upon
tlio non-ai'tion of Caht'ornia.'* That state niakinj^^ no
survey, Jolin F. Kidder and l^uthr Ives surveyed the
line from J^ake Tahoe south, and received pay there-
for.
Tlie coTnniissioners ])rooeeded to Cahfornia, and in
Mareli IHO'J presented tlieir memorial. Nothing
came of the visit beyond a conference on the 'ilst of
the month," and in the following December another
memorial was sent from the legislature of Nevada to
that of California. Congress, had, however, already
attempted to compensate for the loss of territory on
the west by adding a degree of longitude on the east."
In the moan time the injurious eflect of the unset-
tled western boundary and undetermined jurisdi<-tion
was becoming more and more aj>parent with the in-
crease in poi»ulation. The sheriff of l^lumas county,
California, in attempting to make an arrest at Susan-
ville, in February 18G2, was resisted by an armed
force, and one of his posse wounded. Governor Stan-
ford of California then appointed Judge Robert Kob-
inson a commissioner to visit tiie then acting-govenior
of Nevada, Orion Clemens, with the object of con-
ferring upon the means of peaceably arriving at a
settlement of the boundary di.spute. The California
commi.ssioner informed the acting-governor of Nevada
that the authorities of his state would not con.sent to
the summit boundary, and it was agreed between
them that a commissioner from California and one
from Nevada sjiould be ajtpointed to establish a per-
manent boundary ; but in order to remove the danger
of any future conflicts as to jurisdiction, a line should
be temp<jrarily regarded as running north through the
".\Vr. Lntrjt, 18G1, 209. The legmlators wore a little in the dark aUont
the geograpliy of tlieir territory. * lielow Esiiieralilii ' would have takcu
the Murveynrs out of the territory.
"Cil. Jmtr. S'-n., 18fi2, .-iST. ."««): Cil. Jmir H,nue, 18G2. ,390
"A'rr. IjiiwH, lS(i'2, 19.'); ArU ,iwt /.V<.. lHGl-2. 295; Conij. OloU, 1861-2,
408; //. Air. JJoc., 47, pt 3, -Uith cuug. 3d Hetw.
BOUNDAKY 155
eastern end of Honey lake, and as running south on
the survey of Kidder and Ives.'^
On the 16th of May, 1863, Clemens appointed Ives
commissioner on the part of Nevada, who joined the
California commissioner, Kidder, in Lake valley on
the 2 2d of May, and they proceeded to establish the
boundary line, beginning at Lake Tahoe, and running
north to the Oregon boundary, and south to within
one degree of the north line of New Mexico, when
winter arrested further progress. The work of the
commission was accepted by both the California '" and
Nevada legislatures, and Ives was paid, for his part
of it, .$3,000. This final action put an end to the con-
flicts which for many years distracted the communities
on the border of the two commonwealths. California
yielded a jurisdiction, long maintained, over the rich
mining region of Esmeralda, with the town of Aurora,
and Nevada relinquished any claim to a revenue from
Lassen county.
Hardly were these conditions of peace entered upon
when the territory aspired to become a state. '^ With-
out altering its boundaries in the formation of its
constitution, except to add one more degree on the
east,'' in order to embrace the mining region of
Pahranagat, it was provided that whenever congress
should authorize the addition to the territory or state
of Nevada of another degree on its eastern border, or
California should relinquish any territory lying west
of her then eastern boundary, either of these might
be embraced within and become a part of the state of
Nevada," thus giving evidence that Nevada still felt
^'Butler Ives was deputy surveyor-general to John W. North, and John
F. Kidder was his chief clerk. The assistant clerk in the surveyor-general a
office was Julius E. Garrett. Nev. Laws, 1861, xvii.
■">Cal. Stat., 1864-4, 506-7. Nev. Lmcs, 1864, 139.
'^^ Xev. Compiled Laics, i., cxxix.; Nev. Constit. DeMie-s, 847.
-*The legislature by concurrent resolution, in Dec. 1864, asked for the
extension of its eastern boundary another degree. It was presented in the
senate by Nj'e of Xevada, and ordered to lie on the table and be printed.
Sen. Jour., 236, 38th cong. •2d sess.
'^Nev. Stat., 1864-5, 60j 133-4j Cal, Jour. Sen., 1865, app. 55.
156 TEIUUTORIAL OUGAXIZATIOX.
herself uurairly dcuh with in tlic matter of her west-
ern Ijouiidary.
Ill May liU'tC} conjjjress j^M'aiited tlic <»iie degree on
the east to whieh Neva<la laid claim, as tar 8«tutli aa
the Ccdorado river, and with it all of Arizona lying
between that river and the south line of Nevada,
making togi'tlier ;U,850 s(|uare miles, and made ap-
))r<»jinations for the survey." To this southern terri-
tory some objections were made, upon the ground
that it was worthless, but in January l.sOZ the legis-
lature formally aoccj)ted the gift, after passing a reso-
lution in the senate to have the whole of Utah
annexed, and in March 18G1) appropriated $4,000 for
contiiming the survey of the east line. Not yet con-
tent with its area, and grasping afti^r more silver
mines, the legislature in 1871 asked congress to give
Ncs'ada all of Idaho lying south <jf the Owyhee river,
to whieh recjuest no favorable answer was returned.
The same legislative body memorialized the California
as.sembly to grant them the boundary named in tlie
organic act of Nevada territory, namely, the sunnnit
of the Sierra." But this attempt to revive the boun-
dary agitation met with no approval by that body,"
It was, however, agitated about this time by the
commissioner of the general land office, Willis W.
Drununond, who reported in ls7i that the line be-
tween California and Nevada, from Lake Tahoe north
to the (Jregou boundary, liail never been correctly
surveyed, and a.sked for an a])propriati<m of over
^41,000 to have the survi'v rectified. It was alleged
that California was atthat time exorcising jurisdiction
over 13,000 S(juare miles of Nevada territory.'' The
" FirHt appropriation in ISHS waa S10,fi'2.'», whicli was iniTfancMl to $17,000
in INTO, when I. K. .I;inu« iHg.m tlie survey. J/e*«. tiiul Due., 1871-i!. pt. i.,
4y-.')l; CnrM/i, Ajfixitl, Oct 'J. KSTO.
''' JIuiurJoiir., 137 .S, 4*_M cong. \nt bohh. ; J/„tii>e MiM-. I)<^., .TJ, 42il cong.
iHtucKs.; \rv. lAttrt, 1S7I. IS.'.; Stv. Jour. Jl„UMr, \H(u, 1 Hi. Vl^VA, 195-?.
235; >Vrr. Juur. Sen., LSTl, l(X) 'J; dirxon SUiU Hri/Ulrr, Aug. ,1871. DU-
tunielCM Dir., 1881, 10; Axi^lin lir,„r llvrr lln^iU,', Dec. 15, 1855; EUioU A
Cot JliM. Ariz.. 'M; TuUi,/:/r\i HiM. .S>iU hike ViOj, •J47.
=*6'. S. ConsUt. ami Ch'irUr-, \'1M.
" yinjiiiia City Territorial L'litrrjiriiir, in S. /'. C/iruuicle, April 13, 1872.
TERRITORIAL OFFICIALS 157
survey of the west and east lines was finally com-
pleted in 1874,"' the returns being made by Allexery
Von Schmidt, astronomer and surveyor, who gave
the length of line between California and Nevada at
a little over 611 miles,'' the north line coincident
with the 42d parallel being 310 miles, and the east
line somewhat shorter than the west, the southern
boundary being a sharp angle. Notwithstanding the
frequent discussions of the boundary between Nevada
and California, which should have led to a better
knowledge of the limits of either, litigation has been
had as late as 1881, founded upon a dispute as to the
proper jurisdiction.
The United States officers, appointed upon the or-
ganization of the territory of Nevada,^" were James
W. Nye, governor,'' Orion Clemens territorial secre-
tary,'' George Turner chief justice, Horatio M. Jones
and Gordon N. Mott associate justices, with Benja-
min B. Bunker United States attorney,'" D, Bates
^Cal Join: Sen., 1875; app. 10, 7-8.
^^ House Ex. Doc, i. pt 5., 13; JSfev. Jour. Sen., 1877, app. 8, 1; Id., 1879
app 9, 3-4.
2'^ The Cal. legislature assisted in persuading congress to create a new ter-
ritory, instructing its delegation in Washington to use their best endeavors.
Cal. Stat, 1860, 409. G\\-in and Latham of Cal., and Otero or New Mexico,
presented bills in favor of the project. Jour. Sen., 181, 36th cong. 1st sess. ;
Cong. Globe; 1859-60, 874, 317, 2668. Latham presented 3 petitions from
western Utah; Grow of Pa presented a bill in the house for the temporary
government of Nevada. Green of Mo. was the author of the bill which
finally passed the senate Feb. 26, 1861, and the house on March 2, 1861, and
was approved the same day. Jour. Sen., 228, 317, 372, 36th cong. 2d sess.;
i!x. Doc, vol. 26, 1084, 46th cong. 3d sess.
^^Commissioned March 22, 1861. Nye was born in INIass. about 1815, re-
moved at an early age to N. Y., where he was educated for the bar. He
practised in Syracuse 4 years, removing thence to N. Y. City in 1857, where
he was appointed com. of police. His reputation as a political orator was
made in 1848, in supporting free-soil principles. Though a democrat, he was
strongly anti-slavery. Syracuse Journal in Dayton L. C. Sentinel Feb. 11,
1865; Gold Hill News. IsUrchS, 1870; Vircjinia City Chronicle, Dec. 28, 1876;
S. F. Evening Post, Jan. 13, 1877.
^^ Clemens was from Mo., and a brother of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain),
who accompanied him to Nevada. J. C. Gallagher oJB&ciated as secretary
until the arrival of Clemens, about the middle of August.
^2 J. McC Reardon was clerk sup. ct; David M. Hanson clerk 1st dist,
with Dighton Corson district attorney; Alfred Helm clerk of the 2d district;
with Marcus D. Larrows attorney; Alfred James clerk of the 3d district,
with E. B. Zabriskie attorney, Nev. Laws, 1861, xvii.
158 TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION.
marslial, and Jolm W. North surveyor-gfm'nil. Gov-
ernor Nye arrived in July, his proclamation declarintj
the territory organized Ix-hig issuid on the llth, fol-
lowing which, on the 24th, was the order to take a
census of the population preparatory to districting
the territory and ordering an election, Henry De
Groot, in the absence of the marshal, being ap|H>inted
to make the enumeration. The returns were made
on tlu' 8th of August, and the day of election set for
the :i 1 St. "
The total number of votes cast at the election was
5,291, of wiiich only 985 were democratic, the great
majority in Nevada being on the union side of poli-
tics, and very enthusiastic in support (jf the govern-
ment. " liattle-born" — meaning organized amidst
the tumult of events on the eve of the great civil
war — is the favorite soubriquet for Nevada in use by
political wi iters. Born on the eve of battle, she took
no time for infancy or childhood, but poured out the
precious contents of her subterranean treasury with
a free hand to the help of the nation, from the very
hour of her birth.'*
The election resulted in the choice of John Cradle-
baugh for delegate to congress, and in the election of
niue councilmeii and fifteen representatives."
**Nye says, in his report to Secretary Seward, in Dec. 1801 : 'I may here,
I think, witli i>ar»lonal)le pritle, call your sjiecial attention to the gratifying
fact that the t«rtitory of Neva<la, with one exception, stands alone among
the states and territories of tlie union in having provided liy legislation for
the payment of lier tshare of the war deht. Tlie money will Ihj suhject to
the draft of tlie secretary of the treasury of the U. S. by the mouth of
August next ' .SV/i. J) jr., '.iG, vol. v., li. .37th cong. "Jd sess.
•^ As there was hut one county f>rganized in tiie whole territory the re-
turns for council men were ma<le from the following districts: N<>. 1, incluil-
ing all of Carson valiey south of Clear creek, J. N\ . Pugli; No. '2, including
all of Cars<m valh'y north of Clear creek, Ira M. Lutlar; No. .3, Enipire city
and vicinity, William M Stewart; No 4, Silver City and vicinity, John W.
<;rier (resigned during the first se.s-sion); No. f), (JnM Hill and vicinity,
Thomas Hannah; No G. Virginia City and vicinity, iiuln<'.iiig the Flowery
mining district, Augustine W Prav and J. L Van l^ikkilen; No 7, includ-
ing \Vashoe valley and the region between the valhy and SteamlH>at creek,
Solomon fJeller; No. 8, SU-amboat creek and Truckee valley, none electtnl;
No. 9, including all the territory north -..f Truckee valley and we.st of Pyra-
mid lake, Isaac Koop The rei)reHenUtives from district No I w.-re Samuel
YouDgy and WUliaon E Teall: No. 2, James McLean; No. 3, ^^' P liar-
LEGISLATURE. 159
The governor ordered the assembling of the legis-
lature on the 1st of October at Carson City, but
houses being few, and owners doubtful of their pay,
some difficulty was experienced in procuring a hall.
They were relieved from their embarrassment by the
offer, rent free, of a laro^e stone buildings outside of
town, belonging to Abraham Curry, famous among
his fellows for deeds of generosity, who furnished the
impromptu capitol in a primitive fashion with benches
and tables, and crowned his munificence by construct-
ingr a horse -railroad from the leo;islative hall to Carson
City, on which the legislators were privileged to ride
free."
The code of laws passea was similar to that of Cal-
fomia, upon which, and the code of New York, it
was based. Both houses passed strong union resolu-
tions, and every way behaved most loyally.^' By an
act of November 25th the territory was divided into
nine counties, namely : Churchill, Douglas, Esmer-
alda, Humboldt, Lake — name changed to Roop De-
cember 5, 1862 — Lyons, Ormsby, Storey, and Washoe.
ington and John D. Winters; Xo. 4, William L. Card and R. ^L Ford; No.
5, John H. Mills; Xo. 6, 3lark H. Bryant, Ephraim Durham, and Miles X.
Mitchell; Xo. 7, Edward C. Ing and J. H. Sturtevant; Xo. 8, William J.
Osbom; Xo. 9, John C. Wright. J^'er. Jour. CouncU, 1S61, 5-6; Xev. Jour.
House, 1861, 4; Sac. Union, Sept. 16, 1861. J. L. Van Bokkelen was presi-
dent of the council; Henry O. Smeathman, secretary; William H. Barstow,
asstsec. ; Xoah T. Carpenter, sergeapt-at-arms; P. H. Shannon, messenger;
Henry Lewis, page. Miles X. Mitchell was speaker of the house; W. M.
Gillespie, clerk; Samuel E. Witherill, Charles C. Conger, assistant clerks;
J. B. McCormack, sergeant-at-arms; G. S. Pierson, messenger; Robert T.
Haslan, page. Xev. Laics, 1861, xviii.
^^ This last is on the authority of Mark Twain's Roughing It, in which is
given a humorous history of the first Xevada legislature. He says the legis-
lature 'sat 60 days, and passed private toll-road franchises all the time.
When they adjourued it was estimated that every citizen owned about three
franchises, and it was believed that unless congress gave the territory another
degree of longitude there would not be room enough to accommodate the
toll-roads. The ends of them were hanging over the boundary line every-
where like a fringe.' The same might have been said of all the other early
territorial legislatures. But concerning the seats for the representatives, I
find that Mrs M. A. Ormsby and Miss H. K. Clapp of Carson city donated
on the 19th of October to the memliers 'comfortable chairs for their use,'
and that they were not only thanked, but invited to a seat -svithin the bar
of the house for the remainder of the session. Nev Jour. House, 1861. 87
3- Parkers Letter-Book, MS., 34-6; Rept. of Gov. Nye, in Sen. Doc. 36,
v., 37th cong, 2d sess.
160 TERRITORIAL ORCAXIZATIOX.
Churc'liill, Esuumlda, and llumholdt iiK-ludod most
of tilt' tt'iritorial area, and tin* otlicr fountii-s tht* po|»-
ulatioii. Ill iioiiit of fjwt, tliL* only white iiiliabitiints
of tlio ttiitral and eastern juirts «>t' the trrritnry were
a few station-keepers alon*^ tlie overland mail route,
hardly more than enough to constitute the usual
corps of county officers. The l(Mrislature, however,
nominated, and the governor confirmed, three coin-
missiont rs for each county, whose duty it was to
meet and apporti(<n their territory into voting pre-
cincts pn'j»aratory to a general election, to he held on
the l-4tii of . January, IS^'J, fortlie purpose of choosing
county officers, who should hoM until the regular
election on September 'M, provided for in the elec-
tion law of the territory. This rapid cliang*- of offi-
cers gave some of the counties three- tliffirent sets
between the 1st of January and the midille of Sep-
tember 1HG2.
The organic act provided for nine councilmen,
which number might be increased to thirteen, whose
term of service should be two years, and thirteen as-
semblymen, whose number might be doubled, to serve
one year. The legislature made the whole of tliis in-
crease at the first session. In an act concerning
crimes and i)Uiiislinients it was provided that no black
person, or mulatto, or Indian, or Chinese should be
permitted to give evidence against or in favor of any
white jierson; and that any person having one eighth
part negro blood should be deemed a mulatto, while
every person having one half Indian blood should be
deemed an Indian. In the civil j)ractice act it was
provided that all might testify, whether of negro or
Indian blood, who liad not one half or more of black
blood in their veins; thus i)lacing the value of prop-
erty above that of life or liberty to those who were
three quarters white, an impropriety vs'hich the gov-
ernor pointed out, while he a]>proved tlie crimes act
on the ground of neeessitv. the condition of .society in
Nevada at this tune lecjuiring the restraints of a penal
RE\'EXUE AND RESTRICTIONS.
161
code. A tax of forty cents on every $100 of taxable
property was imposed for territorial purposes, with an
additional tax of sixty cents for county purposes/^
A poll-tax of two dollars was also imposed on all
males between the ages of twentj^^one and fifty years,
not exempted by law, for county purposes, a neces-
sary measure for raising revenue in a country M^here
the land still belonged to the United States, and the
populatiou was a migratory one/^ The mines with
Teeritoeial Seal.
their products remained untaxed, although the design
adopted for the territorial seal had reference only to
mining as an industry.'** A law to secure the observ-
ance of the sabbath was passed and approved, which
^Neo. Lawn, 1861, 144. This tax was raised in 1862 to 50 cents on flOO
for territorial, and 80 cents on the same for county expenses. The last terri-
t-^rial legislature fixed the tax at 30 cents on SlOO for territorial and not to
exceed 80 cents on the same for county revenues.
*'The poll-tax was increased to .S4 a head in 1862, and might be made to
constitute county hospital funds. The limit of age was subsequently ex-
tended to sixty years, and assessors made ex-officio poll-tax collectors.
*^ Mountains, with a stream of water coursing down their side and falling
on the overshot wheel of a quartz mill at their base. A miner learning on
his pick and holding a United States flag. Motto: Volens et Potens. De-
signed by Secretary Clemens. A^^v. Jour. Council, 1861, 46; Nev. HovseJour.,
43; Nev. Lcms, 1861, 295. Certainly nothing classic.
Hist. Nev. 11
lG-2 TKlilUTOKI.VL ORGANIZATION'.
inflicted a fill*' of not less tlian i^'M) nor more than
$2:)0 for keeping open a i)lay-liouso, ganiMing-tlen,
cofk-|)it, or engaging in any 8[)ecies of noisy amuse-
ments on the "first day of the week, commonly called
Lord's day;" and the same law interdicted any judi-
cial husiness, except in the case »»f a jury in unfinished
deliberation, which might recjivi- furthi-r instruction
or deliver a verdict on Sunday; hut ]>ermitted arrests
for crime, and an examination hefore a justice on Sun-
day." Cohahitation with Indians, Cliinese, or negroes
was made ])unishahle by fine of not less than $100
nor more tlian .^500, or im})risonment in the county
jail for not less than one month nor more than six.
Lotteries Were also forbidden. Altogether the work
of the first legislature, which extended over sixty
days, was discreet and moral, and it would have been
well could they have kept society up to their standard.
With the adjournment of the legislature, the offi-
cials appointed by that body and the governor came
into power," and arranged the preliminaries of the
coming election of county officers. Some difficulty
was experienced in appointing officers for Lake and
Esmeralda counties, arising from the disputed boun-
*^K>r. Cotnp. Latm, i. 2; S. F. BuMefin, Oct. 24, 18G1.
*'Tlic toiimiissioncrs ajipointed hy Gov. Nye for Doujilas county were R.
A. Kin.iey, Hiram Mott, and Henry Vausickle; county clerk, Joel A. Harvey;
Burveyiir, Ki)l>irt F. Hart; Hlieriff, ^^'iiliam Wallace; prtibate judge,
Chauncey N. N<>t«waro; recorder, B. RubIi Horton; treasurer, John Ting-
man. Com. of Huniholdt co., M. S. Tliomjison, A. U. S\ivc»t4.T, and A.
Benway; sheriff, A. W. Niglitingill; prohate judge, A. W. Olliver. Com. of
Lyon and Churchill coiintien, K. B. Z^briskie. liufus K. Trask, ami S. S.
Buckland; co. clerk, Daniel Kendrick; sur., Francia Taglialiue; sheriff, J.
Martin Itoese; dint, atty., Frank H. Kennedy; treas., John Irvine; rec, John
(J. Sliirts. Com. of OrniHhy co., H. F. Kiec, J. S. Alhro. an.'. F. A. Tritle;
CO. clerk, Parker H. I'ierce; Hlieriff, William L. Marley;Nur.. James iS. Law-
son; probate judge, K. C. Dixon; (list, atty, Dighton Corson; treas., Philip
Stoner. Com. of Story co., H. fJ. Blasdel. Ciiarlos K. OIney, and Israel
Knox; CO. clerk, Nelson \N'. Wint<m; i)roi>ate judge, Leonard W. Ferris;
sheritr. William H. Howard; rec, H. (i. Blaisdell: sur., Sm.ca H. Marlettc.
Cim. of L.'ike co., William Wethcrlo, William H. Naighthy, and Daniel
Murray. They failed t(t i)rovide for the election bm intended, and the county
was not organized until the following year. Com. of U'aslioe co.. F. H.
Burroughs, H. F. Pierce, and C. C. Smith; sheriff, Charles C. Smith; co.
clerk, B. K. Shannon; rec, Isaac Mcarf:^; supt schotiU, J. W. North, Nev.
Jour. Council and llmac, IbGl.
COUNTY AFFAIRS. 163
dary. In the case of Esmeralda, it was divided be-
tween two jurisdictions. In March 1861 the California
legislature organized the county of Mono, with the
town of Aurora for the county seat, assuming that
the bounds of that state reached eastward beyond this
then thriving place. The act creating the county
provided for the election in June of a full set of county
officials," except a judge, who was to be appointed by
the governor, and it was attached to Tuolumne for
representative purposes.
Before the arrival of Governor Nye and the organi-
zation of the territory of Nevada, the election had
taken place, and Mono county, with a full list of
officers, most of whom resided in Aurora, was exer-
cising jurisdiction over the Esmeralda mining district
of western Utah.^*
An appropriation of $10,000 had been made by the
California legislature for the expenses of a boundary
commission to act in concert with the United States
surveyor in locating the east line of the state, and the
Nevada legislature appropriated one tenth of this sum
for a similar purpose, which circumstances deterred
the territorial authorities from pressing the matter of
county jurisdiction; and although an act "to legalize
the records of Esmeralda mining district " was intro-
duced in the council, it was not passed. The question
of ownership was still unsettled in 1862, no complete
organization of Esmeralda county having taken place
before the annual election in September;** but never-
theless, at this election representatives were chosen
from Esmeralda county to the legislature of Nevada,
while Aurora was doing duty as the county seat of
*3 Commissioners of Mono coui.ty appointed by the Cal. legislature were
P. J. Hickey, W. M. Boring, E. W. Casey, C. N. Noteware, L. A. Brown,
G. W. Bailey, and T. A. Lane. These provide'd for the election in June.
■'■'The officers elected -were, for co. clerk, II. M. Wilson; sheriff, N F.
Scott; dist. atty, R. E. Phelps; assessor, J. H. Smith; treas.; William
Feast; sur., L. Tuttle; supervisors, E. Green, Charles R. Worland, and J.
S. Schulz. The judge appointed by the governor of Cal. was J. A. Moultrie.
■•^ Judge Moultrie had resigned and J. C. Baldwin had been appointed
in his place. Sheriff Scott had been killed by Indians and G. W. Bailey
appointed to the vacancy.
IM TKKKITOKIAL ORGANIZATION.
two ct)Uutios, one in California aiul one in Nevada.
This duplex i^ovennnent continued, to the great
annovancc of the inhabitants, for all ihe years durinj^
wliich the boundary was in dispute Lake county
was similarly situatiMJ. biini; partly claimed by Plumas
county, Caiifornia. with the dith-rence that in this
insUmee Neva* la failed to substantiate her claim to
the Hont'y I^ako valley, whieli was supposed to be
within the territorial limits. It had bein the lunne
of Isaac Hoop, the <^overnor elected by tlu; jM'ople of
westi'rn Utah in 1851), and was made the l>th council
district for the election of membersof the first Nevada
Icj^islature by Governor Nye. The commissioners
ai»pointed in 18G1 di<l not j»rovide for an ehcti<ni in
Jajiuary, nor were county otticers chosen before Sep-
tember 1802, the county remaininj^ unorganized until
after the second meeting of the legislature.*' The
representative, C. Adams, did not take his seat, and
Councilman K(M)J», who held over from 18GI, was the
last member from Honey Lake valley. But the
legislature in 18G2 fully organized the county, chang-
ing the name to Hoop, the governor commissioning
the officers elected in September, app(»inting a pro-
bate judge, John S. Ward, and ordering a special
term of court to be held in January 1803. This
assumjition of the control of municipal affairs in that
region brought on a conflict with arms, as I have
mentioned *' in a former part of this chai)ter. Before
*«The officers ihosen were W. H. Naileigh, slK-nff, H. J. Rintto. cKtW;
Z. N. Si>.iiililmn, rei'onler. Frank Krako, trtsw. ; K. A. Tow iimiuI, acHc-'isor;
Henry K. ArmXl, collcctcir; K. U. Nuliols, Hur.; A. A. Holnii-s, iM.h<Kil sup.;
Franklin Strong, S. J. Hill, ami J. ('. Wimple, commiiwioners.
«' liie tnmlilo began hy the jiulge of I'lumau county enjoining from hold-
ing court a juMtice »ft\\e ptace of KiM.p county, who failing to oUy was fined
glOO. Tho uherifT and i«rol>ate judge of Hoop c<». were next or.lere.l t<» ccaae
the exercijMJof authority in tliedi^j.uted district, fading of wliuli the Tlumas
CO. slieriff arrcstc.l thc-m. Tlie citizens tiien arose and recaptured tho
prison Tt. A few dayn later the I'luma-H co. sheriff, K. H. I'lerce, reappeared
with a poHso of JK-tween KK) an-l 'JO ». and a piece of artillery. He arnsU'd
the judge and hheriff a second time, and again they were reHcue<l. 0|>en war
ensm-.l on tlie l.^.th of Fel... \SiVA. The Uoop co. force-* fort'fied in a h>g
building, and tin- IMunias co. fon-e.-^ in a Imrii neai l>y, one of the latter iK-iiig
•everelv woun.led l.y the R.Mip co. men. The liattle then grew hot. resulting
in the wouudmg yf two of the latter, whcu au ariuii»tic« waa at length agrood
COUXTY AFFAIRS. 165
the final survey, which left all of Roop county which
was populated or desirable in California, another elec-
tion had been held in that district, but the persons
chosen never were permitted to hold office," and Roop
was in. 1864 attached to Washoe county for judicial
purposes.
By the action of the first territorial legislature the
whole of Carson county was eliminated, and the
records ordered to be delivered to the secretary of
the territory for safe keeping. The expenses of the
session were estimated at 835,000, and congress had
appropriated but §20,000 in a depreciated currency.*'
The members were paid three dollars a day, and three
dollars for every twent\^ miles' travel to and from the
capital. The per diem was obviously below the actual
expense of living in Xevada at this period, but it
might be assumed without fear of contradiction that
twenty-four legislators, with the necessary clerks and
officers, could have subsisted themselves comfortably
for the forty-nine days they were in session upon
$12,000, the lowest sum to which the depreciated
appropriation had fallen. Compare the expenses of
the first Nevada legislature with those of the first
Oregon legislature, and we have the difference between
the views of a mining and an agricultural population.
The salaries of the federal officers were entirely in-
adequate to their expenses,'' and these the legislature
upon by the leaders of the two factions, who promised to withdraw their men
from the field, leaving it neutral, and to report to their respecti\e governors,
requesting them to find some peacealjle way of settling their difficulties.
Frank Drake was chairman of the conference, H. W. Jennings secretary,
and the two sheriffs. Pierce and Xaileigh, principals to the agreement which
was entered into and a copy forwarded to the governors of Cal. and Xev. I
have already stated that they immediately appointed a commission to survey
the boundary, and the results.
*^The officers elected in 186.3 were WiUiam V. Kingsbury, councilman;
John C. Partridge, representative; and H. L. Partridge member of the con-
stitutional convention.
^^Xev. Comp. Laws, i. 2.39; ,?. F. Bulktin, Nov. 13, 1861; Comj. Glohe,
1861, app., 30. Says Clemens: 'They levied taxes to the amount of f30,O0O
or .?40,000; and ordered expenditures to the extent of about a million.' Once
in a fit of economj' a member proposed to abolish the chaplain and save S3
per day to the country. Roughinrj It, 191-2.
'*' Report of Xve to Seward, in Sen. Ex. Doc, 36, v., 37th cong. 2d sess.;
Parkers Letter Book, MS., 43-5, 98.
166 TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION.
miijht liavo l^oon justified in inrroasin<jj harl there heon
a |»o|iulali()ii sufficient t«» pay tlie tax. But no such
pojiulation existed, and the career of extrava<^ance
entered ui)<>n in IHGl entailed upon the state a debt
fruni wliich it was not free twenty years later."
With rejj^ard to the seat of j^^tvernnient, there was
not in the casi- of Nevada that strife concerning its
location which distracted several of the Pacific group
of territories. ]^y act of Noveniher 25, 18^1, Carson
City was declared the permanent seat of governnieut,
and the city i)laza was dedicated to the use of the
public buildings. While the bill was pending a peti-
tion was presented by citizens of A'^irginia City ask-
ing that the cai)ital might be located there. Silver
City also asked for it, but it properly remained away
from the mining district.''
Governor Nye, by proclamation on the 1 7th of July,
1861, divided the territory into three judicial districts,
the 1st district to embrace all that portion of Nevada
lying west of the 118th meridian; the 2d district all
between the 118th and ll7th meridians; and the 3d
district all east of the 1 1 7th. To the first he assigned
Judge Mott, to the 2d Judge Turner, and to the 3d
Judge Jones. If Nye had been content to give !Mott
all the populated territory west of the 119th meridian
there would still have been left Ragtown and Aurora
west of that line for Turner, though there was noth-
ing east of them fur Jones except overland stage
sttitions. Once a year, according to the organic act,
the three judges, or a majority of them, were compelled
to hold a term of court at the seat of government, and
on this occasion at least the tw(j supernumeraries had
the privilege of occupying thejudicial bench with Mott,
'''Thc'"nuinl)er of scnatow in the first state legislature was 17, ami a-sscin-
blymen ,'{(). Tlie sUitc constitution limited the nuinlx;r of mviiil>cr8 to 76.
JVV». L'lWH, ISW .'). 01.
'" In 1S04 a company laid out a town on the Hat nouth from (Jold Hill and
called it Aincricau City, otferiug the territory $5U,UU0 to remove tlie capital
to that lucatiuu
JUDICIAL MATTERS. 167
who perhaps was assigned to the whole inhabited part
of the country because he was first to arrive.
That his presence was required is undoubted, as
the governor called for a second term, on the 21st of
August, "to meet the necessities and wants of the
people." °^ A part of these wants arose from the great
number of mining suits which were brought during
the scramble for claims on the Comstock, but crimi-
nal cases were by no means infrequent. On the 18th
of November Deputy marshal John L. Blackburn, an
excellent officer, was assassinated while attempting
the arrest of a criminal by William Mayfield, one of
the grano; to which the criminal belonged."^ A reward
of $3,000 was offered by citizens of Carson for the
capture of Mayfield. So great was public indignation
that the clergyman who performed the funeral ser-
vices called upon the people to secure the murderer,
and volunteered to assist in the pursuit. Mayfield
was arrested on the 21st, and placed in irons in the
log building which did duty as a jail at Carson.
Tlireats of lynching were openly uttered, and it was
observed that a large number of "secessionists, gam-
blers, and sympathizers with the murderer" were
gathering in Carson from the neighboring towns, so
that the chances were divided between rescue and
summary hanging. The governor visited the jail in
person several times during the night, finding it neces-
sary to disarm a former deputy of the marshal, and
to send to Fort Churchill for a military guard, a lieu-
tenant and fifteen men arriving next day, whose pres-
ence, it was thought, averted a general jail delivery.
The desperate social element was not so large as it
afterward was in Idaho and Montana, but it possessed
the advantage of being thoroughly organized, as it
was in those territories, and was a dangerous force to
^^NyesRepoH in Sen. Ex. Doc., 36, v. 37th cong. 2d sess.
^* Blackburn had killed one of these men in self-defence, in Nov. 1859,
while acting as watchman, as well as deputy marshal, in Carson. Doubtless
he was marked. Blackburn was formerly a resident of Dutch Flat, Cal.
Parkers Letter-Book, MS., 36-8.
168 TERRnORIAL ORGANIZATION'.
enrountor. By its assistance Ma\'fiol(l escaped from
j>risoii aii<l fled to Montana, wlicn' lie was killrd in a
drunkt-n l»ra\vl. The condition of society was cliaotic.
The population consisted cliirfly of men, who «j;ath-
ered in tlio niinin<^ towns, one tliird of tlic whole popu-
lation in ixCyO \>v\wr at Vir;^nnia City," where very few
women of the respectable class were to he found.'*
Gold Hill, which was a suburb of Virginia City, had
something over GOO inhabitants, and oidy fourteen
women. Silver City was a place of about the same
importance, these three towns containing over half of
all the inhabitants of the territory. Before the or-
ganization of Nevada, the following year, the popu-
"The nnmlMir of white male an<l female inhabitants in 1860 was G. 102 of
the former, and 710 of the latter; totiil of coldpcd, 45; numlier of dwoUings,
2,(i;?7; hot«.ls 11>, l«>;irtling houses 2*.l, rostau rants 1.'), i»al<K»ns G.S, «t<>res 109,
harlKjre 17, carpenters 118, teamuters 131. hlacksniiths .*>4. hootnuikers 22,
jewelers 4, Jirinten* (5, physicians 19, dentists 4. livery -Htaldes 14, harness-
makers 1, uphnlsterera 10. tinners 11, painters 9, school teacliers .S, t;iilors 4,
hrewers 9, milliners 2, gunsmitlis 1, speculators 21, law^-ers ."i. hakers 28.
Tiiu majority of the ])opulation were miners; a few were agriculturists and
stock-raisers. Ahout one thinl of the whole were of foreign hirth, Irish,
German, and English, with a few of all other nationalities.
'^Total population of Virginia City in 18(>0 was 2,:ilK). only 118 of whom
were women. It waa inc«iri)orated umler the laws of Utah, in Kih. 1801.
The first hoard of trustees, electt-d in .March, consisted of X. W. Winton
pres., J. V. Hateman sec, Cleorge H. Sliaw, .lo.sepii Scates. and Louis Feusier,
city trcas., C. P. Kohinson; marshal, D. liaiKv; justice of the jKjace. Joseph
F. Atwill. Krltys iVrr. />»>., 1862, 108. The editor of the 'lWrilo,-int En-
t'-rjiriMi- is the author of the following reminiscences concerning Virginia
City: The first chiM horn in that town was Virginia Tilton. l>orn .\pril I,
18(i<). named in honor of the then new mining camp. The jwirfnts were
John H. an<l lx;vina S. Tilton, who immigrated from the east to the mines
in 1859. From Sept. to March they livecf in tlieir wagon, after wliich they
occupied a house liuilt \>y the fatiier, whose first employment was carrying
mortar for tiie Ophir office, while Mrs Tilton earne<l money l>y sewing. The
first school was taught l»y Miss Downing, on South C street, near Taylor, in
1800. Miss (Jregory ojiened a scho<d 8ulise<juently on 1) street. The first
puhlic 8cho<d was organizeil in Octol.er 1802. the school-house lieing «in the
site of the present third ward school-house. Mr Melville was principal.
Miss Fi»la Collins assistant, and John A. Collins supt. Only 17 chihlren
were in attendance at the first teriiL A year afterward there were .%0.
Tiie first religious services wcnr held in 18<>1. hy an episcopal minist^'r of th«
diocese of Cal. In tiie spring <>f 1H(»2 tlic American <"hurcli Missionary so-
ciety sent Franklin S. Rising of New York to organize a church. Tlie first
death w:ls that of a young daught^-r <ii Lyman .lones, who was huried in a
cemetery near the (h>hir works. The first hall was held on Christmas eve,
|8(i0, at which the following women were jirewnt : Mesilames Dirks, Paxton.
Tilt<»n. Kryan, Hhiir, Flick, ilastinss. Dill, Mowanl, Adams, H<»«s, K. .T.
Smith. Howard, C. liarstow, and lx>onara Dirks. A sleigh was made by
Mr Whipple expresaly to carry these |>er8oai to th« balL
NEWSPAPER PRESS. 169
lation of Virginia had increased to 3,284, and of Gold
Hill to 1,294.
Carson City, on account of its more agreeable cli-
mate and favorable situation, was expected and in-
tended to be the business centre of Carson valley.
While mine owners bought and sold and speculated in
mining ground at Virginia and Gold Hill, speculators
in town lots bought and sold, and built, and planned
the future metropolis, which it was soon found would
go whither the gold was, in spite of their efforts. Yet
Carson City had made a good beginning in 1860. It
had an able and flourishing newspaper,"" the Territorial
*'' The first newspapers in western Utah were published in manuscript, as
early as 1854. The Sco7-pion, edited by S. A. Kinsey, was j>ublished at
Genoa; the Gold Canon Switch, edited by Joseph Webb, was published at
JohntowQ. They were humorous and satirical in their character, and fur-
nished amusement, if not any great amount of superior journalism. On the
18th of Dec, 1858, the Territorial .SJ/i^e/pme was started at Genoa, hy William
L. Jernegan and A. James. It M^as removed to Carson City on the 5th of
Nov. Tlie Enterprise contains a complete history of Nevada since its organi-
zation, and has been conducted from time to time by aide writers. In 1860
it was a 20-column weekly, printed on a sheet 21 by 28 inches. Jonathan
Williams and J. B. Wollard purchased and removed it to Virginia City in
Nov. Its jdace in Carson City was immediately filled by the Silver Age,
another weekly, published by Jolm C. Lewis and SeM-all. It was 24 by 36
inches in size, and union in politics. In Sept. 1871 it was issued as a daily,
16 by 20 inches. The Silver A'je was favored by the legislature with the first
public printing, to which I find reference in Nev. Jour. House, 1S61, 85.
This journal was also sold to John Church, S. A. Glessner, and J. L. Laird,
who removed it in Nov. 1862 to Virginia City, and changed its name on the
4th to the Daily Union. In the autumn of 1868 it was again sold to W. J.
Forbes, who called it The Trespass. Not long after, John I. Ginn and Robert
E. Lowery took the stock and published the Safeguard for a few months. It
was then removed to White Pine co. by J. J. Ayres and C. A. V. Putnam,
who published the Inland Empire. Finally Gov. L. R. Bradley pur-
chased the stock and sold it again te Holmes C. Patrick, who took it back to
Cal., whence it came. It served afterward to print the Stockton Repuhlican,
the Narrow Gauge, and the Daily Courier, respectively, subsequently to which
in 1874, Laura De Force Gordon purchased the remains of the plant, and pub-
lished with it the Daily Leader for two years, after which the press was taken
to Oakland.
The 3d paper published in Carson City was the Daily Independent, started
July 27, 1863. It was a 24-column sheet, 21 by 27 inches, published by W.
W. Ross, and strongly union in sentiment. Israel Crawford became business
manager in Aiigust, when 4 columns were added to the size of the paper, and
in Oct. Crawford purchased the establishment. A company consisting of G.
W. Calwell, George A. Eades, Andrew Maute, and Charles J. Miller, pur-
chased the Independent, Feb. 28, 1864, and published it as it first appeared.
Within a month Crawford bought it back, and it expired Oct. 11, 1864.
On the 27th of Aug. , previous to the suspension of Crawford's paper, H.
W. Johnson & Co. began the publication of the Daily Ei-ening Post. The
press was one on which had been previously published the Message at Gold
Hill, by an association of printers under the firm name of George W. Bloor &
170 TERRITORIAL OIKiAMZATION.
Enterprise, a water company/" a beminaiy of leaniing,
Co. The PoMt was 23 by 32 inches, ami contaiiieil 28 columns. Jobu C.
Lewi;* was L-uji»loyuJ to edit it until Oct., when he imrchaiied and changed
it to a nmrning paper, and as such publislied it till Jan. 1MG.\ wlu-n it sm-
pendeil. In tlio following Dec. Lewis startcti a weekly journal calle«l tlie
i'lxAr/i Sl>]f at Wajihoe City on tlie I'uhI niat4.'rial, continuing the puljlica-
tion until KSG8, when he again suspemleil, removing his presM to Henoiu July,
wiiere he printed the Cri-nreid until 187i>, when he sold to J. C l)ow, who
commenced the pulilication of the Duity Xmula JJemornU, which was fol-
lowed liy the /i'w> Diiilif Urront. In 1878 tlie press was again removed to
Bodie to print the Boi/ie ^W/rx.
The r)tli palter started at C'arsf n was the Ihiili/ SOilf iJriiiocnU, by A. C.
Ellis, Oct. 2o, I8(>4. It was a campaign paper, 17 by 24 inches, containing
20 columns, and supported McClellan for the presidency. It susi>ended at
the end of tlie camj)aign, leaving the cai)itul without a newspai>er.
On tlie IGth of May, 18G6, E. F. McElwain, J. liarrett, and Marshall
Robinson started the ('(f/w;i iJaJly Aj/pcnl, a republican journal, the first
numl>er of whicli announced tlie capture of tlie rebel chief, Jefferson Davis.
Henry K. Mighels was at first only the salaried e»litor, but soon Iteciime
joint proprietor in place of Rirrett. In 1870 tiie i»a[M;r was sold to C. L.
Perkins and H. C Street, the same wlio fouglit the newspaper battles of
secession in Idaho. The politics of thejjaper were chanj^ed to democratic,
and tlie name to Dnil;/ Stitc /{njUhr. In Septeiiil)er 1872 Mighels repur-
chased tlie office, and issued the \tip Dnili/ Ayptnl, republican ii. politics, on
a new press. William Witherell and D. R. Sessions were employed on tiie
paper as local editfirs, and soon Robinson became again a i»artner in tiie
ownersliip. Several changes were made in tlie size of the japer, and it re-
sumed its old name of C'urxoii Jhuly Ajrpral in 1874, and in 1877 it Mas
changed to Moniinj A]r}»iiL On the 27th of May 1879, deatli deprived this
journal of its inspiring spirit.
Henry R. Migiiels was bom in Norway, Maine, Nov. 3, 18:K), his father
l>eing a physician an<l a learned naturalist. Henrj* received an academic
e<lucation at Portland, antl removed with his father to Cincinnati, Ohio, in
1849, whence he came to Cal. in 1850. Possessing artistic tiileiit, he engaged
in the business of decorative painting, but in 1850 took the more congenial po-
8iti<'n of editor of the Btitle Jitconl at Oroville and later of the local odumiis
of the S'U-raiiinilo Bcv. He was the first editor of the Mnn/Mt'iilf Ajfjonl, and
established his growing reputation on that paper, (^n tlie breaking out of
the civil war he went east to enlist in the union army. He was commissioned
asst a<lj.-gen. witii the rank of capt. on the stiiff of (i»ii. Sturgis. He was in
eight battles, and woumleil in June 1804, from the etiects of wliicli he was
disabled for duty and honorably di.scharged the following Nov. In iMiU lie
married Nellie Verrill, also of Maine, by whom he had 4 cliihlren. A sliort
time before his deatlj, Iteini; in broken health, he adopted the advice «>f his
friends and collected for publication some of tlie morceaux which iiad dropi>ed
from his pen in his journalistic experience, which were published under the
title of Sd'je-BriMh Liaiyji in a volume of H.'lo pages; San Francisco, 1879.
The semi-weekly Xmula Trihitne was first jiuijlished at Carson City July
16, 1872 by E. J. Parkinson and Joseph McClure. It was changed to an
evening paper the following year. Tlie Daily Etyuinj Hi mil was started
August 9, 1875, by Wells, Drury, & Co., with'c. A. V," Putnam editor. The
CitrHin Daily Timrn, republic:ui, was first issued March 18, 1880, by E«lward
Niles. It Buspen<led in 1881. The Daily Imlrx, published by Marshall Rob-
instm, commenced its existi-nce Dec 25, 1880.
''Organized Feb. 9, 18tM), with Wellingtjm Stewart prest; Tliomas J,
Moore, supt; John Leach, sec; ami William IHj Kays, trea.4. Tiie legislature
of 18(»1 grant<'d the right to lay water-pines for NUi>plviiig Carson City, to
J. J. Musser, Jonathan Wild. .Sarah A. Blackburn, an«l J.Hin (J. Kelly, and
thoir associates. A gas comi»any was aho chartered by this legislature for
SOCIETY. 171
founded by Miss H. K. Clapp,*' a telegraph office,
stage lines, and other adjuncts of comfortable and re-
fined living. The plenitude of money in the early
days of the Comstock lode's development, while it
made possible a rapid realization of unwonted luxu-
ries, was in Nevada, as it always is, a temptation to
vicious habits, and the occasion of glaring absurdities.^*
In Virginia might be found, notwithstanding statutes
illuminating Carson City, J. J. Mnsser and George Lewis receiving the
franchise.
^^Miss Clapp was formerly a teacher in Ypsilanti, Mich., and very en-
thusiastic in her profession. She was one of the first women to take up her
residence at Carson City. Associated ■\\ath her in the Sierra Seminary were
Miss E. C. Babcock, and Mrs E. G . Cutler, who with the principal did much
to give tone to Carson society. Xevers' Nevada Pioneers, MS., 3.
<^'J There came to Carson valley in 1855, with Orson Hyde's company from
Salt Lake, Alexander Cowan and wife. The maiden name of Mrs Cowan
was Eilley Orrum, and she was bom in the highlands of Scotland. At the
age of 15 years she married Stephen Hunter, who immigrated with her to
Salt Lake in 1850, where he, entering into polygamous relations, caused her
to leave him. In 1853 she married Alexander Cowan, with whom she re-
moved to Carson valley. She kept a boarding-house for miners in Gold
Canon in the winter of ] 855, and the following sximmer with her husband
took a land claim in Washoe valley. W^hen Orson Hyde and the Mormons
were recalled to Salt Lake, Mrs Cowan refused to return, preferring to re-
main at her farm in summer and keep boarding-house at the mines in the
winter. In 1858 she married a miner named Lemuel S. Bowers, an illiterate
Irishman, who owned 10 feet on the then undiscoveretl Comstock ledge,
alongside of which she also o^^-ned 10 feet, for which she had paid SIOO.
When it came to be known what lay underneath their claims, the Bowers
became famous alike for their riches and their ignorance of the uses of wealth.
But being urged by the mischievous miners to make the tour of Europe, they
set out in 1861 to perform this pilgrimage, having first contracted for the
orection and furnishing of a mansion on their land in Washoe valley, at a
cost of .§407,000. Before leaving Virginia they gave a farewell entertain-
ment to their friends at the International hotel, on which occasion Bowers
remarked that he had money to 'throw at the birds;' yet Sandy, as he was
familiarly called, M-as as innocent of boasting and as kindly intentioned as
ever was Dickens' Boffin of Boffin's Bower. They remained three years
abroad, and probably gave some color to the popular English prejudice
against rich Americans, although there was nothing American about them
but their money. Four years after their return, 1868, Bowers died, owning
an estate valued at .$638,000. The business of her mine and mill being left
to the care of a superintendent, !Mrs Bowers soon found herself hopelessly
in debt. Her fine mansion became a puljlic resort, and the brave Scotch
woman, with so much that is dramatic in her life, supported herself in her
old age by telling fortunes. Reno State Journal, Jan. 9, 1875, and Jan. 5,
1878.
In strong contrast to this phase of Nevada life was that of a Scotch miner
who made himself an abode in an abandoned tunnel near Silver City, and
excavated for himself a number of apartments. A vein of gold-bearing quartz
ran along the roof of his dwelling and he had silver ore for his door-sill, and
silver in the walls of his living rooms. The eccentric o\vner had a good
library, and being of a serious turn ot mind sometimes held religious services
in his cave dwelling. Grass Valley Union, July 28, 1870.
172 TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION.
to tlic cnntrarv, every form of vice, and all kiiuls of
deLTadiiig ainusemeiits. On Saturday nights the
undi'iLiiound population ranie to the surface ; and
>vliile business houses were closed on Sunday, bar-
rooms, }j;aml)ling-dens, dance-lutuses, fourtli-rate the-
atres, and bagnios were liberally ]>atroniz('d." Duel-
ling was not unconnnon, but a bill introduced in the
house at the first session of the legislature legalizing
it was rejected. Street fights and nmrders were also
frequent, though it was usually the organized, migra-
tory ruffians who perpetrated robberies and murthrs,
and not the residents of the territory. California as
Mell as the Mississippi states liad contributed largely
to this undesirable condition of the body politic.
Probal»ly the first federal judges would have been
able to hold their own against the criminal element in
Nevada ; but opposed to the combined intiuence of the
capital and legal talent of California and Nevada, as
tliey sometimes were, in important mining suits, they
were powerless. Statutes regarding the points at
issue did not exist, and the questions involved were
largely determined by the rules and regulations of
mining districts, and the application of common law.
Inunense fees were paid to able and oftentimes un-
principled lawyers, and money lavished on suborned
witnesses. As I have explained in the previous chap-
ter, thecomnmnity and the courts were divided upon
the one ledge and two ledge theories, which nothing
could determine except actual demonstration, and
demonstration often depended upon the settlement of
the suit.
•".Tacol) Klein, bom in Alsaoe, France, in 1831, by trade a baker, vlio
immigrateti to America at the age of 15» years, and came to C'al. in 185.S, re-
moved to Nev. in bStiO, Kettle. 1 at Carson, and erecte«l a brewery. In a
mann»crii»t wketeh of the Finiuilfrx o/Ciimon CUy he deHcril)e8 society in tlie
Nevada towns at tliis i>erioil, and f..r several years following, as l>ad in the
extreme. He sold iteor in 1S(M) for ?.S jkt gallon, whicli fact covered a mul-
titude of fiins in his cnst<imers. See Wri'/fif'n Hi;/ Honntan, .^.H-S."?, 392-0;
Kri^^rx' Xrivuln Plonerrs, y\S.,2; Gold Hill A'"/n. Oct. 14, \mX and May
If). 1S73: X,w York TiwM. Dec. 1863; S. F. liulLth,. Sept. 26. 18f)3: S. F.
Alt'i; May 7. 1S(>,(; Prirr'ji T*//-? AinmimM, 2.">0 7; Vir'jiiiin Chronicle, Dec.
£), and 1S,"1S7G, and March 5, 1877; Nvv. Scniys 480-1.
LITIC^ATION 173
la the case of the Chollar-Potosi legislation, Judge
Mott, in whose district all these suits fell, was accused
of entertaining the belief which favored the Chollar
company, as was also Chief-justice Turner. Mott was,
therefore, worried or bribed into resigning, with no
other object than to procure the elevation to the bench
of James W. North, first surveyor-general of the ter-
ritory, and a lawyer who was known to hold opinions
of geology adverse to the Chollar company. Nortli,
who, notwithstanding appearances, was an honest man,
found himself informed by telegraph September 14,
1863, of his appointment as judge of the 1st district,
and immediately opened court. After several months
of tedious litigation he decided in favor of the Potosi
company. It was now the turn of the Chollar com-
pany to attack the judiciary, and, as it was known
that the chief justice was on their side, they endeav-
ored to get a majority on the bench by gaining over
the judge of the 3d district, P. B. Locke, who had
been appointed in the place of Jones, resigned. The
appeal to the full bench of judges was argued on the
28th of April, 1864, followed the same evening by
attempts of the Potosi people to influence the deci-
sion.*' The excitement ran high, and Locke was se-
verely and justly denounced for behavior unbecoming
a man in his position. Contrary to the expectations
of the corruptionists, however. North filed his decision
May 5th, with the concurrence of Locke, aflfirming
his former judgment, and debarring the introduction,
in a suit for ejectment against the Potosi company,
of any damaging evidence based, on the old titles of
location of the Chollar company. But the advocates
of the latter company used means to induce Locke to
make an addendum to his decision, which reopened
the hearing of evidence. Being again besieged by
the Potosi company, he ordered the addendum struck
off the file. This uncertain and unjudicial behavior
«2 Territorial Enteiyrise, July 26, 1864; Gold Hill Neivs, Aug. 3 and 4,
1864.
174 TERRITORLM OWJANIZATIOX.
caused botli parties to express indli^nation analnst
Locke ; and as interested })ers()n.s desired to get Nt)rth
off' the Ix'iieli, great pressure was brouglit to bear
against all the judges.
Among those most anxious to unseat North was
William ^I. Stewart, a young lawyer from the inte-
rior of California, who was proving himself of great
value to certain mining companies, who retained him
to look after their interests for $'200,000 a year,"
from which the measure of his talents and liis ener-
gies may be estimated. Stewart's methods were
sharply criticised by those ojiposed to liim ; the state-
ment that he was not always over-scrupulous was
doubtless inspired by the fact that he was generally
successful, which was the basis of his claim to large
fees.
On the 22d of August, 1864, North resigned, to
avoid the scandal of which he was the subject. On
the same day the chief justice followed his example,
being persuaded to it by a "private conference"** with
Stewart. Immediately after this triumph, the mem-
bers of the bar invited the remaining judge to a meet-
ing, and asked him to resign, which he was forced to
do." Thus the whole judiciary was removed in a
day b}^ the bar of Nevada, under Stewart's lead."
Some of the public journals professed to believe that
« Stewart was born in N. Y. state Aug. 9, 1827, and came to Cal. via
Panamd in 1850. He mined in the Coyote claims at Buckeye hill, discovered
the Eureka diggings in the autumn of that year, and projected the (iriz/.ly
ditch which supplied them with water. He built the first saw-mill on Shady
creek in 1851. In 1852 he began to read law with J. R. McConnell at Ne-
vada City. The same year, such was his progress and talent, he was ap-
pointed district attorney, and elected to the same office tlie following year.
In 1854 he was appointed attorney-general of Cal., and married a daughter
of ex-gov. Foote of Mi.ssissij)pi. He continued to study law and mining until
he went to Virginia City, where he made and lost several fortunes.
•^Tliis is Stewart's own statement. But it is certain tliat tliere was a
petition signed by nearly 4,000 names publi.shcd in the 7Vrrif/)riiil Enfrrprise,
asking the judges to resign. Tlie petition probably emanated from the same
source.
* Stewart's account of the affair is that Locke hesitated to obey, and
tumerl to him, saying, 'Mr Stewart, what do you think I ought to do?'
'Do !' replied tlie lawyer gruffly, 'resign, and resign now." He was obeyed-
'^Territori'il Enterprise, Aug. 23, 18G4; 8. F. Bulletin, Aug. 23, 18G4.
LITIGATION. 175
the overthrow of the judges was a Hessing to Ne-
vada, as it would stop litigation for a time, during
which the miners could go on with their work with-
out fear of being enjoined but nothing was said about
the benefit it might be to drive out the lawyers, who
took hundreds of feet of the best mines to keep litiga-
tion going, and used hundreds of thousands of dollars
of their clients' money to corrupt whoever stood in
their way. Whatever may be said of the Xevada
bench at this time, I know of no more trying position
than that of an appointed judge.
CHAPTER VIII.
STATE GOVERN VENT.
1864-1881.
LloisLATios— Movements toward State Oroanizatiov— The Un'I05
Party — Union Sentiments — Military Comtameh — Governor Blas-
DEL -First State Leoislature — Finances —Taxation — STRi<iiii.Es
. FOR Senatorshii's — MoNEY All-i'owerki'l — (Jqvernor Bradley
Governor Kinkead— Politics of the Period— M(»noi'<)LY and Politi-
cal CoRRii-rioN — Silver in Conoress— Public Institutions.
At tlie territorial election of September 3, 1862,
Gordon N. ^lott was chosen delegate to congress.'
Twenty-six representatives and five councilnien were
elected to legislate for the jH'ople. They clianged the
time of meeting for succeeding legislatures to tlie sec-
ond Tuesday of January in each year, granted numer-
ous franchises, autliorized the creation of a jail fund
in Ornishy county, increased tlie compensation of the
federal judges, autliorized the i)reservation of files of
all ne\vsi»apers, provided a contingent fund for tlie
territory, created the county of Lander, amended the
common-school law passed at the fir.st session, created
a prison hoard, and jierformed the usual amount of
miscellaneous law-making' of no particular interest to
the historian. It should he noticed, h(>wever, as re-
lating to what has gone before, that at this session
the federal judges were reassigned to their districts,
the chief justice remaining in the 2d district; Jones
was removed to the 1st di.strict, such a.ssignment not
to take effect until Mott should have resigned, or until
'.I. J. MuHser, John D. Winters, and J. H. llaUton were tho opposiug
can(li<lat«H, tlieir strength Iniing in the unlcr licre given.
*Na>. L'i>n», 186'J, 15, 65, 73, 76, 94, 53, 110, 115, and 127.
POLITICS. 177
the 4th of March, 1863; from which it would appear
that the legislature contemplated the resignation of
Mott, and invited it.
In the matter of mining laws, little was attempted.
By one act mining claims were made thereafter trans-
ferable by the same formalities as other real estate,
but conveyances previously made, "with or without
seals, recorded or unrecorded," were to be held valid
if done in conformity to the "lawful local rules" of
the several mining districts, and by these rules the
right to contested claims should be decided in court.
By another act companies might sue for injuries sus-
tained by the mismanagement of adjacent companies,
and any judgment obtained might become a lien upon
the property of the judgment debtor, either party
having the right to apply to the courts for an order
for a survey. By a third act corporations might sue
individual members for assessments. By this law it
was easy for the rich members to "freeze out" the
poorer ones, and take their shares for assessments
made by a majority of the whole company. An act
to provide for forming corporations was an attempt to
compel mining companies owning in Nevada to keep
their principal offices and books within the limits of
Nevada, under a penalty, if refusing, after six months,
of losing their standing in the courts of the territory.
This act was not approved by congress.* On the 20th
of December an act was approved to frame a consti-
tution and state government, and an election of dele-
gates ordered to take place on the first Wednesday m
September 1863, an appropriation of $3,000 being
made to pay its expenses.* The vote of the people
'Latham of Cal. procured the disapproval by congress of this act beiore
the 6 months had passed. Sen. Jour., 220, 402, 37th cong. 3d sess.; Acts, 99,
37th cong. 3d sess., Misc. Doc,, 11, 37th cong. 3d sess.; S. F. Bulletin, Oct.
11, 1861.
* The councilmen of the 2d territorial legislature were : John W. Pugh,
Esmeralda co. ; Ira M. Luther, Douglas co.; Thomas Hannah, A. W. Pray,
and J. L. Van Bokkelen, Storey co.; Isaac Pk,oop, Roop co.; Gaven D. Hall,
and John C. Lewis, Ormsby co. ; R. M. Ford and Henry M. Steele, Lyon co.;
James H. Sturtevant and Solomon Geller, Washoe co.; M. S. Thompson,
Humboldt co. John H. Pugh was president, George W. Hopkins, secretary.
Hist. Kev. 12
178 STATE GOVERNMENT.
for or against state government was provided for in
the same act. If tlu'y dcsuvd state govurnuRiit, tlie
delegates would meet at Cars<»n on the lid of No-
veml)er.
The result of the election showed a vote of 8,102,
and a majority for a state constitution of 5,150. So
strong an indication of popular sentinu-nt inspired
confidence in the minds of the delegates-elect that
the instrument they should prejiare would he accepted,
and they accordingly put forth their hest endeavtirs
to create a constitution which should meet with favor
and at the same time serve their own })olitical pur-
poses. But in this last atttnnpt they defeated the
main object. The constitution, as framed, jirovided
that the offices created hy it should he filled at the
same titne that th(^ vote was taken on the instrument
itself This naturally led to opposition from all who
desired to he nominated to some office, and were not.
They would not vote for the men who were in the
places they coveted ; and by refusing to vote they
defeated the constitution, and the ]»lans of those who
had expected to carry out their designs by attaching
them to the success of the constitution. Tlie uni(»n
party, which had heretofore carried everything be-
fore it in Nevada, exhibiting the most intense loy-
alty, was now divided by factions on account of offices,
and the seceders united with the anti-union demo-
cratic party to prevent the adoption (if the oriranic act.
Foremost among the seceders were William ^f.
Stewart and A. W. Baldwin. The former used all
George L. Palmer asst i.ec., TfeorgeMaileirasergeant-at-anns, Daniel R. Haw-
kinx messenger, Henry M. Ixrwis fireman. The rr|>rPKPntative.M were: Joim
H. Mills. .lames Drew MtaKher, W. S. Mincer. .1. (J. H.-wanl. J. Williams,
M. N. Mitchell, E. H. liurkc. and William M. l»aveni...rt of Storey co. ;
Thecxloro WinU-m, J. K. I ovcjoy, an.l R. W. Poekinn of \Va«li<K' co.; W. H.
Brumlicld, A. Curry, an.l Aan.n" D. Trea.lway of Ornisl.y c-o. ; .1. M. Ackloy,
John Mc-UonaM Jr. ami .John H. Winters. Lyon co. ; RoWrt Finher and
Charles M. Tuttlc, Douglas co. ; William M. CJagptt and A. J. Simmons of
Humlx.ldt CO.; Arthur M. .Meke. 1, .F.ihn S. Hoss. and .1. M. ("aldtr. E-mc-r-
alda CO. .lohn H. Mills was sjicaker. William M. (;ille-<i)ie cliiof clerk.
Charles D. King a'<st clerk. .John Uowman sorgeant-at-arms, Charles T.
C*rt*r messenger, Charles Helm tircmau.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. iTg
his powerful influence to enlist the mining population
against the constitution, upon the pretext that it taxed
mining property, the ''poor miner's shafts and drifts
and bed-rock tunnels." The phrase, honest miner,
came to provoke a smile wherever heard, from the
frequency and effect with which the great lawyer
used it in his speeches. It was sufficient, with the
poHtical discord, to make abortive the work of the
constitutional convention.* The split in the party
appeared at the nominating convention which met at
Carson in December, C. N. Noteware president, A.
P. K. Safford secretary, to select candidates for the
state offices. It was there that the regular party,
under Thomas Fitch, the "silver-tongued," himself
an aspirant for the office of state printer, had its first
contest with the Stewart division. But it was at the
polls ^ that they felt the weight of the opposition
which overthrew them,' Of the nine newspapers four
supported the opposition,* three of the four giving
their support to the democratic party within a short
period thereafter, and the fourth in 1867.
^The members of the constitutional convention of 1863 were William G,
Alban, Nathaniel A. H. Ball, Charles H. Bryan, C. M. Brosnan, Samuel A.
Chapin, John A. Collins, Levi Hite, Miles N. Mitchell, Joseph R. Plunkett,
William M. Stewart, and James C. Corey, of Storey co. ; Frederick K. Bech-
teL, Henry Conner, James Stark, L. O. Stearns, and Samuel Youngs, of Es-
meralda; Edward B. Dorsey, George L. Gibson, J. Neely Johnson, John H.
Kinkead, and Warren Wasson, of Ormsby; Frederick A. Ent, Edward C.
Ing, John W. North, Charles S. Potter, Thomas B. Shamp, of Washoe;
William Epler, W. R. Harrison, and A. W. Nightingill, of Humboldt;
James W. Haines, C. N. Noteware, and James W. Small, of Douglas; Wil-
liam B. Hickok, George A Hudson, Frank H. Kennedy, James B. McClure,
and William H. Virden, of Lyon; Marcus D. Larrowe and James H. Ralston,
of Lander. W. M. Gillespie was sec, A. J. Marsh and Amos Bowman re-
porters, and H. M. Stow door-keeper.
^The vote stood, with Ormsby county left out, 2,157 for the constitution,
and 8,851 against it.
' The candidates put in nomination by the convention of December who
received the greatest number of votes at the special election in January 1864,
were John B. Winters congressman, M. N. Mitchell gov., M. S. Thompson
lieut-gov., R. S. Mesick, M. D. Larrowe, J. B. Harmon, judges of sup.
court, Orion C. Clemens sec. state, W. B. Hickok treas., E. A. Sherman
controller, H. G. Worthington atty-gen., A. F. White supt of instructions;
Alfred Helm clerk of sup. ct, G. W. Bloor state printer, H. M. Jones,
William Haydon, T. M. Pawling dist judges.
*The opposition papers were the Vin/inia Unhn, controlled by Fitch; the
Old Pah Ute , also of Virginia; and the Aurora, Tinges.
180
STATE ( : O V KIIN M ENT.
But tlioui^li (lisaitpoiiitttl, the frit nds of state j^ov-
erniiu'iit were not (.li.scoura<4e(I,a hill Leiiijj; intioduced
in the l-nited States senate, in Fehruaiy folK)\ving
tlie January defeat, autliorizinuj the }»et)i»le of Nevada
to frame a state constitution, wliicli was approved hy
tlie ]>resi<h'nt in March, and was f()lh)wed hy a proc-
lamation from Governor Xye callint; f»)r an elcciion
of delejj^ates on the Oth of June* to a constitutional
convention, to he lielil on the 4th of July at Caraou
State iin.AU
City. The form of framiuL^ anew a state constitution
was u;one throuj^h witii, the instrument heini; suh-
stantially the same as the one rejected, excci)t in the
* Unhuvillf, JluinlKililt, IfrijiHt^r, May 14, l.S(U. Storey co., wliore the
strongest oppositnui luul jtrcvailed, sent ISatliaiucl II. Ball, Coriu'liiis M.
Brosuaii, Saiiiufl A. C'liai>iii, .Jolui H. Collins, C'liarle.s E. De Lonj;. .losiali
Earl, Thomas Fitcli, Llnyil I'ri/tll, Alnion Uovey, Charles W. Toztr; Orinshy
CO. Hent iHrael Crawfonl, (JeiTgc L. (Jilison, .1. l>eely Jolinson, .1. II. Kin-
kea<l, anil A. J. l/<>ckwo(Kl; liuinlxililt co., James A. liank-i, E. F. |)unne,
an.l William Henry Jones; Wa^JMK; to., W. W. liil.Kn. M. H. Hra.ly, Cil-
nian N. Folsoni, (Jeorjje A. N'ourse, and James H. Sturtoviuit; Lyon co., J.
S. CroHsman, (Jeorne A. iiuil-tnn, Francis II. Kennodv, ami 11. (i. Parker;
Esmeralda CO., B. S. Mason, J. (J. McClintim, l>. Willin^;t<.n. and William
\yethcrill; I^in.ler co., E. A. M..rse, J. H. W.irwi. k. .md K. H. Wdliams;
Nyo CO., (created hy the Icifislatnrc of IWl it, Francis M. Proctiir and
Francis TaKliahue; "Chnrchill co.. Nelson E. Mnrdo.k; Ponirlas co.. J. W.
Hainej an<l Alhert I). Hawlcv. Johnson was preniilent. Wdliani M. (Jilles-
pie sec, Andrew W'hitford ass.st sec, A. J. Marsh n-p<.rter. T. M. Caraon
■erg. -at-arius, William E, Skecuc door-kee£)er, George Kichards l>age.
LO Y ALT Y TO THE UNION. 181 '
matter of taxation, the new constitution exempting
all property in mines and taxing only the products/"
Everything was put in order for adoption, even the
seal of state, which represented the sun rising over
mountains, an elevated railroad bridge supporting a
train of cars, a quartz-mill on the right with a load of
ore approaching it from the left, a plough and a sheaf
of wheat in the middle foreground, and around the
margin "Seal of the State of Nevada." The declara-
tion of rights, and of the paramount powers of the
federal government, were in the most liberal spirit,
and of the most intense loyalty, there having been up
to this time but one political party recognized, and
that the loyal party.
Battle-born, owing existence to an attack on the
integrity of the nation, and paying for it with a moun-
tain of precious metals, we should scarcely expect to
find this new commonwealth disloyal. California in
1861, while raising her regiments of volunteer infantry,
received a company from Nevada. In 1862 the 3d
regiment of California volunteers, under Colonel Con-
nor, commanding the military district of Utah and
Nevada, was stationed at the United States posts in
Nevada, with headquarters at Fort Churchill. Con-
nor issued an order, on taking possession, forbidding
the utterance of traitorous sentiments, or threats
against the loyal population ; and though having now
and then to put down disaffection by a show of force,
he had little trouble in maintaining good order, the
great majority everywhere being ready to give him
assistance. In 1863, an order being received to raise
a battalion of cavalry in Nevada, six companies were
formed, consisting of 500 men, and six companies of
infantry of about the same strength." These volun-
'^'^ Nev. Laws, i. cxxvi. ; KinhearTs Nevada and AJasTca, MS., 4.
'^ The first officer mustered into the service was J. H. Matthewson, who
opened a recruiting office at Gold Hill. He was commissioned Istlieutof Co.
B., Nevada Cav. Vol., N. Baldwin, capt. ; Co. A. being formed at the same
time at Silver city, E. B. Zabriskie, capt. Baldwin became major of the
182 STATE GOVERNMENT.
teers, like those of California and Oregon, were enlisted
with the promise of being sent to tight the battles of
the union when thoy should be sutticiently well
drilled ; but being needed on the frontier in sui)du-
ing hostile Indians, and su])i)ressing incipient civil
war, they never had the opportunity they craved.
They remained and performed their less distinguished
duty in Nevada and Utah. The militia organiziition
was also made the subject of legislative care at every
session."
But it was in contributions of money, so much
needed by the government and wounded soldiery,
that Nevada most exhibited the |)cople's patriotism.
Besides providing by law for the payment of her
quota of the war debt, the territory contributed
$163,581.07 in currency to the sanitary fund between
the years of 18G'2 and 18G5." Independently of this
was over 3175,000, raised by one individual, K. C.
Gridley, who, from being an open disunionist, was
transformed, in the performance of this charity, into
a loyal citizen.'* Nor were the legislators less mind-
battalion, and was placed in command at Fort Bridger. Zabriskie could have
had the position, but preferred to remain with his company. H. Dalt<m was
recruiting capt. of Co. C; (Jeorge Milo of Co. 1), Robert Dyon of Co. E. and
J. W. Calder of Co. F. Co. 1). was afterw.ird commanded by Capt. A. B.
Wells, and Co. E. by Robert C. Payne. Tiie infantry was commanded as
follows: Co. A., Capt. A. J. Close; Co. C, Capt. M. R. Uas-sett; Co. K
Capt. (i. A. Thurston; Co. F. Lieut W. G. Seamonds; Co. G, Capt VV. Wal-
lace; Co. H, Capt. A. K Kelly.
"The companies formed in 18G4 were Davton (Suards, Dayton Artillery,
Emmet Guar<l, of Como, Silver City Guard, and others. Jtin/tAtn SentineL,
July '2, Si-i)t. 3, and Dec. 3, 1SG4, and April 8, 1SG5; AVp. t'omy. Luwh, ii.
35ti-76; Vm StaltUeM, 1866, 22, 206, 267, 272; Nev. Jour. Sen., 187.3, App.
no. i. p. 18.
" Almariu B. Paul was secretary of the Nevada branch of the Sanitary
Commission. The above Hum, as given in Paul's report, <locs not include tlie
counties of Humboldt, Nye, and Ciiurchill, whicli nmst have given from
$6,000 to $10,000 more, d-ld Hill y,w». Sept, 8. 1865.
'♦The Griilloy sark of flour became historical. It was from a wager be-
tween two citizens of Austin, Lantler county, upon tiie result of a local elec-
tion. The republican candidate for mayor was elected. It was agreed that
the loser of the wager, which was a .')0 pound sack of flour, should carry it
to the winner, a disUnce of about a mile. Subse<juently it was 8Uggeste<l to
give the sack to the BaniUry commisHion. and amidst much mirth and en-
thusiasm it was put up at auction. Men bi.l against each other chicHy for
the sport it gave, and the person to whom it was knocked th.wn rt-turnetl it
to the auctioneer to 1)6 sold over again, until lf4,">4'.> in gold had l>een paid
in. Gridley caught at the idea of raismg a large sum iu thia uianuer. lie
PARTY POLITICS. 18t
ful of their expressions of loyalty, but passed reso-
lutions expressive thereof^' upon every fitting oppor-
tunity, enacting a law depriving those who were dis-
loyal from voting at elections. This was done not
less to hold in check the agents of a secret organi-
zation than to encourage the government.^*' Had
the schemes of Gwin and Lane been carried out, it
was expected that Nevada would be brought under
the new government, and of this design the union men
were not ignorant. They took possession of the ter-
ritorial government, and kept it until the period
when a state constitution was under consideration,
when the democrats proceeded to organize themselves
into a party, Frebruary 14, 1863, to strive for what-
ever share of the offices under the state government
they might be able to secure.
The only act looking toward insubordination was
the rejection of the national currency by incorporat-
ing in the practice act of 1863-4 a provision substan-
tially the same as the California specific-contract act,
by which gold only could be paid in cancellation of
debts where the contract read "payable in gold coin
of the United States;" but this did not receive the
sanction of the governor/'
The total vote on the acceptance of the constitu-
visited the towns on the Comstock. where he sold his sack of flour over and
over, until he took in $25,000 more in gold, after which he visited California,
obtaining altogether from these auctions alone $175,000. He then visited the
east, and added considerably to this great charity, giving a year of his life to
the mission. It is said that he injured his health by the excitement of the
campaign. At all events, he died in 1871 at Stockton. Stockton Evemimj
Mail, March 10, 1881; Hai-per's Mar/., June 1866, 34-6; S. F. Bulletin, May
19 and 25, 1864; Amtin Reese Rioer Reveille, June 4, 1864. Nev. Scraps, 238.
Among other gifts to the sanitary com. were several silver bricks. S. F. Call,
May 4 and Aug. 17, 1864; Como Sentinel, June 18, 1864. The last silver slab
was sent in 1865. Dayton Sentinel, Feb. 4, 1865.
^^ House Misc. Doc, 70, 37th cong. 2d sess.; Nev., Jour. Council, 1861, 82-
3, 102-3; Nev. Jour. House, 1861, 94, 199-201; Gold Hill News, Jan. 15, 1864.
"^ There was a provision introduced in the constitution enabling men in
the service of the U. S. to vote at elections. Nev. Constit. Debates, 1864, 915,
943; Nev. Laws, 1864, 81-5.
^''Parkers Lptter-BooJc, MS., 177-8. The Carson Appeal of Sept. 22d,
1869, says that Nevada paid nearly four times as much internal revenue
per capita as any other state, owing to the honesty and efficiency of her
officers.
184 STATE GOVERNMENT.
tion was 11,393, the majority iii favor of it, 9,131."
There were elected at the same time the members of
the le;4islature for 1864, and a dL'k'<^'ate to congress,
John Cradlebaugh, on the independent ticket. The
democratic candidate was A. C. Bradford, who was
beaten l)yCradlebaugh by sixty-five votes only. Fitch,
the republican candidate, was far behind. This was
a warning to the republican party. However, all
these elections went for nothing when the president
on the 3 1st of October proclaimed Nevada a state of
the union. As the presidential election was yet to
take place in November, a new election for repre-
sentatives and state officers was ordered to be held at
the same time." Two full tickets were put in the
field, but the republicans elected their candidates by
large majorities." The choice of the people fell upon
H. G. Worth ington of Lander county for member of
congress to fill the unexpired term ending in March
I8G5. H. G. Blasdel was chosen governor." Under
the constitution the state was divided into nine judi-
cial districts, one judge to be elected in each, with the
exception of the 1st district, comprising Storey county,
which might have three district judges.''
According to the constitution, also," the first legis-
^Xrr. CoDstit. DehakA, xiv., gives the majority at 9,091, but the Lander
county vote was not counted.
>» Congress changed the day fixed in the enabling act to bring the election
on this day.
»*The total vote at the election was 16,420; the majority for republican
presidential electors was .3,2.'i'2. The same majority, or near it, was given to
all the repidilican candidates except two. Nye county sent one democrat,
Frank M. Proctor, to the state senate; and Churchill county one democrat
to the a.ssembly, .James A. St Clair.
■■"J. S. Crossman lieut-gov., C. N. Noteware sec. state, A. W. Nightin-
S'U controller, E. Rhoades trea.s., A. F. White supt of jiublic instruction, S.
. Marlette sur.-gen., C. M. Brosnan, H. O. Ikatty, ami James F. Lewis,
sup. ct judges, fJeorge A. Nourse att'y-gen., Alfred Helm clerk of sup. ct.
"'lliere were elected in this <listrict C. IJurbaiik, K. S. Messick, and R.
Rising, judges. Ormsby co., vi^hich constituted tlie 2d ilistrict, elected S.
H. Wright: Lyon co., the 3d district, W. Ilayden; Waslioc and Roon, tlie
4th district, C. C.Goodwin; Nye and Churchill, tlie 5tli district, H. L. Bilker;
Humboldt, the 6th district, K F. Dunne: I^inder, the 7th district, W. H.
Beatty; Douglas, the 8th di.strict, D. W. Virgin; F.smeralda, the 9th district,
8. H. Chase. The district judges elected in 1S64 were to hold office until
January 1867, and after that their terms should be for four years. (JoUl IllU
Ne^Pt, Nov. 16. lSf>4; Nrr. Law^, 1S64, M.
**yrf. Law*, 18G4-5, Go, article xvii., sec. 12 of the constitution. The
FIBST STATE LEGISLATURE. 185
lature convened on the 12th of December," and on
being organized listened on the 14th to the message
of Governor Blasdel, which communicated to them,
amonor other facts affecting; the state, that the new
government had inherited from the territory a debt
of $264,000 exclusive of the expenses of the last con-
stitutional convention, and that to meet this indebt-
edness there was an empty treasury and an uncollected
tax of $70,000/' He recommended economy and
wise revenue laws; but, as I have already remarked
in another place, the state of Xevada has always been
burdened with debt, from habits of extravagance
originating in too great expectations, and from regard-
ing mining as the sole industry worth encouraging."'®
regular sessions thereafter were to begin on the first Monday in Jan. follow-
ing the election of members.
"The members of the first state legislature were: Senators N. W. Win-
ton. S. A. Kellogg, C. A. Sumner, and W. H. Claggett from Storey co. ; J.
S. Seely and A. J. Lockwood from O'-msby; James S. Slingeriand and
Charles Lambert from Washoe; Lewis Doron and John Ives from Esmeralda;
M. D. Larrowe and W. W. Hobart from Lander; M. S. Thompson and Fred-
erick Hutchins from Humboldt; J. W. Haines from Douglas; Alfred James
from Lyon and Churchill; and D. L. Hastings from Lyon. The assembly-
men were: "W. M. Cutter, Edwin Patten; Erastus Bond, W'. W. Bishop,
Charles W. Tozer, .James A. Rigbej', A. L. Greely, H. M. Bien, John Leavitt,
R. A. Ycung, James Bolan, and Jacob Smith of Storey co. ; S. C. Denson, J. E.
W. Carey, and L. C. McKeeby of Ormsbv; D. H. Brown, B. H. Nichols, and
J. Anson Dun of Humboldt, D. P. Walter, E. P. Sine, J. L. Hinckley, and
M. A. Rosenblatt of Lander; W. F. Toombs, W. G. Lee, and H. G. Parker
of Lyon; James Small and Henry Epstein of Douglas; A. C. Bearss of Xye;
L. M. Shackleford, H. H. Beck, and A. J. Myrick of Washoe; James A. St
Clair of Churchill; D. H. Haskell, D Wellington, John S. Mayhugh, and
Cyril Hawkins of Esmeralda. Xev. Sen. and Assem. Jours., 1864; GjUI Hill
News, Xov. 16, 1864. The senate was presided over by the lieutenant-gov-
ernor. The officers elected were L. B. ^loore secretary, Geo. R. Ammond
assistant secretary, Mr HoUister and George Wellington, enr. and eng. clerks,
Thomas Peasley sergeant-at-arms, and Hickey door-keeper. Ihe house
elected Charles W. Tozer speaker, W. M. Gillespie chief clerk, C. S. Ham-
mer eng. clerk, W. B. Fulwiler enr, clerk, J. M. Woodward sergeant-at-
arms. Nev. Jour. Sen., 10.
^ I am not able to reconcile this statement of Gov. Blasdell, which is un-
doubtedly correct, "vvith the report of Nye, in March 1864, that the territory
was not owing more than .815,000, which I find over his own signature in
Parker's Letter-Book, MS., 179, this authority being a book of copies of official
correspondence, taken with a press and therefore unaltered.
^*The taxes imposed by an act to provide revenue for the support of the
state government and payment of the public debt imposed a tax of 81. 25 on
each .8100 of taxable property, and a poll-tax of .54 on every male inhabitant
over 21 and under 60 years of age, not exempted by law. The county tax
was 81.50 on every SIOO. The sheriff of each county was made ex-otficio col-
lector of licenses at the following rates: Each public billiard table 85 per
quarter year; every bowling alley §10 per quarter; theatres 8100 per month,
IW STATK (;o\ KKNMKXT.
But whatever errors it tVU into its loyult}- roinained ;
and even before liearinj^ the messiige of tlie execu-
tive a resolution was ottered in tlie house by liieu of
Storey county, coni^ratulatiMj^ tlie country on the
reelection of Lincoln, an<l |)ledL;iii*j; the lives, honor,
and fortunes of Nevada iu support of the ^^>vern-
ment," which was made a joint resolution by the
senate on the 1st of February. On the 2i)th of
December the senate i)assed a con^^^ratulatory reso-
lution ottered by Sunnier to (jleneral ISherinan on the
desi;4n and brilliant execution of his "march to the
sea," which was concurred in by the assembly. On
the IGtli of February the senate and assembly rati-
fied the thirteenth amendment to the constitution of
the United States by which slavery was abolished.
But to return to more purely local affairs. On the
15th of December, both houses being organized, they
proceeded to the election of two United States sena-
tors, Stewart, Nye, Charles E. Dc Long, Cradle-
baugh, and B. C. Whitman being nominated. Stewart
or $-j a ilay fur a shorter time than a montli; if for three months $'200; ami if
for a year 5^000; concert singers paiil tlie same license as theatrical i»erform-
er.s: a single exhibition of a menagerie or a circus was taxetl i:'20; tight-rojje
dancers, jugglers, and such folk were taxed $10 a day; a i)awnl>ri>ker $100
per quarter; a keeper of an intelligence oHice $1.") j»er (iiiarttr. Brokers were
divided into five classes, according to the amount of their Imsincss, and taxed
respectively, §100, iSO, $oO, §:iO, and $'M per cpiartcr. liankers were also
classitie.l, and taxed respectively $200, §150, §100, §7"), and §.')0 jKjr month.
All venders of any kind of wares, merchandise, liipiors, drugs, or kee|H?rs of
livery were ilivided into ten classes, according to their receipts, and taxed
resiMJctivcly §.".0, §:i7, $•-';'», $'J0, §1."), $10, §7. :>'.>. $.">. $;{.7"», and §•_' 50 per
month; hut retailers of liipiors were taxed §10 a month, and hotel keeper*
who kept a har outside the limitji of any town were taxed §ir> a quarter.
Hotels aiiil hoarding and l(Mlging houses were taxed §10 and %^5 a month;
jjcddlers on foot an<l auctioneers 5^10 a month; peddlers using a wagon for tho
vending of any merchandise or li<|uors, oranytliing except fruits and vegeta-
bles, $"J0 a month. A capiution tax of §1 upon each inrsoii leaving the btat«
by any railroa<l, stage-coach, or any vehicle emph>yea in jiassenger carrying,
wai also levied, and charged upon tho companies engaged in such traflic, such
comjianies adding the amount to their fares. As the coaches always were
well loa<le<l with passengers this w;is a fruitful source of nvunue, amounting
in some years to ?!*J0,000. An ad valorem tax of §1 on each §100 valuation
of the pnnluct of all mines, after deducting tho cost of extracting and reduc-
ing the ores, was levied; and lastly a stain|>-taX was imiioscd on a;rreement«,
affidavits, assignments, leases, bills of exchange, and almost all do<ument«
employed in business affairs of from two cents to §1, wliicli was a soune of
no ineonsiileralde revenue. A'<^'. hm-M, 18<>4 5. 'J71 !<-4. The state wan em*
powered to issue IkukIs to the amount «>f §150,000.
n JVer. Jour. Astern., l8(>4-5, 17; Nev. Jour. 6rn., 18G4-5, 99.
ELECTION. 187
was elected on the first ballot.'' Then followed a
number of ballotmgs for a senator among the remain-
ing candidates, Nye receiving on every one the great-
est number of votes, but not enough to elect him, and
De Long receiving the next greatest number. An
adjournment took place, which permitted the presen-
tation of informal arguments, and at the first ballot
on the 16th Nye was elected. That Stewart brought
his great influence to bear there can be no doubt.
Nevada thereby gained a representation in the senate
of which a young state might justh^ be proud, and
which was of the greatest value to the country at
large, when uncompromising republicanism was de-
manded to reestablish its dignity among the nations.
The presidential elector chosen to convey the vote of
Nevada to Washington in 1864 was S. T. Gage.''
The term for which Worthington had been elected
to congress expiring in March, it became necessary to
provide a successor at the general election of Novem-
ber 7, 1865. About the only issue of importance at
this time, the civil war having been brought to a close,
followed quickly by the tragedy at Ford's theatre in
Washington, when the revengeful hand of political
fanaticism struck down the most devoted and pure-
es The newspapers accused Stewart of working himself into the U. S. sen-
ate through his manipulation of ' the honest miner.' The voice of Stewart's
honest miner was heard above all crying, 'Hurrah for the state of Nevada,
and William M. Stewart for the first chosen senator.' Nev. Scraps. It is
said that Stewart sent word to Cradlebaugh that if he would resign to him
all the patronage due to Nevada's senators, his election should be secured;
but Cradlebaugh refused the proposition.
^^Gage, an intense unionist, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, March
7, 1831. His father, Joshua Gage, a man of sterling qualities, was one the
eai-ly pioneers in Ohio. Stephen, who worked during summer, and attended
school in winter, began teaching upon his graduation, at the age of nineteen;
teaching, farming, and conducting a saw-mill alternately up to 1852. During
this year he crossed the plains with an ox-team, driving the entire distance
himself, and making the quickest trip across the plains on record. In Cali-
fornia he engaged in milling, mining, and merchandizing. In 1856, at the
age of twenty-four years, he was elected to the legislature, being the young-
est member of that body. He was one of the committee who drafted an
able report on the important question of a transcontinental railroad. He
held various offices up to 1860. During this and the succeeding year he en-
aged in transporting goods over the Sierra Nevada to the Washoe mines,
IS pack-trains being the largest on the road.
188 STATE GOVERNMENT.
miiidcd of ruler?," was that of the Pacific railroads,
which Nevada, in coinmon with the whole Pacific
coast, very much desired to have built at the earliest
possil)le period. On a plediije to lal)or for tliis end
Delos R. Ashle}^ was elected Nevada's re^jresenta-
tive."
Under the constitution of Nevada, members of con-
gress were chosen only at the ^I'neral elections for
state officers and leyjislators, all terms expiring on the
dav succeedinir the next general election. The terms
of those elected in 18G5 expired in November 18GG,
and biennially thereafter." This provision made
another election for congressman necessary in 18G6,
when Ashley was reelected by a majority over his
democratic opponent, H. K. ^litchell, of 4,37G, the
issues involved in President Johnson's policy influenc-
ing tlie vote of the people. By the same majority
Blasdel was reelected governor. The changes made
in the official list were J. S. Slingerland, lieutenant-
governor; R. W. Parkinson controller; A. N. Fisher
superintendent of public instruction ; Robert M.
Clarke attorney-general; and J. E. Eckley state
printer.
The terms alloted to senators Stewart and Nye
were four and two years. Nye drawing the two years
la 1S62 he became a resident of Virginia City, ■where he was prominent
in federal and state politics. Later, lie luid nnich to do witli railroad mat-
ters. He was invaluable to the Central raoitic road during the early strug-
{fles of that corporation. His arguments before legislative committees were
ogical and ingenious, stamping hnn as a man of marked ability.
In 1871 he rem jved to San Francisco. He was the only officer of the
road located outside of Sacramento at that date. Later, he removed to
Oakland, Cal. In ISS.l he was appointed assistant president of the South-
ern Pacific system of railroads.
»• It would be unjust to the Nevadans not to mention tiie feeling with
which the news fif Lincoln's as.sassination was received. Every town and
hamlet was hung witli funeral black, and the expression of men's facis plainly
indicated their mingled grief and wrath. The man at (iold Hill who wa*
boM enough to express gratification at the president's deatli, was summarily
8trippe<l, Hogged, and marcheil to prison with a placard on his back inscrilHjd
'a traitor to his country.' Gold Hill Nnnn, April \^, 17, 20, 18G5.
"There were two other republican aspirants, W. H. Haggett and Charles
A. Sumner. The democratic nominee was H. K. Mit.hell. .Nshlcy's majority
was l,47t>. He took his seat Dec. 21, 18(55. lloiueJvur., 101, SDth cong. Ist
sess.
»» Nev. Lam, 18G4-5, 05; /(/., 18GC, 223.
POLITICS. 189
term, and becoming a candidate for reelection by the
legislature in January 1867, when he was returned for
the six 3'ears' term commencing in March/^ In the
republican convention of September 1868 Stewart
was again put in nomination for senator against De
Long, who withdrew to prevent a rupture in the party,
but was subsequently compensated by the position of
minister to Japan, which office he filled with distinc-
tion. The same convention which nominated Stewart,
also nominated Thomas Fitch ^* for congressman,
without opposition. Stewart was elected on the first
ballot. At the state and presidential election in
1868 all the republican candidates were chosen/''
including Fitch for congressman, with the exception
of nine democratic members of the legislature.
All over the Pacific coast the close of the civil war
had been followed by the reorganization of the demo-
crats and their gradual return to power. It took them
twenty j^ears to become strong enough to elect a pres-
ident of the United States ; but for congress, and for
various offices under state and territorial organiza-
tions, they received the sufi'rages of a fearless and
magnanimous people with only a little less impartial-
ity than of old. In 1870 this party elected its can-
didates to most of the important offices in the state of
^The other nominees -were Charles E. De Long, John B. Winters, Thomas
Fitch, and Thomas H. Williams. De Long accused Nye of fraud in the ad-
ministration of Indian affairs M'hen ex othcio supt, and the contest hecame
very bitter. The legislature "was compelled to take notice of accusations of
corruption in the senatorial election, and appointed a committee of 5 to in-
vestigate the charges. This committee reported to the legislature in special
session in March that their clerk, J. V. Wheelhouse, had absconded with
all the papers relating to the matter, •which might very properly be construed
as a confession of persistent corruption in the accuied. The testimony se-
cured from witnesses M-ent to show that De Long would have been elected
but for money offered Ijy the friends of Nye, and taken by representatives
Robert C'ullen, J. E,. Jacobs, and two others. Xev. Jour. Assem., 1S67, 342-6.
2*Fitch was born in X. Y. city Jan. 27, 1S.3S. One of his ancestors was
the last colonial governor of Connecticut, and another commanded the New
England regiment during the French war; therefore Fitch had blue Idood.
He had only a common school education, however, and started out in life as
a clerk in an importing house. In 1859 he engaged in journalism on the Mil-
waukee/"rc^ Democrat. In 18G0 he came to Cal., and 4 years afterward
began the practice of law. Elliot d: C'o.'s Hist. Ariz., 289.
^ The governor held over until loTO. John Day was elected sur-gen., H.
K Migheh state printer, B. C. Whitman and J. Neely Johnson sup. judges.
190 STATE GOVEIINMFA'T.
Nevada, namely, that of govi^riior, L. 11. Bradley;
lieutt'iiat)t-<^nvcrn<)r, Frank Denver; treasurer, Jerry
Selioolin;^: state printer, CliarKs L. Perkins; supreme
jud«re, Jnlm (jlarl)er; attorney-^'eneral, L. A. Buck-
iier." Tliey also elected the member of congress,
Charles Kendall. What is remarkable about this
change of party sentiment and power is its com])lcte-
ness, the majorities on the democratic side beinoj f^iHy
as large as they had formerly been on the re[)ublican
side. Where the latter had been accustomed to have
more than double the votes 'of the democrats, the
democrats had now double the votes of the re[)ubli-
cang. This change was brought about largely by the
unpo]>ularity of F. A. Tritlc, the Republican candi-
date for ( Tovernor, who was supposed to be a favorite
of the l^ank of California. This corporation having
large mining and milling interests in the State, had
gained the enmity of the workingmen, who raised the
cry "Anti-bank," to tlic detriment of the liepublicans.
In 1872, Nye's term drawing near its close, there
entered the ])olitical arena a power greater than party,
patriotism, or talent, which was money. The repre-
sentatives of this wt)rld-moving lever were two men
well known in connection with mines, railroads, and
banks, but hitherto not notable in politics. One was
William Sharon, born of Quaker parents in Ohio in
1821. Like many famous men, he had once ownc^d
an interest in a flat-boat, but failing to make it jtrofit-
able had studied law, which mental training proved
useful to him in his sul)sequent career of merchant,
speculator, banker, and railroad manipulator. Op-
posed to Sharon in the race for the senatorship was
John Percival Jones, a mining operator whose business
it was to bull the stock market, and in which he
made both money and adherents, being considered
the friend of the miners, and named by the jjress the
" Nevada commoner." The commoner now desired
**Tlie rrjMiMican candidatos elected were the sec. of stAte, J. D. Minor;
con., W. ^^ . Ilnhart; A. N. FisluT, ttupt of luililic instruction ; .Tulin Day,
■ur-gen.; mineralogist, II. li. Wliitchill; clerk of sup. court, Alfred Helm.
PURCHASABLE POSITIOXS. 191
to step up higher and become a senator. It was
expected that the race would be to the most bounti-
ful, and, therefore, it was said that Sharon, with the
Pacific railroad at his back, was endeavoring to pull
down the stock market in order to disable liis rival.
He accused Jones of himself forcing down stocks by
causing the fire in the Yellow^ Jacket mine, whereby
several lives were lost and much damage sustained, in
order to buy up the stock of Savage at a profit.^'
Such was the nature of the contest. Sharon finally
withdrew, and Jones had opposed to him only Nye;
for there was still a republican majority in the legis-
lature; but the people were pleased with their rich
commoner, and no longer regarded the claims of their
poorer Gray Eagle, the sobriquet applied to Xye.
Jones received fift\'-three out of seventy-two votes in
the legislature of 1873, and took his seat in March.
Nye died December, 25, 1876.''
The republican candidate for congressman, C. C.
Goodwin, was defeated in 1872 by Charles W. Ken-
dall, reelected on the democratic ticket, but the party
gained the presidential electors by over 2,000 major-
ity ; also the supreme judge and state printer, the
only state officers voted for."*'
The senatorial contest of 1874 was another struo".
gle between men with large moneyed interests princi-
pally. The democrats again chose in convention
Thomas H. Williams, and the republicans William
Sharon. A third, or independent, party had for its
leader Adolph Sutro, who feared if Sharon should be
elected it would redouble the power of the bank of
California and Comstock lode, against which he was
making his great fight for the Sutro tunnel. Party
lines were less rigidly drawn than ever before. There
" Jones was supt of Crown Point in 1869. He risked his life in an en-
deavor to extinguish the fire.
J^Nev., Jour. Sen., 1873, app., no. 12; S. F. Call, Jan. 24 and March 29,
187.3. Of republicans who aspired to the seuatorship at this time were ex-
Governor Blasdel aud F. A. Tritle; among the democrats there were Thomas
H. Williams, .Judge Garber, and Henry I. Thornton. Gold Hill Xews, Aug.
19, 1872; S. F. Bulletin, Dec. 28, 1876.
^* Thomas P. Hawley judge, and C. A. V. Putnam printer.
192 STATE UOVI-IRXMENT.
were some men on the intk-pendont ticket from both
the other })arties, but more from the democratic than
the republioai* ticket. Tliis insured tlie reelection o(
Governor Bradley, the election of Jewett W. Adams
]ieut(.'iuiiit-Lj;overnor, J, R. KittivU attorney-j^eneral,
J. J. Hill state ])rinter, and J. Schooling treasurer;
the remaining offices being given to the republicans,
who also elected their candidate for congressman,
William Woodi)urn of Storey county/' The legisla-
ture consisted of forty-seven ri'publicans and twenty-
eight democrats, the full number of members allowed
by tlie constitution. There was not one democrat
among the fourteen members from Storey county —
all were republicans, and represented a constituency
nearly all of whom were interested in the Comstock
mines, which they had been told would be ruined by
the Sutro tunnel. To prevent this ruin Sharon must
be elected, and was elected" in January 1875, to suc-
ceed Stewart, for the six-years' term. Fitch assum-
ing the labor of the campaign. But to his coadjutor,
Jones, was left the duty of representing the interests
of Nevada. Sharon did not take his seat until Feb-
ruary 187G, and was continually absent from the
begiiming of the session, commencing in October
1877, to January 1880,*' attending to his money mat-
ters. No honor accrued to him or to the state
through such representation.
The state congressional and presidential election of
187G gave results showing the very gradual restora-
tion of the ante-bellum political balance. Again the
republicans obtained the presidential electors, their
representative in congress, Thomas Wren, and su-
preme judge, O. R. Leonard. They still had a large
♦•J. D. Minor M-as chosen secretary of state, W. W. Hobart controller,
S. P. Kelly siipt of i)ul>lic instruction, John Day siir-^en., 11. 1{. W hitehill
niineralogi^it, \V. II. Heatty sup. judge, Warren Karll sup. judge (short
term), and C T. liicknell clerk sup. corut.
*' The oilier aspirants were H. K. Mitchell and Thomas P. Hawley.
*''Sen. Jnur., I'iO, 44th coMg. l.sts(-ss.: A/., <), 140, 4.'>th cong. Istsesa.;
/</., fi, 1)48, 4."Hh cong. 2d8ess.; /'., G-7, :>57, 4t)th cong. 1st seas.: Id., 85,
912, 4Gth cong. 2d sess.
NEW OFFICIALS. 193
majority in the assembly, but in the senate the dem-
ocrats had a majority of one, A movement to call a
convention to revise the constitution, and also to
change the time of the beginning of the fiscal year
from the 31st to the 1st of December, was set on foot
by a resolution of the legislature, passed February 18,
1875, and voted upon at this election, there beino- a
majority of 3,341 against it, and against the design
of the agitators to abolish the tax on mining products.
In the political canvass of 1878 this matter of refus-
ing to repeal the tax on bullion was made a plank
in the republican platform, but afterward withdrawn
through the influence of the bonanza firm. The re-
publican candidate for congress, Rollin M. Daggett,
was nominated without opposition in his own party,
and elected against W. E. F. Deal of Storey county,
democrat. J. H. Kinkead, republican, was elected
governor over L. R. Bradley, whom even his political
opponents regretted to have beaten, on account of his
incorruptible honor and practical judgment in affairs.**
Every state officer on the ticket was elected, except
the superintendent of public instruction and the lieu-
tenant-governor, for which position R. H. Mighels,
the brilliant and patriotic journalist, had been nomi-
nated. His defeat was owing to the fact that he had
openly advocated the cause of the Chinese, going so far
as to compare them with men of Irish and Cornish
birth, to the detriment of the latter, and when confront-
ed with his utterances, attempted neither to explain
or deny them. The regrets of his admirers were not
lessened by his untimely death in 1879, which
^ Kinkead was bom in Pa 1826, removing with his parents to Ohio when
an infant. At the age of 18 years he began going west, first to St Louis,
then in 1849 to Salt Lake, where he engaged in business and remained 5
years, coming to Cal. in 1854. In Jan. 1856 he married a daughter of J. C.
Fall of Marysville, and went to New York city for a year, where he was in
business, but returned to Marysville, and finally settled in Nevada in 1860,
and was appointed territorial treasurer. From that time he has been con-
nected with the political history of Nevada. In 1867 he visited Alaska with
the government expedition under Gen. J. C. Davis. I have in my collection
a manuscript narrative of his participation in public affairs, In Nevada and
Alaska, in which is much valuable information,
Hist. Nev. 13
194 STATE GOVERNMENT.
removed him beyond the possihihty of reparation at
some future time.**
In order to make more clear tlie anomalous condi-
tion of Nevada politics, it is necessary to consider the
local influences brought to bear upon elections. As
has already been stated, the first constitution formed
taxed all mines in the same manner that other prop-
erty was taxed, and for that reason was rejected by a
mining population, led by able and well-paid agents
of the great mines. The accepted constitution ex-
empted from taxation everything but the proceeds in
bullion. The revenue law passed by the first state
legislature provided that twenty dollars per ton, the
assumed cost of reducing the ores, might be deducted
from the gross products, and that only three fourths
of the remainder should be taxed. This discrimina-
tion in favor of mining property, though evidently
unconstitutional, was not referred to the courts at
that time. Meanwhile the Comstock mines were
yielding an aggregate of $15,000,000 or $17,000,000
annually, and the amount which under the constitu-
tion was due the state and Storey county, had accu-
mulated to a vast sum on the Comstock mines alone.
In 18G7 suit was brought before Judge S. H. Wri<^ht
...
of the 2d district, to test the constitutionality of the
** The repuMican candidates elected, Iwisides those I have mentioned,
were: Jasper Babcock sec. of state, L. L. Crockett treas., J. F. }l:ill<>ck
coiit., A. J. Hatch Hur-ceii., Thomas V. Hawley sup. judge, A. M. Muq)hy
ptty-gi-n.. C. F. Bicknell clerk sup. court.
Ou the democratic ticket were Jewett W. Adams lieut-gov. (elected),
(Seorge W. Baker sec. of state, K. M. Elstner cont., J. E. Jones treas., D.
R. Sessions supt of ouUic instruction (elected), S. H. Day sur.geu., F. \V.
Cole snp. judge, J. It. Kittrell attorney -general, Richard Rule clerk of the
supreme court.
Lewis R. Bradley, horn in Va in 180G, hocan life as supt of a farm at fSO
per year, Ijeing promoteil to he purcha.ser of horses and mules. In 184.3 he
removed to Ky, and the following year to Mo., where he remained until
]8.Vi, when ho migrated to Cal. with a hand of cattle. The next year he
returned to the states, and brought out horses, mules, and sheen, on which
ho made large profits. In 1HG2 he settled in I-Amler Co., where ne has fol-
lowed stock-raising. His wife was Virginia Willis of Va. Jolm R. Bradley
was horn in Va in 1S35, and married in Mo. in IS.IT. Tiie father sctth-d in
Elko CO. in 1S()6, heing a jiioneer of tliat ji.irt of the state. He had he«'ii co.
com. and treas. of Elko co., and his son, Jolin R., has held the same offices
after him. A. M. Hdlhouae was nominated for U. S. senator. Nevada Slate
Journtil, Nov. 17, 1878.
LEGISLATION AXD TAXATIOX. 195
revenue law as it related to mining property, and at
the same time an extra session of the legislature was
called to deal with this particular subject. Before
the decision of the court was rendered pronouncing
the former law unconstitutionai, the special legisla-
ture had abolished it, and passed others still more
favorable to the mining interest, and especially to the
mines of Storey county, where the tax was limited
to twenty-five cents on ever}' $100 worth of bullion.
These proceedings kept the matter in the courts and
put off the day of reckoning when the bank of Cali-
fornia, represented by William Sharon, and control-
ling all the then paying mines on the Comstock,
would have to pay up its indebtedness to the state
and county.
But in 1869 and 1870 new complications arose.
Sharon had been able in the former year to induce
the legislature to authorize Storey county to issue its
bonds for 3300,000 to constitute a gift to the Virginia
and Truckee railroad company, his particular and
favorite enterprise, a levy of one-half of one per cent
to be made annually on the county property to meet
the interest of these bonds and create a sinking fund.
It became a question with the railroad company,
namely the bank of California, how to avoid paying the
tax upon one species of their property to discharge the
interest on money presented to them by the county.
As usual, resort was had to the legislature, and a new
law passed which classified ores, and exempted accord-
ing to class, those which were rated below 812 a ton
being allowed ninety per cent for the cost of reduction ;
under $30 and over 812 eighty per cent; under 8100
and over $30 sixty per cent; and over SlOO fifty per
cent, provided it could be proved that this was the
cost of reducing them. What was left of the pro-
ducts of the mines was taxable,, except in the case of
those where the Freiberg process was used, when a
further exemption of 815 was allowed. This law
enabled the Comstock owners to work their low grade
196 STATE GOVERNMENT.
ores without tax, for it was easy oiiou'^h to sliow tliat
the cxponse covercHl all or nearly all the i)r()cee(ls;
and at this time the bonanzas in the «)1l1 mines were
worked out.
But almost simultaneously witli this legalized de-
fiance of the constitution, Fair and Mackay discovered
the trreat bonanza in the Consolidated Virt^inia and
California mines, which soon be«j;an to produce over a
million dollars a month, makinj^ this firm a powerful
rival of the bank of California, which did not desire
the new money kin<^s to enjoy the same exemption
which had been so advantaj^eous to itself The Sharon
interest, therefore, ofiered n(j ojjposition when, in 1874,
the people at lar«:je, and Storey county iu particular,
elected their representatives with the pledge that
they would enact a more rii^hteous law than had yet
been enacted concerning the taxation of the mines.
To this end, Senator John Pii)er of Storey county
})repared a hill which passed without opposition in
February 1875, niakinj^ the products of the mines
taxable at the rate of $1.50 on every $100, or at the
same rate that other property was assessed.
It was now the turn of the bonanza firm to protest,
partly because the new law seemed to discriminate
between them and the bank of California, which had
been helped to evade payin^^ a just tax on its property,
and greatly l)ecause they were forced to pay so large
a ])roportion of bonds of the Virginia and Truckee
railroad, which they believed had instigated the
change. They set up a plea that the new law was
unconstitutional and refused to pay any taxes at all,
by their action forcing the people to make up the
deficit. The matter became a political issue at the
election of 1870, both parties insisting on no more
compromises with the great mining corporations, and
every candidate being compelled to pledge; himself
not to vote for a reduction of the tax on bullion.
The report of the controller at the opening of the
session showed a balance of the state debt unprovided
RULE OF THE COMSTOCK FIRMS. 197-
for amounting to $108,429.71, of which $74,678.53
was then due. Adding to this the estimated cost of
running the state government for two years, or until
another meeting of the legislature, $894,250.85, and
the state would be owing about a milHon dollars,
while the state revenue less the tax on mines would
not reach $800,000.*' The mining tax, less the
bonanzas, should the yield continue the same, would
reduce the amount of debt $64,464, but there would
still be a deficit of $193,255 to be met. This state
of public affairs shook the nerves of the legislators.
To add to the uneasiness of the Storey county mem-
bers, it was seen that the refusal to pay taxes by Fair
and Mackay would compel the county to borrow
$100,000 to carry on its schools and pay for its court-
house.
Two courses lay open to the legislature: to increase
the state and county debt by borrowing, or compro-
mise with the bonanza firm. They decided to violate
their pledges and compromise. A bill passed both
houses which was the essence of a contract entered
into between Fair and Mackay on one side and
Storey county officials and state officers of finance
on the other. It reduced the bullion tax 31^ per
cent, which was equal to giving up 20 per cent of the
entire property value of the state. The price agreed
upon for this submission was the payment of the tax
withheld in the past by the bonanza firm. After
deliberating two or three days Governor Bradley
vetoed the bill, and the question was left with the
supreme court, where it was likely to be decided in
favor of the state of Nevada.
In May another attempt at compromise was made,
this time succesfully. The bonanza firm offered to
pay all that was due from them under the law to the
state and county, with the costs of the suits instituted
to collect, if the recipients would agree that in case
^ The controller figured $12,643.47 too high on the expenses, and too low
on the revenue by $93,626.20.
lOB STATE GOVERNMENT.
the decision of the Uiiitetl Statt^s supreme court was
ai^aiiist tlieui, the district court of Stony county
■would issue a stay of execution for tlic satisfaction of
so much of the judgnient as inchided the penalties for
contempt and the piTcents, until the 1st of April,
187*J. This offer heinj,' a<-cepted, $21)0,275. 7l! wa.s
paid down two days before the svpremc court decided
in favor of the state. The lejj^islature, as had been
tacitly understood, passed an act in 1871) releasing the
bonanza firm from j)aying the i)enalties due the state
and the county of Storey. The attoniey-general of
Nevada, however, requested that the constitutionality
of the act might be tested, with the result that the
court ordered the payment of $77,578.22, the amount
of the penalties unpaid."
From what has gone before it will bo perceived how
really little national politics hail to do with politics in
Nevada during the rule of the Comstock firms. The
republican majority in the legislature in 1871) was
thirteen in the senate and thirty-two in the assembly,
making secure the return of J. P. Jones to the Uni-
ted States senate. Jones had, as chairman of the
monetary commission in 187C, done himself and his
state great credit b}^ his report.
This commission particularly concerned Nevada as
a silver-producing state, its duty being to inquire into
the change which had takt'ii place in the relative
value of gold and silver, the causes thereof, and
whether ]»ermanent or not; its effect ujion trade,
commerce, finance, and the productive interests of the
country, and upon the standard of value in our own
and foreign countries; also into the policy of the restor-
ation of the double stiindard in this country, and the
legal relations between the two coins if restored ; and
**Tlio case wa« api>cale(l in Nov. 1880, and dociileil in tho sup. court
•gainst tho comimny. Another attenipt waa mailo liy tho leKiflature in IsSl
to rulcaHo the l>oiiunza company, hut <iov. Kinkt-ad votoed tiiulidl. Mis ac-
tion wai applauded liy the majority. C'lrti'tn /lutu; March 4, 1881; I'injiuia
City Chronicle, March 4, 1881; Luinb'g Eurly Mhiiwj CitiiipM, MS., 4.
MONET AKY STANDARDS. 199
farther, into the poUcy of continuing legal-tender
notes concurrently with the metallic standards, with
the effects thereof upon the labor, industries, aad
wealth of the country; lastly, also, into the best
means of providing for the resumption of specie pay-
ments. Nothing so thoroughly exhaustive of these
questions had ever been presented to congress, and
the view taken was favorable to the interests of
Nevada, and particularly, at that time, to the Com-
stock mines. Therefore, he received the votes of all
the republicans in the legislature, and one of the
democratic members. The legislation of congress
upon the question of a double standard for money had
affected the mining interests of Nevada sensibly.
In July 1870 an act was passed to refund the national
debt, the government engaging to pay at some future
time $2,000,000,000 in coin of the value of the coin-
age of that date. The units of value of coinage
were dollars consisting of 41 2 J of standard silver and
25fo grains of that of standard gold. In 1873 the
holders of the United States bonds, and bonds of the
French government, made a movement in Europe to
demonetize silver in order to compel the payment of
these bonds in gold only, Germany being the first to
come into the arrangement. Such influences were
brought to bear in the United States that congress,
in revising and codifying the mint and coinage laws
of the country, omitted the silver dollar from the list
of coins, and it being the only silver coin which was
a full legal tender, became thereby demonetized, and
the people were compelled to pay the national and
private indebtedness in gold alone. The product of
gold being irregular, and growing less with the
increase of population, as well as the decrease of the
metal, it was considered to work not only a present
hardship by raising the price of gold in the market,
but to threaten at some future time to make the
people slaves to the bondholders, by compelling them
to yield so much more of their labor and property for
200 STATE OOVERXMEXT.
a dollar in gold than thev would have to do were
there a double standard as before. Silver had already
depreciated twenty per cent in 1878, when congress
required the secretary of the treasury to purchase, at
the lowest market price, not less than two nor nu»re
than four millions a month to be coined into standard
dollars for circulation, the government speculating in
the difference in commercial value, but without restor-
ing the silver dollar to its equality with the gold one.
Tliis was the status of silver in the currency of the
United States, while the questi(jn of restoring it to
its former value was becoming one of the foremost
subjects with which statesmen had to deal, and one
of vital inq)ortance to the state of Nevada. By
1885 the silver question was regarded as a political
issue, and the public was much interested in knowing
what course a democratic administration would pur-
sue with regard to it. A silver convention was lield
at Carson January 31st. The voice of the conven-
tion was that demonetizing silver \vould double the
riches of the rich, and in the same proportion increase
the burdens of the laboring and producing classes.
The Nevada Silver Association was formed, with a
constitution and by-laws, the object of which was to
insist upon the retention of silver as mone3\ The
meeting also indorsed the proceedings of the silver
convention held at Denver, Colorado, at which Kan-
sas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming,
and Arizona were represented."
" ProrefiUnrjn of the Xnyvla Sihyr Convention^ ISS.*!; Parijic Coast Mining
Review, 1878-0, OT-IOS; Jones S}>e,rh on the Silt^rQu>s(inn, April 24, 187G;
Jonea' Spetrh on the. 0}rtion>tl St'iml'inl, June 'J8 an»l July 1">, 187(5; Jones
Speech on Silver Drnionctiz/iti'in, Fel). 14, 1878; Carson Ajypeal, July 14, 1876;
8. F. Chronirle, March 2, 1885; Proceediwjs of Uie Xewula Silver Convention,
188.x
A monograph upon the Bilver question called A Pka for Silver Coiiuvje
awl Uie Duuhle StamUinl, \^\^. 1.19, written by T. B. Buchanan, and puhlished
at Denver in 1885, attempts to explain the money <|ue»ti<)n as affecting
values. It is a good, common sense treatise, l>ut shows what its author
claims, that the science of political economy cannot all Imj contained in one
book, and has never been completely formulated. A nnich more trenchant
treatment is that contained in a dictation on The Silt>r Qiiestinn by Wm M.
Stewart in my ^ioiweiisiou, the body of which ia aUo contained in a pamphlet
DEMONETIZATION OF SILVER. 201
President Cleveland in Febuary 1885 expressed
views contrary to the retention of silver in circulation
on a par with gold, and immediately the conflict over
silver revived, and was carried on vigorously, the
battle being chiefly between eastern bankers and
western silver producers. In his message to congress
in December he elaborated his views more fully. It
brouo-ht out some interestingr facts and fio-ures. The
statement of the director of the United States mint
for the year ending June 30, 1885, was that the decline
in gold production on the Pacific coast from 1881 to
1885, inclusive, was $8,070,438.07. 'The deposits of
gold and silver at the San Francisco mint was
$25,399,707.10, or $5,000,000 less than the preceding
year. The Nevada mint was closed this year, the
mining industry once centering in Carson " being
practically reduced to nothing," and the institution
being conducted simply as an assay office. It has
since been closed. With regard to the country in
general, there was deposited at the United States
mints during the year $52,894,075.09 in gold, and
$36,789,774.92 in silver, the total coinage value of
which was $89,683,850.01, an increase over the pre-
vious year of $1,728,726.09. The imports of gold
bullion into the United States during the year was
$11,221,846.45 ; the exports of gold bullion, $395,750,
being a gain in gold of $10,826,096.45. The imports
of silver bullion amounted to $4,530,384 ; the exports
to $20,422,924, being a loss of $5,066,444. The pro-
with that title issued in San Francisco in 1S85. The sub-title is an expres-
sion of the author's views, running as follows: 'Bondholders' conspiracy to
demonetize silver; legislation affecting national debt, and gold and silver;
unfaithful treasury officials; hostility of national banks; independent finan-
cial policy for the United States; free coinage or enforcement of existing
laws. ' Mr Stewart shows the absurdity of permitting foreign bondholders to
regulate American finance, and ridicules President Cleveland's action ia
sending a commissioner, Manton Marble, to Europe to import the views of
the purchasers of American bonds. He prophecies the oppression of the
people, the growth of a bond-holding aristocracy, the mortgaging of prop-
erty, and the impoverishment of the agricultural classes. The loss of mil-
lions of mining property, rendered valuless, is, he thinks, one of the least in-
jurious effects of the disturbance of the relative values prevailing in our
present currency.
202 STATE GO\">:iL\MENT.
duction in tlic United States during the year had
been $30,800,000 in gold, and $48,800,000 in silver.
Of tliis amount of silver $28,000,000 had heen coined
and $0,000,000 used in the arts, whicli, with the bul-
lion exported and wasted, left little or nt)thing on
hand. The production of the whole world in the
year ending June 30, 1885 was $95,202,501) in gold,
and $115,147,878 in silver, gold production having
fallen off over $5,000,000 since 1882.
There would appear to be nothing very alarming in
the relative (jualities or values of gold and silver at
this time, but agitation has made it a ] tarty question
in congress. The repeal of the act of 1878 being
insisted on by the monometalists. various schemes for
preventing the demonetization of silver were broached,
such as certificates of deposit with a market value,
the government being obligated to coin the bullioa
and use it in redeeming certificates when presented,
and other proposed devices for keeping silver in circu-
lation. An English writer, ^lorton Frewen, proposed
that the Pacific ports should be made fn^eto the east-
ern nations of China and Japan, buying their tea,
coffee, sugar, rice, jute, etc., in exchange for the silver
of Colorado, Nevada, and California, and building up
a mercantile marine to rival England. This propo-
sition, which might be considered were it not for the
Isthmus canal and the Canadian Pacific railway,
would doubtless be received with caution. A meet-
ing of the Nevada Silver Association was held at
Nevada City October 20, 1885. The resolutions
pas.sed declare that the agitatio i of the silver ques-
tion is "especially aggravating, since the success of
such a policy involves the annihilation of miirn)iis of
d»)llars worth of capital locked up in their mills and
mines," threatening to bankrujtt an industrious and
loyal people. A convention of silver men, and another
of bankers, was held at New Orleans in ])ecend)er,
but congress alone had the settlement of the ques-
tion; and the president's message was distinctly
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. 203
adverse to silver coinage. Later legislation was more
favorable.
James G. Fair, though never an aspirant for office
and taking so little interest in political affairs that he
never voted for a president but twice, was prevailed
upon by the democrats to become their candidate for
the United States senate. The course of Sharon as
senator had not been without distinction or profit.
He had offered himself for renomination purely on his
merits, without the usual golden cross on the palms
of his constituents, and the election, which may be
said to have gone by default, threw everything into
the hands of the democrats, who had a majority of
over 800 for presidential electors. George W. Cas-
sidy, their candidate for congressman, was elected by
over 1,200 majority, and Charles H. Belknap supreme
judge in place of W. H. Beatty. By this election
Nevada lost her able and working congressman, Dag-
gett, and an able and incorruptible jurist."
There were offered at this election the following
amendments to the constitution, which were accepted :
''^Cassidy was reelected in 1 882 by a majority of 1,258 over his opponent.
J. W. Adams, democrat, was elected governor by about the same majority.
O. R. Leonard, republican, was elected judge by even a larger majority, and
all the other state offices were filled by rej^uljlicans. Reno Gazette, Dec. 30,
1S82; Biennial Re-pt Sec. of ^tate, 1884, 3. RoUin M. Daggett was born in
Ricliville, New York, in 1832. In 1837 his father removed to north-western
Ohio, and young Daggett received his education and a knowledge of print-
ing at Defiance in that state. At the age of 17 years he crossed the plains
to Cal. on foot, supporting himself with his rifle. After mining for two
years, in 1852 he estsblished the Golden Era, a literary journal, in S. F., and
in 1860 the Mirror in the same place, the latter being merged in the S. F.
Herald. His reputation as a journalist was wide-spread. He settled in
Nevada iu 1862, and was a member of the territorial council of 1863. The
following year he became connected with the Territorial Enterprise, and re-
tained his place upon that journal for many years. In 1876 he was presi-
dential elector, and in 1878 congressman. Moraris Pen Pictures of the State
Officers, Legislators, Public Officials, and Newspaper Men, at the Capital Durinrj
the 9th Session of the Nevada Legislature, Yirgima,, Nevada, 1879. Contains
72 biographies. W. H. Beatty was born m Monlova, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1838,
removed to Ky in infancy, and to Cal. in 1853. Being still a lad, he re-
turned east and spent 3 years at the university of Va, coming back to Cal. in
1858, studying law in Sac, and being admitted to practice in the sup. court.
In 1863 he went to Austin, Nevada, and was elected judge of the 7th district
court in the following year. The legislature, in 1869, appointed him judge
of the new district of White Pine county, to which office he was elected in
1870. His promotion to the supreme bench followed in 1874. Later he re-
moved to Cal., and in 1888 was elected chief justice sup. court of Cal.
204 STATE GOVERNMENT.
The elimination of the word "white" from section 1,
articK' *J. Tlie addition of article 18, grantin*^ rights
of sutlragcand otiicf-holding without reference to race,
color, or jirevious conditi<»n of si-rvitude. The a^ldi-
tion of section 10 to article 11, forbidding the use of
])ul>lic moneys for sectarian purposes, ("iiine.se inmii-
gration was disproved hv a Vi)te of l7,iIa'J against
18;i.
Of the sixty-one memhers of the legi.slature elected,
only nine were republicans. Two of these were sen-
ators, who with the republicans holding over gave a
majority of five in that branch of the legislature,
whereas they had but seven members altogether iu
the assembly. The aspirants for the senatorship,
besides Fair, of tlie democrats, were Sutro of the
indej)endents, who tlesired to keep the Comstock out
of politics, and Thomas Wren, nominated by the
re[)ui)licans in })lace of Sharon." Sutro was not put
in nomination. Fair was elected on the first ballot.
Wren received twenty votes and Daggett one.
"William Sharon was born in Smithtieltl, Oliio, Jan. 9, 1821. After
gra«luating at college he wtutlied law, practising for a time at St Louis, Mo.
Afterward he engaged in a mercantile husiness at farroUton, 111. Coming
to C'al. in 1H4'.», he opened a store at Sac, later engaging in real estate in .S.
F. Wlien the hank of Cal. ojicned an agency at \ irginia City the manage-
ment was entrusted to him, and in connection witli iiis as-sociates in tlie
hank I'ouglit up the greater portions of the Kentuck, YeHow Jacket, and
ChoUar mines, and ohtained control of the mining mills, incorporating the
Union Mill and Mining comiiany, and the Virginia and Truckec R. U., the
state of Nevaila granting a lilteral sulisidy in aid of the latter. Tiie roa«l
was tinally completed to Reno, wliere it connected with tiie V. V. R. R., the
CfMtt l»eing three millions. Sharon an 1 \V. ('. Ralston also iiurdiased the
Belcher mine, receiving large returns therefrom. In KSTo -Nir Sharon wa«
elected U. S. senator from Nevaila, serving with honor and creilit. Mrs
Sharon was formerly .Miws Maria MuUoy, a native of Quel>ec, and the result
of their union was five children, two surviving, Freilerick W., wlio married a
daughter of Lloyd Tevis, and Florence E., wlio hecame tlie wife of Sir
Thomas nesketh. Mrs Sharon died in IST.'), and .Mr Sharon in ISS.'). After
setting apart ^lOO.UX) for diariuMe piiri»oses, and tlie eml.ellishment of
(Joldeii date park, the proi»erty fell in equal parts to his sou, daughter, and
Bon-iudaw, F. (r. Newlands.
CHAPTER IX.
INDIAN WARS
1849-1882.
California Emigrants of 1849— Subsequent Deeds of Violence— Win-
NEMUCCA AND THE PaH UtES — OUTBREAK OF 1860— ATTITUDE OF YoUNG
Winnemuca— The Shoshones— Attack on Williams' Station —
Organization of Forces — Battle of Pyramid Lake — Death of
Ormsby— Movements of Troops — Further Fighting — Continued
Troubles — The Gosh Ute War — Treaties and Reservations.
In whatever part of the country the American trap-
per has first come in contact with the aborigines, there
has followed wars and extermination. Of the first
conflicts between white men and the natives of Nevada
I have spoken in the opening chapter of this history.
The migration to California in 1849 was large; and
during this and the following year the Indians were
more bold, and the white men vengeful. Several
trains were attacked in the Humboldt valley, and
their cattle taken, leaving the emigrants on foot.
Later companies coming up formed a pursuing party,
and having a fight with the natives, killed thirty of
them.^ This checked hostilities, but did not allay
hatred. The notorious Bill Hickman shot down two
Humboldt Indians who hung about his camp at Stony
Point." On the same grouud reddened by the blood
of his victims, a few months later three white men
were killed by the Indians.'
^Beaiie's First in Nevada, MS., 5-6. The Sac. Transcript of Sept. 23.
1850, says that in the Carson valley constant skirmishing had occurred be-
tween the immigrants and the Indians, and that ia a battle with 400 or 500
of them they were victorious.
2 Cesser says Hickman pretended to no other reason for these acts than
the pleasure in killing them.
* A. Woodard of Sac. , Oscar Fitzner, and John Hawthorne, carrying the
mail from Salt Lake to Sac, were the victims.
(205)
206 rN'DL\N WARS.
From 1851 to 1857 tlierc were many deeds of vio-
lence on both sides. In 1S5G a party of ten men led
by Levi Hutton of Missouri were surrounded in
camp on the Humboldt by sixty Indians well armed
witli rilles and revolvers. Tiie party returned the fire
of the Indians and retreated. drag;^nn<,^ tlieir wa|^on
by hand, four of their horses Ix'in;^ killed and otliers
wounded. All that night and next day the Indians
continued to harrass them. Hutton and Aleline, a
Frenchman from St Louis, were killed. Two other
men were severely wounded, Thomas Reddy from
Leavenworth, and James Edwards from St Louis.
Reddy became exhausted and urged the remainder of
the party to leave him and save themselves, which
they finally did, taking what provisi(»ns they could
carry, and destroying all the arms they wltc forced
to leave. The party of seven arrived in Carson val-
ley October 25th, where Edwards had his wounds
dressed, after a fatiguing journey of 200 miles. Thir-
teen Indians were killed.*
In 1857 a party of twenty-two immigrants under
Captain Pierson encountered on the Humboldt, near
the mouth of Reese river, a large body of Pah Utes,
with whom they had a severe contest. The place ob-
tained the name of Battle Mountain, which name was
retained when the country was settled, and given to
a mining district on Reese river.* John ^IcMarlin
and James Williams, in charge of pack trains from
Mormon station to California, were killed by Washoes
on the trial which crossed the mountains south of Lake
Tahoe on the same da}^ one at Slippery Ford hill
and the other on the summit. The settlers became
alarmed and called u])on the people of California for
assistance." Anns and annnunition were tendered by
the governor of that state ; the l*ah Utes also offered
their warriors to fight the Washoes.
* //rti/c/»' SrroTM Minimi, xi. 2, 3.
*.S'. >'. AlUi, May 7, 1860; S. F. Alt^\ Ana. 2, Sept. 7 and 10. 18r>7.
•■■A party of young men attenipU-il to liri(l ami punish tlie offenders. Imt
incautiously fired at some hirda and discovered themselves to the Indians,
who ded. liawky'a Lake Taiioe, MS., 4-«.
WASHOES AND PAH UTES. 207
Brigham Young, governor and superintendent of
Indian affairs for Utah, in the summer of 1857 sent
Garland Hurt, Indian agent, to Carson valley, who
made a treaty of amity with the Washoes.
In the summer of 1858 the Pah Utes gave consid-
erable trouble in the Humboldt valley, and F. Dodge
was sent to reside in Carson valley as Indian agent
to endeavor to keep the peace. Early in the follow-
ing year also, they, as well as the Pit river and
Walker river tribes, displayed open hostility to pros-
pectors and settlers. In March seven men, among
whom was the well known pioneer Peter Lassen, were
prospecting in the Black Bock country, on the im mi-
grant route of 1846, when they were attacked in
camp and Lassen and another man killed. Other
small parties disappeared never to be heard from, and
their fate could be readily conjectured."
The winter of 1859-60 was one of exceptional se-
verity, and the Indians suffered greatly from cold and
hunger. So strong was their distrust of the white
race that although some good men now endeavored
to mitigate their misfortunes, building large fires and
offering them food, they were but little benefited,
many refusing to eat, lest the food should be poisoned,
and attributing the extreme cold to the presence of
the detested white man. Many children died of pri-
vation.^
In January 1860 the Pah Utes killed Dexter E.
Deming, who lived on Willow creek, north of Honey
lake, then thought to be in Nevada. A company,
under Lieutenant W. J. Tutt, was ordered to pursue
''BucUand's Indian Fighting, MS., 2-3; Kelly's Nev. Directory 1862, 33;
S. F. Bulletin, April 21 and 28, and JMay 9, 10, and 11, 1859. According to
the report of Dodge, Indian agent for Carson district, the Pah Utes num-
bered about 6,000, the head chief, Winnemucca, residing on Smoke creek,
near Honey lake. Small bands under sub-chiefs resided at the forks of
Carson river. Gold Canon, Big Bend, sink of the Carson, on Walker river,
at Big Meadows on Truckee river, at the lower crossing of Truckee, at the
mouth of Truckee, at Pyramid lake, and Lower Mud lake. The Washoes
numbered 900, and inhabited the country at the base of the Sierra Nevada,
Washoe, and Eagle valleys, and about LakeTahoe. Ind. Aff. Rept, 1859, 273-4.
* Territorial Enterprise, Dec. 24, 1859; Hayes' Mining Scraps, xi. 40.
206 INDIAN WARS.
the offenders, who were traced to the Pah Ute camp.
The governor then appointed two couunissioners,
William Weatherlow and T. J. Harvey, to visit
Poito, tlie head chief, known as Old Winneniucca,
to demand the criminals, in accordance with an exist-
ing treaty. Winnenmcca was found at Pyramid
lake. He did not deny the governor's right in the
matter, but refused to give the order for the surren-
der, and demanded $10,000 for Honey Lake valley.
It was observed early in March that the Indians
were withdrawing from the settlements. In the lat-
ter part of April they held a council at Pyramid
lake, and recited their grievances, a long enough list
of insults and injustice, among which the encroach-
ments of the white race upon their favorite lands, and
the cutting down of the pine nut trees, which were
their orchards, were mild charges. Every chief in
the council except Numaga, known as Young Winne-
niucca, although not related to the head chief of that
name, which signifies bread giver, was in favor ot
war, he having mingled more with white j)eoi)le, and
knowing their numbers and strength. The head chief,
like Peupeumoxmox of the Walla Wallas was a
shrewd politician, and, while secretly supporting the
war movement, never committed himself openly to
either party, but consented to be governed by the
majority. Then there was a chief of the Shoshones
wh(j had married a Pah Ute, and another chief from
Powder river, Oregon, a half Bannack, who were
clamorous for war.*
^leanwhile ^logoannoga, chief of the Humboldt
Meadows men, known to the settlers as Captain Soo,
stole away from the council with nine braves to end
•Tlio Shoshono was killed a few years later, after a raid into Taradiso
valley, \>y Home of liin own people, near Battle nio\intain. Tliey killed liim
l>ccausc he kept them in perpetual tri>ul>le iiy his raids upon the 8t«>ck of the
settlers in Nevada and Oregon. Tiic chief of tlio Snmke IVeek Indians, a
brother-in-law of Winnetnucea, was slain 1»y one of his own peonlc for at-
tempting to l>ewitcli him. 'iho chief of the Honey I^ako hand was also
killed hy his followers after years of war, to put a stop to hostilities; and
another Honey Lake chief was killed hy his poojile. A brother of Winue-
uiucca uamud Wahc was murdered by the I'ah Utes at Walker river.
ATTACK AT WILLIAMS' STATION. 209
all discussion by opening the war. On the 7th of
May they attacked Wilhams' station, on the over-
land road, killed seven men, and burned the house.
Then passing by the place of Samuel 8. Buckland,^*
they came to the farm of W. H. Bloonifield. They
drove off the. stock and returned to Pyramid lake,
sending one of their number in advance to announce
to the council still in session that war had been be-
gun. On the morning of the 8th, also, J. O. Wil-
liams returned to his home to find it a smoking ruin,
near which lay the dead bodies of his brothers, and
among the ashes the bones of his friends. He fled to
Virginia City, pursued a part of the way to Buck-
land's, where he gave the alarm.
Like the bursting out of a long smothered confla-
gration was the vengeful excitement which followed
the news of the attack at Williams' station. Couriers
sped in every direction, and at night, and by un-
frequented ways, to warn camps of prospectors and
outlying settlements of their danger. On the day of
the attack John Gibson and seven others, sixty miles
away, were also slaughtered; settlers were killed and
houses burned at Honey lake, and two men killed on
Truckee river; war parties stationed themselves in
the Humboldt valley, and in the mountains at Mono
and Walker river. Intelhgence was sent to Califor-
nia with an appeal for arms and ammunition, to which
the citizens of that state quickly and generously re-
sponded. But without waiting for aid, the Nevadans
immediately formed companies in all the towns, and
proceeded on the 9th to Buckland's, en route to Wil-
liams' station. They were divided into several de-
tachments under leaders few of whom had any mili-
tary knowledge, numbering altogether but 105 men.
They were poorly armed and undisciplined." After
^"Buckland was a native of Ohio, born in Licking county in 1826. He
came to Cal. in 1850, via Panama, removing to Carson valley in 1857. In a
manuscript by him in my library he states that the attack was brought on by
the Williams brothers, who had imprisoned and violated a Pah Ute woman.
"Under arms were: The Genoa rangers, Capt. Thomas F. Condon, C. E.
Kimball, Michael Tay, Robert Ridley, Big Texas, M. Pular, J. A. Thomp-
Hist, Nev. 14
210 INDIAN WARS.
interring tlie dead the volunteers proceeded to the
Truckee river, where they encamped on the night of
the 11th at the present site of Wadsworth, moving
down next day toward the main camp of the enemy.
About two miles from the foot of tlie lake the moun-
tains approach closely to the river, leaving but a nar-
row strip of bottom land, wliich constitutes a pass
easily defended, and dangerous to an attacking force.
No enemy appearing in sight, the volunteers marched
on for a mile and a half When they were well with-
in the trap, about 100 Indians showed themselves on
the ridge a little in advance. Major Ormsby gave
the order for his company to charge up the sk)pe.
When they reached the plateau above, on still an-
other ridge, another line was stationed in the same
manner as the first, but more extended, and with their
right and left almost touching the narrow valley
through which ran an impassable river. Soon from
every sage brush twanged an arrow or hissed a bullet,
and the thirty men realized their peril. The}^ made
a hasty retreat to a piece of timber which came down
toward the bottom on the west. But here they were
met by the savages under tlie Black Rock chief Se-
quinata, commonly called Chiquito Winnemucca, or
Black Rock Tom, who forced them down toward
8on, Lee James; Carson City Rangers: Maj. William M. Ormsby, John L.
Blackburn, F. Steinger, Christopher Barnes, James M. (Jatewood, William
S. Spurr, Frank flill>ert, William Headley, F. Shinn, William Mason, Rich-
ard C. Watkins, John Holmes, Samuel Brown, William E. Eichelroth, Anton
W. Tjader, James J. Mclntyre, Eugene Angel, William C. Marley, Lake,
Abraham Jones, Charles Shad, Bartholomew Riley, and 5 discharged U. S.
soldiers from Fort Ruby. Silver City guards: Capt. R. Cr. Watkins, Albert
Bloom, Charles Evans, James Lee, James Shalail, Boston Boy, Keene, and a
boy; Virginia vols. co. 1: Capt. F. Jolinson, F. J. Call, McTorney, Hugh
McLaughlin, Charles McI>eod; John Reming, Henderson (Greeks), Andreas
Scluiald(Italian), Marco Knccgiswoldt, and John (iaventi (Austrians), (Jcorge
(aChileno), O. C. Steel; Virginia vol., co. 2., Capt. Archie McDonald, Wil-
liam Armington, Charles W. Allen, G. F. Brown, Joseph G. Baldwin, Jr, D.
I). Cole, A. K. Elliott, A. L. Granni-s, Fred. Galehousen, F. Hawkins, Arch-
ibald Haven, J. C. Hall, ( Jeorge Jones, Charles Ff>rman, R. Lawrence, Henry
Mcre<lith, P. Mcintosh, O. Spurr, M. Spurr, Jolm Noyce, C. McVane, Pat-
rick McCourt, S. Mc.N'aughtun, Henry Nowt<m, A. J. Peck, and Richard
Snowden. Another company fromiJohl Hill contained J. F. Johnson, (}.
Jonner, James McCarthy, T. Kelley, J. Bowden, N. A. Chandler, A. G. B.
Hammond, Armstrong, E. Milbou, and '2i others.
THE WDsXEMUCCAS. 211
the river, where they would be entirely at his
mercy.
At this juncture Xumaga or Young Winnemucca,
threw himself between Chiquito Winnemucca's war-
riors and the volunteers, and attempted to obtain a
parley; but he was disregarded by the Indians, now
in hot pursuit of Ormsby's men, who had been reen-
forced by other companies from the valley, and were
making a stand in the timber, where Ormsby by gen-
eral consent took the command. When the com-
mander comprehended that his force was surrounded
he made an effort to keep open an escape by sending
Captain Condon of the Genoa rangers, and Captain
R. G. Watkins of the Silver City guards, the only
veteran soldier among them,^^ to guard the pass out
of the valley. But a panic ensued. Seeing the hope-
lessness of their situation, many turned and fled.
Watkins returned to the bottom where the remnants
of the commands were engaged in a life and death
struggle with the Indians, who, flushed with victory,
were sating their thirst for blood. The white men
cried for mercy, but the savages said "Xo use now ;
too late." ^'
The battle began about four o'clock in the after-
noon. The bloodiest part of it was where the rear of
the white forces, crowding at the pass in their efforts
to escape, retarded the exit, and the Indians riding in
amongst them hewed them in pieces. Just where
Ormsby died his friends could not tell. He was shot
in the mouth by a poisoned arrow, and wounded in
both arms. The working of the poison caused him to
fall from his horses. It was said that he besought his
men to rally around him, dreading to fall into the
hands of his enemies before life was extinct. The
^2 Watkins was one of Walker's Kicaragua force, and had lost a leg in
action. He rode a powerful horse, to which he was strapped.
^^ 'White men all cry a heap; got no gun, throw 'um away; got no revol-
ver; throw 'um away too; no want to fight any more now; all big scare, just
like cattle; rim, run, cry, cry, heap cry, same as papoose; no want Injun to
kill 'um any more.'
212 INDIAN WARS.
pursuit was kept up until interrupted by the darkness
of night, and the fugitives scattered over the country
a hundred miles from Virginia City." Comparatively
few were wounded. The first effect of the defeat at
Pyramid lake was to drive many out of the country.
The women and children of Virginia City were placed
in an unfinished stone house, which was turned into a
fortress and called Fort Kiley. At Silver City a for-
tification was erected on the rocks overlooking the
town, and a cannon made of wood was mounted at the
fort to frighten away invaders. At Carson City the
Penrod hotel was used as a fortification, after being
barricaded, and pickets established. At Genoa the
small stone house of Warren Wasson was taken for a
defence, while Wasson rode through the enemy's coun-
try 110 miles, to Honey lake, to carry a telegraphic
order from General Clarke to a company of cavalry
supposed to be at Honey lake, to march at once to
Carson.
As I have before stated, the Californians responded
quickl}^ to the call for help. The news of the battle
and the death of young Meredith aroused the citizens
of Downievillc, who within thirty -six hours raised and
equipped IGj men, who marched to Virginia City on
foot in five days. Sacramento, Placerville, La Porte,
San Juan, and Nevada City sent volunteers to help
fight the Pall Utes. San Francisco raised money and
arms. General Clarke issued orders to Captain Stew-
art of the 3d artillery stationed at Fort Alcatraz, and
"The killed, besides Ormsby, were Eugene Angel, William Arrington, S.
Auberson, Boston lk.y, A. K. Elliott, John B. Fleming, W. Hawkins Wil-
liam Headly, F. (iatehouse, John (iaventi, (leorge Jones, Flourney Johnson,
M. Kuezerwitcii, James Lee, Henry Meredith, P. Melntosh, Charles McLeod,
O. McNaughton, J. McC 'arty. I'ardons, Richard Snowden, William E. Spear,
Andrew Scliueld, and others. One correspondent of the S. F. IleraUl gavo
the number of bodies found on the field and buried at 43, lliujrs' ScnijM Min-
ing, xi. 101, and another says that on tlio 27th, two weeks after the tight,
nearly GO persons were still mijsing. See alio Sic. Jiecord, Juno 22, 1872;
S. F Herald, May 14, ISGO; S. F. Call, Jan. 2G, 1879; Klein'a F tnidera qf
CarHonCity, MS., 4; S. F. AlUi, May 8, 18G0; Ilawlnf'H Lake Tah^, MS., 4-5;
Cra/llfiliaui/i'it N^w Bio(/., MS., 4-.'); Jf<n/t'n' Srntp:* ^^nin!l, xi. 61-83; ,S. /'.
Bulletin, May J4, IG, 17, 2G, 2'J, 21, and June 5, G, 7, ISGO; C^l. Farmer,
May 11, 1800.
HELP FROM CALIFORNIA. 2lS'
Captain Flint of the 6tli infantry, stationed at Be-
nicia, to proceed at once to Carson Valley, the two
companies numbering 150 men, and there establish a
military post. Almost daily thereafter there were
arrivals from west of the mountains, which gave much
uneasiness to the divers Winnemuccas on the watch
to see what turn affairs would take. Ey the last of
the month there were about 800 troops in the field,
of whom over 200 were regulars. ^^
On the 26th the united forces marched down the
Carson Valley from Camp Hayes twenty miles below
Carson City, with the understanding that they were
to go to Pyramid lake, and if the Indians would fight,
to engage them ; but if they could not be brought to
battle, the volunteers were to disband in ten days, and
leave the regulars to guard the passes into Carson
valley. Thus the pony express, just established, as
well as the settlers, might be protected. Every sta-
tion was reported broken up as far east as Dry Creek
and Simpson Park, in the eastern part of what is now
^5 The Washoe regiment was officered as follows: Col commanding, John
C. Hays; lieut-col, E. J. Sanders; maj., Dan. E. Hungerford; adjt, Charles
S. Fairfax; actg-adjtof infantry, J. S. Plunkett; reg. quartermaster, Benj.
S. Lippincott; asst quartermaster, John McNish; dept quartermaster, Alex.
Miot; commissary, R. N". Snowden; A. C. S., Capt. H. Toler; surgeon, E.
J. Bryant; asst-surgs, Ed. T. Perkins, C. R. Bell; serg-maj., R. Macgill.
Co. A, Spy; J. B. Fleeson capt.; 15 men. Co. B, Sierra guards; E. J.
Smith capt.; 1st lieut J. B. Preasch; 2d lieut William Wells; 3d lieut J.
Halliday; 46 men. Co. C, Truckee rangers; capt. Alanson Nightingill. Co.
D. Sierra guards; capt. J. B. Reed; 1st lieut N. P. Pierce; orderly B. B-ah-
ton; 14 men. Co. E, Carson rangers; capt. P. H. Clayton. Co. F, Nevada
rifles; capt. J. R. Van Hagan. Co. G. Sierra guards; capt. F. F. Patterson;
1st lieut C. S. Champney; 2d lieut T. Maddux; 3d lieut A. Walker; 41 men.
Co. H, San Juan rifles; capt. N. C. Miller. Co. I, Sacramento guards; capt.
A. G. Snowden. Co. J; capt. James Virgo. Co. K, Virginia rifles; capt.
E. T.Storey; 106 men. Co. L, Carson City rifles; capt. J. L. Blackburn;
1st lieut A. L. Turner; ord. sergt Theo. Winters. Co. M, Silver City
guards; capt. Ford. Co. N, Highland rangers; capt. S. B. Wallace (spy co. );
15 men; 1st lieut Robert Lyon; 2d lieut Joseph F. Triplett; 20 men. Co. O.
Sierra guards; capt. Creed Haymond; 1st sergt George A. Davis; 2d sergt
H. M. Harshberger; 9 men. Scouts William S. Allen, Samuel Buckland,
Benjamin Webster, and S. C. Springer. Teamsters and armed followers
numbered 30 more. U. S. troops, officers: Capt. Jasper M. Stewart, 3d ar-
tillery commdg 82 men; lieut H. G. Gibson, with howitzers and 10 men;
capt.; F. F. Flint, 6th inf.; lieut E. R. Warner; 62 men; lieut J. McCreary,
6th inf. ; 53 men; quartermaster, Capt. T. Moore; asst quartermaster, Ed.
Byrne; surg., Charles C. Keany.
214 INDIAN WAKS.
Eureka county." On the 19th of June tlie express
and mail were escorted from Carson City ejustward
by a ])icked company of twenty men, and the line re-
established. While the volunteers Were crossing the
Twenty-six-mile desert, one of the scouts, ^liehael
Bushy, was cut off by the Indians. His remains
were found two years afterward near AVilliams' sta-
tion, and the Indians who pointed them out said he
had fought bravely for eight miles, tur?iing on his
pursuers and driving them to cover, but his horse
gave out, the enemy surrounded him, and the end
soon came.
The army found the Indians waiting for them at
Big Meadows, in the neighborhood of Williams' sta-
tion, where they engaged a detac-hment of scouts,
under Captain Fleeson, whom tliey attempted to ( ut
off. In the skirmish two volunteers were wounded,
and six Indians killed. The enemy retreated when
the main volunteer force came up. In this fight, as
in the battle of Pyramid lake, the Indians liad rifles
of longer range than the volunteers. The regulars
coming up two hours after the action at Big
^Meadows, the whole force moved on to the scene of
the first battle, where they found and buried the
bodies of the slain. From this point the Indians
warily M'ithdrew toward Pyramid lake, followed by
the army, which could not bring them to any decisive
engagement, but which was resolved to drive them
beyond the lake, and then leave the regular trooi)S to
guard the passes, as previously agreed upon, hoi»ing
thus to starve them into subjection.
As the ftxtal pass was nearcd they found the bodies
of those killed in the retreat of the 1 2th of May,
which were interred, and camp was made on the 1st
of June, about eight miles below the lower crossing
of the Truckee river. C)n the afternoon of the 3d
an order was issued to Captain Storey of the Vir-
ginia Rifles with twenty men, Ca})tain Wallace of the
»«//a»/w' :icraiM Miniwj, xi. 217, 2l'l.
FORT STOREY. 215
Spy company with three men, Captain Van Hagen of
the Nevada Rifles with twenty men, and Captain
George Snowden, to make a reconnoissance toward
the battle fleld. They approached near enough to
count twenty-three bodies, when suddenly arose from
the shadow of bush and rock a host of armed Pah
Utes, and the detachment hastily retreated toward
camp, pursued by the foe, which posted itself on a
rocky ledge two miles from camp.
News of the attack being conveyed to Colonel
Hayes and Captain Stewart, they hastened to the
spot, and a battle three hours in length was fought,
in which 200 volunteers and 100 regulars were en-
gaged. They dislodged the Indians, pursuing them
between four and five miles, killing twenty -five and
taking fifty of their horses. In this action Captain
Storey," was shot through the lungs, and died on the
7th. Privates J. Cameron and A. H. Phelps of his
company were also killed. Four regular soldiers
were wounded, and a private of the Nevada Rifles,
Andrew Hasey, who charged with his company after
being severely wounded in the hip. The pursuit was
abandoned at sundown,- the Indians fleeing to the
mountains. Fortifications were constructed, and the
name of Fort Storey given to the place.
On the 4th the march was resumed toward Pyra-
mid lake. The Pah Ute valley was found deserted,
the trail of the Indians appearing to lead north.
From this point, where Captain Stewart remained
and threw up earthworks, which he named Fort
^' Edward Faris Storey, after whom Storey county was named, was bom
in Georgia July 1, 1828, and was a son of Colonel John Storey, who com-
manded a regiment during the Indian wars in the western part of Georgia,
under Jack-jon's administratioh. He afterward removed to Texas, and with
his three sons in 1846 enlisted in a company of Texas rangers under Capt.
McCulloch. Of the sons only E. F. Storey survived the war. In 1848 he
was elected lieut in a company of rangers under Capt. Jacob Roberts to
quell outlaws. In 1849 he married Adelia Calhoun Johnson of Texas, by
whom he had a daughter, later Mrs J. W. Williams of Visalia, California,
which child, after the death of his wife in 1852, he brought to the Pacific
eoast overland through Mexico, embarking at Mazatlan for S. F. He en-
gaged in stock raising in Tulare co., removing to Nevada a short time before
the Indian outbreak.
216 INDIAN WARS.
Haven, Colonel Hayes returned to Carson and dis-
banded his regiment. On the march he lost a valued
scout, William S. Allen," who was shot from an am-
buscade, this act being the last of the Pah Ute war of
1860, in the western part of tlie county of Carson.
There was some fighting in the Goose Lake country
between the force under Colonel Lander, then explor-
ing for a wagon road over the sierra and across the
great basin, who had been appohited special Indian
agent. In August, Lander gave information that
old Winnemucca, with the principal part of his band,
was in the mountains north of the Humboldt river,
and the Smoke Creek chief scouting from theTruckee
river over to a point north of the sink of the Hum-
boldt. Before quitting the Humboldt country. Lan-
der sought an interview with young Winnemucca,
and through him a convention was entered into by
which Numaga agreed that the Pah Utes should keep
the peace for one year, and Lander promised at the
end of that time to use his influence with congress to
procure payment for the Pah Ute lands.
The regulars under Captain Stewart remained at
Fort Haven until the middle of July, some persons
taking advantage of their presence to make settle-
ments on the Truckee, and near Pyramid lake.'* The
troops after leaving Fort Haven occupied themselves,
under the direccton of Captain Stewart, in erecting
Fort Churchill, a permanent post on the Carson
river thirty-five miles below Carson City. Indian-
agent Frederick Dodge endeavored to perfect the
promised peace by setting off reservations at Walker
and Pyramid lakes, and in the Truckee valley, where
the fishing and other food supplies of the Indians
were most abundant, and placing them in charge of
Warren Wasson, an energetic, fearless, and just man.
^^BurklaniVs Indian Fi'j/din'/, MS.
»J. 1). K()l)ert-<, Thomas Slarsh, Robert Reed, Hans Parian. 0. Spevey,
Anderson .Spain, Washington Cox Corey, and M. A. Braley. The mines at
Aurora were discovered \>y Corey and Braley, whose names were given to
two mountains in that region.
ON OWEN RIVER. 217
By the exertions of Wasson and the friendly chiefs
Oderkeo, Numaga, and Truckee/' war was averted
for the time.
The winter of 1861-2 was severe, and the Indians
whose hunting ground had been spoiled, and whose
stock of provisions was inadequate to their wants,
killed the cattle belonging to the white men, and were
themselves sometimes slaughtered in return. Retali-
ations multiplied, and several white men ^^ were killed
in Owen River valley. The remaining inhabitants,
herdsmen, fortified themselves thirty miles above
Owen lake. Eighteen men marched from Aurora to
the relief of the graziers, who now took the field sixty
strong, under a leader named Mayfield, and had a
skirmish with the Indians in force, losing one man."
Retreating to camp they were pursued, and in another
skirmish two other w^hite men were slain." The com-
pany escaped under cover of night and returned to
their fortification, abandoning a considerable quantity
of ammunition, eighteen horses, and leaving their dead
on the field. On the march they met Lieutenant-
colonel George Evans with two lieutenants and forty
men of the Second Cavalry California volunteers,
from Los Angeles, who joined his force to theirs, and
went again in pursuit of the Indians. In the mean-
time Governor Nye had been informed by Agent
Wasson of the difficulty on Owen river, with request
for troops sufficient to quiet the disturbance, and pre-
vent the infection of war from spreading to the Pah
Utes. General Wright, in command of the depart-
ment, ordered Captain E. A. Rowe of the above
mentioned regiment, stationed at Fort Churchill to
send fifty men to the scene of the conflict, and the
orders of Captain Rowe to Lieutenant Noble, in
2« Tnickee died in October 1860. His name was given to the Truckee
river by the early immigrants, to whom he behaved well. He possessed
papers given him by Fremont in 1844.
"E. S. Taylor, J. Tallman, R. Hansen, and Crozen were killed by the
Indians in the spring of 1862.
'^C. J. Pleasants of Aurora.
^ N. F, Scott, sheriff of Mono county, and Morrison of VisaUa.
218 INDIAN WARS.
commaiul of the detach iiuiit were not to en<Tage the
Iiuliaiis without the sanction of the Indian agent.
But wlien Lieutenant Noble met Cohjnel Evans
on the 7th of A[)ril liis connnand was taken away,
and liis men ordered to join in the pursuit of the
Indians, whom AVasson desired to meet and pacify.
On the second day, believinuj that the Indians were
secreted in a certain canon, Evans sent Sergeant Gil-
lesjtie and nine men to reconnoiter in advance of the
main command. The squad was fired upon almost
as soon as it entered the canon, the sergeant killed
and Corporal Harris wounded. An attack was then
ordered, the cavalry under Evans taking the moun-
tains on the right of the defile, Noble, with his com-
])any and a few citizens, the heights on the left, and
the remainder of the force remaining below. Noble
succeeded in gaining his position under a galling fire
from a concealed foe, but the colonel of the citizen's
company, Mayfield, who had accompanied him. was
killed Not being able to cope with an invisible
enemy, he retired down the mountain, and Evans
having no provisions for an extended campaign, re-
turned to Los Angeles. Noble then escorted the
graziers with their herds, numbering 4,000 cattle and
2,500 sheep, to quieter pastures in Nevada, and the
Indian agents undertook the task of soothing away
the excitcMnent among t le reservation Indians, who
from fighting among themselves were willing and
anxioMs to go to war with the Owens River tribe
should they be asked to do so. But with this people
the governor of California made a treaty in the fol-
lowing October,
On the 23d of Ma}' the governor met Winnemucca
and his people in council at the lower bend of the
Truckee, but nothing came of it. In August, eleven
immigrants, men, women, and children, were killed
by the Indians on the Humboldt, eight miles east of
Gravelly Ford, and their bodies cast into a stream.
Thereupon General Conner issued the eminently in-
TREATIES. 219
telligent, just, and humane order to ''shoDt all male
Indians found in the vicmity, and to take no prisoners."
When savagism and civilization fight, let me ask, Is
it savage warfare or civilized warfare that the white
men engage in ? The operations of Connor w^ho as-
sumed command of the district of Nevada and Utah
in August 1862, against the Pah Utes of eastern
Nevada, and the Snakes, Shoshones, and Bannacks of
Idaho are given elsewhere in these histories.
Meanwhile desultory hostilities were carried on
with the Gosh Utes. A company of regulars under
Captain Smith crept upon a camp of Indians in Step-
toe valley on the 4th of June, and killed twenty-four.
Next day they killed five more, and the day after
twenty-three — horrible massacres these acts would be
called had the savages perpetrated them. Meanwhile
the Indians continued to pick off an emigrant or a
stage driver occasionally, and destroyed the stations
all along the line. Treaties were made in the summer
and autumn of 1863 with the Shoshones, General
Connor and Governor Doty of Utah treating with the
Shoshones and Bannacks in south-eastern Idaho in
July, and Governor Doty and Governor Nye with
those in the north-eastern part of Nevada, at a later
period, including the Gosh Utes, who were placed on
a reservation in Buby valley.'* In the spring and
summer of 1863 were raised the Nevada cavalry and
infantry by order of the general government, which
were distributed to the different posts and overland
stations. Nevertheless, murders by white men and
red continued through 1864 and 1865 much as before.
Twenty-nine of Winnemucca's men having been
killed for stealing cattle, by a cavalry captain in March
of the year last named, a conference was called at
which the chieftain handed in a catalogue of crimes
comrcitted against him by white men, which far out-
numbered those which could justly be brought against
2* The losses sustained by the stage company in the Gosh Ute war were
150 horses, 7 stations destroyed, and 16 men killed.
220 INDIAN WARS.
him; yet Winnemucca was not able to kill ton white
men for every twenty dollars' worth of property stolen,
else he would have done so. In April the s ttkrs in
Paradise valley were attacked, and the Indians with
difficulty repulsed. In ^lav tliirty-si.K men attacked
a force of 500 Pah Utcs antl Shoshones, 130 miles
north-east of Gravelly Ford, and 75 miles from ]*ara-
dise valley. The troops were repulsed after four
hours hard fightin<r, having lost two men killed and
four wounded. An Indian camp at Tal)le mountain
was surj)rised in September and ten killed. A whole
village full were butchered shortly afterward, and
other camps and other villages; and so the game went
on, until enough of the savages were swept away —
the civilized war being likewise brought to a close —
to enable the Nevada volunteers to be mustered out
of service."
Troubles continuing in northern Nevada, Captain
Conrad of Company B, of that organization, and a
detachment of Company I, under Lieutenant Duncan,
with eight citizens, had a battle on the morning of
the 12th of January, 18G6, with th'^. Indians on Fish
creek, sixty-five miles west of Paradise valley. The
conflict was a determined one on both sides, the
savages being led by Captain John, a chief of the
Warner Lake Shoshones, who had killed Colonel
McDermit. After a three hour's fight the troops
were victorious, slaying thirty-five warriors, capturing
ten women with their children, and destroying their
supi)lies.'*
The settlers of Paradise valley being agam dis-
turbed by Indian raids, an expedition against them
was organized, under Major S. P. Smith, of fifty-one
*^The military farce in Nevada in 18C8 consisted of 6 cos. of cav. and 2
of inf., which coinnanies garrisoned camps McDermit, Winfiehl Scott, Ruhy,
llalleck, anil Fort Churcliill. M'sm. awl Dor., 18G8-9, .3G8-9. In 1872 cami)9
Halleck and McDermitt alone were garrisoned, the former l»y 1 company of
the Ist U. S. cavalry, and 1 company of the 12tb U. S. inf. Stc. War Kept,
i. 66, 43d cong. Ist sess.
^ Uuimn-ille, Nev. G<izeUe, Jan. 24. 1866: Sac. Union, Jan. 22, 1866; Doc,
7, Misc. llust. Fapera, MS.
WINNEMUCCA. 221
•men of the same regiment aided by thirty citizens of
the infested region. A battle was fought at Rock
canon, on the 15fch of February, in which 115 Ind-
ians were killed and 19 prisoners taken, with a loss of
one soldier killed and Major Smith and six privates
wounded.
By reference to the second volume of my History
of Oregon, it will be seen that the troops in that state
and in Idaho were driving the Indians south, while the
Nevada troops were forcing them north, so that
truly the savage had no place to lay his head. The
total loss to Indians in the district of Nevada for
1866 was 172 killed and about an equal number made
prisoners.
In 1874-5 there was some trouble with the Indians
in eastern Nevada, which was, however, quickly sup-
pressed. C. C. Clevland was conspicuous in putting
down the disturbance. Owing to the milder disposi-
tion of the Nevada tribes, as well as to the swift
vengeance by which any resistance was met, the state
has suffered less than some others by Indian wars.
Probably 250 or 300 white persons have been killed
by Indians in Nevada, while ten times that number
of savages have suffered death at the hands of white
men.
No treaty was ever entered into between the gov-
ernment and the Pah Utes or Washoes. The latter
never had a reservation, but roamed up and down the
country formerly occupied by them, sometimes labor-
ing as servants, but largely idle, with every combina-
tion of vices, savage and civilized. The friendly Pah
Utes, less vile, more manly, and numbering a little
over 1,000, were for the most part established on re-
servations at Truckee and Walker rivers, aggregat-
ing 644,000 acres. These reservations were surveyed
by the government, and confirmed to the Indians by
executive order in 1874."
"/«rf. Ajff. Rept. 1871, 682. LawlOff. Rept, 1864, 20; Hayes' Scraps, Ind-
ians, i. 51; Sec. Int. Rept, iii., 9-10, 168-73, 361-95, 40th cong. 2d sess. ;
202 INDIAN WARS.
Wlnncmucca did not reiiiaiii long upon the reser-
vation at Pyramid lake, but roamed over the northern
part of the state, being never met in battle. After
the peace of 18G8 in southern Oregon and Nevada,
he remained in the neighborhood of Canjp MeDermit
and received rations from the military department.'*
It is quite certain that in the ^lodoc war of 1872-3
the Modocs looked for assistance from the Pah Utes
and Shoshones in that quarter. A tract in eastern
Oregon containing 1,800,000 acres was set apart in
1870 for a reservation on which to place the Mal-
heur and Warner lake Shoshones, and the rest-
less Pah Utes of northern Nevada. A few were
gathered upon it in 1873, among them Winnemucca's
band, who still spent the summers in roaming through
Nevada and Idaho, and were fed whenever they
applied for rations at Camp MeDermit. During the
wars of .1877-8 in Idaho and eastern Oregon, Winne-
mucca's band was liovering on the edges of the hostile
field, yet sustaining a neutral character. The war of
1878 caused the abandonment of the Malheur reser-
vation, the Indians having destroyed the agency. At
the conclusion of the war the Shoshones and Pah Utes
were removed to the Simcoe reservation in Washing-
ton, where they were not wanted by the Yakimas,
who made them miserable by various systematized
oppressions, causing them in 1880 to return to
Nevada. The Malheur reservation was ordered to
be sold, and the money applied to the benefit of the
Indians."
The treaty made in October 18G3, between the
Indians of eastern Nevada on one side and governors
Nye and Doty, of Nevada and Utah respectively, on
the other, contained an article authorizing tlie presi-
dent of the United States to select a reservation for
Tyb-i^ PomU and Stntims, 2; Iwl. Aff. Rept, 1874, .V4, 5»-4, 104-79, 278-84;
/'/., 1873, .S3f)-46; N<-v. Sni. Jour., 1873, app no. 6. 18; Sen. Doc., 42, i.,
43d cong. l«tsess.; Jfotine Er. Dor., l,")?, xii., 4M cong. 1st sess.
■■» Winnemucca dierl in Oct. 1882. Ri-nn Giizittp, Oct. 27, 1882.
» Winnemucca Silver StuU; July 10, 1880; Rem OazcUe, Nov. 27, 1880.
RESERVATIONS. 223
the western Shoshones. This reservation was estab-
lished in 1877 at Duck valley, between the forks of
the Owyhee river, in Elko county. The only other
was the Moapa river reservation in the south-eastern
corner of the state, established in 1875.'°
^"la Feb. 1871 congress passed an act to provide for the disposition of
useless military reservations, in which Camp McGarry, Nevada, was named.
Ex. Doc, 1013, 1180, vol. 26, 46th cong. 3d sess.; Cone/. Ghohe, 1870-1, app.
341. Total area of military reserves 22,195.33 acres. Bx. Doc, 253, vol. 25,
46th cong, 3d sesa.
CHAPTER X.
MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
1849-1886.
Qdestionable Value of Mines— Transportation — Roads and Railroads
— Mail Koites and Teleokaphs— Staijes — Ponv Express — Steam-
boats—Fish ekie.s—Metai-s — Book Reviews— Agkiccltuke — Climatb
— Whirlwinds and Earthquakes — Flora and Fauna — Live Stock —
Cattle Raising- Lands anu Surveys— Counties ok Nevada — Sum-
mary of Rf-sources— Society— Educational, Religious, and Benev-
olent Institutions — Newspapep.s — Bibliography.
What advantage to Nevada has been her mountain
of silver ? What advantage her organization as a
state? Some, no doubt, but more to individuals than
to the commonwealth at large. To the later inhabi-
tants, the merchant, the miner, the farmer, the pro-
fessional man, it is not a matter of great moment, the
fact that millions of money have been taken from
somewhere about Sun Peak, leaving hills of debris
and ghastly holes in the ground — money squandered
by lucky gamblars in New York and Paris, and used
for ])ur|)i)S3S of political bribery and social corrui)tion
in Virginia City and San Francisco. Less than the
least of the tailings of all this vast output of wealth
has gone to benefit Nevada. California assumed in
the beginning, and kept until the end, the mastery of
affairs. San Francisco without the Comstock was a
different city from San Francisco with a long list of
Nevada mines, paj'ing large dividends, on the stock-
boards.
I wish I could say that Comstock ethics were likely
to mend ; but thu truth must be told, which is that
VALUE OF MINES TO THE STATE. 225
the managers, when they had appropriated to them-
selves the bonanza, erected a multitude of mills, and
kept on reducing the lower grade ores at a cost to
themselves of $5 a ton, but to the other stockholders
of $14, when perhaps the rock only yielded $14,
or at any rate it was reported at that figure. A
thousand Comstocks at this rate would be of little
value to a state. Some good, in spite of all this,
remains from bonanza days. S. L. Jones, brother of
Senator Jones, has worked several of the Gold Hill
mines from the 350 foot level to the 1,700 foot level,
systematically and economically, and Evan Williams'
has shown great skill and wisdom in the working of
low grade ores. Had the same business like methods
prevailed in former days it would have been better
for all interested. In 1885 the state was redistricted
for judicial purposes and in 1887 the old fee system
revised, and by these wholesome measures much
expense was saved to the state, without any detriment
to the public service."
But after all, the real wealth of Nevada lies in the
improvements made; in developments that are in fact
improvements ; in farms and manufactures ; in roads
and systems of irrigation ; which are due rather to
^Williams was bom in Blossburgli city, Penn., of Welch parentage, Jan.
13, 1844. He came to Nevada in 1868, and for some years was prominent
in educational matters. He was subsequently a senator from Ormsby
county for years. Noted for his ability and common sense; a fearless and
just man, wholly reUable, very public spirited, of a generous nature, and
deservedly popular ; became wealthy by intelligent land investmeuts ; he
did much to develop the Owen river section of Inyo co., Cal.
^M. D. Foley, who participated in this legislation as state senator, was
bom at St Andrews, New Brunswick, October 22, 1849, of Scotch-Irish
parentage; came to Nevada in 1867 and participated in the White Pine
excitement; removed to Eureka, Nevada, in 1870, where he still resides.
Be has taken an active part in various enterprises of importance, notably
in the affairs of the Richmond Mining company, is of the firm of Remington,
Johnson & Co., successors to the well-known house of Walker Bros., Salt
Lake City, Utah, with a branch of the business in Eureka; is president of
the Bank of Nevada, Reno, in which he is a large stockholder; is interested
in ranching and stock-raising. He served two terms in the state senate, of
which body he was a useful member, especially in legislation on economic
qaestions.
Hist. Nev. 15
226 MATKKIAL KESOUKrES ANI> DKVELOPMENT.
the absence of enonnoiis miiirral developments, sach
as paralyze puny ettort, invite speculation, and turn
the heads of nu-n from patient, plodding effort. Far
jj^reater jj^eneral i)rogress has been made since the
Comstock mines ceased their fabulous yield than
before. But this is not meant to deny the value of
legitimate mining to Nevada.
With regard to transportation, always an important
subject in an undeveloped country, Nevada was for a
long time unfortunate. It is true that a road to Cali-
f<>rnia existed before the discovery of mines in west-
ern ITtah, and the same trail led backward to the
^lissouri frontier. But the distance in one direction
and the lugh sierra in the other gave the territory an
isolation which retarded development, and added to
the cost and inconvenience of living. It was neces-
sary to make provision in the sunnner for the sub-
sistence of the people through the winter season,
during which they were cut oflT by snow from
travel in either direction through an uninhabited
country.
As early as 1851 the United States mail was car-
ried by a contract with Woodard and Chorpening of
Sacramento, from that place to Salt Lake City,
going and returning once every month, the mail-bags
being transported on the backs of nmles, and the dis-
tance being 750 miles. The route was via Folsom,
Placervillc, the old immigrant road through Straw-
berry and Hope valleys to Carson valley, through
Genoa, Carson City, J)ayton, ]lagtown, across the
forty mile desert to the Hum])oldt river near the sink
of the HumV)()ldt, thence along the south side of the
river to the point where Stone House station of the
Central Pacific railroad was placed ; thence south of
east by the Hastings cut-off to Salt Lake City.
Woodward and two of his men were killed at Stone
House station in the autunm of 1851, but Chorpen-
ing contiimed to carry the mail until the exjnration of
his contract in I85.'i Snow-shoes beiran to be used
ROADS AND MAILS. 227
in crossing the Sierra in the spring of 1853 by the
carriers, Fred Bishop and Dritt, succeeded by George
Pierce and John A. Thompson. The latter distin-
guished himself by his feats on snow-shoes, being a
Norwegian by birth. The shoes used were ten feet
long, and of the Canadian pattern.
In 1854 the legislature of California appointed
commissioners to lay out a road from Placerville to
Carson valley. The contract for carrying the mails
for four years was again given to Chorpening in com-
pany with Ben Holladay, with permission to use
a covered wagon and four-mule team, and to carr}^
passengers, which was the best means of travel in
western Utah prior to 1857, when J. B. Crandall
established a tri-weekly line of stages between Placer-
ville and Genoa, which carried the mail between these
places, connecting with Chorpening's line at Genoa.
This was the Pioneer Stage Line which became so
great an institution in early times. It was transferred
to Lewis Brady & Company in 1858, who established
a semi-weekly line between Sacramento and Genoa;
and George Chorpening secured the mail contract
from Placerville to Salt Lake, where it connected
every week with the overland mail from that city to
St Joseph, Missouri, thus completing a transconti-
nental mail and stage line between the Missouri and
Sacramento rivers. The first eastward bound coach
left Placerville June 5, 1858; and the first arrival
from the east at Placerville was on the 19th of July
following.
The improvement in mail communication was rapid.
Letters from the east came through overland a week
sooner than by ocean transit. The amount of mail
matter that was sent by stage increased, and new
routes were sought to shorten the distance, the stage
stations being moved south in the autumn of 1859.
to the Simpson route. During the winter a new stage
line between Placerville and Genoa was started by
John A. Thompson and Child, who used sleighs
^28 MATERIAL RESOURCKS AND DEVELOPMENT.
between Strawberry and Carson valleys, keeping the
road open all winter for the first time.
The pony express was the next step. It was the
conception of F. A. Bee,' W. H. Russell and B. F.
Ficklin, nianajjfin*^ officers of the Central Overland
and Pike's Peak Exi>ress company, incorporated by
the Kansas lej^islature in the winter of 1851) GO, to
keep messengers going for over 1,700 miles, flying at
the rate of from seven to nine miles an liour for ten
days. Stations were first established twenty-five
miles apart, but the distance between was subse-
quently sliortened. The messengers were required to
ride seventy-five miles, but the ponies were changed
at every station. Not more than ten or twelve pounds
of mail were allowed to be carried, five dollars being
charged on each letter. Newspa[)ers printed on tissue
paper were allowed. The mail was wrap[)ed in oil(>d
silk and carried in pockets in the four corners of the
mochila, or leathern saddle cover, which, with the
saddle, went through from St Joseph to Sacramento
without change. The first pony express from the east
brought eight letters, and made the distance in ten
days, having started April 3, 1860. The first from
the west left Sacramento April 4th, and arrived at
St Joseph on the 1 3th. The route followed was
nearly straight, and through Nevada pursued the
Simpson trail via Ruby valley. The expense of
maintaining this line thnmgli an un.settled country
was extraordinary. As an enter})rise it was unpro-
ductive, and the object of its founders has never been
distinctly made known. They claim, however, to
have shown that the central route across the conti-
nent was feasil)le for railroad operating at any time of
the year, which had been doubted. The view taken
by Walter Crowinshield of Nevada, who assisted to
'Bee was bom Sept. 9, 1826, at Clinton, Oneida co., N. Y. He came
to Cal. in 1849. Was early idcntidotl with telegraphic niattera and later
gained distinction by being the tliird in rank as consul of tlie Chinese
government. He was a man of Htriking personal appearance and tt^nacity
of purpose.
PONY EXPRESS. 229
restock the road after the Pah Ute outbreak in 1860,
is that it was with a view of obtaining the mail con-
tract over that route when its feasibility was demon-
strated. Yet this company made no effort in that
direction, but suffered the old Butterfield contractors
to obtain the route west of Salt Lake under the name
of Wells, Fargo & Co. and Ben Holladay to secure
the eastern portion. But other considerations besides
climatology settled the location of the first overland
road — placing it out of the reach of the confederate
states.
In the spring of 1860 another advance was made
in staging. Louis McLane having purchased the
Pioneer line from Genoa to Placerville, sold it to
Wells, Fargo & Co., who then had control of the
entire route to Salt Lake. McLane, however, in
1862 purchased an opposition line to Placerville owned
by A. J. Bhodes, who introduced six-horse coaches,
and lowered the fare from forty to twenty dollars.
In 1861 a daily overland mail was established from
the Missouri river to San Francisco, over the central
route, in lieu of the southern daily overland mail
through northern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and
southern California, established in 1858, which was
discontinued July 1, 1861. To avoid the expense of
transporting feed, etc., the company opened a farm at
Ruby valley, and raised an abundance of barley, oats,
potatoes, and vegetables, this being the first experi-
ment at farming in eastern Nevada. Congress in
making the change required the letter mail to be car-
ried through in twenty days, with as much newspaper
mail as would make one thousand pounds daily.
Other matter was allowed thirty-five days, besides
the privilege to the contractors of sending the excess
bi-monthly by steamer. The contractors were also
required during the continuance of their contract, or
until July 1, 1864, to run a pony express semi-monthly,
schedule time ten days, carrying five pounds of mail
for the government, with the privilege of charging
230 MATERIAL RESOURCKS AND DEVELOPMENT.
the public $1.50 per lialf ounec. The contract also
requirid the performance of a tri-weekly mail service
to Denver and Salt l^ike City. The maxinmm price
allowed for the overland service, includinj^^ the pony
express, was $1,000,000. The (juickest time ever
made across the continent was in 1861, when Presi-
dent Lincoln's inaugural address was brought to Sac-
ramento in five days and eighteen hours. The last
pony to Denver was but twenty-one and a half min-
utes in running ten miles and eighteen rods. These
were the achievements of pioneer times.
In September 18G1 the telegraph line from Denver
to Sacramento, via the stage route, was completed,
this being the first wire toward the cast, although
the Carson and Placerville division, built by F. A.
Bee, had been in use since 1859, It was necessary
to the proper protection of the road, as well as a con-
venience to the public. There never was any stage
service in the world more complete than that between
Placerville and Virginia City. A s}n-inkled road,
over which dashed six fine, sleek horses, before an
elegant Concord coach, the lines in the hands of an
expert driver, whose light hat, linen duster, and
lemon-colored gloves betokened a good salary and an
exacting company, and who timed his grooms and his
passengers by a heavy gold chronometer watch, held
carelessly, if consi)icuously, on the tips of his fingers
— these were some of its conspicuous features. This
service continued until it was su})i)lanted by the Cen-
tral Pacific railroad from Sacramento.
On the 4th of July, 1858, the Placerville and Hum-
boldt Telegraph company erected the first pole on the
line of a transcontinental telegraph, and the wire was
extended to Genoa that autumn, to Carson City in
the following spring, and to Virginia City in 1860.
Congress then passed an act directing that the secre-
tary of the treasury advertise for sealed proposals for
the construction of a Hue from the Missouri river to
STAGE AND TELEGRAPH. 231
San Francisco, to be completed within two years from
July 31, 1860, to be for the use of the government
for ten years, the bids not to exceed $40,000 per year.
This offer caused a concert of action between the
California State Telegraph company and the Overland
Telegraph company, which immediately organized
with a capital of $1,250,000. The line was under
the general superintendency of James Gamble, who
completed its construction from Sacramento to Salt
Lake City, where it connected with the eastern divi-
sion, between the 27th of May and 2 2d of September,
1861. It was built along the central or overland
stage route, and was in use until May 13, 1869, when
the stage route was abandoned, and the railroad be-
gan to carry the mail.
In June 1863 a telegraph line was completed from
San Francisco to Aurora, via Genoa. In February
1864 a franchise was granted to John B. Watson to
construct a line of telegraph from Unionville and
Star City to San Francisco, via Austin, Virginia,
Gold Hill, and Carson, in Nevada, and Nevada City,
Marysville, and Sacramento in California, which was
constructed and put in operation within the year. A
second overland telegraph line was erected in 1866
by the Atlantic and Pacific company of New York,
which pushed its line westward nearly to Denver the
first year, and from the western end to Virginia City
in the same time. This line was carried from Vir-
ginia to Austin along the former overland route.
Telegraphic rates were held very high so long as
there was but one line. The charge, from Aurora to
San Francisco, for ten words was $2.50, and to the
eastern cities as high as $7. To encourage competi-
tion, the Nevada legislature enacted in 1866 that any
persons or corporations might construct and maintain
telegraph lines over public or private lands when they
did not interfere with the use or value of the same.*
With the construction of the Central Pacific railroad
* Nevada Comp, Laws, ii, 310-12.
232 MATKKIAL Uh^sOUKCKS AND DEVKLOPMKNT.
came the erection of the Western Union transcon-
tinental telegraph line, which followed the railroad
route.
With the first contract to carry the mail over the
Sierra in wagons, it became necessary to improve the
old immigrant road, which, in 1856, was done hy par-
tially rebuilding it. Tlie road to Salt Lake had also
to l)e furnished with bridges, and made passable.
Numerous toll-roads were chartered. John Reese
and Israel ^lott were the first grantees of toll })rivi-
leges under the provisional government. The first
territorial legislature granted six franchises for toll-
roads, the second twenty-five, and the third twenty-
nine. It would seem from this that the traveller
could not proceed far in any direction without paying
toll. From Gold Hill down Gold canon to Dayton,
a distance of seven miles, was a toll-road in 1859,
owned by H. C. Howard, S. D. Bosworth, and G. D.
Roberts. As most of the quartz extracted from the
Comstock lode passed over it to the various mills, it
was a paying property, and cost about $20,000.''
As early as 1860 an application was made for a
railroad franchise from Carson City to Virginia City,
the petitioner being Leonard L. Treadwell. Several
projects were before the first legislature, which granted
charters to four companies, namely, the Nevada Rail-
road company, with the privilege of constructing a
road from the western to tlie eastern boundary of the
territory, to Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, Collis
P. Huntington, Lucius A. Booth, Mark Hopkins,
Theodore 1). Judah, James Bailey, and Sanmel Silli-
man; the Virginia City and Washoe com})any; Vir-
ginia, Carson, and Truckee company; and the
Esmeralda and Walker River company. Henry A.
Cheever and associates received the franchise for the
^Another, extending from Cold Hill half way to Carson, was built at a
cost of $12,000 by Waters, Blanchct. an<l Carson in 1861. Kelly's Nrv. Dir.,
1872, 174.
RAILROADS. 233
Virginia and Washoe road ; J. H. Todman, R. R.
Moss, C. W. Newman, William Arrington, Hiram
Bacon, Joseph Trench, John A. Hobart, Frank
Drake, William Hayes, William Gregory, J. P.
Foulks, and associates the grant for the Virginia,
Carson and Truckee road ; and P. G. Vibbard, John
P. Foulks, and John Nye the grant for the Esmer-
alda and Walker River road. Only the first of these
roads was built under these legislative grants. Even
at that early period the people protested against too
much power in the hands of a few.
So eager were men for cheap and rapid transit to
and from the Pacific that in the first state constitu-
tion, which was rejected, a clause was introduced
which permitted the legislature to give $3,000,000
in bonds to the first company that should connect
Nevada with navigable waters. Though the clause
was stricken out, the first state legislature took
measures to ascertain what was being done by rail-
road companies, and whether any company was
actually intending to construct a railroad to tide-
water in California, The Central Pacific had at this
time built only thirty miles on its selected route,
while another company, the San Francisco and
Washoe Railroad, had constructed thirty-eight miles
from the head of navigation on the Sacramento river
to Latrobe in California, which was on a nearly direct
line with Carson City. It was therefore resolved by
both houses that congress should be asked to enact a
law giving $10,000,000 in United States bonds,at dates
of thirty years or less, to the corporation which should
first complete a railway line, in good running order,
from navigable water on the Sacramento river to
Carson valley. This proposition had no other efiect
than to stimulate the company in possession of the
congressional subsidy to greater effort. Their road
was completed to and beyond the Nevada line in
December 1867, and to Reno in May 1868. On the
10th of May 1869, the Central and Union Pacific
2M MATERIA]. RESOURCES AN]) 1>EVEL0PMENT.
lines were united by driving a golden spike, with
elaborate ceremonials, about fifty miles west of
Ogden, in Utah.
Strange as it may appear, the legislature of
Nevada, which of all the states and territories
received perhaps the most benefit from the construc-
tion of tlie railroad, failed to aj)preciate the patriotic
and disinterested motives of tlic builders, and a vio-
lent opposition early appeared. The average legisla-
tive mind is unable to penetrate far beneath the
surface of things. The resources of the directors, no
less than their designs, were brought in question,
and a leading engineer declared before the Nevada
legislature that it could not be completed within
twenty years though its promoters had at their com-
mand all the gold in the bank of England.
In a letter written by this engineer in February
1865, in answer to the request of a joint committee
on railroads of the Nevada legislature, he says : "The
celebrated engineering work built for the Austrian
government — a railway crossing the Alps from Vienna
to Trieste — is a bagatelle as compared w^ith the pro-
jected line to Dutch Flat. Comparing the estimated
cost of the Central Pacific with the actual cost of
such eastern lines as the Baltimore and Ohio and the
Boston and Worcester, and allowing for the difference
in the price of labor and materials, and for the greater
physical obstacles to be overcome, " It is my firm con-
viction," he writes, " that the Central Pacific will cost
$250,000 to $300,000 per mile before it is completed
to the Truckee, stocked and equipped as a first-class
railroad." Now while a few miles passing through
the heart of the Sierra may have cost perhaps $300,-
000 per mile, the average cost to that point was less
than half this amount, while the average cost of the
entire road was little more than $100,000 per mile.
Not least among the opposing elements was the
hostility of the owners of toll-roads and stage lines
across the Sierra, all of whom were arrayed against
RAILROADS. 235
a project which would absoro their profits on the rich
traffic of the Nevada mines. To supply them vast
quantities of provisions and machinery were for-
warded from San Francisco and other distributing
centres. In 1862 no less than 3,000 teams were
employed on the wagon-road across the mountains in
El Dorado county, the tolls for that year amounting
to $693,000. Connected with it was a railway, by
which the competition of the Central Pacific must
be keenly felt. From Sacramento to Virginia City
freight in the same year was $120 per ton, and the
total freight money amounted to nearly $5,000,000.
Many other enterprises, individual as well as cor-
porate, were also threatened by the transcontinental
line, on which all of them joined in making war, with
a persistency worthy of a better cause.
When the Central Pacific was at length completed
and in running order, it was complained by the people
of Nevada that while the tariffs were low enough to
discourage former methods of transportation, they
were still so high as to prohibit a free use of the
road, and that discrimination was also exercised to
the disadvantage of her business community. Thus
the company charged more for a carload of goods
forwarded from New York to eastern Nevada than
for carrying them six hundred miles farther to San
Francisco. In answer to this the railroad company
claimed that the line with its equipments and land-
grants was the property of the stockholders, and not
of the state or nation ; that it belonged to them as
fully and completely as if it had been built entirely
at their own expense. The sub.sidies were granted
on condition that they should build a road to be
owned by themselves. They were granted at a time
when the railroad was a national necessity, and one
that could not be supplied without offering such
inducements as would secure the services of able
and responsible men. It is from this standpoint they
claimed that the charges of discriraniation and of
236 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
what might seem to be excessive rates of fare
and freight sliould be considered. The railroad man,
they said, hke the mercliant, is compelled by the
very nature of his business to discriminate between
his several classes of customers. Just as the mer-
chant demands less for his wares when sold by the
ton than by the pound, demands more when he
knows that he alone can su])ply the article required,
so does the railroad man charge a lower freight for
large than for small quantities, and less for points
where there is competition — as by steamer and sailing
vessel — than for those where none exists. For one
carload of goods shipped from New York to the
towns of eastern Nevada probably a hundred are
forwarded to San Francisco, and no one will dispute
that goods can be conveyed at cheaper rates in large
quantities than in small, and handled more readily at
terminal points than at intermediate stations.
Then as to local traffic it should be remembered
that the portion of the line which crosses the Sierra
was by far the most expensive section to construct,
and is perhaps the most expensive to operate of any
in the United States. Between Sacramento and
Rocklin, where the grades are moderate, forty-five
loaded freight cars can be drawn by a single engine,
while from Rocklin to Truckee, a distance of ninety-
seven miles, only nine can be hauled by the most
powerful locomotive.* If we take into consideration
also the extra wear and tear occasioned by heavy
grades and curves, it will be found that the cost of
maintenance and operation on this division is probably
seven or eight times as much as for the same distance
on level ground.
The first, second, third, and fourth franchises
granted for the construction of a railroad from Vir-
ginia City to the Truckee river failed of their purpose.
•From Rocklin to the summit of the Sierra the rise is 6,768 feet, and the
work to be overcome equal to 4*20 miles of a level road-bed.
RAILROADS. 237
Yet it was "of "vital importance to connect the towns
on the Comstock lode and Carson and Washoe valleys
with the Central Pacific railroad. At length a com-
pany was formed which would build the road as
desire.d, provided the counties of Washoe and Ormsby
would take $200,000 worth of stock each. At the
head of this scheme was William Sharon, and between
him and Thomas Sunderland, and the commissioners
of the two counties in question, an agreement to this
effect was made, which, however, was not carried out.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad company filed
articles of incorporation March 5, 1868, the survey
was completed with estimate of costs, and in Decem-
ber it was announced that Sharon would build the
road from Virginia to Carson if the people of Ormsby
county would donate $200,000 and the people of
Storey county $300,000. As an inducement to make
this present to the company, it was shown that the
property of a single county, Ormsby, would be bene-
fited $1,000,000. The people caught at the gilded
fly, and asked the legislature to permit them to give
their bonds for the amount, with interest at seven per
cent, permission being granted at the following ses-
sion. With this Sharon constructed a portion of the
road, and by mortgaging the whole raised money to
complete it.'
The cost of the Virginia and Truckee railroad for
the first twenty-one miles to Carson was set down at
$83,333 per mile ; but the total cost of the whole to
Reno, and equipment, was more fairly stated after-
wards at $52,107 per mile. In 1880 the company in
its report to the state made its cost per mile, to Reno,
52 20-100 miles, $93,027. It had received in gifts
from Ormsby and Storey counties and the Comstock
mining companies $887,383.53, equal to $17,065 per
mile. Instead of increasing the taxable property of
the county of Ormsby $1,000,000, the property of the
''Nev. Laws, 1869, 43, 49; Carson Appeal, Sept. 25, 1873; WrigUs Big
Bonanaa, 228.
238 MATKRIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
company in tliat county was given to the assessor at
$130,350. In order to induce the people to give
their bund for $200,000 the company had promised to
permit themselves to be taxed on $40,000 per mile.
So far from growing any richer through the posses-
sion of a railroad, which was making $12,000 a day,
the total tax paid to the county by the company in
twelve years was very little more than the interest
the county had to pay to the company on its bonds
presented to the company. I have already spoken of
the struggle of Storey county with the Virginia and
Truckee railroad, or in other words the bank of Cali-
fornia. That Nevada assessors, sheriffs, legislators,
and shareholders have assisted these railroads to
oppress the commonwealth cannot be gainsaid. The
exaniple to other railroad corporations, which are in
a manner compelled by the larger companies to adopt
similar tactics, has been and is extremely injurious to
the best interests of the state, by defeating the true
purpose of railroads, which is cheap as well as rapid
transportation.
The Nevada Central, narrow gauge, railroad was
projected in 1874 by M. J. Farrell of Austin, and
after five years of unceasing effort was completed in
1880. The surveying engineer was Lyman Bridges
of Chicago ; president, W. S. Gage of San Francisco ;
vice-president, R. L. S. Hall of New York ; treas-
urer, A. A. Curtis of Austin ; secretary, J. D. Negus
of Battle Mountain ; directors, D. B. Hatch of New
York, James H. Ledlie of Utica, M. J. Farrell, ]\I.
E. Angel, and A. Nichols; assistant superintendent,
F. W. Dunn. Governor Bradley vetoed the franchise
bill in 1875 on account of a subsidy from Lander
county of $200,000 granted by the legislature, but
the bill was passed over the veto.*
The road extended from Battle Mountain south
along Reese river to Ledlie, two miles from Austin.
^Nev. Jour. Sen., 1875, app. no. J, lS-20; IJ, Jour., 15, 121.
RAILROADS. 239
From Ledlie to Austin and the Manhattan company's
mines, a distance of three miles, was another narrow
gauge, owned by the Austin City company. Another
branch was the Battle mountain, called the Battle
mountain and Lewis railroad, running from Galena
through Lewis and Bullion to Quartz mountain, a
distance of eleven miles.'
The Eureka and Palisade, narrow gauge, company
was organized in Xovember 1873 to construct ninety
miles of road between these two places. The incor-
porators were Erastus Woodruff, William H. Ennor,
Monroe Salisbury, John T. Gilmer, C. H. Hempstead,
and J. R. Withington. In 1874 the franchise passed
to a company of Californians, who also purchased the
Eureka and Buby Hill railroad, five miles long, simi-
lar to the Austin City road, and operated both with
profit.
The Pioche and Bullionville narrow gauge, was in-
corporated in February 1872. It was twenty-one
miles long, and completed in 1873, its use being to
transport the ores of that region to the mills at Bui
lionville. When the mines were exhausted it was no
longer operated. Another short road was eight and
three-fourths miles, constructed to carry lumber and
cord wood from Glenbrook on Lake Tahoe to the
eastern summit of the Sierra, whence it was conveyed
in a flume to Carson City. It was built by H. M.
Yerrington and D. L. Bliss. There are points on it
remarkable for scenic effect.
The Carson and Colorado narrow gauge railroad
was incorporated in May 1880, to run from Mound
'Farrell, the projector of the road, was a native of Mount Hope, Morris
CO., K. J., born March 29, 1832, of Irish parentage. He came to San Fran-
cisco in May 1853, going to the mines in Nevada co., Cal. In 1863, after a
varied experience, he went to Reese river, Nev., locating himself at Austin,
in Lander co. He was at one time part owner in the Eureka Consolidated
and Richmond mines, but sold out before they were developed. In 1867 he
became secretary to the Manhattan Mining co., and in 1872 was elected
clerk of Lander co. He was elected to the state senate in 1878 and reelected
in 1880. In all relations to society he was a public spirited and high
minded citizen. Hb wife was Miss L. C. Peterson of Austin.
•240 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
house, on the Virginia and Truckee railroad, along
the Carson river, through Mason valley, to Walker
river and lake ; thence through the mineral region of
Esmeralda county, the borax and salt fields of Rhodes
Marsh, to Belleville and Candalaria; and thence
over the White mountains into Owens river valley,
in Colorada, to the smk of Owens river, and event-
ually to the Colorado river."
The Nevada and Oregon Narrow Gauge company
was organized in June 1880, to construct a road from
Aurora, via Bodie, north to Carson City, and Reno ;
thence to Honey Lake valley, Madeline plains, Pit
river, and Goose lake ; and thence to the Oregon line,
whence it was expected it would proceed to the
Columbia river. The directors were A. J. Hatch,
George L. Woods, James McMechan, C. A. Bragg,
John Sunderland, R. L. Fulton, and C. P. Soule.
Hatch was president, Woods vice-president, Sunder-
land treasurer, T. S. Coffin secretary, H. G. Mc-
Clellan chief engineer of construction, and Thomas
Moore of New Jersey contractor, (xround was broken
at Reno in December, but owing to mismanagement,
no material progress was made, and in April 1881 the
franchise was transferred to a New York company.
Besides the railroads actually completed and in prog-
ress there were several incorporated companies mak-
ing surveys in different parts of the state, and per-
haps no better proof could be given of the resources
of Nevada than this investment of capital in railroads
where the population is still nmch below 100,000.
Transportation by water is impracticable in Nevada,
except upon the lakes of the western portion, where
small steamers may be employed with some little
^* Surveyor-OemraCa Rept, 1884, 27-8; Candalaria True Fiiorure, Sept. 25,
1880; Heno SUiteJour., May 6, 1880; Carson Tiina>, June 7, 1880; Stiver City
Times, Aug. 28, 1880; Sutro Imhycndenl, Sept. 13, 1880; Eurtka Leader, Oct.
1.3, and Dec. 29. 1880; WhiO- Pine News, Jan. 21, 1881; Eimeralda Herald,
May 28, 1881; Timcarora Timta Jievitw March 7, 1881; Reno OazeUe, April -1,
1883.
I
FISH CULTURE. 241
benefit to commerce. EfTorts have been made to
navigate the Colorado, which bounds the state on the
south-east, but without much success. The rivers of
Nevada are useful for irrigation, and future genera-
tions may possibly see their powers utilized in manu-
factures, and other branches of industry.
In January and April 1879 the California fish com-
mission placed 500,000 young trout and 75,000 j^oung
salmon in the Truckee river, which is partly in that
state, and in May 1880 several thousand more trout.
In March 100,000 white fish was placed by the same
commission in Lake Tahoe, and the waters of Washoe
lake, Humboldt river. Walker river. Eureka pond,
Reese river, and other waters in different parts of the
state stocked with catfish and salmon. In 1880, 70,-
000 pounds of trout were taken from Lake Tahoe in
October, This result was encouraging. Further
experiments followed in 1881, and in 1882 a hatchery
for eastern brook-trout was established, with fish-
spawn from Maine and Vermont. These were planted
in presumably the best locations, and with flattering
results. In 1881 Truckee trout were shipped to New
York. The following year salmon weighing seven
pounds were caught in the Truckee, and it is said that
a trout taken in Lake Tahoe weighed thirty pounds.
Considerable shipments of trout were made from this
lake, and canneries were established at Wadsworth,
thus opening a new source of revenue as well as food
supply.
I have already spoken of the mountains rich in
metals, and the plains abounding in those minerals
which have been deposited in water — salt, soda, sul-
phur, soap, mica, arsenic, and manganese.
Coal was found as early as 1860 in Carson valley,
and has since been proved to exist in different locali-
ties, along the line of the Central Pacific railroad, on
the route of the Nevada and Oregon railroad, near
Tuscarora and Argenta in Elko county, and in El
Hist. Kev. 16
242 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Dorado canon. Immense tracts of peat, one bed cov-
ering 15,000 acres, extend along the Humboldt river,
valuable for fuel, particularly in a country destitute of
timber like this vallc}'.
Of the ores of metals used in manufactures, Nevada
furnishes many. Iron, although known to exist on
the Carson river as early as 18G2, on Reese river in
1865, and in the Peavine district of Nye county in
1865, has been neglected. Copper, discovered first in
Carson valley in 1856, and quarried in specimen blocks
a few years later, was little heeded by mining men
until recently. Copper ore is found on Walker river,
in Elko county, and near Soda springs in Esmeralda
county. The copper mines of Elko county were the
first to be developed. Lead production has increased
so rapidly in a few years as to place Eureka at the
head of the lead producing districts of the United
States. Cinnabar was discovered in Washoe and
Nye counties in 1876. It is found in a crystalized
state and also in amorphous masses. Nickel mines
exist in Humboldt county, the discovery being made
in 1882, and immediately worked. Ten car-loads of
the ore were shipped within a month after it was
found. Tin ore has been known to exist in Nevada
since 1863, but it has never been worked or its value
determined. Antimony was discovered as early as
1876, but does not appear to have been mined until
1882, when there was a shipment of the ore from
Elko county. Bismuth is another metallic product
of which at present not much is known.
Notwithstanding this extraordinary richness of
mineral productions, or perhaps because of it, few
specimens of precious stones have been found in
Nevada, and those of an inferior quality. A ruby
from the Comstock lode weighing one carat, after
cutting, was discovered in 1882, and occasionally,
opals and turquoise have been found, of little value
Of the distribution of the precious metals, the most
MINERALS AXD METALS. 243
important part of the mineralogy of Nevada, I shall
speak in giving the productions of comities.'^
Nevada is a better agricultural country than at first
glance one might expect to find. Time was when the
1^ On the subject of resources and physical features the authorities are more
numerous than for most new political divisions, because it has been directly in
the line of travel during the whole period of the settlement of the Pacific coast
by Americans. Of these Lieut Geonje M. Wheeler's U. S. Survey Re^oH, 1S77,
upon the geology, geographj-, and mineralogy of the country, must be consid-
ered of the highest value, as well as upon other branches of natural science.
Wheeler's first expedition in Nevada was in 1S71, and began in the extreme
southern part of the state, with headquarters at Camp Independence. He
was assisted by Lieutenants R. L. Hoxie and William L. Marshall in 1873.
The last published report, in 1S7S, embraced the botany of Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The reports of tlie Geological Ej-plo-
ration of the Fortieth Parallel, Clarence King director, begun in 1S67. bearing
particularly upon the subject of mining and minerals, their distribution and
relative situation, and especially the features of the Comstock lode, are also
of great importance in forming an estimate of the resources of Nevada.
George F. Becker, geologist in charge, devotes an entire volume to the Com-
stock; and James D. Hague, another geologist and mineralogist, in a large
volume called Minin'j Indudry, considers aU the mining districts of the state
in a minute and careful manner. The Mines and Mining Literesfs of the
United Sf'y.ies, by Wdliam Ralston Balch, 1882, is a compilation of articles
upon this subject, and contaius a vast amount of information in its 1,200
pages of quarto size, in which Neva la comes in for its shares. L. Simonin,
the French author of La Vie Souterraine, 1867, contrives to give some hints of
. what may be found in Nevada, albeit, it is nothing of more importance than
that the natives do not work in the mines. The Great West, bs- E. V. Hay-
den, formerly U. S. geologist, discusses cUmate, health, husbandry, educa-
tion, the Indian question, the Chinese question, and the land laws, besides
giving descriptions of the scenery, geography, and geology of the intramon-
tane states and territories, of which Nevada comes in for its share. The
West; Census of 1880, by Robert P. Porter, whose specialty in the labor of
taking the census was upon the wealth, debt, taxation, and railroads, assisted
by Henry Gannett, geographer of the 10th census, and William P. Jones, is
a reliable authority upon the material development of Nevada. The Unde-
veloped West, by J. H. Beadle, is a work of little value; and the same may
be said of Where to Emigrate and Why, by Frederick B. Goddard. Greater
Britrjin, 1869, by Sir Charles Wentworth Ddke, an Englishman, follows the
stereotyped rule of English travellers, and instead of giving discriminative
observations upon real things, occupies all his space. 22 pages of Nevada,
with absurd and exaggerated pictures of American life. The only touch of
reality in it is a description of Nevada staging, Mhichis a fair account of pio-
neer travel. A better book, because containing more matter of a useful na-
ture, is that of another Englishman, Richard F. Burton, 77*6 City of the
Saints, meaning Salt Lake. Burton, however, was travelling to acquire in-
formation, and. having acquired it, imparted such as he had gained in a style
honest if not altogether correct. He passed through Nevada in 1860, and
gives a general description. Life on the Plains and Among the Diggings, by
A. Delano, 1861, devotes about 50 pages to the incidents of immigrant travel
through Nevada in 1849. The book is a history of a journey overland, with
its hardships and sufferings, familiar to thousands before this book was writ-
ten. An Excursion to Califorma, oixr the Prairi", Rocky Mountains and
Great Sierra Nevada, rnth a Stroll through the Diggings and Ranches of That
Country, is the long title of a 2-voIume book, by WiUiam KeUy of England,
244 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
whole expanse of plain at the eastern base of the
Rocky mountains was represented to be a desert ; yet
out of that desert how many states and territories
have been carved whose wealth and importance are
now understood. Eastern Oregon and Nevada have
been considered little better than deserts, although it
was known that the Indians pastured large lierds
upon their nutritious grasses. Wherever the pas-
turage is rich the soil may be converted to the growth
of cereals, and often only water is required to make
the driest and most barren-looking sections fruitful
fields. The overtopping influence of the mining
interest has kept back the agricultural.'*
and sufficiently describes the vrnrk without saying more. Hiap's Cen-
tral Route to the Pdcijic from the Vn(le>/ of (lie MixsU'isiiijn In CiiH/omiin: Jour-
nal of the E.cpc(l it/on of E. F. Beak, Superintendent of Indian Afairx in
Califuniia, and Gtrin Harri-i Heap, froui Missouri to California, in J8.'>o.
The route called central in this work is by the old trail from Westport to
near Bent's fort; thence to the Huerfano river, in the Sangre de Cristo moun-
tains, au<l through them to Fort Massachusetts, on Utah creek, in NeM- Mex-
ico. Leaving Fort Massachusetts, the route lay up the San Luis valley to
the Saguache valley, through the Cochetopa pass in the Saguache moun-
tains, aud down the River Uucomphagre to the Grand river fork of the Col-
orado in Utah; thence across the Bunkard river and the Green river fork
of the Colorado, through the Mormon settlements near Little Salt Lake and
the Vegas de Santa Clara; thence along the old Spanish trail from Abiquiii
across tlie desert to the ^lohave river, into the Tulare through Walker pass
in the Sierra Nevada. Except that the route -was an unusual one, and the
Pah Utes were found to be the worst horse thieves on the continent, there is
nothing worthy of note in the book. Cidifornia and it.s Conditions (Califor-
nien und Seine Verhaltnisse), by A. F. Oswald, is a hand book containing a
sketch of the history, geography, statistics, climate, soils, commerce, laws,
modes, and routes of travel, etc., with a map of the United States, 1849.
The references to Nevada are of the briefest. A}>j>leton>i Hand Bink ef
Trawl, 1861, makes a brief notice of Utah territory, without mentioning
the separation of the territory of Nevada from Utah. The traveller could
not have gained much information from Appleton. The On Hand Guide, by
Hosea B. Horn, 1852, is a mere road book from Council Blufls to Sacramento,
and as such must have been of much use to immigrants, as it gave all the
river crossings, camping places, etc., with the distances between. There are
Bome striking inaccuracies in the distances, however, on the western end of
the route. Albert G. Bracket, in the Western Monthhi, a magazine, Chicago,
April, 1809, has an article on Nnyj<ln and the Silver Wne.o, wliieh contams a
very particular description of tlie western portion of the state, and remarks
upon the then new district of White Pine, made from personal observation.
There might be mentioned also Beuiy and Brenrhley, i. 168, ii. 382-49;
Craw's Tfyp Mem., in U. S. H. Dnr., 114, 18.'i9; Rofwrit Soin^nirii Vmi- en
Orei/on, 258-60; Mayer n Mexico: Azter, Span., and Rip., ii. 374-5; Kneelnnd's
Wonder.1 of Yoxemit^, 23; HalFs Guide tr> the Great Wext, ."15-60; and Virtors
Manifest Destiny in the West, in Orrrhnuf Maqazine, Aug. 1869.
»-"ln 1860 Nevada had less than 100 small farms; in 1870 there were over
SOIL AND PRODUCTS. 245
The first observed earthquake since settlement was
in 1857. On the 29th of May, 1868, there were four
shocks at Carson between nine and 'ten o'clock at
night. They were distinctly felt in the mines, but
did no damage, though they displaced bricks at the
top of the court-house. On the night of December
26, 1869, a series of severe shocks were experienced,
commencing at sis o'clock in the evening, and con-
tinuing at intervals through that night and the next
day. Some buildings were injured, and at Steam-
1,000, and in 1879 nearly 1,500, ranging from 10 acres to 1. 000 or more.
That there are farms in the state equal to the best anywhere is sufficient
evidence of what may yet he. In Xevo.da Bhr/raphy, MS., 4, by William
M. Cradlebaugh, brother of Judge Cradlebaugh of Cireleville, Ohio, who
came to Cal. in 1852, and to Nevada in 1859, is mention of his farm of
between 400 and 500 acres in Carson vaUey. This MS. is devoted in great
part to the history of early times and Judge CracUebaugh's contest with the
Mormon authorities in relation to the Mountain Meadows massacre. In
Nevxla Miicdhny, MS., containing several contributions upon the physical
feature? of the country, B. H. Reymers of Hanover, Germany, who came
to Nevada in 1870, speaking of farming, says that he gets 4 tons of alfalfa
to the acre in two crops, 45 bushels of wheat, 30 to 40 bushels of barley, and
raises some blue joint grass, 2 tons to the acre, all in Mason valley. Accord-
ing to this author the finest draught horses in the state are raised in Lyon
county, which will yet be famed for its production of English Coach, Clyde,
and Morgan stock. Richard Kinnan and T. B. Rickey of Antelope valley
have as fine farm and stock raising property as can be found in the world.
T. B. Smith of Smith vallej- in Lyon count j-, bom in Mass in 1834, came to
Cal. in 1853, and to Nevada in 1859. He first .settled the valley in company
with R. B. Smith and C. Smith, whence the name. According to his state-
ment wheat yields in Smith valley 30 to 60 bushels; barley 25 to 40 bushels;
oats about the same. Apples, prunes, pears, currants, etc., do well. T.
Winters of Reese river in 1864 had 110 acres in barlej% 75 in oats, 30 in
potatoes, 20 in Hungarian grass, 350 in native grasses, and 10 in vegetables.
The yield is not given. Austin Ree-se River Reveille, .June 21, 1864. Within a
radius of 100 miles of Pioche, excluding the Mormon settlement of Sfc
George, are 150 farms. Pi'jche Record, Feb. 13, 1873. Judge Perley of Pioche
purchased 640 acres in Steptoe valley for the purpose of raising fruit, grain,
and blooded stock. John Guthrie in Humboldt county, brought his farm of
6t0 acres to be one of the most valuable on the coast. Winnemucra Silver
Stit% May 25, 1882. This data was gathered for me by Geo. H. Morrison.
The climate is dry and healthful. Cloud bursts are occasional. There
were three in 1872. Overland Monthly, 1873, 464-6. The most remarkable
one occurred in 1874, on the 18th of August. A mass of water 8 feet in
height came roUing down the canon where Austin was located, sweeping
through the town like an avalanche, and carrj-ing -SIOO.OOO worth of prop-
erty before it. The people being warned by a swift rider, escajied to the
hills. Sacramento Bee, Aug. 19, 1874. On the 24th of July a similar flood
overtook Eureka without warning. Many lives were lost in this cloud burst.
Mai-y.wille Appeal, Aug. 1, 1874; Reno State Journal, Aug. 1, 1874; Amador
Di^ntch, Aug. 1874. A flood resulting from a violent rainstorm, which
probably followed a cloud burst in the mountains, destroyed 8100,000 worth
of property at Austin in August 1868.
246 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
boat springs tlio geysers were unusuall}' artive. Tlic
mines were not at all affected by the shocks, although
the boilers of the steam hoisting-works blew otl' steam
at each vibration, much to the consternation of the
engineers, who could not account for the phenomenon.
At the Savage mine the engineer stopped the large
pumping engine, and alarmed the miners underground
by this action more than the earthquake had done.
In March 1872 there were two heavy shocks in White
Pine county. This was probably what is known as
the Inyo earthquake, which was felt at the coast.
On November 5, 1873, a heavy shock was felt at
Union ville and four at Virginia City between i) a. m.
and 7 p. m. The disturbance continued two days,
during which time there were eight distinct shocks
about the sink of the Carson, the waters of which
were much agitated. In August 18G8 Mount Butler,
near Virginia City, was observed to be given signs of
volcanic disturbance, flames breaking out in a cave,
but probably from the ignition of gases.
Of the indigenous productions of the soil in
Nevada, the timber is first in importance, and is
found in the mountains exclusively. First on the
ranges comes a belt of the juniper and nut-pine;
next above, the white pine and balsam fir; then the
Douglas spruce, and on Wheeler peak and elsewhere
the K(jcky mountain spruce. Groves of aspen occur
at a height of 9,500 feet in the Troy range, the height
of the timber belt being nearly 11,000 feet in central
Nevada. Occasional cedars and cottonwoods, with
willows, and mountain mahogany, complete the list of
trees. Their size relatively to those of the same
species in California and Oregon is inferior. Trees
fifty feet in height, and twelve to fourteen inches in
diameter are of the average size cut for milling.
The number of acres of timber, including woodland,
was reported in 187D at 1,4:20,410, with somecounties
to hear from. Congressionaliand state legislation has
endeavored to protect the forestry, which with judicious
PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 247
management may be largely preserved. The flora of
Nevada is much more extensive than at first sight
might be supposed, there being over 1,200 plants cata-
logued without completing t]ie list. The obtrusive-
ness of the artemesia, or sage-brush, obscures every-
thing more modest.
Wild game is more plentiful now than thirty ^-ears
years ago, being protected by game law^s, and not
so much needed by the Indians for food as formerly.
It would be erroneous to conclude that because few
animals have chosen Nevada fortheir home that there
was not support for animal life ; for next in import-
ance to its mines at present is the trade in cattle, and
stock subsist almost entirely upon the native grasses.
Their low hills and the loftiest summits of the moun-
tains furnish bunch-grass, of which there are two
varieties, that growing on the lower hills being coarser
and more thinly set than that which grows further
up, and which bears an oat-shaped seed. Native
clover, blue-joint, red-top, and one kind of bunch-
grass are found in the valleys. On all the creeks of
the northern part of the state are extensive patches
of rye-grass, which grows often six feet high, and
makes excellent hay. The number of acres classified
as grazing land in 1878, some counties not being
heard from, was 7,508,060."
^^ The cattle herded upon these natural pastures make the best of beef,
or which at least cannot be equalled except upon similar ranges in the
bunch grass regions of eastern Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, and superior
to that produced with careful farming in the eastern states. I have given
so full particulars of stock raising for market in my Hidonj of Monhi.na
that it is unnecessary to repeat the account here, except to say that Nevada
is vastly superior to Montana on account of the milder -winters. The facts
are in general the same, and the profits similar. The common stock of the
country was graded somewhat Ijj' bulls kept by immigrants, but has been
greatly improved more recently by imported animals. The average weight
of cattle has been increased ten per cent, and the Nevada herds in 18S6
were about half thoroughbred. Some examples may not be out of place.
W. J. Marsh had a stock farm at the head of Carson valley of high bred
cattle. T. D. Parkinson of Kelly's creek imported in 1881 six car loads of
improved stock. He had imported several lots before. Daniel Murphy
had 60,000 acres of land in Nevada, from which he shipped 6,000 head of
cattle yearly. Murphy was a California pioneer of 1844, and the largest
248 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
The imnil)or of slieep in Nevada in 1884 was 300,-
000. Tile wool clip of Nevada was giv(;n in 187G at
100,000 pounds. In 1880 the crop in Paradise valley
alone was 84,000 pounds. The shipment from Battle
Mountain for the year was 200,000 pounds, a falling
oft' from previous years, owing to large sales of sheep
stock omier in Nevada, as well as the largest land owner in the world. He
owned 4,0U<),(K)0 acres in Mexico and 2M,()(X) in California. He died at Elko
Oct. 2*2, 1HS2. The combined herds of (ilenn and his partners aggregated
about 30,IKM) liead. Todlmnter and Devine had 25,000 lieail, and slui)ped
6,000 annually. They had over 100,000 acres of land. Riley and Hardin
own about 80,000 cattle. Burns, Stoffal & Co. 8,000. E. W. Crutclier's
stock range covered all the meadow ianil and water on a section of country
61 by 42 miles. He had l.'),000 head of cattle and 1,000 head of horses.
Hardin of Humboldt county shipped 30 car loails of beef cattle montldy to
California. Wells & Co. near Rabl)it creek were the heaviest cattle dealers
in that vicinity. Altogetlier tliere were in ISS.'), 500 stock raisers in Nevada,
large and small. Hitmen » Miiiin;/ Al/oitt Eunbt, MS., 4.
One of the first persons to discover the advantages of keeping cattle on
the Nevada ranges was Harry (Jordier, a FVenchman, mIio was killed in
1858 by Edwards and Thorrington that tliey might get possession of the
eattle he had driven over tlie mountains from California, and was fattening
in Carson valley. But he was not the only person feeding California cattle
on Nevada pastures, for as early as 1855 the practice of driving stock over
the mountains in summer was well known. Jlitffidrr.'i Early CiiUle Tnule,
MS., 1-2, 5-6. G. W. HufiFaker bought cattle at Salt Lake City, and drove
them to the Truckee meadows in 1856, fattening them and selling beef to
the miners in the early days of the Comstock excitement, when prices ruled
high. Cattle were first wintered on the Humboldt in 1859-60, and were of
the common Texas species. Long Valley in White Pine county was first oc-
cupied for herding cattle in 18G9 by Alvaro Evans and Robert Ross. In that
year several thousand head were driven frf>m Texas to stock the Nevada
ranges. The laws of Nevada encourage stock raising, and shield the owners
of cattle from the penalties wliich sliould follow injury to crops through
trespass by them. No act having been passed defining a lawful fence, the
supreme court decided in 1880 that owners of stock were not lialile for dam-
age done to crops by their cattle unless the land was so fenced as to exclude
ordinary animals. This decision placed the burden of protecting crops en-
tirely upon the agriculturalist, and saved the cattle raiser the exjtcnse of
herdsmen. Again, cattte nmst be taxed at the owners' residence, and not
in the localities where tliey were grazed; by which decision the county was
often defrauded of its ])roper revenue. Tlie law of 1873 recpiired each
owner to have a brand, ami also a counter-brand in case of sale. A law of
1881 provides for an inspector of hides, who may enter premises and search
for hides, reporting to the district attorney as to tlie Itrands. Tliis act in-
sures equal justice to all. Tlie number of cattle in Nevada in 1884, as esti-
mated by stock raisers, was about 700,000. English capital was being used
in purchasing ranges to a large amount.
The finest draft horses in the state in 188G were raised in Mason valley.
Fox's M'imii Vdlley Sctllfrs, MS., 1, in Nev(uln M'u>reUiiuy. J. J. Fox, born
in 18.34 in Baden, Germany, immigrated to the U. S. in 1854, and to Vir-
ginia City in 1860. In 1864 he settled east of Dayton, but the following year
removed to Mason valley, and raised stock. J. A. Perry imported Norman
stallions in 1880. Scott and Hank imported .3 Englisli stallions of tlie Shire
breed in 1881. J. S. Trask, W. W. Williams, and W. L. Pritchard raised
LIVE STOCK. 249
to Montana. From Winnemucca the shipment for
1880 was 140,000 pounds mstead of the usual amount
of 250,000 or 300,000 pounds. These figures give
some idea of where the sheep pastures are to be found.
The total shipment by railroad in 1882 was 349,585
pounds, the bulk of which was sold to eastern dealers
at from sixteen to twenty cents per pound. Angora
goats were increasing rapidly in Nevada. In 1869
there were 25 of these animals reported to be in the
state. In 1879 there were several bands of several
thousand each. The sage brush land was found well
adapted to pasturing these hardy creatures— the
one animal which thrives upon this coarse diet.
The long silky wool finds a ready market, and the
hides are sold to the Angora Glove company of
California.
In 1861 an attempt was made to domesticate the
camel. A band of a dozen was first employed in this
year to bring salt from Teel's marsh, in Esmeralda
county, to the Washoe silver mill, a distance of 200
miles. They proved well suited to the labor, but on
the discovery of a nearer salt deposit, wagons were
used, and the camels turned loose to take care of
themselves. This they did, increasing in number and
condition. The camels taken to Nevada in 1861 were
part of a herd of thirty-four which was sold at
Benicia, California, by the government to Samuel
McLaughlin, who had been intrusted with the care of
them. They were brought to the United States for
use on the plains, and increased after their arrival.
In 1876 the band was taken to Arizona, with the ex-
ception of a pair placed on a rancho in Carson valley,
where they increased to twenty-six in a few years.
But it was found impracticable to use them on the
blooded horses. In 1882 the latter shipped 8 thoroughbreds to Cal. This
year 300 horses were sold to go east. J. W. Dean of Eureka county was
the largest horse raiser in the east range of Cortez mountains. In 1881 a
car load of jacks and jennies was imported from the western states by
William Billups; mule raising having become a considerable branch of stock
farming.
250 MATERIAL RESOURCES AXD DEVELOPMENT.
highways, horses being frightened by them, and suits
for damages following, for which reason the legisla-
ture in 1875 prohibited their running at large or
being upon the public roads. A part of the herd
was disposed of to the Philadelphia zoological
gardens.
An experiment in ostrich farming was made in 1879
by Theodore Glancy, whose land was southwest of
the Bismark range, near the old route from Carson
to Bodie. Failing to hatch the eggs in sand l)y solar
heat, he obtained a pair of birds from which, in 1881,
he raised ten others. . The use intended to be made
of the birds, was in transporting provisions and other
parcels. Their plumage alone would make them
valuable.
Hog raising proved profitable. H, C. Emmons in
1882 had 400 at the sink of the Humboldt, which was
the largest herd in the state. There were several
others near Lovelocks, and James Guthrie near Win-
nenmcea was raising Berkshires extensively. Poultry
raising likewise prospered, George W. Chcdec, at
Carson City, having in 1882 twentj^-six difi'erent
breeds on his poultry farm. From these beginnings,
small when compared with the area of the state,
enough may be learned to remove the inipression that
only metals and minerals can be produced in
Nevada.
Something should be said here of the public sur-
veys and land laws. I have already mentioned that
John W. North was the first surveyor-general ap-
pointed. Acts of March 14 and May 30, 1802, united
Nevada to the California surveying service, to take
effect July 1, 1802. On the 2d of July congress es-
tablished the land district of Nevada, and authorized
the appointment of a r(\gister and receiver. A joint
resolution of the Nevada legislature protjsted against
being united to California, and asked to have the
office of surveyor-general restored, with an ap-
LANDS. 251
propriation for the survey of the public lands.
An act of congress approved July 2, 1864, at-
tached Xevada to Colorado for surveying pur-
poses. Another act, on March 2, 1865, attached
Nevada once more to the California surveying dis-
trict. It was not until July 4, 1866, that a United
Stated surveyor-general of Nevada was again author-
ized by congress with a salary of 33,000. The con-
stitution of Xevada, adopted in 1864, provided for the
election of a surveyor-general with a salary- of SI. 000.
S. H. Marlette was chosen at the first state election
to hold office, according to the constitution, for four
years. By a special law of March 9, 1866, it was
enacted that the state officers should be chosen at the
general election for that year, and on every fourth
year thereafter. Marlette was reelected. The du-
ties of the state surveyor-general were to select and
dispose of the lands granted to the state, and act as
ex-officio register. The same law fixed the minimum
price of the lands belonging to the state, except the
lands embraced within the twenty mile limit of the
Central Pacific Railroad, at 81.25 per acre, and the
minimum price of all lands falling within that limit at
$2.50; but the board of regents of the state had the
power to fix a higher price upon any unsettled lands
not already applied for. By an act of congress ap-
proved June 8, 1868, Nevada was authorized to select
from the alternate even numbered sections within the
limits of any railroad grant, lands in satisfaction of
the several grants to the state made in the organic
act, the act of admission, and the act of July 4, 1866,
granting university lands and agricultural college
lands. The public lands of Nevada were not subject
to entry, sale, or location under any laws of the
United States, except the Homestead act of May 20,
1862, and preemption law, until after the state should
have received her full quota of lands; and she should
have two years after the survey should have been
made in which to make her selection, in tracts of not
252 MATERIAL RESOUKCES AXD DEVELOl'MEXT.
less than forty acres, but could not sell in tracts of
more than 3-JO, and to actual settlers.
The state had selected all the land granted by the
government m 1877, except the sixteenth and thirty-
sixth sections, or common-school lands. In these
sections was included a large amount of desert, alkali,
and mountain land whiclr the i)ublic surveyors pro-
nounced unfit for cultivation, and therefore left un-
surveyed. In 1877, 780 townships only had been
surveyed, and the available area out of 17,971.200
acres was 10,702,237 acres. The state in consecjuence
lost 7,208,903 acres, which were pronounced unfit for
cultivation, and the school fund in proportion. Out
of the 10,702,237 acres of land surveyed as cultivable,
the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections contained
008,307 acres. Of this amount only 04,528 acres had
been sold in 1877.
The whole state of Nevada contained 3,1 1 3f^ town-
ships, or an area of 71,737,741 acres, which upon the
above basis would afford of available land 42,900,889
acres, and of school lands 2,428,252 acres, instead of
3,984,040 acres, which, if the whole were available,
would belong to the school land. At the rate at
which the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections were
selling, it was evident that not more than 257,581
acres would have been sold within the time allotted
for reserving the public lands for selection by the
state, when the opportunity of securing indemnity
lands would be lost. State surveyor-general Charles
S. Preble recommended to the legislature to take
some action to secure a grant of land in lieu of the
sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections for school purposes.
This advice was acted upon, and congress granted
2,000,000 acres of land to be selected by the state in
place of those sections. For this service the state
owes Mr Preble a lasting recognition of his talents.
This grant placed the state as well as the school fund
upon a better basis, no waste land being chosen, and
sales being much more numerous. From July 1,
COUNTIES. 253
1880, to January 1, 1883, 1,031 applications were
filed, covering 166,800 acres of school lands.
The meridian and base of Mount Diablo were used
for the standard in the survey of Nevada. Guide
meridians were established in all the principal centres
of population. The first land district was that of
Carson. The second land-office was located at Aus-
tin in 1867; the third at Aurora in a district includ-
ing the counties of Esmeralda, Nevada, and Mono
and Inyo, California, in 1868 ; the fourth at Belmont,
m 1869, removed to Pioche in 1874; the fifth at Eu-
reka, in 1873, removed from Austin; there being but
four local land-offices in the state. In March 1872
the Elko land district was established.
The amount of mineral land in the state was ap-
proximately given, from the incomplete returns of
counties in 1876, as being 1,679 acres. The total
amount of salt, soda, and borate of lime lands was re-
ported in 1871 at 52,000 acres. The legislature of
1873 asked congress to permit Nevada to select saline
lands under previous acts, and subsequently fixed the
value of salt and borax lands at five dollars per acre,
maximum. An act of congress concerning desert
lands, passed in 1877, provides that a settler may
acquire title to six hundred and forty acres by irri-
gating the tract for three years, and paying $1.25 per
acre. Capitalists were quick to see the advantages
of this law to acquire large tracts of country, which
by the simple cost of irrigating canals became of great
value. In 1879 an act of congress provided for a
public lands commission, to consist of the commissioner
of the general land office, the director of the geological
survey, and three civilians, to report to congress a
system of classification of public lands, and a codifica-
tion of existing laws relating to such lands.
The territory of Nevada established by a legisla-
tive act, on the 25th of November, 1861, nine coun-
ties, and on the 29th fixed their capitals. Douglas,
254 MATEUIAL KESOL'KCES AND DKNEI.OPMENT.
with the county seat at Genoa, contiiined the oldest
settlements, and is therefore entitled to the first |»lace
on the list. Extending on the west to the eastern
summit of the Sierra, it includes 50,000 acres of tim-
ber and wood lands, from which have been drawn
vast (luuntities of wood and lumber by means of tiumes
constructed at great expense for this purpose. Glen-
brook, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe,
is the principal lumber manufacturing ]K)int in the
state. It was first settled in 18^0 by G. ^^^ Warren,
N. E. Murdock, and K. Walton, ''in 1801 A. W.
Pray .erected a saw-mill, which was run l)y water
conducted half a mile through a fiumc and ditch,
which served until 18G4, when a steam-mill was
erected. Fray's mill was the second one built at
Lake Tahoe, the first being on the California side, in
1860. Other mills followed, and in 1873 the firm of
Yerington and Bliss began the lumber business at
Glenbrook, and threaded the entire timber belt of
Lake Tahoe and the surrounding slopes with Humes
and chutes, conveying wood and lumber to the towns
about. The lumber product of Douglas county was
about 12,000,000 feet annually. It cannot be classed
with the mining counties, although some mining en-
teri)rises have been attempted there. Agriculturally
it is one of the foremost sections of the state, pro-
ducing grains, fruits, and vegetables in variety and
abundance, and having about 40,000 acres of arable
land, 200,000 acres of grazing land, and 100,000 of
reclaimable desert lands. In 1885 the county had
six saw-mills, two hundred miles of irrigating ditches,
made forty thousand pounds of butter annually, and
had fiirms to the value of over half a million, (irenoa
was made the county seat. The extraordinary snows
of 1882 caused an avalanche which came near (k'stroy-
ing the town of Genoa. The tcnvns and settlements
not before mentioned are Bridge House, Carter, Car-
son Valley, Cradlcbaugh's bridge. Double Spring,
Hot Springs, Hoyes' Store, Job, Mollville, Mammoth,
DOUGLAS, ORMSBY, AND WASHOE COUNTIES. 255
Mottville, Mountain House, Sheridan, Spooner Sta-
tion, Sprague, Summit Camp, Thornton, Tisdell,
Twelve-mile House, Valley View, Van Sickle's,
Walker River, and Warren's.
Ormsby county, a small shire sandwiched between
Douglas and Washoe, but of an importance not pro-
portioned to its size, contains about ten thousand acres
of arable land, half of which was under cultivation in
1885, and excellent grazing lands. It shared largely
in the lumber and wood trade, was the seat of numer-
ous quartz-mills, contained the capitol of the state,
the penitentiary, mint, and other public institutions,
and in 1876 paid taxes on $2,673,066. Carson City,
incorporated in 1875, is both the county seat and
state capital, and is pleasantly situated, with wide
streets which are bordered with trees. It has, besides
the public buildings, a number of fine structures for
business purposes, half a dozen churches, and many
handsome residences. Its water- works were erected
in 1860. The towns and settlements not named are
Brunswick, Clear Creek, Empire City, Lookout, Mc-
Raey, Merrimac, Mexican, Mill Station, Santiago
Mill, Swift's Springs, and Vivian Mill.
Washoe county, also one of the first subdivisions of
Carson county, contains 75,000 acres of agricultural,
400,000 of grazing, 80,000 of timbered, and 20,000 of
mineral lands, and pays taxes on $4,165,210 of real
and personal property. One of the farm products in
which Washoe excelled was honey. The crop in
1884 was not less than 37,000 pounds. Hops also
did well in this county, which produced 40,000 pounds
the same year. The first county seat was at Washoe
City, but was removed to Reno by vote of the people
in 1870, and an act of the legislature in 1871. Reno
w^as founded by the Central Pacific Railroad company
in 1868, in the Truckee valley, and nimed in honor
of General Reno, who fell at the battle of South
Mountain. It has been twice nearly destroyed by
fire, once in 1873, and again in 1879. A court-house
2-)G MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT. ;
i
was ercctetl of l)ri(k in 1872-3. A poor-farm and '
lios[)ital Wire j.^rovided by the county conunissioners in
1875, who purchased forty acres for tlie purpose on \
the south side of the Truckee, one mile east of Reno,
with water for irrii^^ating purposes. A free iron
bridge was constructed across the river in 1877 in
phice of a toll-bridge, which had been in use since
18G3. An asylum for the insane is located a short
distance from the town ; also the state board of agri-
culture, the state universit}', and a fine school for
girls under the management of the episcopal church, .
named after Bishop Whittaker, who founded it. The '
Truckee river, which is near the town, will some
day, no doubt, invite manufactures. The first settle-
ment on the site of Reno was made by C. W. Fuller i
in 1859, who kept a hotel, and built the first britlge 1
across the Truckee at this place in 1860. Fuller j
also owned a toll-road, and sold the whole of the j
property to M. C. Lake, from whom the place took |
the name of Lake's crossing. The name still sur-
vives in Lake house, a hotel on the original location
of Fuller. Among the prosperous stock -raisers may
be mentioned Jacob Stiner, a native of Ohio, who
came to California by sea in 1853, mined on the Yuba ,
at Park's bar, subsequently settled in Sutter count}''
on the Sacramento river, giving the name of Stiner's I
bend to that portion of the stream. The towns and ;
settlements of Washoe county not named above are ,
Anderson's, Brown's, Clark's, Crystal Peak, Essex,
Galena, Glendale, HufFaker's, Lake View, Little Val-
ley, Long Valley, Mayburg Store, Mud Lake, Ophir,
Pleasant A^alley, Pocville, Salvia, Steamboat, Three-
mile Station, Two-mile Station, Vista, Verdi, Wads-
worth, and Winnemucca valley.
Storey ct)unty, i\amed in honor of Edward Faris
Storey, who was killed in an attack on the Pah Ute
camp in 18G0, has been the theatre of the most stir-
ring events of mining life in Nevada, and still main-
tains nmch of the prestige acquired when the Comstock I
STOREY AXD INYO COUNTIES. 257
was at its highest point of development. It was or-
ganized in 1861, and contains seven Imndred and fit'ty
acres only of farming land, twenty thousand acres of
grazing land, the remainder being classed with min-
eral lands. Much of its history has already been given.
Virginia City, the county seat, being 6,205 feet
above sea-level, and 2,000 feet above the Humboldt
plains, perched on the eastern slope of an isolated
mountain, whose altitude is 7,827 feet, the only water
supply of the city came at first from natural springs,
A few wells were added as the town increased in size.
At length a company was formed, which collected in
wooden tanks the water flowing from mining tunnels,
and distributed it by means of pipes through the
town. But in time the tunnels ran dry, and it became
necessary to pierce the hills for new water deposits,
which in turn became exhausted, until the town was
threatened with a water famine. Prospecting for
water brought out the fact in topography that it was
in the flat-topped hills it would be found, rather than
in the conical ones. Miles of tunnelling were done
with no other object than to find water, and many
thousands of dollars were expended in this work, and
in dams and bulkheads to hold the water formed by
meltingsnow.^*
All the institutions of Virginia City were cosmo
politan compared to other towns. The hotels, banks,
churches, school houses, theatre, opera house, court
house, city hall, odd fellows' hall, hospital, stores, and
business places and residences still give evidence of
the enterprise and money which have been expended
there. "After the discovery of silver mines," say a
Clarke, " two enterprising men of San Francisco took
advantage of the excitement, surveyed and staked out
"In 1872 the Virginia and Gold Hill Water company employed H,
Schnssler, engineer of the S. F. •water-works, to make a sur%"ey of the coun-
try to the first available streams in the Sierra Nevada, twentj-'five miles,
west of Virginia City. Athwart the route lay the Washoe valley, an obsta»
cle requirincr unmistakable skill to conquer. The works were completed m
1873 at an e'stimated cost of §2,000,000.
Hist. Nev. 17.
258 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
all the uiKK (Mipicd land wliore Virginia City now stands
and sold oil' the lots as mining claims, though no mine
existed there, nor any symptoms of it. Thev actually
sold off i?l>5,000 worth of stock." It was built
upon ground with such a pitch that what was the
second story of a house in front became the first at
the back. The assessed valuation of the whole
county of Storey, given in lcS84, was $2,885,356, be-
ing less than that of Washoe, but its finances were in
a healthy condition, without debt of any kind. The
towns and settlements in Storey county, aside from
Virginia and Gold Hill, are American Flat, Baltic,
Bonanza City, Gold Canon, LouisetoAvn, !Mound
House, Washington, and Valley Wells.
Lyon county was organized in 1801, but had its
boundaries changed in 1804. It has 128,000 acres of
agricultural, 100,000 of grazhig, 5,000 of mineral, and
2?000 of timbered lands. It has 200 miles of irrigat-
ing ditches, which water 17,500 acres. Its property
valuation in 1884 was $1,3:^6,059. The general sur-
face of the county is mountainous, all the arable land
being upon the Carson river, except about eight miles
of Mason valley in the southeast corner. Dayton,
the county seat, is one of the oldest towns in Nevada.
Being situated at the mouth of the canon leading to
the Comstock mines, it became the site of numerous
quartz mills, and shared in the general ])rosperity of
that lode. In the mineral district of Palmyra, south-
east from Dayton about ten miles, in an elevated val-
ley, in 1803-4, w^as the mining town of Como and its
sister Palmyra. Como grew rapidly, its hopes being
based on the supposed richness of its mines. It was
made the county scat of Lyon county, and had a
quartz mill and a newspaper, the Coiiw ,Scvtincl.
Gradually the town was abaniloned by every inhabi-
tant except one, G. W. Walton. On the 22d of No-
vember, 1873, the last inhabitant perished in the
flames of his solitary residence. The deserted houses,
haunted by the ghosts of dead hopes, open to the
ESMERALDA COUNTY. 259
winds of summer, and buried under the snow drifts of
winter, offer a sad commentary on human expecta-
tions. Silver City, settled before Virginia City, was
incorporated in 1877. There were, in 1885, four
quartz mills, six tailings mills, two arastras, and one
smelting furnace in the county, and seven miles of
mining ditches. The towns or settlements not men-
tioned above in Lyon county are Buckland's, Cleaver,
Eureka, Fort Churchill, Hayward's, Hot Spring,
Johnstown, Mound House, Mountain, Palmyra, and
Wabuska.
Esmeralda county, organized in 1861, has, approxi-
mately, 100,000 acres of agricultural, 150,000 of graz-
ing, 150,000 of timbered, and 300,000 of mineral
lands. The value of its real and personal propert}^ in
1884 was given in by the assessor at $1,158,365, or
nearly $200,000 less than the previous year. Mining
began early, Esmeralda mining district, about the
present town of Aurora, being organized in August
1860. No less than seventeen quartz mills, costing
over $1,000,000 were erected at Aurora, and bullion
to the amount of S16,000,000 has been produced in
this district. Aurora, for twenty years the county
seat, was first settled by J. M. Carey, James M.
Brady, and E. R. Hicks in 1860. The value of its
taxable property in 1880 was $200,000. One news-
paper, the Esmeralda Herald, was published ther6.
Hawthorne, a new town, twenty-eight miles distant
on the Carson and Colorado railroad, was made the
county seat in 1883. Belleville, situated at an alti-
tude of 5,000 feet, on the slope of the Monte Christo
mountains, was founded in 1873. Marietta, another
mining camp, lies ten miles northwest of Belleville.
Candelaria, the railroad terminus, had, in 1885, a
school house, church, hotel, stores, and other places
of business. It was named after a mine discovered
in 1865 by Spanish prospectors, and was surveved for
a town in 1876 by J. B. Hiskey. The White Moun-
tain Water company of Nevada was organized under
200 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
the laws of New York to do business in Nevada,
Henry A. (xildersleeve president, James A. Prit-
cliard secretary, John Aandroth treasurer. Tlie dis-
tance to the springs was twenty-one miles. The Can-
d'laria True Fissure newspaper was first published
June 5, 1880, by John Dormer. Columbus was set-
tled in 17Gj, and a quartz mill erected. In 1872 the
Pacific Borax company commenced operations on the
Columbus marsh, and in Fish Lake valley in 1875.
This company suspended work on the borax marshes ;
but the Teel salt marsh was worked by Smith Broth-
ers, and Hhoades salt marsh by A. J. Rhoades.
Walker lake, with a part of the Pah Ute reservation,
is in Esmeralda county. The only agricultural town
in the county is Greenfield, or ^lason valley, in the
bend of Walker river. It was first settled b}^ W. R.
Lee in 18G9. Its growth has been p»}rmancnt and
healthy, with church, school, and mail privileges.
The settlements not above mentioned in Esmeralda
county are Birch Agency, Alida Valley, Alum Creek,
Black Mountain District, Cambridge, Chase, Cory-
ville, Coal Valley, Cottonwood Well, Dead Horse
Well, Durant's Mill, East Walker, Elbow, Fish Lake,
Five Mile Station, Gillis Mountain, Gold Net, Hog's
Back, Hot Spring, Hulclie Canon, Johnson, Lida,
Lobdell, McGeer, Mammoth Ledge, Marietta, Me-
tallic, Military Station, Miller, Montezuma, Mount
Grant, New Bostcm, Nine Mile House, Pahnetto,
Pick Handle, Pine Grove, Rockland, Sand Spring,
Santa Fe, Silver Peak, Soda Springs, Sweetwater,
Sylvania, Virginia, Vclcano, Walker River, Washing-
ton, Wellington, Wheeler, Wliiskc}' Springs, Wildes.
Gold Mountain is a new town in the southern part of
the county, which took its birth and growth from the
recent development of an old gold discovery called
the State Lime mine, remarkable for the richness
and extent of the fissure on which it is located. This
lode was discovered in 1864 by Thomas J. Shaw, who
abandoned it on account of the distance from water
ROOP AND HUMBOLDT. 261
or mills. It was relocated in 1865, and sold to Jotr.
gles Wright, who worked it for some time, with only
partial success, and it was neglected until recently.
Churchill county, created by the legislature of
1861, with the county seat at Buckland, was attached
to Lyon for judicial purposes. Before it was organ-
ized it lost a portion of its area by the creation of
Lander county, and only came to be an independent
district in 1864. It lost another part of its territory
in 1869 to Nye county, ^yhat is left is largely desert,
marsh land, and alkaline lakes, but contains 25,000
acres of excellent hay land, and 20,000 acres of
arable land, of which there are perhaps 5,000 acres
under cultivation, on Carson slough. The first flour
mill in the country was erected in 1881 by J. T.
Walker & Co. The first farm was started by Asa L.
Kenyon in 1854, who settled on the Carson at Eag-
town. The principal resources of Churchill county
are salt, soda, sulphur, and stock-raising. Its asses-
sable property is reported as less than that of any
other county in the state, being only $486,432 in
1883.
La Plata, a mining town on the eastern confines of
the county, was the first county seat after organiza-
tion, but having become deserted by its inhabitants
about 18^6, the county seat was removed to Still-
water, in the farming region, in 1868. The founder
of Stillwater was J. C. Scott, who settled there in
1862. Wadsworth, on the Central Pacific railroad,
was the shipping point for the agricultural region of
Carson slough. The wood supply was obtained in
the Silver Hill range, from twelve to twenty miles
distant. In 1863-5 considerable gold and silver min-
ing was done in the mountains of the east part of the
county, but on the discovery of White Pine these
mines were abandoned. They never paid higher than
twelve or fifteen dollars to the ton. The settlements
besides those mentioned are Alan, Clan Alpine Mill,
Coates Wells, Cold Spring, Desert, Desert Well,
2G2 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Eagle Salt Works, East Gate, Hill's station, Hot
Springs, La Plata, Mirage, Mountain Well, Murpliy
Station, Ragtown, Salinas, Shoshones Spring, Sink
Statical, Soda Lake, Soldiers' Si)ring, St Clair, West
Gate, White Plains, and White Kock House.
Poop county has no separate existence, but is
attaclied to Washoe for judicial and revenue purposes.
It has tliousands of acres of land valuable for fann-
ing could water be brought to it. At present its
valleys are used for the pasturage of stock, of which
20,000 head are herded in the county. The settle-
ments in Poop are Buffalo Meadows, Chalk Hill,
Churcli's Camp, Duck Flat, Fish Springs, Lewis
Pancho, Millers, Sheep Head, and Smoke Creek
Depot. Several land claims were taken on Duck
Flat, at Dry Lake, Dry Valle}^ Little Winnemucca,
and Winnemucca valley proper, and at Murphy's
Salt j\Iarsh. Grain is raised and dairy-farming car-
ried on in the last-named valleys.
Humboldt, the last of the original nine counties, is
of great extent and varied resources. It contains
30,000 acres of agricultiyal, 50,000 of grazing, 8,000
of thnbered, and 508,000 acres of mineral lands. It
has 10 miles of mining and 400 miles of irrigating
ditches. The largest single enterprise of this kind
was the Humboldt canal, projected in 1862 by J.
Giuacca, an Italian, the founder of the town of Win-
nenmcca. He formed a company in San Francisco.
The first 28 miles cost $100,000, and there was no
more money fortlicoming. Humboldt count}^ had in
1885 10 quartz mills and 2 smelting-furnaces, 3 steam
grist-mills, and 2 water-power mills. It had in 1884
of stock cattle 28,000 head, besides work oxen, 57,000
heeps, 806 hogs, a few cashmere and angora goats,
5,600 horses, 200 mules, 10 asses, 300 milch cows,
4,500 calves on the ranges, and 1,348 beef-cattle.
The amount of land actually cultivated in 1884 was
9,218 acres. The wheat raised Avas 86,000 bushels;
of barley, 125,000; of oats, 5,230; of corn, 40 bush-
LANDER COUNTY 2G3
els. There were raised also 8,170 bushels of potatoes,
and of ha}^, 21,175 tons were cut. The product of
the dairy was 1,800 pounds of butter. The wool crop
was 240,000 pounds. There were growing 5,000
apple, 2,500 peach, 250 pear, 200 plum, 50 cherry, 10
nectarine, 40 quince, 20 apricot, and 20 prune trees.
Of shade or transplanted trees there were 6,020, Of
the small fruits there were 7,000 bushels; grapes, 200
vines. Thousands of acres of wild sugar-cane grow
about the sink of the Humboldt; and a textile called
hemp, but of a stronger fibre and longer staple, is
abundant in the Humboldt valley. In fruit and
transplanted trees the county of Washoe alone sur-
passes Humboldt. The assessed valuation of the
county, real and personal, for 1884, was $3,152,692,
which is a good showing for the population. The
mining property of Humboldt county is of much less
value than its farm property, a fact which I have
endeavored to show in detail. Yet there are good
mining districts, one of which, the Buena Vista, has
yielded its millions in bullion ^'
Unionville, which owes its existence to mining
prospectors of 1861, was the first county-seat. A
majority of its founders being confederates, it was
originall}^ called Dixie, but as union men became
prominent, the name was changed. In 1873 the
^^ John H. Hoppin, engaged in cattle raising in Humboldt co. , was born
in Lanesboro', Berkshire co., Mass., Feb. 9, 1821, and brought up on a farm
in the town of Eldridge, Onandaga co., X. Y. He was educated at Monroe
acdaemy, and taught school for a while after completing his studies. In
1844 his father and all his family removed to Xiles, Michigan, where they
redded until 1849, when John H. Hoppin set out for CaL, overland, and
reached the Yuba diggings in the autumn, mining during the winter at a
place now called Washington. The following year he started in merchandis-
ing on the Xorth Yuba at Goodyear's bar, in connection with Woodruff,
Duncan & Co. Later he was joined by his brother Charles R., and they
purchased 400 head of cattle from the immigration, which they fattened and
sold. Ths brothers purchased a 6-league grant at Yolo, where thej' were
joined by two more of their brothers, Henry L., and Thaddeus C, John and
Charles going to Texas in 1870 to buy cattle to stock grazing land in Nevada.
They own 15,000 acres in Humboldt co., on which are from 12,000 to 15,-
000 sheep, and from 2.500 to 3,000 head of cattle. In 1872 John H. was
elected to the^le^islature on the republican ticket, and helped to elect John
P. Jones for L". S. senator. He is laljnring for the plan of storing water for
use in farming, and believes Nevada wiU yec be a wheat growing state.
•2(U MAThJlIAL l^KSOUKCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
county scat was removed to Winnenmcca, wiiicli until
18G8 was known only as French Bridge or Ford. In
that year it was named to connnemorate the Pah Ute
chief 1)}' C. B. O. Bannon, a nephew of the secretary
of the interior.
The other towns and settlements in Humboldt
county are Adobe, Barbersville, Bartlett Creek, Bata-
via City, Brown's, Butfalo Station, Cane Spring,
Canon Station, Centreville, Clark's, Coin, Cumber-
land, Derby's Dun Glen, Fairview, Fort McDcrmit,
Gem City. Granite Creek, Grass Valley, Griggsville,
Hardin's Ranch, Hillyer, Humboldt City, Indian
Creek, Iron Point, Isabella, Jersey Cit}', Junction,
King Kiver Valley, Lancaster, Little Humboldt,
Lovelock, McCulley, Mason, Mill City, Mountain
Spring, O'Connor Station, Oreana, Panther Canon,
Paradise Hill, Paradise Valley, Pine Forest, Pleasant
Valley, Queen City, Queen River Valley, Raspberry
Creek, Rock Spring, Rockwell Station, Rocky Cafion,
Ross Creek, Rye Patch, Santa Clara, Scottsville,
Smith Ford, Spring City, St Mary, Star City, Trin-
ity, Tule, Vandewater, Varyville, Ward, Willow
Creek, Willow Point, and Winnemucca Spring.
Lander county, created December 1'.), 1862, was
cut off from the eastern portion of Humboldt and
Churchill counties in obedience to the demand of a
small army of miners, who, according to their tradi-
tions, made a rush in the previous May for Reese
river, hitherto unknown except to the Indians, the
military, and the overland-stage and pony-exj)ress
com[)anies. The road crossed Reese river at Jacob
station. Almost directly east of the station was a
pass known as Pt)ny Canon, because the riders of this
ex[)ress often shortened their route by taken it instead
of the usual pass through the Toiyabe range. Wil-
liam M. Talcott, who had been a pony-express rider,
being in this canon May 2, 18G2, discovered a quartz
vein, some ore from which was sent to Virginia City
to be assayed. Reese river mining district was imme-
LANDER COUNTY. 265
diately orsfanized, and in the following December a
county was also created, and named after F. W.
Lander, in acknowledgment of his services to the
government and the territory. From Lander county,
which was enlarged by the change of boundary
between Utah and Nevada, so many districts have
been carved that it has been called the mother of
counties.
The amount of surveyed land in Lander count}' is
small, whence it may be inferred that the agricultural
interest is small accordingly. It is, indeed, princi-
pally as a mineral region that it is known, its wealth
having been dug out of its quartz mines, which, unlike
those of some other portions of the state, remain
productive. Its total valuation in 1879 was given at
$1,038,373, and its population at 3,624. The great
cost of living, and of working mines so far in the
interior has been the main difficulty to be overcome
in Lander county, which, until 1880, when the
Nevada Central railroad was completed to Austin,
remained unchano-ed. During the eig:hteen vears
while freight- wagons drawn by horse or mule teams
performed all the transportation to the mines of the
Toiyabe range, quartz ledges that yielded no more
than .8100 per ton were almost worthless, the cost of
extracting the bullion being equal to that for the first
few years, and never having come down to the rates
at which the Comstock mines were worked. With
all these disadvantages, the Reese river mines have
paid for working. Battle Mountain district furnishes
galena ores assaying $400 per ton in silver and 70 per
cent of lead. The average ^'ield is $150 per ton silver
and 50 per cent of lead. It has been found in some
combinations to contain from $3,000 to $4,000 in
silver. The copper ores of this district are also of a
high grade. The same may be said of Jersey district,
south-west of Battle Mountain station. The ores
from these districts were concentrated and shipped
east for reduction. Lewis district, distant 16 miles
S66 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
from Battle! ]\I()Uiitain, was fonuccted by rail with the
Nevada Central and Central Pacific railroads.
Reese river district was the principal as it was the
first organized in the county. Since it creation two
other (Hstricts have been consolidated with it, Amador
and Yankee Blade. The number of locations re-
corded was over 8,000. The veins were contained in
i^neiss of granite, and run northwest and southeast,
dipping northeast 35°. The ores were silver bearing,
although a small percentage of gold was found in
some mines; also galena, antimony, coi)per, iron, and
zinc. The chief mines of this district were King
Alfred, Chase, New Pacific, Magnolia, Morris and
Caple, Patriot, and the Manhattan comimny's claims.
The King Alfred mines were owned by an English
company. An English company also owned a copper
mine in Battle Mountain district. The first mine lo-
cated Avas the Pony. The deepest shaft in 1884 was
700 feet, and was on the Oregon, one of the ^lanhat-
tan company's mines. The veins of this district were
narrow but rich, two and a half feet being the widest,
and all require chlorination. The gross bullion yield
of this district, from its discovery to 1865, is estimated
at $2,000,000, since which time it has yielded $19,-
591,551.18. ranking third in the state for productive-
ness.'*
Tlie amount of land cultivated in Lander county in
1880 was 2,700. The productiims were 1,080 bush-
els of wheat, 43,000 of barley, 775 of oats, 02,000 of
••^Thc ^Larysville mines in Lander co. were discovered by William Stanage
Wilson, who, with his sons, owns the group. Mr Wilson is of Scotch
descent, his grandfather arriving in America ahout 1775, and lielping to tight
the battles of tlie revolution. Mr Wilson was horn in Logan co. , Ohio, Dec.
.SO, 1821, hut at the age of 11 years removed to Elkliart co., Ind. In 1848
he volunteered for the Mexican war, hut peace being soon after declared, he
was discharged. Hj came to the Pacific coast in \S')'2 along witli tlie immi-
gration to Oregon, residing in tliat state until 1S74, when he removed to
Carico valley. Lander co., about 00 miles from Austin. Having made acom«
fortable fortune in mining antl cattle raising, he left the care of the large
Carico farm tf) his sons, and devoted himself to prospecting, which he fol-
lowed for eiglit years l»efore lie found what satisfieil him. He later became
a resident of Ruiio, his large family being prcjvided for, and all tlie result
of his iudouxi table energy and sagacity.
TOWN SITES. 2G7
potatoes, 9,500 tons of hay, and a few hundred fruit
trees. Of live stock, it owned 2,100 horses, 400
mules, 4,624 cattle, 23,000 sheep, and some other
farm stock. The first town and county seat was
Jacobsville, at the overland stage station. But Austin
in 1863 superseded it. In December 1862 two men,
named Marshall and Cole, were the sole occupants of
the site, being engaged in running a tunnel on the
south side of the Pony canon, on the Highland Mary
claim, near the centre of the present town. In that
same month John Frost, " Felix O'Neil, J. Q. C. Van-
derbosch, and George Buffet located the Oregon, North
Star, and Southern Light mines in the same lo-
cality, and in the following spring erected a log
cabin. ^*
A survey was made of a town site, which was m-
tended to secure the water and mill rights, but the
property was sold in 1865 to a New York company,
under the name of Manhattan, Frost being retained
as superintendent, and having charge of all the ma-
chinery put up on Lander Hill for many years. Mar-
shall also located a town site, and another was taken
up by D. E. Buell, W. C. Harrington, E. Welton,
and I. C. Bateman. The citizens united to construct
a graded road from the lower town, or Clifton, to the
upper town, or Austin, and soon the majority of the
population was at the higher point, and practically
there was but one town, which was Austin. In April
1863 a hotel, newspaper, and post office were added
to the new city. A pony express was started by G.
L. Turner to the various mines, and Wells, Fai'go &
IT John Frost, born in Monroe co., K Y., in 1829, and educated at the
common schools, came to Cal. in 1846 in a whaler, touching at Valparaiso
and Monterey. He was 2 years before the mast, and 2 years 3d mate of
the vessel, the voyage lasting 4 years and 8 months. In 1851 he made an-
other voyage to Cal., and arrived, for the third time, in Dec, 1852, m the
clipper ship Thomas Watson, when he went to the mine.? on Yuba river, re-
maining there until 1860. In that year he erected a hotel in the Henness
pass of the Sierra Nevada, but removed to Pony, now Austin, in 1852, m
company with Vanderbosch, O'Neil, and Buffet. This company, known as
the Oregon Mill and Mining co., erected a ten-stamp mill, which ran tor two
years.
268 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Co. established an express office. Being directly upon
the overland route, Austin had stage coniinunication
with the cast and west, besides wliicli special lines
were established. The passenger traffic for 18G5 was
estimated at 0,000 fares between V^irginia City and
Austin, at $40 a fare. The fn-ight carried over the
road cost $1,381,800 for trans[)()rtation from this di-
rection alone, besides what came from Siilt Lake.
Lumber transported from the mills of the Sierra cost
$250 per thousand feet, and that sawed out of the na-
tive pinon, $125 per thousand. Brick manufactured
at Reese river cost $12 to $18 per thousand, and other
things in proportion. The treasure carried by the
express company that year aggregated $0,000,000.
Three banking houses were in operation. ^len of
the learned professions flocked there, and Austin was
that anomaly of modern times, a city in the midst of
a wilderness, grown up like a mushroom, in a night.
It was incorporated in 1875, and disincorporated in
1881.
Battle Mountain, the town next in importance to
Austin, is simply a shipping point on the Central Pa-
cific railroad, and the northern terminus of the Ne-
vada Central. Its position wdth reference to the
Humboldt valley is favorable to its growth. Irriga-
tion is converting the desert lands in its vicinity into
fertile fields.'*
18 John Ansel Blossom, the first settler of Battle Mountain, was bom in
Ohio in 18 $15, went to St Louis in IS.")?, and remained there until 18()0, when
he came to Cil. In 1862 he went to Nevada with harley and hay, starting a
livery-stahle at Star city. In 1807 he removed to Dun (Jlen, whcro he
mined, and went next year to French bridge, now Winnenmcca. This bridge,
the first on the Humboldt, was erected by the Lay Brothers, and a Frcnch-
man named Frank Bind. Burned out at Winneinucca, in 1S()0, he went to
Battle mountain, Nathan Levi, a merchant of Winnemncca, assisting him to
start anew. His house was tlie first in Battle Mountain, after the railroad
buildinij^; and the town received its name from Kol)ert Macbeth, a pioneer
who was conversant with the early liistory of the spot. In 1871 Blossom be-
gan stock raising on an extensive scale. He was tlie contractor who built
the Nevada Central railroad from Battle Mountain to Austin.
Another early settler of Battle .Mountain was .lolm W. McWilliams, born
in Ohio in bSrio, and in 1854 came to California, and in 1803 to Nevada, set-
tling first at Unionville, where he was c(muty recorder. In 1870 he located
himself at Battle Mountain, where J. A. Blossom had a tent, and Thomas
XYE COUNTY. 269
The settlements in Lander county, otherwise than
those mentioned, are Addington, Amador, Ansonia,
Argonta, Artesian, Bailey, Campboll, Canon City,
Canton's, Cooper's Canon, Curtis, Deep Creek Sta-
tion, Dodge ville, Empire, Galena, Geneva, Grass
"Valley, Hallsvale, Helena, Lander, Ledlie, Lewis,
Piute, Ravenswood, Reese River, Santa Fe, Skunk-
town, Smoky Valley, Stoneberger's. Lewis has re-
cently become a well-known mining town.''
Nye county, organized in 1864 out of Esmeralda
county, and named in honor of Governor J. W. Xye,
occupied at that time all that portion of Xevada south
of the thirty-ninth parallel not remaining in Esmer-
alda, a large and almost unknown area. Its bounda-
ries have been several times changed, and it remains
a large county still, its present area being 18,432
square miles. The discovery of a new mining district,
sixty miles south of Austin, in the Shoshone range,
was the occasion of the subdivision, and the town of
lone, in Union district, became the county seat, which
honor it enjoyed for three years, when the county
records were removed to Belmont, a town founded in
W. Rule a small shop. E. T. George, J. H. Green, and a few others, had
taken land claims. In 1872 he was elected county commissioner. J. C. Fall,
-.vith whom Mc Williams had been associated in business at Dun Glen, had
presented his interest in the firm to his son-in-law, J. H. Kinkead, which
interest was purchased from the latter in 1873, and the concern carried on by
Mc Williams until 1880, when he sold to A. D. Lemaire, and retired.
i^B. F. Wilson, born in Canada in 1832, came to Cal. in 1854, and in
1868 to Xevada, settling at Galena and looking for mines, in which he was
successful, opening up some good prospects. On the Hamburg mine he
erected in 1885 a mill with a capacity of 15 tons per day, running by steam
power.
Thomas G. Morgan, locator of the Pittsburg Consolidated and other
mining properties in Lander co., was born in Wales in 1845, and came to
the U. S. in childhood, residing at MassiUon, Ohio, from which state he came
to Virginia, Nevada, in 187.3. Subsequently he removed to Galena in
Lander co., and engaged in mining, beginning operations in 1S£0, and being
associated with several others. He purchased the interests of his associates
excepting that of J. A. Blossom, who sold the Pittsburg to a London com-
pany for 8160,000, and had left the Evening Star, Cumberland, Ida Hen-
rietta, and Lady Carrie. These claims are gold bearing. In 18S3 Mr
Morgan married Miss Carrie Bertrand, whose brother discovered the Geddes
Bertrand, near Eureka. He has faith in the resources of Xevada, both min-
eral and agricultural, he has many important and valualde mining claims in
the Lewis district, and steps are now being taken to work them.
270 MATERIAL RESOURCES AXD DEVELOPMENT.
18G5, by Antonio Bozqucz, the first settler, and A.
Billnian, H. G. C. Scliniiclt, J. M. Reed, C. L.
Straight, R. Kelley, D. R. Dean, L. ]\Iartin, O.
Brown, S. Talhnan, J. (xrover, T>. E. Bud, William
Geller, Charles St Louis, .1. W. Gashwiler, S. M.
Burk, and others. The situation was upon a plateau
of the Toiyaba range, at an altitude of 8,000 feet,
where wood and water were abundant, and the scenery
picturesque.
There are several good mining districts in the
county, which has produced $8,000,000 in bullion,
and has a permanent population of two thousand,
with an economical and healthy county administration,
yet owing to its want of transportation the progress
of any kind of enterprise has been slow.
The number of acres under cultivation in 1880 was
2,300; of bushels of wheat raised, 4,328; of barle}^,
33,212; oats, 5,000; potatoes, 18,000. It had com-
paratively little stock, about ten thousand head hav-
ing been driven away in the two previous years, owing
to a failure of grass from over-feeding. Fruit does
well in this region, and is extensively cultivated. The
total assessed valuation of real and personal property
in Nye county in 1880 was not much over $1,000,000,
the decrease being in personal property, which, being
largely mining property, has fiiiled to hold its own,
while farming proi)erty has not declined. The gross
yield of the mines for the last half of 1880 and the
first half of 1881 was respectively $273,881 and
$188,908.
Alining having reached a depth at which capital
and improved methods must be applied, a temporary
abandonment followed, this being the history of the
great majority of mining districts, just as hydraulic
mining not being known or applied, the placer gold
mines were deserted when the bars had been washed
off. The settlements in Nye county to be named are
Argenta, Barcelona, Blue Eagle, Centennial City,
Central City, Cherry Creek, Cloverdale, Danville,
f
LINCOLN COUNTY. 271
i
Doyle, Duckwater, Dutch Flat, East Belmont, Ells- i
worth, Grant, Grantville, Jett, Junction, Kiney,
King's House, Knickerbocker, Locli, Logan, Milton,
Morey, New Philadelphia, Northumberland, Peavine,
Rattlesnake, Peese Piver, Peveille, Sacramento, San I
Antonio, San Augustine, San Juan, Seymour, Spauld- i
ing, Toyah, Troy, Tucker's Station, Tybo, Union, '
Ural Canon, Washington, and Yokum.
Lincoln county, cut off from Nye February 26,
1866, is a mining county of much historic interest,
having been first traversed by the white race when
the Spaniards, between 1540 and 1775, made explora-
tions through the interior of the continent. In 1863-
4, an Indian brought to William Hamlin, in Meadow
valley, a specimen of silver ore, which on being sent
to Salt Lake caused several expeditions to visit that I
region, the first of which, under J. M. Vandermark
and Stephen Sherwood, organi^ied the Meadow valley
mining district in April 1864. Not to be dispossessed
by Gentiles, Brigham Young ordered Erastus Snow
from St George to Meadow valley with a company of
men, who in the temporary absence of the minino-
recorder, organized a new district with new rules. A
third company, consisting chiefly of men from the
Californ'a volunteers, followed, and the former rules
were ultimately restored ; but the presence of so many
Mormons making the place distasteful, the district j
was abandoned by the gentiles after some work had '
been done on the Panaca, the original discovery ledge, '
and on the Mammoth. ;
Pahranagat district was next organized, in 1865,
hundreds of locations made, and one million feet of
ground sold to W. H. Raymond for eastern capital-
ists. The legislature having created the county of !
Lincoln, Governor Blasdel and suite proceeded to
Pahranagat to complete the organization. On the
way, having taken a roundabout course through I
Death valley, and become involved in barren wastes :
without food or water, they narrowly escaped destruc-
272 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
tion. As it was, one life was lost, and much suffer-
ing endured by the party. The governor found that
there was not the nuniher of legal voters required in
the county, which after all tliis trouble was not or-
ganized until the following year. Its original boun-
daries were twice changed, in March 18G7, when a
strip ten miles wide was ceded to Nye on the west,
and in 1875, when it received some territory from
Nye on the north. The county scat was first decreed
to be at Crystal Springs, but in 18G7 was changed to
Hiko in the same district, and ultimately to Pioche.
This town was situated on a spur of the Ely moun-
tains, and faced north. It was first settled by Josepli
Grange and E. M. Chubard, who in 18G8 erected a
small furnace for the reduction of ore, but failing in
their expectations, abandoned the location. In 18G1)
tlie Meadow valley district was reorganized and named
Ely district, in honor of John H. Ely, who with W.
H. Raymond, placed a fivx-stamp quartz mill, rented
from a New York company, in Meadow valley, at
the site of Bullionville, the nearest point where suffi-
cient water could be obtained. A company consisting
of P. McCannon, L. Lacour, and A. M. Bush laid
out the town in the same year, which was sur\eyed
by E. L. Mason, a civil engineer, and named by Mrs
Carmichael Williamson after F. L. A. Pioche of San
Francisco, who owned largely in the mines. In
1870-1 it was the most active town in Nevada, and
consequently infested by the criminal element, which
ever followed in the wake of honest enterprise in the
mining districts. On the 15th of September, 1871,
it was ravaged by fire, and $500,000 worth of prop-
erty destroyed. An explosion of three hundred
pounds of blasting powder killed thirteen men, and
wounded forty-seven others. But the town was
quickly rebuilt in a more substantial manner, only to
lose another $50,000 by the same terrible agency in
May 1872. On the 2^2d of August, 1873, a rain
flood caused a loss of $10,000, and in 187G a fire again
CASUALTIES. 273
destroyed $40,000 worth of property. Pioche reached
the height of its prosperity in 1872-3, when the pop-
ulation was estimated at six thousand, and there were
one hundred and ten stamps crushing ore in the dis-
trict, with a narrow-gauge railroad to Bullion vi]le, to
carry ore to the mills. Bullionville itself had a pop-
ulation of five hundred, but it declined when, on the
completion of the water-works, Pioche was liberally
supplied with water, and the mills were removed to
that place. A revival began in 1880, when new
smelting and concentrating works were erected at
Bullionville to work the tailings deposited by the
mills. The nearest railroad station where goods are
received or bullion shipped is Milford, on the Utah
Southern, which renders Lincoln county anlependency
of Chicago chiefly, though some trade is carried on
with San Francisco. After producing $20,000,000
of bullion, the Ely district was almost deserted,
Pioche having not more than eight hundred inhabi-
tants in 1880. The Pahranagat, Colorado, Freyburg,
Pennsylvania, Silver Springs, Silver King, Groom,
St Thomas, Timber Mountain, Pah Ute, Wheeler,
Southeastern, and Yellow Pine districts all contain
good mines, which may yet be developed. Pahrana-
gat, which means watermelon, has been the most
noted of these, but is at present nearly deserted. ^^
The population of the county in 1884 was 2,200, an
increase of four hundred over 1883, and the assessed
valuation of real and personal property $488,004.
The affairs of the county have been extravagantly
managed, and the indebtedness in 1880 was $300,000.
Of the several towns, nearly all of which are mming
^^Hiko Silver Mining Company's Bcpt, 1866, 1-22, 34-6; The Miner, i. 27;
Quincy Union, June 23, 1866. There are several valleys which with Irrigation
would produce good crops. Meadow Springs, Ash, Clover, Eagle, Dry-
Muddy, Rose, and Pahranagat valleys are all susceptible of cultivation-
The best farmers are Mormons, who have several times been recalled l)y the
church, when their improvements passed into other hands. About 1880 they
commenced to return and take up land, which is a promise of an increase in
agriculture. The soil and climate in the valley of Muddy creek, a tributary
of Rio Virgen, are adapted to cotton raising. William Ajiderson in 1873 had
Hist. Nev. 18
274 MATElllAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
centres, one which is ii«>t a iniiiing town is Callville,
founded by Anson Call and a tew associates from
Utah, at the head of navigation on the Colorado river,
in 18G4. It is not a lovely situation, being among
the barren sand-hills of this desolate region, with
nothing to recommend it except its importance as a
place of transfer and storage whenever navigation
shall be i)ermanently established on the Colorado.
There are men who see evidences of a prehistoric race,
possessing many of the arts of scientific civilization,
bordering on the Colorado, and having large cities,
canals, aqueducts, and highways, and who understood
mining. As faith is given each one of us we will be-
lieve. As with the footprints of a man of giant pro-
portions in the sandstone quarry at the Carson state
prison, more is suggested than i)roved.'*
The towns and settlements not described in Lincoln
county are Bristol, Bunkerville, Camp El Dorado,
Clover Valley, Cottonwood, Dutch Flat, Eagle Valley,
Farmington, Flag Spring, Freyburg Klines, Hillside,
Homer, Lake Valley, Las Vegas, Logan, Long Val-
ley, Lyonsville, Mayflower, Mesquit, Midey Valley,
Montezuma, Overton, Panaca, Pahrock, Patterson,
Potosi, Koyal City, Silver City, St Joseph, St
Thomas, Tem Piute, West Point.
Elko county, created March 5, 18G9, was cut off
from Lander, and combprises, esides a large extent of
10 acres, and Mr Carter 20 acres in this staple, which grows and j'ields well.
At Washington, Utah, is a cottou factory. Piorhe lieconl; Carson Aji^huI,
July 22, 1873.
^^ A man who has labored to improve Lincoln county is Eugene Howell, a
metnl)er of the 11th session of tlie Nevada legislature, elected in 1882 on tlie
democratic ticket. He was the originator of a petition to congress to appro-
priate money for the improvement of the Coiorado river. Tlie matter was
not acted upon by congress, and Gov. Adams vetoed a l)ill introduced in the
Nev. legislature by Howell and passed, to appoint a couimissioner to gatlier
statistics on the subject to be presented to congress. Tlie navigation of tlie
Colorado would be a great boon to the mineral and agricultural regions bor-
dering on it. Howell was the democratic nominee for state senator in 1884,
but was defeated. In 1880 he declined the nomination of state connitroller.
As a mining man Howell has been connected with firms in Bristol, in the
Pahranagat di.strict, and the Wliite Pine district. He was born in Eureka,
Plumas CO., C'al., on March 21, 18.")8, and was educated for a practical metal-
lurgist, although he has been engaged iu merchaudising iu Bristol.
ELKO COUNTY. 275
mineral land, a larger amount of good agricultural
and grazing land than any other county in Nevada,
16,124 acres being under cultivation in 1880, or five
hundred more than Douglas, the most productive
county of the west tier. It should be borne in mind
that farming in Nevada has no other object than the
local supply, on account of the enormous railroad tar-
iff, which places an embargo upon grain growing for
distant .iiarkets. The different policy of the Northern
Pacific has encouraged the cultivation of the grain
lands of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, while in
Nevada the management of the Central Pacific actu-
ally prohibits it. For this reason a large proportion
of cultivable territory lies idle, and what is cultivated
is not made to produce as it might. The average
product of farms in Elko county is 30 bushels of
wheat, 35 of barley, 60 of oats, and 100 of potatoes
to the acre. Elko county raised in 1880 of wheat
30,000, of barley 150,000, of oats 370, of potatoes
370,000 bushels, and of hay 50,000 tons were cured.
The county contained upon its ranges 70,520 cattle,
17,200 horses, 4,150 mules, 10,000 sheep, and 1,400
hogs. In 1884 it had 3 flouring-mills, and made
5,470 barrels of flour. It had 460 miles of irrigating
ditches, 21 miles of mining ditches, 9 quartz-mills,
and 2 smelting-furnaces. There were crushed in 1884,
5,124 tons of quartz and smelted 1,412 tons. The
population was over 6,000, and the county upon a
good financial basis. Like all the other counties, it is
divided into valleys with a general north and south
trend, excepting the Humboldt, which is not an agri-
cultural valley. Its mines of argentiferous galena
and other metals are found in the ranges separating
the valleys, and are numerous. There are no less than
26 mining districts in the county, of which Kingsley
district, discovered in 1862, in the Antelope range, by
Felix O'Neil, is the oldest. A furnace for smelting
ore was erected here. The Tuscarora district, organ-
ized in July 1867, lies 45 miles north of Carlin on
27G MATERIAL llESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
the headwaters of tlie Ow^'hee river, and is the next
in point of time. It was discovered by the Beard
brothers, who worked the placer diggings for gold.
The quartz is free milling, and carries gold near the
surface, whicli diminishes as depth iso btaiiied. The
Grand Prize mine is down GOO feet> and the Independ-
ence has a tunnel 1,500 feet in length. There are
500 miners in this district. Island Mountain district.
75 miles north of Elko, was discovered in 1873 by
E. Penrod, one of the orighial owners of the Ophir
mine on the Comstock. It is worked chiefly for the
gold in the placers, and is supplied with water from a
canal 10 miles in length, constructed by Penrod.
Carliu is the oldest town in the county, having
been settled in July, 18G8, by J. A. Palmer, and soon
after by S. Pierce, C. Boyen, and James Clark, A
town sprang up with the completion of the Humboldt
division of the Central Pacific railroad, and the loca-
tion of the company's round-house and shops. Elko,
the county-scat, was first settled by George F. Fad-
dleford in December 18G8. In the following year it
became the point of disembarkation for White Pine
and Tuscarora mines.''
The towns and settlements not before mentioned in
Elko county are Antelope Station, Aurora, Arthur,
Bh'the City, Bradle}^, Brown, Bruno, Buel, Bullion,
Cedar, Cloverdalc, Columbia, Coral Hill, Cornucopia,
Deeth, Dolly Varden, Elaine, Excelsior, Fair Play,
Falcon, Fort Halleck, Friend's Station, Golconda,
Gerald, Good Hope, Heenans, Hicks District, High-
land, Hoolon, Huntington, Independence, Island
Mountain, Kinsley's Springs, Lamoille, Lamoille Val-
ley, Lone Mountain, Loray, McPeters, ]\Iarshall Sta-
tion, Moleen, Montello, Moors, Mountahi City, Nat-
=1 A town was laitl off hy William T. Ballon, BnUoii's Adv., Ufi., 24, and
had a rapid growth. In l.VSf) it had a population of !S(X) taxable property to
tlic amount of §341,400, a daily and weekly newspaper, tiio state university,
a good common school huilding, a church, several lodges of ditlerent socie-
ties, a brick jail, mineral soap factory, Houring mill, water company, and
other useful institutions. It sustained a loss of about $100,000 by fires.
WHITE PINE COUXTY. 277
chez, North Ruby, Osino, Otego, Owyhee, Peko,
Pequop, Robber's Roost, Ruby Valley, Salmon City,
Shoemakers, Stickney Town, Tacoma, Toano, Toll
Gate, Tulasco, Tuscarora, William, and Wyoming.''
White Pine county which was created out of
Lander, April, 1869, consists of a succession of val-
leys between high ranges, Diamond range on the west
being tipped with snow. In the autumn of IP 65 a
party of prospectors from Austin being attracted to
the region east of this range by the view of moun-
tains covered w^th w^hite pine timber, discovered some
mines of silver, lead, ancl copper, and organized the
district of White Pine October 10th of that j^ear.
Robert Morrill and Thomas J. Murphy were promi-
nent in these proceedings. The first discovery was
in the region near the present town of Hamilton,
others following in its neighborhood. The succeed-
ing year Murphy and Crawford went to Philadelphia
with ores from mines in White Pine district, and
formed the Monte Cristo Mining company, which
sent out a superintendent in 1867, who put up a mill
and proceed to work the ores. In the autumn, after
snow had fallen on the mountains, an Indian, for some
trifling favor bestowed by A. J. Leathers, the black-
smith of the original company, gave him a piece of
ore which being melted produced a button of silver.
He was induced to show the place from which he had
brought the specimen, which proved to be the Hidden
Treasure mine from which Treasure Hill near Hamil-
22 An important man at Tuscarora was Americus Vespuccius Lancaster,
bom in Belfast, Me, Sept. 5, ]835. He came to the Paciiic coast in 1855, and
after mining in various localities ia C'al. and British Columbia, visiting Cen-
tral America, and his former home in^NIe., where he married, he returned to
this coast, and in 1867 settled at Tuscarora, then a new place, where he took
contracts to supply wood and ties to the C. P. R. R., and with the proceeds
set up in the grocery business, and also bought gold dust of the miners,
making a profit which enabled him in a few years to improve some valuable
mining property. The Young America and Young America south were
located and patented by Lancaster and others, and the town of Tuscorora
is on their ground. He owned in the Navajo and North Belle Isle, both of
which produced well; and al^o greatly enlarged his mercaatile interests. In
1880 he removed to Alameda. Cal., to give his children the advantages
which his liberal meaas enable him to bestow,
278 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
ton took its name. The Hidden Treasure was located
January -S, 1808, by Leathers, ^Iur[)liy, and ^larch-
and, and sold in January 1800 for 3200,000, to (x. E.
]v<»h(,'rts & Co. Soon after the discovery of the Hid-
den Treasure, T. E. Klxrhardt of Austin, discovered
the famous chloride deposit on Treasure hill, which
was known as the Eherliardt mine, although in mak-
ing h)cations with some friends the richest portion did
not fall to him. The Eberhardt mine was disposed of
in 1868 to a company which took several tons of the
ore to Austin for reduction, where it was found to
•yield from $450 to $27,000 per ton. Ore working
$3,000 was constantly taken from the Eberhardt,
Ke^-stone, and Blue ]^elle mines, which was banked
up for smelting, when furnaces should be erected.
On the 25th of September tlie iJefiance mine produced
in one day ore that would yield $40,000 worth of
bullion, and had $75,000 in sight. These prodigies
of wealth created the greatest fever of excitement
known since the discovery of the Comstock. Thou-
sands of men hastened to White Pine, rich and poor
alike, and the prospector's i)ick was heard in all direc-
tions, while every canon of the bare and rugged
mountains about Treasure Hill had its sides adorned
witli miners' cabins, hanging like bird cages from its
rocky sides. The excitement culminated in the win-
ter and spring of 18G8-9. A question in mining law
was raised which was never before brought up, and
arose out of the discovery that the El)erhardt group
of mines were not upon any ledge which could be
measured off and its extensions taken u[\ liut were a
single horizontal deposit, the chloride layers being
separated by layers of limestone, and bounded by
walls like a vault. These deposits have since become
familiar in Colorado and are called contact, or blanket
lochis. Supposing that this arrangement of ore must
continue downward to the depth of other silver mines,
a movement was made to compel thosi; in ])oss(^ssion,
after working out one deposit, to allow another claim-
HAMILTON' COUXTY. 279
ant to take the next under it, and so on. The move-
ment, however, did not prevail, and the Chloride Flat
group of mines was suftered to remain in the hands
of its fortunate owners, who sold or worked them as
seemed best. Suits at law grew out of the peculiar
formation after it was discovered that there had been
different locations made, by croppings, on what proved
to be the same body of ore, that is, not divided by
any wall. One of these cases, brought in the courts
of Lander county to which the district then belonged,
was among the causes celebres of that country. The
bank of California made haste to secure the manage-
ment as in the Comstock mines, purchasing several
claims, but it never obtained the controlling interest.
In the autumn of 1869 the mines of White Pine were
producing monthly about 8500,000 in bullion. The
rich deposit which set the world agog proved not to
be a deep one. Some millions of dollars were taken
out, but at the depth of 100 feet the body of almost
pure silver was exhausted. The Eberhardt w^as
purchased in connection with the Aurora mine by
an English company, by which it was worked with
energy and varying fortune. A shaft was puc down
1,400 feet, and over a mile of tunnelling made into
the heart of the mountain. There were about twenty-
four mining districts in White Pine county which
were sufficiently tested to prove the value of the
mines, which were of silver, gold, lead, copper, and
other metals. In most of the districts wood and
water could be obtained with little difficulty.
Agriculture was neglected for want of transporta-
tion, more than 2,500 acres being under cultivation in
1885. There were in the county in 1884 of stock-
cattle 3,000, cows 2,000, calves'' 900, sheep 10,000,
lambs 8,000, hogs 400, horses 1,200, and mules 150.
The amount of good farming land was estimated at
12,000 acres. Of grazing land, much of which, with
irrigation, would produce crops, there are 4,776,160
acres; of timbered land, 500,000 acres, and of min-
280 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
eral land, about the same amount. The population
of the county was 2,500, and its assessed valuation
$8G4,870.
Hamilton, the county seat of White Pine county,
is situated on the nortliern slope of Treasure Hill,
near the foot. Its altitude is 7,977 feet aljove the
sea level, and the site commandinc^. It was laid off
for a town by W. H. Hamilton, Henry Kelly, and E.
Goben, in May 1868. Previous to this, and while
only a rendezvous for prospectors, who dwelt in turf-
liousos quite as often as anything, it was called Cave
City, but since received the name of Hamilton. Such
was the rush of population ih 1868-9 that houses
could not be provided for the 10,000 inhabitants, but
canvas was made to do duty for wood and brick.
Hamilton was incorporated in 1869, and disincor[)o-
rated in 1875. A brick court-house and jail was
erected in 1870 at a cost of $50,000. A water com-
pany was formed which supplied Hamilton and Treas-
ure hill with water brought from Illapah springs, in
Momoke Hill, three miles east of Hamilton, where
2,000,000 gallons of water per day flow out of the
rock. Steam pumping- works had to be used to force
the water two miles through a 12 -inch pipe and lift it
to a reservoir 1,000 feet high. This cost $380,000,
and tlie original company sold to the Eberhardt and
Aurora Mining companies in 1878. In 1873 a fire
destroyed $600,000 worth of property at Hamilton,
this devastation having been caused by the owner of
a cigar store who set fire to his premises to get the
insurance, having first turned off the water to disable
the fire company. In Applegarth's Canon, at the
foot of Treasure hill, on the south side, is Eberhardt,
with 100 inhabitants. On the western slope, near
the top, and often above the clouds that overliang
Hamilton, is Treasure City. It had 6,000 inhabitants
in 1869, and 50 in 1885. Shermantown, situated at
the mouth of a canon dividing Treasure Hill from
White Pine Mountain, five miles south of and at a
EUKESA COUKTY. 281
much lower altitude than Hamilton, was the seat of
two saw-mills, five quartz-mills, and four furnaces in
1868-9, and had 1,000 inhabitants. It was incorpo-
rated in 1870, and had a newspaper of its own, but is
to-day deserted by all but a single family. Swansea,
three-fourths of a mile north of Shermantown, had
two quartz-mills and smelters, and several hundred
people, of whom none remain. Such was the rise
and decline of White Pine district, the most remark-
able of any in eastern Nevada.
Cherry creek became the principal town in White
Pine county. It was situated at the mouth of Cherry
Creek canon, on the eastern slope of the Eagan
range, at an elevation of 6,300 feet. It owes its rise
to the mines of that district, which were discovered in
1872. Ward is another mining town whose growth
began in 1876. It is 62 miles south-east of Hamil-
ton. Both towns support newspapers of their own.
The settlements of White Pine county not above
named are Aurum, Centreville, Clayton, Copper,
Diamond, Eagan, Ely, Glencoe, Hendrie's Mill,
Hunter, Indian Queen, Kingston, Lehman, Maryland,
Mineral City, Mosier, Newark hill, Osceola, Planum,
Picotillo, Piuma, Queen's Station, Pubvville, Schell-
bourne, Shoenbars, Simpson, Tiermont, Warner, West
Ely, and White Pine City.
Eureka county, created out of Lander ]\Iarch 1,
1873, owes its separate existence to its mineral re-
sources. These began to be known immediately after
the settlement of Reese river, which formed abase of
operations and supplies. The district was located on
Mt Tenabo, the highest elevation of the Cortez
mountains, thirty miles south-east of Beowawe, or
Gravelly ford, where one of the largest mineral-
bearing belts ever found in Nevada was discovered.
The formation consists of granite and limestone.
A dike of quartzite 500 feet in width was named
'The Nevada Giant,' and excited great expecta-
tions. This mineral belt was subsequently developed
282 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
and its promised wealtli realized, under the owner-
ship of Simeon Wenban,'^ one of the original discov-
erers. It appears 3,000 feet above the valley, and
stretches its enormous body diagonally down the
mountain in ])lain view for about 19,000 feet, the
south end dij>ping down and disappearing in the val-
ley below. The district has proved one of the most
important in the state.
The first mines were located in the granite on what
was called 'Bullion Hill'; an eight-stamp mill was
erected in 18G4 by the Cortez Company for the pur-
pose of reducing the ores found in the granite forma-
tion, and was operated by this company until 1867,
when it was purchased i3y Wenban, who increased
the capacity to ten stamps, and continued to operate
it on ore taken from liis mines located in the lime-
stone formation, of which there were many, the most
prominent being the Arctic, Idaho, Garrison, and St
Louis. These mines have proved of great value.
In 1886 this mill was superseded by works to re-
duce ores by the leaching process, having a capacity
of about fifty tons per day, erected under the per-
sonal supervision of Wenban. In the granite forma-
tion the veins running through the quartz were found
to be rich but narrow. The whole mineral zone was
productive, but it was in the limestone that Wenban
found his great wealth. The ores required roasting
before amalgamating, and carried both gold and sil-
ver. Wood and water were brought a distance of
eight miles. Eureka district, discovered in 1864,
produced great wealth, which increased the population
of Lander county, and caused a division of the same.
^ Mr Wenban was born in England in the parish of Hawkhurst, county
Kent, May 18, 1824, and was tlie son of a wheelwright. In 1828 his parents
immigrated to tlie U. S., residing in Utica, N. Y., and later in Cleveland,
Ohio. In 18r)4 he came to the Pacitic coast, mining for a while in Cal., but
removing to Nevada in 18(32. In 18G3 he made one of a prospecting party
which discovered the Cortes district, in which he owns about thirty mines.
Mr Wenban has done everything to prove the wealth of that region, and in
doing it has made himself a millionaire ^everal times over, and without prac-
tising any selfish greed to the injury of liis neiglibors. His character stauda
as deservedly high as his success has been deservedly great.
EUREKA TOWN. 2S3
The town of Eureka, which was founded m 1869 by
W. W. McCoy and Alonzo Monroe was made the
county seat/*
Eureka town, nearly 7,000 feet above the sea, is
situated at the head of a canon four miles long and
200 yards wide, from the sides of which parallel lines of
steep hills rise one above the other to a height of from
500 to 1,200 feet, from whose crests numerous smaller
canons run down to the main one. Where this gorge
spreads out among the lesser hills and ravines at the
top the town site was located. It rapidly acquired
population. A line of stages from Austin to Hamil-
ton passed through it, and a post office was established
in 1870. In the same year the town obtained direct
connection with the Central Pacific railroad by En nor
and Woodruffs stages from Hamilton to Palisade. A
fast freight line to Palisade was established in 1871,
and in 1874 the Eureka and Palisade railroad was
begun, which was completed the following year.
With its completion Eureka became the centre of
freight and passenger traffic for a large area of country.
By a steady growth the population had increased
to 5,000 in 1880. Stone quarries adjacent to the town
furnished superior material for building, the public
edifices as well as residences being partly constructed
of this material. Brick was also much used in build-
ing. In 1879 a court house costing $53,000 was
erected. There were two daily papers, two banks,
and good schools. All the ores of this district were
brought to Eureka for reduction in its sixteen fur-
naces. They carried from 15 to 60 per cent of lead,
and sufficient iron and silica to obviate the necessity
for importing foreign flux. The yield of Eureka dis-
trict for 1879, was $10,000,000, and the total yield for
the seven years, including 1879, was $20,000,000.
The town of Eureka has been three times visited by
^* This section has been thought of sufficient importance to justify the
publication by Molinelli & Co. of a bound volume of 109 pages entitled
Ehreka and its Resources, 1879,
2U MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
fire, the first, in 1872, causing the organization of a
fire department ; the second, in 1878, whicli destroyed
31,000,000 worth of property ; and the third in 1880.
A cloud burst in July 1874 destroyed considerable
property, with the loss of seventeen lives. From
these disasters the community recovered with the
vigor imparted by conscious resources. Ruby Hill,
two and one Jialf miles west of Eureka, in 1880 had a
population of 2,165. It was the residence of about
yOO miners, who had a miners' union, and supported
a newspa[)er, churches, schools, a theatre, and other
popular institutions. Palisade, the northern terminus
of the Eureka and Palisade railroad, had 200 inhabi-
tants. It was furnished with water from the moun-
tains to the north. The railroad company's shops
♦were located here for manufacturing cars.
Although specifically a mining count}'. Eureka is
self-supporting, and might be made productive of
agricultural wealth to a much greater extent. The
amount of land enclosed in 1885 was 27,940 acres, of
which 9,255 were in hay, grain and vegetables. It
had 18 miles of irrigating ditches. The average
yield of wheat was 40 bushels to the acre. It raised,
in 1884, 10,000 tons of hay, made 15,000 pounds of
cheese, 50,000 pounds of butter, 55,335 gallons of
beer, and sheared 74,000 pounds of wool. Its live
stock was 2,425 horses, 466 nmles, 7,577 stock cattle,
12,400 sheep, 366 cows, 210 hogs. The valuation
placed upon real and personal property was $3,099,-
429. The product of the mines in bullion was $1,-
647,289, the net yield being set down at $218,286.
Charcoal burning was carried on to a considerable
extent. In 1879 the mine superintendents at Eureka
rebelled at paying 30 cents a bushel for this indis-
pensable article, and fixed the price at 27 cents. The
Cliarcoal Burners' association innnediately declared
war, refused to permit any to be delivered at the
smelters, and took possession of the town of Eureka,
threatening destruction to their enemies, the mine
CHAHCOAL BURNERS' RIOT. 055
managers. Governor Kinkead was informed by tele-
graph of the danger to the pubHc peace, and "a suffi-
cient force of the second brigade of the state militia
to insure a restoration of order " was authorized to be
called out. On the 18th of August, Deputy-sheritf
J. B. Simpson attempted to arrest some persons be-
longing to a coal camp at Fish creek, thirty miles from
Eureka. Five coal burners were killed, and six
wounded severely, in resisting arrest. Much excite-
ment followed ; but the coroner's jury brought in a
verdict of justifiable homicide. Little doubt existed
that the charcoal burners had suffered injustice at the
hands of the contractors who delivered coal at the
smelters, and made their measurements to meet their
own interests. Added to this, a reduction in price
brought on the riot which culminated so sadly in what
is known as the Fish Creek war. The price of char-
coal was reduced subsequently to 22 cents. In 1884,
165,000 bushels were burned. The nut pine wood,
from which it was produced, yielded 28 bushels to a
cord. The towns and settlements not above named
are Allison, Alpha, Antelope, Beowawe, Blackburn,
Boulder, Bullion, Cedar, Cluro, Colman, Cortes,
Corwin, Devil's Gate, Diamond, Evans, Garden Pass,
Goodwin, McLeod, Mineral Hill, Xewtown, Oak,
Pine Station, Pleasant Valley, Shipley, Shoshone,
Silverado, Spring, Springville, Sulphur Spring Sta-
tion, Summit, Vanderbilt, and Willards.
To sum up the condition of the state in 1883-6, it
ranked third in the production of gold and silver,
coming next after California and Colorado. It pro-
duced in twenty years about $600,000,000 of the
precious metals. There was in the state $27,625,-
257 in real and personal property, at the assessor's
valuation, distributed among 62,000 inhabitants. The
state sold ofits land grants 85,000 acres, showing the
prospective increase of farming. It had been rather
the custsm to disparage Nevada, because with only
286 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
inhabitants enough to make one small city, were they
all gathered together, it did not go on producing at
the rate of $600,000,000 in twenty years from the
mmes, in addition to its other products ; but the sub-
ject was coming to be better understood, and in every
ordinary sense the state is yet only in its infancy.
Oregon had in 18(30 about the same number of inhabi-
tants that Xevada had in 1880, and raised of the dif-
erent cereals 1,820,278 against Nevada's crop in 1880
of 782,519 bushels ; but Oregon was preeminently an
agricultural state, and her wheat fields stood in the
place of Nevada's mines; and while it is impossible
that the latter should ever compete with the former
in grain raising, it is also improbable that Oregon
should ever show much more wealth per capita than
it does at present, which is, at assessors' valuation,
$402, while in Nevada at the same valuation it is
$444, notwithstanding the wastefulness which attends
mining in new countries, and which for the future
must be overcome.
Of manufactures in Nevada there is not much to be
said. The assessors' reports for 1884, from which
two counties nmst be subtracted as not sending in
any abstracts, and others of which are visibly imper-
fect, give 18 grist-mills, makhig 22,270 barrelsof flour,
besides which they ground 7,000 bushels of corn, and
22,000 of barley; 121 quartz-mills, crushing 349,688
tons of quartz; 24 smelting furnaces, reducing 64,076
tons of ore ; 8 saw-mills and 3 planing-mills ; 8 borax
factories, reducing 1,460 tons of the salt; and 25
breweries, manufacturing 246,354 gallons of beer.
The Nevada foundry, established at Johntown near
Silver City in 1862* by Mead, McCone, and Tascar,
formerly of Placer ville, was the pioneer iron works of
Nevada. The firm removed to Silver City in 1864,
where they erected a stone building at a cost of
$125,000, employing from seventy-five to one hundred
men in the foundry afterwards. The establishment
was burned in 1872, when McCone, having purchased
MANUFACTURES. 287
the entire interest, again removed to Virginia City,
where he bought out the Fulton foundry, erected in
1863 by Thomas R. Jones. There was cast at this
foundry, December 11, 1880, a fly-wheel centre for
the Yellow Jacket hoisting works weighing 44,500
pounds, the largest casting hitherto made on the Pacific
coast. It was here that the first engine and pump
made in Nevada were constructed for the Bullion
company in 1864. In 1862 Oliver Hyde started the
Pioneer foundrj^ at Gold Hill, and in 1864 another
was opened at the same place by Greely, called the
Gold Hill foundry, which cast the iron flag-staif
erected on Mount Davidson in 1878. It was eighty
feet high, made in three tubular sections, and replaced
a wooden mast erected in 1863. The Pioneer cast
the first Nevada cannon, an eight-pounder, in 1864.
In 1869 Mead established the Union foundry, and in
1878 Frazer & Cummings established the Virginia
foundry, which was removed to Reno in 1880."
The first iron foundry of eastern Nevada was erected
at BuUionviile, in February 1873, for the railroad
company. Iron works were opened at Eureka in
1880. The figure eight does not by any means rep-
resent the number of saw-mills in Nevada, although
it appears upon so authentic a document as the asses-
sor's report to the surveyor-general. White Pine
county alone had five in 1884, and other counties in
proportion to their timber and population. But the
manufacture of lumber is carried on to a greater ex-
tent in Washoe than in any other, and in this business
that modern invention, a wood and lumber flume,
plays an important part. As I have before mentioned,
the flume is V-shaped, wherein lies its great conduct-
ing power. Flumes of a box shape were common
25 John Kewes in 1876 started a brass foundry at Virginia City, which
suspended after about a year. Machinists received i>6 per day in these
foundries, blacksmiths $6.50, pattern makers S5..oO, and other workmen
§3.50 and $4. Kelly s Nev. Dir., 1862, 174; Dayton Lyon Coimty Sentinel, July
16 and Aug. 13, 1864; Gold HillNni'.% March 21, 1865; Virginia City Chroni-
icle, Feb, 6, 1878; Heno Gazette. Dec. 14, 1880; Id., Jan. 31, 1883.
288 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
enough, and had been used, to float timber down the
mountains in CaHfornia, but the wood lodged, and
caused waste and destruction ; the V form allowed it
to move swiftly without obstruction. The first flume
for transporting wood in Nevada was projected in
1865, to run from the west Carson river, in Alpine
county, California, to Empire Citv, in Ormsby county,
Nevada, thirty-two and a half miles, the fall behig
nine hundred and seventy-six feet. Among those
who contemplated this scheme was J. W. Haines,
who adopted the V-shaped flume, and on being satis-
fied of its advantages patented it, in September 1870.
At that time there were about twenty-five milesof lum-
ber flumes in the state, which increased as their econ-
omical value became known. In 1872 J. W. Haines
sued William Sharon for an infringement of patent;
but he was beaten in court on its being shown that
certain persons, for economical reasons, had used
flumes constructed similarly, though without having
any idea of the superlative merit of this form over the
box flume. '^
In 1874, several other companies having been
formed in the mean time, the bonanza firm, for them-
selves and other mining operators on the Com stock,
having by their agent surveyed and purchased twelve
thousand acres of the finest timbered land on the
summits of the Sierra, formed the Pacific Wood, Luni-
2^ James W. Haines was l)orn in Stanstead, Canada, near the Vermont
line, on the 17th of Aug., 1826, his father being a Vermonter of English
descent, and his grandfather a revolutionary soldier. In IXoH they left Can-
ada for Ashtaltula county, Ohio, where they lived upon a farm. When he
was 20 years of age he began to ftillow the lakes, and remained in that ser.
vice for about three years, when news of the gold found in Cal. brought him
to this coast with a company from Ohio. After a brief exiJcrienee of min-
ing he opened a restaurant in Sac, and made considerable money; went
into merchandising with Z. Lake, also from Oiiio, and later with A. J. Web-
ster. During the .squatter riots he was on the squatter sitle of the quarrel,
and was arrested and sent to the ])rison brig, but was soon released. Having
made about 820,000, he returned home and married, but on revisiting Cal.
found times somewhat changed. Cholera carried off his wife and numerous
friends in 1852. His partner sold out to him and he took another. In 1854,
during tiie excitement caused by the knownotliing party in politics, he was
elected mar.slial of Sac. by that party. In 1857 lie purchased an interest in
» hay raucho of 8,000 acres, his partner being Alonzo Gheaney. In 1859 he
FLUME COMPANY. 289
ber and Flume company, whose name explains its
purpose. At a great outlay of labor and capital the
machinery for a steam saw-mill was transported to
the middle fork of Evans creek, half way to the sum-
mit, where it was set up, and began making the lum-
ber to be used in the flume. Another mill, two miles
further up the mountains, was erected immediately
after the first. The flume was made V-shaped, of
twenty-four-inch plank two inches in thickness, and
had a capacity of five hundred cords of fire-wood, or
500,000 feet of lumber, daily. To gain a uniform
grade it was necessary to build it on a trestle-work
and stringers the whole distance. To make it strong
enough to support heavy timber, it was braced longi-
tudinally and across, the supports set in mud-sills.
It was fifteen miles in length when opened, terminat-
ing in the Truckee meadows at Huffaker's, and the
water supply came from Hunter creek, being dammed
up in reservoirs. Great as was the expense, the out-
lay was soon returned in savings and profits. It was
estimated that in twenty years $80,000,000 worth of
timber had been taken from the forests on Lake
Tahoe and Truckee river, and that the supply remain-
ing in the basins of the Truckee and its tributaries
was 5,000,000,000 feet, after having cut 40,000,000
annually for ten years. It will be seen from this that
the lumber manufacture of the treeless state is, after
all, a very important one. The total length of wood
flumes in Douglas, Ormsby, and Washoe counties is
sold his store, and again visited the east. On returning he found great ex-
citement prevailing concerning silver, and everybody going to Nevada. He
followed with fat cattle and sheep for the miners, and through this business
became interested in the young state, finally purchasing a rancho of 800
acres in what is now Douglas co. He was elected a member of the first and
second constitutional conventions. In 1870 he was elected to the state sen-
ate, and was chosen presidential elector for Grant. He was also appointed
by Grant to receive the C. P. railroad on its completion, together with W.
T. Sherman of S. F. and F. A. Tritle of Nevada. Gov. Bradley appointed
him commissioner to the centennial exposition at Phila, and he was a second
time elected to the state senate. His influence has always been used in
securing the best interests of the people of Nevada. A man of strong indi-
viduality and great activity. His landed interests in Nevada and California
are large.
Hist. Net. 19
290 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOrMENT.
over eighty miles; the J umber transported in 1879
33,300,000 feet, and the wood 171,000 cords. Large
tracts of timber land have been purchased by capital-
ists, and the tendency is toward moneyed men owning
and controlling those two great natural resources,
timber and water, in addition to a monopoly of graz-
ing and desert lands.
There is, perhaps, no section of the union in which
agricultural development is so largely dependent on
irrigation as the state of Nevada. Though in the
report of the state surveyor-general for 1888 30,000
acres were classed as agricultural land, with the ex-
ception of a narrow strip on the banks of the larger
watercourses, its entire surface is practically unavail-
able for tillage without other moisture than is sup-
plied by the rainfall. With a water area of more
than 1,000,000 acres, and with at least 10,000,000
acres of irrigable land, little, as yet, has been accom-
plished in this direction, except in the Carson and
Humboldt valleys. Within recent years, however,
numerous projects have been considered, amonsf
which is a tunnel through the eastern slope of the
Sierra, starting from a point near Genoa, and tap-
ping Lake Tahoe, whereby an immense volume of
water would be furnished, not only for irrigating
vast sections of the country, but for manufacturing
and other purposes.
In 1888 the sum of $100,000 was appropriated
by the state legislature for a hydrographic survey,
and a state board of reclamation and internal im-
provement appointed, of which Senator Evan Wil-
liams was made chairman, the remaitiing members
of the board being senators Bradley, Blakeslee, and
Springmeyer.
Artesian wells have been successful in some local-
ities and have failed in others, though in the great
valleys the conditions are such that the existence of
vast subterranean basins is assured beyond a perad-
venture, for to these valle^-s there are no outlets, and
SOCIETY. 291
the greater portion of the vast streams of water that
flow from the mountains sinks below the surface. In
1872 a bill was introduced in Congress by Kendall,
of Nevada, to authorize the sinking of wells on the
public domain, with a view to the reclamation of
desert lands. Congress subsequently offered a grant
of one hundred and sixty acres to every person who
obtained a flowing well, which stimulated experi-
ment in this direction. The cost of sinking wells
to a great depth has varied from three or four
dollars to twenty, according to the nature of the
rock to be penetrated. The Nevada legislature in
1879 enacted a law providing for a bounty of two
dollars per foot for sinking a flowing well in any part
of the state below a depth of five hundred feet. Per-
sons who at the passage of the act had already sunk
three hundred feet were included in the bounty.
Congress was also asked to make liberal donations of
arable land to such persons.
The social condition of Nevada has undergone all
those transitions for which mining communities are
noted, and in which recklessness and crime are more
conspicuous than honor and virtue. Not because
miners are worse than other men, or because the
criminal classes outnumber the law and order class,
but as the shadow of that small satellite, the moon,
being nearer, obscures at times the broad face of the
sun, so a little evil ofttimes obscures much good. The
non-productive, labor-shirking leeches of society swarm
where they expect to draw rich blood. The prospec-
tor, on the contrary, is a serious-minded man, willing
to toil over the mountains and through the rugged
canons, where nature hides her treasures, and it is he
who has developed Nevada, and not the stock-gam-
blers, faro-dealers, lawyers, and whisky-sellers. From
1846 to 1880 there were over four hundred homicides.
Comparatively few were downright murders for rob-
292 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
bcry, but many were from hasty quarrels over mining
or land claims, and were from the excitement caused
by intoxicating drink and mingling in the heterogene-
ous crowds of new towns where there were no com-
fortable homes.
The Chinese were never welccmied to Nevada, and
were discriminated against in the laws and the con-
stitution of the state, their employment being also
proliibited by the charters of the railroads constructed
within the state after 1871. They were first intro-
duced in 1858, to work on the ditch which Orson
Hyde began and J. H. Rose completed, to take water
from the Carson river to use in mining at the mouth
of Gold canon. Once in the country they could not
be expelled. In 1859 they were working in the mines
of Walker river and other localities, but were never
tolerated on the Comstock, where the miners' union
took care of the question. They were em[)loyed in
building the Virghiia and Truckee railroad, whose
franchise was granted before restrictive laws were
passed, and also by the Central Pacific, in grading its
road-bed, a kind of work which Americans by common
consent have usually left to foreign laborers. But
when other industries were approached, the race
prejudice showed itself; yet in vain, for in spite of
miners' unions, legislative enactments, and popular
feeling, the scarcity of house-servants compelled their
employment in that capacity, as well as in that of
laundrymen, farm-hands, and wood-choppers. Nor
was it possible to prevent them from working in the
mines w^here there was no organization against them.
An anti-Chinese society was formed in Virginia City
in 1879, and further legislation was had against em-
ploying them, and yet in 1882 they held their ground
in s])ite of leagues, had begun to engage in quartz
mining, and were apph'ing to purchase state lands.
I have already referred to the manner in which the
state supported a common school system, by paying
interest on a larn^e loan from the school fund derived
EDUCATION. 293
from the sale of the school lands. The common-school
laws of Nevada are enlightened and liberal, and a
certain amount of education is compulsory. The total
number of public schools in the state in 1880 was
195; total number of districts, 109; average monthly
pay of male teachers, $100, of female teachers, %77 ;
whole number of primary schools 81, of intermediate
11, unclassified 81, grammar schools 19, high schools
3. The average rate of county school tax on $100 was
33| cents. There was also a number of private schools,
with a total attendance of about 1,000 pupils, promi-
nent among them being the seminary established at
Reno in 1876, mainly through the efforts of Bishop
Whitaker, of the episcopal church. The state uni-
versity, originally located at Elko, and in 1886 re-
moved to Reno, had two years later 115 students
in attendance, with a corps of zealous and efficient
teachers, and included a business department, a nor-
mal school, and schools of liberal arts, agriculture,
mechanic arts, and mining. Under judicious man-
agement its land grant of 90,000 acres, together with
state appropriations, furnished ample fmids for its
support. In connection with it was the agricultural
experiment station, for which, as in other states and
territories, $15,000 was appropriated by the general
government. The appropriation for an agricultural
college was diverted, with the consent of Congress,
.to found a college of mining and kindred sciences.
After the Mormons, the pioneer of religion in Ne-
vada was Jesse L. Bennett, a methodist, who preached
in Carson valley in 1859. In that year a methodist
society was organized at Genoa by A. L. Bateman,
and another at Carson by Bennett, who also preached
the first sermon ever delivered in Virginia City, on
C street, in 1861. When the collection was taken
up, the humble itinerant was surprised to find he had
nearly a hatful of gold and silver coins. Soon after
Samuel B„ Rooney was appointed to preach regularly
at Virginia City, and Bennett was stationed at Washoe.
294 MATERIAL RESOURCES AXD DEVELOPMENT.
Kooney built a siiuill wooden cliurcli at Virginia, on
the corner of Taylor and 1) streets, costing only
$2,000. In 1862 C. V. Anthony, his successor,
erected a brick edifice costing $45,000, which was
dedicated February 14, li:!G4, and paid for by John
C. Fall and Ex-governor Blasdel. A parsonage was
also erected, at a cost of $2,000. Nevada had been
made a district by the California conference in 18G1,
N. E. Peck presiding elder; and in 18G4 it was erected
into an independent conference, whose first annual
session was held at Virginia in September 18G5, and
its sixteenth in September 1880. In July 1871 a
high wind unroofed the methodist church at Virginia,
and blew down one of the wails. Before repairs were
begun, a fire completed the destruction, and a frame
building, costing $8,000, was substituted by T. H.
McGarth; but on Christmas eve, 1872, another wind
wrought $3,000 damage, and in the great fire of 1875
this building was entirely consumed. Finally, in
1876, a frame church, costing $20,000, was erected on
the old site. A society was organized among the
negroes of Virginia hi 1873, under the jurisdictitm of
the African methodist conference, which in June 1875
completed a small church, only to have it destroyed
in the great fire of October.
The second methodist church in Nevada was erected
at Dayton in 1863 by J. N. Maddox. An incendiary
fire destroyed the building in 1876. In 1863 a churcli
and i)arsonage were erected at Washoe by IVIcGarth,
who preached there for two years. The building was
donated to the school trustees about 1873. The
methodist church at Gold Hill was erected in 1865
by A. F. Hitclicock, and was a sniall wooden build-
ing. On the 11th of April, 1873, Valentine Right-
myer, pastor of this church, died of lingering starvation,
having a small salary, a large family, and too nmch
pride to reveal his extreme want, a sacrifice all the
more cruel and needless in a comnmnity where ]>lenty
and liberality were the rule. The methodist church
RELIGION. 295
at Austin was built by the management of J. L. Tre-
fen in a peculiar manner. When mining shares were
subscribed, as they often were, he accepted them
gratefully, and pooling the stock organized a metho-
dist mining company, of which he became agent, sell-
ing the claims in the east, and realizing $250,000 on
paper. Oat of this amount a brick church was erected,
with a fine organ and a commodious parsonage, costing
$35,000. But the shares had been sold on install-
ments, and the mining furore had subsided, so that no
further collections could be made, leaving the concern
$6,000 in debt. The church was sold to the county
for a court-house, but subsequently redeemed, the
society clearing itself from debt. The methodists of
Carson City had no church edifice till 1867, when, on
September 8th, Bishop Thompson of Ohio dedicated
a stone structure which had cost $10,000, and which
had been built chiefly by the exertions, and not a little
by the personal labor of, Warren Nims. In 1874 the
building was repaired and improved. The only nieth-
odist house of worship at White Pine was the broker's
hall at Treasure City, where episcopal service were first
held, which building was purchased for a meeting
house* in 1872, but subsequently abandoned. No
other church has supplanted it. Winnemucca had
a frame church, built by George B. Hinckle about
1873; Unionville a frame church, built by L. Ewing ;
and Reno a frame church, erected in 1870 by A. R.
Ricker. Eureka had a church and parsonage, erected
by John A. Gray in 1875, which were destroyed in
the fire of 1879. Being partially rebuilt soon after-
ward, the church was again burned in another con-
flagration in 1880. Another edifice was erected,
under the charge of J. T. Ladd, which was dedicated
April 17, 1881. At Ruby Hill the methodist so-
ciety erected a church in 1876, completing and paying
for it before any preacher had come among them.
Their first pastor was R. A. Ricker. Mason valley
has had a small frame church and a parsonage since
296 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
1880 ; the former the result of the exertions of Mr
Ladd. Methodist societies were estabhshed in Tus-
carora and Elko. The membership of the methodist
church in 1880 was 470, with 13 preachers, and the
value of church property $67,300. Losses by fire
aggregate $59,600, and abandoned property in de-
serted mining camps $6,500. These figures do not
represent all that has been spent in church property,
which is $160,500.
The first catholic church edifice in Nevada was
erected at Genoa in 1860 by Father Gallagher, on
King street. It was blown down in 1862, and an-
other erected in its place. In 1861 the first religious
services were held in Virginia City, by Mr Smeath-
man, an episcopal clergyman, and in the following
year Franklin S. Rising, of New York, began a mis-
sion for his church in Nevada, which was followed by
a visit from tlie bishop of the north-west territories,
Talbot of Indiana, who held services at Aurora Octo-
ber 4, 1863, and organized a parish with William H.
Stoy as its pastor, who was not able long to keep his
restless flock together. St Paul's episcopal church
at Virginia City was consecrated by Bisop Talbot on
this visit, and received as its rector Ozi William
Whitaker, afterwards bishop. St John's church was
erected at Gold Hill in 1864, and occui)ied December
18th. It was taken charge of in 1865 by H. D.
Lathrop of Ohio, and dedicated October 13, 1867, by
Bishop Kip of California. An episcopal church was
erected at Silver City in 1874-5 by W. R. Jenvey.
Trinity church, Carson, was erected in 1868, and con-
secrated June 19, 1870, by Bishop Whitaker, George
B. Allen rector. A parisli was organized at Dayton
December 26, 1863, under the name of church of the
ascension. Bishop Talbot held services at Austin in
1863, and Marcus Lane of Michigan ministered there
in 1868; but the parish of St George was not organ-
ized until 1873, with Christopher S. Stephenson in
charge, who was succeeded by S. C. Blackiston, of
CHURCHES. 297
Colorado. The church of St George at Austin, built
of brick, was the gift of Allen A. Curtis, superinten-
dent of the Manhattan mine. The bell was presented
by John A. PaxtoQ and N. S. Gage, and the organ
by James S. Porteous. The cost of the church and
rectory was $17,000. The first episcopal services in
White Pine district were held in Broker's hall, Treas-
ure City, in the morning of June 10, 1869, and in a
justice's court room at Hamilton, on the evening of
the same day, by Bishop Whitaker. In September
St Luke's parish was organized at Hamilton, with
Samuel P. Kelly, of Bhode Island, rector. A small
wooden church was erected and consecrated July 14,
1872. Bishop Whitaker visited Pioche September
13, 1870, preaching in a drinking saloon to a large
congregation. A year afterward H. L. Badger of
Ohio, commenced a mission at that place. The town
had just been destroyed by fire, and services were
held at private residences until July 21, 1872, when
a small frame church and rectory were completed.
Eureka also received a visit from the bishop of Ne-
vada September 28, 1870, who held services in a
canvas restaurant at nine o'clock in the evening, ow-
ing to a delay caused by an accident to the coach
conveying him. During the following winter, Mr
Kelly, of Hamilton, preached occasionally. In May,
1871, St James parish was organized, and the corner
stone of the church laid by the bishop. A rectory
was completed that year, and occupied by W. Hen-
derson ; but the church, which was built of stone, was
not consecrated until July 28, 1872. In February
1873 the parish of Trinity church was organized, and
services held by the bishop in the court house for
three years. In the meantime, William Lucas of
Ohio was installed as rector, and a church edifice com-
pleted June 8, 1878. The first episcopal services
were held at Belmont in 1872 by Mr Kelly, S. B.
Moore of Pittsburgh taking charge of St Stephen's
parish the following year, which was incorporated
298 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
February 16, 1874. and a neat wooden cliurch erected.
It was consecrated in 1875 by Daniel Flack, of
Rochester, New York. The cost of the episcopal
churches of Nevada has been about $140,000.
The first catholic church building at Genoa, as I
have said, was blown down in 1862, not being entirely
completed at the time. Patrick Manogue then took
charge of Virginia parish, and erected a better one,
which was consecrated to St Mary of the mountains.
The passionists in 1862-3 erected a frame church
between Virginia and Gold Hill, which was afterward
removed to Gcjld Hill ; but being too small for the
congrei>;ation. Father O'Reilly in 1864 erected a
larger one. A catholic church was erected in Austin
in 1864 by Father Monteverde ; and at Hamilton in
1868-9 by Father Phelan. The church erected at
Virginia City by Father Gallagher in 1860 being un-
suited to the population of 1868, a brick church cost-
ing $65,000 was erected in that year, by Father
Manogue, who was appointed vicar-general of the
diocese of Grass Valley, which included the state of
Nevada. In 1870 Father Grace built the church of
St Teresa at Carson. In 1871 a church was erected
at Pioche by Father Scanlan, and in 1872 at Belmont
by Father Monteverde, who also built the frame
church of St Brendan, at Eureka in 1871, whicli was
replaced three years afterward by a brick church,
erected by Father H3aies. In 1871, also. Father
Merrill built the first catholic church at Reno. The
great fire of 1875 at Virginia City destroyed the
church erected by Manogue, who in 1877 replaced it
by another, costing only a little less than the first,
and beautifully decorated in the interior. The Reno
church having been consumed in the fire of 1879, was
rebuilt in an improved form. Up to 1885, the catho-
lics expended about $250,000 in churches and chari-
table institutions.
The new school branch of the presbyterian church
is the one which took root iu Nevada. As early as
CHURCHES. 299
the spring of 1861 W. W. Brier, exploring agent of
the assembly's committee of home missions, visiting
Nevada, held a meeting at Carson in the stone school
house, and organized a society. Subscriptions to the
amount of $5,000 were obtained for a church edifice,
and A. F. White of California removed to Carson the
same year. The building was begun in 1862, and
dedicated May 1864, Mr White officiating, assisted
by Nims of the methodist church, and W. C. Pond
of California. The presbyterian society of Virginia
City was organized September 21, 1862, by Mj' Brier,
and in December D. H. Palmer of New York took
charo-e of it. No church buildingf was erected before
1867, when a neat edifice costing $4,700 was dedi- .
cated July 7. It was built with money obtained
by a successful deal in mining stock purchased with
the church funds, one of the few examples of stock
gambling by a religious society, as such. The trustees
purchased four lots on C street, and erected stores for
rent on either side of the meeting house, the rental
of which left but little to be supplied toward the
support of a minister. This property escaped the fire
of 1875. The membership at Virginia City is 105.
The Gold Hill presbyterian society was organized
Nov. 1, 1863, and W. W. Macomber was the minis-
ter in charge, though the first sermon was preached
by Frederic Buell. This society never erected a
church. A presbyterian society was organized at
Austin January 3, 1864, at the court house by L. P.
Webber. No church was ever built, and the society
was assigned to the Sacramento presbytery. On the
26th of March, 1870, John Brown, of Glasgow, Scot-
land, organized a society at Elko with only seven
members, and the Central Pacific company presenting
it with four lots, money was raised to erect a small
church, an organ being presented by Henry Ward
Beecher. The presbyterians of Eureka organized
with six members in August 1873, and W. C. Mc-
Dougal was their first pastor, under whose charge a
300 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
church was erected. J. P. Egbert organized the so-
ciety of presbj'terians at Pioche in January 1873,
with twelve members. It never had a meeting house,
and in 1879 it was taken off the roll of churches.
The total membership of the presbyterian church in
Nevada is less than 200, and the value of their church
property $15,000.
The first congregational church of Reno was or-
ganized February 1!), 1871, by the society which was
formed a month earlier. A. F. Hitclicock was elected
pastor. A building was erected in which the society
of odd fellows had their hall, and consecrated to re-
ligious services.
The Cumberland presbyterians formed a church in
1878 at Winncmucca, but after two or three years
dissolved the society. For two or three 3'ears also,
1874-5, the Welsh miners held services in their
native language at Mhiers' Union hall in Virginia
City, The Cliristian church also had its representa-
tives at Virginia in 1873.
The baptists first organized at Virginia in 1863
with a membership chiefly of colored people, Satchell
pastor. The church was dissolved in 1866. Another
society called the tabernacle baptist church was formed
in 1865, McLafFerty pastor, which held its services
in the court-house. In June 1873 C. L. Fisher of
California preached in any public hall obtainable,
until the middle of December, when the first baptist
church of Virginia was organized. In April 1874
ground was purchased on C street, and a house of
worship finished in July. In 1875 Fisher organized
a church at Reno, in the opera-house. In the follow-
ing January he built a modest meeting-house, which
was first occupied on the 7tli of May. This church
was destroyed in the fire of 1879, and a larger one
erected. The total value of baptist church jiroperty
in Nevada in 1880 was $5,000. A bequest of $20,-
000 was received by the American Church ]\f ission-
ary Society, for Nevada, from Miss Sarah Burr of
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 301
New York, who died March 1, 1882, to be apphed
to the support of struggling churches. The Bible
society of California had an agent in Nevada until
1872, when the Storey County Bible society was
formed, which was merged in the Nevada Bible
society October 19, 1873, at its organization. The
parent society in New York presented the Nevada
offshoot with $2,000 worth of bibles in many different
languages, and H. Richardson acted as agent in their
distribution. At the west Shoshone reservation there
was a school and some missionary work attempted,
but without important results. The baptist church
had control of the Indian missions in Nevada, though
the catholics labored among the Washoes and Pah
Utes off the reservations. •
Benevolent societies have always found ready sup-
port in Nevada. In charitable work every religious
denomination took part, and the world's people most
of all, the money being chiefly contributed by the
non-sectarian public. Among the first organized
efforts at benevolence was the formation of the St
Vincent de Paul society in 1863 by the catholic citi-
zens of Virginia City, which numbered 500 members,
and was organized by Manogue. Its charities were
extended to all, irrespective of religious prejudices.
The Nevada orphan asylum, St ]\Iary's hospital, St
Mary's school for girls, and St Vincent's school for
boys were charitable institutions under the care of the
sisters of charity, and founded in 1864 by Manogue.
The grounds for the hospital were a gift from Mrs
John W. Mackay, who, with her husband, was fore-
most in every good work for many years. The Jew-
ish population were notably benevolent among their
own race, and contributed liberally to many public
charities. A society was organized by them at Reno,
April 23, 1878, called the Chebra B'rith Sholom, for
religious and benevolent work, but their property was
burned in the fire of that year, and the society dis-
solved. On the 10th of August, 1879, the Reno
302 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Hebrew Benevolent society was formed, with twenty-
one members, for the same purposes. It owned a
cemetery near the city. In February 1881 the
Nevada Benevolent association fi]edpa})ers of incor-
l)oration, the object of which was to give public enter-
tainments of a musical and scientific character, to
sell tickets to such entertainments, and to purchase
hold, and distribute among the ticket-holders certain
prizes in real estate or other property, to raise a fund
to be devoted to charitable purposes, particularly the
care of the insane; and the legislature was induced to
pass a special act in aid of the enterprise, permitting
the association to give five entertainments. But the
constitution of Nevada distinctly forbids lotteries,
and the supreme court deciding the law to be con-
stitutional the association abandoned its purposes.
The first lodge of free-masons was established by
a dispensation of the grand lodge of California, Feb-
ruary 3, 1862, and chartered May loth of the same
year. In January 1865 the grand lodge of Nevada
was organized, and Carson City Lodge No. 154 be-
came Carson Lodge No. 1 under the new jurisdiction.
Washoe Lodge No. 2 also derived its authority to
organize from the California Grand Lodge July 25,
1862, and chartered May 14, 1863. Virginia Lodge
No. 3 received a dispensation January 15, 1863, and
was chartered May 14th following. All these lodges
were prosperous and dispensed many thousands of
dollars in charity. But in the great fire of 1875
Virginia Lodge No. 3 lost its temple, and thereupon
it was resolved to hold a lodge upon the top of Mount
Davidson, with all the pomp and ceremonies of the
order, which unique intent was carried out in Sep-
tember, when a large number of visitors were pres-
ent. The jewels of the officers, made of Ophir bullion,
had been recovered from the ashes of their former
lodge, and though injured, were worn on this occasion.
Soon the society was refurnished and redomiciliated."
■-'' Amity Lodge No. 4 of Silver City; Silver Star Lodge No. 5 of Gold
Hill; Esmeralda Lodge No. 6 of Aurora; Escurial Lodge No. 7 of Virginia
LIBRAPJES. 303
A state library was provided for by the first terri-
torial legislature, which prescribed a fee of ten dol-
lars from every person receiving a license to practice
law, the money to go toward purchasing books for
the territory. After the state was admitted an act
was passed requiring each officer commissioned^ except
commissioners of deeds and notaries public, to pay
City; Lander Lodge Xo. 8 of Austin; and Valley Lodge No. 9 of Dayton,
all received their dispensations and charters from California in 186.3 and
1864. Austin Lodc^e Xo. 10 (1865) of Austin; Oasis Lodge Xo. 11 (1867) of
Belmont; Douglas Lodge Xo. 12 (1868) of Genoa; Reno Lodge Xo. 1.3 (1869)
of Reno; St John's Lodge Xo. 13, colored, (1875) of Carson; "White Puie
Lodge Xo. 14 (1869) of Hamilton; Elko Lodge Xo. 15 (1871) of Elko;
Eureka Lodge Xo. 16 (1872) of Eureka; Humboldt Lodge Xo. 17 (1871)^of
Unionville; St John Lodge Xc. IS (1871) of Pioche; Wiunemucca Lodge Xo.
19 (1874) of Winnemucca; Palisade Lodge Xo. 20 (1876) of Palisade; Tus-
carora Lodge Xo. 21 (1878) of Tuscarora; and Hope Lodge U. D. (1880) of
Mason valley, all derived their charters from the Xevada grand lodge, ex-
cept Xo. 1.3, vhich is working under the jurisdiction of the sovereign grand
lodge of California. A masonic association was formed at Ward in 1876.
•which never asked for a dispensation. On the 16th of January, 1865, thf
grand lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Xevada was organized at Vir
ginia City. On the 25th of January, 1866, some masons of Salt Lake City
petitioned the Xevada grand lodge for authority to institute IMoimt ^loriah
Lodge in that jjlace. Three chapters of the eastera star order have been
established in Xevada, to which women are admitted. There are several
chapters of masons under different names, a general grand chapter, and
several commanderies of knights templar in the state. The order has dis-
pensed about .$75,000 in charities; owns 8110,813 in property; and has lost
by fires 850,000.
Lodges of Odd Fellows were organized in the following order: Wildey
Lodge Xo. 1, Gold Hdl, April 1, 1862; Silver City Lodge Xo. 2, April 14.
1862; Mount Davidson Lodge Xo. 3, Virginia City, April 22, 1862; Carson
Lodge Xo. 4, Carson City, April 25, 1862; Dayton Lodge Xo. 5, June 2,
1863; Esmeralda Lodge Xo. 6, Aurora, September 16, 1863; Xevada Lodge
No. 7, Virgiaia City, January 15, 1864; Washoe Lodge Xo. 8, Washoe City,
January 18, 1864; Austin Lodge Xo. 9, Austin, January 23, 1864; Virginia
Lodge Xo. 10, Virgiaia, May IS, 1865; Aljjha Lodge Xo. 11, Austin, ^March
14, 1867 (disincorporated); Olive Branch Lodge No. 12, Virginia, April 4,
1867; Parker Lodge, Xo. 13, Gold Hill, October 8, 1868; Truckee Lodge Xo.
14, Reno, October 28, 1868; Genoa Lodge Xo. 15, Genoa, December 25, 1868;
Humboldt Lodse Xo. 16, Winnemucca, August 29, 1869; Hamilton Lodge
No. 17, Hamilton, April 26, 1870: Elko Lodge Xo. 18, Elko, October 19,
1870; Reno Lodge Xo. 19. Reno, May 1S_, 1871; Capital Lodge Xo. 20, Car-
son, July 28, 18?!; Buena Vista Lodge ^o. 21, Unionville, October 26, 1871;
Eureka Lodcre Xo. 22, March 14, 1872; Pioche Lodge Xo. 23, September 10,
1872; Belmont Lodge Xo. 24. March 5, 1873; Paradise Lodge ^o. 2o, Para-
dise valley, October 17, 1873; Palisade Lodge Xo. 26, Palisade, April 13,
1874; Mountain Lodge Xo. 27, Eureka, May 11, 1875; Tybo Lodge -No. 28,
Tybo, April 17, 1877; Cornucopia Lodge Xo. 29. Cornucopia. May 31, 18//;
Tuscarora Lodge Xo. 30. Tuscarora, .June 7, 1878; Battle Mountain Lodge
No. 31, Battle Mountain, March 19, 1879. At Grants\^lle and Cheny
Creek there are odd fellows' associations for the relief of the order, which
will be chartered in the future. The first ten lodges were formed under the
jurisdiction of California, but on the 21st of January, LS67, the grand lodge
304 MATElilAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
five dollars to the library fund; and all fines and
forfeitures for non-compliance with the law were
devoted to the same purpose. The number of bound
books in the state liljrary in 1878 was iJ,498; of
unbound books, GC)^ ; and the number of newspapers
on file, 15, A library was organized at Wadsworth
in 1879 by the locomotive engineers. A circulating
library was opened at Eureka in 1872. A literary
and scientific society existed at Gold Hill as early as
1865, and encouragement wasakso given to the attain-
ment of knowledge, especially of the sciences. The
Nevada state medical society was formed in April,
1878, as a branch of the national American medical
association. Twenty-four ph^'sicians were enrolled at
the organization, the number increasing to 38inl 880.
of Nevada was organized at Virginia City. There were in 1885 ten encamp-
ments in the state, tlie first six deriving their organization from the grand
encampment of California, the 7tli from the .-sovereign grand lodge, and
three from the grand lodge of Nevada, organized December 28, 1874, at Car-
son. Two Rel)ekali degree lodges -were instituted — the Colfax Lodge at Vir-
ginia City, and Estlier Lodge of Austin.
The Knights of Pythias order liad 12 lodges in 1885: Nevada Lodge No.
1, Virginia City, organized March 23, 1873, by authority of the supreme
chancellor, H. C. Berry of Chicago; Damon Lodge No. 2, Carson City, July
18, 1873; Mystic Lodge No. 3, Gold Hill, Nov. 24, 1874; Carson Lodge No.
4, Carson City, December 20, 1873; Huml)oldt Lodge No. 5, Genoa, March
1, 1874; Lincoln Lodge No. 6, Virginia City, March 29, 1874; Beatific
Lodge No. 7, Eureka, September 22, 1874; Amity Lodge No. 8, Reno, Jan-
uary 31, 1875; Toiyabe Lodge No. 9, Austin, November 9, 1875; Argenta
Lodge No. 10, Battle Mountain, July 20, 1870; Triumph Lodge No. 11, Vir-
ginia City, October 20, 1879; Lyon Lodge No. 12, Dayton, October 15, 1880.
A grand lodge was organized at Carson City March 31, 1874.
The ancient order of United Workmen, ancient order of Hibernians, in-
dependent order of Red Men, independent order of Foresters, Caledonian
club, Virginia Turnverein, and Grand Army of th« Republic, all have their
organizations.
The Miners' Union was organized at Virginia City June 6, 18G3, with R.
D. Ferguson president, ^^'. C. Batunian vice-president, and B. J. Shay secre-
tary. The (iold Hill branch was organizecf August (i, 1804, witli William
Woodburn president. Woodburn was afterward mem1>er of congress. The
union has a library, established December 28, 1877. Its first board of di-
rectors was coini)osed of William H. Parker, B. Colgan, T. 1*. Roberts, Jo-
seph Josephs, John F. McDonald. Secretary and lil)rarian, B. Colgan. Tlie
library building was erecte<l in 187G, and took tlie place of the miners' union
hall, which was destroyed by the fire of 1875. There were set aparta chess-
room and dancing-hall, and a public hall used by several societies, namely,
the mechanics' union, ancient order of Hibernians, knigiits of tiie Red
Branch, and Montgomery guards. The lil)rary contained in 1880, 2,200 books,
worth .?6,(X)0, and the buihling and ground were worth .*!15,000 more. It
was free to members of the union, but a fee of fifty cents a month was
charged other iieraonu using the books. Ruby liill ulso had a miners' union.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC. 305
The legislature in 1861 appropriated $500 for the
purpose of collecting and sending specimens of ores
from Xevada to the world's fair at London. A com-
missioner was also authorized to be appointed by the
governor to represent Xevada at the Paris exposition
in 1867. The legislature of 1875 appropriated S20,-
000 to constitute a centennial fund, for the purpose of
erecting a quartz-mill at the Philadelphia exposition
in 1876, and to exhibit mineralogical specimens
thereat. At the Paris exposition of 1878 there was
displayed one of the largest and most interesting col-
lections of minerals ever exhibited, the display hav-
ing been made possible by the hberality of J. W.
Mackay. As early as 1866 the legislature provided
for the maintenance of a school of mining, and created
the office of state mineralogist. The law was repealed
in 1877, and it was made the duty of the superintendent
of public instruction to be ex officio curator of the state
museum of mineralogical, geological, and other speci-
mens which had been collected during eleven 3'ears,
and which, 2,000 in number, were kept at Carson."
*8 Nevada was not far behind the other Pacific states in her pioneer or-
ganizations. The society of Pacific Coast Pioneers, formed at Virginia City
June 22, 1872, admits 3 classes; those who were residents of the coast prior
to January 1, 1S51, their male descendants in the direct line, and honorary
members. Their hall, cabinet of minerals, and library were consumed in
the conflagration of 1875. The money loss was 820,000; but the value of
what could not be replaced was incalculable. They had later a building
costing .S22,000, and were collecting another cabinet and library. The society
of Reese Piiver Pioneers was organized June 11, 1873, composed of males
who resided in Reese river mining district prior to December 31, 1864, the
object being to collect and preserve the early history of the district, and per-
petuate the memory of their dead comrades.
I have mentioned elsewhere some of the earlier newspapers of Xevada.
The number of journals of all kinds published, for a greater or less time,
shows great intellectual activity, and a liberal disposition on the part of the
people. Without repeating the former list, I will give, so far as I am able,
by counties, the newspaper history of the state. The politics is indicated,
where known, by the letters r. and d. ; daily and weekly by d. and w.
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
First Issued. Name. Name of Founder. Discontinued.
1865, Sept. 5. .Nevada Republican, w..J. H. Hill, r .1865, Oct.
1865, Oct. 7. . .Douglas Co. Banner, w.. Richard Wheeler, r..l866, Jan.
1875, Feb. 20.. Carson Valley News, w.A. C. Pratt, r 1860, July 16.
1880, July 23.. Genoa Wkly Courier, w.Boynton Carlisle, r.
1880, April Genoa Journal, w J. H. Cradlebaugh,d.l881, Jan. 1.
Hist. Nev. 20
4
306 MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
ELKO COUNTY
1869. May Elko Independent, d . . . j\ ^^^ ^^^^y »J^|
1870. June 5 . . .Elko Chronicle, s-w. . . . j^ij.- f '^J^l^'^^^H 1870, Dec.
1875, Sept. 1 1 . .Elko Weekly Post ja a Pawning! r.\ ^^^l, April
18'"7, March lO.Tuscarora Times, w E. A. Littlefield, r.
1877. May j""^^::: ^^:°^[ . .C. C. S. Wright 1878, Jan.l.
1878, Jan. I . . . Tuscarora Times-Re- j Dennis Fairchildf
^view (consolid td), d. . ( & \\ right )
ESMERALDA COUNTY
1862, May 10. .Esmeralda Star, w E. A. Sherman & Co. 1864, March.
1864, March 21. Esmeralda Daily Union. J. W. Avard, r 1868, Oct.
1863, April. . . .Aurora Times, d. & w. . -j^" ^- Q[J5n''d'''^[ ^^65, April
1877, Oct. 13. .Esmeralda Herald, w... Frank Kenyon, r.
1873, Aug Borax Miner, w Wm. W. Barnes, d. . 1877.
1877 Belleville Times Mark W. Musgrove..l878, July.
1880, June 5. .. -j <^^'i;l«laria True/ j_ ^ j^
/ rissure, w. |
1881, Sept. 1... Oasis (Hawthorne), w. .0. E. Jones.
EUREKA COUNTY
1870, July 16. .Eureka Sentinel, d A. Skillman & Co., d. 1885, May.
1878, Jan. 1. .Eureka Dy Repuhlican. J. C. Ragsdale 1878, June 24,
1878, June 25. .Eureka Daily Leader . . \ ^'■/^'■E^Ffsk'^T^ \
1880, April 26. . . I ^''^g Ne^^i ^''" \ J^"^«« ^ Anderson.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
icfiQ AyTo,, o i Unionville Humboldt | W. J. Forbes & C.^ ,0^0 -.^^ ,
1863, May 2 j Register, w. \ L. Perkins, ind. \ ^^^^' ^^^y-
laRQ n„f <io i Winuemucca Hum- j E. D. Kelly, M. { ,„_j, j^
1869, Oct. 30.... j boldt Register, w. } S. Bonnifield, d. J ^8/6, Dec.
1868 Winnemucca Argent Jno. &. Jo. Wasson, r. 1868, Nov.
1870, March { "state""' id" | H. A. Waldo, d.
1869. A„g. 18 ... I ^^'™~«;n'ir | J- ^ '="°'". ''■ • • ' ■«"»•
1879, May 10 Paradise Reporter H. AVarren, d 1880, Nov.
LANDER COUNTY.
First Issued. Name. Name of Founder. Discontinued.
1863, May 16. .Reese River Reveille, s-w. . W. C. Piiillips, r.
1873, Dec. 26.... j ^t^r^^/easuJe.*'"'' / ^V. J. Forbes 1875. Oct.
1877, May 19. .Battle Mtn Messenger. .M. W. Musgrove, r.
1881, Aug Battle Mtn Free Press. .
1881, Nov. 23. .Lewis Weekly Herald. .
LINCOLN COUNTY,
1870, Sept. 17. .Pioche Ely Record, s. w. W. H. Pitchford & Co.
1872. Sept. 17. .Pioche Daily Record Pat. Holland, d.
1872, Sept. . . .Pioche Review, d } ^- r^t" yior.^r.^^' ( ^^'^^' ^°'''
1874. Dec. 15. .Pioche Journal j ''■^JltitL'' \ ''''' ^^^^ ^'
NEWSPAPERS. 307
LYON COUNTY.
1864, April 16.Como Sentmel, w j W^Sam^j '^^^ ''"'7-
1864. July 9. . . j "''^I'S.S':,^^-"' \ '■''^t^i^r" \ '»■
1874, July Lyon Co. Times, t-w Frank Kenyon
1876, March 10. Silver City D. Mg Reptr . Reporter Company. .1876.
1875, July . . . .Sutro Independent -j ^ ^g^picott"^ ^' \ 1880, Nov.
NYE COXJNTY.
1864, June 25. .lone Nye Co. News, w. j "^^ Je c'rwT f ^"[ ^^^^' ^^y*
1864, Sept lone Advertiser, w John Booth, d 1864, Nov.
1867, March 30. Silver Bend Reporter, ^^ \^'\ Co^^i!^?'^*^ [ ^^^^' ^'^'^'
18<i8,J..e6... j S'^lrCj.t"^:'^ ]w.F.M;™,;r....l869.
1874, Feb. U . .Belmoat Courier, w. , . . ] ^^S'^d.^ [
1886, May. . . .Tybo Sun,w J. C. Ragsdale 1879, Nov.
1878, Dec Grantsville Sun, w D. L. Sayer, ind 1879, June.
1880 Grantsvme Bonanza.... | ^-^'^l^^^' \
ORMSBY COUNTY (see «Z>t supra),
STOREY COUNTY ( See uhi supra).
1863, July 7. . .Virginia Evg Bulletin, d.H. P. Taylor & Co., r. 1864, May.
1863. Aug. 10. . Dy Democratic Standard | j" ^; jSnthicum"^ f ^863, Oct
1863 The Occidental Thomas Fitch 1863, May.
1863, Oct. 12 . . Gold Hill Daily News . . | ^^^^P ^j;[;^j,^J^^i;;^ [
1864, March 31 .Nevada Pioneer, s-w J. F. Hahnlen, d 1864, Oct.
Virginia Constitution . .
1864, July 3. . . .Washoe D. Evg Herald | ^^^- ;|^'^Q^ett°? 1 ^^^' ^^y 27.
1864, Oct. 28...Nev. Staats Zeitung, w.H. M. Bien, r...' 1864.
STOREY COUNTY (continued).
First Issued. Name. Name of Founder. Discontinued.
1865, April 17.. Two O'clock News John P. Morrison 1865.
1866, Oct. 16. . .Deutsch Union J. F. Hahlen 1866.
1872. Oct. 8. . . Virginia Evg Chronicle. ] ^^^ (?^S°^;^^ [
1876, Sept Comstock D. Record W. Frank Stewart. . .1876, Sept.
188 Virginia Footlight
WASHOE COUNTY.
1862, Oct. 18. . .Washoe Times, w G. W. Derickson, r. . . 1863, Dec. 12.
1863, Dec. 12. . . Old Pah Ute John K. Lovejoy, r. . 1864, Apr 16.
1864, April 16 . . Daily Old Piute Wilson & Gregory.. . . 1865, Jan. 8.
1865, Jan. 8 Washoe Weekly Times. .De Lashmutt & Co.. . . 1865, Nov. 20.
1878, Aug. 5. . .Reno DaUy Record H. A. Waldo & Co. . .1878, Nov. 1.
1870, Nov. 23. . \ ^^^^t fT "^'"'" \ J- G. Law & Co., r.
' / nal, d. & w. \ '
1876, March 28. Reno Evening Gazette. .J. F. Alexander, r.
1881, March,.. The Plaindealer M, H. Hogan, ind.
MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
WHITE PINE COUNTY.
lopc -n o,- S White Pine News ) W. H. Pitchfonl ) ,0-^ ^ „
1868, Dec. 2b.. j (Treasure City). [ & B. W. Simpson. P^'^' J*°-
1870, Jan Wlnte Pine News w. J. Forbes, r 1878. Nov.
' I (Hannlton). \
18C9, Feb I'^/^'^'l ^"'l'^" James J. Ayres, r. . . 1870, Nov.
( (Hamilton). > .» '
1869, Dec ^^7^"^' Telegram / p^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^ j^-^,
' < (Hamilton). )
1869, March . . .Shermantown Reporter. .McEl wain & Allen. . .1870, May.
1872, July Sehell Creek Prospect. . .Forbes & Pitelifonl. . .1873, Jan.
1876, Oct Ward Miner Mark \V. Musgrove. .1877, April.
1877, April 19. .The Ward Retiex, w R. W. Simps(m, ind.
1878, Jan. 1 Cherry Crk Independent. B. M. Barney, ind.. .1878, March.
,__, ^ j Cherry Creek White j W. R. Forre.st,
1»^1' ''^^ } Pine News. ) W. L. Davis.
Spirit of the West (Ward).
IJnion (Ward).
Watchman (Ward).
The histories of all these newspapers, which, by their itinerant habits,
well illustrate the restless vitality of a mining population, as well as their
varying fortunes, would be a history of the state from a political and linan-
cial point of view, and would contain a great deal of the most interesting
biography of the country; but it would form a volume of itself. I have in
my collection liles of all the more important journals; for several of which I
am indebted to O. R. Leonard and James Crawford of Carson.
Reference has Ijeen made in this chapter to the following works: Ten
Years in Nevada, 1870-80, by Mrs M. M. Mathews, which is a narrative of
family life, and speaks of Nevada incidentally, but none the less truthfully
for that. The Tivo Ainerica'i hy iiir Rose Lambert Price, Bart, illustrated,
1877, is a book of travel in South and North America, superficial in observa-
tion, and of trifling interest. Tlie Mormons ami tlte Silirr Mims by J. Bon-
wick, 1872, another hasty book by an English tourist, the most noticeable
feature of which is the credulity of the author as to the fallibility of every-
thing un-English. The chapter on Nevada silver mines is the best part of
the book. T/ie Woiita)) in Battle. A Xarratire of the ErploiU, Adventures,
and Travels of Mailani Lorvtta Janetta Velisnuez, otherwise knonm as Lieuten-
ant Hari~y L. Buford of the confederaie army, edited by C. J. Worthiwjton,
The title explains the nature of this book. It is only to be added that after
her adventures as a spy the subject of the narrative married a miner in Aus-
tin, Nevada, and offers some slight remarks upon life in that and other
western towns. Besources and Prospects of America, Ascertained dtiriwj a Visit
to the United States in the Autumn of l8''>o, by Sir S. Morton Peto, Bart, 1866,
is a book of nearly 400 pages, containing some facts and some absurdities.
What shall we say of a man supposed to be in bis senses wiio visits Nevada
and writes thus: ' 'Ihis district is said to have been actually untraversed
before 1859. In the spring of that year it was explored by Mr Horace
Greeley, and in the month of September following l)y a party of young men
from Illinois.' Ibis party was probably the young man with liis associates,
to whom Horace said 'Go west.' Westward },y Rail; the A'fw BoiUe to the
East, Ijy VV. F. Rae, 1870, is another book by an English tourist, this time a
very good-natured one. Thirty-three pages are devoted to sights and inci-
dents along the line of the Central Pacific. All the Western States awl Terri-
tories from the Allei/hanie-f to the Pacific, anil from the Lakes to the Gulf by John
W. Barl>er and Henry Howe, 1867, is a history from their earliest times,
with ])ioneer incidents, biographical sketclies. and geographical description,
illustrated. Twelve pages are devoted to Nevada, and the brief sketch is in
general correct. Barber's work is wortliily done where he deals with terri-
tory within his reach, and is an excellent epitomized history, Exploration
AUTHORITIES. 309
Mineroloijique Des Beijiom Mexkaines, suive De Notes ArcMologiques et Eth-
noijraphiijucs, par M. E. Guillemin Tarayre, etc., 1869, is a careful report on
these subjects to the miuister of public instruction at Paris. Nevada is
merely touched upon in the work, a chapter being given to the Indian tribes,
and a few pages to the geography and mineralogy of the state. Also Parific
Co'iM Mininj Bcvkw, 1S7S-9; Nayne, in Kiwj's .Sun-'^!/, iii. 316, 394, 409, 423;
Grote in Hayden's Geological Sui-vey, vi. no. 2, 255-77; Overland Monthly,
March 1869, 273-80; Cadioala/ler Guide, etc.; Williams' Pac Toiwist, Uo,.
205-7; Safford's Xarr., MS., 31-2; Tliorntons Ore'/on and California, 1. 170-
88; ii. 100-20; Beckwith, in Pac R. R. Report, ii. 25-39, 62, 68, 88-9; Reise
Durch die felsenebirge, 130-9; notes of travel through Xevada; Galaxy [mdig.),
xx'i. April 1876; Galveston Xev:s, Dec. 1, 1884; Brackett, in Western Monthly,
239; Whecloclc's Guide to Reese River; Austin Directo)-y, 1866, 26-40; Neiv Mex-
ico Scraps, oS-m-, Directoi-y Pacific Coa.st, 1871-3, M3-76; Blatchb/s Rcpt on
Mineral Re.'tources o/ Reese River, 5—6, 35, 48; Harpers Mag., June 1866, 27-8,
34; De Groot's Report onthe Mineral Deposits and Other Properties of the Nevada
Consolidated Borax Company; Fox's Mason Valley Settlement, MS., 1; National
ALnanac, 1864,452; Message of Governor Adams, ISSo; MeJeorological Obsei-va-
tijns, made at Carson observatory, 1883—4; Adventures in the Far West and
Lfe Among the Mormons, by Mrs C. V. Waite, 1882, describes among other
things the society of Carson City, 262-71; Greeley's Overland Journey, 270-
80; Life and Lahor lathe Far, Far West, by W. Henry Barneby, is 'notes of a
tour in the western states, British Columbia, Manitoba, and the north-west
territory,' with glances at Nevada. The writer of the last named work is
English, and an industrious observer of waj'side scenes and local customs.
The book is good of its kind. From Wisconsin to California and Return, by
James Ross and George Gary. A Comprehensive View of our Country and its
Resources, by James D. McCabe, Jr, 1876, gives a brief outline of the his-
tory of the nation and each of the states separate!}-, with descriptive mat-
ter and present resources. From the Orient to the Occident, or L. Boyers Trip
Across the Rocly Mountimis in April 1877 , is the title of a book of 145 pages
describing what was seen upon the journey. A few pages are given to Fair
& Mackay's lumber flume. Crofutt's Overland Tourist is a travellers' guide
book, and gives a brief history of each station on the railroad, and also of
other points of interest in the state. White Pine, its Geographical Location,
Tqyography, Geological Formation, Mining Lairs, Minercd Resources, Tvwns,
etc., by Albert S. Evans, 1869, is a pamphlet of 49 pages, which keeps the
promise of its title page better than many a more pretentious book. Six
Months in California, by J. G. Player Frowd, an English traveller, is a pleas-
ant account of a summer jaunt, and is devoted chieflj' to California, but con-
tains a chapter on the mines of Nevada, with here and there a bit of descrip-
tion worth reading. From the Atlantic to the Pacific Overland is a series of let-
ters by Demas Barnes describing the journey, and also the ocean voyage
home by the isthmus of Panama. A dozen pages are given to mining in
Nevada out of 135 in all. Ten Hiousand Miles of Travel, Sport, and Adven-
ture, by F. French Townshend, capt 2d Life Guards, is a running account of
what the yriter saw and heard in his sea and land travel, with some hunting
on the plams, and some remarks upon mining in Nevada. Adventures in (he
Apache Country; A Tmir Through Arizona and Sonora, v-ith Notes on the Silver
Regions of Nevada, deals with the descriptive and historical in a clear and
very readable style. Fifty -three pages are given to the southern portion of
Nevada. Reports of the State Controller of Nevada, Attorney-general of Nevada,
State Treasurer of Nevada, and Secretary of State of Nevada, for 1884.
CHAPTER XL
PROGRESS OF EVENTS.
18S1-1888.
Finances — Reduction of Expenses — Purlic Buildings — State Prisoh
"War — State University — Public Charities — Educational Affairs
— Proposed Annexation of Southern Idaho — Mining — Railroads —
Politics.
Following the excitement of the bonanza period,
and the struggle in congress over the silver question,
was a period of quiet adjustment to existing condi-
tions. Nevada had begun its career under those cir-
cumstances which foster a spirit of recklessness in
expenditure, and had for some time been making
endeavors to bring the cost of comity and state gov-
ernment down to a level of reasonable economy. Only
one defalcation of importance had occurred to stain
the records of the state — that of the treasurer, Eben
Rhoades, in 18G9, when $106,432.58 of the state's
money were feloniousl}^ converted to his use. The
bonded state debt in 1872 amounted tto $500,000,
bearing fifteen per cent interest per annum, then nearly
due, with very little in the treasury to meet it
To remedy this unfortunate condition of affairs the
legislature of 1871 had passed a law authorizing the
state to borrow $280,000, and to issue its bonds there-
for, payable in 1881, with interest at ten per cent per
annum. A loan of $1G0,000 was negotiated in April
1871, and a further loan of $120,000 at nine and a
half per cent, payable in 1882. In 1875 the legisla-
ture authorized the purchase and cancellation of these
(310)
FINANCES. 311
bonds, and $119,600 were so cancelled at that time.
The state moneys were also applied to the purchase
of United States and California state bonds, the inter-
est on which was devoted, with the principal, to extin-
guishing the debt of Nevada. But there was also
what was known as the territorial debt amounting to
$380,000, which the legislature of 1871 provided for
in a manner similar to that adopted for the state debt,
by borrowing and issuing bonds at nine and a half
cents interest, and payable in 1887. United States
bonds to the amount of $100,000 were also purchased
toward the extinguishment of this debt during the
years previous to 1878. With a view to the cancel-
lation of the territorial debt, which congress had
repeatedly been asked to assume,^ the legislature of
1877 passed a state law authorizing the application to
this purpose of the assets of the territorial interest and
sinkino; fund, the bonds belonoinsj to the state school
fund, and $50,000 from the general fand.
This law contemplated the issuance b}^ the state to
the school fund of an irreducible bond, bearing five
per cent interest per annum, for the sum of $380,000,
which w^as considered to be the best application of the
assets in the state school fund that could be made in
the interest of the public schools. But the holders
of the territorial bonds refused at that time to accept
this exchange. The debt, however, was virtually
extinguished, as the means were in hand to pay the
bonds whenever surrendered.
There was in Nevada at this time a singular dis-
proportion of revenue to expenses, notwithstanding
the refusal of the bonanza mine-owners to pay taxes
according to law, there being in 1879 a surplus "far
beyond the wants of the state," ^ besides the mining
^The legislature of 1867 endeavored to have congress assume this iudebt-
edness. Isev. Laws, 1867-83; and again in 1869 memorialized to the same
effect. Id. 1869; 293. These claims were still unsettled in 1887, but were
then nnder consideration, and have since been paid.
'^Oovernor Bradley's Message to tlie Legislature 1879 p. 6.
312 PROGRESS OF EVENTS.
tax clue amounting to $290,275.95, and a penalty
for refusal to pay off" $101,590.57, for which suits
were pentling in the state courts,' and the territorial
debt due from congress, and notwithstanding the leg-
islature of 1875 had reduced the tax for all state pur-
poses from a dollar and twenty-five cents on every
$100 to ninety cents, which reduction amounted to
half a million in the four years followhig. Clearly,
taxes were inordhiate when the state treasury was
overflowing. However, the valuation of real and
personal ])roperty fell off between 1873 and 1878 from
$26,466,505 to $21,342,663. This simply sliowed
that other resources of the state had been neglected
to give undue attention to mining, and also that min-
ing property was not taxed as it should have been.
The state had produced an annual average of $25,000,-
000 in bullion ever since its admission, doing more to
help resume specie payment after the war than many
of the older states, and had asked and received less
in appropriations than any other commonwealths,
mahitaining also a clean record as to its public trusts.
Nothing was wanting but a little time to bring min-
imr to a leofitimate basis, and to develop the a'jjricul-
'"' PIT
tural and other resources of the state. In 1882
the valuation had again risen to $27,000,000.
Yet, a bill was before congress in that year to abolish
the state of Nevada and attach the territory' to Cah-
fornia ! It was quite the fashion in some quarters,
after the fiiilure of the bonanza mines, to disparage
the battle-born member of the republic,* which had so
speedily relieved the government by its support ; but
this fashion proceeded solely from the spleen common
to humanity when any prodigal gift once enjoyed is
withheld.
Senator W. W. Hobart of Eureka county intro-
duced a bill, which passed the legislature in 1881,
reducing the public expenses about $26,000 annually,
' These taxes were finally paid £iccorcling to the decsion of the supreme
court.
FINANCES. 313
first by diminishing the number of legislators from
seventy-five to sixty, and secondly by reducing the
salaries of the state officers/ The pay of the latter
having been adjusted to the cost of living in the early
territorial and flush mining times, and to the expectation
that the state would become populous and wealthy,
could very properly be made to conform to later condi-
tions without an exhibition of parsimony. With a view
to reforms, the legislature of 1883 submitted to the peo-
ple the question of calling a convention to revise the
constitution, but the proposition was negatived, and
Hobart's bill took its place/
At the close of 1888 the finances of Nevada were
in a sound condition. It had between 8600,000 and
$700,000 in cash in the treasury, and $600,000 in
United States bonds. The school funds, chiefly in-
vested in United States and Nevada state bonds,
amounted to $1,250,000. The revenue was still
considerably in excess of expenses. The state owed
little except its debt to the school fund, which there
was money in the treasury to meet, and which
amounted to about $400,000, of which $380,000
was in the form of a five per cent irreducible
bond, the interest on which was payable semi-an-
nually, and the remainder in forty-five $1,000 bonds
at four per cent. This conversion of the school fund
into a fund for the support of the state was found
to be beneficial to both. It at least prevented specu-
lations in the school fund which were carried on to a
considerable extent in another of the Pacific States.
All that the state owed in 1885 was due to this fund
which was irredeemable, as well as irreducible, and
the interest alone applicable for educational purposes.
Public buildings in Nevada have kept pace with
* Says Gov. Adams: 'We find a system of state government much too
cumbersome for our present wants, and requiring an annual expenditure en-
tirely out of proportion to our taxable resources.' Biennial Message, 1886.
'" The salaries of sup. judges were reduced from §7,000 to .S5,000; govern-
or's salary from .§6,000 to .s.5,000; secretary's salary from s3,600 to 83,000;
treasurer's the same, and smaller salaries in proportion. The mileage of the
lecislators was reduced from 40 to 25 cents. The law went into effect in
1883. Gw. Mesmfjt, 1885; Treas. Rept, 1884,
314 PROGRESS OF EVENTS.
the general progress of the state. The United States
branch mint erected at Carson was founded Septem-
ber 25, 18G6, and its macliinery put in motion Novem-
ber 1, 1869. It is a handsome structure, built of sand-
stone, with a front of PO feet, and two and a half stories
high.* In January 18G9 the legislature appropriated
$100,000 to erect a capitol of sandstone, the corner-
stone of which was laid on the 9th of June, 1870.' The
state prison was also located at Carson, where a stone
quarry marked by the footprints of primeval man furn-
islied tlie material for its construction. Curry was the
owner of the land, of whom the legislature pur-
chased the site, and was the first warden appointed
before the purchase, while the property was under a
lease. The state in 1864 paid $80,000 for twenty
acres with the buildings and appurtenances as they
then existed. In 1867 the buildings were destroyed
by fire, together with the records. The stone for the
new prison was quarried by the convicts, and over
$72,000 was spent in its erection, besides the labor
and material on hand.* But in 1873 the political
exigencies of the democratic party in the state, and
the wishes of the inliabitants of Washoe county,
caused the legislature to assume that there was a suf-
*The block of granite contributed by Nevada to the national monument
expressed the temper of the people. It wa? a simple slab 2x.'{ feet and G
inches in thickness, with a raised panel highly polislied, inscril)ed: ' All for
our country,' the letters being lined with gold .and arranged in a semicircle,
with tlie date 1881 beneath. Across tlie face is tlie word Nevada in letters
4 inches in height of native silver set in the stone.
'' N('V. L'iw.i, 18(59, 7.3-5. Contract awarded to Peter Cavanaugh for
$84,0U0, to be completed in Jan. 187).
^Nrv.Joiir. Sen., 18f)0, ISl-G. Id., 1879, 10.3-4. In 1870 a number of
prisoners attempted to escape, and several persons were woun<led. A still
more serious uprising took place in 1871, in which Lieut. -gov. Denver and 4
guards were seriously wounded, F. M. Isaacs, guard, and Matthew Pixley,
a prominent citizen, killed, and 29 of tlie most despt-rate cliaraeters escaped.
Tlie militia were called out. After that, in 187:^. tliere was what was known
as tlie state prison %var. when Denver, who was warden, refused to surrender
the prison to his successor, P. C. Hyman. (iov. Bradley called out the
militia in this instance, also, and GO armed men under Maj.-gen. Van Bok-
kelen, with one piece of artillery, were ordered to place the new incumbent
in possession, even at the cost of life. Denver tlien surrendered. In 1877
there was a third attempt at escape, made by 8 men employed in a shoe fac-
tory, which ha<l been adde<l to the prison, in wliioli one convict was killed,
anil the deputy warden, captain of the guard, and one jirisoner wounded.
An attempt was made to buru the prison iu Aug. 1879, which was detected.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 316
ficiently urgent need for more room for prisoners to
justify the expenditure necessary to the project, and
an act was passed providing for a new prison at Reno.
For this purpose a state building fund was created.
Into this fund the law transferred any surplus re-
maining in the state capitol fund, and a tax of one-
eighth of one per cent, was levied for its special use,
the first $100,000 so obtained to be devoted to the
purchase of the necessary lands and the erection of
buildings to accomodate not less than 300 prisoners.
The labor of the prisoners was to be utilized in the
prosecution of the work. The commissioners pro-
ceeded to purchase 200 acres of land on the Truckee
river, at Reno in a good location for mills and ma-
chinery, the foundations were laid, and the walls
erected. But notwithstanding the better financial
condition of the state subsequently, no further pro-
gress has been made. In 1888, convicts were ac-
commodated in the old prison at Carson which proved
sufficiently large under a different administration, and
it was discovered that while undoubtedly the site at
Reno was an excellent one, there was some doubt
about the advisability of bringing prison labor in
competition with wage workers, as they must be at
Reno. And as nothing occurred to determine the
question, the subject remains in abeyance. But in
the meantime an asylum for the insane was erected
at Reno ; and the mentally afflicted were recalled
from California hospitals and provided for at home.
Nevada received from the general government the
usual grant of seventy-two sections of land to aid in
establishing a state university, and 90,000 acres for
the maintenance of a college of agriculture and
mechanic arts. In the case of the latter grant the
appropriation was converted with the consent of con-
gress to the maintenance of a mining college.® The
'miversity was located at Elko, remote from the ex-
^Nev. Jour. Sen., 1869, app. no. 1, p. 20; no, 8, p. 12-14, 43-9.
316 PROGRESS CF EVENTS.
isting centres of population, and was for a long time
no more than a prei>aratory school or academy. The
citizens of Elko in order to secure the university
offered to erect a brick edifice with accommodations
for (nie hundred pupils as the initial foundation of tlie
state colleges. A school was first opened there in
1874, and taught for four years by D. R. Sessions,
A. M. and B. A. of Princeton college. With but
meagre ajipropriations by the state, the university
languished until 1887, when, it having been removed
to Reno, a more eligible locality, the legislature ap-
propriated $30,000 for its support, and started it upon
a more useful career.
Congress had been liberal to Nevada in the matter
of land grants. The school lands amounted to 3,'J25,-
000, acres, of which the state had sold previous to
the IGth of June, 1880, 16,967 acres. By relinquish-
ing to the United States all the remaining 16tli and
36th sections, many of which were not agricultural,
the state secured the privilege of selecting 2,000,000
acres of any unappropriated non-minsral lands, to be
disposed of under such laws and regulations as the
legislature should prescribe.'* The grants besides
those above mentioned were 500,000 acres for internal
improvements, 12,800 for public buildings, and 12,800
for a penitentiary.
The state made provision for public charities, erect-
ing an orjdianage '' at Carson in 1869. In 1873 Geo.
H. Morrison was the author of assembly bill 29,
which greatly enlarged the usefulness of the institu-
tion, since which time it has been one of the best
charities on the Pacific coast.'" There is an asylum for
^•Surwyor-generaTs Rffpt, 1884. 31.
".Vm Jour. AMein., 18G6 247-9; Nev. Jour. Snu, 1S7.3, app. no. 9, 10;
JiemStntc Jmtrml, Jan. 27, 1877; Gold Hill Xncs, April 13, 1881; W/iUe
Pine N<'W.% Dec. 24, 1881; EuMu Lnuler, April 9, 1881.
'^^lorrison was bom in Calais Maine, Nov. 8, 1845. He came to Nevada
in 181)4; was assessor of Virginia City in 18(56; represented Storey county in
the state legislature in 1873; was oliief clerk of tlie assembly in 188.1; mar-
ried Mary E. Howard of Boston in 1870. In 1889 he was elected director
of the Bancroft -Whitney law puhlisliing co., and director and secretary of
tlie History company. Uc rendered mo valuable aid iu gathering data for
my historical work.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 317
the insane at Reno. Until 1882 insane patients were
sipnt to California asylums at the expense of the state;
but the legislature at length appropriated $80,000 to
found a proper sanitarium for brain-sick members of
the body politic, and in 1881 was laid the corner-
stone of the Nevada asylum. The deaf, dumb, and
blind were sent to California institutions for instruc-
tion, the number of such unfortunates in Nevada's
population not justifying the expenditure of a large
sum for state schools/^
A favorite idea with Senator Stewart was the
annexation of southern Idaho, with its mines and
population. There were better wa3^s of obtaining
population, as the neighboring territories and youth-
ful states with boards of trade and immigration
bureaux have reminded him, than by any arbitrary
proceedings. In anticipation of a possible consolida-
tion, perhaps, and remembering that a large number
of the citizens of southern Idaho were Mormons in
faith, the Nevada legislature of 1877, by a joint con-
current resolution, amended the constitution so as to
exclude from the privilege of electors any bigamist
or polj'gamist, or any person who belonged to or
affiliated with any order or organization inconsistent
with or hostile to the government of the state or of
the United States, or which sanctioned or tolerated
bigamy or polygamy. This was turning the cold
shoulder to Idaho, which half inclined to come into
the arrangement with Nevada for the sake of achiev-
ing statehood. If the Mormons of Idaho saved that
long-tried territory from being deprived of its indi-
vidual existence, they served it better than they knew,
and left the burden of increasing Nevada's strength
and honors where it properly belonged.
The legislature of 1887 took a step in the right
direction when it enacted laws encouraging the sink-
I'iVeu Jour. Sen., 1S69, app. no. 8; Carson Appeal, Feb. 21, 1881; WhUe
Pine News, June 24, 1882; Elko Independent, June 14, 1882; Eureka Sentinel,
July 4, 1882; Reno Gazette, July 1, 1882; Nev. Statutes, 1869, 103; Nev. Sen.
Jour., 1877, app. no. 7, 23-4, and no. 12, 8.
818 PROGRESS OF EVENTS.
ing of artesian wells, and the storage of water from
the snow-fall of winter. For the soil only awaited a
sufficiency of moisture to change its condition from
one of sterility to that of fertility, as had been dore
in the state of Colorado and the territory of Wyom-
ing. Another important bill looked to the mining
interests of the state by authorizing the ai)i)ointnient
of a board of connnissioners to hear and consider
testimony as to the most economical and best methods
of treating and reducing ores of gold and silver found
and reduced in the state thereafter. Rewards were
authorized to be paid out of the general state fund
for the most economical method, and the most suc-
cessful method, separately, economy taking the first
prize.
Mining, although causing less excitement than in
the early history of the state, was by no means on
the decline as an industry. The amount of bullion
returned for taxation in 1887 was $7,000,000, which
did not represent more than half the actual output,
but even at the assessor's figures this sum divided
among a population of 60,000, which was the census of
1880, would give every inhabitant $116 from mining
alone. New discoveries were frequently made, the
country never having been thoroughly prospected;
hence the law of 1887 to sthnulate this industry and
reduce it to a scientific basis.**
Nothing in the history of Nevada ever gave greater
satisfaction than the passage of the interstate com-
merce bill of congress, compelling the railroads to,
cease discrimination against the owners of short-haul
freight, compelling a merchant at Battle Mountain,
for instance, to pay a higher rate from New York
than the San Francisco merchant whose goods
" A new concentrating process was employed in the Reese river district
with great success in 1887. It was invented hy Hanchett and applied by
Hanclii'tt anil Whipple to the (liunp of mills in that district, making a sav-
ing of .$(),(XK),000 from ore tliat without tliis metliod would lie wasted, the
former mills reducing no ores assaying less than §40 i)cr ton, while tlie tail-
ings thus discarded often held $30, of which the concentrator saved 80 per
cent.
RAILROADS. 819
were carried for two days' time farther west. This
heavy tax upon the people of the state, dependent
entirely upon railroad transportation, was sufficient of
itself to prevent the undertaking of various enter-
prises which would otherwise have been set on foot
for the development of the state's resources, and the
relief felt and expressed at the passage of the relief
bill of congress was universal.
. Railroads, the great want of this state, as of every
other in this era of rapid movement, were now thrice
welcome. Fortunately for Nevada, 1887 was a year
of great activity in railroads, which were spying out
new lines in all directions, anticipating the growth
which they were, more than any other agency, to pro-
mote.^* Such was the business on the Central Pacific
in this year that blockades of freight were frequent,
more cars being loaded f r the west than the com-
pany had locomotives to move. There was the same
condition on the other transcontinental roads, showing
that with the half dozen eastern roads to the Pacific
there was room for more. Naturally, Nevada looked
to have her hopes gratified, when the Chicago, Bur-
lington and Quincy company — "the old reliable," as
it was fondly named by th expectant Wyoming and
Nevada people, had surveying parties in the field who
actually had made more than one rec nnoissance over
the Sierra into California She had hope also of the
Utah Central, which was understood to have a stake
in California. And the finger of prophecy pointed
besides to the Northwestern which was hesitating at
a point in Wyoming whether to go northwest to
Oregon, or west to California. The year of 1888
went by, however, and no definite measures were
1^ The legislature of 1887 enacted a law providing that narrow gauge
roads should be assessed at $6,000 per mile, and standard gauge $10,000
per mile. This settled ine question for the assessors who had been taking
such property at the valuation of the owners; but a better law would have
been to assess them at their actual value, and tax them at as low a figure
as the public interest required.
320 PROGRESS OP EVENTS.
taken by any company to parallel the Central Pacific
throui^h Nevada. Neither was there much mileage
added to the local railways, for until interoceanic
roads should parcel out the <rreat area of the state
between them, there would be little use for merely
local lines.
But whatever drawback there may have been to
the ])rogn'SS of the silver state, which I have or have
not pointed out, its honor has never been assiiiled ;
its representatives in the national legislature have
been men of mark ; its people loyal to the American
idea of progressive government. The republican
legislature of 1887'* elected William M. Stewart to
succeed James G. Fair in the United States senate,
makincr him the colleague of John P. Jones, both
strong on the silver question in which the state had so
great an interest, and on which the best financial talent
in the country still remained at variance. By their
united efforts, joined with those of Teller of Colorado,
and a few other friends of bi-metalism, the demonet-
ization of silver was prevented. Stewart also effected
some important clianges in the mining laws of con-
gress, desirable from the standpoint of the miner. "
At the general election of 1886 William Woodburn
was elected* to succeed himself in congress. C. C.
"The republican majority in the senate in 1887 was 8; in the assembly
22.
*' As the law was amended, the amount of work necessary to hold a
placer claim was reduced to $50 per annum, and the amount of land wliicli
might be included in a patent to IliO acres. It fixed the hour of noon on the
1st liay of August as tlie commjncement and close of tlie year for annual
■work, instead of mithiight on the obst of Dec, darkness and cold having
Sroven favorable to perjury. Relocations by the same persons were forbid-
en, thus preventing the fraudulent practice i>f making a new location on
the same ground to avoid doing the amount of work required by law. Right
of way was reserved througli or over any mining claim for roads, ditches,
tunnels, canuls, or cuts, the damages oocasirmed to be assessed and paid in
the manner provided by statute for tlie condemnation of private property
for public use ia the states and territories in Mliicli tlie mines are situatetl.
No person should accjuire in any manner more than one mining claim on the
same vein. This restriction was meant to be in the original law, which was
BO worded, however, that it was often construed otherwi.se. Otlur minor
changes maile the mining law clearer and stronger in the iutcresfc uf the
actual miner.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 321
Stevenson/^ who for many years had been closely iden-
tified with the political history of Nevada as senator, as
chairman of numberless committees, and as a leader of
the republican party, was elected governor after a
sharp but friendly contest with J. W. Adams,'^ not
'8 Charles C. Stevensoa is a native of Ontario co., N. Y., whence in 1830,
being then four years of age, he went with his parents to Canada, a few
years afterward removing to Michigan. In 1859 he joined a party bound
for Pike peak, but on account of discouraging reports decided to push on to
Nevada, and was one of the first to arrive on the Comstock. At this date,
July, 1859, Virginia City — then called Ophir — consisted of a single tent and
a brushwood saloon, while Gold Hill contained one log-house and two miners'
cabins. After mining for a time at the latter point with fair success, he pur-
chased in 1861 a half interest in the first quartz-mill erected in Nevada,
known as the Coover and Stevenson mill, and has ever since been engaged
in mining and milling. In 1867, and again in 1869 and 1873, he was a mem-
ber of the state senate, serving also in the first of these years on the state
central committee. In 1872 he was elected a delegate to the national con-
vention at Philadelphia, and in 1875 a member of the board of regents of the
state university. It was largely through his efforts as governor and ea; officio
one of the regents that this institution was afterward placed on a solid foun-
dation. Through his instrumentality an appropriation of 820,000 was secured
for the proper representation of the state at the centennial exhibition, and
as chairman of the board and superintendent of the department he gave his
services free of charge, returning to the state treasury 61,000 of the appro-
priation. In 1880 and also in 1884 he was chosen a delegate to the national
convention at Chicago, in the latter year being appointed chairman. For a
number of years, as chairman of the Storey county and state central com-
mittees, he was one of the most active workers in the interests of his party.
As chairman of the Nevada silver convention, held at Carson City in 1885,
and of the Nevada silver association, he rendered good service to the state.
By the latter thousands of documents were published and distributed in all
parts of the union, advocating the free coinage and restoration of silver to
its former standard. As president of the state agricultural society, which
office he held for several years, he devoted his time and means to the farm-
ing and stock-raising interests of Nevada, introducing at his own expense
the best grades of blooded Jersey cattle. Governor Stevenson is widely
esteemed, not only as a ruler and statesman, but also as one of the most public-
spirited men in his adopted state.
I'Gov. Adams was born in Vermont, Aug. 6, 1835; came to California in
1852, and to Nevada in 1864; was married in 1878 to Miss Emma E. Lee;
was among the early Comstock pioneers, coming there from Mariposa co.,
Cal., and engaged in the various phases of mining industry until elected
lieut-gov. in 1874. A keen active politician, yet a thoroughly clean, hon-
est citizen. For eight years lieutenant-governor and president of the
senate, during which period he was in the most intimate relations with Gov.
Bradley, as adviser, and on many important occasions the chief executive,
in fact; also, during his own four years of gubernatorial control, he was, at
all points, the actual servant of the people. In all matters of an economic
nature, especially as a member of various boards, having in charge the dis-
bursement of the state funds, he looked exclusively to the best interests of
the people, regarding their affairs as a sacred trust in his hands, and hence
ignoring every distracting consideration of partisan feeling or personal affil-
iation. He served the state faithfully and with honor. His friends are
numerous and as intense in their regard for him as he has sho\vn himself in
his loyalty to them, but in this his fourth candidacy it was found, as is true
Hist. Nev. 21
322 PROGRESS OF EVENTS.
a single unkind word or act marring the friendship
which had k)ng existed between the rival candidates;
H. C. Davis Mas chosen lieutenant-governor ;' J. M.
Dormer secretary of state ; George Tufly treasurer ;
J. F. Hallock comptroller; J. F. Alexander attorney-
general, and W. C. Dovey superintendent of public
instruction. 0. R. Leonard was chief justice of the
supreme court, and C. H. Belknap and Thomas P.
Hawley associate justices. In this placidly prosper-
ous condition I leave the silver conunonwealth, whose
greatness, although it makes haste slowly, is march-
ing forward to meet and crown her none the less
surely.
in the experience of all men of his positive character anil uncompromising
temper, his enemies had become sufficiently numerous to defeat him by a
small majority. Mrs Adams, a most refined and worthy lady, was in every
sense the ornament of the Governor's mansion, and continues to occupy a
warm place in the esteem and aflfections of the best men and women of the
silver state.
Philetus Everts, a native of New York, born 1830, came to Cal. in 1852,
where he engaged in various branches of business until 1SG9, when he went
to White Pine and engaged in merchandising at Hamilton. Mr Everts took
an active interest in the welfare of the town, and in the aflairs of the Eureka
and Palisade railway, of which he was superintendent. He was also a large
owner in the Eureka Lumber company. His health failing, Mr Everts dis-
posed of his interests in Nevada, and after a trip to Europe went to Oakland,
Cal., to live, wherv, he built a business block on Broadway. Mr Everts has
large interests elsewhere. He is a man of sterling character, and is highly
respected by all who know him.
HISTORY or COLORADO,
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Mountain System — Primeval Waters — Upheaval, Evaporation and
Glacial Action — Dry Rivers — Flora and Fauna — Primitive JIan —
CaSons and River Systems — Series of Parks — Climate — Soil^
Forests — Geological Formations— Minerals and Metals — Gold and
Silver — Coal and Iron — Precious Stones — Land and Water Ele-
vations.
In the gradual upheaval of the continent from a
deep sea submersion, the' great Sierra Madre, or
mother range, of old Mexico first divided the waters,
and presented a wall to the ocean on the west side.
The San Juan range of Colorado is an extension of
the Sierra Madre, and the oldest land in this part of
the continent. Then at intervals far apart rose the
Sangre de Cristo range, the Mojada or Greenhorn
range, and lastly the Colorado, called the Front range
because it is first seen from the east; and northeast
from this the shorter upheavals of Wind river and
the Black hills, each, as it lies nearer or farther from
the main Rocky range, being more or less recent.
The longer slope and greater accessibility of the
mpuntains on their eastern acclivity has come from
the gradual wash and spreading out of the detritus of
these elevations in comparatively shallow water, while
yet the ocean thundered at the western base of the
mother range. The salt waters enclosed by the bar-
rier of the Rocky mountains, and subdivided after-
ward by the later upheavals into lesser seas, were
carried off through the canons which their own
mighty force, aided by other activities of nature, and
(323)
324 PHYSICAL FEATURES.
by sonic of her weaknesses, opened for tlieni. For
uneounted ages the fresh water of tlie hmtl flowed
itito the inland seas, and purged tlieni of their sahne
flavor, wasliing the salts and alkalies into the bed of
the ocean on the west, where 'after tlie emergence of
the Sierra Nevada, and the elevation of the interven-
ing mountains of the great basin, they largely ren)ained,
liaving no outlet. Gradual elevation and evaporation,
with glacial action, completed the general sha})ing of
the country. Subsequent elemental and volcanic
action has left it with four parallel mountain ranges,
from which shoot up 132 peaks, ranging from 12,000
to 14,500 feet above sea level, and from 9,000 to
10,000 feet above the general level of the state, with
man}' lesser ones; with large elevated valleys called
parks, walled about with majestic heights, covered
Avith luxuriant grasses, threaded by streams of the
purest water, beautified by lakes, and dotted witli
groups of trees; with narrow, fertile valleys skirting
numerous small rivers, fringed with cottonwood and
willow; with nobler rivers rushing through rents in
the solid mountains thousands of feet in depth, and
decorated by time and weather, with carvhigs such as
no human agency cculd ever have designed, their wild
imagery softened by blended tones of color hi harmony
with the blue sky, the purple-gray shadows, and the
clinging moss and herbage; with forests of pine, fir,
spruce, aspen, and other trees, covering the mountain
sides up to a height of 10,000 or 12,000 feet; with
wastes of sand at the western Ixise of tlie Snowy range,
or main chain, and arid mesas in the southeast, where
everythhig is stunted excej>t the enormous cacti; with
grassy plains sloping to the east, made gay with an
indigenous flora, and other grassy slopes extending to
the mountains toward the west, each with its own
distinctive features. It is, above all, a mountain
country; and with all its streams, which are numerous,
it is a dry one. In the summer many of its seeming
water-courses are merely arroyos — dry creek beds ;
PRESENT AND PRIMEVAL. 325
others contain some water flowing in channels cut
twenty or more feet down through yellow clay to a
bed of shale ; and still others run through canons,
with narrow bottoms supporting rich grass, and wil-
low, thorn, cherry, currant, and plum trees. Sloping
up from these may be a stretch of rolling country
covered sparsely with low, spreading cedars; or a
table-land, with colonies of prairie-dogs scattered over
it, and moving about upon it herds of wild horses,
buffaloes, deer, and antelopes. Up in the mountains
are meadows, having in their midst beaver-dams over-
grown with aspens, and little brooks trickling from
them. Several other fur- bearing animals are here, also.
In still other localities are fine trout streams, and game
about them is abundant, elks, mountain sheep, bears,
lynxes, wolves, panthers, pumas, wild-cats, grouse,
pheasants, ptarmigans, and birds of various kinds
having their habitat there.
But these were not the first inhabitants of these
mountains. In the bed of one of the ancient seas
west of the San Juan mountains, before mentioned,
in a deposit three thousand feet thick, now hardened
into rock, are the fossil skeletons of the first verte-
brates of the American continent, species until recently
unknown to science. As their bones are very numer-
ous, being scattered over three thousand square miles,
it is safe to conclude that Colorado supported a vast
amount of animal life at that period when the rivers
now dry washed down their remains to that ancient
receptacle.
Here, too, about the shores of this primeval lake,
which was encircled by upturned ridges of white gyp-
sum and sandstone of various colors, yellow, vermilion,
gray, and blood red, on sharp ridges, with precipitous
sides, sometimes hundreds of feet high, dwelt the first
men who inhabited this region of whom there is any
trace. Their dwellings were of unhewn stones, ce-
mented with a mortar containing a large portion of
volcanic ashes. Their form was oval, like a bee-hive.
82S PHYSICAL FEATURES.
and they enclosed usually a cudar stumi), the use of
which is [)urely conjectural. So numerous were these
dwellings, that the population must have been dense
which occupied them; yet all were in these inacces-
sible situations. About them were scattered a few
domestic implements, including large water-jars sunk
in the ground, and some arrow-heads. But as no
water can now be found within twenty-five miles of
the clifi'-dwellings, a long time must have elapsed to
account for the cliange of climate which has taken
place. Why this ancient pe()[)le found it necessary or
desirable to dwell on the top or in the face of the
cliffs is unanswerable, unless wo accept the almost in-
credible theory that, like the lake-dwellings of Swit-
zerland, these houses were erected when the water of
the now dried-up lake reached up to them. This be-
lief might go far to account for the threat number of
bones of animals found in the lake bed, for the}' must
have subsisted upon animal f^od. The few human
bones found have been fossilized, which is in itself
evidence of the long period of time since they were
clothed in flesh.
I should be afraid to say this primitive race were
capable of comparing the beauties of the great canons
over which modern Coloradans grow enthusiastic; or
that they would understand what to-day is meant by
Garden of the Gods, the place being conspicuous for
the absence of both garden and gods; yet more strik-
ing, perhaps, than the Olympic mount, as here we
have, if the imagination be strong enough, sandstone
columns sculptured by the elements into the simili-
tude of giant human forms, divinely tall if not divinely
fair. Of the eight or more principal canons which
were opened for the waters in the infancy of this
early world, the most wonderful and beautiful are
west of the main range; and Black canon, on Gun-
nison river, which is a branch of Grand river, itself
a branch of the great stream of the west, with the
longest and deepest canon in the world, is the grand-
PRESENT AND PRIMEVAL. -327
est of them all. So many aspects has it that any
mood may be satisfied in regarding its varied features.
The walls have an average width of three hundred
feet, the rock being stratified, and continuing for
miles. In places it rises one, two, or three thousand
feet, with level summits, surmounted by a second
wall of prodigious height. The level of the Gunnison
river at Mountain creek, above the canon, is 7,200
feet above the sea, that of the mesa on the north side
8,000, the wall of the canon here being 1,600 feet,
and a little lower, on the opposite side, 1,900. Still
further down, the wall rises 3,000 feet, the lower
1,800 being of gneiss rock. The elevation of the
mesa at this point is 9,800 feet. But these figures
represent only height and depth; they convey no im-
pression of the gorge itself, which sometimes narrows
down to the width of the river, and is all gloom and
grandeur, and again broadens out into a park, with
waterfalls dashing down its inclosing walls, needles
of highly-colored sandstone pointing skyward, trees
growing out of the clefts in the palisades, huge rocks
grouped fantastically about, curious plants sheltering
in their shadows, and the brilliant, strong river dart-
ing down in swift green chutes between the spume-
flecked boulders, dancing in creamy eddies, struggling
to tumble headlong down some sparkling cataract,
making the prismatic air resound with the soft tinkle
as of merry laughter. Again, it surges along in half
shadows, rushing as if blinded against massive abut-
ments, to be dashed into spray, gliding thereafter
more smoothly, as if rebuked for its previous haste,
but always full of light, life, and motion. The grand-
eur, beauty, and variety of the views in Black canon
make doubly interesting the reflection that through
this channel poured the waters of that great pri/nal
sea which once spread over western Colorado. A rival
to it is the canon of the Uncompahgre, in the same
division of the state; and on the eastern slope are
328 PHYSICAL FEATURES.
those of Boulder, Clear, and Cheyenne creeks, and
the Platte and Arkansas rivers.
The western slope is drained entirely, excepting
some small streams falling into the San Luis lakes,
by the atHuents of the Kio Colorado of the west. All
of the principal of these, except the main river and
some of the branches of Green river, have their
sources in the Rocky ranges, in the state of Ccjlorado,
most of them in the Park, the Saguache, the Elk, or
the San Juan mountains. The Grand river rises in
the Middle park, and after receiving the tributaries
that drain Egeria park, and the northern slopes of
the Elk mountains, cuts its way in mighty canons
through the plateaus of western Colorado, while its
two chief affluents, the Gunnison and Kio Dolores,
with their branches, drain all the western slopes lying
between latitude 37° 30' and 39° north. In the ex-
treme southwest the Rio San Juan and its tributaries
])erform this office for a large extent of country.
On the east side of the great divide, the South
Platte river, with about forty tributaries, rises well
up among the peaks of the Front, or Colorado, range,
and flowing north-northeast and easterly, drains a
large extent of country, whih the North Platte, ris-
ing in the Park range, drains the whole of tke North
park toward the north. Tlie eastern slope of Colo-
rado is watered and drained by the royal river Ar-
kansas, with its sixty or more tributaries, some of
which are of considerable volume. It heads in the
high region of the Saguache range, interlacing with
springs of the Grand river, quite as the Columbia
and the Missouri rise near each other farther north.
Rei)uV)lican river, an affluent of the Kansas, itself
having four tributaries, flows northeast down the
long descent to its union with the main stream, near
its junction with the Missouri, and in the south the
Rio Grande del Norte, starting from the summits of
the same range which feeds the Gunnison branch of
Grand river on the opposite side, flows toward the
VALLEYS AND PARKS. 329
gulf of Mexico. Such is the river system of Colo-
rado.
The series of high valleys, to which in Colorado are
given the name of parks, and of which I have
spoken, are of various dimensions. North park has
a diameter of thirty miles, and an elevation of 8,500
feet. Middle park has a length of sixty-five miles
by a breadth of forty-five, with an altitude of 8,000
feet. South park is but little less in size, and is 842
feet more elevated than its neighbor. San Luis park,
still further south, is nearly as large as all the other
three just named, and has an altitude of 7,500 feet.
In it are the San Luis lakes. These elevated valleys
are separated from each other, and surrounded by
the several mountain chains, and their spurs or cross-
ranges, except San Luis, which is opened toward the
east. Through them course the tributary streams
which feed the great rivers. Egeria, Estes, Animas,
and Huerfano parks are small valleys of great beauty,
at a general elevation of 8,000 feet.
What, then, shall be said of this country so grandly
organic and so interesting in its cosmical history?
That it illustrates the condition of the lower valleys
and plains when they shall be as old as these oldest
lands in America? For with all its numerous streams
as I have said, Colorado is a dry country. The air
has little humidity in it. The summer heat of the
plains is excessive by day, but owing to the altitude
the nights, even in midsummer, are cool. The sum-
mer mean temperature ranges from 64.6° to 69.2°, and
the winter mean from 31.3° to 32.8°. The maximum
heat of summer ranges from 93° to 99°, with from
six to thirty days above 90°; and the minimum of
winter from 3° to 12°, with from six to ten days when
the mercury is below zero; which gives an extreme
range for the year from 96° to 110°; and the rain-
fall averages 18.84 inches. With a surface composed
of mountains and plains, ranging in altitude from
330 PHYSICAL FEATURES.
about 3,000 to more tluin 14,000 feet above the
level of tlie sea, Colorado possesses many varieties of
elimate. The sharp ex.treiiies of heat and eold are
pereeptible to the senses only in a limited degree, on
aecount of the large preponderance of sunny days and
the dryness and tonic propeities of the atmosj)here,
\vhieh is at once healthful, bracing, and exhilarating.
The winter is the season of greatest charm, for then the
blight sunshine gives balminess to the air, while in the
blue dome of the sky is no cloud to stain its i)urity.
From the small amount of moisture distributed over
the surface, and the great general elevation, it is nat-
ural that the agricultural area should be limited, and
that only by a good system of irrigation could the soil
be made to produce food enough to supply a dense
population. Yet the soil is exceedingly rich with its
mineral constituents of jjlants, and also deep, and
nmst yield, when su[)plied with water, large and fine
crops of cereals. On the eastern slopes of the state,
in the parks, and west of the mother range, are graz-
ing lands for countless herds of herbivorous animals.
By and by all this will be changed ; the herds will
give way to the su})crior demands of the soil, a way
meanwhile having been found to overcome the ster-
ility of nature.
The effect of climate is visible in the forests of
Colorado, which cover perhaps a tenth part of the
area. The trees are not majestically tall and straight,
like those of the more northern and western regions,
but s(|uat and branching, and of no great size.
Neither are they in any great variety, but they will
serve for fuel and lumber as well as the trees of
many of the trans-Missouri states.
To find out where the natural wealth of this won-
derful and beautiful country is hidden we nmst search
beneath the soil and break o})en the rocks. The
geology of the }»lains is cretaceous, or post-cretaceous,
with the exception of areas of tertiary formation in
the northern ])ortion and on the Arkansas divide.
At the base of the mountain the strata are turned
GEOLOGY. 331
up, forming hog-backs in which the cretaceous
and Jura trias are exposed, coal being found in the
latter. All this is very simple ; but in the mountains
all the formations known are represented, and the
arrangement is complex. The Front, most of the
Park, all of the Mojada, and part of the Sangre de
Cristo ranges are of granite and allied metamorphic
rocks. The southern portion of the Sangre de Cristo
is carboniferous, with here and there an intruded vol-
canic rock. The San Juan mountains are volcanic,
with an area of quartzite peaks in their midst,
and flanking the range on the south is an area
of carboniferous and cretaceous rocks, while the Elk
mountains are a medley of volcanic peaks thrown up
among the silurian and carboniferous, flanked by
cretaceous areas.
The North and Middle parks rest upon the tertiary
formation, througn which have been thrust up moun-
tains of volcanic rock, while South park is an inde-
scribable jumble, and San Luis is of recent formation.
Volcanic rock overlies the high plateau on White
river, in the western part of the state, beneath which
may be found every formation down to the tv^rtiary.
Still further west and north the plateaux are tertiary.
The Uintah mountains, which project into the state,
consist of cretaceous. Jura trias, carboniferous, and
silurian. In some places small groups of igneous
upheavals have been pushed up through the sedimen-
tary rocks. South of the San Juan mountains a large
tertiary area is enclosed by cretaceous beds. And so
on. Granite, gneiss, and sandstone might be said to
be country rock, with impure limestone, slates, shales,
and trachyte. It would seem hopeless to search for
treasure with so confusin^" a stone guide-book to take
our directions from. The younger world in Colorado
has been resentfully pushed aside and overflowed by
the older in so rude and violent a manner that much
labor must be expended in fitting together again the
dislocated strata and reading the story they should
332 PHYSIC AL FEATURES.
teach. First 1)}' accident, and afterward by search,
the clue was discovered which led to the knowledge
of the mineral wealth of this portion of the Kocky
mountains, for so long a time unsuspected.
The minerals of Colorado were not easy to come at.
Gold, which was found in gneiss principally, existed
in many refractory combinations, with sulphur and
iron, with copper and suli)hur, with zinc, tellurium,
and other njetals and minerals. If it were free
milling it contained silver, and sometimes lead. In
the trachyte mines of the south-west there was a
chloridized combination of gold, silver, iron, maganese
and gray copper. Silver, which was found in both
gneissic and granite rocks, was chiefly in the form of
a compound sulphuret of silver and lead called argen-
tiferous galena, but existed also in combinations with
carbonates of lead, carbonates and sulphurets of cop-
per, zinc, tellurides of gold, nickel, iron, copper, man-
ganese, antimony, arsenic, and sometimes in the form
of a chloride, or as horn silver.
Nor was there any rule of nature known to miner-
alogists which applied to the situation of mines in
Colorado, and old traditions were entirely at fault.
Gold, wliicli had always been found in placers washed
down from the mountain veins, or in fissure veins of
granite, or at the deepest, silurian rocks, filled with
fragments of quartz or conglomerate, among which
grains of gold were mingled, or deposited by water,
was here found in metamorphic rocks, and also in the
tertiary.
Silver, too, was equally eccentric in its situations.
One of its remarkable deposits, found in tlie Lead-
ville region, was in horizontal tiat veins, from a few
inches to a foot in thickness, separated from each
otlier by layers of barren rock of a depth of a few
hundred feet — blanket lodes they are called. They
extended quite through lofty heights, cropping out
on either side ; but whether they were so deposited
MINERALS. 333
or were formed in the rocks, which by some convul-
sion of the mountains were spHt open and turned
over, is still conjectural. Almost equally surprising
was it to find silver in trachyte rocks, or enveloping
pebbles and bowlders like a crust, or still more re-
markable, in fine threads or wires. These were prob-
lems for the scientists, as the modes of extracting the
metals from their matrices was for the practical met-
allurgist.
The trend of the fissure veins in Colorado is north-
east and south-west. They have in general clearly
defined walls, some of them remarkably smooth and
regular, and correspond in direction with the cleav-
age of the eruptive rocks, and with the dikes which
extend long distances across the plains. There is'
another cleavage of the raetamorphic rocks in a south-
east and north-west direction, which was made at an
earlier period than the cleavage of the eruptive rocks,
as is shown by the eruptive material overl3'ing the
metamorphic in large areas, a combination of facts
which seems to fix the age of the deposit of the ores
in fissures at a date more recent than the cleavage of
the metamorphic rock. In a few instances short veins
are found running east and west, or north and south ;
but though sometimes rich, they soon pinch out.
Coal in immense quantities has been formed in Col-
orado. It is of several geologic eras, some of it
merely lignite, some beds petroleum-bearing, and in
the western portion of the state anthracite in large
areas. Iron is placed in juxtaposition, as also lime-
stone, hydraulic lime, and a variety of rocks used in
building or manufacturing. Of the different crystals
of quartz which are scattered liberally over the
country the varieties are numerous, though none
more valuable than carnelian, chalcedony, onyx, jas-
per, feardonyx, chrysoparse, and trope, rose-quartz,
black-quartz, moss-agate, and aventurine.
After all, nothing interests many of us like the
momitains, which will always draw men from the
334 PHYSICAL FEATURES.
ends of the earth that they may chmb as near to
heaven as may be by their rocky stairs. Take a
position on Gray's peak — there are really two of them
shooting up from a single base in the midst of a wil-
derness of mountains — w^hich is won by ascending
from the plains to the timber-belt, then following the
course of rapidly descending creeks to where n(3 trees
can grow, but scant grass and lowly flowermg plants
have the zone to themselves ; higher still to the belt
of starving mosses; and yet higher among great
blocks of loose, broken rock with patches of snow
between them, and chilly springs in their shadows ;
and then to the whidy pinnacle above the snow 1
The view begins nowhere and ends nowhere. It is
infinite. Mountains beyond mountains, unbounded
plains belittled to look like parks, the great South
park like a pleasure ground, range after range west-
ward, silvered with the lingering snow, although it is
August — for we nmst not attempt the high peaks
before the summer heat has done its utmost to modify
the climate at their altitude. Among the more
western mountains stand some covered with almost
perpetual snow, and one which fixes the eve on ac-
count of the snow-field having taken the form of a
cross, that S3aiibol of life eternal alike among pagan
and Christian philosophers, and which could have
found no more fitting place to be displa^^ed than on
these everlasting hills. Yet here more than almost
anyw^iere are the evidences of cliange which we call
decay, the proof that eternity is but a comparative
term. Gorge and ledge, shattered cliff, and weird
shapes in stone, furrows cut b}^ avalanches, torrents
hurrying down from the melting snow-drifts, washing
earth and gravel into the basins below, generations of
forest fallen like slain warriors on a hard fought field,
all point to a continual transformation, and show that
the most heaven-inspiring heights are destined' to lower
their proud heads before time and the elements, that
the grandeur of the past and the present is constantly
MOUNTAINS. 335
passing away. Lower, this consciousness becomes
less oppressive, until it is lost in the enjoyment of
what the decay of the higher zone has done for the
lower. Tiny parks, gem-like lakes, green groves, beds
of flowers, miniature presentments of the grander val-
leys, forests, and lakes still farther down. ^
In a general way one mountain is like another; yet
they have their differences, dependent upon the kind
of rock of which they are formed, its hardness, friable-
ness, stratification, color, and condition of upheaval.
The variety of rocks and their singular displacement
gives a corresponding variety to the mountain scenery.
In one place is a cluster of low cones, broken down
and rounded, so grouped as to resemble the rim of a
mighty peak broken roughly off; in another an almost
smooth round top, and in its immediate neighborhood
a needle-like peak. The other features o1^ each are
likely to correspond somewhat to the character of the
summits, which are approached either by circuitous
trails, by long slope after slope, or by w-ild ravines,
leading from bench to bench, but everywhere grand
and impressive scenery meets the eye. Many are the
passes by which the mother range may be crossed,
but only seven are below 10,000 feet, five are over
12,000, and one is 13,000 feet above sea-level. Some
of the high mountains to which names have been
given, none of which are less than 14,000 feet high,
areBlanca, Harvard, Massive, Gray's, Rosalie, Torrey^
Elbert, La Plata, Lincoln, Buckskin, Wilson, Long's'
Quandary, Antero, James, Shavano, Uncompahg're'
Crestones, Princeton, Bross, Holy Cross, Bafdy'
Sneffles, Pike's, Castle, Yale, San Luis, Red Cloud,'
Wetterhorn, Simpson, ^olus, Ouray, Stewart, Ma-
roon, and Cameron. Of those over 13,000 feet which
have received names. Handle lacks but three feet of
belonging to the first class, then Capital, Horseshoe,
Snowmass, Grizzly, Pigeon, Blaine, Frustrum, Pvra-
mid, White Rock, Hague, R. G. Pyramid, Silver
Heels, Hunchback, Rowter, Homestake, Ojo, Spanish
33G PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Peaks, Guyot, Trinchara, Kendall, Buffalo, Arapahoe,
and Dunn. The nomenclature of these i)eaks betrays
its unroniantic, unscientific, undescriptive, and often
commonplace origin, the accident of a mineral discov-
ery by prospectors frequently giving the appellative ;
for the precious metals lie far up among the eruptive
rocks, and the gnomes of these lofty peaks are often
the Smiths and the Joneses.
The lakes of Colorado, with the exception of the
San Luis group, lie from eight to eleven thousand
feet above sea, and may thereft)re be reckoned a part
of the mountain scenery. At the foot of the Saguache
range, near the source of the Arkansas, are the Twin
lakes, one three and a half miles by two and a Jialf in
extent, the other one third as large, and both furnish-
ing delicious trout, while the surrounding mountains
abound in game. Not far distant, at the foot of
Mount Massive, set in terraces of the mountain, sur-
rounded by gently sloping shores, is a group of silvery
sheets of purest water, which pass under the collec-
tive and inappropriate name of Evergreen lakes, one
lake being five hundred feet above the principal group,
of which it is a feeder, and the lower and larger single
lake occupying a terrace to itself. None are large,
this one being but about fifty acres in extent, but all
are highly picturesque, with clear water which lets
the speckled trout be plainly seen. The middle ter-
race furnishes some rare mineral springs, the water of
which bubbles sparklingly out of the earth around
the lake, adding to the other attractions of the place.
The view overlooks the valley of the Arkansas river,
with clumps of trees upon its banks contrasting with
the bright mineral stains upon its banks, while above
all towers the background of ever-present mountains.
On the west side of Front range, in the edge of
Middle park, occupying the trough of a glacier basin,
is Grand lake, in the immediate shadow of Roundtop
mountain, which, with other high peaks, guards its
solitudes. It is three miles lung by two in breadth,
MOUNTAIN LAKES. 337
and hundreds of feet in depth. On its dark face are
mirrored the surrounding mountains and the clouds
that crown them. Down from the gorges sweep
windy currents which would make navigation danger-
ous. So awe-inspiring is it that the Indians fear to
approach, leaving it to our irreverent race to violate
the God-like loneliness of the place.
Chicago lakes, the highest yet discovered, being
11,500 feet above the sea, are near the headwaters of
Chicago creek, on the eastern flank of the Rocky or
mother range. They are two in number, and, like
Grand lake, surrounded by peaks, and of unknown
depth, but are of small area. Their origin was un-
doubtedly the same. San Luis lake, in the lower and
more extensive San Luis park, is the only large body
of water in Colorado, and has the additional peculiar-
ity of being without any outlet, although receiving
the water of sixteen tributaries. It is situated in the
middle of the park, and extends sixty miles north and
south. About its borders are vast deposits of peat.
Stories are told of a subterranean lake in Colorado,
ten acres in extent, covered with eighteen inches of
soil, which has a corn-field on it; and if one digs a
hole, and drops a hook and line, a fish without eyes
or scales, but otherwise resembling a perch, is caught.
In a countr}^ so abounding in minerals, springs with
medical qualities, both hot and cold, should be looked
for, and here, indeed, we find them. They are of all
ingredients and proportions, and with the invigorat-
inor air of the mountains make the state a vast sani-
tarium.
Time was when, if you believed travellers' tales, the
great American desert stretched up to the foot of
the Stony mountains, and all was unfruitful and for-
bidding. How, little by little, this obloquy was re-
moved, and Colorado made known to the world in its
true and very different character, it is my pleasant
task to relate.
Hist. Nev. 22
CHAPTER II.
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
1541-1853.
What Coronado Failed to do— Escalante's Expedition— Spanish akd
French Occupation — Pike's and Long's Expeditions — Early Gold
Discoveries— Adventures of the Williams Party — .Santa Fe Trail
— Trappers and Traders — Forts — The Bents, Vasquez, St Vrain,
and Others— El Pueklo — La Junta — Immkjration — Fremont's Ef-
forts— The Mormons at Pueblo — Military Expeditions — Govern-
ment Surveys by Gunnison, Hayden, Wheeler, and King.
Probably the inquisitive and not well-behaved fol-
lowers of Coronado, in tlieir marches from New Mexico
in search of Quivira, did not set foot within the pres-
ent limits of Colorado. If they did, they have left
no record of their explorations, and no sign of them
remains ; and though they affirm having found struc-
tures similar to the ruins which exist in southern Col-
orado, they found them in what is now New Mexico.
The expedition of the Spanish captain, in 1541, at the
instance of a native of fabled Quivira, brought him
possibly across the extreme southeast corner of tlie
state; but since the guides complained that in his
march he went too far east, it is hardly probable.
Changing his course, he found Quivira, an Indian
village not different from those we may see to-day, in
latitude 40^, but far out on the plains, among the
northern tributaries of the Arkansas. A few ])ersons,
priests and their attendants, remained with the Ind-
ians; some of them in time returned to Mexico, and
some died by the hands of their converts. Many
narrators, who have hastily glanced over an account
UNDER MEXICAN DOMAIN. 339
given by some previous writer as careless as them-
selves, state confidently that Coronado was the first
European in Colorado, and so he would have been
had he been there at all/
About the middle of the eiprhteenth century con-
siderable interest was manifested by the authorities
of Xew Mexico in the country to the north of Santa
Fe, and Cachupin, who was governor for a long time
in the last half of the century, set on foot one or
more expeditions, the object of which was to ascer-
tain the true character and value of the minerals to
be found in what is now known as the San Juan
country. After these came the expedition of Juan
Maria Rivera in 1761, which w^as prosecuted as far
as the Gunnison river. He was accompanied by
Don Joaquin Lain, Gregorio Sandoval, Pedro Mora,
and others. There is no donbt that a number of expi-
ditions, of only local importance, were made into
what is now Colorado, both east and west of the con-
tinental divide. About fourteen years after Rivera's
tour, Padre Junipero Serra, president of the Cali-
fornia missions, urged the ecclesiastics of Xew Mexico
to undertake the exploration of a route from Santa
Fe to the coast of upper California. With this ob-
ject in view. Padre Francisco Silvestre Yelez Esca-
lante, ministro doctrinero of Zuni, and Padre Atana-
cio Dominguez, visitador comisario of Xew Mexico,
organized an expedition in 1776, which consisted, be-
sides themselves, of Pedro Cisneros, alcalde mayor of
Zuni, Bernardo Miera y Pacheco, capitan miliciano of
Santa Fe, Don Joaquin Lain, who having accompa-
nied Rivera, was official guide of this expedition, and
^Greenhow, who is usually well informed, says Quivira was probaljly the
region about the headwaters of the Arkansas and Platte rivers, but Corona-
do's route would not have brought him so far west and north. Or. and Cal,
63. Some of the Spanish writers have committed serious blunders in geog-
raphy, making the sea visible from Quivira. See Hut. Xorth 2Iex. States.
Inman, Stories of the Santa Fe Trail, 11-59, has an account of Coronado 's
march, and gives his course quite correctly. This is a well written and cap-
tivating series of legends and tales of the great historic highway of the
plains, by Henry Inman of Kansas, ISSl.
340 DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
five soldiers, Lorenzo Oliveras, Lucrecio Muniz, An-
dres Mufiiz, Juan de Aguilar, and Simon Lucero.
They set out from Santa Fe July 29th, and pro-
ceeded to Abiquiu on the Rio Chama, from whence
they took a north course to the Rio San Juan, reach-
ing it three leagues below the junction of the Navajo
August 5th. The place of contact was called Neus-
tra Senora las Nieves, and, although not the first
place named in Colorado, as we shall see, is the first
wh(^se date is unquestioned. From Nieves they took
a course north-west, across the several afttuents of the
San Juan, which lay between them and the Rio de
Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, the names of which
have been retained to the present as Piedra Parada,
Pinos, Florida, and Las Animas. The eastern section
of the La Plata range was called by Escalante
Sierra de la Grulla. The La Plata river he called
the San Joaquin, and in the canon, says his narrative,
were the mines sought for by Cachupin's explorers,
and which gave the name to the mountains, supposed
to contain silver.
Escalante's descriptions of the country passed over
avoid dwelling upon the exceeding roughness of this
region, dwelling rather upon the beauty and fertility
of the small valleys, the grandeur of the forests of
pine which grew upon the high benches and moun-
tain sides, and the abundance of water, even tliat
which fell from the clouds, of which he complained a
little. At the Rio Mancos, or San Luzaro, he again
heard reports of mines. At the Rio Dolores lie be-
held ruined habitations high up in the south bank.
On this river he met with some difficulty in travelling,
being sometimes at a distance from the stream, and
at other times apparently confined to its caiion. The
stations or camps along the Dolores were named
Asuncion, Agua Tapada, Canon Agua Escondida,
Micra Labarinto (in honor of tlie capitan), and Ancon
San Bernardo. At the latter place he found son e
Utes, from whom he obtained a guide ; and observing
THE ESCALANTE EXPEDITION. 341
three paralyzed women of the tribe at the junction of
a small stream with the Dolores, he named it the
Paraliticas. It was at this point, or near it, that he
left the canon of the river, and came out in Gypsum
valley, or Cajon del Yeso, still so called. Climbing
upon a mesa, he travelled six leagues north-east to
the next station, San Bernabe. Six leagues north
from this point brought him, through a canon, to the
San Miguel, or, as he called it, Rio San Pedro. En-
camping at stations on the north side named San Luis,
San Felipe (where were traces of E-ivera's passage),
Fuenta de la Guia, and passing through the Canada
Honda, which was doubtless the Uncompahgre park,
to Ojo de Lain (named in honor of the official guide),
he reached the Uncompahgre river, spelled by him
Ancapagari, and named Rio San Francisco. Esca-
lante gives the distance travelled from the San Miguel
to the Uncompahgre as twenty-four and a half leagues,
which is proof conclusive, if any other than descrip-
tions were needed, of his lono; detour throuo-h the
Uncompahgre country. His first station beyond was
San Agustin. The distance from the crossing of the
Uncompahgre, in a north-east course, was ten leagues
to the Gunnison river, which he said was called by
the natives Tomichi, but which was called by him
San Javier. His probable crossing of the Gunnison
was near the junction of the south and north forks.
To this region Rivera's explorations had reached, and
farther down a cross had been cut in the rock of the
river bank. Four leagues up the Gunnison, in a
north-east direction, he came to a stream, which he
named Santa Rosa ; and proceeded further, in the
same course, to Rio Santa Monica, which corresponds
to the north branch of the north fork of the Gunni-
son. Following the direction of this stream, he came
to the Rio San Antonia Martir, which is the Divide
creek of the present. Even the two buttes, known
as the North and South Mam, are named San Silves-
tre (after Escalante himself), and Nebuncari. The
342
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION,
Mam creek of the present day was at that time called
Santa Rosalia. Near here he fc.rdcd tlie San Rafael
or Grand river, the course of the travellers seeming
to lead over Book cliffs, and thence north-west to
White river, called by them Sa?i Cleniente, where
they arrived September 9th, about :.t the point where
it crosses the boundar}^ of Utali, having spent a little
more than two mouths on the journey, and travelled
Escalante's Routb.
from the Dolores 86 J leagues. In two places on his
route Escalante mentioned other roads, and especially
that there was a shorter way from the Gunnison to
the Grand river than the one he was taking. He
crossed this road near the stream he called Santa
Rosalia. Beyond White river be found hills of
loose slate, passed through a long cafion, on the wall
of which were painted three shields and a spear, and
two warriors in combat ; saw veins of metal, and
found buffalo trails, from which he named this defile
Arroyo del C/bolo. At Green river he found a group
FRENCH COLONIES. 343
of six laro-e cottonwood trees, and one lone tree. On
one of these Lain carved his name and the date, 1776,
with a cross above and below. The company returned
from Utah by a more southern route, and the Span-
ish trail was established not far north of the 37th
parallel in Colorado, crossing southern Utah, and
thence southwest to Los Angeles. A trail to Salt
Lake was, however, established at a later period,
which crossed the boundary of Colorado and Utah
on the south side of Rio Dolores, which was surveyed
as late as 1857 by Captain J. N. Macomb for the
United States Government.'
In the beginning of the seventeenth century France
claiaied the sovereignty of the country, and dur-
ing that period several expeditions were undertaken
toward the Spanish frontier, a not very clearly defined
boundary.^ The most important of these was con-
ducted by Monsieur La Salle, who first having in 1682
explored the Mississippi from the Illinois region to
the gulf of Mexico, and named the region contiguous
Louisiana, in 1685 took formal possession of Texas,
and founded a colony or two near the gulf, on the
Guadalupe and Colorado rivers. But La Salle was
assassinated, and the only effect of his settlement was
to carry the western boundary of Louisiana as far
west as these rivers.* In the mean time the country
west of the Mississippi had again changed hands,
Spain claiming it from 1762 to 1800, when it was
retroceded to France, and sold by the first Napoleon
to the United States three years afterward. Still the
boundary was unsettled, and in 1806 an arrangement
was entered into between the Spanish and American
authorities that the former should not cross the Sabine,
nor the latter approach to it, To prevent collisions,
^Dominfjuez and Escalante, Diario y derrotero para descuhrir el camino
desde Santo. Fd d MorMtrey. In Doc Hist. Jlex., 2d ser., i. 375-558. See
also Hist. Utah, this series.
^ Among these few are mentioned one by Col Wood in 1654, and another
by Capt. Bolt in 1670: but thev -were productive of nothing in particular.
* U. S. Laii-s aud Doc^, 1817, 5.
344 DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATIOX.
orders were given not to survey the public lands west
of the meridian uf Natcliitoclies, or Ked river.
But the curiosity of the new jJioprietors of Louisi-
ana concerning the regions tt>ward the Rocky moun-
tains could not be restrained; and President Jefferson,
also desiring to know something of them, encouraged
exploration. It happened that Zebulon Montgomery
Pike, son of Zebulon Pike of New Jersey, an officer
in the revolutionary arm^^ who at the age of twenty
had been appointed an ensign in his father's company,
and was a lieutenant at twenty-six, was serving under
General Wilkinson in the west, at the time when
Lewis and Clarke were fitting out their expedition to
the head waters of the Missouri and Columbia in 1804.
General Wilkinson, whose military duties included
keeping peace with the Indians, thought to serve his
country and gratify the president by sending 3'oung
Pike to explore the upper Mississippi, under the pre-
tence of comnmnicating with Indian tribes in that
region. To this end, in August 1805, a keel-boat
seventy feet long, manned by a crew of one sergeant,
two corporals, and seventeen privates, under Lieuten-
ant Pike, left St Louis to discover the source of tlie
Mississip])i, being provisioned for four months. He
had started late for such an undertaking, encounter-
ing many difficulties, and performing the last part of
the journey with sledges drawn by his men. On the
last of January 1806 he reached the utmost source
of the great river, arriving at a fort of the North-
west Fur company, by whose officers he was gener-
ously entertained. He returned to St Louis about
the last of April.
General Wilkinson had meanwhile found cause for
another expedition, having on his hands some rescued
captives of the Kaw nation, who lived on the Osage
river, a southern branch of the Kansas, and whom he
had promised to restore to their people. On this
errand, possibly, Pike set out July 15th, after a brief
rest at home with his family.
VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS. 345
His party consisted of one lieutenant, one surgeon,
■one sergeant, two corporals, sixteen privates, and an
interpreter, besides fifty-one Indians of all ages, and
both sexes. He ascended the Missouri in two boats,
taking six weeks to this part of the journey, "which
brought him to the Osage river. Here he landed his
expedition, purchased horses, loaded them with pro-
visions and presents, and set out north-westward
■across the plains, delivering his Indian wards to their
people as previously agreed upon. Having performed
this part of his duty, he entered upon the more inter-
esting one of exploration. Crossing the country to
the Arkansas river he ascended that stream, finding
the plains black wdth buffaloes. At two o'clock on
the afternoon of the 15th of November he first dis-
cerned a small blue cloud, which being viewed with a
spy-glass he perceived to be a mountain. A half
hour later the range came into view, and his men gave
''three cheers for the Mexican mountains."
It was already too late in the autumn for mountain
travel, but Pike knew nothing of fear or discourage-
ment. Pressing eagerly forward for yet another
week, he at length reached the most eastern ridge of
the Colorado range, thinking to come to the base of the
peak w^hich bears his name; but finding, when with
great toil and suffering from struggling through snow
that he was still distant fifteen miles from this moun-
tain, he relinquished the attempt, his men being with-
out proper clothing, and having quite worn out their
stockings. Before beginning the ascent Pike had
established a depot at or near the mouth of Fontaine-
qui-Bouille, where he left most of his party; thence he
moved camp nearer to the foot of the Sangre de
Cristo range, about where Canon city now stands.
The cold was severe, and many of the men were frost-
bitten. Leaving these in camp he began exploring
for a river by which he might return to the Missis-
sippi, it having been specially charged upon him to
discover if possible the sources of the Red river.
34iJ DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
Coiiiinj^ to the Soutli park by the present route
from Canon City, lie calletl the first stream lie reached
the Platte, in which curiously enough he was correct;
but in his wanderings striking the head of Grand
river, he believed it to be the Yellowstone, Other
errors were entered on his chart, given in chapter
XV of my Arizona and Acw Mexico. The geogra])hy
of the west was very vague as yet ; and toiling about
in the mountains with the mercury below zero was
but a poor way to improve it.
But in the South park he made a discovery that
white men and Indians had been there before him,
and that recently. Not wishing to fiill into the hands
of Mexicans or Indians, he retreated toward the south,
and became entangled among the canons of the upper
portion of the Arkansas river, but finally reached
camp with only one horse able to travel. After a
little rest he again set out, this time on foot, in s(jarcli
of Red river, and crossing the Arkansas, violated the
terms of the recent arrangement by entering ^lexicaii
territory. Marching up the Wet Mountain vallev,
leaving disabled men by the way in improvised shelt-
ers, he moved straight to and up theSangre de Cristo
range, and from its summits looked down on San Luis
park and the Rio Grande del Norte, which he believed
to be the Red river. Greatly rejoiced, he descended
to the valley, erected a fortified camp, and sent back
a detachment of his little party to pick up the
stragglers.
Not long did he enjoy his dreams of success. The
Mexican authorities had been on the lookout for his
expedition, which had become known to them, and a
few days after completing the above arrangements he
was politely arrested by a squad of Mexican soldiers,
and persuaded to accompany them to Santa Fe, El
Paso, and subsequently to Chihualiua, more than a
year being consumed in this courteously managed
captivity, during which the most valuable portion of
PIKE'S DISCOVERIES. 347
his papers were lost, and his command scattered.
They were finally returned to the United States
through Texas.
One thing- pertinent to the subsequent history of
Colorado, Lieutenant Pike discovered during his
detention in New Mexico. An American, James
Pursley, of Bairdstown, Kentucky, ° whom he met
there, showed him lumps of gold brought by himself
from the South park; and he learned that the traces
of white men and Indians seen by him, and which had
turned him southward, related to gold discoveries in
that region/ In 1807 Pike was permitted to return
home, and in the second year of the war of 1812 was
killed at the assault on Toronto, after having been
previously promoted to the rank of brigadier-general.^
The peak which bears his name was measured by him,
on the base of a mile, and on the presumption that
the plains were 8,000 feet above sea-leveL He made
the height of the mountain to be 18,581 whereas it is
really but 14,147. Most early explorers exaggerated
the height of mountains, whether purposely or not.
^Pursley went up the Platte in 1803 or 1804, and -was conducted b}' Ind-
ians to Santa Fe. A French Creole, La Lande, took some goods up the
Platte in 1804 for his employer, Morrison, a merchant of Kaskaskia; but he
took the goods to Santa Fe, and established himself in business, where he
remained. Barbers Hist. West. States, 549.
6 W. B. Vickers, in Haydens Great West, 98, says there is no evidence to
show that there were any settlers in Colorado previous to 1843, or any knowl-
edge of the treasures hidden in the soil or rocks at that time. This is a
hasty conclusion. The Spanish-Mexicans would conceal as much as possible
any such knowledge from Americans; but it existed. The American referred
to above discovered the gold on the head of the Platte while a captive in the
hands of the Indians; and he assured Pike he had been frequentlj' solicited
to go and show a detachment of Mexican cavalry where to find it, but re-
fused. It was probably this detachment which had just left the park when
Pike arrived in it. Appendix to An Account of an Ej.-pedition to the Sources of
the Mls-'tissippi, and Through the Western Part of Lcuisiana, etc;, in the Years
1805, 1806, and 1807; Philadelphia, 1810. I have seen it stated that old de-
serted shafts had been found in southern Colorado, together with some cop-
per vessels, the writer attributing these evidences of mining to the ancients
who inhabited the ruined cities and the cliffs; but these people used only
stone implements, and clearly knew nothing of mining. The prospect holes
were undoubtedly made by the Mexicans about the beginning of the
century.
' James Pa.rton, in Tlie Discoverer of Pike's Peak, MS., 7, an abridgement
of Parton's account of Pike's expeditions. See also Denver Rocky Mountain
Herald, Aug. 21, 1875.
34S DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
Probably the cold bad something to do with the
reported altitude of Pike's peak.**
No furtluT official explorations of the country at
the base of the Kocky mountains were ordered until
after the treaty of the 2 2d of February, 1819, by
which the boundary between the possessions of Spain
and the United States was definitely settled,' giving
to the latter the northern two thirds of the present
state of Colorado, with all the country north of the
Arkansas river. Innnediately after the confirmation
of the Florida treaty, Secretary-of-war Calhoun or-
dered an exjuxlition more complete in equipment than
any which had preceded it, comprising besides military
officers a number of men of science. The company,
commanded by Major Stephen H. Long, left Pitts-
burgh May 30, 1819, and proceeded by a steam-vessel,
constructed especially for the purpose, to St Louis,
and thence by land travel to Council Blufl^s, on the
Missouri, where they wintered. In the following
June, Long explored the Platte valley to the junction
of the north and south forks, where he took the di-
^ From the original Pikers Expedition — for a biographical notice of which
see my JJMori/ of the Nortlniwst Const — come scores of accounts which follow,
such as is found in the Co/ora</o Gazetteer iov 1871. This book, which con-
tains besides a brief history of the state, a comprehensive account of its
mining, agricultural, commercial, manufacturing interests, and climate, will
be frec^uently referred to for statistics on these subjects. Notice of Pike's
expedition is found in Tlionuia B. Corhett's ( 'olorado I)irertx)i-y of Minen, 1879,
p. .'U. This also is an important book of reference, containing a description
of the mines and mills, and the mining corporations. The Korthioest, by
Samuel J. Parker, son of Samuel Parker, explorer and missionary to the
Oregon country in 1835, is a manuscript history of the nortli-west country,
compiled partly from the father's writings and partly from the accounts of
other explorers. It is, like the other missionary writings, very bitter against
the fur companies. A writer in Haiyers Maijdzine, xli. 372, gives a good
brief account of Pike's expeditions.
« U. S. Laws awl TmUi<'s, 1815-21, vi. 614-29. This boundary, which
was changed by conquest and purchase, subsequently gave the U. S. the
Florida territory east of the Mississippi. West of tlie Alississippi the line
began at tlie mouth of the Sabine river, continuing north along tlie west
bank of that stream to the .32d degree of north latituile, thence due nortli to
tlie Red river, wliich it followed up to the degree of longitude 23 west from
Washington, running thence due north again to tlie Arkansas river, which
it followed to its source in latitude 42" north, and thence it was drawn west-
ward on that parallel to the ' Soiitli sea.' It will l)e se«n that this boundary
supposed tlie Arkansas river to be two degrees longer than it really was, and
left the actual boundary from central Colorado northward to the 42° still in
doubt.
LONG'S REPORT. 349
rection of the southern branch, which brought him to
the South park by a route different from that of Pike's.
The high peak first seen by Lieutenant Pike received
the name of E. James, botanist of the expedition/'
he being the first man known to have reached a sum-
mit of the Colorado mountains. He also measured
it, and made it almost as much too low as Pike had
made it too high." Long descended the valley of
the Arkansas to the Mississippi, having gained much
valuable geographical information of the country ex-
plored. But his account was not one pleasing to the
secretary of war, or to the government. He repre-
sented the whole country drained by the Missouri,
Arkansas, Platte, and their tributaries as unfit for
cultivation, and uninhabitable in consequence. He
found all between the 39th and 49th parallels, and
for five hundred miles east of the Rocky mountains, a
desert of sand and stones, whereupon this region was
represented on maps as the Great American desert.
The report of Long was a stumbling-block in the way
of the advocates of the American claim to Oregon in
congress for many years, for no sooner did an advocate
of that claim open his mouth than he was reminded
of Major Long's scientific observations and explora-
tions, and asked what value could attach to a desert.
This impression was to some extent the key which
kept Colorado a locked treasure-house until Oregon
and California had both been settled, and proved to
be rich agricultural countries, even where they had
appeared as much deserts as Colorado.
It should be borne in mind that small parties of
adventurers, like Pursley, had already penetrated the
Rocky mountains in advance of either of the above-
*• The name of Pike has been retained, but to James and Long were
given peaks elsewhere. For Long's note on the subject see Lowjs Exped.
Hocl-y Mountains, ii. 45. Another peak has been named after Lieut Graham
of Long's party, and the hot springs on the Arkansas after Captain Bell.
Col. Gnzfitteer, 21; FHnvmt's Explor. Ejyped., 30.
iijames called Pike's peak 11,500 feet high. Fremont in 1843, made it
14,300. Its present received measurement was made in 1862 by Parry,
whose careful examination of the country entitles his work to credit.
350 DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION".
named expeditions/' and that previous to that of
Long's, a number of traders had established posts on
'■^Soe Jllst. Northorst Coant, this series. A little work liy Daviil H.
Coyner, first published in 1847, and republished in Cincinnati in ISoi), called
TIte Lo.it Tncppcrs, gives a particular account of the wanderiuge of a com-
pany of 'JO men •who left St Louis in 1807, intending to cross the Rocky
mountains. The leader was Ezekiel Williams, and this was the first over-
land expedition to the Pacific of the kind ever undertaken. It proceeded to
the Mandan village under the guidance of a cliief of that tribe. Big White,
Mho had accompanied Lewis and Clarke to Wasliington, and was returning
to Fort Mandan. From this point Williams's party proceeded by laud to
the moutli of tlie Yellowstone, up wliicli they travelled looking for beavers.
Soon after finding a locality where beavers were plenty in the streams and
buffaloes upon the plains, a hunting party of ten men went out, but were
set upon by Indians, wiioni they believed to be Blackfoot, and live of them
slain, the other five escaping to camp. Tiie companj' at once set off again,
southward until tliey fell in with the Crows, by wliom they were so well
treated that a man named Rose, who had joined the party at St Louis, but
whose character as an outlaw was not known to Williams, determined to re-
main among them, and did so until 182.3, being the first white man who had
a residence in the Yellowstone country. He returned as guide to Fitzjjat-
rick and Sublette, and afterward joined the Anaerican Fur comi)any, but
M^as ever one of those unprincipled men who gave to the trappers the unsa-
vory character dwelt upon by the Parkers. Williams' party, now reduced to
14 members, proceeded in a direction toward the South pass, and when upon
the headwaters of the north Platte were attacked by Crows and sustained
another loss of five men. In the first attack one Indian had been killed; in
this fight, for wliich the company were prepared by the the tlicft of their
horses, twenty or more of their enemies were killecL The party now re-
duced to ten, their horses being gone, hastened on foot out of the vicinity of
the battle-ground, caching their furs and such things as they could not carry
on a long march, and moved southward, wandering about until spring, wlien
they found themselves on the sources of the south Platte, and of course in
Colorado. One after another of them were cut off by the Comanches until
only three remained, Williams, James Workman, and Sanuiel Spencer, who
determined to return to St Louis if they could. But as often happens, mis-
fortune had made them not oidy reckless, but at enmity with one another;
and the three wanderers separated, Williams journeying down tlie Arkan-
sas, wliich he mistook for Red river, in a canoe, and by travelling at niglit
arrived safely among the Kansas, who directed him to Fort Cooper, on the
Missouri. Ilere he found an Indian trader of the U. S., C. Cibley, about to
pay the Indians their aiinunities, and who first compelled the Kansas to re-
turn to Williams several packages of furs they had stolen from him after
his departure from tlieir village. In the following year, 1809, Williams re-
turned to the mountains with a party and recovered the furs cached by liis
company on the Platte. Workman and Spencer in the meantime ha<l made
their way to the Arkansas, which tliey also mistook for the Red river, and
in following wliich toward its source they discovered the trail of Pike's [)arty
of the year before, who had cut in the rocks the name of Red river, which
confirmed them in their error. Hoping to find that its headwaters were in a
range by crossing which they would find tliemselves at Santa Fo in New
Mexico, they followed up this stream, coming in sight of Pike's peak, which
thoy said seeimd so high 'that a cloud could not pass between its top and
the sky.' They became entangled among the mountains and canons of Col-
orado, passing many weeks in endeavoring to find the sources of the Rio
Orande Del Norte, but coming instead to the Rio Colorado, M'iiich they fol-
lowed— believing it would take them to Santa Fe — until they came to a
crossing and a plain trail, which they resolved to follow. Meeting a Mexi-
INCOMING FUR TRADERS. 351
the Arkansas and other rivers," forerunners of the
more powerful fur companies. A profitable trade
was also carried on between the merchants of St
Louis and the inhabitants of New Mexico, of which
all of Colorado south of the Arkansas river was a
part. The Indians on the Santa Fe route — the Co-
manches of the plains — gave traders and travellers
much trouble; and in 1823 the government ordered
an escort, commanded by Captain Riley, to meet the
Santa Fe train, and conduct it to the Missouri fron-
tier." He advanced to the crossing of the Arkansas,
and conducted it to Independence, the eastern termi-
nus of the Santa Fe trail, the first military expedition
by United States troops west of the Missouri and
north of Texas. Four years afterward Fort Leaven-
ftsm caravan bound to Los Angeles, California, two days afterward, they
joined it, and the following spring returned with it to Santa Fe, where they
remained trading for 15 years. When Workman and Spencer set out to de-
r.cend the Colorado it was by canoe. From the description given by them to
the author of the Lost Trappers, I think they were upon the Gunnison
branch of the Colorado, and that it was the black canon which interriapted
their navigation. The crossing of the Spanish trail could not have been far
from the present crossing of the Salt Lake road. At all events, they were
the first Americans to float upon the waters of this stream, or, so far as I
have discovered, to cross the Rocky mountains south of Lewis and Clarke's
pass.
1^ Manuel Lisa, a Mexican, enjoyed a monopoly of the Indian trade west
of the Missouri at the beginning of the century under a grant of the Mexi-
can government. Peter Choteau, a rival trader and U. S. agent for the
Osages, managed to separate a part of that nation from their adherence to
Lisa, and established a post among them on the Verdigris branch of the Ar-
kansas in 1808. It was, however, removed in 181.3, and it was not for ten
years afterward that a regular fur trade to the Rocky mountains was begun.
^*This was inconsequence of the capture of the previous year's train from
Santa Fe, commanded by Capt. Means, who, with several of his men, was
killed. Coyner relates that in 1823 the Mexican government, having ban-
ished several citizens of importance for alleged treasonable designs, per-
mitted tliem to go to the U. S. with the annual Santa Fe train, and sent as
an escort a company of 60 men, Mexicans and Pueblo Indians, under Capt.
Viscarro, who was to conduct the exiles along tlie road until he met Capt.
Riley. When near the Cimarron river, 60 miles from the crossing of the
Arkansas, he was attacked, and 8 or 10 of his command killed. Viscarro
himself is accused of cowardice. The Pueblos and two Americans named
Barnes and Wallace fought and pursued the Comanches, inflicting severe
loss upon them. The company hoping to meet Riley at the Arkansas, yet
fearing that he might be gone, sent a detachment, consisting of the Pueblos,
Wallace, Barnes, and Workman, to overtake him. They found he had moved
away from the river, but overtook him in two days' travel, and detained
him until the train came up, after which they were under the protection of
American troops, and Viscarro with his depleted force turned back to Santa
Fc. Coyner's Lost Trappers, 170-86.
352 DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATIOX.
W(>rtli was established on the west bank of the Mis-
souri, twenty miles above the mouth of the Kansas
rivor, and near enou-j^li to the Santa Fe trail to afford
protection to travellers. For many years this was
the initial point of expeditions west and northwest-
ward, as all books of travel show. In 1829 Major
Riley, with four companies, escorted a caravan as far
as Bent's fort, on the Arkansas. Captain Wharton
was on the trail in 1834, and Captain Cook in 1843.
The establishment of a fort in the Indian country
did not precede but followed the adventures of private
individuals and associations in the public territory of
the United States, to which I have already referred.
Among those who followed their pursuits in Colorado
Avere the Bents, St Vrain, Vasqucz, Bridger, Carson,
Lupton, Pfeilfer, Nugent, Pattie, Baker, Beckwourth,
Sarpy, Wiggins, the Gcrrys, Chabonard, and others.
Bonneville's company of trappers and ex[»lorers passed
through the Arkansas country in 1834.^*
^*See Victor's River of the West, 157, and Hid. Northurst Omst, this
series. It is ditiicult to give satisfactory accouuta of men who lead a wander-
i:ig life in an unsettled country. Only scraps of information are preserved,
whose authenticity may well he questioned. From the l)est information ob-
tainable the fr)llowing liiographies have been gathered: James P. lieckwourth
was born in Virginia of a negro slave mother and an Irish overseer. His
white blood impelled him to run away from servitude in or about 1817, and
he joine<l a caravan going to New Mexico. Some years afterward he was
in the service of Louis Vasquez in Colorado, and subsequently so ingrati-
ated himself with the Crows that they made him head chief, an office in
which he used to give tlie American Fur company much trouble. Later in
life he severed liis connection with savagery, and became interpreter and
guide to government expeditions. He resided for a time in a valley of the
■Sierra Nevada, but being implicated in certain transactions whicli attracted
the notice of tlie vigilants, fled and went to Missouri. Wiien tlie migration
to Colorado was at its height in 1859, he proceeded to Denver, and was
taken into partnershij> with Vascjuez and liis nephew. Being tired of trade,
lie went to live on a farm, and ti)ok a Mexican wife; but fell out with her,
and finally relapsed into his former mode of savage life, dying about 18G7.
Af>ii/.'f)ri Post, Fel). 2.3, 18G7, Bridger, Carson, Pattie, and" others have been
frequently spoken of in other volumes of this aeries. The last named came
to the mountains of Colorado in 1824 with a company of 120 men. He was
a youth at the time. The company fell apart, and drifted in various direc-
tions through New Mexico and Arizona. Pattie and a few companions de-
scended the Colorado, ami reached tlie coast at San Diego, naked and starv-
ing. Tliey were arrested by the Mexican authorities and imprisoned,
suffering much; but Pattie, on account of liis knowledge of the Spanish lan-
guage, was employ e<l as an interpreter, and escaped l)ack to the states. James
Baker came out, probably with Bridger, and roved about in the mountains
until he tinaily settled on Clear creek, four miles uorth of Denver, I do not
FORTS 363
No forts of importance were erected •within the
present limits of Colorado before 1832, when the
Bent brothers erected Fort William on the north
branch of the Arkansas river, eighty miles northeast
from Taos, and one hundred and sixty from the moun-
tains/^ They traded with the Mexicans and the Co-
know exactly at what date; but he is recognized as the first American set-
tler in Colorado. He had an Indian wife and half-caste children groMTi to
manhood in 1859. The occupation of the country displeased him, and he
left Clear creek for the mountains of Idaho, where he ended his days. O.
P. Wiggins, a Canadian, formerly a servant of the Hudson's Bay Co., came
to Colorado in 1834, and was employed by the American Fur Co., and sta-
tioned at Fort St John. He became a wealthy citizen of Colorado. Peter
A. Sarpey was one of the French families of St Louis. He had one trading-
post in Colorado, and another at Belle vue in Nebraska; a small, wiry, mer-
curial-dispositioned man, who lived among savages simply to make money,
which furthered no enterprises and purchased no pleasures such as a man of
good family should value. Col Ceran St Vrain began trading to New Mex-
ico in 1824, working up into American territory a few years later, where he
built a fort named after himself. He died at Mora in New Mexico, in Octo-
ber 1870, to which country he returned on the 'decline of the fur trade.
Godfrey and Elbridge Gerry were lineal descendants of Gov. Ell:)ridge Gerry,
one of the signers of the declaration of independence. They came to the
Rocky Mountains while quite young men, and spent their lives on the fron-
tier. After settlement began, Godfrey built an adobe residence on the
Platte, and kept a station of the Overland Stage Co. During the Indian
disturbance of 1864 his station was besieged — it went by the name of Fort
Wicked — for days by a large force of the savages, who endeavored to fire
the buildings. With no help but his own family he successfully resisted all
their attempts to reduce his fort, and killed many of the besiegers. The
Indians also conspired to capture Elbridge Gerry and his large band of
horses, but his Indian wife having discovered the plot, informed him of it,
and he, too, saved his life and property. These brothers were among the
earliest settlers in Colorado. Byers Hkt. Col, ^SIS., 61-8. Elbridge Gerry
died in 1876. Kit Carson, Bill Williams, Pfeiffer, the Autobeas brothers,
John Paisel, and Roubideau were all noted mountaineers. Carson rendered
himself a second time famous during the civil war. He died at Fort Lyon
in June 1868. Denver Rocky Mountain Keirs, June 3, 1868. Williams was
killed by the Utes in south-western Colorado in 1850. Folsom (Cal.) Tele-
graph, Oct. 28, 1871. And so died many a brave man. But none who went
to the mountains in those early times were better known than the Bent fam-
ily of St Louis. There were six brothers, John, Charles, William, Robert,
George and Silas. Robert and George died in 1841. Charles was the first
American governor of New Mexico, and was killed in the massacre at Tao3
in March 1847. Silas, the youngest, was a member of the expedition to
Japan under Perry, and made a report to the Geographical Society of New
York concerning the warm current from the Japan sea, which touches the
coast of North America. The other brothers were fur traders, and William
was subsequently government freighter. He died May 19, 1869, the last of
the original firm. Cobrado Paper, in Montana Democrat, June 17, 1869; Ar-
kansas Val. H'lst., 830.
i^lt is related, and is probably true, that Maurice, a French trader from
Detroit, built a fortification on Adobe creek in Arkansas valley in 1830,
which would give him precedence in point of time. He collected a Mexican
settlement, and erected 13 adobe cabins around a square or plaza, in Mexi-
Hist. Nev. 23
354 DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
manches, Chej^ennes, Arapahoes, and Utes. Fort
William, after which the other trading-posts were
modelled, consisted of an enclosure 150 by 100 feet in
extent, surrounded by an adobe wall seven feet thick
and eighteen feet high. At the north-west and south-
cast corners stood bastions ten feet in diameter and
thirty feet high, with openings for cannon and small
arms. A partition wall divided the interior, two-
thirds of which was devoted to the necessary shops,
storehouses, and dwellings, the remaining third being
a corral in which the horses and mules were secured
from theft at night. In the east wall was a large
gate, with heavy plank doors, opened only on certain
occasions. Adjoining the wall on the west was a
wagon-house, made to shelter a dozen or more large
wagons used in conveying goods from and peltries to
St Louis. The tops of the houses were flat and grav-
elled, and served for a promenade in the evenings,
like the house-tops of Egypt. There were about
sixty persons employed in the affairs at Fort William,
and many were the dangers they incurred and adven-
tures they encountered ;" for the region was the com-
mon ground of several of the most warlike tribes of
the plains. Here, too, at different times were enter-
tained travellers of every description and rank for a
period of more than twenty years. In 1852 Bent
blew up Fort William and moved his goods down the
can fashion, one of which was used as a church. In 18.38 the Sioux and
Arapahoes attacked the place, and were fought by the Utes, whose assistance
had been sought. The battle was a bloody one, resulting in the victory of
the Utes. This Mexican settlement was not entirely broken up until 184C.
Arbtiis<w Val. IliM., 54.5-6. Among those earliest in the service of the fur
companies were Bill Williams, John Smith, a young man of good education
from I'luladelphia, Ben. Ryder, C. de Bray, Metcalfe, and William Brans-
ford, who later lived in Las Animas county.
" Fdrnharns Trawbi in the Ortat WvxU'rn Prairies, 35. The author of this
book was at Fort William in 18.39, and wrote accurately of what he saw.
He says: 'In the months of June, August, and September there are in the
neighbf)rhood of those traders from 15,000 to 20,(KK) savages, ready and
panting for plunder and blood. If they engage in l)attling out old causes of
contention among themselves the Messrs Bent feel cf)mparatively safe in
their solitary fortress. But if tliey spare each other's property and lives
there are great anxieties at Fort William; every hour of day and night is
pregnant with danger.*
FUR TRADERS. 355
Arkansas to the mouth of Purgatoire river, where he
erected a new fort, which was leased to the govern-
ment in 1859, when it was occupied by troops and
called Fort Wise, after the governor of Virginia.
Another trading-post erected in 1832 was that of
Louis Vasquez, five miles north-east of the site of
Denver, at the junction of Vasquez fork or Clear
creek with the Platte river. A nephew of Vasquez
resided with him at the fort from 1832 to 1836, and
was one of the first settlers in Colorado. Fort Sarpy
was erected soon after the two above named, and was
situated on the Platte, five miles below Vasquez's
post. Five miles below Sarpy's post was another
fort, whose name has been forgotten, and fifteen miles
further down the river was Fort Lancaster, erected
by Lupton, which in 1886 was in a good state of
preservation. Fort St Vrain, ten miles below Lup-
ton, at the confluence of the Cache le Poudre river
with the Platte, was erected in 1838. The Bent
brothers also had a post on the Platte before reaching
the junction of the next stream below. So thickly
clustered rival establishments in the first ten or fif-
teen years of trade in the Rocky mountains. Five
miles above Fort William toward the mountains was
El Pueblo, a Mexican post, although owned in part
by Americans, and constructed very much on the
plan of Fort William. It was not, like the others, a
trading establisment, but a farming settlement,
intended to supply the trading-posts with grain, veg-
etables, and live stock. The proprietors irrigated
their farm with water from the Arkansas, and were
undoubtedly the first agriculturists in this region ;
but as they neglected to water their potions of alco-
hol sufficiently at the same time, their enterprise did
not flourish as it should, even in 1838.^^
'^ Stone, General View, MS., 20-21, mentions a Col Boone, who had a
trading post known as Hardscrable in the Arkansas valley, contemporary
with St Vrain and others. Another post was on the site of Trinidad in Las
Animas county. The St Vrain mentioned here, 1 have no doubt, was one of
the family of that name which became possessed of a grant to certain lead
356 DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
Somewhere between 1840 and 1844 another settle-
ment was made on Adobe creek, further up the
Arkansas on the south side, in what was later Fre-
mont county. It was under the patronage of an
association of traders, among whom were Bent, Lup-
ton, St Yrain, Beaubien, and Lucicn B. Maxwell,
Beaubien having charge, and being the owner of a
large grant of land from the Mexican government.
The settlement was broken up in 184G by the Indians.
A feature of the period to which I have just
alluded was the obtaining of grants from the Mexican
authorities for the purpose of colonization and devel-
opment. As I have shown, success had not attended
their efforts, but the grants were valid notwithstand-
ing. The Vigil and St Vrain grant embraced nearly
all of what is now Colorado south of the Arkansas
river and east of the mountains, excepting the Nolan
grant, a tract fifteen miles wide by forty miles in
length, lying south of Pueblo. Under the treaty of
1848 the title to these lands was undisturbed, except
that the United States government thought best to
cut them down to eleven square leagues each, as
enough to content republican owners. I shall have
occasion to refer again to them in this history. On
the Vigil and St Vrain grant James Bonney in 1842
founded the town of La Junta.
In 1841 the first immigrrant waggon bound to the
Pacific coast passed up the Platte valley, and taking
the North fork, crossed the Rocky mountains into
Oregon by the South pass ; and soon it became the
usual route instead of that by the Arkansas valley,
being safer from Indian depredations. But whatever
route was taken, no settlers came in these days from
the United States to make their homes in the Pocky
mountains ; and even the hunters and trappers, whose
mines in ' uppor Louisiana ' by authority of the Baron de Carandolct, sur-
veyor-general of Louisiana lu 179(3. Ihis was James Ceran St Vrain, and
the mines were in Tennessee.
THE MORMONS. 357
numbers had once been that of a respectable army,
were bemg killed off by the Comanches or absorbed
by the half civilization of the Mexican border.
The first government expedition since Long's was
set on foot in 1842 under Fremont, but did not more
than touch Colorado this year. Returning in 1 843-4,
some explorations were made of this portion of
United States territory. The only persons encoun-
tered in the Rocky mountains by Fremont '^ at this
time were the few remaining traders and their former
employes, now their colonists, who lived with their
Mexican and Indian wives and half-breed children in
a primitive manner of life, usually under the protec-
tion of some defensive structure called a fort.'°
The first American families in Colorado were a
part of the Mormon battalion of 1846, who, with
1^ Enough has been said about Fremont's expeditions elsewhere. He made
no important discoveries in Colorado, those which he did make being noted
under other heads. His expedition was very completely furnished. He left
the Platte with a part of his command after reaching Fort Laramie, and fol-
lowing the South fork, came in sight of Long's peak July 8, 1842. He con-
tinued up the valley as far as St Vrain's fort, 17 miles east of that mountain,
where he remained for three days only, returning on the 12th to rejoin his
company. In 1843 he took a different route to the mountains, via the valley
of the Kansas river and Republican fork, crossing thence to the Smot y Hill
fork, and proceeding almost directly west to Fort St Train by the well-worn
trails of the fur companies. From St Vrain, where he arrived July 4th, he
continued up the Platte, seeing Pike's peak covered with new-fallen snow on
the morning of the 10th. Crossing the divide between the Platte and Ar-
kansas, he arrived on the 17th at Fontaine-qui-Bouille, or Soda Springs,
near the eastern base of the peak, the same which Long had named after
Capt. Bell. On the 19th he left this spot, and descending the river to the
eastern fork, which was hastily surveyed, the party returned to Fort St
Vrain, whence they proceeded north to Fort Laramie. Fremont mentions
the fort called El Pueblo, and explains that the inhabitants were, at that
time at least, a number of mountaineers, principally Americans, who had
married Mexican women, and occupied themselves in farming and carrying
on a desultory trade with the Indians. In 1844 he returned by a course
which took him through the north-west corner of the state, through North
park, which he called New park, through the South park, and to the Ar-
kansas river, by which route he reached St Louis in the autumn. Explor.
Erped., 116. His 3d and last expedition in 1848 was a disastrous one, in
which he lost most of his men, animals, and stores in an attempt to cross the
mountains to Grand river in the dead of winter.
20 Captain Gunnison in 1853 noticed a small settlement in the Culebra
valley, and on the banks of the Costilla, where he found a little farming,
wheat, corn, beans, and watermelons being among the productions. Six
Mexican families were settled on the Greenhorn river, and at Sangre de
Cristo pass an American named Williams was herding some stock. Beckwitk
in Pac. R. B. Bept, ii. ch. iii
858 DISCOVEKY AND OCCUPATION.
their wives and children, resided at Pueblo from Sep-
tember to the fcprin;^ and sunnncr of the following
year, when they joined the Mormon migration to Salt
Lake. A number of persons later living in Utah
were born at Pueblo in 184G-7.*'
A number of houses " were erected by them for
^' See Hist. Cat. aiul Jfi-it. UuOi, tliia series. FroTu Tyler's Mormon BtU-
tilioit, Via, JI take tlio following naiuea of persona who were (juartereJ at
ruel)lo during tliia period: CJilliert Hunt, Diniick B. Huatiugtou, Montgom-
ery Button, John lippeta, Milton KtUey, Nicholas Kelley, Norman Sharp,
Jainea Brown, Harley Morey, Thomas \Voolsey, S. C. .Shelton, Joseph W.
Kicliards, James T. .S. AUre.l, Keuhen W. Allrcd, Mar\-in S. Blanchard,
James W. Calkins, David Garner, James H. Gliues, Schuyler Hulett, P^lijah
E. Holden, Charles A. Jackson, Barnabas Lake, Melcher Oyler, Caratat C.
Roe, John Sessions, John P. Wriston, Elam Ludington, John D. Cliase,
Franklin Allen, Erastus Bingliam, William Bird, Philip Garner, Harmon D.
Persona, Lyman Stephens, Dexter Stillman, William Walker, Charles
Wriglit, Orson B. A<lam3, Alexander Brown, Jesse J. Brown, William E.
Beckstead, William H. Carpenter, Isaac Carpenter, John Calvert, Francillo
Durphy, Samuel Gould, John C. Gould, Jarvis Johnson, Thurston Larson,
Jabez Nowlan, Judsoa A. Persons, Richard Smith, Milton Smith, Andrew
J. Shupe, James Shupe, Joel J. Terrill, Solomon Tindall, David Wilkin, Da-
vid Perkins, John Perkins, Thomas S. Williams, Arnold Stephens, Joshua
Abbott, Jonathan Averett, William Costo, AbnerCliase, James Davis, Ralph
Douglas, William B. Gifford, James Hirous, Lorin E. Kenney, Lisbon Lamb,
David S. Laughlin, Peter J. Meeseck, James Oakley, William Rowe, John
Steel, Abel M. Sar<;ent, W^illiam Gribl)le, Benjaniin Roberts, Henry W.
Sanderson, Albert Sharp, Clark Stillman, John (r. Smith, Myron Tanner,
Almon Whiting, Edmimd Whiting, Ebeuezer Hanks, Samuel Clark, George
Cummings, Luther W. Glazier, J. W. Hess, Cliarles Hopkins, Thomas Kar-
ren, Daviil Miller, William A. Park, Jonathan Pugmire, Jr, Roswell Steph-
ens, Bailey Jacobs. Tlie.se were detached and sent to Pueblo on account of
sickness; first detachment from the crossing of the Arkansas, and a second
one from Santa Fe. Those who had families were ordered to send them to
Pueblo, except such as were retained for laundresses; bnt as their names are
given but once, and that before the division, it is impossible to give the num-
ber of women who wintered in Colorado. There were 34 married women
with the battalion, with children of all ages, to the numlier of CO or 70.
There were also several men, not enlisted, with the families, aa John Bosco,
David Black, James P. Brown, and others. Milton Kelley, Joseph W.
Richards, John Perkins, Norman Sharp, Arnold Stephens, M. S. Blanchard,
Milton Smith, Scott, and Abner Chase, died in Pueblo, or on the road to
that j)lace. Tlie first white American born in Colorado was Malinda Cather-
ine Kelley, daughter of Milton and Malinda Kelley, in Nov., soon after the
death of her father, whose first child she was. Subsequently Mrs Fanny ^L
Huntmgton, wife of Captain DimiekB. Huntington, gave birth to a child,
which died in a few hours. Eunice, wife of James P. Brown, bore a son,
John; Mrs Norman Sharp a daughter; Albina, wife of Thomas S. Williams,
a daughter, Phebe. A cliild of Capt. Jefferson Hunt, by his M-ife, Celia,
died and was buried at Pueblo, and probably others, whose names have been
forgotten; but from this record it is easy to imagine the remainder of a sad
story of privation, death, and burial in a savage laud, and chiKlren born to
Borrow.
»^ See SUmea Oau Vmo, MS. ; Byi-rs' HtsL Colo, MS. Tlie detachment
sent from Santa Fe built 18 roorrw 14 feet square, of timbers cut in the ,
woods. Ti/l'r's Hid. Mormon Batlalijiif 171. The first detachment may have
built others.
ROUTES AIJD EXPLORATIONS. 3S9
winter quarters, and here were born, married," and
buried a number of their people. Driven out of
lUinois at the point of the bayonet, seeking homes on
the western side of the continent, they had accepted
service under the government, which had failed to
protect them in their direst need, for the sake of being
provisioned and having their families transported
across the continent. Of their strange history the
winter in Pueblo was but an incident.'* Another
portion of General Kearny's army, under Colonel
Price and Major Emory, travelled up the Arkansas
as far as Bent's fort, where it turned off fco Santa
Fe by the Raton pass. This force consisted of 1,658
men, including Doniphan's 1st regiment of Missouri
mounted volunteers.
Meanwhile there were no real military establish-
ments in the whole region west and north-west of Fort
Leavenworth ; although, to protect the Oregon immi-
gration, a chain of posts across the continent had been
much talked of in congress ; and it had been announced
that Fremont's explorations were ordered with the
design of establishing a permanent overland route,
and selecting the sites for the posts which were to
guard and render it safe. I have shown in my history
of Oregon that this was not actually done before 1849,
the intervention of the war with Mexico diverting
the army to that quarter. But measures were taken
early in March 1847 to select locations for two United
States forts between the Missouri and the Rocky
mountains, the sites selected being those now occupied
by Kearney City and Fort Laramine, the latter being
''^Almira, daughter of Capt. Nelson Higgins, was married to John Chase
at Pueblo.
^* I have noticed some erroneous statements concerning the Mormon bat-
talion in my Colorado manuscripts. It was commanded in the first place
by a regular ofiicer, Col James Allen, 1st dragoons, though it was an in-
fantry force. He died soon after the battalion left LeavenM'orth, and the
command was taken by Lieut A. J. Smith, who reported to Col Doniphan at
Santa Fe, the whole being under the command of Gen. Kearny. From
Santa Fe to Los Angeles Col P. St George Cook commanded the battalion.
See Hist. Cal. and Hist. Utah, this series.
3G0 DISCO VEUY AND OCCUrATlON.
purchased from the American Fur company." The
work of constructing and garrisoning these forts pro-
gressed slowly,'" and it was not until some months
after the close of the Mexican war that troops were
stationed at them, although in 1847-8 there was a con-
siderable force kcptmoving on the plains. In 1850 Fort
^lassachusetts was erected on Ute creek, at the west
base of the main chain of the Rocky mountains, near
Sangre de Cristo pass ; the site being chosen the
better to intercept the raiding bands of Cites, and was
occui)ii'd, although the situation proved unhcalthful,
until 1857, when the present Fort Garland was sub-
stituted."
In 1853 congress passed an act authorizing a sur-
vey of railroad routes from the Mississippi river to
the Pacific ocean, that between the 38th and 39th
parallels being entrusted to Captain J. W. Gunnison,
of the Topographical engineers. Captain Gunnison
began his survey at the mouth of the Kansas river,
proceeded westward to Bent's fort, up the Arkansas
to the Apishapa and Huerfano affluents, through
Sangre de Cristo pass into San Luis park, the
Saguache valley, and Cochetopa pass, down the Gun-
nison branch of the Colorado to its junction with
Grand river, thence westward across the Wasatch
range, in Utah, as far as the valley of Sevier lake
and river, where he, with several of his party, was
murdered October 26th" by Pah Utes. Gunnison's
**Fort Laramie was sometimes called Fort John. Byrse in his II U. Colo,
MS., G6, says it was 8t John, ami that tlie government changed its name to
Laramie. But it was known to travellers as Laramie a numl>er of years be-
fore tlie purciiasc; and in BnnwrUli'K Ailrnitunx it is called Fort William,
probably after William Suhlette, who built it in 18:U, in conjunction with
Kol)ert Campljcll. Tliey sold it the following year to Milton Sublette and
James Bridger, who went into partnership with tlie American Fur Company.
There is a more complete account of Fort Laramie in my H'mlonj of Wifoniimj,
this vol. Hastings, in his Or. and Cat., 13G, mentions Ft John as being one
mile south of Fort Laramie.
'^*Rept of W. L. Marcy, sec. war, in JS^iV^'-s' i?w/., Dec. 13, LS48.
'^1 Fort (iarland is located inlatitu.le 27° 35' north; longitude 27° 20' west;
with an altitude of 7,805 feet. The reservation comprises 4 8(]uare miles,
and lies between Sangre de C'risto and Ute creeks in San Luis park. Sunjeon-
<jai. Cirr., 1870-4, 257; Berhi-ith, in Pnr R. R. /^^V, ii. 38.
^"frunnison had an escort of a dozen mounte<l riflemen, Co. A, under
Capt. Morris. On the morning of Oct. 25th Gunnison, with F. Creutzfeldt
ROUTES AND EXPEDITIONS. 361
survey of the mountain passes of Colorado rendered
it conclusive that there was no route equal to that
travelled by the immigration through the great
depression about the 42d parallel;" although the
apprehension of obstruction from snow in this lati-
tude continued to govern the views of those in
authority, and in spite of the survey of the Northern
Pacific railroad line, until the civil war forced the
abandonment of the more southern routes.
botanist, R. H. Kern topographer, William Potter guide, John Bellows, and
a corporal and 6 men, left camp to explore the vicinity of Sevier lake. On
the next morning, most of the party being at breakfast, the Indians fired
upon them from a thicket, and stampeding the horses, prevented their es-
cape. Only 4 out of the 12 survived the attack. The corporal, who was
aijle to mount, gave the first information to Capt. Morris, and the escort ar-
rived on the scene of the massacre that evening too late to collect the re-
mains of the murdered, which had been mangled by the savages, though not
scalped, and torn and almost devoured by wolves during the night. Beck-
with in Pac R. R. Repi, ii. 73^; Olympia Wash. Pioneer, Jan. 21, 1854. See
Hist. Utah, this series.
2^ See Hist. Northivest Coast, this series. The other government expedi-
tions whicli have surveyed Colorado have been those military reconnoissances
connected with railroads and mail routes. In 1854 Steptoe, on his way to
Oregon with 300 troops, surveyed the country from New Mexico to Salt
Lake City, aud expended $25,000 in improving the route from that place to
the southern California coast by the way of the Rio Virgen and Muddy
river and the Cajon pass. U. S. Ex. Doc., 34th cong. 1st sess., i. pt2, 504-7.
The overland mail was carried over this route for several years, or until the
war with the south compelled the adoption of the central route. In 1857 the
government sent out an expedition under WiUiam M. Magraw to locate a
wagon-road through the South pass. It was accompanied by a corps of sci-
entific men, who made collections of the plants, minerals, and animals of the
country. Smithsonian Rept, 1858, 50. Congress had at different times made
appropriations for the exploration of the Rocky mts in the interest of science,
and especially of geology. An expedition to the lower Yellowstone, under
the command of G. K. Warren, of the U. S. Eng. corps, as early as 1856,
was the first to become interested in the marvellous reports of the Yellow-
stone country through the medium of the fur-traders. James Bridger offered
to guide the command to the head of the river, but the undertaking was not
entered upon at that time. Warren had planned an expedition to Yellow-
stone lake for the years of 1859-60, but was superseded in command by Col
Reynolds of his corps. Prof. F. V. Hayden was connected with the expedi-
tion of 1856, and had charge of the geological department in 1859-00; but
Reynolds failed to make the passage of the Wind River mts, from which side
be made his approach. At the same time a small party under Cook and
Folsom, by approaching by the valley of the Yellowstone, crossed the divide
into the geyser 1:)asin of the Madison river, but not until after W. W. De
Lacy, as I have shown in my History of Montana, had penetrated to that spot
from the head of Snake river, in 1863. In 1870 the sur.-gen. of Montana,
Henry D Washburne, with a party of settlers reached the upper geyser
basin, at the head of the Yellowstone, and N. P. Langford, one of the party,
published an account of the discoveries made by the expedition in the May
and June numbers of Scnhners Magazine for 1871. An army officer who
accompanied the excursion in command of a small escort — Lieut G. C. Doane,
2d cav. — made an ofllcial report to Gen. Hancock, who forwarded it to the
362 DIStOVERY AXD OCCUPATION.
sec of war, Belknap. These revelations of the wonders of the Rocky rata
greatly stimulated research. Under the direction cif the sec. of tlie int.,
Delano, the geological survey was resumed in 1871 in the mountain regions,
I'rof. Hayden being in charge. He proceeded from Odgen to Fort Hal^ and
tlience to Fort Ellis, Montana, wliere lie obtained an escfirt and made the
long-contemplated visit to the geyser basin, of which there is a description
in liis report for 1871, being the 5th of the series. In the following year
Hayden, with liis photographer, W. H. Jackson, made a tour through a part
of Colorado, and in his report for 1872 gave a brief general sketch of the
scenery ami tlie geological features, with analyses of tlie mineral springs;
but his explorations were coidined principally to the country nortli of the
41st parallel. In 1873 and 187-4 the survey of Colorado was prosecuted with
zeal. The headtjuarters of the company was at Denver, but it was sei)arated
into 7 divisions to prosecute specifically tlie work of the topographical, geo-
logical, botanical, zoological, arch;eological, palcontological, and photo-
graphical branches of the service, which in all respects was of great value to
tlie country and to science at large. Hayden 's report for Mili contains,
besides the strictly scientific history of the state, many interesting observ-
ations on the conditions of the country and its development at tliis date. All
of liis reports are written in a popular style, which enaljles the least studious
reader to find somech.rm in tliem. Dulys Ad'lress Am. Gcmj. Soc, 1873,
9-12, 55-6. In 1880 Hayden jmldished a volume of general and scientific
information concerning the intramoutane states and territories which he called
T/ie Great We-4, containing over 500 pages, and made up of selected matter
from other sources, witli some descriptive matter from his own, in wliich 75
pages are devoted to Colorado. In 1873 an expedition was thrown into the
field by the war department, under the general charge of Lieut George M.
Wheeler, the primary object being to discover the most available routes for
tlie transport of troops and wagons between interior posts, and incidentally to
conduct researches in geology, zoolngj', botany, arclia-ology, and other
special branches of science. The expedition was in tlie field three years, and
a part of it in Colorado most of the time. The force for 1875 was divided
into two sections, one under the immediate direction of Wiieeler, to start
from Los Angeles for tiie survey of southern Cal. and Arizona, and another
under Lieut William L. Marshall, to start from Fuel do for the survey of the
southern part of Colo, and New Mex. I have referred in my HiMoryof
N<v<i<lii to AN'hceler's work in that state. Marshall's route from rueblo
meandered the sage plains east of the mountains, rounded the base of I'ikes
peak, through the Sangre de Cristo pass to Conejos, on the Conejas branch
of the Rio (irande del Norte, where the real work of the expedition for Colo,
began. The topography of the whole country west of the 100th meridian
and between the parallels was secured by triangulation, and a series of maps
made which omitted no faintest trail or smallest stream. Wlieeler's publi-
cations consist of reports, maps, and photi^grajjlis, ami are of great geogra-
phical value. In 1807 the government ordered tlie geological survey of the
40th parallel, and the explorations were jilaccd in charge of Clarence King,
a man of many attainments, to whose work and that of his party I have re-
ferred in my History of Xciyula. A large octavo volume published in 1870
at Washington on mining industry contains chapters on gold and silver min-
ing in Colorado, by James D. Hague, with general and particular histories
of the most noted mines and mineral districts, with illustrations, the whole
being of much interest and value.
CHAPTER III.
GOLD DISCOVERIES.
1853-1859.
Mythological Mines— Men from Georgia— The Cherokees— Hicks and
Russell — The Lawrence Party— Other Companies —Auraria versus
Denver— The Town Builders — Early Merchants and Manufac-
turers— First Guide Books and Journals — Gold Discoveries on
Boulder Creek and Clear Creek — Russell and Gregory— Central
City and Fair Play — Pioneer Biography.
Up to 1853 Colorado's scant population still lived
in or near some defensive establishment, and had been
decreasing rather than increasing for the past decade,
owing to the hostility of the Indians.' The great
wave of population which rolled westward after the
gold discoveries in California had its effect on this
intermediate territory. Traditions of gold nuggets
carried in shot-pouches of mountaineers are of early
date, a Frenchman named Duchet ' being one of the
careless finders of the royal metal, " away back in
the thirties." These stories were wafted abroad, and
piqued the curiosity of the California bound pilgrims,
who prospected, as opportunity offered; anywhere
along the branches of the Platte river." A party of
Cherokees being en route to California, looking not
only for gold, but for a new country in which to
locate their people who had be^n invited to sell their
1 Fremont, in his E.rplor, Exped., 1843^, mentions the taking of Rouhi-
deau's fort, on the Uintah branch of Green river, in northwestern Utah,
by the Utes, soon after he passed it in 1814. Tlie men were all killed and
the women carried into captivity. Bent's fort was also captured subse-
quently, and the inmates slaughtered. The absence of the owners alone pre-
vented their sharing the fate of their employes.
2 HoUi-iter's Mines of Colorado, 6; Stuart's Montana, 68-9.
^Colorculo Rem, in San Juan, MS., L , „„ ,
( 363 )
3&i GOLD DISCOVERIES.
lands ill Georgia, taking the Arkansas valley route,
and the trail by the Sciuirrcl creek divide to the head
of Cherry creek, made the discovery that gold
existed in the streams of this region. The party
continued on to California, and returned in time to
Georgia, where they attempted to organize an expe-
dition for the Rocky mountains. The news came to
the ears of W. Green Russell, a miner of Dahlonega,
Georgia, who also projected an expedition to this
region.
In the meantime a Cherokee cattle trader from
Missouri, named Parks, in driving his herds alonoj
the trail, and having had his eyes sharpened by the
report of the previous company of his people, dis-
covered gold in 1852, on Ralston creek, a small afflu-
ent of Vasquez, or Clear creek.* A column of troops
marchnig through the country a few years later made
a similar discovery, on Cherry creek, on the south-
west corner of the present state of Colorado; and in
1857 other troops made the same report concerning
Cherry creek in the Platte region." Still, but little
gold was found, and no excitement followed at that
time.
Early in the spring of 1858 the Cherokees organ-
ized for a prospecting expedition to the vicinity of
Pike's peak. W. Green Russell joined their company
with a party of white men. Some difficulties occur-
ring in passing through the country of the Osages,
part of tlie Cherokees turned back. The expedition,
as filially organized for the plains, consisted of twelve
white persons and thirty Indians, among whom were
George Hicks, Sen.,' leader of the company, George
Hicks, Jr, Jolin Beck, wlio had organized the expedi-
tion, Ezekiel Beck, Pelican Tigre, and others. The
* Pabor^a Colo, as an Agricultural Slate, 21-22; Kimjs Oeol. Explor., iii.
487-1)2.
^ liirltxirdsons JIM. Gunniion County, MS., 4; Oilpina A Pionfer of 18.}2,
MS.. S; Corhett's Leyis. Manual, 3G; JJaydena Ghrtai Wait, 99-100; JfarjHr's
Md'j., xli. 373-4.
"Hicks was a lawyer hy profession, had served on the bench as judge, and
was a notable man among the Cherokees.
PROSPECTING EXPEDITIONS. 365
white persons were George McDougal, brother of
Governor McDougal of Cahfornia, who had a trading
post on Adobe creek, a Mr Kirk, wife and two chil-
dren, Levi Braumbaugh, Philander Simmons, a moun-
taineer of a dozen years' experience, and Messrs
Brown, Kelly, Johns, Taylor, and Tubbs. Kelly had
a Cherokee wife, who with her sister accompanied
him. The company left the Missouri frontier May
12th, and arrived at Bent's new fort in good season;
but the winter had been severe and the spring late,'
which made travelling difficult. Nor were their
labors rewarded that season, though they prospected
from the head of the Arkansas to the Platte, and
thirty miles to the north ; and only "Russell remained,
with half a dozen men, who ultimately found diggings
where they took out fair wages, on a dry creek put-
ting into the Platte seven miles south of the mouth
of Cherry creek.
The fame of the Cherokee expedition spread through
the Missouri river towns, and soon other companies
were on the road to the mountains, without waitmg
for confirmation of the rumored discoveries. A com-
pany left Lawrence, Kansas, soon after the passage of
the Hicks and Russell parties, consisting of fifty men,
two of whom, Holmes and Middleton, had families,
and went by the Arkansas valley route to the foot-
hills of the Front range. At Pueblo they found a
few Mexicans, and at Fountain City a mixed settle-
ment of Americans and Mexicans, presided over by
George McDougal. The company prospected south-
ward'^as far as the Sangre de Cristo pass, some cross-
ing the mountains to Fort Massachusetts for supplies.
Beturning northward along the base of the mountains,
they remained two or three months in the Garden of
the Gods at the foot of Pike's peak, which a party,
including Mrs Holmes, ascended, this woman, being
7 Simmons relates that in the Squirrel creek pineries they found the de-
serted camp of Capt. Marcy, who, on his way to join Jonnson's army, lost
several men and a large number of sheep by the cold and snow encountered
here. Arkansas Val. Hist., 548.
366 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
the pioneer of her sex upon tli is lofty summit. Their
camp at this place was called by them Red rocks.
While in this vicinity, the Lawrence company laid
out a town at the site of Colorado springs, which they
called El Paso, from its location at the mouth of the
Ute pass of the mountains Some of the company
took land claims along the Fontaine-qui-Bouille river,
above El Paso town site, covering portions of the
site where Colorad(j City now stands. But as no one
came to purchase lots, and as no g(jld had been found
in the vicinity, El Paso town company became rest-
less, and moved northward to the Platte, a number
of them encamping five miles above the present city
of Denver, where they again laid out a town, putting
up eighteen or twenty cabins, and calling it Montana."
Here the company finally disbanded. Part of them
again engaged in a real estate venture, laying out the
town of St Charles, the site of which embraced 1,280
acres of the ground now occupied by Denver, pos-
session of which was subsequently acquired by the
Denver people.' The greater portion of the Law-
rence company returned to Kansas, some in the
autumn and others in the following spring. A few
wintered at Pueblo,'" and while there were joined by
other companies " from the Missouri border.
8 There was also a place called The Eleven Cahins, 14 miles helow Denver,
on the Platte, but of its history I learn nothing, except the name of the
builder, John Rothrack, of Pa.
•The would-have-been founders of St Charles were Frank M. Cobb, Ad-
nah French, William Smith, and William Hartley. Col)b returned later in
the autumn to Kansas, leaving Charles Nichols in charge of the neM' town.
On his reappearance on Cherry creek in IS59, he fcimd the Denver company
in possession. Cobl) mined for three years, and was sutler from 18G1 to 18(55
to the army in the south, after which he went to Worcester, Mass., where he
was engaged in business until 18G9, when he embarked in cattle raising and
mining in tlie Guimison country. He was born at Minot, Maine.
^■^ Among those who returned to Pueblo to winter were George Peck, Mid-
dleton, wife and child, and one McClellan. They returned to the states in
the spring, and to Colorado in the autumn of 1859. Peck, with a brother,
went to farming on the Goodnight rancho, where he remained till 18G5, at
which time he engaged in mercantile business in the east. In 1872 he re-
turned once more to Colorado, settling at Las Animas, where he again en-
f;aged in farming and cattle rai.sing. In 1880 he was elected probate judge
or Bent county. He married Mary E. Rice in 1871. Arkajisas l^ai Jlist.,
877-8.
'• Few of the names of the Lawrence party have been preserved. John
T. Younker was one of those who remained. He was a native of Ohio, born
AURAEIA. 367
Meanwhile several other parties had set out from
various points along the Missouri, arriving at Cherry
creek in the autumn, by the route up the Platte.
Foremost among these was a little company from
Mills county, Iowa, consisting of D. C. Oakes,^' H.
J. Graham, George Paneoast, Abram Walrod,^' and
Charles Miles. They arrived on the 10th of Octo-
ber on the site of Denver, and after paying a visit to
W. Green Pussell at Placer camp, pitched their tents
at this place.
Two weeks later a company of fifteen men arrived
on Cherry creek, encamping on the west side of the
stream. Among them was Henry Allen from Coun-
cil Bluffs, Iowa, a practical surveyor, whose talent
and instruments were soon called into the service of
town companies. Small parties continued to arrive
every few days, encamping for the most part on the
west side of Cherry creek, which suggested, of course,
a town ; and Auraria was duly organized in the latter
part of October, with Allen as president of the com-
pany. The town plat was surveyed by him, assisted
by William Foster. The first building erected was
by Anselm H. Barker.'* To add to the population,
Aug. 28, 1833, and bred a farmer. From farm life he went to school teach-
ing, and next to telegraph}'. He emigrated to Kansas just in time to be-
come involved in the troubles there, joining the free state men, and fighting
'border rutfians.' After the failure of the Lawrence company to find gold,
he took a land claim on the Platte, five miles from Denver, where he resided
until 1879, when he removed to the city. In 1867 he married Annie R.
Thompson.
^^D. C. Oakes was bom at Carthage, Maine, April 3, 1825. At the age
of six yeare he removed with his parents to Gillion, Ohio, four years later to
Ind., and the following year to Iowa. In 1849, his parents having died,
young Oakes accompanied Abram Walrod to Cal., and mined on American
river in partnership with A. R. Coltnn. Returning home after a few years
of life in the mines, he married, and settled at Glenwood, Iowa, as a con-
tractor and builder, remaining there until 1858, when he started for Pike's
Peak. From this time his life is a part of the history of Colorado. Denver
Hist., 538.
^^ Abraham "Walrod was bom in N. Y., Jan. 22, 1825, bred a farmer, and
educated at the common schools. In 1843 he removed to Iowa, and in 1849
accompanied D. C. Oakes to Cal., working in the mines for two years. On
returning to Iowa he settled at G-lenwood, whence he came to Colo in 1858,
and engaged in mining. In 1852 he married Emily A. Cramblet of 111. His
daughter Mary was the first white girl bom in Denver. Denver Hist., 644r-5.
1* Barker was a native of Ohio, born in Gallia countv. Xov. 23, 1822, and
bred a farmer and blacksmith. He married Aug. 7, 1843, and removed to
3G8 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
the settlers at Montana were persuaded to move their
cahins to Auraria '* and become incor[)orated with the
])rospeetive city/* every settler being allowed as many
lots as he would build upon.
Iowa soon after. In 1857 he again removed to the new town of Plattsmouth
in Neb., wlience lie camo to Colorado, where lie remained and worked at hia
tra<le. Among his discoveries was tlie Total Eclipse mine at Leadville. He
was sergeant-at-arms of the constitutional convention of 187G.
'■' Auraria was named after a town in Lumpkin county, Georgia, by some
persons from that mining region. Some autliorities state that it was named
after some person, for which assertion I find no ground. There were many
miners from (Georgia ■who would wisli to compliment their former residence
or preserve their liome memories in this way. 1 quote Byem' Jluit. Colo., ALS.,
17; SoprW Sittleiiti'nt of Diiurr, MS., 1. In lIolliiterH Mines of Colorado,
10, it is said tliat J. L. Russell of Auraria, (ieogia, named the place.
"^Richard Sopris, one of the Auraria town company, was horn in Bucks
CO., Pa., June '20, 1813. He was hred a farmer, and learned the trade of a
carpenter. On the 5th of June, 1S.S7 he married Elizabetli Allen, of Treiit(»n,
N. J., and removed to Ind., changing his residence frequently, as he took
canal and railroad contracts in various parts of the state. He arrived at
Cherry creek Feb. 1, 1851), in company with Parks. He took an active part
in puljlic affairs in Colorado; was a capt. in the first Colo inf. ; tirst president
of the Colorado Agricultural society; for two years sheriff of Arapahoe
county, 1804-G; assisted in building the railroads of the state; and has been
mayor of Denver, and president of the Pioneer association. 1 found him in-
telligent and reliable autliority on Colorado affairs, and his contribution of
Tliv Settle) lie )it of Di'»V(r,}>lS., very important. His family consisted in 1884
of five sons and three daughters.
Andrew J. Williams was a native of N. Y., bom Nov. 22, 1833. "Whea
the Pike's peak gold fever broke out he left for the mountains in the autumn
of 1858, in company with Charles H. Blake — after whom Blake street,
Denver, was named — having four wagons drawn by four yokes of oxen each,
carrj'ing mercliandise. They arrived Nov. 1st with the first stock of goods,
and erected the first store in Auraria, or West Denver. In Dec. they joined
the Denver town company, and helped to survey the ground, removing to
the east side of the creek in the spring of 1859, where they erected the first
hotel, a log house, 110 by 32 feet, and roofed with canvas, situated on Blake
street near 15th street. It was burned in 1863. In 1859 Williams engaged
in freighting and contracting in Colorado and New Mexico, wliich he fol-
lowed until 1865. He also bought large herds of cattle which he drove to
Colorado from Texas, making good profits. He became one of tlie incorpo-
rators and directors of the Exchange bank in 1876, and president in 1878.
Judson H. Dudley, born in N. Y., April 8. 1834, in 1857_ went to Neb.,
and from there to Pike's peak, where he arrived October 20, 1858, and assisted
in organizing the town company of Auraria, of wliich he was vice-president.
Subsequently he joined the Denver company. On the breaking out of the
war he was appointed quartermaster with the rank of major. He was owner
of the Moose mine.and manager of the reduction works at Dudley for five vears.
William Cole, a native of N. Y., was born Feb. 16. 1836, and educated at
a common school. After a brief experience as <a salesman in a mercantile es-
tablishment, he travelled through several of the western states, and being
caught by the current setting toward the new gold region, found himself on
the 20th of October, 1858, at Cherry creek, and when Auraria was l>eing or-
ganized joined the town company. Then he went to Missouri to purchase
beef and stf>ck cattle, and soon after obtained contracts for furnishing the
government posts. In 1865 he engaged in stock raising on a large scale.
With Williams & Co. he built 40 miles of the Kansas Pacific railroad.
THE AURAPJA COMPANY. 369
Some time during the winter there arrived at
Auraria a party from Leavenworth, which had come
by the Arkansas route. It consisted of Richard E.
Whitsitt/' George WilUam Larimer, WilHam Lari-
mer, Jr, Charles A. Lawrence, Folsom Dorsett, M,
M. Jewett, E. W. Wynkoop, Hickory Rogers, and
H. A. P. Smith, the last three having been picked up
at Pueblo by the Leavenworth party. Immediately
on viewing the situation of Auraria. and the relation
of Cherry creek to all the routes of travel, these new-
comers jumped the town site of St Charles on the
opposite or east side of the creek, and organized a
company to build a town, which was to be called Den-
ver, after the governor of Kansas. A number of the
Auraria company joined the Denver company, and
John D. Howland, another of the Auraria company, was a native of
Zanesville, Ohio, born May 7, 1843, and educated at Marietta college. In
1857 he took up his residence among the Sioux, in order to paint mountain
scenery. He enlisted in the 1st Colo Cavalry, serving four years, and then
went to Europe. On returning from abroad he made his home in Colorado,
acting as seci-etary of the peace commission to the northern Sioux in 1867,
and serving as a government scout for a number of years. After this he
gave himself up to his art, having his studio in Denver.
George C. Schleier, a native of Baden, Germany, who immigrated to the
U. S. in 1833 at the age of six years, was one of a party of 30 which left
Leavenworth in Sept. 1858, arriving at Auraria Dec. 1st, where they win-
tered. In Schleier, Teutonic phlegm and American enterprise were happily
united, making him a tj^pical pioneer. He accjuired a fortune by the.-e
qualities, and became an induential citizen of his adopted state. ' D. C.
Collier, Frank Dorris, George Le Baum, and Cyrus Smith were members of
this Leavenworth company, which travelled the Arkansas route.
Matthew L. iMcCaslin, a native of Pa, wintered at Auraria in 1858-9.
He went to Gold hill the following summer, where he mined for four years,
after which he settled on a land claim on St Train creek, where he secured
750 acres of land. He is a wealthy cattle owner.
William R. Blore, of English ari C-?rman parentage, was bom in X. Y.,
July 27, 1833, and removed to Pa in childhood. In 1856 he went to Xeb.,
and thence to Colorado, being one of the Auraria town company. After
putting up some buildings he went to Gold run, and in company ^vith Mc-
Caslin and Horsfal, discovered the famous Horsfal lode at Gold hill. He
became president of the Gold Hill Mining co. in 1860, and realized a fortune.
George R. Williamson was another pioneer of 1858. He was born July
14, 1824, removed to Nebraska, and was elected sheriflF of Decatur county in
1856. Thence he went to the Pike's peak country. In 1861-2 in company
with H. C. Norton he built the Bear canon toll road. In J 875 he discovered
and located the Yellow Pine mine, and the Nucleus, Gray Copper, and Duroc
lodes, in Sugar Loaf district. Thev yieWed him over half a million doUars.
1' Whitsitt was a native of Ohio, bom March 30, 1830. He was bred to
mercantile pursuits, and removed to Kansas on the organization of that ter-
ritory, settling at Leavenworth, where he operated in real estate. This prol>
ably suggested to him the course he took in Colorado. Denver Ekt, 631.
Hist. Key. 24
»70 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
when the founder of St Charles returned from a visit
to Kansas in the spring he was compelled to take
shares in the new company or lose all, his agent hav-
ing already been over})owered. The first secretary of
tlie company was P. T. Basset. He was followed b}^
Whitsitt, who was secretary, treasurer, and donating
aojent until a sjrant was obtained from the ojovern-
mcnt, all the deeds passing through his hands. The
town was surveyed by E. D. Boyd, Larimer and A.
J. Williams carrying the chain. It was this survey-
ing which was assumed to give the new company the
superior right. Larimer built the first house '* after
a stockade occupied by William McGaa." It was
a log cabin 16 by 20 feet, with a ground floor,'*
and probably a turf roof. It stood near the corner
of Larimer and Fifteenth streets. The second
house was erected by Moin and Rice, carpenters and
wagon-makers, on Fifteenth street, opposite Larimer,
which goes to show that this part of town became
the business centre.
The first trader in Denver was John Smith, who
was acting as agent for Elbridge Gerry, one of the
brothers before mentioned as a wealthy fur-trader.
When Blake and Williams opened their stock of
goods, Gerry hastened from Fort Laramie and took
charge of the business.'^ A tin-shop was the third
^^ Sopris Si'Ulement of Denver, MS., 3. There is some douUt about the
builder of the first house in Denver. Like so many first tlungs, it liaa sev-
eral claimants. David C. Collier, a native of Mina, N. Y., l)orn Oct. 13,
1832, a descendant of puritan ancestors, a student of Oherlin college, iu
Ohio, is one of those wlio built the first house on the east side of Clierry
creek.' Clear Creek and Boulder Ciunttj Hist., 444. Collier drove an ox-team
from Lcavcnwortli, and was the first lawyer who offered his professional ser-
vices in Colorado. He erected several houses in Denver. He explored a con-
siderable portion of (Ulpiu and Clear Creek counties. White and Unconi-
paligre rivers, and the head waters of the Del Norte and Arkansas rivers,
and also the San Juan country. In 1802 he removed to Central city, and
besides practising law, edited the Jieijutter. He was connected with the
educational interests of Colorado as supt of the public schooli for Gilpin
county.
^■i Hollv^ter's Mine, of Colorado, \^y.
''" Tlie first building having a wooden floor was at the store of W.allingford
and Murphy, at tlie corner of Larimer and 17th street. Moore's Early Days
in Denver, MS., 3.
■'^ Denver Hocky Mountain Herald, Jan. 8, 1876.
DENVER VERSUS AURARIA. 371
business place opened, kept by Kiinia and Xye, who
had brought a small stock of tin and sheet-iron to
make into such articles as were required by miners.
They began business in Auraria in November, but
vv^ere soon induced to remove to Denver. The first
stove in Colorado was made by them out of sheet-
iron for Blake and Williams' public hall, known as
Denver hall, for which they were paid $lpO. On
Christmas 1858 a train of six large wagons belong-
ing to Richard Wooten and brother arrived from Xew
Mexico, loaded with provisions, and these goods being
placed on sale, made the third trading establishment,
and the last before immigration began in 1859. The
next largfe stock of floods which arrived belongred to
J. B. Doyle and Fred Z. Salomon, and came from
' the States.' It consisted of twelve large wagon-
loads of groceries, provisions, boots and shoes, and
miners' tools. A warehouse was erected in Auraria,
and an active rivalry in trade was carried on between
the two towns, Denver soon after receiving almost as
large a stock from Xew Mexico, belonging to St Train
and St James, whose store was on Blake street, and
was the largest in Denver at the time. It furnished
women's and children's shoes, the first oflered in Col-
orado.
Women and children were not reckoned among the
inhabitants of the Pike's peak mining region in 1858,
although there were five of the former who saw the
beginning of Denver. They were Mrs and Miss
Booker from Salt Lake ; Mrs H. Murat ;" 'Mrs
Smoke, who afterward went to Montana ; and Mrs
Wooten, a native of ^Mexico. To these were added
in August 1859 Mrs W. X. Byers,Mrs Henry Allen,
and two daughters. Before winter of that year there
were many of all classes in Denver^ The first child
2^H. Murat, commonly called 'the count,' was a lineal descendant of
Marshal Murat, king of Naples. The countess washed, and the coimt
shaved men's beards — occupations more useful than nol>le personages usually
engage in. He later became an inmate of the Arapahoe county hospital.
Byeri Midi. Colo, Mb., 82.
372 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
born iu the town was a half-caste son of McGaa," one
of the original town company, who voted to name it
after his friend, the governor of Kansas, and to give
him a share in the town site."
The destiny of east Denver as against Auraria
was settled in the autumn of 1859 by the arrival of
two trains from Leavenworth, aggregating thirty
wagons, loaded with merchandise, belonging to Jones
and Cartwright, who opened stores on Blake
street. *' Now," said the Denver partisans, " no more
Mexican trash for free Americans. Xo more one
hundred per cent. The trade is ours, and Denver is
saved." They made good their word, as it afterward
proved — all but the one hundred per cent.'^
^ McGaa went by the name of Jack Jones among mountain men. It is
said by Moore in his E-irly Days in Denver, MS., 9, that he was the son of
an Irish baronet, but Byers, in Hist. Colo, MS., 73, says he was an American.
A: all events he was au eJucated man, aud a good writer. He -was a friend
and guide of Gen. J. W. Denver, and a shre-nd business man. But he fell
into dissipated habits, and lost his standing. The town company hastened
his final end by changing the name of McCxaa street to HoUaday street in
honor of Ben HoUaday. This insult broke his heart. At least, so Eays
Moore, quoted above. McGaa died about 1SG6.
-* Denver did not visit the place, or claim his lots in accordance with the
terms of the grant, until ISS'2, when his share had been taken possession of,
and divided among some of the other members of the company. He would
not disturb titles, as the property had passed to innocent purchasers.
^I find mention of a number of the pioneers of 1S5S belonging to the set-
tlement of Denver who have not been here recorded. William M. Slaughter,
from Plattsmouth, Xeb. , later mayor of Central City, was one of the early
arrivals. John J. Reithmann, bom in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1S38, came
t J the U. S. at the age of 10 years, and was educated in the public schools of
Indianapolis, where he was employed in the bank of the capital In ISoS
the family removed to Coimcil Bluffs, from which place he soon after emi-
grated with his brother, L. D. Reithmann, to Colorado. They did not go to
Cherry creek, but the latter wintered at a place known as E-ough and Ready,
2i miles below the mouth of Cherry creelC on the Platte, while the former
retume<>>to Council Bluffs, carrying the first mail between Colorado and Iowa.
In the spring of 1S59 he recrossed the plains to Denver, where he engaged in
manufacturing crackers; and in 1S6S began selling drugs. He made a for-
tune, and spent it freely in travel and the education of liis children. He was
presi<lent of the German bank — later the German Xatir.nal bank — of Denver,
which jiosition he resigned to go abroad. Louis 1>. Reithmann was also a
Swiss, although not of the same family. Brouglit up in Ohio, he lived after-
ward near Indianapolis, and removed to Council Bluffs in 1856. whence he
came to Colorado in 1S5S. He mined until 1865, went to Salt Lake, and
thence to Montana, where he opened a bakery in company with Frank Hogert,
but three years afterward returned to Colonuio and engaged in dairy farming,
and later in the gT(<ceTy trade in Denver. Henry Reitz, a German by birth,
learned the trcde of a baker in London, after which he came to the U S.,
wfirkin^ a? a painter for a time. On arri^-ing in Colorado, he sold his ox-
team, and Viith the money, opened a bakery, making §3,500 in a few months.
THE PIKL S PEAK COUNTRY. 373
But I will not further anticipate. D. C. Oakes
having obtained possession of a journal kept by W.
Green Russell, who returned with him late in the
autumn to the states, published the same with a way-
bill, under the title of Pikes Peak Guide and Journal;
and although it was printed in the little town of
Pacific City in Mills county, Iowa, it was widely cir-
culated with similar publications, causing a large emi-
gration to set out for the mountains as soon as the
grass began to start in the spring, and even before.
On the v/hite covers of thousands of wagons w^as
inscribed ''Pike's Peak," often with the addition of
some jocose legend;'^ this conspicuous landmark, in
the absence of an official name for this region, stand-
ing for all the country from which this mountain was
visible.
In April 1859 there were ten or twelve hundred
persons encamped at Aurariaand Denver, the advance
of that army stretching across the great plains from
the MissouH river in different lines, but principally
up the Platte valley. Among the first to arrive v/as
D. C. Oakes, with a saw-mill, which he placed on
after which he went to mining, and accumulated a comfortahle fortune by
that means, and by painting. Edmund A. Willoughby, son of Gen. Frank-
lin Willoughby, was born in Groton, N. Y., Jan. 6, 18.36, and removed in
1857 to Omaha, Neb. In 1858 he joined a party for Pike's peak, which ar-
rived Oct. 27th at Cherry creek, where he associated himself with M. A.
Avery in contracting and building, erecting, among other structures, Denver
hall, famous in early times. He manufactured the Willoughby brick. He
was sheriff of Arapahoe county in 1873, and two years alderman of the 4th
ward of Denver. Andrew Sagendorf was born in N. Y., Aug. 20, 1828, and
bred a farmer. In 1856 he removed to Neb., and in 1858 he left Omaha for
Pike's peak, and arrived at Cherry creek November 5th, remaining there over
winter. In the spring he went prospecting, and with others discovered
Spanish bar, where he mined until July. Returning to Auraria he was
elected secretary of tlie town company, which office he held for two years.
He was also weighing clerk in the mint at Denver in 18G3. In 1866 he was
appointed postmaster for Denver, holding the office three years. He subse-
quently erected the government buildings at the White liiver Ute agency,
and afterward engaged in stock raising in Douglas county. In 1874 he re-
moved to Colorado Springs, and for two years ran the express and transfer
line, and finally went into the drug business in this place.
^^One wagon bore the inscription, 'Pike's Peak or bust!' The disap-
pointed gold seeker returned soon after with his addenda: 'Busted, by
Thunder ! ' emV)lazoned on his wagon cover. Elhert's Public Men awl Memures,
M.S., 2; IiujersolCs KnocUny around the Rockies, 6; Sopris' Settlement of Denver,
MS., 1.
874 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
Plum creek, twenty miles south of Denver, and which
furnished the first lumber for the improvement of that
town on the 21st of Ai)ril." On that same day there
arrived from Omaha a newspaper company with a
}>rinting press, which was destined to do as much
toward building up the town of ])enver as the saw-
mill, though in a diftcrent way. The head of the
company was William N. Byers, who, like Oakes, had
published a Guide to Pikes Peak, which had been
extensivel}^ sold to the immigrants." It happened
that before he arrived at Cherry creek signs of a
panic began to appear, and he encountered persons
who threatened to have satisfaction of him for having
raised expectation by his Guide which had not been
fulfilled. Oakes was regarded with still greater dis-
favor, because he had been the first to represent Pike's
peak as a mining region, and his name was mentioned
with execrations.'* Henry Allen and William Lari-
"The first lumber was purchased by Richard Wooten, who came to Colo-
rado ill 1838, and Tluymas Pollock, who erected the lirst frame liouscs. Dvn-
vtr Jlist., ISG. Wooten was living in Trinidad in 1882. Deiircr Colorado
A nteA'^., Ajjril, 1 882. The 2d saw mill was erected by Little, and the 3d by
Wliittemore. Srrpris Settlement of Denver, MS., 12.
-^Mr Byers had a most important iniluence in shaping the history of Col-
orado. I am indebted to him for very valuable material, collected during a
tour through the state of Colorado in 1884, in four different manuscript con-
tributions; namelj', Ilidnry of Colorado, The Neivirpaiwr Press of Colorailo,
The Sand Creek Affair, and The Centennial State, each filled with tlie very
essence of history. Byers was born in Oliio, Feb. 22, 1831. At the age of
19 he removed to Iowa, and joined a government surveying party for Cal.
and Or. in 1851, returning to Washington in 1853, after wiiich lie settled
at Omaha, then in its infancy. He continued surveying until ho came to
Colo. In clianging his occupation he followed tlic natural bent of his mind,
aii>l made the best use of his talents. He founded the Rorh/ Monntain News,
the first newspaper issued in Colorado. Tiie first number appeared April
22d, the day after his arrival, and proceeded by 20 minutes the Cherry Cnek
Pioneer, owned l)y .Tack Merrick of St Joseph, M'ho, being beaten in the race,
Sfild to Thomas (Jibson, also of the Niors, and never issued a second number
of liis paper. Tliis left a clear field for Byers and fJibson, which they im-
jjroved. George C. Monell of Omaha had an interest in the Nexm, but turned
back on his way to Denver, and sold it. Bi/rrs' HIkI. Colo, MS.
'■"The following distich was made familiar to tiiousands on the plains:
' Here lies the body of D. C. Oakes,
Killed for aiding the Pike's Peak hoax.'
HilCs Tales of Colo Pionrrrs, 27. His etfigy was buried by tiie wayside, and
on a buffalo skull planted at tlie head was written:
' Here lies the bones of Major Oakes,
Tiie author of this God danmed hoa.x.'
AXGRY GOLD SEEKERS. 375
mer came in for a share of blame also. There was
as httle reason in this revengeful feeling as there had
been in the unbounded creduhty which had led them
on the first unproved statement of a bookmaker to
hasten to place themselves in the front rank of gold-
seekers.
But their panic was not groundless. Gold had not
yet been found in amount to justify any excitement,
although it was the belief of old miners on the ground
that it was there. Very few of those who came to
mine knew anything of indications, or the methods of
mining. They needed to be taught; but until mining
had been begun they could learn nothing. Other
employments there were none at that early date.
The last argument for quitting the country was fur-
nished on the 16th of April, when a man named John
Scudder killed another named Bassett in a quarrel.
If a course o'f outlawry was about to commence, they
w^ould none of that country ; so away they went like
senseless steers — senseless in coming or in returning
— stampeding down the Platte sixty or seventy
strong, swearing they would kill D. C. Oakes and
W. N. Byers if peradventure they could lay hands
on them.
On foot, unfurnished with transportation or pro-
visions for a journey of such length, the backward
moving men kept on. The stories they told of Pike's
peak affairs were at least as exaggerated as the rep-
resentations of the guide-books which they condemned,,
big lies in their minds seemingly being neccessary to^
counteract the effect of big lies. And every man
they turned back added to the apparent weight of
evidence, gaining like a rolling snow-ball. If sixty
could turn back sixty, twice sixty could turn back
their own number at least, and 240 might be able to
influence not only 480, but, by that power which
crowds have to create a state of feeling, a much
larger number could be made to share in the alarm.
Of the 150,000 persons on the plains in the spring
376 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
and suiniiicr of 1859, not less tlian 50,000 wore tlius
turned back. This was duuljtless the greatest suc-
cess these sixty men ever achieved ; and their reward
was free transportation for themselves, and }>rovisions
for the journey. The return began far up the Platte,
and many who had loaded their wagons with mer-
chandise to sell in the mines, or proi)ertv for their
own use, threw it away rather than tax their tired
oxen to drag it back five or six hundred miles to the
Missouri river. The route was strewn with goods of
every description for hundreds of miles, and of the
100,000 that pushed on to the mountains, less than
40,000 remained there. Some tarried but a few-
weeks, and others remained all summer, going home
when cold weather approached.
But there was really something back of all this
running to and fro, this seemingly wasted effort. It
was slow in appearing, revealing itself little by little
in a tantalizing fashion which is sufficient apology for
the discontent of those who imagined gold could be
picked up like pebbles. On the 15th of January
1850. gold was discovered in a small affluent of
Boulder creek, to which the name of Gold run was
given ; and about the end of January a discovery was
made in a gulch filled with fallen timber, on the south
Boulder, and called Deadwood diggings.'* In the
spring J. D. Scott discovered a gold-bearing quartz
vein, and named it after himself, the Scott, and the
place (xold hill. Out of these discoveries grew the
town of Boulder
On the 6th of May a party of Chicago men, headed
by George Jackson, a California miner, made a rich
discovery on a branch of Clear creek. The diggings
took the name of Chicago bar. or Jackson diggings,
and soon overflowed with anxious miners, many of
^Compare Moore's Early Days in Denver, MS.; Sofpris Settlement of Den-
ver, MS.; ByerK' Hixt. Colorado, MS.; Bra<lford's Hist. Colorado, MS.; anil
Holliatera Mines of Colorado.
MIXING CAMPS. 377
whom were compelled to look further for want of
room. A short distance above the mouth of Fall
river and Chicago bar was Spanish bar, so called
because there were evidences of former mining at that
place ; in the vicinity were Fall river and Grass Val-
ley mining camps. But the principal camp on this
part of Clear creek was opposite Jackson diggings,
and became the foundation of the town of Idaho
Springs, which began to take shape the following year.
On the 10th another party, led by John H. Greg-
ory, a Georgian,^' made a discovery just over the
^^ Gregory was a lazy f eUow from Gordon county, Georgia, and drove a
government team from Leavenworth to Fort Laramie in 1858, intending to
go to Fraser river, but being detained at Laramie by want of means had
drifted off to Clear creek, and with some others had encamped at a point
between Denver and Golden, and called the place Arapahoe. It is said by
HoUister, in his Mines of Colorado, 63, that he prospected in January, and
found the color in the north fork of Clear creek; and that being out of pro-
visions he was forced to return to camp. It does not appear that he made
any further effort for several months. He was finally ' grub staked " ( furnished
with pro^-isions for an interest in his success) by David K. Wall, and induced
to lead a party, consisting of Wilkes De Frees, his brother, and Kendall, to
the mountains and the stream where he had seen the color. The party set
out in April, proceeding from Arapahoe up the north forth of Vasquez or
Clear creek, climbing many successive ridges, and floundering through snow
banks, until they came to the mouth of a gulch near the head of the creek,
and consequently well up in the mountains. Here Gregory suggested that
it would be well to dig and look for float gold. While the other men dug he
looked on. They obtained a fair prospect, and went on excavating. Then
said Gregory to Wilkes De Frees, who had grub staked him, 'Bring your
shovel, and come with me. ' They went about 300 feet further up the side of
the gulch, when Gregory pointed to the ground and said, ' Here is a good
looking spot; stick your shovel in there, Wilk.' De Frees obeyed, turning
over a few shovelfuls of earth. 'Give me some in the pan,' said Gregory
again, and De Frees filled the pan half full of dirt, which the Georgian pro-
ceeded to wash at the little stream running through a gulch close at hand. Tl e
product of that half pan of dirt was half an ounce of gold 1 Gregory went back
for another panful, with the same result. Claims were immediately staked
off. The effect of his extraordinary fortune crazed the weak brain of poor
Gregory. All through the night "sleep deserted him, and his companions
heard his self-communings. He sold his discovery claim, under the impres-
sion that he could easily find another as good. The price he obtained, ^22, -
000, was a fortune to him. At length, in 1861-2, he disappeared from a
hotel in Illinois, and was never seen again. The man to whom Gregory sold
his mine was Edward W. Henderson. He was born in Austinburg, Ohio,
Xov. 29, 1818, and bred a farmer, receiving a common school education. In
1844 he removed to Iowa, and from there he went to Pike's peak, where he
arrived in April 1859. After prospecting for a few weeks, he went to Greg-
ory gulch on the 16th of May, and on the 29th, in company with Amos
Gridl'^y, he purchased the Gregory claims, paying for them out of the pro-
ceeds of the mine. It was a fortunate venture, although he lost some of the
money he made in other ones. He erected a quartz mill in 1861, where the
Eureka foundry later stood, in company with D. A. January, Ely R. Lack-
land, and Judge Lackland, in which was a loss. He afterward purchased a
378 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
mountains west of Jackson bar, on the nortli f»)rk of
Clear creek, tlie richest ever found in Colorado, and
one of the richest in the world. These discoveries
arrested the backward How of immigration to some
extent. Not less than 30,000 persons hastened after
Jackson when they heard of Chicago bar, and when
Gregory point was made known they threw them-
selves in there pell mell, each striving to be first.
But the Gregory party. had taken the precaution
before giving their discovery pul)licity to admit their
friends and organize a district, with rules and regula-
tions by which all future claimants should be gov-
erned.'' Comparatively few of those who came found
ground to work;'''' for which reason much discontent
was exhibited, and a mass meeting was called to change
the laws of the district.'' The new-comers were
unable to cope with the more experienced miners, and
were surprised to find that the committee appointed
by th'^niselves to revise the laws made no material
change in them. They liad failed to perceive that
tlie i)ioneers were mingling with the assemblage in
ever}^ part, nominating their men on the committee.
Not knowing the nominees, the malcontents voted
mill at Gregory point in company with Gridley, but lost in this transaction
also. He finally consolidated his claims with four others, aiid sold out to a
New York company, his share of the price obtained being .3100,000, In IST.'i
he was appointed receiver of the U. S. land office at Central City. Clear Cnrk
and Ji'>ul</rr Vat. HUt., 454-5.
*^The mining laws adopted were nearly identical with those of California,
defining the lioundaries of tlie district; forbidding the taking of more tlian
one claim of a kind, except by purchase properly attestc<l; fixing the extent
of a mountain claim at 100 feet on the lode and 50 feet in width; and of a
gulch or creek claim at 100 feet along the creek or gulch, and extending from
bank to bank; limiting tlie time of holding without working to 10 days; giv-
ing the discoverer a 'discovery claim,' in addition to his working claim, which
he could work or not as he chose; divitling tlie water of a stream ecpially be-
tween miners, etc. Disputes were to be settled by arbitration. On the 9th
of July another meeting was held, at which it was resolved to elect by ballot
a president of the district, a recorder of claims, and a sheriff. Richard
Sopris was chosen president, C. A. Roberts recorder, and Cliarles Peck
sheriff. A committee was also appointed to codify the laws of the district.
HoUixtc/s Mhira o/Colo, 77-9.
3^ Bates and Taschuer hired Gregory at a high price to prospect for them,
and together they foun<l the cclebratec Bates lode. Colo GmctU'er, \~,\.
'*Byers, who was present at this meeting, describes it as hioking like a
'flock of blackbirds,' so thickly were the sides of the gulch covered with
men. IJist. Colo, MS. 34.
GOLD FIELDS. 379
them into office, and accepted their report because
they had done so, with a suspicion that they had been
outwitted.
Prospectinof continued in the mountains, a number
of discoveries being made on the headwaters of north
Clear creek, Boulder, south Clear creek, and the
Platte. Early in June W. Green Russell commenced
mining on a tributary of north Clear creek, a little
south of, but paraUel with, the Gregory claims, in a
ravine which took the name of Russell gulch. Six
man in one week took out seventy-six ounces of gold,
worth from sixteen to eighteen dollars to the ounce."'
Something over 200 men were at work in Nevada
a:id Illinois gulches and Missouri flat, tributaries of
Gregory and Russell gulches, who w^ere producing an
average of 89,000 a week. In the latter part of Sep-
tember there were about 900 men at work in Russell
gulch, taking out an average of $35,000 a week.
Water becoming scarce, ditches were constructed to
bring it from Fall river to Russell and Gregory
gulches, which cost the miners $100,000. The dis-
tricts discovered in 1859 in what were later Clear
creek and Gilpin counties were, besides Gregory,
Russell, Spanish bar, and Jackson, Nevada district,
Lake gulch, Griffith, Illinois Central, Enterprise,
Central, Eureka, and Virginia. The discoveries in
these districts were numerous enough to employ
many,'" but by no means all who sought for claims.
35 William Green Russell remained in Colorado until 1S62, and made con-
siderable m mey. On his way east he was arrested for a confederate at Santa
Fe, but he was released and returned to Colorado, where he remained until
1875, when he removed to the Cherokee country, his wife being a woman of
that nation, and died a few years afterward. Bradford's Hist Colo, MS., 4;
Soprk' Sdtlenent of Denver, MS., 2.
^«I give herewith the names of mines and their discoverers in 1859: In
Gilpiu county, the Alger, by William Alger; American Flag; Barrett, by
Wesley Barrett; Burroughs, Benjamin Burroughs; Briggs, Briggs Brothers;
Butler, Jame-i D. Wood; Connelly and Beverly, Connelly and Beverly; Dean-
Castro, Dean and Castro; Gaston, James Gaston; Gunr.ell, Harry Gunnell;
Hill House, Payne & Co.; Ingles, Webster & Co.; Indiana, Thomas Brothers;
.Tennings, Thomas Jennings; Kansas, James ^Madison; Kentuckj^ Jones and
Hardesty; Miller, A. :Miller; Mack, ^Y. Mack; Missouri; Roderick Dhu,
Shevens and Hall; Smith, A. A. Smith; Snow, James Snow; Tarryall; To-
peka, Joseph Hurst; Tucker, John XichoL; Virginia, J. Oxley; Whiting,
380 GOLD DISCO\'ERIE.S.
A rumor of discovery, and they swarmed at that
place, alighting like locusts upon a field which could
not furnish, ground for one in a thousand of those who
came. Finding tliemselves too late, tliey swarmed
again at some other spot, which they abandoned in a
similar manner.
Out of this ceaseless activity grew worthy results.
From Araphoe " at the mouth of Table mountain
canon, where they had gathered during the wmter,
Mines of Gilpin County.
Whiting & Co.; Woofl, Robert Wood; Leavenworth, Harsh Brothers; Cali-
fornia, Hutchinson; French F. TernduU; St Louis. In Clear crock cimnty
the (irittith, George F. (iriHith, ami tlie Virginia. These were discoveries
whicli proved to be real lodes, called at first ' mountain tliggings ' to distin-
guish them from the ^ulcli and bar diggings; but these were not all. There
seems to have been a good uniform yield, but never an extraordinary pro-
duction as in some parts of Idaho and Montana. Hollister, in J//«<-.« oj't'ih,
CG-7, gives the yield of the decomposed quartz in these mountains digging!
as follows: the highest day's income from the Gregory, working it with a
sluice, was $405, and the lowest .'?121. Zcigler, Spain,' & Co. cleaned up in
three weeks on the (Gregory §2,400. De Frees & Co., cleaned up .'?2,()S0 in 12
days with one sluice. Kelder, Patton, & Fletclier averaged with 5 hands
SlOO a day on the Bates lode. From 8125 toS^.lO a day were obtained from
single sluices, working four men; and so on.
^'Arapahoe was staked off by (Jeorge B. Allen. It contained in 1859
nearly 100 houses, but was soon after deserted and converted into farms.
Clear Creek niul Boulder Val Hint., 547. Allen ])ecame a resident of a farm
near Golden. He was born in Albany, N. Y., May 17, 1825. In 1846 he
removed to Akron, Ohio, and subsequently to Defiance, where he remained
TOWX-BUILDING. 381
went the founders of Golden,^^ Golden Gate, Mount
Vernon, Central City, and Nevada," all on the afflu-
ents of Clear creek. Golden Town companj^ was
formed in the spring of 1859, and was an afterthought
of its organizers, who were encamped at the Gate of
the Mountains, or the mouth of the canon of Clear
creek. The trail to the mines crossed the creek
here,*" and the water being high, J. ]\T Ferrell con-
structed first a foot-bridge and then a toll-bridge for
teams, and improved the road, making his bridge a
good piece of property, as well as the first of its kind
in Colorado. Many persons gathered there, attracted
by the natural beauties of the scenery, or encamped
preparatory to entering the mountains, suggesting
thereby a town, when a company was formed, consist-
ing of D. Wall, J. M. Ferreh. J, C. Kirby, J. C.
B)wles, Mrs Williams, W. A. H. Loveland, H. J.
Carter, Ensign Smith, William Davidson, F. W. Bee-
bee, E. L. Berthoud, Stanton, Clark, and Garrison.
They called themselves the Boston compan}' ; and
having selected two sections of land laid out half a
section in lots and blocks, the remainder not being-
surveyed until the following 3'ear. A saw-mill and
five years. Having lost a stock of goods by fire he engaged in brokerage and
then in buying and selling stock. In lbo7 he removed to Doniphan, Kansas,
but on account of failing health determined to cross the plains. After laying
out Auraria and Arapahoe, he became interested in quartz and lumVter mills.
He moved his sawmill across the mountaia into California Gulcli in 1861, and
'blew the first -whistle across the range.' In 18G4 he took 160 acres of land
on Clear creek where he made himself a home.
^s The firot settlers of Golden were W. A. H. Loveland, John M. Ferrell,
Fox Deifenderf, P. B. Cheney, Dr Hardy, George Jackson, Charles M. Fer-
rell, John F. Kirby, T. P. Bovd, William Pollard, James McDonald, George
We?t, Mark Blunt, Cliarles Remington, E. B. Smith, J. C. Bowles, Daniel
McCleary, I. B. Fitzpatrick, an.l W" J. :McKay.
=^ J. M. Beverly built the first cabin in ZSTevada, and was elected recorder
of the district in the autunm, besides being .sheriff and justice of tlie peace.
During the winter he located Beverly's discovery on the Burroughs lode. In
18S2 he erected a quartz mill in Nevada gulch. He returned to Chicago in
1838 and was married there; but in the great fire of 1S71 he lost all his accu-
mulations and began the study of the law. After being admitted to the bar
he revisited Colorado, where he located and purchased a number of mines,
which were profitably worked. Beverly was born in Culpepper county, Vir-
ginia, in 1843.
** It is mentioned by several writers that Horace Greeley visited the mines
tbis year; and it is related that he attempted to swim his mule across Clear
creek, and would have been drowned but for assistance rendered him.
382 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
sliingle-inill in the pineries furnished material for
building, which went on rapidh', the town having
seven or eight hundred iidiabitants before winter.*'
Golden Gate, two miles north of Golden, where the
Denver and Gregory road entered the mountains, was
a flourishing settlement. At the mouth of Left Hand
creek was a town, later abandoned, called Davenport
in 1859. Mountain City at Gregory point was laid
out early in May, the first house being started on the
2 2d by Richard Sopris, who, with J. H. Gest, was
one of the Mammoth quartz mining company, which
owned thirty claims on that lode. A near neighbor
to Mountain City on the south was a miner's camp
called Black Hawk, and adjoining it on the north, in
Kendall gulch,*' was Central City, so na»ned by W.
N. B3'ers, its first inhabitant " after its founders,
Harrison Gray Otis, Nathaniel Albertson, and John
Armor." Central finally absorbed the other two
" Ilrlm's Gate of the Mountain'^, MS., 1; Enrli/ neco)yh, :MS., 4. T/,e Rocky
Mountain Gobi Reporter and Mountain City Herall, of Aug. G, 1859, says that
Goldeu at that date, when it had been surveyed but one month, had 50
houses, 1,930 men, and 70 women. ^lost of these must have been transient,
if indeed tliat might not be said of all. Helm says the first garden ho knew
of in Culorado was at Golden. This of course applies to the mining popu-
lation.
*^ Named after Kendall in Gregory's company. In seems the honors were
divided \>y naming the gulch after Kendall and tlie hill or point after Gregory.
«.9op;-w' Scttktnent oj Denver, MS., 7; BradforeVs Hist. Colo, MS., 4.
**Tliomas Gil)son of the Rocky Mountain Ae/r* had a newspaper office at
Central city in July 1859, and published the Rorky Mountain Gold Reporter
on the press purchased of Jack Merrick, a cap size lever machine. It had a
brief existence of tive montlis, when it was discontinued, and the press sold
to the Boston company of Golden, whose managers established the We.-ilern
Mountaini'vr, which a few months later was enlarged and printed on a new
press. Among its editors in the winter of 1859-00 where A. D. Richardson
and Thomas W. Knox, both of wliom afterward achieved national reputations
as newspaper correspondents. While the press was in Central City it occu-
pied part of a doul)le log house owned by George Aux, author of Minimj in
Colora/lo an/l Montana, MS., in my collection. Aux was born in Marryat,
Pa, in 1837. At tlie age of 14 years he removed to Cleveland, Ohio. Five
years afterward lie went to Kansas, and May 1850 to Pike's peak. He went
to Gregory point, or Mountain city, where he remained untd lie enlisted in
Gilpin's reg. of volunteers raised to keep the territory in the union. In 1864
he went to Montana, with his wife and infant, in an ox wagon, but soon
returned and engaged in farming and stock raising in Douglas county. His
manuscript is an account of early settlements and militarj' matters chiefly.
Benjamin P. Haman erected and kept the Hrst hotel in Central City. Haman
was born in Vt and immigrated from Iowa. He married Rachel Berry in
1847. Hugh A. Campbell opened the first stock of goods in Mountain City
TARRYALL AXD FAIR PLAY. 383
places. On the headwaters of Clear creek George
F. Griffith laid out a town and called it after himself,
Georgetown. It did not grow much that season, nor
for several seasons thereafter, but its importance was
demonstrated after the discovery of silver mines a few
years later.
A part of the population spread across the range,
and located Breckenridge on a tributary of Blue
river, in what is now Summit county, where several
hundred miners were soon congregated. Others pene-
trated the South park, and a miner named W. J.
Holman discovered on a branch of the Platte the
Pound diggings," which had a great reputation, the
name signifying, as some thought, that a pound of
gold a day was their average-production — an opulence
which nature does not often bestow upon diggings
anywhere. So magnanimous were the first locators
in the prospect of sudden riches that they gave the
place and the creek on which the placers were situ-
ated the inviting name of Tarry all. So man}' tarried,
and such was the squabbling over claims that a por-
tion of the population determined to seek for mines
elsewhere, and to their delight soon discovered them.
But the first party of eight men which left Tarryall
was killed by the Indians, except one, while passing
through a ravine, which took from this circumstance
the name of Dead Men's gulch."
It was decided that there should be no cause for
dissension in the new district, but that even-handed
in a brush tent, and was the first to place a sign above his place of business
with the new name of Central City upon it, and to have his letters addressed
to Central City, by which means the P. 0. department was brought at last
to recognize the change. He budt the Atchison house in Denver in the
winter of 1S59. He discovered the Cincinnati lode on Casto hill, and became
the owner of 40 acres of Placer mines on Quartz hdl, besides other mining
property. He was born in Adams county. Pa, and married Mattie W.
Whitsitt, of Centreville, Ohio.
*^ Named after Daniel Pound. The amount actually taken out by the
^lountain Union company in one week, with 4 men, was S420. Holman,
with 5 men, took out -SOSG in the same time. Bowers & Co. took out in one
week $9o9, with 3 men — 57 ounces worth -SIT.
«W. N. Byers, in Out West, Oct. 1S73; Dead Jlen's Gulch and Other
Sketches, MS., 1.
384 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
justice sliould rule the camp, and to emphasize this
determination it was named Fair Play." Eight miles
north-west of Fair Play a discovery was made by a
mountaineer, whose characteristic dress of tanned
skins gave him the descriptive appellation of Buck-
skin Joe, and the Buckskin Joe mines next attracted
the unsatisfied. This camp became the town of Alma.
Hamilton and Jefferson followed in South park the
same season, the latter becoming a town of several
thousand inhabitants in the first few years."
*' Sojiri.i Settbnnent of Dower, MS., 8. There are several stories to account
for this name, all of them far fetched and inaccurate.
** Before ^Jroceeding further with the history of settlement, I will record
the names of some of the pioneers of this part of Colorado in 1859. Jo.sepli
M. Brown, l)orn in Maryland in 1832, was with General Walker in Nicaragua
iu 1855. He returned, drifted west, and became a farmer and stock-raiser.
Samuel W. Brown, born near Baltimore Dec. 2.3, 1829, removed to New
York in 1844, became a cabinet-maker, served in the Mexican war, going
from these battle-Helds to Cal., and afterward to Chicago. He followed
Walker to Nicaragua, and furnished supplies to tlie army for one year. In
1857 he married a daughter of John Perry, at Olathe, Iowa. On coming to
Colorado he secured 500 acres and went to farming. Thomas Donelson, a
native of Oliio, was born June 20, 1824, and l)reil a farmer. After several
removes westward he came to Colorado, wliere, after one season of mining,
lie brought out his family and settled on the I'latte, 17 miles below Denver.
Henry Crow, born in Wis., bred a merchant, came to Colorado in 1859, and
after mining for a season returned to Iowa for his family, and located at
Central Cit}'. He served in tlie Indian war of 18G4, after which he removed
to Georgetown. Selling his mines at that place he settled in Denver and
organized the City national bank in 1870; but in 187G withdrew from the
presidency of that institution and returned to (Jeorgetown to engage in min-
ing. Charles G. Chever was born at Salem, Mass., Sept. 13, 1827, went to
Cal. in 1849, where he resided 10 years in the mines, and tiien removed to
Colorado. In 18G1 he was elected clerk and recorder of Arapahoe county.
He has ever since been in the real estate business. S. B. Morrison, born in
Oneida Castle, N. Y., May 2, 1831, removed to Jeffcr.son, Wis., at the age
of 10 years, and in 1859 came to Colorado, where he turned liis attention to
farming and stock-raising, 3 miles nortli of Denver. He also erected some
quartz-mills inCJiljjin and Park counties. John H. Morrison graduated from
Rush Medical college, Cliicago, and after coming to Colorado he resided first
on a farm and then in Denver, where he died July 21, 187C. Jasper P. Sears
was born in Oliio, in 1838, and educated at Delaware, after whicli he removed
to St Paul, Minnesota, where he traded with tlie Sioux. In Sept. 1858, he
started for Pike's peak with a stock of nierclumdise, but did not arrive for a
year afterward, owing to sickness and Indian hostilities. In company with
C. A. Cook he opened a store at the corner of 15th and Larimer streets, Den-
ver. After 4 years of prosperous trade they opened a banking-house. In
1869 Sears became a government contractor, and dealer in real estate, and
made a fortune. Thomas Skerritt, ])orn in Ireland, in 1828, immigrated in
1848 to the U. S. and Canada. In 1S.")5 lie married Mary K. Skerritt, who
was one of the first women to go to Central City, and accompanied her hus-
band across the mountains to Breckenridge. In the autumn of 18.")9 lie took
a land claim on the Platte river, but all his improvements were swejic away
by the tiood of 18G4. What remained of the land itself waa purchased by
BIOGRAPHICAL. 385
Peter Magnus for the site of the Harvest Queen Mill, and Skerritt settled
upon another claim 6 miles from Denver, where he cultivated. 200 acres.
Edward C. Sumner, a native of La Fayette, Ind., joined the rush to Pike's
peak, and found permanent employment in the Denver post-office. Alfred
H. Mdes, born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1820, set out with his family for
Cal. in 1859, but stopped in Colo and selected a farm on Clear creek, 9 miles
from Denver. He remained there for 7 years, when he moved to Cherry
creek and finally to Denver. He has been one of the most successful farm-
ers of Colorado. Isaac E. McBroom a native of Ind., born A^jril 22, 1830,
removed to St Joseph, Missouri, at an early age, and in 1850 to Iowa. He
came to Colo with the first mining immigration, and settled on a farm near
Denver. .John Milheim, baker and steel polisher, a native of Switzerland,
born in 1835, came to the U. S. in 1849, to Keb. in 1856, and from there to
Pike's peak. Just before leaving Omaha, he was married to Miss Reithmann,
whose brothers also became citizens of Denver, and with whom he opened
the first bakery there, which laid the foundation of his fortune. James W.
Richards, a native of Oliio, worked on a farm in 111., and thence went to the
Colo mines. In 1865 he established a fast freight line between Denver and
Central City, remaining in the business 7 years, when he went into a flour and
grain trade He shipped the first car-load of grain over the Kansas Pacific
railroad to Denver, and established the first line of transfer wagons in the
city, upon which he, with W. J. Eansey, had a patent. Peter jMagnus, born
in Sweden, in 1824, bred a farmer, came to the U. S. in 1852, and in 1859 to
Colo, and selecting a farming claim brought out his family. The flood of
1864 took his improvements, and grasshoppers in 1873-4^5, nearly destroyed
his crops, yet he prospered. He received all the medals at the agricultural
exhibition of Colorado in 1870. He was county commissioner for Arapahoe
in 1867-9. Mason M. Seavy, born in Maine in 1839, removed to 111., and
thence started with other gold-seekers for Pike's peak in 1859, but turned
back at Fort Kearny, and did not reach the mountains until the following
year, when he settled in Golden and went into the grocery trade, doing well
until he lost a large and valuable train by the Arapahoes, which compelled
him to suspend business. He began a second time in Central City, but failed
again, owing to commercial complications. In 1872 he settled in Denver,
and again prosecuted the grocery business, this time with better success.
Daniel J, Fulton, a native of Va, removed to Ohio in 18.j6, and a few years
later to Iowa. In 1849 crossed the plains to Cal. where he mined for 3 years,
returned to the states, and in 1859 came to Colo. After mining for a year,
and trying his fortunes in Idaho, he settled upon a farm on the Platte, 16
miles below Denver. George W. Hazzard was bom at Elk Grove, Wis.,
Dec. 7, 1837, came to Denver in 1859, and went to the mines of Gregory
point and Missouri flats, where, with his brother, he took out gold enough
to start in farming 16 miles from Denver. John W. Iliff', a native of Ohio,
bom in 1831, bred a farmer, and educated at Delaware college, came to Col-
orado in 1859 with a small train of provisions, purchased with a few hun-
dred dollars which his father gave him, and selling out invested in a small
herd of cattle. He followed up the cattle business for 18 years, mastering
aU its details, and making a large fortune. He owned 200,000 acres of pas-
ture lands, took government contracts, and shipped cattle to eastern mar-
kets at the rate of 13,000 a year. He died February 9, 1878. Libeus Bar-
ney, a native of Vt, crossed the plains in the first coach of the Denver and
Pike's peak passenger line. After mining, with a brother, he tried house-
building, and erected the hall in which the first provisional legislature met.
Farming was next attempted, but a grocery store in Denver was the final
resort after these ventures, and in that he did well.
Caleb S. Burdsal, from Ohio, mined near Golden in 1859, and in 1864
was appointed surgeon of the 3d Colo reg. Since then he has practised
medicine in Denver. He discovered and named Soda lakes, near Morri-
son. Joseph W. Bowles, born in Rockford, N. C, came to Denver in 1858.
He located a mine on Quartz hill, iu the Nevada district, on Clear creek.
Hist. Nev 25
386 GOLD DISCOVERIES.
where he worked for three years on an extension of the Burroughs' lode.
He was twice elected sherifif for the district under the miners' organization.
In 1862 he purchased a raucho on the Platte, 10 miles above Denver, near
the present village of Littleton. George W. Drake, born in Ohio, came to
Colo in 1859, and opened a liotel on the old Gregory road 7 miles from Black
Hawk, at Cold Spring rancho, in partnership with Homer Medbury, of
Ohio. In 1863, he became agent for Gibson's pony express between Den-
ver and the mountain towns. In 1864 he set up a store in Black Hawk, and
in 1870 joined the colony at Greeley, which he helped to build up. Three
years later he settled in Denver, M-liere he purchased a marble-yard in
1874. Charles Eyser, a native of Holstein, Germany, born in 1822, came
to Colo in 1859, opened a provision store in the mines, but returned to Den-
ver in 1863, where he kept a boarding-house, which in 1809 was washed away
by a flood. After that he settled at farming. E. W. Cobb, born in Boston,
was sent to Cal. as the first agent of Adams' Express co. After two years
he went to Australia, returning to Boston in 1857, then to Denver, where he
sold groceries for two years, then carried on the Elephant corral a year or so,
and after that mined for a few years, until in 1869 he was appointed chief of
the mineral dept of the sur.-gen. office. John W. Cline, a native of Canada,
mined during the summer of 1859 in Russell gulch and at Breckenridge, but
in the autumn took a piece of land 7 miles north of Denver, where he made
himself a home. Samuel Brautner, born in Md, came to Cal. in 1852, and
finally to Colo, where he engaged in mining and farming. His oldest child
is said to be the first white girl born in Colo, but I have shown that white
children were born here l)efore the gold discoveries. George L. Henderson,
born in 1836, in 1859 came to Central City, and in 1860 to California
gulch. He was the first postmaster at Leadville, which camp was thus
named at his suggestion.
CHAPTER IV.
PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
1S59-1860.
The Arkansas Valley — Road ixto South Park — El Paso Claim Club
— Colorado City Company — Irrigation — The Fighting Farmers of
Fontaine City — Canon City — Clear Creek — Pueblo — California
Gulch— Pioneers in the Several LocALrriEs — Oro City — Leadville
— Frying Pan Gulch — Road-making — Mining Developments — ■
Freighting — Mail Facilities — Pony Express — Stage Companies.
While the valleys and head waters of the Platte
and its tributaries were being actively explored by
one part of the immigration, another part began to
occupy the Arkansas valley. A portion of the Law-
rence party of 1858 had wintered five miles above
Denver, where afterward was Younker's rancho.
They contemplated making a town there, and erected
a few houses ; but before spring they became restless,
and some returned to the Arkansas valley, with the
design of going back to Kansas. This party of about
a dozen persons, among whom were Charles Gilmore,
Julian Smith, George A. Bute, and Anthony Bott,
crossed the ridge between the Platte and Arkansas
rivers when the snow on the summit was three feet
deep; but on coming to the spot overlooking the
southern slope, and seeing a sunny valley below, they
changed their purpose, and selected a site for a town
in the delightful region of the Fontaine-qui-Bouille,
which they called El Dorado.
On hearing what had been done, others of the
original company who had located land claims on the
Fontaine-qui-Bouille the previous autumn, some of
which covered the new town site, came over from the
388 PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT
Platte to dispute for possession of the ground. The
quarrel ran liijjjh, but a compromise was effected by
admitting the land claimants into the town company,
all joining in the erection of a large log house as the
nucleus of their future city/
This being done, Bute, with two others of the El
Dorado company, and Tucker, a squatter on Fontaine-
qui-Bouille, with two associates, making a party of six,
set out to search for a route into the South park,
where they believed gold existed. Following the
Indian trail westward to Soda springs, where the
Lawrence company had located the town of El Paso"
the previous autumn, the explorers encamped for two
days to admire and enjoy the natural cliarms of the
place, after vvliich tliey proceeded as far on their way
as the Petrified stumps ; but falling short of provis-
ions, returned and loaded a wagon with supplies.
This wagon they took into the park, its wheels being
the first to print the sod in this beautiful mountain
basin. Gold, as I have shown, was discovered in the
park during the summer,' the mines drawing away
^ El Paso Co., etc., MS., 6.
'^ There was at this time a log cabin at these springs, which had been
erected l)y Richard Wooten, as evidence tliat he claimed the site before the
El Paso town was projected. Sometime in 185'.) Wooten sold his claim to
R.E. \Vhitsitt& Co., for ^00. A year or two later, AVhitsitt's partner sold his
interest to the Tappan Brothers from Boston. Tlicy bouglit about the same
time 48 J acres on tiie west side of Monument creek, whicli was known as the
Boston tract, ami was only put into market as an additit)n to Colorado springs
in 1874. W^iiitsitt and Tappan h)st their right to tiie springs by abandon-
ment, and they wore jumpetl l)y one Slaughter, son of a methodist minister
from Illinois, who erected a frame house on the claim. He in turn aban-
doned it, and it was again taken by Tiiompson (iirter, who secured the sul-
phur springs in Soutli park. He made some improvements and sold to Col
Chivington for .'§1,500, and he to his son-indaw, ToUock, who made a trans-
fer of tiie property to some other person as security for a debt, this person
selling the springs for i^l.oOO. George Crater of Denver sul)sequently
organized a company which purchased the property, paying $10,000 for it,
and afterward sold the 80 acres on which are the soda sj)rings for §26,000 to
the company which finally founded the present town of Colorado Springs, of
which further mention will be made in the proper place. El Paso County, etc.,
MS., 9-11. It has been stated tliat II. A. \V. Tabor built the first house at
Colorado Springs in the winter of 1859; that he came b;i k to Denver in the
following year, and endeavored to organize a compan' o go down and laj' off
a town, but failed. The statement is erroneous, bu^ lat Tabor was at some
time about this date interested in the place is perhr ^js true.
^ A M'ritttr in the Colorado SpriiKjx dnzi'tte of >iay 2.3, 1874, ascribes the
discovery of gold at Fair I'lay to tliis party. The discovery was made in
EL PASO CLAIM CLUB. 389
all the settlers at El Dorado City, which was aban-
doned. The richness of the South park diggings,
however, caused the revival of the town in the autumn
under a new name. It had been observed by certain
enterprising persons that the pass of the Fontaine-qui-
Bouille seemed to offer the most practical wagon route
for the immigration to these mines, thousands of per-
sons travellinof throuoh it durino^ the summer, asucces-
sion of delightful park-like valleys furnishing a natural
and easy road into the main park. A company was
formed at Denver and Auraria consisting of L. J.
Winchester, Lewis N. Tappan, Anthony Bott, George
A. Bute, Melancthon S. Beech, Julian Smith, H, M.
Fosdick, D. A. Cheever, E. E. Whitsitt, S. W.
Wagoner, W. P. McClure, P. McCarty, A. D.
Kichardson, T. H. Warren, C. W. Persall, A. B.
Wade, George W. Putnam, John S. Price, John T.
Parkinson, 5. N. Woodward, Charles F. Blake, E.
P. Stout, Clark and Wihis, Mr Cable, and Higgins
and Cobb, with two or three others, with the object
of founding a city on the deserted site of El Dorado.
The president of the company was Winchester, and
the secretary Tappan.
One of the peculiar phases of squatter sovereignty
in Colorado in 1859 was an organization known as
El Paso Claim club/ shadowing forth the provisional
government. A meeting having been called in the
Arkansas valley to deliberate upon the best method
to be pursued in holding land in the absence of law
and land-offices. El Paso Claim clab was the result.
The limits over which the club had jurisdiction, and
the powers and duties of its officers, were defined; a
president and secretary were chosen, and provision
made for the selection of jurors to decide upon cases
under arbitration. A book of records was kept,^ and
Aug. by miners from Tarryall; but there were other parties in the park at
the time, who joined in working the ground if not in the discovery.
* Fowler, Armcnd Colorado, MS., 3, 6; Helm, Gate of the Mountains,
MS., 4.
^ The names of A. D. Richardson, D. A. and C. B. Chever, Samuel Ta;
pan, William Larimer, S. W. Wagoner, and other prominent men may
S
390 PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
on its pages was recorded the declaration of the Colo-
rado City company's claim of 1,280 acres, signed by
the secretary of the club, H. J. Burghardt, and dated
December 20, 1859. The following summer there
were three hundred houses in the town, and lots were
s( lling at four hundred dollars.* It was a short-lived
prosperity. The breaking out of the civil war, and
other causes, forced travel away from the Arkansas
valley to the Platte route, and built up Denver at
the expense of Colorado City, which lost its hold
upon the car of progress, and was left behind in the
race.'
It will be remembered that Robert Middleton and
family, and a few others of the Lawrence company of
1858, wintered at or near Pueblo, where they were
joined by others in 1859, who had arrived early in
that year. A number of these persons, rightfully
judging that when corn was worth from five to fifteen
cents a pound, farming was as profitable as mining,
and much less laborious, determined to put in crops
in the rich Arkansas bottoms. Accordingly they
constructed a ditch which conducted the water of the
Fontaine-qui-Bouille over their fields, and planted
corn.* When the corn had reached a good height,
and waved tempthigly in the wind and sun, a com-
pany of disgusted prospectors, returning to jMissouri,
encamped near the settlement, which was called Fon-
taine City, and foraged their lean and hungry cattle
on the glistening green blades and juicy stalks. The
seen. Houses were erected on the Fontaine-f|ui-Bouillo by R. B. Willis, H.
S. Clark, John Bley, Huhhanl Talcott, William Campbell, tlie last three of
whom opened farms in 18()0. ArbniMiis Vul. J/i.it., 4'JO.
* The first store in Colorado City was owned hy Gerrish and Cohb, in
charge of William Garvin, the original claimant of the (Jarden of the Gods.
John George, who still resides in the old town, opened the first saloon. Tap-
pan & Cf>. put up the first frame house in 18G0, wiiich was still standing in
1874. It was occupied as tlie county court-house before the removal of the
county seat to Colorado springs. El Poko Cmnily, etc., MS., 19.
• T<il>or'x Vnhin Life in Coin, MS., 1-2; Ifnw'H-rt's Indian Trnuhlen, MS., 2.
•■The first farmers in this region, other tlian the fur-traders, were Robert
Middle-ton, (ieorge Peck, Charles D. Peck. Josiah F. Smith. Otto Winneka,
Frank Doris, fJcorge Lebaum, William H. Green, and W'illiam Kroenig
Arkannas Vol, Hid,, 7liG,
FIGHTIXG FARMERS. 39t
ranchmeii remonstrated, but the Missourians outnum-
bered them. The settlers then demanded pay, which
was refused, and whenever opportunity came drove
the cattle into the field, where they were kept and
guarded as indemnity for the loss of their corn. Then
followed a struggle on the part of the Missourians to
recover their teams ; but the settlers had entrenched
themselves, and prepared to fight. In the battle
which ensued some of the Missourians were killed,
and some on both sides were wounded. The victory,
however, was with the farmers, who received at last
payment of damages, and restored the cattle to their
owners. The Missourians were glad to get away,
having apparently no further use for the fighting
farmers of Fontaine City.'
In October a town was laid off at the mouth of the
Arkansas river pass of the mountains, called Canon
City.'" Its founders were Josiah F. Smith, Stephen
S. Smith, William H. Young, Robert Bearcaw,
Charles D. Peck, and William Kroenig. They erected
a single log house on the level ground above the hot
springs, which were found here, as well as at the pass
of the Fontaine-qui-Bouille ; and Robert Middleton
and wife went to reside in it, this being the actual
first family of Canon City. The following year the
house was taken as a blacksmith shop by A. Rudd.
In the spring of 1860 the town site was jumped by a
company from Denver, which uiagnanimously retained
some of the former claimants. They relocated the
town, making it embrace 1,280 acres, and in April it
was surveyed into lots and blocks. The new com-
pany consisted of William Kroenig, E. Williams, W.
H. Young, A. Mayhood, J. B. Doyle, A. Thomas,
H. Green, J. D. Ramage, Harry Youngblood, W. W.
9 The first store in Fontaine City was opened by Cooper and Wing. Some
of the first settlers aftc the Lawrence party were S. S. Smith, W. H.
Young, Matthew Steel, 0. H. P. Baxter, George M. Chilcott, John W.
Shaw, Mark G. Bradford, George A. Hinsdale, Francisco, and Howard.
^^Budd's Early Affairs, MS., 1-9; Fowler's Around Colorado, MS., 1-8;
A Woman's E:rperienc€, MS., 3-8; Helm's Gate of the Mountains, MS., 12;
Prescott'a Through Canon de S/iea, MS., 2-3.
.WJ rnOGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
liamage, J. Ciraham, M. T. Green, Alvord and Com-
pany, 8t. Vrain and Easterday, and Buel and Boyd,
surveyors. Having jumped a town site claim them-
selves, they organized a claim club for their protec-
tion, in which those taking up agricultural lands
joined." Coal creek, in the coal region, was, in 1885,
'• Tlie first grist-mill in Fremont county was erected by Lewis Conley in
ISOO on Btaver creek, and was washed away in 18(j'2. No other was huilt
till 18GG or 1807, 4 miles east of Canon City. In 1872 a grist-mill was
erected in tiie town. The first saw-mill was huilt the same year by J. B.
Cooper, J. C Moore, Karkins, and A. Chancller. on Sand creek, above the
soda springs. As a premium tliey were presented Mitli an original share in
the town of Caftnn City. R. R. Kirkpatrick ran a shingle-machine in con-
nection with tiie mill. The lirst merchants were Dold & Co., whose stock
was presided over by Wolfe Londoner; Doyle & Co.. represented by Sfdomon
brother-s; C. W. Ketchum and brother; Stevens & Curtis; Majors & Russell,
who built a stone store 100 feet in length; R. O. Olds, J. A. Draper, James
Gormly, James Ketchum, G. D. Jenks, Paul brotliers, Harrison & Macon,
and D. P. Wilson. These were all in business in Canon City in 1800, before
the decline of its early prospects. Cr. D. Jenks also opened the first hotel.
Custer and Swisher kept the first meat-market, and E. B. Sutlierland the
first bakery. W. C. Catlin established tiie first brick-yard ab<iut 187'2, to
employ the prisoners in the penitentiary. Tlie first newspaper was the
Cunin ("itij Tillies, issued in Sept. 1800 by Slillett, since of Kansas City. The
first postmaster was M. G. Pratt. In 1870 there were but two post-offices
in the county. The first district court was held at Canon City in tiie spring
of 1803 by B. F. Hall, who held but one term before resigning. He found
tiiat men wlio ha<l conducted people's courts were hard to awe into respect
for imported judges. The discoverer in 1802 of the oil springs G miles from
Canon City was CJabriel Bowen. He sold them to A. M. Cassidy, who man-
ufactured in 1802-5, and shijjped to other parts of the country ^WO.fKK) gal-
lons of superior quality of illuminating and lubricating oiL Since tiiat time
prospecting has been going on to find Howing wells. Some of the first set-
tlers in Fremont county, outside of Caiion City, were George and Al. Toof,
John Pierce, Hiram Morey, John Callen, John McClure, ami Foster, on
Beaver creek; J. Witcher, T. Virden, William Irwin, Ambrose Flournoy,
and Robert Pope, on Ute creek; B. M. Adams, M. D. Swislier, Ebenezer
Johnson, Sylvester H. Dairs, James Murpliy, Jesse Rader, and Mills M.
Craig, in Oil Creek valley; Philip A. McCumber, John Smith, James A.
McCandless, Ira Cliatfiehl, Stephen Frazier, Gid. B. Frazier, Jesse Frazier,
B. F. Smith, John Locke, Jacob R. Reisser, and William H. May, in the
vicinity of Florence; James Smith, Bruce, and Henry Burnett, on Hard-
scrabljie creek.
I have said that the town site of Cafion City was jumped in the spring
of 1800. The company remained in possession till 18G4, when all ai)andonea
it, and sought newer fields of enterprise in the mining camps. Three fam-
ilies (mly remained in the town. Not long afterward the government sur-
veyed the township and the town site, whereupon it was preempted l)y Ben-
jamin (J ritiin, W. C. Catlin, Jothan A. Draper, Augustus Macon, and A.
Ruild, who deeded to the owners of improvements the lots on which they
were placed, and proceeded to set affairs again in motion. These men belonged
to a company of 20 families, which migrated from Iowa that year, and who
were known as the resurrectionists, because they brought back life to Cafion
City. They were Tiiomas Macon, who, while a member of the legislature of
1867-8. secured for his town the location of the penitentiary; Mrs Ann Har-
rison, Mrs George, John Wilson, Joseph Macon, Fletcher, Augustus Sartor,
BIOGRAPHICAL. 393
next to Canon City in size, having a population of
five hundred.
The first farm located in what is now Fremont
county was by J. N. Haguis, on the 1st of January,
Zach. Irwin, and others with their families. Anson Rudcl was one of the
three original settlers who would not forsake the place of his choice. He
was first sheriff, county commissioner two terms, provost-marshal, oil in-
spector, postmaster, clerk of the peoples court, candidate for lieut-gov., and
blacksmith for the county. He was one of the locators of the roads to Wet
Mountain valley, to which he guided the German colony; of the road to the
upper Arkansas region, and to Currant creek and South park; was for sev-
eral years president of the Canon City Ditch company, and was the first
warden of the penitentiary after the admission of the state, as well as one
of the commissioners to locate it. The first child born was a son of M. D.
Swisher, who died in infancy. W. C. Catlin was also of the original set-
tlers, as was J. A. Draper, who was second postmaster, and county treas-
urer, collecting the first taxes ever gathered in the county. He gave the
ground on which the penitentiary was placed. When he sold a tract to the
Central Colorado Improvement company it was with the intention of reserv-
ing for the use of the public the soda springs; but through some inadvert-
ance in the deed he failed to do so. Other early Canonites were William H.
Green, captain of the 1st Colorado regiment; Folsom, who also enlisted, and
was crippled for life; Piatt, W. R. Fowler, author of Around Colorado, MS.;
J. Reid, Benjamin F. Griffin, S. D. Webster, county surveyor, judge, and
member of the legislature; Frank Bengley, who, although a Canadian, en-
listed in the union army; Albert Walthers, first keeper of the penitentiary;
S. H. Boyd, hotel-keeper; H. W. Saunders, W. H. McClure, who built the
McClure house and ruined himself by the help of the D. & R. G. railroad
company; H. Miirray, who kept the house, and S. W. Humphrey. The first
church organized in Canon City was in 1860-1, by Johnson of Kansas, a
raethodist, with about ten members. None of these were left when the
Iowa colony arrived, and George Murray again organized a church, with 45
members, who purchased a stone building and fitted it up for worship. In
1865 the missionary baptists formed a church, with B. M. Adams pastor,
and 18 members, who in 1869 built a small church edifice. In 1867 the
Cumberland presbyterians organized iinder their elders, B. F. Moore,
Stephen Frazier, and J. Blanchard. In 1872 the presbyterians were organ-
ized by Shelden Jackson, J. K. Brewster being ruling elder, and soon built
a small but pleasant church. In 1874 or 1875 the renowned episcopal
bishop, Randall, organized that church, which after a few years erected a
brick edifice.
The public schools of Canon City were somewhat late in securing a
proper building, which was not erected until 1880. It was of stone, fine,
and commodious. The board that secured the bonds for its erection con-
sisted of Charles E. Waldo president, Mrs M. M. Sheets secretary, John
Wilson treasurer. The fire department was organized in Jan. 1879, consist-
ing of the Relief Hook and Ladder company No. 1, of 20 members. The
following year H. A. Reynolds Hose company of 13 members was added to
the department. Mount Moriah lodge Xo. 15 of masons was instituted in
Nov. 1867, under a dispensation of Henry M. Teller, M. W. G. Master of
Colorado, and chartered Oct. 7, 1868. In 1881 there were 72 members.
Canon City lodge No. 7 of odd fellows was instituted Nov. 10, 1868, the first
lodge south of the divide. It had in 1881 46 members. Grand Canon En-
campment No. 18, July 29, 1881. The united workmen organized Royal
George Lodge, No. 7, June 25, 1881, with 24 members.
Canon City was incorporated April 1, 1872. In 1879 a board of trade was
organized, wiiich greatly assisted the city government in purifying morals by
forcing out of town certain disreputable characters, a function which, if un-
394 PROGRESS OF SETTLE.N'ENT.
18G0. It was recorded by B. H. Bolin, and wag
taken })rovious to the organization of the claim club,
whose constitution was dated March 13, 18 GO.'* The
pretensions of CafiQn City to become the metropolis
of the future state were founded similarly to these of
Colorado City, and were rendered nugatory b}- the
same causes. The first com[)any surveyed a road to
the Tarryall mines, setting up mile posts the whole
distance of eighty miles. A large part of the immi-
gration of 1860 took this route to the mines, and
Canon City enjoyed for a 3'ear or two a prosperous
growth; and there, for the time, it ended.''
In the winter of 1859-60 the American town of
Pueblo was laid off, on the site of the abandoned
Pueblo of Mexican times, by a company composed of
umal for such a board, proved beneficial. In Dec. of that year a joint stock
company was organized, with a capital of .Sr)0,000, to construct v ater works,
consisting of James Clelland, James H. Pcabody, (ieorge K. SliaeflFer, Ira
Mulock, August Heckscher, Wilbur K. Johnson, David Caird, and O. (x.
Stvnlej'. On July 9, 1881, was laid the corner stone of the court liouse, a
handsome edifice, the county commissioners managing the l)usiness l)eing
Edwin Tobacli, Louis Muehlbach, and Joseph J. I'lielps; al.-o of the masonic
temple, another fine structure — both of brick. In 1881 there were 25 storea
in Canon City, well stocked, some carrying a trade of over $.300,000 an-
nually, besiiles shops of all kinds.
'- This claim was taken on the north side of the Arkansas river, on a
creek whose name is not given. Two brothers named Costans took claims
on tlie south side, 7 miles Ijelow Canon City. On the record they were de-
scribed as 'situated in Mexico.' The names of M. V. B. Cofiin and B. F.
Allen occur among the inhabitants of Canon City precinct in 18G0.
"Towns and settlements of Fremont county, besides those mentioned,
are Badger, Barnard Creek, Carlisle Springs, Clelland, Coal Junction, Copper
Gulch, Cotopaxi, Fairy, Fidler, Florence, Cralena. Galena B;isin, Glendale,
Grape Creek Junction, Greenwood, Hayden, Hayden Creek, Haydenville,
Hillsdale, Howards, Juniper, Labran, Lake, Marsh, Mining Camp, New Chi-
cago, Oak Creek, Parkdale, Park Station, Pleasant Valley, Rockvale, Sales-
burgh, Spike Buck, Texas, Texas Creek, Titusville, Tomichi, Twelve Mile
Bridge, Vallie, Webster, Williamsburgh, and Yorkville. Among the con-
tributors to this i)art of my Mork are Eugene Weston, W. A. Helm, and
Anson S. lludd. \\'estf>n was born in Maine in 180.5, and came to Colorado
in 18i)0, and to Canon City the same year, where I found him in 1884. He
is tlie author of The Coltnulo ^fille.^^, MS., treating of placers and early trans-
portation. Helm was born in I'a in IS.'}]. After migrating to .several of the
western states, he came to Coloratlo in ISliO, and in 1801 settled in Caflon
City with his family. On the ' resurrection ' of that town he opened a hotel.
He is the author of The Otiteo/f/ie Moti)iliw>, .M.S., well filled with reminis-
cences. Riidd, who furnished 3irly Affairs in Cdilon City, MS., and whose
account forms the basis of early history here, was born in Erie co.. Pa, in
1819, and after learning the printer's trade visited Kansas, Mexico, and Cal-
ifornia, coming to Colorado in 18G0, and settling at Caflon City. How he
acted his part as pioneer, 1 have said.
PUEBLO. 395
Belt, Catterson, Cyrus Warren, Ed. Cozzens, J.
Wright,^* Albert Bearcaw, W. H. Green, and others.
It was surveyed by Buell and Boyd, who laid it out
on a broad scale, and the former name was retained.
It did not at first, however, extend over the bottom
land in front of the town subsequent additions hav-
ing been made by other companies and railroad cor-
porations.^^
^* Stone's Gen. View, MS., 19. Wright built the first house in Pueblo, on
the corner of Front street and Santa Fe avenue. Dr Catterson's cabin was
on Second street, near the avenue. The tirst family in Pueblo was that of
Aaron Sims, and the second that of Josiah F. Smith. Jack Allen opened a
small grocery and drinking saloon. A stock of other goods was opened in a
ctore on Santa Fe avenue, over which Dr Catterson presided, and the town
was launched upon the sea of commerce. Emorj^ Young, son of W. H.
Young, was the first male child born in Pueblo, and Hattie Smith the first
girl. Rice's Politics in Puehlo, MS., \; EwhCs Early Affairs in Canon City, MS.;
Weston s Colorarlo Mines, MS.; Htlnis Gate of the Mountains, MS.
!■' Of the pioneers of Arkansas valley the follo%Wng mention may be made
in this place ; Harry Y'oungljlood came out with Robert Middleton, and went
under an assumed name from some connection he was alleged to have had
with tlie death of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. George vV.
Hepburn, a native of X. Y^., in 18o5 went to Omaha, where he owTied an in-
terest first in the Xebrasldan, and then in the Times. In 1867 he settled in
Pueblo, where he started, in 1871, a newspaper called TJie People. Charles
Nachtrieb, a German, brought a small stock of goods to Colorado in 1859.
Jesse Frazer, from Mo., settled in the spring of 1860 on the Arkansas, 8
miles below Canon City, and was tlie iirst to turn a furrow in that region, which
he did with a forked Cottonwood limb. Reuljen .J. Frazier, a native of Ind.,
started a farm in the upper Arkansas valley in the spring of ISGO.
There are many more pioneers, known and unknown, of 18.59. Of those
of whom something is on record, not elsewliere mentioned, are tlie follow-
ing: Lewis W. Berry, a capt. in the Mexican war, was born in X. Y., mined
at Central City, and finally settled at Idalio Springs. Corbit Bacon, born in
N. Y., erected a plank house with a shake roof in Denver in the winter of
1858-9, and went to Central City in the spring. John W. Edwards, a Welsh-
man, resided at Idaho springs. Then there were Thomas Cooper, an English-
man, miner; David D. Strock of Ohio, miner. Anthony Tucker, from Pa,
set up a saw mill engine for Bentley and Baj^ard of Central City — tlie first
steam mill in Colorado; Andrew H. Spickerman, from X. Y., stock raiser on
Turkey creek. D. D. Mcllvoy, from Ky, farmer and miner; Frank J. Wood,
from Chico, oyjened the first drug store in Georgetown; William ^1. Allen,
of Xew Brunswick, farmer; Joseph S. Beaman, from Germany, brewer,
Central City ; Reuben C. Wells, from 111. , purchased the Golden Paper mill,
the first establishment of the kind in the state; Jay Sternberg, from X. Y'.,
erected the Boulder City Flouring mills in 1872; Hiram Buck, from Ohio,
farmer; August Burk, a Swede, opened a bakery in Denver in 1859; Wil-
liam Arbuthnot from Pa,, farmer; Xorman R. Howard, from 111., farmer;
Robert Xiver, a native of X. Y., farmer; Henry B. Ludlow, from Ohio,
farmer; Thomas J. Jones, bom in 111., merchant; John Reese, from Pa, far-
mer; L. A. Williams, from Vt, erected a steam saw mill at Denver: George
C. Griffin, born in Ct, farmer; Edwin Lobach, bom in Pa, freighter and
farmer; Henry Burnett, from Mass, farmer; Francis R. Ford, from Maine,
miner and farmer; B. F, Sahaflfer, from Pa, carpenter; Robert L. Lambert,
396 PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
Late iti the autuum a ]>aity of prospectors consist-
ing of C. F. Wilson, Katferty, Stevens, Abram Lee,
Currier, Slater, and two others, crossed the range on
the west of South park, and discovered good dig-
gings in a gulch on the headwaters of the Arkansas,
river, which they named California," and which at-
tracted thousands to that locality " in the spring fol-
lowing. The first house erected in the new mines
was on the present site of Leadville, and the place
was called Oro City. The post-office, which was es-
tablished at this place, being removed in 1871 two
and a half miles up the gulch, the n£,ine followed it,
and Oro City left its first location open for subsequent
development by other town locators. California gulch
was thickly populated for six miles,'* and had two un-
important towns besides ^Oro; namely, Malta and
freighter and stage owner; Aaron Ripley, from Ohio farmer; Emmett Nuckolls,
a native of Va, stock dealer, N. C. Hickman, born in Mo., miner; David t'lark,
born in 111., stock raiser; Rufus Shute, a native of N. Y., cattle raiser; J
W. Lester, born in Pa, miner. George Rockafellow, was a capt. in the
6th Mich, cavalry during the war, and served afterward under Gen. Conner
in the Powder river expedition against the Indians.
1" Three men in three months took out §60,000. Weston s Colo Minen,
MS., 2.
" Among the first were H. A. W. Tabor and wife, S. P. Kellogg, and Na-
thaniel Ma.xey. Tliey came up the Arkansas from Canon City with an ox-
team, and encamped a month at Caclie creek, ^here Granite city now is,
finding gold; but being unable to separate it from the black sand without
quicksilver, of which they had none, they were compelled to aliandon the
diggings. Word then came from the discoverers of Cal. gulch to move up
to their camp, and as provisions were scarce, the oxen liad to be killed. The
men in camp soon erected a cabin for !Mrs Tabor; and by antl by a .second
woman, Mrs C L. Hall, came, and a third, Mrs Bond, whose liusband after-
ward became Idind. Taho/s Cabin Lift' in Colorado, MS., 114. Tabor was
afterward elected to tlie state senate, and became one of the wealtliiest and
most prominent citizens of Denver, which city is in no slight measure in-
debted to him for its i)ro.sperity.
'''Says Wolfe Londoner, in his Colorado Mininrj Camps, MS., 7. 'Cali-
fornia gulch, in 1800 and 1861, had a population of something over 10,000,
and was the great camp of Colorado. It waa strung all along the gulch, which
was sometliing over 5 miles long. . . Tiiere were a great many tents in the
road and on the side of the ridge, and the wagons were backed up, the people
living in them. Some were used as hotels. liiey had their grub under the
wagons, piled their dishes there, and tlie man of the house and his wife
would sleej) in the wagon. Their boarders took their meals off tables made of
rough boards. . . . fJamblers bail tables strung along tlie wayside to take m
the cheerful but unwary miner. The game that took the most was three-
card monte.' Indeed, one mining camp dilfered little from another in this
respect. See also Chiidcijs Ton-ns, MS., *_'; L'and's Guide to Colo, 30,
Baykis Politics and Miuiwj, MS., 3.
ROADS AND DITCHES. 397
Slabtown. Twenty miles below, on the Arkansas
river, the town of Granite was started not long after,
rich mines being at this place, which were first dis-
covered by H. A. W. Tabor, in the spring of 1860.
They required quicksilver in separating the gold from
the black sand, and were afterward owned by Bailey
and Gaff of Cincinnati.^'
During the summer of 1860 gold was discovered in
Frying Pan gulch, at the base of Mount Massive,
opposite the mouth of California gulch, by C. F.
Wilson, the diggings receiving their name from the
circumstance of a frying pan being used to pan out
the first metal. These mines did not prove of much
value until 1863, when the name was changed to Col-
orado gulch. Chalk creek mines were also discov-
ered this season by Stephen B. Kellogg and others.
A pretended discovery was made in 1860 in the San
Juan country by one Baker, which drew 1,000 per-
sons to that region, who found no gold, although it
was there, as subsequent exploration and development
proved.
Some improvements were made in 1859 in the
matter of roads and mining ditches. There was a
road from Denver into the mountains via Golden
Gate, and another via Bradford ; also one into South
park, via Mount Vernon and Bergen's rancho, under
construction. Three others were surveyed, the St
Vrain, Golden, and Colorado wagon road, and the
roads into South park via Canon and Colorado cities.
A mining ditch eleven miles long w^as constructed at
Missouri flats by a company of which W. Green Rus-
sell was president. Boulder, South Boulder, and
Four Mile creeks were diverted from their channels
for some distance.
1' Some of the pioneers on the head waters of the Arkansas were the fol-
lowing: Samuel Arbuthnot, from Pa; David C. Dargin, from Me; Robert
Berry, from Ohio; Charles F. Wilson, from Ky; Charles L. Hall, from N. Y.;
John Riling, from Ohio; George W. Huston, from Pa; and Philo N. Weston,
from N. Y.
398 PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
Those who returned to the states carried reports
sufficiently confirmed by the gold they exhibited to
re-arouse the gold fever, causing an immigration the
following summer equal to, if not exceeding, that of
1851)." The settlements already founded were greatly
enlarged, and new ones made, both in the mining and
agricultural districts." Over the 600 miles of road
from the Missouri to the mountains, a stream of ma-
terial wealth rolled, which was expected to flow back
again in a stream of gold dust a few months later.
Contrary to the usual practice of the eastern journals,
the Ncic York Tribune contributed to the furore for
emigration to the mines by advertising Colorado cli-
mate and scenery in terms of lavish praise, its editor-
in-chief, Horace Greeley, and others of its staff having
visited the mountains in 1859, at which time Greeley
^^Sop)-ls' Settlfiment of Denver, MS., 3. By the middle of July an arcastra
was running at the mouth of Gregory gulch, owned hy Lehnier, Laughlin,
and Peck, which was the pioneer quartz mill in Colorado. In September
Prosser, Conklin, and co. had a small steam stamp mill in operation. The
following month there were five arastras running on nortii Clear creek, and
two small wooden stamp mills, all operated hy water power. Another steam,
mill, belonging to Coleman, Le Fevre, and co., started up the same month-
but broke down, and took a month for repairs. When it started again, how-
ever, running on Gunnell quartz, it produced 1,442 penny weiglits of gold in
seven days, the rock being taken out at a depth of tifty-six feet. At the
depth of seventy-six feet, fifteen tons of rock yielded §1,700. A rude three-
stamp quartz mill, owned by T. J. (iraham, was in operation at (n>ld hill
during the summer, and a large mill, run by water, was erected there in the
autunni. Wliere no mills had been erected, miners were busy getting out
ore for those tiiat were expected to be built the coming spring. As winter
approached, many, under the impression that mining in the cohl season would
be impracticable, returned to their former homes to spend the interval in
more comfcrtable quarters, and prci)are for future enterprises; but many
there were who stayed by their claims in the mountains, fortifying them-
selves against the expected cold by banking up the earth around their
cabins, and lilling them with a store of jirovisions .sufficient to outlast the
anticipated snow blockade, which never came. Some mining was carried on
throughout the entire season, even in the mountains, and there was almost
uninterrupted travel, to the surprise and delight of the imperfectly sheltered
inhabitants of the different towns.
'^' At tlie close of ISOO there M-ere 71 steam quartz mills m the Clear creek
region running 009 stamps, of an average weight of 416 i)ounds; and 38
water mills, with 230 stamps, weighing 352 pounds, besides oO arastras, the
total power employed being ecpial to l»GO horse power. In the Boulder region
there were four steam mills, live water mills, and 29 arastras, equalling l.'iO
horse power. South park and California gulch had also a number of mills
and arastras in 1860. Cnllin-s' Rnrhj Mountain Gold Reijion, 51-3. This is an
emigrant's guide, containing tables of distances, maps, an<l a business direc-
tory, with information cencerning mining and a miner's outfit.
OVERLAND TRAFFIC. 399
extended his visit to Nevada and California, Fortun-
ately for the prosperity of Colorado at this period,
there was nothing to interrupt the influx of people or
property. The freight trains of Russell and Majors
dragged their winding length along the Arkansas or
Smoky hill route day after day, bringing cargoes of
goods, which were stored at their depots and sold to
retail merchants on their own account,'' or carrying
the goods of others. Many thousand wagons stretched
in a continuous line along the Platte also, from its
mouth to its source." Prices were necessarily high,
and likewise high because everybody who had any-
thing to sell desired to become rich out of it without
loss of time. Mail facilities were introduced, and
more quickly than could have been anticipated corre-
spondence with the east became established.'* On
the 4th of March, 1860, Kehler and Montgomery
started a line of coaches from Denver to the mining
''^Helm's Gate of the Mountains, MS., 2; Aux' Mining in Colo, MS., 6-7.
22 According to Davis, Hi.<:t. Colo, MS., there were between 8,000 and
10,000 men of the freighting class, mostly drivers, in Colorado, whom he de-
scribes as ' turbulent fellows, spending most of their leisure and all of their
money in saloons.'
^^Besides the many who travelled with conveyances of their own, there
were some who took passage with transportation companies, of which Russell
and Majors, of St Joseph, were the chief firm. This company organized a
line of stages in the spring of 1859, the first coach for Denver leaving Leav-
enworth March 9th, carrying the mail. They called themselves the Leaven-
worth and Pike's Peak Express company, and charged an extra postage of
25 cents on a letter, having post offices of their own at Auraria and other
towns. The postmaster at Leavenworth was directed to deliver all mail
matter for Pike's peak to the express company so long as they would carry
it without expense to the government. Nelson Sargent was superintendent
of this company. He resigned in the autumn. In the winter of 1859-60 a
charter was obtained from the Kansas legislature incorporating the Central
Overland California and Pike's Peak Express company, which M^as a reorgan-
ization of the former company, the principal men in it being William H.
Russell, John S. Jones, William B. Waddell, Luther R. Smoot, Alexander
Majors, and J. B. Simpson. The route pursued by the express companies in
1859 was via the Smoky hill fork of the Kansas river, on the line adopted
by the Kansas Pacific railroad. I have already given the history of the (^'al-
ifornia and Salt Lake mail in my Nevada. Chorpening owned the line in
conjunction with HoUaday. In the winter of 1859-60 the fertile brains of
W. H. Russell and B. F. Ficklen, president and superintendent of the C. O.
and P. P. Express co., conceived a plan of rapid communication with the
Pacific coast and intermediate points by means of the pony express, and hav-
ing prepared the stations, started out their first pony, April 3, 1860, from St
Joseph. The route connected with the mail near Atchison, passing through
Troy and Marysvilleto Fort Kearny, keeping on the south side of uhe Platte
400 PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
camps. Ill May, Sowers and rompany established a
lino, and in June the Western Stage company another,
all together being insufficient to carry the increasing
crowd of passengers. To this point of progress had
tlie Pike's peak region arrived in its second year of
growth.
ti> .Julcsburg, where it sent a branch to Denver, crossing to the north side of
the Phitte, and continuing to Salt Lake, via Scott BUitf, Fort Laramie, and
Fort Briuger. From Salt Lake it followed the route by llul)y valley and
Carson to Sacramento, California. The success of this enterj^jrise caused the
transfer of the C". O. and 1*. P's stages and freight wagons to this route; and
the successful operations of this company on the central route is said by its
friends to have led to its ado})tion by the first overland railroad. It demon-
strated that it could be travelled in winter, which had hitherto been doubted;
but it was tiie attitude of the southern states, more than anything, which
caused the central route to be adopted. These causes together, in the sum-
mer of 18G1, caused the transfer of the overland mail from the southern or
Butter field route to the Platte route. In that year, also, the Overland Mail
CO. purchased the interest of Chorpening in the western half of the overland
route. Later in the year the C. O. and P. P. Express company and pony
express were sold to Ben Holladay, tlie western half being retained by the
Overland Mail, under the management of Fred Cook, Jacob King, H. S.
RuTutield, general agent and superintendent. Holladay afterward secured
mail contracts tiirough the north-west .
CHAPTER V.
ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
1858-1861.
Bleeding Kansas— Representative from Arapahoe Countv — Provis-
ional Government — Territory or State of Jefferson — Elections
and Conventions— Governor Steele — Divers Governments — Popu-
lar Tribunals— The Turkey War— Squatters— The Name Colo-
rado— Territorial Organization — Gilpin, Governor — Boundaries
■ — Condition of the Country — Seal — Mint — Legislative Proceed-
ings— Gilpin's Military Operations — The Colorado Regiments in
the Civil War.
While gold was the spirit of the mountain miner's
dreams, there was a desperate political struggle going
on in Kansas between the advocates of free soil and
slave soil. There were alternating territorial legisla-
tures and state legislatures, and it was a question
under which form of government the people were
living. If Kansas were a territory it extended to the
summit of the Rocky range, and embraced the Pike's
peak country. If it were a state, its western bound-
ary did not reach within three degrees of the historic
mountain.
The little handful of Americans gathered at Au-
raria in the autumn of 1858, with that facility for
politics which distinguishes our people, took into con-
sideration these questions as affecting their future, and
proceeded in a characteristic manner to meet the diffi-
culty. A mass meeting was held to organize a county,
to be named Arapahoe, after one of the plains tribes
of Indians, with the county seat at Auraria ; and an
informal election was held for a representative from
this county to proceed to the capital of Kansas and
Hist. Nev. 26 (401)
402 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
procure the sanction of the legislature to its establish-
ment, the representative chosen being A. J. Smith. He
was not admitted to tlie Kansas legislative body, but
was successful in his mission, Governor Denver, with-
out waiting for the action of the legislature, appoint-
ing county commissioners, who proceeded at once
to the performance of their duties/ The county be-
ing divided into twenty-three precincts or districts,
^I find tliat all the writers who mention this subject speak of Arapahoe
county as having been actually established, which was not the case. An-
other error is apparent, the date of Smith's election being given as Nov. 6th
in Holli.itcr'^ Mineji of Colorado, IS; Vobmdo Gazttleer, 1870, 24; dirn\. CorhU's
Dirertoi-y o/Miiie.% 38; while in the History of Denver, 631, the commissioners
appointed by Gov. Denver are represented as arriving Nov. l'2th, 6 days
after the election. Probably Smith was sent on his errand some time in ad-
vance of Graham, whose mission was an afterthought. Denver, comprehend-
ing the situation of the miners 600 miles from law, with no chance of an
organization by the legislature for several months, simply commissioned H.
P. A. Smith probate judge, anil appointed for county commissioners E. W.
Wynkoop, Hickory Rogers, and Joseph L. McCubljin — see Clear Creek and
Boulder Val. Hist.. 468 — persons al)out to start for the mines. There was
no other organization than this informal one of Arapahoe county, Kansas.
The legislature Feb. 7, 1859, passed an act creating 5 counties; namely,
Montana, in which Denver was situated, El Paso, Oro, Broderick, and Fre-
mont out of the mountain region where gold might be found. Montana
county began on the 40th parallel, 20 miles east of the 105th meridian, and
embraced the territory' south to within 20 miles of the 39th parallel, and west
to the summit of the Rocky mountains. Oro county lay in an oblong shape
east'of Montana, and also El Paso, which was south of Montana. Broderick
county lay south of Oro and El Paso; and Fremont took in the South park
and all the territory west of Broderick and El Paso to the summits of the
Rocky mountains. The commissioners appointed were J. H. Tarney, Wil-
liam H. Prentice, and A. D. Richardson for Montana county; D. Newcomb,
William J. King, and George McGee for Oro county; Simon C. Gephart, W.
Walters, and Charles Nichols for Broderick; T. C. Dixon, A. G. Patrick, and
T. L. AN'hitney for Fremont; and William H. Green, G. W. Allison, and
William O. Donnell for El Paso. The commissioners were required to es-
tablish the county seats, and to offer for sale by public notice 200 lots in
each of these towns, the proceeds of which should be applied to liquidating
the expenses of location, any excess over expenses to be paid into the county
treasury. They were also required to call an election for county officers at
as early a day as practicable, the officers elected, in view of the distance
from the capital, being authorized to qualify and proceed to the discharge of
their duties before being commissioned. Tlie county commissioners were
to be paid S5 per day and expenses for their whole term of 9 months, but
the money was to come from the sale of the lots before mentioned, from
which arrangement it may be inferred that not more than one, if anj', could
have received full payment. Kaimaji Lairs, 1859, 57-60. Whether on this
account or some other it does not appear that these counties were organized;
but at the election of March 28, 1859, the following officers of Arapahoe
county, having no legal existence, were chosen: probate judge IS. W.
Wagoner, sheriff D. D. Cook, treasurer John L. Hiffner, register of deeds
J. S. Lowrie, prosecuting attorney Marshall Cook, auditor W. W. Hooper,
assessor Ross Hutchins, coroner C. M. Steinberger, supervisors L. J. Win-
chester. H. Rogers, R. S. Wooten, clerk of supervisors Levi Ferguson.
Byers' Hist. Cob, MS., 49.
TERRITORY OF JEFFERSON. 403
sheriff and other officers were chosen for the time
from among the population of the county.
On reflection, and in view of the peculiar situation
of Kansas, the politicians of Auraria conceived the
idea of a separate government under the name of the
Territory of Jefferson, and on the 6th of November
elected Hiram J. Graham and Albert Steinberger
delegates to proceed to Washington with a petition
to effect this object. Graham was from New York,
but had lived in Illinois and was one of the pro-
jectors of Pacific City, Iowa, from which place he
went to the Pike's peak country. He was a man of
excellent traits and fair ability, but not likel}" to carry
out so extraordinary a scheme as that on which he
was bent, of persuading congress to erect a territory
in the Rocky mountains to oblige a few hundred per-
sons who did not vet know of anv ojold dio^Q:ina-s of
much value, whatever their faith that they should
find them. Graham gained nothing by his delegate-
ship but an enlarged experience of the ways of con-
gressmen and the machinery of government. Stein-
berger was a young man, and dropped out of the
delegation at Omaha. He was afterward king of a
group of islands in the Pacific, but was deposed by a
British man-of-war.
During the winter the isolated community of Ara-
pahoe county governed itself without friction, by the
observance of some simple regulations, and the au-
thority of their chosen magistrates; but on the 28th
of March, 1860, an election was held, under the laws
of Kansas, for the choosing of county officers. There
were 774 votes polled, the population having increased
at least 500 since the last election. Continuing to
increase rapidly, a public meeting was held on the
11th of April at Auraria, which resolved that the
different precints should be requested to appoint del-
egates to meet in convention on the 1 5th, to take into
consideration the propriety of organizing a state or
territory ; and a central committee was appointed, one
404 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
of whose duties was the designation of as many new
precincts as the spreading population required.
On the 7th of May an address was issued by the
committee, appointing an election on the first Mon-
day in June, to choose delegates to a convention to
draft a constitution for the state of Jefferson. The
election was held, but in most precincts by acclama-
tion only, no returns ever being made, l^^ifty dele-
gates met in June, in Wooten's hall, Denver, represent-
ing thirteen precincts. W. N. Byers was chosen
temporary chairman ; but on the permanent organiza-
tion of the convention, S. W. Wagoner was made
president, Henry Allen, E. P. Stout, R. Sopris, Levi
Ferguson, and C. B. Patterson vice-presidents,
Thomas Gibson and J. J. Shanley clerks.
After a two days' session, in which the chief busi-
ness transacted was the appointment of committees
to draft a constitution, it adjourned to meet again on
the first Monday in August, the long interval being
taken to observe the course of events, A. F. Garri-
son was chosen president. A committee was ap-
pointed by the convention to form new precincts, so
that when that body reassembled there were present
167 delegates, representing forty-six precincts.
The convention was now about equally divided in
favor of and against a state constitution, and discus-
sion ran high. Three sets of resolutions were offered,
one by H. P. A. Smith, providing that the conven-
tion should dissolve, and memorialize congress for a
territorial organization ; another by Beverly D. Wil-
liams, providing for a committee to report to the con-
vention on the expediency of forming a constitution,
or memorializing congress; and a third by S. W.
Beall, in favor of forming a constitution. The resolu-
tions of Smith and Beall were finally withdrawn, and
Williams' resolution adopted. A committee was ap-
pointed, a majority of whose members reported in
favor of a constitution."
^Extracts from Early Rccordu, MS., 4-6. Among those engaged in early
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 405
The convention remained in session one week, the
constitution of the state of Jefferson being formed,
with limits similar to the present state of Colorado.
It was submitted to the people on the first Monday
in September, with the alternative, in case of its re-
jection, that an election should be held in October to
choose a delegate to congress, who should endeavor to
have the gold regions set off in a territory to be called
Jefferson. The constitution was rejected by a vote of
2,007 to 649, demonstrating by the lightness of the
vote that gold, and not politics, absorbed the public
mind.
And yet there was a party which found time to
press the scheme of a provisional government, and
which called a mass meeting at Auraria on the 24th
of September to consider the subject. An address to
the people was prepared, requesting them at the Oc-
tober election to vote for delegates who should meet
a little later for the purpose of forming an independ-
ent government.^
The election took place on the 5th of October, when,
owing to the return to the states of a large part of the
population, and the indifference of those who remained,
only about 8,000 votes were polled. Beverly D.
Williams was chosen delegate to congress, and Richard
Sopris representative from Arapahoe county to the
legislature of Kansas. As on the previous attempt
to secure a hearing in congress, Williams accomplished
nothing more than to impress the government with
the pertinacity of this far off and ambitious political
bantling, variously known as Pike's peak, Arapahoe,
county, and Jefferson territory. Sopris was given a
seat in the Kansas legislature. Governor Denver hav-
government affairs were: E. H. N. Patterson, delegate from Left Hand
creek, born in Va, and was at one time formerly editor of the Placer Times,
of Sacramento, in California early days, and again of the Georgetown Miner
10 years afterward; Charles C. Post,, miner and lawyer from Missouri gulch;
George M. Chilcott, and I. J. Pollock.
3 The leaders in this movement were Frank De La Mar, S. W. Wagoner,
B. D. Williams, G. M. Willing, A. Sagendorf, H. P. A. Smith, Henry Allen,
and M. C. Fisher. Byers' Hist. Cob, MS., 55.
406 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
ing issued a proclamation to the voters of Arapahoe
county to elect a representative — although no such
county was known to tliat body.*
According to the plans arranged by the provisional
government or territorial party, the election of tlieir
delegates took place, and on the 10th of October the
convention met at Auraria, when eighty-six were
found to be present. They adopted a constitution and
proceeded to district the mining region, providing for
a legislature consisting of eight councilmen, and
twenty- one representatives. An election was ordered
for the 24th, to choose a governor, secretary, members
of the legislature, and otlier territorial officers, which
was done with one unimportant exception, the vote
standing about 1,800 to 300. R. W. Steele was
elected governor of the territor}^ of Jefferson, and
Lucian W. Bliss secretary. Steele's message was
creditable, and so was the action of the legislature,
wliich met on tlie 7th of November and lasted forty
days, during which many general and special laws
were passed. Among the latter was a charter for the
city of Denver. Nine counties were organized, for
which probate judges were appointed by the governor,
to hold until the first county elections in January
I860.* A tax of one dollar per capita was levied to
defray expenses ; and the assembly adjourned to the
23d of January.
*ln Sopris, Si'Ulement of Denver, MS., 13, he says that he obtainetl a
charter for a ditcli to ))ring the water of the Platte into Denver, which was
perpetual, the city of Denver owning it; that he also ohtaineil cliarters for
roads, banking, insurance, and telegrapli companies, and much necessary
legi»-lation of like character.
*Tlie other officers of the provisional government were: C. R. Bissell,
auditor; R. L. Wooten, treasurer; Samuel McLean, attorney -general; Oscar
B. Totten, clerk of sup. court; A. J. Allison, chief justice; S. J. Johnson and
L. W. Borton, associate justices; Hickory Rogers, mar.shal; H. H. McAfee,
supt of public instruction. Tlie membersof tlie council from the 8 council
districts were X. (J. Wyatt, Henry Allen, Eli Carter, Mark A. Moore, J. M.
Wood, James Emmerson, W. D. Arnett, D. Shafer, in tlie order in which
they are named. The members of tlie lower house were John ('. Moore. W.
P. McClure, W. M. Slaughter, M. D. Hickman, D. K. Wall, Miles I'atton,
J. S. Stone, J. N. Hallock, J. S. Allen, A. J. Edwanls, A. McFa.lden.
Kdwin James, T. S. Golden, J. A. Gray, Z. Jackson, 8. B. Kellogg, William
Davidson, C. C. Post, Asa Smith, C. P. Hall.
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 407
The supporters of the Kansas government who had
sent their representative to the capital of that terri-
tory, refused to pay a tax to support the provisional
government, in a remonstrance signed by six or seven
hundred miners. The men of Gregory district, which
the new government had erected into Mountain
county, held an election on the 3d of January 1860,
and rejected the county organization by a vote of 395
to 95. On the other hand, Arapahoe county, as cre-
ated by the provisional legislature, acknowledged the
new government, and held its election according to
the law by which it was established.
On the 2d of January, a mass meeting was held at
Denver, at which a memorial was adopted, addressed
to the president, asking for a territorial organization,
and S. W. Beall was delegated to carry it to Wash-
ington , but no notice was taken of the petition. The
assembly met again on the 23d, pursuant to adjourn-
ment, and completed a civil and criminal code, which
was observed and enforced in some parts of the " Ter-
ritory of Jefferson," while in others the miners' courts
held sway, and the Kansas government was least
observed of any."
The miners had invented a system of regulations,
and were satisfied with them, and inclined to reject
innovations. Each district had its president or judge,
recorder, and sheriff, elected by ballot,' the rules laid
down for their governance being simple and expedi-
tious. Claim clubs, for the protection of agricultural
or town site claims, with similar regulations, served
the purpose of legal statutes, the expounding of which
was too often accompanied by aggravating delays and
ruinous costs. There was little anxiety therefore for
change, except among professional politicians and their
friends. But the people being generally order loving
«Iii the autumn of 1860 Edward M. McCook was elected to the Kansas
legislature, but secured no benefits, and probably no pay. CorheWs Dir. of
Mines, 42,
■'Jack Keeler was elected sheriflf of Arapahoe district in 1860, and hia
deputy was William Z. Cozens.
408 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
and law abiding, obeyed without question either form
of government, whose officers happened to be estab-
lished in their midst, which obedience averted any
injurious collision of authorities. Occasionally a
cliange of venue was taken from one government to
the other, when the litigants suffered by having heavy
costs to pay. And occasionally crimes were com-
mitted, which demanded a strong and recognized gov-
ernment for their punishment. In the absence of that,
the people defended themselves as those of California
and each of the new mining territories had done, by
committees which dispensed a rude and vigorous
justice without appeal.^ They acted spontaneously
and openly, and were known as the people's courts,
electing their judges and marshal as required, and
taking no notice of any but felonious offences. In
some parts of the country they became, from the neces-
sities of the case, vigilance committees, and dealt
with horse and cattle thieves. The penalties inflicted
were in accordance with the crime, and might be
either hanging, whipping, or banishment. Of the
first three homicides, one escaped, one was tried before
Judge H. P. A. Smith and hanged, and the third was
tried before Judge Hyatt and acquitted.
Denver being the principal town had most need of
the people's courts. In the latter part of January
the unruly element became alarmingly conspicuous.
Among the disturbances occasioned by this portion
of the population was what was known as the Turkey
war. It originated in the plundering by them of a
party of hunters from the southern part of the terri-
tor}'- with a great number of wild turke^^s for sale.
A committee was organized to punish the thieves ;
but it was found that they had many defenders, and it
was with difficulty that a bloody conflict was avoided.
• Previous to April 1860 there were two duels in Denver. In one of them
J. S. Stone, a member of the provisional legislature, was killeil by L. W.
Bliss, secretary and acting governor of Jetferson territory, wlio at a public
dinner made an offensive remark in allusion to Stone, which called out the
challenge.
CLAIM CLUB.
409
The next excitement was over the jumping of town
lots by squatters who had settled on the outskirts of
Denver, and claimed the land under the agricultural
preemption law. Several times deadly weapons were
discharged in altercations over town property, though
no lives were sacrificed. This led to the organiza-
tion of a claim club at Denver, the members being
bound to defend the town company against squatters,
several of whom were banished. In July a still more
threatening affair warned the people to be on their
Colorado in 1863.
guard. The office of the RocJcy Moimtain News was
attacked by a desperate man named Carl Wood, be-
cause the paper had condemned the killing of a negro
named Starks by a confederate, Charles Harrison,
and Byers narrowly escaped being killed. Wood was
taken, tried, and banished by the decree of Judge
H. P. Bennett.
So determined were the people that justice should
be done that Sheriff Middaugh pursued and brought
410 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
back from Leavenworth for trial James Gordon, who
liad, without provocation, killed Jacob Gantz in July.
He was prosecuted Ijy Bennett, before a judi^e ap-
pointed for the occasion, defended by able lawyers,
pronounced guilty by a jury of twelve responsible
citizens, and hanged. Fimr other homicide^ were
tried and acquitted, and three tried and hanged be-
tween ^larch and September. Several horse thieves
were also punished and banished. It could not be
said that there was no law and no government, but
rather that government was triple-headed in these
mining regions.
At the second annual election of the provisional
government, October 'I'ld, its officers were elected by
a vote so insignificant as hardly to deserve the name
of an election. The legislature, however, met in No-
vember, and held its second session, unnoticed by the
people, its doings never being published. It would
hardly have survived to a third session had it not bcjn
supplanted as it was by a government erected by
congress.*
That the effort to firmly establish a provisional gov-
ernment was well meant and patriotic I do not doubt.
Its failure depended partly upon one of the causes of
its creation, the conflicting claims of five several ter-
ritories, whose boundaries were included in the Pike's
peak region ; namly the eastern part of Utah, the
northern part of New Mexico, and the western parts
» Robert W. Steele, governor of tlie provisional territory of Jefferson,
was an energetic, sanguine man, tall, angular, rather rougli, hut jxtssessing
good coninion sense and honesty. He was l»oru in Ohio in 1820; removed in
1846 to iowa, where he studied law; and to Omaha in lSr)5, where he was a
member of the legislature of 18ri8-'.). Then he went to Denver and to Cen-
tral City, where he was presideiit of the Consolidated Ditch Co. He was
governor until June 1801, wlien tiie duly appointed officers of Colorado ter-
ritory arrived. He settled his family at Golden, but removed to Empire in
1802, an<l afterward to Georgetown. In 1804 he was one of the party which
discovered tlie Argentine district and Belmont lode — tlie first paying silver
depo.sit in Colorado. This mine was named after August Belmont of New
York, and brought .^lOO.OOO. It was later called the Johnson.
'Jheodore P. Boyd, justice sup. ct prov. govt, Mas from Pa; in 1849 came
to Cal., and finally toiJolden, wliere he erected the third house. In the
winter of 185'.M)i)"lie located farms for himself and sous on Clear creek, 7
miles eaat of Golden.
JEFFERSON AND COLORADO. 411
of Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota/* Had every man
in the mines been willing to yield allegiance to the
independent government, these other governments
were likely to interfere, and probably would have
done so, had time been given or complaint been made.
There were other reasons, in the instability of the
population and the avoidance of the cost of a govern-
ment. There was nothing in the public acts of the
officers or legislators of "Jefferson territory" which
was not intended for the public good. They were a
portion of the same people who, in their people's
courts, settled all matters of law and justice as effi-
ciently as it could have been done anywhere. ^^
^' That part of Kansas ■which lay west of the east boundary of New Mex-
ico was contined to the territory between the 3Sth and 40th parallels. St
Vrain and Boulder creek mines, and many farms, were therefore out of this
jurisdiction. Breckenridge was in Utah, and California gulch was on
debatable ground.
"The first people's court at Canon City was organized by Wilbur F.
Stone, who drafted a code for the government of that community. Stone
was born at Litchfield, Conn., in 1833, but removed to western New York at
the age of 6 years, and later to Mich., Ind., and Iowa. He was educated at
Asbury university, and the state university of Indiana, where he graduated
from the law department. Settling at Evansville, he practised his profession
and edited the Daily Inquirer. For a short time he resided at Omaha, edit-
ing the Nehrashian, but came to Colorado in the spring of 1860. He was a
member of the Colorado legislature from Park county in 1862, and again in
1864-5. In 1866 he returned to Ind., and married Minnie Sadler, after
which he settled at Pueblo until 1877, when he was elected to the bench of
the supreme court. From 1862 to 1866 he was assistant U. S. atty for Col-
orado. In 1868 he was appointed by the gov. 1st dist atty of the 8d judicial
dist of Colo. In 1868 he gave a portion of his time to editing the PuMo
Cldeftain, the only newspaper south of the divide at that time; and dLhev-
•wa.rA -wrote iov the Peoples Xeivspa-p<',r, and other journals until 1874. He
aided largely in building up Pueblo during a 12 j-ears' residence, and was
one of those who secured the completion of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa
Fe railroad to that place. He was a member of the state constitutional con-
vention, and judge of the supreme court. He had ever at command a vast
fund of information, which during my researches in Colorado in 1884 were
generously placed at my disposal, and which kindness resulted in valuable
manuscript contributions to history, entitled General Vieiv of Colorado and
Land Grants.
Another high authority on early government matters is HaUett's Courts,
Lain, and Litigation, MS. Moses Hallett was born in Daviess county, 111.,
in 1834, and resided there, with the exception of a few years spent away
from home in acquiring an education, and in the study of the law ia Chicago,
until the spring of 1860, when he came to Colorado. He settled at Denver,
and after a trial of mining entered upon the practice of his profession. He
served two terms in the territorial council. In 1866 he was appointed chief
justice of the territory, which position he held for 10 years, after which he
was appointed judge for the U. S. dist. of Colorado. Tall and dark com-
plexioned, with au intellectual face and affable manners, be enjoyed the
412 OROANIZATION OF (iOVKllNMEXT.
So many petitions liad gone forth for a territorial
organizatian by congress that a bill to provide for the
friendship and admiration of tlie best men. Hallett explains even more folly
than 8toue the peculiarities, merits, and eccentricities of the people's and
miner's courts, lie tells us there were arbitrary executions every year, down
to 1877. In that year a man name Musgrove, the leader of a gang of
horse thieves, was hanged off the end of Larimer street bridge, in open day,
without concealment of any sort. Tlie people seldom interfered witli the
administration of the laws. One instance is, liowever, given of a territorial
judge, who was on his way to ( lolden to make some onler affecting a railroad
company, being taken from a train, carried off, and kept 24 hours in durance
to prevent the order being made. Coiirt-'i, Law, and LUi'jnllm, M8., 6-7.
Wolfe Londoner, in a manuscript on ]'i</iUutre CotiunilUfs in Colorado,
giving an account of 'all the judgments of capital punishment, and all tho
executions of the people's courts in Denver,' is a valuable authority, lie ex-
plains tliat there were other trials by the same kind of courts, but no other
sentences or punishments. The tirst murder M-as committed by John Stofel,
son-in-law cf a German named Beincroff. Stofel killed one of his young
brothers-in-law, on Vasquez fork or Clear creek, April 7, 18o9. He was sus-
pected, arrested, examined before II. P. A. Smith, admitted his guilt, and,
as there was no prison in the country, it was determined to hang him. The
examination was lield in the second building below what is now ilolladay
street, east side of Ferry, now 11th street. The execution took place at the
corner of HoUaday and 10th streets, where Stofel was hanged on a tree; by
Noisy Tom, executioner for the occasion. On the r2th of Slarch, ISGO, Wil-
liam West M-as shot by Moses Young, on the west side of Cherry creek, near
Larimer street bridge. Young -was tried next day, found guilty, a scaffold
erected on the spot where the murder was committed, and the day after the
trial and conviction he was hanged. On the 12th of June, ISOO, Jacob Roe-
der and family passed through Denver en route for South park, in company
with Marcus Gredler and others. Roeder and Gredler quarrelled, and Koeder
was killed and buried by (iredler in revenge. The murderer was arrested,
and on compulsion showed the grave of his victim. He was tried, sentenced,
and hanged the next day, on a scaffold at the foot of the bluff where Curtis
street enters Cherry creek bottom on tho east side. On the 20th of June two
freighters quarrelled, and, on the road near Denver, Hadley stabbed Card so
that he died. Hadley was brought back on the 22d, a court organized under
a clump of Cottonwood trees which stood on 16th street, opposite the Plant-
er's house, this being the only court held in the open air. He was sentenced
lo be hanged on the 2.'5th, but escaped fromhis jailers. On the 20th of July,
1869, occurred the murder of Jacob Gantz, by J. A. Gordon, of which I have
given an account. (Jordon was executed at the same place asCJrcdler. On
the 30th of Nov., 1860, Thomas R. Freeman was killed by Patrick Waters.
Freeman lived alone, 2 miles below Denver, and was one of the few who at-
tempted farming that year, raising vegetables for market. Waters was a
hanger-on of better men, and accompanied Freeman down the Platte to buy
hay, murdc:ing him for his money, near Fort L>i])ton. The liody being dis-
covered, Welters was arrested in Neb., tried at Denver, an<l executed on a
gallows at the farther eml of loth street bridge. The prosecution in tiiis
case made the first presentment in writing, as follows: 'The j)eople of the
Pike's peak gold region vm-ms Patrick Waters. Tlie people of tlie Pike's
peak gold region, assembled at the city of Denver the 19th day of Dec, 1860,
do find and present that on the 30th of Nov., a. i>. ISdO, at the said Pike's
peak gold region, one Patrick Waters did make a felonious as.sault on one
Thomas R. Freeman, tlien and there being, and liim. the sai.l Thomas R.
Freeman. \v\i\\ premeditated malice, did murder and slay, contrary to all the
laws of God and man.
BOUND.^JES. 413
erection of a new territory was at length introduced/^
which passed both houses and became a law February
28, 1861. The name of Colorado was given to it at
the suggestion of the man selected for its first gov-
ernor/' The boundaries of Colorado, as described in
the organic act, included all the territory between the
thirty-seventh and forty-first parallels of north lati-
tude, and the twenty-fifch and thirty-second meridians
of west longitude, forming an oblong square contain-
ing 104,500 square miles, or 66,880,000 acres of land,
with the usual proviso, that nothing contained in the
act should be construed to impair the rights of the
Indians while they remained unextinguished by treaty,
or prevent the government from again dividing the
territory at pleasure, the act in all respects resembling
other organic acts establishing temporary govern-
ments. The territorial officers commissioned by the
president were William Gilpin governor, Lewis Led-
pard Weld secretary, Benjamin F. Hall chief justice,
S. Newton Pettis and Charles Lee Armor associate
justices, Copeland Townsend marshal, James T). Dal-
liba attorney-general, and F. M. Case surveyor-gen-
eral. They arrived May 29th, and were cordially
welcomed, even by the unpaid officers of the pro-
visional government, whose functions ceased with the
appearance of the presidential appointees.
Governor Gilpin was a man capable of inspiring
enthusiasm upon occasions. He visited all the prin-
cipal settlements ^* as rapidly as possible, making him-
12 v. S. Sen. Doc, 15, 3Gth cong. lotsess.; W. S. Sen. Jour., 839, 231, S6th
cong. Ist sess.; Cong. Globe, 1859-60, 1502; Id., 1860-1, 639^5, 728-9, 763-4,
1C05-6; Id., v.; Id., xyii.; Id., xxi.
^■^ Gilpin s Pioneer of 184^, MS., 8. ' Some, ' says Gilpin, ' wanted it called
Jefferson, some Arcadia. ... I said the people have to a great extent named
the states after the great rivers of the country . . . and the great feature of
that country is the great Colorado river. . . "Ah," said he (Wilson of Mass.),
"that is it;" and he named it Colorado.'
I'l learn from U. S. H. Ex. Doc, v., no. 56, 37th cong. 2d sess., and the
Histot-y of Gunnison County, MS., by Sylvester Richardson, that Gilpin, M'ith
the assistance of old mountaineers, made a map of the territory in 1861,
which was found to correspond remarkably with the subsequent surveys.
Richardson was a native of Catskill, N. Y., and a man of cultivated mind, as
well as aa able mechanic. He came to Colorado in 1860, and resided 12 years
414 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
self acquainted with the coiuUtiou and wants of the
territory, and everywhere was received with festivity
and favor.'* On the 8th of July lie took the oath of
ofHce, and, the census being completed/* proceeded on
the 10th to assitjjn the judges to their districts, that
the supreme court might be immediately organized."
On the 11th he issued a proclamation declaring the
territory to be one congressional district, which was
divided into nhie council and thirteen representative
districts, in which was ordered tlie election of dele-
gate to congress and members of the legislative as-
sembly to take place on the 19th of August.
In the matter of dates Colorado's history has been
in Denver. In 1873 he helped to explore the Gunnison country, and the fol-
lowing year organized a colony to settle it, of M'liich the history will be given
hereafter.
1^ William Gilpin was horn Oct. 4, 1822, on the battlefield of Brandy-
wine, and appointed to the military academy of West Point in ISoG. Upon
completing his studies he was connnissioned lieut in the 2d dragoons, and
fouglit in the Seminole war under Gen. Jessup, and accompanied Fremont's
expedition of 1843 to Fort Vancouver. Gilpin was desigixed by his maker
for a man of mark. Full six feet in height, of a slight frame and nervous
temperament, with a tine liead and expressive eyes, rather military bearing
and French gestures, he was enthusiastic, while his shrewdness and courtesy
were sometimes overshadowed by his generalizations. Said one of his friends
to me, 'There never was a man like him, and there never will be another; for
20 minutes or so he can talk as closely to tlie point as any man, but after that
he begins to generalize.' On the breaking out of tlie Mexican war, (Jilpin, be-
ing agani in Mi>., was chosen major of the first regiment of Missouri cavalry,
and moved south along the great central plateau with his force until he made
a junction with the nuiin army in Mexico. In 1847, the Indians of tiie plains
having confederate I to cut off immigration westward and to make war on the
frontier settlements, (Jilpin, by direction of the president, led a force of 1,200
cavalry, infantry, and artillery against them to open up communication.
Tliis expedition did not leave Leavenworth until Oct., the troops wintering
at Tike peak and fighting the Indians the following summer. Gilpin' g J^ioiierr
of 18. ',2, MS.; Pitkin 8 PolUiml Vinm, MS.; BrnilfonVs JJi«t. Colorculo, MS.;
EP)rrt'.'< Public Men and Meanurcj*, MS.
'8 The census showed a population of 25,329, four-fifths of which were
men. Corh«-tt's Lr<ii.t. Manwil, 57. The count did not really show the whole
number of inhabitants, many being prospecting in the mountains. Rocky
Mountain Nrwit, July 17, 18G1.
I'Ryers savs in his Ccntnininl State, MS., 10, that a proclamation was
issued on the 23d of July ajjpointing a term of the sup. ct on the first Mon-
day in Sept. following, to be held at Denver. He also says that the first
grand jury impanelled in Colo was upon the 4th of Sept., 1861, at Denver,
and consisted of Nelson Sargent, foreman, Charles A. Wright, John W.
Smith, Alexander M. Smith, John L. Bogg, Jclin G. Vauter. William D.
Davis, John B. Ashland, Jonathan U. Price, Milton E. Clark, Warren Hus-
sey. J. F. Gordine, James M. Iddings, Milton M. Delano, Edward H. Hart,
P." H. Smith, Andrew Sargendorf, and John M. Clark. See also Rocky
Mountain News, Sept. 4, 1861.
GILPIX, GOVERNOR. 415
marked by periods of national importance. It was
the business depression of 1857-8 and the Kansas
troubles which inspired so many with a willingness
to seek new homes and fortunes farther west. The
territory was organized just previous to and while the
civil war was impending ; and lastly the state was ad-
mitted on the 100th anniversary of our independence.
It is with the coincidence of the territorial organiza-
tion and the sudden and great strain put upon the
government that I am chiefly impressed ; in connec-
tion with which must be considered the manner in
which the affairs of the new commonwealth were
managed. Gilpin, although appointed governor by
President Lincoln, was without instructions and with-
out money. Washington was threatened; there were
a dozen cabinet meetings a day ; and when the ap-
pointee begged for writtten orders he was told there
was no time to attend to such matters, but to go and
do as well as he knew how and the bills would be
paid. His verbal instructions, taken in the vestibule
of the white house, or in the portico, conferred broad
powers. He was to see that the new territory was
kept in the union. If soldiers were needed, he was
to call them out and command them.^^ He was loyal,
he was a soldier, he would be quick to see the need
of an appeal to arms ; but was he a statesman, and
might he not be too quick to discern a danger?
These were questions the cabinet had no time to ask.
The period elapsing between the arrival of the ex-
ecutive and the August election was made use of to
ascertain the political bias of the majority, the pop-
ulation being almost evenly divided between those
who would support the government and those whose
sympathies were on the side of the confederates. This
equality warned the republicans to make haste slowly,
and to adopt a liberal and conservative platform, lest
the loyal part of the democracy should be driven to
encourage disloyalty. A convention was held at
18 Gilpin's Pioneer of 1843, MS., 5-6.
416 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
(jrolden City on tlie 1st of July for the purpose of
nominating a delegate to congress, Hiraai P. Bennett
being chosen from among eleven candidates." On the
24th a 'union convention' was held by the demo-
crats for the same purpose, which nominated B. D.
Williams. The newspaper press was divided, and
issued campaign sheets, as might be expected, but
were guarded in their utterances.'"
Williams wag beaten by tlie republican candidate,
on election, by 3,801 votes, the total number of votes
cast being 9,597.'"
The legislature, which was also chiefly republican,
met at i)enver, and held its first session of sixty
days, beginning on the 9th of September, adopting
and enacting a full code of laws, civil and criminal.
The original acts of the le^jislature recognized the le-
gality of the miners' courts, confirmed their decisions,
and provided for the transfer of their cases to the
regular courts, thus avoiding all conflict over previous
judgments.'' The adoption of the Illinois practice
1' Amos Steck was president of this convention, and L. N. Tappan secre-
tary. Bynrs' Ctnlcniiial Stiite, MS., 8.
^♦'Ihe liorky Mount^iin ^Vews, though loj'al, opposed drawing party lines
too strictly. The publishers issued a second journal, the Miner » Record, at
Tarryall, during the campaign, which did good work in preserving the loyalty
of the people and determining the result of the election. Tlie Drnver
Mouiit'iiwur, owned by Moore and Coleman, was a disunion journal, and was
bougiit l)y li} ers and Daily, and silenced in the spring of 1801. Byers Xcwh-
jHipcr Press of Colonvlo, MS., 13.
^' Hiram P. Bennett was born in Mo. in 1826, and removed to Nebraska,
where he wa-i elected to tiie first territorial legislature in 1854. In 1859 he
removed to Denver, where he practised his profession, being associated with
Moaes Hallett, and distinguishing himself by his successful prosecution of
criminals. He served two terms in congress, obtaining the branch mint for
Denver, with other benefits to the territory. He resumed his law practice
in 1869, but was appointed postmaster soon after, which office he held until
1874. He was a mem])er of the first state legislature from Arapahoe co.
'^'^The members of the council representing their districts in the following
order were Hiram J. Graham, Amos Steck. C. W. Mather, H. F. Parker, A.
U. Colby, Samuel M. Robl)ina, E. A. Arnold, R. B. Willis, and John M.
Francisco. Colo. Jour. Coum-il, 1861, 3. Members of the lower house, in the
order of their districts, were Charles F. Holly. E. S. Wilhite, Edwin Scud-
der, William A. Rankin. J. B. Chaffee, J. H. Noteware, Daniel Witter,
George F. Crocker, Daniel Steel, Corydon P. Hall, Victor Garcia. Je.sus
Barela. and George M. Chilcott. Colo. Jour. Ifome, 1861, 3, 19. E. A.
Arnold of Lake co. was chosen presidont of the council, S. L. Baker, sec,
David A. Cbeever as.st see., E. W. Kingsbury aergeant-at-arms. Charles
F. Holly of Boulder co. was elected speaker of the house of reps.F. H. Page
chief clerk, E. P. Elmer sergeant-at-arms. Corby's Lt>ju Manual, 212.
CREATION OF COUNTIES. 417
code was another wise act, giving the territorial courts
a system of practice which had been ably expounded
b}^ the supreme court of that state. No subsequent
legislation was had upon this subject while the terri-
torial form of government was in existence.
The territory was divided into counties" and judi-
cial districts,'* the election of county officers provided
for, and a complete organization effected. The capital
of the territory was located at Colorado City, and
commissioners appointed to select the actual site within
the surveyed limits of that town, the commission to
perform its duty within a month after the adjourn-
ment of the legislature.'' The location was chosen
with the view of making the capital central to the
future state. That it was subsequently abandoned
was because it was found to be inconvenient. It was
fixed at Golden City '* in 1862, where it remained
2^ The following counties •were organized, ■with county seats temporarily
located, as follows: CostDla, county seat at San Miguel; Guadalupe, county
seat at the town of Guadalupe (the name of this county was changed to
Conejos the same session); Huerfano, county seat at Autubee; Pueblo, county
seat at the town of Pueblo; Fremont, county seat at Canon City; El Paso,
county seat at Colorado City; Douglas, county seat at Frankstown; Arapahoe,
county seat at Denver; Weld, named after the secretary of territory, county
.seat at St Vrain; Larimer, named after George William Larimer, county seat
at La Porte; Boulder, county seat at the town of Boulder; Jeiferson, county
seat at Golden City; Clear Creek, county seat at Idaho; Gilpin, named after
the governor, county seat at Central City; Park, county seat at TarryaU;
Lake, county seat at Oro City; Summit, county seat at Parkville. Colo Gen.
Laws, 1861, 52-7.
•■'* The territory was divided into three judicial districts, the counties of
Larimer, Weld, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, and El Paso constituting the
1st, to which Chief .Justice HaU was assigned; Jefferson, Clear Creek, Giljjin,
Park, and Summit the 2d district, to which Judge Armor was assigned;
Lake, Fremont, Pueblo, Huerfano, Conejos, and Costilla, the 3d district, to
which was assigned Judge Pettis. Gen. Laics Colo, 1861, 395-6.
^^ The committee consisted of S. L. Baker, E. B. Cozzens, and M. Holt.
'•'^ There were certain rivalries to be considered, as is always the case; but
the chief aim seemed to be to prevent Denver having the capital, that town
being accused of a desire to secure everything; therefore, at the next session,
the legislature, being dissatisfied -with Colorado Citv as a place of meeting,
ha\-ing to camp out and do their own cooking, adinurned to Denver, and
removed the capital once more, this time to Golden City. Says Stone, ' The
southern men were opposed to adjourning to Denver, and they went away
and hid in the woods, and the sergeant-at-arms couldn't find them. Finally
•we sent men out -with flags of truce to bring them in, and getting them
together in Mother Maggart's hotel, under pretense of compromising the
matter, locked the doors on them, finished the vote, and got the adjourn-
ment to Denver.' Land Grants hi Coh, MS., IL
Hist. Net. 27
418
or(;anizatiox of government.
until 1868, when it was taken back to Denver; but
the feehng in the soutliern counties being strong
a^i^ainst tliis point, and Pueblo being prevented from
getting it in 1872 only by bribery, the constitutional
convention provided that the vote of the whole people
should be taken five years after the adoption of tlie
constitution, the place receiving the greater number
of votes to be declared the permanent capital. The
vote was taken in 1881, and Denver, which had been
growing in influence, received the majority of votes,
Seal.
thus ending, to the chagrin of the southern counties,
the long struggle for that division of power which will
only come with the development of the resources of
the south.
Tlie seal adopted for the territory was an heraldic
shield, bearing in chief, or on the upper portion of the
same, upon a red ground, three snow capped moun-
tains, above surrounding clouds ; upon the lower part
of the shield, upon a golden ground, a miner's badge,
being the same badge prescribed by the regular her-
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. 419
aldic rules ; as a crest above the shield the eye of God,
being golden rays proceeding from the lines of a tri-
angle; below the crest, and above the shield, as a
scroll, the Roman fasces, bearing on a band of red,
white, and blue, the words Union and Constitution ;
below the whole, the motto Nil Sine Numine; the
whole to be surrounded by the words Sigillum Terri-
torii Coloradensis, and the figures 1861. This design
was adopted by the state in 1876.
The message of Governor Gilpin to the legisla-
ture contained much good advice, with many original
ideas. He recommended a thorough organization
by counties, townships, districts, and precincts, and
advised a system of "social police" laws for the
protection of property, enforcement of contract, tax-
ation, roads, education, and charities; but particu-
larly he desired them to recognize the importance of
the judiciary and military departments of the govern-
ment, which constituted "the bulwark of their liber-
ties." Acting somewhat upon the suggestions made,
and also on their own o-ood sense, the first leg^islature
of Colorado, as I have said, did some excellent work
in establishing good government, both civil and mili-
tary. Among their acts was a joint resolution ex-
pressing sympathy with the government, and pledging
support. Another resolution indorsed the acts of the
governor which had reference to preserving the loyal
attitude of the territory. Joint memorials asked for
the establishment of a branch mint at Denver," for a
mail route along the upper portion of the Platte
river, from which the mail had been withdrawn by
the opening of a cut-ofF, for a daily mail between
Denver and Mountain City (Central City), which, it
was alleged, distributed more mail than any office in
the territory. An act was passed increasing the rep-
^The amount of gold coined at the U. S. mint from Colorado mines in
1859 was 8622,000; in 1860 it was ?2,091,00a. Large amounts were in cir-
culation without coinage, and a certain amount was used in manufactures.
On this showing the Coloradans thought themselves entitled to a mint. Colo
Gen. Laws, 1861, 513.
420 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
resentation in the Ittj^islative body to tliirtoen couiicil-
ineii and twenty-six representatives, the whole num-
ber allowed by the organic act, and congress was asked
to increase the per diem from tliree to six dollars,
which it did not do until 1867. By the act increas-
ing the membership, it was provided that these addi-
tional legislators should be chosen at the general elec-
tion in December 1861, and another session of the
legishature held, commencing on the first Monday in
June 1862, but that thereafter the territorial legisla-
ture should meet on the first Monday in February of
each year. The adjournment took place on the 8th
of November.''
Meanwhile Governor Gilpin, relying upon the in-
formal permission given him to do whatever he
thought right and proper for the good of Colorado
and the preservation of the government, had ex-
ceeded the powers ordinarily invested in a territorial
executive. BeUeving that the exigencies of the
times required the raising of a regiment, he proceeded
to raise and send it into the field."
■^^ The additional councilmcn elected for the 2d session were H. R. Hunt,
William A. H. Loveland, N. J. Bond. J. B. Woodson, and Uunry Altnian.
The additional representatives were Joseph Kenyon, D. C. Oakes, C (i. Hans-
conic, William M. Slaugliter. H. B. Hayes, J. W. Hamilton, Wilbur F. Stone,
John Fosher, M. S. Beach, Jose Rapliael Martine, Jose Francisco (Jallejos.
and D. I'owell. Of the council E. A. Arnf)ld was presi<lent, S. L. Baker
chief clerk, U. A. Cheever asst clerk, E. W. Kingsbury sergeant-at-arms.
Of the house, Charles F. Holly was speaker, V. H. Page chief clerk, E. P.
Elmer sergeant-at-arms. Cnrltctt, Li'ijui. Mniiunl, 212-14.
■^'•' Owing to the presence in the territory of a large number of southern
men, he felt the importance of avoiding a conflict, and the necessity of j)ro-
ceeding secretly to the accomplishment of his purpose in order not to pro-
voke opposition from those who, while not ojienly disloyal, had confederate
proclivities. Two infantry companies were first raised, of picked men, armed
with weapons quietly purchased wherever they couhl be found. Lead was
obtained from a Colorado mine, and three loails of gunpowder from Topeka,
through the friendship of John Burke. Having now the nucleus of a regi-
ment, a call was made for eight more companies, which were rapidly formed,
and promptly furnished by tlif -governor, who paid the Denver merchanlj
for supplies by drafts on tlie treasury, which he had authority for drawing
in the fully given word of the president and secretary of war. Buc that it
was a fortunate forecast in the executive became a])parent when it was dis-
covered, after the call had been made, that the disloyal part of the popula-
tion was proceeding with equal caution to gather a force to plunder the I)ank9
and business houses of Denver and escape into Texas, there to join the con-
federate army. At the head of this cons]>iracy was McKee, a Texan ranger.
He was arrested with about forty of his followers, and confined in jail. The
CIVIL WAR. 421
southerners had their rendezvous about forty miles from Cherry creek, near
Russellville, where the tirst Colorado infantry was sent to capture the
remainder. Some prisoners were taken, but about one hundred escaped and
went into camp near Fort Wise, on the Arkansas river, where they captured
a government train, but were overtaken and forty-one brought back to Den-
ver, where they were a source of infinite vexation, nobody knowing what
to do with them, while they had to be guarded and fed at considerable
expense.
The 1st Colorado regiment was composed of good material in the main.
The regiment was organized as follows: J. P. Slough colonel, S. F. Tappan
lieut-col, J. M. Chiviagton major; captains, E. W. Wynkoop, S. M. Logan,
Richard Sopris, Jacob Downing, S. J. Anthony, S. H. Cook, J. W. Hamble-
ton, George L. Sanborn, Charles Malie, C. P. Marion. It was presented
with a handsome silk flag by the women of Denver. Rocky Mountain Neivs, Aug.
21, 1861. But it contained a certain proportion of undisciplined, strong, and
restless men, who had volunteered in the hope of being called upon to go to
the front. Their presence in Colorado at this time was a standing menace to
confederate sympathizers; but it was not the kind of service which they
desired; enforced idleness soon bred a mutinous spirit, and discipline became
difficult to maintain, the presence of the regiment in Denver requiring an
extra police force to preserve the property of citizens from the nightly prowl-
ing of squads of mischievous or drunken soldiers. In November they were
removed to Camp Weld, two miles from Denver, where they continued to fret
at their bondage and threaten desertion. Two companies were sent to Fort
Wise, afterward Fort Lyon, where they were no better pleased. This post,
which was in part Bent's new fort, was built by Sedgwick's command of 350
U. S. troops in the winter of 1860-1, after a summer campaign among the
Indians. The quarters were of stone laid up in mud, with dirt roofs and
floors. Bent's portion was used as a commissary. The post was commanded
by Lieut Warner, of the regular army, who regarded the manners of the
volunteers with great disfavor, a view which was entirely reciprocated.
In Feb. Major-general Hunter, in command of the department at Fort
Leavenworth, yielded to the representations of the officers of the Colorado
1st, that unless the men were put into the field they would desert in the
spring. Chivington says that it was his influence that procured the change.
Fii-iit Colorado Regiment, MS., 3^. An occasion was opportunely furnished
of making them useful by the advance on JSew Mexico of 4,000 Texan troops,
under Gen. H. H. Sibley, and permission was granted Slough to take his reg-
iment south to the relief of the threatened territory. On arriving at Fort
Wise orders were received to hasten to the assistance of Gen. Canby, who
was being overpowered, the Texans having taken forts Bliss and Fillmore,
fought Canby at Valverde, and driven him back to Fort Craig. They were
preparing to march on Fort Union, the principal depot of supplies in New-
Mexico. The Colo troops hastened forward through the Raton pass, and
after a brief rest made a forced march of 64 miles in 24 hours the baggage
being left at Red river, and the wagons used to relieve the men in squads to
prevent their giving out. By great exertion the regiment reached Fort Union
on the 13th, where were 400 men, under Col Paul of New Mexico. There
were at this time two independent Colorado companies in New Mexico,
which had been formed by the governor's permission in the southern coun-
ties, and sent to Fort Garland. The captains were James H. Ford and Theo-
dore H. Dodd, a nephew of Gov. Todd of Ohio. These two companies
became the nucleus of the 2d Colorado regiment.
The day following the arrival of Slough at Fort Union news was received
from Canby of the capture of a large train of supplies, and that Sibley was
at Santa Fe with recruits pouring in. Upon this information the Coloradans
determined to march on Santa Fe. On the 22d the army set out, consisting
of the 1st Colorado, two light batteries, one of the independent companies
under Capt. Ford, and two companies of the 5th infantry, in all about 1,300
men, commanded by Col Slough. One company was mounted for scouring
422 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
purposes, and divided into detachments, under captains Howland of the
regular army and Kord. On the uiglit of tlie 'J4tli the scouts captured a
picket guard, and learned tliat a inrce of 800 Texans were advancing on
Santa Fe. Preparations were at once made to intercept them. Maj. Chiv-
ington was ordered to make a night march from Bernal springs, to encamp
by day, and to march again Ijy night to Santa Fe, spike the enemy's guns,
and do as much as possible to cripple him. All the mounted men in the
command, and two companies of foot troops, were detailed, amounting to
400 men. On the first night out, at the Pecr)s river, Lieut-col Tappan sur-
prised and captured a party of confederate scouts, who were sent to Sloughs
camp. Chivington continued his marcli l)y daylight (there was not a man in
the regiment, from the col down, mIio knew how to obey oders), and met
the advanced guard of the enemy a little after noon, which surrenilered.
He was now in the Apache canon, a pass of the mountains ten miles long,
between hills from 1,000 to 2,000 feet high, and proceeding at a leisurely
pace, when the picket came running back, informing Chivington that he was
confronted with a column of double his strength and furnished with artillery,
■while his batteries were with Slough in the rear. Cannonading was begun,
and Chivington deployed his foot as skirmishers on the sides of the moun-
tains out of range of the battery, and held the horse, under Captain How-
land of the regular army, as a reserve, under cover, with orders to cliarge
when they saw the enemy in retreat. But when he did retreat Howland
failed to charge. His troops parted either May and tiled to the rear in con-
fusion. Fortunately for the fame of the 1st Colorado he was not of it.
Another troop under Cook awaited orders with the shells whistling and
screaming over them. The skirmishers soon made the position of tiie Texans
in the road untenable, and they retired to a better t)ne a mile below, conceal-
ing their infantry in the rocks, and posting their howitzers to command the
road. Chivington followed cautiously untd within an eighth of a mile of tiie
battery, when he halted to get the infantry and horse together, except Cook's,
deploying them right and left to outHank the new confederate position. In
these movements Chivington, who had hitherto been a man of peace, a
mcthodist preacher in fact, behaved well. He was a native of Ohio, born in
18'21, migrated to III. in 1848, where he entered the conference of the M. E.
church, being transferred to the Mo. conference, and in 1855 to Omaha, Neb.
While in Mo. he was a missionary to the Wyandottes. In 1860 he came to
Denver as presiding elder of the Rocky mountain district. Of a com-
manding presence, and in full regimental dress, he was a conspicuous figure
as he galloped through the rain of bullets. Furtlier retreat of the Texans
was the signal to Cook, who came forward M'ith his 99 horsemen. The road
was unfavorable for cavalry, but the charge Mas successful, resulting in a
large number of kdled. Mounded, and prisoners. On the other hand, the
Texans fought bravely and inflicted severe injury. A storm of lead poured
doMii on the enemy from their infantry, but the Colorado regiment m as posted
above them, and soon drove them doMii the hillside into the road and to tlight.
The loss in the battle f>f Apache canon Mas five killed, thirteen Mounded,
and three missing on the union side. The Texans liad sixteen killeil, forty
wounded, and seventy-five taken prisoners. At sunset Chivington fell back
to Pigeon rancho — Pigeon being the name given to a Frenclnnan named Valle
who oMiied it — M'here the Mounded Mere attended to and the dead buried.
The pristmers, including seven commi.ssioned officers. Mere sent to Fort
Union under guard of Ford's company of dragoons, and the command fell
back to a former camp at Coslasky s for Mater.
On the 28th, two days after the battle, Col Slough came up with the
reserve from Bernalsprings, and Chivington Mas again sent forMard across the
mountain, Mith six companies of infantry, to harass the enemy's rear, and a
company of dragoons Mas ordered to scout toMar<l (ialisteo. The remainder
of the 1st regiment, tMO batteries, and tMo small companies of regular cav-
alry, numbering altogether 600, also moved forward on the road to Santa Fe,
not doubting that their passage would be disputed. While halting at
CIVIL WAR. 42a
Pigeon's rancho the pickets came in with the information that the Texaus
were advancing in force, less than lialf a mile away. Quickly the bugles
sounded, the men fell in line, and had gone but a few hundred yards when-
the firing began.
Had the Texans been aware how greatly they outnumbered the union
troops, instead of defeat, they would have prevailed. As it was, after a
day's fighting, they called for time to bury their dead. The following day
they asked to have the armistice extended to 36 hours. At this moment an
order arrived from Cauby to stop fighting, and return to Fort Union. Ihe
Coloradans were astounded. Cauby had so far been driven by the enemy.
The loss on the Texan side, in the two battles, was 281 killed, 200 wounded,
and 100 prisoners, a total of 581. On the union side 49 were killed, 64
wounded, and 21 captured, a total of 134. Col Slough, on returning to Fort
Union, tendered his resignation, being offended, it was said, by Canby's order.
The troops were allowed three day's of rest, when information c:.me that
Canby had left Fort Craig on the 1st of April, and was having a running fight
on the Rio Grande with Sibley's army in retreat to Texas. Orders to march
south to divert the enemy's attention, or assist in driving him out of the
country were received. On the 6th, the regiment, now commanded by Tap-
pan, set out again on the same road it had lately marched over. Canby and
Col Paul were found at a small village at the head of Camuel pass, endeav-
oring to make a junction with Slough, while the Texans were at Albuquerque,
whither they had fallen back on a feint from Canby looking like an attack.
Slough's resignation being accepted, Canby promoted Chivington to the col-
onelcy over Tappan, who waived his rank in Chivington's favor, and Gilpin
approved. On the 14th of April the united commands moved down the pass,
and the Rio Grande valley to a point eighteen miles below Albuquerque, and
one mile from Peralta, where Sibley was encamped, the Texan army in igno-
rance of the approach of Canby. Chivington desired the privilege of attack-
ing with the Colorado regiment alone, but was restrained by his superior.
The Colorado troops reposed on their arms, in the hope of being called to
surprise the confederates, but no such order came. The bugles sounded on
the morning of the 15th, within hearing of Sibley's brass band, and the now
superior union forces proceeded openly to the conflict. The battle began in
the morning by the capture of a train coming from Albuquerque. After
breakfast Peralta was attacked; but Canby having to fight in the open field,
while Sibley was sheltered by the walls of the town, the fighting was of the
mildest ever seen. At two o'clock a high wind having arisen, and the air
being filled with sand, Canby withdrew to camp. That afternoon and night
Sibley crossed the river, and proceeded down on the west side.
Much dissatisfaction was felt by the Colorado troops concerning the gen-
eral's failure to attack Peralta. On the 16th, Canby entered Peralta, and
marched leisurely down the river on a line parallel with Sibley, but unable
to cross until the 20th, at Limitar, when it was learned that the Texans had
buried their artillery except two pieces, burned their wagons, and were going
through the mountains by Cook springs to Mesilla. Canby then proceeded
to Fort Craig, Chivington going into camp at Valverde, a battle-field where
a company of the 2d Colorado, before mentioned as being in New Mexico
with Canby, had distinguished itself for bravery, losing forty per cent of its
number in a vain effort to save the lost battle of the 21st of February.
Here the 1st regiment remained inactive until August, waiting for orders
and pay, after which it was sent to Fort Union. In July Chivington
obtained leave to proceed to Washington, to endeavor to have his regiment
transferred to a field of active service, and Col Howe of the 3d U. S. cavalry
was placed temporarily in command. He succeeded in securing an order
converting the regiment into the 1st Colorado cavalry, with headquarters at
Denver. In midwinter it was concentrated at Colorado City, mounted, when
it proceeded to Denver, and was received with enthusiasm by the citizens.
The history of the 2d Colorado regiment has less connection with the
political history of the state. The first two conapanies were recruited under
424 ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.
the order of Gilpin. They were marched to Fort Garland, and mustered
into the service of the U. S. in Dec. 18G2. They experienced great hardships
in crossing mountains to New Mexico, not to mention the tiglitiiig at the
bittle of Valverde. In Feb. ISlVJ Col J. H. Leavenwortli was autlmrizedliy
the secretary of war to raise .six companies of volunteer infantry in Colorado,
which with tliese two, and two others of a later organization, were to consti-
tute the 2d Colorado regiment. T. H. Dodd was appointed lieut-col. Tlie
captains of the new companies were J. Nelson Smitli, L. D. Rowell, lieuhen
Howard, George West, E. I). Boyd, and S. W. Wagoner. In Aug. the regi-
ment was ordered to Fort Lyon, where it remained until April ISO:^, wlien six
companies were marched to Fort Leavenworth. In June Leavenworth was
placed in command of all tlie troops on tlie Santa Fe road, M'ith headquart-
ers at Fort Lamed. The Indians and the confederates together gave him
plenty of employment. On the 2d of July occurred the battle of Cal)in
creek, with a loss to the enemy of about forty killed and wounded. On the
16th they were joined at Fort Gil)son by Gen. Bluntcommanding the district
of Colorado and western Kansas, and their united force numljering l,40()met
tlie confederate force of 6,000, under Gen. Cooper, at Honey springs,
attacked it and in a battle of two hours routed it, with a loss of 400 killed,
wounded, and missing. To prevent his stores falling into Blunt's hands,
Cooper burned them. The loss on the union side in this engagement was 14
killed and 30 wounded. From July to October, Leavenworth was in com-
mand at Fort Lamed. In the latter month he was dismissed the service
on account of haviug enlisted a company, without authority, to act as artil-
lerymen, but the order was subsequently revoked and his record cleared.
Dodd succeeded him in command of the reg. During the same montli tiie 2d
and 3d Colorado inf. reg. were consolidated into the 2d Colorado volunteer
cav. All detachments were ordered to Missouri, and thence sent east. Ford,
who had been major of the 2d inf. was promoted to the command of the 2d
cav., Dodd being lieut-col. Curtis, Smith, and Pritchard Mere maile majors
of three battalions. Ford was appointed to command suljdistrict No. 4 of
central Mo., with the Colorado vol. cav., the Mo. militia, and a reg. of inf.
The reg. consisted of twelve companies, and numbered 1,240 men. It
remained in service until 1865, fighting guerrillas chiefly, but taking an
energetic part in the destruction of Price s army. In Dec. the regiment was
concentrated at Fort Riley, refitted, and put on a footing as winter scouts to
protect the road as tar west as Fort Lyon. Tlie following spring Ford was
promoted to be a brig. gen. by brevet, and took command of the district.
In April, May and June 1865, a force of 5,500 men, and two batteries was
distributed in this district, prepared for a summer campaign against the
Indians south of the Arkansas river. When everything was ready the
interior department interfered, and arrested the movement. Irritated at this
policy. Ford resigned, and General Sanborn took the command. Again, as lie
made ready to chastise the hostile Indians, the campaign was broken up by
the same interference. In Sept. the reg. was mustered out at Fort Leaven-
worth. It had done faithful service, and lost about 70 men killed and many
more wounded.
Tlie 3d Colorado volunteer infantry was raised in 1862 by Gov. Evans.
By the 1st of Feb. 1863, tlie first battalion was mustered in, Curtis com-
manding. James H. Ford was made colonel, and James L. Pritchard major.
The captains were R. R. Harliour, E. W. Kingsl)ury, E. P. Elmer, G. W,
Morton, Thomas Moses, Jr. In March they .set out for the States via the
Platte route, reaching Fort Leavenworth on the 23d of April. They shared
the hardships of border warfare with the 2d regiment, to which they were
finally joined.
Besides the presence of confederate sympathizers, the territory was visited
in the summer of 1863 by a small band of Mexican guerrilas, who sprea<l
terror through the South park by emulating the sanguinary deeds of the
traditional Mexican banditti. The bloody Espinosas they were called.
Much mystery surrounded their actions and their motives, since it was not for
CIVIL WAR. 425
gain that they committed their crimes. They are supposed to have been out-
laws from Chihuahua, and that they were brothers or cousms. One was a
large, iron-framed man, with a vQlainous countenance, the second a smaller
man, with nothing marked in his appearance. There was also a third, a mere
boy. On their journey to Colorado they killed a merchant of Santa Fe, and
a soldier at Conejos. During three weeks in the vicinity of Canon City they
killed 9 men, William Bruce of Hardscrabble creek lieing the first victim;
thenHarkins on Fontaine creek; and Alderman at his farm, on the road from
Colorado City to South park. Then fell Shoup, a brother of George L. Shoup,
Binckley, Carter, Lehman, and others. A company was raised in Califor-
nia gulch, by John McCannon, which followed and traced them to a camp on
the head waters of Od creek..in El Paso co., where the larger man was killed
by Joseph Lamb. The other Espinosa escaped to New Mexico. He wrote
a letter in Spanish to Gov. Evans, stating that he had killed 22 men, and for
that reason demanded the restitution of his property captured by the volun-
teers. He was finally killed, together with a nephew, by Tom Tobins of
Cootilla CO. Hollkter's Miners of Colorado, 302-3; BrkUey and Hartwell South-
ern Colo, 29-30; Baskins Arkansas Vol. Hlit., 575-6; Fou-ler's Womans
Experience, MS., 1-2; Hiirs Tales of Colorado Pioneers, 290-2; Overland
Monthly, V. 526; Fohom Telegraph, Oct. 28, 1871; El Paso County, etc., MS.,
30-40. In the spring of 1864 James Reynolds, a pioneer of Colorado, turned
guerilla, and picking up a company of 22 confederate deserters in Texas
invaded Colorado. On the way they captured a train, which furnished them
ample subsistence, arms, and ammunition, -§5,000 in drafts, and a larger sum
in money. They quarreled over the spoils, and separated, 13 turning back.
The other half secreted their plunder, and proceeded to the South park, the
former home of Reynolds, capturing a stage coach going from Buckskin Joe
to Denver, and roblung the mail. They continued to infest the road for a
few days longer, seeming to invite oljservation, as if they gloried in their
valiant deeds of theft and outrage. But they were soon pursued by parties
of citizens, and finally overtaken by a squad of volunteers from the mines in
Summit co., under Jack Sparks on the north fork of the Platte. Reynolds
was wounded and one man killed, named Singleterry. In the flight of the
band, one Holliman was captured. Mho turned state's evidence. Five others
were caught by parties lying in waiting on the Canon City road. They were
brought before a military commission, and ordered to Fort Lyon, but
attempting to escape, were fired on and all killed.
CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
18G1-1S86
Gilpin's Heroic Successes — Superseded by John Evans — Weld and
Elbert — Legislative Action — Coinage — Bennett — Failure to Es-
tablish State Government— Further Efforts and Final Success
— Current Territorial Affairs— Organic Law— Governor Cum-
MiNGs— Bradford— Chilcott — Hunt, McCook, and Elbert — Gov-
ernor Routt — Chaffee — Postal Routes — Patterson, Boone, and
Bromwell— The Judiciary- Politics under State Organization
— Teller — Population and Lands — Governors Pitkin, Grant, and
Eaton — Senators Hill and Bowen.
Governor Gilpin's confident measures for the pres-
ervation of peace and lo3^alty in the territory, with
the bokhiess of his demands on the treasury, brought
him into trouble. An audacious temperament is often
the best possession of a man in emergencies. If any
one refused to accept his drafts ' they were told, " It
is simply a question of whether you will take this
evidence of indebtedness, or give up your goods witli-
out any such evidence ; for the articles we need we
must and will have." Several hundred thousand dol-
lars of the governor's orders ' were on the market, and,
as at first they were not recognized by the government,
* A copy of one of these orders is preserved in Extracts from Early
Records, MS., which is copied from the archives of the Historical Society of
Colorado, and runs thus: 'Executive Department, Colorado Territory, Den-
ver, Sept. 18, 18G1. At sight pay to tlie order of Mrs Julia A. Ford thirty
dollars, value received, and cliarge tlie same to tlie account of ^A'illiam Gil-
pin, Governor of Colorado Territory. To the Secretary of the United States
Treasury, Washington, D. C, Number 220. '
^The wliole appropriation for the expenses of Colorado for the fiscal year
ending June .30, 1862, was .?32,00n. U. S. If. Ex. Doc, no. i. 44. .37th cong.
2d sess. : Conn. CMh'., 1860-1, ap. 340. Tlie direct tax levied on the territory
by congress for the same period was $22,905. Latvs Bel. Direct Tax, 37th
cong. 1st and 2d sess., 8,
(426;
GUBERNATORIAL CHANGES. 427
financial distress followed, and a strong faction clam-
ored for Gilpin's removal. The record made by the
1st regiment justified his acts so far as to secure the
payment of his drafts, but in the meantime much dis-
satisfaction existed. Those who could not afford to
hold, sold th3m at a loss to speculators ; and, though
ultimately redeemed, the losers were naturally disaf-
fected, and labored for the removal of the author of
their misfortunes.^ He was succeeded in office April
19, 1862, by John Evans of Evanston, Illinois, who
served the people acceptably for more than three
years.* Secretary Weld, an able young man, but of
irregular habits, was removed to make way for
Samuel H. Elbert, son-in-law of Evans. Weld died
early; but Gilpin lived to see his acts justified.^
United States Marshal Townsend was removed in
June 1862, and A. S. Hunt appointed in his place.
It will be remembered that the first legislature ad-
journed, to meet again with the full complement of
councilmen and representatives allowed by the organic
act in June. But it was discovered that a blunder
had been committed, as the two sessions would fall
within the same fiscal year, while two appropriations
would not ; and, by permission of congress, *" another
adjournment was made to the 7th of July, when the
assembly met at Colorado City, where, as I have
^Byers Hi4. Colo, MS., 17, 23, 26; Elbert:s Public Men ami Meamres, MS.,
4r-5; Gilpin s Pioneer of 1843, MS.
* Joha Evans was of Quaker pai-ents, born in Ohio in 1814. He studied
medicine, and practised in 111. and Ind. He was elected to the chair of the
Rush medical college, then organizing in Chicago, and became one of the
editors of the N->rt/um.^tern Medical and Sun/ical Jonrn d, l)e3ides being
chairman of the com nitteeonpul)lic schools of Chicago. He donated .S25, 000
for the endowment of a chair of mental and moral philosophy in the North-
western university, the trustees naming the university town in his honor.
and electing him president of the board. As a railroad projector and keen
politician he was long conspicuous. His daughter Josephine married his sec-
retary, S. H. Elljert, in 1865. Dying soon after, her fat-her erected a chapel
in Evans' Addition to Denver to her memory. BouU, T'rr. and State, MS.,
5; Pitkin's Political Views, MS., 9-10; Elbert, Public Men and Measures,
MS., 7.
^ Weld was a Connecticut man. He went east, and was appointed lieut-
col in a colored regiment, and died of fever in the south during the war.
Elbert, Public Men and Measures, MS., 1.
^ Acts and Res., Zo\, 37, 2.
428 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
already stated, it remained in session but four days be-
fore returning to more comfortable quarters in Denver.
Besides revising and perfecting the work of the first
session, the legislature asked congress to increase the
jurisdiction of the probate courts, and that the laws
be printed in Simnish, for the benefit of the Mexican
population. The postmaster-general was requested to
provide for a tri -weekly mail from the east, and from
Denver to Boulder City ; the Union Pacific Railroad
and Telegraph company was asked to locate its road
through Colorado, and to select one of its board of
directors from among its citizens, Evans being recom-
mended. Tlie secretary of the treasury was urged to
put a United States mint in operation at an early
day, by purchasing the private nimt in Denver,'
which prayer was granted ; and the secretary of the
interior was solicited to treat with the Indians for
lands, chiefly mineral, to which their title had not
been extinguished. A joint resolution was passed
relating to the Colorado volunteers, commending
them to the favorable notice of the president. The
election law provided that the general election for
delegate for congress, members of the council and
assembly, and county officers, should be held on the
first Tuesday in September ; but as the appropriation
for 1862-3 would be exhausted by the July session of
1862, the election of a legislature before 1863 was by
joint resolution postponed to that year.
' According to the memorial, a private mint had been in successful opera-
tion for more than two years when the petition was made. Byers relates
that the private banking-house of Clark, (Trul)er, and Co., Denver, began
coining §5, $10, and $'20 gold pieces July 20, ISGO; and Parsons and Co. also
coined some at Hamilton at a later period. The .'SlO's coined at Denver by
Clark, ( Jruber, and Co. were 17 grains heavier than the coin of the U. S.
mint Cintennidl Stnti', MS., 1. The bill establisliing a branch mint in Den-
ver appropriated §75,000, and was approved A}»ril 21, 1862. Cnmj. (7lo!ie,
1861-2, ap. .349. In March 1863 a resolution was passed to purchase the lots
and assaying house or houses of Clark, Cruber, and Co. The chamber of
commerce of Denver, on May 8, 1861, adopted the following rates for gold
dust as a circulating medium: Blue river gold, .$20 per ounce; French gulch.
Humbug gulch, Fair])lay gulch, Nigger gulch, and McNulty gulch, §17 per
oimce; (California gulch, §16 per ounce. Central City adopted the rate of
$17 per ounce for Clear creek gold dust, and §15 per ounce for Russell gulch
dust. Best retorted gold, §15 per ounce; common retorted and dirty gold,
REPflESEXTATluN AiVD JUDICIARY. 429
In July the democratic party attempted to organize,
holding a convention on the 10th, but did not become
possessed of any power or coherency until after the
close of the civil war. At the September election of
1862, Hiram P. Bennett was again chosen delegate
to congress, the News summing up his services during
one session as follows: A mail service and new post
routes ; post-offices throughout the settled portion of
the territory; a land district and removal of the sur-
veyor-general from Utah to Denver;* appropriations
for surveys ; military posts ; a branch mint at Denver ;
payment of the Gilpin war debts;' besides laboring
for the passage of the Union Pacific railroad bill, and
bills for various wagon-roads. With such a record
his reelection w^as assured,'' and he resumed his seat,
to retain it in the thirty-eighth congress. The
amendments made to the organic act by congress in
1863, referring to the judiciary system, gave the jus-
tices' courts jurisdiction in matters of controversy in-
volving not more than three hundred dollars, and the
probate courts jurisdiction in cases where the sum
claimed did not exceed two thousand dollars ; besides
which the probate courts were given chancery as well
as common law jurisdiction, with authority to redress
all wrongs against the laws of the territor}^ affecting
persons or property. The same act modified the
power of the governor, made absolute as to the ap-
proval of laws by the organic act, the amendment
S12 per ounce. Before the establishment of these rates the price of all gold
dust had been uniform at 818. Fraudulent gold dust and gold bricks were
manufactured by counterfeiters in 1861. Ihe bricks had one corner mad<3 of
genume metal, from which the sellers cut a chip which they offered for assay.
One banker bought .S'20,0C0 worth of these counterfeit bricks.
^ Conff. CUihp, 1861-2, ap. 345. Colorado was consolidated with Idaho and
Nevada in 1863-4.
^The actual amount of the Gilpin drafts was 8306,000, added to which
was about 8100,000 of debts where the drafts had been refused. Congress
assumed the whole amount early in 1862. Rocky Mountain Ntics, ^larch 20,
1862.
1' There were three candidates in the field: Bennett representing the
Douglas democracy, indifferent to the fate of the negro, but true to the
union; Gilpin, supported by the abolitionists, and J. M. Francisco, Brecken-
ridge democrat.
480 POLITICAL AFFAIRS,
permitting the legislature to pass an act by a two
thirds vote over the governor's veto."
On the 2d of November, 1861, a convention was
held in Denver to memorialize congress for a home-
stead law for the protection of squatters on the public
dojnain, and the same rights allowed to the settlers of
Oregon, including hokling tlieir claims as bounded by
lines drawn by themselves instead of the government
survey. To this proposition no answer was returned.
But in June 1862 the right of preem})ti(m was ex-
tended to the territory, with the appointmencof a regis-
ter and receiver, and the repeal of the graduation act."
There had been from the first a part}^ in Colorado,
though not constituting a majority, which desired a
state government. The promoters of state organiza-
tion in early territorial times are usually ambitious
men, desirous of place and i)ower, and Colorado offers
no exception to the rule. In compliance with tlie de-
mands of this poition of the electors of the territory,
an eftort was made at the third session of the thirty-
seventh congress, 1862-3, to have an enabling act
passed allowing Colorado to form a constitution, which
was defeated. But in March 1864, by representing
the population to be between fifty and sixty thousand,
"Con7. Globe, 1862-3, ap. 200; CorbeU's Le/jiji. Manual, 51^; Acts and
Res., 88, 37, 3; S. Joxir., 471, 487, 37, 3.
*' 'An act to graduate and reduce the price of the puldic lands to actual
Bettlers and cultivators.' An act a])proved in May constituted Colorado and
Utah one surveying district, with tlie otfice of the sur-gen. at Denver. The
appropriations for surveys was $10,000. No special land laws were enacted
in favor of Colorado. The status of land titles was exceedingly simple, after
the extinguishment of Indian rights, except in a few cases of ^lexican grants;
a Mexican. grant, like Indian territory, Iteing of such indefinite dimensions
as to invite a contest of wits, if not of weapons, in the settlement. JIallefs
Courts, Lniiift, and Lili;/alion, MS., 7-8. In 1871^-4 a disturbance arose in
Lake co. over the possession of some government land near the present site
of Buena Vista. Elijah CJihbs was attacked by a mob calling themselves
vigilants, and killed in self-defence one of their number, George Barrington.
At another time he killed a man named Coon who belonged to an attacking
party and had to escape, the friends of the men who were killed taking up
the quarrel, which was carried on for several years, and in which 7 or 8 per-
sons were killed, including Judge Dyer of Granite City, who was assassi-
nated while trying one of the cases which grew out of it. Bycrs' Centennial
State, MS., 32-3.
LOOKING TOWARD STATEHOOD. 431
or double what it really was, and by other devices,
congress was induced to pass an enabling act, permit-
ting the delegates elected by the people to meet on
the first Monday in July to form a constitution , to be
submitted to the people at an election to be held on
the second Tuesday in October. The campaign was a
stirring one, several newspapers being devoted to man-
ufacturing a favorable public opinion ; but the people,
knowing there was an empty treasury, and not being
desirous of replenishing it to the requirements of a
state government, decided that it was inexpedient, and
voted against it.^^
There was yet another reason why many rejected
the constitution. The organic act of the territory,
formed ere yet the civil war had burned its bill of
rights so terribly into the conscience of the nation,
provided that the right to vote at the first election
should be extended to " every free white male citizen
of the United States, including those recognized as
citizens by the treaties of 1848 and 1853 w^ith Mexico."
The first legislature, in an act reg^ulatingf elections,
. . . ^
decreed that only citizens of the United States, per-
sons of foreign birth who had declared their intention
to become citizens, and persons of Indian blood who
had been declared by treaty to be citizens, should be
deemed qualified voters. On the 11th of March, 1864,
this act was amended so as more plainly to exclude "a
negro or mulatto," and the constitution perpetuated
all the territorial laws.
^^The framers of this rejected constitution were W. A. H. Loveland, pres-
ident of the convention, Samuel E. Browne, John Q. Charles, J. Bright Smith,
James M. Cavanaugh, Richard Sopris, Joseph M. Brown, George T. Clark,
John A. Koontz, D. H. Goodwin, A. C. Hunt, Charles A. Cook, G. W. Miller,
David H. Nichols, P. M. Hinman, D. Pound, A. Lumry, W. E. Sisty, J. T.
Herrick, Robert White, C. B. Patterson, John Locke, D. P. Wilson, Ed S.
Perrin, Wm E. Darby, B. C. Waterman, Rodney French, A. J. Van Deren,
H. F. Powell, F. H. Judd, C. W. Mather, B. F. Lake, George E. Randolph,
W. S. Rockwell, O. J. HoUister, W. R. Gorsline, T. Whitcomb, G. B. Backus,
T. C. Bergen, T. P. Boyd, H. H. DeMary, N. F. Cheeseman, C. Nachtrieb,
H. 'Anderson, John McCannon, Thos Keys, W. J. Curtice, Alex. Hatch, A.
DuBois, H. Henson, J. D. Parmelee, G. W. Lechner, H. B. Haskell, John
T. Lynch, G. W. Coffin, J. E. Washburn, F. Merrill, J. L. Pritchard, G. W.
Hawkins, C. C. Hawley, B. F. Pine, W. G. Reid. Corbett, Legis. Manual,
225-6.
48S POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
T1i()Ul;1i beaten, the state government party was
not disheartened. A convention was called in 18G5,
in which eleven counties were represented out of sev-
enteen ; a constitution w^as submitted to the people,
whicli, without any law to sanction it, was adopted —
another illustration of the vox populi vox dei saw.
Gilpin was elected governor. The legislature assem-
bled and made choice of two senators, Jolm Evans
and Jerome B. Chaffee, who proceeded to Washing-
ton to urge the admission of Colorado under the con-
stitution to which a majority of those who voted on
the question had assented, if not a majority of all the
voters in the territory. Nor did they urge their
wishes in vain. Congress again consented to admit
the state of Colorado to the union, as Governor Cum-
nungs affirmed, in the face of the principles for which
the nation had been contending during four years of
war, and in the face of their own legislation at the
same session ; ^* for the constitution still excluded per-
sons of negro blood from participating in the elections,
an example of the power which flaunts itself in the
lobby of the national capital, though acting in this
instance in the right direction as against that most
monstrous of American absurdities, African voting.
But President Johnson vetoed the bill.'" A similnr
bill was vetoed again in 18G7-8, which failed by only
one vote in the senate from being passed over his
head. The matter was revived periodical^ for ten
3'ears. On the 3d of March, 1875, an enabling act
was passed, authorizing the electors to vote, in July
1876, upon a constitution, to be formed in convention
to be held at Denver before that time The period
" //. Jour., lSr.5-G, 622, G57, 668, 672. On the 1st of Fel). 1865, Delegate
Bennett hail heailed a written resolution of the territorial delegates, apjirov-
ing the prfiposition to amend the federal constitution forever prohibiting
slavery in the U. S. Con<j. OIoIh', 1864-5, 596.
1* Bi/ers' CentenuUd Stute, MS., .SI. Elhert says that the ostensible reason
for vetoing the bill was that the i>opulation was insuttioient, but the real rea.son
was that the two senators, Evans and Cliatfee, wouUl not pledge themselves
to vote against Johnson's impeachment. Pn'i. Men awl Miniurci, MS., 10-11.
The reason wliich Jolinson gave was that the proceedings were ii-regular.
Cuii'j. Globe, 1865-6, 210.
CONGRESSIOXAL MEASURES. m
was ripe for its acceptance ; the political sea was calm ;
there was nothing in the new instrument at variance
with the amendments to the federal constitution, and
both congress and the people of the commonwealth
were satisfied that Colorado was entitled to become a
sovereign state/* with boundaries as ample as in its
territorial days/'
The constitution-makers of Colorado were, by this
time, skilled artificers/^ It was a noble document,
with those errors only which the course of events
develops/' An attempt was made for universal suffrage
by introducing a clause making it obligatory upon the
first legislature to pass a law conferring the elective
franchise upon women, which was, however, to be
submitted to a vote of the male citizens at the first
election thereafter.
To return to the regular march of events under the
territorial regime. Bennett's delegateship terminated
with the thirty-eighth session of congress. With the
exception of having secured the payment of the Gilpin
drafts, and an appropriation for a branch mint, which
was really no more than a United States assay-oflfice,
^^The vote stood 15,4i3 for, to 4.039 against acceptance. Corhett, Legls.
Manual, 119.
1' A joint resolution of the legislature of 1864 protests against the reduc-
tion of territorial limits in accordance -with the endeavors of the delegate
from Xew Mexico in congress, and instructs the Colorado delegate to be
especially watchful and oppose all such attempts. Gen. Laus Colo, 1S64, 256.
18 Their names were J. C. Wilson president, H. P. H. Bromwell, Casaniiro
Barela, George Boyles, W. E. Beck, Bvron L. Carr, William H. Cushman,
W. M. Clark, A. D. Cooper, H. R. Crosbv, Robert Douglas, L. C. Ellsworth,
C. P. Elder, F. J. Elljert, W. B. Felton, J. M. Garcia, Daniel Hurd, John S.
Hough, Lafayette Head, William H. James, Wdliam R. Kennedy. WiUiam
L. Lee, Alvin Marsh, Wdliam H. Meyer, S. J. Plumb, George" E. Pease,
Robert A. Quillan, A. K. Yount, Wilbur E. Stone, W. C. Stover, H. C.
Thatcher, Agapeta Vigd, W. W. Webster, G. G. TMiite, E, T. Wells, P. P.
Wdcox, J. S. Wheeler. J. W. Widderfield. Le-wis C. Rockwell. Secretaries,
W. W. Coulson, Herbert Stanley, and H. A. Terpenning. Corhett, Leois.
Manual, 11&-17.
"See Pitkin, in Political Vieics, MS., 13. Only one article of the com-
stitution could be amended at any one session, the sessions being biennial.
One foolish provision in the constitution was the publication of the laws in
Spanish and German. It would seem that the foreigners we import to gov-
ern us might at least learn our language. Sessions were limited to forty-
days, and every bill was to be read three times before each house for the
benetit of stupid members.
Hist. Xev. 28
434 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
nothing had been done for Colorado beyond what the
actual wants of the people demanded.'* Bennett was
succeeded by Allen A. Bradford, who m 1862 was
appointed associate justice in place of Petti:!, serving
in the second judicial district until elected to represent
the territory in the thirty-ninth congress.'' He labored
for the passage of a homestead law, for a mineral-land
law, for increased pa}" for the supreme judges, and
members of the legislature, and for payment of the
mounted militia employed in opening communication
through the Indian country in 1864, of which I shall
epeak hereafter. x\t the close of this congress the
salaries of the judges were raised to $2,500.'" Previ-
ously, and by the efforts of the Montana delegate
chiefly, an act was passed appropriating the net pro-
ceeds of the internal revenue of 1866-8 to the erection
of penitentiaries in seven several territories, including
Colorado. At the beginning of the fortieth congress
an act amending the organic law of Colorado made
the sessions of the legislative assembly biennial, the
election for four years for councilmen, and two years
for assemblymen, and the pay six instead of three
dollars per diem."
2«The appropriation for 1S63, including .?.j,000 for a territorial prison, and
$2,500 for a territorial library, aggregated 809,960. The appropriations for
1SG4-5 amounted to §54,700. Tliis was exclusive of post-routes, which were
of general use. The routes established in 180.3-4 were from Denver to East
Baunack, in Idaho; from Denver via Poncha pass and Conejos to Santa Fe;
from Denver to Bijou basin; and from Golden City via Ralston creek, and
Boulder city to Burlington. A wagon road was in process of construction
in 1863^ from the headwaters of Clear creek, through Middle park, and the
valleys of Bear, Uintah, and Timpanogas river to Provo in Utah.
■■'1 A. A. Bradford was born in Maine in 1815, went to Mo. in 1841, studied
law and was made judge. In 1855 he removed to Nebraska, where he was
a member of the legislative council in 1850-8, and came in 1859 to Central,
settling finally at Pueblo. He was a man of many experiences, some of
which I was fortunate enough to secure in a manuscript.
"The organic act gave the governor §1,500 with §1,000 more as supt of
In.l. atr., and gave the judges §1,800.
-3 Tlie appropriation for 1800 was §43,000 including §15,000 for surs'ey-
ing. The post-routes secured were from Oeorgetown to Argentine; from
(Jold Dirt to South Boulder; and from Denver via Mt Vernon and Idaho to
Empire City. The appropriation for 1867 was §47,090. The post-routea
opened were from Ba<lito to Spanish peaks; Pueblo to Hermosillo: Pueblo to
Carson City, via Rock Canon Ridge and Frazier settlement to Jamestown;
and from Eureka to Breckeuridge via Argentine and Pera.
ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. 435
In October 1865 President Johnson appointed
Alexander Cummings governor of Colorado in place
of Evans. Cummings was famous about 1862 as
founder of the N. Y. Daily World, and notorious
afterward for his peculations in a contract with the
war department. The Coloradans disliked him, and
made his administration unpopular by all the ways
known to journalists and politicians, even to request-
ing the president to remove him. It was not shrewd-
ness or intelligjence that he lacked, but the knowledgre
of how to inspire confidence by putting them to a
beneficent use. He remained in office about a year and
a half In November, George M. Chilcott'* was
elected representative to congress under the state
constitution, which, as I have already stated, the
president refused to recognize, lest congress should
use the two senatorial and one representative vote of
the new state against him in his impeachment trial.
In the following August Chilcott was reelected, and
took his seat as delegate, after some loss of time
through having bis election contested by A. C. Hunt.
He secured the passage of a bill repealing the act
which discriminated ao;ainst the whole refjion west of
Kansas and east of California by charging letter post-
age on printed matter within those boundaries. He
was also fortunate in securing important action con-
cerning certain land-grants, and appropriations for the
public surveys.'* He was succeeded in 1868 by A. A.
2*Chilcott was born in Pa, in 1828. moved in 1844 to Iowa, and was elected
sheriff in 1853, and in 1856 to Neb. when he was sent to the legislature. The
wave of migratif)n caught him in 1859, and carried him to Colorado, Mhere
he arrived in May. He was a member of the constitutional convention of
that year at Denver, returning to Omaha to spend the winter. In the autumn
of 1860 he settled in what is now Pueblo cc, engaging in farm work for a
livelihood for two years, after which he took a claim for himself 12 miles east
of Pueblo and brought out his family. He v.a,s elected to represent this
region at the first two sessions of the territorial legislature, and was appointed
by Pres. Lincoln register of the U. 8. land office for the district of Colorado
in 1863, which position he held until he was elected to congress. Republi-
can in politics, Chilcott was an energetic, cheerful worker, with a fine phy-
sique, and universally successful in his undertakings.
2^ The appropriations for 1860 were greatly in excess of any before made,
amounting for every purpose, excepting mails and Indian department, to
$183,446.51, Mocky Mountain Nous, Aug. 5, 1868.
436
POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
Bradford, elected a second time, who introduced bills
for grants of land to two railroad companies, for ap-
propriations for public buildings in Colorado, for the
settlement of the southern boundary of Colorado, and
for increasing the pay of officers of the supreme courts
of Colorado and New Mexico.
Meantime, the territory had twice received a new
executive, A. C. Hunt being appointed by President
Johnson in May 1867, and Edward M. McCook by
President Grant in June 1869. Hunt had been
United States marshal, was familiar with the physical
and social aspect of the territory, and gave an adminis-
tration satisfactory to the people ; but he was removed
to make place for a protege of another president, accord-
ing to usage.'* His successor, McCook, lacked noth-
ing in ability. He was charged with peculation in
office as superintendent of Indian affairs, and the
charges were investigated, leaving the impression on
the public mind that a powerful interest had screened
him from just punishment." He held the office from
June 1869 to March 1873, when Samuel H. Elbert
was appointed.'^ A scheme of this governor's was
the reclamation of all the lands west of the Missouri
river by irrigation. He called a meeting of delegates
from the western states and territories, and had fairly
set the matter in motion, looking to secure congres-
sional legislation, when he was removed and McCook
reappointed. For several months the senate refused
to confirm this action, and Elbert continued to admin-
ister the ijjovernment.'' On the final issue between
■^^ Hunt became interested in railroads, was one of the projectors and con-
structors of the Denver and New Orleans road. He would ride 100 miles a
day on horseback, superintentling railroad work. He Ijecame largely inter-
ested in mines in Texas, and railroads in Mexico, but continued his residence
in Denver. Elhert, Puhlir Mm and Meamrex, MS., 12; Pitkin's Polil. Views,
M.S., 11; Brmlford, HiM. Cob, MS.. 5.
■^' See Salt Lake .^eraW, Aug. 24, 1874; and in Deer Lodge New Northioeat,
Sept. 5, 1874.
-''Ell)ert, a native of Ohio, came to Colorado in 1862 as ter. sec. under
Evans, after practising law and politics in Iowa and Neb. After his 4 years
of secretaryship had expired, he entered into a law partnership with J. Q.
Charles, and was elected to the territorial legislature in 18G9.
^^ Elbert went east, and John W. Jenkins, territorial secretary, became
PARTY ISSUES. 437
federal republicans and territorial republicans the
party was divided into factions, and lost the election
to the democrats for the first time in the history of
the territory. During the excitement of these polit-
ical squabbles the plans for public improvements on a
large scale were abandoned.
McCook's second term extended over little more
than one year, the administration deciding that it
could not bear a rebuke which came in the form of a
democratic majority, eyen in a territory, and in March
.1875 appointed John L. Routt governor of Colorado.
Although a stranger in the territory, he soon became
known as its friend, and received the highest indorse-
ment his official conduct could have when he went
out of office with the territory, to resume it under
the state organization in 1876.'" While these events
were in progress the office of delegate had been filled
by Jerome B. Chaffee, after Bradford's second term,
until the election of a democrat, Thomas M. Patter-
son, in 1874. Chaffee had been a delegate in every
presidential nominating convention since that of the
free soil party in 1856, and was the leader of the
acting-governor in his absence. On the return of Elbert, after the confirma-
tion of McCook, Jenkins addressed a letter to him which he signed as ' act-
ing-governor.' Elbert resented this and returned the document indorsed
'not recognized,' signing himself 'governor of Colorado.' A spicy corre-
spondence followed, Jenkins asserting that he had been notified of Elljert's
removal, and Elljert that he had never been officially notified, and that he was
governor until the arrival of his successor with a commission. Elbert kept
his office at his block on Larimer street, and Jenkins his in McCook's block
on Blake street. In the same Ijuilding was the national bank, delegate
Chaffee president, who opposed McCook's comfirmation. D. H. Moifat, Jr,
cashier and territorial treasurer, was accused of fraud in connection with his
office. Such is politics. N. Y. Times, July 28, 1874.
^ John Long Routt was born in Ky in 1826, but removed to lU., where in
due time he was elected sheriff' of McLean co. In 1862 he was captain of
Company E of the 94th 111. volunteers, and remained in the service until the
autumn of 1865. Being offered the position of chief clerk of the bureau of
the 2d asst postmaster-general, he accepted the office in 1869. The following
year President Grant appointed him U. S. marshal for the southern district
of m., and in 1871 to the post of 2d asst postmaster-general, which position
he filled until appointed governor of Colorado. A thorough business man,
his n^vn and the public affairs intrusted to him have always prospered. In
mining operations he acqiiired a fortune, becoming largely the o^vner of the
Morning Star and Waterloo mines in Leadville. He was short and strongly
built, with great power of endurance. Bradford, Hist. Colo, MS., 5; Routt's
Territory and Stale, MS.. 1-9.
A38 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
republican party in Colorado, a capitalist, and liberal
in dispensing money for the uses of his party. Only
tlie split that occurred through the McCook-Elbert
imbroglio could have unseated him." On taking his
}»lace in congress he began the demand for the admis-
sion of Colorado as a state, and persisted in it through
})oth terms. He secured the authorization of a treaty
with the Utes for the cession of that portion of
their lands in the San Juan country whose mineral
wealth had made it coveted by miners. One of his
most important measures was advocating a change in-
the rules of the house of representatives so as to
give the territories a representation in the committee
on territories, establishing a precedent which greatly
increased the influence of delegates. Under tliis rule
he was the first delegate to report a bill directly from
a committe to the house. He was the author, and
secured the passage, of a bill enlarging the power of
territorial legislatures ; and was instrumental in estab-
lishing a mining code, besides greatly extending the
mail service,^' and laboring for the interest of pro-
^* Jerome B. Chaffee was born in Niagara co., N. Y.. in 18'25, removing
while young to Michigan, and later to Mo., where he engaged in hanking.
In 1860 he came to Colorado, and in company with Ehen Smith erected tlie
Smith and Chaffee stamp-mill, to develoi^e gold lodes near Central City, his
success encouraging other miners in that district. He subsequently became
principal owner in the Bob-tail Lode and Tunnel company, from which there
was from $.S00,000 to $500,001) annual income. The name is said to have been
derived from a bob-tailed ox being used to haul a drag made by stretching a
rawhide across a forked stick, for conveying pay-dirt to the gulch for sluic-
ing. Besides this property, Chaffee became interested in nearly a huntlrcd
gold and silver lodes in different .stages of development. In 18()5 he pur-
chased the banking business of Clark & Co., Denver, and established tlie
First National bank, of which he was president until 1880. His pohtical
career began with his election to the territorial legislature in ]8()1, and again
in 18G3, when he was chosen speaker of the house of representatives. His
election as senator under the constitution of ISGfi, which was vetoed by Presi-
dent Johnson, and the long controversy over it, lirought him conspicuously
before the people as a man fit to be a leader, and caused his election in 1870
and 1872. Btiers' HimL Coin, MS ,21. A daughter of Senator Chaffee mar-
ried a son of President Grant.
'^ I will make one more mention of the post-routes, to show the gradu.al
extension southward of settlement. Routes were opened from Badito, via
Crestone, San Isabel, and Bismarck, to Villa Grove; from Canon City, via
Greenwood, Mace's Hole, and Dotscm's to Greenhorn; from (rreenwood to
Colfax; from Badito, via Gardner, to Colfax; from Trinidad, via San Fran-
cisco, to La Trinchera; from Fort Garland to Zapato; from La Loina to
Capote; from Colorado Springs to Fairplay ; from Colorado Springs via Eastou,
THE JUDICIARY. 439
jected railroads. Finally, in the last weeks of his
term, he effected the passage of an enabling act for
Colorado — March 3, 1875 — which was amended, how-
ever, so as to postpone the date of admission to July
1876." The career of Patterson, begun under the
embarrassment of being in a certain sense an acci-
dental rather than a legitimate and voluntary choice
of the people, was creditable. The republican party
was divided into two factions, one designing to rebuke
and the other to sustain the administration. Nor
were the democrats altogether harmonious, many
being dissatisfied with the nomination of a late-comer
in their midst ;^* to show their displeasure they induced
a pioneer of note, A. G. Boone, to announce himself
an independent candidate,^" but he withdrew before
the election, leaving the field to H. P. H. Bromwell,"
the administration republican candidate, and Patter-
son, on whom the anti-administrationists united with
the democrats, with the result already indicated.
Before proceeding to the history of the state organ-
ization it is due to the territorial judges and other
officers to make mention of them individually as far
as space will permit. Chief Justice Hall was suc-
ceeded in 1863 by Stephen S. Harding. In 1866
President Johnson appointed in his place Moses Hal-
lett, who was twice reappointed to the same position,
to Gomer's Mill; from Pueblo via Huerfano junctions, Baggsville, and Las
Animas, to Fort Lyon; from Creswell, via Bergen park, to Junction; from
Forb Collins to Livermore.
^'H. Jour., 43 cong. 2d sess., 577, 632, 644, 679, 43, 2; Colo Gen. Laws,
23-7; Statutes U. S., 44 cong. 1st sess., pp. vii.-viii.
^'Patterson was an arrival of 1872, a native of Ireland, born in 1840. He
was elected city attorney by the common council of Denver in the spring, 1874.
''^ Boone was the eldest son of Jesse Boone of Ky, who was the eldest son
of the renowned Daniel. While he possessed those half military and wholly
brave and generous traits whicli distinguish tlie class to which he belonged,
he was not trained to the sinuous ways of legislation, and was moreover
about 70 years of age.
^^Bromwell was born in Md, moved early to Ohio, and then to 111., where
he began the practice of the law in 1853, at the same time publishing a news-
paper, the Age of Steam and Fire. After a political career in HI. he came to
Colorado in 1870, was a member of the territorial council in 1874, of the
constitutional convention of 1875, and of the state legislature in 1879. He
was a fine scholar and fond of literary pursuits.
440 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
and after the admission of the state again appointed
by President Grant to the higher post of United
States district judge, being commended generally by
his fellow-citizens for honor, ability, and personal
qualifications."
The associate justices appointed in territorial times
were, after Bradford, Charles F. Holly and William
H. Gale m 1865; William R. Gorsline and Cliristian
S. Eyster in 1866; James B. Belford in 1870, reap-
pointed in 1874 ; Ebenezer T. Wells in 1871; Amherst
W. Stone and Andrew W. Brazee in 1885.'' The
United States district attorneys appointed after Dal-
liba were Samuel E. Brown, 1862; George W. Cham-
berlain, 1865; Henry C. Thatcher, 1868; Lewis C.
Rockwell, 1869; H. C. Alleman, 1873, and C. D.
Bradley, 1875, The territorial secretaries after
Elbert were Frank Hall, appointed in 1866, and reap-
pointed in 1869 and 1873," who was often virtually
governor, and conducted the affairs of the executive
office in a worthy manner, presiding over the legisla-
ture and defending the territory from Indian hostili-
ties; John W. Jenkins, appointed in 1874; and John
TafTe, appointed in 1875.*' The history of Colorado
^' Says Pitkin: 'His record is the most remarkable of any judge in the
state. As a lawyer his character is irreproaclialjle: he is an honest, iipright
judge, a man of great learning, and has shaped the law of Colorado.' Poliiical
Views, MS., 8; Colo Pub. Doc, Set E.
^^ Brazee was liorn in N. Y. in 1826. During the civil war he was in the
army, holding successively commissions as lieut, capt., and maj. of the 49th
N. Y. regt. He also tilled tlie office of judge advocate of the 2d division of
the 6th army corps. In 1867 he was appointed brig. -gen. of the N. Y. Nat.
Guards, 32d brigade. In 1871 he was appointed asst U. S. atty for the
northern district of N. Y., which office he resigned to accept the appoint-
ment to Colorado.
^» Frank Hall was born in N. Y., in 1836. In 1860 he came to Colorado,
mining for 2 or 3 years at Spanish bar and Central City. In 1863 he was
associated with O. J. HoUister in the Black Hawk Minimj Journnl. He was
elected to the legislature in 18G4. In 1865 he purchased an interest in the
Mini'rs J?e</i.sler, at Central City, of which he wa8 editor for ten years, when
ho removed to Denver and entered the office of the U. S. marshal as cliief
deputy. In 1878 he became managing editor of the Daily Tiincs, from which
position he retired to open the Great Western Mining Agency with Prof. J.
Alden Smitli, state geologist. During his editorial and official career he haa
done much to advance the material interests of Colorado.
^■^ The territorial treasurers appointed by the executive were George T.
Clark, 1861; Alexander W. Atkins, 1864; A. C. Hunt, 1866; John Wanless,
1866; Columbus Nuckolls, 1867, reappointed 1868; George T. Clark, 1870,
legislati\t;.
441
does not afford those scenes of discord among legisla-
tors and disrespect of officials which darken the record
of some of the cotemporary territories." Neither
reappointed 1872; David H. Moffat, 1874; and Frederick Z. Salomon 1876
^""^^tT'^^'^^^^^h ^'^^^°' ^^^^' ^^^^^^^^ E. Whitsitt, 1864, reappointed
m 1866; Hiram J. Graham, 1866; Nathaniel F. Cheeseman, 1868; James B
Ihompson, 1870, reappointed 1874; and Le^in C. Charles, 1874, reappointed
Ib/b bupts public mstruction, William J. Curtice, 1861; William S
T^a-^1' ^f^^' i- ^'- ^*^'''' ^^^^' John Wanless, 1866; Columbus Nuckolls;
16b/ (the last three ex-offieio as ter. treasurers); Wilbur C. Lathrop. 1870-
and Horace M. Hale, 1872, reappointed in 1874 and 187P.
rri- * o';^'^ members of the 1st aud 2d legislatures have been named heretofore
Ihe 3d legislature, which met at Golden, Feb. 1, 18&4, and adjourned to
Denver on the 4th, consisted of councilmen Charles W. Mather, president-
Amos ^^laneT Moses Hallett, Richard E. ^^STiitsitt, Robert Berry, A. J Van
DerenE. A. Johnson, William A. H. Loveland, Lewis Jones, R. O. Bailey
J B Doyle, C. Dominguez, and H. E. Esterday; representatives Jerome b'
Chaffee speaker; A. 0. Patterson, David A. Chever, J. A. Koontz, John A
Nye, John H. Eames David Ripley, James Kelley, Leon D. Judd. John Kipp,
Alvui Marsh, hamuel Mallory, E. F. Holland, J. E. Deeper, M. C. White
John T^ Lynch Henry Henson, J. B. Stansell, Joel Wood, J. McCannon!
Pablo Ortega Jose \ ictor Garcia, N. W. Welton, B. J. McComas, L D'
^^ ebster, and A. Z. Sheldon. Sec. of council, C. B. Havnes; asst sec W
1 Rejmolds; eng. clerk, E. C. Parmelee; enr. clerk, O.' B. Brown- seret-
at-arms, C. A. Bartholomew. ^
The 4th legislature, which held its session at Golden, Jan. 2, 1865 was-
council J. \^entz Wilson, president; Amos Widner, Moses Hallett, Richard
^. Uhitsitt George R. Mitchell, E. K. Baxter, Lewis Jones, William A H
Loveland H. L. Pearson, Robert Berry, Robert B. Willis, C. Domincaiez, h'
L. Esterday; representatives, L. H. Hash, speaker; Hiram J. Bredlinger,
Rufus Clark Baxter B. Stiles, F. M. Case, D. H. Nichols, A. 0. Patterson
Ihomas D. ^^ orrall, Benjamin Lake, A. Mansur, C. M. Tyler, E. F. Holland
r S" .l^'V r. ^.^u^''f'>^r^• Hopkins. '^ViU'ur F. Stone, James Thompson,'
a NortK .J G. Ehrhart Miles M. Craig, 0. H. P. Baxter. Sec. of council
Uzias Millett; asst sec, James O. Allen; enr. clerk, W. B. Felton; eng clerk
W. Adams; sergt-at-arms, Marshall Silverthorne. Chief clerk of tht house!
C. H. Grover; eng. clerk, N. S. Hurd; enr. clerk, A. D. Cooper; sergt-at-
arms, Henry Gibson. f ' ^6" ^u
The 5th legislature, convening at Golden, Jan. 1, 1866, and adjourning to
Denver on the -.th was composed as follows: council, Henry C. Leach, presi-
dent Joseph M. Marshall, John Q. Charles, George R. Mitchell, Ebenezer
S^ith, Beujamin ^A oodbury, William A. H. Loveland, Robert Douglas, George
W. Mann, H. H. DeMary, 0. H. P. Baxter, Jesus Maria Valascfuez George
A. Hinsdale; house of representatives, E. Norris Stearns, speaker; B F
i ^?'^;I^TT o^^"^' ^""i' ^- ^^^1}'' •^^'"^^ ^- ^^^^^1°^^' H- J- Graham,'
b. M Breath, T C Bergen, Parley Dodge, Frank Hall, Columbus Nuckolls
( . M. Grimes, J. ^^ . Watson, David J. Ball, B. R. Colvin, John Fosher, A.
D Bevan George A^ .^ orris, Tliomas Keys, J. G. Ehrhart, Jose Gabriel Mar-
T .!' '^^ Mandngan. Jesus Maria Barela, Matt. Riddlebarger, William Lock
John W. Henry Sec. of council, Charles G. Cox; asst sec., George H. StiU-
Tri- «r.^rn. V ' I'T^'"' \ Thompson; enr. clerk, N. F. Cheeseman;
sergt-at-arms, MarsliaU Silverthorne. Chief clerk of house, C. J. McDivitt
Bartholomew ^°^^''' ^°^" ''^"''' ^^ ^^P^^^^^ sergt-at-arms, Charles
T..'"i1 ^foi-^^'l^*^""^' ^^^""^ convened at Golden Dec. 3, 1866. adjourned to
tV°' 1 ' 'i . ^'^""f'^ "^^^ *''® ^^'"^ ^^ ^t the previous session, Robert
He V^'h M i ^M '^"l^! consisted of E. L. BeVthoud, speaker Peter
VVmna, C, H. McLaughlin, Edwm Scudder J. E. Force, C. jf Goss, Jamea
442 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
did it become notorious by defalcations in office in the
formative period of its territorial existence, a charac-
ter which the state has sustained.
The admission of Cohjrado as a state was the signal
for a struggle for political control. Both j)arties
organized, the republicans at Pueblo on the 23d of
S Doggett, J. E. Parkman, Columbus Nuckolls, E. T. Wells, J. Y. Glendinen,
C. M. Grimes, Charles B. Patterson, K. W. Davis, Ziba Surles, ^V. W. Web-
ster, Charles L. Hall, F. C. Morse, Julius C. Hughes, Jacob E. Ehrhart, Juan
B. Lol)ato, S. Valdez, Juan Miguel Vijil, Matt. Kiddlebarger, M. Mills Craig,
W H. Young. 8cc. of council, Roltert Berry; asst sec. J. A. Miller; enr.
clerk, N. F Clieeseman; eng. clerk, AVilliaiu B. Kiues; sergt-at-arms, B. K.
Wall. Cliief clerk of house, C. J. McDivitt; asst clerk, W. J. Kram; eng.
clerk, Pi,oot; enr. clerk. Grey; sergt-at-arms, E. H. Brown.
The 7th legislature convened at Golden Dec. 2, 1867, and adjourned to
Denver on the 9th. The council consisted of William W. Webster president.
James H Pinkerton, Amos Steck, Charles A. Cook, Hugli Butler, David D.
Bolden, J. Wellington Nesmith, William A. H. Loveland, E. Norris Stearns,
Wi liam W. Webster, Julius C. Hughes, B. B. FieUl, Jesus Maria Velas-
quez, Francisco Sanchez; the house, of C. H. McLaughlin, .speaker, H. Strat-
ton, Ba.xter B. Stiles, J. E. Wurtzebach, G. W. Miller, H. L. Pearson, F. O.
Sawin, T Haswell, D. M. Richards, S. F. Huddleston, C. R. Bissell, W. M.
Slaughter, J. C. McCoy. J. E. VVliarton, Stephen Decatur, J. A. Pierce,
Ansel Bates, W. J. McDougal, .J. Gilliland, B. Fowler, J. Lawrence, Pablo
Ortega, Silverio Suaso, Thomas Suaso, Thomas Macon, E. T. Stone. Sec. of
council, Ed C. Parmelee; asst sec. , W. J. Kraxn; eng. clerk, E. R. Harris;
enr. clerk, A. Hopkins; sergt-at-arms, Ziba Surles. Chief clerk of house, C.
J. McDivitt; asst clerk, M. L. Horr; eng clerk, Josepli Sharratt; enr. clerk,
A. Cree; asst enr. clerk, Charles F Leimer; sergt-at-arms, Wells.
The 8th legislature held its entire session at Denver, from Jan. 3, to Feb.
11, 1870. Tlie council was the same as at the previous session, witli the
exception tliat George A. Hinsdale was ])resideut, and that Pinkerton s place
was tilled by Jesse M. Slierwood, and Beldeu's by Silas B. Hahn. The house
consisted of (Jeorge W. Miller speaker, Matthew S. Taylor, Samuel H. Ell)ert,
H. B. Bearce, C C. ( iird, John H. Wells, Allison H De France, Tlinmas J.
Graham, Thomas J. Campbell, H. E. Lyon, A. E. Lea, John F. Ttnjping,
John T. Lynch, D. B Myers, George W. Mann, A. D Bevan, C. M Mullen,
J. G. Randall, D. L. Vandiver, J. C. Hall, Manuel Lucero, Clement Trujillo,
William H. iMeyer, Felipe Baca, William Sheppard, J. B. Rice Sec. council,
A. O. Patterson; asst sec, (Jeorge T. Clark; eng. clerk, J. E. Cobb; enr.
olerk, Henry Bell; sergt-at-arms, E. T. Stone. Chief clerk of house, W. M.
Slaughter; asst clerk, A. M. Barnard; eng clerk, A. M. McCrystal; enr.
clerk, Jolin I). Mclntyre; sergt-at-arms, W. W. Remine
Tlie 9th legislature held its session at Denver from Jan. 1 to Feb 9, 1872.
The councilinen were George M. Cliilcott president, Joseph E. Bates, Francis
Gallup, William C Stover, Allison H De France, Nathaniel P Hill. Benja-
min W. Wisebart, Edward C. Parmelee, Madison W. Stewart, J. Marshall
Paul, .Jesus Maria Garcia, Silverio Suaso, Jose Victor (iarcia. The repre-
sentatives were Alvin Marsh speaker, Frederick Steinhauer, Isaac Bachellor,
Clarence P. Elder, John G. Tilley, J. W. Bacon, B. H. Eaton, John 1). Pat-
rick, James P. Maxwell, Ciiarles C. Welch, (ieorge K. Randolph, John F.
Topping, VV. W. Webster, James F. Gardner, Thomas O Boggs, J. M.
Givens, B. F. Crowell, A. D. Cooper, Jolin G. Ramlall, Casiiuiro Barcla,
Lorenzo A. Abeyta, Mariano Larrogoite, John A. Manzanares, Pcdru Ilajihael
Trujillo, Jose A. Valas(iuez, Francisco S.i,i.chez. Sec. of council. Edward L.
Saliaburyj asst sec, Chase Withmw; cug clerk, E. U. Starrette; uur. clerk,
STATEHOOD AND PAKTY SPIRIT. 443
August, and the democrats at Manitou on the 29th,
with full tickets for state officers. The election was
held on the 3d of October, 30,000 votes being polled,
the entire republican ticket for the executive and
judicial departments being elected, with a republican
majority in both houses of the legislature, and a rep-
S. N". Sanders; sergt-at-arms, Robert N. Daniels. Chief clerk of house, James
G. Cooper; asst clerk, Joseph L. Boyd; eng clerk, EoUin Morrow; enr. clerk,
C. W. Baldwin; sergt-at-arms, Uriah M. Curtis. A. W. Archibald success-
fully contested the seat of Abeyta.
The 10th legislature met at Denver Jan. 5, 1S74. In the council were
Madison W. Stewart president, H. P. H. Bromwell, R. G. Buckingham,
Thomas Sprague, John B. Fitzpatrick, Hugh Butter, H. C. McCammon]
William M. Clark, George M. Chilcott, Jarius W. Hall, Daniel L. Taylor,'
Juan B. Jaquez, Lafayette Head. In the house, David H. Nichols speaker^
Frederick Steinhauer, Alfred Butters, R. S. Little, J. H. K. Uhlhorn, Joseph
C. Shattuck, Jolm McCutcheon, Levi Harsh, James P. Maxwell, David H.
Nichols, Henry Paul, Bela S. Buell, William J. Buffington, Benjamin F
Napheys, Charles W. Perry, John W. Prowers, Joseph C. Wilson, William
Moore, Joseph Hutchinson, William A. Amsljurj-, Mariano Larragoite, Casi-
miro Barela, Alexander H. Taylor, J. A. J. ^'aldez, William H. Meyer,
Manuel S. Salazar, Juan Esquibel. Sec. of council, Foster Nichols; asst sec,
D. C. Limberger; enr. clerk, George H. F. Work; sergt-at-arms, George R.'
Ward. Chief clerk of house, Joseph T. Boyd; asst clerk, E. P. Drake" eng
clerk, J. A. Koontz; sergt-at-arms, 0. H. Henry.
The 11th legislature convened Jan. 3, 1876, at Denver. The council con-
sisted of Adair Wilson president, Bela M. Hughes, Baxter B. Stiles, B. H.
Eaton, John C. Hummel, Silas B. Hahn, E. L. Salisbury, ' Robert S. Mor-
rison, Andrew D. Wilson, James Rice, James Clelland, P. A. McBride,
Silverio Suaso; the house, of Alfred Butters speaker, Edmund L. Smith,
Edward Pisko, W. B. Mills, Norman H. Meldrum, J. C. McCowan, M. N.
Everett, David C. Patterson, George Rand, John C. McShane, Frederick
Kruse, William Lamed, John H. Yonley, J. M. Nimerick, Frank Bingham,
Albinus J. Sheldon; H. O. Rettberg, James Y. Marshall, I. N. Peyton,
Donaciano Gurule, Nicauora D. Jarramilla, Mauricio Apadaca, Herman
Duhme, Jr, Francisco Sanchez, T. M. Trippe, Reul^en J. McNutt. Sec. of
council James T. Smith; asst sec, Frank Fas.sett; eng clerk, James D. Henry;
enr. clerk, William Barchert; sergt-at-aruis, J. A. J. Bigler. Chief clerk of
the house, Joseph T. Boyd; asst clerk, C. L. Peyton; eng clerk, -James W.
Galloway; enr. clerk, W. B. Dickinson; sergt-at-arms, James D. Wood.
The legislature of 1865, which convened at Golden Dec. 12th, under the
state constitution framed that year, but vetoed by the president, adjourned
to Denver on the 16th, and sine die on the 19th. The senate was composed
of George A. Hinsdale president, Leander M. Black, Charles A. Cook, L. B.
McLain, Truman Whitcomb, L. L. Bedell. A. G. Langford, W. A. H. Love-
land, James Castello, Adam B. Cooper, H. H. De Mary, John W. Henry,
Jesus M. Velazquez, J. L. Casper. The house of representatives was com-
posed of D. P. Wilson speaker, A. Lumry, Robert L Hatten. G. H. Greenslit,
William Garrison, D. G. Peabody, A. Wright, T C. Bergen. David H
Nichols, Isaac Whicker, Jason E. Scobey, Stephen Goodall, Lvman W Chase,
Charles B. Patterson, B. R. Colvin. James A. Pierce, Aaron Hopkins, George
W. Lechmer, Charles L. Hall, Thomas Keys, F. C. Hughes, Pedro Arragon,
Jose Galjriel Martine, Pedro Lobato, Matt. Riddlebarger, George A. Bates.
Sec. of the senate, John Walker; asst sec, Edwin H. Brown, sergt-at-arm.s,
H. B. Haskell. Chief clerk of the house^ L. H. Shepherd: asst clerk, C. J.
McDivitt; sergt-at-arms, Charles Bartholomew. Vorbctt, Lejis, Manual, 226-7.
444 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
resentative to the fort3'-f()urth congress, while the
democrats elected a representative to the forty -fifth
congress/' John L. lioutt was chosen governor,
Lafayette Head" lieutenant-governor. William G.
Clark ** secretary of state, D, C. Crawford " auditor,
George C. Corning '" treasurer, A. J. Sampson "
*^ It is not a little singular that, for the second time, Patterson was elected
to represent Colorado m congress througli a blunder of the dominant party.
The territorial secretary had ordered an election for representatives for the
44th congress, tf) he held on the 3d of Oct., and anotlier election for the 45th
congress on the 7tli ot Nov. But the people voted lor James B Belford for
hotli congresses on the 3d of Oct tliinking to save themselves troul)le. On
the 7th of Nov., however, the democrats voted, and elected Patterson by
almost the entire vote Tlie can\-assnig board retused to count it, but after a
long contest in congress, Patterson gained his seat, and was, as he had been
before, a useful representative
^^ Lafayette Head was born in Mo. in 1825, enlisted in the 2d regt. Mo.
vol., and fought in the battles of La Canado, Embudo, Taos, and Santa
Clara springs. After the peace he settled in New Mexico as a merchant at
Abiquiii, and was appointed U S. marshal of the northern district ot that
territory for three years. In ISGl he was sheriff of Rio Arriba co. for two
years, and was elected to the legislature from that co. in 18G3. In 1855 he
was commissioned a lieut in Col St Vrain's regt of volunteers, which served
6 months against the Utes and Apaches. The following year he was elected
from Taos to the legislature, and was subsequently chosen to fill a vacancy
in the council, of which he was president in 1857. He received the appoint-
ment of special agent for the Utes and Apaches in 1859, holding tlie office 9
years. He was elected councilman in the Colorado legislature from Conejos
CO. in 1874, and delegate to the constitutional convention in 1875. He re-
ceived 14,101 votes, against 13,093 given to the opposing candidate, Michael
Beshoar, for lieut-gov.
"William G. Clark was born in Pa, enlisted in 1861 as a private in com-
pany F, 28th regt, afterward Eof the 47th regt, Pa volunteers. He M-as cap-
tain of liis company when he was mustered out in 1865. He came to Colo-
rado in 1866, settling in Clear Creek co., and engaging in mining, soon
becoming known, and being elected to be supt of schools, apjjointed clerk of
the district court, elected member of the legislature, ai)pointed brig. -gen. of
militia, and elected a member of the constitutional convention. He received
at the first state election 14,582 votes, against 12,843 for James T. Smith,
democrat.
<■' David C. Crawford was a native of Canada, removed to Mich, and Wis.,
and in 1860 came to Colorado. He first engaged in mining in Gilpin and
Boulder counties, in 1862 in merchandising in Park co., and in 1865 in farm-
ing in Jefferson co. He was elected clerk and recorder for tiie latter county
in 1867, and afterward opened a real estate and insurance office, becoming in
1875 proprietor of the Crawford house at Colorado Springs. He married
Amanda ,J Thornton of Golden. His opponent for the office of auditor was
J. F. Benedict, wliom he beat by 922 votes.
^'' George C. Corning was born in Ohio in 1837, organized the bank of To-
peka, Kansas, in 1868, and in 1870 settled at Boulder in Colorado, where he
opened a l)ank. The republican vote for treasurer stood 14,038 against
13,310 for Thomas M. Fiehl, democrat
"Archibald J Sampson was born in Ohio, and entered the union army in
1861 He was promoted to a captaincy, but at Hatclier s Run, Va, was dis-
abled for life and discharged. He tlien studied law in tlie Cleveland law
school, begimiing to practise iu 186G at iSedalia, ^lon aud married the
STATE OFFICERS. 445
attorney -general, Joseph C. Shattuck *^ superintend-
ent of public instruction. James B. Belford " was
elected representative in the forty-fourth and forty-
fifth congresses, although his seat in the latter was
successfully contested by Thomas M. Patterson, owing
to a misapprehension concerning the day of election.
On the 1st of November the General Assembly of
the state of Colorado convened at noon. On the 3d,
Judge Brazee administered the oath of office to the
executive officers. Early in the session two United
States senators were chosen — Jerome B. Chaffee and
Henry M. Teller '° — and three presidential electors,
Herman Beckurts, W, L. Hadley, and Otto Mears.
The assembly did not adjourn until March 20, 1877.
Three judges of the supreme court were elected by
the people ; namely, Henry C. Thatcher, Samuel H.
Elbert, and Ebenezer T. Wells, Thatcher drawing the
short term of three years, which made him the first
chief justice," Elbert the six years' term and the
daughter of Judge Allen C. Turner of his native town the same year. He
declined office in Mo., and the consulate of Palestine, but was presidential
elector in 1872. He came to Colorado in 1874, settling at Canon City in the
practice of his profession, until elected attorney-general of the new state, *
against G. Q. Richmond, by 963 votes.
*8 Joseph C. Shattuck was born in N. H. in 1835, and educated at the
Wejtminster seminary, Vt, and Wesleyan |university. Conn., but without
completing the course. He married Hattie M. Knight of Marlborough in
1858, and migrated to Mo., where he was a teacher. In 1870 he came to
Colorado with the Greeley colony, of which he was vice-president and mana-
ger. He was elected to the legislature from Weld co. in 1874. His majority
over G. B. Groesbeck, democrat, in 1876, was 1,831.
" James B. Belford was born in Pa, and came to Colorado in 1870, having
been appointed associate justice of the supreme court, which position he held
until the admission of the state.
5-' U. S. Offirial -Reqiitfir, 1877, 2. Teller drew the long term ending 1883.
He was born in N. Y. in 1830, and practised law in 111. He had been a re-
publican since the organization of the party, and taken part in the campaign
of 1860 for Lincoln. In 1861 he came to Colorado, settling at Central City
in the practice of his profession, in partnership with H. A. Johnson, and sub-
sequently with his brother, "Willard Teller. He was appointed by Gov.
Evans maj.-gen. of the territorial militia in 1863. He organized in 1865 thS
Colorado Central railroad company, of which he was for five years president,
and has promoted many business enterprises. In the U. S. senate he distin-
guished himself, while laboring for Colorado, by his report on the ele :tion
frauds in southern states, which he, as chairman of a committee, was forced
to investigate. He was also chairman of the senate committee on civil ser-
vice reform.
^^ Henry C. Tha+^her was bom in Pa in 1842, completed his law studies
in the Albany university, froai which he graduated in 1866, coming directly
446 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
chief justiceship for three years, and Wells the term
for nine years. Wells was a man of fine character
and ability, but resigned soon after election. The bar
of Colorado, in convention, nominated Wilbur F.
Stone to fill the vacanc3^ a nomination which met the
liearty approval of the public, and which was con-
firmed at the next general election. Four district
judges were elected for six years ; namely, William E.
Beck, Victor A. Elliott, John W. Henry, and Thomas
M. Bowen, in the order in which they are here given.
The attorneys for the four districts were Edward O.
Wolcott, David B. Graham, James M. Waldron, and
Columbus W. Burris. A full set of regents for the
university, trustees of the school of mines, managers
of the penitentiary, trustees of the deaf and mute
institute, and members of the state board of agricul-
ture, were also elected, such was the care of those
havinjjj affairs in chargre that the state should com-
mence its career in the possession of all its dignities.
The population of Colorado, when admitted, was
135,000, the disproportion of the sexes remarked
upon a decade earlier having in a great degree be-
come adjusted. Its boundaries remained the same.
Its assessed valuation, exclusive of untaxable mining
property, amounted, in real and personal property, to
$44,130,205. Upon this the legislature fixed" the
limit of taxation, for all purposes, at twenty-three
mills. In 1879 the state tax had been reduced to one
and a half mills on the dollar, while the local taxes
were correspondingly reduced. There was no funded
debt, and the floating indebtedness was small, owing
to a clause in the constitution prohibiting the state,
to Colorado, and settling at Pueblo. He was appointed, in 18G8, U. S. atty
for the district of Colorado, holding the office but little more than a year,
when he resigned. He was an active member of tiie con.stitutional conven-
tion in 1875, being chairman of several of the most important committees.
In person he was six feet in height, witli bright blue eyes, and possessed of
genial manners. 'Thatcher,' says Pitkin, 'made one of tiie ablest judges
ever on the bench. He declined reelection. He died at San Francisco, while
on a visit tliere, at the age of 41. of Brighu's disease.' Political Vieios, MS., 8;
JiaUfU'a (JourtSf Law, and Litigaiion, MS,
PUBLIC LANDS. 447
counties, or cities from loaning their credit. These
were magnificent measures for a young commonwealth
to adopt.
The pubhc lands received through the enabling act
were the 500,000 acres granted to all the new states
by the law of 1841 ; 50 sections for the erection of
public buildings ; 50 sections for a penitentiary ; 72
sections for a state university ; six sections adjacent
to twelve salt springs ; the sixteenth and thirty-sixth
sections for common school purposes, besides the
usual five per centum of the [proceeds of the sale of
agricultural public lands to be applied to internal im-
provements. I have shown how this dower of some
of the north-western states was wasted. Governor
Routt had v/itnessed the same fraudulent use of the
school and other lands in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska,
The constitution of Colorado made the governor and
secretary a board to select the state lands. To their
everlasting honor, instead of squandering these lands
upon party favorites, they labored to make them pro-
duce the highest amount for the purposes for which
they were intended. The plan adopted was not to
offer the school lands for sale, the chief part being so
situated as not to be irrigable, and therefore not
worth more than the minimum price of $2.50 an acre,
but to lease them for an amount equal to the interest
on their present value, and hold them for pasturage,
or for any purposes. It was found they brought
between $40,000 and $50,000 annual rental. Seventy-
eight miles of land along the Republican river was
also entered for the state. The legislature then
passed a bill authorizing the sale of alternate sections
of state land, the purchasers contracting to construct
ditches of sufficient capacity to water their land and
the state land through which the ditch was carried.
By this means also the value of the unsold land was
raised in some situations to $30 per acre, and the
school lands of Colorado acquired a value of many
millions more than they were worth when the state
448 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
received them. Wisely the pubhc institutions of the
state, instead of being supported by legislative appro-
priations ottering temptations to jobbing members,
are sustained by a direct tax for the purpose designed.
The result of this care for the public funds is the rapid
accomplishment of those beneficent objects for which
the gifts of the general government were intended or
for which the state is taxed.
The successor of Routt in the executive office was
Frederick W. Pitkin, during whose administration the
Ute war took place, of which I shall speak in
another place. A serious riot in Leadville and an-
other in Denver were the chief events in 1879-80.
In the former instance martial law was proclaimed
in Leadville to bring to reason the miners who had
organized a strike, and suspended every branch of
business. It was expected that the governor's action
would destroy all chance of his reelection ; but such
proved not to be the case. During his first term he
had become a sort of Admirable Crichton to the people,
and if he lost any of his former influence in his second
term, it was through being a candidate for the United
States senatorship and having active rivals in the
race. The lieutenant-sfovernor durino: his adminis-
tration was Horace A. W. Tabor, ^' and the secretary
of state N. H. Meldrum." Belford was elected rep-
*- Tabor was elected lieut-gcv. in 1878, and became such for Pitkin's second
term by succession, the vice-governor elect, George B. Robinson, having bee a
assassinated, and the president of the senate l>y law succeeding him.
^■* Frederick W. Pitkin was born in Manchester, Conn., in 1837 of an hon-
orable line of ancestry, the Pitkins and Oriswolds of Conn., and educated at
the Wesleyan university of Middleton, fromwhicli lie graduated in 1858. He
rtudied law at the Albany law school, and after graduating removed to Mil-
waukee, Wis., in 18G0, where lie enjoyed a lucrative practice until failing
liealtJi compelled him to seek a change of climate. He visited Europe in 1 873,
and subsequently Florido without benefit, and in 1874 came to Colorado,
where he has obtained a degree of health which has enabled him to reengage
in business pursuits. George B. Robinson was assassinated Nov. '27, 1880, a
few weeks after his election, under the following circumstances: Some miners
had taken ofTence at certain tyrannies practised 1)y the manager of the Rob-
inson consoli<lated mine in Summit co., and Robinson had been appealed to
for the removal of the obnoxious manager without eflfect, he having no power
to remove without tlie consent of tlie otlier trustees. On the evening of the
27th Robinson, with two other men, visited the mine, and was challenged l)y
the guard, who hearing uo answer, discharged his guu. An autopsy, iiow-
REPRESENTATION AND APPROPRIATION. 449
resentative to congress in 1878, by a majority of more
than 2,000 over the democratic candidate, Patterson,
and twice reelected, his majority at his last election
being 2,737 over the democratic candidate, Wallace.
In 1884 George G. Symes was elected representa-
tive in congress.
The governor who succeeded Pitkin was James B.
Grant, a man of large means, fine ability,^* educated,
methodical, even-tempered, and strong enough to act
upon his own convictions. He was the first demo-
crat honored with an election to the executive office."
The lieutenant-governor elected with him was Wil-
liam H. Meyers. Grant was succeeded by Benjamin
H. Eaton, elected in 1884,*^ a man of strong and quiet
character, and acquainted with the history and the
requirments of the country. The lieutenant-gov-
ernor elected with Eaton was P. W. Breene. Na-
ever, revealed a number of wounds from bullets and shots fired from a posi-
tion in the rear, while the guard swore that he fired upward in such a man-
ner as not to have hit the murdered man. Other testimony confirmed the
suspicion of foul play. He came to Colorado in 1877 from Mich., and
engaged in wholesale and retail grocery business. He was a man of educa-
tion and culture, and was worth |2,000,000. Denver Tribune, Nov. 28, 1880.
^» James B. Grant was born in Ala, in 1848. On the breaking out of the
civil war, although but 13 years of age, he joined the confederate army,
spending several months in the field, after which he went to reside with his
uncle, Judge Grant, of Davenport, Iowa, who sent him to the agricultural
college of that state, where he spent 6 years, subsequently taking a course
at the university of Cornell, and finishing his education by travel and study
in a German university.
^^ Routt's Territory and State, MS., 6. Grant's opponent, E. L. Campbell,
was defeated by political legerdemain, though it was said it was on account
of unfitness. He was fairly nominated in the republican convention. Among
the candidates for nomination was H. R. Wolcott, asst manager of the Argo
Smelting works, of which N. P. Hill was manager. ChaflFee was chairman
of the republican state committee, and Hill, who was in the U. S. senate,
and who had been opposed by Chaffee, wished to defeat his measures and
lessen his power, in order to get an enemy out of the way before the next
senatorial contest. Hill and Wolcott, with their friends, bolted from the
republican party with the object of weakening Chaffee, rather than with
regard to the fitness of the candidate for governor. It was fortunate that
their antagonism elected so good a man, and unfortunate that the reason they
gave for it was prejudicial to the defeated candidate.
^^ Benjamin Harrison Eaton was born in Ohio in 1834, and brought upon
a farm. Being ambitious he studied and taught school until the Pike's peak
fever carried him to Colorado. He began mining in California gulch, but
Boon turned his attention to farming, being the first settler near the town of
Greeley. He later owned and cultivated 7,000 acres of land, all of which he
irrigated. Irrigation in Colorado owes much to him. He was also interested
in cattle raising and mining.
Hist. Nev. 29
450 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
thaniel P. Hill was chosen in 1879 to succeed Chaffee
in the United States senate." His services to the
state during six years in the senate were not unim-
portant. He secured the removal of the White river
and Uncompahgre Utes to Utah, and the opening of
the reservation to settlement, which added 12,000,000
acres of land to the wealth of the state. He obtained
a land office at Gunnison for the convenience of set-
tlers on these lands ; an appropriation of $20,000 to
bore artesian wells in the arid regions of the state ;
the exchange of such sixteenth and thirty-sixth sec-
tions of school land as fell in the mineral regions for
agricultural land; $300,000 to erect a United States
court-house in Denver ; improvements in the mining
law, enabling miners to make adverse claims before
the clerk of the district where they happened to be,
instead of in the district where the claim was located,
as before, and also enabling them to take the oath of
citizenship without the trouble and expense of a jour-
ney to some distant point ; made Denver a port of
delivery, enabling merchants to import direct from
foreign countries through the seaports ; secured the
Hot Spring reservation to settlers ; procured authority
for the postmaster-general to extend mail facilities in
rapidly increasing settlements without waiting for
congressional action ; and secured on increased rate of
fees in certain cases where the old law worked a hard-
ship to witnesses in the United States courts. Nor
was his labor given altogether to local affairs, but he
combatted the great land stealing corporations, which
upon one pretense and another were wheedling con-
gress out of the public domain ; he labored for the
^' Colo Jour. House, 1879, 111-12. Hill was born in Orange co., N. Y., in
1832, and brought up on a farm, of which he was left in charge at the age of
16 years. He was the son of an old-time democrat, who had represented his
county in the general assembly, and held the office of county judge, and not-
withstanding unusual responsibilities for his years, found time to fit himself
for college which he entered at the age of 21, at Brown university. Provi-
dence, R. I. In 1856 he was made tutor in the chemical department, and in
1860 professor of chemistry, a calling which led directly to his usefulness in
and his connection with Colorado, as h»3 already been indicated in the
history of mining.
EXECUTIVE AXD JUDICIARY. 451
postal telegraph bill, for a tariff on wool, and for a
better national financial policy. But nothing more
commended him to the people of Colorado than his
attitude on the silver question, as the advocate of a
bi-metallic currency. Upon this subject he became
the peer of senators Stewart and Jones of Nevada,
and many republicans desired his reelection in 1884**
on this ground. But having in 1882 used some polit-
ical weapons against a rival, these were turned upon
himself at last, cutting him off from a career for which
he was well qualified. Henry M. Teller, senator from
1877 to 1883, was appointed to the cabinet when
Arthur came to the presidency. To fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Teller, Governor Pitkin
appointed George M. Chilcott, who had been prom-
inently before the legislature in 1879 as candidate
with Hill for the senatorship. In the contest for the
appointment in 1883 the principal candidates were
Routt, Tabor, and Bowen, three millionaires, and each
fought hard for the position, but Pitkin chose Chil-
cott. Pitkin himself was an aspirant, and the politi-
ical gossips said that a strong pressure was brought to
bear upon the governor by the others, they promising
that if his choice should fall upon one of them for the
appointment they would use their influence with the
legislature when it met to have him elected to the
senate. Pitkin, however, resisted the combination,
which punished him by defeating him when he became
openly a candidate. Tabor was elected for the thirty
days remaining of the Teller-Chilcott term, and
^Denver Tribune, Oct. 26, 1884; Senate Miscel., 47th cong. 2d sess., i. no.
8, p. 10. A silver congress was held at Denver in January 1885, to which
Belford and Symes were delegates from Colorado. The points laid down in
the resolutions were 1st the doctrine of bi-metalism, as embodied in the U. S.
laws previous to 1873; 2d that the interests of trade demanded free coinage
at the existing standard; 3d a demand that congress should withdraw from
circulation .§1 and $2 bills; 4th censure of the secretaries of the treasury for
unlawful evasions of the provisions of the Bland Ijill; 5th a demand for
amendments to the National bank act, compelling them to keep 15 per cent
of their legal reserve in silver; 6th that congress should restore silver to its
ancient and rightful equality with gold in respect to coinage, and asking
protection for the silver industry.
452 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
Thomas M. Bowen of Del Norte for the term from
1883 to 1889." The legislature m 1885 elected Teller
to succeed Hill, who had now a strong combination
against him. A large amount of money was used in
the struggle for place, and the people of Colorado
begun to question whether it was well that the capi-
talists of the state should decide political preferment.
The election of 1884, which gave the first democratic
president in twenty-four years was strongly republi-
can, the plurality for Blaine being nearly 9,000.
The presidential electors chosen were F. C. Goudy of
Gunnison, F. F. Obiston of Idaho Springs, and B. F.
Crowell of Colorado Springs. Goudy was chosen as
the messenger to carry the certificate to Washington.
Some amendments were made to the constitution of
the state at this election by a majority of nearly
11,000.
Of the justices of the supreme court elected in
1876, only Elbert in 1886 was on the bench. Wells,
who drew the nine years' term, resigned after serving
one year, and Wilbur F. Stone was elected to fill the
vacancy. Elbert, whose term expired in 1882, was
elected in 1885 to succeed Stone. He will go out of
office in 1897. Thatcher, whose term expired in
1879, was succeeded by William E. Beck. The judge
who took the bench at the ex])iration of Elbert's first
term was Josepli C. Helm, who will go out of office
in 1891. The supreme judges are not noudnated by
political parties, but by the bar association, and the
character of the Colorado courts has seldom been as-
^' Thomas M. Bowen, born in Iowa in 1835, elected to the lower house of
the legislature at the age of 21 years. He served in the union army from
1861 to 18(55, first as captain of Neb. volunteers, 1st regiment, afterward as
colonel of the 13th Kansas infantry, and lastly as brevet brigailier-general in
the army of the frontier, and later in the 7th army corps. After the war he
was justice of the supreme court of Arkansas for four years, and accepted
the executive appointment for Idaho in 1871, but resigned and returned to
Arkansas, where he was defeated for the U. S. senate by S. W. Dorsey.
He came to Colorado in 1875, resumeil tlie practise of law, and was
elected judge of the 4th judicial district on the admission of the state, and
held the office for 4 years. He engaged in large mining enterprises and
became wealthy. In 1882 he was elected to the state legislature which
made him senator.
MISUSE OF WEALTH. 453
sailed. The most serious accusation ever made was
against the United States judges in the case of a
strike among the employes of the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad, in May 1885, under the direction of
the knighcs of labor, some members of which order
had been dismissed from the company's service.
Arms were carried by a part of the strikers, when
persuading their associates to desist from labor, and
although no violence was offered, the fact of arms
having been shown was considered as sufficient evi-
dence of the intent. The men were arrested, tried
for contempt, and imprisoned from three to six
months. The charges brought by the knights of
labor against the judges were that the receiver of
the road was appointed by one of them ; that the men
arrested were not allowed to call witnesses, unless
they paid the expenses, which would be over $160
each, or swore that they were paupers, neither of
which could they do. That they had not been tried
by a jury ; but that in fact the judge had made the
complaint, tried, and sentenced them without a hear-
ing, being at the same time concerned in the road,
thereby construing the law in the interest of a rich
corporation against the constitutional rights of other
men. The order made threats of impeachment when
congress should meet.
Whether or not there was found sufficient proof
to sustain the complaint of the knights of labor in
this case, it is evident that the danger which threatens
society is the overweening influence of wealth. The
temptation to men who have acquired millions, right-
fully or wrongfully, in a few years is to consider
themselves better than their neighbors, and less re-
gardful of the rights of men. At bribery or any
moral or political corruption they do not hesitate.
They would constitute themselves a privileged class,
and return toward feudalism by surrounding them-
selves with the largest number of dependents in the
form of ill-paid laborers, that being the only form of
454 POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
serfdom at present known under our government.
How long they can maintain that position in pohtical j
economy and ethics will depend upon the nerve of the j
working classes to resist the tendency ; and nowhere
is the struggle more aj)parent than in mining states, J
not even in manufacturing states, where tender child- ■
hood is pressed into the service of the capitalist, and !
made to earn its daily bread at the sacrifice of its •
future manhood and womanhood. |
It is difficult to determine which class exercises the !
more baneful influence upon public morals, the low ;
ignorant foreigner, orthe unprincipled monied monopo- I
list. But aside from these, Colorado has a larger '
proportion of men of culture among its men of business
and affairs than any of the intra-montane common-
wealths ; and, in proportion to its population, more
college bred men than most of the older states. In
its people, its climate, its impressive scenery, natural i
wealth, and liberal institutions it is altogether a noble
state, needing no encomiums from its historian other j
than the simple narrative of the achievements of its
founders.
CHAPTER YII.
INDIAX WARS.
1860-lSSO.
Tribes and Teeattes — Aboeigixal Brigandage — Untiecoeded Oi-trages
OF THE White Mex — Appropeiatioxs — White Force ly the Field —
The Colorado Regiments — Depredations ox the Overland Mail
Company— CoMMuxiCATioN Cut Off— The Sand Creek Massacre—
Chia-ington Censured by Congress, but Thanked by the People
OF Colorado — Forts and Reservations — West of the Mountains
Wide-spread Hostilitles and Battles.
When the territory of Colorado was organized, its
governor and Indian superintendent found there sev-
eral powerful tribes, with which the government had
already had dealings. As early as September 17,
1851, a treaty was made at Fort Laramie with the
Ogalalah and Brule Sioux, and the Arapahoes and
Cheyennes, by which the country claimed by them
should be included within the following limits ; com-
mencing at Red Buttes, on the south side of the
north fork of the Platte river, at the crossing of the
immigrant road, following this stream to its source in
the Rocky mountains, thence along their summits to
the head waters of the Arkansas river, down the
Arkansas to the crossing of the Santa Fe trail, thence
northwesterly to the forks of the Platte, and up the
north branch to the place of beginning. It was esti-
mated that the area contained in the Upper Platte
agency, as it was called, was 122,500 square miles,
while the population did not exceed 5,500, not more
than 2,000 of these being warriors. The treatv re-
quired them to keep in their own comitry, to avoid
^455)
456 INDIAN WARS.
wars with the neighboring tribes, to refrain from rob-
bing travellers, and for this righteousness they were
to receive annuities, to be distributed at Fort Laramie.
Of the region here designated, the Sioux and one
band of Cheyennes ranged the portion lying north of
the present state of Colorado, while the Cheyennes
and Arapahoes occupied the country next the
Arkansas.
That part of the country south of the Arkansas was
traversed by the Kiowas, Apaches, and Comanches,
with whom a treaty, similar to the Laramie treaty,
had been made in 1853, but with whom the govern-
ment had now and then occasion to display armed
force, in order to punish or prevent depredations upon
persons and property upon the Santa Fe trail, which
was traversed by the caravans of the Santa Fe
traders, the supply trains en route to the military
posts in New Mexico, the United States mail for
California, and frequent companies of inmiigrants and
travellers. These Indians also were looked after by
the incumbent of the Platte agency.
That portion of Colorado lying west of the Rocky
mountains was inhabited by the Utes, branches of
which great nation extended to the Sierra Nevada, as
I have shown. In Colorado there were three divis-
ions ; two in the southern portion yearly presented
with goods at the New Mexico agencies, but the more
northern tribes were still wild and shy, although
numerous and warlike. The whole number was esti-
mated at 10,000.
It would have required greater diplomacy than the
average superintendent of Indian affairs can command
to adjust the yoke of civilization to the necks of
15,000 free-born American savages without galling.
The task was made more difficult by the animosity
between the Utes of the mountains and the Arapahoes
and Cheyennes of the plains ; but in a double degree
by the feeling already engendered by the action of
the military in punishing the plains people for attacks
TREATIES. 457
on travellers/ And, while the retaliations of the sava-
ges are written in letters of blood, the outrages of the
white men upon the Indians must go forever unrecorded.
In June 1860 congress appropriated $35,000 for the
purpose of making a new treaty with the Cheyennes
and Arapahoes, and also with the Kiowas and Co-
manches, who for three years previous had occupied
the country on the south side of the Arkansas, which
was crossed by the Santa Fe trail, to the peril of
travellers. Commissioner A. B. Greenwood arrived
1 The history of aboriginal brigandage on the plains has never been writ-
ten, and only now and then related, in part as a f "-ontier experience, to enliven
some traveller's tale. From the authorities in my possession I learn that
following the Mexican war certain tribes made an alliance to war on the
traffic of the Santa Fe trail. They succeeded in cutting off the connec-
tions between the troops in New Mexico and their base of supplies in the
United States. In 1847 the southern Utes were pursued into Fremont
county by Mexican troops, and, making a stand in the detile of the Arkansas
above Canon City, sustained a heavy loss; hence the name of the gorge,
Ute canon. Londoner relates that 8 out of a party of 9 trappers were
murdered by the Utes in California gulch in 1854. Colorado Mining Camps,
MS., 8. On Christmas day of that year all the inhabitants at the Pueblo,
on the Arkansas river, were massacred in a drunken revel by a wandering
band of Utes, who had been invited to partake of the hospitalities of the
season. T/iomb's Alex. Colo, MS., 1-3. The authorities differ as to whether
there were 17 or 29 of the victims, all of whom were Mexicans. In 1855 I
find the troops from Fort Massachusetts, now Fort Garland, pursuing and
punishing the Utes of southern Colorado, for their raids into New Mexico.
When en route to the Platte agency point of distribution, with annuity
goods in 1854, the agent met at the crossing of the Arkansas from 1,200 to
1,50;) lodges of Kiowas, Comanches, Osages, Arapahoes, and Cheyennes,
being a war party en route to wipe out, as they expressed it, all frontier
Indians on the plains. When near the Kansas River they were defeated by
100 Sacs and Foxes, in a three hours' battle. The Mexicans of New Mexico
were their chief source of supply, and as long as these could be made to
furnish horses, mules, and captives to the United States Indians, with wliich
they carried on a profitable trade among themselves, they were comparatively
well-behaved towards travellers on the great western highways; but when
New Mexico became a part of the United States, and they were forbidden
to rob and kill its people, they quarrelled with those tribes who made
and observed treaties, and began robbing and killing anywhere to make up
the loss.
In 1855 Agent Thomas S. Twiss, on arriving on the ground, found that
the Arapahoes had been charged with killing cattle and sheep to the amount
of $15,000, which would stop their annuity for some years. They admitted
the thefts, but excused them on the plea of sickness in their band, and fam-
ine consequent on not being able to go after buffalo, and submitted cheerfully
to the loss of their annuities. A war was going on between the United States
troops, under Harney, and the Sioux, which had put an end to Indian trade
in buffalo skins, etc,, so that the prospect looked dark for the coming winter.
In March 1856, Harney entered into a peace treaty with all the Sioux of the
plains, which was intended to restore the former equilibrium in affairs; or,
rather, he proposed to improve the condition of the Sioux and other tribes
by teaching them agriculture. But before the plan could be carried out a
458 INDIAN WARS.
at Fort Wise — formerly Bent's fort — about the mid-
dle of September, but finding only the Arapahoes on
the ground, appointed A. G. Boone special agent to
carry out the intentions of the government, and re-
turned to Washington. In February 1861 Boone
concluded a treaty with the Cheyennes and Arapa-
hoes, by which one third of the area claimed by them
between the South fork of the Platte and Arkansas
rivers was ceded to the United States. Their reser-
collision occurred at Platte bridge, beyond Laramie, where a company of
troops were stationed to protect immigrants to California and Oregon. The
commandant accused tlie Cheyennes of having stolen some horses which tliey
had in their possession, and imprisoned them. The savages attempting
escape were fired at and one killed. Later the Cheyennes were attacked by
a body of United States troops, and six killed. They then sued for peace,
which was granted. Ivlevertheless, some of them continuing hostile, Colonel
E. V. Sumner, with United States troops, in July 1857, destroyed their prin-
cipal village. Meanwhile the agent coming to Bent's fort with annuity
goods, and desiring to leave them there. Bent refused, but finally rented the
place to the government, fearing to remain.
On the 18th of August Sumner arrived at the fort, when he ordered the
goods distributed to the Arapahoes. In 1859 W. W. Bent was appointed
agent for the upper Arkansas. His extensive acquaintance with the Indian
tribes gave liim an influence over them which a stranger could not have had.
In Bent's report for this year he remarks that the Kiowas and Comanches,
being driven out of Texas, had for 2 years appeared in full numbers and for
long periods upon the Arkansas, and were then permanently occupying the
country between the Canadian and Arkansas rivers, witli 2,500 warriors; and
that so soon as the troops were withdrawn from Fort Riley, a post erected in
the region of the Arkansas river in 1852, they had assumed a threatening
attitude, for which reason he considered it essential to have two permanent
Eosts for troops, one at the mouth of Pawnee fork, and one at Big Timbers,
oth on the Arkansas, for the protection of travellers uijon that route, that
since the gold discovery had become numerous. And this he urged for the
sake of the Indians themselves, who were being gradually advanced upon from
all sides, and who should be brought into subjection and treated with, to the
end that they might be assigned reservations and assisted in learning to sup-
port themselves by agriculture and stock-raising. Fort Larned was there-
upon estaljlished at the mouth of Pawnee fork, and Bent's fort purchased
and converted into an army post, under the name of Fort Wise. This year
tlie Utes killed J. L. Shank and J. L. Kennedy in the South park, and a
party of 7 unknown men, with 12 horses, in a gulch, to which from this cir-
cumstance was given the name of Dead Men's gulch. Byers, in Deiul Mens
Gulch, MS., 1.
In June ISGOa large number of Arapahoes and Apaches, with a few Sioux,
met at Denver, and organized an expedition against the Utes. They entered
the Ute country midway Ijctween Platte canon and tlie present town of
Morrison, the Ute village being near where the Platte leaves the South park.
Tiie Arapahoes were repulsed, and returned to Denver with 5 dead and 82
wounded. Another expedition, organized soon after, tied back in confusion,
alarming the white population by representing tliat the Utes were assemljled
in great numbers, jirepared to attack them, which, as they were encamped
in the heart of Denver, was certainly not to be desired, but the alarm proved
groundless. Such was the attitude of Indian affairs in Colorado at the period
of its settlement.
MILITARY MOVEMENTS. 459
vation was bounded westward by a line drawn north
and south from the mouth of the Huerfano, in what
is now Pueblo county ; but they did not keep upon it.
Meanwhile some of the Arapahoes and Cheyennes
who had not been present at the treaty of February,
made that an excuse for nullifying it; and the Kiowas
and Coraanches, who had accepted annuities, had
committed depredations in 1862 which called for the
interference of troops. Further than this, civil war
now came on, and the savages were not willing that
the civilized roen should have all the battling and
butchering to themselves.'
The only force in the territory during the summer
of this year was the 2d Colorado regiment, com-
manded by Colonel J. H. Leavenworth. The Indians
kept the recruits in practice. In August the head-
quarters of the regiment was removed from Denver
to Fort Lyon, as Fort Wise was now called, where
in January 1863 they were joined by the 1st Colorado
cavalry, under Chivington. In April the 2d regi-
ment was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, and in June
to Fort Larned, to protect the Santa Fe road and
watch the Texans, with whom they fought the battle
of Cabin creek on the 2d of July, inflicting a loss of
forty killed and wounded, with but one man killed and
twenty wounded on the side of the Coloradans. These
troops, with a few hundred others, on the 16th fought
another battle in Kansas, in which the confederates
lost 400 killed, wounded, and missing, the loss on their
side being 14 killed and 30 wounded. Soon after the
2d regiment was ordered away from Colorado, Gov-
ernor Evans was directed to raise a third, which was
marched to the States as soon as organized. The 2d
and 3d regiments were consolidated in October 1863,
and formed the 2d Colorado cavalry, which was kept
continually moving until the spring of 1865.'
2 See Fowler s Woman's Experience in Colorado, MS. ; Gilpin's Pioneers of
I842, MS. ; HowheH's Indian Troubles, MS. ; BoeJcy Mountain News, passim.
^ Chivington' s First Colorado Regiment, MS., 13; Prescott's Through Canon
De Shea, MS., 4; Byers' Hist. Coh, MS., 85j Evans, Interview, MS., passim.
460 INDIAN WARS.
The first regiment remaining in Colorado was the
only armed force in the comitry north of Fort Gar-
land; and, notwithstanding treaties and negotiations
conducted with great care and at a great expense,
there was a general insolence among the treaty Ind-
ians which boded no good. In 1864 affairs culminated.
A combination was effected between the several bands
of Sioux and all the plains Indians of Colorado and
south of the Arkansas in Kansas, to attempt the
expulsion or extermination of the white population.
Their first overt act in Colorado was to replenish
their commissary department by taking 175 cattle
frm the herd of Irwin and Jackman, government con-
tractors, who were encamped with their stock in Bijou
basin, forty miles south-east of Denver, in April. A
detachment of the 1st cavalry, under Lieut Ayre,
was sent after them, which recovered only twenty
head, having come up with them when night was
closing in and snow falling, the Indians running off
the stock while the officer in command parleyed with
the chiefs. A soldier who became separated from
the command was wounded, but no fighting occurred.
Being without subsistence, the detachment returned
to Denver. Soon afterward a second expedition of
100 cavalrymen and two howitzers, under Ayre, was
ordered to go as far as Fort Larned, by the head of
the Republican and Smoky Hill forks. When near
the fort they encountered the Cheyennes, who
charged the troops 400 strong. So desperate was
the onslaught that they rushed up to the mouth of
the cannon, falling within reach of the gunners.
Twenty -five or thirty were killed, among them a chief
who had signed the treaty.
In the same month another party of Cheyennes
drove off a herd of horses from Kiowa creek, and
Lieut Clark Dunn from camp Sanborn, near Fre-
mont orchard, pursued them with twenty men. He
found the Indians, about fifty strong, who attacked
when the demand for the return of the horses was
ox THE PLAIXS. 461
made, and killed and wounded four of the soldiers.
The troops returned the fire, but being armed only
with revolvers and sabres, inflicted but little loss, and
after a chase of several miles returned for fresh horses
and guns, the Indians in the meantime escaping. A
third depredation similar to the others being com-
mitted near the junction of South Platte, a detach-
ment under Major Downing, guided by an Indian
trader named Ashcraft, surprised the Indian camp at
Cedar canon, where they had fortified, and killed
twenty-five, destroying their village and capturing one
hundred horses, one soldier being killed in the fight.
In June all the troops were ordered to the Arkan-
sas, east of Fort Lyon, except one squadron, and Gov-
ernor Evans applied for permission to call the militia
of Colorado into the service of the United States, as
the territorial law was defective, and the means of
arming and equipping t\em was wanting, at the same
time askiug leave to raise a regiment of United States
volunteers for one hundred days. This last request
was finally granted, but not before the occasion for
their services had been greatly augmented by repeated
and horrible outrages. About the middle of June,
when the last company of the 1st cavalry was
encamped on Cherry creek, fifteen miles from Denver,
under orders to join the regiment on the Arkansas,
messengers arrived in Denver from the settlements on
Box Elder creek, from two to twenty miles distant,
with information of a general stampede of the stock
in that region, and the murder of the Hungate family,
consisting of the husband, wife, and two children.
This event, which brought the war to the doors of
Denver, caused great excitement. The remains of
the murdered settlers were brought into town, and
exhibited to the angry population. Governor Evans
applied to the adjutant of the district to have the
troops on Cherry creek sent in pursuit of the savages;
orders were despatched to camp Sanborn, eighty
miles below, to send after them a detachment, and
462 INDIAN WARS.
General Curtis, commanding the department, was
telegraphed to allow the cavahy then en route for
Fort Lyon to return, which request was granted, but
in the interA^al of delay the Indians made good their
escape. The militia were ordered to organize as home
guards. The friendly Indians were placed at camp
Collins and Fort Lyon.
In July the agent for the upper Arkansas made a
visit to Pawnee fork to meet a large concourse of
Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Comanches, Apaches, and
Kiowas, with whom he held a council. They all
expressed the greatest regard for the white people,
and disavowed all knowledge of hostile acts. A short
time after this friendly council, according to the asser-
tion of the agent, the Kiowas visited Fort Lamed,
and, while the war-chief was engaged in conversation
with the officer in command, his braves stampeded all
the horses, mules, and cattle belonging to the post.
A few days afterward the Arapahoes made a raid on
the settlers along the river, caused, as the agent
asserted, by the commanding officer at Lamed firing
upon them as they were coming, under a flag of truce,
to offer their services to recover the stolen stock.
The situation was becoming critical. It was esti-
mated that there was not more than six weeks' sup-
ply of food in the territory. Mail communication
with the east was cut off; mail-bags containing let-
ters, money drafts, land patents, newspapers, and
other miscellaneous matter were cut open and their
contents scattered over the prairie. But one station
was left standing on the overland mail-route for a dis-
tance of 120 miles. The farms were all deserted
between Fort Kearny and Julesburg, and for 400
miles the movable property of the company was with-
drawn as much as possible, leaving a large amount of
grain and provisions, which fell into the hands of the
Indians. Trains of merchandise, all that were upon
the way for hundreds of miles, were seized, their con-
ductors killed, and the property appropriated.
THREATENED DEVASTATION. 463
There was this year a large immigration to the
Pacific states, numbering, according to a memorandum
kept at Fort Laramie, 19,000 persons who passed
that post. From this account it would make proba-
bly a total of double that number. Among these,
how many fell by the hands of savages will never be
known. The Coloradans thought they could count
200 victims for the season, over fifty of whom were
their own people. On the 19th of August two Chey-
ennes gave notice to Elbridge Gerry, Indian trader,
living at his station, 67 mile below Denver, in the
Platte valley, to remove his stock, as on the 21st
they would make a raid along the river, and take
whatever property came in their way. They would
divide into parties of twenty or more, and strike sim-
ultaneously at Fort Lupton, Latham, Junction, and
the head of Cherry creek, and also at Pueblo. Their
rendezvous was appointed for Point of Rocks, on
Beaver creek, 125 miles from Denver. Gerry has-
tened to Denver, arriving at midnight on the 20th,
when orders were immediately issued, placing all the
militia and recruits of the one-hundred-days' men,
under the control of the district commander, Colonel
Chivington. Messages were despatched to the threat-
ened localities, and the force at command divided
among them. At the appointed time the Indians
stealthily approached the points indicated, but finding
them guardied, retired.
For thirty days there had been no mails from the
east, letters having to be sent round by sea to San
Francisco, and being from four to six weeks on the
way. No stages or trains moved in Colorado except
under escort. Early in September, the hundred-days'
regiment was completed, and dispatched by Colonel
Chivington to points on the overland route to open
communication ; while a portion of the home-guards
under H. M. Teller, major-general of the militia, pa-
troled the road between Denver and Julesburg, the
1st cavalry being employed as heretofore, chiefly on
464 INDIAN WARS
the Arkansas. These movements produced two re-
sults, the opening of communication with the Mis-
souri, late in October, and the surrender of a small
portion of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, who had
hitherto refused to make a permanent treaty with the
superintendent of Indian affairs. When the outbreak
first occurred, the governor issued a proclamation to
the friendly Indians to repair to points which he
named, to be taken care of by the agents ; the Arapa-
hoes and Cheyennes of the Arkansas to Fort Lyon ;
the Kiowas and Comanches to Fort Laramie ; the
Sioux to Fort Laramie ; and the Cheyennes and
Arapahoes of the upper Platte to Camp Collins. In
response to this invitation 175 Arapahoes, under a
chief called Friday, took up their residence at Fort
Collins, and another band of the same tribe, under
chief Left Hand, repaired to Fort Lyons but did not
long remain. The agent distrusted them, and they
distrusted the agent. It has been asserted, and as
strenuously denied, that although apparently friendly,
some of them acting as spies to give information of
the movements of the hostile Indians, that they were
go-betweens for their own people as well.
About the time the hundred days' men took the
field, the Cheyennes, who had their principal village
on the head waters of Smoky Hill fork, 140 miles
north-east from Fort Lyon, sent three messengers to
that post to inform Major E. W. Wynkoop of the 1st
cavalry that Bent, their former agent, desired them
to make peace, and that they were prepared to do so,
provided peace should also be concluded with the other
plains tribes. They also informed him that they had
a number of white captives. Wynkoop, who had just
been reenforced by a detachment of infantry from the
department of New Mexico, sent by General Carleton
in command, deemed it his duty to attempt the release
of the prisoners, who were women and children. He
left Fort Lyon in charge of the infantr}^ and marched
to the Cheyenne village with 130 mounted men and
WIDE-SPREAD HOSTILITIES. 465
one battery, finding himself confronted there by from
600 to 800 warriors drawn up in battle array. Mak-
ing the best display possible of his resources for
defence in case of an attack, and putting on a bold
front, he obtained a council, at which he urged the
Cheyennes to prove their desire for peace by relin-
quishing the captive women and children. Much hes-
itation beincr shown, he left the villagre and retired
one day's march to a strong position, taking with him
the three messeno-ers whom he held as hostao-es, giv-
ing the Cheyennes three days in which to determine
upon a course of action. At the end of that time
the prisoners were delivered up, and several of the
chiefs consented to accompany the major to Denver
to learn upon what terms peace could be concluded
with the Indian department.
Here, however, they met with an unexpected rebuff.
It appeared from their own report that the majority
of their people were still at war, as well as the
Kiowas, Comanches, Apaches, and fourteen different
bands of the powerful Sioux nation, including those
from Minnesota. A peace made with them would
not be binding on the others, as the governor explained
to them. He reminded them also of their refusal to
meet him in council in the previous autumn, and of
their neglect to avail themselves of the protection
offered in his proclamation, since which time they had
been concerned in the most atrocious crimes, besides
destroying a large amount of property. The war was
still going on ; and while they might surrender to the
military authorities, which he advised them to do, he
could not make a treaty with them until peace was
restored, they being for the present accountable to the
war department.
This opinion was not indorsed by the commissioner
of Indian affairs, who could not help believing that
very much of the difficulty on the plains might have
been avoided if a spirit of conciliation had been exer-
cised by the military and others. What the feeling
Hist. Net. 30
466 INDIAN WARS.
of the military was at this time appears in a despatch
of Major-general S. R. Curtis, commanding the
department, to Colonel Chivington, in which he says:
" I want no peace until the Indians have suftered
more. ... I fear the agent of the interior depart-
ment will be ready to make presents too soon. It is
better to chastise before giving anything but a little
tobacco to talk over. No peace must be made with-
out my directions. " Following the advice of Governor
Evans, about 400 of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes
from the Cheyenne valley surrendered at Fort Lyon
to Major Wynkoop, and were rationed at that post.
Not long after Major Scott J. Anthony succeeded to
the command, and after feeding the Indians for a
short time, restored to them a portion of their arms,
and ordered them to remove to the region of Sand
creek, forty miles distant, where they could hunt,
removed from any contact with white people passing
along the road.
On the 27th of November Colonel Chivington,
with a force of 900 men, attacked this camp, treating
it as hostile, and killing 131 persons, men, women, and
children, with a loss on his part of 50 killed and
wounded. That the attack was premeditated, and
intended as a part of the further suffering which Gen-
eral Curtis had said must be inflicted before peace
could be made with the hostile Indians, those con-
cerned in it have never denied. But about its moral
and political aspect there has been much controversy.
A commission was appointed in Washington to inves-
tigate the conduct of Chivington, and testimony was
taken on both sides. It was called a massacre by the
Indian department, and is so called by a large portion
of the people of Colorado to this day. Another class
would justify Chivington to the fullest extent, a reso-
lution of thanks being passed in his favor by the Col-
orado legislature.*
<The facts seem to be that Curtis M-as urging Chivington to punish the
Indians. Winter was coming on, before which it was desirable to strike a
THE SAND CREEK AFFAIR. 467
In the spring of 1865 the plains Indians renewed
hostilities with all the more fervor that now they had
a real grievance, and many persons were killed upon
the roads leading from the Missouri westward, and
on the Platte; in consequence of which the head of
the military department instructed General James H.
Ford, commanding the district of the upper Arkansas,
to proceed with all his forces against them, and to
pay no attention to any peace propositions. But in
^l^Z' 1.^* was sufficient excuse, whether true or false, the report that some
ot the hostile Indians \-isited the camp of the non-combatants, and shared with
them the spoils taken. from the white people. It made no difference that these
Indians were professedly peaceable, and under the protection of the U. S fla^
Uiivmgton organized an expedition of 650 of Col Shoup's 3d Colorado or
lUO-days men, 175 of the 1st Colorado, and a detachment of New J^Iexico
infantry then at Fort Lyon. He moved secretly and rapidly to the fort,
taking care that word should not be carried to the IncUan camp. He sur-
prised ,..e camp at sunrise. The Indians, not knowing who they were ur
what the purpose of an armed force at this hour, sprang to arms, and fired
the farst shot. The butchery then began, and lasted until 2 o'clock, the Ind-
ians bemg driven up the creek several miles. They fought valiantly, and
considering the odds in numbers, killed and wounded about as many as the
troops-^ of their killing being of fighting men, while the greater part of
tnose killed by the troops were old men, women, and children
George L. Shoup was colonel of the 3d cav. William L. AUen, farmer
and stock-raiser, who came to Colorado in 1859, was one of the 100-days'
men David H. Nichols was captain of a company. He was a member of
the legislature of 1864-5, and sheriff of Boulder co. previous to his election
to the legislature. He was again sent to the legislature in 1873, and in 1878
was one of the penitentiary commissioners. O. H. P. Baxter of Pueblo was
at hand creek as captain of a company. He was also a member of the legis-
lature the following winter, and a member of the council at the 2 followmg
sessions. He came to Colorado in 1858,, and was one of the first locators of
the to^Ti of Pueblo. Martin Brumbjy of Canon City, who came to Colorado
m I8o9, was a private at Sand creek. Azor A. Smith, a graduate of Rush
medical college, removed to Colorado in 1859, and was appointed surgeon of
the 1st Colorado. He has since occupied various public positions, and was
elected to the legislature in 1876. In 1878 he was appointed postmaster of
Leadville. Irving Howbert, born in Ind. in 1846, and son of William How-
bert the pioneer preacher in southern Colorado, who died iu 1871, was in the
band creek affair. He has furnished me a manuscript on Indian Troubles in
Lolora/Io. I have drawn from his notes some valuable hints of the early set-
tlement of El Paso and Park counties. A Woman s Expenence in Colorado,
M>s by .Mrs \\ R. Fowler, also contains incidents of the Indian war, of alarms
that were well-founded, and others that were exaggerated by fear. Further
authorities are T],e Sand Creek Affair, MS., by Byers; correspondence be-
tween Mr Byers and Mrs Jackson in N. Y. Tribune of Feb. 5 and 22, and
Mar^^ 3,_ 1880; Ind Aff Rept, 1865, app., 515, 527; Id., 1867, app.; Speech
of Chivmgton, ^^Hetts Tales of Colorado Pioneers, 88-92; McClure's Tliree
Thousand Miles, 358-9o- ElbeH's Public Men and Measures, MS., 6-7; Hoto-
belts Indian Troubles, MS., 8; Gilpin's Pioneer of 1843, MS., 8; Dion's New
America^ ^-^1% Tovmshend's Ten Thonsand Miles, 142; BechvUlis Rept, 44;
<^ong- GMje 1864-5 250-6; Neivlin's Prryposed Indian Policy; Council Jour.
Goto, 1865, 2; Gen, Laws Colo, 1864, 259; and many brief allusions by varioni
4G8 INDIAN WARS.
May a committee consisting of United States Senator
J. R Doolittle, L. F. S. Foster, and L. W. Ross
were, at their own solicitation, appointed to negotiate
with the hostile tribes, and an order was issued to
suspend the campaign against them. The Indians,
however, could not so suddenly be brought to enter-
tain the idea of peace. In the mean time the com-
mand of the district of the upper Arkansas was given
to General Sanborn, who, with Leavenworth, agent
for the lower Arkansas, in the course of the summer,
obtained the consent of the Kiowas, Comanches,
Arapahoes, and Cheyennes to meet in council early
in October at Bluff creek, forty miles south of the
Little Arkansas, any commissioners the president
might appoint. At this council treaties were entered
into between these tribes and the United States.
The proposition of Sanborn, as chairman of the com-
mission— Harney, Murphy, Carson,^ Bent, Leaven-
worth, and Steele being the other members — was to
make reparation for the injury done the Indians at
Sand creek, by repudiating the action of the Colorado
cavalry, and restoring the property captured or its
equivalent, and giving to each of the chiefs to hold in
his own right 320 acres of land, and to each of the
widows and orphans, made such by that affair, 160
acres, besides allowing them all the money and
annuities forfeited by going to war. The amount
appropriated as indemnity for the Indian losses at
Sand creek was $39,050. A treaty was affected
with the southern bands of Cheyennes and Arapahoes,
and with the Kiowas and Comanches, by which they
consented to allow the president to select a reserva-
tion away from contact with white people, a conces-
sion which led to their removal to the Indian Terri-
tory, where they have since remained, the govem-
* Carson, who figured prominently on tlie Indian side in the investigation,
died at Boggsville, Colorado, in August 18G8. In Nov. his remains, with
those of his wife, were removed to Taos, N. M., where they were honored
with a masonic funeral. Bozeninn Amnt Courier, March 24, 1876. He was a
colonel in the volunteer U. S. service in New Mexico during the civil war,
and was Indian agent before that in N. M.
THE CHEYENNES AKD ARAPAHOES. 469
ment paying them at the rate of $40 per capita, or
$112,000 annually, for forty years. A treaty was
also effected with the Apaches who were confederated
with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes on the same
terms.
With the close of the civil war the volunteer regi-
ments were disbanded and the regular army sent to
take their place. Notwithstanding the treaties, four
infantrj^ and two cavalry companies were stationed at
Fort Lyon ; two infantry and two cavalry companies
at Fort Garland ; one cavalry and two infantry com-
panies at Fort Morgan, in Weld county ; at other
posts in the district of the upper Arkansas twenty-
one companies of mixed infantry and cavalry ; and in
the district of New Mexico thirty-three companies;
all these being in the territory formerly roamed over
by the treaty Indians. Nor were they suffered to
rust in garrison ; for between the Sioux and the other
plains tribes they were pretty constantly employed.
Hostilities were renewed in 1866, and in the winter
of that year, as related in my histories of Montana and
Wyoming, occurred the defeat of Fettermann's com-
mand at Fort Philip Kearny, by the Sioux. In the
spring of 1867 a systematic war was begun along the
Platte, in which the Cheyennes and Arapahoes were
implicated with the Sioux. About the first of Septem-
ber, 1868, Colorado was visited by a party of seventy-
five Cheyennes and Arapahoes with passes from forts
Larned and Wallace. They went through Colorado
City and the Ute Pass, killing a party of Utes, and
returning by an unfrequented trail, stampeded and
captured a herd of 120 horses. This act being re-
garded as a declaration of war, the stockade erected
in 1864 was hastily repaired, and arms collected for
defence. Meanwhile a company of scouts pursued to
recover, if possible, the property taken, but were sur-
rounded by the Indians, and onty escaped by the
arrival of a party from Denver, at whose appearance
the Indians fled, their swift horses distancing those of
470 INDIAN WARS.
the volunteers. A few days afterwards a war party
appeared in the valley of Monument creek, killing
three persons, wounding two others, and driving off
all the stock they could gather up. North of here
they killed four other persons, and burned one resi-
dence. This was the last foray of the plains Indians
in the Colorado territory. Two years longer war
raged upon the plains. Every mile of the Union Pa-
cific and Kansas Pacific railroads was disputed. But
with their completion came peace ; for against the
despotism of steam and electricity there is no power
in the Indian to defend himself.
The Utes, occupying the country west of the
Pocky mountains, had taken no part in the hostilities
thus far recorded, but rejoiced in whatever punish-
ment was inflicted on their hereditary enemies, the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes. Of this people there
were seven bands loosely confederated, but having
each a chief and council. The most powerful of these
occupied the north-west portion of Colorado, and
have been most commonly known as the White Piver
Utes. Their chief was Nevava. Their territory
bordered on that of the Arapahoes and Cheyennes,
Avith whom, whenever they met, courtesies were ex-
changed in the form of scalps and horses to the vic-
tors. South of the White Piver Utes were the
Uncompahgre Utes, whose chief was Ouray ; and
south of these were the southern Utes, whose chief
was Ignacio. These three bands belonged in Colo-
rado. In New Mexico were three bands, known as
the Mowaches, Tabaquaches, and Wemiquaches. In
Utah, west of the White Piver Utes, dwelt the
Uintah Utes.
In 1861 the Colorado superintendent of Indian af-
fairs sent Lafayette Head, an experienced agent, to
reside at Conejos in charge of the Tabaquache Utes,
and to distribute presents to other bands, in order to
gain their confidence. In 1862 several chiefs, includ-
THE UTES.
471
ing Ouray of the Uncompahgres, were induced to
visit Washington with Agent Head, where they wit-
nessed the movements of troops, the action of artil-
lery, and other impressive demonstrations. But in
1863 the Utes were somewhat troublesome, having
been engaged in several raids, which they said were
against the Sioux, but in which they carried off con-
siderable property of the white people. To counter-
act the hostile tendency, agents were appointed to the
other bands of Utes, Simeon Whitely being appointed
to the northern agency established in Middle park.
A council was held with the Tabaquaches, who relin-
quished their claim to the lands the government de-
sired to purchase ; namely, the San Luis valley and
mountains, and that portion of the country west of
the Rocky mountains in which settlements had already
been made. From this time there were no serious
troubles between the Colorado Utes and the white
population, although depredations were occasionally
committed by the New Mexico bands in the southern
counties.^
A council was held with the Utes in Middle park
in 1866. There was the usual dissatisfaction because
a treaty had been concluded with one band and not
with the others. There was also a very just dissatis-
« In 1865 a council was held at Fort Garland to settle the troubles between
the Utes and the Mexican population, and a peace concluded by a mutual
indemnity. In 1867 a chief of one of the New Mexico bands, Kaneache had
a quarrel with a United States officer, in which threatening language' was
used on both sides. A collision was averted by the sagacity of L. B. Max-
well. But Kaneache's heart became bad toward the white race and he
made a raid upon the cornfields of the Purgatoire valley, claiming the soil
and the crops, which so exasperated the Mexican planters that retaliatory
measures were resorted to. The troops from Fort Stephens, a camp at the
foot of the Spanish peaks, interfered, and met with a slight loss. Kaneache
now took the war-path in earnest, raiding up the Purgatoire, around the
Spanish peaks, over the Cucharas, and up the Hu^fano. Couriers were sent
to invite the Tabaquaches and Ouray to jom him. Instead of joining him
however Ouray placed all his people under the surveillance of Fort Garland)
commanded by Col Carson, and repaired to the Purgatoire to warn the set-
tlers. The enemy was met by a small force of Tabaquaches, under Shawno
one of their chiefs, whom Carson sent to bring in Kaneache, dead or alive
The order was obeyed, Kaneache and another hostile leader being captured
and taken to Fort Union. Five white men were killed during the raid and
much property taken or destroyed. But for the exertions of Ouray many
more lives would baye beeu lost. ' ^
472 INDIAN WARS.
faction on the part of the Tabaquaches on account of
the character of the annuity goods furnished them,
which were disgracefully worthless, rotten, and dis-
gusting, and might reasonably have been made the
ground of revocation of the treaty. In 1868 another
treaty was made with all the Colorado Utes, in which
some of the provisions of the former were confirmed,
but important modifications made. The bounds of
the reserved lands were the southern limit of Colo-
rado on the south, the 107th meridian on the east, the
40th parallel on the north, and the territory of Utah
on the west. The government was pledged to expend
annually for the Utes a sum not to exceed $30,000 in
clothing, blankets, and other articles of utility ; and
$30,000 in provisions until such time as these Indians
should be found capable of self-support. Among
themselves there were certain causes of difference.
The United States had insisted that there should be
a head chief over all the confederate tribes, through
whom business could be transacted without the
tedious council in which they delighted to exhibit
their eloquence and their obstinacy. Nevava had
passed away, and his sons, of whom he had several,
each claimed the inheritance of the chieftainship of
the White River Utes. There were many in this
tribe who would gladly have accepted this distinction
— Antelope, Douglas, Johnson, Colorow, Jack,
Schwitz, and Bennett. But in their stead was
appoined Ouray, of the Uncompahgre band chief over
all, with a salary of $1,000 a year ; and the lesser
chiefs were forced to content themselves with such a
following as their individual qualities could command.
There was much jealousy. The White River Utes
who thought the head chief should have been chosen
from among themselves, began conspiring against
Ouray as early as 1875, and talked openly of killing
him. The neglect of the government in sometimes
failing to deliver the annuities was charged against
the head chief, who was said to be in coUusion with
OURAY. 473
certain white men in depriving them of their goods, a
suspicion to which the greater wealth, dignity, and
prosperity of Ouray gave some coloring, for Our£.y,
like Lawyer of the Nez Perces, was far above his
contemporaries in shrewdness and intelligence. But
the attempts to unseat Ouray amounted to nothing.'
The effect of this dissatisfaction was to culminate in
disasters more serious and important than the over-
throw of the head chief In 1876 the White River
Utes began burning over the country north and east
of their reservation, claimed by them, although prop-
erly belonging to the Arapahoe lands, which had been
purchased. The following year a chief known as Jack
made overtures to their traditional foes, the Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes, with whom he appointed a ren-
dezvous in western Wyoming. Here he found con-
genial sympathizers, who filled his ears with stories
of the excitement and glory of war. The southern
Ute agency was at Los Pinos on the Uncompahgre
river, a few miles from the present town of Ouray,
where the head chief had his residence. The agency
of the White River Utes had been removed to the
southern bank of that stream. Early in 1879 the
venerable X. C. Meeker, first president of the union
colony, was appointed to the charge of the White
River Utes. He undertook to carry out the designs
of the department, by selecting agricultural lands and
opening a farm at the new agency, by encouraging
the Indians to build log houses, and by opening a
school which was taught by his daughter. He found
himself opposed from the outset by the Indians, some
" Ouray was brought up in part under the influences of the Mexicans, and
was made much of afterward by Agent Head. Evans appointed him inter-
preter at the Conejos agency, paying him -SoOO a year. He assisted in dis-
triljuting the sheep and cattle presented to the Utes after the treaty of 1863.
Keeping his o^ti, he bought others with his money, and in the course of time
was able to employ Mexican herders. He erected a good dwelling, well fur-
nished, near where the town of Ouray is located, where he lived in comfort
until his death in 1880. Emm' Intfj-vieic, MS., 13-15; Dead Mens Gulch,
MS., 1-11; In/ersolVs Knockinq Around the Bocl-ie-s, 96-106; Denver Tribune,
Aug. 28, 1880; Colwado Mining Camps, MS., 12-15; Sturgis Ute War, 7-8;
Treaties with Iivlians, MS., 11.
474 INDIAN WARS.
of whom pretended that when the sod was once
broken, it was no more Ute soil, the real difficulty
being that Johnson, a brother-in-law of Ouray, wanted
the land selected by Meeker for pasturing his numer-
ous ponies. Several councils were held, and when the
excitement was abated, Meeker resumed farming op-
erations, when Johnson assaulted him, forcing the
agent out of his own house, and beating him.
Meeker then wrote to the department that if he
was to carr}^ out his instructions, he must have troops.
Assistance was promised. Orders were issued by the
commander of the department, that a troop of colored
cavalry from Fort Garland, under Captain Payne,
should scout through the parks on the border of the
reservation to protect the settlers and prevent arson,
and join a command of 160 cavalry and infantr}^ from
Fort Fred Steele, under Captain Thornburg, ordered
to repair to the reservation. When he was at Bear
river, Indian runners brought the news to the agency,
and in much excitement required the agent to write
to Thornburg not to advance, but to send five ofiicers
to compromise the difficulties. Meeker wrote as re-
quested, sending a courier with the letter, which left
the matter to Thornburg's judgment. The decision
of that officer waste advance, and to reach the agency
September 30th, but to quiet the Indians by promis-
ing to meet five of the Utes at Milk creek on the
evening of the 29th.
On the morning of the 29th, a large number set off
with the alleged object of having a hunt, taking their
rifles and ammunition. The ordinary affairs were be-
ing transacted with less than customary friction, ow-
ing to the absence of so many turbulent spirits, when
at about one o'clock the lio-htenino; fell out of a clear
sky. A runner from Milk creek brought the news
that a battle was going on between the troops and
Indians at that place. This information was not im-
parted to Meeker, but half an hour after it was re-
ceived twenty armed Utes of Douglas' band attacked
SANGUmAIlY CONFLICT.
475
the agency. Twelve men and boys were quickly
slaughtered. The agency buildings were robbed and
burned. The gray headed philanthropist was dragged
about the aojencv grounds by a looj chain about his
neck, and with a barrel stave driven down his throat.
The women were seized and carried to the tepees of
Douglas, Johnson, and Persune, to be subjected to
their lusts.
TnoRNBrRG Battle GRorxD.
At Milk creek were other deplorable scenes. The
pretended hunting party had ambushed Thornburg at
ten o'clock that morning, in a narrow pass at this
place, and separated the troops from the supply train
in the rear. Major Thornburg, in attempting to fall
back, made a charge on the cordon of Indians, and
was killed, with thirteen of his men. The command
470 INDIAN WARS.
then devolved on Captain Payne of the 5th cavalry,
who reached the train with forty-two wounded, in-
cluding every officer but one.
Trenches were dug, and breastworks erected out of
the wagons and their contents, to which were added
the carcasses of horses and mules, and even the
bodies of dead soldiers, piled up and covered with
earth. In the centre of the entrenchments a pit was
dug, to be used as a hospital, where the wounded were
placed, the surgeon himself being one of thcin. The
Indians attemi)ted to force the troops out of their in-
trench ments by setting fire to the tall dry grass and
brush in the defile, and nearty suffocating them ; but,
although they had no water, they, put out the fire
with blankets as it came near, and so conquered that
peril. At sundown the Utes came up and were re-
pulsed. That night a scout, named Rankin, stole ont
of camp, and, finding a horse, mounted and rode to
Rawlins, IGO miles, arriving on the morning of the
1st of October. It was not until the Oth of October
that information was received, via the Uncompahgre
agency, at Los Pinos, that the women and children
were alive, in captivity. Troops were rapidly concen-
trated for the relief of Payne. Meanwhile, on the
third night after the attack. Captain Dodge, with the
colored troop before mentioned, succeeded in eluding
the Utes, and joined Payne in the entrenchment; but
to very little use, as all the horses had been killed but
two, and as this troop only added forty more to the
loss sustained by the government, their dead bodies
being soon added to the fleshy and rotting rampart by
which they were surrounded. As the Indians gen-
erally withdrew at night, some relief was obtained by
draLrii:infr away and burvintr the decaying animals, and
carrying water from a sprmg near at hand, in this
manner were passed six days.
Relief came on the 5th of October, when Colonel
Merritt arrived, after a forced march of 72 hours,
with a force of 550 men. For the appearance of this
THORNBURG.
477
particular officer the besieged had waited with a con-
fidence which sustained tl\em through one of the
most trying ordeals ever experienced by troops.
There was a skirmish next day, but the Indians soon
retired, and the dead were buried as decently as the
circumstances allowed. In the afFair of the 29th, 35
Indians were killed. The loss to the white forces was
14 killed and 43 wounded. Thornburg's body was
but little mutilated. The Utes had "disposed the
limbs decently, and placed a photograph of Colorow
in one hand, to signify by whom he had come to his
death. The officers engaged in this afFair, besides
Thornburg, were captains J. Scott Payne and Joseph
Lawson of the 5th cavalry; Lieutenant J. V. S. Pad-
dock of the 3d cavalry ; lieutenants Wolf and Wooley
of the 4th infantry, and Lieutenant S. A. Cherry of
the 5th cavalry, the sole officer unhurt, and E. B.
Grimes. Thornburg was a Tennessean. He en-
listed as a private, September 1861, in the 6th Ten-
nessee, serving until August 1863. He rose in five
months to be sergeant-major, and in two months
more to be lieutenant and adjutant. He subsequently
entered West Point academy, graduating in 1867.
He was commissioned second lieutenant of 2d artil-
lery, and was stationed at San Francisco, Fortress
Monroe, Alcatraz, and Sitka, and was professor of
military science at San Diego, California, and subse-
quently at the East Tennessee university, going
thence to Fort Foote, Maryland ; and from there to
San Antonio, Texas; then to Fort Brown, and to
Omaha. He became major of the 4th infantry at
Fort Fred. Steele. Merritt reached the agency on
the 11th, finding twelve dead and mutilated bodies.'
8 Others not here named were likewise killed. The twelve were N. C.
Meeker, E. W, Eskridge, his clerk, a lawyer by profession, and had been a
banker; W. H. Post, assistant agent and farmer; E. Price, blacksmith; Frank
Dresser, Harry Dresser, Frederick Shepard, George Eaton, \V. H. Thomp-
son, E. L. Mansfield, Carl Goldstein, and Julius Moore. N. C. Meeker was
born in Euclid. Ohio, in 1815. He was early known as a newspaper and
magazine writer. He married the daughter of one Smith, a retired sea-cap-
tain, joining a society known as the Trumbull Phalanx, a branch of the
478
INDIAN WARS.
While the command remained at White river, Lieu-
tenant Weir and a scout named Humme were killed
while hunting in the vicinity of the agency, but no
demonstration was made against the Indians.
Uncompahgre Agency,
North American Phalanx and Brook Farm Societies. Communism not com-
ing up to his expectations, he returned to Cleveland, and went into a mer-
cantile busmess in a small way, prospering very well. Then he became war
correspondent of the iV. Y. TrUmnp, and later was on the editorial staff. In
1869, Ijeing sent to write up Mormonism, he spent a little time in Colorado,
and was so charmed with the scenery and the climate that he determined to
settle here with his family. In this design he was encouraged by Greeley,
who promised to aid him with the Trilmnc. Out of this grew the Union col-
ony. How Greeley kept his word the readers of the Trihiine remember, and
the flourishing town of Greeley attests, named in acknowledgment of his
eervices.
PEACE SCHEDULE. 479
The captives were finally given up, owing to the
skill of Postal-agent Charles N. Adams and the in-
fluence of Ouray. The Indians guilty of the crimes
committed at the agency did not present themselves,
and finally Adams went on to Washington with
Ouray, Jack, and other lesser personages to the num-
ber of a dozen. After nearly a fortnight of negotia-
tions there, during which the government insisted
upon two points, the relinquishment of the criminals
and the removal of the Utes to a reservation outside
of Colorado, Jack and three other Utes returned with
Adams to this state to attempt once more the capture
of Douglas, Johnson, and others under criminal
charges. About the middle of February they were
so far successful that Douglas and Johnson were
among the Indians who accompanied them east,
Douglas beincr left in confinement at Fort Leaven-
worth.
On the 6th of March a new convention was en-
tered into between the Ute representative in Wash-
ington and the agents of the United States, By this
arrangement the chiefs agreed to endeavor to effect
the surrender of the Indians implicated in the massa-
cre of Meeker and his employes, or, if not able to take
them, they promised not to obstruct the government
officers in the same effort. They agreed to cede the
Ute reservation, except that the southern Utes, or
Ignacio's band, were to be settled in severalty on agri-
cultural lands on the La Plata river, and in New
Mexico. The Uncompahgres were to settle upon
lands on Grand river, near the mouth of the Gunni-
son, in Colorado and Utah. The White River Utes
agreed to settle on lands in severalty on the Uintah
reservation in Utah. The severalt}^ bill passed by
congress allowed 160 acres of pasture and the same
amount of farming land to each head of a family, and
80 acres to each child. The consent, first of congress,
and secondly of a majority of the three bands, was to
be obtained to this arrangement, when $60,000, or as
480
INDIAN WARS.
iiiucli more as congress might appropriate, should be
distributed among them. An annuity of 350,000 was
also to be ])aid them, and a support furnished them
and their cliildren until they became self-supporthig.*
This schedule was so altered as to require the sur-
render of the nmrderers before the White Kiver Utes
should receive all their share of the money, and an
annuity of $500 each was to be taken out of the Ute
annuity to be paid to the widows of the men slain at
Uintah Reservation.
the agency. On the other hand, Schurz insisted on
an appropriation of $350,000 for different objects
beneficial to the Utes, to be expended in surveying
'Denver Tribune, Mar. 7, 1880. The history of the progress of the Ute
commissions was reported in tlie Trihine from day to day, and from its col-
umns I have drawn most of my statements and some of my conclusions.
The account of the massacre, etc., contained mBmkinx Denver Hi.it., is ap-
garently derived from a similar source. There is a pamphlet hy Thomas
turgis, The Ute War of IS79, Clicyenne, 1879, pp. 26, .showing why the Ind-
ian hureau should be transferred from the interior department to the mili-
tary, which also contains a history of the outbreak. I find partial accounts
in Bi/ers' Centennial State, MS., 4(5-52; ^7. S. If. Doe., 1879-80; IJeU-na
( Moid. ) Herald, Oct., Nov., and Dec, 1879; Helena Imlependent, Oct. 16
and 30, 1879; Sen. Jour. Colo, 1881, 42-3; U. S. Sen. Doc, i. 29, 4Gth cong.
2d8ess.; U. S. H. Doe., ix., pt 5, pp. 109-11, 121-5, 46th cong. 2d sess.;
Stockton Independent, Mar. 17. 1880.
PEACE SCHEDULE. 481
their lots, building houses and mills, buying wagons,
harness, cattle, and other property. Back annuities,
which by the terms of the treaty of 1868 might be
paid in cattle, the Utes insisted should now be paid
in cash, and enough added to it to make it $75,000
annually. The bill finally passed with these provis-
ions. Douglas was kept in confinement at Fort
Leavenworth for more than a year. His tribe were
removed to Utah. Ouray returned to Colorado,
where he died in August. Colorow lived to cause
further trouble.
Hist. Nev. 31
CHAPTER VIII.
MATERIAL PROGRESS.
1859-1875.
Placer and Quartz Mining— Refractory Ores— Processes — Smelting^
Swindling Corporations — The Flood — Indian Hostilities — Agri-
culture— Products and Prices — Discovery of Silver — Localities
and Lodes — The San Juan Country — Adventures of John Baker's
Party — Great Sufferings — Architectural Remains of Primitive
Peoples — Pile's EIxpedition — Treaty Violations — Opening of Roads
—Silver Lodes — San Miguel Gold District — Ouray.
It is time now that I should turn to the considera-
tion of the material development of the country.
After the first three or four years of immigration and
gold mining, during which $30,000,000 of gold was
produced, it began to be realized that the placer dig-
gings were soon to be exhausted, and that quartz min-
ing only could be made remunerative in the future. A
more discouraging discovery was that the ores in
quartz were refractory, and the proper methods of
working them unknown. It was then that many
Colorado miners, hearing of Salmon river in what
was then Washintrton tcrritorv, miLrrated in tliat
direction with the same impetuousness with which
they had first flown to the rumored El Dorado of tlie
Rocky mountains. Failing to reach tliere for want
of a wagon-road, the3% with others from the western
states, began prospecting on the headwaters of the
Missouri river, and discovered gold. Forthwith the
town of Bannack sprang up, tlien Virginia City, and
simultaneously other towns in what was soon Idaho,
followed by the rapid population of the still later
PLACER AND QUARTZ MIXING. 483
territory of Montana, Colorado furnishing a large
proportion of the first settlers of that region/
Placer, gulch, and bar mining had about come to
an end in 1859 in Arapahoe county ; in Clear creek
and Boulder counties in 1860; in the parks by 1861;
and in Gilpin county by 1863. It revived somewhat
afterward in the parks.' The richest of the gulch
claims had proved to be the croppings of quartz ledges,
which were easily worked, the gold near the surface
being freed from its matrix by elemental forces
operating for ages. Little water at first accumulated
in these mines ; simple machinery answered for hoist-
ing the ore, and fuel was cheap. Arastras and stamp-
mills were introduced as early as 1859, as I have
before mentioned, and were quite numerous in 1860.
But to the surprise of their owners the mills were
often found not to save gold enough to pay expenses.
D. D. White is said to have thrown a quantity of
gold-dust into the battery of his mill in Boulder
county that he might be able to declare that he had
cleaned up some gold, and not a trace of the gold thus
devoted could be found. The first successful mill was
the property of Bobert and Cary Culver and John
Mahoney, and was set up in July 1860 at Gold hill,
ten miles from the town of Boulder, to work the ore
of the Horsfal mine, discovered ^ in June 1859, and
which had already yielded $10,000 by sluicing. Two
months later a six-stamp Gates mill belonging to
Wemott & Merrill arrived from Chicago, and was set
^The following persons were in both Colorado and Montana: W. McKim-
ons, J. Daniothy, E. Xottingham, A. W. Pillsbury, J. Brady, F. Temple,
W. Rogers, John Call. John Willhard, Christopher Richter, Nicholas Kess-
ler, W. J. English, G. AV. Krattcar, Sargeant Hall, 0. W. Jay, Joseph
Eveans, Wilson Butt, James M. Cavanaugh, William Arthur Davis, 0.
Bryam, James Williams. Thomas Foster, John M. Shelton. Charles L.
Williams, Benjamin R. Dittes, John Fenn, Thomas Garlick, William Fern,
Da\-id Alderdice. C. B. Reed, A. E. Grater. Alexander Metzel, Edward D.
Alston, J. W. Marshall. Isaac HaU. William Stodden, George L. Shoup.
■^HolMer Mines of Colo, 122-3.
^ By David Horsfal. M. L. MeCaslin, and William Blore. Blore was a
native of Otsego co., "N. Y., though of German descent, and was bom in
1833. He resided in Pa when a child, going to Neb. in 1856, and l^eing one
of the Colorado pioneers of 1858. He purchased land and went to farming
and stock-raising.
484 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
to work upon this lode, tlie proprietors of the former
mill discarding their own and purchasing an interest
in tliis. By this means $GUO to $700 per cord — ore
being measured, not weighed, at this time — was saved,
and the Horsfal yielded over $;]00,000 in the succeed-
ing two years. Some other mills made good returns
for a time;* but, as I have said, at no great d<.'})th the
ores generally proved refractory to the treatment to
which, following the methods fiimiliar in California,
they were subjected. The milling processes i)ractised
on the Comstock enabled the mill men to extract the
metal from a ton of ore at a cost of from five to ten
dollars; consequently low-grade ores could be profita-
bly worked ; but it was found that quicksilver, which
in California and Nevada saved the free gold and car-
bonates by amalgamation, was wiioUy inditierent to
the sulphurets and pyrites' of Colorado, and thac the
ores would have to be treated by some then unknown
mi^thod, and at probably a greatly increased cost.
Much money was expended in unprofitable experi-
ment for the whole period between 1804 and 1867,
and many claims were abandoned which have since
been profitably worked." From $7,500,000 annual
* Archibald J. Van Deren of Ky came to Colorado in 1859, and operated
successfully one of the first stanip-niills brought to Colorado at Nevada
gulch. He was commissioner of Gilpin co. in 1861. In 18(5.S he was a mem-
ber of the legisiature. The John Jay mine was discovered by him. Ensign
B. Smith, born in N. Y., came to Colorado in 1S.')0 with his family, building
the second house in Golden, wliich he kept as a hotel. In 18(>0 lie romoved
to Black Hawk and erected a quartz-mill of 0 stamps, which he sold, and
erected another at Buckskin Joe, which ran for lialf a year, wlien lie aban-
doned it and returned to hotel-keeping. He was appointed probate judge in
18(52. In 186:^ he built, in connection with Ids l)r()ther and W. A. H. Love-
land, the Clear creek wagon-road from Golden to the (rolden t^ate road-
Perry A. Kline, born in Pa. came in 18.55), and mined in the Gregory and
Russell diggings, ami in 1800 at California gulcli, French gulch, and Buck-
skin .Joe. In 1801 he was employed in a mill on tlie fhinnell lode, near Cen-
tral City, and l)ecame superintendent. He was subseijuently superintend-
ent of several different mills, among others the Kan-sas Consolidated, run-
ning 'y2 stamps.
•^Pyrites are sulphurets of iron, whereas combinations of sulphur and
other metals are called sulphurets. Pyrites may have, besides iron, the sol-
phurets of other metals.
* Warren R. Fowler, author of Around Colora-io, MS., was born in N. Y.,
ami in 1849 came to Cal., and to Central City in 1860, which he helped to
build up. He lias remained, mining and farming in different parts of the
state, tiually making Ilia residence at Canon City,
NATHA^'IEL P. HILL. 486
production the mining output diminished until in 1867
it was but $1,800,000/ when men ceased to exhaust
their means in worthless "new processes," and
returned to their stamp-mills, which wasted from one
half to two thirds of the precious metals, and all of
the lead and copper contained in the ores, but still
afforded a profit. During this period many miners
parted with their properties to eastern men, who had
advanced money on them, and they were lying idle,
which accounted in part for the decrease of gold pro-
duction in Colorado. Time was required to establish
titles and start up the mines under a new regime.
Also a large per cent of the unsold mining property
was bonded to be sold, in which condition it could not
be worked. Gradually the new owners, having com-
mand of capital, secured the services of mining experts
from Europe, who introduced processes of dressing
and smelting ores, which being improved upon by
native ingenuity, resulted in a solution of the problem.
The yield of the Colorado mines in 1870 rose to
$5,000,000, and in 1871 to $6,000,000.
In the meantime the discovery had been made that
some of the supposed gold mines were really not gold,
but silver ; as, for instance, the Seaton mine in Idaho
district, which became almost valueless from the small
amount of gold contained in the bullion produced by
it, the name of Seaton gold being synonymous with a
nearly white metal. Comparison of the ore with some
from the Comstock mines revealed a resemblance, but
the owners were still doubting, because they knew
nothing of silver in Colorado, and no competent
assayer was at hand to decide the question. In the
summer of 1864, however, there was discovered a
lode, which, on being tested by experts, was pro-
nounced to be undoubted silver ore. This important
revelation changed at once the reputation of such
' Tk(^'s Over the Plains, 226; Helma Bepuhlican, Sept. 15, 1866. The
Montana Post of Apr. 30, 1869, says that Moutana produced in 1868, 8i5,000,-
000 in precious metals, against 82,107,235 in Colorado, and that Montana's
agricultural product was §5,913,000, against §2,683,840 in Colorado.
486 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
mines as the Seaton, wliich, from being regarded as
almost worthless, assumed a great if unknown value.
It also stinmlated prospecting afresh, and prompted
the holders of mines which were lying idle to attend
to their development.
It was in 1864 that a company of capitalists of
Boston and Providence requested Nathaniel P. Hill,
at that time professor of chemistry at Brown univer-
sity, to visit Colorado, in order to examine a land
grant in which they were interested. This examina-
tion led to a second visit in 1805, when the mines of
Gilpin county were subjected to thorough research,
and the attention of the man of science was drawn to
the imperfect methods in use for treating ores. After
acquainting himself with his subject. Hill paid two
visits to Swansea in Wales, taking with him enough
of the Colorado ores to make practical tests at the
Swansea works, and studying ore-reduction in other
parts of Europe. Returning to the United States in
the autumn of 1866, he organized the Boston and
Colorado Smelting company, with a cash capital of
$275,000, and proceeded to erect a furnace at Black
Hawk, near Central City. This furnace solved the
knotty problem of how to reduce refractory ores, and
make abandoned mines of value. For ten years its
fires were never out, but other furnaces were added
by the comi)any until there were eight, which were
always fully employed. In 1878 the company removed
its works to Argo, a suburb of Denver, where seven
acres were covered by them, and where ore was
brought by tlie railroads, not only from diflcrent ])arts
of Colorado, but from New Mexico, Arizona. Utah,
and Montana. The company had increased its capi-
tal before removal to $800,000, and its products from
$300,000 in 1868 to $2,250,000 in 1878. Until he
was chosen to the United States senate. Professor
Hill devoted his entire energies to the mining devel-
opment of the country, whose savior, in this direc-
tion he became. Not that smelters before 1865-7
REDUCTION WORKS. 487
had been overlooked, though there might be smelters
and no gold or silver. The first furnace erected was
in September 1861, by Lewis Tappan, who had dis-
covered a lead mine in Quartz valley. Governor Gil-
pin was in need of bullets for his 1st Colorado cav-
alry, and did, I am bound to believe, draw his drafts
on the treasury to erect this smelter in order to sup-
ply them. These bullets had the reputation of being
poisoned, so few of the wounded recovered, though it
was not the governor who was at fault, but the
smelter, which did not extract the poisonous metals
mixed with the silver in the lead thus obtained/ The
second furnace erected was for smelting gold, and
was built at Black Hawk in 1864 by James E. Lyon,
but failed of its purpose, as I have already intimated.
After reduction works were successfully introduced
at Black Hawk, they multiplied in the gold and silver
districts. The mills resumed crushing, those few
mines which produced ore free from sulphur being
generally furnished with apparatus for turning out
bullion, and the majority sending their concentrated
ore to the reduction works." of Colorado, or quite
* I find these facts in a manuscript on Mining and Smelting in Colorado, by
John Bennett, of Littleton, who was born in Stafford co., Eng., in 1820, and
migrated to America in 1849, landing at N. 0., and drifting to Wis., where
he remained working in the lead mines until 1800, when he came to Colorado.
He made the plan of the furnace which furnished lead for Gilpin's regiment.
It was ' built of rock, with a channel chiseled out to receive the lead as it
was melted in the fire, a blacksmith's bellows, a water-wheel, and a small
stream of water to give blast to the furnace. ' Bennett assisted Hill in select-
ing ores to be taken to Europe. See, also, Gilpin's Pioneer of IS42, MS.
'Que run only was made. A ' button,' 2h, feet in diameter and six inches
in thickness was the result, which was placed on exhibition at the national
bank, aL.d the works closed, the process proving too costly. Meagher, Obser-
vttion.% MS., 2. Meline, Two Thousand Miles on Horseback, 66-8, tells all
that I have told here, but in the light of a huge joke, or at least, with little
sympathy for the disappointed smelter-owner.
i-'Cash and Rockwell of Central City, between 1867 and 1870, erected
works near Central City for the reduction of gold ores, which saved 95 to 98
per cent of the precious metal. Wallinghams Colo Gazetteer, 230. Besides
Hill's smelter at Black Hawk, there were reductions-works for the treatment
of silver ores at Georgetown in Clear creek co., erected by Garrott and
Buchanan, but sold to Palmer and Xichols: and Stewart's silver-reducing
works, also at Georgetown; Brown Co. 's reduction works at Brownville, 4
miles from Georgetown; Baker's works 8 miles above Georgetown, the
International Co.'s works in east Argentine district; and the Swansea reduc-
tion works, 4 miles above Georgetown. At the latter, both gold and silver
488 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
often to Omaha or Chicago, where large smelters had
been erected for the purpose of reducing and refining
the ores from Colorado, Montana, and other minniir
regions to which railroad transportation was being
extended. The expense of the treatment and hand-
ling made a low grade of ores comparatively worth-
less. In the first place, the mills charged from $20
to $35 per cord '' for crushing the rock, to which was
added the cost of concentration, reduction, and trans-
portation, in all from $45 to $50. Still, the average
assay of all the silver ores treated was $118, of which
80 per cent was guaranteed to the miner. Some ores
yielded from $350 to $G50 per ton, these being sent
to Newark, England, or elsewhere for reduction."
While the territory was passing through tliis exper-
imental period of its mining history, it had yet other
bravvbacks in the operations of swindling companies,
which brought discredit upon the country by cheating
their stockholders, and then unblushingly pricking
the bubble. One fraud of this kind gained more
notoriety than many excellent investments. In other
cases there were really good mines in the hands of
operators, who mercilessly, by a system of assessments
and practices known among miners as freezing out,
excluded all but a favored few from particii)ation in
the benefits of mining property in which they had in
the first instance embarked their small capital. If a
prison is the proper thing for men brave and bold
enough to rob contrary to law, a rope would be ab(jut
right for the vile creatures that cheat and steal within
pale of the law. Besides those intentional wrongs,
there were uiany failures which were the result of
ore were reduced. In Summit co. there were the Sukey Silver Mining Co. 's
reduction works, and the works of the Boston association, which were all
the smelters in operation in 1870. Kums of experiments were to be seen in
all the mining districts.
" A cord measured 128 cubic feet, and weighed from 6 to 10 tons, accord-
ing to density.
'^ It wouhl be out of place for me to go into details concerning the meth-
ods of reducing ores in Colorado. No two smelters used the same processes,
and every process was varied to adapt it to the requiremeuta of the miner*
ais to be separated.
BAD MANAGEMENT. 489
folly in the management of funds, in the erection of
expensive but unnecessary buildings, or attempts at
the hitherto unheard-of processes to which I have
alluded. From the depression of this period I shall
show by and by that the mining interest completely
emerged, if not all at once, yet before the admission
of Colorado into the union. In nine years, ending
1880, the small county of Gilpin produced $18,126,-
564 in gold and silver/^
Going back to the beginning of this chapter, it was
not altogether the failure of placer mining, the ignor-
ance of and subsequent blunders made in quartz min-
ing, with their concomitant ills, of which Colorado
had to complain in the years of her infancy In
common with, but to a greater comparative extent,
the new community suffered like the older ones the
burdens and the losses by civil war, which had
diverted men and capital, raised prices, depreciated
currency, and even swallowed up the means of trans-
portation across the plains. The summer of 1863
was a season of drought, when boats could not ascend
the Missouri with freight for points above the mouth
of the Kansas river, and goods became scarce. The
grass on the plains was burnt up by the sun, so that
stock did not thrive ; the city of Denver was visited
by a fire which destroyed property worth a quarter of
a million, and all things conspired to make desolate
the hearts of the pilgrims from home and plenty.
Following this exceptional summer was an equally
exceptional winter, which began in October and was
severely cold. The impoverished cattle on the plains
perished by hundreds. Hay and grain brought
twenty cents per pound, and fuel advanced a hundred
per cent. Trains with supplies and machinery were
snowed up en route, and some were lost. Others
13 Gilpin CO. produced $2,240,000 in 1876, which it did not exceed for
9 years except ix^ 1878 and 1880. In the latter year the yield was $2,680,-
490 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
were a year arrivino^. While these circumstances
made gold more than usually a necessity, mining was
interrupted by the cold. The spring brought no
relief, the rains descending in floods, driving out of
their claims the few miners who had returned to the
mountains, and destroying the crops which had not
entirely succumbed to the ilrought. On the 19th of
April the waters of Plum and Cherry creeks suddenly
rose, and sweeping through Denver, carried destruc-
tion and death in their course. A million dollars
worth of property, and twenty lives were lost." Sim-
ilar, though less extensive damaofe was wrouiifht by
the storm in other portions of the territory. Follow-
ing this sudden flood, was a heavy and continuous
rahifall, which, with the melting snow in the moun-
tains, caused a second slower rise, which overflowed
the farming lands, and remaining up for a month
ruined the crops, the young fruit trees, and in many
instances changed the face of the county by deposit-
i*The storm which caused such devastation in Denver came from tlie
south-east, and was a heavy fall of rain, followed by hail, which dammed the
water from tlie mountains until its weight forced the barriers, filling up the
valley, and carrying everytliing before it. Mixed with tlie water and hail
was the sand which hail accumulated in the bed of Cherry creek, givnig
it additional weight. The flood struck the town at 2 o'clock in the morning,
and 12 hours afterward water was still rolling on in massive billows, which
rose so high in their frantic course that a man standing on one bank would be
momentarily hidden from sight on the other. A cupful of the li(piid was
fonnd to be half sand. The fall of the creek through the town was 35 feet to
the mile; above it was much greater. The city hall stood in the hitherto dry
bed of the creek. It was utterly destroyed, and a safe containing the valua-
bles of the city was never seen again. Tlie office of the Rorhj MoutUnin News
was erected on piling on a little island in the creek bed. It had in it 5 print-
ing presses, one weighing between 2 and 3 tons. All were swept away with
the building, and so lost and covered up that they were not discovered for
9 or 10 years, when the heaviest press was found in the middle of I'latte
river, below the mouth of the creek. A jiortion of another press — the one
Byers brought from Omaha in 1859 — was found covered 10 leet deep with
earth when the water company excavated for their Hrst works at Denver.
Against such power as this nothing could stand — houses, bridges, property
of every kind disajipeared forever. Five persons asleep in the Nvwx office
were aroused only in time to spring from a window into an eddy formed by
drift lodged for the moment against the budding, from wiiich they were
drawn and rescued just as the ofhce was carrieil away with all it contained,
and the lot on whicli it stood. Tlie jiioiuer saw mill of D. C. Oakes was
carried away. Byers, besides losing all his town property, had his farm,
which was in a beml of Platte river, destroyed by the cutting of a new chan-
nel. //w<. Colo, MS., 48. (Jibson, Arnold, Sciilier, Lloyd, Stover, and other
farmers were ruined. Reed, Palmer, and Barnes together lost 4,000 sheep,
and so on. For a new country it was a great disaster.
FLOODS AND INDIAN TROUBLES. 491
ing sand to a considerable depth over it. The roads
became impassable for weeks from the thorough sat-
uration of the soil of the plains, and every kind of
business was brought to a stand still.
This stagnation in the life giving industries was
followed by an uprising among the Indians along the
overland route, which added still further to the dis-
tress already felt on account of interrupted communi-
cation with the east. The situation called for a mili-
tary force, which was organized about midsummer for
ninety days' service, and sent out to open the closed
communication with the east, which it effected. An
account of these affairs is elsewhere given ; I only
remark here that Colorado, young and heavily taxed
as she was, had already raised two regiments in
defence of the government, which were then in the
field, and that the 1,200 ninety days' men made the
third. Had business been better it might have been
more difficult to raise this last; but at all events
matters could not mend until the embargo on trans-
portation was raised. The vengeance meted out to
the Indians reacted during the following winter,
when again all communication was cut off for tw^o
months, the Platte route desolated for 250 miles, and
again the territory raised 300 militiamen to open
communication.^^ The dangers and losses to freight-
ers greatly raised the charges on freight, nz also the
price of every commodity, and the result was that by
the time the heavy milling machinery so long
delayed was upon the ground the companies owing it
had exhausted their treasuries These were the dark
days of Colorado ; yet never so dark that faith in her
was lost by those best acquainted with her resources.
Two things they waited for which came not fa^^ apart
— a knowledge of the true methods of extracting gold
and silver from refractory ores, and railroad commu-
nication. I might add that confidence in the value
^^ Bayle's Politics and Miiunrj, MS., 4; Evam' Intervieiv, MS., 16; Elbert's
Pub. Men and Measures, MS., 9.
492 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
of agriculture, which was estabUshed after a few years
of experimental farming, tended to give permanence
to other enterprises. These years of waiting, from
1864 to 18G7, were not lost. They proved the stuff
of wliich not the mountains but the men were made.
No more did they depend on freight teams to bring
to them from the Missouri flour, corn, and potatoes.
In a single season, 1866, Colorado became self-sup-
porting; in 1867 she exported food to Montana, and
contracted to supply the government posts ; and in
1868 made food cheaper than in the States."
I have not yet given the actual history of the dis-
covery of silver hi Colorado. An assay made of ore
from the Gregory lode in 1859 resulted in showing a
yield of 16f ounces of silver per ton, and 10 J ounces
of gold ; the assayer being John Torry of the United
States assay-office, New York, a notice of which was
published/' but does not seem to have attracted much
i«Says Bowles, in his letters to the Sprinr/JieM Bcptihlican in 1868, after-
ward publishetl in a vol. entitled T/te Stdtzerktmi of America, 'At a rough
estimate the agricultural wealth of Colorado last year was 1,000,000 bushels
of corn, 500,000 of wheat, 500,000 of barley, oats, and vegetables, 50,000
head of cattle, and 75,000 to 100,000 of sheep.' Of the prolific qualities
of the new soil he says: 'The irrigated gardens of the upper parts of
Denver fairly riot in growth of fat vegetables while the bottom-lands of the
neighboring valleys are at least equally productive without irrigation.
Think of cal)bages weighing 50 to 60 pounds each! And potatoes from 5 to
6, onions 1 to 2 pounds, and beets 6 to 10.' Byers speaks of watermelons
'piled up on the top of one another,' so abundantly the vines were laden.
Bist. Colo, MS., 43. Market prices for 1868, before harvest: barley, 3 cents
a jjound; corn, 3^ to 4:h; corn-meal, 5 cents; oats, 3 cents; potatoes, 2 and 3
cents; wheat, 3i^ "cents; tomatoes, fresh, 3 cents; cabbages, 1 cent; beef 12
to 15 cents; cheese, 20 to 22 cents; butter, 45 cents; flour, 7 to 9 cents; eggs,
50 to 60 cents a dozen. Formerly the simple freight on all these articles l.ad
been from 6 to 10 cents a pound. Concerning locations of farming lands at
that period there were the Cache-la-Poudre valley on a branch of the
Platte in Larimer co., which, besides grain, vegetables, and hay, produced
fiom 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of butter; the Big Tliompson valley, in the
same country, which produced, Ijesiiles grain, hay, and vegetables, 7,ftO
pouiuls of cheese; the Platte valley, between Denver and the Cache-la-
Poudre, which produced, besides a large crop of grains, etc.. 23,000 pounds
of butter; the same valley, for 20 miles south of Denver, and Bear creek
also had considerable cultivated land. In the main valley of the Arkansas
about 6,000 acres were under cultivation; on the Fontaine-qui-Bouille, 6,000;
on the St Charles, 1,500; in the Huerfano valley, 5.000; all of which com-
prised al)out half of the land actually farmed in the territory in 1868.
1" In the Rorh/ MonnUuii NeiP.% Aug. 20, 1850. See also Ch-nr Creel- avd
Boiihhr V<a. ink, 278; Ki„,i, U. S. Oeol E.-ylor., iii. 588-62. I find in
Au.r.< Miniii'i hi Cohnii/o, MS., 4, that the autbor claims for himself and A.
Miller the first discovery of a silver lode, La July, 1S59. They found it near
SILVER LODES. 493
attention, probably owing to the shifting nature of
the mining population, and the prevailing ignorance
of silver mining. Nevertheless, the Ida mine, near
Empire, in Clear creek county, was recorded as a
silver lode by its disco\'crer, D. C. Daley, in Septem-
ber 1860. It was assayed by Day of Central, and
found to contain 100 ounces of silver per ton.
Another lode was recorded October 4, 1860, called
the Morning Sun Silver lode. A number of other
locations was made of silver lodes by E. H. F. Pat-
terson and others, and not infrequent mention was
made of these claims in the local prints.^* They were
found in Gilpin and Clear creek counties, but chiefly
in the latter, about Georgetown. The Seaton mine
was discovered in July 1861, by S. B. Womack and
others, who mined it for gold only. It became one
of the celebrated silver mines of the world. The
existence of silver was not, however, authoritatively
proved until several years later.
In the summer of 1864 Cooley and Short, while
prospecting on Glazier mountain, discovered a lode
which became known as the Cooley, ore from which
being carefully assayed by Frank Dibdin, a metallur-
gist, and other experts, was pronounced to be beyond
doubt silver. Dibdin indeed seems to have estab-
lished a fact which the Coloradans were slow to
grasp, that theirs was a silver mining region, w4th
much better prospects for a solid future than if their
mines had been all gold mines. This was the first
rift in the cloud of dullness which had at this period
settled over the pregnant mountains. The first pay-
ing silver lode was the Belmont, later the Johnson.
discovered in September 1864, by R. W. Steel, James
Huft", and Robert Lay ton. The first accurate assay
of the Belmont gave $827.48 per ton. This inter-
Central City, and called it the Dalles; but thinking it worthless, after
recording, abandoned it. Grasset relocated it, and sold to Tappan Brothers,
who worked it for lead, which was sold to the government and condemmed
as poisonous.
^^ Rocky Mountain N'ev)s, Nov. 2, 1860; Governors Mess., in Western
Mountaineer, Nov. 22, 1860.
494 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
ested eastern capitalists. C. S. Stowel erected the
first mill in the argentiferous district in which George-
town is situated, in 186G. For the reduction of the
ore an ordinary blast furnace was provided, which
failed, after several weeks of trial, to liquefy it so that
the metal could be run oft'. When the owner, and
even Dibdhi himself, had exhausted their science and
ingenuity in the eftbrt, a negro named Lorenzo M.
Bowman, from the lead mines in Missouri, oft'ered his
services, and, from a practical knowledge of the tem-
perature to be attained, succeeded in smelting the
ore. But, as I have before stated, these first eff'orts
were unprofitable, and it was not until about 1868
that there was a marked improvement in quartz min-
ing. Stamp mills, which had been for a time super-
seded by a variety of experimental structures, began
acrain about this time their continuous crunchiniJf and
grinding upon the rocky gangue of the precious met-
als, which has since never ceased, and promises to go
on with increasing din forever.
The number of stamp mills running in the autumn
of 1868, in Gilpin county, was thirty-eight, with an
average of nineteen stamps to a mill," and the bul-
lion shipment was $1,775,477, of which $123,730 was
in silver. The number of mines in this county, in
w^hich development had begun in 1870, was over 170;
of those in which hoisting apparatus was employed
on account of depth, about a dozen. Clear creek
county had at the time fewer mills, but between 300
and 350 mines, on which some work had been done.
Boulder county had about 100 mines, with some
improvements, and only two quartz mills. Summit
county had no mills, and about 20 mines, not much
developed. Lake county had 70 mines in one district,
the Red mountain, '* which assayed well, but were
not 3'et improved to an}'^ extent.^'
^^ Rorhj Mountain Neim, Feb. .3, 1869.
^This district was discovered about the 1st of August, 1869.
21 Forty other miscellaneous mines are mentioned, 19 of which were in
Gilpin, 14 in Clear creek, two in Park, two in Jefferson, and four in Lake
county. See al o JJaiver Eocky Muuiikiin Herald, Aug. 27, 1869.
THE SAN JUAN COUNTRY. 495
In another place I have mentioned that in 1860 a
prospector named John Baker led an exploring party
into that rugged, south-west portion of Colorado,
vaguely known as the San Juan country, from which
the company returned disappomted. The history of
this expedition, on account of subsequent develop-
ments, becomes a portion of the history of mining
discovery.
San Juan Mining Districx
The San Juan country, as now known to the world,
includes Las Animas district, situated on the upper
waters of the Rio Animas with Baker park as a cen-
tre ; Lake district, situated on the Uncompahgre
slope ; and Summit district, situated on the eastern
or Rio Grande slope of the continental divide. It is
the wildest and most inaccessible region in Colorado,
if not in North America. The mountain ranges,
which are lofty, are broken and deflected from the
main Cordillera del Sierra Madre, which bends to the
south-west from the foot of South park. Crossing
Saguache county it swerves still more to the west,
until midway between the meridians 107° and 108° it
bifurcates^ the main ridge separating the head waters
496 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
of the Rio Grande and Rio Animas, and turning east-
ward forms the so-called San Juan range. The other
ridge continues in a south-west direction, becoming
the Sierra San Miguel and the Sierra La Plata. It
is as if the great spinal colunni of the continent had
bent upon itself in some spasm of the earth, until the
vertebra ov^erlapped each other, the eftect being
unparalleled ruggedness, and sublimity more awful than
lieautiful. Here, indeed, is one of the continental
summits, from which flow many- rivers, tributaries,
and sources of the Colorado and Rio Grande, in rapid
torrents, frequently interrupted by cataracts of con-
siderable height. In the midst of a wild confusion of
precipitous peaks and sharp ridges are a few small
elevated valleys, or as the early trappers would have
designated them " holes," but which are without much
relevancy denominated parks by modern Coloradans,
after the great parks of the country. Among these
higher valleys is the historical Baker park, a simple
widening of the bottom land of the Rio Animas at
the north end of the canon, for six or eight miles, to
a width of one mile. Animas park, another widening
of the Animas valley, is thirty or more miles further
down the stream, and consequently at a less altitude,
and being on the south side of the divide has a climate
much warmer than the upper park. The lower val-
leys of all the tributaries of the Las Animas are small,
but of great fertility. They are the Navajo, Nutria
or Piedra, Florida, Pinos, Plata, and Mancos, all
flowing into the Rio San Juan. The higher portions
of these valleys abound in yellow pine, and spruce, fir,
and aspen are found on some of the slopes in the
vicinity of Baker park. Below the cataracts, the
streams abound in salmon-trout, and game is abundant.
Such are the more prominent features of the San Juan
country as it existed in 1860, and for a dozen years
thereafter."
"SnnJtian and Other Sketches, MS, 12-17; PUkiiis PolUical Vietvs, MS.,
4; Out West, Dec. -Jan., 1873-4.
SAN JUAN EXPEDITION. 497
Baker was a mountaineer of note. He had heard
from the Navajos and other Indians that the royal
metal existed in the mysterious upper regions of the
Sierra Madre, proof of which was exhibited in orna-
ments and bullets of gold. More than these pre-
tended revelations no one knew, when Baker deter-
mined to prove the truth or falsity of the Arabian
tales of the Navajos, who had frequently received
bribes to disclose the new Golconda, but evaded mak-
ing the promised disclosure. Finding at Pueblo a
considerable number of prospectors who had passed
an unprofitable season in looking for placer mines, and
who yet had the courage for new undertakings. Baker
raised a company variously stated at from ' a few' to
1,000 and even 5,000, who set out on their crusade as
gayly as knights of old, albeit their banners were not
silken, and their picks and shovels were not swords.
Proceeding into New Mexico, they entered the San
Juan valley ; from there, by the way of the Tierra
Amarillo and Pagosa," they penetrated the country
as far as the headwaters of the Bio de las Animas,
where, in anticipation of the future populousness of
the country, they laid out a town, calling it Animas
City, which was seen longer on the maps than on the
ground. Some placer diggings were found along the
various streams and in the vicinity of Baker park,
but nothing which promised to realize the exagger-
ated expectations of the discoverers. Small garnets
and rubies were also picked up, and indications were
believed to be seen of diamonds.^* The main portion
of the company went no further than Animas City,
but a few penetrated to the Bio Grande del Norte.
Beinforcements with provisions failed to arri/e as
expected, and the condition of the adventurers became
critical. Anxious to avoid the long journey back
*^ Pagosa is the Indian word for hot springs.
2* D. C. Collier of Central City visited the San Jnan country the same
season, with others, and offered to stake his reputation as a geologist and
journalist on this being the richest and most extensive diamond field in the
worl4. Out West, Dec-Jan. 1873-4.
Hist. Nev. 32
498 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
through New Mexico, the company separated into
squads, each of which sought according to its judgment
a shorter w^ay out of the maze of canons and peaks
than the one by which they came. Many perished
by starvation, cold, and Indians, and those who sur-
vived suflered the pangs of death many times over
before they found egress from the imprisoning moun-
tains " Baker hved to be a wealthy cattle-owner,
and to organize an expedition to explore the grand
canon of Colorado. He was killed at the entrance
to the canon, with all his party save one, a man in the
prime of life, who reached the outlet after days of
indescribable suffering, with hair bleached like snow,
and both hands and feet blistered, in which condition
and insensible he was finally rescued. He had
devoured his shoes, his leathern belt, and buckskin
pouch. So suffered, and often so died, the vanguard
of civilization on this continent. Before the inexora-
ble laws of nature an heir of centuries of intellectual
growth is no more than the jelly-fish to the sea,
which casts it upon the sands to rot in the sun !
The outcome of the San Juan expedition deterred
further exploration for several years ; and in the mean-
time mining affairs fluctuated in the older districts, as
I have described. In 1868, by a treaty made with
the Utes, they were allowed the exclusive use of all
that portion ot Colorado west of the 107th meridian,
and south of 40° 15' north latitude, or, in brief, four
fifths of the whole territory west of the main sierra,
including the San Juan country.
At this period the boundary between New Mexico
and Colorado was not clearly defined, but the mining
district of Moreno, believed to belong to the former,
was coveted by the latter, and the Colorado legisla-
ture memorialized congress to annex it to their terri-
tory, hearing of which the New Mexico legislature,
^^ Adam Augustine and David McShane residing later in Monument val-
ley, were members of this expedition, as were also Charles Jones of Gilpin
CO., and Charles Hall of Salt-works, South park.
BOUNDARIES. 499
in February 1868, addressed to that body a counter
memorial. Congress does not appear to have con-
cerned itself much about either, and in the meantime
the boundary line was being surveyed westward from
the north-east corner of New Mexico on the 37th
parallel to the north-west corner, which survey was
reported as completed in 1868-9.'^ It found several
^^ See Sec. Int. Rept, 39, 41, 2. This report gives an interesting description
of the route with the various streams and valleys crossed, and mentions the
abandoned cliff-dwellings in the valley of the Rio Mancos. A. D. Wilson of
the Hay den geological survey, while pursuing bis labors in the topographical
corps, discovered a stone building ' about the size of the patent-office at
Washington.' It stood upon the banks of the Rio de las Animas, and con-
tained about 503 rooms. A part of the wall left standing indicated a height
of 4 stories. A number of the rooms, fairly preserved, had loop-hole windows
but no doors. They had evidently been entered by ladders, which were
drawn in by the occupants. The floors were of cedar logs, the spaces between
the log? being filled neatly by smaller poles and twigs, covered by a car-
pat of cedar bark. The ends of the timber were hewed and frayed, as if
severed by a dull instrument; in the vicinity were hatchets and saws made
of saadstone slivers, two feet long, worn to a smooth edge. A few hundred
yards from this 'casa grande ' was a second large ruin, and between them
rows of small dwellings made of cobble-stones laid in adobe, which on account
of the shape of the stones were in a more advanced state of destruction than
the larger building?. The ruins of this ancient town were overgrown with
juniper, and pinon, the latter a dwarf, wide-spreading pine, which bears
beneath the scales of its cones together with nutritious nuts. From the size
of the dead and the living trees, and their position on heaps of crumbling
stone, a long time must have elapsed since the buildings fell. The preserva-
tion of the wooden parts does not militate against their antiquity. In Asia,
cedar lasts for thousands of years. The cedars of the south-west Colorado
region do not rot even in groves. The winds and whirling sands carve the
dead trees into fantastic forms, drill holes through their trunks, and gradually,
after ages of resistance, wear them away into dust, which is scattered
abi-oad, atom by atom. Subsequent investigation showed the casas grandes
of Wilson to be on the northern edge of an immense settlement, which once
extended far down into New Mexico, covering several thousand square miles,
and comprising also portions of Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. The most south-
ern ruins exhibit the best architectural designs. The region is remote from
civilization. From Fort Garland, which is west of the Rocky mountains and
eait of the Rio Grande del Norte, in latitude 37° 23' north, longitude 27° 20'
west, the route leads across a trackless desert, where no shrubbery is found
but sage-brush and grease-wood, and no animal life except rattlesnakes,
horned-toads, lizards, and tarantulas. Patches of alkali whiten the sands,
and the sun beats down on all with a blistering heat. The streams coming
from the rocky range flow through deep canons, often thousands of feet
below the surface — that is, when they flow at all, which they do not all the
year — and springs are of rare occurrence, even in the canons The country
sought lies in a triangle between the Rio Mancos, La Plata, and Rio San
Juan, and around the triangle is a net-work of ravines crusted with ruins.
The San Juan and La Plata have some width of bottom-lands between their
sides, but the Rio Mancos runs between walls closely approaching each other.
On the rocky terraces of the more open canons are multitudes of ruins; even
in the wilder and narrower ravines are single houses or groups of two or
three perched on the face of the dizzy cliff', so far above the valley that the
naked eye can distinguish them merely as specks. Above them the rocks
500 MATERIAL PROORESS.
Mexican towns north of the line," and one, La Cos-
tilla, directly upon it. Soon after the survey the
lec^islature of New ]\Iexico memorialized congress to
have the counties of Costilla and Conejos reannexed
to New Mexico upon the ground that Colorado had
obtained them "through fraudulent representations,"
and that the people desired it, which w^as not the
fact." The boundary remained unchanged."
In 1869 Governor Pile of New Mexico, as if to
retaliate, and meet covetousness with covetousness,
fitted out a company of experienced prospectors to
explore the headwaters of the San Juan and the con-
tiguous country, who learned at this time little to
encourage effort in that direction. But the followingr
year a party, having pushed their explorations west-
ward to the Rio Animas near Baker park, discovered
the Little Giant gold lode, samples of which were
sent to New York for assay, and yielded from $900
to $4,000 per ton. Other discoveries followed, chiefly
of silver lodes, and Las Animas district was formed
in 1871, while the mountains swarmed with pros-
pectors. This being a violation of the treaty of 1868,
the Utes and the miners were soon antagonistic,
thoilgh no open hostilities followed. In 1872 troops
were sent into the country to keep out the miners,
which action on the part of the government only
stimulated the desire of occupancy. A commission
project so that they could not have been approached from above, and there
remains no means of reaching them from behiw, though signs of a trail
doubling among the rocks are liere and there visible. In tlie few cases
where towers exist they are curved and smoothly rounded. Emma C. Hard-
arce, in Hayden's (iredt WcM, 445-5G.
^' Trinidad, with 500 inhabitants, Calaveras, San Louis, Guadalupe, Cone-
jos, San Antonio, and several minor Spanish settlements were found to be
nortli of the line, according to tlie survey report.
■'^ U. S. II. J/wc. Doc, 97, 41st cong., 2d sess.; II Jour., 383, 41st cong.
2d sess.
-'" The survey of 1868-9 seems to have been made merely preliminary, and
the final boundaries of the state of Colorado were not established for 10 years
thereafter. II. Com. 7?f'p<.s 708, 4oth cong. 2d sess. There was a liili l)efore
congress in 1869 to extend the boundaries of Nevada, Minnesota, and
Nebraska, and the territories of Colora<lo, Montana, and Wyoming, which
was referred to the committee on territories and there lost. tL S. II. Jour.,
13?, 40th cong. 3d sess.; U. S. Sen. Jour,, 150, 40th cong. 3d sesa.
LAS AMMAS DISTRICT. 501
was also appointed to negotiate the purchase of the
mineral lands of the Ute reservation, which, through
the machination of interested persons in Wall street,
failed of its object. An order was issued in Febru-
ary 1873, at the request of the interior department,
requiring all miners, prospectors, and others to quit
the reservation before the first of June. So strenu-
ous were the objections to the order that a detach-
ment of troops was ordered to march to San Juan to
enforce it, and was half way up the Rio Grande when
it was suspended by the president. A commission
was again ordered, and a treaty made by which the
Utes surrendered a tract of countr}" containing 3,000,-
000 acres of territorj^, which, though unparalleled for
roughness," was considered of inestimable value by
mining men.
In 1874 more than a thousand lodes were claimed,
upon many of which the work required by law was
done." In 1875 roads had been opened by which
machinery was transported to the Animas district,
11,000 and 12,000 feet above the sea, where it was
put in operation before winter. The first mine worked
was the Little Giant in Arastra gulch. With this
exception, the leading lodes in this district were
argentiferous galena, highly impregnated with gray
copper, the veins being large and well defined, yield-
ing in the smelter $150 to $2,000 per ton," Blue
^Ernest Ingersoll, in Harper s i[agadne, April 1882. See also IngersoU's
Crest of the Coidineat, 162, 'a record of a summer's ramljle in the Rocty
Mountains, ' and supplementary to Knoekiipj around the EoeUe.^, which describes
Colorado as seen in 187-t, when, attached to the U. S. surv'ey, the author
made a tour of the mountains.
'^ The mining laws were generally known and understood, like common
law, except in the matter of local rules in different districts. In 1881 R. S.
Morrison and Jacob Fdlius, lawj-ers of Denver, published a volume on 2Iin-
hi'j Rijhts, pp. 3.36, 12 mo., containing all the Colorado statutes on mining,
inclucUng the rules adopted under the provisional government, and all suc-
cessive regulations, with the U. S. laws on the suljject- The law to which
referencee was had above required a discovery shaft to be 10 feet deep, and
SI 00 worth of work to he performed annually to hold it; or, if SoOO worth
were done, a patent might be obtained.
^- The names of some of the earliest mines of note were the Highland
Mary, Mountaineer, North Star, Tiger, Thatcher. Chepauqua, Comstock,
Pride of the V^est, Philadelphia, Susquehanna, Pelican, Gray Eagle, Shen-
andoah, Bull of the Woods, Prospector, McGregor, Aspen, Seymour, L?tter
502 MATERIAL PROGRESS.
carbonates of lime were found on Sultan mountain,
and large deposits of iron ore at its foot.
The Eureka district lay north of Animas, with the
town of Eureka, nine miles from Silverton, surrounded
by large ore bodies. The Uncompahgre district, the
highest in the San Juan country, contained a better
class of ores than the lower districts. Lake district,
in Hinsdale county, and more accessible than the
others, had fcjr its chief town Lake City. Hundreds
of mines were located here, its tellurium lodes being
the only ones of note in the San Juan region. One
hundred and fifty tons of selected ore from tlie Hotch-
kiss sold in San Francisco at the rate of $40,000 per
ton." Ouray county, which is on the northern skirt
of the San Juan country, was found to contain not
only silver mines of the highest value, but the gold
district of San Miguel. This gold district reveals
one of those wonderful pages in the history of the
globe which inspire awe, the gravel deposits, 100 to
150 feet above the present San Miguel river, being
evidently the bed of some mightier stream, which in
a remote past rolled its golden sands toward that
buried sea, to which geological facts point a signifi-
cant finger. The present cost of carrying water to
these ancient gravel beds is in itself a fortune, which
only the certainty of greater riches would tempt asso-
ciations of miners to expend.
But it is as a silver region that San Juan became,
and will remain, preeminent. Some of the moun-
tains, notably King Solomon in San Juan county,
were so seamed with mineral veins of great width
that they could be seen for two miles. The most
remarkable of the Ouray county lodes was Begole,
G., Empire, Sultana, Hawkeye, Ajax, Mollie Darling, Silver Cord, Althea,
Last of the Line, Boss Boy, Crystal, King Hiram, Abitf (gold), Ulysses,
Lucky, Eliza, Jane, Silver Wing, Jennie I'arker.
^^Some of the leading lodes in Hinsdale county are the Accidental, Amer-
ican, Hotclikiss, and Melrose in Galena district, yielding from 100 to (500
ounces of bullion per ton, in the concentration works at Lake City; Belle of
the East, Belle of the West, Big Casino, Cnesus, Dolly Varden, Gray Copper,
and Hidden Treasure. Ocean Wave, Plutarch, Ule, Ute, and Wave of the
Ocean are in Galena district.
MINES AND MINING. 503
known as Mineral farm, because the locations upon it
cover forty acres, and the veins twelve acres. It was
located in 1875, and developed by a company which
built reduction works at Ouray, the county seat, in
1887. One vein carried a rich gray copper in a
a gangue of quartzite, much of which milled from
$400 to $700 per ton, and another in some parts car-
ried a hundred ounces of silver with forty per cent of
lead, per ton. The latest discovery in the San Juan
region was of carbonates, in the western part of
Ouray county, on Dolores river, where the mining
town of Rico was located in one of the inclined val-
leys near the top of the globe. Almost every kind
of ore was found in this district, not often in regular
veins, _ but in irregular deposits, lead and dry ores
occurring in contiguous claims. Also coal, bitumin-
ous and anthracite, limestone, bog and magnetic iron,
fire-clay, building-stone, and wood for charcoal, from
which it is evident nature designed this for a centre
of reduction works and founderies. A branch of the
Denver and Rio Grande railway was constructed to
Silverton, one to Antelope springs, one to Lake City,
and one to Ouray. The region which I have briefly
described under the general name of San Juan com-
prises the counties of La Plata, Hinsdale, San Juan,
Ouray, and Dolores, created in the order in which
they are here named, out of the territory purchased
from the Utes in 1873.
CHAPTER IX.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
1875-1886.
California Gulch Redivivus— Hills of Silver— The Carbonate Mines
— Men of the Period — Organization of Leadville — Monetary and
Political Institutions— Output of the Mines— Vigilance Com-
mittees— Miners' Strike— Martial Law Proclaimed — Disaffected
Utes— The Gunnison Country — Scientific and Mining Expeditions
— The Gunnison Colony — Coal — Towns Established — Bibliography
— Newspapers.
The San Juan region was only fairly started on the
road to development when a fresh fever seized the
Coloradans and drew many to an older field, but where
discovery made it seem new. California gulch, as the
reader knows, was discovered early, and had yielded
in the first five years over $3,000,000. After that its
productiveness lessened, dropping annually, until in
1876 the diggings yielded but $20,000.' During six-
teen years the miners had been accustomed to move
out of their way with difficulty certain heavy boulders
which neither they nor scientific geologists had recog-
nized as of any value. No one for all this time had
thought to question whence they came.
Among those who had long followed placer mining
in California gulch was W. H. Stevens, who in 1876
discovered a supposed lead mine on a hill on the south
side of California gulch, a mile and a half above the
present site of Leadville. This is known as the Rock
mine, and adjoining it is the Dome mine, also owned
1 A gold lode, the Printer Boy, was discovered in 1868, which drew pros-
pectors for a season, who soon abandoned further search.
(L04)
DISCOVERIES AT LEADVILI E. 505
by Stevens and his partner, Leiter.* From thp Rock
mine Stevens took samples of ore, which being assayed
by A. B. Wood yielded from twenty to forty ounces
of silver to the ton. It now became apparent what
was the nature of the boulders which had so troubled
the miners while sluicing in the placer diggings.'
Further exploration revealed richer ore, and carbon-
ate of lead similar to that of White Pine district,
Nevada, was found to exist over a number of emi-
nences surrounding the mining camp of Oro. These
hills, before unmarked, now took names of the mines
first located upon them, or of their discoverers. The
Carbonate mine, discovered by Hallock and Cooper,
gave its name to Carbonate hill ; the Iron mine to
Iron hill ; Long and Derry mine to Long and Derry
hill ; Yankee mine to Yankee hill ; Breece mine to
Breece hill ; Fryer hill being named after one of the
discoverers, Borden and Fryer. These hills were the
seat of so many different groups of mines,* some loca-
'^ LeadviUe, Colorado, the most Wonderful Mining Camp in the World, etc.,
Colorado Springs, 1879, is the name of a pamphlet written concerning the dis-
covery. Soon after the first location there were discovered north from the
Rock the Adelaide, Camp Bird (by Long and Derry), Pine (bj- the Gallagher
brothers), and Iron. In Strayhorse gulch the Wolfstone was located the
same year, these being, according to the authority above quoted, all the
important discoveries of 1876. The Iron mine paid its owners in the first
two years §200,000 above expenses, which were 857,500. The Silver "Wave
mine adjoined the Iron. Maurice Bays, and brother, and Durham are men-
tioned among the original locators. Belmont Nev. Courier, Oct. 21, 1876.
^ This statement is premature as to time, for although silver was known
to exist in the lead ore in the beginning, the nature of the composition was
not at once understood. Carbonate of lead is the silver base in nearly aill
the ores, which, however, vary in the difl'erent groups.
* The Leadville Democrat oi Dec. 31, 1881, gives the principal mines of
these various groups as follows : On Fryer hiU, the Robert E. Lee, Chrysolite,
Matchless, Little Chief, Dunkin, Amie, Little Pittsburg, Climax, Carbon-
iferous; and among the less known, the Little Sliver, American, Forepaugh,
Bangkok, and others. On Carbonate hdl were the Evening Star, Morning
Star, Glass-Pendery, Cloutarf, Yankee Doodle, ^Etna, Carbonate, Maid of
Erin, Henrietta, Wolf Tone, and Vanderbilt. On Iron hill, the Iron Silver,
Smuggler, Tuscon, Lime, Cleora, Silver Cord, Silver Wave, Ruble, Adelaide,
Frenchman, and Belgium. On Yankee hill the principal was the property of
the Denver City company. On Breece hiU the Breece, Iron, Highland Chief,
Miner Boy, Colorado Prince, Black Prince, Highland Mary, and others,
On Long and Derry hdl, the Long and Derry, Hoosier Girl, Belcher, Preston.
Hawkins. In California gulch, the Last Rose of Summer, Columbia,
A. Y., Gilt Edge, La Plata, Rock, Dome, Stone, and Leopard. In Iowa
Gulch, to the south, were the Florence, First National, Kaiser, Brian Boru.
On Bald Mountaia, at the head of California gulch, the Green Mountain
506 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
tions, however, being made in gulches which subse-
quently proved to be rich in veins of carbonate. The
oxide of iron imparted to one group of ores a red
color, chromate of iron gave another group a yellow
hue, while the predominance of silica and lead in
others imparted a gray color. Chloride of silver per-
meated all the ores, and horn silver was found in all
the prominent mines. What were termed the hard
carbonates were those in which silica was predomi-
nant, with iron for a base, preventing disintegration
as in the before mentioned boulders. The soft car-
bonates had a base of lead. The normal position of
the lodes appeared to have been in contact or hori-
zontal veins, sometimes called blanket veins, with
limestone as the contact, iron above the ore, and
trachyte as the cap, the latter being covered from ten
to a hundred feet with drift. The veins dipped
slightly to the east, and varied in thickness from a
mere line to a chamber of ore from ten to forty feet
in height, giving evidence of disturbance bewildering
to the prospector. The ores in almost all cases were
easily smelted without roasting.
Such in brief was the character of the new mines
to which thousands hurried in 1877 and 1878. In
June 1877 the first building was erected in Leadville,
mine, while ' scattered along the whole length of the gulch were numerous
other mines and prospects in various stages of development.' In Evans'
gulch were the Ocean, Seneca, and Little Ellen. Six miles from Leadville,
across the Arkansas river, were Frying Pan and Colo gulches, with the Sun-
down, Defiance, Venture, Gertrude, Golden Curry in tho former, and the Sil-
ver Moon, Little Mystic, and others in the latter. West, in Half-moon and
Little Half-moon gulches, weretlie Susquehanna, Harding. Billy Wilson, and
Iron Duke. Lackawana gulch and Twin lakes are mentioned as rich districts.
In the latter were the Eagle Nest, Boaz, Gordon, Bengal Tiger, M. R.,
Pounder, Australia, and others. In Hayden and Echo canons were the
Black Diamond, Black Crook, Nabob, Copperopolis, Garfield, Ross, Sweep-
stakes, Fisher, Antelope, Dexter, and Mountain Quaie. North of Leadville
were Mosquito, Buckskin, and Pennsylvania gulclies, in which were the
London and New York, Sunny South, Bonanza Queen, Bonanza King, Grace,
St Louis, Steele, Stonewall, Fannie Barrett, Silver Leaf, and ' a large number
of rich claims.' Northwest of Leadville was Tennessee park, where were
El Capitan, Plattsburg Junior, Sylvanite, and other rich claims. South of
Leadville, in Georgia and Thompson gulches, were the Coon valley and
Mishawaka. In a new district, the Holy Cross, on French mountain, 150
mines were located, ' nearly all of which are in pay mineral.'
QUICKLY MADE MILLIOXAIRES. 507
which soon grew so as to absorb the mining camp of
Oro, where Tabor was keeping a store and post-office,
in a resident population of about fifty persons.' The
effect on Tabor's fortunes was magicaL The Little
Pittsburg, in which he was third owner, proved
exceedingly rich. Soon after it was opened he, with
one partner, was able to pay $90,000 cash for the
interest of the other owner. ^ A month later the sec-
ond partner was brought off for $265,000, and Tabor
became associated with Senator Chaffee in the owner-
ship of the mine. In an incredibly short time, not
only Tabor, but many others, could lay claim to be of
America's privileged order — millionaires.' Nor can
^So says Tabor in a brief MS., Early Days, devoted to Lead\-ille history.
Mrs labor, ia Cabin Life in Colorado, MS., relates how by mutual labor and
hardship in the mines they acquired 87,000 in money, after which they set
up a store and boarding-house, with a post-office and express office, the care
of all falling on her, while her husband looked after a contract for furnishing
railroad ties to the Atchison and Santa Fe railway, in which he made nothing,
not even wages. They were still keeping their little trading-post in Oro
when the Carbonate mines were discovered, Tabor 'grub-staked,' as the
miners' phrase is, Rische and Hook, two prospectors who discovered the Little
Pittsburg, on Fryer hill, in April 1878, and in Oct. bought and sold his hun-
dreds of thousands worth of mining property for cash.
^Rische, who with Tabor bought out Hook, was a Prussian, bom in'Min-
den, in 1833, and immigrating to America in 1852, worked at shoemaking in
St Louis. He ser\-ed in our civil war, coming to Colorado in 1868, and work-
ing at his trade in Fairplay. He retired from the ownership of the Little
Pittsburg with .?310,000, and afterward owned in the Xevada, Hard Cash,
Last Chance, Little Piische, Wall street, and Willie mines. Leadville in Your
Pocket, 176-7; Leadville Dem., -Jan. 1881.
" Among the men who profited by the discovery of the carbonate mines
was J. Y. Marshall, born in Pa, and came to Colo in 1873, settling at Fair-
play. He was elected to the legislature in 1875, and removed to Leadville
in 1878. He was elected judge of the district court in 1881, serving two
years. He was the first president of the Robert E. Lee mine, not far from
the Little Pittsburg, which proved very valuable, and made its owners rich.
J. .J. Du Bois, born in N. Y., came to Colorado in 1877, locating the same
year in California gulch, and prospecting for mines. The time of his arrival
was fortimate. In August he had an interest in four claims, and in Dec.
staked out the Little Eaton, 'in snow waist deep," the mine being afterward
sold for 81,200,000. Du Bois was elected mayor of Leadville in 1SS4.
Charles J. Rowell, a native of Vt, located himself in 1880 at Leadville, in
a law partnership with A. S. Weston. In May 1882 he was made business
manager of Tabor's property, of which he had control for 18 months, resuming
his law practice late in 1883. He became owner, M-ith Tabor and Weston, of
the Santa Eduviges, in Chihuahua, and also owner of valuable mining prop-
erty in Montana.
Lyman Robison, bom in Ohio, came to Colorado in 1878, and, with a part-
ner, located the Col Sellers mine at Leadville, which produced in 4 years
$400,000, and was then valued at over 81,000,000. He was one of the incor-
porators of the South Park Land and Cattle co. in 18S1, with a capital of
508 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
it bo denied that in sonic instances their liberaUty and
pubUc spirit were as princel}^ as their fortunes/
STaO.OOO, and in 1885 was vice-president. His residence in Canon City cost
§50,000. He married in 18G0 Mary A. Roodnight of Cliicago.
Peter W. Breene, from Ireland, located himself in 1874 at Leadville, where
he became part owner in tlie Crown Point, Pinnacle, and Big Chief mines,
besides having other mining interests. He was elected to the lower house
of the general assembly in 1882, and lieut-gov. in 1884. He married Mary
L. McCarthy, principal of a public school at Leadville, in May 1884.
John D. Morrissey, born in N. Y., caine to Colorado in 1872, settling at
Georgetown, working at mining until 1878, when he removed to Leadville,
and Ijecame interested in the Crown Point and Pinnacle mines, which, though
slow in developing, finally made him wealthy. Crown Point yielded, in
iSept. 1883, 820,000 per month, and was afterward still richer.
Samuel A<lani3, bom in Canada in 1850, removed to New York city in
1866, and to Colorado in 1880. Soon after arriving he purchased half of the
Brooklyn mine, at Leadville, for .§50,000 cash. In 1881 he bought other
mining interests, and organized the Adams Mining company, with 150,000
shares at SIO per share. In 3 years tlie company took out ."5425,000. paying
$220,000 in dividends, leaving .SoO.OOO in the treasury after paying all ex-
penses, besides having .sGOO.OOO worth of ore in sight in 1885
John T. Elkins, from Mo., joined Price's army m 1861, and surrendered
to Gen. Canby in 1805, going to Nebraska afterward; then to New Mexico,
wliere he was a freighter and miner until 1879, when he came to Leadville.
He obtained interests in the Leadville Consolidated, Boreal, Small Hopes,
and Annie, selling the Annie in 1881 for S750,00J, §500,000 of which he in-
vested in Kansas City real estate. He was elected state senator in 1884.
F. De Maineville and \V. H. Brisbane were partners in Wilmington, Del.,
from 1871 to 1876, when they removed to Cheyenne, Wy., where they kept
a hotel until 1879, in which year they came to Leadville, investing what
capital they could command in mining property. In 1882 they erected the
De Maineville block, at a cost of §16,000 for the land, and §25,000 for the
building; and secured a large amount of real estate in Leadville.
Luther M. Goddard, born in Wayne co., N. Y., in 1837, was in 1864 en-
gaged in freighting across the plains between Leavenworth and Denver. In
1878 he came to reside in Colorado, and began the practice of law at Lead-
ville that year, investing some money in the Pendery mine, which in 1879
proved rich, when he sold five sixths of it for §200,O()0. He afterward ac-
quired an interest in Crown Point and Silver Cross, the former at Robinson,
in Summit co., and tiie latter in Chaffee co., both of which proved vahiable
properties. He was elected judge of the district court of the 5th judicial
district in 1882 for a term of 6 years.
8 Horace A. W. Tabor was born in Vt in 1830. At the age of 19 years
he removed to Mass., where he remained luitil he came to Colorado in 1859,
and had his share of the rough work of erecting a new state. He had resided
in Kansas, and been a member of the Topeka legislature. He was the first
to realize any large amount from the mines at Leailville, and thereafter kept
in the lead. In 1881 he owned tlie following mines wholly or in part: the
Matchless, Scooper, Dunkin, Chrysolite, Union, Emma, Denver City, Henri-
etta, Maid of Erin, Empire, Hibernia, New Discovery, May Queen, besides
mining property in Mexico, and 6 claima in the San Juan country. He erected
the Tabor opera-house, costing §850,000, and budt the bank of Leadville for
a safe deposit. He was first in the organization of a fire department, pre-
senting the hose company with their outfit; caused the construction of water-
works, the incorporation of a gas company in which he was principal owner,
and which expended §75,000; organized the Tabor Milling company for
crushing dry ores, investing §100.000; and equipped tlie Tabor light cavalry,
50 men, at a cost of §10,000, besides dona tiuij$ 10,0 JO annually to schools and
SMELTING. 509
On the 1st of August 1877, there were six buildings
on the site of the present town of Leadville,' and by
the end of the year 300 inhabitants. But until
smelters on the ground should test the various ores
there could be no certainty of riches sufficient to cause
a great influx of population. The town organization
was perfected in January 1878. About the same
time the first smelter was completed by the St Louis
Smelting and Kefining company, Weise superintend-
ent, which received its ore through the sampling-
works of A. R. Meyer & Co.^' During eleven months
ending November 30, 1878, 1,080 tons of bullion were
produced from 3,330 tons of ore. Only one furnace,
with a capacity of fifteen tons daily, was employed
until late in the season when the capacity was dou-
bled. By the end of the year four other smelters of
various capacity were in operation. ^^ The smelters
churclies, and giving freely in private charities. The Tabor block in Denver
cost, with the land, 8200,000; the Windsor hotel was owned chiefly by him;
his private residence cost 840,000; and his interest in the First National
bank amounted to nearly half the shares.
^ At a meeting on the lith of Jan., 1878, at which 18 citizens were present
in Gilbert's wagon-shop, where Robinson's block now stands, at the corner
of Chestnut and Pine streets, steps were taken to organize the town, and
give it a name. It was suggested to call it Harrison, after the owner of the
first smelter; and Agassiz, after the great naturalist; and Carljonateville,
after its ores; but Leadville, proposed by J. C. Cramer, was finally adopted.
The town then had 70 houses and tents. On the 26th the governor issued a
proclamation for an election of town officers Feb. 2d. H. A. W. Tabor was
chosen mayor, C Mater, Wm Nye, and J. C. Cramer trustees, and C. E.
Anderson clerk and recorder. Kent's Leadville in Your Pocket, 32-3.
1" Meyer & Co. purchased the first ore in 1876, and shipped 300 tons to
St Louis by ox-teams, which did not pay for the expense of transportation
and reducing; but as the grade increased by development, 50 tons shipped in
the spring of 1877 proved very well worth the handling. Meyer & Co. estab-
lished the first sampling works in 1877; Burdell and Witherell in Nov. 1877;
Eddy & James in July 1878. Loomis' Leadville, 19-20.
11 The works of J. B. Grant commenced running on the 1st of October.
1,643 tons of ore purchased averaged 84 ounces of silver to the ton; and 305
tons averaged 325 ounces. On the 9th of Oct. the Adelaide company com-
menced smelting. During 11 days in blast before the 1st of Dec, 90 tons of
bullion were produced from 240 tons of ore. The Malta smelting M'orks, J.
B. Dickson & Co., started up on the 12th of October. By the 1st of Dec,
they had smelted 1,081 tons of ore, and produced 181 tons of bullion, valued
at §38,538. The average number of oitnces of silver to the ton of ore was 47;
to the ton of Irallion, 170. On the 28th of Oct. the smelter of Burdell &
Witherell began operations, and 970 tons of ore were turned into 210 tons of
bullion worth -885,000. These were all low grade. The high grade ores were
reduced elsewhere at first. In 1879 A. Eders erected a smelter at Leadville,
which he ran for two years. Eilers was bom in Germany in 1839, and edu-
510 FCUTIIER DEVELOPMENT.
settled the question of the value of the Leadville
mines, and the growth of the town in 1879 was phe-
nomenal, even for a mining country. In the first four
montlis of the year the increase of population was
1,000 a month ; after that it ran up to 3,000 a month ;
about the last of the yi-ar there were 35,000 resi-
dents. Keal estate was held at high figures, and lot
jumping was practised, as in early times at Denver.
A hotel with accommodations for 500 guests, several
lesser ones, a church and a theatre were erected dur-
ing the summer, besides private dwellings and mining
improvements, which required 1,000,000 feet of lum-
ber per week.
This activity was joyful madness. Men seemed to
tread on air, so elated with hope were they, and not
only with hope but with realization. In 1879 Lead-
ville was created a city of the second class, with an
efficient police and fire department, water and gas-
works under construction, telegraphic communication,
a local railroad company organized, hospital accom-
modations, and other concomitants of modern civiliza-
tion It had a post-office requiring ten clerks, with
a money-order department issuing orders at the rate
of $355,911 per year, and cancelling stamps at the
rate of over $32,000 annually. In 1879 the Denver
and South park railway was within thirty miles of
Leadville, and at the same time the Denver and Rio
Grande road was extending a branch to Leadville,
where it arrrived in August 1880.'"
cated at the mining school of Clausthal and university of Gottingen. At
the age of 20 years he graduated, and immigrated to the U. S., heing em-
])hiye<l by mining engineers in New York for several years. In 1861) he was
appointed deputy U. 8. mining statistician, whicli position hehehl until 1870.
He then migrated to Salt Lake, where he erected tlie second ( Jermania smelter
in 1877-8. He then came to Colorado, and erected a smelter at Leadville,
wliich he sold, and went to Europe in 1881, M-here he spent two years. On
returnuig to Colorado he organized the Colorado Smelting company in I'uehlo,
■where a furnace was started up in Aug. 188.S, the works in 1886 having 4
furnaces, w-ith a capacity of 20>) tons daily, and enqiloying 125 men.
'-George W. Cook, horn in Kratlford. Ind.. in 18.")0, was appointed super-
intendent and general agent of the Leadville division of the I)enver and Kio
(Irande rf)ad, upon its completion. Conk ran away from Imnie at 12 years of
age to euliat aa a drummer-boy, ami was mustered out iu Jam 1660. That ho
BANKING.
611
The business of Leadville demanded banks almost
at once, and in May 1878, the first in Leadville was
established under the name of Lake County bank.
Soon afterward it organized as the First National
bank with a cash capital of $60,000. The exchange
for 1879 amounted to $10,000,000.'' In October the
Leadvtlle and Vicinity.
drummed through the war to fall on his feet in Leadville was a rare manifes-
tation of the favor of the fickle goddess.
i^The officers and stockholders were F. A. Reynolds, pres.; Nelson Hal-
lock, vice-pres. ; John W. ZoUars, cashier; A. L. Ordean, asst cashier; Aug-
ust R. Meyer, J B. Grant, J. S. Raynolds. Charles Mater, J. C. Cram^,
Charles I. Thompson, Peter Finerty, E. D. Long, J. H. Clemer, Charles T.
Limberg, Rufus Shute.
612 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
bank of Lcadville was opened with a capital of about
a million dollars, and drew $11,500,000 '* exchange
during 1879. Others soon followed and in 1880 there
were five, since which anotlier lias been <)})ened.'*
Nc\vs[)apers, schools, and churches enjoyed tlie bene-
fits of abundant money. All this prosperity was the
result of mining, and it would be superfluous to go
into further details concerning individual mines or
miners. It is sufficient before proceeding with the
history of discovery to state in evidence of the perma-
nance of the Leadville mines that the average output
of mineral from them for the first half of 1885 was
10,000 tons per day.
It could not be expected that a community with a
growth so marvellous, and founded upon mineral
wealth should have no other or more dramatic inci-
dents in its career than comes from rapid growth.
The richer the country, as a rule, the more poisonous
the parasites which it attracts to fester in the body
politic ; hence vigilance committees and midnight
hangings had to have their day in Leadville,"^ Two
^* H. A. W. Tabor, pres. ; N. M. Tabor, vice-pres. ; George R. Fisher, cash-
ier. The Miners' Exchange bank, James H. B. McFerran, pres. ; anJ(ieorge
W. Trimble, cashier; and tlie Miners' and Mechanic's bank were the next in
order in 1879. In April 1880, the City bank of Leadville was incorporated
with a capital stock of $50,000. J. Warren Faxon, president; C. C, Howell,
vice-president; and .Jolm Kerr, cashier. At the close of 1880 the organization
was surrendered, and a private bank opened, C. C. Howell & Co. proprietors.
Leadville Democnit, Dec. 31, 1881. In Angust 188.S tlie Carbonate bank was
opened. John L. McNeil, the first cashier, and subsequently president, was
born in Tioga co., N. Y., in 1849, and came to Colorado in 1870. He was
employed as chief clerk of tlie office of the Denver Pacific R. R. for a few
months, when he took a position as teller in the Colorado National l>ank, and
held it until 1876, during which year a bank was opened at Del Norte, of
which he was ciio.sen manager. In 1880 this bank was moved to Alamosa,
where it l)ecame the First National bank of that place. At tlie request of
citizens of Leadville, McNeil, as above, organized the Carbonate bank.
^^ Looiim Leadville; Leadville Clironirle Annual, 1881.
"At the first meeting of the town board T. H. Harrison was appointed
marshal, T. J. Campbell jiolice magistrate, and A. K. Updegraff town attor-
ney. Harrison was soon driven out of town by the lawless element. At the
second election in April George O'Connor was chosen marshal, and four ])olice-
men assigneil to support his authority. Suspecting one of them of complicity
with the ' roughs," he was about to remove him from the force when he was
killed by him, only 18 days after assuming the office. The ruffian's name
was .James Bloodsworth, who escaped arrest. At a special meetirg of the
board next morning, Martin Duggan was appointed marshal, and accejited
the office. Almost immediately he received written notice that he would be
POPULAR TRIBUNALS. SI*
men named Frodshem and Stewart were taken from
the sheriff and hanged November 20, 1879 ; following
which the criminal and vicious class, to the number
of several hundred, organized and threatened to retal-
iate by killing some of the supposed vigilants, and
burning the newspaper offices. A few days of intense
excitement followed, the city being patrolled nightly
by the Wolf Tone guards and Tabor light cavalry.
The action of the committee was approved by the
majority of responsible citizens, who regarded it as
necessary under the provocation given by the men
who were hanged. This sentiment, together with
the firmness of the militia, finally awed the vengeful
would be rioters, and the city was restored to order."
In the latter part of May following, however,
another kind of mob violence was threatened, the
men employed in several mines being upon a strike.
The disturbances increased gradually for several
weeks, all business being brought to a stand, and
some of the most vicious of the idlers, who were glad
of the opportunity to harrass better men, inciting the
discontented miners to a riot. On the 1 2th of June,
owing to threats, all the places of business m the city
were closed, and a procession of citizens paraded, in
the hope of impressing the strikers with their solid
force. A proclamation was read in front of the opera
house, signed by the Citizens' Executive Committee
of One Hundred, declaring that men who desired to
killed unless he should leave town within 24 hours. Duggan made no sign
that he had received the warning, but took precautions against seizure.
Within a few days a murder was committed at a saloon by a negro, and the
police had taken the wretch to jail, when the outlaw organization attempted
his release. Duggan faced the mob with a revolver in each hand, and made
them understand that he had the nerve to shoot any bold enough to interfere
with the execution of the laws, and they retired. Duggan served his term,
declining reelection, P. A. Kelly being his successor. But Kelly was intim-
idated, and the city council telegraphed for Duggan, then in Mich., to return
and take the marshalship. He complied, and served out Kelly's term, but
refused reelection. He remained in Leadville, however engaged in mming.
Duggan was born in Ireland, migrating to the U. S at the age of 6 years,
and living in N. Y. until 16 years old, when he went to Kansas, and from
Leavenworth to Colorado, where he engaged in mining and freighting.
^' See Denver Tribune, Nov, 22 and 23, 1879.
Hist. Nev. 33
614 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
return to work at fornur wages " would be protected.
A motion being made to adopt this as a resolution,
the strikers, about 1,600 in number, shouted No I
and assailed the citizens with threats and oi)probriou3
epithets. An attemjjt was then made by the militia
companies to clear the streets," which only increased
the confusion, and the belligerent attitude of the
strikers. Hoping to ])reserve order by a show of law,
the sheriff, L. K. Tucker, arrested the military com-
mander, and disarmed the companies ; but just at that
time a supply of arms arriving from Denver, under
escort, the mob made a movement to seize them, and
were met with presented carbines. A partial peace
was restored at nightfall, although the strikers still
held out, and the Citizens' Executive Committee of
One Hundred remained in session, and the fire com-
panies in readiness during the night. A number of
telegrams were sent to (xovernor Pitkin asking that
martial law should be declared, and an oflficer ordered
to Leadville to muster into service the militia, which
had disbanded on being disarmed. The governor
replied by instructing the sheriff to summon to his aid
every law abiding citizen," and promised to consider
the question of martial law. Other telegrams fol-
lowed the first, and about midnight a petition, headed
by the sherifi* and signed by all the principal property
owners in the city, was despatched to the executive,
still urging martial law," which was thereupon pro-
claimed, and Major-general David J. Cook ordered to
'* Miners received from $.3 to $4 per day. KertCa Lendrille in Your PixJcet,
150. The cost of living was higli, but diminishing as tlie railroads ap-
proached.
"The Wolfe Tone guards was the oldest militia organization in Lead-
ville, dating from July \'2, IHT'.t. It numhered 80 jtrivates, and 18 commis-
sioned and non-commissioned officer."*; Jolm Murphy, capt. The Talmr Light
cavalry organized August 2<1, and nmstered G4 men; Cecil C. Morgan capt.
There was a 'M company, the Carbonate riries, 44 men, W. P. Minor capt.,
ready to act as required.
■■"The law gave the sheriflF this authority. Oen. Lairs Colo, 1877, 237; and
LnwH of 1870, 135. In case of violence he might call out the military, or the
aid of citizens.
■^^ Pitkin 8 PoMral Vieroit, MS., 1; BocUrher, Flxu^h Times, MS., 2^; Den-
ver Tribune, June 15, 1880; Colo Sen. Jour., 1881, 40-1.
MOBS AND STRIKES. 515
Leadville to take command of the militia, and muster
in as much force as he should find necessary. In the
interim, pending his arrival, William H. Jones of
Leadville was commissioned a brigadier-general, to
take the command and perform the duties of his
position. Provost-marshal J. L. Pritchard forbade
the assembling of groups of people upon the street, or
in public halls, and ordered all saloons and places of
business closed by ten o'clock in the evening. On
the night of the 14th General Cook arrived, and found
the excitement in part allayed, and some of the min-
ers returning to their work. Also that W. A. H.
Loveland, managing editor of the Democrat, a paper
which sided with the strikers, had beea deposed, and
Clark, one of the editors of the Crisis,''^ published to
stir up disorder, had absconded. Notwithstanding
the serious nature of the disturbances, no lives were
lost. On the 2 2d of June the order of the 13th was
revoked, and civil authority reinstated, the miners
having returned to their work. Besides the loss to
Leadville of half a summer's labor and profit, the state
was taxed $19,506 for the expenses of the militia.
For a time these incidents clouded the reputation, as
they retarded the progress, of Leadville ; but the
22 The first paper established in Leadville was the Reveille, by R. S. Allen,
in 1878. The printing-offici was a log house on Elm street, below Chestnut.
Being a prospector by nature, Allen had pioneered journalism in several new
mining camps. He published the Re<jkter at Central in early times, and the
Sentinel at Fairplay somewhat later; and, when carbonates were discovered,
appeared in Leadville, where for a year and a half he published the Reveille,
and then suspended, and went his way. Tlie second newspaper in Leadville
was the Eclipsf, a daily democratic journal, established in 1878, and sus-
pended in 1879. On the 29th of June, 1879, appeared the daily Chronicle,
o\vned by Carlyle C. Davis, John Arkins, and James M. Burnell. Their
printing-office was one of the first buildings on Chestnut street, a one-story
frame structure 20 by 30 feet. None of the trio had any means which was
not in their business, and used the office for a lodging-house. The first issue
was a small sheet of 5 columns. Its success from the start was so great that
it was twice enlarged in 3 months. In May Burnell sold to the other part-
ners. In Dec. they purchased a 4-hor3e-power steam engine, with a press
capacity of 1,800 an hour. In April 1880 Arkins sold to Davis, who con-
ducted the business alone, publishing a 6-column daily, quarto size, and a 9-
column weekly, an able, instructive, and illustrated paper. The Democrat,
and the Herald, a little later in starting, are also able papers, of which men-
tion is made in another place.
516 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
advent of railroads in Auijjust, and the continued dis-
coveries of rich ore bodies, soon restored the balance.'*
Such natural wealtli on the cast side of the con-
tinental divide was sure to inspire tlie desire of search
upon the occidental slope. But all that country, as
I Jiave already stated, was left in reserve for the Utes.
The first attempt of miners to occupy the TJte coun-
try was in 18G1, when a party of prospectors all per-
ished at the hands of the Indians in Washington
gulch, since known as Dead Men's gulch, on the
head of liock creek, a branch of Koaring fork of
Grand river. A few men who were undeterred by
the massacre of the first party, or who had forced
^^It will be instructive to mention the smeltera in and about Lcadvillc at
the close of 1879, with their output. Little Cliicf, S. Tyson supt, started
Aug. 5, 1S79, with one furnace — sdver and lead, with a trace of gold — total
value of bullion, S21'2,775.8S. Oliio and Missouri, J M. Rockwood supt,
started July 16, 1879; one furnace; total value, $154,817.89. Cunimings &
Finn, Frederick H. Williams supt, started July 25, 1879; three furnaces;
total value, $32.3,039.24. (iage-Hagaman, O. W. Bryan metallurgist, started
May 23, 1879, one furnace; total value, $100,454.84. Raymond, Sherman,
and McKay, started June 26, 1879; one furnace; total value, $143,837.20.
Elgin Mining and Smelting company, started June 24, 1879; one furnace;
total value, $425,251.20. Harrison Reduction works, started Oct. 1878;
three furnaces; total value, $1,018,164.24. J. B. Grant & Co. smelter, Grant
manager, started Sept. 23, 1878; eight furnaces; total value, $2,397,474.48.
Leadville Smelting co., started May 15, 1879; one furnace; total value,
$199,177.80. La Plata Mining and Smelting co., started Nov. 2, 1878; four
furnace.^; total value, $1,9()9,().3G.24. American Mining and Smelting co.,
O. H. Hahn supt, started June 5, 1879; two furnaces; total value, $223,8.37.36.
Billing & Edur's Utah smelter, Fritz Wolf supt, started May 14, 1879; two
furnaces; total value, $1,022,670.16. California Smelting co., started Sept.
1879; two furnaces; total value, $76,870. J. D.Dickson & Co. Lizzie fur-
naces, started June 1879; two furnaces; total value, $785,010.40. J. B. Steen
& Co, Malta Smelting works, started June 1878; one furnace; total value,
$62,5(50.76. Adelaide Smelting works, started 1878; one furnace; total
value, .?75 252.96. To sum up, 34 furnaces in less than a year, reducing
210,341,719 pounds of ore, produced 37,727,797 pounds of bullion, containing
6,913.408 ounces of silver, value.l at .S7,743, 1 16.86, and 818.8 ounces of gold,
valued at $16,376.37, and $1,496,437.64 worth of lead. -$9,250,928.8.5.
Besides the ore smelted in the local works, there was sent away to be reduced
$2,751,879.76 worth of ore, to be reduced in foreign smelters, and $30,000 in
goid from the gold mines, making the product for the period above given
$12,032,808.61. Lewlrille Cnrhnnnte C/irnmrl>; Jan. 3, 1880. The outlay was
of course enormous to produce this result, but it could never be so great for
any other year for these companies, and tlie amount of ore to be smelted
must increa'^e with time and facilities. Supjiosing the supply to be prac-
ti'^ally unlimited, as it seems, mining becomes in Colorado a permanent in«
dustrv on a grand scale. The product of Lake co., in gold, silver, and lead,
up to 1882, was $56,945,117.69.
THE GUNNISON COUNTRY. 5l7
themselves in at about the same time, found gold in
Union park, Taylor park, German flats, and Tincup
flats, but none were able to hold their ground against
the Indians except a company in Union park, which
erected fortifications, and mined in the intervals of
hunting and skirmishing. They seem to have con-
quered a peace, for this limited region continued to be
occupied for twenty years." Very little was known
of the country. Old mountaineers had traversed it.
Fremont had crossed its northern portion bv the
White river branch of the Colorado in 1844. Gun-
nison had explored it by the Grand river branch, the
southern fork of which was named after him by Gov-
ernor Gilpin. Expeditions under Macomb and Ives
had traversed the south-west corner, following the
old Spanish trail from Santa Fe to Salt Lake. Ives
explored the lower Colorado in 1857-8 to a point
eighty miles below Grand canon, where he organized
a land expedition and explored the plateaux traversed
by it. This expedition approached from the west,
and did not extend to the Gunnison countrj^ Baker's
party penetrated it to the Grand canon of the Col-
orado, where they were killed by the Indians, as I
have already related. In 1869 Major J. W. Powell
explored the Grand canon with an eflficient company
and outfit, adding much to the interest already felt in
the country.''' He had been preceded in the Gunni-
2* See Richardson s History of the Guimison Country, MS., or an account of
its exploration and settlement. Sylvester Ricliardson was born in Albany,
N. Y. Migrating first to Sheboygan, Wis., he followed architecture and
boat-building, with music-teaching. In 18(50 he came to Colorado, where he
practised medicine 22 years. In 1861 he went into cattle-raising, but the
Indian war of 1864 ruined his business. He afterward settled in the Gunni-
son country.
^^In the summer of 1867 Powell visited the Colorado mountains with a
party of amateur naturalists, during which expedition he explored the canon
on Grand river below Hot Sulphur springs, and also the Cedar canon, hy
which Grand river leaves ^liddle park. His curiosity thus stimulated, he
determined upon further explorations. In 1868 he organized another expedi-
tion, which spent the summer among the mountains, and encamped for the
winter 120 miles above the mouth of White river. During the winter, which
was a mild one, excursions were made southward to the Grand, down White
to Green river, north to Bear river, and around the Uintah mountains.
Gradually these exploring excursions had become geological and scientific,
618 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
son country in 18GG by Benjamin Graham, who, in
1870, conducted a second expedition,'* which spent
the sununer in prospecting the west slope of the Elk
mountains, where they discovered many galena lodes,
carrying cerussite in limestone formation, and a coal
vein on Ilock creek. A log fort was erected, and
prospecting continued, but the Utes in 1874 burned
the fort and drove out the prospectors, who lost all
their property except their arms, and were compelled
to make their way home, 100 miles, on foot, subsist-
ing by shooting game. In this instance the Utes
proved themselves able astronomers, as the 107th
meridian, their eastern boundary, agreed to the year
before, lay a few miles east of the Rock creek camp.
In 1874 Hayden's scientific and exploring expedition
passed the summer in the Gunnison country, but to
these the Indians made no objection, knowing they
were transient visitors, but not, perhaps, being aware
that the knowledge which they gathered would send
them more prospectors," although, as it happened, the
and were carried on under the patronage of the government. The better to
carry out his project of exploring the Colorado canons, Powell had 4 boats
built in Chicago, as strong as could be made, and transported by rail to the
Soiut where the U. P. R. R. crosses Green river. On the 24th of May the
cet left Green River city, inW^yoming, provisioned for 10 months, and sup-
plied with scientific instruments, arms, ammunition, and tools, and two of
them decked. The boats were named and manned as follows: Ennna Dcati,
J. W. Fuwcll, J. C. Sumner, and William H. Dunn; Kitty Cli/'h's Sister, W.
H. Pouwll and G. T. Brculley; No Name, 0. O. Ilnvlawl, Seneca HowUvnl,
and Frank Ooodir.an; Maid of the Canon, W. R. Hairb'm and Andreio Ifill,
A summer of extraordinary travel and magnificent discovery followed, in
which the object was accomplished, the examination of the grand caiion
of the Colorado, besides which there were several others — Contract canon,
41 miles long, with walls from 1,300 to 2,700 feet in height: Glen cafion,
149 miles long, with walls from 200 to 1,600 feet in altitude; Marble caflon,
65.\ miles long, 200 feet deep at its head, and 3,500feet deep at its lower end;
Grand cafion, 217^ miles in length, and from 3,000 to 6,000 feet in depth.
Pourir.1 Explnr. Colo liiix-r, 5, 79-102.
■■"^ This party consisted of R. A. Kirker, William Gant, Samuel McMillen,
Louis lirant, James Brennan, and C. M. Defabauch. See Fossett's Colorado,
a descriptive, historical, and statistical work of 592 pages, 8 mo, with maps
and illustrations: New York, 1880; tlie most complete of t.'ie many books
about the centennial state. Kirker was a resident of Park county, and active
in exploring the mountains, particularly the Park range. A. Thornton wjia
a prospector in this region about this time.
^' I have several times had occasion to refer to Hayden's researches in the
course of tliis work. The reports of Hayden, Endlich, Peale, Gannett, and
Holmea were of great service in making known to the world the mineral
PROSPECTING EXPEDITIONS. 61ft
first who came and stayed were of a date at least con-
temporaneous with the government explorations just
recorded.
In 1872 a party of prospectors returning from the
San Juan country, where they were unwelcome,
passed up the Gunnison river, and examining the old
diggings on Rock creek, discovered a number of sil-
ver lodes in the vicinity." A company was raised in
Denver the following spring to visit the alleged dis-
covery, among whom were John Parsons, Lewis
Wait, and Thomas Croider. They went and returned
by the old Washington gulch pass, via Red mountain,
Twin lakes. Buckskin Joe, and Fairplay, bringing a
wealth of western Colorado. See Hayden's U. S. Geol and Geog. Survey of
Colorado and Adjacent Territory, 1874, p. 515, Washington, 1876. In Hay-
den's letter to the secretary of the interior, which serves as a preface, he
names the assistants with him in Colorado as follows: first division crossing the
mountains by the Berthoud pass, explored in 1861 by Berthoud while looking
for an overland mad route by the way of Denver, consisted of A. R. Mar\Tne
geologist, S. B. Ladd topographer, Louis Chauvenet asst topographer, M. L.
^Vard and W. S. Holman meteorologists, E. A. Barber botanist, W. AV. Wil-
liams asst, 2 packers, cook, and hunter. The second division consisted of
Henry Gannett topographer, Fred Owens asst topographer, A. C. Peale geol-
ogist, Frank Kellogg, asst, Arch. R. Balloch asst, 2 packers and a cook;
field, the Grand river. Third division consisted of A. D. Wilson topographer,
F. Rhoda asst, F. M. Endlich geologist, Gallup meteorologist; field, the San
Juan country. With Hayden were G. B. Chittenden topographer, W\ H.
Holmes geologist, W. H. Jackson photographer, Anthony asst, Ernest Inger-
soU naturalist, Frank Smart asst, 2 packers and a cook.
The geographical surveys west of the 100th meridian, conducted by George
M. W'heeler of the corps of engineers for several successive years, were of
unusual interest. He had under his orders a party of engineer officers, and
accompanying him a number of specialists. John J. Stevenson, geologist, in
1878 examined the coal-measures at the east base of the Rocky mountains,
particularly from Trinidad south to Santa Fe. The reports down to 1884,
which have been published, show a vast area of research for all the several
branches of the survey, but they are for the most part too labored and tech-
nical for the general reader. There are few Hugh Millers in geology, and until
there are more, that science will remain a dense and tasteless topic which
should glow and sparkle wirh suggestion and meaning to the commonest
understanding. A little in these reports concerning the effect of certaia rock
formations on the aspect of a country, its soils, rivers, and vegetable produc-
tions, both before and after it comes under improvement, would prove an
attractive feature in geological works. The paleontology of Colorado is
remarkable and interesting, as shown in the Bulletins of the U. S. Geological
and Geographical Survey of the Territorie-?, Second Series, A'o. 1, containing
descriptions of fossil fishes and mammalia. This subject, combined with an
intelligent study of the rocks, and the interest attaching to the relics of a
long-past senn-civilization in Colorado, should furnish a fascinating field of
observation to the ordinary mind as well as to the specialist.
^8 The names of some of this company were Douglas McLaughlin, James
Brennan, and George Green (colored).
620 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
report so satisfactory that an expedition was immedi-
ately organized to return and explore the whole Gun-
nison country. It consisted of thirty men with eight
waorons and a pack-train, which proceeded to cross
the mountains by the South park, Poncho, and
Cochetopa passes. The geologist of the expedition
was Sylvester Richardson, the metallurgist Richard
Cook, and the botanist Parsons, the recognized leader.
On arriving at the Indian agency of Los Pinos, they
were forbidden by the assembled Utes, numbering
1,500, to continue their journey. But upon holding
a council, and taking the sense of the meeting by vote,
it was found that there was an equal division, when
the head chief, Ouray, gave his voice in favor of
allowing the party to proceed
The company proceeded to the junction of Tomichi
creek and Gunnison river, where they met a couple
of white herders in charge of the government cattle
belonging to the agency, and who conducted the
vsragons to a ford of the river. On the site of Gunni-
son City Richardson took an astronomical observa-
tion, and being satisfied that they were on the east
side of the 107th meridian, determined to there found
a town, and occupy the beautiful valley of the Gun-
nison. After several more days of toilsome road-
building and travel, the expedition arrived at the
head of Rock creek, and at once erected a small
smelter, near where the town of Scofield was subse-
quently located. In two months a sufficient test had
been made, and the company returned to winter at
Denver, the wagon-train by the same route by which
they came, and the pack-train by the Washington
gulch trail.
Arrived at home, Richardson made his report to
persons interested, residing in Chicago, Quincy, and
Denver, which being favorable, furnaces and machin-
ery were purchased, and all things placed in readiness
to commence mining in Gunnison county as soon as
spring should open. Before spring arrived a panic
GUNNISON COUNTY.
521
had occurred in business circles, which put an end to
the schemes of the Parsons company. But Richard-
son, remembering the beauties of Gunnison valley,
and being resolved to locate himself there, called a
meeting at Denver, and proceeded to organize a joint
stock company for the purposes of settlement. About
the 1st of March the company was incorporated, with
Gunnison Mining Region.
Richardson president, George Storm vice-president,
Charles A. Beale secretary, and a board of directors
consisting of these persons and J. B. Outcalt, John
Spradling, George W. Hughes, and Doctor Knowles.
The colony arrived at Gunnison river April 21, 1874.
The land was surveyed into quarter sections ; each
colonist drew 160 acres by lot, and a town was laid
off on Richardson's portion, and named Gunnison, after
Captain Gunnison, who first surveyed this valley.
522 FURTHER DEVELOrMENT.
Ill the autumn dissensions arose in the company,
some members of which abandoned their interests and
went prospecting to the north, Alll returned to Den-
ver to winter, and of the thirty original members only
three resumed their occu])ancy in 1875, namely Rich-
ardson, and John and William Outcalt. Gradually
settlers, especially cattle-owners, came to remain. In
1876 a new town company was formed, which took
possession of the present site of Gunnison, outside of
Richardson's claim. But this company also quar-
reled and dissolved. In 1879 there were two rival
organizations — the East and West Gunnison town
companies. The Denver and Rio Grande railway was
being pushed westward with a purpose to develop
the country, and the west Gunnison town company
by liberal donations of land secured the station and
car-shops.
In March 1879 the legislature established the
county of Gunnison, and attached it to Lake for rep-
resentative and judicial purposes. Its boundaries
commenced on the summit of the Saguache " range,
between the headwaters of the Arkansas and Colo-
rado, where the south line of Lake county crossed
the divide, extending along the said summit to the
north line of Lake county, thence west to the west
boundary of the state, and south to the north line of
Oura\^ county, this being the north boundary of the
San Juan i)urchase, thence east to the west line of
Saguache county, following the boundary of this
county to Saguache range, and north along its sum-
mit to the south-west corner of Lake county, embra-
cing more than 10,000 square miles." Settlement
and discovery progressed slowly. In 1877 the Jen-
nings brothers located a mine of bituminous coal at
Crested Butte mountain, and the following year How-
"An Indian word, pronounced si-watch, meaning blue stream. Rkhard-
sona Ilitl. Chinrman Country, MS., 15.
^Gen. Laws Colo, 1879, 213-16; FossetCa Colorado, 565. Pitkin county
was taken from the north-east comer of Gunnison and Montrose, Delta and
Mesa from the western portion.
GUNNISON SETTLEMENTS. 523
ard F. Smith purchased some coal interests and
started the village of Crested Butte The existence
of coal of a good quality was of itself a reason for
extending railroads in this direction." But pros-
pectors from Lake county, the overflow of Leadville,
began pouring into the Gunnison country early in
1879 — so early, indeed, that they had to tunnel the
snow in one of the passes of the mountains. Rich
discoveries in gold and silver were made, and the
usual sanguine expectation was aroused.
The first important discovery of silver was of the
Forest Queen, in the summer of 1879. The history is
simple and romantic, A Maryland man, W. A.
Fisher, who had driven an ox-team across half the
continent, became fastened in the mire of the moun-
tains and was helped out by a spectator, O. P. Mace,
whereupon Fisher gratefully promised him a half-inter-
est in the first mine he should find. A few days later
Mace was informed of the discovery of the Forest
Queen lode,half of which he received from Fisher under
the name of Buby camp, and which he almost immedi-
ately sold for $100,000." The village of Buby a few
miles west of Crested Butte became a dependency of
the mine. Other discoveries, and other incipient
towns followed ; namely. Aspen, Gothic, Schofield,
Elko, Bellevue, Irwin, Pitkin, Virginia, Tin Cup,
Ohio City, Hillerton, Massive, and Highland. But
in the midst of hope and promise the brightest, a
thunderbolt fell. The Utes, viewins; the trradual,
but sure encroachments upon their reserved territory,
turned in their rage and slaughtered, not the intrud-
^^ A well-known mineralogist is reported to have said that while a pound
of Penn anthracite will make 25 pounds of steam, a pound of this bitumi-
nous coal will make 23 pounds; but while one pound of eastern anthracite
is burning, two pounds of this will bum. Therefore, while the pound of
Penn. anthracite is making 25 pounds of steam, this coal will generate 46
pounds. InrjersolVs Crest of the Continent, 257.
22 Grayheard's Colorado, 82. ' Graybeard ' is John F. Graff, and his book
series of letters to the P/iiladelpMa Press, being notes of a journey to Den-
ver and back, in the autumn and winter of 1881-2, p. 90, 1882. It is a
superficial but pleasantly written view of the country, gathered chiefly from
conversations with men.
624 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
ers, tliey were too many and strong, but their best
friend, the philanthropist Meeker, and* his family, at
the agenc}', as I have related. This outbreak was an
interruption, but not a long one. The rush to the
Guimison country in 1880 was greater than ever
before, being a repetition of the Leadville excitement.
A region was explored fifty by a hundred miles in
extent. The mineral formation while similar to that
of California gulch was less of the carbonate charac-
ter, and consequently more difficult of reduction,
sometimes requiring roasting. Yet, as the mines wera
frequent and rich, the Gunnison country, on account
of its extent, was regarded as the great treasury of
the state. In July 1881 the Denver and Rio Grande
railway was extended to Gunnison city, and in the
latter part of November to Crested Butte. Before
this, however, smelters and mills had been erected.
Such marvels of progress were seldom witnessed as
this mining and railroading progress in the heart of
the mountains; nor could it have been possible, no
matter how great the skill, without the native wealth
to sustain the outlay."
2^ Some facts with regard to Gunnison mines are here given. The forma-
tion of the mineral bearing country is generally porphyry, quartzite, and
limestone, or decomposed granite. Among the noteworthy lodes near Pitkin
are the Fairview, .Silver Islet, Silver Age, Terrible, Old Dominion, Green
Mountain Group, Silver Queen, Silver King, Western Hemisphere, Black
Cloud, Merrimac. an J Silver Point. The Fairview averaged in the early period
of its development, 100 ounces of silver per ton, with .38 per cent of lead; and
a large amount carried 450 of silver per ton. Silver Islet samples of dressed
ore averaged 450 ounces, undressed, 275, witii 25 per cent of copper. It
belonged to C. C. Puffer, who sold it for .S;W,000 before much work had been
done on it. Gov. Routt bought tlie Red Jacket, a 4-foot vein, for §20,000.
Near Ohio City were the Ohio, Dodson, Grand View, Ontario, (iold Point,
Humboldt, Tornado, Parole, Camp, and Gold Link. Free milling quartz and
gold were found near the surface, changing to silver below. Near Hillerton
the Prince mine, on Gold Hill, showed Hve feet of carbonates, carrying silver
272 ounces to the ton, and traces of gold. The Royal Oak Mining company
of New York owned mines in this section. Tin Cup, Silver Cup, Gold Cup,
(Johlen Queen, Hirbie Lee, AUentown, Anna, Dedricka, MayHowcr, Red Lion,
Thompson, Little .\nna, and Big Galena, were among tlie prominent mines
about Tin Cu]). The (Jolden Queen was one of the few true fissure veins,
assaying S()0 per ton, mostly in gold, and showing cube galena. The Tin Cup,
Gobi Cup, and Silver Cup were on one lode or deposit, being carbonates,
in limestone, worked by the Bahl Mountain co., and paying well in silver.
Highland Mining district on K oaring fork and Castle creek contained a belt
of umestone 18 miles long by 3 miles in width, between these streams in which
GUNNISON MINES. 52^
I have now given the prmcipal history of silver
and gold mining in Colorado for the first twenty
years, from 1859-60 to 1879-80. A detailed account
of all the minor discoveries would be more tedious
than interesting. In the following chapters a sum-
ming of results, brought down as nearly to 1886 as
amid transition so rapid it will be possible to do,
will conclude the history of this portion of the state."
an immense amount of mineral was found. The Monarch lode cropped out
of the earth 20 feet in height and 25 feet in thickness, averaging 60 ounces of
silver to the ton. The Smuggler, Spar, Cphir, and Richmond yielded hand-
somely— the Ophir .$500 per ton, the Richmond, owned by Stevens and Leiter,
from §70 to $100 per ton. The Smuggler, the oldest location near Aspen
City, carried from 70 to 100 ounces of silver per ton. The ore of the spar was
heavy baryta, with masses of copper and chlorides yielding richly. The Sil-
ver Bill lode .showed native silver, and milled 94 ounces per ton. The Little
Russell milled $300 per ton. Massive City is in the centre of a carbonate belt.
Ruby was regarded as the point of convergence of three mineral belts, and the
richest of all the districts. Among its notable mines were the Forest Queen,
Lead Chief, Bullion King, Independence, Monto Cristo, Rul^y Chief, Little
Minnie, Silver Hill Crystal, Zume, Justice, Bobtail, Hopewell, Pickwick,
Fourth of July, Eureka, and Old Missouri. The ore of the first 7 named
yielded from $200 to $2,000 per ton. The Good Enough Smelting co. erected
in ISSO a chlorodizing and amalgamating mill, the machinery of which filled
25 railway cars. W. H. Webb, J. R. 'i'. Lindley, S. L. Townsend, and M.
B. C. Wright were owners in this plank. The Fireside, Ruby, Equator,
Morning Star, Dictator, Capitol, Hunkidori, and Hub are in this district.
The first location, the Ruby Chief, was made by James Brennan, It carried
ruby mineral. The Forest Queen in 1879 shipped 24 tons of picked ore to
Pueblo and Denver that yielded $10, 800. Crested Butte had a smelter in 1879
though there are no silver mines in its immediate vicinity. Gothic district,
7 miles north of Crested Butte, is located on Copper creek and East river.
Its business center is Gothic City at the foot of the Gothic mountain. Among
the noted mines are Independent, Silver Spence, Rensselaer, Vermont, Jenny
Lind, Keno, Wolverine, Triumph, and Silver Queen, which carries 350 ounces
of silver per ton of gray copper. Goodwin & Co. own the mine. The Silver
Spence has a vein of galena, antimonial silver, native and ruby silver and sul-
phurets, from 4 to 20 inches in thickness. The Evening Star lode, on the same
creek, is of fine-grained galena ore intermixed with white feldspar. There
were four smelters in the Gothic district in 1880, within a radius of ten miles.
On Rock creek were also many argentiferous veins and a smelter. The Sil-
ver Reef, three feet wide, was purchased by T. Foley of Leadville and E. B.
Craven of Canon City. Discoveries had been made the same year on Grizzly
creek, 30 miles within the Indian reservation.
2* Some of the authorities consulted for this chapter and not previously
noted, are: Neio Colorado and the Santa F4 Trail, by A. A. Hayes, Jr, which,
while it touches on the subjects herein contained, is chiefly a humorous view
of unfamiliar scenes, and of little vahie as an authority. Tlie Footprints of
Time, and a Complete Analysis of our Amencan System of Government, p. 738,
by Claarles Bancroft, Root publisher, Burlington, Iowa, 1877, is as its name
implies a compedium of facts relating to our govermental system, and con-
tains a brief outline of the history of each state and territory. A useful book
of reference. Sianmering in Colorado h Si volume of 158 pages published at
Denver in 1874, by Richards & Co., with the design of attracting tourists to the
grand and romantic sceuery of the Eocky mountains. It is descriptive, with
526 FURTHER DEVEIX)PMENT,
a few photographic views, ami a table of altitudes ami distances. Colorado and
J/o/n^'.^ in t/te A<m' WtJit, liy E. 1'. leuiicy, president of Colorado college, p.
118, liostoa, ISSO, IS proljal)ly intended to advertise the college; at the same
time it givei a pleasant impression of Colorado as a whole, and is a readable
hook on a piano above comicality, at which it is fashionable to strain in nuul-
ern travels. Twj Tliousuwl MiU-s mi IlorneUick, by James F. Melmc, p. 317,
New York, lSo7, is tlie narrative of a journey to Santa Ke and back in INGG,
but contains more than the ordinary amount of information to be found in
ouch books, and for the date at which it was ])ublished waa interesting, while
much tliat it contains is still of value. Melinc was a contributor to the
C'Uh'Uir ly'orl'l, in whicii the above narrative first appeared. He died at
Brooklyn, Aug. 14, 1873, aged 00 years. The MineJi of' Colonulo, by Ovando
J. Hollister, editor and proprietor of the Culonulo Miniw/ Jnurnal, is a vol-
ume of 450 page 4, devoted to a brief historical sketch of the discovery ot
the mines previous to 18G7, witli a description of tlie different districts as they
then existed, for which reason it deals more with gold than silver mining.
It is surticiently practical and scientific together to be intelligible to the gen-
eral reader.
Tlic Cohrndo Miniiuj Dirert-ynj and Miiiin-j Laivx, 1883, p. 908, contains
a description of every developed mine in tiie state at the date, arranged by
counties, with the statutes on mining, an admirable authority for its pur-
pose. On the. Plains and anion;/ the Peaka, or how Mrs Muxinell Made her
Natural Hi.-itory Collection, by .Nlary Dartt, Philatlelphia, 1879, furnishes lit-
tle tliat is available for the historian, but is in a measure authoritative as to
tlie fauna of tlie country. Mrs Maxwell's collection of Colorado mammals
and birds was exhibited in Washington in 187G-77, and received much praise.
HUt. Cobni'lo, MS., by Carlyle C. Davis, Leadville, treats of tlie history of
the Chronide, and other news))apers of Leadville, the early history of the
town, and its present prosperity and peculiarities. Davis was born at Olen
Falls, N. Y., in 1846, and came to Colorado in Oct. 1878, as one of the pro-
prietors of the Chronicle, which became a leading journal in the state. Towns
a'lotit Lcfulville, MS., by James N. Chipley, gives a brief account of the rije
of the mining towns in Lake co., and the history of leading mines. The
Ro!)ert E. Lee mine took out in one day, according to Chipley, $1 18,000, and
many days .$r)0,000. Chipley was a native of Mo., born in 1854, and came to
Denver in 1873; thence to Leadville in 1878. The Flush Tiwci in Colorado,
MS., by Charles Boettcher, Leadville, is a narrative of the author's migra-
tions, and incidentally a history of the places where he has tarried for certain
periods; at Cheyenne, in Wyoming, Greeley, Boulder, and Leadville, in Col-
orado. Boettcher was born in Germany in 1852, immigrating to tlie U. S. in
18G7, and to Wyoming in 18G8, whence he came to Colorado m 1871, and to
Leadville in 1878. Smtltiwj in Colorado, MS., by Franz Fohr, contains some
loose statements concerning smelting; as, for instance, that at Denver, Pueblo,
Caflon City, and Leadville, such works exist; and that the output of Lead-
ville alone, not including outlying camps, was in 1884, 1,000 tons of bullion
daily. Progroii in Cohrado, MS., by Charles I. Thompson, who had charge
of the St Louis smelting works, and the Leadville Improvement company's
property, gives a history of the trouldes of the latter corporation wiili squat-
ters, as well as many items of general informaticm. Thompson was born at
Newburg, N. \., in 1830, removed to Ohio in his childhood, to Kansas City
in 1805, and to Leatlville in 1878. Business in Leailville, MS., by Charles
Mater, is a view of early mining, supplemented by tlie crowning fact that
Leadville Iron and Silver Consolidated mines have yielded $30,000,000 annu-
ally ever since 1879, with many more general items of interest. Mater was
born in Germany in 1835, and came to the U. S. in 1853, migrating to Colo-
rado in 1869. Notes on Colorado, by William CJilpin, pp. b'2, is a pamphlet
descriptive and geological, issued in 1870. Milipauhe Monthly Mijazine,
June 1872, 203-10, descriptive. San Jwin and Olfier Shtche.i, MS., is a com-
pilation of historical articles, made for this work. The Mines of Cohrado, by
Samuel D. Silver, MS> deals with early times in California gulch, and the
BIBLIOGRAPHY 527
subsequent discoveries. Silver was bom in Fort Wayne in 1840, and came
to Colorado in 18"2. Karl's All the Year Hound in the Recesses of the Rocky
Mountains, pp. 20, descriptive, illustrated.
Journalism in Colorado has always ranked high, many of the weekly
and daily publications being of an order to do credit to cities much older
taan Denver. On the 23d of April, 1859, two newspapers were issued at
Denver, then Auraria, the Rocky Mountain Keius and the Clieri-y Creek Pio-
neer. The latter was issued by John Merrick, on a cap-size lever press, and
suspended after the first number. The Neu-s, which was owned Ijy William
!N. Byers and Thomas Gibson, continued to appear weekly. In July 1859,
Gibson sold to John L. Dadey, and he in 1870 to Byers, who conducted the
business alone for 8 years, when he sold to K. G. Cooper and associates, who
in two months sold to William A. H. Loveland and John Arkins, or the News
Printing co. In politics the News was republican until it came under late
management. The Rocky Mountain Gold RcpoHer was started in July 1859,
at Central City, by 'ihomas Gibson, who published it about three months,
when he returned to Nebraska. The press he used was that brought out by
Merrick, and after his departure it was taken to Golden City, where it served
the Boston co. to print the Western Mountaineer, which flourished for one
year under the conduct of George West, the material and press being sold in
Dec. 1860 to Mat. Riddlebarger, M-ho took it to Canon City. Early in the
spring of 1860 H. E. Rounds and Edward Bliss came from Chicago with a
newspaper outfit, which Byers & Dailey managed to consolidate with the
I^eivs. In the mean time Gil)son had returned to Denver with another press,
and on the 1st of ^lay, 1860, began the issue daily and weekly of the Rocky
Mountain Herall, the first daily in the territory. Ihe News soon followed
with a daily edition, and also published the Bulletin, for circulation among
immigrants, which was discontinued in a few months. The Xeivs and Herald
were active rivals. Both maintained pony-express lines to the principal min-
ing camps, deliveriug the daily in 3 or 4 hours — 25 cents a copy, $24 a year.
But this was not all the exti'a outlay required. There being no U. S. mail
for nearly two years, the mails from the east came by express, at 10c. a news-
paper and 25c. a letter, which, with the heavy freight and expresj charges
on material, made newspaper publication not so profitable as it seemed. As
soon as the telegraph was completed to Fort Kearny, the rival papers began
taking despatches forwarded by express daily, and, when the news was im-
portant, by pony, at a heavy cost. After the destruction of the News office,
in 1864, Byers & Dailey purchased the Herald to continue business. The
publication of the Herald was resumed, in 1868, by 0. J. Goldrick. Late in
1860 a third daily was started at Denver, called the Mountaineer, by Moore
and Coleman. It was strongly confederate in sentiment, and was bought out
and silenced by Byers & Dailey in the spring of 1861. During this year
there were two ephemeral publications at Central City, the most notable of
which was the Mining Life, by L. M. Amala, a native of the Sandwich
islands. The little press which had done duty in Central and Golden was
nsed in the winter of 1860-1 in starting the pioneer paper of southern Col-
orado, namely, the Canon City Times, owned by H. S. Millett and Riddle-
barger before mentioned. It ran but a few months, disappearing with the
population, and following it into South park, where already there had been
a paper, called the Miners' Record, started Ijy Byers & Dailey, in July 1861,
at Tarryall, which was discontinued after the political campaign of that year
was over, in which it played an important part. During the summer a ^heet
called the Colorado City Journal -wa,3 puolished in Colorado City, but printed
in Denver, on the Cornmomvealth press, and partly made up from that j)aper.
It was also a republican paper, edited by B. F. Crowell, and was discontin-
ued when the campaign ended. In the spring of 1862 there was a newspaper
published at Buckskin Joe, on the Times press, brought from Canon City,
which, like its predecessors, soon succumbed to changes in population and
business. On the 26th of July, 1862, Alfred Thompson established the
Miners' Register at Central City, a tri-weekly, printed on a ^Vashtagton hand-
528 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
press, anil type l>rought from Glenwood, Iowa. David C. Collier soon became
associated witii tlie Heijktvr as editor, and was of eminent service to the ter-
ritory in upholding tiie government during the rebellion. In April It>G3
Collier, in company with Hugli Glenn and George A. Wells, purchased the
paper. In May it was enlarged to a '24-colunin slieet, and in August was is-
sued as a daily. In Sept. Glenn sold out to Collier & Wells, and in Nov. the
Jicr/i.ffrr appeared in new type, and commenced the regular publication cf
telegraphic news. The telegraph was Completed at this interesting period of
the war, and extras were issued as often as any important news Mas received.
When tiie carriers appeared a sliout was raised, and everyone hastened into
the streets to learn and discuss tlie news. At tlie quartz-mills tlie sight of an
extra-carrier was the signal to l)low tiie -whistles for leaving work until the
despatches were read to tlie anxious men. Wells sold his interest in tlie paper
to Frank Hall in Oct. 1805, the firm being now Collier & Hall. In July 1808
the name was changed to Vi'utml Citji KcijiMer. In 1873 Collier disposed of
his interest to W. W. Whipple, Hall being editor. This jjartnership was not
of long durati"n; Hall became sole i)ro])rietor, and on June 1, 1877, the
whole establishment passed into the hands of James A. Smith and D. Mar-
low, who conducted it for 7 niontiis, when they took in H. M. Rhodes as
partner and editor. Alxmt tliis time, Feb. 1S78, another paper, named The
Ei'cnhvj Call, was started in Central, under tlie management of G. M. Laird
and D. Marlow. In May this firm purchased the Ji'djistcr, consolidating it
with the Call, under the name of L'eij>.ster-<'<ill, and issuing a daily and
weekly edition, Jolm S. Dormer editor-in-chief, and J. P \\ aterman mining
reporter. Throughout all its changes the livijl-itcr has remained republican.
In 1863 a paper was started at Black Hawk, called the Cobrndo Miner, by
W. Train Muyr, which became during the year the Blark Hawk Journal,
with HoUister & Blakesley publishers, and afterward HoUister & Hall. In
1860 this estaldishment was moved to Central, and published as the Timei,
by Henry Garbanati and 0. J. Goldrick. In politics it was democratic.
Early in 1808 Thomas J. Campbell purchased it, and, changing the name to
Colorado Ihnild. published a daily and weekly. In the latter part of 1870
it was sold to Frank Fossett, who managed it until it suspended altogether,
in 187.3. In Jan. 1806 the Valtmmt Bnllvthi was started on the same pioneer
press which had made the circuit of Central, (Joldcn, Canon City. Tarryall,
and Buckskin Joe, and been returned to its owners in Denver. Tlie propri-
etors of tlie BullcUn were W H. Allen and D. G. Scouten. In Ajiril 1877 it
was removed to Boulder, and puldislied as the Valley Newx, hy W. C. Cham-
berlain, for \h years. In the autumn of 1868 it became the Boulder County
Piomcr, J. K. AVliarton editf)r. Soon after the stockholders leased it to Rob-
ert H. Tiliiey, who clianged tlie name to The Boulder Conxhj Kewn. In 1870
the New.1 passed into the hands of D. A. Robinson and D. G. Scouten. In
May 1871 it was sold to Henry M. Cort. who sold it again, in Aug., to Wyn-
koop & Scouten; and before the year was out, Scouten and Joseph P. Mcintosh
owned it. In 1872 Wynkoop alone owned it. In 1874 it Mas sold to Amos
Bixby and Eugene Wilder, mIio enlarged it to an 8-column journal. In 1878
Bixby sold liis interest to William G. Shedd, proprietor of the Sunxhvie Cou-
rier, and tlie two papers were united, under tiie name of Keivs and Courier,
Shedd & Wilder proprietors, Thomas H. Evarts editor, assisted in 1879 by
P. A. Leonanl, and Charles Tucker. It Mas still a leading ncMspaper in
1886. The pioneer press, on which the Xcws Mas started, was afterward
taken to New Mexico, and used in issuing the first paper at ElizaliethtoMn.
The Suiifihiiie Courier was started by J. B. Bruner and J. W. Cainis in May
1875. Cairns sold in 1877 to HaMkins; and in the same year HaMkins sold
to William G. Shedd, who in 1878 purcliased the whole, and removed it to
Boulder, where it M'as consolidated with the Ketrs. In 1800 (ieorge West,
who had been captain in the 2d Colorado volunteer infantry, returned to
Golden, and estalilished The l^irmrrijif, a democratic journal, still in exist-
ence in 1886, and M'ith one excepticm the oldest established paper in Colorado.
West was a printer by trade, and had OM'ned, with others, a stereotype
THE PRESS. 529
fonndery in Boston before coming to Golden in 1859 with the Boston com-
pany. As a newspaper man he was always successful. The Denver Tritmne
was established in 1867 by H. Beckurts, and became one of the great dailies
of the city, issuing also a weekly, and being in politics republican. On the
1st of May, 1868, the Georgetown Colorado Miner was first issued, by E. J.
Wharton and A. W. Barnard. E. H. N. Patterson, who wrote over the sig-
nature of ' Sniktau, ' was for a long time connected with this paper. He died
in 1880. W. B. Vickers, another journalist, died the same year. The char-
acter of the Miner was always well sustained. On June 1, 1868, Pueblo was
presented with the first issue of its first local newspaper, the Colorado Chief-
tain, by M. Beshoar and Samuel McBride, proprietors, and George A. Hins-
dale and Wilbur F. Stone, editors. The paper was well printed and edited-
At one time Beshoar was sole owner, and at another McBride owned the
establishment. McBride finally sold to John J. Lambert, who continued to
publish it. George S. Adams and E. G. Stroud were employed upon its
editorial columns after Hinsdale and Stone. In 1872 a daily edition was
issued, with C. J. Reed as editor. After Reed came A. P. George, R. M.
Stevenson, C. Oonover, G. Shober, and G. G. Withers. The second news-
paper of Pueblo was published in 1871 by a stock company, with George A.
Hinsdale editor. It was democratic in politics. About the same time the
Caribou Post was published. Collier & Hall proprietors, and A. Bixby editor.
The Greeley Tribune was first published in 1870 by N. C. Meeker; and the
Greeley Sun in 1872, by H. A. French. Both were weekly. The Golden
Eagle, John Sewell proprietor, a repiiblican paper, was started 1871, and the
following year merged in the Golden Globe, both of Golden City. In July
1871 the Longmont Sentinel, the first newspaper in this colony, was published
by Lowe and Hall. It changed proprietors and name the following year,
and became the Longmont Press, E. F. Beckwith editor and publisher, and
F. C. Beckwith associate editor. F. C. Beckwith was born in N. H. in
1840. He received a good public school education, and came to Colorado at
the age of 19 years. He mined and farmed, and was active in founding
the town of Burlington, situated one half mile from the site of Longmont,
which superseded it, and which he was instrumental in establishing at
that place. The Denver Daily and Weekly Times was established in 1872
by Roger S. Woodbury; politics, republican. The Boulder Porky Moun-
tain Eagle, started in 1873 by William Morris, was sold to Wangelin & Til-
ney, who changed it to the Colorado Banner, a weekly. In 1880 Tilney
became sole owner. In 1876 the Black Hawk Post, a democratic journal,
was established by William McLaughlin andW. W. Sullivan. The lattei-
sold his interest to James R. Oliver, and McLaughlin soon after died.
It subsequently was owned by Oliver and Brandgust. In the same year
the Democrat- was started at Pueblo by A. Y. Hall. It was founded with
the material used a year or two earlier to start the Republican, by J. M.
Murphy, which was sold. HaU brothers were proprietors of the Demo-
crat for a time, when they sold it to another Missourian, named Royal, who
changed the name to the Daily Neivs. In 1877 the Longmont Printing
company issued the Post, edited by W. L. Condit. It was changed after a
short time to the Valley Home and Farm, and managed by W. E. Pabor in
the interest of agriculture, until it passed into the hands of a company, and
was renamed the 'Lojigmont Ledger. On the 24th of May, 1877, the George-
town Courier was first issued, J. S. Randall being proprietor and Samuel
Cushan editor. The first newspaper at Del Norte, The Prospector, was issued
in 1874 by Nicholas Lambert, brother of J. J. Lambert, who founded the
Pueblo Chieftain. In 1875 M. R. Moore became proprietor. The Cactus and
the Democrat appeared later at Del Norte, but were discontinued. The Sil-
verton Miner was started in 1875 by John R. Curry of Iowa. M. R. Moore
was editor in 1876. In 1875, also, the Silver World was first published at
Lake City by H. M. Woods, who sold it in 1877 to H. C. Olney. Moore was
editor in 1877-78. Woods started another paper in 1877 at Lake City, the
Crescent, which ran only one year. The Times was the first paper in Ouray, .
Hist. Nev. 34
530 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
founded by Ripley Brothers in 1877. The same year the San Juan Sentinel
was started and discuiitiiiuud. hi 1879 the Ouray Soliil Mitl/loon was estab-
lished by David F. Day. It is tlie property of the Muldoon Pubhshing com-
pany. Tliu same year the Cloora Juiinnd was started by Dr S. C. MoKeauey,
but only ran 3 months. Tlie Miiiimj IxcijUter of Lake City was started in
1880 by J. F. Downey. Tlie iSalitla MounUiin Mail was founded by M. R.
Moore in 1880, and sold in 1883 to W. W. Wallace. A great number of
newspapers, correspoudiug to tlie growth of new towns or the resurrection of
old ones, started up about this time. In 1880 theTelluride Journal was first
issued. In the same year the Bueiia Vista Miner started, E. D. Hunt pro-
prietor, who removed it to Maysville, and sold to J. S. Painter, the paper
being discontinued in 1882. In 1881 the Maysville Minimj Ledi/er commenced
publication, J. H. Nomaker proprietor. The office was removed to Salida, and
destroyed by fire in 1882. Mrs C. W. Ronmey established the first paper in
Durangoin 1880, soon after which the Durango //e /•«/(/ was publislied by Marsh
Brothers. Tompkins Brothers issued a paper for a short time at Nathorp in
1880, whicli was suspended. About the same time the Dolores A>(/*'was
published by Frank Hartman; and the MounUiineer, at St Elmo, by Howard
Russell; the True F'usxurc, at Alpine, which soon susj^nded; the Clmffee
County Tiint'.% at Buena Vista, by P. A. Leonard; and the Buena Vista Jler-
aid, by A. R. Kennedy, who sold it in 1884 to A. R. Crawson. Tlie Buena
Vista Democrat was issued in 1882 by J. A. Cheeley, who transferred it to
W. R. Logan. The Poncho Springs Herald, started by Tompkins Brothers
in 1881, was discontinued in 1882. In 1882 the Salida S'lifltiil ajipcared,
Petton & Brown owners. It was consolidated with the Moniit^iln Mail in
1883. In that year the Salida Neim Mas published by W. B. McKinney.
The Silverton Dctnorrat M^as issued first in 1882. On the 18th of Feb., 1880,
the Boulder i 'ounti/ Herald was established, by Otto H. Wangelin. On the
17th of April it issued the first daily published in Boulder. The Denver
Repuhlican, a daily and weekly, was founded in 1879 by the Republican com-
pany. Later it was consolidated with the Tribuue as the Tril/uiie-Repu/dican.
A number of other journals belong to Denver^the Colorado Journal, a
weekly, founded in 1872 by W. Witteborg; the Colorado Farmer, a weekly,
founded in 1873 by J. S. Stanger; the Prenhyterian, a monthly, founded in
1871 by S. Jackson; The Financial Era, a weekly, started in 1878 liy F. C.
Messenger & Co.; the Colorado Post, a weekly, issued by the News Printing
company in 1879; Tfie Colorado Anteliype, a monthly journal devoted to
'woman's political equality and individuality,' published by Mrs C. M.
Churchill, started in 1882; Re<d Estate and Minimi Review, first published in
1873 by T. E. Picott; Denver Opini^m, Inter-Ocean, Great West, and VideUe.
A paper called the Erans Journal was started at Evans in 1871 by James
Torrens, and one at Sterling at a later period. The Castle Rock News Letter
was published in 1875 l)y C. E. Parkinson, and the Castle Rock Journal v>aa
issued about 1880. The Fort Collins Erpress was the first paper in Larimer
county, and was founded by J. S. McClelland in 1873. The Fort Collins
Courier was founded Iiy Watrous and Pelton in 1878. W. E. Pabor started
the Colorado Grawje, an agricutural monthly journal, in 1876, at Longinont.
The Mentor was issued at Monument in 1878 by A. T. Blacl.ley. The Colo-
rado Springs Oazt'tle was established in 1873 by the Gazette Publishing Com-
pany. In the same year the Mount^iineerwuH started by a printing company
at the same place; and in 187.") the Deaf ami Mute Jndex, by H. M. Harliert.
More recent publications at Colorado Springs are the St^de Republic and the
Eveniwj limes. Pueblo and South Pueblo have added to the early El Paso
county journals the Banner, by A. J. Patrick; the Evening Star, a daily, by
Lacey & Westcott; Saturday Opinion, by J. A. Wayland; Commercial Stand-
ard, and Colorado Methodist. Bent county published first the Leader, in 1873,
at West Las Animas, C. W. Bowman projirietor, and the Trihune at La Junta
more recently. Custer county's first newspaper was the Rosita Index, started
in 187.T; and succeeded by the Sierra Journal at the same place; the Silver
Cliflf Tribune; the Miner, a daily and weekly, issued in 1878 by W. L. Stevens,
THE PRESS. 531
and the Prospector, a daily, owned by McKinney and Lacey. Fremont county
has the Canon City Rtcord, founded in 1875 by H. T. Blake; Canon City
Mtrcury; the Canon City Democrat; the Cold Creek Enterpn'-se, and Cold
Creek Hawkeye. Las Animas county was first represented in 1875 by the
Trinidad Enterprise, daily and weekly, by J. M. Rice, 1878, and by the
Revkio, Adoertker, and Xeia, the latter a daily and weekly, started by Henry
Sturgis in 1S7S, all at Triaidad. Huerfano county had the La Yeta Quill,
and a newspaper at Walsenburg. Saguache county has the Saguache Chron-
icle, founded by W. B. Felton in 1874, the Saguache Advance, and the
Bonanza E/iterpri-se, La Plata couaty is represented by the Soufhicest at Ani-
mas City, started by Engly & Reid in 1879, and by the Herald and Democrat
at Durango. Conejos county had the the Alamosa Xe^cs, started by M. Curtiss
in 1878, the Independent, started the same year by Hamm & Finley, the Gazette,
and later the Democrat. San Juan county added the Silverton Herald, and
Democrat, established in 1882, to its Pioneer Miner. Hinsdale county had a
second paper at Lake City, the Mining Register. Dolores county had but one
journal, the Rico Xev-s. Ouray county gained the Red Mountain Review.
Mesa county had the Grand Junction Neirs, and Grand Junction Democrat;
Montrose county the Messenger, and one other paper. Delta county had a
paper of its own. In Pitkin county were the Aspen Times and Siin. Gunni-
son's first newspaper was the Gunnison Xeirs, started in April 1880. It was
followed in May by the Review, both weekly journals. Soon the Kev:s sus-
pended, but late in 1881 another weekly, the Press, was started. In the
spring of 1882 the Revieic issued a daily, and soon the two papers consolidated
and issued the daily Revieic-Press, Aug. 1st. The Xeics was revived in the
spring of 1882 as the Xeics-Democrat. The Mining Journal, started in the
autumn, suspended in 4 months. Tlie Sun, started in the autumn of 1883,
survived 10 months. The county still had left 7 newspapers, besides those
in Gunnison City; namely, the Elk Mountain Pilot, at Irwin, established in
1880; the Crested Butte Gazette, established in 1880; Pitkin Independent, 1880;
Yil'^iQ. Mining News, 1882; Tomichi, Herald, 1882; Tin Cup Miner, 1880; Tin
Cup Banner, 1880, suspended in 1SS2; the Widte Pine Cone, 1883; and Gothic
Record. In Summit co. were the Breckenridge Leader, Breckemidge Journal,
and Dillon Enteiprise. Park county published the Fair Play Flume, the
Alma Bulletin, and the Como Headlight; Grand county, the Grand Lake
Enterprise; Clear Creek county, in addition to its papers already named, the
Silver Flume at Georgetown, and at Idaho Springs the Advance, the Iris, and
Gazette, Boulder added to the News-Courier the Herald, a daily and weekly.
Lake county, rich in journalism, had at Leadville the Eclipse, started by G.
F. \Yanles3 in 1878; the Reveille, founded by R. 8. Allen the same j"ear, daily
and weekly; the Leadville Chronicle, a daily, founded Jan. 29, 1879, by Davis,
Arkins, and Burnell; the Herald, a daOy, started by R. G. Dill in Oct. 1879;
the Democrat, a daily, founded Jan. 1, 1880, hj a stock company. In Oct.
1883 C. C. Davis purchased the Democrat, and changed its politics, but not
its name. The Times, an ovening daily, was started in 1881 by a stock com-
pany. Four successive weeklies under the same name — the Monday Morinng
News — have come into existence, to perish at the end of a few weeks, except
the last. The Mining Indej: also had a brief existence. The Leajlet also
belonged to the ephemeral class of publications. The journals in existence
in 1886 were the Chronicle, Herald, and Democrat, all repuljlican in poHtics,
although Lake county is democratic. The typographical, pictorial, and edi-
torial features of these journals are worthy of notice. The Chronicle-Annual
for Jan. 1882 is a complete representation of Leadville and the mining indus-
try, and also the scenic attractions of the county, with historical and
biographical sketches, presented in 42 quarto pages, in a handsome paper
cover. The Weekly Democrat for Jan. 1, 1881, contains 20 six-column pages
of matter concerning the mines of Lake county, with historical and other
matter, and numerous wood-cuts illustrative of the wonderful growth of the
then 4-year old city. The Rochj Mountain News Illustrated Almanac, 1882, is
a highly creditable publication, containing, besides much information, illus-
532 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
tration? of the natural history of the state, well executed. Tlie Deaver
jouruals, aaJ the uumeroua well-priuted pamphlets on all sorts of subjects,
exliibit the progress of the art preservative in Colorado.
la couaecbiou with the newspaper history of tlie country, L. R. Freeman
should be mentioned. In 1850 he took the first printing press that crossed
the Missouri river above St Louis to Fort Kearney, on the Platte. With
the advance of the Pacific railroad, he pursued his way westward, publishing
his paper, The Frontkr I/ulex, at Kearney, North Platte, Julesburg, Laramie,
Bear River, and Ogdca. In 1885 he was at Yakima, in Washington, working
his way to Puget sound. No other newspaper in the United States has so
varied a history as the fwl'x.
Among the authorities drawn upon for the above history of Colorado
journalism are Pitkin -i Politirnl VicwH, MS., and a dictation from Roger W.
W )adbiiry of the D/'norr Dally Times. Woodbury was born in N. H. in
183t, and came to Colorado in 18G6. After a few mouths in the mines he
resumed his trade of compositor on the Dcnvrr Trihine, but was soon made
local editor, and then managing editor and part owner. He sold his interest
in 1871, and the following year established the Daily Times. He had §20,-
000 when he started, but retained tlie sole ownersliip, and performed all the
editorial work until 1883, when he sold it for $42,500. He was appointed
brig. -gen. of the state militia in 1882, and served one term, and was president
of the Denver chamber of commerce. Byers Newspaper Press of Colormlo,
MS., is an invalualjle authority from 1859 down. Oood Times in Gunniion,
MS., by A. B. Johnson, furnislies tlie history of flush times and early news-
papers in that country. Johnson was born in Iowa in 1856, and graduated
from Simpson university in 1880. He was principal of a graded school in
Seward, Neb., for a year, and then came to Colorado. He was for a few
months editor of the C<t-<t.h Roch Jounvil, when he removed to Gunnison City
to take charge of the Daily Btvieto Press in the autumn of 1882. M. R.
M>ore's Pre-'is and Peopk of Colorado, MS., is another excellent authority on
newspaper matters, the author having been connected with half a dozen jour-
nals in the south and southwest portion of the state. Moore was born in
Indians in 1858, and came to Colorado in 1875. He belongs to the San Juan
country. James F. Meagher, in his Observations, MS., on Colorado, also
furnishes some newspaper information. He came to Colorado from New
York city, where he was born in 1841, and drove a six-yoke team of oxen up
the Platte in 1864. After residing in different parts of the state he settled
iu Salida.
Among other manuscript authorities is Carlyle C. Davis History of Colo-
rah. Davis was born at Clenn's Falls, N. Y., in 1846, and did not come to
Colorado until 1878, since which time he has been connected with journalism
in Leadville. El Pasj C-iunty, as ft lias been and Is, MS., contains a selec-
tion of extracts from dififerent journals on this subject, and incidentally on
newspapers. Byers' Ceniennud State, MS., 40, has some information on the
founding of county papers. So has Eaton's Gunni.snn Yext^'rday and To-day,
MS., 6, and Horn's Scientific Tour, MS., 5. Different publications treating
of journalism, to which reference has been made, are Farrets Colorado, the
Ryrky Mountain Gem, 66, a pamphlet published in 18()8 in Chicago by Ned.
E. Farrell, containing an epitome of the territorial jjliysical history and
resources, good for the period: In<je.rsolVs Knocking around the Roches, 10-11;
Pahor's Goh a>< an Aiiricaltural State, 78.^7; Balch's Minex and Miners, 355;
Fo'-.'^eM's Golorario, 158-9; Denver TrUnine, July 15, 1880; U. S. H ilfwr. Doc,
4;th cong. 2d sess., xiii. pt 8, pp. 209, 170-194; PcttenjiWa Nevjspaper DireC'
tory, 183-4; CorbeU's Lcjis. Manual, 39-43,
CHAPTER X.
AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
1861-1886.
Land Surveys — Analyses of Soils — Altitudes — Irrigation — Importance
OF THE Subject — Convention— Laws and Regulations— A Most Per-
fect System — Ditching — Greeley and the Union Colony — Land-
Investment, Canal, and Irrigating Companies — Grain-growing
Districts — Products — Horticultural and Agricultural Societies
— Granges — Failure of Cooperative Commerce — State Board of
Agriculture — Agricultutal College — Stock-raising — Native
Grasses — Incorporated Cattle Companies — Sheep and Horses.
Turning from metals and mines to the agricultural
and other interests of Colorado, we will find fresh
congratulations to offer the occupants of this favored
land. I have already briefly touched upon the fact
that in this portion of the elevated regions of the
mid-continent, as in other portions which were wont
to be represented by travellers as desert countries,
experiment proved that moisture only was required
to mantle the bare earth with bloom. Wherever
that was present, or could be introduced by artificial
means, farming was likely to prove remunerative.
The survey of the public lands began in 1861,^ the
work being carried on first in the Platte valley, where
the lands along the Cache-la-Poudre, Big Thompson,
Little Thompson, St Vrain, Boulder, Balston, Clear
1 The first surveyor -general of Colorado was Francis M. Case, who was
appointed soon after the establishment of the district of Colorado, April 5,
1861. The salary at that time was $3,000 a year; under the act of June 15,
1880, it was reduced to $2,500. Balch's Mines, Miners, etc., 569; Bi/ers' Cen-
tennial State, MS., 27; U. S. Sen. Jour., 400, 37, 2; U. S. Sen. Doc'., i. no. ],
616, 464-5, 37, 2. The office of the sur-gen. Avas opened June 17, 1861, the
standard meridian passing through Pueltlo, and about 18 miles east of Denver,
and the base line being on the 40th parallel.
534 AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
creek, Bear creek, and Cherry creek branches was
nearly all taken up in 18G2, as well as that on the
Foutaine-qui-Bouille' branch of the Arkansas. The
first three yeans' exi)erience taught the farmers to
depend upon artificial irrii^ation alone, for which
reason claims were nearly all bounded on one side by
a stream coming down from the highlands extending
some distance upon their margins to furnish the facil-
ities for filling the necessary ditches with water. The
surveyor-general in 1866 estimated the quantity'' of
land under cultivation to be 100,000 acres, and that one
half the population of 35,000 were engaged directly
or directly in agricultural pursuits. He also esti-
mated the area of arable land to be equal to 4,000,-
000 acres, and remarked that the immigration of
permanent well-to-do settlers kept the farming inter-
est up to the wants of the population.' Of the con-
dition of the farming interest at this period I have
spoken previously, stating that in 1866, for the first
time, the agricultural productions began to exceed
the wants of the population of Colorado, and to ofier
a surplus in the markets of Montana, and at the gov-
ernment posts. In 1867 the surveyor-general, refer-
ring to his predecessor's views, gives it as his opinion
that there were 10,000,000 acres of cultivable land in
the territory,* showing how the idea grew of the
agricultural capabilities of the mountain region out of
-The report of the sur-gen. for 1862 speaks of the Huerfano and Arkansas
rivers as having the most extensive grain growing farms east of the moun-
tains. On the Rio (irande also, and its tributaries, was a large population,
mostly Mexican, engaged in agricutural and pastoral pursuits. U. S. H. Ex.
Doc., ii. no. i., p. 11*2, 37, 3. According to Balch's Mines and Miners, 570, a
local land-office was established at Golden City June 2, 18G2, which was
removed to Denver; one at Denver Sept. 12, 18G4; one at Fairplay Oct. 29,
18t)7, removed to Leadville July 1879; one at Central City Dec. 27, 1867; one
at Puenlo May 27, 1870; one at Del Norte June 20, 1874; and one at Lake
City May 5, 1877. According to DcCourse^fs GUnvrxxl, MS., 2, a land-office
was established at Glenwoo<l m 1884. Durango has also a local land-office.
These .several offices are made necessary by the patenting of mining claims
since the act of July 1866.
3 Rept of John Pierce, in U. S. Mess, and Doc, Int. Dept, 1866-7, 2, 39,
371.
* W. H. Lessig, in Rej>t Sec. Int., 1867-8, iii. 40, 2. In the following year
he stated the ' common product ' of wheat to be from 40 to 60 bushels per
acre.
SOIL AND CLIMATE. 535
which Colorado was created. The report of the
land department in 1870 estimated the agricultural
productions of Colorado at 83,500,000, while the
bullion product was put down at .$4,000,000. An
abstract made in 1882 shows that in the ten previous
years 2,501,318.35 acres had been purchased for cash
or located with warrants,' besides the occupation of a
large unknown quantity of unpurchased public lands
by herdsmen.
^ The soil of Colorado varies with position. Its dis-
tinctive characteristics are the large proportion ^ of
potash, the form in which the phosphates exist, being
easily soluble in a weak acid; the low percentage of
organic matter and tho high proportion of nitrogen
contained in the organic matter ; the large proportion
of hme, and the generally readily available form of
all the constituents.' Climate is governed by alti-
tude, and there are infinite modifications.' In the
* U. S. H. Ex. Doc, xix. no. 72, p. 146, 47, 2. , , , .
6 Upland clay loam contains: Volatile matter, 1.31; matter soluble in
strong acid, 5 33; insoluble, 93.36. Adobe soil, volatile, 2.49; soluble
matter, 11.40; insoluble, 86.11. Platte valley soil, volatile matter, 10.10;
soluble, 2.58; insoluble, 87.32. Sandy clay loam, volatile matter, 4.23; sol-
uble, 3.98; insoluble, 92.28. The volatile matter contains nitrogen; the sol-
uble'lime, magnesia, potash, iron-oxide, alumnia, carbon, phosphoric, acid,
sulphuric acid, nitric acid, carbonic acid, chlorine, soda, etc. Colorado Soils,
by T. .Jamieson, Aberdeen, Scotland.
' William E. Pabor, associate editor of the ColoroAo Farmer, who has pub-
lished a little book, on Colorado as o.n A'jrkulfural State, quotes from a state-
ment concerning the soils of Utah, that they are not likely to be very different
from those of Colorado, and then gives them in the following proportions:
Black loam, 7,200, Sandy loam 3,800, loam and gravel 8,250, loam and clay
3,500, loam and alkali 1,200, clay and gravel 5,000, clay and plaster 3,500,
alkali, iron, and sand 2,500, sand, alkali, and volcanic ash 1,000. p. 40. But
this proportion is applicable only to the improved lands, and not to the whole
area. The altitude of towns and cities in feet is as follows: Alamost.,
7,492; Alma, 10,254; Animas City, 6,622; Baker Mme, 11,956; BakerviUe,
9J53; Black Hawk, 7,875; Boulder, 5,536; Breckenridge, 9,674; Canon,
5,287; Caribou, 9,905; Central, 8,300; Colorado Springs, 6,023; Conejos, 7,880;
Del Xorte, 7,750; Denver, 5,197; El Moro, 5,886: Empire, 8,583; Evans,
4,745; Fairplay, 9,964; Fall River, 7,719; Fort Collins, 4,815; Fort Garland.
7,945; Fort Lupton, 5,027; Fort Lyon, 3,725; Frisco, 9,500; Georgetown,
8,514; Gold Hill, 8,463; Golden, 5,687; Granite, 8,883; Greeley, 4,779; Gren-
ada, 3,434; Gunnison, 7,743; Hamilton, 9,743; Hermosillo, 4,723; Hot Sul-
phur Springs, 7,725; Howardville, 9,527; Idaho Springs, 7,512; Jamestown,
7,123; Jefferson. 9,862; Kit Carson, 4,307; Kokomo, 10,200; La .Junta, 4,1.37;
Lake City, 8,550: Las Animas, 3,952; Leadville, 10,247; Longmont, 4,957;
Los Pinos, 9,065; Manitou, 6,297: Marshall. 5.578; Montezuma. 10,29o;
Kederland, 8,263: XevadaviUe, 8.800: Oro, 10.704: Ouray. 7.640; Pagosa
Springs, 7,108; Present Help Mine, on Mt Lincoln, 14,000; Platteville,
53G AGRICITLTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
valley of the Platte the soil is identical with that of
the river-bottoms of the Missouri, while the uplands
have a rich, warm, sandy loam. The southern val-
leys are more sandy, and, of course, warmer at the
same elevation than the northern. The river-bot-
toms yield bountiful crops without irrigation, and the
u[)lands even more abundantly with it. In a t^eneral
sense agriculture in Colorado depends ui)on a judi-
cious use of water supplied to the thirsty earth by
artificial means ; and of irrigation I will give some
account in this place. As early as 1861 the legisla-
ture passed an act providing for the free use of the
water of any stream on the margin of a land claim ;
or if not situated upon any stream, for the right of
way of a ditch through the land lying between it and
the nearest water. The ditch should not be larger
than necessary, nor should there be any waste of
water;" and where the stream was not large enough
to supply the continuous wants of the entire country
dependent upon it, a justice of the peace should
appoint commissioners to apportion the water equita-
bly, to settle disputes, and assess damages where they
were shown to occur. The right to use a water-
wheel or other machinery for raising water to a
required level was granted by law, and o+her privi-
leges and restrictions enacted.* This law was amended
from time to time as a knowledge of the wants of
the agriculturalists suggested, and in 1872 irrigating
ditches were exempted from taxation. In 1876 a
5,f)!»0; North Pueblo, 4,713; Soutli Puel)lo, 4,076; Quartz Hill, 9,.300; RoUins-
ville, 8,.323; Rosita, 8,500; Saguaclie, 7,7-23; Saint J(.hn, 10.807; Salt Works
in Soutli Park, 8,917; Silverton, '.(,400; Steven's Mine, 11.943; TerriMe Mine,
9,243; Triuidatl, 0,0.32; Unconipaligre Agency, 6,400; White River Agency,
6,491. From this list it Mill he seen that only two towns are umler 4,(MK) feet
in altitude; 9 are over 4,000; 7 are over .'),06(); 0 are over 6,000; 12 are over
7,0(K); 11 are over 8,000; 8 are over 9,000; 7 are over 10,000; 2 are over
11,0(K), and 1, 14,000. FosmU'a Cnlmuln, 14-15. It is needless to remark that
only mining towns exist at an altitude ahove 7.r)00 feet.
" Meline remarks in 1866, in Tu-n Thxiisuwl .\fil,.'< on HorKehirl; 88, tliat
the ditches were dug too deep, at too great an incline, creating a current
which washed out and deepened the water-way, and that there was conse-
quently a waste of water. Probably experience taught the owners to avoid
these errors.
* Stasion Lam, 18C1, G7-9.
IRRIGATION. 537
law was placed on the statute book forbidding any
person in the summer season to run through an irri-
gating canal any greater quantity of water than abso-
lutely needful for domestic purposes, the watering oi
stock, and moistening his land/' Other matters, such
as priority of right and association for purposes of
irrigation, came up and were discussed and settled by
statutes from time to time, the importance of the
equal distribution of water growing more and more
apparent. And not only as relating to lands usually
regarded as cultivable, but as applied to a large extent
of country known as arid lands, which down to a
recent period had been looked upon as worthless.
This subject had engaged the attention of think-
ing men in Colorado, who believed that the whole or
much of the great wastes in the several states and
territories west of the Missouri not sufficiently
watered by rainfall might be redeemed by an inter-
state system of irrigation, and for the purpose of dis-
cussing and bringing the subject before the people a
convention of trans-Missouri states was held at Den-
ver October 15, 1873,^' at which was agitated the
question of the interest of the general government in
assisting to recover from sterility so great a portion of
the public domain. Little resulted from the conven-
tion, except the enlargement of men's ideas in the
direction of scientific agriculture.^'
In 1879 the department of agriculture appointed a
commissioner, J. Brisbin Walker, to visit Colorado to
take observations of the country preliminary to mak-
ing a practical test of the value of artesian wells in
furnishing water for irrigation." Government, how-
i« Colo Gen. Laivs, 1877, 518; Bow's Tour in America, 103-14.
^^ The convention was addressed by Gov. Elbert, through whose efforts
chiefly it was brought together. See Speech of Elbert before the Convention of
Tram- Missouri States, 4-8.
1^ HepoH on the Problems of Irrirjation, by William Ham Hall, state engi-
neer of California, dealing with the social, political, and legal questions; the
physical, practical, and technical obstacles to be overcome, with the con-
struction, operation, and maintenance of irrigation works, is a most import-
ant publication exhaustive of a subject still comparatively novel in the United
States.
^^ Denver Ti-Hmne, Nov. 13 and 22, 1879.
538 AGRICULTURE AXD STOCK RAISING.
ever, has been anticipated in the appHcation of
acquired information by enterprising companies, which
a^p rapidly redeeming arid lands, and filling their
coffers at the same time.
The first canals were constructed in Weld county,
one at Greeley by the Union colony," and another at
Evans, both taking water from the south Platte, and
conducting it for six or eight miles among farms.
In ]877 English capitalists organized the Colorado
Mortgage and Investment company, which, among
other things, became interested in irrigation, organ-
izing a subordinate branch at Fort Collins under the
name of Larimer and Weld Irrigation compan}^
which purchased water rights, and as nmch land as
could be obtained, and constructed a canal over fifty
miles in length. This proved a profitable investment.
Water rights were sold for $2, and later for $1.50, an
acre ; and the land, obtained at government or rail-
road prices, brought from $13 to $15 per acre, with a
perpetual water right. The High Line Irrigating
'^This canal, Hayden remarks, has too great a fall, the current being so
strong that it is with difficulty forded by teams. The Union colony was
organized in New York on the 23d of Dec. 18(59, witli 59 members, to which
many others were soon added. It was a direct outgrowth of the advertising
whicli tlie jV. Y. Trilrune give Colorado. Horace Greeley was its prime
mover and treasurer, and one of its most active agents was N. C. Meeker,
also of the Tri/mnc. It sent out a locating committee, consisting of Meeker,
H. T. We-it, and R. A. Cameron, wlio, after looking over tlie ground, deter-
mined upon tlie present site of Greeley, ia Weld county. They purchased
12,000 acres from tlie Denver Pacific Railway co. and others, and made
arrangements for the purchase of (50,000 acres of government and 50,000 acres
railroad land within three years, at from S3 to §4 per acre, by paying interest
from the date of contract. Cliarters were obtained for 'rrigating-canals cov-
ering tlie entire area. A town was laid off at the delta formed by the Cach©»
la-Poudre and Platte rivers, on the line of the Denver Pacific R. U., and
subdivided into 520 business lots, 25 x 100 feet in size; G73 residence lots,
ranging from 50 by 190 to 200 by 190; and 277 lots reserved for public build-
ings, schools, churches, etc. The adjacent lands were divided into plats of from
5 to 120 acres, according to the distance from the town centre, and each mem-
ber allowed to select one. under his certificate of member.ship. A public
square of 10 acres M'as reserved in the middle of the town, artificial lakes
constructed, trees planted, and by .Tune 1870 water Mas flowing through all
the principal streets from a canal fed by the river. In 1871 the colony con-
tained 350 buildings of all descriptions, 17 stores, 3 lumber-yards, 3 lilack-
smith and wagon shops, a newspaper office, and livery-stable. Tlie colony
was not cooperative, beyond a general irrifrating. fencing, and ])ublic-build-
ings fund or funds. Bi/crs Cn,t<,i>il"l Sf'U,\ MS., 39-40; Saunders Tkrowjh the
Liijlu ConUmnt, 51-3, Loudou, 1679, bvo, 409 p.
IRRiaATION. 539
canal of the Platts Land company, another foreign
organization's work, is a still longer and larger canal
to irrigate the high plains east, south-east, and north-
east of Denver, by making a wide detour, in some
places constructing tunnels, and in others flumes. The
cost in 1884 had reached two and a half million dol-
lars. It is thirty-six feet wide on the bottom, and
seven feet deep for the first thirty miles, after which
it gradually narrows and shallows. It is intended to
water 300 square miles of territory. The Northern
Colorado Irrigation company, which, at an enormous
outlay, constructed eighty miles of a main line of
canal, and as much more of lateral branches, com-
pleted its work in 1883 ; and immediately commenced
another seventy miles in length and sixty feet in
width at the bottom, extending from about Pueblo to
La Junta, in the neighboring county of Bent, and
taking water from the Arkansas river. Still another
corporation is the San Luis Park Irrigating company
of New England capitalists whose canals will irrigate
500,000 acres.^* The Larimer and Weld company
are also constructing a dam on the north Poudre,
which will supply water to land a thousand feet higher
than the valley of the stream. Obviously so exten-
sive a system of irrigation, involving such expendi-
ture, and aflecting so many rights and interests, must
become the subject of even more careful legislation
in the future than in the past.^*
The undulations of the plains in Colorado make
irrigation and cultivation easy. The water supplied
at the upper side of tho land is caused to flow gently
from a trench or furrow, in which frequent breaks are
1* It 13 estimated that 65,000 gallons annually are required to properly
irrigate one acre. Descriptive America, May 1884, p. 6. It is also ascertained
that land which has once been thoroughly soaked, except where very porous
and gravelly, requires less water than at first, and often becomes so wet as
to require drainage.
'^I find in Dmo's Tmir in America, Melbourne, 1884, p. 113, some sugges-
tions on this subject. He remarks that, ' For want of such laws the progress
of irrigation in California is seriously impeded.' Dow's book is a sensible
record of observations on the agriculture and resources of the U. S., neither
fulsome nor grudging. He was a special commissioner of the Australasian.
540 AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
made in tlie lower rim, slowly moistening the surface
of a field, which in two or three days is ready for the
plou^di. Cereals require to be watered only once or
twice in a season. Much has been said aljout the
amount of irrigable land in Colorado, whicli has been
estimated from 1,250,000 to 3,000,000 acres, of which
in 1882 only about 100,000 acres were in use.^' In
1889 it was estimated that there were at least 6,000
miles of main irrigating canals, with lateral branches
of much greater lenirth.
The prmcipal grain-producing counties of Colorado
at the present are five, Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson,
Larimer, and Weld, although wich the progress of
canals it is not safe to claim priority for an}-. Doubt-
less by the time my pages are in print some of the
southern counties will have become powerful rivals of
the northern belt. But as I prefer to keep to the
records of the state agriculturists for statements here
given, what is unknown is left to conjecture. The
five counties here mentioned produced in 1881, 980,-
000 bushels of wheat, and 66,000 bushels of corn. In
1882 four of the same counties produced 1,158,820
bushels of wheat, and 186,000 bushes of corn. The
crops of barley, oats, potatoes, hay, alfalfa, and vege-
tables were in proportion. The value of the yield of
five counties in 1881 was $1,771,750; of four counties
in 1882 it was $3,047,750. The increase is without
question due to the greater facilities for irrigation,
which in 1883 had more than doubled the cultivable
area of 1882." The total value of all the crops of the
state in 1882 was $8,947,500.
'" Pabor, in Colariulo as an AijriruUural State, 58, after 12 years of per-
sonal observation, publishes answers to the question, Is Colorado an agricul-
tural state ? in the atiinnative, ilescrilnng the various farming localities, and
giving facts regarding the culture of ^ains, fruits, and vegetables, with an
accKunt of irrigation, its expense to the individual, etc.
'" I have the Aurirultural SUiCmtirs of the. St/it^ of Colorado, pp. 10, for 1883,
before ine, a pamphlet issued by the state l)oard of agriculture. From its
tabulated report I gather that the amount of land in the M'hole state under
irrigation in 188.3 was 416,594 acres; the number of acres in pasture, 1,367,-
25."v. in oats, .33.084 acres, yielding 9'J."),0*_".) bushels; in barley. 0.179 acres
yielding 112,701 bushels; in rye, 1,028 acres, yielding 20,343 bushels; in com,
FRUIT GROWING. 541
The natural fruits of a country cannot be relied
upon as indications of what the land will produce
under cultivation. Colorado presented to the first
explorers only a worthless thorn-apple; a rare but
pleasant flavored plum; small, acid gooseberries, of
little value ; a cherry which was rather palatable ;
currants of black, yellow, and red varieties ; with
raspberries, strawberries, and whortleberries in great
abundance Apples, pears, peaches, and grapes were
raised in the gardens of the Mexican inhabitants of
San Luis park before the settlement by Americans
from the United States These fruits first appeared
among the farmers on the Arkansas Strawberries
began to be cultivated in 1865. The following year
they brought $3 per quart. About the same time
apples, pears, and peaches were being raised from seed
in the Platte valley, and grew thriftily at first, but
died afterwards because their roots had penetrated
below the soil to gravel and sand. Small fruits were
then set out, and flourished ^' where the soil was moist
at certain seasons of the year. Experience showed
that where trees were irrigated in the autumn they
were able to resist winter killing, which was caused
not by cold, but by the drying up of the wood by the
sunshine of the winter season. Upon making this
discovery, about 1873, fruit trees began again to be
planted, since which time there has been a steady
improvement in horticulture. '^'' Among the first hor-
ticulturalists were Joseph Wolff" of Boulder, whose
first orchard of three hundred trees was killed ; J W.
Parker of the Cache-la-Poudre valley, J. S. Flory
of St Vrain valley, Anson Pudd, and W. A. Helm of
21,763 acres, yielding 356,478 biishels; in buckwheat, 7, yielding lo-i bushels;
in wheat, 67,342 acres, yielding 1,419,443 bushels. A few acres of sorghum
were grown in 1873 in Boulder, Bent, Delta, Fremont, Larimer, ^lontrose,
Pueblo, and Weld counties, aggregating 67 acres, and yielding 2,366 gallons
of syrup. Grayheard's Colorado, 55-7; Galveston News, Dec. 1, 1874, p. 3; Los
Anr/eles Eijemnf/ Errpress, Aug 4, 1884.
'i9 HoUister's Mines of Colorado, 424-5; Denver Mountain Herald, July 2,
1869.
■^Btfers Ceuiennial State, MS., 35.
642 AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
Canon City, and Jesse Frazier, ten miles east of
Canon, in tlie Arkansas valley. The state organized
a horticultural society, of which 1). S. (xrinies was
made president, anil the legislature of 1883 passed an
act to ** encourage horticulture and forestry in Colo-
rado, and to establish a state bureau of horticulture,""
appro[)riating $1,0U0 annually toward its sui»port.
The amount of land in orchards in 1882 was given in
at 2,500 acres, and the value of the fruit at $1,250,000.
An agricultural society was organized in 18G3, and in
1864 a charter was obtained from the legislature, with
an appropriation of $500 to be expended in prizes,
the society assuming the burden of erecting the build-
ings and purchasing the land for a fair ground.''
Granges were established in 1874 throughout the
agricultural portions of the territory, the movement
being for some time a popular one, each grange hav-
ing its hall for holding meetings. In Denver the
granges had a commercial establishment and a flour-
ing mill on the principle of cooperative societies, but
they failed for want of cohesiveness.
In 1877 the State Board of Agriculture was estab-
lished, and at the same session an act was passed to
provide for the building and maintenance of the agri-
cultural college of Colorado, the real property of
which was vested in the above board, which was
given control of the college and farm, and of all appro-
priations for the support of the institution ; the col-
le^'-e to be built and maintained by a direct tax of one
tenth of one mill on every dollar of real and personal
property in the state." The college was located at
Fort Collins, in Larimer county, and was opened in
1879. Scholarship was made free with certain limi-
^^Coh Seji-iion Laws, 1883, 210. For statistics I have consulted Pabor's
book, Jii-jit of Suite GeoloijU, 1881-2, and liiyt of the Sttttc Boanl of Aijri-
culture, 1883.
•■'^Tlie incorporators were J. B. Doyle, R. Stubbs, S. Cort, Lewis Joneg,
H. E. Esterdav, A. O. Patterson, David Gregory, R. Sopris, W. N. Byers,
Tlionias Gibson, F. H. Judd, J. H. Fames, Celedcn Valdez and V. Wellman.
Colo SexMryn Laws, 1864, 221; S(yprii' Scttlpinent '/ D< yif r, MS., 13._
'" For the acts governing these boards, see Cob (Jeiu Laws, 1877, pp. 88-
90, 97-lOG; C Jo Session Lawn, 1879, 6-7.
STOCK RAISING. 643
tatlons as to age and previous requirements. Grad-
uation confers the degree of bachelor of science.
Institutes are held during the winter at different
points for the benefit of farmers in the vicinity, at
which valuable papers are read by the faculty, who
having experimented on the college farm are able to
impart the result of their investigation, to those who
have less time, knowledge, and facilities for experi-
mental work."
Reports are annually published by the state board
of agriculture, which, with the several agricultural
journals of the state, place Colorado upon an equality
with the older agricultural communities in point of
progressive farming.
Stock raising in Colorado has attained an impor-
tance second only to mining, the estimated total value
of its cattle, sheep, and other animals m 1884 being
$25,090,000. I have given so particular an account
of cattle raising as an industry in my History of Mon-
tana that it is not necessary to repeat it here, the cus-
toms and laws to which the keeping of large herds
has given rise being substantially the same in both
countries. The discovery of the nutritive quality of
the grasses of the Platte valley was made as early as
1858, when A. J. Williams, who was among its pio-
neers, not having any food for his eighteen oxen dur-
ing the winter, turned them out upon an island in the
Platte near old Fort Lupton to take their chances of
living, or of dying by starvation. To his surprise, on
visiting the island in the spring of 1859, he found
them alive, sleek, and fat. But in 1847 St Vrain and
Bent had driven several thousand cattle from Texas
and New Mexico to the Arkansas valley, and wintered
them near Bent's fort. Subsequently Maxwell and
others established cattle ranches on the streams lead-
2* The faculty consisted in 1885 of C. L. Ingersoll. president, prof, logic
and pol. economy; A. E. Blount, prof. ag. and botany; Charles F. Davis,
B. S., prof. chem. and physios; F. H. Williams, prof, pract. mech. and draw-
ing. Pabor, Colo as an Agricultural State, 182.
5U AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
iug out of the Sierra Mojada, at the foot of the Hua-
jatollas, and on the up[)er Las Animas. Around
Canon City stock raising was begun, in a small way,
about 18G2-3. Beckwith brought the first large herd
into Wet Mountain valley from Texas in 1872. Two
herds were driven across the divide between the
Arkansas and South Platte before 18G6, when Wil-
liams, who had not lost sight of the subject, brought
1.500 Mexican cattle into Platte valley, since which
time the importation has never ceased," although for
a number of years the business was conducted on a
small scale, compared with latter investments."
The principal grasses on which cattle fatten are the
gramma and bunch species, the former having a small
seed i^rrowinoj on one side at a right ano;le to the stalk.
■■'^I find this statement in an extract from Out West, Sept. 1873, in The
Discoverer of Pike's Peak, MS. It agrees with the statement in Williams'
biography, in Jfiit. Demvr, G27-9. Sopris mentions as the tirst importers of
cattle from Texas John W. Allen, and Reed, whose first name seems to have
heen Allen. The former died at Denver in 1881, and the latter returned to
Lexington, Mo., in 1876. Thomas W., William, Andrew Wilson, and John
Hitson were among the first to avail themselves of the opportunity offered
to make money by raising cattle. Settlement of Denver, MS., 16. Byers men-
tions J. W. Ills'. Hist. Colo, MS., 42. Later stock-men were H. S. Holly &
Co., Jonei Brothers, Beatty Brothers, Lane & Murray, Towers & Gudgell,
Downen Brotliers, H. B. Carter, R. M. Moore, and others.
'^^ According to Wolfe Londoner, Texas cattle were imported for beef only,
and fattened on the grass of the plains. Colorado Minimj Can.ps, MS., 10.
This dictation consists of fifteen pages of type-writing, equal to 30 pages of
tliis volume. Londoner was liorn in New York in 1835, came to Cal. in 18r)0,
a boy in a sailing vessel, and went to washing dishes for $50 per month.
After a time the auctioneer, Jessell, gave him employment at $150 a month.
Returning home in 1855, he was sent to Duljuque, la, to take cliarge of two
stores owned by his father. When the panic of 1857 came on there was a fail-
ure for the Londoners, who removed to St Louis. In the course of events Wolfe
found employment with A. Hanauer, later of Salt Lake, and Dold, who sent
him, in 1860, to Colorado to erect a business-house in Denver, and afterward
in Cafion City, where they put liiin in charge of 850,000 worth of goods, and
tlie finest stone liuilding in the territory. Tlie Baker exploring party for San
Juan outfitted at this store. When business declined in Canon City, Lon-
doner was sent to California gidch, tlien in tlie height of its prosperity, and
when tliat camp was deserted, in 1866. he went to I)enver. Being now pos-
sessed of means of his own, Londoner engaged in merchandising witli his
brother, and made money, until in 188-i his sales amounted to $1,000. (XX)
annually. He was elected county commissioner and chairman of the com-
mittee on finance, which devolved upon him the building of the Denver court-
house, which cost .$300,000, tlie land on which it stands being worth $75,000
more. The building and furniture are the pride of Denver, and for the man-
ner in which Londoner discharged his trust, the board, when he left it, 'drew
up a resolution which was good enough to put on my grave when I die,' saya
the recipient of the testimonial.
CATTLE. 545
When not irrigated, it is only a few inches high, but
grows to two feet in height when furnished with
water, and is better feed than any native grass known.
This grows near the mountains, buffalo grass on the
plains, and bunch grass on the mountain sides.
Besides these three there were exhibited at the expo-
sition in Denver, in 1884, over a hundred varieties of
native grasses, all having a seed on the side, except
the bunch grasses." Cattle so well fed will live a
week with nothing to eat, and a snowfall seldom lasts
a longer time. Should the snow remain, the cattle
stampede to the Arkansas valley ; so that, with the
advantages of the climate and the sagacity of the
animals, the owners sustain few losses. Still, pru-
dence will more and more dictate the saving of hay
for winter feeding.
With the growth of the business of cattle-raising
there came the formation of incorporated companies,
and legislative enactments. Among other laws which
concern the branding, herding, protection from dis-
ease, and other necessary regulations, is a statute
authorizing a commissioner to attend the annual
round-ups, and to seize and sell all un branded cattle
for the benefit of the common school fund.'* A state
board of inspectors exists by law. The objectionable
feature of the stock business would seem to be the
absolute control of immense tracts of country, with
the springs and streams, by companies or individuals,
as for example, the possession of many thousands of
acres of rich bottom land, and forty miles of water
front on the Arkansas river, by one man, J. W.
Prowers. The Prairie Cattle company have over
$3,000,000 invested in cattle, and control many miles
of water front, and hundreds of thousands of acres of
fenced pasture, in Bent county. In northern Colo-
rado the stock companies are chiefly in Weld and
Arapahoe counties ; south of the divide thev are for
"" Stone's General View, MS., 9-10; HoUviters Mines of Colorado, 426-9.
^Hollers Colorado Sketches, MS., 3; Farrel's Colo as 'Ji is, 53-5.
546 AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.
the most part in Bent, Las Animas, Elbert, and
Pueblo. There are two stock associations, one at Den-
ver"* and the otlierat Pueblo, Each holds an annual
meetint^^* for the discussion of subjects connected
with its interests." The Colorado Cattle company
secured 81,000 acres near Pueblo, under patent from
the government,'' and individual owners control other
large tracts in this portion of the state, requiring a
separate organization. The whole number of cattle
in Colorado in the spring of 1884 was given at 1,005,-
000." The number of sheep in the state, in May of
that year, was put down at 1,497,000. Shepherding
has made rapid advancement since 1871, about which
time sheep began to be imported in considerable num-
"Josej)!! L. Bailey was an active organizer of the Colorado Cattle-growers'
association, with lieathjuartcrs at Denver, and for two years its president.
He was from Pa, and arrived at Cherry creek in June 1859. He made some
money working for the Pike's Peak Express co., with which, and with credit,
he started in a meat market, clearing, with his partner, over Sf.?0,000 in 18
montlis. There l)eing no hanks in the countrj', the money was deposited in
the earth under their shop, and was stolen Ity their hook-keeper, leaving
them hankrupt. Bailey then took offices under the Denver city government
as street commissioner and marshal; and was deputy provost-mars-hal under
Wanless, and deputy U. S. marshal under A. C. Hunt. He was also in the
secret service of the treasury department, to hunt out the counterfeiters
which infested the territory for a time. He was deputy sheriff under Sopris,
Kent, Wilson, and Cook for a number of years, and was twice chosen a
member of the city council. The tire department of Denver owes much to
his exertions during two years while he was chief. He organized the Fire
men's Officers' association, to consult upon matters pertaining to the depart-
ment. In 1805 he established Bull's Head corral, the rendezvous of the
leading stock men of the western states.
^•The pres. of the northern association in 1883 was Jacob Scherrer; vice-
pres., J. F. Brown; sec, L. R. Tucker; treas., J. A. Cooper; ex. committee,
R. (r. Webster, W^ H. H. Cranmer, Joseph W. Bowles, H. H. Metcalf, J.
W. Snyder; state inspection commissioners, J. W. Prowers of Bent co., J. L.
Brush of Weld, Nelson Hallock of Lake, L. R. Tucker of Elbert, and (Jeorge
W. Thompson, Jr, of La Plata. Colo Sfork Lairx, .S, a compilation according
to act of the legislative assembly of 1883 of all the acts relating to stock, is
a good authority on stock matters.
^' Life on n Rnvrh, by R. Aldridge, contains an account of cattle-raising
in Colorado, Kansas, and Texas. Hall's Atimml Ri-j^t Clmwh Com. contains
statistics, 133-6. E. P. Tenney's Coin, am) Hn,mx in the Nnr HVa<, 1(>-19,
gives a condensed account of the grazing interest; also Hayden, Great WeM,,
1.34-8, and The Graziwi Interest and the Beef Snjij^li/, by A. T. Babl)itt, MS.,
11, a dictation from the manager of the Standard Cattle company of Wy-
oming.
^' Helena Indeipemlent, Aug. 14, 1879.
" These figures are taken from a list of county productions in Deiteriptive
Aweriea, May 4, 1884, p. 26; but a circular on Lixv-ntork Movement, issued in
18S4, by Wood brothers of Chicago places the production of Colorado at
991,700 cattle, and 1,260,000 sheep.
SHEEP AND HORSES, 547
bers. There was at first active hostility between the
owners of neat cattle and the sheep graziers, because
the pastures overrun by sheep were practically de-
stroyed for cattle. In the autumn of 1873 the own-
ers of flocks in Huerfano county complained to the
governor that parties had been attacked and killed,
or their animals scattered, with the avowed purpose
of driving this kind of stock out of the country. But
the legislature interposed with laws for the protection
of all stock-owners equally, and sheep raising is now
the third industry in the state, if it is separated from
cattle raising on one side, and agriculture on the
other. One-year-old lambs average four pounds,
ewes five or six, and rams twelve to fifteen pounds of
wool. The yearly clip exceeds 7,000,000 pounds,
having a value of $1,500,000. The flocks consist
mainly of Mexican sheep, improved by the introduc-
tion of thoroughbred Merino rams. Money invested
in sheep by care and good fortune could be doubled
in three years ; but as snow storms and late, cold,
spring rains have more power to harm sheep than
other stock, some allowance is made, in calculating
profits, for these contingencies.** Alfalfa ,as it was
found to be superior feed for sheep, as well as all kinds
of stock, began to be cultivated in the agricultural
counties with success, although it was found difficult
of introduction without irrigation. Horses were
longer in becoming so much objects of the stockmen's
care as in Nevada and Montana, requiring, as they
do, more attention than cattle, besides being more
expensive. In the whole state there were in 1886
about 100,000 horses and mules, and 25,000 uther
kinds of stock, comprising swine, and cashmere,
angora, and common goats.
3*Pabor, Coh as an A>fricuUural State, 193-201; Harper's Mag., 193-210,
Jan. 1880; Denver Body Mountain Neivs, Mov. 29, 1870; Cohrado Condensed,
42; Denver Tribune, Oct. 10, 1884; Proceedings 1st Nat. Conv. Cattle-men, 12-
13; Tenth Census, vol. 3, 144; Gunnison Sun, Jan. 5, 1884.
CHAPTER XI.
DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
1859-1886.
Survey — Denver Lands — Municipal Oroaxization — The Question of
Capital— Post-office and A^say Office— Railways— Telegraphs-
Street Railways— Public Buildings— Schools and Churches— Style
OF Architecture— Water System and Drainage — Manufactures —
Smelters — Chamber of Commerce — Exposition Grounds a>d Build-
ings— Banking — Society and Culture — Biography.
Considering the resources of the state to be first
mining, second stock-raising, and third agriculture, a
brief liistory of each of the counties will afford an
opportunity to speak of manufactures where they
occur, and of mineral resources not yet noted.
Arapahoe, first alphabetically, as well as in point
o^ time, had an irregular existence before ihe organi-
zation of the territory of Colorado, as the reader will
remember. In 1861 its boundaries were defined by
survey, its area being 4, 8 GO square miles in the form
of a parallelcjgram. The first gold discovery was
made in the western end of the country, but these
placers were soon exhausted and no new ones discov-
ered. The county was treeless and arid ex,*ept
immediately upon the streams, of which it had a good
number, and its prospects in 1800, viewed from almost
any standpoint, M'ere not flattering. Two things have
redeemed Arapahoe from ]iovertv, first the prosperity
of Denver as the metropolis, and later the redemption
of its arid lands by irrigation, of which I have already
spoken The value of its live stock in 1884 was $1,-
540,000. Of its agricultural productions in the past
(648)
TROGRESS OF THE CITY. 549
there is no record, but that there will be none in the
future the increasing area of irrigated land renders
improbable.
Denver, the county seat, has had its beginnings
narrated. It was incorporated first by the provisional
legislature, and organized a city government Decem-
ber 19, 1859, by the election of John C. Moore,
mayor. The government was not, however, strong
enough to prevent a conflict of lot owners and lot
jumpers the following summer, which had nearly ter-
mhiated in bloodshed, the secretary of the town com-
pany, Whitsitt, and others narrowly escaping being
shot by the irate squatters. A committee of citizens
maintained order until congress, in May 1864, passed
an act for their relief, by extending to Denver the
operation of the act of May 23, 1844, and authorizing
the probate judge of Arapahoe county to enter at the
minimum price, in trust for the righful occupants
according to their respective interests, section 33, and
the west half of section 34, in township 3, south of
range 68, west of the 6th principal meridian, reserv-
ing only such blocks and lots for government purposes
as the commissioner of the general land office should
designate.^ Thus was the question of titles settled.
In the meantime there had been a change of govern-
ment, and Denver was re-incorporated under the laws
of the first territorial legislature, November 7, 1861.
The first mayor was Charles A. Cook, the first board
of alderman H. J. Brendlinger, John A. Nye, L.
Mayer, W W. Barlow, J. E. Vawter, and L. Buttrick.
P. P. Wilcox was police magistrate, W. M. Keith
city marshal, J. Bright Smith city clerk and attor-
ney, E. D. Boyd city, surveyor, George W. Brown
treasurer and collector.^ D. D. Palmer street com-
missioner, and George E. Thornton chief of police.'
^Cong. Globe, 1863-4, app. 168; U. S. Mess, ayul Doc, 1856-66, 251-2.
^ Brown resigned in Dec. , and Joseph B. Cass was elected.
^ The Charter and Ordinances of the City of Denver, with amendments from
1861 to 1875, compiled by Alfred C. Phelps, Denver, 1878, contains the names
650 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
TIic city authorities had for a few years the same
trouljle with tlie outhiw chiss which every border town
of any magnitude has luid, in whicli the ordinary
course of justice was sometimes accelerated by the
vii^ilants of society. It suffered by flood and fire, as
I have before mentioned* in its early history.
X-LLLLLLLLLlLLLLLl/ff-
ICLLLLLLLLLLL-.ULLLftLCH
N II I ^ III t^l l"l:i 1
mmmm
mmmm
¥i.
mmm
Plan op Denver, 1862.
It was a question with the early settlers of Colo-
rado whether Denver or Canon City should be the
metropolis of the country. All depended upon the
route taken by the principal part of the inunigration
of the several boards of city officers during that period, for which I liave not
room. The town site of Denver absorbed Aiiraria, andtftuched upon the site
of Highland, later North Denver.
*Tlie fire broke out April 10, ISfi.S, between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morn-
ing. In s]tite of great exertions, the business portion of the city was almost
entirely destrojetl in a few hours. Many who lost everything at that time
were later among the solid men of Denver; but many more never recovered
from the disaster.
ROADS AND RAILROADS. 651
and freight. In 1859-60 the Platte and Arkansas
routes divided the travel. Denver was south of the
travelled route to Utah, Nevada, and California, and
was supposed by its rival to be almost hopelessly iso-
lated. But fortune, in collusion with the stage com-
pany, settled that matter. The Pike's peak company
having removed its line from the Smoky Hill fork of
Kansas river, which line terminated at Denver by the
route since followed by the Kansas Pacific railway to
the Platte route, was itself no longer on the main
line, but was forced to accept a branch from Jules-
burg, where the overland mail crossed the north side
of the Platte. The distance saved in the length of
the line to San Francisco by adopting the northern
route was 600 miles. The men of Denver used their
influence to procure a survey of a direct route from
their city to Salt Lake, and in 1861 E. L. Berthoud
was employed by W. H. Russell and Ben Holladay,
interested in transportation, to examine the country
west of Denver for such a route. The survey demon-
strated that a road could be laid down White river
and other streams which would shorten the distance
from the Missouri to the Pacific 250 miles. But the
Platte or old immigrant route continued to be used
until the railroad era succeeded to stage lines, and
Denver, although left aside, was still nearer to the
trans-continental artery than any other town in Colo-
rado, and with that advantage had to be content.^
Denver next secured the mint, which although not
a mint, but only a United States assaying office, was
* The first postmaster of Auraria was Henry Allen, appointed in the spring
of 1859, at which time there was no mail route created, and none was estab-
lished Ijefore the autumn of 1860. Allen soon resigned, and Park V7. Mc-
Clure was appointed, the first who had any office, ^^^len the war began he
joined the confederacy, and Samuel S. Curtis was appointed; but he also left
the place to take a commission in the federal army. His deputy acted as post-
master until the spring of 1864, when William N. Byers was appointed, who
held the office 2h years before resigning. This covers the pioneer period.
Byers was appointed again in 1879. Previous to the U. S. appointments the
Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express company, which was
the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express company under a new name, had
postmasters of its own, the first of whom was Amos Steck. Byers' Hist. Colo,
MS., 27-8.
652 DKWER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
a power, besides being a temptation, the first enibez-
zlciaunt of importance occurring in Denver being
j)er[>etrated by the pay clerk, who absconded with
$37,000, most of wliich M'as recovered, together witli
the thief. Defalcations had not been frecjuent in
the history of Colorado, and this one stirred pro-
foundly the moral sense of its people. Denver also
succeeded in retaining the ca})ital, as has been before
stated, against several attempts to locate it elsewhere.
But it has been to the energy with which the public-
spirited men of Denver have labored for the concen-
tration of railroads at this point that the continued
ascendency of this city has been due. Originally,
and when Bcrthoud surveyed the mail route to Salt
Lake, it was ex[)ected that the central line of Pacific
railroad would come to Denver; but its engineers
finding a more feasible route north, finally passed just
within the line of the territory, hijuring rather than
benefitting it. This inspired the friends of Colorado,
and particularly the leading men of Denver, with
the purpose of building a branch road to the Union
Pacific at Cheyenne. The Kansas Pacific was slowly
making its way westward, and was likely enough at
that time to come to Pueblo, the most formidable
rival of Denver. Whether to build a roatl toward
Cheyenne or Pueblo was for a time a moot question.'
« As early as 18G1 a railroad called the Colorado Central was jjrojected to
connect (iolden witli Denver, and to be extended to tlie other mining towns,
which road was chartered in 18G5. In 18G7 a proposition was made by the
Union Pacific to assist in completing a branch road into Colorado, if the
grading shouhl be done by the Coloradans. The first meeting to consider
this proposition, and of building the Colorado Central, was called July 10,
18G7, at Denver, and was thinly attended. It was resolved, however, to re-
quest the county commissioners to order an election for the purpose of voting
on tiie proposition to issue lionds for §'200,000 in aid of the branch road, and
such an election was ordered for tlio Otli of August. In tlie interim it be-
came known that the managers of tlie Colora(h> Central were working in the
interest of (iolden as the future capital, and designed taking the road on the
north and west side of the Platte instead of first to Denver, a movement in
which they were supported by the mountain towns. On this discovery the
commissioners of Arapahoe county so changed the order of election as to make
the issue of bonds dependent upon tlie road being constructed on tlie east side
of the Platte. The vote on tliis proposition stood 1,1(>0 for to loT against.
But tlie Colora<lo Central company in September declined the conditional
bonds. lu November a director of tlie Kansas Pacific company, James Archer,
RAILROADS. 553
While the claims of Colorado were receiving but
scant recognition from the transcontinental line, Gen-
visited Denver, and made it known that only by the contribution of $2,000,000
in county bonds could the building of the Kansas Pacific to that point be se-
cured. As this proposal was not to be entertained, it was determined to
make another etfort to secure connection with the Union Pacific, and to facili-
tate negotiations a board of trade was organized on the 13th of November.
On the following day George Francis Tram addressed the board, and steps
were taken to organize a railroad company. On the 17th and 18th other
meetings were held, and on the latter day the Denver Pacific Pvailway and
Telegraph company was organized, with a capital stock of S2, 000, 000, and a
board of directors. The officers elected on the 19th were B. M. Hughes,
president; Luther Kountze, vice-president; D. H. Moffat, Jr, treasurer; W.
T. Johnson, secretary; F. M. Case, chief engineer; John Pierce, consulting
engineer. In three days $300,000 had been subscribed, and an attempt was
made to induce the Colorado Central to accept the county bonds and join
forces, Ijut without success. In December the county commissioners issued a
call for another special election in Jan. 1868, to vote upon the proposition to
issae $500,000 in bonds to aid the railroads, for which the county was to re-
ceive the same amount in stock. Tlie vote stood 1,259 in favor of to 47
against the issue of the bonds, and soon after an arrangement was entered
into with the Union Pacific by which that company agreed to complete the
road whenever it should be ready for the rails. A bill was introduced in con-
gress early in the session of 1867-8 for the usual land grant to the Denver
Pacific; but before any action was taken, the Kansas Pacific road agreed to
transfer its land grant between Cheyenne and Denver to the Denver Pacific,
and the bill was amended to grant a subsidy in bonds to the latter company,
and in this form was passed in the senate July 25, 1S68. Nothing more Ijind-
ing than a verbal agreement had been passed between the Union and Denver
Pacific companies, when in March 1868 Gov. Evans and Surveyor-gen. Pierce,
representing the latter, met the directors of the Union Pacific cc. in New York
and reduced to writing the terms finally agreed upon, Mdiich were, on the
part of the Denver company, that the road, should be graded and the ties
laid; that the Denver Central and Georgetown Railroad company should be
organized; and that application should be made for a grant of land to the
Denver Pacific road. A line having been decided upon, work was com-
menced May 18, 1868, in the presence of a concourse of people. At the end
of three months the grading had l:)een completed to Evans, half the distance,
and in the autumn the road-bed was completed to Cheyenne. But so far
the Union Pacific company made no movement toward completing any part
of the road, and, indeed, the subsidy bill which had passed the senate had
failed in the lower house of congress, all of which delayed progress. On the
3d of March, 1869, however, another bill embodying the important features
of the former one was passed, and became a law. The grading and ties be-
ing ready, the Union Pacific was called upon to fulfil its contract, which it
did not do, owing to financial embarrassment. About this time, the presi-
dent of the Denver Pacific having died, Evans was elected to fill that posi-
tion, and he proposed to the Union Pacific to sell the iron to the Denver
Pacific, which would complete its own road. The former contract was
cancelled, and an arrangement entered into with the Kansas Pacific which
took a certain amount of the stock of the Denver Pacific, and proceeded with
the completion of the road, which was opened to Denver June 22, 1870, the
Georgetown miners contributing the silver spike which was used at the in-
auguration ceremonies, when, also, the corner-stone of the depot at Denver
was laid, with imposing rites, masonic and civic. Thus, after three years of
unintermitted effort, Denver established itself as the initial railroad point in
Colorado. In August of the same year the Kansas Pacific reached Denver.
The Denver Pacific was not for the first ten years financially remunerative,
554 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
eral William J. Palmer, who, while helping to build
the Kansas Pacific-, had vainly labored for its exten-
sion westward by way of the grand canon of the Ar-
kansas, conceived the idea of a railway which, running
southward from Denver along the base of the moun-
tains, should penetrate them by branches through
each availal)le canon and pass, and render tributary
the mineral wealth which they contained. It was
due no less to his foresight in the conception of this
enterprise than to the ability and energy which he
brought to bear on its execution, that the Denver
and Rio Grande railway became the greatest factor
in the development of Colorado, and in many respects
the most notable of North American railroads. From
1871, when construction began, to 1878, 337 miles of
road were built, connecting Denver with Canon City
and the adjacent coal-fields, with the extensive beds
of coking coal at El Moro, and with the town of Ala-
mosa on the Rio Grande del Norte, to reach which
point was made the then famous crossing of the
Sangre de Cristo range at Veta pass. In the latter
year began the great struggle with the Atchison,
Topeka, and Santa Fe for the possession of the
grand canon of the Arkansas, a detailed account of
which is elsewhere fjiven. Emerjrintr victorious from
this conflict in 1880, the Denver and Rio Grande en-
tered upon a career of great prosperity, building dur-
ing the next three years 980 miles of mountain road.^
first because it could not be while it had no feeders from the mining towns,
ami secondly because in 1877 the Union Pacific comiiany, failing to get con-
trol of it, constructeil a parallel road running to (Joldcn, ami absorbing the
Colorado Central, whicli had coinplete<l its roail to Denver, and extemleil to
(Georgetown, with branches to HIack Hawk and several other mining fowns.
This company also, in 1881, completed a cut ofT from .Tulesburg to Evans on
the Denver Pacific, which subsequently came undir its ccmtrnl.
'The achievements of the Denver and Rio Crande railway in mountain
climbing and caiion threading entitle it to its appellation of the ' scenic line of
the wor]<l.' Five times it crosses the main ranges of the Rockv mountains,
?n 1 ^r **'*^ following elevations above tlie sea: Veta pass, 0,.S0*2; Cund)res,
ii*-*o«' ^*''""*:^'''^® P^s, 10,418; Marshall ytass, 10.852; and Fremont pass,
1 1,.3'_8 feet. To gain these heights a grade of over 200 feet was necessarv for
about 100 miles of the route. A journey over these passes abounds in thrill-
ing interest, while the views may challenge eom]>aris(.n with Mie most note<l
of Alpine prospects. Two of the grandest of Rocky mountain cafioua, the
THE DENVER AND RIO GRANDE.
555
A telegraph line was established from Omaha to
Julesburg, on its way across the continent, in 1861,
graud cafion of the Arkansas anrl the black canon of the Gunnison, together
with a score of lesser ones, are traversed by this wonderful road. An idea
of its great general height above the sea may be gained from the fact that
about 400 miles, or one fourth of its entire length, lie wholly above 8,000
feet elevation. In 1883, Gen. Palmer resigned the presidency, and was suc-
ceeded by Fi-ed. W. Lovejoy. Various troubles, principally complications
with the Denver and Rio Grande Western railway and the Colorado Coal and
Iron companies, culminated in a receivership in July 1884, W. S. Jackson
being appointed receiver. Reorganization was effected in 1886, with Jackson
as president. Among other railways directly tributary to Denver I may
mention the Denver, South Park, and Pacific, which had its organization in
Denver, with Gov. John Evans at its head. It started up Platte canon, and in
1879-80 had a race for Leadville with the D. & R. G., in which it was beaten,
gaining trackage privileges, however, over its rival's line from Buena Visca
Map of the Alignment of the Denver and Rio Grande R. R. around
Dump Mountain,
to the 'Carbonate Camp.' It was soon afterward gold to the Union Pacific,
and extended by way of Alpine pass across the snowy range to the Gunnison
country, and also through the ten-mile region to Leadville. It comprises
about 300 miles of road with steep grades, and abounds in magnificent scen-
ery. The Denver, Utah, and Pacific is another Denver enterprise, and runs
to the mouth of the St. Vrain canon, a distance of 44 miles. The Denver
Circle railway was organized November 16, 1880, with W. A. H. Loveland
president. The design was to sui-round the city, and induce settlement in
the environs, making it convenient for manufacturers and stockmen to locate
their factories and yards upon the line. About five miles of narrow-gauge
road were constructed. Of railroads outside of Colorado, yet connected
with the interstate lines, the first, after the Kansas Pacific, to extend a long
arm to Denver, was the Burlington and Colorado, the extension of the Bur-
lington and Missouri river, itself a part of the great Chicago, Burlington, and
Ouincj'^ system, by which Denver was first given an unbroken connection with
Chicago. The Burlington reached Denver May 28, 1882. The Atchison,
Topeka, and Santa Fe had previously been built to Pueblo, from which
point it reached Denver over the rails of the D. & R. G. At La Junta its
main California line diverged southward, and passing Trinidad climbed
Raton pass on the southern border of the state.
556
DENVER AND AKAPAHOE COUNTY,
by the Pacific company, the contractors being Charles
M. JStebbins and Edward Creighton. A proposition
William A. H. Loveland, a native of Mass., has been calleil the founder
of the uiouiitaiii system of railroails. He served in the Mexiuan war, and
was wounded at C'liapultepec. Was in Cal. 5 years, and finally came to
Colorado and settled in CJohlen. He obtained the rigiit of way up Clear
Creek caiiou for a waj^on roail, which he built, and which becanie tlie germ of
the railroad. He M'as also interested in newspa)>er8, having purchased the
liorkij Mountain News of its original owners in 1878, and M'as afterward in-
terested in the management of the Leadville Democrat.
\"'' " ■ - ■■"'"~^°F/«yT^
U N N l\b-0 N .-. ■; - ',Y ^.^ ,/ , ■
P
SA.G.U A C-H E
Railroads of CIolorado.
Isaac W. Chatfield was a contractor on the Denver and South Park,
buihling the jirincipal portion botweiMi Denver and Littleton. He owned
720 acres in the Platte valley, near Littleton, and also engaged in selling
groceries at Leadville in 1879. He was one of the projectors of the Ten-
TELEGRAPa LINES. 557
was made to the citizens of Denver to construct a
branch to that place on certain conditions, which were
rejected. An agency was then estabhshed for for-
warding messages to Julesburg, a distance of 200
miles, by the daily coach, from which point they were
forwarded by telegraph, and answers received in the
same manner. This arrangement lasted for two years,
the business being so important that in the spring of
1863 Creighton made another proposition, which was
accepted, and a branch to Denver completed October
1st. A branch line to Central was soon put in oper-
ation. The receipts from the Denver office, B. F.
Woodward, manager, were not infrequently $5,000 a
month, and the first year's net income was more than
twice the cost of the line. This line reached Denver
from Julesburg by a cut-off to Fort Morgan and via
Living springs, which was adopted by the stage-line
from the Platte. In 1865 the Pacific Telegraph
company was merged in the Western Union company,
which extended a line from Denver to Salt Lake, via
Port Collins and Virginia Dale, abandoning the old
route via Laramie, making Denver the repeating sta-
tion for California despatches. In 1866 the United
States and Mexico Telegraph company was organized,
mainly in Denver, the directors being D. H. Moffat,
H. M. Porter, P. Z. Salomon, W. N. Byers, S. H.
Elbert, and B. P. Woodward. Porter was president.
The line was completed to Santa Pe in 1867, but the
intention to continue it to Mexico was frustrated by
mile, Kokomo, and Breckenridge railroad, and contracted for the extension
of the Eaj^le river branch of the Rio Grande, through Tennessee pass. See
further, Leadville Democrat, Jan. 1, 1881.
For railroad matters I have consulted some chapters in Hisi. Denver, 248-
64; Hall's Annual Beport, Chamb. Com., 1884, lS-16; Descriptive America,
May 1884, 27; Official Railroad Guide of Colorado; Cong. Globe, 1871-2, 1400;
Leadville Democrat, Dec. 31, 1881; Barneby's Life and Labor in the Far, Far
West, 2-3; Denver Tribune, Dec. 12, 1879, and Nov. 18, 1880; Evans' Inter-
view, MS., 7; Colorado Gazetteer, 1871, 119-24; Faithful's Three Visits, 149;
Byers' Hint. Colo, MS., 22-6; Leadville Chronicle Annl; Graff's Colo, 57-62,
66-7, 76-8; Stone's Land Grants, MS., 6-7; Elbert, Public Men and Measures,
MS., 7; BricUey and Hartwell's Southern Colo, 61-7; First Annual Rept Den-
ver Pacific R. R.; Haydens Great West, 101; Denver Roch/ Mountain News,
May 20 and Dec. 16, 1868, Jan. 27, 1869. and Jan. 18, 21, and 25, June 22,
and Sept. 25, 1870; Denver Tribune, Nov. 28, 1879, and April 16 and May
29, 1880; Report State Geologist, 1881-2, 1-27.
658 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNIY.
the disorders in that country. A contract was made
with the Denver Pacific Railway company to extend
the hne to Cheyenne the same year, and in 1870 a
controlhng interest was sold to the Western Union,
of which Woodward was appointed assistant superin-
tendent. This company soon controlled all the lines
in Colorado.
The first street railway in Denver was completed
in January 1872 by a company incorporated in 1867,"
with a charter for thirty- five years. In 1871 a Chi-
cago company, headed by L. C. Ellsworth, purchased
the franchise and began the construction, the Champa
street line being the first section operated, extending
from 27th and Champa to the station of the South
park railroad in west Denver, a distance of two miles.
In 1873 the north Denver branch was completed, 2^
miles. In 1874 the Broadway branch was completed,
1^ on 16th street and Broadway, and a mile between
23d street and Park avenue. In 1876 1^ miles addi-
tional were opened on Larimer street, from 16th
toward the fair-grounds.
The area of incorporated Denver is 13j square
miles, but with its several additions it is nearly
twenty-one square miles. Its population is 125,000,
or something more, and it publishes over twenty jour-
nals of all kinds. It has 500 miles of irrigating
ditches within city limits, and 300,000 shade trees.
Among its public buildings the city-hall, built of
stone, cost $190,000; the opera-house, of brick and
stone, $850,000; the court-house, of stone, $300,000;
the Union Railway station, $450,000 ; the episcopal
cathedral, brick, $100,000. The public schools of
Denver are second to none in the world. As a rule,
the teachers are efficient, and in the boards of man-
agement there is comparatively little of the igno-
rance, stupidity, and rascality too often found in such
*The incorporators were Amos Steck pres., D. A. Cheever, sec., Moses
Hallett, "Wilson Stinson, David J. Martin, Lewis N. Tappan, Edward C.
Strode, Robert M. Clark, Alfred H. Miles, Luther Konntze, Freeman R
Crocker, Cyrus H. McLaughlin, J. S. AN'atcrs, and M. M. DcLauc.
EDUCATION. 559
bodies during these latter days of progress and high
enlightenment. Twenty-one school-houses cost^^OO,-
000, not one-half of which amount went into the
pockets of aldermen, school-directors, or contractors.
A course in the high school fits the graduate for enter-
ing a college or university.' Private and denomina-
tional schools find liberal support. Of the latter
^O. J. Goldrick was the pioneer of education in Colorado, opening a
school in Denver in 1859. He was afterward for several years city editor of
the Rocky Mountain News, canvasser, and correspondent. From Denver he
went to Salt Lake, where he was managing editor of the Vidette. The Mor-
mons not liking his paper gave him warning to leave, and he returned to Den-
ver in 1868, where he published a paper until 1882, and where he died. Byers'
Centennial State, MS., 18. In 1862 private schools were opened by Miss
Ring and Miss Indiana Sopris. The school board of distno. 1, of Arapahoe
CO., was organized Oct. 23, 1862, Amos Steck pres. ; Lewis N. Tappan sec:
Joseph B. Cass treas. Gove, Education in Denver, MS., 1-6. Goldrick was
elected superintendent of schools for Arapahoe co. in that year, and organ-
ized the first public school, for which provision had been made by the legis-
lature, on ground in the rear of West LindeU hotel, A. R. Brown being the
principal. He had two assistants and 140 pupils. Previous to 1871 the school
fund was applied only to the support of teachers and other current expenses;
but in that year a movement was made to acquire school property. Amos
Sfceck had, in 1868, presented the local board with three lots on Arapahoe
street. In 1870-71, 5 more lots were purchased in the same block, for which
83,500 was paid. In 1872 bonds were issued for $75,000, payable 10 per cent
in 5 years, aad lOper cent annually thereafter, bearing interest at one per cent
monthly. In this year the Arapahoe school building was completed. It was
built of brick and stone, three stories high, containing 11 school-rooms and one
class-room, with a basement fitted up for the residence of the janitor, the whole
heated with hot-air furnaces, and well ventilated and lighted. The entire cost
was $79,205.47. In 1873-74 the legislature created the city of Denver a special
school district. Four of the wards, the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th, availed them-
selves of the privileges of the act. From 1872 to 1874 the Arapahoe build-
ing and some rooms in the methodist academy (discontinued) served for
school purposes; but it was found necessary then to erect another building,
which was placed on Stout street, and cost $24,089.19, containing 8 rooms.
Previous to the opening of this school, F. C. Garbutt had been superintend-
ent, with a corps of 17 teachers. He was succeeded in 1874 by Aaron Gove,
a man of high attainments and remarkable educational and executive ability,
who employed 25 teachers, and who established the 9th, or first high-school
grade, to which 108 pupils were admitted. Three more grades completed
the course in the high school, and prepared the graduate for college. The
first class graduated in 1877. H. I. Hale, one of the class, passed a highly
creditable examination on entering West Point as a cadet. In 1875 the
schools had again become so crowded that relief was obtained by renting,
and the same year 16 lots were purchased on Broadway, on which the third
large building of brick and stone was erected at a cost of .$28,645. But so
rapid was the increase of growth in the population of Denver about this time,
that in 1876 it became necessary to rent rooms for four new schools. Addi-
tion was yearly made to these accommodations until 1879, when lOlotsM^ere
purchased in the eastern part of the city, and an elegant stone building, cost-
ing .$28,000 erected thereon. The Broadway school was also enlarged, and
the Arapahoe school relieved liy renting; the number of pupils in all the pub-
lic schools haying reached 2,700.
660 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
there are several, the principal of which belong to the
catholics, episcopalians, and methodists. The uni-
versity of Denver, an outgrowth of the Colorado
seminary, established by the methodists in 1864, is
conducted under the auspices of that church, though
as a non-sectarian institution. In character and
scholarship it compares favorably with eastern col-
leges. There are fifty-four religious societies ^^ in
Denver, many of them owning elegant and valuable
church property.
"Byers, Centennial State, MS., 30-1; University of Denver.
^^The first recorded religious services in Denver took place in 1859, whea
a methodist preaclier, named Hammond, began holding services in an unfin-
isiied building on Larimer street, between 15th and 16th streets. In Jan.
18G0 the venerable J. H. Keliler, an episcopalian minister, held services in
Goldrick's school-house, on McGaa (later Holladay) street. Afterward a
room was secured in Ruter's block, and an episcopalian church organized.
About the same time a southern methodist church was organized by a preacher
named Bradford, and a small brick church erected at the corner of Arapahoe
and 14th streets. This Avas the first church edifice erected in Denver, and
was sold to the episcopalians in 1861, when Bradford and many of his congre-
gation went to the assistance of the southern confederacy. That year the
missionary bishop, Talbot, of the episcopalians, visited Denver, and before
he would dedicate the church required it to be free of debt; §500 was raised
and the church dedicated. On the I5th of Dec, 1861, A. S. Billingsley
organized the First Presbyterian church of Denver, under instructions from
the board of domestic missions, old school, which lieldits services at Interna-
tional hall, on Ferry street, in west Denver, then known as Auraria. Of the
18 members, 11 were women. In April 1862 Billingsley left, and A. R. Day
succeeded him in November, who seems to have been an active missi(mary,
for he soon secured the donation of a lot from Maj. John S. Fillmore, pay-
master U. S. A., on 15th street, between Arapahoe and Lawrence. Liberal
contributions were made 1)y citizens, and the mission board gave .?600, so that
in 186.S an edifice of brick was begun, 37x65 feet, ground area, which was
completed in 1865, when Day resigned, and J. B. ^IcClure of III. became pas-
tor after several months, during which tlie pulpit was vacant. He preached
two years, when again the church was left without a pastor \mtil 1868, wlien
A. Y. Moore of Ind. succeeded, but not being supported by the mission board,
resigned the same year. The church then negotiated with the new school
board to be taken in charge and connected with the presbytery of Chicago, a
call being extended to E. P. Wells to preach to them. On the 20th of Nov.,
1868, the church was incorporated, and on the 28 th Wells M'as installed pas-
tor, wlio remained in charge 6 years. In 1871 the church became self-sup-
porting, and in 1874adoi)ted tlie name of Central Presbyterian Church. By
this time the membership had outgrown tlie edifice, ai.d in May 1875 property
was purchased at the corner of Cliampaand ISth streets for the site of a new
church. The comer-stone was laid Jan. 6, 1876, and the building so far com-
pleted as to be occupied in 1878. During this period. Wells havuig resigned
in 1875, Willis Lord was pastor for one year, wlien ill health compelled his
resignation, and Dr Reed officiated until Dec. 1878, when his death occurred.
The edifice for which tliey labored cost $50,000, and liad a membership of
between 400 and 500. The 17th street presbyterian church was founded by
that portion of the parent church which maintained its connection with the
old-school bi>ard, and solicited the ministrations of their former pastor, Daj',
who continued with the-a until April 1869, when he went to preach at Boulder.
RELIGIOX. 56r
The material for substantial building being conven-
ient, the prevailing style of domestic architecture is
good, not a few private residences costing from
§20,000 to $100,000, and a less number from $45,000
He was succeeded by C. M. Campbell, •who preached until April 1870, in
which year the Colorado presbytery was organized. In Feb. of that year the
name was changed to Westminster church, which it did not long retain before
resuming its former one. In July 1870 W. Y. Brown became pastor, and in
1872, after several years of meeting in rented rooms and other churches, an
edifice of brick, in the G-othic ;>tjde of architecture, with windows of stained
glass, presented by eastern sunday-schools, and capable of seating 300 per-
sons, was completed and dedicated March 10th. The cost of this church was
812,200. In 1873 Brown was succeeded in the pastorate by R. T. Sample,
who, in 1874, withdrew, and was followed by C. H. Hawley, who, in 1876,
gave way to I. W. Monfort, and he, in 1877, to J. H. Kerr.
The Dutch Reformed church began with the organization in 1871 of a
society of persons of this belief, who held meetings every Sunday. In the
autumn they purchased two lots on the corner of Lawrence and 23d streets
for .SSjO. In the following April a church organization was effected by Flo-
rain Spalti, Casper Gugolz, John U. Gabathuler, and William Xordloh. The
Ohio sj'nod was called upon to extend its aid, and sent J. A. Keller to report
upon the prospect. On his representation the board of missions sent F.
Hatzmetz to preach. A church edifice was commenced, when Hatzmetz
returned to Ohio, and Keller replaced him, the church being completed in
1874. It was constructed of brick and stone, and cost .S5,300. The member-
ship of this church was small in proportion to English-speaking congrega-
tions.
The first methodist preaching, as stated above, was by the ' church south. '
It had no regular organization until July 16, 1871, when A. A. Morrison
became its pastor. A lot was purchased on Arapahoe street, and a church
erected. Morrison was succeeded in 1872 by W. H. Warren; in 1873 by E.
M. Mann; in 1874 by W. C. Hearn; in 1875 by W. G. Miller; in 1876 by
William Harris; and in 1877 by W. J. Phillips. In 1874 the church was
admitted to the conference of Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, and remain-
ing until 1878, when the Colorado conference was formed. In 1878-9 the
church was enlarged, handsomely finished, and refurnished.
Hammond, the first missionary of the methodist church in Denver,
returned to the Kansas conference, was reappointed in 1860, and died before
starting. J. M. Chivington was made presiding elder of the district of Colo-
rado, and, there being no preacher, filled the Denver pulpit until 1861, when
he ceased to war against irreligion and went out to fight southerners as major
of Gilpin's 1st Col. reg. of volunteers. Upon Chivington's resignation, a Mr
Dennis preached for a year, and the 3d year Oliver Willard. Meetings had
been held wherever room could l^e obtained — in a building on Larimer,
between 12th and 13th streets, in the second story of the court-house, in Henry
C. Brown's carpenter-shop, and in the people's theatre, on Larimer street.
The first methodist conference of Colorado was held a.t Denver in 1863, Bishop
Ames presiding, who urged the members present to erect a church, offering
to give .81,000 toward it, and also to erect a seminar}'. The conference
appointed Willard presiding elder, and George Richardson preacher. A site
for a church was selected on Lawrence street, and the corner-stone laid in
1864. The seminary being first completed, was used as a meeting-house until
the church was completed in 1865, and William M. Smith made pastor He
was succeeded in 1866 by B. T. Vincent; in 1868 by John L. Peck; in 1870
by Thomas R. Slicer; in 1872 by himself; in 1874 by J. R. Eads; and in 1877
by Earl Cranston. In 1872, the membership increasing with the spread of
the city, a branch church was built on California street. The foUowing year
Hist. Xev. 36
S62 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
to $500,000. The Holly system of water supply was
introduced and over sixty artesian wells bored, some
of which have a flow of 100,000 gallons a day, and
it was in contemplation to erect a reservoir on high
a German methodist church was erected at the suggestion of Conrad Frick,
and Mr lieitz, nieinl)ers of the parent organization. It was coustructe*.! of
brick and stone, and cost §14,000. The lirst pastor was Philip Kuhl, also
the tirst German protestant preailier in Colorado. He was succeeded by J. G.
Leist and M. Klail>er. In 1874 St James methodist church, in the southern
part of Denver, was erected at a cost of §5,000. In 1877 Ex -gov. Evans
erected a small but handsome chapel of Morrison stone, in the south-western
part of the city, which was intended as a memorial edifice to his daughter
Mrs Elbert. The colored methodists of Denver completed a substantial
brick church on Stout street in 1879, mainly by the efforts of Seymour, an
enlightened and active preacher.
The begnining made by Kehler of tlie episcopal church has been men-
tioned. He continued to hold services in the school-house, until during war
times he was crowded out by an e.xcited public, which had made a reading-
rooa of it which they frequented on all days of the week. He then removed
to a building owned by Byand, a vestryman, on the site of the American
house, and thence to Appollo hall, a log house in the rear of tiie present Xetvs
otfice, thence to where Taylor's museum now stands, and again to the district
court-room at the corner of 18th and Larimer streets, the rector having his
residence in the upper story of the court-house. Finally, in 1861, the small
brick church of the southern methodists was purchased and rededicated as St
John's Episcopal church, and the congregation found a home. In 1862 Father
Kehler, being chosen chaplain of the 1st Colorado regiment, followed whither
Chivington had gone, remaining with the regiment during its term of service;
nor did he ever return to church duties, being well advanced in years. H.
B. Hitcliings was the 2d pastor of St Johns, and remained until 1869, being
succeeded by Bishop Randall, who atlvocated establisliing boys' and girls
schools. Wolfe hall, a girl's school, named after a lady i)atroness, was begun
in 1867, and tlie main building completed in 1868. It was enlarged in 1873,
and again in 1879, and cost about §50,000. Tlie corner-stone of the boys'
school was laid Sept. 23, 1868, at Golden. This building was named Jarvis
hall, after George E. Jarvis of Brooklyn, N. Y., who gave liljcrally towards
its erection. Before it was completed it was blown to pieces in a tornado,
but immediately reljuilt. A theological school in connection M-ith Jarvis hall,
was erected in 1871-2 by Nathan Matthews of Boston, and called Matthews
hall, and wiiich was formally opened Sept. 19, 1872. Jarvis made a second
contribution of §10,000 to be invested until the principal reached §20,000,
when the interest sliould be applied to the education of young men for the
ministry. In April 1878 Jarvis and Matthews halls were destroyed by fire.
Randall, to whom tiie inception of these educational movements was due, died
in 1874, l)eloved and regretted, Rixnilnll, Bio</., MS., 1-33, and was succeeded
by Bisiiop John F. SpauMing, and P. Voorhees Finch became rector of St
John's, who was succeeded in 1879 l)y H.Martyn Hart, of England. Randall
wa^ a man of great self-sacrifice and abilities. He was a son of an able jurist
of R. I., in which state he was born in 1809. He was a graduate of Brown
university and of the theological seminary of New York. Trinity Reformed
Episcopal church, was organized in Denver, Nov. 16, 1879, by Thompson L.
S.nith, J. R. Smith, and J. W. May, wardens. The congregation secured
a smiU but elegant church erected by unitarians, at the corner of California
and 17th streets. The first vestrymen were Currie T. Frith, J. Johnson, W.
A. Hardinbrook, James Creighton, Samuel Cop])ing, Thomas L. Wood, and
Lewis. In the same year the convocation of Wyoming and Colorado was
formed. la 1875 Trinity Memorial chapel was erected. lu 187G Emanuel
WATER SUPPLY 563
ground, and make the water from artesian wells sup-
ply the city in the future. The drainage of the city
is orood, much attention being given to promote the
healthfulness of the metropoHs by the board of
chapel in West Denver was built. Connected with it was All Saints' mission
of North Denver. In 1879 Jarvis hall was rebuilt at Denver. The episco-
pal cathedral erected since 1879 is a beautiful church, costing §100,000. The
value of episcopal church and school property m Denver in 1886 was
§250,000.
The baptists sent a missionary, Walter McD. Potter, to Denver in 1862 to
spy out the ground, and in the following year appointed him missionary. He
held his first meeting Dec. 27, 1863, ha^-ing a congregation of 14 persons.
Little advance was made before March 1864, when a Sxmday-schooljwas formed
and held its sessions in the U. S. court-room, on Ferry street. On [May 2d,
the first Baptist church of Denver was organized, the members being Miss
Lucy K. Potter, Francis Gallup, Henry B. Leach, Mesdames A. Voorhies, L.
BurdsaU, L. Hall. A. C. Hall, and Miss E. Throughman. The flood of 1864
having washed away, soon afterward, their place of meeting, they next
resorted to the People's theatre, where they continued to_meet during that
year, removing to a school-house on Cherry street in 1865. In Dec. Potter
was compelled by ill health to cease his pastoral labor, and soon after d^ied.
In May 1866 Ira D. Clark became j)astor for one year, preaching in the U. S.
district court-room on Larimer street until Dec. In the meantime a church
had been commenced at the corner of Curtis and 16th streets, which, in an
unfinished state, was used for a lecture-room, but which M-as never completed.
In May 1S68 A. M. Averill became pastor for a year, after which the church
was without one until Nov. 1870, when Lewis Raymond succeeded to the
charge for a short time, followed by another season of silence in the piilpit,
though the members kept up their organization. In 1872 Winfield Scott
assumed charge of the church, and began energetically to labor for the erection
of a suital:)le edifice. Francis GaUup having received some lots on the corner
of Curtis and 18th streets, in payment for some favors done the Baptist home
mission in the matter of land preempted by Potter, and bequeathed to the
mission, presented these lots to the church, and on this site was erected in
1872 a church costing altogether .$15,0^0. In 1875 Scott resigned, and was
succeeded by T. W. Green and A. J. Frost the same year, and by F. M. Ellis
in 1876. In 1879 the membership was 330, and church property worth §25,-
000. Since that time a large and handsome church has been erected by this
denomination. There were in 1866 two colored baptist churches in the city:
Zion church, on Arapahoe street near 20th, and Antioch church, at the cor-
ner of Wazee and 23d streets. Samuel Shepard was the first pastor of
Antioch church. Neither were so well oflf financially as the colored metho-
dist church.
Denver had no congregational organization before 1865. In that year
Mrs Richard Soprisand daughters, Irene and Indiana, Mrs Davis, Mrs ZoUes,
D. G. Peabody, E. E. Hartwell, Samuel Davis, and Mr Haj-svood formed
themselves into a church. Mr Crawford preached; Mrs Davis was organist
at their meetings, and the Misses Sopris sang in the choir. At first the meet-
ings were held in the U. S. district court-rooms, and among their temporary
preachers were Norman McLeod, and Mr Blanchard of Wheaton college. 111.
In 1868, lots were purchased on the corner of Curtis and loth streets, and a
church edifice erected in 1869-70. The first pastor was Thomas E. Bliss. In
1873 Bliss, with a part of the congregation separated from this church and
established St Paul's church, at the corner of Curtis and 20th, which subse-
quently became presbyterian. After the secession of Bliss, Julien M. Sturde-
vant, Jr, took charge for 4 years, during which the church prospered. He
was succeeded by Charles C. Salter, who preached two j^ears, and by S. R.
Dimmock. A congregational chapel was built at the corner of Larimer and
5G4 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
health, under the superint«;ncleiice of the state board/"
estabhshed in 1877.
Arapahoe county, and more particularly Denver, is
the largest manufacturing district in the state. The
iron and brass foundries and machine-works turned
out in 1886 products worth $G85,000; the flouring-
mills about 81,738,000; the breweries $938,000; the
wagon and carriage shops $113,000; the canneries
$35,000; the clothing manufactories $790,000 ; the
furniture factories $195,000; sash and blind factories
$280,000; manufactories of iron fences $14,000; of
harness and saddles $83,000, besides a groat variety
of lesser manufiictures.
The total product of Denver's manufactures in 1886
was $24,045,000, of which $12,334,143 was in bullion
produced by the smelters, of wIkmu there were in that
year three large and several smaller ones. Denver
31st streets in 1879, George C. Laml) pastor. The parent church afterward
erected a handsome edifice. These are all the early protestant churches of
Denver standing in 1886.
The catholics were the first to erect a house of worship here, as in most
new towns in the west. When fathers Joseph P. Machebeuf and J. R. Rav-
enly came to Denver in ISGO they set themselves to work to finish wliat had
been begim, and soon they luid raised subscriptions enougli to proceed with
the work. Theirs was the first bell, and tlie first iiipe-organ. This early
church on Stout street was the root of the present cathedral. It was but 30
by r)0 feet in size at first. A small house was added for the bisliop's residence,
wliich in 1871 was replaced by a brick residence. The following year the
church was enlarged, and in 1873 it had grown into a cathedral. As early as
18G4 the academy of St Mary was established on California street, and i)laced
in charge of three sisters of the order of Loretto in Ky. The liuildings were
enlarge<l from time to time until they presented an imposing appearance, and
accommodated many pupils and teachers. Branch schools have been jilanted
in other towns under the care of this order. There was in 1886 a parish
school adjouiiug the cathedral. A catholic hospital was opened in 1872, under
the care of the sisters of charity. It was situated on Park avenue, and was a
substantial brick structure, 45.x75 feet, and three stories high. Ac(^ording to
their usual premeditated plans of acquiring valuable property, the catholics
of Denver and Colorado have become possessed of excellent sites in this and
all the towns. Dmvtr Ilht., 268-84; Denver Trihunc, Jan. 4, 1880; Dtxcri-ptiw
Ainenm, May 1884, p. 17; Colo Gazetteer, 1871, p. IS.'^O; CorUtt's Directory
of Mines, 64-5; N<irt n Bop-Ediiaition, pp. 37-41; C/iiviii< /ton's The Prospector,
MS., 3; Howh'rt's Iwl. Troubles, MS., 8; C/iivin'jtons First Colo Reijt, MS., 1.
Another manuscript of Chivington's, The Retrospective, gives also a slight
sketch of the M. E. church in the beginnings.
'- According to law, tlie county commissioners of any county where no
other board exists shall constitute a board of health, witli all the duties
usually pertaining to that office. Much interesting matter may be found iu
the liept State Board of Health, 1877 and 1879-80.
IXDUSTRIES. 5t)5
is the leading ore market of the state, and in 1886
its smelters and samplers received and handled
180,173 tons of gold and silver bearing ores. The
total business of the city in the same year, exclusive
of real estate sales, which aggregated 811,000,000,
exceeded $56,500,000.
As early as the spring of 1861 a chamber of com-
merce was organized at Denver, but was soon after-
ward abandoned. In 1867 another attempt in the
same direction was made through the establishment
of a board of trade,^^ which, on account of some de-
fect in its general constitution, was also less success-
ful than its promoters desired. This being recognized,
early in 1854 some of its principal members formed a
permanent and effective organization, with which the
old board was consolidated. The first officers of this
new chamber of commerce were R. W. Woodbury,
president; M. J. McNamara and J. F. Mathews,
vice-presidents; Frank Hall, secretary; and Wil-
liam D. Todd, treasurer. Good and efficient work
has from the first been done by this organization in
directing the enterprise of Denver, while advancing
and protecting its business interests. Its annual
reports are models of statistical compilation, and to
them I am much indebted for the facts concerning
the business growth and development of Denver and
the state at large. Under the auspices of the then-
existing board of trade was established the national
mining and industrial exposition, which made its
first exhibit in 1882,^* erecting a group of buildings
which covered seven acres, situated in the midst of
1^1 find in Extracts from Early Records, MS., 7, the names of the officers
of the Denver Board of Trade. They are taken from a pamphlet published
by the board, entitled Colorado. John W. Smith pres., William N. Clayton
and .John Pierce vice-pres., Henrv C. Leach sec, Frank Palmer treas., Henry
M. Porter, J. S. B^o^v^l, V. J. Salomon, D. H. Moffat, Jr, H. H. T. Grill
and .Joseph E. Bates directors.
^* The board of commissioners of the exposition, appointed by the board
of trade in 1884, consisted of W. A. H. Loveland pres., R. W. Woodbury
vice-pres., A. E. Pierce treas., Irwin Mahon sec, Joseph C. Wilson supt of
space, R. G. Webster, B. P. Broshear, B. F. Woodward, and E. B. Light.
666 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
a tract of forty acres. ^^ The object of the exposition
was primarily to draw the eyes of the world upon
Colorado and Denver, in which effort the enterprise
was successful, the mineral museum, containing speci-
mens from every mine in Colorado and many camps
in the adjacent states, being of itself sufficient to entitle
the exposition to particular notice. The design con-
templated an annual exhibit, but after the third had
been held in 1884 the project fell to the ground by
reason of an unfortunate conflict of interests among
its managers and supporters.
At the first session of the forty-seventh congress a
bill was passed making Denver a port of delivery for
dutiable merchandise;^® and another bill at the same
session, admitting articles to the Denver exposition
free of duty, provided that none of these articles
should be sold or consumed without paying revenue.
A bill was also passed making provision for the erec-
tion of a government building in Denver for the
accommodation of the United States district and cir-
'* The main building was a substantial and handsome cruciform struc-
ture of brick, 500 feet long by .310 in width. The floor, with its towers
and angles, contained nearly 100,000 square feet of space, and the galleries
half as mucii more. The exhibit in the hall of arts in 1882 was estimated to
be worth S"200,000. The departments which oflTer premiums are, first, minerals
and metals, and their products, including ores of gold, silver, copper, lead,
and iron; coal, anthracite, bituminous, cannel, and lignite; cabinets of min-
erals of all kinds; tire-clay, manufactured; porcelain ware; hydraulic cement;
lime, brick, etc.; marble, lithographic stone, soapstone, gypsum, precious
stones, native chemicals; bullion, gold, silver; pig-lead, pig-iron, steel-rails;
iron-rails, nails, bar-iron, sheet-lead, and lead pipe. The second department
comprises 73 kinds of machinery used in mining and agriculture; third de-
partment, 18 kinds of veliicles; fourth department, 34 kinds of leather goods
and leather, and 8 kinds of furriers' goods; fifth department, miscellaneous
manufactures, comprising 93 articles. Tlie sixth department included horses
of 10 classes; the seventh, cattle, in 13 classes; the eighth, sheep, in 5 classes;
the ninth, swine, in 7 classes; the tenth, poultry; the elcventli, grain, vege-
tables, and miscellaneous farm products; the twelfth, fruits; the thirteenth,
dairy products, and domestic or pantry articles; the fourteenth, apiarian
products; after which followed the art and floral departments, attached to
wiiich, as a sign of progress, there was also considerable interest. Except in
San Francisco, which has the advantage of being a seaport town, no other
city of the United States, at the age of little more than twenty j-ears. has
been able to make a similar exhibit. CaUiUxjtie National Mining and Indus-
trial Exposition, ]Sfii
^^V. S. Stat., 1.3, 47th cong., 1st sess.; IT. S. H. Jour., 217, 590, 659,
720, 730, 753, 47th cong., 1st sess.
BANKING. 567
cult courts, post-office, land-office, and other federal
offices, the cost not to exceed $300,000.
Banking has always been a profitable business in
Denver. There is no usury law, borrower and lender
fixing such rates of interest as they agree upon. In
times of excitement three per cent a month might
be asked and given. Twelve per cent per annum was
the usual bank rate in 1886, but real estate loans
could be Jiad for eight or ten per cent. The first
bank building of any pretensions was a part of
National block, on the corner of 15th and Blake
streets, and was occupied by the First National bank,
organized by Jerome B. Chaffee, and of which he
was president until 1880.^^ Various banking institu-
tions which, calling themselves savings banks, seques-
tering the savings of the people to their own uses,
rose and flourished for a time. In 1885 there were
six. banks in Denver, five of which were national, their
combined capital amounting to $1,708,000; deposits
$8,060,000; cash and exchange $3,963,000; loans
and over-drafts $4,634,000.''
Until the erection of the Tabor opera-house in
1880 Denver had nothing at all elegant in the way
of a theatre.'^ It had then one unsurpassed in any
" The business was purchased from Clark & Co., private banker. George
T. Clark was cashier in 1865, and was elected mayor the same year. D. H.
Moffat, Jr, became cashier in 1866. Hist. Denver, 213.
^^ Descriptice America, May, 1884. In 1881 David H. Moffat, Jr, was
president of the First National bank, Samuel N. Wood cashier; of the City
National bank William Barth was president, John B. Hanna cashier; of the
Colorado National bank Charles B. Kountze was president, William B. Berger
cashier; of the German National Bank George Tritch was president, W. J.
Jenkins cashier; of the Merchants' National bank Henry R. Wolcott was
president, Samuel N. Wood cashier. Compt. of Currency Rept, 1881-2, 709-
11. The State National bank took the place of the Merchants' bank. The
Union bank completes the list.
'3 Apollo theater, erected in October, 1859, by Charles R. Thome, was
situated on Larimei street, between 14th and 15th streets. Thorne had a
travelling company on the plains, which was giving entertainments at mdi-
tary posts— at Leavenworth, Kearny, and Laramie, and thence he came to
Denver. Platte Valley theater, at the corner of 16th and Lawrence streets,
was the next. It was opened in 1860. Both were burned. The next was
a building erected by the Governor's Guards as an armory budding, at tne
intersection of Curtis and 15th streets. It was called Governors Guard
hall, and was used until Sept., 1880, when the Tabor opera-house was
568 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
of the states for tasteful decoration and comfort, the
designs being entirely original and suitable. In 1882
the academy of music was completed.
It seems tautological to remark, after recounting
what the peoi)le of Denver have accomplished in less
than a third of a lifetime, that they are as a people
above the average in intellectual force and superiority
of culture. How much is due to the stimulating
influences of their high and dry climate it would be a
nice point to determine, seeing that there is a sliding
scale of altitudes in Colorado, and that everywhere
in the state prevails great mental and physical activ-
ity. That there was a good class of settlers to begin
with is undoubted, and upon this tree has been grafted
all the choicest fruits of an age of progress."" Yet
opened. There is still a small theater opposite this called the Walhalla.
Byers' Hii^t. Colo, MS., 73-4. Turner hall, on Holladay street, is the Ger-
man temple of art, and a commodious one.
''■" Free-masonry was active in 1858-9, when members of the order met
informally in a cabin of Auraria, that they miglit know and assist each other.
They had in 1881 10 lodges, representing every degree, and for many years
had met at the corner of Holladay and loth streets. The Knights of Pjthias
had 3 lodges. The Odd Fellows had 9 lodges, and a hall on Lawrence street.
The Good Templars had two lodges, and there were two of the Red Cross.
Tliere were twelve benevolent societies of various names, and 18 other organi-
zations, such as medical and historical societies, and industrial and other
associations. CrofiFutt, Grip-sack Guide, 32; Tran-t. Med. Sac., 1883. There
were 37 hotels and public boarding-houses in 1884. The St James, Windsor,
New Albany, American, and Inter-Ocean, can each shelter and feed 600
guests; the Alvord, Liudell, and New Markham, each 200; the New York,
150; and the Brunswick and Charpiot's, 100 each. Cataloijiie Nntional Mining
ami Industrial Exposition, 15. There were, besides, 60 restaurants, 47 bak-
eries, 6 breweries, 6 tlouring-mills. The quality of the flour made in Denver is
excellent, and since tlie first shipment in 1874 to the east, lias been in demand
in Boston, New York, Buflfalo, and Chicago, and also Richmond, Va. Dept
of Agriculture, 1872, 449. The names of the principal mills are the Hunga-
rian, Crescent, Davis, and White Rock. Wheat is brought here front Utah
to be made into Hour. The first millers had difficulty in se])arating the bran,
but the true process was discovered Ijy Luther A. Cole of Watertown, Wis.,
who engaged in milling here in 1870. The secret -was in moistening the hull
before grinding the wlieat, which prevented crumbling, and enabled him to
part the bran from the flour. It was done by a system of spraying before
the wheat went to the hopper. Byers Centennial SttUe, M.S., 21. The Denver
City Steam Heating company was incorporated Dec. 15, 1879, to supply steam
by the Holly system, or any other, to factories, shops, stores, public or pri-
vate buildings, for mechanical or heating purposes. Steam was turned on
Nov. 5, 1880, and was found to be a saving in many ways. The company's
capital was ^500,000. Among the incorporators were the pioneers E. F. Hal-
lack, .1. W. Smith, and George Tritch. Tliere was a movement ma<le to or-
ganize a fire department July 15, 1862, but the difficulty of procuring macliines
stood in the way for a time, during which several fires occurred. Hook and
SOCIETY. 569
Denver has not been without its vices, its vicious class,
or its unpleasant episodes.^^ Gambling has been from
the first a prominent evil. The city council in 1861
prohibited three-card monte, but no other games.
The territorial legislature in 1864 passed an act pro-
hibiting gambling-houses, and making it the duty of
sheriffs and constables to arrest the keepers and
destroy the furniture of such places. But the next
legislature yielded to the arguments of those who
lived off the gain of games of chance ; and after enact-
ing that no person known to be a professional gambler
or keeper of a gambling-house should be eligible as a
juror, repealed so much of the former act as affected
Denver, and permitted that city to control this mat-
Ladder Company No. 1, organized in March, 1866, was for several years the
only fire company in the city. Its first officers were George W. McClure,
foreman; Frank W. Cram, asst foreman; C. C. Davis, 2d asst; H. L. Rock-
well, 3d asst; Hyat Hussey, treasurer. A truck and apparatus was ordered
from Cincinnati, and arrived in the autumn across the plains. A brick build-
ing 24 by 60 was erected on a lot purchased by the city council, the same
occupied later by Central station, which was then called Pioneer station.
No other company was organized until the spring of 1872, when the James
Archer Hose company was organized, named after the president of the Den-
ver Water company, and located on Curtis street. Soon after the Joseph E.
Bates Fire and Hose company was organized, named in acknowledgment of
the aid rendered the department by Bates. In July of the same year the
Woodie Fisher Hose Company No. 1 also organized, named after a member
of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, killed in attempting to stop a run-
away team. In March, 1874, the Denver Hook and Ladder company was
formed, having their station at the corner of Curtis and 26th streets. Tabor
Hose Company No. 5 was organized and stationed on 15th street, north Den-
ver. It was named in honor of Lieut-gov. Tabor. Of mib'tary companies
Denver had three in 1880. The Governor's Guard organized in April, 1872,
the Chaffee Light Artillery in January, 1878, and the Mitchell Guards, an
independent Irish company, which was formed in 1873. The National Guard
was created by the legislature of 1879, and supported by a direct tax. Den-
ver had to make application to congress to be permitted to purchase land for
cemetery purposes. Cowj. Globe, 1871-2, pp. 2206, 2949, 3313, 3338, 3682.
There were three burial places, the latest and only one to which much atten-
tion has been given up to 1886 being Riverside cemetery, tliree miles down
the Platte, which has a beautiful site.
21 On Sunday, the last day of October, 1880, there was a riot in Denver,
the object of which was to affect the presidential election, and prevent the
usual republican majority. The disturbance began with the interference of
a few of our drunken Irish patriots in a game of pool played between a white
man and a Chinaman at a public resort on Wazee street. Having forced the
Chinese to defend themselves, they then treated them as the offending party,
assailed them without mercy, driving them into hiding, hanging one of them
to a lamp-post, and destroying their property. The mob increasing, a Coni-
niittee of Control, consisting of 500 citizens, was formed; the city council
gave the chief of police authority to muster a special force of 100 to patrol
570 DE^iVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
ter by Its own ordinances. ^^ The revised ordinances
of Denver, passed in 1881, prohibit both gambbng
games and houses of ill-fame, the law-makers appar-
ently forgetting that these excrescences of society
have existed from time immemorial, and probably will
continue till the millennial day; also, that it is the
people who make the gamblers and prostitutes, and
not they who make the people. The urban popula-
tion of Arajmhoe county is nearly all in and about
Denver. Littleton, twelve miles south, is consid-
ered as a suburb. Porter's sulpho-chalybeate spring,
in the outskirts of the city, is also a popular resort.^
the streets and guard the polls on Monday, and the fire department was kept
in readiness all day to fly at the tap of the bell. Every saloon was closed,
and the city guarded at every point. A number of the rioters, having been
arrested and sent to jail, were promptly bailed out by Ex-delegate Patter-
son's hench-men, and allowed to vote. The district attorney had a part of
them rearrested on a charge of murder, and so the struggle went on all day;
but the law-and-order men triumphed, and the election was finally as quiet
as the faces of the guardians of the peace were stern and set with determin-
ation. Denrrr Trilnine, Nov. 2, 1880.
^^The city attorney elected in 188.S was Mason B. Carpenter, a native of
Vt., born iu 1845. He served two years in the union army when between 16
and eighteen years of age, being mustered out as acting sergeant-major. He
graduated at the university of Vermont, studied law, and was admitted to
practice at St Albans; was official reporter of the house of representatives in
18(57, and secretary of the senate from 18G9 to 1873. In 1874 he married
Fannie M. Brainard, and removed to Colorado in 1875. He was elected from
Arapahoe, to the house of representatives in 18S1, and a member of the sen-
ate in 1884. The HiMonf of Denver, from which I have frequently quoted,
is a quarto volume of 652 pages. Its authorship is mixed, and the greater
portion anonymous, but bears evidence of having been tlie performance of
local writers weJl acquainted with their toijics. It contains articles on a
great variety of subjects, and many biographical sketches. It is on the same
plan as Clear Creek and Boulder Valley History and the IH-<tory of Arkansas
Valley. Other authorities consulted are Fimt Aymtud Report of Denver
Ckainlter of Commerce, by Frank Hall, containing tables, etc., showing gen-
eral condition of the state; Porters West Censits of JS80; Colorado Not^es,
MS.; Graff's Colorculo: Pitkin's Political Views, MS.; Dixon's New America,
as seen througli English eyes in 1866; McKenneys Business Directory, 1882-3;
Meliiuis Tico Thou.taml Miles on Horsehack; Faithful' s Three Visits to America:
Leading Industries of the West, August, 1883; Williams' Pacific Tounst and
Ouide; Denver Rocky Mountain News, June 6, 1870; Denver Trilmne-Repuhli-
can, Oct. 10, 1884; Early Days in Denver, by John C. Moore. He was born
in Tenn. in 1835, and came to Colorado in 1859. He describes Denver and
also Pueblo in the early days. Sopris' Settlement of Denver, MS., is another
excellent authority treating of first things.
-^ Argo is the seat of Hill's reduction works. Other settlements in 1886
were Bear Creek Junction, Bennett, Bird, Big Timber, Box Elder, Brighton,
Burnham, Byer.s, Cherry Creek, Deer Trail, Hendenson Isle, Hughes, Gravel
Switch, Island Station, Jersey, Junction. Kiowa, Living Spring, Magnolia,
Melvin, Petersburg, Platte Summit, Pooler's Rancho, Poverty Flat, Rattle-
BIOGRAPHY. 571
Jfenake, Reduction Works, Schuyler, Vasquez, ami Watkins. One of the pio-
neers of Arapahoe county whose name is found in the public prints is Caleb
B. Clements, who came to Colorado in 1859, and waa from the first identified
with Denver, an addition to which bears his name. He was receiver of the
land office when Chilcott was register. He died March 24, 1880. Denver
Tribune, March 25, 1880.
C. J. Oross, who also came in 1859, was born in Vt in 1821. He was en-
gaged in business in Fond du Lac, Wis., for several years, and helped to lay
out the town of Boulder in Colorado, after which he settled in Denver, and
was elected from Arapahoe co. to the legislature in 1866. He formed the
Baltimore Mining company, one of the most substantial in the state, and
owned 1..500 acres south-east of Denver. He married, in 1841, a daughter
of H. T. Shepherd of N. Y., who died at Boulder in 1864. The following
year he married Harriet Beecher of New Haven, Ct.
David A. Cheever was a midshipman in the U. S. navy in 1842. At
the close of the Mexican war he resigned, and also came to Cal. in 1849, but
returned to Wis. in 18.54, and from there migrated to Colorado in 1859, en-
gaging in real estate business. He was elected to the lower house of the
legislature in 1864, county commissioner in 1873, and was postmaster in
1875-6.
Cyrus H. McLaughlin, bom in Pa in 1827, and by trade a printer, came
from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Colorado in 1859 as a messenger for Joneg
and Cartwright's express, and to learn the truth of the reports concerning
gold discoveries. On returning to Leavenworth he carried 640,000 worth of
the precious dust. In 1860 he removed to Denver and worked on the Xeics
for a time; then tried agriculture and cattle raising, but the flood of 1864 so
damaged his farm that he gave it up and took a situation in the quarter-
master's department, which he held for two years. In 1867 he was elected
to the legislatuie, which met at Golden, and used his influence to remove the
capital to Denver. In 1868 he was reelected and chosen speaker. He was
afterward receiver in the land office, clerk in the post office, and alderman.
The rule of the Pioneer Association is that those who arrived before 1860
may become members. Byers' C'entenniul State, MS., 38. Among these were
William Z. Cozzens, deputy -sheriff of Arapahoe district in 1860; David K.
Wall, member of the provisional legislature; T. P. Boyd, associate justice
of the supreme court; X. J. Curtis, W. F. Holman; Charles C. Post, member
of constitutional convention of 1859; Nelson Sargent, who was in charge of
the first express line across the plains, known as the Leavenworth and Pike's
Peak Express company, as before mentioned; Philo M. Weston, built the
first house in Granite; John Rothrock, built the 'eleven cabins,' 16 miles
below Denver, on the Platte, in 1858, and was one of the discoverers of Gold
Run, in Boulder co. ; Joseph M. Brown, miner and cattle raiser, built
Brown's bridge over the Platte, elected county commissioner in 1863 for 3
terms; Samuel W. Brown, miner, merchant, farmer; Samuel Brantner, farm-
er; his daughter was the first child of the settlers of Arapahoe, born four
miles from Denver; Caleb S. Burdsall, miner, smelter, surgeon of the 3d
Colo reg., discovered the soda lakes near Morrison, named alter him; Joseph
W. Bowles, miner, sheriff of Nevada mining district in 1860-1, farmer near
Littleton, twice elected county commissioner; Hiram J. Brendlinger, tobacco
merchant, member of the city council 1861-3, mayor in 1864, member of the
legislature 1865; John W. Cline, miner, farmer; Henry Crow, miner, organ-
ized the City National bank in 1870 and was president six years, afterward
in stock raising and mining; A. B. Daniels, vice-president of Denver and
New Orleans railroad, died April 9, 1881; Daniel J. Fulton, miner, farmer;
George C. Griffin, farmer and stock raiser; G. W. Hazzard, miner, farmer,
banker, stock grower, owned 20,000 acres of pasture lands, died Feb. 9. 1878,
leaving a wife and four children; Alfred H. Miles, farmer; John McBroom,
farmer, elected to the state legislature in 1876; John Milheim, banker and
capitalist; John H. Morrison, lumber merchant, miller, collector of internal
revenue, agriculturist, died July 21, 1876; Jasper P. Sears, merchant with
572 DENVER AND ARAPAHOE COUNTY.
C. A. Cook, banker, government contractor, and real estate dealer; Thomas
Skerritt, miner, farmer; L. A. Williams, lumber manufacturer, farmer,
stock raiser.
Hiram J. Brendlinger, a native of Pa, cameAvith a stock of cigars to Den-
ver in 1859, opening a store ou Blake street in a log cabin in June 1859. la
ISGl he erected a two-story frame building, which was burned in April 18G3.
Six months previous he had erected a brick warehouse, in which a large part
of his stock was saved, with which he started business again, witli a branch
at Central City. In 18()4 he est;il)lished a branch at Virginia, Montana, iu
1SG6 at Cheyenne, in Wj'oming, and in 1877 at Deadwood, iu Dakota. He
was a member of the city council, mayor, and member of tlie legislature.
Daniel Witter, born in Ind., became a miner in Tarryall district. South
park, where he worked iu 1S59-G0, and was chosen a member of the house
from his district tlie following year. In 1802 he was appointed postmaster
at Hamilton, and soon after asst int. rev. collector and afterward was re-
ceiver in the land office, dealer in real estate and stock raiser. He origin-
ated the Denver Safe Deposit and Savings bank, of which he was treasurer
until 1 877. He was vice-president of the Denver Water company from its
organization for many years.
David H. jNloffat was born in N. Y. iu 1839, and came to Colorado in
18G0. He started a book and stationery business at Denver, in company
with C. C. Woolworth, which became large and profitable, and from which
he retired at the end of six years to take the position of cashier of the 1st
National bank of Denver, of which he was elected president in 1880, and
wliich owes much to his administrative ability. He was elected to the presi-
dency of the D. & R. G. R. in 1887, and has been prominently connected
with all the leading railroad enterprises since 18G9, when he with Gov. Evans
built the Denver Pacific to Cheyenne. He was one of the organizers of the
syndicate which built the D. & S. P. R. R., and helped to build the D. &
N. 0. R. R. He is also interested in mines in nearly every county iu Colo-
rado, and justly ranks as one of the mining kings of tlie centennial state. He
paid Tabor §1,000,000 for his interest in the Little Pittsburg at Leadville,
even then making money out of the investment. His residence in Denver
cost over $80,000. N. Y. Financier, Oct. 17, 1885; Moffat's Sketch on Bank-
ing, MS.
Bela M. Hughes, a native of Nicholas co., Ky, was born in 1817, and re-
moved to Clay CO., Mo., in 1834. He studied for the law, and was admitted
to practice in 1841, and in 1845 was appointed receiver of public moneys for
his district, which position he held four years, when he removed to St Joseph,
where he remained until he came to Colorado in 18G1, as president of the
Overland Mail company, which office he filled for two years, and for six years
afterward tliat of solicitor of the same company. Iu 1809 he began the gen-
eral practice of law iu Denver. He was democratic candidate for governor
in 1870, though not elected.
Frederick Jones Bancroft, M. D., born May 25, 1834, at Enfield, Conn.
On the paternal side he came from the Bancrofts and Heaths of Conn., and
oa the meternal side fiom the Bissells and Walcotts, prominent New England
families. He was educated at Westfield academy, Mass., and Cliarlotteville
seminary, N. Y., and studied medicine in the medical department of the
university of Buffalo, graduating in 1861. His first practice was in Penn.
Then he entered the army, and after the war attended lectures in Phil., re-
moving to Colorado in 1806, and practised medicine in Denver, where he be-
came medical referee for several insurance companies, and surgeon of three
different railroad companies, as well as member of the Denver Medical so-
ciety, of which he was president in 1808, of the Colorado Medical association,
and American Medical association, and president of the state board of
health. He was also an early and active member of the Colorado Historical
society, and has been an officer in many societies, particularly educational,
and is authority upon such topics. He married a daughter of George A.
Jarvis, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
BIOGRAPHY. 573
James Moynahan was born in Wayne eo., Mich., in 1842. He entered
the araiy as a private in 18(32, remaiuiug in it through the war, being twice
wounded, and made a captain in 1S153. In 1866 he married Mary Moynahan,
oi Detroit, and set out for Colorado with an ox -team, leaving his wife, who
followed him in 1867. He resided in Park co. until 1884 when he removed
to Denver to educate his children. In merchandising, mining, and stock
raising, he fast accumulated property. He was elected to the state senate in
1876, and again in 1882.
Charles Hallack, born in N. Y. in 1828, came to Colorado in 1867 from
Kansas, and settled in Denver in the business of a lumber dealer. In 1884
he was elected president of the State National bank, of which he was one of
the organizers.
Job A. Cooper, born in 111. in 1843, removed to Denver in 1872, where he
practised law for four years, and was elected vice-president of the German
bank. In 1877 the bank was reorganized iinder the name of the German
National Bank, when he was elected cashier. In 1877 he purchased 300 head
of cattle, on a range near the Neb. state line, but sold them and bought 15,000
acres of land in Weld co., on which he had in 1886-7, 500 head of cattle. He
was president of the Colorado Cattle-grower's association, a wealthy organi-
zation.
D. H. Dougan, born in Niles, Mich., in 1845, removed to Ind. at the age
of 15 years, and became a clerk in a bank at Richmond, studying medicine in
his leisure hours. He subsequently studied at Rush medical college, Chicago,
and at Belle\Tie hospital, New York, graduating in 1874, and coming to Colo-
rado the following year. He resided in several parts of the state temporarily
until 1878 when he went to Leadvnlle, where he became mayor in 1881 and
1882. He was the first president of Carbonate bank, and remained a director
while living in Denver.
John C. Stallcup, born in Ohio in 1841, came to Colorado for the benefit
of his health in 1877, and remained. He was nominee of the democratic party
for state senator in 1878, and was again nominated for attorney-general of
the state in 1880. He was elected city-attorney of Denver in 1881, and was
retained as city counsel afterwards in cases then pending. In 1884 he sold
most of his city property, and invested in land in Arapahoe co., 17 miles
from Denver, which was being stocked with cattle.
Stephen H. Standart, born in Ohio in 1833, and brought up on a farm,
came to Colorado in 1879 to engage in cattle-raising. He started in business
with 1,200 head, about 60 miles from Denver. He was one of the organ-
izers of the Western Live stock co. in 1880, and of the American Cattle com-
pany in 1883, of 400 members, the two companies owning over 20,000 head
ia 1885.
For congressional and legislative references I have found matter in Pac.
li. R. Rep, i. 17-19; U. S. Sen. Jour., 808, 38th cong., 1st sess.; U. S. H.
Jour., 241, 38th cong., 2d sess.; ZahrlHhies Land Lmcs, sup. 1877, 49; Hol-
lIMer's Mines of Colo, 292-4; Conrj. Glohe, 1864-5, 316, 753, 1404; U. S. H.
Ex. Doc. i., p. 152, 46th cong., 1st sess., vol. 16, pt 2, 184, 227; 46th cong.,
3d sess., and xxv., pt 1, 446; 46th cong., 2d sess.; U. S. H. Misc. Doc, xiii.,
pt 4, p. 56-9, 124-31, 46th cong., 2d sess.; U. S. E:c. Doc, xxv., 364, 47th
cong., 2d sess.; Gen. Laws Coh, 1865, 108-11, 117-18, 127, 132, 135, 141,
142; Id., \S11, 180-94, 738; Sen. Jour. Colo, 1881, 629-30; Charter and Ordi-
nances of City of Denver, 287-309; Ccn-porations, Rev. Statutes, 1883.
CHAPTER XII.
COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
1859-1886.
Bent County— Industries, Towns, and People — Boulder County —
Early Settlers — Quartz Mining — Coal and Iron — Chakfee County
— Discoveries and Development — Clear Creek County — Earliest
Smelting — Stamp Mills— Conejos County— Costilla— Custer— Men
and Towns — Mining — Delta, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, Elbert, El
Paso, and Fremont Counties— The Great Railroad War — CaSon
City and its Institutions.
Bent county, separated from Arapahoe by Elbert
county, lies on both sides of the Arkansas river, and
occupies the country of which Bent's fort was in
ante-mining days the seat of such civilization as was
found on the east sh^pe of the Rocky mountains. It
was organized in 1870, and named after the Bent fam-
ily. It occupies an extent of territory lari^er than
the state of Massachusetts, but is comparatively unin-
habited, being almost entirely appropriated to the
uses of the great cattle companies and owners, a sin-
gle one of whom owns forty miles fronting on the
river.' Boggsville was the first county seat, which
later was west Las Animas, the rendezvous of cattle
owners and purchasers. East Las Animas, a few
miles below, is another similar point. Both are on
the railroad. La Junta, at the junction of the Pueblo
branch, is a prosperous town. Besides these there
'J. W. Powers, before mentioned. He came to Colorado in 1858 a poor
young man, made his first money cutting the native jjrasses for hay, and sell-
ing it to the government at Fort Lyou. He finally uecame a merchant and
banker, and owner of 20,000 cattle.
(574)
BENT AND BOULDER. 575
are few worthy of note." The Arkansas valley is
adapted to agriculture, but the population of about
2,000 is devoted to the grazing interest to the exclu-
sion of farming. The county of Greenwood was cre-
ated at the same time that Bent was established, and
occupied a part of its present territory, with Kit Car-
son for the county seat ; but it was abolished in 1874,
and the present boundaries decreed, at which time
the county of Elbert was set off.
Boulder, one of the original seventeen counties
established by the first legislative body of Colorado
territory, contains 794 square miles, and combines
mining with agriculture in a proportion which ren-
ders it a peculiarly favored section of the state. It
was first settled by a portion of a train which arrived
in 1858 by the Platte route, which on coming to the
confluence of the St Vrain, determined to take a
course directly leading to the mountains. Amoncr
them were Thomas Aikins and son, S. J. Aikins, a
nephew, A. A. Brookfield and wife, Charles Clouser,
Yount, Moore, Dickens, Daniel Gordon and brother,
Theodore Squires, Thomas Lorton, Wheelock broth-
ers, and John Bothrock. They pitched their tents
on the 17th of October at Bed rock, at the mouth of
Boulder canon. They were joined by others in the
course of the autumn. On the 15th of January,
1859, the first gold was discovered at Gold Bun by a
party consisting of Charles Clouser, John Bothrock,
I. S. Bull, William Hue^^, W. W. Jones, James
Aikins, and David Wooley. Out of this gulch was
taken by the hand-rocker that season $100,000. The
second discovery, on south Boulder, was the Dead-
wood diggings, by B. F. Langley, about the last of
* Alkali, Apishapa Station, Arapahoe, Benton, Bent's Fort, BlackwoU, Cad-
doa, Carlton, Catlin, Cheyenne \V'ells, Dowlings, First View, Fort Lyon,
Granada, Hilton, HoUey, Iron Springs, King's Ferry, Kiowa Springs, Kit
Carson, Main Rancho, Meadows, Monotony, Nine-mile Bottom, Point of
Rocks, Prowers, Red Rock, Robinson, Rocky Ford, Rush Creek, Salt
Springs, Sand Creek, The Meadows, Tuttle's, Well No. 1, and Wild Horse,
are the settlements in Bent co.
57G COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
January ; and the third at Gold Hill,' in February.
Soon after David Horsfal discovered his famous
mine.
In February the town of Boulder was laid off, ten
miles from the gold diggings, by H. Chiles, Alfred
A. Brookfield being president of the town company.*
The first seventy liouses on Pearl street were of logs.
It soon had a population of 2,000, which so exalted
the expectations of its shareholders that tliey turned
away customers by their high prices. Efforts were
made by bridging the Platte, and by other means, to
draw immigration to that point, but without marked
success.*
^ Some of the pioneers of Gold Hill were P. M. Housel and wife, George
W. Chaml)er3 and wife, Charles Dal)ney and wife, Charles F. Holly, Miles-
Jain, John Wigginton, William Fellows, James Smith, E. H. N. Patterson,
W. G. Pell, James A. Carr, W. A. Corson, Henry Green, I.. M. McCaslin,
and family, Rioiiard Blore, John Mahoney, Cary Culver, Hiram Buck, George
Zweck, Alph. Cushman, Mrs Samuel Hays, William and John Brerly and
families. The first child born in Gold Hill was Mamie McCaslin, who be-
came Mrs J. C. Coulehan of Boulder.
* Brookfield was born in Morristown, N. J., in 1830. His father was a
merchant, and he was his partner. He was afterward mayor of Nebraska
City. He came to Colorado in 1858. Henry Wilson Chiles was born in Va
in 1828, and came to Colo from Neb. in 1858. He served in the civil war,
and returned to Colo at its close.
'Some of the men of Boulder were: Thomas A. Aiken, bom in Md, 1808.
He came to Colorado in 1858, and settled four miles from Boulder City. He
died in 1878.
Samuel J. Aikins, born in 111. in 1835, came to Colorado in 1858, and
settled on a farm on Dry creek, five miles e. from Boulder City. A.J. Macky,
who erected the first frame house in Boulder, was born in N. Y. in 18114.
He came to Colorado in 1859, in company with Hiram Buck. He mined,
worked at his trade of carpentry, and kept a meat market in company with
Buck. He erected the first brick house in Boulder, and the first building
with an iron front. He was postmaster, county treasurer, justice of the
I)eace, meml)or of the scliool board, clerk of the dist court, and deputy int.
rev. collector. Foreiglit years he held the office of sec. Boulder County In-
dustrial association. In 1872 he was elected town clerk and treasurer,
which office he retained for about ten years. He at one time kept the Boul-
der house. In 1SG5, in company with Daniel Pound and others, he con-
structed the Black Hawk and Central City -wagon road, and tlie following
year built the Caribou and Central City road. He was influential in secur-
ing the state university for Boulder, and aided all worthy enterprises.
Alphcus \\ right, bi)rn in N. Y. and educated for tlie law, came to Colo-
rado in 1859. He was a member of the legislature in 1805, and was elected
county attorney. He matle a comfortable fortune at mining operations.
Samuel Arbuthnot was bom in Pittsl)urg in 18o0, and came to Colorado
in 1859. He mined at Gold Hill, at Russell gulch, and in California gulch.
In 18(53 he settled on a farm on Left Hand creek, Boulder co., and helped to
organize the Left Hand Ditcli company, of wliich he has been president. He
was also clerk of the school board.
s
BOULDER. 577
About this time men went wild over quartz, until
they found, upon protracted trial, that they could not
extract the gold I have already spoken of that era,
and its effect on the country. Then they were driven
to other pursuits, especially farming Boulder organ-
ized the first county agricultural society in 1867.
Grist-mills were erected, and a farming community
rew up at the confluence of the north and south
oulder creeks, with a thriving centre called Val-
mont.^ Boulder became the grain-milling as well as
grain-growing country' of the territory. In time,
also, its mines were developed, until its annual pro-
duction of the precious metals reached half a million,
George F. Chase was one of the Central City and Boulder valley toll-
road builders, county commissioner, town trustee, farmer, and stock raiser.
George W. Chambers was a miner, farmer, county commissioner, and justice
of the peace. Andrew Douty erected on South Boulder creek the first grist-
mill completed in Colorado. He also built a mill at Red Rock, near Boulder
City, in 1866. In 1867 he erected the first fiouring mills at St Louis, in Lar-
imer CO., where he died in 1874. Douty was from Pa.
Tarbox & Donnelly erected the first saw mill in Boulder in 1860, using the
■water power at the mouth of the canon. J. P. Lee built the second the
same season a few miles from Gold Hill; Tourtalotte and Squires a third in
Boulder City in 1862. Samuel Copeland erected the first steam saw mill in
Pour-mile canon in 1863.
Edward W. Henderson wa.s the purchaser of the Gregory mine, and had
many vicissitudes of fortune. He was connected with the Western Smelting
company, in charge of affairs; was treasurer of Gilpin co. ; and receiver of
the U. S. land oflSce at Central City 1873-9.
T. J. Graham brought the 3-stamp mill in 1859 which was set up on Left
Hand creek, near Gold Hill. He continued to reside at Boulder.
Other men of Boulder in early times were William Arbuthnot, miner and
farmer; August Burk, baker and farmer; Norman R. Howard, muier and
farmer; Thomas J. Jones, miner, merchant, and farmer, built the large hotel
at Gold Dirt in 1860; Henry B. Ludlow, miner and farmer; Holdeu R. El-
dred, freighter and merchant; William Baker, farmer; Thomas Brainard,
freighter and farmer; John Reese, carpenter, miner, and farmer, elected
assessor of Boulder co. in 1871; Jay Sternberg, miller and proprietor of the
Boulder City flouring mills; WilUam R. Howell, twice elected sheriff of
Boulder co.
* The first cheese factory was established at Valmont. This town was
laid off by A. P. Allen, his sons, G. S. and W. H. Allen, and his son-in-law,
Holden Eldred. Near Valmont were settled, with their families, W. B.
Howell, once sheriff, now a large land owner, John Rothrock, Henry Buck,
P. A, Lyner, William A. Davidson, H. B. Ludlow, J. J. Beasley, projector
and builder of the Beasley irrigating canal; Jeremiah Leggett, Edgar Saw-
dey, Hiram Prince, E. Leeds, J. C. Bailey, Stephen H. Green, and George
C Green, his son.
' A. and J. W. Smith of Denver, erected a grist-mill at White Rock
Cliffs, on Boulder creek, six miles from the mountains; P. M. Housel and
John D. Baker built one near Valmont. Housel was twice elected county
judge.
Hist. Nev. 37
578 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
chiefly in silver, and the assessable valuation of the
county is considerably over four and a half millions."
The coal production of the county in 1883 was
45,500 tons.' Iron is one of the valuable productions
of this county ;'" and also stone for building })ur-
poses, and lime manufacture. Boulder county in
1870 received the addition to its early population of
a company of persons organized in Chicago, inder
the name of the Chicago-Colorado colony, of which
Robert Collyer was president, C. N. Pratt secretary,
and William Bross treasurer. With so much ability
at the head it should have made itself a history. The
land, selected by W. N. Byers, consisted of 60,000,
" The ijriucipal mining districts of Boulder are Caribou, in which are sit-
uated the well-known mines of Native .Silver, Seven-Thirty, Ten-Forty,
Poorman, Sherman, No Name, and the Caril)ou, which shijiped in 1881
$'2l27,l>82.88 in silver bricks. Ward district contained the Ni Wot, Nelson,
Stoughton, Celestial, Humboldt, and Mornhig Star, free-milling gold mines.
In Central district were the smuggler, John Jay, Last Chance, Longfellow,
and Golden Age. The CJold Hill, Grand Island, Sunshine, Sugar Loaf, and
Magnolia districts liad good mines, which up to 1886 worked up to their
greatest point of productiveness. Placer mines were neglected. Stiiiih's Jiepf
on Dirfhypincnt of Colorcuh, 1881-2, 30, behig the annual report of the state
geologist. There were, in H8S0, 9 mills, running 185 stamps, at work in
Boulder county. Fossi'tt, Colorado, 2G0.
" The coal of Boulder county is a free-burning lignite, of jet black cvilor and
high lustre. Coal was first developed here in 18G0. In 18G4 Joseph W. Mar-
shall, one of the owners, after whom the coal -mining town of Marshall was
named, William L. Lee, Mylo Lee, and A. G. Langford erected a small blast-
furnace at this place, and made 200 tons of pig-iron from the red hematite ores
which abound in the locality. Tiie Mar.shall mine was worked for several
years on a small scale; but when the Golden, Boulder, and Caribou railroad
was completed, in 1878, the outjjut immediately increased to 50,000 tons
annually. Tir/.s Over the Plnhis, 8G-7; Eochj MouuUiin N€}i'x, May G, 1868;
Cl/'iir Cn'f'k ami Bouldi'r Val. lIlfL, 421. Louisville is another coal-mining
town on the Colorado Central railroad, 12 miles from Boulder. C. C. W^elch
of (rolden conceived the idea of boring for coal at this place, where it is found
200 feet lielow the surface. The town was named after Louis Niwatany, a
Polander, wlio had charge of the explorations. This mine was sold to Jay
< iould, of the Union Pacific 11. R., in 1879, with all its equipments, Louisville
lias a population of about GOO. Among tlie permanent settlers in Coal Creek
valley are tlie pioneer families of David Kerr, Robert Niver, W. C. Hake,
first president of the South Boulder and Coal Creek Ditch com])any, G. W.
Eggleston, A. M. Wylam, and James Minks. Niver, who is a well-to-do
farmer, was the projector of tlie Soutli Boulder and Coal Creek Ditch com-
pany, of which he was superintendent and stockholder, the benefit of which
to the valley has been great.
'"The Davidson Coal and Iron Mining company was incorporated in 187.*i,
witli a capital stock of SHiO.OCO, organized by William A. Davidson, Jona-
tlian 8. Smith, George W^. Smiley, Charles B. Kountze, and vVilliam B.
Berger. The company owned 8,000 acres on the line of the Colorado Central
railroad, 8 miles from Boulder.
BOULDER. 579
acres in the valleys of Boulder, St Vrain/^ Left Hand,
and Little Thompson creeks, including foot-hill lands
with timber, building stone, water, iron, and coal con-
venient to railroad transportation. A location was
chosen for a town about thirty miles due east from
Long's peak, the view of which gave it the name of
Longmont. The founders of the colony did not find
it an Arcadia, but taking it all in all, it proved a good
investment. The town, which was incorporated in
1873, had in 1886 1,800 inhabitants, excellent schools,
local journals, several churches, important agricul-
tural and milling interests, and a railroad connecting
it with the Erie and Canfield ^' coal banks, and was
on the line of the Colorado Central railroad.
Boulder City, the county seat of Boulder county,
was incorporated in November 1871,'' and had in
1886 a population of 6,000, railroad communication
with Denver '' and the other principal towns of north-
ern Colorado and the main line of the Union Pacific,
sampling and smelting- works, and flouring mills, ^'
"In St Vrain valley still reside some of the settlers of 1859, namely:
Cofifman, Penuock, Allen, Hamlin, Affalter, Peck, Isaac Runyou, B. F.
Franklin, .John C. Carter, Lyman Smead, David Taylor, Harrison Goodwin,
Perry White, Richard Blore, Weese brothers, Thomas McClain, C. C. True,
George W. Webster, Fred, George C, and Lawson Beckwith, Alf. and Wash.
Cashman, John Hagar, Powell, Ripley. Mason, Manners, and Dickson.
1- Canfield is another coal-mining town on the Denver and Boulder Valley
railroad, 1*2 miles from Boulder. There were three mines, two owned by the
Star Consolidated Coal-mining company, and another, opened in 1879, called
the Jackson.
12 Its mayors have been James Ellison, James P. Maxwell, Charles G.
Van Fleet, and John A. EUet. Maxwell was born in Wis. in 1839, and came
to Colorado in 1860, settling first in Gilpin co. at mining and lumber dealing.
He removed to Boulder in 1872, and engaged in farming and stock-raising.
He was elected to the territorial legislature in 1872 and 1874, to the state
general assembly in 1876 as senator, and in 1878 was chosen president of the
senate pro tem. He was also elected co. treas. in 1880. Charles C. Brace,
elected in 1885, came to Colorado in 1876 from Grand Rapids, Mich., where
he was born in 1849. He studied medicine in the Hahnemann medical col-
lege of Chicago, coming direct to Boulder after graduating. He was chosen
president of the Colorado State Homeopathic Medical society.
1* While the population was only a few hundred the citizens subscribed
$45,000 to secure a branch from the Denver and Boulder Valley R. R. Be-
fore it was completed the Colorado Central had reached them.
1^ The sampling-works were erected by N. P. Hill, manager of the Boston
and Colorado Smelting co., the smelting-works by J. H. Boyd, in 1874. The
Boulder City flouring- mill was erected in 1872 by Jay and D. K. Sternberg;
the Colorado state miU in 1877 by Mrs E, B. Yount,
^80 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
which purchased most of the wheat grown in the
county. The business of the town and vicinity sup-
ported several banks." It had a good system of
water- works, erected in 1874 at a cost of {^50,000, a
fire department organized in 1875, excellent public
schools," newspapors,cliurcliea,''' various benevolent so-
cieties, a public library," and tlie state university. This
lastdistinction was obtained from the legislature of 1861
and the corner-stone laid September 17, 1875. The pre-
paratory and normal departments were opened in 1877,
since which period it has increased and prospered."
There are few towns of importance in the county.*^
'*The Bi)uliler hank was established in 1S71 by George C. Corning of
Ohio; discoiitiuuctl in 1877. The National State bank was founded in 1874
by Charles O. and W. A. Buckingham of Ohio, but did not take the present
name until 1877. Tlie First National bank of Boulder was opened in 1877 by
Louis Cheney.
'' Boulder built tlie first school-house in Colorado in 18(50, costing $1,200.
It was occupiei] until 1872, when a large public school edifice was erected,
costing $15,000, and the graded system was adopted. Since that period ad-
ditions have lieen made as required.
•*The churches of Boulder were founded as follows: methodist in IStK),
by Jacob Adriance; congregational in 18G4, by William Crawford; presl)y-
terian in 1872, by J. E. Anderson; protestant episcopal, 187;^, by Henry
Baura; reformed episcopal, 1874, by James C. Pratt; catholic, 187l), \>y A. .1.
Abel; baptist, 1872, by J. G. Maver. After these came tlie christian and
adventist churches, liberalists, and spiritualists.
'^The library was founded by Charles G. Buckingham.
^•Robert Culver and Charles F. Holly were active in influencing the loca-
tion. The first board appointed consisted of D. P. Walling, J. Feld, A. O.
Patterson, A. A. Bradford, William Gilpin, Edwin Scudder, C. Dominguez,
Bryon M. Sanford, William Hammind, J. B. Chaffee, B. F. Hall, Amos
Steck, Jesse M. Barela, G. F. Crocker, J. S. Jones, and M. Goss. Colo, Sexg.
fjaws, 1861, 144-8. The first meeting of the board was held in Jan. 1870,
when it was duly organized. The citizens had donated 61 acres of land, valued
at $10,000, but there was as yet no cash found available. Application was
made to the legislature, which not until 1874 appropriated 115,000, condi-
tional upon an ecpial amount being subscribed in Boulder, and $16,656.66
being raised, the contract was immediately let to McPhee and Keiting of
Denver. A second appropriation by the legislature was sufficient to furnish
and start the institution. Provision was made for the permanent support of
the university by the annual assessment of one fifth of one mill on the valu-
ation of the state, and also for the election of regents by vote of the state.
The first board elected were L. W. DollofiF and Junius Berkley of Boulder,
(ieorge Tritch and F. J. Ebert of Denver, W. H. Van Geisen of Del Norte,
and C. Valdez of Ccmejos. Tliey chose Joseph A. Sewall president of the
university. The regular collegiate course began in 1878, and in 1880 there
were 121 pupils in attendance. The college edifice was placed on high ground
overlooking tlie city, and surrounded by well cultivated and ornamented
grounds. It was built of brick, three stories high, and surmounted by an ob-
servatory. The library, furnisliing, and finishing were all that could be ex-
pected of a university school while in its infamiy, and shows that Boulder
has done well in selecting this one of the state ir stitntions for its own.
^ The towns and settlements of Boulder county not mentioned are Altona,
CHAFFEE. 581
Chaffee county was created out of the southern
portion of Lake in February 1879."' Its area is
about 1,189 square miles, situated between the Mus-
quito range and Arkansas hills on the east, and the
great divide on the west. It is peculiarly a mining
region. The districts of as yet comparatively unde-
veloped Chalk creek, one of the earliest discoveries
on the east side of the range. Granite," Monarch,
south Arkansas, Cottonwood, and Hope are the
most extensive! v developed. The discoveries at Lead-
ville, and conse uent railroad building, were the first
causes of the re ent developments in Chaffee county,
as they were of ts organization. The Monarch dis-
trict, h^ng twenty-six miles west from the town of
Salida, contains some of the most remarkable mines
in Colorado. Tliey are lead carbonates or argentifer-
ous galena ores, and yield from 20 to 1,500 ounces of
silver, and forty to sixty per cent of lead to the ton.'*
Balarat, Blue Bird, Brownsville, Burlington, Camp Tellurium, Cardinal, Cove
Creek, Crisman, Davidson, Eagle Rock, Erie, Four-mile Creek, Highland,
Jamestown, Jim Creek, Lakeside, Langford, Left Hand, Logan Mine, Mag-
nolia, Marshall, Mitchell, Modoc, Nederland, Nerkirk Mill, Ni Wot, North
Boulder, Orodelfan, Osborn, Bella, Pleasant Valley, Queen City Mills, Rock-
ville, Salina, Springdale, Sugar Loaf, Sumuerville, Sunbeam CTulch, Sunny-
side, Sunshine, Tellermin, Ward District, White Peak, Williamsburg.
Charles Dabney settled in Boulder in 1860 at mining and blacksmithing. He
■was postmaster in 1861-2, justice of the peace, and in 1863 county commis-
sioner. In 1878 he engage<l in mining and brokerage, and added real estate
and lumbering. John J. Ellingham, miner, cattle-dealer, and owner of a
quartz-mill, settled same year. Also William H. Dickens, farmer; and Por-
ter T. Hinman, son of Anson Hinman, Alleghany co., N. Y., of which he
was judge. He resided in Ohio and Iowa before coming to Colorado, and was
assistant in the U. S. land otfice at Des Moines. He secured a farm of 320
acres on Left Hand creek.
-■^ It was first allowed to retain the name of Lake, that portion of the ori-
ginal organization north of it, and containing Leadville, Ijeing named Carbon-
ate. But the Leadville people protested — they were permitted to retain their
county name of Lake, Carbonate was abandoned, and the new organizatioQ
was called after a favorite senator. Colo Sess. Laios, 1879, 4.
*^ Stephen B. Kellogg, a pioneer of 1859, and who was one of the discov-
erers of Chalk Creek mines in I860, was born in Vtin 1816. He had been in
South America and Cal. before coming to Colorado. He changed his resi-
dence often afterward, but without leaving the state. He was a member of
the provisional legislature, has been police justice, and has held several other
official positions. Arl-anMcus Val. HiM., .520. Of Granite and its early history
I have already spoken.
■-'* The large-paying mines of Monarch district were Madonna, Silent Friend,
Wilson, Oshkosh, Fair Play, Monarch, Eclipse, Rainbow, Little Gem, Den-
ver, Wonder, Michigan, and Silver King. Descriptive America, May 4, 1884.
In Chalk Creek distinct the Murphy mine yielded 50 or more tons of ore daily
M2 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
The Madonna mine, discovered b}' the Boon broth-
ers, Iiad cut 300 feet, in May 1H84, througli sohd ore
of tliis description without finding tlie end of tin-
deposit. Other districts contain copper and silver,
some ^old and silver, and son.'«3 free-milling gold. The
V)ullion product of the county in 1883 was about
$300,000, nearly half of which was in gold.
The Calumet iron mine, the most valuable in the
state, was a deposit of magnetic and hematite ore con-
taining between seventy and eighty per cent [>ure
iron. Ten car-loads daily were taken by railroad to
Pueblo, wliercj it was smeltfjd and manufactured by
the Colorado Coal and Iron company, who owned it.
The other mineral re.sourc(;s of the county are num«'r-
ous. Poncho hot s[)rings and Wellsviile liot s[)rings"
are extensively known for their medicinal qualities.
Charcoal-buniing Is an important industry, being
made from the p"nion which covers the foot-hills.
Lime, also made in large quantities, is used as a flux
at the smelting works of Leadville and Pueblo,
twenty-six car-loads daily going to those places."'
Marble is also quarried nc-ar Salida, black, white, and
colored, of excellent quality, and grajiite as fine as
that of New England. Coal deposits just being
opened in 1885 promised well. Agricultun^, while
worth .?(K) per ton, net value. The ColumbuH, in the Soutli ArkansaH diHtrict,
was one of the largewt Hilver mines in the state, and yielded KX) ounces to the
ton. These are only named as samples of the Ijest mines in the county. The
flortense mine, on Mt Princeton, thougli of low grade ore, was one of the best
developed ami most jjroductivo.
'■'^Ponclio Hot Hj)riri;^:s an; (» iriiles soutliwe from Salida. They are ]'.i in
number. Aiongsidr; of tlitri] are colfl springs. ' hur and soda predominate,
although it is said that 00 difieront riiiiierai wat*"- are flowing constantly from
these fountains, witli wonderful curative qualities. At Cottonwood creek,
north of Salida, are similar springs. Horn's llcpt on Mineral Springs of Colo,
in -S'tote Jimrd of JlmUk R<jd, for 1870, p. (J'i.
^•' These statements are furnished by VV. W. Holler (A Salida, who has
contributed hia Colora/lo SkeMlifJi, MS., to my library. He was bom at Tona-
wanda, Erie co., N. Y., in 1842, and came to Colorado in 1877. After spend-
ing two years at Colorado Springs as a furniture-dealer, he removed to Salida
and went into the more remunerative business of cattle-dealing. Roller is
supplemented by E. J I. W':hh'>t Salida aw/ Ux Surrou/u/irif/K, MS., which deals
more particularly with the town. Welib was bom in N. Y. in 1844. He
came to Cleora, Colorado, in 1878 to engage in mercantile pursuits, but re-
moved to Salida when it was founded, and opened business there in 1880, sls
the pioneer merchant.
CHAFFKK. 583
still unrecognized as of importance, exists and in-
creases, the soil being rich and warm in the valleys."
The great San Luis valley in the adjacent county of
Saguache furnished in 1880 a convenient grazing
ijround for cattle.
■^Hu 1803, when Ch.affee was part of Lake county, Frank Mayol took
land claim 8 miles nortli of Buena Vista, where he raised potatoes at 50 c.
per pound, realizing $5,000 from 5 acres. He soon accumulated a fortune.
(Jeorge Leonliardy leased the farm in 1871, and xjurchascd it tlio following
year, paying $3,750. lie also opened a 'cut-olf' into South park, wiiicli became
the mail route. A post-ofliee was estaldished at his place called lliversidc.
Leonhardy added to his land from time to time, and heing engaged in other
business became weabliy. In 1804 Andrew Bard and Frank Loan took up
land near wliere Buen; Vista now stands, which tlu^y watered from Cotton-
wood creek, and whicli roduced large crops of liay and vegetables, all of wiiich
found a ready market. The next settlers were Benj. Schwandcr, William
Bale, afterward slieritf, folm Mcl'herson, and .1. K. (Jonell, who took claims
on the creek, and in Ih 5 Cottonwood was made an election precinct, and
Bale, Bard, and(ionell were appointed judges of election. Tiie same year
Galatia Sprague, U. Mat. .lohnson, Matthew llule, and .lohn (Jilliland settled
at Brown creek, wliere tlie agricultural and mining town of Brownsville grew
up. (lilliland, John Weldon, and (!. M. liunt/icker were appointed judges
of election in tiiafc precinct, which extended from Ciialk creek to the south
end of the county. In ISOO.Jolin Burnett, witli Nat. Rich and others, settled
near the present town of I'oncho Springs. Soon another election precinct was
declared, embracing the county south of Sand creek, and Burnett, Rich, and
W. Christis(m were appointed judges of election. At tlio electicm this year
the county seat was removed from Oro to Dayton, near the upper Twin lake.
Leonhardy, Hale, and I'eter Caruth wore county conmiissioners. At tiuMr
first meeting in Dayton the Trout creek road was declared a i)nblic highway,
and the following year a road was opened from tlie summit of Iho divide at
Poncho pass to tlie Arkansas river al>ove Trout creek, via the claim of
(fcorge Hendricks and Brown creek. Tliis gave comnuniication between the
nortli and soutli portions of the county, and was a dillicult piece of work, as
the road i)assed througii the narrow detiles of t!ie Arkansas river. (Jranite
was made an ehsction precinct in 1807. In 18()8 R. B. Newitt took a claim on
the divide, since known as Chubb's raneho, wliich liecame the centre of a min-
ing camp, and Charles Nachtrieb erected a grist-mill on Ciialk creek, wiiicli
was proof of the grain capabilities of this region, although when transj)ortation
from Denver and other business centres became easier, wiieat-raising was
al)andoned for other cereals. In 1808 Cranite was inade the county seat, and
continued such until after the separation of tlie northern portion from what
l)ecame Cliaffee. Caclio creek, wh(;rn ])lacer mining iiad been carried on since
1860, 300 persons being gathered at tliatcainp previous totlie rise of (Jranite,
became again in 1805 active, tlie claims having Iieen purchased bya company
with means to work tluMu by hydraulic process. The company obtained gov-
ernment patents to 1,100 acres of placer ground, from which they have taken
over $1,000,000. Lost Canon jdacer mines, owned by J. C. Hiiglics, were
discovered ia 1860, and lie in the mountains of tliat name at an elevation of
from 11,009 to 12,000 feet. Red Mountain district, on the head waters of
Lake creek, was discovered in 1864, an<l created a great excitement, the
mineral belt being very extensive, although the ore was f a low grade. It
took its name from the color given to tlie quartz liy the decomposition of the
sulphurets of iron. Other richer districts sf)on drew away the mining popu-
lation. La Plata district, discovered in 1807, embraced the country on the
iicad waters of Clear creek, and all the territory between the Arkansas river
and the heights along the stream. Finding lesa gold than lead and other
5H4 C01;NT1K> ok COLORADO.
Salida, tliat is to say junction, twenty-eight miles
soutli of Buena Vista, was laid out in May 1880 by
K\-governor Hunt, who owned the land, and was at
that time connected with the Denver and Kio (Irande
railroad."' When it was three months old it had 1,000
inhabitants. It was for a short time the terminus of
the railroad, which was being extended to Leadville,
and was the shipping-point of freight and passengers
for the Gunnison country, and points beyond. With
the completion of the road to these points much of
metals for which tliey were not searching, the district was ahandoned by its
discoverers. In 18G0 a revival of interest took place, tlie town of Vickaburg
wa.s laid off on Clear creek at the entrance to the canon, and several farmi*
located. CottonMood <listrict, on Cottonwood creek, is a silver-producing
region of more recent development, with some ricli mines on the north-cast
side of Mt Princeton, and on Jones and Fo.x mountains. Trout creek dis-
trict was discovered alter the Leadville mines, and includes Chubb's settle-
ment before mentioned. Itcontains both gold and silver mines. Buena Vista,
the county-seat, founded by the Buena \'ista Land company, at tlie junction
of the Railroads, is <»n Cottonwood creek, six miles ea.st of Mt Princeton, in
the midst of a plain surrounded by lofty peaks, and having a finely tempered
climate. The company has made many improvements in tlie way of parks
and irrigating ditclies, and has donated land for school purposes. The town
was incorporated in 1879. The population in 1884 was 3,tKX). Tliere were
good scliools, several cliurches, and two newspapers, with a considerable and
growing business. Cleora was founded in the interest of the Atchison, To-
peka, and Santa Fe railroad, when it was expected that this road M'ould have
secured tlie right of way through the (Jrand cafion of the Arkansas river,
which was dually granted to the Denver and KioOrande company. Having
refused any patronage to tlie bantling of its rival, tlie latter company laid out
the town of Salida, two miles above Cleora, to which the inhabitants and
business of the abandoned town immediately removed. Smith, in his Stnfj--
■lueut, MS., says: 'When Cleora was deserted, two l)rother3 called Raglin
went to Oriental, where they discovered a mine, near where Villa drove
now is. . . Fletclier Taylor went to Bonanza, in Saguache co. I)r Britn went
to the .Monarcli district. . .Judge Hawkins builta hotel (at Cleora) which
prospered until the town Mas abandoned ... 1 n 1879 Capt. Blake was one
of tile prominent merchants in Cleora. There were tline lumber yartls
in Cleora, one belonging to .\llen k Mack, who afterward moved to Salida.'
* Miss Millie Olimert/, in iier Fonalc Pioneeriwi, MS., states that she
went to the Artan.sas valley, 6 miles aliove Salida, in 1S78, and for three
years lived on a farm; but in 1881 moved to Salida to take charge of (Jov.
Hunt's real estate, he having left tlie Kio (Jrande company to u?idertake the
developnieiit of extensive coal mines near Laredo in T' xas, and to assist in
the Mexican National railroadeiiterpri.se. In 1884 Ocorge Sackett, from
Ohio, came to Salida and invested in real estate in and alxiut the town, all of
which he placed in Miss Ohmertz' hands as iiis agent. She is also manager
of the landed interest of several Denver owners.
J. W. O'Connor, county physician of Chaffee co., was born in 111. in 1852,
and educated at the Rush medical college, Chicago, graduating in 1879. He
came immediately to Denver, where lie was appointed resident physician of
the Arapahoe co. ho.spital. In 1880 lie removed to Chaffee co., and the fol-
lowing year was appointed surgeon of the railway. He superintended the
construction of the railroad ho.spital at Salida.
CHAFFEE
the business of the place was removea, and its growth
was thenceforth slower. The railroad company in
1886 had extensive buildings and works; the town
was well watered, and had a bank, an opera-house,
churches, schools, good hotels, a public reading-room,
Salida and Vicinity.
pleasant drives, and was generally prosperous, being
in the centre not only of rich mining districts, but of
a good farming region, which was being rapidly set-
tled/*
»In Ohmertz' Femak Pioneerincf, MS., 2, it is said that a large oat-meal
mill would be erected in 1865 by M. Sackett, and that a large smelter was
talked of by other capitalists. A coal mine, 6 miles helow Salida, owned hj
Davis, Carstarphan, and Craig Brothers, was about to be opened. J. H. Stead,
586 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Clear reek county, not large, but important, was
the scene of some of the earliest mining discoveries
after the slight indications of Cherry creek, and one
of the original seventeen counties organized by the
first legislature. The early history of this portion c»f
Colorado has been quite fully given/* Its name was
taken from the creek which flows through it, the high-
lands along which for thirty-seven miles are filled
with veins of silver. Anotlier silver belt extends
from Idaho springs up Chicago creek to Argentine
l)om in Albany, N. Y., in 1827, came to Colorado from Chicago in ISSO,
locating at Maysville, and remaining tliere for 4 years, when he removed to
Salida. He was engaged in mining and merchandising. In a manuscript Ijy
liim entilled Toion-I'uil'liii'j are the following notes on Chafl'ee co. and Salida;
' Near Salida is the Sedalia copper mine, producing silver and copper, a very
valuable mine. In Chalk creek district, 15 miles from Salida, is the Mary
Murphy mine, valued at $:5,000,000, besides several others of prospective
great value.' On Monarch hill he mentions the Monarch, the Madonna, pro-
ducing 100 tons per day, owned by the Pueblo and Colorado Mininij and
Smelting company at Pueblo, the Magenta, the Eclipse, Paymaster, Silent
Friend, Rol)ert Wilson, Fairplay, and Lexington. He represents tlie Arkan-
sas valley between Salida and ^laysville as being a fine agricultural region,
with many valuable farms growing all kinds of grain, apples, and small fruits,
while the mesas or table-lands north of them are also productive alone tlie
streams, which means tliat they only need irrigation to become fertile. See
also Fratik Enrlcs SnUdu, its Jjuund, Ajriruliural, Manujurturiiij, IlailrxHui,
Resources, Lonttion, Six-iety, CUnuUe, Bminfss, etc., a pamphlet containing
a map and a directory: Colonuh, Tlie Press and People, MS., a dictation
taken from M. R. Moore, postmaster of Salida in 18S4. Moore was born in
Indiana, in 184(5, and came to Colo from Kansas in 1875, locating himself in
San Juan co., whence he removed to Salida in 1880. Hepubli-shedanumber
of newspapers which will be mentioned elsewhere, and established the
Mountniii J/aiVat Salida. L. W. Craig came to Salida in ISSO ami engaged
in merchandising for five years. In 1885 he sold out and opened a private
bank, known as the Continental Divide bank. He liad previously made a
fortune in the cattle business in Montana, and was owner in some Colorado
mines. Tliere were several other aspiring new towns in Chatfee county, in
18Sl>, all owing their existence primarily to mining, but gradually develop-
ing other resources of the country. Tliese were Alpine, Arborville, Ameri-
cus, Arkansas, Columbus, Chaffee, Carmel, Cascade, Centreville, Clialk Mill.s,
Cove Rock, Crees Camp, Crazy Camj), Divide, Foose's Camp, Forrest City,
Free Gold, Carfield, Green Gulch, Hancock, Herring's Park, Helena, Hor-
teuse, Junction City, Knoxville, Kraft, Lake Fork, McOee, Mahonville,
Mears, Midway, Nathrop, North Fork, Pine Creek, Sliarano, Silverdale,
Spaulding, St Elmo, Taylor Gulch, Trout Creek, Wellsville, Winfield. The
population of tiie county in 1884 was 10,000.
^0. E. Leliow was discoverer of the Spanish bar diggings, and soM his
mine for $4,000, receiving his pay in cattle and horses with which lie began
stock-farming on Cherry creek. In lS(i0 he located with his brother, C.
L. Lehow, a rancho at Platte cafton where he resided untQ 1870, securing in
the mean time l.GOO acres in San Luis valley, which he fenced and stocked
with cattle. Then he became a resident of Denver, with an interest in mines
at Silver Cliff, in Custer county.
CLEAR CKEEK, 587
pass. The principal gold district was immediately
surrounding Empire, in the vicinity of which there
were also some rich silver mines. Clear Creek county
was the scene of the first successful milling and
smelting of silver ores, as well as of the manufacture
of the first silver brick by Garrett, Martine, & Co/'
^1 Among the stamp-mills so freely introduced from 1860 to 18G4 was the
What Cheer mill at Georgetown, arranged at first for the crushing and amal-
gamating of auriferous quartz. When it was ascertained that no supply of
free-milling ores were to be found in that district, the mill was leased to
Garrett, Martine & Co. for 5 years, who introduced Bruckner cylinders for
roasting and revolving barrels for amalgamating silver ores. In spite of the
many difficulties to be overcome, this firm saved 80 to 85 per cent of the silver
treated. This was in 1867. In 1868 they sold to Huepeden & Co., but the
superintendent, embezzling the funds of the firm. Palmer & Nichols next
came into possession of the mill, and failed. In 1873 the Pelican companj'
purchased the property, and having renovated and added to its machinery,
made several thousand bars of silver from the ores of the Pelican mine. In
1877 the miU was leased to Ballou, Napheys & Co., who operated it for 10
months at a loss, after which it was used as sampling-works by the Boston
and Colorado Smelting co. The next experiment, by Prof. Frank Diljdin of
the International Mining co., began in 1868, at East Argentine, 8 miles from
Georgeto'wn, and has already been spoken of. This mill ran for 4 years on
the company's ore, mixed with the lighter ore from the Belmont and Harris
mines, under the superintendence of P. McCann. At the same time the Baker
Silver Mining co., Joseph W. Watson, superintendent, erected a mill at West
Argentine, which was destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, J. Oscar Stewart, of
Georgetown, was experimenting with a small reverberatory furnace, and two
amalgamating pans, erected in 1SG7, and achieved suificient success to induce
eastern capitalists to furnish money to erect a 8100,000 mill, which was mod-
eled after his experimental works. But the ores that could be reduced soon
became scarce, and while he had thousands of tons of tailings on the dump,
containing 40 ounces of silver each, he could not extract this without loss.
Next the Arey and Stetefeldt furnaces were tried, which gave too little time
for thorough roasting, then a smelting furnace for getting rid of the lead, and
many variations and adaptations of the reverberatory furnace, and of the
Hunt & Douglas leaching process, but all in vain. In the meantime the mill
was twice burned, and a total failtire was the result. In 1870-71 a mill was
erected at Masonrille, 4 miles below Idaho springs, which also failed after a
short time. A miU was started in 1872 at Georgetown by Ji;dd & Cro.sljy,
who soon abandoned the attempt at making it pay. J. V. Farwell purchased
it, took down the patent furnaces, and placed in their stead Bruckner cylin-
ders and amalgamating pans, which, under the management of S. J. Learned,
saved a high percentage of the ores treated. The Clear Creek company, by
using a modification of the Hunt, Douglas, & Stewart leaching process, made a
successful specialty of treating low-grade ores. In this costly school was the
knowledge acquired which was to benefit the future miner.
Among the early experiments was that of smelting for lead. The first
effort was made by Bowman & Co. , negroes from Missouri, who knew some-
thing about lead-mining in that state, and thought to put their knowledge t^
practical use. They erected a small smelter a mile above Georgetown, on
Leavenworth fork. It consisted of a rode water-wheel, a bellows, and a 10-
foot stack. It was charged a few times with antimonial galena from their
mine, the Argentine, but this class of ore soon gave out, and their smelter
became worthless. Caleb S. Stowel tried the Scotch hearth with no better
results. In 1867 the Georgetown Smelting company erected a lead smelter
588 COUNTUiS OF COLORADO.
Although the county had produced between 1864 and
1884 bullion to the amount of $28,447,400, few of
•with a large stack, and the most approved roasters, which produced a few
bars of base bullion, and suspended. The Brown Silver Mining company,
•which owned two productive mines, the Brown and Coin, also erected, alniut
the same time, a mill and smelting-works at Brownsville. By the aid of
galena, iron i)yrite3, and fluxes secured from other districts, the company
-svcre enabled to keep their mill going for a year, when it was closed. lu the
course of their experiments tliey sliipped a large amount of silver to Phil.,
one ma83 weigliing ],8()0 pounds. Sub-secpiently the mill was leased to three
iliiferent parties, each of •wliich realized a profit from working over tlie refuse
fclag. Leatl-snieltiiig in Clear Creek co. has been abandoned, the galena ores
being sent to (JolJcn or Puel)lo in Col(ira<lo, or to Omaha, Chicago, St Louis,
AVyandotte, Pittsburgh, or Newark for reduction. Kichard Pearcc. Samuel
^Vann, and Hiram Williams attempted the smelting of gold and silver ores
with the same results as above, tlie refractory nature of tlie silver ores pre-
venting their success. But what can be done in other j)laces can certainly \>e
done here as well, when the facilities are provided. The first concentrating
mill was introibiced in ISTO by tlie Washington Mining a-ssociation which had
lirst tried smelting unsuccessfully. The Krom machines for dry concen-
tration were tried, but the mill was burned before a fair test ■was made. The
Clear Creek CO. had in 18S6 a fifty -ton mill •whicii used Krom's improved
dry concentrators with profit, on low-grade ores. Rude Cornish band-jigs
and buddies had been in use from tiie discovery of silver; but George Teel
first systematized their working in 1873, when, as sup't of the Terrible mine,
lie induced tlie company to erect a 25-ton mill using the Ilartz jigs, Pettling-
tanks, and slime-tables. Teel, Foster, and Eddy erected the Silver Plume mill
in 1875, which finally failed and was sold to F'ranklin Ballou. W. W. Rose
& Co., in 1875, builta concentrating mill to reduce the ores of the Now Boston
mine on Democrat Tnountain, wliicii failed on account of poor ore. John
CoUora, after 10 years of experimenting, had a mill "built from designs
of his own, at Idaho. The Duuderl)ergco. erected at their mine, in 1878--9,
a concentrating-mill of 40 tons capacity, with 5 Hartz jigs, and improved
macliinery; and A. P. Stevens erected a 20-ton mill at Lawson. Several
inventions have been introduced from time to time, but none that have been
able to save all the silver, and some of which have failed entirely. Tlie
Freeland Mining co. erected at Idaho springs, in 1879, the best appointed
concentrating-mill in the state at tliat time, with a capacity of 1 15 tons daily.
It used 12 Hartz jigs for sej)arating the worthless rock fmm the ore, and a
rotary circular buddle for dividing the latter into pure ore, seconds, and tail-
ings, and saved by means of a second stamp-mill all that the rock contained;
but tlie ore of their mine ran two thirds gold to one third of copper, silver,
iron, sulphur, an<l arsenic. Then there were the Farwell reduction-works,
and Pelican reduction-works at Georgetown; tlie Colorado United Mining
company, the Hukill company of Spanish Bar, tiie Miles company of Idaho,
•wet concentrating-mills; the Sunshine of Idaho, the Pioneer, Knickerbocker,
and Bay State ofEmpire, raw gold ore amalgamators. The ore-sampling,
buying, and shipping firms were: at Georgetown, Rocky Mountain mill,
Mattliews, Morris & Co., established in 1S7(), burned, and rebuilt in 1877;
Washington mill, Olmstead & Ballou, 1872; G. W. Hall & Co., 1871-2; Clear
Creek company, 187G; J. B. Church, 1874; P. McCann, Georgetown and
Lawson, 1877-8; Silver Plume, Ballou & Co., 1875; Harry Montgomery,
Idaho Springs, 1876. The number of men directly employed in mining,
milling, and handling ore in Clear Creek co. was estimated by Fossett to be
2,000. Tiie mines have returned an average of $3 per day for the men thus
employed, and have at the same time been advanced nearly or quite an equal
amount in value by eacli day's labor, tlie mining property of Clear Creek co.
being estimated at §;20,000,b00, which was what the county had produced
in gold, silver, lead, and copper down to 1880.
MINES AKD MINING. 589
the mines were down to any great depth. The Ter-
rible, situated on Brown mountain, three miles from
Georgetown, had reached a depth of 1,300 feet. The
ore at this depth yielded 200 ounces of silver to the
ton. Twenty-five or thirty other large mines in Sil-
ver Plume district were the producing mines of the
county, though the Dumont, Idaho springs, Fall
river, Chicago creek, Atlantic, and Daily districts
were promising, and some yielding well. Not more
than half a dozen mines used pumps. The deeper
mines were growing richer. Hence the inference
that this country has before it a long and prosperous
career at mining. The population in 1880 was about
8,000. Georgetown, the county seat, is situated at
the head of a level valley, with mountains towering
above it covered with pine and veined with silver.
It has a population of 3,500. Higher, and at the foot
of Republican, Sherman, and Leavenworth mountains,
are the mining towns of Silver Plume and Brown-
ville, with 1,800 and 1,000 inhabitants respectively.
Notwithstanding the altitude of Georgetown, 8,504
feet, the mountains rise so much above it that half
the day's sunshine is cut off except in midsummer."
"Thomas Cooper, born in Kent, Eng., migrated to the U. S. in 1852, and
after several removes and a visit to his native land came to Colorado in 1859,
engaging in placer mining with success, making some valuable discoveries.
He became one of the owners of the Champion.
Frank J. Wood, another of the men of 1859, was born in Ohio in 1839,
and came to Colorado from Iowa. His first location was at Central, where
he remained at mining for five years, making considerable money which he
lost in speculation. He then set himself up in merchandising at Empire, but
in 1867 removed to Georgetown, where he opened a drug store. After a
time he sold out and went into the book and stationery trade.
F. J. Marshall, who organized the Marshall Silver Mining company,
which sold its property to the Colorado Central Consolidated Mining com-
pany, and has been connected with some of the most celebrated mines in the
ooanty and state, was born in Va in 1816. He founded Marysville, on the
Big Blue river, Kansas. He was a member of the first and second legisla-
tures of Kansas. In the struggle of 1855 he was elected by the legislature
brigadier-general of militia, and afterward promoted to be major-general and
oommander-in-chief of the Kansas miUtia. In 1856 he was elected governor
under the Lecompton constitution, but retired to private life in 1857. Two
years afterward he came to Colorado, and after a few years settled himself
at Georgetown.
Charles P. Baldwin, a mining man of Georgetown, was born in Maine in
1835. On the breaking out of the rebellion he raised a company and enlisted
in service of his country, being promoted untU he reached the rand of briga-
590 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
The (Jiily other towns of any note in the county are
Idalio springs," Freehmd, Empire City, Bakerville,
J)uniont, and Red Elepliant.
<lier-general. He was president of the hoard appointed to audit war clainis
at Ricliinond after Lee a surrender. On heinc mustered out in ISlili he came
to Colorado, selecting CJcorgt-town for a ri'.sideiice on account of tlie silver
mines. After prospecting ami mining for a time ho purchased the Comet
lodo, which in a few months yielded §10,000, hut could never he made to re-
peat this production. In lyTD lie came into ownership of the Magnet, which
for a long time was a rich and productive property. In JS84 he was ap-
pointed manager of the Terrilde group of miners. He was a man of good
ahility and commanded the respect of all.
Russell J. Collins, w ho came to (Jeorgetowu in 1866 fresh from the army,
in whidi he had served as surgeon of an 111. regiment during the war. He
was horn in N. H. in IS'28, and graduated from Berkshire college in 1851,
afterward i)ractising in(irand Rapids, Mich., and in 111.
George W. Hall, born in N. Y. in 1825, came to Colorado in 180!), engag-
ing in lumber dealing at Central and at Empire, hut removing linaily to
(Georgetown in 1SG8. In 1878 he engaged actively in mining, ami became
manager of the Colora<lo Central Consolidated Mining company's mines,
which produced $500,000 in one year.
3^ Idaho Springs was the first settled town in the county. It was within
its limits that the first mining was begun in 1859 on Chicago bar. Al>out 200
miners were attracted tliither, many of whom remained over winter, and in
1800 the town was perceived to be a fixed entity. A hotel was opened in a
log cal)in, kept by F. W. Beebe, which was the precursor of the present Beebe
house. Among the pioneers of 1859 who still remained in 1880 were William
Hobbs, John Needam, and A. V. Smith. A. M. Noxon, E. F. Holland, R. B.
Griswold, John Silvertooth, M. B. Graeff, John W. Edwards, and others, set-
tled in 18G0. In 18GI religious services began to be held by an itinerant
preacher nicknamed the Arkan.sas Traveller, whose real name was Bunch,
intermitted with sermons by another i)reacher named Potts. In 1800 the
Hukill quartz mine was discovered, and in 1861 the Seaton quartz mine and
the first stamp mill erected. And in this year the county was organized,
and the county seat located at Idaho Springs. It was not until 1863 that
any attention was given to improving the hot soda springs, when E. S.
Cummings erected a small bathing house. In 1866 Harri.son Montague pur-
chased thena and began to prepare for the reception of visitors and invalids.
Their medicinal qualities and nearness to Denver have made them cii)opular
resort and tlie chosen residence of a number of wealthy families. The tem-
perature ranges from 70° to 110^ Fahr. in the several springs, which is tempered
to use by water from Soda creek. The altitude of tiie springs is 8,000 feet, tiie
scenery attractive, and tiie climate agreeable. In 187.S a government patent
was obtained for the town-site, and a l)oard f»f trustees organized, with R. B.
Griswold president. It was not until railroad facilities readied it that the
town began to make any rapid progress. Tiie population in 1884 was between
800 and 900.
Tiiis history oi* Idaho Springs is only a proper introduction to the history
of the present county seat and metropolis, Georgetown. In 1859 George F.
fJriffith and D. T. Griffith, his brother, wliile prospecting for gold, followed
the windings of South Clear creek to the foot <tf the mountains, where
fieorgetown now stands, and discovered the Griffith lode, which runs into
the town-site. Like most of the silver fissure mines, it showed gold at the
top, and was rich. Griffith mining district was organized June 25, 1860, after
a number of discoveries had been made in the neighborhood of the first.
George F. (Griffith was the first recorder, and James Burrell first president.
About the same time the town was laid ofiF, and named Elizabethtown, after
a eiater of the Griifithss. A rude water-mill, with 12 woodeu, iron-shod
CONEJOS. " 091
Conejos county, first named Guadaloupe by the
legislature of 1861, and changed during the same ses-
stamps, pounded out the gold from tlie Griffith, Burrell, Corisannie, and
Nancy lodes, which soon, howev ,r, betrayed that refractory character which
paralyzed mining for a time. For two weeks in 1S63 John T. Harris was the
sole denizen of the town, the population having run after the better paying
discoveries at Idaho, Spanish bar, and Empire, leaving Georgetown to deso-
lation. In 1804-65 a company formed in the east erected a mill, which, on
trial, was a failure, and the discovery that this was really a silver district
coming about the same time, started on again the car of progress. In Sep-
tember 18t>4 Ex-provisional Governor R. W. Steele, James HuflF, and Robert
Layton discovered the Belmont lode, in East Argentine district, which, on
being assaj-ed, as I have related, established the argentiferous character of
the region about Georgetown. From this time its prosperity was assured,
In 1867 it was resurveyed and platted by Charles Hoyt, under direction of
the citizens, and the name changed to Georgetown, by vote at a mass meeting
held a the corner of Rose and Mary streets. At the general election of this
year it became the county seat, and -was incorporated in Jan. 1868. Under
its municipal organization its first police judge was Frank Dibdin. The se-
lectmen of the 1st ward were W. W. Ware and Charles Whitner; of the 2d
ward, H. K. Pearson and John Scott. The Colorado Miner newspaper was
established the same year, by J. E. Wharton and A. W. Barnard, the office
being in a 12 by 14 building in the lower town. About the same time the pub-
lic school was organized, IMiss L. H. Lander being the first teacher. She was
drowned in Clear creek about the last of June, 1867, slipping from the foot-
log used as a bridge. In 1870 tiie mining camp of Silver Plume, two miles
above Georgetown, was first settled, and named after the mine, which has
since become famous and given its name to the district, which contains many
of the most important mines in the county. The richness of the Dives, Peli-
can, and other mines provoked cupidity, and consequent litigation, which for
years netted a rich profit to the legal fraternity. The Terrible was at length
sold to an English company, which has liberally aided its development.
Georgetown receives the benefit of the immediate neighborhood of these
mines, besides being the seat of most of the reduction-works of the county.
Unlike the more modern towns of Colorado, little care was bestowed upon
streets or buildings, although the character of the latter soon improved. It
had an excellent public school, and several churches. The methodists organ-
ized in 1864, B. T. Vincent, preacher at Central City, officiating. Thej'
erected a church, costing $8,000, in 1869. Tlie presbyterian church organized
in 1869, and erected a stone edifice in 1874. The episcopalians first organ-
ized in 1867, F. W. Winslow rector, and built a small church in 1869, which
was destroyed by a hurricane soon after its completion. It was rebuilt, and
in 1877 received a large pipe-organ, the first in Georgetown. The catholics,
as usual, secured a valuable block of land when the town was first laid out,
Thomas Foley being their first pastor. In 1872 they built a small wooden
church, and in 1875 a brick edifice, costing S12.000. Georgetown possesses a
good system of water-works. The companj^ was organized in 1874. The
town has also a fire department, consisting of several companies. At a tour-
nament, held under the auspices of the state association, at Georgetown, the
Alpine hose company won the first prize, consisting of a silver tea-set and a
brass cannon. In a contest with a Denver company the same year, the Bates
hose company of Georgetown were victorious. In 1879, with the other
Georgetown companies, they took the first prize of S150 at both the hose and
hook-and-ladder races, and later in the year, at the state tournament in Den-
ver, again took the first prize in the hose race. The Star hook-and-ladder
company has also won a long list of prizes. Among them are a silk flag, pre-
sented by the women of Georgetown, and two silver trumpets. At the state
tournament at Georgetown, in 1877, they were victorious, and at a touma-
592 COUNTIES OF COLORAIXJ.
sion to Conejos, was until the advent of the railway
inhabited almost exclusively by a Spanish-American
ineiit at (,'lieyeuue, in July 1«78, they won $50. In August of tlie same year
they took the champion helt at the state tournament held at PiiehU>, antl $7."»
in gohl. Georgetown has a public hospital, ami a iiumljer f)f secret ami lie-
uevolent orders and societies. Tlie man ulio sawed the lumber to build the
first frame houses in Idaho Springs was William F Doherty. He was bom
in Me in 183". He learned the trade <>f an iron-moulder, working thereat,
and making occasional voyages to sea. In JSG'2 he enlisted in the 1st It. I.
cavalry, was in several importar.t engagements, and carried ihe colors in
Sheridan's famous ride, in Oct. J8G4. He was mustered out in Feb. 186.'),
and came to C'ol'>ra<lo in May following. After mining at Black Hawk one
year he settled at Idaho Springs, where, as miner and lumberman, he resided
continuously. In 18S4 he itun based the Spa hotel.
F. F. Obiston, born in England i.i 1843, came to the U. S. as secretary of
the Washoe Mining company of Reno, Nev., in 18G4, where he remained two
years. He was afterward supt of diffjrent mines >n theCimstock, and came
to Colo in 1879, when he purcliased, in company with .1. W. Mackay, the
Freeland mine, which produced, in tlie G years following, .•<•_', (XKJ.OOO. He
also purchased, witli MaL;kay, tlie IMutus, anotiier valuable mine. The two
mines together produced S'_'0,0(M) per month. The Freeland mine, in ISuf),
had two miles of tunnelling. The property is over a mile in lengtli, and is
situated on South Clear creek, 4 miles from I<laho springs, and ,two miles
from the Colorado Central raildroad.
B. I). Allen, born in Ohio in 1845 came to Colorado in 1880. He was
auditor of the express company until 1884, when he purchased, with Mat-
thews & Webb of Denver, the sampling-works at Idaiio Springs, of which
he became manager, doing a business of $100,000, and handling 1,500 tons
of ore per month, or about three fourtlis of all the output of the district.
The only other town in Clear Creek county in 188G, with a history, was
Empire. In the spring of 18G0 a few prospectors from Spanish bar, a small
district contiguous to Idaho springs, namely, Ceorge Merrill, Joseph Musser,
George L. Nicholls, and D. C. Skinner, temporarily organized Union district
for placer mining, and founded a settlement, Merrill and Musser erecting the
first cabin. Dr Bard, after whom Bard creek is named, drove the first wagon
into the new town. About August 1st Edgar Freeman and H. C. Cowles
came across the mountains from Central. Prosiiecting on Eureka mountain,
they picked up some bits of wire gold, and, stimulated by this discovery,
continuetl with others to search for mines of gold and silver in the district.
In Sept. I). C. Dailey & Co. discovered a lode which they believed to be sil-
ver, naming the mountain where it was found Silver mountain, and the Iwle
Empire. The Keystone lode was discovered about the same time. The min-
ers at once proceeded to complete the organization of the district, electing,
in Dec., Henry Hill pres., H. C. Cowles miners" judge, D. J. Ball clerk and
recorder, James Ross sheriff, and George L. Nicholls surveyor, all of whom
remained in office until the organization of the territory. Some further de-
velopment of the mines in Union district showed them to be auriferous, and
population flowed in from the adjoining districts. The settlement took the
name of Empire City, and was surveyed and laid off in lots and iilocks by
(J. L. Nicholls, H. C. Cowles, D. J. liall, and Ed. Freemim. The enthusiasm
of the first set-to at quartz-mining received a check when the owners of lodes
hatl come down to pyritc^^, and tiie Hush times of Empire were over in 1865;
but ever since the art of mining jiroperly and jirofitaldy began to be mas-
tered, the mines about Empire have steadily yielded a golden return. The
town, ali>eit it is a prettily situated spot, has never returned to the anima-
tion of its first days, and remains but a miners' camp.
Lawson, a mining camp six miles below Georgetown, named after Alex-
ander Lawson, owes its existence to the Red Elephant group of mines, dis-
covered in 187G. Dumout, two miles below, was formerly known as Mill
COSTILLA. 593"
or Mexican population, which, while they sent mem-
bers to the general assembly, maintained little com-
munication with the United States Americans to the
north of them."
City, but in 1880 had its name changed in honor of John M. Dumont, one of
the pioneers of the county. The other settlements are Bakerville, Baltimore
Tunnel, Bear Creek, Big Bar, Brook Vale, Burleigh Tunnel, Camp Clifford,
Do\\Tierville, Dry Gulch, Elephant, Fall River, Floyd Hill, Freeland, Gilson's
Gulch, Grass Valley, Green Lake, Hukill, North Empire, Seaton Hill, Silver
Creek, Silver Dale, South Clear Creek, Spring Gulch, Stephensville, Stevens'
Mine, Swansea, Yankee Bar, and York River.
2* An exception to the rule was Antonio D. Archuleta, born in Taos, K.
M., in 18.55, and removed to Conejos co. in 1856. He was sent to Denver in
1870 to be educated, where he remained 4 years, when he returned to Conejos
to act as clerk in his father's store, and became a partner. He was elected
to the general assembly in 1882, and in 1884 to the state senate. The boun-
daries of the county have been several times changed and diminished, but it
still contains a large area, much of which lies in the fertile San Luis valley.
The principal industries in the a nte-railroad period were wheat-raising, wool-
growing, and cattle-raising. The farming productions found a ready market
in the San Juan mines to the west, but such was the race prejudice of the
Mexicans that when the active American population began to invade this
region, many abandoned it. Those who were left were chieiiy employed as
freighters. In 1879 a colony of ISIormons settled at Manassas, on Conejos
creek, and these will probably affect the agricultural output of the county
favorably. An immigration of Scandinavians was invited to this section in
1882, which will add to the farming population a valuable element. Irrigat-
ing ditches are being constructed, which will bring a large body of land
under cultivable conditions. Its mineral wealth is very little developed. The
original county seat was at Guadaloupita, but was changed to Conejos, a
Mexican town, and has a good local trade. Alamosa is, however, the prin-
cipal town, having connection with Santa Fe, Pueblo, and the San Juan
country. It is situated on the west side of the Rio Grande del Norte, almost
in the centre of San Luis park, at an e' ovation of 7,492 feet, with a pano-
rama of mountain views skirting the plain on every side. Aside from its
fine situation it is a thriving place. It was founded in June 1878. In the
first six months the sales of merchandise reached .S600,000. The population
at the end of a year was 500. A large amount of freighting was done in
wool, pelts, hides, machinery, and bullion. Colorado Condensed, 6-7. This is
a pamphlet collated in 1883 by the editor of the Bach/ Mountain JVeivs, which
furnishes a few paragraphs on the several counties, chiefly with regard to
their present condition. Fossett's Colorado, 85-6, also furnishes a few hints
of the recent advancement of Conejos county, and the Colonulo Gazetteer of
1871 portions of its earlier histot-y, but the whole is incomplete, owing to the
avoidance of the Americans by the Mexicans, and the little known of the
latter by the former. Pagosa Springs is a government reservation withheld
from sale on account of the great hot basin of medicinal waters, which is
found here. The spring is situated west from Alamosa, on the south side of
the San Juan river, near its headwaters. Its altitude is 7,084 feet, the
country aljout it is fertile, and the climate agreeable, a combination of
advantages which, united with scenic and other attractions, promises to
make this a noted resort whenever the required improvements are made for
the accommodation of visitors. Antonita is a town which had a rapid
growth. The lesser towns and settlements of Conejos co. are Amargo,
Antonio, Cimp Lewis, Capulin, Carracas, Chama, Cockrell, Coxo, Codyville,
Cumbres, Ephraim, Fuertecitos, Gato, Juanita, Jackson, La Jara, Lava, Los
Brazos, Los Pinos, Los Riucones, Los Serribos, Navajo, Osier, Piedra, Pxice,
Hist. Nev. 38
694 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Costilla county was originally larger than at pres-
ent." Its characteristics and history are similar to
those of Conejos, having a Mexican population, and
embracing a ])ortion of the San Luis valley or park.
A part, also, of the county is claimed as belonging to
the Sangre de Cristo, or Beaubien grant, and is
unsurveyed."
Rincones, Rio Grande, Rivane, San Antonio, San Jose, San Rafael, Serro
Largo Servilleta, Sheldon, Shuitze Raneho, amd Spring Creek.
*^For earlier county boundaries, see Oen. Laws, Colo, 18C1, 52-7; Id.,
1864, 68-9; Id., 1877, 186-216.
^^The history of this grant is given in a manuscript by Cutler, of the Den-
ver Journal of Comnwrce, in my possession, as follows: A few years before
the Mexican war two Canadians, Charles Beaubien and Miranda, bettled at
Taos, then a state of the republic of New Mexico, under the dictatorship of
Santa Anna. The local governor of Taos was Armijo, a Mexican of culture
and liberal ideas. He had for a secretary and confidential adviser Charles
Bent, the same who was made military governor of New Mexico by Gen.
Kearny when the U. S. acquired that territory, and who was killed in the
massacre of Taos not long after. The Frenchmen above named obtained by
purchase a large tract of desert country, lying nortli of Red river, the chief
consideration being their promise to induce an immigration from Canada and
France, an obligation which they never fultilled, although the grant was ap-
E roved by the Mexican government, and signed and sealed by Santa Anna,
ucien Maxwell married the daughter of Beaubien, and purch.ased of bis
father-in-law for a small sum all that part of the grant lying north of Red
river, and between that stream and the Raton mountains. He erected a line
house on the Cim<irron, where he entertained in good old feudal style, sur-
rounded by his dependents, and owning immense lierds of cattle, sheep, and
blooded horses, employing as herders all the Cimarrons. About 1869 AVib'-cm
Waddington, Jerome B. Chafifee, and George M. Chilcott purchased the Max-
well grant for an English syndicate, each of them making a fortune out of it.
The English company bonded the laud in Holland as security ff>r a large
amount of money, and when the loan became due allowed it to be sold. But
the Dutch proprietors in a few years tired of their useless possessions, and
the land was sold j'ear after year for taxes. Their agent in New York was
Frank Sherwin, who bought in the shares of the Holland firm as he could
obtain them until he became proprietor, and then he laid claim to a wide belt
of land on the north-west border of the grant, extending over the Raton
mountains into Costilla county, Colorado. Mining in this county is of
late beginning, but promises well. Its iron mines include some of the
largest bodies of that metal yet found in the state, the ore taken from
here being smelted at Rueblo and Denver. The first county seat wjis San
Miguel, changed to San Luis, the principal town in the county. Ihe only
other town of any note is Placer. Antonio A. Salaza, l)om at Abitjuiu, N.
M,, in 1848, began lierding sheep at 10 years of age, remaining at that occu-
pation 6 years, wlien he went to work in a general store in San Luis, becom-
ing clerk, then treasurer of the count}' for two years, next, a stock raiser and
a merchant. He was elected to tlie general assembly in 18S0, and to the state
senate in 1882. He never spent a day in school, and acquired his education
by night study. The following are the settlements in the county : Big Bend,
Big Hill, Charmer, Conlon's Ferry, Costilla, Elkhorn, Fort Garland, (Jarland
City, Grayback, La Trinchera, Lojeta, Medano Springs, Mountain Home,
Orean, Russell, San Accacio, Sangre de Cristo, San Pedro, Spalding, Under-
bill, Upper Culebra, Vallea, Wayside, Wilcox, WiHiama.
CUSTER, DELTA. 595
Custer, formerly a portion of Fremont, from which
it was cut off in 1877, is a small county, lying on the
east slope of the Sangre de Cristo range. It con-
tains the El Mojada or Wet mountain valley, an ele-
vated basin with an undulating surface, sentineled by
lofty peaks, and offering some of the finest scenery in
the state. The extent of the valley, which is watered
by Grape creek, a tributary of the Arkansas river, is
twenty-five miles in length by ten in width. Its ele-
vation, from 6,500 to 7,000 feet, does not prevent it
beincj a o-ood farming^ region, althouoch the lower and
smaller Hardscrabble valley, twenty miles east, is
more productive, with a shorter and less severe win-
ter season. Wet mountain valley was for some years
overlooked or neglected, owing to the difficulty, or
rather, impossibility, of taking wagons through the
canons of Oak and Hardscrabble creeks leading into
it; and although it was prospected for minerals in
1863, it had not a single settler before 1869. It was
selected about this time for the seat of a German col-
ony numbering 367 souls, who settled there in 1870."
^'' The first prospectors in the valley were S. Smith, Melrose, and Wetmore,
of Pueblo. The first settlers, in 1S69, were Voris, Home, and Taylor, who
took land claims that year. Brinckley tfc Hartwell, Southern Colo, 99. The
history of the Colfax Agricultural and Industrial Colonization company is as
follows : Prof. Carl Widsten, impelled by a desire to ameliorate the condition
of persons of his own nationality, ' condemned by a cruel fate to work in
greasy, ill-ventilated, and nerve-destroying factories of the great city of Chi-
cago,' formed a colony of about 100 families, and brought them to Wet
Mountain valley, in his eyes a paradise of beauty, fertility, and health-giving
air. But the colonists, used to city habits, and at a loss what to do in a naked
country, however beautiful, proved ungrateful for the favor conferred, and in
6 months the organization had collapsed, every man following his ovra devices.
It was doubtless best so, for every one of the colonists was in a few years in
good circumstances, and the l^enefit aimed at was achieved independently of
organization. About 30 families took land claims, which speedily became
productive farms; the others went to different parts of the territory, but all
remaining in it. William Ackelbein, John and William Knuth, 0. Groeske,
Carson Kunrath, William Shultz, Ruester, father and son, Dietz, Menzel,
Klose, John and Frederick Piorth, Kettler, Philips, Katzenstein, Henjes,
Falkenberg, and others were among those who remained. Abstract of an ac-
count of the colony, by its founder, in Brinckky and HartvxWs Colo, 106-7.
Roads were made, farms opened, and the colonists, being joined by others,
soon made this portion of Fremont county blossom as the rose. But had it
remained purely an agricultural community, its separate organization as Cus-
ter county might not have occurred. The ubiquitous prospector, in the per-
sons of Daniel Baker and C, M. Grimes, from Black Hawk, discovered a
596 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Delta is a new county, cut off from Gunnison in
February 188 3, lying on both sides of the north fork
of Gunnison river. What has been said of the lead-
ing features of the Gunnison country in a previous
crevice containing metal in 187 1. Grimes was a pioneer, and had been a lead-
ing man in Gilpin co. as sheriff and territorial representative. He was of that
genial, liberal, merrymaking disposition whicli secured for him the affection-
ate appellation of 'old Grimes,' according to mountain cuatom. Wulsten, in
181)'.), took to Chicago pieces of rock from the vicinity of later discoveries at
Gold Hill, which assayed IJ ounces in gold, and 37 ounces in silver, per ton.
The Black Hawk mine, later called the Senator, began to pay in 1873; the
Pocaliontas and Humboldt in 1874. These were the initial point in the mining
district named Hardscrabblc, in which more than 600 locations were made
previous to 1874. Mining was carried on, and some small smelters introduced,
but no excitement was created for some years. Meantime, the mining town
of Rosita had grown up, overshadowing the pioneer settlement of Ula, situ-
ated on Grape creek, in a location thought favoral)le to future greatness.
Joseph A. Davis was the first settler at Ula, in Sept. 1871. Soon after ho
erected the Ula hotel, and kept a store in it. The town grew, and the peo-
ple having petitioned for a post-office, it was estal dished, under the name of
Ula, at Davis' store. The Wet Mountain Valley Library association was
founded in 1874 by R. S. Sweetland and Dr Richter, who was one of the ori-
ginal colonists. The interests of the district and valley seeming to demand
it, the legislature created the count}- of Custer in March 1877, and the com-
missioners, R. S. Sweetland, H. E. Austin, and T. W. Hull, named Ula as
the county seat, but it was removed soon after, by election, to Rosita. Tins
step in advance was greatly hastened by the remarkable discovery of the
^Maine gold and silver mine, by Ednunid C. Bassick, who named it after his
native state. This was in many respects a phenomenal mine, consisting of a
chimney of circular form, filled with boulders, and from six to 25 feet in
diameter. The ores, both of gold and silver, were new to mineralogists.
They consisted of a true conglomerate, the kernels of M'hich were tracliytic,
propliyry, and quartz, encased in a cement of a telluride of gold and silver,
exceeedingly rich. For instance, a lump ] 2 inches long and wide and six inches
in thickness \veighed 13 pounds, and assayed 87,000 per ton. Etujlmerhxj and
Minhi'j Jimrnnl in Ydidx'c Fork Herald, Oct. 18, 1879. The proportion of
gold and silver was 70 per cent of the former to 30 of the latter. Some of
these nodules had the telluride coating covered with crystallized blende and
copper pyrites. Altogether, the Bassick mine was a discovery of much inter-
est to the scientific Avorld, as it was of profit to its finder, for it sold for over
§1 ,000,000 when it was down nearly 3'X» feet. Its yearly yield after 1880 was
nearly .S1,0^<0,000. Tlie Bassick mine, as it is now called, was situated on
the top of a conical hill, two miles and a half north-west from Rosita; and
it appeared as if it miglit have been at some period of the earth'.; history a gey-
ser which had built this mound. The suggestion led to prospecting in the
direction of other similar eminences, and the discovery, three miles westerly
from Rosita, of the Golden Eagle, a true fissure vein in black granite, carry-
ing from two to five ounces of free gold jjcr ton.
In 1878 a miner named Edwards, while passing by a long sloping hill
whicli from its abrupt termination at one end was called tlie cliff, knocked
off a piece of rock, which he had assayed, and wlrch returned twenty-seven
ounces in silver per ton, not enough to pay the expense of smelting. He
thoui,'ht no more of it for several months, when, weary of unfruitful prospect-
ing, he returned M-ith his partner, Powell, to the cliff, and .soon found rock
wliicli assayed 81,700 per ton. Taking in another partner. Spoffard, tiioy
made further investigations, and located the mines later celebrated as the
Racine Boy, Horn Silver and Plata Verde situated on the mountain which
DOLORES, DOUGLAS. 597
chapter pertains also to this division. The town of
Delta is the county seat. Escalante and Dominguez
are two other new towns.
Dolores county was established in 1881. It con-
tains in its eastern part the great carbonate district
they called Silver Cliff. This district soon bade fair to rival Leadville, the ores
being chlorides, which needed no roasting. In 1879 the discovery mine was
sold in New York to Senator Jones, of Nevada, and James Keene, and stocked
for $10,000,000. The other two sold equally well. Other chloride mines
were soon after discovered, and more recently a second mine, like the Bassick,
called the Bull Domingo. I have not space to mention the many important
mineral discoveries which have made the new and small county of Custer
notable and prosperous among its older neighbors. Its most important towns
are Rosita and Silver Cliff, beaide.'j which there are several busy mining
camps. Rosita. that is to say, little rose, was founded early in 1873, as the
capital of the mining district of Hardscrabble, organized Nov. 15th of the
year previous. The miners gathered in the district at this time were the
Remine brothers from Central City, Jarvis and son from Georgetown, School-
field brothers from Mill City, Jasper Brown from Fort Garland, Hedges, V.
B. Hoyt, James Pringle, William J. Robinson, Charles Ragnan, Nicholas
Mast, Thomas Barrett, and John Palmer. When the town was laid off
Frank S. Roff was the first blacksmith — he was afterward mayor of Silver
Cliff — Frank Kirkham and Lewis Herfort, storekeepers, James Duncan and
Charles Nelson, carpenters, James A. Gooch, afterward postmaster, George
S. Adams, the first lawyer, J. M. Hobson, Woodriiff brothers, Alexander and
Thomas Thornton, Charles Fisher, keeper of the first meat market, and livery
stable, Ed C. Smith, saloon keeper, John Hahnenkratt, boarding house keeper
for the Hoyt Mining company, who afterward built the Grand View hotel,
A. V. Temple, who surveyed the town site, Malcolm C. Duncan, and others.
In the autumn of 1874 the town consisted of 400 houses, with over 1,000
inhabitants. It had by this time several stores and hotels, a newspaper, the
Rosita Index, owned by Charles Baker, and edited by Lane Posey, and a
Lank, owned by Boyd and Stewart. These bankers claimed to have secured
an interest in the Pocahontas mine, which was in possession of Herr broth-
ers, and, aided by the superintendent. Topping, assumed tne management,
Topping retaining most of the miners, and keeping a reserve of rough char-
acters to fight, if fighting it came to, in the struggle for mastery. The
leader of this gang was one Graham, an ex-convict. James Pringle having
been wounded by one of Graham's men, without provocation, a committee
of safety was organized, the roads guarded to prevent escape, and the mine
surrounded. Graham appearing, armed, was ordered to surrender, but turn-
ing to fly was shot down. The remainder of the gang attempted to escape
in a body, but were intercepted, and being much frightened at the attitude
of the citizens, displayed a white flag, and were finally permitted to leave
town. Boyd, who had been seized and confined, was also permitted to depart.
Stewart had already fled. It was later discovered that he was a forger, be-
ing sought by the police of New York, having served a 20 years' term in the
Sing Sing state prison. Thus ended an attempt at the piracy of a mine.
The same property was embarrassed by litigation, in which Ballard of Ky
figured, but ultimately emerged from its troubles to be a good property.
There were the usual unsuccessful attempts at the reduction of ores, but the
Penn. works situated in the town, erected to treat the Humboldt ores, per-
formed the same for other mines. The richer ores were sent to Canon City
or Pueblo. The Denver and Rio Grande extended a branch to Silver Cliff in
1881, which facilitated their transportation. The population in 1880 was
1 , 200. Elevation of the town 8, 200.
598 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
of the San Juan countiy already described, and in its
western part good grazing grounds, which, if irrigated,
would be cultivable. Rico is the county seat, and the
seat of the smelters erected to reduce the rich ores of
the district to bullion. The population in 1883 was
2,000, of which 750 were at Rico. Bowen, Xarra-
quinep Spring, and Dolores are rising towns. The
assessed valuation was $552,310, and the bullion pro-
duction $200,000. Besides silver and gold mines,
some of the best coal in the state is found here.
Douglas county was organized by the first terri-
torial legislature, since which time it has lost the
larger portion of its area. It resembles Arapahoe,
which it adjoins, and is principally occupied by a graz-
ing and farming population, with dealers in lumber
and building stone, w^iich find a ready market in Den-
Silver Clifif took root with the erection of the first house in Sept. 1878 by
Mcllhenney anil Wilson, and grew so surprisingly that when it was a year
oUl it had 1,200 inhabitants and houses for their accommodation, with all the
usual concomitants of comfortable living, and some of the luxuries of older
communities. The town site was patented Dec. 8, 1879. The population
wa? at one time 4,000, but since the rush has passed has settled back to 1,500.
Mills and reduction works are being introduced. In 1882 the Silver Cliff
mines were under a cloud from the difficulty of finding the exact processes
for the deeper ores, none, however, except one, being down more than 700
feet, the Humboldt being 1,800. At this time there was a 40-stacip mill in
operation on the property of the Silver Cliff Mills company, treating 100
tons daily of the Racine Boy ore. Tlie sampling establishment of the
Milling company, with a capacity of 50 tons daily, adjoined the mill. The
Plata Verde also had a 40-stamp mill near the town, which was the base of
supplies for these works. The town was incorporated in 1879. Its first
mayor, elected in Feb., was J. J. Smith; recorder, G. B. McAulay; trustees,
Frank S. Roff, Walter B. Janness, Mark W. Atkins, Samuel Baeden. In
April Roff was chosen mayor; Webb L. Allen, Samuel Baeilen, Samuel Wat-
sou, and O. E. Henry, trustees. In April 1880 S. A. Squire was chosen
mayor; C. D. Wright, recorder; 0. E. Henry, John Dietz, William French,
anil Alfred Wood, trustees. In 1881 H. H. Buckwalter was elected mayor;
George W. Hinkel, recorder; R. Rounds, W^. T. Ulman, William Feigle, and
E. Meyers, trustees. In 1882 Oney Carstarphen was elected mayor, and re-
elected in 1883 and 1884. Carstarphen was born in Mo. in 1844, came to
Colorado in 1879, and settled at Silver Cliff. He was elected to the state
legislature in 1884, and became interested in various mining properties.
Querida is a town which has grown up about the Bassick mine, mth a
population of 400. Dora is another little ])lace built up about Chambers'
concentrator, 6 miles N. E. from Silver Cliff, which has a capacity of 20
tons daily. Blackburn is 12 miles from Silver Cliff. Westcliff and Bassick-
ville are also mining camps. Otlier settlements are Benton, Blumenau,
Colfax, Comargo, Govetown, Hanbcrabble Cafion, Hollan Springs, Millville,
Round Mountain, S'lvcr Circle, Silver Creek, Silver Park, South Hard-
scrabble, Wetmore, Wet Mouutaiu Valley, Wixoa Park.
EAGLE, ELBERT, EL PASO. 599
ver. Castle Rock is the county seat. Sedalia was
founded and fostered by the railway corporation. The
settlements in Douglas county not named above are
Acequia, Bear Canon, Divide, Douglas, Franktown,
Glen Grove, Greenland, Huntsville, Keystone, Lark-
spur, Mill No. 1, Mill No. 2, Parker, Perry Park,
Pine Grove, Platte canon, Plum, Rock ridge, Spring
valley, Stevens Gulch, and Virginia Rancho.
Eagle county, organized in 1883, was cut off from
Summit, and contains a rich mineral district, of which
Red Cliff is the metropolis and the county seat. It
is broken by high mountains and lofty peaks. The
population in 1884 was 2,000, confined to the south-
east portion. The assessed valuation of the county
in 1883 was $338,454; the yield of the mines — one
group— was $940,000. Besides Red Cliff, which had
at this time 500 inhabitants, there were the towns of
Gold Park, with 400 population. Holy Cross, Cleve-
land, Lake, Mitchell, Rock Creek, Taylor, and Eagle.
Elbert, organized in 1874, and large enough for a
kingdom, is one of the great stock-raising counties of
Colorado. The western portion, which joins Doug-
las, is well watered, and considerably cultivated.^'
El Paso, one of the original seventeen counties, is
reckoned among the agricultural divisions, and, as
such, is one as yet unrivalled for resources. Its
assessable property in 1885 was nearly $5,000,000,
^^ There is also a large supply of pine timber in this end of the county.
But the principal capital of its business men is in stock cattle. The popula-
tion, at the census of 1880, was 2,500, and the valuation of assessable prop-
erty $1,202,052. This gives about double the usual amount of property per
capita in farming districts. The county seat is at Kiowa. Moses R. Chap-
man, born in N. Y. city in 1844, was brought up in 111. In 1859 he came to
Russell's gulch, and was afterward about Central City. Becoming discour-
aged, he borrowed money enough in 1865 to take him to Elbert co., where he
engaged himself as a herder, and gradually worked himself into the stock
business. In 1874 he married Laura A. Banks. In 1882 he was elected to
the general assembly, having been county commissioner for 14 years. He
owned, in 1886, a large farm and over 1,000 head of cattle. The towns and
settlements of Elbert county are Agate, Arroyo, Bellevue, Boyero, Brown &
Dods, Buzzards & Sharretts, Cameron, Cedar Point, Clermont, Cochran's
Rancho^ Elbert, Ell)ert Station, Elizabeth, Fork-in-Creek, Gebhard, Godfrey,
Comer's Mills, Hugo, Lake, Lake Station, Long Branch, Middle Kiowa,
Monatt's Mills, Ranch, River Bend, Rock Butte, Running Creek.
600 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
divided between farm improvemenis, cattle, and other
stock, and town property. Immense coal deposits
exist in the eastern portion of the country. Pike's
peak, by which Colorado was long known, is situated
in this county. In an earlier chapter I have given a
narrative of its first exploration and settlement, when
Colorado City aspired to be the leading town of the
territory, and of the causes of its failure. The princi-
pal city of El Paso is now Colorado Springs, already
world-famous as a health resort. ^^
'•When Gen. William J. Palmer in 1870 organized the Denver and Rio
Grande railway company, he likewise projected a number of auxiliary organ-
izations to develop town-sites, coal lands, and other resources of the region
through which the railway was expected to pass. Among these was the Colo-
rado Springs co., which acquired about 10,000 acres of land near the base of
Pike's peak aud on both sides of Colorado City, including a large level
tract through which the railroad would run, and where it was proposed to
build the principal city of this region. On July 31, 1871, the first stake waa
driven, and the city named Colorado Springs because of its proximity to the
famous soda springs at the entrance to Ute pass, which were also owned by
the company. Tlie region developed more rapidly than was expected, and
early in 1872, a hotel had been erected at the springs and a little village
there started, named at first La Font, but soon changed to Manitou, the
Indian name of one of the springs. The president of the Colorado Springs
CO. was William J. Palmer. Its executive director was Henry McAllister,
Jr, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1836, and won the title of
major by his services in the army during the rebellion. At the close of the
war he was elected secretary of the American Iron and Steel association,
which position he resigned after seven years' service. He was at once
elected president of the National Land Improvement co., organized to de-
velop the lands lying along the Denver aud Rio Grande railway. He was
also made executive director of the Colorado Springs co. At the time Colo-
rado Springs was started, the success of the Union and other colonies in Colo-
rado had popularized this method of town building, and hence was formed
the Fountain colony, which had no legal existence, but was simply an instru-
ment of tlie Colorado Springs co. in the development of its property. From
the beginning this company and its associate colony pursued a liberal and
far-sighted policy. The profits accruing from the sale of two thirds of its
property were constituted a fund for general and public improvements. Early
expenditures from this fund were .$44,000 for an irrigating canal, and §15,000
for the purchase and planting of 7,000 trees upon the town-site. During the
first five years of the company's history, about §'272,000 were thus expended.
A lot was presented by the company to each of tlie Christian denominations,
ami ample reservations were also made for a public school and for a college.
Tlie officers of the colony were Robert A. Cameron vice president, ^^'illiam
E. Pabor secretary, E. S. Nettleton chief engineer, William P. Mellen
treasurer, and Maurice Kingsley assistant treasurer. The trustees were
William J. Palmer, Robert H. Lamborn, Josiali C. Reiff, Robert A. Cam-
eron, W. H. Greenwood, William P. Mellen. The temperance question was
given prominence in the organization of the colony by the insertion in every
deed given by the company of a clause forever prohibiting the manufacturing,
giving, or selling of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in any place of public
FR6M0NT. 601
Fremont county, a portion of whose early history
has been given, has remained in a backward condition
resort. As might be expected, this clause was soon and repeatedly vio-
iated; but the cases were decided in favor of the company in the state
supreme court in 1876, and the lands forfeited. On appeal to the U. S.
supreme court in 1879, this judgment was affirmed. The public sentiment
of the city has always sustained prohibition. Fountain Colony of Colorado,
Prospectm: Denver Tribune, June 29, 1871; Faithful's Three Visits, 146-50;
Graff's Colorado, 41-6; Buckmans Colorado Sprinr/s; Roberts' Colorado Spritigs
and Mxnitou; Colorado Springs, by H. H.; Rapenk Co.' s Directory of Colo-
rado Springs; Selections from the Enclycopedia of the Neiu West, 5.
Colorado Springs became the ideal city of the Arkansas valley, if not of
ths entire Rocky mountain region, by reason of its wonderful and beautiful
surroundings, its healthfulness and orderliness, its temperance, education,
and refinement. Its growth from the first was healthful and uniform. At
the close of the first year of its history, 277 town lots had been disposed of
at a valuation of $24,701), 159 houses erected, and the population was esti-
mated at 800. Tlie value of the buiilings erected by private individuals was
pl^cel at $160,000. Two church edifices were built, and a weekly newspaper
was established. An enterprise most fruitful in benefit to the new city was
the building in 1871 of a good wagoa road through the Ute pass to the min-
ing region of South pxrk. The trade of a growuig section was thus secured,
coutributing from the beginning no little to the commercial importance of
Colorado Sprmgs. When Leadville arose in 1878, this road l)ecame one of
the chief highways to that great camp, and maile Colorado Springs a prin-
cipal supply point. When the railroad reached Leadville in 1880, this trade
C3ased, but it had sufficed to establish the commei-cial interests of Colorado
Springs on a soual basis. At one tiaae during the palmy days of Leadville
freighting, 12,000 horses ami mules were employed in transportation over
the road. During 1876-7, the city suflfered from the depression then gen-
eral throughout the country, and also from a visitation of grasshoppers,
which caused great devastation to the Rocky mountain region. Prosperity
was fully restored in 1878, in which year a complete system of water works
was constructed, the supply being taken from one of the sparkling streams
flowing down the sides of Pike's peak, at a distance of seven miles from the
city, and at a point 1,200 feet above its level. Gas works costing §50,000
were built in 1879, in which year also new buildings to the value of §200,000
were erected. The growth of the city has since been continuous, and with
slight exceptions uniformly rapid, till in 1886 it had attained a population
of about 7,500, the assessed valuation of its property was .$2,248,300, and its
business, exclusive of real estate sales, aggregated nearly §3,000,000. Acces-
sions to the population were largely of health seekers, to accommodate a
portion of whom was begun in 1881 the Antler's hotel, a handsome Queen
Anne structure costing .$200,000, and ranking among the most noted of
Rocky mountain hostleries. The public spirit of three citizens, Irving
Howbert, B. F. Crowell, and J. F. Humphrey, gave to Colorado Springs a
b3autiful opera house, seating 750, and costing $80,000, which was opened
April 18, 1881.
The public schools of Colorado Springs have always been adequate and
of high grade. In 1871, Mrs Gen. Palmer established the first school, givuig
her services voluntarily and without compensatioa. In 1874, a handsome
school building was erected costing §25,000. By 1879, this had become
crowded, and two frame buildings were added. In 1884, a large modern
brick school-house was built at a cost of $20,000, and in 1886 two others
were completed. Colorado Springs is the seat of Colorado college, founded
by the Colorado association of congregational churches, on the general plan
of New England colleges, but with modifications. T. N. Haskell, formerly of
the state university of Wisconsin, was selected as financial agent. The prepar-
602
COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
for reasons which will appear hereafter. In natural
resources it is rich, especially in an excellent quality
atory department was opened in May, 1874, with Jonathan Edwards, grad-
Udte of Yale, as principal. A frame building was temporarily erected, in
wliich the school remained until 1880. A department of mining and metal-
lurgy was established about 1877, of which in 1880 William Strieby, a grad-
uate of Columbia college, was in charge. This department met with such
success that for its better accommodation a wing was erected on the north
side, contributed by William J. Palmer, who also offered to add a south wing
if the college were first freed from debt. This promise inspired the friends
Vicinity of Colorado Sprinu.s.
of the college to make the requisite cfifort, and the building now presents a
handsome front of over 100 feet. Tlie library embraces 0,003 volumes, in-
cluding 1,000 contributed by the El Paso county library association. A
collection of natural science specimens and an herbarium of native plants
has made a promising beginning. President Tenney did much by his writ-
ings and personal efiorts, to make both the city and college known in the
east. Friends came to the rescue, and in 1886 it was in a fair way to be
extricated. Its officers in 1880 were: William Strieby chairman of faculty,
W. F. Wilder vice-president, C H. Parsons secretary, J. H. Barlow treas-
urer, and (ieorge N. Marden financial agent. The territorial legislature of
1874 located an institute for the education of deaf mutes at Colorado Springs,
appropriating §5,000 for immediate ajjplication to that purpose, and pro-
viding a permanent fund by instituting a tax of half a mill on all the asses-
sable property in the territory. A house was rented and the institution
openeil with a dozen pupils. To tiiis, also, tlie Colorado Springs company
donated 12 acres of land, title to be given whenever suitable buildings should
be erected thereon. Thus prompted, the trustees raised §5,000, and started
the building. At its next session the legislature appropriated $7,000, inde-
pendent of the tax, and additions were made. Subsequently that body
added to the institution a department for the blind, §20,000 more being
COLORADO SPRINGS. 603
of coal, of which the amount is practically unlimited.
Petroleum has also been found. It has gold and sil-
appropriated for improvements. The institution is in a prosperous condi-
tion and doing a noble work.
The first religious services veere held in the winter of 1871, by the Rev.
Edwards, rector of the episcopal church at Pueblo. From this time till 1873
services were held at irregular intervals, conducted by Bishop Randall or by
J. E. Liller as lay reader. In 1873, Grace church parish was organized, and
soon afterward a church built at a cost of §12,000. The First presbyterian
church was organized in 1872, previous to which time services had been held
in various places. The M. E. church, which was organized in Colorado City
very early in the history of that place, was in 1873 transferred to Colorado
Springs. In 1881, an edifice costing 812,000 was built in a central location.
The First baptist church was organized in 1872. The congregationalists,
Cumberland Presbyterians, Roman catholics, christians, and African meth-
odists established congregations at later dates. Of the various secret and
benevolent organizations, the masons and odd fellows early established lodges
in Colorado Springs, and were followed by the knights of pythias, good
templars, knights of honor, united workmen, and others. In 1886, there
were 20 lodges and encampments of the various organizations.
Previous to 1878, there was no fire department worthy of the name, the
only protection against fire being a hook and ladder company, a Babcock
engine, and the water from a few wells. When in that year the system of
water works was introduced, the organization was begun of a volunteer fire
department that for efficiency has no superior in the country. The first
bank was estal:)lished in 1873 by William S. Jackson, C. H. White, and J. S.
Wolfe, and called the El Paso. Soon afterward J. H. Barlow became con-
nected with it. This was followed the next year by the First National, organ-
ized by W. B. Young, B. F. Crowell, C. B. Greenough, G. H. Stewart, F. L.
]\Iartin, and others, and two years later James H. B. McFerran started the
People's bank. All are sound and prosperous institutions, and in 18SG had
deposits of §500,000. The history of journalism in El Paso county began in
1861 with the publication of The Journal at Colorado City. It was edited
by B. F. Crowell, and was issued weekly for about a year, when publication
was discontinued. After that the county possessed no newspaper until 1872,
when the first number of Out West was issued by J. E. Liller. About the
same time. Judge Eliphalet Price began the publication of the Free Press.
In January, 1873, Out WeM became the Colorado Springs Gazette, and about
a year later the Free Press was merged into the Mountaineer. In 1878, the
Gazette became a daily, as did also the Mountaiyieer in 1881 under the name
of the Eepublic. The Gazette and Republic continue the leading newspapers
of the county. Various weeklies appeared from time to time, prominent
among which was the Hour, started in 1885. Monument, a town in the
northern part of the county, has had at times a weekly paper since 1878.
William J. Palmer, to whom Colorado Springs owes its existence, and
the state in large measure its present condition of development, was born
in Philadelphia in 1836. Receiving a fair education, he early became confi-
dential secretary to J. Edgar Thompson, then president of the Pennsylvania
railroad, in which position he evinced marked ability, and at one time was
sent to Europe to study methods of iron manufacture and railroad manage-
ment. On the breaking out of the rebellion, he raised the Anderson cavalry,
of which he was, till the close of the war, the commander. Meantime Thomp-
son and his associates had become interested in the Kansas Pacific railroad,
and on Palmer's return from the war he was made managing director of that
enterprise, and superintendent of construction. While thus engaged, he made
the famous survey of transcontinental routes along the 32d and 35th paral-
lels. Failing to induce the Kansas Pacific management to adopt one of these,
and impressed with the resources of the Rocky mountain region, in 1870, as-
604 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
ver mines, not yet nuicli developed, also copper, lead,
zinc, mineral paint, marble, alabaster, valuable build-
ing stone, potters' clay, and one of the few jet mines
in the world. *^
Bociated with William A. Bell and others, he organized the Denver and Rio
(Jrande railway company. In tiie face of difttculties, physical and financial,
he pushed tiiis great enterprise to completion, after first building tlie Denver
and Rio Grande Western, of which he was president until 1883. He wa.s at
the head of a majority of the companies organized for the development of
southern Colorado, the most prominent among which was the Colorado Coal
and Iron company. A few years later he retired from the presidency of the
Mexican National, though still remaining at the head of the construction
company. He is also president of the reorganized Denver and Rio (Jrande
Western railway company, which is becoming a very important factor in the
railroad system of the Rocky mountains.
Doctor William A. Bell, prominently associated with General Palmer in
the building of the Denver and Rio Grande railway, was born in Clonmel,
Ireland, in 1841. He studied at the Loudon hospital, and took a medical
degree at Cambridge in 18G5. In 18GG-7 he visited the United States, and
in the latter year joined the 35th parallel surveying expedition, which
brought him into close personal and business relations with Palmer. Re-
turning in 1870 from a visit to England, he joined him in the organization of
the Denver and Rio Grande railway company, and was its first vice-presi<lent.
M. L. De Coursey, who had much to do with the building up of Colorado
Springs, was born in Philadelphia in 1842, and served in tlie civil war in
which he was captain. In 1871 he joined his former cavalry commander,
General Palmer, in Colorado, and held prominent positions in the national
land and improvement and other companies. He afterwards engaged in the
real estate business.
Tlie growth and permanent prosperity of Colorado Springs has been very
marked. Among the publications that have made known to the world its
scenic wonders and famous climate, as well as the merits of its mineral waters,
are Ciiarles Dennison's lioclij Moxintain Health Resorts, a treatise on pulmonary
diseases and their cure; Colorado Spi'lnys, a descriptive and historical pamph-
let relating to tlie city of that name and its vicinity, by George Rex Buck-
man; Ilial/h, Wealth, ami PlcaMure, a treatise on the health resorts of Colo-
rado ami New Mexico; Gleiiwood Spriiitjs, a descriptive pamphlet; Mrs Simeon
J. Dunljar's Health Resorts of Colorado Spriwjs and Man'itou, descriptive;
S. Anna Gordon's Caiiiphuj in Colorado, descriptive and narrative. Dr S.
Edwin Solly, of Colorado Springs, has done much by his pamphlets to call
attention to the curative value of Colorado's climate and mineral waters.
He graduated in London in 1867, and in 1874 came to Colorado Springs,
where he has since been engaged in the jiractice of his profession. He is a
member of the royal college of surgeons, England, and of various other medi-
cal and scientific societies, both in England and America.
Tiie villages and settlements in El Paso county are Aroways, Bassett's
Hill, Bierstadt, Big Sandy, Bijou Basin, Cheyenne Peak, Cliico Basin, Colo-
rado House, Costello's Rancho, Crystal Peak Park, Easton, Edgerton, El
Paso, Flori.ssant, Fountain, Four-mile Creek, Franceville, Franceville Junc-
tion, Granger, Gwillemville, Highland Rancho, Hursley's Rancho, Husted,
Jimmy Camp, Lake Station, Little Buttes, McConnellsville, Monument, O.
Z., Petrified Stumps, Quarry, Sidney, South Water, Suffolk, Summit Park,
Table Rock, Turkey Creek, Twin Rocks, Weissport, Wheatland, Widetield,
Wigwam, AVinfield.
** It has ranked mainly with the agricultural counties, but it is not emi-
nent in that class, although its altitude of less than 6,000 feet gives it a
climate better suited to corn than most other counties in the state. In 1853
CANON CITY. 605
The chief town and county seat is Canon City,
with a population of about 3 000 in 1884. The Col-
it raised considerable grain, and had 15,000 head of cattle, besides 5,000 other
animals, produced $625,000 worth of coal, and §20,000 in bullion. It had
108 miles of railroad within its boundaries, and its population was 4,730.
This was not a flattering exhibit for one of the oldest counties with these
natural resources. But the hindrance to development had been, first, the
want of railroads, and secondly, a war between railroads for possession of
the Grand canon pass through the Rocky mountains. This wonderful and
awful defile of the Arkansas was the gate of the mountains, its eastern end
being situated in the neighborhood of Canon City, named in reference to it.
To secure the exclusive right of way through this passage involved a long
struggle between two companies, first in personal encounter, and lastly in
the courts, where the Denver and Rio Crande prevailed against the Atchi-
son, Topeka, and Santa Fe company.
The first organized effort to secure a railroad was made in the autumn
of 18137. This was done by a committee consisting of B. M. Adams, B. F.
Rockafellow, and Thomas Macon, who appointed A. G-. Boone, about to visit
Washington, a special commissioner to confer with .John D. Perry, president
of the Kansas Pacific railroad, in reference to the Arkansas valley transcon-
tinental route. Perry promised that his engineers should look into the mat-
ter, and the Fremont county people were hopeful. At that time General
Palmer was managing director of the Kansas Pacific, and had charge of its
construction, and W. H. Greenwood was its chief engineer. Palmer organ-
ized and commanded an expedition which surveyed the proposed route. His
report, which was made in 1868, recommended that the route from Ells-
worth, Kansas, westward should deflect to the south of its former survey,
and follow the one by the Arkansas river to its headwaters, and thence via
the San Luis valley to intersect the thirty-flfth parallel transcontinental
route. This road, had it been built, would have given an outlet eastward to
the richest mineral and some of the best agricultural country in Colorado.
But the eastern managers decided to build to Denver, a decision which fin-
ally threw them into the hands of the Union Pacific. When the Kansas
Pacific was about completed, Palmer, remembering V'hat he had seen on his
surveys, originated the plan of a narrow-gauge railway, which should run
southward from Denver along the base of the mountains. Disappointed in
their expectations of a direct road to the east, the people of Fremont county
welcomed the thought of communication M-ith Denver and connection with
the Union Pacific, and voted the Denver and Rio Gramie company — the
narrow-gauge line — $50,000 in county bonds, the first contribution of the ■
kind received by them, and which through some teclmicality was finally lost
in the courts. In the mean time the Denver and Rio Grande had constructed
its road to Pueblo, with a branch to the coal mines at Labran, eight miles
from Canon City, which was completed in October, 1872, and without going
to Canon City, as was expected, was pushing south with the design of reach-
ing the extensive fields of coking coal at El Moro, near Trinidad, and of
ultimate extension to the city of Mexico, via Santa Fe and El Paso, which
latter was, of course, regarded as an achievement of the somewhat remote
future. Thereupon, there was a movement made inviting the Atchison,
Topeka, and Santa Fe to come to Canon City and occupy the route formerly
suggested to the Kansas Pacific. For this purpose a public meeting was
held at Canon City in Jan., 1873. But the A., T., & S. F. co. proving slow
to act, and the people being impatient, the county again voted its bonds to
the D. & R. G. CO., this time for $100,000, after an exciting canvass, there
being a majority of only two in favor of the gift, and the county commis-
sioners refusing to issue the bonds. In 1874, however, on demand of the D.
& R. G. CO., Canon City voted $50,000 in l)onds, and in addition gave deeds
to $25,000 worth of property, and the road was soon afterward completed to
606 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
orado penitentiary is located here, and was in charge
of the general government until 1874, when the ter-
that place. The next movement in the way of increased railwaj' facilities
was in Feb., 1877, when tlie Cafion City and Han Juan railway oo. waa organ-
ized, with C. T. Ailing president, B. F. Rockafellow secretary, James Clel-
land treasurer, and H. R. Hulbrook chief engineer. Ailing soon resigned,
and was succeeded by Frederick A. Reynolds. Meantime tlie new Leadville
mining region began to attract attention, and was seen to offer a promising
field for railroad enterprise. Stimulated by this, and it may be also by the
appearance of a rival in the field, the D. & R. G. co. proceeded, on April
19, 1878, to resume work on its line from Cafton City westward and towards
the Leadville region, and on that day took possession by its agents of the
narrow portion of the grand canon, known as the Royal gorge, with the
avowed intention of constructing its road upon the line of the surveys made
in 1871-2, right of way over which had, as it claimed, been secured to it by
acts of congress of June 8, 1872, ami March .3, 1 875. But during the night
of April I'J, 1878, the board of directors of the C. C. & S. J. co. were con-
vened, and elected William B. Strong and A. A. Robinson respectively
general manager and chief engineer of the A., T., & S. F. co., to similar
Ijositions in the C. C. & S. J. co., giving conclusive evidence that the
great Santa Fe co. was behind the local enterprise. These officials made
preparations to take immediate possession of the grand canon on behalf of
their company, which was done as early as four o clock on the morning of
April 20th, at -which time a small party of men, under the charge of an
assistant engineer, swam the Arkans'is river, and in the name of their com-
pany took possession of the canon. That party was followed the same day
oy a large force of workmen under the control of Chief Engineer Robinson.
Tiie war was now commenced. Each side had from 500 to 700 men at work.
Fortifications were erected by each, beyond wiiich the other was not per-
mitted to pass, and for a time the spilling of blood seemed inevitable.
These movements were succeeded by a suit instituted the same day in the
state court in the name of the C. C. & S. J. co. against the D. & R. G. co.,
in which an injunction was obtained, afterward sustained by Judge Hal-
lett of the U. S. district court, restraining the latter company from occu-
pying or attempting to occupy the canon for railroad purposes, and from
interfering witli the C. C. & S. J. co. in the construction of its own road
therein. By virtue of this decision the C. C. & S. J. co. proceeded with
the work of construction througii the grand canon, and completed during
the following ten months the 20 miles from Canon City, being as far as it
M-as permitted under its charter to build. The work in the grand canon was
difficult, requiring engineering skill of the highest order. In places the
blasting could be carried on oidy by suspending men by ropes down the
rocky walls 2,000 feet in heiglit; in others the chasm was so contracted
that the road itself was suspended over the river by a hanging bridge, sup-
ported from above by braces fixed in the rock and raised in the middle on
the principle of an arch. About the time the C. C. & S. J. co. had fin-
ished its 20 miles of road, the D. & R. G. co., under stress of the decision
against it and the financial troubles which this had served to bring to a
climax, executed a 30 years' lease of its entire completed line to the A., T.,
& S. F. CO., which took possession in Bee, 1878. The right of way through
the grand caiion was expressly excluded from this lease, the A., T., & S. F.
CO. taking the ground tliat this was the property of the C. C. & S. J. co.,
and that a lease thereof from tlie D. <fe R. G. co. would be of no effect.
In April, 1S70, the U. S. supreme court, to which the case has been ap-
pealed I)y the D. & R. G. co., reversed the decision of the lower court, and
confirmed to the D. & R. G. co. its prior right to the grand cafion. The
possession of this prior right, however, was not to be understood as pre-
venting the C. C. & S. J. CO. from afterward building a parallel road of its
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 607
rltory assumed its support. In 1877 it consisted of
one cell building with forty-two cells. The state now
owns thirty-six acres, five of which are enclosed by a
wall of stone twenty feet in height and four in thick-
ness, with good buildings, and cell-room for over 400
inmates,^^ a boot and shoe factory, lime-kilns, stone-
own through the canon, where the latter was wide enough to admit of two,
nor from using the D. & R. G. tracks in common with that company, in
the narrow places where but one road could be built, these rights having
been generally conferred by act of congress of March 3, 1875. Complica-
tions then arose in the affairs of the A., T., & S. F. and D. & R. G. compan-
ies which kept them in constant litigation. The latter company, now that its
rights in the grand canon had been restored to it, and in view of the great
business revival, due to the discovery of new and rich mining regions, natu-
rally desired to regain possession of its road. It charged the lessee with
non-observance of contract in certain particulars; but the case turned on
the point that there was no Colorado law which would permit a foreign cor-
poration to operate a railroad within the state. The prayer of the D. &
R. G. CO. was granted, and a writ issued by the court, copies of which were
placed in the hands of sheriffs in the principal places along the line, the
effect of which was to restore the road to the D. & R. G. co. These were
served simultaneously at Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Canon City, El
Moro, and Alamosa, and possession taken in each place by the officers and
agents of the D. & R. G. co. Immeiiiately after possession had been
gained, on June 15, 1879, Judge Bowen, on application of several of the
D. & R. G. bond-holders, appointed one of the companj-'s solicitors, Hanson
A. Risley, its receiver. He took possession of the road and operated it for
one month, during which time his receivership was attacked in several
courts and finally terminated by Chief Justice Miller, who ordered the dis-
charge of the receiv^er, and enjoined him to restore the road to the D. & R.
G. CO., and that company in turn was directed to restore it to the A., T., &
S. F. CO., in accordance with a writ previously issued by Judge Hallett and
not at that time ol3e3'ed. When all this had been done, .Judge Hallett fur-
ther ordered that, till the equities of the several pjarties could be determined,
both companies be restrained from further work in the grand canon, and
appointed L. C. Ellsworth as receiver, to take possession of the property of
the D. & R. G. CO., and operate it under the direction of the court. While
this warring had been going on, the Pueblo and Arkansas valley railroad
company, a local corporation of the A., T., & S. F. system, had Ijegun to
build westward from the 20-mile point where the Canon City and .San Juan
company had stopped, and had succeeded in completing about two miles,
when the D. & R. G. co. arrested further progress by erecting stone en-
filading forts and keeping them manned, besides mining the position in
readiness to send the enemy skyward at a moment's notice. Meantime
Judge Hallett had appointed a commission to determine what parts of the
grand canon would admit of the construction of but one line of railway. In
accordance with the report of this commission, the court, on January 2,
1880, issued a decree giving to the D. & R. G. co. the exclusive right of
way through the grand canon from Cauon City to South Arkansas— the
present town of Salida — and to the Pueblo and Arkansas valley railroad
the right of way from South Arkansas to Leadville, either company having
the right to build a separate road between the latter points. This practi-
cally ended the war, and the two companies, after having spent 8500,000 in
carrying on the fight both in and out of the coiirts, concluded a treaty of
peace. In accordance with an agreement entered into, all suits were -ndth-
drawn, and the A., T., & S. F. co. bound itself for a term of ten years
608 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
quarries, and brick-yards, in which the convicts are
employed. The Colorado collegiate and military
institute is located here. It was established by a
f^tock company of citizens in 1881, under the super-
vision of E. H. Sawyer/' There is also a large sil-
ver smelter, and a copper smelter. The Arkansas
river offers abundant water power; the town is sup-
plied with water works; there are cold and hot min-
eral springs, and other scenic attractions, all of which
promise a not unimportant future for this place when
the surrounding country shall be made to yield its
corn and wine, its coal, gold, silver, and co})per,
not to build either to Leadville or Denver, while the D. & R. G. co. for a
like period was to be restrained from building within a specified distance
from Santa Fe. Tlie D. & R. (J. co. purchased the 20 mile.s of road con-
structed through the grand canon by tlie C. C. & S. J. Co., paying there-
for, according to the Denver Trihune, of April 2, 18S0, the sum of §1,400,000.
In the same month Receiver Ellsworth was discharged ljy the court, and
the property turned over to the D. & R. G. co. Construction had mean-
while been pushed with all speed, and in July, 1880, Leadville was reached,
and the golden stream of wealth started which has ever since continued to
flow. Thus ended Colorado's most serious railroad war, and one waged for
the possession of a prize well worth the struggle.
William H. Greenwood, so conspicuous in railroad afifairs in Colorado,
•was born at Marlboro, N. IL He had purchase<l property in Canon City
when he made his survey of the grand canon. After tlie railroad war was
ended, he settled there with his family. In the summer of 1880 he was em-
ployed by the D. & R. G. to go to Mexico, and while near Rio Hondo was
assassinated by an unknown person. The Mexican government exhibited
much feeling, and made every endeavor for the apprehension of the mur-
derer, but in vain.
■" New buildings were added for the second time in 1883. Fowler re-
marks tliat there are over 400 convicts confined here, 'and more life-prison-
ers among them, in proportion, than elsewhere in the world.' Tliis may be
accounted for l)y tlie further statement that there are throughout the state
drinking-salooiis in tlie proportion of one to every G7 inhabitants — only a
little behind Nevada, which has one to every 50 — and the prevalence of
gambling.
*'^ The boar<l of trustees consisted of F. A. Reynolds pres. ; D. G. Pea-
body vice-prcs. ; W. R. Fowler sec. ; J. F. Campbell treas. ; E. H. Sawyer,
J. L. Prentice, A. Rudd, Samuel Bradbury, and J J Phelps. It had be-
sides a ' collegiate committee,' and a ' military committee E. H. Sawyer
was president, commandant, and professor of moral, mental, and military
science and onginceriiig. 1\\'' other instructors were H. S. Westgate, Frank
Prentiss, J. M. Willard, and C. Utter mochleiu.
CHAPTER XIII.
COUNTIES OF COLORADO CONCLUDED.
1859-1886.
Garfield County — Its Great Possibilities — Gilpix County and Cen-
tral City — Express, Telegraph, Newspapers, Banks, Schools, a^b
Churches, Library, Fire Departments, Military and Benevolent
Institutions — Biography — Grand County — Gunnison and Huer-
fano Counties — Variety of Products in Jefferson County — Golden,
Lake, and La Plata Counties — Biography — Larimer, Las Animas,
Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Routt,
Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, and Weld Counties —
Society — Retrospect .
Garfield county was organized in February 1883
out of Summit, one of the original divisions of 1861.
At that time the county seat was temporarily located
at Parkville, but removed soon after to Breckenridge.
On the organization of Garfield and Eagle counties
little of Summit remained, and the county seat of the
former was located at Carbonate, near the eastern
boundary. It lies wholly on the western slope of the
Rocky mountains, and is chiefly an agricultural and
grazing region, but has mines of silver and enormous
deposits of coal. It was vacated by the Utes as late
as 1882, and has little history. Carbonate was one
of the earliest settlements, and Glen wood springs,
located at the junction of Roaring fork and Grand
river, with its mineral waters and rich tributary re-
gion, is becoming the commercial centre of north-
western Colorado.
^ M. L. De Coursey, who furnished me a manuscript on Glenwood, in 1884,
and whose biography is briefly related on p. 604 of this vol., is manager for
the town company, in connection with Glenwood springs. Though containing
much that is of interest, it is impossible to devote to it in these pages the
Hist. Nev. 39 (609)
610 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
The population is l)etween 300 and 400. The other
towns are Axial, Greshani, Barlow, and Ferguson.
The valuation of the county in its first year was
$13G,781.
Gilpin, named after the first governor has an area
of twelve by fifteen miles. It is purely a mining
region, and not exceeded in mineral productions
except by the county of Lake. Within its limits
mining has been carried on for twenty-four years, dur-
ing which time it has produced $43,208,988 in bullion,
of which $38,500,000 was hi gold, being about one-
fourth of the production of the state in precious met-
als. In a previous chapter I have sketched the
beginning of Gilpin's history, when John H. Gregory
there discovered gold, and was followed by a rush of
miners, who soon exhausted the surface deposit, and
after impoverishing themselves in milhng experiments
abandoned mining or sought new fields of exploita-
tion. The gold-bearing lodes occupy an area one mile
wide and four miles long, in the midst of which are
the closel}^ allied towns of Black Hawk, Central, and
Nevadaville. The silver belt extends across north
Clear creek and other hills from York gulch to Dory
hill. It was not discovered until 1878.
The first improvement of the gold district was by
the construction of the Consolidated ditch in 18G0.
More than 100 small mills were taken to Gilpin county
in its early years. In 18G8 there were over thirty
space that the subject might seem fairly to demand. Suffice it to say that
l»y many excellent authorities tliere are claimed for the waters of these
springs properties as valuable as any in the state. Great stress is laid by
all the local writers, and by many transient ones, on the merits of the vari-
ous mineral waters of Colorado, their variety and excellence, especially as to
their curative properties. To discuss the statements of each one, or indeed
to make other than passing mention of the various pamphlets and treatises,
would be altogether apart from tlie jjurposos of this work. Among others, in
addition to those already mentioned, are T. O. Horn's Scieiitijic Tour, MS.,
descriptive and historical, concerning tiie various springs of the country;
Mineral Spriiit/s of Colorado is a pami>hlet by the same authority. •Horn
came to Colorado in 1874, being a graduate of medicine in 8t Louis, and a
native of Va, born in 1S32. He is a member of the state board of health, to
which he made a report at considerable length on the mineral springs of the
state in 1S82.
GARFIELD, UILPIN. 611
mills at work operating 700 stamps. In 1874 mining
was dull. Soon after large operators began purchas-
ing small mines and consolidating, by which means a
new impulse was given to this industry. The gold
ores of Gilpin are of a low grade, and do not pay for
an}' other treatment than by stamp-mill or smelting.
There are fewer mills of larger capacity than formerly,
and although the increasing depth of the mines makes
the extraction of the ore more expensive, the returns
are satisfactory. The entire bullion output of 1883,
for instance, was $2,208,983. The assessed valuation
of the county for that year was $1,871,244, and its
IDopulation 7,000.'
Central City,^ which, next to Denver, has been the
seat of money, political influence, and brain power,
^ Some account of the earlier and later operations in this county seems im-
j)erative, although it should but repeat the experiences of others. In 1859
several arastras were constructed to pulverize quartz. A miner named Red
fixed a trip hammer, pivoted on a stump, the hammer pounding quartz in a
trough. His invention was called the Woodpecker Mill. Charles Giles, of
Gallia, Ohio, made a 6-stamp wooden mill, run Ijy water power, in Chase
gulch, which pounded out 86,000 in a season. T. T. Prosser imported the first
mill not home made. It was a 3-stamp affair, and was set to work in Prosser
gulch in Sept. 1859. Coleman & Le Fevre brought in a 6-stamp mill the same
season, which was lun with the Prosser mill on Gunnell quartz, saving from
•860 to 8100 per ton. Ridge way next set up a 6-stamp mill on Clear creek,
below Black Hawk, and soon after Clark, Vandewater, & Co. imported a
veritable foundry made, 9-stamp mill at the junction of Eureka and Spring
gulches, where now is the centre of Central City. This was all accomplished
in 1859. The Gregory lode has maintained its preeminence. The Bobtail
was reckoned second; the Gunnell third. There are several mines on each of
these. They all have a history, but for which I have not space. Few of the
mines are down more than 1,500 feet; but this depth requires tunnelling, of
which a good deal has been done. The British -American tunnel, beginning
on south Clear creek below Fall river, extends 4 miles northerly, through
Quartz hill to the silver district, and is not yet finished. The Union tunnel
cuts through Maryland moiiiitain. The European-American tunnel begins a
mile below Black Hawk and runs westerly, being incomplete. There are
numerous other shorter tunnels. The first iron-works set up in Colorado was
by Laugford & Co. of Denver, in May 1861, who manufactured iron from the
bog ore found 16 miles north-west of Denver. After making the trial they
removed their works to Black Hawk, where they continued to make iron and
manufacture mining machinery.
2 Although early settled. Central City was not surveyed into lots until
1866, when George H. Hill laid it off. The to-mi-site act of congress author-
ized the location of 1,280 acres where there M'ere over 1,000 inhabitants, and
Central being entitled by population to half that amount, obtained it, less a
little over 50 acres already patented to mines. The question of superior
rights necessarily arose for settlement, the to-rni being upon mining ground.
Theodore H. Becker contested the claim of the city to a strip of surface
ground 50 feet wide lying through the centre of town, on the supposition
612 roUNTIKS OF COLORADO.
whicli was at <jiic time the capital o{' the territory, and
is the county seat, is the principal of the three towns
that the prior record of his mine would secure hiui in his claim. The secre-
tary of the interior decided adversely to Becker, hut referred the case to the
courts. The city obtained its patent witiiout reservation of the ground
claimed by Becker, but with a proviso again referring the (juestion to 'exist-
ing laws.' The existing laws granted nnuing patents in towns, excepting all
rights to the surface, or anything upon it, which decision was finally estalj-
lished and order restored. Black Hawk was incorporated in 1804. The first
post-office in the Rocky mountains was located here, in 18(K), and designated
Mountain City, to distinguish it from another Central City in Kan.sas, of
which Colorado was then a part. Tlic name was dropped when the territory
was organized. Tiie second land othce in Colorado Mas opened at Central
City in 1808, for tlie district compo.scd of Clear creek, (Jilpin, and parts of
Jeflferson and Boulder counties, Irving Stantan register, and (iuy M. Hulett
receiver. The lirsfc application fc»r a patent was for the Compa.ss and Square
lode, in Grifiitii mining district, Clear Creek en. The first express compan}-
which extended its line to Central City was the Central Overland and Pike's
Peak exjjress, in the spring of 18G0. It came into tlie possession of KoUaday
in 1801, and in 180.1 was transferred to Wells, Fargo, & Co., after which it
passed into the hamls of the Kansas Pacific Railroad company in 1871, when
that road was completed to Denver. It was then known as the Kansas Pa-
cific Railroad Express company, bnt later became the Paoific Express com-
pany.
The telegraph line was completed to Central City Nov. 7, 1803, by the
Pacific Telegraph company, which two years later was merged in the West-
ern Union company.
The first newspaper started in the county was the liorky MouuUiin Goltl
Rejiortcr ami Moutitnin City Heralil, published in IS.jO, by Thomas (libson,
at Oregory point. It suspended the same year. Tiie Jliner.s' Retjittcr, pub-
lished by Alfred Thompson, was the second, in 18()2, which went tlirough
several changes, and suspended in 1873. In 187Cthe Pout, democratic, was
first i.ssued at Black Hawk, by William McLaughlin and W. W. Sullivan.
It soon came into tlie hands of James R. Oliver.
The first banking iu Central City was done by the private firm of Koimt/.
Brothers. In 1800 the Rocky Mountain National bank was organized,
Joshua 8. Reynolds president. In 1874 the First Nati(mal Bank of Central
City was organized, which succeeded the private banking house of Thatcher,
Standley, & Co., successors of Warren, Hussey, & Co. Hanington & Mellor
organized a banking house in Central City in 1875. There is also at Black
Hawk a private banking house, owned by Sam Smith & Co., established in
1880.
Public schools were organized in Central City in 1802, Daniel C. Collier
superintendent; first teachers, Thomas J. Campbell and Ellen F. Kendall.
Schools were organized the same year in Black Hawk and Nevadaville. The
first public school-house erected by the county Mas completed in 1870, at a
cost of $20,000, at that time the best school building in Colorado.
Religious services M'ere held in the open air in 1859, at Ciregory Diggings,
by Lewis Hamilton, resulting in the formation of a union church, composed
of all denominations. The hall over the post-oflfice at Central City M-as used
as a meeting house. In 1802 Hamilton went as chaplain to a Colorado regi-
ment, and tiie records of the church were lost. G. W. Fisher, mctliodist,
also held open-air meetings in 1859, and organized a church in 1800, afterward
holding meetings in a public hall. A lot was purchased in 1802, but no church
edifice was completed before 18(:9, when the first methodist church at Cen-
tral was dedicated by Bishop Calvin Kingsley. The society in due time
had a church, costmg $20,000, and a mcmliership of over 300. Its first
settled pastor was Mr Adriance. A methodist church was also organized
KELiaiOUS AND BENEV0LK::T 0K(;ANIZAT10NS. G[:i
before ineiitioiied as occupying tlie heart of the gold
district. It was named in reference to its central
at Black Hawk in 1862, and a small church editice erected. The first set-
tled pastor was D, H. Petfish. It was not until after 1872 that a church
was built for the Methodist society at Nevadaville. The first woman to
arrive in the gold district of Gilpin county was Mary York, afterward Mrs
William Z. Cozzens, in 1859. She was a catholic. There were plenty of her
faith in the mines, and services began to be held in the following year in a
public liall by J. P. Machebeuf, afterwards bishop of Colorado. In 1862 a
building was purchased and converted into a church, which continued to be
used until the present large edifice was erected, the corner-stone of which wa.s
laid by Bishop Machebeuf in 1872. It was first used for religious ser\acesin
1874, though still incomplete. During this year an academy was opened on
Gunnell hill by the ca '-holies, under the charge of the sisters of charity. The
presbytcriairs were or;;anized into a church in 1862 by Lewis Hamilton,
before mentioned, und^r the name of First Presbyterian church of Central
City, George W. Warner, missionary, being its first pastor, succeeded by
William Crawford, Theodore D. Marsh, Sheldon Jackson, J. G. Lawrie, H. B.
Gage, J. P. Egbert, W. L. Ledwith, R. ^L Brown, J. W. Johnstone, J. H.
Bourns, and Otto Schultz, covering a period of about 20 years. The church
building was erected in 1873. The First Presbyterian church of Black Hawk
was organized in 186.3 by George W. Warner. A church was erected the same
year costing §7,500, and dedicated Aug. 2Sth, Warnerpastor. He resigned in
Nov., and was succeeded \>y T. D. Marsh, Dr Kendal, A. M. Keizer, Albert F.
Lyle, G. S. Adams, andW. E. Hamilton. The church was closed in 1872, and
subsequently rented to the methodists. The congregationalists organized in
] 863, under William Crawford's ministrations, as the First Congregational
church of Colorado, being what its name indicated in reality, and wishing to
be general in its efforts to do good. It was incorporated in 1866, however,
as the First Congregational church of Central City. In that year a church
edifice costing $11,700 was erected. Crawford remained with the society
until 1867, when he resigned, and was succeeded by E, P. Tenney, after whom
came S. F. Dickinson, H. C. Dickinson, Theodore C. Jerome, and Samuel R.
Dimock. The church was closed in 1876. A baptist church was organized
in 1864 by Almond Barrelle, a missionary from the American Baptist Home
Mission society, and a house of worship erected, which in 1871 was repaired,
and in 1879 closed, being since occupied as a store and dwelling. The epis-
copal churches also have closed their doors. ^Vliy Central City so often
closes its chiirches seems to require explanation. Probably the attempt to
support too many in the three contiguous municipalities rendered abortive
the efl'ort to suj)port any. In this matter the protestant churches would do
well to imitate their catholic brethren.
In 1866 was organized the Miners and Mechanics' Institute of Gilpin
county, Colorado, which association was chartered in 1867, but did not
remain permanent. The library of 1,000 vols which it collected was sold
to the city of Central at a nominal price, for the use of the public schools.
The school board soon added another 1,000 volumes to the public school
library. The cabinet of minerals and other valuable matter was burned in
1874.
The fire department of Central City M'as organized in 1869, when the Cen-
tral Fire company No. 1 was formed, with 78 members, M. H. Root foreman.
The city was not then supplied with water for extinguishing fires, and the
department was otherwise wanting. After the fire of May 1874, which burned
the greater part of the business portion of the to^Ti, it was reorganized. The
Rescue Fire and Hose company No. 1 was first formed, N. H. McCall fore-
man. In 1875 the Rough and Ready Hook and Ladder company No. 1 was
organized, M. H. Root foreman. In 1878 the Alert Fire and Hose company
No. 2, Thomas Hambly foremau. In 1879 the Black Hawk Fire aud Hose
614 fOUNTlES OF COLOU.-UjO.
position between Black Hawk and Nevadaville. Tlie
other towns are but its suburbs, and together make a
ctnaiiany No. 1 was orgauizuil, W. O. Logue foroinau. There was soon an effi-
cient tire department, witli hydrants at convenient distances, and reservoirs
at a sufficient elevation to throw water over any building in the town. There
was mustered into service as Colorado militia a military company, known as
tlie Emmet Guards of Ciilpin county, in Nov. 1875, James Noonan captain,
James Delahanty 1st lieut, T. F. Welch 2d lieut.
Of secret and hcncvoUnt orders there are a number in Gilpin county.
Nevada Lodge No. 1, of Free and Accepted Masons, was granted a dispensa-
tion l)y the grand lodge of Kansas Dec. 2*J, ItSGO, and f<»rmally opened for
l)usiness Jan. 12, ISGl. Its lo<lge-room being burned in tlie autumn, steps
were taken to rebuild, and 80 feet of ground fronting on Main street pur-
chased. Nevada lodge was tlie fir.st organized in Colorado, but later in the
same year John M. Chivington, appointed by the grand master of Nebraska,
instituted lodges as follows: CJoldcn No. 1, at Golden City; Rocky Moun-
tain No. 2, at Gold Hill; and Park No. 3, at Parkville, in the counties of
.Tefferson, Boulder, and Summit respectively. He then called a cenvention
at (iolden, to institute a grand lodge, Aug. 3, 18G1. This action of the
Nebraska grand lodge was regarded by the Nevada lodge as an infringement
of the privileges of the Kansas grand lodge, under whose jurisdiction Colo-
rado, it was claimed, properly came. The Kansas grand lodge, however, rec-
ognizing the Colorado grand lodge, removed the difficulty, and Nevada lodge
surrendering its first charter, was rechartered by the Colorado grand lodge
as Nevada lodge No. 4. Its building M'as of stone, brick, and iron, and cost
■V7,000. Chivingtoulodgewa3charteredDec.il, ISGl. Central City Chap-
ter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, received its charter from the grand royal
arch chapter of the United States, Sept. 9, 1SG5. Central City Council No.
54, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered by the grand council of 111.,
Oct. 23, 1872. Central City Commandery No. 2, Knights TenqJar, was insti-
tuted Nov. 8, 18G6, and received its charter from the grand encampment
of the United States Oct. 24, 1S6S. Black Hawk lodge No. 11, A. F. & A.
M., was instituted Feb. 17, ISGG. The Rocky Mountain lodge No. 2, Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered June 14, 18G5. Colorado
Encampment No. 1, 1. O. O. F., was instituted May 22, 1SG7. Colorado lodge
No. 3, of Black Hawk, instituted May IG, ISOG. Nevada lodge No. 6 was
chartereil Sept. 2.3, 18GS. Bald Mountain Encajnpinent No. 3 was instituted
at Nevada March 18, 1871. The first lodge of Good Templars in Ciilpin
county was instituted at Nevada in August 18G0, by A. G. Gill, commissioned
by the grand lodge of Kansas. The fire of 18G1 having destroyed their lodge-
room, the order was reorganized at Central under the name of Central City
lodge Nfi. 23, of Kansas, and prospered until the fire of 1874 again destroyed
its property. The lodge did not disljand, but continued to meet in hired
rooms. The first grand lodge of this order was instituted in Washington
hall, Central City, March 17, 18G8, with 788 members and 11 lodges. Ne-
vada lodge No. 52 was instituted by the grand lodge of Kansas in Ai>ril
18G6; but in March 18G8 it applied to the Colorado grand lodge for a new
charter, and received the name of Nevada lodge No. 3. It owns a building,
and is in good circumstances. The Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias,
Knights of the New World, Foresters, and Red Men have their organizations
in Gilpin county, as well as the Scandinavian and other benevolent societies.
Not to be behind the rest of the worM in amusements. Central is provided
with an opera house of stone, 55 by 115 feet, which will seat 500 persons in
the dress-circle and parquette. and 250 in the gallery. It is warmed by hot-
air furnaces, is finely frescoed, lighted with gas, and cost altogether 825,-
000. It was begun in 1877, and completed in 1878, and furnishes a stnmg
contrast to Hadlcy Hall, the large log building, still standing, in the upper
story of which, in earlier times, theatrical representations were wont to be
given.
GRAND. 615
population of 5,500. It has excellent schools, and a
generally progressive and refined society. The other
towns and camps in the country are Kollinsville, Rus-
sell's gulch, Black's camp, Cottonwood, and Smith
hilL^
* Among the pioneers of Gilpin county are the following: Corbit Bacon,
who came to Colorado from Pontiac, Mich., in 1858 with a small party con-
sisting of James A. Weeks, Wilbur F. Parker, and Alverson and son.
Arriving late in the year he encamped 30 miles al:)ove Denver, and the follow-
ing spring began mining on Quartz hill. He has continued in the business
in Gilpin county ever since. J. M. Beverly, born in Va, in 1843, came to
Colorado from 111. in 1859 in company -vWth J. R. Beverly, his father. They
went at once to Gregory gulch, and thence to Xevadaville, where they
erected the first cabin. J. M. Beverly was elected recorder, sheriff, and jus-
tice of the peace in the autunm of 1859. During the winter he discovered a
mine, named after him, on the Burroughs lode, which he sold in 1864. He
built the Beverly mill in Kevada gulch in 1862, which he sold after running
it 5 years, and bviilt another. Having accumulated a fortune, he returned to
Chicago, but suffered a loss of his property in the great fire of 1871, and
began the study and practice of the law in that city. Later he invested in
mines in Lake and Gilpin counties. Chase Withrow, born in 111., in 1839,
came to Colorado in 1860, and settled at Central City, where he followed
mining for two years, after which he engaged in lumber-dealing for 6 years.
He then returned to the study of the law, commenced before leaving 111.,
was admitted to the bar, and practised until 1875, when he was elected clerk
of the district court, which position he held for 6 years, when he returned to
the practise of his profession. Soon after he was elected city attorney. Wil-
liam H. Beverly, his brother, came to Colorado in 1860, and settled at Keva-
das'ille. Hugh A. Campbell, born in Pa, in 1826, was brought up in Ohio.
In 1850 he joined a party of adventurers going to California, and mined in
Nevada co. S years. He had no sooner returned to Ohio than the rush to
Pike's peak began, which he immediately joiued, arriving in Central City in
June 1859, where he opened a store with Jesse Trotter, in a brush tent.
During the summer they erected a log cabin, on what is now Lawrence street,
and removed their goods to it. They put a sign over their door with Central
City on it, and so fixed the name, not recognized by the P. O. department.
Campbell discovered the Cincinnati lode on Casto hill; owned 40 acres of
placer ground on the south side of Quartz hill; 30 acres on Pine creek;
the Globe, Progressive, and Centennial lodes on Gunnell hill; Greenback
lode on Casto hill; Inter-ocean and Gettysburg on Quartz hill, and other
mining property.
D. D. Mcllvoy, born in Ky, in 1824, was the son of a farmer. He
crossed the plains to Cal. in 1850. He joined a militia company during the
Pah Ute oixtbreak, and was commissioned a lieutenant by Gov. McDougal.
In 1851 he returned home by sea, meeting at Habana with the filibustering
army of Loj)ez, recruited at Kew Orleans, witnessing the shooting of Capt.
Crittenden and 50 men by Lopez, for insubordination and desertion. In
1859 Mcllvoy came to Colorado with his family, and settled on Missouri flats
near Central City. Soon after he discovered Lake gulch, and engaged in
mining and farming, having 160 acres of land on the flats.
David D. Strock, born in Ohio, in 1832, raised a farmer, and educated at
Hiram, came to Colorado in 1859, mining at Gregory gulch that summer,
when he returned to Kansas, but finally settled at Black Hawk, in this state,
in 1863, as a millwright and carpenter. He owned 50 feet on the Gunnell
lode, which he leased to the Gunnell company.
Anthony W. Tucker, born in Pa, in 1837, reared in Ohio, a machinist by
trade, came to Colorado in 1859, and mined at Gregory and Russell diggings.
616 ("OUNTIKS OF COLORADO.
Grand county, organized in 1874, included the
North park, and most of the ^fiddle ])ark, and all of
He Bct lip and ojtcrateil tlie lirst engine in Colorado, in lientley & Bayard'a
saw-niill at Central City. In 18G2 he worked on J. L. I'ritcliard's quartz-mill
at Nevadaville. Afterwards he superintended different mills — D. V. Casey's
in Chase gulcli, Opliir mill, Clayton mill, Truman Whitcomb mill, anil
Wheeler & Sullivan mill. In 1877 he lea.sed the Tucker mill in Russell gulch,
•which was burned iu 1870, after which he purchased an interest in the New
York quartz-mill at Black Hawk. He was elected county commissioner ia
1877. Henry Paul, born in Ky in 1841, and brought up to fannlife in Ky
and Mo., came to Colorado in 18.)9, but returned to Mo. the same year, and
studied medicine until ISfiS, when he settled in Gilpin co., where he engaged
in mining and farming, var3-ing these pursuits with medical studies. His
mining discoveries are the Hazelton, Helmer, Powers, and Searle lodes in
Willis gulch iu Gilpin county, and Security lode, on Mt Bross, in I'ark co,,
and many others in several counties. He was elected to the legislature in
1873, and was chairman of tlie committee which drafted the mining law of
Colorado. He was a delegate to the National Democratic convention at
Cincinnati in 1880. He engaged in minuig and merchandising.
Joseph S. Beaman, born in Baden, Germany, in 1834, was api)renticed to
a brewer. He came to the U. S. in IS.")!, and learned carpentry at Louisville,
Ky, after whicli he attended scliool two j-ears. In 18.")9 he came to Colorado,
locating at Central Cit}% where, after mining a few years, he worked at his
trade, and finally established himself as a bottler of so<la water and liquors.
Lewis W. Berry, born in Brooklyn, X. Y., in lSl>2, was the son of a ship-
carpenter, and learned the trade of painter. He was in New Orleans in 1840,
where he raised a company for the Mexican war, and fought under Gen.
Scott, as 'captain. Returning to Brooklyn, he remained there imtil 1859,
when he came to Colorado, mining at Central City for 4 years, when he spent
two years in Montana, living later at Idaho Springs.
Samuel Copeland, born in Me in 1819, after a youth spent on a farm and
at academies iu St Albans and Charleston, embarked in mercantile pursuits
at several points in Me, N. B., and Mich., and travelled for health and
pleasure. In 1860 he came to Colorado, having invested his means in a train
of 1 1 wagons, 28 yokes of o.xen, and 4 horses, the wagons being freighted
with machinery for a quartz-mill, saw-mill, and shingle-mill. Tlie quartz-
mill prove<l a loss, but the others were set up and ])rotitably operated in
Miciiigan gulch imtil 1803, when he removed them to Boulder, being the
principal lumber mercliant there until 1870, and engaged also in mining and
merchandising. His energetic course resulted in a fortune.
James B. Gould, born in N. Y. in 1830, was reared in Pa and Iowa as a
farmer. He came to Black Hawk in 1800, engaging in freighting about the
mines for two j'ears, and afterwards for 7 years between the Missouri river
and Denver. He then sold his teams, and purchased a farm in Boulder co.,
where lie secured 440 acres of improved land near White Rock. I have ab-
stracted these biographical sketches irom. Ckar Creek awl Bniihlir Val. /fist.
The names of C. A. Roberts and Charles Peck occur in connection with min-
ing regulations in 1859, but I have no further information of them. HnllUtfrs
Mines of Colo, 78. Some fact? concerning Central City and (Jilpin co. have
been drawn from N. T. Bond's Enrh/ Jllstoni of Colorailo, Moutunn, oiul Lhiho,
M.S., containing narratives of discovery and early government.
Clara Brown, a colored woman, born near Fredericksburg, Va, in 1800,
after an eventful life as a slave, was lil>erated in Ky. In her 57th year she
removed to St Louis, anc again to Leavenworth, joining in the spring of 1859
a party bound for Pike's peak, and paying for her transportation by cooking
for a mess of 25 men. She hud the tirst laundry in (Jilpin co., and in a few
years accumulated §10,000. After the close of the war slie went to Ky for
her relatives, and established them iu Colorado, herself settling iu Denver iu
GUNNISON, HINSDALE. 617
what is now Routt county. It now embraces the
Middle park and most of the settlements of its former
territory.*
Gunnison county, whose early history has been
given, was organized in 1880. Its development has
been rapid. Over 100,000 tons of coal were taken
out of this county in 1883. It is beginning to be cul-
tivated for its agricultural wealth ; its grazing inter-
est is large and increasing ; but its gold, silver, cop-
per, lead, coal, and iron mines are still the chief
incentive to settlement. The bullion output in 1883
was $650,000, and the assessed valuation of the county
$3,234,490.'
a neat cottage of her owti, and being a member in good standing of the pres-
bj-terian church. Ckar Creeh and BouWtr Val. Hht., 443.
'" It contains arable and grazing lands, beautiful mountain lakes, and is a
sportman's paradise. The lack of facilities for transportation have interfered
with its development. The population in 1880 was but little over 400, but
had increased in 188.3 to 2,000. One of the attractions of the park are the
hot sulphur springs on Grand river and at Grand lake. Placer mining has
been carried on in this county for twenty years, and coal of good quality is
one of its best known resources. The later mineral discoveries have revealed
gold and silver lodes of great value. Petroleum is another natural produc-
tion awaiting railroads to be made available. The assessment valuation in
1883 was 353,998. Grand Lake, with a population of 300, was the county
seat. Hot Sulphur Springs had 300 inhabitants, Teller 5C0, whde Fraser,
Gaskill, Lidu, Troul^lesome, Colorow, Rand, Hermitage, and Canadian had
100 or less.
^Gunnison City, the county seat, had in 1886 6,000 inhabitants, and the
county not less than 14,000, distributed among other towns as follows: Pit-
kin 1,500, Crested Butte 1,000, Gothic 900, Irwin 600, Tin Cup 500, West
Gunnison 400, and the remainder among mining camps and settlements.
There were numerous settlements belonging to Gunnison at that time, namely,
Allen, Almont, Anthracite, Aureo, Barnum, Bellevue, Bowman, Camp
Kingsberry, Chipeta, Chloride, Cloud City, Copper Creek, Crooksville, Cur-
ran, Delta, Doyleville, Drake, Elko, Elkton, Emma, Galena, Haverly, Hiller-
ton, Howeville, Indian Creek, Jack's Cal>in, Marom, Montrose, Ohio, Paradox
Valley, Parlins, Petersburg, Pittsburgh, Powderhorn,Quartzville, Red Moun-
tain, Richardson, Roaring Rock, Rock Creek, Ruby City, Rustler Gulch,
Sage, Sapinero, Scofield, .Silver Night, Spring, Stevens, Toll Gate, Tomichi,
Turner, Uncompahgre, Virginia, Waller's Camp, Washington Gulch, White
Earth, White Pine, White Sulphur Springs, and Woodstock. Some few of
these have been cut off by the division of the county in 1883.
The Denver and Rio Grande railroad now passes across the county from east
to west, with a branch to Crested Butte, where considerable progress is being
made in the development of extensive and valuable deposits of anthracite,
bituminous, and coking coal. But there is less population in the towns, nota-
bly less in Gunnison City, than for the first two or three years of growth, and
when this was the terminus of the railway. The secondary epoch of all mining
and railroad towns is upon it, from which the healthy growth of the country,
which comes later, alone will redeem it. There are some interesting and
618 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Hinsdale county, named after George A. Hinsdale,
was organized in 1874, on the disc<n'ery of the mines
of the San Juan countr}'. Owing to its mountain-
ous character, and lack of transportation, it made
instructive facts given in EtitonK Gunnison Yi'sterdny and To-dmj, MS. ' We
have alway.s,' he says, ' lived on eastern capital,' and proceeds to relate that
a .St Louis company laid gas and water pipes, expending $100,U00; erected
the La Veta hotel, on foundations abandoned by its jirojector, at a cost of
$212,000; formed apian for an opera house and a block of stores; organized
the (.Junnison Steel and Iron company, buying coal and iron lands all over
the country, the city raising S20,000 to put in ejcrow, to be paid over when
it should tulfil certain conditions. Furnaces were partially erected when it
was discovered that tlie coal owned Ijy the company wa^j not coking coal, and
that the coking coal liad Ijeen bought up l;y tlie Colorado Coal and Iron com-
pany. This suspended the business of the St Louis company. A patent
smelter, owned by Mofl'at of Joplin, Mo., was erected in 18t>2-3, and failed,
but was afterward made to Wf)rk successfully. Shaw and Patrick, young
men, also erected a smelter, which when still incomplete was abandoned,
presumably for want of capital. An attempt was being made in 1884 to
raise money to start the works. These several failures of companies and
individuals affected the business of the town, and decreased its population.
In the autunm of 1SS4 a brewery was started, which, with the Moffat
smelter, two planing-mills, a cement, and a mineral-paint factory constituted
tlie manufacturing industry of tiunni.son.
The first banks of Gunnison were the Miners' Exchange, and the Bank of
Gumiison, both owned by private individuals, but afterward made the First
National and the Iron National banks, the latter printing drafts with an en-
graving of the projected steel works in a corner.
A. E. Buck, proprietor of the 2^^ew.t-Deiitorntt, formerly of the Spirit of
the Tlints in New York, laid out an addition to Gunnison town site. The
first amusement hall was the ( llobe theatre, of a low character. It was pur-
chased by the citizens, and converted into an academy of music. In 1882
the Gunnison opera house was erected, and a private theatrical company of
the citizens gave entertainments occasionally, varied by tlie performances of
travelling artists. In ISS2 Gunnison had two small brick school houses. The
following year S2S,000 was appropriated by tlie citizens for the erection of
two new school buildings, to be used in connection with the others, and the
schools rose to a liigh order. Six churches w'ere organized by 188G, having
their own edifices. A chamber of commerce was started in 1SS4, for which
there appears to have been no urgent demancL It had begiin making a col-
lection of minerals.
Hartly C. Eaton, from whose MS. I have taken most of the above sug-
gestive items, was born in I'ortland, Me, in 1853. He came to CJunnison in
1882, with J. A. Small and A. W. Suwall, to engage in tlie book and sta-
tionery trade. John B. Outcalt, born in New Jersey in IS.jO, a carpenter by
trade, who came to Denver in 1871, and to Gunnison in 1874, with Richard-
son and William W. Outcalt, and who secured, with hia brother, 1,100 acres
of meadow laud and town property enough to make them wealthy, also
furnished me the result of his obser\-ations on CJunnison county and city, in
firavny in Gunnison, MS. See Gunnison Sun, Oct. 13, 1883; Gunni.ion He-
view, Jan. 1, 18S3. The principal reliance of Gunnison is in coal and iron,
to promote manufactures, which are still in their infancy, a tine grade of an-
thracite being found within twenty-tive miles. Sandstone, granite, and
marble are abundant in the neighborhood; also fire clay and materials for
cement. But the place lay long under the ban of the railroad, to whose
tyrannies men and municipalities nnist ever submit. Archie M. Stevenson,
boru in Scotland in 1857, but brought up in Wis. and educated for the prac-
HUERFANO, JEFFERSON. 619
little progress. Lake City, the county seat, had in
1886, 800 inhabitants. It lies m a sloping valley, at
an elevation of 8,550 feet, surrounded by mountains
ribbed with mineral veins. The principal mining dis-
tricts are Engineer mountain, Lake, Park, Sherman,
and Cimarron. The first development attained to
was due chiefly to the firm of Crooke & Co., eastern
capitalists, who purchased a number of mines, and
erected concentrating and smelting works near Lake
City, which were completed in 1878. The product
of their mines the first year was §85,498 in silver,
823,698.27 in lead, and $2,925 in gold.'
Huerfano count}" was organized in 1861 with the
county seat temporarily at Autobes. It was removed
to Badito subsequently, and is at present at Walsen-
burg, a railroad and coal-mining town. Huerfano is
principally a grazing and agricultural district. There
were in the country in 1883, 20,000 cattle, and 100,-
000 sheep. No mining except for coal was being done
there, although it is known to have mines of gold and
galena. The coal product of 1883 was 100,000 tons,
from the mines of the Colorado Iron and Coal com-
pany. The population at that date was over 5,000,
and the assessed valuation .$1,321,826. Walsenburg
had in 1886 400 inhabitants.'
Jefferson county, besides being one of the earliest
tise of the law, came to Colorado in ISSO, locating first at Pitkin, but remov-
rag to Gunnison after being elected to the state senate for 4 years, in 1882.
He formed a law partnership with Stevenson and Frankey.
" Two smelters were also erected at Capitol City, in ISSO, under the manage-
ment of G-eorge S. Lee. The mines of the county best known are the Little
Annie, Golden Queen, Ute, Ule, Belle of the West, Ocean Wave, Emperor,
Fairview, Scotia, John J. Crooke, El Paso, Inez, Palmetto, and Hotchkiss,
which are but few of the many good mines. Capitol City, Antelope Springs,
Sherman, Burrows Park, and Argentum, have from 125 to 200 inhabitants
each. There are a few other settlements, and mining camps: Antelope Park,
Barrett's Station, Belford, Clear Creek, Crooke City, Hudson's Rancho,
Lost Trail, San Juan, Sparling's Rancho, Tellurixim, and Timber Hill.
^ Lesser settlements are Apache. Butte Valley. Chabez Plaza. Cucharas,
Dickson, Dixolt, Fabian Plaza, Gardner. Garzia Plaza, Hager's Mill, Ham-
ilton, Huerfano, Huerfano Canon, La Veta, Malachite, Meaz Plaza, Mining
Camp, Mule Shoe, Ojo. Park's Mills, Piedras Animas, Quebec. Quinland,
Rito de Gallina, Sangre de Cristo Station, Santa Clara, Santa Maria. Span-
ish Peaks, Tirneros Plaza, Turkey Creek, Veta Pass, Wahatoya, Walsen's
Springs, Walsen StatioiL
tiJO COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
settled and first organized, enjoys the advantage of a
nearness to the metro})olis and a variety of products
to take to that market. While not strictly a mining
county, it contains in its western portion gold, silver,
copper, lead, zinc, iron, mica, coal, mineral paint,
petroleum, alabaster, fire clay, potters' clay, limestone,
marble, building stone, timber, and other productions
which enter into manufactures. Its coal mines are
extensively worked. It is one of the foremost agri-
cultural and horticultural counties, and has a greater
variety of industries than almost any other. Tlie
population in 1883 was 8,000, and the assessed valu-
ation $2,746,498. Golden is the county seat, with
2,500 inhabitants. There are a number of smelters
located here for reducing the ores from other coun-
ties, besides flouring mills and factories of various
kinds.*
' Tlie towns of Arapalioe, Mount Vernon, and Oolden (iate were mining
camps in the .spring of ISoO, the second at the inoutli of Table Mountain
caflon, and the latter at the mouth of another canon called the (Jate of the
Mountains. Golden City on Clear creek, was settled at the same time hy W.
A. H. Loveland, John M. Ferrell, Fox Deifendorf, 1*. B. Cheney, George Jack-
«on, Hardy, Charles M. Ferrell, John F. Kirby, T. P. Boyd, William Pollard,
.Fames McDonald, George West, Mark L. Blunt, Charles Remington, E. B.
Smith, J. C. Bowles, David MeCleery, I. B. Fitzpatrick, and W. J. McKay.
A part of this numl>er belonged to the Boston company of 8 members who
crossed the plains together, arriving in June, among whom were Henry Vallard
and A. D. Richardson and Thomas W. Knox, the celebrated correspondents of
the iV^. Y. Trilmne. George West, a Bostonian, was president of this company.
They decided that the temporary settlement at the crossing of Clear creek
was the proper site for a city, and accordingly they, with Loveland, Kirby,
.1. M. Ferrell, Smith, H. J. Carter, Mrs Williams, gtanton & Clark, F. W.
Beebe, .J. C. Bowles, K. L. Berthoud, and (iarrison selected 1,280 acres on
botli sides of Clear creek and laid out a town. F. W. Beebe surveyed 320
acres that season, but the survey was completed in IS60 by Berthoud. By
the close of the year, with the help of a saw and shingle mill. Golden had
grown to a town f)f 700 iidiabitants. Robert L. Laml)ert erected a log store
in tlie winter f)f 1S.">!», between the seasons of mining. He became a wealthy
cattle and sheep raiser in Las Animas co. Many farms were taken up. \. C.
Bergen settled in Bergen park, where he kept a hotel. In the autumn Mc-
Intyre and Mc<leery organized a company to construct a wagf)n road from old
Fort St Vrain to South Park, via (rolden, Bergen Park, Cub Creek, etc.,
whicli was located in the following spring. On the 7th of Dec., 1859, the
WpMtern Mountaineer issued its first numl>er, George West publisher. The
first county election under the provisional government was held Jan. 2, 1860,
■when the votes for county seat gave Golden amajoritj' over Arapahoe of 401
to 228. Baden, later Aleck, received 22 votes. Joseph C. Remington was the
first sheriflF elected. There was a public sale of town lots in February, prices
ranging from •S.'IO to -Si 20. A school was also opened in the spring by M. T.
Dougherty, with IS pupila. At the lirst muuicipal election, held April 10, 1860,
LAKK 021
Lake county was first organized in 1861, when Cal-
ifornia gulch was in its first flush period, with the
county seat at Oro. On the discovery of silver at a
later date the legislature cut off the northern end and
J. W. Stanton was chosen mayor; S. M. Breath, recorder; W. C. Simpson,
marshal; W. A. H. Loveland treas. ; R. Barton, J. M. Johnson, R. T. Davis,
D. G. Dargiss, 0. B. Harvey, A. B. Smith, W. J. Smith, J. Kirby council-
men. In August a weekly maU was established. A period of slow progre.?s,
and in 1883 Golden was made the capital of Colorado, but the legislature did
not meet there until 1866—7. In 1867 the county voted -5100,000 in bonds in
aid of the Colorado Central and Pacific railroad to Cheyenne and to Denver.
Golden had now two flouring-mills, a brewery, and a paper-mill, and was
making fire-brick. In 1868 ground was broken for the first Colorado rail-
road, and the following j'ear the road-bed was made ready for the rails 10
miles, from Golden to the eastern boujidary of the count}'. On the 26th of
.■^^ept., 1S70, the first locomotive reached Golden. In April a narrow guage
railroad, the first west of the Mississippi, had been begun, which was fin-
ished to Black Hawk late in 1872. In March 1873 a narrow guage to Floyd
Hill was in running order, and in April the Golden and Julesburg branch of
the Colorado Central was completed to Longmont. Still later in the year
the Golden and South Platte railway was graded 18 miles to Plum creek.
Then came the panic of 1874—6, when railroad building was interrupted. In
1877 the narrow guage to Georgetown was completed, and the line from
Black Hawk to Central in the spring of 1878. The Colorado Central also,
when completed, belonged to the system of railroads which contributed to
the prosperity of Golden, 34 trains leaving and arriving daily. They car-
ried away coal, stone, ha\-, grain, and flour, and brought ore, coal, coke,
lumber, grain, and groceries. Golden built three flouring-mills, five smelt-
ing and reduction works, two breweries, a paper-mill, six coal shafts, three
fire brick, pressed brick, and drain-pipe factories, three perpetual lime-kilns,
and two quaries, with a variety of minor industries. The smelters turned
out from 81,200,000 to 81,500,000 annually. It has seven churches, gw.d
schools, and an iatelLigent press. The state school of miues was placed at
Golden. It was established by act of legislature in 1870, making an appro-
priation for that purpose. It was reestablished by another act in 1874; and
in 1877 still further placed on a permanent footing. It now occupies a fine
brick edifice, and is an ornament to the town. It is supported, like all the
other state institutions, Ijj- a direct tax of so many mills on the dollar. A
signal-office has Ijeen maintained in connection with it. Here are taught
analytical and applied chemistry, mineralogy, metallurgy, assaj-ing, ci\-il and
mining engineering, geology, and mathematics. The state industrial school
is also located at Golden by an act of the legislature of 1881, the old school of
mines building being used for a beginiung; bat by an act of 1883 an appro-
priation of 815,000 was made for new buildings. The whole appropriation
for industrial school purposes in that year amounted to 860,000, to be ap-
plied to its maintenance, machinery, and material for industries, and a
library. The lesser towns and settlements of Jefi"erson are Ahlstrom's,
Anchor Station, Archer's, Arvada, Bartlett's Lake, Bear Creek, Beaver
Brook, Beeson Mill, Bellvdle, Big Hill,_Brownvme, Bufi'alo, Bufi'alo Creek,
Buffalo Tank, Chimney Gulch, Church's, Clear Creek, Copperdale, Cottonwood
Falls, Creswell, Crossons, Crosson's Camp, Deansbury, Deer Creek. Deer
Creek Mines, Dome Rock, Eagle Brook Park, Elk Creek, Emperor Rancho,
Emperor Springs, Enterprise, Ford Lake, Forks Creek, Forks of Clear
Creek, Gallagher Camp, Gilman, Glen Plym Rancho, Grotto, Guv Creek,
Hildebrande, Hines Rancho, Huntsman, Hutchinson, Jeff'erson. "jeff'erson
Park, Johnson's Crossing, Jones Siding, Last Resort, Leahow Island. Lee
Siding, Little Station, Littleton, Memphis Camp, Morrison, Mount Carbon,
6>> COUNTIES OF LOLOUAIX).
called it Carbonate county, witli the county seat at
LeadvilK', while the southern })ortion retained its for-
mer name. At the same session, lujwever, the name
of Lake was restored to the silver region, and that of
Chaffee given to the remainder."
Olio, Oxeville, Park Siding, Pine Grovn, Platte Cafion, Platte River, Rals-
ton, Ralaton Creek, Shingle Mill, Smith Hill, South Platte, Spruce Park,
Steven's Gulch, Stewart's Kancho, Thompson's Mill, Troutdale, Turkej'
Creek, Turtle Pond, Ute Trail, Vermillion, Weljlier's Saw-mill, Welters
Wood Camp, Willowville, Wilson's Saw-mills.
Andrew H. Spickcrman, born in New York in 1820, came to Colorado in
1859, and settled on Turkey Creek in 1802, wiiere he has continued to reside,
lieuhen C. Wells, born in 111. in 1833, came to Colorado in 1859 from Moline,
of wliich las father was one of the foumlers. He returned the same year to
111., but finally settled at (Jolden in 18G9, where he is engaged in making
paper. David (J. Dargiu, born in Me in 1835, came to Colorado in 1859, set-
tling at Golden City, and opening the second store, Loveland having opened
the first. He afterward spent some time in other parts of the union, but re-
turned in 1879 to Golden, where he improved his town property, and opened
the Monster lode in Clear Creek co., where he secured several mines.
1" These changes were made in Feb. 1879. It is a small county, and
noted only for its mines, of whicli I liave already given an account. Its his-
tory is summed up in the brief statement that it produced in gold, silver, and
lead between 1860 and 1SS4, .$79,934,047.09. Of thisamount about Si 3,000,-
000 was in gold, and §55,000,000 in silver. Lake county is the largest lead
producing ilistrict in the U. S. A variety of the less common minerals and
metals is found in these mines, among wiiich are zinc, antimony, bismuth,
tin, copper, and arsenic. The official reports for four years give §15,025,153
for 1880, §12,738,902 for 1881, §10,531,8.53 for 1882, and §15,091,200 for 188.3,
with Ijetter prospects for 1884. There are 13 .smelters at Leadville, and 231
steam-engines employed in the mines, with an aggregate horse-power of
5,454. Otlier bu.siness is proportionately active. Tiie population of Lead-
ville is 20,01)0. Adelaide and Malta have togetlier 1,000 inhabitants, besides
which there are the villages of Twin Lakes, Eilers, Alexander, Alicante,
Soda Springs, and a number of small settlements. They are Bird's Eye,
Buckskin, Clark Rancho, Crane Park, Crystal Lake, Danaville, Dayton,
Evansville, Fifteen-mile House, Hayden, Henry, Howlaml, Keeldar, Oro,
Ryan's, Union Station. Soda Springs, live miles from Leadville, is a popular
health resort; and Twin lakes, on which a steamboat was jilaced in 1880, a
famous pleasure resort.
Among the pioneers of Lake county are the following: George L. Hender-
son, born in nortiicrn Oluo in 1830, came to Colorado in 1859, and resided at
Central City and California (Julcii. He was the first postma.ster of Leadville,
and claims to have suggested its name. His Ijusiness is general merchan-
dising.
Emmet Nuckolls, born in Va in 1842, migrated to Nebraska City while a
boy, and thence to Colorado in 1859, engaging in cattle-trading. He removed
to Leadville on the discovery of silver, where he engaged in selling stock,
wagons, hay, and grain. He was a member of the board of aldermen.
Rufus Shute, born in N. Y. in 18.37, removed to Wis. at an early age, and
thence to Colora<lo in 1859. He mined for a year, and returned east, and did
not again visit this state until 1877, when be located at Leadville in the lum-
ber trade. In 1879 he sold out and went into stock-raising. He served as
alderman one year.
N. C. Hickman, bom in Mo. in 1844, was the son of a physician, and left
Davenport, Iowa, with his father in 1859 for Colorado. In the following
year hia father died at Central City, aud youug Hickmau returned to Iowa
LA PLATA. 623
La Plata county is the south-west division of the
state, organized in 1874, but its development has not
college to complete his education, after which he came once more to this state
and located at Central as merchant and miner. In 1867 he sold out and
spent several years in Kan. and N. M., but returned in 1879 to settle at
Leadville, where he became a merchant and miner again on a larger scale
than before. He was elected alderman in 1880, serving for two years.
Irving J. Pollock, born in Sterling, Scotland, in 1829, removed to
America at the age of three years. He received a university education, and
travelled extensively. In 1858 he came to Colorado, mined in Russell gulch,
and afterward in California gulch. He was elected vice-president of the
territorial medical society in 1873, and was chosen a delegate to the U. S.
medkal convention at St Louis in 1874.
Xelson Hallock, born near Albany, N. Y., in 1840, came to Colorado in
1859. He engaged in mining both here and in Montana, In 1865 he left
mining for lumbering, and ran a saw-mill for 12 years in Jefferson and Park
counties, and finally erected a mill in Lake co. on the site of Leadville.
When that town came into existence he went into the livery business and
teaming. In 1877 he sent out some prospectors, who discovered the Carbon-
ate mine, which he sold in 1879 for $175,000. He then purchased an inter-
est in the Colorado coal and iron works, of which he became president. He
is a director and vice-president of the First National bank of Leadville.
John Riling, born in Canton, Ohio, in 1836, migrated to Pike's peak in
1859, mining at several points. He discovered and located the placers of
Lost canon, and followed the rush to California gulch. He returned east in
1861, remaining at Leavenworth until 1878, when he yielded to the desire to
revisit the scenes of his mining adventures and removed to Leadville, where
he makes wagons and does a general blacksmithing business.
George W. Huston, born in Pa in 1839, learned book-keeping, and was
employed in Iowa and Kansas at his profession. In 1859 he came to Colorado,
mining in Gilpin co. during summer, but returning to Leavenworth to winter.
In 1860 he came again, and this time went to California gulch, where he was
elected sheriff. Afterward he served in the civil war, and was register of
deeds at Leavenworth, but returned to Leadville in 1878, where he engaged
in real estate transactions.
Robert Berry was born in Ohio in 1830. In 1859 he came to Colorado and
erected the second saw-miU in the territory on Plum creek for D. C. Oakes &
Co. the same year. From tliis he went to mining at Gold Dirt diggings, Rus-
sell gulch, California gulch, and Frying Pan or Colorado gulch. In the lat-
ter locality Berry and his partner, Walters, obtained a patent for 140 acres
of placer ground, which they worked for many years. Berry was U. S. mar-
shal and int. rev. collector in the early territorial times; member of the leg-
islative council in 1864 and 1865, being elected sec. in the latter year; was
county clerk and recorder in 1862; and was appointed county judge to fill a
vacancy.
Charles F. Wilson was born in Ky in 1830, and was engaged in a grocery
business when attracted to Pike's peak in 1859. After working by the day in
Russell gulch for a time, he set out prospecting, and was one of the discov-
erers of California gulch. He settled eventually in the cattle -raising busi-
ness, 20 miles from Canon City.
Charles L. Hall, born in N. Y, in 1836, and brought up in Iowa, left Iowa
college in 1859, and after a short experience of milling grain, came to Colo-
rado and started a stock-farm, but gave it up and began prospecting for
mines in California gulch. He was one of Baker's party, which explored
the San Juan country in the winter of 1860-1, and in attempting to return
by a shorter route was lost 14 days without food. He was finally rescued
when unable to walk. In 1862 he was operating salt-works 20 miles from
Fair Play, and raising stock in South park. In 1865 and 1866 he was a mem-
CJ4 CX)UMT1ES OF COLORADO
been rapid. In the south-west corner of the county
are found many of the cliff dwellings, whose history
ber of the lower house of the legislature. For three years he was county
commissioner of Park co. He removed to I^adville in 1878, where he organ-
ized a gas company and engaged in mining operations. He also owned con-
siderable railroad stock.
Men of the later period, or the renaissance, of California gulch whom I
may mention are: F. A. Wheeler, born in Weld co., Colorado, August 21,
18G3, educated at the common schools of his native state, and appointed dep-
uty clerk of the Sth judicial district court at the age of 19 years, which posi-
tion he long occupied.
William K. Kennedy, born in I'a in 1844, migrated to Colorado in 186").
He located at Central City, where he practised his profession of law, and was
elected probate judge in 18G8, serving two terms. Subsequently he spent
some time at (Teorgeto^\^l and in the San Juan country. He was twice elected
prosecuting attornej^ of Hinsdale co., and chosen a delegate to the constitu-
tional convention in 1875. He came to Leadville in 1878, being elected city
attorney within a mouth of liis arrival. He secured an interest intheHome-
Stakeand other valual>le mines.
Peter Becker, born in Germany in 1848, immigrated to America in 18r)3
with his parents, who settled in Iowa. Remaining there until 1870, he then
came to Colorado, and wlien the town of Colorado Springs was started,
began business tliere as a harness-maker. He was electetl sheriff of El Paso
county in 1875, and reelected in 1877. When Leadville Ma.sat the height of
mining excitement he removed to this place, and again was elected sheriflFiu
1881, and reelected in 1880. He interested himself in mining, and secured a
large rancho in Lake co.
R. H. Stanley, born in Mo. in 1843, entered the union army as a private,
serving through the war, a part of the time as lieut-col of the 19th 111. infan-
try. He migrated to Colorado in 1870, remaining 6 years in Denver. In
187(j he visited the San Juan mines, coming to Leadville m 1877. In 1879 he
was elected county treasurer, and Mas the republican candidate for mayor in
1834, but was beaten. He was interested in mines, and secured a section of
land near Leadville for a home.
John Harvey, born in Scotland in 1844, came to C^olorado in 1870, residing
in Denver until 1879, when he removed to Leadville.
A. T. Cunnell, born in Mo. in 1848, and educated at Bethany college, Va,
admitted to practise law in 1872; being apparently far gone in a decline,
came to Colorado in 1873, where in a few months he recovered his health,
and where he determined to remain. He was elected to the legislature from
Hinsdale co. in 1878. In the following year he removed to Leadville, and
•was elected county judge in 1880, and again in 1883.
John Law, born in Iowa in 1844, studied medicine at the Chicago medical
college, graduating in 1SG8. He came to Colorado and settled in Park co.
in 1873, and was elected judge of the county court in 1870. In 1878 he re-
moved to Leadville, where he was elected coroner the following year. Ho
held the olTice two years, during which time there were over 300 incjuests
upon persons wlio had died from other than natural causes. He was elected
city physician in 1879, and cttunty physician in 1881. He never heard of a
case of consumption originating in tlie altitude of Leadville, but knew of
many wonderful cures.
David May, born in Germany in 1848, immigrated to the U. S. in 1863,
and graduated from the commercial college of Cincinnati in 1865. He after-
ward resided in Ind., where he was in business, removing to Colorado on ac-
cf)unt of health, and settling at Leadville, where he resumed business aa a
clothing merchant. He was appointed county treasurer in 1884.
Joseph H. Playter, born in Canada in 1854, removed to Kansas in 1873,
and to Colorado iu 1878, living at Leadville, where he engaged in mining.
LAPJMER. 625
must be relegated to the indeterminate and unrecorded
past/'
Larimer county was organized in 1861, with the
county seat temporarily at Laporte, and belongs to
In 1883 he was appointed clerk of the district court, and also elected a mem-
ber of the city council. In 1885 he was the democratic nominee for mayor,
but was defeated by the republican candidate, Irwin.
Jeremiah Irwin, bom in Pa in 18.34, and brought up in Ohio, was edu-
cated in Cincinnati. He came to Leadville iu 1879, and commenced making
brick, being contractor for most of the brick Ijuildings in the city, finding it
a profitable business. He was elected mayor in 1885.
J. H. Monheimer, born in Germany in 1844, came to the U. S. in infancy,
and resided in Xew York city, where he was in the dry -goods business. He
removed to Leadville in 1880, purchased a prominent corner lot, erected a
handsome brick store, and commenced business as a retail merchant. In
1882 he erected Union block, the finest in the city.
B. S. Galloway, bom in Ontario, C. W., in 1854, entered the medical col-
lege at Ann Arbor, Mich., and on graduating, in 1880, came at once to Lead-
ville to practise his profession.
Charles F. Lee, born in Iowa in 1855, removed from Des Moines to
Chicago in 1875, and travelled for a mercantile house until ISSO, when he
came to Colorado, stopping first at Kokomo, where he was postmaster, but
soon settling in Leadville, where he engaged in mining operations and fire
insurance.
Charles H. WenzeU, bom in Louisville, Ky, in 1855, came to Colorado in
1877, and commenced the practice of the law at Georgetown, having been
admitted to the bar a few months previous at Pittsburgh, Pa. On the dis-
covery of silver carbonates, he removed to Leadville, where he formed a part-
nership with R. S. Morrison, and was employed by the Leadville Improve-
ment company in their contest with squatters from 1878 to 1882. In 1884
he was elected city attorney.
^^ See Tenny, Colorado and Homes in the Neio West,4Q-Q\; Hoyden, Great
West, 6, 8, 129-34; Denver Tribune, Dec. 16, 1879; Tice, Over the Plains, 211-12;
CrofiM, Grip-sack Guide, 165-9; Stone's General Vieic, !MS., 24—7; Meagher s
Observations, MS., 3. Although rich in agricultural and mineral resources, the
county had in 1880 not more than 1,110 inhabitants. In 1883 the population
had increased to 6,00j; 2.'J4,000 acres of land were under improvement: there
were 60,000 cattle and 20,000 sheep on its pastures; its coal mines produced
12,003 tons of semi-anthracite, and the buUion output was §128,688. The
assessed valuation of the county, not including mining property or crops, was
82,243,481. The cotmty seat was at Parrott, a small town situated on the
Rio de la Plata, where it leaves the motmtains. It is a mining-town, named
after a banker of San Francisco, and with a promising future, the ores by
which it is surrounded carrying tellurium and free gold. But about 1880
Durango was laid off and became the county seat. It is situated in the midst
of a region of natural wealth in mines, timber, coal, agriculture, and
Btock-farming. The San Juan and Xew York Smelting company erected
the first smelter at Duraago in 18S0, and a company M-ith A. C. Hunt at its
head erected a hotel costing SIOO.OOO, on the most approved plan. No pio-
neer cabins for corporations. The population in 1SS3 was less than while
the terminus of the railroad was here, amounting only to 3,500: but it is stdl
a thriving business centre. The towns and settlements of La Plata county
are Animas City, Animas Park. Arboles, Bocea, Carlioneria, Colina, Dolores,
Elbert, Florida, Fort Lewis, Hermosa, Ignacio, La Boca, Mancos, Merritts,
Nic Cora, Pegasus Spring, Pine River, P. P. Divide, Rockwood, Serape,
Solidad, Southern Ute, Vallejo.
Hist. Nkv. 40
626 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
the agricultural divisions, although it has mines of
copper, silver, and gold in its mountainous parts. Its
facilities for irrigation from the Cache-la-Poudre and
Big Thompson rivers are gradually extending the
cultivable area/^
*^ The principal productions are hay, wheat, oats, barley, rye, com, roots,
melons, and vegetahles, which grow to great perfection, and with cattle and
sheep form tlie wealth of the county, which in 187S was assessed at §1,502,-
330, but which increased after the irrigation canals were completed to §3,012,
040, in 1883. The population in 1880 was 5,000; in 1883, 7,500. Fort Collins,
the county seat, is situated on Cache-la-Poudre river, thirty miles above
its junction. It has some small manufactures, several churches, good
schools, two local newspapers, and about 1,300 inhabitants. The buildings
of the State Agricultural society and college are located here. There are
no important towns besides, the population being widely scattered on farms.
Abner Loomis, bora in N. Y. in 1S29, and brought up in Iowa, crossed the
plains in 1850, and remained in the mines of Cal. until 1859, when, after a
brief visit to Iowa, he came to Colorado, and mined for a season, but soon
engaged in freighting. In 1864 he began stock-raising with 100 head of cat-
tle, but sold out every autumn for several seasons, fearing to trust his herd
to the winter climate. Having ventured to do so for one winter, and finding
that the loss was insignilicant, the rapid increase of his herd followed upon
keeping them on the range throughout the year, until, with two partners, he
became owner of 6,000 head.
James B. Arthur, born in Ireland, in 1833, migrated to the U. S. in 1848,
and to Colorado in 1860, settling near Fort Collins, and making hay for
freighters, the money from which he put into cattle. He believed in the
fertility of the lands about him, which was obtained from the government
for 81.25 an acre, and in a short time became worth from §40 to $60 per
acre.
William B. Osborn, born in Yates co., N. Y., in 1824, at the age of 21
years removed to Ohio, where he taught school, removing in 1852 to Ind.
and teaching at South Bend until 1S60, when he came to Colorado. He was
recorder of Gold Dirt mining district for the first year, after which he
settled on a farm in Larimer co. near Loveland. He was elected county
judge in 1864, county treasurer in 1866, and again in 1868, after which he
declined office. He, with H. M. Teller, signed a call for the first republican
meeting ever held m Gilpin co., and organized the first ever held in Lari-
mer. His wife was the second white woman resident in the co. ; the first
died in 1885.
John J. Ryan, born in Ireland in 1837, migrated with his parents to the
U. S. in 1841, and residing in St Louis. He came to Colorado in 1860, and
after mining a short time, took a land claim near Loveland, engaging in farm-
ing and stock-raising, borrowing money to make the first purchase. In 1S82
with Mr Herzinger, he built the wheat elevator at Loveland. He also estab-
lished the Bank of Loveland the same year. He has owned 5,000 cattle at
one time, and now raises choice breeds.
John L. Herzinger, born in Germany in 1834, migrated with his parents
in 1838, and was brought up in Mo. Coming to Colorado in 1S71, he engaged
in mercliandising at Boulder, wliere he remained 7 years, when he removed
to Loveland, where he erected the first house in 1878.
Arthur H. Patterson, born in Pa in 1884, came to Colorado from Kansas
in 1868 in company with William F. Cody, or Buffalo Bill, driving an ox-
team. He had no regular occupation for several years, but in 1866 started
a saw-mill at Fort Collins for government contractors, remaining in their ser-
vice until 1SG9, when lie purchased their supply-store and began business for
himself, lie sold out ou being elected comity clerk iu 1870, in which office
LAS AXIMAS, MESA, MONTROSE. 627
Las Animas county was organized in 1866, and
comprises a large extent of country in the south and
south-eastern part of the territory. It is an agricul-
tural and coal-producing district, and excellent in
both."
he reniained three years, resigniBg oa account of ill health, and retamingto
the out-door life of freighting until 1876. He then opened an agricultural-
implement and feed store. He has been for several terms a member of the
city council.
Jay H. Boughton, a prominent man, was educated for the bar, began
practice in 1870 at Cortland, but removed to Colorado and settled at Fort
CoUinain 1872. He -vvas elected county attorney in 1874, and county judge
in 1876, 1S"8, and ISSO; president of the school board in 1879, 1882, and
1885; and for several years was member of the city council.
Andrew Armstrong, bom in Ireland in 1825, immigrated to the U. S. in.
1839, residing in Xew York city until 1873, when he came to Colorado on
account of failing health. He settled at Fort CoUins, which at tiiat time
had 200 inhabitants, bought real estate, and realized satisfactory returns.
Charles P. Miller, born in Mich, in 1853, graduated from the medical de-
partment of the state university as a homeopathic physician in 1877, and re-
moved to Colorado the following year, there to practise his profession. The
towns and settlements are as follows: Ada Spring, Berthoud, Box Elder,
Branch Canon, Buckhorn, Burns Station, Chambers, Colorado Junction, Cow
Creek, Crescent, Elkhorn, Elkhorn Rancho, Estes Park, Fall River, Farrar
House, Ferguson Rancho, Fossil Creek, Home, Horse-shoe Lake, Hupp's
Rancho, Lamb's House, Laporte, Lily Lake, Little Thompson, Livermore,
Lone Pine, Loveland, :McGregor Hotel, McLaughlin Rancho, Michigan,
Moraine, Mugen Gulch, Xamaqua, Korth Fork, Otis, Piukhamton, Pinewood,
Pollock's, Raw House, Round Butte, Rustic, Sprague's House, Spring Canon,
Spring Gulch, St Louis, Tajlor, Timber Creek, Tyner, Virginia Dale, "\^ al-
den, Wheatland, Whyte Rancho, Willow Park, and Winonac.
13 The wheat yield exceeds 150,000 bushels annuaUj', corn 110,000, and
oats 200,000 bushels. It has 60,000 head uf cattle, 142.762 sheep, 6,210
horses and mules, the value of which exceeds one million dollars. The covmty
■was assessed in 1883 on .§3.654,987, without its mines, mining land, and
crops. Its coal-field is 50 miles st^uare, and the coal of the l^est quality for
heating or cooking purposes. As much of the coal found in other parts of
the state does not coke, this is in demand, and the coke-ovens of El Moro
and Trinidad furnish large quantities to the smelters of Pueblo, Denver, and
LeadviUe. The production of the mines in 1883 was 370,680 tons, worth
alxiut .?8.33,000. There were produced 136,000 tons of coke, and 20,000 tons
of iron ore, which is worked by the Colorado Coal and Iron company at
Pueblo. Limestone, hydraulic lime, building stone, cement, griud-.stones, and
sdica are among the mineral deposits of the county. The population is
10,000. Trinidad, with 3,500 inhabitants, is the county seat. Its altitude is
6,005 feet. It is an old Mexican town, but much modernized. Tlie business
houses are of stone and brick: it has schools, churches, secret orders, hotels,
banks, and newspapers like any American city. El Moro, five miles from
Trinidad, has a few hundred inhabitants. Barela and Starkville have each
400, and Apishapa 200.
Casimero Barela, a member of the mercantile house of Barela and Wilcox
at El Moro, and of the house of C. Barela & Co. at Trinidad, is a man of
note in Las Animas county. Born at El Embuda, Rio Arriba co., X. M., in
1847, he received his education from Bishop Salpointe of Mora, and at the
age of 20 years camo to Colorado in search of something to do, having already
married Josef a Ortiz. He began life as a freighter. In 1870 he was elected
assessor of Las Animas county; in 1872 and 1874 he represented the county
628 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Mesa county was organized in 1883, from the west-
ern portion of Gunnison, bordering on Utah. It is
for the most part an agricuhural atid grazing country,
with large beds of coal. As a fruit-growing region it
is likely to surpass the counties east of the Rocky
mountains, and has already extensive nurseries. Grand
valley, supplied with water from the Grand river, in
irrigating ditches, is an extraordinarily rich region,
70,000 acres of which were made cultivable by irri-
gation in 1882 -83. The climate is delightful, the alti-
tude being 4,500 feet. Large herds of cattle and
sheep are pastured in the county, which had a popu-
lation of about 3,000 when organized.^'
Montrose county, organized at the same time, out
of the south-west corner of Gunnison, is drained by
the Ri(^ Dolores, San Miguel, and other affluents of
the Grand and Gunnison rivers. Its eastern portion
contains extensive beds of coal, and probably other
minerals and metals. The Uncompahgre valley is a
fine agricultural district, bordered by the lofty mesas
which are a distinctive feature of western Colorado.
The valuation of property in this county in 1883 was
estimated at $575,448, and its population at about
2,800. Montrose, the county seat, had then 300
inhabitants, Cimarron 100, Brown 100; and there
in the territorial legislature, being also elected sherifiFin the latter year. In
1875 he was chosen a member of the constitutional convention, and in the
following year was elected to the first state senate, drawing the long term.
Being a democrat in politics, kc was chosen delegate at large to the demo-
cratic national conv-ention at Cincinnati in 1880, and again elected to tl'.e
state senate. In 1881 he was elected treasurer of 'Las Animas countj'. He
became a member of one of the largest stock companies in the state, with
the largest herds and the best breeds. Tlie minor settlements are Alfalfa,
Apishi)a Station, Barnes, Bent Canon, Carriso, Chilelila, Cordova, Davis,
Dodsonville, Earle, Eagle, Gonzales, fJrinnell, Hoehne's, Hog Back, Hole in
Prairie, Hole in Rock, Las Tijeras, Linwood, Lucero, Morley, North Siding,
Pedro.s Coloradus, Placita, Purgatoire, Pulaski, Raton, Rod Rock, San Fran-
cisco, San Isidro, San .lose, San Pedro, Sjtring Valley, Stoikville, Stonewall,
Strange, Tejara, Terrichero, Thatcher, Toll Gate, Tyrone, and Viiril.
'* The county seat is at Grand Junction, which lias Iiad a rapid growth,
and is destined to be an important railroad centre. In 1883 it had 2,000 in-
habitants, two weekly newspapers, five churches, three schools, and otlier
features of advanced society. Tlie use of brick in building gives an air of
permanencv to the imjjrovements. The assessable jiropcrty of the county in
1883 was .<!i)r).->.144. Fruita had between .SOO an.l 400 inhabitants. Mesa iM,
Arlington 100. Wldtewater, Kahuah, and Bridgeport were railroad atatious.
OURAY, PARK, PITKIN, 629
were a few other incipient towns, but the population
is chiefly bucoHc.
Ouray county, organized in 1877, at which time it
comprised a large extent of territory, has been cut
down, and had its boundaries changed, until it now
occupies a small portion of the eastern part of its
former domain. In 1881 Dolores was set off. In
1882 Uncompahgre was taken, partly from the east-
ern side of Ouray, and partly from Gunnison. ^"^
Park county, organized in 1861, covers nearly 1,000
square miles in the geographical and metal-producing
centre of the state. South park, which it includes,
has an elevation of 8,842 feet, and the average alti-
tude of the whole county, which embraces a number
of high peaks, is 10,000 feet. It contains ten or more
mining districts, each differing from the other, some
containing fissure veins, some contact lodes, others
blanket or bedded deposits. The mineral belt is
twenty-five miles long by five in width. Placer min-
ing has not failed in this county, where the hydraulic
process has yet to be applied to placer ground. Besides
gold and silver, copper, lead, iron, coal, and salt are
produced. ^^
i^In 1883 Uncompahgre county was changed to Ouray, and Ouray to San
Miguel. Ouray is altogether a mining county. The population in 1883 was
2,800, and assessable valuation $482,993; but in 1884 the local newspapers
predicted a bullion output of $5,000,000. Red Mountain district produced
$1,000,000 in 1883, about one third of which was gold, and the greater por-
tion of which was from one mine, the Yankee girl. The districts of Pough-
keepsie Gulch, Mount Sneffles, Uncompahgre, and Imogene Basin were also
largely productive. Coal mining had only begun about this time. Ouray
was the county seat, with 500 inhal^itants. It is named after the Ute chief,
for whose friendship the white people were grateful, at a time when his
word might have precipitated war. Its situation, at the western end of the
Uncompahgre caiion, is on the Pacific slope of the continent, at an elevation
of 7,640 feet, in a round park, with rocky heights all al)out it of exceeding
grandeur and startling wildness. Three miles below Ouray the valley is cul-
tivable. In all respects this mountain-walled town is like the cities of the
plains, with stores, churches, schools, newspapers, quartz-mills, smelters,
sampling-works, and concentrators. It is reached by a branch from the
Denver and Rio Grande from Montrose. There are hot sulphur springs a few
miles from Ouray. About one mile south is the famous mineral farm, which
has already been mentioned, discovered in 1875. Red Mountain City had
about the same population in 1883 that Ouray had; Ophir 200, Ironton 150,
Portland 100, Mount Snelfles 100; Aurora, Hoffman, Windham, and half a
dozen hamlets, less.
^® Salt was made from saline springs in Park county, which contain from
630 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Pitkin county, named after (Governor Pitkin, was
organized in 1881, being set ufl' from Gunnison, with
a fair division of the indebtedness of the elder county.
It embrace's the mining region about the headwaters
of Koaring fork of Grand river, wliich produced
between 1879 and 1884, $550,000 in gold and silver."
Pueblo county was organized in 18G1, and nmch of
its histor}' appeared in jjrevious chapters. Its first
commissioners were O. H. P. Baxter, K. L. Wooten,
and William Chapman. At the first county election
Chapman was chosen probate judge, and John B.
Bice sheriff.^* The first term of court in the county
6to 14 per cent salt. They were first located and improved by Charles L.
Hall, wlio manufactured salt iu 1861-3. A company was formed in 1864,
J. Q. A. Rollins at the head, and Hall superintcntlent. Works costing
§25,000 were erected, and tlie manufacture carried on until the completion of
railroads, wliich transported salt more cheaply than it could l)e made in Col-
orado, caused the works to be closed. Ihis information is taken from N. T.
Bond's Earbf Hist. Colonuln, Montana, and Idaho, MS., 21-2. As a history of
Park CO. it is very complete. The Ilartsel mineral springs, named after their
discoverer and locator, are noted for their healing (lualities. From 40,000
to 50,00L) cattle, 5,000 horses, and 10,000 sheep are grazed in South park.
The bullion output of 1883 was ."^lOOjOOO, many of the mines being idle.
The county was a.ssesseil, not inchuling mining property, at .^1, 911, 160. The
population was 5,000. Fair Play, the county seat, has 800 inhabitants, Alma
900, Como 550.
Abraham Bergh, born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1835, came to Colorado in
1859, locating himself iu South park. He erected the fint house in Fair
Play, where lie has been a hotel-keeper and merchant, as wed as miner and
owner in valualjle mining property. He was elected to thegtjneral assembly
in 1882, and again in 1884. The towns and settlements of Park county not
named above are Alma, Arthur, Astroville, Bailey, Bentley's, Bordenville,
Buffalo Springs, C<>mo, Dudley, E:nt Leadville, Etabrook, Fairville, Garo,
Grant, Guirds, Guyrand's Park, Hamilton, Hall Valley, Hartsel, Holland,
Horse Shoe, Hulil)ard, JefTerson, Jones Saw-mill, Kenosha, Lone Rock
Rancho, Mountaindale, Mullenville, Park, Park Place, Phitte Crossing,
Platte River, Platte Station, Rocky, Sacramento, Salt W^orks,Spring Rancho,
Slaght, Sulpliur Springs, Summit, Tie Siding, Webster, Webber's Saw-mill,
and Weston.
"The valley of Roaring fork is also a good grazing country. Absence of
the means of transportation has retarded the development of the mines, one
of which, the Smuf4^1or, is widely known. Tiie population in b S3 was esti-
mated at 2,500, and tlie assessed valuation of the county .$."19,107. Aspen,
the county seat, \.i situated at the conHuence of Castle, Hunter, and Maroon
creeks with Roaring fork. It had a population of 750 in 1883, and was a
tliriving business centre for the crmnty. A hcroft, above it on the river, liail
about 500 inhabitants, ami Independence 2.")0, Sparkhill 100; besides which
there were Highland, Massive City, and Sidney.
'*Stow, in liis Gciwral Vieiv of Colonulo, MS., says that one of the original
town company, J. F. Smith, was the first police magistrate, and that Ned
Cozzens, a cousin of Fred S. Cozzens, author of the Sjyirroir/ni^i^ 7'c;>'r.s',
was another. William H. Young and William 11. Green were aloo of the
co:nj»auy. Duell and Boyd were the sun-eyors.
PUEBLO.
631
was held by A. A. Bradford, in a house belonging to
A. G. Boone, on the lower end of Santa Fe avenue,
Pueblo. An adobe building was subsequently erected
on the same avenue near Third street for a court-
house. No jail was erected until 1868, when a stone
building was rented to the county by B. N. Daniels
for that purpose, which served until the commission-
ers soon after erected a brick jail on Court-house
square, which was in use until 1880, when the pres-
ent prison was completed."
^orth Latitude
Worth Lat tuSe
of New Mexico
Las Animas Grant.
'^ Pueblo county has no mines except of coal, and is therefore classed with
the agricultural counties. Its inhabitants in its earlier years lived by grow-
ing provisions, which they sold to the miners outfitting for the mountains.
At present stock-raising is followed equally with farming. The beautiful
Hermosillo rancho of the Colorado Cattle company, covering 91,000 acres,
lies in this county, twenty miles south of Pueblo City. It belongs to an or-
ganization of eastern capitalists, and grazes an immense number of cattle.
This rancho is a part of the Las Animas grant. It was obtained by Ceran St
Vrain and Comelio Vigil, of the governor of New Mexico in 1844:, and com-
prised all the country north of the Beaubien grant in N. M. as far as the
Arkansas river, and between the Las Animas and the St Charles tributaries.
The U. S. government reduced the grant subsequently to 1 1 leagues. A part
of it was called the Nolan grant, and was sold to the company which laid
out south Pueblo. There is still some question as to the rights of heirs of the
original grantee?. The amount of wheat raised in Pueblo county in 18S3
was 10,696 bushels, which placed it in the fifth rank of wheat-producing
632 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Rio Grande county was established in 1874. It is
situated on the west side of San Luis park, and is
counties, Boulder, San Miguel, Larimer, and Jefferson, in the order here
given, being the leading m heat-growing districts. Li c(jrn-growing Pueblo
ranked third, Weld and Boulder taking the lead. Pue1>lo had 213,781 acres
of pasture-land, being only a little less tlian El Paso, Weld, and Elbert; but
it had 92,422 acres under ii-rigation, which was more than other county, and
irrigation is likely at any time to change pasture into farming lands. The
county contained 50,000 cattle, 75,000 sheep, and 5,G00 other domestic ani-
mals. The population has increased from 7,C17 in 1880 to 20,000 in 1883,
and the total assessable valuation was $7,286,422. Like almost every county
in the state, it has hot mineral springs.
The town of Pueblo, the county seat since 1861, had a population in 1880
of 3,317, and south Pueblo, on the opposite side of the Arkansas river, 1,443,
or 4,760 altogether. Together they had, three years later, four times that
amount of population, and were practically one city, although still keeping
up separate municipal governments. Old Pueblo is handsomely laid out, with
an abundance of water and shade-trees, churches, schools, newspapers, banks,
a board of trade, places of public amusement, founderies, mills, smelting-
works, water-works, gas-works, and street railroads. The county buildings
are among the best in the state. The state asylum for the insane is located
here. I have a dictation from P. R. Thombs, who is superintendent of the
insane asylum. He was in Colorado before the settlement, and acquainted
with the famous traders and guides, Bridger, Carson, and others. He is a
man of fine physique, medium size, fearless and genial. He gave me some bits
of earl)' history in his Mexican Colorado, MS., which I have incorporated in
my work. The legislature of 1879-80 authorized the establishment of the
asylum, making the necessary appropriation for their support by a tax of one
fifth of a mill upon all taxalde property. Previous to this date each county
had taken charge of its own lunatics, for which they were reimbursed by tho
state. Pueblo oljtained the location by donating the land required — 40 acres.
The board of commissioners appointed, James Macdonald, Theodore F. Brown,
and J. B. Romero, purchased the residence of George M. Chilcott, near
Pueblo, which served for a beginning, but the next legislature appropriated
$60,000 for the erection of a new building, which not being sufficient, .*<80,000
was approjiriated in 1883 to enlarge and furnish the asylum. A part of old
Pueblo was entered under the act of congress of March 2, 1867, by Mark G.
Bradford, probate judge of Pueblo co., in trust for the occupants. On Jan.
19, 1869, the present title to that portion was derived from the United States
through him. Another portion was entered by the county at the same time.
The town was incorporated March 22, 1870. The trustees appointed were:
George A. Hinsdale, M. G. Bradford, James Rice, H. C. Thatcher, and H.
H. Cooper. The first town election was held in April. It was merged in a
city organization in March 1873. The first city election was held April 7th
of that year, when James Rice was elected mayor, and G. P. Hayslip, O. H.
P. Baxter, H. M. Morse, and Weldon Keeling aldermen. In 1871 tho
county voted $100,000 in bonds to aid the D. & R. G. R. R., rather than
have it go south via Canon City, which was threatened. In this same year
the U. S. land-office was opened at Pueblo, with Wheeler as register, and M.
G. Bradford receiver. The Pueblo People was also first issued this year in
Sept., with Hinsdals editor, the office being the n. e. corner of Fourth and
Summit streets. Its material was sold in 1874 to the proprietors of tho
Chieftain, its successor. The county court-house was completed in 1872, and
was paid for from the sale of lots in a quarter-section of land preempted by
the county authorities, and filed as an addition to the city, costing the tax-
payers nothing. The successors to Mayor Rice were John R. Lowther, M.
D. Thatcher, W. H. Hyde, and George Q. Richmond. In 1874 the present
Holly system of water-works was completed, at a cost to the city of |I30,-
RIO GRANDE. 633
watered by the Rio Grande river. The western por-
tion of the county Hes in the San Jiian mountains, in
000, the contract being let to the National Building company of St Louis.
Soon after a tire department was organized, consisting of two hose com-
panies and a hook and ladder, AV. R. Macomb chief. In 1875 the Pueblo
and Arkansas valley railroad, connecting with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa
Fe, was completed to Pueblo, giving it a road to the east. The county sub-
scribed $350,000 to this road, and its opening was the occasion of a monster
excursion from all parts of Colorado, and from Kansas, the rejoicings last-
ing for two days. The first handsome public school building was erected in
1876, the district voting $14,000 in bonds. The trustee, after realizing the
money, left the country, and the county was $14,000 poorer. Mather Sc
Geist erected large smelting-works in 1878, which treat ores from all parts
of the state, and emploj- about 500 men. The methodist church soi;th began
in 1884 to organize a college at Pueblo, which is meeting fair encouragement.
South Pueljlo is a manufacturing town, the seat of the Colorado Coal and
Iron company's works, one of the most extensive of the kind in the United
States, where iron and steel manufactures are carried on. The works cover
40 acres of area, and the other buildings of tlie company 400 acres more.
The town was founded by the Central Colorado Improvement company,
whose officers were the officers of the D. & R. G. Co., and which was subse-
quently merged in the Colorado Coal and Iron company. According to M.
Sheldon of south Pueblo the D. & R. G. Co. agreed to build a station on the
north side of the river should the county vote the required amount in bonds
to help construct the road. Having an opportunity, in 1872, to purchase
48,000 acres of the Nolan grant, they took the name of Central Colorado
Improvement company, founded a tow^ on the south side, and removed the
terminus of the railroad to tliat site. Sheldon was born in Trumbidl co.,
Ohio, in 1844. He came to Colorado in 1872 for his health. South Ptiehlo,
MS. There are 1,000 acres laid out in town lots, with wide streets, bor-
dered with trees, which are irrigated by tiny canals. The town has a mayor,
board of aldermen, newspapers, and post-office of its own. The only thing
shared in common between the towns is gas, the new town illuminating
from the gasworks of north Pueblo. Taking them together as one, Pueblo is
the natural centre of commerce and railroads for south-eastern Colorado, the
depot of merchandise, and convenient seat of manufactures for an immense
region. These advantages, with the resources already named, are sufficient
to maintain a large city. Tliere are no other considerable towns in the county.
Stone's Land Gmnts in Cob, 4-6; Grair's Colo, 47-51; Inter-Ocean, Jan. 10,
1883; Bocbj Mtn News, May 7, 1870; T/ie Pueblos, ami Pueblo Co., Colo, being
a history of the twin cities; south Pueblo Pueblo Collerjiate Ivititute, Prospectus.
W. W. Strait, born in Pa in 1839, came from Min. to Colorado in 1876, and
kept the Grand Central hotel in south Pueblo for a year and a half. From
him I olitained a manuscript, The Pueblos. James Rice, born in Vt in
1830, came to Colorado in 1868, locating himself at Pueblo, engaging in the
book and stationery business. From him, also, I gathered some interesting
details. Politics in Pueblo, MS. The towns and settlements not named are
Agate, Anderson's Raucho, Andersonville, Barry Rancho, Baxter, Beulah,
Booneville, Cactus, Chico, Cody Rancho, Cook Rancho, D.-'g's Rancho,
Doyle's Mill, Dry Rancho, Fosdick's Rancho, Four-mile Ranclio, Goodnight,
Graneros, Greenhorn, Holliday Rancho, Horn Rancho, Huerfano, Jackson,
Jones' Rancho, Juniata, Langley Rancho, McClellan's Rancho, Mcllhaney's
Rancho, Meadows, Mace's Hole, Merrie's Rancho, Mexican Plaza, Muddy
Creek, Nada, Nepesta, Old Fort Reynolds, Osage Avenue, Parnassus Springs,
Peck's Rancho, Pifion, Pond, Robinett Rancho, vSan Carlos, Skeeter Rancho.
Spring Lake Rancho, St Charles, Sulpliur Springs,- Swallows, Table Moun-
tain, Taylorville, Underclilfe, Walker Rancho, Wilson's Rancho, Wood
Valley.
634 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
a ricli mineral region. Its resources are al)out equally
divided between mining and agriculture. The Sum-
Peter K. Dotson, born in Va in 1823, crossed the plains from Independ-
ence, Mo., in 1851, intending to go to Cal., but stopped at Salt Lake, where
he was einploj'ed a few months in running a distillery for Brigham Young.
The following year lie was engaged by au express and mail company as agent,
whioii position he held for 9 years. In 1855 he was commissioned U. 8.
marshal for Utah, but being ordered away from the territory by Heber Kim-
ball in 1857, he went to Washington, and came with tlie army of Johnson
to Utah. He came to Colorado in 18G0, and settled at Fountain City, (now
Pueblo) and commenced the business of cattle-raising. I took a brief dicta-
tion from him calle<l Dotsou's Dobxjs, MS. One of the pioneers of Pueblo
county is here briefly mentioned: J. W. Lester, bom in Pa in 1828; owns
240 acres of land on the Arkansas river below Florence.
Jacolj A. Betts, born in Md in 1830, was a tailor by trade. He went first
to Central City on coming to Colorado, but after roving from galch to gulch
for some time, stopped for three years at Greenhorn in Pueblo co., and was
sherifiFof the co. in 1SG4 and 18G5. Subsequently he removed to Pueblo,
where he was in the grocery trade. He settled in the adjoining county of
Fremont, and became the owner of 740 acres of land, and herds of horses
and cattle.
Alva Adams, born in Wis. in 1850, came to Colorado in 1871, and worked
at first on tlie railroad at common labor. At Colorado Springs he helped to
erect the first house, remaining at that place three years, when he removed
to south Pueldo and engaged in hardware business for two years, selling out
there and establishing a hardware store at Del Norte, Rio (Irande co. In
187(5 he started a branch business at Alamosa, returning in 1878 to Pueblo,
leaving the branch stores in charge of otliers, and commencing a wholesale
business in hardware at this point. He was elected a member of the first
state legislature from Rio Grande co., was chosen a member of the first city
council of south Pueblo, and later elected governor.
Alfreil W. Geist, l)orn in Boston in 1848, graduated from the scientific
department of Yale college, and w-ent from there to Mexico, travelling
tlirougliout the west, studying ores, smelting them, and looking for a place
to locate a smelting establishment. In June 1878 he broke ground ai Pueblo,
starting with one furnace. The following year two more were erected. The
business increased faster than his capital, compelling the formation of a stock
company. The works are the largest in the world, requiring 1.000 tons per
day to keep all the furnaces at work. They employ 400 men, and the com-
pany paid the railway for freight in 1884, .^"50,000. Ores from every part
of the country arc purchased, and the product goes to all points from San
Francisco to New York.
Henry M. Fosdick, born in Boston in 1822, was educated a civil engineer.
He came to Colorado in the spring of 1859, and assisted to lay out the streets
of Denver. He was chairman of the vigilance committee in the autumn of
that year. In ISGl he purchased a .section of land in El Paso county, and
laid off the town of Colorado City, but afterward sohl the land to _A. Z.
Sheldon. He was with Cliivington in the Sand creek fight, and justifies his
course. In ]8()4 he went to Pueblo, and assisted in laying off that town. In
18G6 he purchased 1,000 acres in Pueblo co., and became a farmer and stock-
raiser.
James N. Carlile crossed the pl.ains with an ox-team in 1859. After a few
days at Denver, he went to South park, where he mined for a few years. He
then engaged in freighting between Denver and St Joseph, Denver and Mon-
tana, and Denver ami Utali. Then in 18G8, in partnership witli William
Moore, he became a railway contractor, and subsequently went to farming
and stock-raising, which resulteil in the ownership of large ranchos in Pueblo
CO., stocked with horses and cattle, with a residence in south Pueblo.
ROUTT, SAGUACHE, SAX .JUAX. 635
mlt district is one of the most important in southern
Colorado for gold mining. There are several stamp-
mills in the district, which have produceb for several
years from 8200,000 to $400,000 per annum. The
mines furnish an excellent market for the farm pro-
ductions of the fertile San Luis valley.'"
Routt county in the north-west corner of the state
was cut off from Grand in 1877, but made small prog-
ress until the removal of the Utes in 1882. The
population the following year was 500. It is a graz-
ing: and agricultural district, with some placer mines
and unworked quartz lodes. The assessed valuation
in 1883 was 8241,564, principally in stock cattle.
Steamboat springs, and half a dozen hamlets, were
I. W. Stanton was born in Pa in 183.5. At the age of 20 years he migrated
to Pawnee City, Kan. , and was there when the first Kansas legislature met,
in 1855. The following year he removed to Iowa, remaining there until
1860, when he came to Colorado, driving a team. From Denver he went to
Russell gulch, and later to California gulch, returning to Denver in the
autumn, where he entered a store as clerk. In the spring of 1861 he walked
to Canon Citj", but finding nothing to do there returned to Denver, and was
employed as clerk in the post-otficc. He enlisted in the 2d Colorado infantry
in 1862, and was ordered to Leavenworth, serving until 1865. When mus-
tered out he went to Washington, where he remained until he obtained the
appointment of register in the land-office at Central City in 186S. In 1871
he was transferred to the land-office at Pueblo. In 1881 he was appointed
postmaster at Pueblo.
2« There were in 1883, 30,000 cattle, 40,000 sheep, and 20,000 horses and
mules in the county. The j)opulation was 3,000, and the assessed valuation
81,013,417. Del Xorte, the county seat, was first settled in the winter of
1871-72. The population in 1SS3 was 800. It is situated at a point where
the mountains from the north and south approach so closely to the river as
to leave only an elevated bench, a quarter of a mile in width between their
rocky clififs, on the southern margin. The view of the San Luis vallej', the
tree-fringed river -winding below, and the snow-crowned peaks of the Sangre
de Cristo range, make the situation delightfully picturesque. Del Xorte has
a good trade, several fine, large blocks of stores, built of stone, where whole-
sale and retad merchandising is carried on, good county buildings, schools, a
local newspaper, and wide streets, shaded by rows of trees, irrigated after
the prevailmg custom of the mountain towns. In the suburbs and surround-
ing country there is a considerable Mexican population, which is domiciled
in houses built of adobe. Timber is abundant in the mountains, and there
are a number of saw-mills in the county run by water-power, of which there
is an abundance.
Twenty-nine miles west of Del Xorte is the romantic summer resort of
Wagon-wheel gap, where there are hot sulphur springs; altitude 8,459 feet;
climate healthful. The name comes from a narrow pass of several miles
through a range of mountains, with vertical chflFs from 500 to 1,500 feet in
height, of reddish-gray sand stone, with only room between them, as it was
supposed, for the river and a wagon-road. Summitville in Summit mining
district had in 1886 a population of 400. .Jasper, Adams' Springs, La Loma
del Xorte, Lariat Piedra, and South Fork are small villages.
636 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
all the settlements at this time. Halm's peak is the
county seat.
Saguache county was organized in 1 86G. Its bound-
aries have been several times altered, its present area
comprising 3,200 square miles, the principal part of
which is agricultural and grazing land. Notwith-
standing its favorable situation in the centre of the
state, and embracing the northern portion of the San
Luis valley, it is very little developed.''
San Juan county, organized in 1876, has been quite
fully spoken of in a previous chapter. The discoveries
in Lake county, which followed innnediately after the
San Juan country had taken its first grand start, with-
drew a large portion of its population, and diverted
capital to Leadville. Its original area has also been
curtailed, until it is now one of the smallest counties
in the state, and strictly devoted to mining, although
lumbering, and every kind of milling might be profit-
ably carried on here, timber and water })o\ver being
abundant. The bullion output of 1883 was $418,954,
a small yield for a county with so many good mines.
The assessment valuation, which excludes mining
property, was $1,045,597. The population of the
county was 5,000. The town of Silverton had 1,750
inhabitants, and Animas Forks 450. Eureka, Min-
'^'This neglect was owing to its being partly covered by a Spanish grant,
which was sold to Europeans who had not attempted to make it profitable.
According to Wallihan's Colorado OazcUecr, 5S, Ex-governor Gilpin sold a
portion of Saguache county for .y_',500,000. It is, however, settling up with
farmers, who sold in ISS.S ijiiSOO.OOO worth of agricultural products. The cat-
tle and sheep in the county were valued at about S48r),000, and other prop-
erty at $911,9.31. From the mines in the Kerljer creek district §100,000 in
bullion was produced. The population of the county was estimated at 0,000.
Saguache is the county seat. It has a fine location on the San Luis river.
There were 900 inhaiiitants in 1883. Bonanza, situated in Kerl)er district,
had a population of 500. Carnero, Claytonia, Crestono, Iron Mine, Alder,
Marshalltown, Sedgwick, and Shirley were villages of 100 or 150 inhabi-
tants. The list of settlements comprises Bismarck, Blakeville, Bonanza,
Bonito, Burnt (iulch, Camp Sanderson, Cebolia River, Cedar Creek Mines,
Christione, Cochetopa, Cotton Creek, Cottonwood, Elkhorn Rancho, Ex-
chequer, Franklin, Frisco, Garibaldi, Garner Creek, fJray Siding, Hauman.
.Jackson, Kerber Creek, Kimbrell, Kerberville, Los Finos Agency, Marshall
Pass, Milton, Oriental, Plaza, Poll Creek Mines, Ri to Alto, River Meade,
Rock Cliff, Sangre de Cristo. San Isabel, Sargent, Shec]) Mount, Silver Hill,
Silvery City, Star Branch, Uuconiphagre, Vcnerubles, White Earth, Wdlow
Dale.
SAX MIGUEL, SUMMIT, WELD. 637
eral Point, Howardsville, Poughkeepsie Gulch, Con-
gress, Cunningham Gulch, Del Mine, and half a dozen
other small villages were all the settlements worth
mention.
San Miguel county, set off from Ouray in 1883,
comprises all of the former county of Ouray, except
that part drained b3^ the Uncompahgre river and its
tributaries, which is still known as Ouray. The
boundaries are so loosely described in the act estab-
lishing these counties that it would be impossible to
say how much of the mineral discoveries being already
developed went with the county of San Miguel,
But it is safe to say that its new name cannot have
deprived it of its established character as a mineral
region. The name of the county seat, Telluride, is
indicative of the resources upon which it depends.
The population, at the period of its establishment,
was 2,000, and its valuation $449,856. Tehuride had
400 inhabitants, and Placerville 125,
Summit county, established in 1861, extended in its
earlier form to the boundary of Utah. Its former ter-
ritory was divided up into Garfield, Routt, and Eagle,
leaving only its eastern end, resting on the western
slope of the Park range, to sustain its ancient name.
In 1882 it ranked fourth among the bullion producing
counties, whereas, after the excision of Eagle county,
it ranked only as the eleventh.^'
2' It contained 73 silver mines, which produced, in 1882, $459,550, and
placers which yielded $51,000; but the following year the whole yield of the
mines was no more than $350,000. Tlie assessable property of the county
was valued at $1,026,352, divided among a population of 5,000. The county
seat was temporarily located at Parkville, but removed to Breckenridge. The
town, although among those founded in 1860, was not incorporated until
1880, at which time it had 1,628 inhabitants. Breckenridge is situated on
Blue river. Like all the Colorado towns, it has churches, schools, an opera-
house, theatre, banks, and newspapers. Like all mining towns it has stamp-
mills and smelting-works. Robinson has a population of 500, Racine 350,
Frisco 250, Montezuma 250, Kokomo, Taylor, and Chihuahua each 200,
Lincoln City 125, Swan, Wheeler, and Argentine each 100. Remaining set-
tlements in Summit co. : Adelia, Argentine, Astor, Belden, Blue River, Blue
River Valley, Buffalo Flats, Carbonateville, Chihuahua, Cliff Spring, Clinton
Gulch, Conger, Cooper, Crocker, Decatur, Defiance City, Delaware City, Del-
aware Flats, Dillon, Eagle City, Farnham, Fisk's Hotel, Fort McHenry,
Genera, Golden City, Golden Gulch, Gold Run, Hacywood, Hill's Camp,
6S8 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
A\ eld county, occujiyiug the north-east corner of
the state, was organized in 18G1, and named in lionor
of Secretary Weld. It is exclusively an agricultural
and grazing county, although it has for a foundation
extensive beds of coal. An account of its great irri-
gation companies has been given, and of the Greeley
colony's acequias. Of a somewhat later date, about
1871, was the South-western, sometimes called the
Tennessee colony, although its members were from
several western and middle states. This association
purchased a large tract of land in the Platte valley,
and selected a town site near Fremont's orchard,
twenty-five miles below Evans, on the Denver Pacific
railway, which they named Green Cit\% after D. S.
Green of Denver. A considerable portion of the
colony's lands needed no irrigation, being on the Platte
bottom; but 8,000 or 10,000 acres had to be brought
under cultivation, which was done by means of ditch-
ing, as in the former instance. All these improve-
ments have made the western portion of Weld a great
grain field, wliile the sheep and cattle ranges in the
eastern half are sufficiently watered for that purpose
by the numerous branches of the Platte."
Hugh Flat, Inferno, Intermediate, Junction City, Lake, Lovcland, Lower
Swan River Valley, Mill Ranciio, Monument Toll-gate, Park City, Rexfonl,
St John, Sulphur Spring, Summit City, Surle.s, Swan, Tariff Mine, Timothy,
Warren Camp, Webster Ranoho, Wheeler, White River, Williams Fork.
This list embraces most of the settlements existing in Eagle, and some iu
Garfield, or in Summit, previous to the late change of Ixiundary.
A late-comer to this region was H. H. Eddy, who was liorii in Milwaukee,
Oregon, in 1855. He removed to Watertown, N. Y., in ISCtO, and was edu-
cated for the law, being admitted to the bar in Rochester in 1877. He tlien
migrated to Topeka, Kan., and thence to Colorado in 1S78. After a few
months at Leadvillc, he remove<l to Summit c , locating at Chihuahua. He
was elected to the state senate in 1880, aaU again in 1884. He secured
mines and lands in the co., where lie made his residence.
^'The wheat crop of 1882 Mas .S70,(iOO bushels, worth about as many dol-
lars, and all the other crops, inchuling hay and potatoes, were valued at
§900,000. The population of the county was 8,000, and the assessed valua-
tion S7, 007, 145. The county seat was first temporarily located at St Vrain,
but was finally estal)lished at Oreeley, whicli had, in 1883, 1,.")00 inliabitant.s.
Evans, Erie, and Sterling had each 400. Tliere are the fidlowing minor towns
and settlements in Weld Co.: Akron, American Rancho, Athol, Baker CoaJ
Bank, Barrie Rancho, Beaver Creek, Beaver Station, Big Bend, Blair, Blake-
ville, Boulder Valley Coal Bank, Brush. Buffalo, Caj) Rock, Carr, Corona,
Corona Station, Cottonwood Spring, Crystal Spring, Divide, Eckley, Flemiiig
Rancho, Fort Morgan, Fort Sedgwick, (iai-d Rauclin, Geary, Godfrey "a Blu^
INDUSTRIAL SUMMARY. 639
Such is the extent and variety of aspect and re-
sources of Colorado that each division has required
a separate history, which, at the best my space allows,
remains too brief. To sum up the condition of the
state in 1883-6, when it had only fairly entered upon
a career of settled industries, we have the follow-
ing : Wheat produced from 114,000 acres, 2,394,000
bushels; corn produced from 21,287 acres, 532,100
bushels; oats produced from 41,250 acres, 1,209,000
bushels; potatoes, 1,000,000 bushels, and large crops
of hay, which with minor productions were not re-
ported, the approximate value of which was about
$4,000,000. The value of cattle on the ranges was
$37,500,000 ; of sheep, $10,000,000. The output of
coal was nearly $6,000,000. The iron and steel prod-
Hadfield Island, Hall, Hillsborough, Hopkins Coal Bank, Howard Spring,
Hudson, Hyde, Iliff, Johnson, Julesburg, Junction House, La Salle, Latham,
Lemons, Lone Tree, Manchester, Meadow Island, Mitchell's Coal Bank, Mor-
gan, New Liberty, Old Fort St Vrain, Old Julesburg, Pawnee Creek, Pierce,
Platte Valley, Platteville, Pleasant Plains, Pleasant Valley, Riverside,
Sarinda, School-house, South Platte, Spring Hill, Sterling, Stewart, Summit,
Valley Station, Weld, Weldon Valley, Wild Cat Creek, and Wray.
One of those who freighted across the plams before the railroad era was
Jared L. Bacon. He was born in Ohio in 1837, removing to Iowa in 1857, and
to Colorado in 1859. After mining two years in Russell's gulch he engaged
in the transportation of goods from the Missouri river to Denver until the
completion of the Union Pacific. Then he turned to stock raising in Weld
CO., and had, in company with J. L. Routt, 3,000 acres of land, with an exten-
sive range, and 32,0t)0 head of cattle. He was elected sheriff of Weld co. in
]872, and to the general assembly in 1877, and again in 1879. He was also
appointed brig. -gen. of the state militia for 4 years, and was chairman of the
board of county commissioners for 6 years.
Samuel Southard, born in Ohio in 1846, enlisted in the army at the age of
15 years, serving through the war. He came to Colorado in 1866, remaining
unsettled for several years, but going into mercantile business at Era, in
W^eld CO., in 1872. In 1877 he was elected county treasurer and removed
to Greeley, being reelected in 1879, and chosen county clerk in 1881. Later
he became a merchant at Greeley.
Jesse Hawes, born in Me in 1843, migrated to 111. at the age of 16 years,
and enlisted in the army in 1861, serving through the war. He then com-
menced the study of medicine and graduated from Michigan university in
1868, after which he spent two years in the Long Island hospital, and two
years in European hospitals. On returning to the U. S. he came to Colo.,
settling at once at Greeley. He was surgeon of a railway co., and president
of the State Medical Society, as well as of the State Board of Medical
Examiners.
Henry B. Jackson, born in N. Y. in 1848, came to Colorado in 1872,
locating himself at Greeley, and beginning his money-getting by hewing ties
for a railroad company. In 1877 he started a small store, but was burned
out in 1SS3. The same season he built the Jackson Opera house block at a
cost of §16,000.
G40 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
uct was about $3,000,000, The g(ild, silver, lead, and
copper amounted to $26,306,000, as nearly as it could
be estimated, an increase of $3,000,000 since 1885,
but a slight falling off from 1882. According to cen-
sus returns in 1880, the capital employed in 599 dif-
ferent manufactories, not including smelthig, reducing,
and refining works, was $4,311,714. The census re-
turns prepared for publication at each decade are
really prepared the previous year, and therefore this
estimate gives the amount of capital employed in
manufactures in 1879, when they were in tlieir in-
fancy. Without any exact figures to demonstrate
the fact, it is evident that in 1883 the amount of
money in use in manufactures, of the nature of iron
and steel works, brass founderies, machine and car
shops, flour and lumber mills, wagon and carriage fac-
tories, furniture, clothing, saddle and harness, and
boot and shoe factories, breweries, meat packing,
brick making, cigar making, printing, and other estab-
lishments to the number of over 600, great and small,
must have quadrupled the census figures of 1880 ; be-
sides which there were 175 smelting, stamping and
reduction works in operation. The whole product
of the entire manufacturing industries of Colorado
exceeded $35,000,000.
At the close of 1883 there were eighty-three bank-
ing houses in Colorado, of which two were national
banks, with a capital of $1,640,000, deposits of $11,-
171,734, and business to the amount of $16,704,
165.90 ; fourteen state banks and trust companies, with
capital of $615,754 and $2,433,417 deposited; and
forty-seven private banks, with $774,735 capital and
$2,423, 305 deposited. Tlie fire insurance companies had
policies out on $32,817,015; the life insurance compa-
nies on $29,374,019 ; and accident companies for
$1,036,981. The state debt consisted only of state
warrants, which there was money in the treasury to
meet and a surplus of $372,i)6l. The constitution
prohibits tlie bonded indebtedness of the state.
GENERAL SUMMARY. 641
The biennial expenditures and receipts very nearly
balance each other, and average $558,000. The
amount raised by taxation in 1883 was $295,104.44,
the assessed valuation being $110,729,756. A poll-
tax of fifty cents was levied on 27,700 polls. The
state tax was four mills on the dollar. The amount
of internal revenue raised in 1880, with less than
200,000 inhabitants, was $168,259.
There were 370 school-houses, valued at $1,235,-
491, and a school-fund for distribution amounting to
$45,000, but which the improvement and leasing of
the school lands was rapidly improving. The state
supports by a special tax the state university
school of mines, agricultural college, mute and
blind institute, state industrial school, insane asylum,
and penitentiary. The industrial school had 129
inmates, and the state prison 341 |convicts. There
are a state board of health, a state historical society,
a state librar}^, and a historical and natural history
society maintained by legislative appropriation.
Other state societies, depending on their members for
support, are maintained by the medical or other pro-
fessions to which they belong. These intelligent
organizations to which the legislature and the people
in their homes give their attention, illustrate the pre-
vailing character of society in Colorado. Not with-
out blemishes or errors, the young commonwealth
stands out a shining example of mental, moral, and
physical progression rare to find in the first twenty-
five years of a nation's political existence. The laws
are liberal; public gambling is not prohibited, and
drinking saloons are numerous. According to the
census of 1880, the whole number of inhabitants
was 194,327, with an excess of 65,196 males; 154,-
537 were native born, 39,790 foreign born, 2,435 were
colored, 612 Chinese, 154 Indians. The population
is largely drawn from New England, but is thor-
oughly cosmopolitan. Since the 10th census was
taken Mormons have commenced colonizing in this
Hist. Nkv. 41
642 COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
state, their number amounting to 1,578. The Chinese,
though in the main well treated, have been driven out
of some of the mining towns. The most remarkable
feature of Colorado is the number and size of its cor-
porations ; and the question to be solved in the future
is how far they are beneficial or detrimental to a state,
particularly in the form of money preponderance and
monopoly. Possibly they will be crippling to individ-
ual enterprise, and enslaving to independent will and
thought; in which case the most republican of our
young states will have taken a backward step in
republican principles, and directors of wealthy organ-
izations be able to dictate to the producing classes as
to their bondsman.^*
"For 5ael<i of metals, see Descriptive America, May 4, 1884; Hall, Ann.
Rejit to Chamber of Commerce, 1883, 147; Farmer Resources of the Bochj Mt.^,
17-iO; Farrelts Colorado as it is, 18C8, 15-46; Stone's Hist., MS.; The Rocky
MtnGem, Corheit's Lerjis. Mamuil, 1877, 316; Haydcns GreiU West, 116-27;
Rochf Mtn Herald, Dec. 18, 1875; Gunnison Sun, Jan. 6, 1884; X. M.
Pointers on the Soidhioest, p. 46; S, F. Call, Jan. 12, 1885; Rept of State GeoU
o<fist, 1881-2, 126-49; Colorado Condensed, 1881-82, 39-40; /(/., 1883, 25-34;
Burcliard's Productions of Colorado, 1881, 132; Rept Director of the Mint,
1882, 14; N. 3L'.c. Revisita, 1883, 279, Elliott di- Co.'s Hist. Arizona;
Tucson Fronterizo, Jan. 27, 1882, 2; N. Mcx. Miniwj World, Feb. 1, 1884,
93; The Mines ami Miners, bOl, 509-10. On other subjects, see H. MufC.
Doc, 47tli cong. 2d sess., 98, 100; Galveston lieirs, Dec. 1, 1884; H. Ex.
Doc, 47th cong. 1st sess., vol. 15, 708-13; Colo. Sess. Lairs, 1881, 31; /(/.,
1883, 23-4; Denver Tribune, Jan. 13, 1880; Colo. Gen. Lau-s, 1877, 557-9;
Cob. Sess. Laws, 1883, 23-4; Denver HiM.., 240-1; Transactions of SUxte Med-
ical Soc, 1884; Hawes' Charlata?iism in Colorado; Reprint from Transactions
of State Medical Soc. for 1883; Shimis Miniwj Camps, 280; Miniwj Rujhts in
Colo, by R. S. Morrison; Mining Code, by M. B. Carpenter; Gen. Laics Colo,
1865, 71-2; Fowler's Around Colorado, MS., 8; Leadville Democrat, Jan. 1,
1884; 10th Cen-iits, vol. 1, 378^47; Porter's The West Census, 1880, 392;
Hall's Ann. Rept Cliamher of Commerce, 1880-3, 128; Corhett's Directory of
Mines, 1879; Rept Sec. Int., ii. 319, 43d cong. 1st sess. In regard to society,
see Harper's Ma/j., vol. Ix. 542-57; Bird's Lady's Life, etc., being the obser-
vations of an early traveller in Chicago, 40-296; Bancroft, Colo Notes,
MS.; Sac Record-Union, April 7, 1884; S. F. Posf. Nov. 15, 1884; Denver
Tribune, Oct. 17, 1880. The Chinese were driven from Como in 1879, Denver
Trilmne, Nov. 13, 1879, and from other places at different times, and always
by the other foreign populations, led by political demagogues, who, whether
riglit or wrong, were never governed by a regard for the ])ublic welfare, but
sought rather to make capital for themselves by pandering to the base
instincts of our low and ignorant foreign voters, or their sympathizers or
dependents.
CHAPTER XIV.
LATER EVENTS.
1886-1888.
ELEMEN-T3 OF GREATNESS — MlNIXG VEESrS AGEICULTrRE — LaND AST) WaTER
Monopoly — Materiai. Progress — Railroads — Development of Den-
ver— Election Campaign — Legislation — Excellence of Statutory,
Institutional, and Social Regulations — Character of Public Men
—Biographical.
The elements of a great common wealth were in Colo-
rado from the beginning. Like all the mid-continent
states, it was misunderstood. From being a desert, ac-
cording to early explorers whose experience was of
heavily timbered countries, it was at length discovered
to be a land rich in minerals, but it was not regarded
as a farming, or even a grazing, region until accident
revealed its capabilities in these directions. After
thirty years of settlement, farming was hardly sec-
ondarv, thoug'h the mining; and crrazincr interests over-
shadowed it. The era of neglect of this industry was
attributed to the scarcity of water on the surface, and
the dryness of the atmosphere. Then came the
water-grabbers, and fenced off the rivers from the
common use of the people ; or water companies con-
structed miles of canals, carrying water through im-
mense tracts, which were therebv orreatly aug-mented
in price. They condescendingly sold the water which
belonged to the people to the farmers along their
route, and charged them with a "royalty" upon their
land — that is, the}^ exacted a bonus for benefiting the
land irrigated in addition to the water rent.^ Another
^The question was mooted in the legislature of 1887 whether the companies
should not be denied the right to o-mi water, and be treated simply as com-
GU LATER EVENTS.
abuse was the practice of aliens in taking up large
tracts of land in the state for grazing or for speculative
purposes. The legislature of Colorado, following the
example of congress, passed an anti-alien law, to pre-
vent English capital from fastening upon state lands.
Mining proi)erty was not guarded in the same man-
ner, l)ut was owned to a considerable extent by aliens.
Foreign capitalists, however, had not the same success
in securing returns that American owners enjoyed,
owing, perhaps, to the fact that they paid large prices
for the undeveloped mines, and reserved too little
capital with which to work them.
The state of Colorado was never more trul}' pros-
perous than after a period of dullness from 1883 to
1885. In 1886 there was considerable immigration,
particularly to Weld county, it having been found
that crops could be grown there without irrigation.
The citizens of that region petitioned the legislature
of 1887 to create two new counties out of the eastern
portion of Weld.' A large number of new towns
were founded about this time, and had a suri)rising
growth. Lamar, in Bent county, founded in May
188G, had on its first anniversary twelve hundred in-
habitants. Yuma, another town of about the same
age, 138 miles east of Denver, on the Burlington &
Missouri river railroad, gained fivehundred inhabitants
its first year. Hyde, another railroad town in Wash-
ington county, took its start in 1886, along with man}-
mon carriers— a principle undonUteilly correct, for the water in the streams
whicli they robbeil litlonged to the people, and they could do no more thaa
convey it to the points where it is required. The legislature passed an anti-
royalty hill for tlie relief of the farmers. At the same time acomjiany from
tiie neighborhood of Boston was planning an acoquia to be 175 miles long,
and to irrigate a large area east and south-east of Denver. The ditch was to
be 10 feet wide ami 3 or 4 feet deep.
"> The county of Archuleta was also created in 1885 out of the western
portion of Conejos, with the county seat at Pagosa Springs. In 1SS7 the
authority of county commissioners (republicans) was defied by the slieriff
(•lemocrat), and the house of commissioner Scase burned. The trouble arose
from the fact tliat tliose officers w«>ro not only reimblicans, but Mexicans.
Mesa county was created by the Ictrislaturo of 1S8.") out of a portion of Gun-
liisou CO. Logau, Wasbiugtou, aud Chilcott counties were created.
MATERLA.L PROGRESS. 645
others.* Real estate advanced rapidly throughout
the state/ the sales in Denver in 1886 amounting to
nearly $11,000,000; the rise in property in other
towns being also marked. This advance implies sub-
stantial improvements.* Among these were a new
capitol building,* and a federal court-house and post-
office, the first costing $1,000,000, and the latter half
that sum. The trade of Denver amounted in 1886
to more than $72,000,000, of which the smelters pro-
duced $10,000,000. This also indicated a good con-
dition of the mining industry. The total output of
1886 was $27,837,896.' This progressive movement
'The following is a partial list of nevr towns of about the same age:
Armour m. Pueblo co. ; Battle Mountain and Clinton in Eagle co. ; Ptogers
and Kingston in Arapahoe co. ; La Salle in Weld co. ; Orson in Mesa, a new
county in west Colorado; Otis and Red Lion in Weld co. ; Parkrille in
Saguache co. ; Parma in Piio Grande co. ; Rangeley in Garfield co. ; Romley
in Chafifee co. ; San Antonio in Los Animas co.; Sunnyside in Hinsdale co.;
Woody and Emma in Pitkin co. ; McMillan and Butter City in Bent co. ;
Prospect in Gunnison co. ; Abbott, a farming settlement, in Arapahoe co.
■'Glenwood Springs was sold in March IbST to Louis R. Ehrich of Kew
York for a syndicate belonging to the Midland railway. The price paid for
about 5 acres was §125,000 cash. The springs were purchased to make
popular resort.
5 A beautiful club-house, a 840,000 methodist church, a 825.000 unity
church, and a larger number of substantial brick buildings than ever before
erected, mark the local improvement in Denver for 1SS6. The Denver pub-
lic library was opened this year. This year also the beautiful academy of
music was destroyed by fire. Id., Jan. 1, 1SS7. The Highland park was
projected in 1887, and several additions were made to the city. Early in
1887 General Sheridan visited Colorado to select a site for a permanent mili-
tary post. It Mas selected at a point between seven and eight miles from
Denver, on Bear creek, and communicating with Denver. The government
appropriation of 8100,000 sufficed only to commence the improvements of
the 640 acres chosen, for which the citizens of Denver paid 831,000. This
gave them an interest in the post; and their admiration for Sheridan led
them to name a magnificent avenue opened between Denver and Golden, the
Sheridan boulevard. In addition the caljle road to the military post was set
on foot in August of this year. A real estate exchange was organized in
Jtme 1887. The art glass works were opened for manufacture at Denver in
1887. Several miles of street railway were projected and partly constructed,
and the electric motor road carried over the Platte.
*The style is classic, of the Corinthian order. The main pediment will
have an allegorical group representing the wealth, progress, and promise of
the state. A magnificent rotunda will light the halls and corridors. Its
dimensions north and south are 294 feet, or with its projections 383 feet, and
it will contain 160 rooms. The building stone used for the front wiU be
sandstone from the Gunnison quarry; for the foundations, Georgetown
granite, and other stone for the remainder of the building.
' Of this amount 84,446,417 was in gold, 818,209,406 in silver, and 85.182,-
073 in lead and copper. Iron and coal are not estimated, although large.
New prospects were opened in the La Plata and Needle mountains, also in
the mountains of the San Miguel, and in those west of Fort Collins. The
646 LATER EVENTS.
continued through 1887 and 1888. The assessed
valuation of the state in 1886 was $124,269,710; in
1887 it was $141,269,706.
Railroad progress was quite as marked during
1886-7-8 as otlier improvements, if, indeed, it did not
lead them. At the close of the latter year there were
not less than four thousand miles of railways in the
state — roads that reached out to the gulf of Mexico
and to the Missouri river on one hand, and to the
Pacific ocean on the other — and local roads that,
clambering among the mountains, sought to bring the
remotest mining region into communication with com-
mercial centres.* Colorado railroads during one year
produced a revenue from freight shipped from the east
of $7,600,000, and from competitive passenger traffic
$3,000,000, while the traffic of the strictly local roads
amounted to $3,000,000 more. The importance of
the state, and its geographical position, invited, and
must ever invite, the transcontinental roads to make
connection with its local roads, if not to send lines
direct to its business capitals. Denver is the railroad
centre — Denver, " Queen City of the Plains," as her
people have been pleased to name her, because she
sits at the foot of the mountains, whence she looks
Gunnison country had produced a bonanza in 1887, in the Sylvanite mine at
Gothic, yielding 2,000 ounces per ton of metallic and wire silver. There waa
an increase in the coal output of 1887 over 188G of 300,000 tons.
"The most important mineral district reached in 1887 was that of Aspen
in Pitkin co. Both the Rio Grande and Midland railways were extended to
this important town, next to Leadville in wealth. Tlie valley of the R<iar-
ing Fork tlius hccame opened to settlement. Glenwood springs was another
point readied hy these roads, and beyond Glenwood tlie Newcastle coal
fields, while the Midland was carried to the coal region of Jerome park.
Tiie Missouri Pacific extension into Colorado opened a large grazing and
agricultural area from tlie state line to Pueblo. The Atcliison line from
Pueblo improved the whole country cast of the Sierra Madre range. The
Rock Island and tlie Northwestern also caused rapid settlement in the
eastern portion of the state. During the year of 1 887 nearly 800 miles of
railroad was constructed within the state, as follows: Missouri Pacific 175
miles, Colorado Midland 239 miles, Denver and Kio Grande 157 miles, Santa
Fe 147 miles, Denver, Texas, and Fort Worth 65 miles of new track and 06
miles of third rail construction. The cf)st of these roads and the wealth
added to tlie state by railroa<l building in one year was §16,000,000, or
82.(X)0,000 more than they received for carrying freight and passengers.
The increased value given to property along the lines could uot be estimated.
POLITICAL. &47
out east over a vast expanse of gently sloping savan-
nas. Behind her rise the majestic heights of the
great continental range. All about her are bright
landscapes, over her are skies of summer azure. In
her lap is wealth, on her brow peace and honor. Let
no one dispute her royal right to preside over and re-
ceive the homage of her sister municipalities. Young,
beautiful, strong, worthy of all praise, let her be called
Queen.
The election campaign of 1886 was a hardly con-
tested one, the democratic party throughout the
United States having a revival, and the republicans
being divided by the " mugwump " faction and the
prohibitionists. Three tickets were in the field in
Colorado, the prohibitionists drawing their strength
mainly from the republicans.' However, all the re-
publican candidates for state ofiicers were elected,
except the governor, Alva Adams, who from being a
hardware merchant of Pueblo came to be elected chief
of his noble young state by a plurality of 2,418, his
competitors in the race being William H. Myers,
formerly lieutenant-governor, and W. H. Fishback,
prohibitionist. His predecessor was Benjamin
H. Eaton. N. H. Meldrum, formerly secretary of
state, was elected lieutenant-governor, succeeding P.
W. Breene, elected state treasurer; and James Rice
became secretary in place of Melvin Edwards, or,
'James A. Dawson died Jan. 16, 1SS7, at his residence in Denver. He
■was born in April 1834 near Mumfordville, in Hart co., Ky. He married Mary
Connelly, daughter of Dr Connelly of that jjlace. In 1860 he was elected
clerk of the county court of Hart co. On the breaking out of the civil war
he entered the Union army as a member of the 33d Kentucky vols, and
attained the office of adjutant, fighting in the battle of Mumfordville,
between the advance guards of Bragg's and Buell's armies. He held several
civil offices in Ky, and founded the Louisville Daily Ledger in 1S70, and came
to Colorado in 1880, where he practised law at Denver, and edited the Col.
Law Journal, being part of the time city attorney, and subsequently superior
judge. In 1884 he published Daicsons Code, and in 1885 was appointed sur-
veyor-general of Colorado by President Cleveland. Oney Castrophan, of
Custer CO., came to Colorado from Palmyra, Mo. He had filled the office of
prosecuting attorney at Hannibal, and, after his removal to Colo, was mayor
of Silver Cliff, after which he was chief clerk in the office of the surveyor-
general until he was promoted to fill that place.
648 LATER EVENTS.
more correctly, after Edward R. Hanley, appointed
in place of Edwards, resigned. D. P. Kingsley was
elected state auditor, and L. S. Cornell state school
superintendent. Attorney-general Charles Thomas
was succeeded by Alvin Marsh, and George G. Symes
was elected congressman, running against Myron
Reed democrat, and Murray prohibitionist, beating
them by a plurality of 866. On the organization of
the legislature, in January 1887, George M. Chilcott
was chosen president of the senate, and T. B. Stuart
speaker of the lower house. The republican majority
in the senate was ten, in the assembly one.^*
The legislation of Colorado has never been disgraced
by violence, by wanton waste of the people's money,
or by disrespect of the constituted authorities. If its
statutes are not perfect, neither were they for whom
they were made, nor the makers themselves." It is
enough that an elibrt at excellence in statutory regu-
lations, as in institutional and social affairs, ^' is a feat-
" Mention was made by the president of the senate of the death of two
state senators since the last session — Tilford and Elkins; and Gov. Eaton in
his farewell message regrets the demise of ex-U. S. Representative Jerome
B. Chaffee, and ex -Gov. Frederick W. Pitkin.
"There was, in 1887, when the legislature met, some embarrassment
from the financial condition of the state. The total amount in the treasury
at the close of Gov. Eaton's term of office was, in cash and securities,
?834,579.05, out of which to make the various appropriations for the support
of state institutions, and to pay salaries to state officers. This deficiency
was not the result of bad management, or extravagant outlay, but came
from the too common practice of assessing property below its value. For
instance, the property of the state was actually worth S400,000,000, yet was
assessed at §120,000,000, whereas the railroads alone were selling in the
market at a valuation greater than that, although tliey were assessed at only
$23,096,666. Tlie constitution retjuired that the property of the state sliould
be rated for taxation at its true value, and it was manifest that a low tax on
a full valuation should be more satisfactory than a high tax on a low esti-
mate. The legislature took up this subject in 1887, and provided for the
taxation of mining property, tlie opinion of the courts having first been
obtained as to the constitutionality of the bills offered. All mines producing
more than §1,000 per annum in mineral were made assessable, and in case of
a mine wliich was not patented being sold for taxes, the title, under the laws
of Colorado, should be good and valid. A list of all the producing mines Mas
to be furnished by the county clerk to the county assessor. An attempt was
made to correct railroad abuses and encroachments by statute, and a law
was enacted creating a supreme court commission. The persons appointed
under the act were Atty-gen. Marsh, Ex-senator Rising of Custer co., and
Thomas Macon of Fremont co.
^^The new county of Archuleta, which had not more than 150 voters,
rebelled against the authority of the county commissioners (republican) im
BIOGRAPHICAL. 649
ure of the centennial state. Notable, not notorious,
the character of her pubUc men is an example to the
younger states,^' and blends harmoniously with her
many charms, material, natural, and inspired by art.
Colorado is the flower of a peculiarly western civili-
zation, in which is mingled the best blood of the north
and the south, the virile sap of New England and the
Carolinas — a truly American state.
July 1887, being led by one E. T. Walker and the sheriff, Height (democrats).
The rioters burned the property, and threatened the life of one of the com-
missioners, Charles D. Scase. The others were intimidated, and forced to
resign, and anarchy for a time held sway. The population of this region
was Mexican, and two, at least, of the commissioners were Mexican, but
were men of wealth and standing. That they should be such appears to have
been too much for the democracy to bear, and their ukase was issued as
follows: ' If you don't resign, we will kill you and destroy your property.'
The legislature sent a committee to inquire into the cause of the terrorism,
as it was bound to do, when it appeared that one of the mob which had
broken up a meeting of the commissioners had enunciated the doctriae that
' this is a democratic admiaistration, and it shall be run on democratic prin-
ciples.' Accordingly the ballot-box was stolen, and other democratic prac-
tices resorted to, and when the commissioners met to open court they were
prevented. The legislature then attached Archuleta co. to La Plata co. for
judicial purposes, and the matter was brought before the grand jury; but in
the meantime Walker had disappeared. A race war of another sort was the
outbreak of the reservation Utes, August 1887, by which some blood was
spilled on both sides, ending by the Indians returning to their homes. The
trouble arose from the ruling of a new agent that the band must come to the
agency to draw their annuities, be counted, and placed on the list. The Utes
refused, and went one year without their annuities. The agent then required
the sheriff to return them to the reservation; hence the conflict.
^^Leadville elected a democratic mayor in the spring of 1888, who sur-
prised his constituents by ordering the gambling saloons closed, and closed
they were within a month. Colorado had two, if not more, towns where the
public sale of intoxicating drinks was prohibited. But to prohibit by agree-
ment from the start is quite different from saying to a whole community of
gamblers, ' depart,' and enforcing the command. Mayor Roche of Leadville
might have been a martyr in the days of the inquisition, and yet have died
profitlessly, like many anotlier martjT.
George Zweck discovered the famous Prussian mine in April 1861, while
prospecting alone in the Gold Hill district. He recognized the value of the
ore at once, and taking with him A. D. Gifford and David Besler, went to
work upon it as equal partners. They carried their provisions a distance of
35 miles strapped on their backs, but the mine paid for the effort, averaging
down to the present time .S260 per ton. The vein has a general width of 3
feet. Out of it has been taken .S375,000, and it would bring .S250,000 to sell.
It is tunnelled 1,700 feet into the mountain. Zweck has other mining inter-
ests, in which Gifford and Besler are partners, and has made more clear
money out of cattle than out of his mines. Zweck was born in Germany in
1829, migrated to Iowa in 18.54, and to Colorado in 1860. He began with
nothing, and has made and saved .S.300,000.
George W. McCoy Ijorn in Pa in 18.34, and educated in the common
schools of Ohio and 111. He began life by marrying Rebecca May in 111.
and going to fariniag ia 1853. In 1863 he came to Colorado, where he first
650 LATER EVENTS.
tried mining, but soon returned to an occupation of which he knew some-
thing, renting a farm of IGO acres in Jetfersun co. He niade6'2,UOO tlie first
year, and the next year removed to BouKler co. , renting a farm near Bur-
lington, and keeping the Burlington hotel. Ke soon purchased 320 acres
paying .s5 per acre. On thi.s he cleared 81,000 per year for 5 yeaT.s, and
after 1880 made money much more rapitlly. He owns 400 acres well stocked
and other valuable property, and his family of seven children are also pros-
perous.
W. J. Kitcly came to Greeley, Colorado, in 1871, but after a sliort stay
removed to Longmont, earning a living l<y pick and shovel. He entered
first 80 acres of land, and has now 480 acres in .3 different farms, all well
improved, and worth $50 per acre. He deals in graded cattle, and calls
Boulder co. the best farming country in the world.
John H. Wells, born in 111. in 184*2, received a common school education
supplemented by an academic course, a term or two at Knox college, and
some law studies in Galaburg. In 1S8G he came to Denver and commenced
practise. He held the office of postmaster for a short time, was vice-
president of the Colorado Central railway in 1807, and was elected member
of the territorial legislature on the independent ticket in 1871. In 1878-81
he built the D. L. M. and N. W. R. R. to Mitchell junction and in 1885 was
appointed county judge of Boulder co. His home is at Longmont, with
whose interests he is tiioroughly identified.
W. H. Dickens came to Colorado in the spring of 1859, and commenced
farming in Boulder co., selling his produce to miners. In 1804 he enlisted
in the 3tl Colo cavalry, and was in the battle of Sand creek. He has suc-
ceeded as a farmer and stock-raiser, being ■worth §50,000 or §00,000.
George L. Beckwith came to Colorado in 1800, settling within a mile of
Longmont. At that time there was one house only in the vicinity, that of
Dickens and Allen; but several at the mouth of the canon. Beckwith com-
menced farming in 1801, and has not failed of a crop any year since. While
some suffered l)y grasshoppers, he trapped them all at the rate of a bushel
a day for 20 days. He served with the 3d Colo regt.
L. H. Dickson arrived May 22, 1859, at Denver, and a few days later
came to Boulder co. for the purpose of finding mines, going at once into the
mountains, and into Middle park, being the pioneer in that region. Pro-
ceeding to California gulch he mined there 1 year, when he came the second
time to Boulder and took up some farming land 4 miles east from Longmont,
■where he was living through the Indian troubles of 1803-4. He enlisted in
3d Colo, regt, and was with Chivington through the 100 days campaign.
He was a successful farmer until 1809, when he went with his family to
Oregon City, Or., where he remained until 1873, and returned to settle at
Longmont. He was elected to the legislature in ISSOand again in 1884, and
was mayor of Longmont from 1881 to 1883. He owns 700 acres of land
worth $35 per acre, a § interest in a flouring mill, some live stock, and min-
ing interests, all the result of his own industry.
Rienzi Streeter, born in Pa in 18.38, received an academic education.
In ISGOhe was admitted to the practise of law. In 1802 he migrated to
Neb. to take the position of U. S. dist clerk, under his brother, Joseph E.
Streeter, who had been appointed U. S. justice. He remained in the office
until 1807 and in 1808 went to Cheyenne. Afterwards he became president
of the Chicago colony in Colorado, held the position several years. In 1879
he was elected to the lower house of legislature and chosen speaker; in 1881
he was elected to the senate, the second term being chosen president. When
he first arrived in Colorado lie purchased an interest in the land on which
Manitou, El Paso co., is located, out of which he made considerable money.
He is now asst cashier of the bank of Longmont, and cashier of the Branch
bank at Berthoud.
E. J. Coffman, bom in Ohio in 1837, and brought up in 111., was gradu-
ated at Rock River seminary in 1858. He went to Iowa, teaching a school
near Cedar Rapids. In 1802 he came to Colorado, and engaged in farming
BIOGRAPHICAL. 651
on land in Boulder CO., apart of which he gave to the Longmont colony in
1871, which is known as Coffman's Addition to Longmont. He has been
an officer of the Colony company from the commencement, and a dealer m
real estate; owns mining property in Gold Hill district; named the Tellurium
mines and owns stock in them; also in the Lord Byron and Ranchman s
Carlton C. Calkins came to Longmont as one of the original colonists in
1870 and was not favorably impressed with the agricultural capacities of
the county. He entered a small quantity of land, but now ownes 400 acres,
worth .?40 per acre, and a dairy, and raises thoroughbred cattle, mixed hus-
bandry being his business. He prefers Boulder co. to any part of the U. b.
B Clark Wheeler, born in Pa in 1849, studied at Wellsborough academy
and the university of Pa, and afterward read the law with Sherwood &
Mitchell of Phila. He joined the army as a drummer boy, but was taken
home by his father. In 1864 he went to Iowa, and in 1868 came to Colorado,
but again went home, finished his studies, and returned here m 1876, being
admitted to the bar in Denver. Soon he went to the Black hills, practising
there for two years. His active disposition caused him to make a prospect-
ing tour through Colo, N. M., and Ariz., after which he once more returned
to Coloiado, and settled permanently at Aspen in Pitkm co., where he fol-
lowed law, mining, and newspaper publishing. Pitkin Mining News, d. & w.
From 1879 to 1882 he lectured frequently in different parts of the state upon
the mineral wealth of the country, and went as a comm'r to the cotton ex-
position at Atlanta, to represent the resources of Colo, lecturmg before the
BuUion club of New York on the same subject during this tour. He labored
industriously to attract attention to the region about Aspen, and finally suc-
ceeded in getting capital interested in the person of David M. Hyman of
Cincinnati. In 1885 there was shipped from Aspen about .$4,000,000 worth
of ore and bullion. The place has only 1 smelter with a capacity of 60 tons
per day. Wheeler surveyed and located the town of Aspen, and named the
streets. The present pop. is 5,000. • , ^i.
P. J. Pauly, a native of St Louis, was born in 18o4, and received the
advantages of the puplic schools, remaining in his native city until 20 years
of acre. He was apprenticed 3 years to an architectural draughtsman and
on coming to Denver engaged in this calling, but soon returned to St Louis
to work for the firm of Pauly & Bro., pail manufacturers. At the end of 3
years he was admitted to a partnership, which interest he still retains, the
firm having invested $200,000. In 1882 he came to Colorado for his health,
and having married the year previous Sarah Crissy of Mich., determined to
settle here. He purchased 3 cattle ranches in or near Estes park, and en-
tered upon the lucrative business of raising graded stock, being regarded as
one of the foremost men in northern Colorado. _
Jacob Downing, born at Albany, N. Y., 1830, came to Denver m April
1859. He raised company D of the 1st Colorado regt m 1861, and was mus-
tered out in 1865 as major on Col Chivington's staff. He was elected pro-
bate judge of Arapahoe co. in 1867, serving 2 years. In 1866 he purchased
a tract of land containing 2,000 acres in Jefferson co., 5 miles from Denver;
and subsequently 300 acres 3 miles from Denver court-house, worth in 188b
over .S60, 000. The value of his lands has steadily advanced year by year,
and is still going up, for which reason he thinks real estate m Arapahoe a
good investment. , , ^ ^. .,
James A. Dawson, born in Hart co., Ky, 1834, and educated there. At
the age of 21 years he 'was elected county clerk, and remained m that office
until the commencement of the war of the rebellion, when he enbsted in the
union army. After serving out the term of his enlistment he was appointed
retrister of the land-office, holding that position 8 years. In 1871 he was
appointed adjutant-general of Ky for 4 years. He came to Colorado m
1880, and opened a law-office. In 1882 he was appointed by the governor
judge of the superior court, and served one term, after which he was ap.
poihted surveyor-general of Colorado. He is a eulogist of his adopted
state.
652 LATER EVENTS.
Henry H. ^retcalf, born in Providence, R. I., in 1842, came to Colorado
in 187'J. He purchased a section of land in Elbert co., raul 52 head of cat-
tle, and had .sl.'JOO in cash. He was worth in 1886, $450,000, the result of
judicious management of the cattle-raising business in this state. He re-
sides at Denver.
Westbrot)k S. Decker wa* born in Seneca, N. Y., in 1839, his father,
Albert Decker, being a farmer and a merchant, of Dutch stock, as M-as also
his mother, Gertrude Shoemaker. He worked on bis father's farm, and for
a short period was clerk in tlie store. In 1856 he entered Brockport collegi-
ate institute for one year, and tliis, with whatbe had learned at winter sessions
of the public schools, constituted his educational training. In 1857 he went
to 111, working in a sorglium mill and teaching school until 1861, when he
returned home and enlisted in tlie 12th N. Y. infantry, being captured at
Harper's Ferry, paroled and exchanged. He was afterward twice seriously
wounded. After Gettysburg be was promoted to the rank of 2d lieut, and
later to 1st lieut in the 19th U. S. colored troops, and was assigned to the
staflF of Gen. Ferrero, as ordnance officer. He was ordnance officer on the
staff of Hartsuff at Bermuda Hundreds, Va, and in the district of Nottoway,
after the evacuation of Petersburg. Subsequently iie was transferred to tlie
command of Gen. (Hies A. Smith, and went to Tex., where he served as
provost marsbal until Aug. 1805, wlien he returned home. In Oct. of that
year he entered tlie law school of Mich, university, graduating in 1807, and
locating at Kankakee, 111. He Mas elected city attorney in 1868 and 1869,
and elected county judge the same year, which position he held until 1873.
The following year he came to Colorado for his health, and remained to
practise his profession. He was appointed by President Grant U. S. dis-
trict attorney in 1877, in which office he was retained several years.
Gilbert De La Martyr, born in 1825 in New York, and educated there,
was ordained a minister of the m. e. church in 1848, and preached until
1862, when he was appointed chaplain of the 129th N. Y. infantry, serving
until January 1805, when he resigned. He had charge of the Sand street
church in Brooklyn from 1805 to 1870, at wliich time he was transferred to
Omaha, remaining there until 1873, when he was sent to Kansas City, Mo.,
and remained 3 years, after which he went to Indianapolis to take charge of
a large church. He was elected to congress from Indianapolis in 1878, serv-
ing one term. After that he lectured extensively on labor organizations and
political economy, and being in Denver in 1882 was solicited to take charge
of the methodist church, wliich invitation he accepted, with the determina-
tion to remain permanently in the healthful climate of Colorado.
Posey S. Wilson was born at Wappato Indian agency in 1845, his father
being an army officer, and M^as educated at St Louis. He came to Colorado
in 1803, remaining but a short time when he went to Montana. In 1867 he
removed to Cheyenne and engaged in banking until 1879, when he returned
to C(dorado and purchased a cattle farm in Larimer co. near Fort Collins.
While in Wyoming he was a member of the legislature of 1876. He
remained on his Larimer co. farm until 1885, when he was appointed by the
president, assayer of the Denver mint. He retained his stock interests and
is settled permanently in Colorado.
William A. Hover, born in Wis., in 1856, was educated at the university
of that state, graduating in 1877, and remaining one year afterwards
engaged in tne study of chemistry. In 1878 he came to Colorado, opening
an assay office in Lake City, removing the same year to Denver, where he
purchased part of a retail drug business, completing the purchase of the
establishment in 1880. He is settled here permanently.
R. A. Long, born in Ohio in 1851, and brought up on a farm, commenced
educating him.self at the age of 19, earning the money to pay his tuition.
He graduated from the law school of the Mich, university in 1879, coming at
once to Denver. In six years he had paid some debts, married, and accu-
mulated .^20,000, which maybe considered great success in professional life.
L. B. France, born in NVashington city in 1833, and educated at George-
BIOGRAPHICAL. 653
town, studied law in Chicago, where he was admitted to the bar in 1858,
practising in HI. and Iowa untU 1861, when he came to Denver. In the
autumn of the same year he was elected prosecutmg attorney of Arapahoe
CO.— the first pros, atty elected in Colo— for one year. From that tmie he
has steadily labored at his profession, not engaging in pohtics.
John W. Jenkins, bom in Va in 1837, and educated m Ind. In 18^4 he
was appointed territorial secretary, and Gov. McCook's appomtment bemg
contested, became acting gov., serving the greater part of McCook s term.
After the expiration of his term of olfice he commenced the practise ot the
law and acquired some important mining interests. He was prosecutmg
attorney in Lake co. in lSSl-2, and held office in the Masonic order, and the
Improved Order of Red Men. He is deeply attached to the country and
cUmate of the centennial state. . „ , ■, t ^ j
Frank Church, bom in St Lawrence co. ^. \. m 1844, and educated
there came to Denver in 1869, to take charge of a semmary, and m IS^l
married in this citv. While teaching, he studied law, and m 18,1.
was admitted to the bar. He was elected county supt. of schools in lb. 1,
holding the office four years. In 1879 he was elected state senator for tour
years. In 18S3 he was elected treasurer of Arapahoe co., and reelected in
1885. His experience of mining investments leads him to prefer Denver real
^^ Byron A. Wheeler, born in Wis. in 1842, and was educated at Fon-du-
lac In 1863 he enlisted in the 1st Wis. regt, serving until the close of the
war when he entered the Hahnemann Medical college of Chicago, and grad-
uated in 1867. After practising in Wis. and Iowa until 1870, he came to
Colorado for health, locating permanently in Denver. He married, in W xs.,
Frances A. Noyes, and has seven children. He owns considerable real
estate in Denver. ^^ _ „ , „.
William B. Craig, bora in Mo. in 1855, and educated at De Kalb and bt
Joseph Hicrh school, studied medicine subsequently, graduating from the r^t
Louis Merlical college in 1876, and subsequently from Belle^-ue hospital, JS.
Y R'eturnincr to St Joseph he practised there untd 1882, when he removed
to Denver on account of his mother's failing health, and findmg her restora-
tion complete, owing entirely to the climate, determined to remain m Denver.
W W. Anderson, born at Fergus, Canada, in 1850, and educated there.
His diplomas and degrees from the best medical coUeges of Montreal and
Quebec made him an A. M., M. D., P. H., and M. R. C. S. In l^.b he
came to the U. S. as demonstrator of anatomy, and asst surgeon of iNiich.
nniversity, and in 1878 to Denver, where he has since practised his profes-
sion. He was appointed city physician in 1883, and re-appointed m 188o.
He became largely interested in mining and real estate, and is located per-
manently in Denver. .
EU M. Ashley, bom in Ohio in 1833, and educated there, engaged ma
retad drug business, soon after attaining his majority, at Toledo. In ISol
he came to Colorado as chief clerk to the surveyor general of the territory,
which position he retained through the administrations of o surv.-genis, a
period of 17 years. He began buying real estate in Denver at an early date,
ownina what is known as Ashley's adcUtion to the city of Denver, which was
laid out in 1868. His business since leaving the surv.-gen Is otnce has been
that of buying and seUing real estate. In 1885 he organized tne W estern
Chemical Works co., of which he is pres't. He is permanently located m
C C Gird, bom ia Ohio in 1836, receiving a common school education,
came to Colorado in 1860. For 1 year he worked at his trade of coopermg,
and then commenced freighting between Denver and Omaha, which busmess
he followed imtil the Indians forced him to abandon it m 18b3, when he
settled on a land claim 15 miles from Denver, where he resided, farmmg and
stock-raising, until 1880, when he removed to Denver. He was elected to
the terr. council in 1869 for 1 term, and to the state legislature m 18, J. He
was elected comm'r of Arapahoe co. hi 1884, and twice chosen chairman ot
the board. His property is in live stock and lands.
654 LATER EVENTS
Hartsville F. Jones, born in Tenn. in 1S2G, was brought np and educated
in Ky. In lS4t3 he enlisted for the .\Juxicau war. In 1848 he returned
home, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Lexington until 1874, when he
removed to Denver, and bought and sold city property. He was elected a
member of tlie city council in 1885, but has not entered into politics. He
will reujain permanently in Denver.
Thomas .S. Clayton, born in Phila in 1838, and educated there, was clerk
in his brother's store in that city until he came to Colorado in 1863, to take
the same position with his brother, who had opened a general merchandise
store in Denver in 1859. In 1800 he went into merchandising for himself,
but ultimately ran the business into hats and caps exclusively, and M-as the
pioneer hatter of Denver. In 1877 he was appointed chief of the fire dept,
and held the office until 1882. He was supt of the Sunday-school of the
episcopal church, and of each of the other churches of Denver. He was
married in Phila in 1878, and has erected a residence on Capitol hill in the
city of his adoption.
Emile Reithmann, born in Switzerland in 1844, came to the U. S. with
his father in 1848, and resided at times in N. Y., Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa
before coming to Colorado in 1859. He settled on a rancho witliin 5 miles
of Denver the same year, and started the first dairy in the terr., at which
business and stock-raising he has continued ever since. He was married in
Denver in 1879, and considers his present home his home for life.
David C. Taylor, born in Madison co., Ohio, in 1832, removed to Mo. in
1858, and to Colorado in 18G0, going to the Gold Hill mining district. After
a brief experience at mining, he took up some land in St Vrain valley, where
he settled permanently. He became possessed of a large amount of land,
stock cattle, and was half owner in the Clover Basin Irrigating ditch.
Jacob Sherrer, born in France in 1838, came to the U. S. witli his parents
in 1846, and to Colorado in 1859. He was engaged in freighting across the
plains until the completion of the U. P. R. R. to Cheyenne, when he turned
his oxen out to fatten, and also purchased a small herd for breeding j)urposes.
He now owns a large rancho on the s. branch of Republican river, and 6,000
head of stock. He resides in Denver.
Harmon Merchant, boi-n in Courtland co., N. Y., in 1832, came to Colo-
rado in 1859, and engaged in freighting and trading. Becoming alarmed at
the attitude of the Indians towards the white settlers, he removed with his
famil}- to Or. in 1863, where he remained 2 years, when he removed to Peta-
luma, Cal., and commenced dealing in cattle. In 1869 he sold out, and for
several j'ears thereafter was in the cattle business between Tex. and Neb.,
finally locating permanently at Denver in 1876.
David J. Lykins, born in Ind. in 1839, and brought up there, began early
to roam, visiting Ohio, and from there crossing the continent in 1850, work-
ing in the mines of Cal. until 1856, when he returned home by steamer. He
spent most of the next two years in travelling over the middle and western
states, and drifted in 1859 with the great migration to Colorado. He soon
learned tiie profit there was in cattle, and witli those he had driven from, the
Missouri commenced a business at which he made a handsome fortune, own-
ing 1,000 acres in Arapahoe co., a large farm in Mo., and valuable herds of
cattle, and an elegant residence in Denver.
W. B. Pi-ogers was born in Bufifalo, N. Y., in 1844, where he received an
academic eihication, and studied medicine and dentistry. In 1867 he came
to Colorado to recover lost health, practising his dental art, and investing in
mining and city property. He became sound, and made a comfortable
fortune.
Edmund Anthony, born in N. Y. in 1828, ami educated for the calling of
an arcliitect, came to Colorado in 1870, being tlie first to open an othce for
architectural drawing in the state, and designing some of the most promi-
nent buildings in Denver and Cheyenne. He came to the mountains for
health, wliich he obtained.
John D. Atkin also came to Colorado in 1873 for relief from asthma, of
BIOGRAPHICAL. 655
^ticli lie was completely cured. Returning to lU. the disease returned,
when he sold out, and invested his means in Denver real estate, with the
intention of ending his days here. He brought $3o,000 to this city, which
has increased to 8300,000 without the aid of other investments. He proph-
ecies that Denver wiU be the largest city west of the Mississippi river.
Henry Sness, bom in Germany in 1837, migrated to the U. b. in lbo4,
residintr in Mo. untd 1879, when he came to Denver as an agent tor the
Anheurer-Busch Brewing co. of St Louis, and estabUshed a branch business
here, which was placed under his management. He organized the German
Loan and Building association, of which he is president. He was elected to
the legislature in 1884. ., . ,^„_ , , ,
John W. Collins, M. D., born in Green co., Ala, m 183o, was educated
there, studying medicine in New Orleans, and graduating in 1860. In the
foUowing year he entered the confederate army as a surgeon, servmg through
the 4 years of war, and afterwards practised his profession m Miss, and
Tenn. until 1879 when he came to Colorado to perform a surgical operation
on a friend, and decided to remain. Colorado, he predicts, wiU be the most
famous health resort of the world when it is better known. He is located at
Denver in the practice of gynecology. -..,„„„ ^ ^ , ^
^TilUam Smedley, D. D. S., born in Pa m 1836 of Quaker parentage,
studied dental surgery at West Chester, Pa, untd 1S70, when, being threat-
ened with consumption, he came to Colorado for relief, and his health bemg
restored he has practised his profession ever since. He owns real estate in
Korth Denver, and is much interested in educational matters, being on the
school board. . „.„ . , n • j.
Edward Rollandet, born in Leyden, Holland, m 18o2, received a collegiate
education, but enUsted in the army at the age of 15 years. Jdtev ser%-ing 4
years he left the army with the rank of sergeant, and travelled for - years,
learning smelting, after which, in 1873, came to the L. S., locatmg m \ a,
where he was employed in iron works for about a year, going from there to
Canada. In 1874 he came to Colorado and engaged with the Maxwell Land
CO for 2 years, after which he located in Denver as engineer with a map
company, and dealt in real estate. In 1878 he purchased an mterest m the
Vulture mine of LeadviUe, and became also chief draughtsman m the sur-
veyor-general's office at Denver. In 1884 he was elected surveyor m a
neighljoring county. The following year he returned toDenver and opened
an engineer's office, but finally united with Worrall & Chisolm m the Den-
ver Lithographing CO., in which business he remams.
LedruR. Rhodes, born m Ohio in 1849, was educated m the public schools
and taught when he was 16 years old. In 1865 he went to Iowa where he
studied law and was admitted to the bar. He commenced practise m the
district court of Fremont co., Xeb. In 1872 he came to Colorado setthng^
in Larimer co. on a farm, but in 1874 opened a law office in iort Lollms
where he remained 4 years, and was elected to the state senate from i.ari-
mer co. on the republican ticket, and interested himself m the passage of
the irri-^ation law. In 1885 he was elected district attorney of the 2d judi-
cial district, consisting of Arapahoe, Larimer, and A\ eld counties He was
employed by the Cattle Growers' association on a salary of bl.,oOO and by
the English Irrigation co. He was one of the original members of the Den-
ver Chamber of Commerce. . _ ,
Frederick Cramer, born in Xew York in 1833 of Dutch ancestry, was
taught the trade of a mdlwright. At the age of 23 he went to Red river,
where he remained until 1864, when he came to Colorado and began business
as a budder. He has been identified with mining in Boulder co. tor many
years He was elected sheriff of Arapahoe co. in 1865, a member ot the
board of education in 1868, and a councilman in 1869. He has acquired a
comfortable fortune, o^-ning §70,000 worth of real estate m Denver. He
married in Brooklyn in 1863, and has 5 clnldren. ^ . t
J. J. Dunagan, born in Mo. in 1833 and brought up there, went to iowa
at the age of 19, learning the carpenter trade at Glenwood. in IbbU he
656 LATER EVENTS.
came to Boulder co. Colorado, engaging in mining and lumbering uatil 1867,
when he wuut to Cheyenne to take building contracts, remaining there 3
years, and going from there to Greeley, where he kept a hotel, and ircr:
there to Longuiout, returning to Denver in 1879, gomg into the grocery
trade, and selling out to go into a drug store. Meanwhile he traded in real
estate, and enjoyed the profits of a considerable increase. He was first
married in Iowa, and afterwards in Evans, Colorado, and has two daughters.
Amasa C. Bucknum, M. D., born in Oswego co., N. Y., in 18'2-4, and
educated at Albany, removed to Mich., where he began the study of medi-
cine in 1845, graduating at Castleton, Vt, in 1849. Ileturning to Jackson
he commenced practice there, remaining until 1880, though a part of the
time professor of physiology at Ann Arbor university, and president of the
Jackson co. medical society. His liealth failing he came to Colorado in
1880, where in two months he was able to resume practice. He became a
member of the state medical societies, and of the American Medical asso-
ciation. He was twice marrieil, and has 5 children.
William S. Grimes, born in Wheeling, Va, in 1835, was educated
in Cincinnati at Woodworth college, and studied medicine in that institution.
He entered into a successful practice in 1857, but on the conauencement of
the civil war enlisted in the 2'M Iowa infantry as asst surgeon. After the
battle of Pea Ridge, he was appointed surgeon of the 2yth Iowa infantry.
In 18G4 he resigned on account of an accident to his eyes, and removed to Dea
Moins, where he resumed general practise until 1879, when he came to
Colorado on account of asthma and the trouble with his eyes. His health
being entirely restored, he adds his to the universal praise of the climate
of Denver.
C. C. Worrall, born near Boston in 1855, was educated in England. He
came to Colorado with his parents in 18G2, and in 1805 went to New York,
St Louis, New Orleans and to Europe. Returning to Colorado in a few
years he engaged in selling drugs, in which business he remained until 1880,
when he abandoned it for lithographing. In 1886 he organized the Denver
Lithographing company, in conjunction with E. RoUandet and F. F. Chisolm,
the enterprise proving more successful than was anticipated. He married
in 1883 Miss Haisington and is permanently settled in Denver.
A. W. Hogle, born in Canada in 1844, removed with his parents to 111. in
1849, and received a common school education. On the breaking out of the
civil war he enlisted in Co. A, 76 111. regt, and was nmstered out in 1865 aa
lieutenant of Co. C. Returning home, he attended at the Commercial col-
lege of Chicago. In 1869 he was elected treasurer of Iroquois co. though
but 25 years of age, giving a bond of §500,000 In 1871 he came to Colorado
for the health of his wife, who was entirely restored. He kept books for a
large commission house and invested in cattle. In ISSO he sold his cattle
and went into commission business, also buying some mining property. In
1885 he was appointed chief of police of Denver, by Mayor J. E. Bates, and
was instrumental in quelling the railroad riots of that year. He established
the patrol system, the best for conducting fire and police alarms. He mar-
ried Miss Paul of 111. in 1865.
Aml)rose S. Everett, physician, was born in New York in 1841, studied
medicine in 111. and graduated from the St Louis homeopathic medical
college, in which he afterwards held a professorship, with a general city
practise. His health failing, he souglit restoration in Colorado, and would
now 'not try to live anywhere else,' his health and hia practise being entirely
satisfactory.
Samuel S. Smythe, born at Galena, 111. in 1838, graduated from
the Homuipathic Medical college of Chicago in 1867. He came to Denver
in 1880 for the health of his wife who was dying of consumption. Tiie cli-
mate completely restored her and he decideil to remain. He engaged in the
practise of his profession, and also in stock raising.
C. M. Parker, was born in Miss, in 1838, and was educated by a
private tutor, with a term iu college at N, Y. afterwards. At the commence-
BIOGRAPHICAL. 657
ment of the civil war he enlisted in the ISth Miss, regt as a private, and at
the end of the year was appointed surgeon, being sent to Kichmond and
Savannah to have charge of liospitals. He married Miss S. J. Allen of Va
autl settled at Darlington, S. C, but removed to Colarado for the benefit of
the climate in 1872. He became a member of the State Board of Hea,lth,
State Med. Sec, prest Denver Med Soc, and prest of State Board of Med.
Examiners.
Norman G. Burnham, born in Ohio in 1829, was educated atXorwalk acad-
emy, and at the Ohio Wesleyan university, studying medicine in Cincinnati,
where he graduated in 1852. He was subsequently associated with Prof. B. Sj
HiU, one of the founders of the Cleveland Homeopathic college, at which he-
received an honorary degree in 1865. From 1856 to 1859 he was associated-
with Prof. H. P. Gotchell, former dean of the above named college, in the;
practise of medicine at Cin. In 1860 he removed to Indianapolis, where ho
resided 11 years. He mariied Mary K. Treat, of Medina, O,, in. 1861. In
1868-9 he attended a special course of lectures at Boston, visiting the hos-
pitals of New York and Phda. In 1871 he went to St. Louis, practising there
eight years, when his health giving way he came to Coloi^do, where his
vigor was restored, and where he renewed the practise of his profession.
Edwin J. Rothwell, a native of Ottawa, Canada, born in 1840, and
educated there and at North Perth, migrated to Cal. in i864, then to
Boise, Id., following mining until 1871, when he began the study of medicine
with his brother, W. J. Rothwell. In 1873 he went to Ann Arbor, and took
a course in the medical dept of the university, graduating is 1875. He also
took a special course on the eye and ear under Prof. Frothingham. He com-
menced practise in the state of N. Y., where he remained until 1880, Ijeiug
prest of the Tompkins co. Med. soc. In 1881 he came to Denver with his
brother, P. D. Rothwell, with whom he engaged in the practise of his profes-
sion, and became treas. of the Denver Med. soc. He married in Ann Arbor
in 1875, and has two sons and two daughters.
Arnold Sedman was born in Me in 1839, receiving a collegiate
education at Colby university. He enlisted in the union army in 1862, with
the rank of orderly sergt in the Me infantry, serving one year. In 1863 he
commenced the study of medicine, at Newport, Me, graduating from the
medical college of Pitt.ifield, Mass, in 1865. He practised at Dexter until
1870, when he married Miss Brown of Portland, and removed to Denver,
where he assisted to form the first med. association of Denver, the same
year, and the ter. association in 1871. He was the third president of the
Denver asso. and prest of the state asso. in 1878-9; also founder of the med.
dept of the Denver university, and prest of the school board for a number of
years.
J. Solomon, born in Ky, in 1851, was educated and studied medi-
cine at Shelbyville, and entered the med. dept of Louisville imiversity in
1877, graduating in 1880, when he came to Colo to settle.
;Mary Barker Bates, M. D., born in Cayuga co., N. Y., in 1845, was the
daughter of a prominent physician, Ezra T. Barker, with whom she removed
to Wis. at the age of 14 years. She was sent to Evanstown, 111., to school,
and afterwards to Edmunds college, N. Y., graduating from that institution
in 1871, to enter the Woman's Medical college of Pa, from which she grad-
uated in 1873. Her first practise was in Salt Lake City, where she was phy-
sician to Brigham Young's family for five years, her practice in Salt Lake
being worth not less than .$1,000 nor more than 81,700 per month. In 1876
she married George C. Bates; and removed with him to Leadville, Colorado,
where she assisted in establishing the Ladies' Relief hospital. Rheumatism
compelling a change of climate, she came to Denver in 1881, where she
resumed practice. Mr Bates, to whom she was married, died in 1886. He
was also a native of Cayuga co., N. Y., born in 1815, a graduate of Herbert
college, Geneva, and read law with Stephen A, Douglass, in the ofiice of John
C. Spencer. He removed to Detroit in 1834, and was appointed U. S. dist
attorney for Mich., holding the office for twelve years. He was a prominent
Hist. Nev. 42
658 LATER EVENTS.
whig, and made one of the first, if not the first republican speech in Cal.,
where he was sent as special govt agent in 1852, and wliere he remained
until 1856, He was instrumental in placing Zach. Chandler in the U. S.
senate. He was appointed U. S. dist attorney for Utah by Prest Grant. At
the time of his death he was engaged in writing a history of the Bench and
Bar of the Northwest. He was the youngest member of the Phila conven-
tion, which endeavored to nominate Henry Clay for the presidency, and a
personal friend of Daniel Webster.
Thomas H. Hawkins, M. D., born in Ky in 1849, removed with his
parents to Ind. when a child. He received a collegiate education at Asbury
university, Ind. , and after graduating from there, studied medicine in the
med. dept of Louisville university, and the Bellevue hospital, N. Y., grad-
uating from the latter in 1873. He practised in New York until 1879 when
he came to Colorado to restore failing health, and find in tlie climate what
he sought, remained. He was identified with the founding of the Denver
Medical college, and the Colorado State Woman's hospital, founded the Den-
ver Medical Times, was prest of the County Med. asso., surgeon of St Luke's
hospital, and assisted in establishing the Ladies' Relief hospital, of which he
had charge during the first year of its existence.
Leonard Atkiii, born in 111. in 1830, resided at Shipping Grove until 1875,
when he came to Colorado, purchasing an interest in a ranclio and living on
it two years, when he settled in Denver, engaging in real estate transactions
and having spice mills. In 1880 he sold out, and in 1883 erected one of the
handsomest residences in the city at that time, but died soon after, leaving
his family a fortune of $200,000.
George J. Hartung, was born in New Y'^ork in 1854, and educated at
the German public schools, and N. Y. college. He graduated from the
N. Y. college of dentistry in 1876, practising for three years with his
father , the oldest German dentist in New Y'ork. In 1883 he came to Colo
for his health, travelling among the mining camps until he recovered, when
he settled in Denver, being the only German dentist in the state
HISTORY OF ^^OMIKG.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Bou^^DARIES A.XD Sitbface-The Hills and Plains or Laramie-Oeologic
History-The River Platte-Black Hills-Deserts which are not
Deserts— Mountainous Formations and Upheavals— Minerals and
Metals-Fontana, the Land of Rn^ERS-RoLLiNG Plain of the
N0RTH^VE3T-F0RESTS AND LaKES-FaLLS OF THE YeLLOWSTONE-
ScENES OF Beauty and Grandeur-Atlantic and Pacific Creeks, and
Two-Ocean and Other Passes-Specimens of World Forcings and
Weldings-Geyser Basins-Mud and Water Volcanoes-Paint
Pots— Sulphur Mountain— Subterraijean Rumblings— Climate-
Animated Nature.
Imagine an undulating plain extending from the
mouth of the Platte river westward over five hundred
miles gaining gradually in altitude until the elevation
has reached six thousand feet. Then extend a hne,
still west, on the forty-first parallel to the thirty-fourth
meridian, thence north on that longitude to the forty-
fifth parallel, and east to the twenty-seventh meridian,
and from there south to the place of beginning. The
area enclosed is nearly 100,000 square miles, being
350 miles in length from east to west, and 230 miles
in breadth from north to south.
In a general sense this territory, which I have thus
enclosed in arbitrary bomidaries, is a plateau with a
mean elevation of 6,400 feet ; its lowest level is 3,534,
and its highest altitude 13,858 feet, the first being
the channel of a river, and the last the summit of a
mountain, Through its western portion runs the
GGO PHYSICAL FEATURES.
continental tlivide, but broken into several separate
ranges, and having a wide opening toward the Pacific
of Uttle more than 1,400 feet above the mean elevation
of tlie territory.
On this roughened plane stand many ridges and
groups of various heights. Beginning at tlie south-
east corner, wo encounter not far from the boundary
a semicircular range, about two thousand feet above
the general level, known as tlie Laramie hills, and
west of these the Laramie })lains, containing an area
of seven thousand square miles, and having an alti-
tude of seven thousand feet. They are bounded on
the west and north by the north branch of the Platte,
which, coming from the south, sweeps in a long curve
around the northern base of the Laramie hills before
flowing eastward, and on the south by the Medicine
Bow mountains, another low range projecting over
the boundary of Colorado, and joining by a line of
broken elevations the Sweetwater range, the whole
having a northwest trend, and spreading out about
twenty-five miles. Crossing this line of hills, we pro-
ceed westward over a broken country, much of it with
a red and nearly naked soil, to the valley of Green
river, a favorite feeding-ground of the buffalo, and
wliich is bounded on the west by the Wasatch range,
one of the most beautiful in America, with its sharp
outlines, its glistening pinnacles, and diaphanous at-
mosphere, colored with the tints of the violet and
rose.
As I havo said, the belt of country passed over is
broken, not into rolling hills, as on the great plains to
the east, but more abruptly, and dotted here and there
with rocky buttes. like barren islands rising out of a
sea of mud which had been stiffened by drought, or
with here and there sand dunes in long ridges which
move with the wind. As to the geologic history of
this desert, it may be variously conjectured. Let us
say that it is the bottom of a sea, once drained to the
east by the Platte river. These sands still flow in
WYOMING. 661
the direction of its ancient waters. South of our
route fifty miles we may trace it, moving, moving,
ever moving, never two days in the same place, for
two hundred miles, or until it reaches the North
Platte, whose rapid current bears it down to where it
obstructs navigation, and makes this great stream
only an irrigating ditch. The width of this river of
sand is a mile and a half, its depth two feet over a
hard bottom. On the northern shore of the stream
stands a mass of black lava five hundred feet high, of
a spheroidal form. In its centre is a basin of living
water, and at its foot a large spring, fed from the
same source, about which is a mound, serving as a
curb, rising ten feet above the plain. The depth of
the spring is very great, and the water, though cold
and pure, has a taste of sulphur. These are some of
the indications of the volcanic era in this region.
The absence of any very rugged mountains on the
route I have indicated suggests this as a highway
laid out by the Great Intelligence in the latitude most
favorable at all seasons for that migration to the shore
of the Pacific which modern times have witnessed.
The absence of water and grass over a great portion
of it, and the presence of sand, pushed this migration
northward along the bases of the mountains that
fence in the Sweetwater pass of the great divide, and
it was left to that only less cunning artificer, the man
of science and steam, to carry out the design of the
creative mind.
Entering the territory from the northeast, we en-
counter the Black hills, lying across the boundary
line, chiefly in Dakota, a group of low, timbered
mountains, embraced between the north and south
branch of the Cheyenne river. Other ranges, pro-
jecting from the headwaters of the Little Missouri
and other streams, roughen this northeast region,
which is also not without its remarkable features, the
most noticeable of which is an immense porphyry up-
heaval, resembling in shape the tepees of the aboriginal
6G2 PHYSICAL FEATURES.
inliabitants of the plains. The mass, wJiich stands
upon a pedestal of milk-white elay, fifteen hundred
feet in diameter and five Imndred feet high, on the
bank of the North fork, is itself nine hundred feet in
diameter where it j<nns the base, and three hundred
feet at the summit, which is 1,126 feet above the level
of the river. It consists of seventy-six columns, com-
pactly placed, of a gray, por})liyrytic rock resembling
granite with the mica left out, the columns being the
result of crystallization. Standing alone in a plain,
several miies from any other elevation, the effect is
that of one of the ])yramids of Egypt dropped down
in this not un-Egyptian landscape.
West of the short ranges, just referred to, lie the
vallevs of the. Powder river and its branches, occupying
from 50 to 100 miles in breadth. Still west of those
plains rises the magnificent Big Horn range, covering
an area 50 by 150 miles in extent, and shooting up a
dozen peaks from 9,000 tonearl}^ 14,000 feet. Through
an extensive basin of broken country, beyond these
mountains, flows the Bighorn river on its way to the
Yellowstone, receiving numerous tributaries both from
the Bighorn range on tlie east and the Shoshone range
on the west. The southern boundary of the Big-
horn basin is Owl Creek range, connecting with the
Wind River mountains, a line of needle peaks, which
trend northwest from the divide north of the
Sweetwater, and join the Shoshone range. Still
further west, on the border of Idaho, is the Teton
range, with some high and inaccessible peaks, bounded
on the south by the upper canon of Snake river, and
between this and the Shoshone range are the lakes
which form the sources of the Snake and Yellowstone
rivers. South of the Teton range and Snake River
canon is a chaos of mountains, of no great elevation
above the surrounding country, in divides or groups,
and covering a considerable extent of country. On
the tops of some are plateaux from which innumer-
able streams flow east, west, and south to larger rivers.
^YYOMIXG. 663
One of these principal streams is Green river, which
heads in Wind River mountains, and runs south with
a sHght bend toward the west. In this semicircular
valley lies 16,500 square miles of territory, irregularly
shaped, bounded on the south by the Uinta range in
Utah, and having a general elevation of 7,000 feet.
This plateau reaches south-east to that long east-
and-west plateau before mentioned as the Pacific
highway, and both have been named Red desert, or
Colorado desert, from the brick-red color of the soil,
and the scarcity of vegetation. I reject this nomen-
clature as that of ignorance; for the detritus of the
mountains about it, which forms its soil, and the sub-
stances deposited by the seas and fresh water lakes
which once covered all the country between the Mis-
souri and Rocky range and the range itself, is not a
barren sand, but contains all the elements of unusual
fertility, and lacks only moisture sufficient to quicken
it.
Geologically, the mountain masses are of difl*erent
periods of upheaval. The lower elevations are com-
posed of sedimentary rocks, from the carboniferous
limestone to the most recent tertiary beds, jumbled
with the oldest formations, which have been thrust
up through them. In general, the crests of the
higher ranges are of feldspathic granite, syenite
and gneiss, while lower down their slopes occur Silu-
rian, devonian, carboniferous, triassic, Jurassic, and
cretaceous rocks, appearing according to the extent of
upheaval or the amount of erosive action. The ele-
vated plateaux are mostly cretaceous, overlaid by ter-
tiary sandstone, and with gravel and drift showing
the action of water. The story of the creative and
destructive forces of the globe is laid open where the
narrative is most interesting, showing us at one point
on the great highway all the rock formations, from the
granite foundations of our world to the latest creta-
ceous deposits. In the lower valley's dark loams pre-
vail, on the plateaux sandy loams. Beneath the sur-
CM PHYSICAL FEATURES.
face lie extensive coal measures, chiefly in the southern
}>ortit)n of the territory, but also in the valleys of the
Powder, Bi^^horn, and Wind rivers, and in the Lar-
amie mountains and plains. Shales, hearinL*" petroleum,
are abundant. Iron, limestone, build in«;-stone, beds
of soda several feet in thickness, mountains of sul-
phur, mica, copper, lead, silver, and gold crop-u}) from
plains or project from mountain sides. For the most
part the country appears treeless, the timber being
confined to the mountains, the principal ranges of
which are clothed in pine, spruce, fir, hemlock and
cedar.
It is not to be supposed that this high and some-
what bare region is deficient in watercourses. On the
contrary few countries have so many. It might be
appropriately named Fontana, as its neighbor was
Montana, from the great number of rivers and river
sources. The Platte has not less than forty small
tributaries. The Sweetwater, Green, and Bighorn
rivers all rise in the Wind River mountains, every
neighboring range sending down feeders. Cheyenne,
Powder, and Tongue rivers rise in a divide in the
north-east corner of the territory; the Yellowstone
and the Snake in the north-west corner.
This north-west portion is a rolling plain, of a mean
elevation of 8,000 feet, with short ridges and occa-
sional peaks reaching a height of 10,000 feet. A
dense forest covers the greater portion of the land.
A little south of the centre is a lake twenty by fifteen
miles in area, irregular in form, giving a lengthened
shore-line, dotted with wooded islands, bordered by
beaches radiant with sjiarkling pebbles, reflecting in
its clear depths pictures of the gray clifts and green
woods which surround it. Out of the north end of
the lake flows, very gently for a few miles, the Yellow-
stone river, which gradually becomes more hurried,
forming impetuous rapids, and fir ally shooting in a
sheet of snowy foam over a ])recipice 140 feet in
height, the whole body of water in its haste clearing
WYOMING. 665
the brink and falling fifteen feet beyond the base of
the cliffs. The river here enters a canon from 200 to
400 feet in depth, and for half a mile foams and
sparkles, leaps and plunges among the rocks to a
second fall of 397 feet perpendicular, where it enters
the grand canon from 1,000 to 2,000 feet in depth,
where in darkness, and with sighs and groans unheard
at the surface, it rushes through twenty miles of rocky
fissure before it again emerges into light and freedom.
Lesser canons and falls occur on tributary streams,
but none to rival the Yellowstone cataracts and canons.
Beauty as well as grandeur enters into the effect.
The walls of the basin into which the river first
plunges are composed of rock and conglomerate, held
together with clays dyed in vivid tints of yellow, red,
green, and purple, by the percolation of mineralized
waters. Fantastic shapes, resulting from the wearing
away of friable material, some grand, some mirth-
provoking, abound on every hand. Towers, spires,
buttresses, and other architectural effects suggest
ruins of man's creations, rather than the decay of an
older world builded by God himself Fostered by
spray from the cataracts, dainty plants and mosses
flourish greenly in their vicinity, decorating as for an
eternal festival every lofty archway, mimic hall, and
simulated chapel, and floating their emerald streamers
from every gaily-painted obelisk and tower.
Yellowstone lake, as I have said, has a lengthened
shore line. It is, in fact, a collection of narrow inlets
with a common centre, shaped much like an enormous
tuber, with projecting knobs on every side. Into the
southeast one of these bays flows the upper Yellow-
stone, which rises in the Shoshone range. It is the
only feeder of the lake of any size, and has a small
fork to the southwest called Atlantic creek. Heading
in the same mountains is a feeder of Snake river
known as Pacific creek, and these two creeks, starting
from neighboring sources, but taking opposite direc-
tions, furnish a pass which is known as Two-ocean
666 PHYSICAL FEATURES.
l)ass, loadliiL( from Snake river below Jackson lake to
the Yellowstone lake, via the ui)per Yellow.stone river.
Pacific creek is not, however, the source of the sinuous
Serpent river whose rocky channel through Idaho has
been described, Shoshone lake, or as it should be
named, De Lacy lake, being the fountain head. Joined
to this lake by a wide neck is a second, called Lewis
lake, and not far east, at the foot of Mount Sheridan,
a third, named Heart lake, which also sends a stream
to Snake river. Twenty miles below these head-
waters, on the western slope of the continental divide,
the Snake forms Jackson lake, which is larger than
the f(»rmer, and has an island of some size in the
southern end. A little way south of Jackson are
Leigh and Jenny lakes, connected by a creek and
tributary to the river. A ])ark-like basin extends
along the Snake from the first lake to the upper
canon^ named by early trappers Jackson hole. The
cafion, a narrow defile twenty miles in length, through
which the river foams and tosses frantically, is still
passable by following a trail clinging to the precipi-
tous side about a hundred feet above the stream.
From these topographical features it will be seen that
travel from other parts of the before described terri-
tory to this northwx'st corner should be difficult.
Walled away from the remainder by the high Sho-
shone range, and stopped by canons from approach by
river, it is nearly inaccessible. As to mountain passes,
tliere is the Toowotee, at the head of VV^ind river,
which leads to the head of Black Kock creek, a trib-
utary of the Snake, through Buffalo fork; and south
of this, in the Wind river range, Union pass, at the
head of CTros Ventre, another branch of Snake river;
east of Yellowstone lake is Stinking river pass, at
the head of the north fork of that river, itself a trib-
utary of the Bighorn, none of which breaking in the
chain of environing mountains is available for ordinary
travel. To come to Yellowstone lake we nmst ap-
proach from the north, and by the Madison fork of
WYOMING. 667
the Missouri. Here are revealed some of the least
coinmon processes of nature in giving the finishino-
touches to the work of world-making, not quite com-
pleted in this region. Let us approach, then, by the
Madison river, passing through an eight-mile labyrinth,
not gloomy, or even difficult, but opening out in some
parts to the width of half a mile, forming parks
adorned with miniature forests, and having grassy
glades furnished with frequent springs of ice-cold
water, in other parts contracting to a few yards of
space, but always beautiful and cheerful, as if gaily
conducting us to a glorious spectacle beyond. As we
emerge from this seductive path we come into a valley
of no great extent, clothed in vegetation, at the upper
end of which unite the streams which constitute the
headwaters of the Madison river. The name given
to this verdant vale by those men of simple and strong
speech who, in our time, at least, first invaded its soli-
tude, was Fire hole, and to the principal stream enter-
ing it Fire-hole river. Their reason for this appellation
was the unmistakable evidences, visible in the soil and
rocks, of the agency of fire in giving character to it.
Probably at that time, too, these appearances were
even more striking than at present, being less con-
cealed by vegetation. Following up Firehole river,
which comes leaping joyfully down from the heights
in a succession of noisy cascades, we find the banks
lined with moisture-loving trees, aspens, cottonwoods,
and willows, coming finally to a pine forest, out of
which we emerge rather suddenly into a region so
suggestive of a lake of fire and brimstone that the
discoverers above referred to did not hesitate to call
it hell. Having begun to liken things hereabout to
the infernal regions, they named one of the most im-
petuous and noisy of the affluents of the Yellowstone
Hellroaring river, which appellation, with all its oblo-
quy, still clings to this stream.
Over a tract of country many miles in extent vol-
canic forces are still at work. Instead of frightful
CG8 niYSICAL FEATURES.
eruptions of molten lava, vhieh in the remote ages
poured down the sharp ridges of the Shoshone range;
instead of mountains being thrust up in (jne }tlace and
sunken in ant)ther when their fiery contents had been
belehed forth, we have now on the site of former
s[)ectaeles of indescribable grandeur the milder sugges-
tion of this past offered by ten thousand hot springs
and geysers, divided between two principal geyser
basins. Intermittent in action, and differing in char-
acter and power, the display is infinite in variety, and
wonderful as varied. Hot steam, which roars and
hisses as it escapes, loud rumblings, discharges like
parks of artillery from the explosion of gases, and
nauseous od(^)rs from the minerals held in solution in
the vast cauldnjn whose outlets are these springs,
imply a region below wliich even the souls of Dante
and Virgil would have shrunk from exploring.
Yet this region is most attractive. It contains the
largest spouting geysers in the world, each with dis-
tinctive features. The ]\Iud volcano plays regularly
once in six hours; Grand geyser, in Firehole basin,
throws a column of clear hot water twenty -five feet
in thickness at the base two hundred and fifty feet
into the air for twenty minutes at a time ; its neigh-
bor, the Fan geyser, discharges in five radiating jets
to a height of sixty feet for an hour. In another
place the Giant plays, with a diameter of seven and a
height of 140 feet, lasting three hours; the Giantess,
with a diameter of eighteen and a height of 250 feet,
lasting twenty minutes; the Beehive, with a diameter
of twenty and a height of 219 feet, lasting twenty
minutes; Old Faithful, with a diameter of six and a
height of 200 feet, lasting twenty minutes; Grotto,
with a diameter of four and a height of sixty feet,
lasting thirty minutes ; Castle, with a diameter of
five and a height of 100 feet, lasting from ten to thirty
minutes Their names have been suggested by the
forms of the concretions about them. The geysers,
and many of the hot springs, deposit a sediment ac-
WYOMING. 669
cording to the minemls held in solution, which builds
up fantastic or beautifully formed and often brilliantly-
colored basins. Some of the dead geysers have left
behind huge paint- pots, the residuum of long periods
of activity. Here and there stand quaint forms carved
by wind and weather out of decaying volcanic matter.
Such are Devil's Hoof and Liberty Cap. White
Dome, The Castle, Circe's Boudoir, The Pyramid,
and the Punch-bowl are the curious shapes taken by
the same material about the still active geysers. In
one place is a soda, and in another a sulphur fountain
still hot at a depth of two feet from the surface ; in
another an alum spring, or a chalk vat; and in still
another a pitch-stone plateau. At intervals are groves
of pines. Springs of pure cold water are frequent,
and contain trout, which the angler may drop into a
boiling fountain without changing his position, and
catch and cook his dinner at once. The air is full of
singular sounds, rumblings, roarings, hissings, explo-
sions. Millions of diamonds are thrown off sparkling
from the lofty shafts of water constantly shivering
into drops; curling clouds of steam float in and out
among them, and countless broken rainbows hang on
nothing. It is not easy to depict a scene like this ; it
is too grand, too shifting, too altogether unusual.
Volcanic action is mainly confined to two basins
east of the summit of the Rocky mountains, and a
little northwest of Yellowstone lake, among the high-
est feeders of the Madison river. Far east of these,
however, on the Stinkingwater fork of Bighorn river,
is Colter hell, where similar phenomenon is ex-
hibited on a lesser scale. Immediately about the
geyser basins, and to the east, especially east of Yel-
lowstone lake, the forest is nearly continuous, and is
the home of a variety of game. The lakes and streams
abound in several kinds of fish, while their shores are
the nesting-places of numerous water-fowls. The
altitude of this region is but little more than that of
the remainder of the territory, whose mean elevation
«70 PHYSICAL FEATURES. I
is 6,400. But two peaks in all this vast rcgidn of
mountainous country equal the lieiglit of hundretls
soutli of that elevated, broken plain which we traversed \
a few paL,^es back. This greater uniformity of level
has its ert'ect on the climate, which is also i)roportion- |
ately uniform. The mean temperature of the geyser I
basins in the extreme northwest differs from that of a
point in the extreme southeast but a few degrees, the
altitude being 1,325 feet greater in the former, the
influences of which elevation and the vicinity of :
the snow-peaks being overcome by the moderating
effect of the geysers. Other local causes produce
sliijht variations from the chani2:es resultinoj from dif- i
^ . . . .
ferences in altitude ; but aside from these, the ordinary I
summer heat is about seventy degrees, and the mean |
winter temperature above twenty degrees. On the j
higher ranges the snowfall is heavy, on the plains
light. About once each winter there are a few days *
when a wave of cold sweeps over the whole east slope
of the Rocky mountains, and a blinding storm of snow
as dry as sand obscures the country for hundreds of
miles. Spring comes late and w^inter early, but the |
dry atmosphere exhilarates like wine. There is, indeed,
on a clear morning, following a still, cold night, a |
brilliant dawn followed by a mirage, which has the '
effect to elevate and bring into view large tracts of
country not ordinarily visible, being cut off by inter-
vening oljjects. As the sun rises the refraction ceases,
and the distant objects which had been pictured upon ,
the air sink out of sight.
The creator does not seem to have designed this ^
region particularly for the use of those M'orthy men (
who cause two blades of grass to grow where he ]
planted but one; yet it has not been left sterile to any
disproportionate degree. Wherever the altitude does
not exceed seven thousand feet the grains which sup-
port life may be grown. Those who handle the plough
not being here, the plains, valleys, and even the j
mountain sides, were set with the richest of grasses j
WYOMING. cn
for tiie fattening of innumerable bison, that tbe red
men might have food, and the mighty beast suffer.
Darting across the himter's path, herds of the Kthe
gazelle added their grace of movement to the immense
panorama. Deer, sheltering in the enclosed vales and
glades, fed together in families. In the devp woods
bears of several species had their habitat, and found
roots for food. Beasts of prey sent their angry cries
through the forest, famished by the thirst for blood.
Wolves howled like dogs to be fed. Moimtain sheep
climbed the seemingly inaccessible ridges, and kept
their sentinels on the loftiest peaks. Moose peered
over the edges of cliffs and elk pastured themselves
in the high valleys. Tiny creatures of a hundred
form sdarted from wocKiy coverts, or out of subter-
ranean homes, with the busy air of intelligent com-
munities. The ctmning beaver labored to impede the
rapid mountain torrents with dams that have with-
stood the freshets of centuries, delighting in this land
of numerous watercourses. G^me birds and song
birds had here their favorite feeding-grounds. Bugs
and butterflies made populous the dust and the air.
Even the serpent, emblem at once of eternal life and
voluntary evil, was not absent, taking up his residence
iu the underground habitation of the prairie-dog, to
escape the blistering heat of the sands, where he
sometimes met that strange inmate, the owl. also hid-
ing from the intense sunshine of the plains. So did
this region abound with life in ages when the white
man, to the knowledge of the red man, was not.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
1650-1850.
Unfocn-ded RrMORS of Spanish Occupation— Pre-historic Aboriginal
Inhabitants— Westward Exploration— Verendrye, Lewis and
Clarke, Lisa, and Williams— Missouri Fur Company— Henry Fort
— Long's Expedition — Ashley on Utah Lake— Other Trappers and
Traders—Fort Bridcjer— Missionaries of Oreuon— The Gallamt
Pathfinder— Battalion of Mounted Volunteers— Forts Leaven-
worth, Kearny, and Laramie— Scott and his Bluffs— The Pathway
OF THE Nations.
It has been claimed by certain Spanish authorities
that previous to 1650 their countr^^inen had penetrated
into the territory south of, but not quite to, the Mis-
souri river, where they found gold, and made settle-
ments, openingcanals for mining purposes, constructing
arastras, and building houses of stone, and where for
twenty-five years they carried on mining and fur-
hunting, sending richly-laden trains to New ^lexico.
About 1G50 the natives, they say, arose and killed
them all. There is nothing true in this statement.'
Some coloring has been given to the story by the
discovery, in 1865, of what appeared to be the stone
The Spaniards hail all tliey couM do to hold their own in New Mexico
during the 17th century, without venturing 800 miles into the wihlerne.^9
among the Indians. There were no such expeditions as represented, although
in order to secure grants of land or patents of nobility Spanish adventurers
related such stories to the king. In the 18th century there were not infre-
quent expeditions after Indians who made forays into New Mexico. Such
were those of Valverde, in 1719, with 105 Spaniards, 30 pueldo Indians, and
a company of Apaches, under Carlana, captain, which went further north
than any previous one; and the expedition of Capt. Villazur the same year,
on a .similar errainl. It is doubtful if they went farther north than the
Arkansas river. Vab;;-iM y Cocis, Diario y Derrotero, 1719, by his secretary,
Alouzo Ruel de Aguilar,
(672)
WYOMING. 673
foundations of houses, and what might pass for an
ancient arastra, on the headwaters of Powder river,
and about Sniet lake.
But if we explore the past critically, we shall find
that at some period anterior to the history of the ex-
isting aboriginal races in the country, and perhaps
contemporaneous with the cliff-dwellers of Colorado,
a people to whom the present tribes of red men were
as little known as the Caucasian was at a later period
to these, had their habitations here. Of their pres-
ence the traces are distinct, their relics being found
chiefly in the country about the head of the Yellow-
stone, and in the Bighorn and Wind river valleys.
They consist of steatite vessels, bow^l-shaped, and
neatly finished, stone lance-heads, knives, and scrapers,
and sinkers for fishing-lines made of volcanic sand-
stone, or of a green-veined marble. The workmanship
of these articles is different from smy found on the
Pacific or Atlantic coasts, and unlike any in use among
tlie present native tribes' inhabiting Montana and
Wyoming. Other remains point to a scarcity of tim-
ber in the past in that part of the mountains where
timber is now plentiful, the driveways for game being
constructed of stone instead of wood, and the occur-
rence of small, circular enclosures of stone seeming to
indicate that, if not the foundations of houses, they
were used for covers from which to shoot game.
Heaps of bones, tools, ornaments, weapons, burial
cairns, and mining shafts are among the proofs of their
presence. At what period they disappeared and
recent tribes took their place is among the secrets
^ I find drawings of these articles in the Fifth A nmial Beport of P. W.
Norris, Superintendent of the YelUnvstone National Par J:, 1881, pp. 32-8. There
is mention of these prehistoric remains in The Reconnaissance of Northtredern
Wyomin;^, by W. A. Jones, U. S. engineers, 1875, a scientific report upon the
geography, meteorology, geology, thermal waters, botany, and entomology
of Wyoming. His remarks occupy pp. 259 to 270. Kecent discoveries in
the valley of Santa Lucia, N. M., point to a prehistoric race of which the
Wyoming stone-workers were perhaps a branch. Metcalf, of Denver, has a
collection of their stone axes and hammers, breast-plates, carvings, etc.,
found in a cavern. Cotton batting and thread were found among the other
relics.
Hist. Nev. 43
674 EAKLY EXPLORATIONS.
which the past refuses to disclose. The debris of
ages covers the sik'iit witnesses of tlieir existence,
which })atieiit research is only now hri nuking to hglit,'
and to them I sliouhl refer the stone ruins credited to
Spanish occupation.
Exph)ration b}- wliite men was begun in Wyoming
in 1743-4, when Sieur de la Verendrye and his sons,
of Canada, visited the Rocky mountains i)y the way
of the great lakes and the Assiniboine, Missouri, Yel-
lowstone, and Bighorn rivers. Passing up Pr^'or fork
to the Stinkingwater, they travelled thence south as
far as Wind river, being about a year on this part of
their journey, and learning nmch about the geography
of the country and the customs of the Indian tribes.
They would have gone still further south had not the
Shoshones told them they would be killed if they did
so by parties of the Sans Arcs band of Sioux, the
hereditary enemies of their nation, who were always
watching about the South pass.*
This is the first we hear about the celebrated
opening, and as far as it goes it is authentic, as is also
that which is said about the Indians. Other expedi-
tions would have followed but for the change in the
ownership of trading-posts, which after tlie seven
years' war between France and England fell into the
hands of the English, who left exj)loratiou altogether
to the fur coujpanies. The war of the revolt of the
colonies followed, at the termination of which many
posts which had first been French, and had passed to
the English, became a part of the possessions of the
United States, which government, as soon as it was
'Norris says, in his lifT>t Xnlionnl Purk; 1881, p. .30, that the most abun-
dant remains exist outside of the National park to the north, which would
hring them into Montana. He traced tliem from the borders of the park,
beh)W tlie moutli of (iardiner river, tlirougli Bottler jiark, and tlie (Jate of
tlic Mountains, to tlie open plains, a distance of (JO miles. Hut Jones, in his
Jiei'oiiiiiiMntitire, found a stone circle on the right bank of T.ittle Wiml river,
south of Butte springs, below Camp Brown, three by six feet in dimensions.
Several others in the Wind river region are described, and the author favors
the inference of religious ceremonials connected with them, but I am of the
opinion they were connected with h\»nting.
*.See J/i.<t. Xort/iincat Coast, this series; also Granville Stuart, iu CunlrU'U-
ti:ni to the Historical Sociiti/ of Montana, 'C\Q,
WYOMING. 675
able, after the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, sent an
expedition to explore a path to the Pacific, in 1804-6,
which did not reach the country south of the three
branches of the Missouri in Montana. The action of
the government in sending out Lewis and Clarke still
further stimulated private adventure, which had
already begun to look toward the Rocky mountains,
as I have shown in my History of Colorado. Among
the first of whom there is any record were two men
from Illinois, Hancock and Dickson, who hunted
beaver on the Yellowstone in 1804.^ I'^^y remained
in the country in 1806, and were joined by John
Colter, one of the members of Lewis and Clarke's
company, who was discharged on the Missouri, below
the mouth of the Yellowstone, and returned up the
river, wintering on the headwaters of Pryor's fork.
In the spring of 1807 he went through Pryor's gap
of the Bighorn mountains to Clarke fork, crossing
thence by the Stinking water pass ^ to the Yellowstone,
which he forded between the lake and the falls,
neither of which he saw, as the information furnished
to the government, and illustrated in the map pub-
lished in 1814, goes to show. He came to Shoshone
lake, which he called Lake Erastus, and believed it
the source of the Yellowstone, no greater error than
has been committed at a much more recent period by
much more scientific explorers.' Then he crossed the
^ Lewis and Clarices Travds, 638. London ed., 1814.
* The map accompanying Lewis and Clarke's narrative of their expedition,
among its other faults, makes Colter go through the mountains almost
directly west of the confluence of the forks of Clarke river, which is improb-
able, owing to the nature of the country. Ihe Stinking water offers a pass,
although by no means a good one. It would bring him to the Yellowstone,
wiiere he crossed it, while the moie southern passes would take him far from
the geyser region, which he described sufficiently to make it certain that he
v.-as not only at Colter hell on the Stinking water, but in the upper geyser
basin as well.
' Hayden believed it drained into the Madison. Why should not men
be just? This lake, when seen by De Lacy, was named after himself, he
having discovered that it was the source of Snake river, which properly en-
titled him to the honor. Hayden changed the name, without any good
reason. It might properly be called Colter lake, as he was, without ques-
tion, the first white man to map this region, and probably his party was
the first in
67« E.UILY KXPLORATIOXS.
Rocky mountains to the hecod of Green river, and
back a^^aiii to the liead of Wind river, which he mis-
took for the main Bi^liorn, and l)y a northeast course
over mountain and valley came again to the Sthikin*^-
water,* and back to his cam]) of the previous winter,
in the country- of the Crows. Who accompanied
Colter in this journey is not known. It may liave
been his two comrades of the year previous, or some
other or others, but there is no reason to believe he
was alone. He remained many years in the moun-
tains ; his death is unrecorded, and he passes out of
sight in this history."
Manuel Lisa in 1807 estabhshed a trading-post and
fort at the mouth of the Bighorn river, and was i)rob-
ably the first t<j erect a fort in this part of the Kocky
mountains. Altliough in ^lontana, the district from
whicli he drew his peltries was equally in Wyoming,
It is said that even earlier Antonio Mateo, a Portu-
guese, had a fort on the head of Powder river. There
is a tradition among mountain men that this fort was
once invested for sixty days by the Sioux, and the
appearance of the ruins gives probability to the story.
The first authentic expedition to the region whose
history we are following was by a party under Ezekiol
*It is aslaniler to use tliia non-descriptive name for an inoffensive stream.
Tlie early trappers took it from the Indians, wlio, in tlioir peculiar fashion,
called it 'tlie river tliat ran by the stinking M'ater,' referring to bad-sniclling
hot springs on its hanks.
'Lewis ami Clarke say in their narrative, pp. G43— 4, that Colter was once
near lionie, luit meeting with a hunting party going to the mountains joined
it, an<l returned witliout seeing his friends. There is current the story of
his running tlie gauntlet among tiie IJlackfoot, and escaping with lifo, thourh
not without severe Wftunds and nnicii suffering. I'otts, anothor of Lcvi'is
and CI irke's company, wlio hail returneil to tiie mountains, was -u-ith him.
The men were surprised while tr-<pj)ing. Being wounded, I'otta shot an
Indian, when he was instantly riddled with arrows. Colter was seized,
stripped naked, and given a cliance to run for his life. Ho was pursued by
several hundred Indians, the ground that he had to pass over being covered
witli prickly pear, which lacerated his naked feet. Such exertion did he
make tliat the blood gu.sheil from his mouth and nostrils. Eluding his cnc-
mici by tlie utmost eifort, he darted into tlie river, and concealed himself
l)2neath a raft of driftwood, lodgcil against an islaml. Although the Indians
were upon tlie island and tlie raft during tlie <lay, he was not discovered,
and escapeil in the night. Seven days afterwards lie arrived, famished,
I)listcred with the sun's heat, with his feet ami legs terribly swollen, at the
fort of Manuel Lisa on the Bighorn, near the Yellowstone, where he wao
hospitably received, and recovered.
WYOMING. 677
Williams, in 1807. This hardy frontiersman had been
employed by the government to lead an escort of
twenty men to restore to his own people a chief of
the Mandans, who, with his family, had been induced
to accompany Lewis and Clarke to Washington, in
1806. This duty performed, Williams and party con-
tinued on to the Blackfoot country, where they began
trapping, dividing their company into two detach-
ments. While on the Yellowstone, near its mouth,
one detachment was attacked by one hundred Black-
foot, and five of their number killed, the other five
escaping to camp. The company immediately moved
southward into the country of the Crows, where one
of their number, named Rose, a worthless character
who had attached himself to the expedition in St
Louis, determined to remain. Williams, with his
greatly reduced party, proceeded farther south, de-
signing to go to California via the South pass, of
whose existence he seems to have had some informa-
tion. While upon the headwaters of the North
Platte, he was again attacked, this time by Crows,
and lost again five men, killing, however, twenty of
the enemy. Their horses having been taken before
the battle, the remaining ten men were set on foot,
and compelled to cache their furs and other property
too heavy to be carried. Williams then moved south-
ward again, wandering among the mountains until
spring, when he had reached the South Platte, and
his connection with this portion of my history ceases. ^"^
The names of those of Williams' party who survived,
besides himself and the renegade Rose, were Work-
man and Spencer.
In 1808 the Missouri Fur company was formed in
St Louis, of which Lisa was a member, as well as
William Clark, Pierre Choteau, Sr, Sylvester Laba-
^° See note 12, ch. ii., of my History of Colorado and H'lstory of the North-
irest Const, vol. xxviii., this series, pp. 127-8; also The Lost TrapjKrs, by-
David H. Coyner-
678 EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
die, Pierre Menard, and Aiiguste P. Choteau. They
sent Alexander Henry U[) the Missouri to estahUsli
posts, and endeavor to open cc^nnieree witli the Ind-
ians west of the Rocky mountains. Henry was un-
able to obtain a footing among the Blackfoot, but
crossed the divide, and erected a post on the head of
that branch of Snake river wliich bears his name, a
day'sjourney above its confluence with the main stream.
The ^lissouri Fur company followed its design with
varying fortunes, and Fort Henry was abandoned in
1810, the company being dissolved two years later, to
be revived a few years afterward'' by Jo.shua Pilcher,
M. Lisa, Thomas Hempstead, and Mr Perkins. The
k- J,0.R,:2
wmmm
J. 0. R. STUMP.
operations ot this company were carried on chiefly in
southern Montana, and along the branches of the
Yellowstone which rise in and flow through Wyoming.
No record was kept of the wanderings of the men who
served in this or any of the fur com})anies, but that
Powder and Bighorn rivers were thoroughly explored
by them there can be no doubt. In that extreme
northxk^est corner of the territory where the Yellow-
stone heads still stands a memento of one of these
rovers — a pine tree bearing the inscription here repre-
sented.
'^Iii 1S14 Henry was in charge of a post in tlic Willamette valley. He
was afterward a partner in tlie Northwest company of Canada and Oregon.
Jfist. NoHhwtst Coast, this series, vol. xxviii. p. 1*29, note 3.
WYOMING. 679
The first recorded expedition which entered Wyo-
mino- from the east was that of Wilson Price Hunt,
in 1811, who conducted to Oregon the overland part
of the Pacific Fur company, which founded Astoria.
Accompanying him were Robert McLellan, Pamsey
Crooks, Donald McKenzie, John Day, and fifty-five
others, all of whom toiled and suffered much on their
rugged march. They left the Missouri at the mouth
of Ihe Big Cheyenne, and following the general course
of that stream to and along the base of the Black
hills, travelled westward across Powder river valley
and Bighorn mountains to Wind river, where they
turned south to find grass and game, coming to the
upper waters of the Colorado, known to trappers as
Spanish river, whence they found their way to Snake
river. The following year McLellan, Crooks, Pobert
Stewart, and two Frenchmen, returning to the east,
mat Joseph Miller, who had been robbed by the na-
tives in the Arapahoe country, presumably in south-
ern Wyoming. They fared no better than Miller,
having all their horses stolen, and being compelled to
finish their journey to the Missouri on foot.'' Avoid-
ing their former route over mountains, they followed
the Platte from its headwaters to its mouth,'' being
the first to travel that natural highwa}^ to the Pacific
afterward so generally pursued. In 1820 Major
Stephen H. Long, under orders from the government,
explored the Platte valley as far west as the junction
of the North and South forks, when he took a south-
erly course, and was therefore not in Wyoming; but
the result of his expedition was to attract attention to
the central overland route to the mountains, which
finally made the Platte, North Platte, and Sweetwater
valleys the prreat thoroughfare of Pacific travel.
In 1822, William H Ashley, a Virginian by birth,
who had migrated to Missouri while it was still called
'- Lonrfs Expedition, 465-6.
13 If/. ,' 466. Long says the narrative of this journey was published m the
Missouri Gaaette, but does not give the yeetr.
680 EAKLY EXPLORATIONS.
upper Louisiana, where he was the first lieutenant-
govemor. and brigadier-general of militia,'' with the
assistance of Henry, erected a fort on the Yellowstone.
The following year, having formed with Astor the
North American Fur company, he started up the
Missouri for this p<jst with twenty-eight men, but was
attacked by the Rickasas, and driven back, with a
loss of fourteen killed and ten wounded.^' Undaunted,
he enlisted three hundred men, and in 1824 again
sought the mountains, following the Platte to the
South pass, exploring and naming the Sweetwater,
and appointing a rendezvous with the Indians on
Spanish river, which he named, after a member of his
company. Green river. He pushed his explorations to
Utah lake, discovered first by Escalante in 1776, but
seen by no American before Ashley, who gave it
his own name. Here he erected a post, and in
two or three years collected $180,000 worth of furs,
selling out his establishment in 1826 to the Rocky
Mountain Fur company, formed that year in St Louis,
with Jedediah S. Smith, William L. Sublette, and
David E. Jackson at the head. The}' had been
leaders under the Xorth American company, and were
well equipped to succeed to the business, in which
they were also successful To them Vjelongs the dis-
tinction of having taken the first wagons from the
Missouri to the mountains, ten of which, each drawn
by five mules, and two carts, rolled the whole distance
from St Louis to Wind river rendezvous, the wagons
carrying eighteen hundred pounds each, and travelling
from fifteen to twenty -five miles a da}'. Have I not
said that this was the crreat natural highway across
the continent ? Some persons have tried to make it
»*Col A. G. Brackett, in Tram. Wyom. Acid. Sciences, etc., 1882, p. 79.
^One of those who escaped was Lindsej' Applegate, a pioneer of Oregon,
who made his home at Ashland in the Rogue river valley.
"In Ashlej-'a service was James P. Beckwourth, whose character and
career have been more than once referred to in this history. He claimed to
have been in the mountains as early as 1817, and to have, in company with
Varjuez, discovered and explored the south Platte, but what year is not
stated. Moiitana Post, Feb. 23, 1 867.
WYOMING. 681
appear extremely difficult, and to steal the glory
from the creator and the Rocky Mountain Fur com-
pany; but here are the facts. They reported to the
government that there was no obstacle to crossing to
the west side of the Rocky mountains with wagons,
had they desired to do so. The next year they
brouojht out fourteen waggons, and the use of wheeled
vehicles became common on this route. In the mean-
time the Missouri Fur company had been revived, as
I have said, under the leadership of Pilcher, Lisa,
Hempstead, and Perkins, and had its trappers in the
country about the South pass, although its principal
territory was among the Sioux, Ricaras, and other
Missouri river tribes. About 1830 the Rocky Moun-
tain company was reor!i;anized, with Milton Sublette,
James Bridger, and Fitzpatrick at the head, with
several other partners. They had, together with the
other fur companies, men enough in the mountains
about the headwaters of the Platte, Green, and Snake
rivers, and on the Yellowstone branches, to constitute
a regiment."
In 1832 Captain E. L. Bonneville, an army oflBcer
on leave, led a company of 1 10 trappers to the mount-
ains in search of profit and adventure. He was
assisted by I. R. Walker and M. Serre, leaders.
They travelled the Platte route, with a caravan of
twenty wagons— some drawn by oxen, which were
the first ''bull teams" on this line — laden with
Indian goods, provisions, and ammunition, which were
•^ It would be gratifying to be able to give a list of all the liunters ami
trappers in Wyoming previous to the period of emigration; but these men
had no individual importance in the eyes of their leaders, wlio recruited
their rapidly tliinning ranks yearly, with little attention to the personality
of the victims of hardship, acciilent, vice, or Indian hostility, whoise bones
often received no burial, l)ut bleached under sun and snow until they crum-
bled to dust. Names that have been preserved of tlie more prominent, dar-
ing, or fortunate exjilorers of this territory during the great fur hunting
period are comparatively few. Among them are Black well, Fonteneble,
Frapp, La Jeunesse, Robert Campbell, Kit Carson, Codin, Newell, Meek,
Ebberts, (Jantt. fiervais. Brown, Craig, Sinclair, Vanderburgh, Dripps, (Jale,
Hawkins, Liggitt, Anderson. Ward, \* adc. Parmalee. Head, Robinson, Rider
Laris^n, Russell, (iuthrie. Walker, Doty, Claymore, Legarde, Reese, Nelson,
Maloney. Tulb.ck. Harris, Black, Ma'tthieu, Kipliu, Boudeau, Bissonette,
Adams, iSabille, Kellogg, tialpin.
682 EARLY EXPL(>RATIONS.
all taken throui^li the South pans into Green river,
beiiiijj the first wa^on^ to roll down the western slopo
of the Kocky mountains. Here he erected a fortitied
oainp, and remained in the nu^untains huntin*^ furs,
fiijjhting Indians, and exploring for three years. He
wintered in 1832 in Salmon river, but spent the sum-
mer of 1833 east of the Kocky range, on the Bighorn
and Powder rivers, on the latter visithig a " burning
mountain," where the earth was hot and cracked in
many ])laces, emitting smoke and sulphurous vapors,
and "abounding with anthracite coal." He also vis-
ited Colter hell, which he found a region similar to
that on Powder river. '^
Another adventurer in these parts was Nathaniel
J. Wyeth, who, in 1832 brought out a ]>arty of
twenty-two men, which by desertion and lo.ss was
reduced to half that number while he was at Pierre
hole on the head of Henry branch of Snake river."
In 1834 he returned with fifty men, but had no bet-
ter fortune than before, competition with the Hud-
son's Bay company on one hand, and the American
company on the other; desertion and the Indians
leaving him little or nothing of his investments."
It does not seem that it was the custom of the fur
companies to erect forts, except in case of necessity,
where the Indians w^ere of a predatory and hostile
disposition, which was not the character of those on
"^^ In'imj 8 Bonneville Adven., 199. It is remarkahle that we hear nothing
ahout the geyser basins from tl'e various fiir-huiitiiig adventurers. The only
mention of this region, except tiiat wliich 1 have given, is in Victors liivi-r
of the West. Meek heard the wliistling and saw tiie steam from the geysers
one cold morning in Nov. 1829, and likened it aptly to the city of Pittsburg
on a winter morning.
'■■'Tlie names of some of Wyeth s party were .John B. Wyeth, Solomon
H. Smith, John Ball, Calvin Tibbetts, Abbott, Breck, Burilitt, St Clair,
Trumbull, and Whittier. On his second visit, besides his hired men, he es-
corted Nuttall and Townsend, naturalists; .Jason and Daniel Lee. mission-
aries to Oregon; Cyrus Shepard, and C. M. Walker. Two Englishmen,
Stewart and Ashworth, also visited the mountains this year with the fur
companies,' travelling a part of the time with Wyeth. Stewart seems to
have lieen in the mountains even earlier, and to have come and gone year
after year. He resided in New Orleans. See JlUt. Oreijon and //m<. Korthu^at
Voant, this series.
'^Hlst. Nortliwcst Coast, this series, i. 491, 517, 520; ii. 576-8, 585-7.
WYOMING. 683
the west side of the mountains to any serious degree.
On account of tlie Blackfoot and Crow nations, whose
habits were more warlike, a number of forts were
established on the Missouri and the main Yellowstone,
as I have mentioned in my History of Montana, but
within the territory which now constitutes Wyoming
Bonneville erected the first fortification, at the junction
of Lead creek with Green river, in 1832 the remains of
which may still be seen. The Indians becoming more
troublesome as they became better acquainted with,
white men and the temptations offered by their
wealth, the necessity for forts increased. Rivalry in
trade was another incentive to building posts.
The first permanent post erected in Wyoming was
by William Sublette and Robert Campbell in 1834,
and was established with the design of monopohzing
the trade of those tribes who roamed over the coun-
try, from the Missouri on the northeast to the Sweet-
water on the west of the Black hills, namely, Arapa-
hoes, Cheyennes, and Sioux. Being strong and
warlike nations, it was necessary, while inviting their
commerce to gjuard ao-ainst their attacks.
The fort was situated on Laramie fork, an affluent
of the Platte, a clear and beautiful stream, winding
through meadows where grew the wild currant and
gooseberry, and which was dotted here and there
with groups of larger trees. It consisted of a palisade
eighteen feet high, with bastions in two diagonally
opposite corners, and a few small adobe houses inside.
It was called Fort William, after Sublette. In 1835
the establishment was sold to Milton Sublette, James
Bridger, and three other fur hunters, who had united
with the American Fur company, after an active
rivalry of several years, during which these two pow-
erful associations, had driven all the other American
fur traders out of Wyoming.'^ The fort was rebuilt
21 These several leaders then put oiit with detachments of trappers to hunt
in every direction — Sublette, Fitzpatrick, Fontenelle, Basil La Jeneusse, W.
M. Anderson, Jack. Robinso and James Bridger. Carlin, Hist. Fort Bridner,
MS., 1.
684 EARLY EXPLORATION.
in 183G by the new owners, at an outlay of 810,000,
and was called by a part of the company Fort John,
but the name never could be made acceptal)le to the
majority. The clerks in the eastern office settled the
ditierence unintentionally by making out their bills
for Fort Laramie, the name of the river on which it
was situated," and much more likely to be understood
than William or John, which might be anywhere.
It continued to be a fort of the American Fur com-
pany until 1849, when it was sold to the government.
It had many commanders in its time, the last of
whom was Bruce Husband.
No other permanent estal)lishment was made before
1842, when Fort Bridger was erected on a delta
formed by several branches of Black fork of Green
river. It was a log fort, or block house, and was
occupied by Bridger during the interesting period of
the earliest migration of settlers to the Pacific coast.
He abandoned it in 1853, being warned by the Mor-
mons, who did not desire a hostile fort in the neigh-
borhood of their settlements." About the same time
^'^ Laramie was a French trapper, who in the earliest fur-lninting times
was killed by the Arapahoes on this stream. H. 8. Sehell, History (>J' Fort
Larhnie, M.S., 2. This complete account of a famous fort was turnisheil me
by the war department, and contains extracts from military correspondence,
and such documents as bear upon tlie subject. 1 have another JJiflari/ of'
Fort Liirhiiie by Charles H. Cochran, 1st lieut 7th infantry at that post. It
is taken from the files of tlie post, and enlarged with references to books of
travel. Concurrent accounts are found in Trans. Wyom. Acad. Sciences, etc.,
81, 84. Carlin (William P., col. 4th inf.) Ej-periences in Wyomint/, MS., 5-11,
being an account of certain military operations, which I shall refer to in
their proper place, written by his own hand. Carlin was at Laramie as early
as 1H55.
'^^I am aware that in Chamber's HiM. Fort Bridijer, MS., and also in the
Trans. Wynm. Acad. Sciences, 81-2, it is said that Bridger sold a Spanish
grant to tlie Mormons, Lewis Robinson being named as tlie jjurchaser, antl
^8,000 as tlie price. In the ^^(di Hawl-Bonk of Reference, 73. it is recorded
that President Young purchased of James Bridger a Mexican grant for
tliirty sfpiare miles of land and some cal)ins, afterwards known as Fort
Bridger. This is a mistake, as there were no Spanish grants in tliat region.
R. B. Marcy, in liis Thirty Years of Army Life, 401, relates tliat he fell in
with Bridger at Fort Laramie in 1857, as he was returning from Washing-
tfin, where he had been to lay his case before tlie authorities. Marcy tells
us that Bridger was an illiterate man. ' tall, thin, wiry, with a complexiin
well bronzed by toil and exposure, with an independent, generous, open ca'^t
of countenance, inilicative of brave and nolile impulses.' I have a jettf-r
from P. W. McAdow of Billings, Montana, wlio know Bridger Mell. 1-fe
eayirthat Bridger was bora in Washington in 1807, and joined Ashley's fur
WYOMING.
685
that FortBridger was founded, Sabille Adams and com-
pany erected l<'ort Platte on the point of land formed
by the junction of Laramie fork with the Platte. It
was never completed, having one side open toward
the river.
Let us leave fur-hunting and hunters and turn to
other enterprises. We cannot quite get away from
them after all, for it is in their company that all come
who venture to invade this grand and virgin heart of
the continent. Li 1834, 1835, 1836, 1838 and 1839
parties of missionaries, men and women, crossed the
Old Fort Bridger.
plains and mountains, descending to the shores of the
Pacific. Tw^o days' tr^-vel from the rendezvous on
the Sweetwater, the two pioneer white women of
the Pacific coast received such a welcome as the men
of the mountains knew how to give, and were escorted
to the great camp of that year on Green river. For
a week, civilization in their persons, rested in this
company for the mountains in 1826. In his long experience in the moun-
tains he became acquainted with every part of them, and was the most skill-
ful and relialile guide known. While in the east in 1856-7 he purchased a
farm near Westport, Mo.; but the change in his habits was iinendureble,
and he returned to the mountains, and resumed the occupation of guide,
which he followed until age compelled him to abai-don it, when he went to
live upon his farm. He died at his home near Westport in 1881.
686 EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
meadowy vale, and then passed on with the great
English fur company to the Columbia.'*
Another devotee comes, in 1840, to christianize the
same savages which other Christian men are doing
their best to heathenize. His enthusiastic faith does
not fail him however, and he finds one nation at least
which is approachable by spiritual teaching. They
receive him jo^^fully, pleased with the notion of
receiving knowledge, for even the savage had per-
ceived that knowledge is power. This is P. J. De-
Smet, Jesuit, and man of brains, which even his nar-
rowing religion could not deaden, if it could pervert.
Promising to come again prepared to teach, he
returned to St Louis with the fur company, redeem-
ing his promise in 1841, when h*^ established a mis-
sion west of the Rocky mountains, among the Flat-
heads, after which, in 1842, he once more returned to
St Louis for recruits.
On Smet's homeward journey he was escorted by
his Indians through the Hellgate pass of the Pocky
mountains, along their eastern slope to the forks of
tlie Missouri, whence he journeyed with a single
companion, John de Velder, by way of the Yellow-
stone to Fort Van Buren at the mouth of the Big-
horn, and thence to Fort Union at tha mouth of the
Yellowstone, where he took passage down the Mis-
souri on one of the American company's boats. On
a subsequent expedition — for Smet was an almost con-
stant traveller — he discovered and named Smet lake
in the Bighorn country, and detected the presence
of gold in the soil and rocks of Wyoming.''
2* The missionary travellers above refcrrea to, were the Lee brotl.ers,
Jason and Daniel, in 1S;U, Samuel Parker and Marcus Whitman in 1S.S5;
Mr and Mrs Whitman, Mr and Mrs .Spalding, and W. H. Gray, in 18.%; Mr
and Mrs Walker, Mr and Mri EcUs, Mr and Mrs Smith, 1838; Mr and Mrs
Griffin, Mr and Mrs Munger, 183!).
'^•' According to Thomas Sun, of Rawlins, Wyoming, De Smet gave some
captivating accounts of the precious metal ; in that Bighorn region. Sun,
born in Quebec, wai f.>r several years in the .service of the American Fur
company, du:ing which time he became acquainted wit'.i tl.e reverend trav-
eller, wiio sad he had no douljt t'.iai this r?';-on M'a^, the richest gol.l Hidd in
the world, and would be found to be i,uch Mhen the Indian hojstilities were
WYOMING, 687
In 1841 passed the forts the first dehberate emigra-
tion to Oregon and Cahtbrnia of men, women, and
children, fifteen in number.'" The same year passed
Bidwell's CaHfornia company. In 1842 Ehjali White's
Oregon company of 112 men, women, and children,
and a train of eighteen great Pennsylvania wagons,
cattle, pack-mules, and horses. Bouideau was in
charge of Fort Laramie at that time, and gave the
emigrants timely advice and assistance, although they
grumbled much at the price of provisions in the
mountains. The trappers had done the same before
them, and were often half-starved, while their employ-
ers rolled in wealth which their toil had accumulated.
In 1843 passed the fur company's posts an army of
occupation destined for the Columbia river, consisting
of 1,000 men, women and children, with draft cattle,
herds of cows and horses, farming implements, and
household goods. After this, things were never
more to be as they were aforetime in the hunting
grounds of the Rocky mountains. The beaver were
all but exterminated; few trappers remained; the
Indians were, if not more hostile, at least better armed
aiul more dangerous ; immigration westward increased ;
the state of Deseret was planted on our border ; and
in a few years gold was discovered in California, after
which the great highway became like a vast human
river dividing the continent in twain, and bearing on
its bosom what argosies of human hopes, alas ! how
often wrecked.
If the reader will tum to my History of Oregon, he
will find there related the long series cf political
sufficiently quelled to allow of thorough prospecting. He had seen white
men who lived with the Indians, panning rich dirt, and had seen large nug-
gets in the hands of the Indians. Strahom, Wyoumvi, etc., 189-90. De Smet's
writings also speak of the mineral wealth of the country he travelled over,
but less definitely as to locality.
-•^ These were .Joel P. Walker, wife, sister, three sons and two daughters;
Burrows, wife and child; Warfield, wife and child, and one Nichols. Mrs
Kelsey was the only Avomaa in tl;e Bidwell party, ai:d arrived inCal. a little
later than Mrs Walker, though the Walker company went by the way of
Oregon.
6S8 EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
events wliicli led to sending a half military exploring
expedition to the South pass in 184:2, in charge of
Fremont, the ostensible design of which was to look
out positions for a line of posts to the mouth of the
Ci)lumbia river for the protection of the American
fur companies from the encroachments of the Hud-
son's Bay Company, and to encourage American immi-
gration by protecting it from the savages. He was
to connect his explorations with those of Wilkes on
the Pacific coast, but did nothing further this year
than to make a summer jaunt" to the South pass,
which, being a military officer and not a private citi-
zen, trader, trajiper, missionary, immigrant, or what
not, he "discovered," naming its altitude, and ascend-
ing the highest peak in the Wind River range, 13,570
feet, planted thereon the United States flag. This
mountain he named Fremont's peak ; and consider-
ing that the government paid all the costs, and that
he had an experienced mountain man. Kit Carson,
for a guide, it must be admitted that the eternal
mountains might be put to nobler use than to perpet-
uate such achievements.'^ He did, however, in his
subsequent expeditions actually explore some new
territory.
The first United States soldiers in Wyoming were
the detachment with Fremont, making with his guide
twenty-one men. Events soon led to more. After
long and often wearisome discussions in congress, and
frequent appeals from the settlers in the north-west,
an act was passed, May 19, 1846, for the establish-
ment of military stations on the route to Oregon,"'
appropriating the munificent sum of $3,000 to defray
the expense of each such station, and $2,000 each to
"Scenes in the Roclcy Mountains, 151. Srhell, Hint. Fort Laramie, MS., 3-6.
^* I find in the report of Silas Reed, the first surveyor-general of Wyom-
ing, the statement tliat President Tyler sent Fremont on tliis expedition,
'over tlie heads of all his superior officers in the engineer corps,' lie having
just married Jessie Benton, to appease the hostility of tlie great Missouri
senator against liis administration. The explanation is plausible, and no
doubt true. U. S. Misc. Doc, 40, p. 24, 41st cung., 3.1 sess.
■'^Aciso/CuH'j., 2y, lat sesB., chap. 22, U stat. at large, 13,
WYOMINc;. 689
purchase the consent of the Indians to the occupa-
tion of the ground.
In order to carry mto effect this act, the president
made a requisition upon the state of Missouri for a
battahon of tive companies of mounted volunteers.'"
The Oregon battahon, as it was called, being raised
rather late in the summer of 1847, halted about the
middle of September at a point on the Missouri known
as Table creek, near the present site of Nebraska
City, going into camp, and naming the cantonment
after General Stephen W. Kearny. A detachment
was however sent forward to select and lay out a site
for a post to be occupied in the spring. The point
selected was on the south bank of Platte, just below
the head of Grand island and three-fourths of a mile
from the river. This station, which was 300 miles
northwest of Fort Leavenworth, and 200 from Camp
Kearny, was named Fort Childs, in honor of General
Thomas Childs, of Cerro Gordo fame, which name
was changed to Kearny, by the department on the
abandonment of the former camp." The volunteer
battalion encamped at the place designated, without
erecting quarters, and when relieved about the first
of November by two companies, I and G of the
regiment of mounted riflemen first raised for this ser-
vice, and afterwards diverted to Mexico, returned to
Fort Leavenworth. Upon Captain C. T. Ruif, now
in command of the suppositious post, devolved the
difficult task of building quarters for the garrison,
without brick or lumber, in the cold and snows of
winter. Sod huts were made to answer the purpose
^This was bat. cos A, B, C, D, and E, 454 men. It was commanded Ijy
Lieut-col Ludwell E. Powell. The other com. officers were captains D. Mc-
Causland, James Craig, Andrew W. Sublette, R. M. Stewart, and W. H.
Rodgers. First lieuts, A. Lefairro, Thos L. Mara, F. ^I. Imprey, and H.
Smith. Second lieuts, J. S. Jones, H. Thomas. R. J. Watson, and S. Lin-
gelfelter. Brevet second lieuts, S. Mackett, Thos L. Young, W. Mara, and
J. M. Searcy. The adjt of the command was First Lieut T. J. Todd; med.
officer, Asst Surg. J. Walker; quar, Capt .Stewart Van ^^iet, of the regular
army; engineer, Daniel P. Woodbury, of the L". S. engineer corps. Sc/iell,
Hist. F(yrt Laramie, MS., 8-9.
^^ Steele, Pdfle Regiment, MS., 2-3.
Hist. Nev. 44
690 EARLY EXPLORATIONS
of houses ; the nearest post-office where any news or
connnunications from the department could be received,
behig at Lmden, Atchison county, Missouri, an expe-
rienced post-rider was necessary to carry the mail to
and from that point, over 200 miles distant ; most of
the horses of the squadron were sent to Leavenworth
to be wintered, forage and shelter being lacking; and
altogether the founding of the first fort beyond the
Missouri frontier was a rude and distasteful experi-
ence. One of the first recommendations of Captain
Kuff to the adjutant-general was that he be permitted
s^^P^plfflP^iHiP^spi^
Fort Lahamik in 1849.
to issue provisions to emigrant parties in distress.
Instructions were accordingly given to sell to distressed
travellers supplies out of the surplus stores, and hence-
forward the government rescued many a perishing
family whom misfortune had robbed of its outfit in
the midst of the wilderness. Fort Kearny thus
became a household word in all the Pacific north-west.
It was discontinued as a military ]iost in Ma}^ 1871,
and the garrison removed to Omaha barracks.
In the spring of 1849 measures were taken to estab-
lish the second and third of the line of forts contem-
WYOMIN(i. 691
plated for the protection of travel across the conti-
nent, and Lieutenant Woodbury of the engineer corps
was authorized to purchase, should he think best, the
fort of the American Fur company at Laramie fork
for the second. This was done, Woodbury paying
$4,000"' for the property as it stood, and other build-
ings being added for men and horses, the first one,
afterwards known as " bedlam," being constructed of
lumber brought from Fort Leavenworth. It took
123 days for official papers to go to the adjutant-gen-
eral's office in New York and back to Laramie, which
made it necessary that much discretion should be
lodged with post commanders.
When the regiment of mounted riflemen, being fully
recruited and equipped, after its return from Mexico,
was started on its march to Oregon in the spring of
1849, under ^Colonel Loring, it was joined at Fort
Kearny by Ruff's squadron, which was replaced by
one company of 1st dragoons, and two companies of
6th infantry. On coming to Laramie, Major Win-
slow F. Sanderson, four officers, and fifty-eight men
were detached to garrison this post."" In July and
August they were reenforced by one company of
32 Cochran, in his Hint. Fort Laramie, 24, says that Woodbury had no
authority, there being no appropriation, etc. ; but that is a mistake, as con-
gress had appropriated $5,000 in 1846, for each fort, and as the suggestion of
parchase came from the adjutant-general, which was all the authority he
needed. See letter of Adjt-gen. R. Jones to Maj.-gen. D. E. Twiggs, in
ScheU's Hist. Laramie, MS., 23-7, 37-8.
^^Garlin, Experiences in Wyoming, MS., 5. Major S. P. Moore surgeon,
Capt Thomas Duncan comdg co. E, 1st Lieut Daniel P. Woodbury engineer
corps, 1st Lieut Thomas G. Rhett, post-adjt quartermaster. On the 26th of
July Capt Benjamin S. Roberts, co. C, mounted rifles, 2 officers, and 60 men
joined the post. Wash. L. Elliott was Istlieut. On the 12th of August 2nd
Lieut Levi C. Bootes, co. G, 6th infantry, 2 officers, and 33 men were added
to the garrison. They had for transportation an ox train and were three
months on the road. The 1st sergeant, Leodgar Schnyder, is still at the
fort, where he is ordnance sergeant. Steele, in his Rifle Regiment, MS., 2-3,
says that Roberts was in command, which is an error. Steele was a surgeon
in the regiment. In the summer of 1850 the mounted rifles, co. left the post,
which was garrisoned for a year by a single co., G, 6th infantry. Rev.
Richard Vaux was schoolmaster at Fort Laramie from 1850 to 1861. Duncan
served with distinction in the civil war, becoming brevet brig. -gen., and was
retired in 1873. Rhett, a South Carolinian, joined the confederate army, as
also did Major Moore, where he became surgeon-general. Cochran, Hist. Fort
Laramie, MS., 27.
692
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
mounted riHes, and one of 6th infantry, comprising,
together, 115 men. Major Sanderson was relieved
in October 1850 by Captain W 11 ham 8. Ketchuni of
the ()tli infantry, who eonunandcd until July 1852."
Ketihum was not happy in his position, and
obtiiined leave of absence, when Lieutenant (iarnett of
the same regiment took command, retaining it until
May 1854, when lie was ordered elsewhere, and the
exPLJMlATIONS.
r."3 Adota.
rSnDFrwiie -Adobe lined.
BMFnuue-LMhcdA PImi
I ' ' l-uiT Shell Kiuuc.
L_a Concrete.
JLi<^""'"Z
CAVALRY STABLES
^oV* ...Vof.O^.... ■•--■■ 'Wr'^i posi^j^ce ^i;:^''- "^o"" g □blacksmith
1 ^ 'dW^S \MV * S ^^""^ DSAODLEI
■iOO 300 4(K) 500 600
P'i)i;r Lai;.4mi
1S74.
garrison was reduced from 170 men to a portion of one
company and a single officer, 2d Lieutenant Hugh B.
Fleming, no reenforcements being sent until Novem-
ber, when B and D companies of the (Jth infantry,
numbering 111, men arrived under Lieutenant Colonel
William Hoffman, who assumed command of the
post.
Gradual clianges had taken place in the appearance
of Fort Laramie ; old buildings had been removed and
'* Accordinc; to Cocihran, Ketchum was always in a quarrel witli his sub-
ordinatcj. Sanderson died in 18.')3.
WYOMING. 693
new ones erected, until 1862, when the present maga-
zine was constructed in part out of the adobes used in
the old fort. It has been occupied continuousl}^ from
1849 to the present; as a military post, and has been
the scene of many notable, and some exciting, events.
For man}' years it was the actual capital of a large
extent of territory.^' The history of the further
march of the mounted rifle regiment which founded it
is fully given in my History of Oregon.
It is not to be supposed that the American Fur
company retired from the territory upon the advent
of troops. They simply removed to Scott Bluffs,
sixty miles distant from their former fort, where they
continued to trade with the buffalo hunting Indians
for a number of years, and where their presence was
influential in the suppression of diflSculties between
the military and Indians, and in the making of treat-
ies." Dripps was in charge in 1851.
A trading establishment was also maintained in the
immediate vicinity of Fort Laramie by Ward and
Guerrier. In fact the trading companies remained
upon the ground so long as a skin or a robe could be
purchased, or until treaties and annuities had rendered
hunting less necessary, and the wars between the
aboriginal and invading races had caused the removal
of the Indians to reservations.
^ In a communication from Gen. Carlin, col 4th infantry, who was sta-
tioned at Fort Laramie when a lieut in the 6th inf. reg., in 1855, I find the
names of Bissonette, Baudeau, John Richard, Sr, G. P. Beauvais, Seth E.
Ward, post-sutler, and Todd Randall, who lived at or near the fort at that
period. Experiences in Wyoming, MS., is Gen. Carlin's contribution to my
work. He left the Laramie country in 1858, and came to Cal., where he was
for some time at Benicia. In 1882 he was again for a short time in Wyom-
ing at Fort A. D. Russell.
^^ Scott Bluffs are a perpetual monument to the tragedy of the death from
starvation of a man of that name deserted by his companions on Laramie
fork, being too ill to travel, and the whole party without food. He lived to
crawl 60 miles, and leave his bones in this place. These bluffs are among
the many curious and interesting geological phenomena of the North Platte
region, being fantastic shapes in indurated clay and sandstone, having grand
architectural effects. Chimey rock and Independence rock, much farther
west, have long been famous features in the topography of the country.
Independence rock in the Sweetwater valley was thus named from the cir-
cumstance of its being ascended by a party who there celebrated the anni-
versary of American independence, on the Ith of July,
CHAPTER III.
SETTLEMENT AXU (;OLD-}IUNTING.
1847-1803.
Pathway to the Pacific — CoMiNfj ok the Latter-day Saints— Military
Men — Prospectinc! for Gold — An ANciKV Englishman — Briugeh and
HIS Fort— Mormon War— The Laiter-day Saints Abandon Wyo-
MiNci— Movements of Army Forces— (iovERNMENT Expedition-
Roads Ordered Opened — Placer frOLD Discovered — The Morrisites
— Indian Hostilities— Military Men and Frontiersmen— Le(;ends
OF THE "Wind River Mocntains- Swiit Petrifactions.
It is remarkable that a section of countr}" more
travelled over than any other between the great
plains and the Pacific ocean, should have remained
unsettled for nearly half a century, the only white
men there being traders and military men. The first
who came to spy out the land for settlement were
men professing a new religion, which their neighbors
did not like, who sought to found an empire in the
mountains which, in time, should reach to the shores
of the Pacific. Their pioneers, headed by Brigham
Young and Heber C. Kimball, numbered 143 men,
with a train of seventy-three wagons, which arrived
at Fort Laramie June 1, 1847, while it was yet a
trading post. Passing on to Great Salt lake, they
selected a spot on its border where a city was to be
founded, and on the 23d of July plowed the first
ground ever broken for seed in all the regions west of
the Platte and east of the Sierra Nevada.'
In 1848 passed Brigham Young again with over
lit is said in the Ut^Ui Hnn(l-l>ook of liijircncc, G.'t, that Bridger 'consid-
ered it impossihle to bring a large ]iopulation into the great basin until it
could be ascertained that grain could be raised there. So sanguine was he
that it could not be done that he said lie would give $1,000 for a bushel of
corn produced there.'
( 694 )
WYOMING. 695
1,200 men, women, and children, and 397 wagons ;
H. C. Kimball with 662 persons and 226 wagons, and
W. Richards with 526 persons and 169 wagons.
There was a largje miorration to Orec^on also that year,
and out of these thousands not one cared to tarry on
the North Platte. In 1849 1,400 emigrants for Salt
Lake passed Forts Laramie and Bridger, and an
unknown great number bound to the gold mines in
California.
In tids year, also, came Captain H. Stansbury and
Lieutenant J. W. Gunnison, who surveyed the valley
of Salt lake, by order of the government. And every
year thereafter emigration passed beyond, pausing
only to purchase supplies. There are indications that
at some time, probably after the discovery of gold in
California, some persons had turned aside to prospect
in the mountain streams, but of their fate nothing
definite is known." It is remembered that frequent
efforts to discover gold were made by persons passing
along the Sweetwater.
The private expedition, in 1854-6, of Sir George
Gore, of Sligo, Ireland, from the Missouri river at St
Louis to the headwaters of Powder river has been
mentioned in my History of Montana. The baronet
had forty retainers, fourteen dogs, one hundred and
2 Such a party was one of 300 men from Council Bluffs, led by Capt.
Douglas of St Joseph valley, Mich., who in 1S52 set out for Cal. At Fort
Laramie .30 men left the main company to prospect in the mountains to the
north, agreeing to overtake and report to the captain at Humboldt river.
Eight of them did overtake the company as promised, reporting that they
had found gold upon two streams, which from the description are beUeved
to be Rapid and Spring creeks, in the Black hills, and desiring the company
to return to this place. But it was already late in the season, and the Ind-
ians along the route were troublesome, which decided the reunited company
to push forward to Cal. The 22 men left were never heard from, and were
supposed to have perished. Stro.horn, Wyomiivi, BlorJ: Hills, etc., 220. In
1876 some prospectors on Battle creek. Black hille region, in an old shaft
which they opened, at 20 feet from the surface, under 10 feet of earth, found
a .shovel and pick, the handles of which were decayed, and the iron much
rust-eaten. On the same stream were found a skull, under 3 feet of earth,
and near by a pair of silver-bowed spectacles. There were several prospect
holes in the vicinity, in some of which trees six inches in diameter were
growing. On "Wliitev-'ood creek a hammer and small poU-pick were found,
15 feet from the surface, and a hatchet in another place, aU imbedded in
earth and rusting to decay. Whether these were relics of the Council Bluffs
party, or some other, will probably never be known.
0% skttli:mknt and cold iilnijnc;.
twelve horses, six wagons, twenty-one carts, and twelve
yoke of cattle. He spent the first winter at Fort
I^araniie, huntinpj in tlie vicinity. The following
year, procuring Janics Bridger for a guide, he trav-
elled north, making his headtjuarters on Powder river
for a season, after whicli he huilt a fort near the
moutli of Tongue river, which he occupied until the
autunui of 185G, wlien he left it to return to 8t Louis,
His only object in seeking tlie mighty solitudes of
the heart ()f the American continent was the gratifi-
cation of that savage instinct preserved with so much
care by the landed aristocracy of Great Britain, the
love of the chase, to secure themselves in the enjoy-
ment of which the land is kept from the homeless
poor. Whether he grew more savage under this in-
dulgence I do not know, but he was furious enough
at what he considered the extortion of the Noith
American Fur company, with which he had contracted
for boats, to burn all his Indian goods, wagons, and
supj)li('8 in front of Fort Union, guarding the flames
from plunder while the}'' were consumed, and even
tlirowing tlie irons of the wagons into the Missouri
river, rather than pay the price asked for boats. His
horses and cattle were sold for little to vagabond
white men, or given to the Indians, and having thus
cut liimsclf off from any possible return to civilization
that year, he wintered in the lodge of a Crow chief
at Fort Berthold, purchasing fifty beeves at thirty
dollars a head, rather than pay fifty dollars a head
for six, which was all he needed. That transaction
was purely in accordance with the reasoning of his
race. He returned to St Louis by steamboat in
1857.
Bridger, l>efore engaging as guide with Gore, had
disposed of his post on Green river to the Mormons,
who were the first actual settlers, to the nundier of
fifty-five,'' in what is now a portion of Wyoming, but
^ According to the (JfuJi Jlnml-liook of /fe/cmirc, 73, John Neheker, Isaac
Bullock, and 53 others were located at Fort Supply, in fJreen River county,
WYOMING. G97
was then considered to be in Utah. Fort Supply, as
they liad named the former trading-post, was intended
as a station where passing emigrations could be fur-
nished with provisions. It was abandoned on the
advent of a command of United States troops in the
vicinity, the occupants retiring to Salt lake. The
army taking possession consisted of the fifth and tenth
regiments of infantry, and Phelps' and Reno's batteries
of artillery, under the immediate command of Colonel
E. B. Alexander. It marched by the Platte route,
and passing Laramie arrived at Henry fork of Green
river, thirty miles east of Fort Supply, early in Octo-
ber, where it went into camp.' While awaiting orders
from Washington, the Mormon militia destroyed five
supply trains of twenty-five wagons each, leaving men
and animals short of provisions and forage. Soon
afterward General A. S. Johnston arrived, and moved
camp to Black fork, establishing Camp Scott, two
miles south of the present Fort Bridger. In the fol-
lowing spring the Mormon settlers of Green river
valley were called in, " except a few men in every
settlement to burn everything in case the troops, upon
their arrival in the valley, should prove hostile." The
government retained possession of the valley, Fort
Supply having been as much as possible destroyed,
and when Major William Hoffman arrived, in the
spring of 1858, with reenforcements and ample sup-
plies, the present military post was erected, the former
name restored, and Hoffman placed in command,
in Nov. 1853. These, then, were the first settlers after Bridger, though it is
stated by some that Louis Robinson was the first settler. He is called a
Mormon, though he is said to have come to the country in 1832 from North
Carolina, via Taos, N. M., and had probably never heard of the Latter-day
saints before they appeared at Fort Bridger in 1847. ' Uncle Jack Robinson,'
a warm personal friend of Bridger, and an old resident, has been confounded
with Louis Robinson, who may have been one of the 55 settlers sent by
Brigham Young. He kept a ferry on Green river in 1860. Con. Hist. Soc.
Mont., 220, 222.
*The Utah Hand-booh of Reference, p. 75, informs us that on the 8th Sept.,
'Captain Van Vliet, of Gen. Harney's staff,' visited vSalt Lake City, and had
an interview with President Young, and after a few days spent in that place
proceeded to Washington, 'where he used his influence in favor of the
saints. '
C98 SETTLEMENT AND COLD-HUNTING.
while Johnston marched tlie greater portion of the
army from Green river to Salt lake, and established
Camp Floyd in that vicinity. This was the end of
Mormon occupation in Wyoming.'
From about this period frequent government expe-
tlitions touched at Laramie, and deflected to whatever
^ Lieut Josepli H. Taylor, Ist cavalry, was the first post-adjutant at Fort
Bridger; Lieut B. F. Smith, Gtli inf., tlie first depot ((uarterinaster. On the
17th of Aug., 18r)S, Lieut-c<>l E. K. S. Canity, niaj. 10th infantry, relieved
Major Hoflnian, who rejoined tlie Gth inf., which soon after marched to C'al.
C'anhy was relieved March 7, 18G0, hy Maj. K. C (iatlin, 7th inf., and went
to N. M. In June fJatlin also was onlered to N. M., and Capt. Alfred
Cumming, 10th inf., took command, who was in turn relieved, Aug. 9th, hy
Capt. Frank Gardner, same regiment. When the civil war broke out, Cum-
ming joined the confederate army. In May 1801 Capt. Jesse A. Oore, 10th
inf., was placed in command. When the troops were recpiired at the east
during the rebellion. Col Cooke, 2d cav., in command at Camp Floyd, aban-
<loned that post, and repaired to Fort Bridger, wliere tiie bulk of tiie sul)-
sistence an(l quartermasters' stores were sold at auction, and purciiased by
the Mormons. It was estimated that §4,000,000 worth of goods weie soKl
for $100,000. Utah l{,ind-lK)ok o/ Rejereno; 78. After this both garrisons
were marched to Fort Leavenworth, leaving only a few men, whoje terms of
service were nearly expired, at Fort Bridger, under Capt. J. C. Clarke, 4th
art., who in Dec. 18()1 was ordered east, leaving orderly sergt Bogee at the
post, with a handful of privates. For about a year, at a critical period,
considering the civil war, and tiie Mormon and Indian hostilities, Bogee
remained in charge. Tiie Mormons setting up a claim to the land, on tlie
ground of a cftnveyance from Bridger, Post-trader W. A. Carter organized a
volunteer company of mountain men for tlie prf)tectif>n of property at the
fort. In Dec. 1802, Capt. M. (J. Lewis, 3d Cal. inf. vols, arrived at the post
and assume<l command; and during the war, and until July 1800, it was
garrisoned by Cal. and Nov. vols, who performed the hard service of guard-
ing the mails, escorting travellers, and fighting Indians. Bvt maj. A. S.
Burt, capt. 18th inf., took command, when the vols were mustered out, the
garrison consisting of F and H companies 1st battalion, 18th inf. During
the construction of the Union l*acific K. R. a garrison of 5 coirnjanies of the
:i(;th inf., under Bvt-col Henry A. Morrow, was stationed at Fort Bridger,
ami much of the time employed in guarding the engineers, and the overland
.stage route for 200 miles east of Green river. Maj. J. H. Belcher, post-
ijuartermaster, had many improvements made during that period. From
May 1878 to June ISSO tlie post was abandoned. Wlien reestablished the
garrison consisted of F and H companies, 4tli inf. In 1881, post-trader
Carter caused a road to Ite constructed over the mountains from Fort Tiiorn-
burg in Utah to a mail station 3.') miles south of Fort Bridger, to facilitate
communication. In 1883, additional barracks and (juarters were commenced,
and the garrison increased, consisting then of B. C, and ( J companies of the
9th inf., under command of Lieut-col T. M. Amlerson, same regiment. In
June of the same year a battalion, consisting of two companies from Fort
Bridger, two from Fort Fred Steele, under Maj. I. D. De Hussy, 4tli infan-
try, repaired and improved the road to Fort Thornl)urg. In Aug. 1SS4, the
garri.son at Fort Bridger was increased by companies D and H, 21st inf., and
Col Anderson was relieved by Lieut-col Alexander Chambers of that regiment,
to whose nut. Fort Briitiji r, MS., I am indebted for most of the above account
of its .services in the history of Wyoming. Sunj.-'jin. C'lrc, 8, 316-24; U- S.
Mmc. Doc., 40, pp. 29-30, 41st cong., 3d sess.; U. S. II. Com. Bept, 520, iii.,
43d cong., 1st sess.; Jlatjilm, Rijit, 1870, p. 55.
WYOMING. 699
course they had been destined for. Captain E. G.
Beck with, third artillery, who took charge of the
survey of a railroad route near the forty-first parallel,
after the massacre of Captain Gunnison and party in
1853, explored the valley of Green river and the
streams issuing from the Uinta mountains. In 1857,
Johnson's army encamped in Green river valley, and
their supplies being cut off by the Mormons, Captain
R. B. Marcy, with forty men, in the month of No-
vember, proceeded from Fort Bridger to the foot of
the mountains between Green and Grand rivers, up a
canon to the top of the range, to Grand river, near
the mouth of the Uncorapahgre, up Eagle-tail river
to Coschetopes pass, and to Fort Massachusetts,
where he obtained what was required, and returned
the following June by way of the route east of the
mountains, and through the South pass. Captain
Marcy's success is a proof both of the courage of the
man, and the excellence of the climate which spared
his life on so terrible a journey.*'
In 1857 came William M. Magraw, who had se-
cured a contract from the government to open a road
through the South pass, as if that road had not been
in constant use by emigrants for fourteen years. But
being a government expedition, it was accompanied
by naturalists,^ whose reports were of value to science,
and through science to more material objects. In
1858 Captain J. H. Simpson, of the topographical
engineers, explored and opened a road from Fort
Bridger to Camp Floyd, and thence the follow^ing
year to Carson, Nevada,^ eking out the survey of
Colonel Steptoe of 1855.
In July 1859 Captain W. F. Reynolds, of the topo-
^ Marcy, Thirty Years of Army 7^/6,224^^9.
' J. G. Cooper, surgeou of the wagon-road expedition, was naturalist to
the previous expedition of I. I. Stevens, via the Missouri river to Puget
sound, 1853. C. Drexler was taxidermist in 1857. Cooper returned to Wash-
ington the same season, but Magraw and Drexler wintered on Wind river,
moving to Camp Scott in March, where the latter made a large collection of
birds. Smithsonian Reft, 1858, p. 50.
^ Sim-pson Erplor. Great Basin, 7, 24-5.
700 SEITLKMKNT ANU (;OI JJ-HUNTINc;.
♦Graphical engineers, under orders from government,
It'll an expedition from Fort Pierre, on the Missouri
river, to the Hlaek hills, and having explored the
northeastern and northern ])orti()n of this range, moved
on to Powder river and the Bigliorn, exploring tlie
country to the lu>adwaters of the Yellowstone and
Missouri.' with Bridger for a guide. Reynolds was
accompanied by a scientific corps under Hayden, wlio
had previously exjjlured the Platte valley for some
Trails in Wyoming.
distance. They were escorted by a single company
of soldiers, under Maynadier and Lee, and made a
favorable re])ort on the country.
Men were by this time earnestly looking for gold,
and the report went forth that gold had been discov-
ered in the Bighorn mountains by this expedition.
But Reynolds, afraid of losing his escort by desertion,
forbade" the discoverer to reveal the truth to any but
himself and Hayden. which reticence caused the local-
» U. S. Jour., 300; 37 coug., 3 aesa. Mullan, Military lioad liept, 27.
WYOMING. 701
ity to be lost ; and although there had been before,
and have been since, several reputed discoveries in
this range, there has never been any mining, for until
within recent years the Indians made it sucli desper-
ate hazard that few would venture, and those who
ventured seldom returned to reveal any discoveries
they had made, and the country remained practically
unexplored/"
Colorado was swarming with gold-seekers, and Mon-
tana was known to be rich in auriferous deposits; why
not this region lying sandwiched between them ?
This was the question asked by thousands who trav-
ersed it, few of whom failed to strike a pick here and
there as they passed, or to curiously examine the sands
of every stream crossed in their wanderings.
A party of twelve men who left Missouri for Mon-
tana in 1863 travelled the route up the Cheyenne
river to the Black hills, where they prospected, and
took out in three days $180 in placer gold ; after
which, the season bemg late, they proceeded to their
destination, and finding plenty of the precious stuff in
Montana, did not return. In later years the same
persons failed to rediscover the spot where they
washed out their first gold.^'
I have referred in my History of Montana to an
expedition in 1863 which left Bannack City for the
purpose of exploring the country drained b}'' the Yel-
lowstone for gold mines and town-sites. The party
travelled up the Bighorn river, finding no gold, but
losing several of their party by Indian attacks, and
traversing the Wind river country, came to the Sweet-
water at " Pacific City," a trading-house at the foot
^ A small party of Canadian Frenchmen in 1862 left the stage station at
the crossing of the Sweetwater to go to the Bighorn mountains, having in
vain endeavored to induce others to join them. They were never heard of
more. They were J. Dubois, J. Patneese, and three brothers. There was
no old trapper or guide in the country who did not have a tale of gold dis-
covery to relate, but they could not be induced to reveal them either because
they were untrue or that they feared the Indians.
" G. T. Lee of Central City, Black hills, was one of the party. Strahoni,
Wyoming, Black HilU, 86, 222.
702 SKITLKMEXT AND GOLD-HUNTING.
of Rocky ridge, where they overtook a train guarded
by a few soldiers, who were stationed at South ])ass.
Along the road at intervals of about eighty miles
were found small squads of troops for this service.
They met here a Mormon who had been to IJevil's
gate for a cargo of soda, which he was taking to Salt
Lake, this being the first recorded ex})ort of any min-
ei-al from Wyoming. At Kock creek " they found a
lieutenant and twenty soldiers, a telegraph station,
and a few residents. Walter Cook, the telegraph
operator; Louis Slivers, who had located at this place
with the intention of farming, but had lost all his
stock and goods by the Indians, and every growing
thing by the grasshoppers; a blacksmith, and a trader
constituted the settlement ; but the place was popu-
lous during the season of travel, and business was at
its height when the expedition passed. It visited
Fort Bridger, finding on Ham's ftjrk of Green river
several wood and stone houses, a good stone corral and
barn, with plenty of hay; signs of the advance of civ-
ilization which had but little chance to live except
under the walls of a fort. At the post the company
were entertained by the California minstrels, a soldier
troupe, which gave a concert, charging fifty cents
admission. They also met there General Conner,
who, on hearing of the sufferings which had befallen
the exploring party by the Indians, did not show them
much sympath3\ Conner had at that time many
lodges of the natives in the vicinity of the fort, hav-
ing compelled them to l)ring in and deliver up
stolen horses. As a consequence many white men
were there hoping to recover their property, only a
moiety of which was restored." From Fort Bridger
''James Stuart, in liis journal of the t-xpedition, saj's that he had found
gold on this creek tlirec miles above the crossing in 18G0. Con. Hist. Sor.,
Moiitnwi, 218.
" Stuart mentions meeting on the Sweetwater and Green river, Hardest}-
and Alexander, freighters, with a large train for Salt lake; William McAdow
going to Montana; .Tosh Terry, Peter Myrtle, (Jranger, Louis Rohinson,
' Uncle .lack' Robinson, Monsieur Boivert, Dick Hamilton, John Sharpe,
ami W. A. Carter, afterward probate judge of Uinta county, besides many
others nut known to him.
WYOMING. 703
the company returned to Bannack by the immigrant
road via Soda springs/* Red Rock valle}', and Horse
prairie, having made a circuit of 1600 miles without
finding any diggings, yet not convinced that they did
not exist. In the two following years efforts were
made to effect a more satisfactory exploration of the
Bighorn region by Montana companies, none of which
were able to hold their own against the Indians.
The Bighorn country having yielded nothing to the
hasty search which alarmed and distressed prospect-
ors had made, rumors were started of rich dig^oinors
on Wind river, a feeder of the Bighorn, coming down
from Wind river mountains, and four several com-
panies from Idaho took the field in 1866, determined
to remain in the country long enough to make a
thorough survey of its mineral resources, while
another from Montana joined its forces with theirs/'
1* A half mile above Soda springs Stuart found a town laid out by the
Morrisites, seceders from the ilormon church. They had about 20 houses
built, and were erecting others in expectation of a train of their brethren to
arrive in three days. Most of them were Welsh and Danes. They were
poor and miserable, even to the point of beggary. Tlie year before, ui .Jmie,
a posse from Salt Lake had besieged for three days a camp of Morrisites on
Weber river, and after killing ^lorris Banks and four others, andha\-ing two
of the attacking posse killed, carried the remainder of the camp as prison-
ers to the city. Ut<h Hand-Book of Reference, 79. The presence of a com-
pany of Cal. volunteers stationed near the new settlement to protect the
immigration prevented \'iolence toward this camp in 1863, and the organiza-
tion of Idaho in that year was another safeguard.
i^The Idaho companies were led as follows: Capt. Bledsoe, 45 men; Capt.
Jeff. Standifer, 49 men; Capt. D. C. Patterson, 95 men; Capt. Bailey, 53
men. In Patterson's company were Henry Hughes, Jerry Fitzgerald, C. F.
Xichols, John Arltag, Charlez Merrill, Charles H. Young, George Podgett,
R. C. Coombs, George Stonerood, Benjamin White, McCraw, Hawthorne,
Thompkins, and others. Idaho WorhJ, Aug. IS, 1866. The Montaniaus
joined Standifer, who had at one time 115 men in his company, and who
kept on in the direction of Wind river, while the former, desiring to go
to the Bighorn, where two forts had been erected that year, 75 of the company
took that direction. This party had the usual experience of intruders in
that region. On the 13th of Sept. Col J. X. Rice of Idaho and J. W. Smith
of Helena, Mont., were killed while absent from camp hunting. Their bodies
were not discovered for two days. They were at this time IS miles from
Fort Philip Kearny, and one of the party being ill, the explorers turned
aside to leave him at this post. Twenty-six of the men engaged at the fort
to help guard hay-cutters, who could not work for fighting Indians, who
shot among them and burned their hay-stacks. This -with other desertions
reduced the Bighorn prospecting company to 16, a party too small to safely
get out of the country. But a detachment of 26 soldiers being sent to Fort
C. F. Smith with the mail, they joined this escort, which was glad of re-
cruits. When within 45 miles of Fort C, F. Smith they were attacked in
704 SETTLEMENT AND (iOLD-lIUNTlNCJ.
Tliey travelled, as Stuart's company had dune, about
IGOO miles, prospecting Bighorn, Wind river, Medi-
cine lodge, and the streams at the head of the Yellow-
stone and Snake rivers, findhig nothing wortliy of
attention by miners "^ except at the head of the Stink-
ingwater, where some of Standifer's party reported
finding good prospects, and the following spring
returned to that region,''
Wind river mountains and valley were from earli-
est times nmch talked of by white and red men.
Many legends were current concerning the mountains,
among which was one that in some places timber, ani-
mals, and even men were petrified in the very sem-
blance of life, and these places were shunned by the
natives, who feared being turned to stone. This
legend probably gave rise to the absurd story told by
a Rocky mountain trap})er that he had seen a tree
petrified with all its branches and leaves perfect, with
the birds on it turned to stone in the act of singing.
The story was considered tough, even by mountain
men ; but does not the account of Lot's wife equal it?
The valley, about eight miles wide, and between
150 and 200 miles in length, was regarded as one of
the choicest spots on the eastern slope of the Rocky
mountains. The river was rapid and clear, its banks
adorned with stately cottonwood trees, while the
mountain sides were covered with forests of pine.
The soil was dark and rich, the climate mild, and game
abundant. Vast herds of buffaloes, antelopes, deer,
and elk roamed through it. At the upper end was a
camp l)y a large miiiilier of Imlians, and compelled to iiitrencli themselves.
The battle lasted for two or three iiours, when the Indians were finally
driven off. During the ligiit a soldier was woundctl, and a number of horses
cajitured. The following day they were again surrounded, attacked, and
forced to fight their way out, wliich they did with no serious casualties,
thougii compelled to abandon tiieir mining tools and provisions in order t«)
mount all the men. They arrived at Fort (". F. Smith, where they were
able to procure from private individuals .1 supply of food, and whence they
returned to Virginia ('ity in company with another small party of freighters.
Virifinui Montana Pout, Oct. 27, 1 «(>('..
^'^ Otnjhee Avalancfic, Oct. 27, ISfiC.
" Vinjinia Mont. Post, Marcii 10, 18G7.
\yYOMmG. 706
hot sulphur spring." It was these attractions which
had made it a favorite wintering ground of the natives
and the fur companies, and which now made it desir-
able that a reason should be found for making settle-
ments in it. The Bighorn valley also was found to
bean excellent grazing country, which in 1866 was
covered with immense herds of buffalo, pointing to
uses to which it could be devoted by home- building
men. In short. Green river, Sweetwater, Wind river,
and Bighorn valleys were beginning to be regarded
as desirable for mining and grazing, if not for agricul-
ture, when the usual check was placed upon settle-
ment by the bloody protests of the native population.
^ SvoeetvxUer Miner, Feb. 22, 1868.
Hist. Nbv. 45
CHAPTER IV.
INDIAN WARS.
1841-1868.
Emigrant Parties— CnEVENNES and Sioux— Force at Fort Laramie-
Fleming's Attack — Grattan's Defeat — A Bloody War— Like at
^oRT Laramie — Movements of the Cheyennes and Arapaiioes—
Effect of Colorado Immigration and Civil ^VAR — Continued
Depredations— Peace Proposals— Gold-hunting on the Bighorn—
Carrington's Expedition — Fetterman's Defeat — Affairs at the
Forts— Continued Hostilities— Treaty Commission.
The immigration of 1842 would have fared ill but
for the presence of Fitzpatrick of the American Fur
company, who used his powerful influence and con-
summate skill to prevent a slaughter. Not that the
112 had done anything to offend the Indians, but
that the Cheyennes and Sioux were becoming, with
their little and unfortunate knowledge of the white
race, their whiskey, their improved weapons, and their
wrongs, real or fancied, a foe to all whom they met,
red men or white, who were not in alliance with
them. More than that, in August 1841, they had
fought a party of sixty men, led by Frapp, on the
head waters of Snake river, losing ten warriors, though
killing Frapp and four trappers. During the follow-
ing spring the Sioux had cut off two small parties,
one in the Black Hills, and another on the Bighorn.
Still they were not satisfied, and a party of 350 braves
followed the immigrants, overtaking them near Inde-
pendence rock, but the courage and tact of their
guide averted a catastrophe which might have delayed
the settlement of Oregon for another decade, and
<706)
WYOMING. 707
altered the political history of the northwest territory/
This company was permitted to pass, with the assur-
ance, however, that in future the path would be found
closed which led through their country. On this
account, also, Fremont a little later was compelled to
secure the services of a well known guide and inter-
preter. But the next year what had the doughty
Sioux warriors to say? for here came 1,000 white
men, women, and children, with hundreds of wagons,
and great herds of cattle and horses, such as they had
never dreamed of seeing, whom they could neither
turn back nor kill. Destiny was too strong for them,
and they retreated to their villages to consider what
could now be done. A tribe of red men had some-
times been exterminated by persistent and watchful
hostility ; they would try what could be accomplished
toward exterminating these audacious white people.
Their efforts in this cause led to the occupation of
Fort Laramie as a military post, in order to save the
annual immigrations from plunder and massacre.
While three companies of troops were at the fort,
comparative order was maintained.
In 1851,Kirkpatrick having been appointed Indian
agent, a treaty was entered into between the United
States government and the Sioux, Arapahoes, and
Cheyennes, of the North Platte, by which the terri-
tory of these bands should be that contained between
the 100th and 107th meridians of longitude, and the
39th and 44th parallels of latitude, embracing 122,500
square miles. They were to receive annuities of the
value of $50,000, and to preserve friendly relations
with citizens of the government.' The number of
warriors belonging to the Ogalalah and Brule Sioux,
and the Arapahoes and Cheyennes within this agency,
was estimated to be 2,000, while the whole number
was computed to be 5,500. To hold in check this
hostile force— for despite treaties these savages were
^ Fremont Exped. 184S-3-4, 173-4; White, Ten Years in Oregon, 155-57
Und. Aff. Eept, 1856, 94; Id,, 1S59, 137-8; K, 1862, 229.
708 INDIAN WARS.
never friendly — after tlie first two years there was
but a liandful of soldiers, under yijung. and of course
inexperienced officers. As so^n as the Indians became
aware of the reduction of the garrison, they became
extrt.'niely insolent, refusing to obey the regulation
which expelled them from the limits of the post after
" retreat," a hand to hand conflict being necessary to
eject them. For this insult to savage dignity they
made a demonstration on the fort, which only the
promptitnde of the little garrison, and the good oflB-
cers of Fitzpatrick prevented becoming a bloody
aftair.'
The single company left at Fort Laramie was in
1852 reduced to twenty -five able men. An attempt
was made by Lieutenant Fleming with twenty-three
men to arrest an Indian who had fired on a sergeant
in charge of the ferry over Laramie river.* He went
to the village of the band, halted his command and
sent an interpreter to inform the chief of the nature
of his errand, who being absent, the young braves
declared for war, sooner than submit to arrest.
Flaming advanced with five men, leaving the rest in
reserve. Shots were exchanged, four Indians killed,
and two captured. This ended the encounter for this
occasion.
The following year brought matters to a crisis. A
Mormon emigrant complained at the fort that one of
the band of Wahsahshe Sioux, who sustained but a
bad character, had killed, and caused to be eaten, one
of his cows. Fleming sent Lieutenant G rattan, a
young Vermonter, late from West Point, to take the
offender in charge, an errand of so delicate a nature
that only a mature and discreet officer should have
been entrusted with it. There had been no attempt
^Cnrhran, HU. Fort Laramie, MS., 34-5.
*Tlie first bridge over the Ijaramie was built in 1849 by private persons
who collected toll. It was used only during the season of high water, which
la-;ted three months. In 1850 more than 40,00() head of cattle crossed it.
In 18.'')3 it was swept away, and a tlatboat ferry substituted for 4 or f) years,.
A new bridge was erected in IS.'iT, and removed lu 1870 half a mile up
stream. Thia was afterward swept away.
WYOMING. 709
on the part of the Indians to conceal the act, which
Bear, the head chief, had himself reported at the
post, but apologized for the rascal, saying he had shot
the cow in a fit of anger at his lack of success in hunt-
ing, and after it was killed it might as well be eaten.
It would not do, however, to establish such a prece-
dent, and Grattan was ordered to take twenty-eight
men and two howitzers, the Indians being numerous
and well armed, and bring this Indian to the fort.
He proceeded to the camp of Bear, nine miles away,
and finding strenuous objections offered to the arrest,
and that the Indians were attempting with sullen and
angry demeanor to surround him, ordered a volley to
be fired. The chief fell mortally wounded, and one
of his braves was killed. Immediately the Indians
returned the fire Grattan ordered the cannon dis-
charged, but being too elevated they inflicted no
injury on the enemy. In another moment the com-
mand was closely hemmed in by enraged savages, and
soon all lay dead and mutilated, except one man, who
escaped in a dying condition to the fort, unable to give
an intelligent account of the battle.*
Thus perished the greater part of the garrison of
Fort Laramie in the summer of 1854, which was the
commencement of a long and costly war with the
Sioux.
Having achieved this victory over the soldiers the
Indians proceeded to the trading-houses of James
Bordeaux and P. Chateau, Jr, and Co., both of which
they robbed, the inmates with difficulty escaping
from their fury. On the following day, however, the
Indians moved ofi* toward the Black hills, and going
east put themselves in communication with the Yanc-
tonnais and other bands of Sioux in that direction,
which they stirred up to make war on the white peo-
ple, it being their openly avowed intention to let no
white man escape.
^Carlin, E.cp€riences in Wyoming, MS., 2-3; Ind. Aff. Rept, 1854, 88;
Cochran 8 Hist. F&rt Laramie, MS., 36.
710 INDIAN WARS.
Measures were taken at the war department to
punish the participators in the Grattan defeat, but
owing to the lateness of the season nothing more was
done tliat year tlian to strengthen the garrison at
Laramie with tliree companies of tlie Gth infantry
under Major WiUiam Hoffman, who assumed the
command. In tlie spnng of 1856, it was further
reonforced, but there being no cavalry at the post
little could be done except to defend certain fixed
points. During the spring the Sioux captured all the
mules belonging to tlie quartermaster's department,
which the infantry did not and could not recover.
At the same time the Sioux were carrying out their
threats, murdering mail carriers,* and continuing hos-
tilities, and General Harney with 1,500 troops marched
up the Platte, striking a village of Brule Sioux under
Little Thunder at Ash Hollow, 100 miles southeast
of Laramie, September 3d, killing many women and
children and a few warriors.' Harney marched to
Fort Laramie, and then to Fort Pierre, where in the
spring of 1856 he held a peace council with all the
Sioux bands, in which various promises were made on
both sides, which were afterward forgotten or repu-
diated. They served only to secure a temporary truce
during which the belligerents became somewhat bet-
ter acquainted with each other. Fort Randall was
also established this year by order of General Harney
in the Yankton country to watch the movements of
the Sioux.
^Cochran 8 Hist. Fort Laramk-, MS., 41. It became necessary to send
escorts with them, who met midway hetween Kearny and Laramie. In
18.'>G tliis guard consisted of an officer and 20 men, who were from 15 to 20
days en route. The mail contractors sometimes failed in the winter to go
tlirough from Independence to Salt Lake, and if there was news of any im-
portance a military express carried it. Prices for transportation were so
hii^li that army pay could liardly he made to meet expenses. Commissary
wliisky was among the indispensahles. The government limited the amount
issued to an officer monthly to 2 gallons. Soldiers suffered with scurvy.
An attempt at gardening was made in 18.51, which failed through lack of
water. A liospital was erected in ISoG, wliich was enlarged in 1868, anrl
served until 1872, wlien tlie fort was rehuilt. '1 hero was a sawmill at Lara-
mie peak belonging to the post quarter-master in 185G.
' Carline Experiences in Wyonun'j, MS., 4.
WYOMING. 711
Meantime the Cheyennes were giving employment
to the garrisons of the only two posts between the
Missouri and the Rocky mountains. They were bad
enough, no doubt, before they were furnished with
an incentive to worse things by an indiscreet military
power. At the upper Platte bridge, 126 miles north
of Laramie, was stationed a company of infantry to
prevent the natives from burning it. The ofiScer in
command, now a brevet major-general, ordered the
arrest of three Cheyennes whom he suspected of
wrongfully retaining one of four American horses
which they had in their possession, three of which
had been given up. The Indians attempted to escape,
and being shot at by the guard, one was killed, one
ran away, and the third remained a prisoner in irons
for many months. The second night after, a white
man was killed near Fort Laramie, and soon the
Cheyennes of the Xorth Platte left that agency and
joined the southern Cheyennes, who were committing
depredations on the travelled routes across the plains.
A residence at Fort Laramie in 1856-7 was the
opposite of agreeable. To tramp along the roads in
summer, and be cut off from all communication with
the world through the winter months in poor quarters
was the sum of it. A reward was offered for sharp-
shooting which gave the men something to do, and
improved the efficienc}" of the riflemen. The oflfi-
cers discussed the presidential campaign, the result
of which was not known to them until April follow-
ing the election. They read, played cards, and con-
sumed their allowance of liquor. Think of the
excitement of receiving the first mail after nearly six
months of imprisonment in midcontinent, and thank
God and nature for steam and electricity.
In the summer of 1857 an expedition against the
Cheyennes was organized partly from Leavenworth
and partly from Laramie, under Colonel E, Y, Sum-
ner, of the 1st dragoons, who had his camp near old
Fort St Vrain on the south Platte. In July he
712 INDIAN WARS.
marcbod to the Smoky Hill branch of Kansas river,
where be met the Cheyennes near a small lake which
they deemed enclianted, so that if they dipped their
hands in the water they became invulnerable. Under
this belief they met the troops with the firmness of
faith, advancing steadily and in order, chanting their
war song, and looking for divine interposition as much
as ever did the heroes of Homer. But wlien the order
was given to the dragoons to charge with sabres, their
confidence deserted them, and they fled in the utmost
terror. They lost nine of their principal warriors on
the field, and a number died of their wounds in flight.
Sumner then marched to Bent's fort onthe Arkansas,
to the relief of Indian-agent Miller, who was at that
place with the annuity goods and no protection. He
ordered the ammunition destroyed, the arms and goods
packed in wagons to be carried out of the Cheyenne
country, and the subsistence stores turned over to the
commissary, that nothing might be left which coald
be of use to the enemy. This was accomplished only
in time to prevent the killing of the few persons at
Fort Bent, and the spoliation of its contents, as the
Arapahoes informed the agent would have been
effected the night following, but for Sumner's arrival.
The effect of Sumner's expedition was to intimidate
the Cheyennes, who did not at once recover from the
stroke. Late in September Major Lynde arrived at
Fort Laramie with two companies of the seventh in-
fantry en route to Utah, but which, owing to the
belief that the troops could not get through the moun-
tain passes before they were closed by snows, went
into winter quarters at this post, Hoffinan leaving for
Leavenworth with three hundred men of the sixth,
and Lynde taking the command. In the summer of
1858 he was joined by four companies of his regiment,
with headquarters, staff*, and band, all leaving Laramie
in August for Utah.* Different companies were pre-
* Major John Sedgwick was in command. The Mormon difficulty had
been settled before he reached Pacific springs, where he was turned back to
WYOMING. 713
viously encamped, some at Muddy springs, and some
on the South Platte, this display of force being not
without its influence in keeping the Indians quiet.
The garrison at Laramie was now composed of a por-
tion of the tenth infantry, and two companies of the
second dragoons, whose principal duty was to furnish
escorts.
The immigration to Colorado which began in 1858
was a new element in the problem of peaceful relations
with the Indians. The uneasiness occasioned by this
unexpected migration to territorv^ claimed by the
Arapahoes and Cheyennes led to the resumption of
hostilities on the plains. In 1860 Sedgwick was in
the field pursuing these savages, and Bent's fort on
the Arkansas was occupied by a garrison of United
States troops, as I have already related in my account
of the Indian wars of Colorado, When the regular
troops were called away to fight in the struggle of
the government against disunion, volunteers were sent
to garrison forts and protect travel. The first volun-
teers at Laramie were two troops of the 4th Iowa
cavalry, one of the 6th Ohio cavalr\^, and one of the
8th Kansas infantr}^. Changes were frequent in orar-
risons. The 1st Ohio cavalry, independent battalion,
commanded by Thomas L. Mackey, the 11th Ohio
cavalry, under Colonel Collins, the 7th Iowa, and the
6th Michigan cavalry were at different times stationed
at Fort Laramie.
The Indians were not slow to perceive that the
government was embarrassed by the civil war, nor
loath to take advantage of its temporary' disablement ;
hence the onslaught of 1862 in Minnesota, and the
general uprising which followed, extending to the
Rocky mountains, and even to the shores of the Co-
lumbia. Wyoming being still unsettled suffered only
Fort Riley. This post, located at the junction of the two forks of the
Kansas river, in 1852, -n-as first called Camp Centre, from its geographical
position, but afterward named in honor of Gen. B. C. RHey.
714 INDIAN WARS.
through its itinerant population, attacks upon travel-
lers, the robbery of supjdy trains, and occasional mur-
ders, the war being chietly canied on east of the forks
of the Platte, where the booty was richest, being
government trains, and merchant supplies for Colo-
rado and New Mexico. In 1863 Fort Halleck was
established a little west of the Medicine Bow moun-
tains, on the route of the overland mail. The year
18G4 was one of the bloodiest of that period. General
Alfred Sully had made an expedition into the Sioux
country via the Missouri with three thousand troops,
having to fight the entire Sioux nation of 15,000 at
Deer Stand, where their loss was 585 in one day,
Sully's loss being slight. In the Bad lands he had
another battle, killing twelve of the Indians at the
crossing of the Little Missouri. For three days
thereafter he had a marching fight, the Indians en-
gaging him so hotly to prevent his coming on their
principal camp, which was in his route. At the end
of the three days they disappeared, and went south
toward the Black hills, and when Sully came upon
their village he found it deserted. He burned it, and
pushed on to Fort Union, returning to Sioux City to
winter.
Meantime the Arapahoes were doing deadly work
in the territory west of Fort Laramie. Surveyor-
general Burr of Utah, Peter Dodson, Boswell, and
ten others set out in 1864 to exph^re the Bighorn
country, but were driven back, being attacked b}^ the
Arapahoes at Medicine Bow. In the battle seven
Indians were killed. Their band retreated, but com-
ing upon an inmiigrant train killed two men by burn-
ing them alive, bound to their wa<^on wheels. On
the Platte, above Fort Laramie, they attacked a large
train, killing five men, and of every company that
passed over the route they took toll in cattle and
horses, amounting during a season to many times a
congressional appropriation,* besides the glory of it.
*I>uI. Af. liept, 1SG4, 252. Larimers Capture and Eicape, 39-57. is an
WYOMING. 715
In August of this year Fort Sedgwick was established,
at the junction of Lodge Pole creek with the south
fork of the Platte.
The Sioux having moved in large numbers into the
region of the Black hills and Powder river, were the
ready allies of the Cheyennes in their depredations.
In January 1865 they advanced upon the new post,
which was commanded by Nicholas J. O'Brien, a
young officer in the 7th Iowa cavalry, with a company
of thirty -seven men. The Sioux were led by Man-
afraid-of-his-horses, Spotted Tail, and Two-face, and
the Cheyennes by White Antelope. O'Brien charged
a division of the savages with a part of his command,
while his subordinate officers engaged those on his
right and left. The Indians returned the charge four
or five hundred strong, and again the troop dashed at
them and into their midst, losing in killed and wounded
almost half their number. The artillery being finally
brought to bear on the besiegers, and a third charge
being made, the natives retreated.^"
On the 2d of February the Indians renewed the
attack, and succeeded in burning Julesburg, the junc-
tion of the overland mail line with the Denver branch,
and the headquarters of the telegraph management
for the plains, established in 1861. They destroyed
at the same time fifty-five miles of the telegraph line.
On the 13th they attacked a detachment of 140 men
under Lieutenant-colonel Collins at Rush creek,
account of the battle at Little Box Elder in 1864, with the story as above
indicated, of one man's experience.
1" O'Brien was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1839, and came to the U. S.
in 1848. In 1863 he organized a company of the 7th Iowa cavalry, and was
commissioned capt., and repoited to Gen. McKane at Omaha, who sent him
to Cottonwood springs to build a post (Fort McPherson), and in the follow-
iag year to Laramie and to Julesburg to build Fort Sedgwick. He was with
Conner in his Powder river expedition, as chief of artillery, and established
Fort P. E. Conner, afterward Fort Reno. He returned to Iowa and was
married in the autumn, reporting at Fort Reno in Dec. , being commissioned
major, and being mustered nut the following year on expiration of service.
He took a land claim near Fort Sedgwick. When the railroad reached that
point he settled in Julesburg, being one of the first officers of the town, and
subsequently mayor; but soon removed to Cheyenne, where he remained.
He has held the offices of dept. U. S. marshal, sheriff, citv councilman and
member of the 8th legislature,
716 INDIAN WARS.
eighty-five miles north of Julesburg, with a force of
2,500. ColHns had one twenty-four- pound brass gun,
with wliicli, and with constant figliting, he lield thein
off for twenty-two hours, losing but three men killed
and eight wounded."
In April they again attacked 125 troops, under
Collins, stationed at Mud springs, to the number of
1,500 Sioux and Cheyennes. The troops defended
themselves for twenty-four hours, when, reenforce-
ments arriving with artillery, the Indians retreated.
They lost a considerable number, and the troops
eleven wounded and two killed.
The hostilities of 18G4 were repeated in 1865. In
four weeks of July and August the Sioux and Chey-
ennes killed and captured forty-five white persons
between Sage creek and Virginia Dale." An expedi-
'^ There was some very brave fighting in this engagement. Acting-lieut
Robert F. Patton, with 7 men from his co. B., 11th Ohio cav., and 8 vol
from the other companies made a charge to drive a detachment of 50 Indians
wliich had stolen up to within 350 yards of camp. The squad was armed
only with revolvers, and charged througii all right, but were cut off by 300
Indians. The men in charge of the gun were afraid of usiug it on the
enemy lest they should hit their comrades; but by firing to the right and
left, made a diversion which enabled Patton to charge back. The last shot,
by George W. Hoover, saved Patton's life. With empty revolvers the little
command returned, minus two of their number, who were killed. The inci-
dents of this battle and some otliers are related in a dictation of Hermann
Haas, who participated. Haas was born in Prussia in 1840, emigrating to
America in 1849. He served in tlie union army nearly 4 years as a memlier
of the 1st Ohio, co. B. He arrived at Laramie in 1SG2, and was discharged
at Omaha in 1865. The service was guarding the road and telegraph line
from South pass to Julesburg, carrying the weekly mail for the government,
and scouting in the Powder river country. He took the brass gun and 40
men from Laramie to Mud Springs station to reenforce Collins previous to
the attack above referred to. In July 1802, while going with a command to
Devilgate to remove the stages to a more soutiiern route, via Bridger pass,
at Seminole gap, two soldiers were founil to be drunk, whereupon the otiicer
in command ordered all tlie whiskey poured out on the ground, from which
incident the pass of these mountains took its name of Whiskey gap. After
being mustered out of service Haas located himself at Fort Laramie in
charge of the government wagon and blacksmith shops, removing afterwards
to Ciieyenne and engaging in the same business for himself. He has taken
an active part in the history of that city; was elected to the first territorial
legislature, and reelected in 1873, 1875, and 1877. Was delegate at large in
1875.
"John H. Finfrock, born in Ohio in 1836, was educated in Richland co.,
afterwards studied medicine at the university of Mich., Ohio Medical col-
lege, and Long Island hospital. He entered the union army as hospital
steward, and was afterward captain of Ohio volunteers; also serving as asst
surgeon from 1863 to 1865. He was sent to Fort Halleck in tlie latter capac-
ity iu 1863, being one of thuee who rescued one of the Collett family. Ue
-W-YOMING. 717
tion was organized under General P. E. Conner, to go
against these Indians in their own country on Pow-
der river. It was hoped that Conner, who had a
great reputation amongst the Indians as a fighting
general, would be able to clear the road to Montana,
via Powder and Bighorn rivers. He had w4th him
parts of the 6th and 7th Michigan cavalry, and 200
Pawnee and Omaha scouts, the ordinance being under
Colonel Cole of the 2d Missouri artillery. Proceed-
ing to the head of Tongue river with Bridger and
other mountain men for guides, the officers seemed to
have forgotten their errand, and to have imatrined
themselves upon a summer hunt on the plains. Con-
gress had appropriated $20,000 for the purpose of
holding peace negotiations with the Sioux and their
allies, and General Sully was marching across the
northern part of Dakota, anxious to gain the consent
of Indians to a treaty looking to the relinquishment
of the valley of the Platte, and of all that country
where contact with the white people seemed inevita-
ble. But Pope was averse to peace, advocating
slaughter.
In October General Wheaton decided to send mes-
sengers to the Sioux, to inform them that other tribes
were making peace, and should they desire to do so
the opportunity would be offered them. Having
made this decision he left Laramie for Omaha," leav-
ing Colonel Henry E. Maynadier to carry out his
designs. No white man could be found who would
undertake to deliver the message, the proposition
being finally conveyed to them by friendly Indians,
who after three months returned, bringing with them
Swift Bear's band. This chief professed pleasure in
being able to make peace and to come to the fort for
had a son, William Edwin Finfrock, bom at Fort Halleck, Oct. 16, 1865,
whom he thinks is the first white person born in Wyoming. He settled at
Laramie Citj' in 1868. He was coroner, probate judge, and county physician.
He was member of the city council in 1872-3, county supt of public schools in
1880, and was appointed in 1880 one of the board of penitentiary commia-
sioner>!, of which board he was president for two years.
^ Hist. Colorado, 420, this series.
718 INDIAN WARS.
provisions and clothing for their faniihes, and reported
that Red Cloud, chief of the Ogalallas, was also on
his way to Laramie. On the 1st of June the com-
missioners appointed assembled at Fort Laramie,
namely E. B. Taylor superintendent, Henry E. May-
nadier connnandant at Fort Laramie, R. N. McLaren
of Minnesota, Thomas Wistar of Philadelphia, and
two secretaries, Charles E. Bowles and Frank Lch-
mer. After the hesitancy and delay always affected
by Indians on similar occasions, the Brul6 and Ogalalla
Sioux collected a majority of their people, although
Red Cloud declined to be present, and agreed to the
terms of a treaty.
One of the most important of the conditions im-
posed upon the Sioux was that the route commonly
known as the Bozeman road, leading from Platte
bridge to Bozeman in Montana, should be secure from
hostilities. Into this arrangement the northern Chey-
enne and the Arapahoes expressed their willingness
to enter. But a loop-hole of escape from responsibil-
ity was left open by the defection of Red Cloud,
who had a numerous following, and who was still at
liberty to commit depredations, while the greater
number were clothed and fed as wards of the gov-
ernment.
While the council was in progress the migration to
Montana was at its height. Red Cloud had made
this a cause of disaffection. Why had they, the com-
missioners, asked for what they had already taken ?
Before the commission closed came a military expedi-
tion of magnitude — 700 troops with over 200 mule-
teams, besides ambulances for officers and their fami-
lies, a band, and everything necessary to a complete
establishment in a new country, under Colonel H. B.
Carrington, 18th infantry, commander of a new dis-
trict. This is said to have been the drop too much to
Red Cloud, who with 300 warriors sallied forth on
the heels of the expedition to prevent the treaty
havinjj: effect.
"VN'YOMIXG. 719
lEfforts had been made in the early part of the sea-
son by the military authorities to keep prospecting
parties out of the Bighorn country, and with toler-
able success/* But immigrant and freight trains could
not be turned back, and must be guarded. As Car-
rington advanced into the Powder River country he
began to learn what he had to encounter. At Fort
Reno, which was garrisoned by two companies of the
5th United States volunteers only, were found three
immiofrant trains waitinof instructions as to their fur-
ther advance under the escort of the military expe-
dition. Notwithstanding this large number of people,
civil and military, all the horses and mules belonging
to the fort settlers were run off in open daylight, and
although the troops pursued as quickly as possible for
thirty-five miles, not a hoof was recovered. The only
reward of their exertion was the capture of an Ind-
ian pony so heavily laden with presents received at
the late treaty council that it could not keep up with
"the herd.
Relieving the companies at Fort Reno, where Cap-
tain Proctor remained with one company to guard the
stores until they could be removed, Carrington pro-
ceeded north to select the site of a post in the Big-
horn country, which was to be district headquarters,
finding on the second day's march, at Rock creek,
notices left by trains which had been attacked at this
place, within the previous week, losing considerable
stock. Arriving at Piney fork the position was taken
on that stream and the dimensions of Fort Philip
Kearny staked off July loth.
While on the road Red Cloud's adherents had sent
"A company of 116 men was raised in Colorado and Wyoming to pros-
pect the Bighorn mountains for gold, but they were met near Gray Bull
creek by troops from Reno ■who forljade then further progress, when the
majority of the company turned back. W. L. Kuj-kendall, however, who
was the leader of the expedition, evaded the troops and with about 20 men
pushed on and reached Bozeman. He was the means of rescuing a party
which had been robbed of its stock and had two men killed. Uniting their
forces they finished their journey without any further serious losses. Her-
man CI. Nickerson, since probate judge of Fremont county, was one of the
rescued travellers. I shall have more to say of him by and by.
720 INDIAN WARS.
Carringtou a command to leave the country, saying
that Fort Keno in that case should not be disturbed,
but that no other post should be established in the
country. Carrington responded by inviting them to
meet him, which the Cheyennes did on the IGth, but
no Sioux were present, Red Cloud having already
turned back to intercept travel. The Cheyennes
accepted some presents of food and clothing and
promised to remain at peace, which for a time they
appeared to do.
However, on the next morning the herds belonging
to Major Hammond's command, which was destined
for the upper Yellowstone, in the vicinity of Boze-
man, were stampeded, and in the effort to rescue them
two soldiers were killed and three wounded. On the
return of the detachment they came upon six muti-
lated bodies of a trading party killed within a few
miles of the post, though the wife of a principal
trader was a Sioux."
The abandonment of Fort Reno had been contem-
plated in the establishment of Fort Philip Kearny, as
Fort Casper had been erected on the Sweetwater, and
a fort was to be built both on the Bighorn and Yellow-
stone rivers. But the condition of the country was
such that Reno must not only not be abandoned, but
must be strengthened, and the Yellowstone post was
given up, while a company was sent to reenforce Cap-
tain Proctor instead. Early in August Lieutenant-
colonel N. C. Kinney and Captain Burrows left Fort
Philip Kearny with two companies to establish the
Bighorn post. Fort C. F. Smith, which reduced the
force at Carrington's post to five companies, two-thirds
of which was composed of raw recruits. The labor
of erecting a strong fort, with sufficient quarters for
eight companies, which was expected would be fur-
nished, the material all to be obtained in the forest;
'* These traders, long known at Fort Laramie, were Louis Oazzons and
Henry Arrison. The other four were probal)ly herders. The Sioux wife and
half-breed family were allowed to escape.
WYOMING. 721
and of cutting wood and hay in preparation for a long
severe winter, was added to the duty of guarding
trains, carrying mail, and escorting detachments of
soldiers, or parties of citizens, while engaged in unmili-
tary labor.
Carrington had represented to the commander of
the department. General P. St George Cooke, that
the status of the Indians in his district was that of
war, and had made his situation known to the adjutant-
general of the army ; but it was December before he
was reenforced, and then only by a handful of poorly
armed raw recruits. Ammunition was at length
wanting for the practice of the recruits, or even for
defence, in case of an attack, while at Laramie, where
no trouble was apprehended, twelve companies were
stationed. In the midst of several thousand hostile
Indians was a small garrison of untried men, without
the means of making war if forced to it.^* The con-
dition of the three posts on the Bozeman road was
really that of a state of seige from July to January
requiring the greatest caution to prevent capture.
The history of Fort Philip Kearny during the autumn
and winter was one of a careful defence. The attacks
on the timber trains, hay-cutters, woodmen, and
escorts were unintermitting. Serious as was the loss
in cattle and horses to a community so isolated, the
frequent loss of life was yet more painful.
By the 10th of October there were not forty horses
left with which to mount mail carriers, escorts, and
pickets. On the last of the month the garrison flag
floated for the first time from the flag-staff of Fort
Philip Kearny. The skirmishing on the wood road,
of so frequent occurrence that it was no longer in the
nature of a surprise, had resulted in no loss of life for
some time, when, on December 6th, in defending a
^^Cochran, in his HmL Fort Laramie, MS., says: As many as 12 com-
panies of cavalry and infantry were stationed at Fort Laramie. The cavalry
came late in autumn. One troop, under Lieut Bingham, was ordered on
escort duty with a train to Fort C. F. Smith. Bingham was killed while at
Fort Philip Kearny. His regt was the 2d cavalry, under Palmer
Hist. Nev. 46
722 INDIAN WARS.
wood train Lieutenant Bingham, of the cavalry, and
Sergeant Bowers were killed, and the road had become
so dangerous toward Fort C. F. Smith that it had
been determined not to attempt sending mails i!i that
direction. Thus the toils tightened around a devoted
garrison.
On the forenoon of the 21st of December an alarm
was signalled by the pickets on the wood road, and
that the train had corralled for safety, waiting for
relief. A detail was quickly organized consisting of
seventy-eight officers and men, the command being
given by his own request to Lieutenant-colonel Fet-
terman. There was a general disposition to volun-
teer, both among officers and citizens employed at the
post, and a general feeling of exasperation in all minds,
which led to the catastrophe which followed. Before
the command started a few Indian pickets appeared
on Lodoje Trail rid<ye, and a few at the crossini2r of
the Bozeman road below the fort, who were scattered
by case shot dropped among them. But the main
force was entirely concealed, and a few shot, more or
less, would not interfere with the execution of a well-
considered plan. A surgeon sent to join the com-
mand hastily returned with the report that the train
had been relieved and gone on to the woods, but that
Fetterman was on the ridge to the north out of view,
and surrounded by a large force of Indians. Soon
the sound of rapid firing came from the valley of
Peno creek beyond the ridge, and then it became evi-
dent that Fetterman had been drawn into an unex-
pected engagement by Indian cunning, aided by the
desire to avenge the death of Lieutenant Bingham,
or had been in some inconceivable manner entrapped
into disobeying orders. A relief i)arty was dispatched
with additional officers, surgeons, ambulances, and
even the pris<mer3 in the guardhouse were placed on
duty to give all the available force for action should
further aid be required to repulse the Indians. The
wood train was ordered in, and when all was done
WYOMING. 723
there were but 119 men besides those with Fetteraian.
Meantime the rehef party reached a point of obser-
vation just as an ominous silence followed the crack-
ling noise, increasing in intensity for half an hour,
of rifle discharges. They beheld the valleys below
them filled with 2,000 Indians, yelling and inviting
them to descend, but not a soldier was to be seen.
Not an officer or man of Fetterman's command
remained alive." Tired of their bloody work, with
their own dead and wounded, the Indians withdrew
at nightfall, and about half the dead soldiers were
brought into the fort after dark. On the following
day the remainder were found, and a pit fifty feet in
length received all of the eighty-one victims, but a
few whose families claimed them for burial elsewhere.'^
On the night of the 21st a miner named Philips car-
ried dispatches to Fort Reno," whence the news was
dispatched to Fort Laramie, where it arrived in the
midst of the festivities of Christmas eve."
Early in January Carrington received orders to
remove district headquarters to Fort Casper,'^ and at
1^ Tram. Wyom. Acad. Sciences, etc., 1882, 87; Wyom. Territorial Affairs,
MS., 15-16; Wyom. Indiam and Settlers, MS., 49-50; Montana Post, Feb. 9,
1867; U. S. Sen. Jour., 575-6, 585; 39th cong.,2(i sess.; S. F. Alta Cal, Feb.
15, and 28, 1867.
i^Tbe oflRcers killed in this battle were Col Fetterman, Capt. Brown of
Ohio, and Lieut Grummond, making with Bingham and Daniels, five com-
missioned officers killed while Fort Philip Kearny was building, and over
90 men. William Daly, now a resident of Rawlins, was employed with the
quartermaster in erecting Fort Philip Kearney, and was the first carpenter
in that section. He was employed by the government at Fort MePherson,
Neb., in 1867-8. From there he came to Cheyenne, where he took contracts
for putting up railroad buildings in 1869, and was afterward supt of con-
struction of the N. P. R. R., between Cheyenne and Ogden until 1873, when
he went into lumber and contracting at Rawlins. It is the opinion of Daly
that the Indians might have taken the fort on the 21st of Dec. That they
did not pursue their victory further was in consonance with their customary
intermittent violence.
19 Phillips was one of the Standifer party which I have before mentioned
as wintering at Fort Phil. Kearny. Two others, Wheatley and Fisher,
were with Fetterman's command, and were killed. It required a stout heart
to carry dispatches through the Indian country at that time.
'^^ Cochran, Hkt. Fort Laramie, MS.
■■'I The ISth infantry regiment built Fort Casper soon after the close of the
war. It had been a detached service station to protect the mail. They built,
rebuilt, or repaired forts Halleck, Laramie, Sedgwick, Reno, Philip Kearny,
Fetterman, and Bridger, several of them mail stations previously, all within
the limits of what is now Wyoming, besides Fort C. F, Smith in Montana,
791 INDIAN WARS.
the same time Brigadier-general H. W. Wessels,
arrived with two cuuipaiiies of cavahy, and took coiii-
inaud at Fort Phihp Keaniy. The cold was so severe
that in the three days' journey to Keno all were in
danger of perishing, women, children, officers and men,
some of the teamsters suffering amputation of the
hands and feet on reaching the fort. After getting
to Fort Casper, the orders were to go to Fort Mc-
Pherson, and again headquarters journeyed through
winter weather to within ninety-seven miles of Fort
Kearny.
The spring of 1867 opened with a renewal of hos-
tilities. The military authorities near the eastern end
of the infested line of road, endeavored to prevent the
killing of small parties by ordering all such detained
at Fort McPherson, which was near the junction of
the North and South Platte, until they were organ-
ized into companies of n(jt less than thirty men, and
by furnishing escorts if danger seemed to threaten.
A large number of troops had been sent into the
department, with the design at first of sending an
expedition against the Sioux who were in force
between Fort Philip Kearny and Fort C. F. Smith,"
but being chiefly infantry they were unable to jjursue
and McPherson in Nebraska. There was also a sub-post of Fort Laramie at
Scott BlufiFs, called Fort Mitchell. Alnimka, 70, 270; Stunjin, Common Sense
View of the Sioux Wnr, 22-.S.
"The commander of the department of the Platte in 1867 was ften. C. C.
Augru. Early in the year Gov. I. N. Palmer commanded at Fort Laramie,
but later Maj. (i. W. Rowland. After a number of changes the distribution
of troops was as follows:
Ft Laramie
Ft D. H. Russell
Ft Sanders
Ft Reno
Ft Phil. Kearny ....
FtC. F. Smith (Mont)
Ft Bridger
Ft Sedgwick
Ft Morgan, (Colo)....
COMMANDERS
Major a. W. Rowland
Brig. -gen. J. D. Stevenson
Maj.-geu. John Gibbons. .
Maj. James Van Voast. . .
Maj. -gen. J. E. Smith. . . .
Brig. -gen. L. P. Bradley .
ColH. R. Mizner
Brig. -gen. J. H. Potter ..
Maj. W. H. Powell
COM D
■SUBAL-
OFFICER.S
TER.N.S.
19
7
17
9
10
4
/
3
12
4
10
/
4
2
13
I
4
....
ENLISTED
MEN.
"386
310
168
2:-)!
269
347
106
246
The truops employed iu the department were the 2d cavalry, the 4th, 10th,
WYOMING. 725
well mounted Indian forces, which appeared in the
most unexpected places, and were off as soon as their
mischief was perpetrated. The damage done to prop-
erty this year was greater than since 1863-4 when
Colorado suftered so severely, and the country was
again cut off from communication with the east by
telegraph, while overland wagon trains, and even
railroad trains were interrupted. In May the stage
lines refused to carry passengers, their horses which
were not stolen being withdrawn from the road, sev-
eral of their stations burned, and some of their
drivers killed and v/ounded. The public survey was
interrupted, and the whole region in a state of arrested
growth." The Montana route, over which the Sioux
pretended to be so much excited, was untravelled, no
citizen trains venturing upon it. General Augur,
commanding the department of the Platte, reported
that it was a daily struggle still to keep open the route
from forts Laramie to C. F. Smith, for the passage
of government trains, without having to guard citizen
trains. Thirty wagons owned by J. R. Porter of
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, carrying government supplies
to Fort Philip Keam^^, escorted by Major Powell,
Lieutenant Guiness, and forty men, was attacked
near that post b}'- a large force of Indians, with whom
they fought for three hours, until relief reached them
from the fort, in the shape of two full companies and
a howitzer. The train was saved, but all the mules
and horses captured, and Lieutenant Guiness killed.
Thirty thousand dollars' worth of government prop-
erty was destroyed en route for Fort C. F. Smith;
three months having been spent in attempts to get it
13th, 18th," 22d, 27th, 30th, 31st, and 36th infantry. Fort Fetterman was
erected this year by the 4th and 18th infantry under Major and brevet Col
W. McE. Dye, at the mouth of Sage creek, where the road to Montana left
the Platte. It had a garrison of 472 men, and 19 com. officers. Two com-
panies also were encamped near Laramie, under Maj. C. H. Carleton, during
summer, which went into garrison late in the autumn. Rept Sec. War, i. 438,
440; 40th cong., 2dsess.; Cochran's Hist. Fort Laramie, MS., 65; Mont. Post.,
July 20, 1869.
*^ Communication of Gen. Sherman to the asst adjt-gen. of the army, in
Jiepi. Sec. War, i. 65-8,
726 INDIAN WARS.
to its destination from Julesburg." No attempts were
for some time afterward made to reach tliis post with
suppHes, and its abandonment was suggested as a
means of restoring peace.
Early in 1867 congress resorted to the customary
commission to settle the Indian question, and General
John B. Sanborn, General W. T. Sherman, General
W. S. Harney, General C. C. Augur, N. J. Taylor,
John B. Henderson and S. F. Tappan were appointed.
To subsist friendly Indians $300,000 were appropri-
"ated, and half that amonnt for other expenses. After
a month spent in endeavors to have a general council,
a treaty promising much, and requiring some submis-
sion to government, was drawn up, signed by a few of
the so-called friendly Indians, April 29th, and given
in charge of the military authorities at Laramie, who
were to use every means to induce the chiefs of the
Sioux, Arapahoes, and Cheyennes to sign it. That
they were in no haste the above narrative proves.
General Augur reported against abandoning the line
of posts erected to guard travel on the Bozeman road,
urging the importance to the people, and the loss to
the government of the money expended in erecting
and maintaining them, to say nothing of the moral
eft'ect on the Indians. No understanding was arrived
at, while the summer passed in war, and the winter
was spent in holding one of the northern posts on the
Missouri in a state of siege and annoying others. In
the spring of 1868, two years having been spent in a
warfare exhausting to the means of the Indians, their
courage began to fail them. Now was the time for
the peace commissioners to score a triumph. The
treaty left at Fort Laramie with instructions to the
interpreter to make the meaning clear to every Indian
of any consequence who came about the fort, began
to get his signatures. In the first jilace, in May, a
band of Ogalallas arrived with two chiefs, who signed
-♦ U. S. Me«6. and Doc Abrid'j't, 31)0, -tOth coug., 2d seas.
WYOMING. 727
the treaty. The commanding officer then issued to
them an ample supply of provisions, and the Indian
agent blankets, cloth, cooking utensils, knives, guns,
and ammunition. In a few days they departed, and
others came of the Sioux bands, then many Arapa-
hoes. All signed the treaty, and received arms and
ammunition in addition to food and clothing. But
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail held aloof, waiting to
have their will, saying that when the posts on the
Bozeman road were abandoned they would sign the
treaty. In August the posts were abandoned,'* the
troops from C. F. Smith, Philip Kearny, and Eeno
being assigned to other stations. Though they may
have been glad to leave the wilderness behind them,
there were few if any who were not reluctant to quit
the country with the Fetterman defeat unavenged.
Still Bed Cloud did not sign until November, and
Spotted Tail not at all.
After being fed, clothed, and supplied with arms,
the Sioux and their allies cast about for a provocation
to further hostilities, and this they found in the condi-
tions of the treaty. The country set apart for their
exclusive use by its terms extended from the east
bank of the Missouri river where the 46th parallel
crosses it down to the Nebraska line; thence west
across the Missouri and along the Nebraska line to
the 104th meridian ; thence north to the 46th parallel
and east to the place of beginning, "together with all
existing reservations." Upon this territory none but
officers and agents of the government should intrude.
It was also stipulated that the country north of the
Platte and east of the Bighorn mountains should be
held as unceded Indian territory, which no white per-
son should be permitted to occupy without the con-
sent of the Indians. On their part they promised to
remain at peace, to relinquish all claim to the lands
north of the Platte which was outside of their reser-
^^Mo7it. Post, May 2d, and July 31, 1868; compiled Laws of Wyom., 1876,
Ixxii.
728 INDIAN WARS.
vation, except to hunt; not to oppose railroad con-
struction, except on the reserved lauds, not to attack
any persons travelling or at home, not to steal cattle
or horses, not to capture white women or children,
and not to kill or scalp white men. Should the gov-
ernment build a road, it would pay for the land taken ;
and benefits were to be bestowed such as the govern-
ment bestows upon all treaty tribes."
The offence given was in an order of the president
of the peace commission, General Sanborn, that after
the signatures of all the chiefs had been obtained, the
Sioux and their allies should no longer be permitted
to come to Fort Laramie, as it was not within the
boundaries of their reservation. But the distance to
Fort Randall, where they were directed to go for sup-
plies, was considerable, and the dissatisfaction great in
proportion. They were unwilling to submit to the
inconvenience so rigorously imposed upon the people
of Montana. Depredations continued to be com-
mitted upon travellers, and upon the few settlers near
the forts, and along the line of the Union Pacific
railroad, which was now approaching completion, and
for the safety of which Fort Frederick Steele was
erected this year, near the present site of Rawlins.
Meanwhile Red Cloud and Man-afraid-of-his-horses
retired to Powder river from which they could follow
the chase, invade the Crow country as they should
feel inclined, while the Cheyennes were warring against
their own race" on the plains. And there, for a space,
I will leave them, to turn to the progress of affairs
connected with the existence of Wyoming.
''^Deer Lodje, Nmrthwfst, Sept. 5, 1874; Htlena, Mont. Post, May 29, 1868.
^ In the autumn of I8G8, .35 Kaw Indians, being on a buti'alo liunt 60
miles southwest from Fort Larned on the Arkansas, they were attacked by
60 Cheyennes, the battle continuing for two hours. The Cheyeiuiea lost
heavily, the Kaws being warlike and brave. Returning to the Kaw agency
with 45 captured horses, they were again attacked by the Cheyennes, who
had been reenforced to 100, who l>eseiged the agency for 48 hours, killing 9
of the Kaws and capturing all the horses and stock. I have this account
from G«orge W. Munkers, of BuflFalo, Wyoming, who was present in both
battles. Munkers was bom in Mo., in 1852, and brought up in Kansa.s. At
the eaxly age of 10 years he was employed as interpreter on the Kaw reaer-
WYOMING. 729
vatioa, and was sent to Fort Sill, and other posts, <o negotiate for the restor-
ation of white captives, in which he was successful. He afterward travelled
with a party of Indians to exhibit their war-dances, under the management
of P. J. Barnum. In 1873 he went to Col., engaging in mining and Ireight-
ing in the San Juan country. Subsequently he constructed 2I miles of tlie
Denver and New Orleans railroad, and 7 miles of the Chicago, Burlington,
and Quincy railroad. His next enterprise was in town-Vmilding, having
acted as manager in the affairs of Robert Foote, in starting the growth of
Buflfalo in the Powder river country. His wife is a daughter of J. P.
Mather, a pioneer, who erected the first grist-mill in Johnson co. He was
elected town trustee in J.8S3, and was always an influential member of the
commonwealth.
CHAPTER V.
FOLinCAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
1867-1888.
Gold Discovery — South Pass City Organized — Organizatio.v of
Counties— Founding of Cheyenne — Advance in Town Lots— Bad
Element — Vigilance Committees — Newspapers Established — A
Magic City — The Name Wyoming — Territorial Organization —
Female Sufkragk— Judicial Districts— County Seats and County
OFFicEiis— Elections- Law Making— Military Posts— Administra-
tion OF Governor Campbell — Thayer, Hoyt, and Hale — Massacrb
OF Chinese — Legislation.
Hitherto the territory which was the scene of so
many adventures, and so much activity of an itinerant
character, had no permanent population, no poHtical
organization, and no name. It was spoken of as
the North Platte, with the sub-titles of the Sweet-
water, the Wind River Valley, the Bighorn Country,
or the Black Hills. Really it was a part of Da-
kota,' but had never been districted, and possessed
no local machinery of government. Originally it
was a part of the Louisiana purchase,' confirmed
by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1846. I
have referred in a previous chapter to the fruitless
attempts to discover the precious metals, which from
time to time were put forth in this region, while Col-
orado and Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada were
pouring their millions of treasure into the lap of a
luxurious civilization. Notwithstanding the repeated
failures, it was no surprise when in tlie summer of
1867, upon the sources of the Sweetwater, gold was
found in paying quantities by prospectors, among
^Zabrvilcie. Land Laws, 848, 777; Slawjfitc; ,jife in Colo and Wyom., MS.,
6.
■'US. If. Misc. Doc, 45, pt 4, vol. 2. 105, 47th coug., 2d seas.
(730)
WYOMING. 731
whom were Henry Ridell, Frank Marshall, Harry
Hubbell, Richard Grace, and Noyes Baldwin, who dis-
covered the Cariso lode and made the first locations
at South pass. When the news reached Salt Lake,
a company of about thirty men repaired to South pass
prepared to winter there while they prospected. Their
camp was surprised by a band of hostile Arapahoes,
looking for plunder. In the first onset they killed
Lawrence, the captain of the party, and drove the
prospectors to the Sweetwater, where, after killing
another man, they abandoned the pursuit, it was sup-
posed because they feared to meet the Shoshones in
whose country they were. The miners being on foot,
could not overtake them if they would; nevertheless
there were soon 700 persons on Willow Creek, con-
stituting the municipality of South Pass City, which
was laid out in October. From the Cariso $15,000
was taken out by crushing in hand mortars before
winter set in. The Atlantic ledge, six miles north-
east of Cariso, was considered a very important mine.
Miners' Delight, two miles northeast of the Atlantic,
was even more promising, while the Summit, King
Solomon, Northern Light, Scott and Eddy, Lone Star
State, Hoosier Boy, Copperopolis, Mahomet, Cali-
fornia, Elmira, Colonel Mann, and Jim Crow were
regarded as valuable discoveries. Late in the autumn
placer mines were also found, which yielded flatter-
ingly. They were in gulches running into Willow
Creek, which was a branch of the Sweetwater head-
ing in Wind River mountains, and flowing south.
The Dakota was the first gulch discovered, after which
followed half a dozen others. A ditch five miles in
length was partly constructed, before cold weather set
in, which was to carry water to Dakota gulch. A
sawmill was also in operation before the winter. Be-
sides the population at South Pass City, there were
several mining districts each with its hundred or more
inhabitants. Such is the magic progress which gold
inspires.
732 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
In January the county of Carter was organized,*
with Hubboll as recorder, and John Murphy as sheriff.
By the middle of February, although the snow was
deep and drifted, parties from Salt Lake struggled
through in order to be on the ground with the opening
of spring.* In April another town of 300 miners had
sprung up four miles northeast of South Pass City, in
the midst of a quartz district situated on Rock Creek;
and soon a third town called Hamilton was started
four miles north of that. Game of many kinds was
plenty, and water power convenient, but the first set-
tlers pronounced against the prospect of raising farm
products in that section. Business was good if the
merchants could get their goods upon the ground,
which was difficult.*
The Indians continued to infest the roads, making
travel dangerous; and notwithstanding detachments of
troops were stationed at intervals, who patrolled the
highway or pursued depredating parties, a number of
persons were killed in the summer of 1868, and again
in 1869. A newspaper called the Sweetwater 3Imer was
started at Fort Briger in Feburary 1868, by Warren
andHastings, which was active in promoting immigra-
tion to this region. The existence of a mother lode was
' Named after W. A. Carter of Fort Bridger.
* J. F. Staples, John Al>le, John M. Neil, William F. Berry, John Hol-
brook, James Leffingwell, Frank McOovern, John Eaves, Peter Brade, Louis
Brade, Alexander and hro., H. A. Thompson, Jeff. Standifer, Kit Castle,
George Hirst, W. Matheney, Chris. Weaver, and Moses Sturman passed
Fort Bridger in February, and Col Morrow, in command, was forced to pub-
lish a special order, warning citizens not to expect to obtain supplies from
that post. Wyoininij Scraps, 13.
* Worden Noble was the first merchant in these parts. He was born at
Sackett's Harbor in 1847, and came to Fort Laramie in 1866, taking a situa-
tion as book-keeper for E. Cofifee & Caney. He went to South pass in the
spring of 1868, when lie was attacked by Indians. He remained here mer-
chandizing one year, when he commenced contracting for Camp Stambaugh,
afterward a permanent post, and continued in this business for 7 years, after
which he engaged in stock-raising near Lander, being a pioneer in this busi-
ness. In 1880, he removed to the Shoshone agency. In 1880, he erected a
quartz-mill at Atlantic City, doing custom work as well as reducing his own
ores. He organized the Nevada Clover Valley Land and Cattle co. at Gol-
conda, Nev., with a capital of S500.000, and 60,000 acres of land, of which
he became president, and also engaged in sheep raising in 1882. In 1877 he
was elected to tlie upper house of the Wyoming legislature from Sweetwater
CO., aud was county commiasioner from 1871 to 1877f
WYOMING. 733
questioned, and various opinions exist among the best
informed miners regarding the value of the quartz in
the Sweetwater country. The country rock is slate,
and the gold where found is free milling; but the rock
is what miners designate as spotted, or pockety, and
consequently not altogether profitable^ to work,
althouoh considerable metal has been taken out of
this region.
Contemporaneously with the first mining on the
summit of the Rocky mountains in Dakota, the pro-
gress of railroad construction had brought to the
North Platte country a working and a vagabond pop-
.-<^-^'
Railroad Bctldees' Fort.
ulation, one to prey upon the other, and together they
formed several communities on the line of the road,
the most important of which was Cheyenne, situated
at the base of the Laramie range, in the vicinity of
several military posts, at the point nearest Denver
and its banking facilities, and where the railroad com-
pany placed its shops, which alone gave it a valuable
business from the start.'
At this point in July 1867 the land agent of the
Union Pacific railroad erected a rude structure, which
had for company several canvas houses. Lots sold
*The Bullion mine, discovered at Lewiston, on the Sweetwater, by H. G.
Uickerson, iu 1868, was considered a good mine. The Buckeye, discovered
in 1869, on the north Sweetwater, jnelded in 1871, §25,000 in a 10-stamp mill.
Louis P. Vidal located the Buckeye Extension. John D. WoodruflF located
a claim in 1870, which he abandoned, out of which another locator took
S27,000.
■ R>-pt Sec. Int., in U. S. Mess, d: Doc. Abrid<j% 655, 1867-8; Byers' Centen-
nial State, MS., 36-7.
734 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
at a good figure at this early period," and the popular
tion rapidly increased. A city government was formed
in the autumn of 1867, with a good police system and
a determination on the part of the permanent inhabi-
tants to prevent, if possible, the disorders which had
attended the early development of cities in the sur-
rounding mining territories. That it was found im-
possible without resorting to the vigilant system was
not the fault of the founders. Cheyenne received
many settlers from Colorado,'
The first actual settler at Cheyenne was J. R.
Whitehead, followed the same day by Thomas E.
McLeland, Robert M. Beers, and three others, with
their families. The railroad company sold lots for
$150, one third cash, and the same lots sold one month
later for $1,000, increasing in price at the rate of $1,000
per month during the summer. In August the city
government was formed, H. M. Hook being chosen
* One of the first permanent settlers in Cheyenne was Morton E. Post,
who located himself in the Platte valley, 75 miles below Denver, removing
to Cheyenne in 1867. Purchasing two lots of the land agent, he was return-
ing to Denver to make arrangements for building, when he fell in with a man
at Willow springs, who had made a coal discovery, and was afraid to return
to it on account of Indians in the vicinity, but being very anxious about it,
persuaded Post to return with him. He found the coal mine IG miles from
Cheyenne, and staked off claims. In August he erected a store at tlie corner
of 17th and Ferguson streets, selling the fractional parts of his two lots,
which cost him $600, for $5,600. In 1877, lie purchased a gold mine in
Deadwood, and erected the first quartz-mill in that section, making the first
shipment of gold bullion from the Black hills. In 1878, he opened a banking-
house, under the style of Stebl^ins, Post & Co., in the Deadwood country.
He was elected a commissioner for Laramie county in 1872, together with
T. Dyer and J. H. Nichols. The county was at this time $40,000 in debt,
its warrants worth 40 cents on the dollar, and it owned no property except
a worthless old safe. At the expiration of their second term tlie old county
debt -was paid, and a jail and court-house costing $40,000 erected; the county
warrants were at par, with a bonded indebtedness of $.30,000. Sul)stantial
school buildings had also been built, and a surplus remained in the treasury.
In 1878 Post was elected to the territorial council, doing good service, and
securing, against strong opposition, the repeal of tlie law licensing lotteries.
In 1880 he was elected delegate to congress, reelected in 1882, and nominated
again in 1884, when he declined. Poore's Cong. Direct y, 48th cong., 1st sess.,
p. 79; House Jour., 18S4-5, 923.
•Nathaniel Robertson, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1841, migrated
with his parents to the U. S. in 1846, and to Colo in 1865, locating himself
at Denver, and opening the first carriage-making establishment in that place.
When Cheyenne was laid ofif he removed his business to that point, and
merged it into a company called the Cheyenne Carriage company, with F. E.
Warren prest, Thomas Swan vice-prest, Morton E. Post treas., J. K. Jeffrey
sec y, and Robertson general manager and supt.
WYOMING. 735
mayor ; E. E. Tapley, W. H. Harlow, S. M. Pres-
haw, J. G. Willis, and G. B. Thompson, councilmen;
J. R. Whitehead, city attorney; H. N. Meldrum,
treasurer; Thomas E. McLeland, clerk, and E.
Melanger, marshal/**
On the 19th of September N. A. Baker commenced
the publication of the Cheyenne Evening Leader news-
paper, which later became a morning daily. On the
25th of October the Daily Argus began publication
under the management of L. L. Bedell. Telegraphic
communication with the east and Denver was com-
pleted the same day. On the 13th of November the
railroad reached the town limits, the first passenger
trains through from Omaha arriving with a special
party on board, which was enthusiastically welcomed.
A month later the track was laid to Fort Russell,
and on the 8th of December a third newspaper, the
Rocky Moujitain Star, issued its first number, edited
by O. T. B. Williams. Wonderful development of a
i^The first house erected on the south side of Crow creek on the site of
Cheyenne was built by a mountain man named Larimer. It was followed in
July by a two-story frame house, erected by Whitehead, which is still stand-
ing on the west side of Eddy street. Lumber M-as brought from Colorado,
and the first houses were roofed with boards lapped; but in Aug. Thomas
Murrin had a shingle roof on his house on I7th street. Headquarters saloon
built about this time was 36 by 100 feet, and stood on 16th street, where
Hellman's brick block now stands. Adjoining it was a two-story hotel,
owned by Ford and Durkee, the same Ford who built the fine hotel on the
corner of Hill and 16th streets. Opposite the Ford and Durkee hotel was
the Rollins house, owned by J. Q. A. RcUins, now a wealthy mine owner,
and the founder of RoUinsville, Colo. The post-office was a 10 by 15 frame
building on 16th street, but soon proving inadequate to its purpose, the
postmaster, Thomas E. McLeland, erected a building on the s. e. corner of
Ferguson and 17th streets, where later was placed the banking house of
Stebbins, Post & Co., of about double that size. It is stated that E. P. Snow
and W. N. Monroe arrived in Cheyenne Aug. loth as managers of the busi-
ness of M. S. Hall, and in 48 hours had erected a building 55 by 25 feet. It
stood on a part of the ground later occupied by the furniture establishment
of F. E. Warren & Co. A large warehouse was opened in Sept. by Corn-
forth & Bro. on the corner of Eddy and 19th streets. On the 25th the first
bank was opened in Cornf orth & Bro. "s stort by J. H. Rogers, who soon after
erected a building on Eddy and 16th streets. Two other banks were estab-
lished soon after by Kauntze Bros & Co. and J. A. Ware & Co. In Oct. Gen.
Stevenson caused to be erected the stone warehouse on the corner of Eddy
and 15th streets, costing 820,000. The same month the mammoth corral,
known as the Great Western, was completed by Hook & Moore on the cor-
ner of O'Neil and 20th streets. Charles McDonald began the erection of a
block of houses 88 by 90 feet, in Oct., which he used as a general merchan-
dising establishment.
736 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS,
six-months-old town in the midst of uninhabited
plains 1 No wonder it was named the Magic City."
Such progress did not fail to invite that pest of new
towns, the squatter. Town lots were seized, and tlie
city police being too few to eject them, a call was
made upon the commandant at Fort Russell, who
sent a battalion to escort the invaders outside the city
limits.''
On the 27th of September a mass meeting was
held '' for the purpose of organizing a county. Three
commissioners were appointed to district the county
into three election precincts ; the county to be called
Laramie, and its boundaries to be "the same as those
established by the act of the legislative assembly of
Dakota. " '* The comm issioners chosen by the meeting
were W. L. Kuykendall, L. L. Bedell, and Thomas
J. Street. It was resolved that the county-seat
should be located by vote at an election to be held
October 8th, when a delegate to congress and county
officers should be chosen ; and that all United States
^^ Slaughter s Life in Colo and Wynm., MS., 2-3; Wyorn. Tribune, Oct. 8,
1870; Wyom. Mi^sc, MS., 53-5; Hayden's Great West, 89; Beadk's Undeveloped
West, 134; Strahorns Wynmina, Black HilU, etc., 142; Goddard's Where to
E.nijrate and Why, 176; Williams' Padjic Tcnirist, 64.
'^ This question of squatters's rights and title to public lands claimed for
town-sites was not understood by every one. Cheyenne, like every other
such town, had its clouds on title to overcome. Lots were purchased from
the U. P. railroad co. When the government sur^'eys were in progress it
was discovered in 1869 that no plot of the town had ever been filed in the
office of the land commissioner, or in any office, or any official notice given
of such a town-site on the public lands. It appeared to be the intention of
the company to allow the government surveys to cut it up into sections, and
than to claim the odd numljered sections. Other parties could preempt — no
filing having l)een made — tlie other sections, and thus the town-site be dis-
membered, and titles be brought into dispute.
" This meeting was held at the city hall, which was on 16th street between
Eddy and Thomas, north side. H. M. Hook was chairman, and J. R. White-
head sec. John-son and Tutlull, Cheyenne Dir., 1883, 11; Mont. Post, Oct. 26,
1867.
'*Thi3 refers to an act of the legislature of Dakota of Jan. 9, 1867, by
which the county of Laramie was organized, and bounded east by the 104th
meridian, comprehending all the territory west of it, or all of what became
Wyoming. It was reorganized Jan. 3, 1868, and the western boundary
placed at the 107th meridian. All the first counties of Wyoming extended
irom the northern to the southern boundaries.
WYOMIXG. 737
citizens who had been in the territory for ten days
previous to the election should be eligible voters.''
The election resulted in choosing J. S. Casement,
formerly of Painesville, Ohio, delegate to congress ;
J. R. Whitehead representative to the Dakota legis-
lature; C. L, Howell, M. H. Hissman and W. L.
Hopkins county commissioners ; W. L. Kuykendall
probate judge; Thomas J. Street district attorney;
D. J. Sweeney sheriff; J. H. Creighton register of
deeds ; L. L. Bedell treasurer; James Irwin coroner ;
J. H. Gildersleeve superintendent of schools; and
F. Landberg surveyor. Cheyenne was made the
county seat. The total number of votes cast was
1,900.
Whitehead returned from Yancton in January,
having succeeded in his mission. The bill reorganiz-
ing Laramie county made new appointments, the
commissioners being Benjamin EUinger, P. McDon-
ald, andBeals; sheriff, J. L. Laird; recorder, William
L. Morris ; coroner, Johnson ; school superintendent,
J. H. Gildersleeve; justice of the peace, A. B. Moore
and A. W. Brown ; constable, S. Masterson. Kuy-
kendall was retained as probate judge; S. H. Winsor
was appointed county surveyor. Bills organizing a
district court for this part of Dakota, and an act of
incorporation of the City of Chej-enne were also
passed. Laramie county was added to the second
judicial district, to whieh the chief justice of Dakota,
Asa Bartlett, was assigned; and E. P. Johnson was
appointed district attorney. The first term of court
was ordered for the first Monday in March. Bart-
lett held two terms of court, and was a good judge.
But the first courts in this new metropolis, like those
in the first towns in Idaho, Montana, and Colorado
were the people's courts.'^
^'^Corlett, Founding of Cheyenne, MS., 4—7; Carey, Politics and People, MS.,
5-6.
i^Corlett says, in his Founding of Cheyenne, MS., 5, that the courts used
the statutes of Colorado, with which most of the residents were familiar, so
far as they were applicable in the cases tried. He performed the duties of
Hist. Xey. 47
738 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
Shootings M' ere frequent, and every manner of vice
abounded. Finding that Cheyenne was to be the ter-
minus of the railroad for that winter, all the scum of
society which had drifted along with the pa}'- car of
the railroad company as far as Julesburg took up a
temporary residence here. Six thousand people win-
tered in Cheyenne, the accommodations for the shelter
of a large part of them being tents and sod houses, or
" dug-outs." A canvas saloon would answer as well as
another for gambling, drinking, and the practices of
the dives. Various men and women made the place
intolerable. Tne city authorities were powerless.
Robberies and assaults with deadly weapons were of
daily and nightly occurrence. Then the patience of
the people failed, and the vigilance committee came to
the front. Its first act was on the 11th of Januar3%
when it seized three men who had been arrested for
robbery and placed under bonds to appear before the
court on the 14th. These men were bound together
abreast, and a large canvas attached to them bearing
this legend: "$900 stole; $500 returned; thieves,
F. St Clair, W. Grier, E. D. Brownville. City author-
ities please not interfere until 10 o'clock A. m. Next
case goes up a tree. Beware of vigilance committee."
During the next six months a dozen men were hanged
and shot by the vigilants, after which law became
operative in Cheyenne, and the plague passed on west-
ward to Laramie City and other towns which defended
themselves in a similar manner."
the city attorney during a part of Whitehead's term. Tliis was 1)efore the
irruption of the criminal class, which came with the railroad, and witli whom
the provisional government could not deal. Tliere M'as no prison, and fines
were readily paid when imposed. Boettrhcr, FlitJ^h Times in Colorado, MS., 1.
"The first hanging in Cheyenne occurred on the night of the '20th of
March, when Charles Martin and Cliarles Morgan were executed hy the vig-
ilance committee. Martin had killed Andrew Harris in a quarrel. He was
from Lexington, Mo., and respectahly connected. For some time he was
wagon-master for Ru.ssell, Majors, and Waddell, but finally became reckless,
and consorted with gamblers and vile associates, becoming a desperado in
his habits. He had, without provocation, shot at Capt. O'Brien at Jules-
Inirg, iind was regarded as a dangerous person. Morgan was hanged for
horse-stealing. The gallows on wliicli Martin died stood where L C. Whip-
ple's house was built, the other behind the Eleiihaut corral. V/ieyenne Argus,
WYOMING. 739
Laramie City was laid off by the railroad company
in April, 1868, when the early history of Cheyenne
was repeated. During the first week 400 lots were
sold. In a fortnight 500 dwellings and business houses
of all kinds had been erected, mostly of a very transient
character. The road was completed to that point in
May, where the town was quickly over-run with des-
peradoes and lewd women, as its predecessor had been;
and as forbearance ceased to be a virtue they were
visited by those unrecognized ministers of justice the
vigilants, and Laramie became a well ordered as it
was a thriving town. This year also the counties of
Albany and Carbon were organized by the Dakota
legislature. Laramie county having elected Charles
D. Bradley, brother of Judge Bradley of the supreme
court of the United States, representatives who pro-
cured the passage of bills for their establishment.
As early as 1865a bill had been introduced in con-
gress, by Ashley of Ohio, to provide a temporary
government " for the territory of Wyoming." ^^ Who
it was first suggested this beautiful but misplaced
name does not appear. The bill was referred to the
committee on territories, where it rested. When the
delegate chosen ^^ on the 8th of October 1867, pre-
March 22, 1868; ;S'. F. Alta, Ap. 10, 1868; Corlett, Founding of Cheyenne, MS.,
7. Not long after a party of desperate men went carousing down Eddy-
street, and coming opposite a saloon kept by Tim Dyer, later the proprietor
of Dyer's hotel, and a member of the city council, fired several shots into it,
fortunately killing no one. They left town immediately, fearing the vig-
ilants, but were followed and overtaken at Dale City and hanged, three of
them, Keefe, Hays, and a very tall man nicknamed Shorty. Tm'o men were
killed and a woman wounded in a house of ill-fame, but no clue could be
obtained to the murderer, although the shots were distinctly heard by many
persons. The mystery engendered fear. After the committee had per-
formed the service of ridding the community of its worst element, it was
condemned and superseded by legalized justice, but only to be revived in
later times, when a new set of desperate men as highwaymen made even
railroad travel dangerous. See Popular Tribunals, this series.
^^Gong. Globe, 1864-5, 116; U. S. House Jour., 78, 256, 38 cong. 2 sess.
*'The regularly elected delegate for Dakota in 1868 was S. L. Spink, who
had his friends and funds in this section. He ran on the republican ticket
against Burley and Todd, in the eastern part, and Dennis J. Toohey, after-
wards editor of the Snlt Lake Tribune, in the western part of the territory.
Carlett, Founding of Cheymne, MS., 18; Foster's Outlines of History, 38,
740 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
sented himself at the door of congress, he was not
permitted a seat, but he nevertheless was able to
refresh the memories of the territorial committee.
A memorial introduced in the Dakota legislature by
W. W. Brooking, asking congress to organize a new
territory in the southwest to be called Lincoln was
also presented ; ^' and in the spring a petition for a
territorial organization was addressed to the house of
representatives, signed by " H. Latham, agent for the
people of Wyoming." When tlie bill before congress
had reached the senate considerable discussion took
place upon the subject of the proper nomenclature to
be adopted, and Wyoming was preferred by a major-
ity, although Cheyenne came very near being the
name chosen,"
Without opposition or prolonged discussion the
organization took place, the act being approved July
25, 1868/' the boundaries of the new territory being
the 27th and 34th meridians of longitude, and the
41st and 45th parallels of north latitude, embracing
100,284 square miles, or 64,181,700 acres." The
western boundary took in the Green River valley,
which had previously formed the northeast corner of
Utah, but which since the occupation of Fort Bridger
by the government, had been abandoned by the Mor-
mons, and also a portion of Idaho north of this section.
^Mont. T. W. Post, Jan. 23, 1868.
** A question arising as to the orthography of Cheyenne, the librarian of
congress Mas appealed to, who quoted Sclioolcraft as tlie liighest authority,
who says the meaning of the word is not known, and the orthography differs.
The MoiiOuKi Po"t, July 3, 1808, gives the true pronunciation Shai-en-na,
'with a prolonged breathing aceeut on the second syllable.' This, in fact,
is the manner of pronouncing all Indian names of three sjdlables among the
western Indians, which being condensed into two syllal)les or rapidly spolcen
lose their beauty, as no doubt their meaning. Ciieyenne divided into three
Earts, and ending in (i is as beautiful a word as Wyoming, and should have
een the name adopted.
'^'^Corhtt, Foinii I inq of Cheyenne, MS., 8, 18-20; Wyom. Muicellany, MS.,
4; Zaln-iskie, Land Lmrs, 848-857; H. Ex. Dor., xxv. no. 47, pt 4, p. 457, 46
cong. 3sess. ; Wyom. Gen. Laws, 1st sess., 18-24; Porter, The West Census of
lS8n, p. 419; U. S. H. Jour., 246, 40 cong. 2 sess.; Kept Sec. Inter., i. 124,
41 cong. 3 sess.
■^ Mess. Gov. Hole, 1884, 137. Zabriskie makes it 97,883 square miles in
extent. That portion of the boundary common to Nebraska was surveyed
in 1S70-71; the southern and western boundaries in ]874by Alouzo V. Rich-
ards; the northern boundary in 1882-83 by RoUiu J. Reeves.
WYOMING, 741
The territorial officers were not appointed until
April 1869, when John A. Campbell, of Cleveland,
Ohio, was commissioned governor. According to
his contempories, he was possessed of sufficient abilit}-,
not brilliant but industrious and conscientious, and
respected most by those who knew him best/* Ed-
ward M. Lee, was appointed secretary, who was an
active politician if no more ; Church Howe, United
States marshal, another politician ; J. M. Carey,"
United States attorney ; John M. Howe, of Illinois,
chief justice;'^ W. S. Jones," and J. W. King-
2* Campbell had been an editor on the Cleveland Leader. In 1861 he
entered the Union army as 2d lieut being from time to time promoted until
he became adj. -gen. on Schofield's staff. He was in many Tattles, among
which were Rich Mountain, Pittsburg Landing, Perryville, and all of the
Atlantic campaign. He was brevetted brig. -gen. in 1864; and during the
reconstruction of the south was with Scofield in Virginia, and called upon
to apportion the state into senatorial and representative districts, prescrib-
ing the time and manner in which elections should be held. He performed
the duties of asst sec. of war from May 1868 to March 1869. He was sub-
sequently, under Hayes' administration, 3d asst secretary of state. His
health soon gave way, and he died of softening of the brain in 1879 at
Washington. Cai-letfs Founding of Cheyenne, MS., 23; Wyom. Ter. Affairs,
MS., 1-2.
'■^^ Carey was born in Sussex co., Delaware, in 1845, and educated at Fort
Edwards collegiate institute and IJnion college, N. Y. He studied law in
Philadelphia, graduating from the law dept of the university of Pa, emigrat-
ing to Wyoming on his appointment in 1869. In 1872 he was commissioned
associate U. S. justice, serving 4 years, after which he Ment into the business
of cattle raising, and became president of the Stock Growers' association,
whose property came to represent §100,000,000. He was three times mayor
of Cheyenne, and enjoyed other honors which will appear in the progress of
the history. A dictation from him, Politics and People, MS., is among my
valued original authorities. He has ever been one of Wyoming's most
prominent and pubUc spirited men.
2® Howe, like Campbell, had served in the civil war, and risen to be a
general. He was an able lawyer, and after the war was chosen circuit judge.
Chicago Legal News, in Wyom. Mkc, MS., 28. He was born at Riga, in
Monroe co., N. Y''., removing when a j'outh to Kingsville, Ohio, where he
received a liberal education, and studied law, practising in the courts of that
state for several years, after which he removed to Kewanee, 111., in 1854.
He was elected judge of the 6th judicial district of 111., holding the office
some years. Formerly a whig, he became a republican, and was efficient in
politics. Corlett calls him 'peevish and fretful, although a man of pretty
good ability. He was undoubtedly out of health, dyspeptic in his stomach,
and in his nature, too.' Founding of Cheyenne, MS., 19-20. After serving
two years he resigned, and accepted a position as secretary to a commission
appointed to settle some affairs between the U. S. and Mexico, and died
while holding that office, of consumption, aged aboiit 50 years. He was a
politician, and a polished speaker. Corlett accuses him of taking advantage
of the inexperience of the members of the bar. Diet, of Posey S. Wilson^
MS., 3.
^ Corlett says of Jones, who was a young man, not more than 28 years of
742 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
man," associate justices ; Silas Reed, of St Louis, sur-
veyor general ; '" and Frank Walcott, of Kentucky,
receiver of public means.
On tlie I'Jth of May the judges having qualified,
and the organization of the territory being completed,
Governor Campbell issued a proclamation assigning
them to their districts ; the count}^ of Laramie con-
stituting the 1st, to which the chief justice was
assigned, the counties of Albany and Carbon the 2J
to which Judge Jones was assigned ; and the 3d the
county of Carter, to which Judge Kingman was
assigned; designating the times and places of holding
courts therein, and subsequently attaching the Green
River region to Carter county and the 3d judicial
district. The first term of court was held at Chey-
enne, September 7th, 1869. The census returns,
owing to the sparseness of the population, and the
difficulty of finding deputies willing to travel over the
country, much of which was unsafe on account of
Indian raids, w^ere not all in before the last of July.
On the 2d of August a proclamation was issued call-
age, that he was entirely cool and impartial on the bench, and for that reason
was approved by the bar and people. He was of intemperate habits, but
such was his popularity that he was elected delegate to congress from the
territory before his term was ended. He was born in Ind. in 1842, and edu-
cated at Miami university, Ohio, afterwards studying law at Corydon, Ind.
Wlieu the civil war broke out he volunteered in the 17th Indiana regt. He
distinguished himself in all the campaigns in which he served, rising to the
rank of major for gallant and meritorious conduct.
-8 ' Kingman,' says Corlett, ' was regarded as a very interesting man, but
I cannot say he was successful as a judge. He was a man of very strong
prejudices, and was in the habit of allowing himself to be informed about
the case, and was apt to espouse one side or the other.'
28 According to Johnson d; Tuthilis Direr, of Cheyenne, 18S.S, C. D. Ruyer
was nominated, but if so, he must have declined immediately, as Reed was
nominated in April 1869. Congress, however, had passed no law establish-
ing the office of surveyor-general, and althougli an appropriation was made,
ami l)ill3 introduced establisliing the surveying and local land offices, they
did not pass before the adjournment of congress. This neglect caused the
postponement of a surveying office in Wyoming until the summer of 1870,
when surveys began along the line of the railway. They commenced at the
intersection of tlie 3d standard parallel with the guide meridian at the ter-
mination of the Colorado surveys. The delay in surveying was injurious
and irritating to settlers on public lands and town-site companies. Rept of
sur-gen., in U. S. H. Mi«r. Doc, 40, p. 2, 41st cong.. 3d sess.; Wyom. Council
Jour., ISOO, 18-19. Wolcott served in the union army, and reached the
rank .>f major. He was U. S. marshal of Wyoming in 1871-2, and became
a wealthy cattle-dealer.
WYOMING. 743
ing for an election on the 2d of September, for choos-
ing a delegate to congress, and members of the first
territorial legislature, which by the organic act was
limited to nine councilmen and thirteen representa-
tives, which might be afterward increased to thirteen
and twenty-seven respectively/*
The candidates for the congressional delegateship
were S. F. Nuckolls and W. W. Corlett, Nuckolls,
democrat, being elected by a majority of 1,368 in a
total vote of 5,266. He was of the family some
members of which are settled in Colorado, where he
also came in an early period, being known as a busi-
ness man rather than a politician, but his sympathies
were with the slave-holding south during the war.
He was not renominated, and died a few years after-
ward.
The legislature in a sixty days* session perfected
and adopted a code of laws which, with the example
of the several new" territories adjacent to guide them,
was an admirable foundation in which to construct a
perfect state in the future. Had no omissions been
made, there need have been no more legislatures "
MThe council consisted of T. D. Murrin, J. R. Whitehead, and T. W.
Poole of Laramie co. ; W. H. Bright, W. S. Rockwell, and George Wardmen
of Carter co. ; Frederick Laycock and James W. Brady of Albany co. ; and
George Wilson of Carbon co. Bright was chosen president, T. S. Poole
chaplain, Edward Orpen sec, Mark Parish asst sec, Charles H. Moxley
sergt-at-arms, Peter Lemmon messenger, Henry Arnesfeld fireman. The
house of representatives consisted of Posey S. Wilson, J. C. Abney, Herman
Haas, Howard Sebree, Louis Miller, J. N. Douglas, William Herrick, Ben-
jamin Shecks, James Menafee, J. C. Strong, John Holbrook, J. M. Freeman,
and S. M. Curran, speaker. L. L. Bedell was chosen chief clerk, W. C.
Stanley asst clerk, William Baker sergt-at-arms.
^^ The Wyoming Trihune commented upon the neglect to pass a militia law,
which the governor had recommended; to provide for a commission of sta-
tistics, and a bureau of immigration; and to exempt certain kinds of personal
property from seizure and sale on execution. Wyom. Misc., MS., 9. Instead
of the militia law, the legislature memorialized congress to order paid to the
governor of Wyoming all the internal revenue collections not already appro-
priated for other territorial objects, for the purpose of paj'ing volunteer
troops who might be called into the field to serve against hostile Indians.
Wyom. Laws, 18G9, 721-2. The legislature of 1871 passed an act authorizing
the formation of volunteer militia companies, but it was not put in execution.
An act was passed for the same purpose in 1882. Sess. Laws. 18R2. 1.55. The
presence of a number of U. S. posts has a t-endency to cause neglect of mili-
tia organizations. Congress was still further memorialized on the Indian
troubles, and asked to reestablish the forts on tiie Powder river route to
744 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
The laws of Dakota were repealed December lOtli,
the act to take effect on the 1st of January, and not
to impair any rights acquired under Dakota laws, nor
to interfere with the course of actions at law already
commenced.
A county was established in the Green River coun-
try called Uinta, with the county seat temporarily at
Merrill, near Fort Bridger. The name of Carter
county was changed to Sweetwater, and the county
seat located at South Pass City/' The judicial dis-
tricts were altered, making Laramie and Albany
counties compose the 1st, Carbon and Uhita the 2d, and
Sweetwater the 3d, Judge Kingman was assigned to
the 2d, and Jones to the 3d. The official year wa.s
made to terminate on the last day of October. The seal
Montana. Increased salaries were asked for the judges and legislators. An
appropriation was made by the legislature of $1,500 additional to be paid t >
tlie chief justice, and $1,000 to the associate judges. Better mail facilities
were petitioned for.
^^The officers appointed for Sweetwater co. were W. C. Erwin, James A.
Brennan, and John Uugdale, commissioners; T. Quinn, probate judge; John
McGlinchy, sheriff; Tim. McCarty, co. clerk; P. L. Williams, prosecuting
atty; Henry Smith, assessor; Frank Oilman, supt of schools; William Smith,
CO. sur. ; Jolin Morris, coroner; James W. Stillman and Presley J. Talbert,
justices of the peace in South Pass precinct; James Smith, constable; Ed-
ward Lawn, justice of the peace in Atlantic City precinct, and W. Hogan,
constable; W^illiam Grinnell, justice of tlie peace in Bryan precinct. No
appointments were made for Point of Rocks, although such a precinct was
named.
The officers appointed for Carbon co. were A. B. Donnelly, E. V. Upton,
and Robert Foot, commissioners; George Doyle, slieritf; Robert Foot, justice
of the peace of Fort Halleck precinct; Hinton, justice of the peace of Carbon
precinct; probate judge and ex-officio justice of the peace, ^^ illiam R. Hun-
ter, of Rawlins Springs; Thomas J. Williams, clerk and registrar of deeds,
H. C. Hall, supt of public instruction. The county seat of Carbon co. was
located at Rawlins Springs.
The county seat of Albany co. was located at Laramie City; officers, H.
W^agner, Joseph Mackle, and S. C. Leach, commissioners; J. W. Connor,
sheriff; L. D. Pease, probate judge; Charles Hilliker, assessor; George Van
Dyke, justice of the peace; R. S. Kinney, clerk; Jolin Barton, D. Slianks,
William Carr, and George Young, constables; Foose, coroner; James Vine,
surveyor; S. W. Downey, prosecuting attorney.
The county seat of Laramie co. was located at Cheyenne. Officers :L. Murrin,
H. J. Rogers, and George D. Foglesong, commissioners; T. Jeff. Carr, sheriff;
William L. Kuykendall, probate judge; John T. Chaffin, clerk and registrar
of deeds; C. C. Turley, coroner; S. H. Winsor, surveyor; H. Garbanati,
county atty; Rev. H. P. Peek, supt of public schools; D. C. Tracy, justice
of the peace at Pine Bluffs; William Baker, justice of the peace at Clieyenne;
Frank Gates, justice of tlae peace at Fort Laramie; William Rowland, con-
stable at Pine Bluffs; A. J. Mead, constable at Cheyenne; and Gibson Clark,
constable at Fort Laramie.
WYOMING. 745
designed for the territory had on its face a Norman
shield, on the upper half of which was emblazoned
mountains, with a railroad train, the appearing above
the horizon, and the figures " 1868 " below the middle
point of the shield. On the first quarter below, on a
white ground, a plough, pick, and shovel, and a shep-
herd's crook. On the second quarter on a red ground
was an arm upholding a drawn sword. The motto
'* Cedant arma toga " surmounted the shield and the
whole was encircled by the words "Territory of Wyo-
mina:, grreat seal."
The code adopted allowed gambling," and taxed
every kind of property, except United States and
public property, which included scientific and all
school or benevolent institutions, with the money
and credits belonging exclusively to them, and the
kitchen, furniture, bedding, and clothing of every per-
son, and provisions for a family amounting to the
value of $100. The school tax was fixed at two mills
on a dollar of the assessed value of all taxable prop-
erty. Jails were required to be erected and kept in
every county, the sheriff to be responsible for the
manner in which they were maintained. The terri-
torial penitentiary was located at the town of Lara-
mie, Albany county, and congress was memorialized
that the territory had been deprived of the use of
that part of the internal revenue set aside by law for
penitentiaries in the territories, for a large portion of
the year 1867, the whole of 1868, and the greater
part of 1869, during which time the internal revenue
of Wyoming had gone to the credit of Dakota, for
which loss the legislature asked to be reimbursed. A
second memorial declared that in and about the
Sweetwater mining region, and on the border of the
Shoshone reservation set apart by Sherman and his
co-commissioners in 1868, were congregated many of
^^Says one of my authorities: 'J. M. Pattee bought up the legislature,
and ran the Wyoming lottery. In 1876 it collapsed, but Pattee had drawn
prizes enough to become rich.'
74G POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
the criminal class, who constantly committed theft,
robbery, and murder, there being sometimes twenty
persons held for trial at the same time in that county,
which had no prison. The military posts of Fort
Bridger, and the camp on the Popo Agie had kept
in the guard-houses a number of criminals, to aid the
officers of the law, but refused longer to make these
places serve as jails for this class of offenders. The
expenses of holding prisoners, under the circumstances
was a heavy tax on the county, and it was asked the
secretary of war should aid the people by providing
a prison at one of the military posts in which prison-
ers held for trial could be confined and subsisted until
the people were able to meet the difficulty. Convicts
were taken, at great cost, to Detroit, where they were
imprisoned in the house of correction."
The seat of government of the territory was estab-
lished at Cheyenne, and an appropriation asked for
the erection of a capital." All this was legislation
3* Wyom. Gen. Laws, 1st sess., pp. 32. The penitentiary was completed
in 1872, and in less than a year was destroyed by fire. Laramie SttUiiml, Aug.
27, 1873. It was partially rebuilt, soon after which the government, by act
of congress, transferred the prisoners from the charge of the U. S. marshal
to the control of the territory. A commission was appointed, consisting of
Herman Haas, James France, W. H. Halliday, and Gov. Thayer, to investi-
gate the cost of keeping prisoners at Laramie, and at other prisons in the
neighboring states, the result of which was that the penitentiary of Nebraska
was declared, by act of legislature of 1 879, to be the territorial prison of
Wyoming. Wyom. Se.<iS. Laics, 1879, 142. As late as 1884, a penitentiary
commission for selecting prisons existed.
^* U. S. II. Miscel, iii.. No. 60, 41st cong., 2d sess. Cheyenne was rein-
corporated at this session. W. W. Slaughter was mayor in 1869; Edward
Orpen, city clerk; John Burrows, city marshal; George RajTnond, fire war-
den; J. R. Whitehead, N. J. O'Brien, Henry E. Eisf elder, Dayton, and T.
W. Poole, aldermen. Wi/nm. J/mt., ]\IS.. 2. Cheyenne sustained the loss of
S250,000 by fire on Jan. 11, 1869. Wyom. W. Trihune, Jan. 15, 1869. The
commerce of Cheyenne was immense for a frontier town during 1868-9, it
being the entrepot of the vast region lying north, -west, and south, until the
railroad was completed, when of course the trade was di\-ided between the
many points along the line. But in this 1)rief period fortunes were made
and lost. Prices were fabulous, and business partook of the recklessness of
gambling. It was never disputed that this town exceeded in %nce and un-
wholesome excitement any of the manj' new cities in the west. Yet that it
was not wholly composed of the transient classes, some facts go to show. In
1869 it had a" population of over 4,000, sometimes nearer 6,000, In the
autumn of 1870 it had 1.600. It had at this period a public school, with 2
departments, accommodating about 100 pupils, and two select schools, each
with about 30 in attendance. The^e were under the management of t'^e
catholic and episcopal societies. It had 5 well built and well furnished
WYOMING. 747
to the point. But what attracted most attention, at
home and abroad, was an act passed and approved
December 10th, giving women the right to vote and
hold office, and was cordially approved by the gov-
ernment. The law was immediately put in practice
by the summoning of women on juries, and the appoint-
ment of women justices of the peace, the first being
by the commissioners of Sweetwater county who
chose to that position Esther Morris, the wife of
John Morris.
The j udges of Wyoming were no more happy than
had been those of the other territories. Aside from
the firm support given the rights of women under the
suffrage act, there was the usual opposition to imported
officers, and demand for home appointments. Howe,
who was probably annoyed by this clamor, resigned
at the end of two years. Jones being nominated
delegate to congress to succeed Nuckolls, there were
two vacancies on the bench, which was filled by the
appointment of J. W. Fisher chief-justice, and J. M.
Casey, the United States district attorney, associate
justice, who held the office four years. Fisher
remained chief justice until about 1879, when he was
succeeded by J. B. Sener, who held the office for six
years, and was succeeded by John C. Perry. The
associates of Fisher, after Kingman and Carey, were
churches, occupied by the episcopal, methodist, congregational, presbyterian,
aud catholic congregations. The masons, knights templar, odd fellows, and
good templars had lodges in a flourishing condition. Some business houses
would compare favorably with those of cities of ten times the age and popu-
lation. The furniture and crockery house of A. R. Converse carried from
$30,000 to $50,000. Joslyn & Park, manufacturers of native jewelry, had a
business of $75,000 per year. The dry goods houses of C. D. Foglesong, S.
F. Nuckolls, Marks, Myers & Co., carried each from $25,000 to $40,000 m
stock, besides which there was another dry goods store. There were 2
banks, 3 wholesale and retail tobacconists, 3 hardware houses, 2 boot and
shoe establishments, 3 clothing houses, 2 book and stationery stores, 3 dru^
stores, 1 confectionery, 2 bakeries, 1 livery stable, 2 first-class hotels and
several inferior ones, 1 daily and 2 weekly newspapers, a well organized fire
department, with 1 steam fire-engine and a hook-and-ladder company. A
company had nearly completed an acequia for bringing water a distance of 7
mdes to run through the principal f treets. And better than all, it was at
this time a well governed aud orderly town.
748 POLITICAL. SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
E. A. Thomas, followed by Jacob B. Blair, and Wil-
liam Ware Beck. Tlie latter failed to give satisfac-
tion to the people of his district, who caused the leg-
islature in 1877 to memorialize the president for his
removal. The petition was not heeded. In 1879 the
president was memorialized that W. W. Corlett would
be acceptable as a successor to Chief-justice Fisher,
which prayer was also disregarded, efforts to shake off
non-resident officials being nearly always futile."
Peck was succeeded by Samuel C. Parks. The suc-
cessor of district attorney Carey was Edward P.
Johnson," who remained in office over seven years,
and \\as succeeded by C. H. Layman, followed by
M. C. Brown, and J. A. Riner, W. T. Sweesy, and
Gustav Schnitger succeeded to the marshal's office.
The legislature of 1869 fixed the time of elections
on the first Tuesday of September in each year. At
the election of 1870 there w^as to be chosen a delegate
to congress, and on every succeeding- alternate year a
delegate. Members of the legislature and county
officers were to be elected in 1871, and every two
years thereafter, and the legislature was to meet on
the first Tuesday in November after election. By the
organic act the length of the sessions was fixed at
forty days, except the first, which was permitted to
be sixty. There was none of that turbulence or
effort to evade obligations which disgraced some of
the territorial legislatures during their infancy; no
needless increase in the number of legislators, no whole-
sale thieving or reckless plunging of the territory in
debt, and congress found little to disapprove."
=>« Wyom. Session Lam, 1877, 142; I<1., 1879, 156.
s'Johuson was born in Greenbush, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1842. He entered the
union army, and served .3 years in the 9.3d Ohio regt. In 1867 he graduated
from the university of Mich., removing soon after to Denver, where he
stopped a short time before casting in his fortunes with Cheyenne. He wa?
prosecuting attorney for Laramie co. in 1869-70. His appointment as U. S.
dist. attorney was one of the few instances of domestic materiall)eing chosen
to fill government offices. He resigned after 7 years to accept again the
office of prosecuting attorney for the county. He was chosen to the council
of the territorial legi.slature in 1879, but died Oct. 3, before it was convened.
3» [J. S. Sen. Jour., 1175, 1546; 41 cong. 2 sess.; /(/., 548, 3 seas.; U. S. H.
Jour., 1359; 42 cong., 2 sesa.
WYOMING. 749
The subsequent act of congress providing that rep-
resentatives and delegates to congress should be elected
on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in Novem-
ber 1876, and every second year thereafter, caused a
change in the law of Wyoming, which was made to
conform to this act, and the biennial election of the
legislative and county and territorial officers to occur
upon the same day. The council and house of repre-
sentatives were increased to the full number allowed
by the organic act in 1875. No session was held from
November 1879 to January 1882, from which period
the biennial sessions subsequently dated.
The republicans in convention, in August 1870, nom-
inated Jones, and the democrats John Wanless.
Jones' majority was 227 in a total vote of 3,202. In
1872 Jones was again nominated, but was beaten by
William R. Steele, democrat, by a majority of 271
in 3,213. In 1874 the republicans nominated J. M.
Carey, who was beaten by Steele, nominated to suc-
ceed himself. In 1876 the republicans again nomi-
nated W. W. Corlett, their choice in 1869, whose
majority over Steele was 1,104, in a totah vote of
6,626.^' Again in 1878 the republicans elected their
^' Corlett was bom in Concord, Ohio, in 1842. His parents were from
the Isle of Man, but migrating to the U. S. their son was educated in Amer-
ican institutions, spending three years in Willoughby coUegiate institute,
near Cleveland, where he was employed as tutor for one year. In 1862 he
enlisted in the 87th Ohio regt as 2d lieut. He was captured at Harper's
Ferry, paroled, and sent home. After teaching another year he exchanged
as a prisoner, and again entered the army, joining the 25th Ohio l^atterj' in
the south-west, where he remained until the close of the war. after which he
returned home, and began the study of the law, graduating in 1866. His
health failing, he went to Denver, and thence to Cheyenne, where he was one
of half a dozen republicans who effected an organization of the party in
Wyoming called the Grant club. He was defeated, as already kno-\vn, on
the congressional ticket in 1869, but was appointed postmaster of Cheyenne
the following year, wliich office he held for three years. He held the office
of prosecuting attorney for Laramie county from 1870 to 1876. when he was
elected delegate to congress, declining a renomination in 1878. Dnlly Sun,
Sept. 21, 1876; Id., Oct. 15, 1876. For 8 or 10 years he was a member of
the school board, and never relinquished the practice of the law except when
absent in Washington. In 1885 he was chairman of the commission to com-
plete and revise the laws of Wyoming. His life helps to make history a
studv worthy to be pursued. 'Mr Corlett has furnished to my collection of
mcjiuscripts The Founding of Cheyenne, which is a complete sjTiopsis of the
750 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AXD MATERIAL AFFAIRS,
candidate, Stephen W. Downey, b}' about the same
majority over E. L. Pese, democrat. In 1880 the
choice lay between A, H. Swan, repubhcan,*" and
Morton E. Post, democrat, who received a majority
of 147 in 7,Q&7 votes. But in 1882 Post had a
majority of 1,111 over the repubHcan candidate J. M.
Meldrum. In 1884 his part}^ again nominated Joseph
M, Carey, who was elected in opposition to William
H. Holliday.
The administration of Governor Campbell, which
lasted until 1875, was attended by no disorders, nor
was it embittered by political feuds. The utmost
harmony existed between him and the legislature,
which three times left to him the apportionment of
the territory into legislative districts. He found it
without funds to carry on the government ; he left it
out of debt, and with nearly $20,000 in the treasury.
He found the territory with a small fixed population,
its hnprovements of the most transitory character; he
left it with permanent towns, comfortable homes, and
substantial business establishments. The unsettled val-
leys had become settled with thrifty stock-raisers and
agriculturalists. The vigilants of Wyoming per-
formed no more the functions of courts and execution-
ers after his first proclamation, and where the wildest
orgies had once been witnessed order and decorum
prevailed. He was not superseded, but called to
Washington to fill a higher if not a more useful
office."
To Campbell succeeded John M. Thayer of
establishment, not of Cheyenne, but of the provisional and territorial gov-
ernments.
*" A. H. Swan was born in Greene co., Pa, in 18.31, of Scotch and Welsh
progenitors, long settled in that state. He was one of 8 boys, and received
an academic e<lucation. He removed to Iowa in early manhood, engaging
in stock-raising, wliich he followed for 14 years before coming to Wyoming,
•where he very much extended his operations, and became an associate in tlie
great cattle companies that represent millions. His name in Wyoming is
synonymous with ability, enterprise, and honor. Wyom. Bept Gov., 1883, 57;
Carey. Pnlitks and People, M8.. 2.
^^Cliey tunc News, Feb. 15, 1875; Bristol, Neiospaper Preas, MS., 2,
WYOMING. 751
Nebraska," who held the office four years. During
his administration occurred the Bighorn expedition,
and the failure of a commission appointed by the
president to treat with the Indians for the extinguish-
ment of their title to the Black hills region where
gold was believed to exist. A scheme was proposed
about this time of annexing a portion of Wyoming
to Colorado, by settlers on both sides of the boundary
line, which had no foundation in reason, and came to
nothing." Another proposition was more seriously
entertained in 1877, of forming a new territory out of
the Black hills, a portion of northern Wyoming, and
parts of Montana and Dakota." Thayer was opposed
to the scheme of another territory, but favored the
project of severing the Black hills from Dakota and
attaching them to Wyoming, which as they lay half
in the latter territory, and had intimate relations with
Cheyenne, seemed a proper connection. The legisla-
ture was advised to and did memorialize congress
against a division of the territory.*'
The successor of Thayer in the executive office was
John W. Hoyt, a popular man and able officer." He
" Wyom. Territorial Affairs, MS., 4. The territorial officers during Thay-
er's administration -were: Sec, George W. French; marshal, W. F. Sweesy;
dist atty, E. P. Johnson; surv.-gen., E. C. David; treas., A. R. Converse;
auditor, S. W. Downey; collector, E. P. Snow; supt of schools, John Slaugh-
ter; justices supreme court, J. W. Fisher, W. W. Peck, J. B. Blair; U. S.
commiss'r, J. W. Bruner; register U. S. land-office, G. R. Thomas; receiver
public moneys, I. C. Whipple; librarian, John Slaughter. Wyom. Sess. Latcs,
1877, iv. John Slaughter, who filled several offices in the early days of the
terrritory, and who in 1SS4 was still librarian, was born in Va in 1S09, re-
moving to Ohio in infancy. He came to Clieyenne in 1867 from Denver,
with the founders of the Wyoming capital, and for want of something else
to do, kept a restaurant, and then went into lumber dealing, buying his
stock in Denver. He was city marshal and magistrate under the provisional
government, Corlett's Founding of Cheyenne, MS., 4, and was appointed jus-
tice of the peace by Gov. Campbell until there was an election, and held
the office until 1880, less one or two years. His Life in Colo and Wyoming,
MS., refers briefly to early society, business, prices, etc. in Cheyenne.
*^ Byeri Centennial State, :MS., 34.
** Wyom. House Jour., 1877, 19; Mess. Gov. Hayes, 1877, 13.
*5 Wyom. Sess. Laws, 1877, 138-9.
*^ The other territorial officers were: A. Worth Spates, secretary; J. B.
Lewer, chief justice; J. B. Blair and William Ware Peck, associate justices;
C. H. Layman, U. S. dist atty: Gustave Schnitger, U. S. marshal; E. C.
David, surv.-gen.; E. P. Snow, U. S. collector; I. C. Whipple, receiver of
public money; E. W, Mann, register of land-office; S. W. Downey, delegate
752 rOLITICAL, SOCIAL, ANT» MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
travelled over the territory to inform himself of its
resources, and wrote a report for the interior depart-
ment, which was printed by congress for circulation.
He also advocated tlie construction of a wagon road to
the Yell (.>\v stone park. The survey of the boundary
of Wyoming was begun during the first half ofhis term,
having been authorized by the 45th congress in com-
|)liance with a joint appeal from delegate Corlett and
the delegate from Montana.*' The reappointment of
Hoyt was desired, and asked for by a joint resolution
of the legislature of 1882." He was succeeded how-
ever at the end of four years by William Hale, who
appointed him to the congenial work of commissioner
to bring the resources of Wyoming before the Denver
expositions of 1882 and 1883, which was so executed
as to surprise all beholders.*' Hale proved a popular
to congress; J. S. Nason, auditor; F. E. Warren, treas.; J. Slaughter,
librarian and supt public instruc'n; E. Nagle, J. H. Finbrock, Thos. Lank-
tree, penitentiary commissioners; H. B. Rumsey, fish commissioner. Sesnion
Laws Wyoiiiiwj, 1879.
^' U. S. II. Ex. Doc, no. 1, pt 5, p. 52, vol. iii., 42 cong., 2 sess.; Porters
Tlue, We»t Cemns of 1880, 419.
*8 Wyom. Sens. Laws, 1882, 221. The territorial officers during Hoyt's
term were: Sec, E. S. N. Morgan; auditor, Jesse Knight; treas., F. E.
Warren; surv.-gen., E. C. David; U. S. collector, E. P. Snow; receivers of
public moneys, William M. GarvyandE. S. Crocker; registers of land-offices,
E. W. Mann and Charles H. Priest; iustices of supreme court, James B.
Sener, J. B. Blair, and S. C. Parks; U. S. dist atty, M. C. Brown.
*'From Albany were 3,000 pounds of black magnetic iron ore from Iron
mountain; graphite from Sybille creek; sulphate of magnesia from Rock
creek; kaolin from near Laramie City; blocks of soda from Laramie plains,
which formed a monument 12 feet high; copper, gold, and silver ores from
Cummins City, Douglas Creek, Centennial, Spring Canon, Laramie Peak,
Blue Grass, Tie Siding, and Diamond Peak; building stones from severil
localities; timber from the Laramie range and the forests beyond Cummins;,
and specimen iron rail and merchant iron from the rolling-mills of the rail-
way company at Laramie.
Carbon co. sent coal, iron, asbestos, copper, gold, and silver ores from.
Seminoe and Ferris mountains, soda, petroleum, and a bushel of moss agates
from the Sweetwater section; iron and iron paint froni Rawlins; building
stones from the hills near Rawlins; coal from Carbon mines; copper and sil-
ver ores from Gran<l Encampment and other creeks heading in the moun-
tains west of the Platte; native quicklime from Platte valley; mineral waters
from the Warm sjjrings and Sulpiiur springs near Rawlins; and bundles of
grain and grasses from the valley of tlie upper Platte.
Crook CO. sent coal, petroleum, and salt from the section about Jenny
Stockade and Inyan Kora.
Laramie co. sent a four-horse load of copper ores from Running Water
mines, Rawhide Buttes, Mu.skrat Cafion, Hartville, and Copperopolis; copper
and golil ores from the Laramie range back of Cheyenne, mica, micaceous
iron paiut, and plumbago from near WUalcu cauou; building stone from Crow
WYOMING. 763
executive, being devoted to the promotion of the
material interests of the territory,'® of which he wrote
an excellent report to the secretary of the interior."
His death occurred in January 1885, and he was suc-
ceeded in 1885 by F. E. Warren, a pioneer legislator
and successful business man of Wyoming, and conse-
quently an executive acceptable to the people who
were assured of a sympathizing administration/'
creek and the Laramie range; coal from the Shawnee; and numerous birds
and fur-bearing animals from Cheyenne collections.
Sweetwater and Uinta counties were partially represented only by some
small lots of fine ores, a huge block of coal from Rock Springs, curious fos-
sils from the same place, bundles of grain and grasses from the ranchos in
Lander valley being sent by the former; and sulphur ore, manufactured
sulphur, petroleum, coal, charcoal, rare fossils from Fossil forest, scientific
collections from Fort Bridger, samples of Angora wool and skins, bundles of
alfalfa, and other agricultural products being furnished by the latter. From
Yellowstone park were sent sulphur, obsidian, amethysts, agates, and other
precious stones. Owing to want of railroad trsnsportation, and to the lim-
ited time and means at command, the exhibit, fine as it was for so young a
territory, fell far short of what it would have been with more time, and county
appropriations for the purpose, Mess. Gov. Hale, 1884, 158-60.
One of the most interesting exhibits was of the native grasses, over 100
varieties being classified and shown in parcels. In Stone's General View of
Colorado, MS., 9, he refers to this exhibit, and gives some interesting facts.
The buflfalo grass grows on the plains; next to the mountains the gramma
grass, which has a small seed on it, with the head growing at right angles
to the stalk. It grows no more than 6 inches high where it is not irrigated,
but when water is furnished it, will grow to a height of two feet. It fattens
animals like grain, and is superior to blue grass on account of the seed. On
the mountains grows the bunch grass, of which I have made frequent men-
tion. Between these three principal species are many varieties, as stated by
Mr Stow, all except the bunch grass bearing a seed on the side, and all very
nutritious. Thus is Wyoming made the great catt 3 pasture of the United
States, if not the world.
^ Wyom. Sess. Laws, 1884, 187. The territo 'al officers during Hale's
administration were: Sec, E. S. N. Morgan; auuitor, P. L. Smith; dept;
auditor, C. W. Stewart; treas., F. E. Warren; sur.-gen., E. C. David;
receiver of public moneys, W. S. Hurlburt and E. S. Crocker; registers of land
office, E. W. Mann, and Charles H. Priest; U. S, collector, James S. Wolfe;
dept. collectors, H. S. Oliver, and J. W. Dykins; jiidges of supreme court,
John C. Perry, J. B. Blair, and Samuel C. Parks; U. S. district attorney,
J. A. Riner; U. S. marshal, Gustave Schnitger; superintendent of public
instruction, and territorial lilirarian, John Slaughter; penitentiary commrs,
Luke Marrin, Frank M. Foote and James M. Tisdel; fish commr, Otto
Gramm; stenographer, Robert C. Morris; commrs to revise and arrange the
statutes of Wyoming territory, W. W. Corlett, Isaac P. Caldwell, and
Clarence D. Clark.
^^ Bept Gov. Wymn., 1883. Contains geographical, mineral, topographi-
cal, meteorological, live stock, agricultural, questions of public polity, and
miscellaneous information.
'"- The prompt action of Gov. Warren on the occasion of the Rock Springs
riot is worthy of all praise, though at the time his measures were freely crit-
icised by political demagogues. The following is a brief account of the
affair. In August 1885, the officers of the Union Pacific railroad imported
a large number of Chinese laborers, to be employed in the company's coal
Hist. Nev. 48
794 rOLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAII^
The .successor of Governor Warren was Thomas
Moonhght,' ^ an appointee of President Cleveland, who
mines at Evauston, Rock Springs, Carbon, and other points on the road, the
4ibject being to have at hand laborers enough, in case of a strike among the
miners. Soon the European miners evinced a jealous hatred of the Asiatics,
accusing them of usurping places in the mines Mhich gave them an advan-
tage in the matter of wages; l)ut there seems to liave been no real ground
for tlie charge, race prejudice and jealousy biting tlie cause of the animosity.
The former demanded that the Chinese should be sent away, to which de-
mand the railroad company returned a refusal. They then organized to
drive out the Chinese. On tlie 2(1 of Sept., tiOO men at Rock Springs at-
tacked them with firearms, driving them into the hills, killing and wound-
ing about 50, and destroying all their property. Of 400 Chinamen not one
was permitted to remain. The sick and the wounded who fell amidst the
shanties were consumed in a conflagration, which was started by the infuri-
ated mob, the wives of the miners assisting in the liendish massacre. Fifty
houses belonging to the railroad company were destroyed along with the
Chinese dwellings. On being notified of what had taken place, (tov. War-
ren at once telegraphed to Cen. Howard, in conunand of the department of
the Platte, asking for military protection, and riding over to Fort Ilussell
secured the promise of a sufficient force pending the general's answer. As
more serious reports reached him he proceeded by special train to Rock
Springs, and telegraphed to the secretary of Mar, and finally to the president.
After much delay the troops arrived, barely in time to prevent a repetition
of the massacre, and thus by his urgent appeals and at liis own jjersonal risk
the governor prevented fuither destructicu of life and property.
Francis Emroy Warren is a native of Hiusdale, Mass, where he was born
on the 20th of June, 1844, his ancestry being traced in direct line to the War-
rens who lauded in that state soon after the advent of the pilgrim fathers.
After serving during the civil war in the 49th Mass volunteers, being pres-
ent at Plains Store, Donaldsonville, and Port Hudson, in 18GS ^Mr. Warren
settled at Cheyenne, where he took charge of the hou.se-furnishing store of
A. R. Conver.se. An excellent salesman, hard-working, economical, and
thoroughly reliable, he was soon afterward admitted into partnership, and
in 1877 purchased the entire concern, which a few years later was incorpo-
rated in the F. E. Warren Mercantile company. In 1873 he first engc/ged
in stock-raising, and is now the principal owner in the Warren Live-stock
company, by far the largest corporation of the kind in Wvoming. Its prop-
erty includes from 10,000 to 80,000 sheep, and about 3,000 head of cattle,
with nearly as many horses, and more than 250,000 acres of land, extending
in one unbroken range on either side of the Union Pacific. Elsewhere, not
only in Wyoming, but in all the adjoining states and territories, he is largely
interested in lauds and live-stock. By him were erected some of the most
substantial buildings in Cheyenne, ami at a time wlien the future of the
city was by no means assured. He is also the guiding spirit in several of
lier leading enterprises, and in a word there is no man who has contributed
more to the prosperity of Wyoming, and especially of Wyoming's metropolis.
'■'^ The secretary of the territory under Moonlight's administration was
Samuel I). Shannon; chief justice, William L. Maginnis; a.ssociate justices,
Jacob B. Blair and Samuel F. Corn; U. S. atty, Anthony C. Campbell; U.
S. marshal, Thomas J. Carr; sur.-gen., John C. Thompson, U. S. revenue
col., James F. Benedict; dept do., Mr Stitzer; rcgr of Cheyenne land
office, Edgar S. Wilson; do, of Evanston office, Edwin D. Steele; receiver of
jiublic moneys at Cheyenne. William M. (iarrard; do, at Evanston, William
T. Shafifer; special agent of land office, Henry B. Fry and E. N. Bonfils.
The officers elected by the people and appoiuted by the governor were:
Delegate to congress, Joseph M. Carey; atty-gen., Hugo Donzelmann; audi-
tor, Mortimer N. Grant; dept do, Charles W. Stewart; treasr, William P. ,
Gannett; dept do, Jacob D. Freeborn; insurance commr, Joseph B. Adams;
librarian and supt public instruction, John Slaughter; fish commr, Otto
WYOMING. 755
was sworn into office January 24, 1887, and who made
several suggestions to the legislature which met in
January 1888 touching the election law/' the grand
jury system," salaries and taxation. That taxes
should increase with the erection of the public build-
ings required by the territory was unavoidable, and
the bonded debt of Wyoming in 1888 amounted to
$230,000, of which $200,000 had twenty-five years
to run, and $30,000 thirty-five years, all at six per
cent. There was a balance in the treasury in Decem-
ber 1887 of over $51,000.'' Whatever tendency to
extravagance the ambition of the young common-
wealth might lead to was likely to be checked by the
congressional act of 1886 prohibiting the passage of
Gramm; coal mine inspector, P. J. Quealy; geologist and mining engineer,
Louis D. Ricketts; veterinarian, James D. Hopkins; stenographer, Robert
C. Morris, private sec. to tlie gov., Xellie E. Moonlight; penitentiary com-
missioners, Lnke Murrin, Frank M. Foote, John C. Dyer; pharmacy
commrs, E. D. Woodruff, A. Richard Troxell, Fred P. Shannon; revised
statutes commrs, Isaac P. Caldwell, J. W. Black, Willis Van Devanter;
university land commr, F. 0. Sawin.
^The legislature at its 6th biennial session in 1879, changed the time of
holding the general election to Tuesday next after the first Monday in Nov
1880, and every two 3"ears thereafter. All county officers entered upon the
duties of their office on the first Monday in January next following their
election; but the time of convening the legislature was on the second Tues-
day in Jan. 1882, and every second year thereafter. This arrangement
brought the election of members of the legislature 14 months before the
meeting of that body, was inconvenient, and was altered by recommendation
of Gov. Moonlight.
^ The difference between federal and territorial salaries was slight, but
county officers had opportunities by reason of additional fees to greatly aug-
ment their salaries above what the federal and territorial officers received.
This state of affairs furnished the temptation, and also the means, to the
incumbent of an important place to keep himself in office by corruption.
Mess. Gov. MoonU'jht, 1888.
^® Among the funds in the treasury was the 'stock indemnity fund,' of
§11,124.2-4. This might puzzle the reader not conversant with the interests
of a cattle growing region. A veterinarian is reckoned as a public officer in
Wyoming, and so are pharmacy commissioners. The spread of pleuro-
pneu7nonia and other diseases among the cattle on the ranges requires the
utmost care at times to prevent, and wiien other remedies fail the infected
cattle are kdled to prevent the further spread of the contagion. In this con-
tingency the territory pays a certain amount of indemnity to the owners of
the slaughtered cattle. The law providing compensation for cattle and
horses destroyed, M'as enacted in 1882. In six years from 1882 to 1887
inclusive, the horses and mules condemned numbered 248, valued at 822,021. -
92, for which the territory paid 815,200.13, or two-thirds their value. All
the cattle driven into the territory had to be inspected. The salary paid
the veterinarian was 82,500, to which the Stock Growers' association added
as much more. Gov, Mess., 1888, 15.
756 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
special laws in the territories, and limiting their
indebtedness.
The political history of Wyoming, fortunately for
its happiness, is unmarked by any striking events.
It has cost the general government little except for
military service, the appropriations for the govern-
ment not exceeding $'U,000 annually, including the
legislative expenses. Its county affairs, in some
instances in its earlier period, were not well managed
by the commissioners, but the evil was removed by
the election of competent men who soon brought
about a prosperous condition, aided by wise legisla-
tion." Indeed, of all the younger connnonwealths.
"The legislature of 1871 was composed of coiinciinieu .John Kosher, F. H.
Harrison, W. R. Steele, S. F. Nuckolls, W. W. Corlett, Norman Potter, J.
E. Gates, S. W. Downey, and E. W. Bennett, 9; Nuckolls president; repre-
sentative!, C. E. Castle, H. (>. Nickerson, Gi!)son Clark, Ben Sheeks, E. L.
Pease, T. J. Dayton, Ora Haley, Duncan Blair, William L. Kuykendall, M.
C. Brown, C. C. Wilson, John C. Friend, and John Talbot, 13; Sheeks,
speaker.
The legislature of 1873 was composed of councilmen S. W. Downey, J.
H. Ellis, A. Eurgens, J. C. Friend, P. McKay, E. L. Pease, T. W. Quinn,
F. E. W^arren, 1. C. Whipple, 9; Warren, president; representatives, N. L,
Andrews, H. Conley, A. E. Farley, J. E. Ferris, H. Haas, W. H. HoUiday,
J. Joslin, V. R. King, C. A. Phipps, G. W. Ritter, C. L. Tisdale, F. S.
Whitney, and .S. H. Wilkerson, 13; Wilkerson speaker.
The legislature of 1875 was composed of councilmen L. R. Bresnahen,
W. L. Kuykendall, G. A. Learight, H. B. Kelly, Herman Haas, W. H. Hol-
liday, S. L. Mills, C. W. Bramel, James Frances, James Calhoun, W. A.
Johnson, O. North, and E. L. Pease, 13; Pease president; representatives,
Charles M. Scrihner, F. M. Foote, John E. Davis, John Nealon, A. H. Reel,
N. Weeks, C. M. White, William Evans, J. K. Watson, Herman Kimme.
N. L. Andrews, Tliomas Green, Leonard Coates, L. Abrams, Michael Mur-
phy, C. E. Castle, William McDonaM, Thomas E. McLelland, Robert Smith,
M. H. Murphy, A. E. Bradbury, Peter Hamma, George W. Ritter, A. S.
Williams, C. A. Pieronnett, and W. M. Ward, 2G; AndreM s speaker.
The legislature of 1877 was composed of councilmen Herman Haas, Tim
Dyer, J. N. Keller, A. H. Swan, G. A. Draper, W. H. Holliday, I.. I).
Pease, S. W. Downey, Lawrence Hays, Homer Merrill, F. F. Clnney, E. L.
Pease, and Frederick Mertsheimer; E. L. Pease president. Tlie followine
were the representatives: R. H. Homer, -Tohn Congdon, I. P. Caldwell, N.
L. Andrews, N. F. Spicer, Charles Klingermaii, (ieorge Ferris, James Ross,
D. V. Whitney, John E. Davis, Peter Hamma, A. Ryan, D. C. Tracy, P.
McKay, R. F. Glover, J. F. Coad, H. H. Helphenstine, (i. D. Foglesong, H.
J. Gurney, B. F. Lowe, T. Kinney, J. McGlinchey, Charles Stone, R. H.
Carter, M. Ferrell, J. H. Hoy, and J. M. Tisdal, L'O; Andrews spsaker.
Tiie legislature of 1879 was composed of councilmen R. Homer, W. H.
Holliday, P. L. Smith, R. M. Galbraith, Thomas Swan, H. Glafecke, A. H.
R«el, M. E. Post, W. P. Noble, H. fxarbonetti, L. G. Christie, 12; represen-
tatives, H. G. Balch, Edwin Brazier, M. C. Johnson, H. L. Myrick, W. S.
Phillips, N. G. Spicer, J. F. Crawford, George (iinnis, L. Joli-json, J. Y.
Skiles, Charlea Couray, J. E. Davis, Ji. F. Deitrick, W, J. Harding, W, H.
WV0M1^(1. 757
none have conducted their pubhc affairs more care-
fully or with better results. The levy for 1887, for
territorial purposes, including the several building
and bond-tax funds, was only S^^ mills/' A law
taxing railroad lands'" was enacted in 1886, and the
first lew made in 1887. The valuation for assess-
Hilbarcl, W. C. Irvine, E. W. Mann, S. K. Sharpless, J. S. Taylor, P. P.
Dickinson, A. C. Lathrop, Charles Rice, Charles McGhee, W. J. Hays, W.
A. Barker, John McManus, Mark Murphy, 27.
'Che legislature of 1882 was composed of councilman, Robert Galbraith,
Ora Haley, I. P. Caldwell, Perry L. Smith, A. F. Barer, T. W. Quinn, W.
W. Corlett, Thomas Scurgis, W. C. Irvine, A. H. Reel, W. A. Hocker, and
H. A. !Man, 12; Caldwell president; representatives, J. D. Fraser, W. C.
Lane, C. W. Riner, H. Oelrichs, I. S. Bartlett, B. E. Beuchner, A. Gilchrist,
W. J. Bardin, Morris L>avis, James Adams, W. W. Alexander, George D.
Deane, B. Thayer, J. S. Jones, E. W. Bennett, J. B. Kelly, E. N. Snyder,
T. A. McCo3% F. B. Jones, P. J. Bines, A. E. Heald, A. G. Rex, P. J.
Dawes, and L. C. Briggs, 24:; Lane speaker.
The legislature of 1884 was composed of councilmen W. B. Bolladay,
Pv,obert Bomer, John W. Gray, E. W. Bennett, William Dalev, A. T. Babitt,
Philip Dater, F. E. Warren, W. C. Ir^-ine, P. J. Bines, A. V. Quinn, E. S.
Whittier, 12; Bolliday president; representatives, O. D. Downey, L. D.
Kennedy, C. B. Bussard, B. V. S. (jrossbeck, Leroy Grant, L. Quealy,
Biram Allen, D. F. Dudley, W. B. Weaver. N. N. Craig, John F. Coad,
Thomas Cahill, D. Miller, F. W. Schwartze, H. E. Teschemacher, J. B.
Ford, A. Jackson, B. G. Nickerson, F. B. .Jones, O. C. Smith, R. B. Seaton,
and Charles Delaney, 22; Jones speaker.
The legislature of 1886 was composed of councilmen H. E. Teschemacher,
Joseph Gainger, J. B. Ford, Leroy Grant, C. W. Wright, J. W. Blake, A.
S. Peabody, William Daley, Joseph E. Cashin, Charles Delaney, A. T.
Chalice, John McCormick, 12; Blake president; representatives, Addison
Turrill. D. B. Dole, N. M. Knight, S. W. Downey, John A. Matthews,
Frank WDlianis. E. W. Center, J. S. Kerr, James Kime, A. D. Kellev, C.
A. Guernsey, X. J. O'Brien, W. A. Robbins, Frank A. Miller, J. M. Tomp-
kins, M. P. Keefe, Isaiah ^^Tiitehouse, R. B. Seaton, John L. Russell, W'il-
liam Summers, M. M. .Jerome, George Mitchell, C. B. Bussey, J. M. Lob-
ban, 24; Kerr speaker.
The legislature of 1888 was composed of councilmen C. P. Organ, John
A. Riner, James W. Bammond, Charles A. Guernsey, W. B. Bolbday,
John B. Symons, P. L. Smith, Frank A. Hadsell, J. D. Loucks, Robert
•Smith, L. C. Bliss, G. W. Carleton, 12; Riner president; representatives,
Willis Van Devanter, John Roberts, W. S. Weaver, Thomas B. Adams,
Edward T. Duffy, F. W. Lafrentz, J. A. Johnston, Thomas Booper, Leroy
Grant, Boward Clugston, A. L. Sutherland, W. C. Sampson, L. D. Pease,
Charles E. Blydenburgh, John M. Kuykendall, W. D. Carrier, Nat. Bunt-
ington, J. C. Rummel, E. S. Murray. James I. Patton, J. B. Cummock,
William Summers, 0. E. Snyder, 24; Buntington speaker.
*The assessed valuation of the several counties in 1887 was: Albany,
§3,911,155.40; Carbon, .<^3,250,334.60; Crook, 81,811,357.50; Fremont.
81,993,000.00; Johnson, -83,348,421.29; Laramie, -89,040,008.38; Sweet-
water, -81,511,666.03; UinU, -81,386,294.70, equal to -826,252,238.70. Bept of
Gov. Moonlight to Sec. Int.
*' A law was enacted in 1879 taxing the road-bed, superstructure, right of
way, rolling stock, telegraph lines, etc., but not the land. Sess. Laws, 179,
p. 1.3.
758 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
ment placed upon 668 miles of road was $5,741,715.46,
or less than $9,000 per mile; and upon 1,226 miles
of telegrap lines a valuation of $95,660.76, or $78
per mile. The total assessed value of territorial
property, including railroad property, was $32,089,613.
The legislature of 1888, acting upon the advice of
the governor, reduced the salaries of county officers
and changed the time of the election of members of
the council and house of representatives. It also
defined tlie powers of foreign railroads doing business
in the territory. It provided for the erection of a
normal school building at Sun Dance, and an agricul-
tural college at Sheridan. That a municipality con-
sisting of less than 100,000 inhabitants should take
upon itself the support of all needful institutions,
discharoin(»- its obligrations with ease, is evidence of
great resources.
Three new counties were authorized by legislative
act in 1888; Converse, taken off the north of Lara-
mie and Albany ; Sheridan off the north of Johnson ;
and Natrona off the north of Carbon. The first was
named by the legislature of Wyoming in memory of
the late A. R. Converse,^" formerly territorial treas-
urer, and one of the leading citizens of Cheyenne.
The penitentiary not yet being completed in 1888,
the 98 convicts belonging to the territory were still
confined in Joliet and other eastern prisons. Among
the trials, for all new countries must have some form
of hardship, was the irruption into the territory about
1877 of orizanized bands of road ajj'ents, who for a
number of years infested the highways, and attempted
"A. R. Converse, born in Mass in 1842, arrived in Cheyenne Nov. 14,
1867, and established the first house-furnishing business here, taking F. E.
Warren for a partner in 1873, and selling out to hiiu in 1878. In 1875 he
engaged in stock-raising on the Cluigwator, and later organized the National
Cattle CO., but sold liis interest in 1884. He also organized the Converse Cat-
tle CO., with a range on Lance creek, 180 miles n. of Clieyenne; capital stock
§1,000,000. He was one of the first county commissioners elected after the
organization of the territory, and from 187G to 1880 was territorial treas-
urer. He was one of the most public-spirited citizens of Wyoming, auJ
assisted materially in building up Cheyenne.
WYOMING. 759
the wrecking of railway trains for plunder. They
were after a struggle brought under control by the
courage and skill of the sheriffs."
"' What the struggle was will appear from the folio-wing : Ervin F. Cheney,
while deputy sheriff' of Atlantic City, succeded in arresting three who liad
escaped from prison. He was assisted by McCabe, a well known scout, and
another person. All three of the criminals were resentenced to prison for
long terms. Bill Bivens was one of these robbers. Scott Davis was thanked
by a joint resolution of the legislature of 1877 for the capture of Blackburn
and Wall, two notorious desperadoes. Wyom. Sess. Laivs, 1877, 144-5.
Coaches in those days were iron-clad to ward off bullets. In 1878 the coach
from Cheyenne to Dead wood was attacked by 6 masked men, and robbed.
Meeting the coach from Deadwood at Lightning creek, the driver gave a
description of the spot, and warned the south -bound driver to look out for
it, as the robbers were no doubt waiting for his coach to repeat the assault.
There were three passengers inside, one a woman, the express messenger,
Capt. Eugene Smith, on horseback, and the driver, John Flaherty, on the
box to defend the coach. SmitJi rode about 400 yards ahead of the stage.
At the scene of the robbery he picked up some certificates of registered let-
ters left on the ground, but saw nothing of the robbers until H miles below
Cheyenne river station, where a dry creek offered a favorable ambush. In
this ravine Smith was seen by the driver beckoning to him to come on. He
had a revolver in his left hand and a ritie in his right. ' I have got them
here, and I must get them out,' he shouted; ' you drive on.' He rode alone
up and down the creek for some distance, and finally fired a shot, which
caused one of the concealed road agents to fire, and reveal their hiding place,
which, seeing that they were sought, and judging by Smith's coolness that
he had assistance at hand, they were anxious to conceal. They soon dis-
covered that he alone was opposed to them, and shots were freely exchanged.
Smith's horse was mortally wounded. In the skirmi.sh he fired 4 shots with
his pistol and 17 with his rifle, and had 50 shots fired at him, none of which
touched him. The robbers, who had concealed their horses, mounted and
rode off, thinking, no doubt, that Smith was endeavoring to drive them into
a net prepared for them. He then mounted the coach, which proceeded
safely to its destination. The Rocky Mountain Detective association, at
the head of which was Gen. D. J. Cook of Colorado, had its members
among the sheriffs and their deputies in Wyoming, who did some courageous
work. Nathaniel K. Boswell of Laramie City was one of the most efficient.
In the winter of 1878 he took 13 deputies and followed up until he arrested
this gang of 6 stage robbers, whose names were Irwin, Marriner, Harring-
ton, Congdon. and two others, all desperate men. They were surrounded 7
miles east of Rock creek station, and taken without resistance. He arrested
Jesse James in Nebraska for one of the gang, without knowing that he was
the notorious man of that name. James was lodged in jadat Laramie City;
but the prisoner escaped through want of evidence. Afterward when he
saw a photograph of Jesse James, he knew he had had the famous robber in
his power. Jack Watkins, a much dreaded desperado, was arrested by Bos-
well when no one else would attempt it. He followed Miller and Oaks,
horse thieves, 400 miles, alone, and getting ahead on their trail, made them
throw up their hands and dismount, as they had compelled many an honest
man to do, and making them put the handcuffs on each other, brought them
back to Wyoming. He was appointed chief of the detective bureau of the
stock-growers' association in 1883, and had from 30 to 50 subordinates.
In the autumn of 1878, in the vicinity of Laramie, an extra locomotive
preceded railway trains, which were run slowly for fear of wrecking, and
which carried a guard of soldiers. Such a state of affairs suggested, if it
did not justify, the revival of the vigilance committe. In Nov. a coach from
tbe nortJii for Laramie, having on board two captured robbers, Mansfield and
760 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
Tlie advancoincnt of Wyoming from 1884 to 1888,
if not as rapid as in some portions of the inter- mon-
tane territories was steady and permanent. The leg-
islature of 1 886 had authorized the issue of $"230,000
in bonds to be divided between the capital building
fund, the university l)uilding fund, and a hospital for
the insane. These bonds were payable in 15 and 35
years, and found a ready sale at five cents premium.
An act has also Ik^cu passed to create an institute for
the education of deaf mutes; and $100,000 was
appropriated in 1888 for the construction of a peni-
tentiary."
McLaughlin, was stopped at Platte river ford by masked men, their guard
disarmed, and the prisDners taken out and hanged. S. F. Bulletin, Nov. 4,
1878. Donovan was hanged for murder in Fremont county. Several valu-
al>le lives were lost in the effort to thwart the operations of organized bands
of outlaws. By the combined action of the local authorities, the depart-
ments at Washington, and tlie railroad and stage companies, a check was
put upon their operations. Mcsx. Gov. Hoijt, 1879, 28-9. They were not ex-
terminated, and in a year or two began their depradations once more. Big-
nose George, Dutch Charley, and others attempted to wreck a railroad train.
Several were captured. Biguose George contrived to get off his shackles,
and attacked his jailer, Robert Rankin, whom he injured seriously. He was
taken from confinement the night following and lianged by vigilants, who
also executed some of his associates, Jim Lacey and Opium Bob. In 1884
ten solid men of Cheyenne took from jail one Mozier and hanged him. His
crime was tliat of killing one of two men who had kindly offered to carry
him in their wagon from near Laramie to F'ort A. D. Russell. Some soldiers
coming in sight, the otlier intended victim escaped, and the murderer was
captured. Two conditions seem to accompany robl)er-gangs — the prosperity
of the producing class whom they prey upon, and an unsettled country at
hand in whicli to make their rendezvous. These conditions have existed in
the Rocky mountain territories. In Hands Up!! or Twenty Years of Detec-
tive, Life on the PLuim, by D. J. Cook, a book of nearly 300 pages, is con-
tained the narrative of many of the most celebrated crimes and arrests oc-
curring in his department. Cook was born in Ind. in 1840; reared on a
farm, and received a common school education. He went to Colo in 1859,
and mined in (Jilpin co. Two years afterward he returned to Kansas and
purchased a farm, but soon engageil in freighting for the government. He
learned a good deal of the villainy practised in liis calling, when employes
of the quartermaster's department stole the horses and stock belonging to a
train, and sometimes the whole train, taking advantage of the bad reputa-
tion of the Indians, whom they emulated, Cochran's IliM. Fort Laramie, MS.,
66-7; and his natural quickness of observation became sharpened. He was
transferred to the or<lnance department of the army of the frontier in 1863,
and on returning to Colo estal)lished the association of whicli he was for
more than 20 years chief. He is mentioned in my //m<. Cob, 467, as major-
general of the militia of that state.
•^^The capital, located at Cheyenne, was designed by D. W. fJibbs, of
Toledo, Ohio. Its outline is classic, and it is built of Rawlins sandstone,
which has a pleasing greenish gray tint. The size is 216x112 feet, and the
height to the tiaal poiat of the dome 153 feet. This imposing structure,
WYOMING. 761
Wyoming experienced the same hardships which
has always embarrassed the efforts of the territories
to estabhsh a school system. During the period of
sparse settlement, when aid is most required, no rev-
enue is derived from the school lands, which are
either unoccupied, or ranged over by the herds of
cattle companies who are at liberty to graze their ani-
mals upon them 3^ ear after year, while the schools must
wait for state government to give them any right to
benefit by them. Congress should have authorized
the territories to lease the 16th and 36th sections, in
order that a revenue, however small, mi^ht be gath-
ered, which would lighten the burden." Wyoming
was granted in 1881 the customary 72 sections for
university purposes, and set about selecting them in
1886, a task not without difficulty, owing to the rail-
road grants, Indian and militia reservation lands, and
Yellowstone park reserve. The same necessity for
which cost 8150,000, stands on a gentle elevation facing Capitol avenue.
Board of Trade Rept, 1888, p. 13.
The university, located at Laramie, cost 350,000. The corner stone was
laid Sept. 27, 1886, and the buUding was completed in the following Sept.
It occupies the city park, the grounds comprising 4 blocks donated by the
city council and the tJ. P. R. R., and 10 acres besides added by the commis-
sioners, making about 20 acres in the heart of the city. The plan of the
edifice is elegant in style, the material being Laramie sandstone, with orna-
ments of Rawlins stone. It is 157x71 feet. The university is non-sectarian,
and open to all. The first board of regents consisted of M. C. Bro-mi, J. H.
Frnfrock, W. H. HoUiday, Edward Ivinson, J. H. Hayford, John W. Hoyt,
and Samuel AugheJ^ Hoyt was made prest of the university. Be was
assisted by Charles D. Conley. W. Smith, and A. Nelson. Hoyt had long
been connected with educational matters, domestic and international, and
was three times prest of international juries on learning, for which services
he was knighted by Emperor Francis Joseph at Vienna. Conley had filled
different chairs at Blackburn university. 111. Smith was a graduate of Dart-
mouth college, and a son of Chief -justice Smith of N. H. Nelson was a
graduate of the state normal school of Mo. Laramie W. Boomerang, Aug. 18,
1887.
The insane asylum was located at Evanston, and completed in 1887. The
commissioners were A. C. Heckwith, C. D. Clark, and William Hinton.
Beptof Gov. Moonlight t-o the Sec. of Interior, ISSl, T^. AQ.
^ Notwithstanding that no aid was expected or received, the territorial
legislature provided for a school system of a high order. The librarian of
the territory is supt of public instruction. The law provides for a teachers'
institute, which holds annual sessions of from 6 to 10 days. The public
school -houses in five counties cost §173,471, of which the amount raised by
tax was §39,826, the remainder by voluntary subscription. In three other
counties 816,550 was raised in 1886 for this purpose. The average cost of
tuition per pupil per month varied from §2 to 89, according to the number of
students. Id., 39-41.
76*J rOLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATKRIAL AFFAIRS.
leave to utilize the university land existed that
urged on account of the {mblic school lands. The
college so courageously founded by the public spirit
of the inhabitants should have enjoyed the rental of
the lands appropriated by congress, and not a railroad
or a cattle company, and the more so that tuition was
free to all those nominated by the commissioners of
the several counties, and nearly free to all students
from any quarter.
The land laws of the United States, although the
most liberal in the world, and made to suit the neces-
sities and encourage the enterprise of the people, have
always been subject to criticism, and have been many
times amended to adjust them to the difi'erent condi-
tions of new connnunlties. The irrujjtion into the
mid-continental portion of the United States of Eng-
lish and other foreign capitalists, who purchased mines
of which they knew little and spent money lavishly in
an attemi)t to make money out of them — an attempt
which often ])roved abortive — was welcomed by the
pioneer, because it at least brought into the country
means which could be used in other forms of develop-
ment ; but when foreign capital was applied to the
purchase, at the minimum price, of millions of acres of
the best land, including the banks of rivers, prevent-
ing small farming and nullifying the purpose of the
land law, which was to benefit the poor man, congress
was appealed to with a request to enact a law against
alien land holding. Accordingly on March 3, 1887,
such an act was passed. No sooner was this done
than a cry was raised that the act worked injury to
the territories, preventing mining men from securing
loans on mining property and other classes of real
estate, a complaint which proceeded rather from east-
ern operators in western mines, than from the actual
settlers and residents of the territories. Wyoming
encouraged, and derived nmch benefit from the
investment of English capital in manufacturing and
WYOMING. 763
other enterprises; but the sentiment of the majority
was that instead of one man with 100,000 cattle occu-
pying 1,000,000 acres of the pubhc land and making
$500,000 per annum, it was better to have 1,000 men
with 100 head and 640 acres making a profit of $500
yearly.
In 1889, after the election of President Harrison
had again brought the republicans into power, F. E,
Warren was reappointed to the governership, a choice
all the more welcome to the people on account of his
liberal land policy, and his efforts in securing from
the general land department a large number of pat-
ents for years wrongfully withheld from the smaller
settlers.^*
^^ Especially during his former administration, his resignation being largely
due to differences with U. S. commr Sparks. In his Report for 1889 the gov-
ernor states that the U. S. land laws were originally framed with a view to
the prairie sections, and when applied to the mountain regions worked great
hardship and injustice. In the Mississippi valley, for instance, 160 acres
selected almost anywhere would be sufficient for a farm, but in Wyoming,
except for a few choice locations, such an area would not support half a
dozen full-grown domestic animals. Still the people of that territory have
been held to the same rulings, and compelled to pay the same prices, as in
the western states. In other respects this report is a most able document,
furnishing the most complete account of the resources of Wyoming, its in-
dustrial, social, commercial, financial, and political position, that has ever
come to my notice.
CHAPTER VI.
MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
1 849-1 88G.
Stansbury's Observations— Belief ix the Presence of Gold— Indian
Treaties— AiTiTUDE of the Savages— Smith's Exploits— Militakv
Massacre of Indians — Indian Chiefs at Washington City — Diveks
Military Expeditions — Gold Appeakin(j — Inevitable Destiny ok
THE Red Race — Broken Pledges — The Army of the United States
Brought Out— Long, Continuous, and Bloody Fighting— Final
Triumph of Civilization — Slavery and Savagism Exterminated.
The earlier explorations of Wyoming by the gov-
ernment were for the purpose of ascertaining the best
wagon and railroad routes. Captain Howard Stans-
bury, who was ordered to explore the Great Salt lake
and its valley in 1849, after performing this duty,
made a reconnaissance of a railroad route from Salt
Lake City to Fort Bridger, and from Fort Bridger
to the Platte valley east of Fort Laramie. An almost
straight line, he found, could be extended from
Bridger to Laramie, forming a chord to the arc of the
North Platte route in use, a line which was subse-
quently adopted by the Union Pacific railroad, except
that he advocated going through the Cheyenne pass,*
^This term is deceptive. It is applied to a valley about 4 miles wide and
45 miles long, lying between the Laramie hills on the west and the elevated
plains on the east, and between Crow creek on the south and Chugwater on
the north. It appears, says Stansbury, ' to have been cut out by the violent
action of an immense body of water flowing in a northern direction.' Stam-
but^\i Expedition to Utah, 260. Chugwater on the north is said to have been
so called by the Indians, who meant by it ' the place where the buflfalos
throw themselves away, ' the hunters chasing the animals until they plunged
over the clifiFs formed by the table-land into the river. Water not being an
Indian word, it seems more probable that white liunters named it, from the
circumstance referred to, or that they put the meaning of some Indian words
into this one.
(764)
WYOMING. 765
whereas the road passes over the southern end of the
Laramie range. Stansbury's report did not mention
any mineral discoveries except coal. In September
1857, Lieutenant G. K. Warren of the topographical
engineers, who had been exploring on the upper Mis-
souri for a year or two, made an exploration from
Fort Laramie north to Inyan Kara mountain, on the
west slope of the Black hills, from which point he
was turned back by the Sioux.
Among other interesting observations, he found the
composition of these hills to be, 1st, metamorphosed
azoic rock, including granite ; 2d, lower silurian (pots-
dam sandstone); 3d, devonian; 4th, carboniferous;
5th, permian; 6th, Jurassic; 7th, cretaceous. The
highest peaks were granite. He found between the
elevations small, rich valleys, covered with fine grass
for hay, and susceptible of cultivation by means of
irrigation ; fine timber for fuel and lumber, limestone
and good building stone, many common and useful
minerals ; but that which was of greater interest at
that period was his assertion that gold has been
found in places in *' valuable quantities.'"
In July 1859 Captain W. F. Raynolds of the same
corps, under orders from the war department, pene-
trated from Fort Pierre on the Missouri river to the
Black hills, which he explored on the northeast and
north, after which he proceeded to Powder river,
Bighorn, and Yellowstone valleys, wintering near the
Platte bridge. In his report he alleged that very
decided evidences of gold were discovered in the Big-
horn mountains, and also in the Black hills. He
dared not make known to the men in his command,
which was largely composed of irresponsible adven-
turers, what he believed to be true, lest they should
disband and leave him in the wilderness.^ F. V.
* Cheyenne Leader, Oct. 24, 1874.
^ Baynolds' Hept, in U. S. Sen. Ex. Doc, No. 77, p. 14, vol. ii., 40th coug.,
2d aess. Ra5Tiolds was accompanied by Lieutenant H. E. Majmadier, J. D.
Hutton topographer and artist, J. H. Snowden topographer, H. C. Fille-
brown meteorologist and astronomer, Antoine Schonbarn meteorologist and
766 MIUTARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Hayden, geologist, who accompanied Raynolds, as
he had Warren, was placed under a pledge of secrecy
until the expedition was out of the mountains. Their
reports to the government were supplemented by the
statements of many persons that the Indians had ex-
hibited gold nuggets at Fort Pierre and Fort Lara-
mie, and by the assurance of Do Sniet that he had
discovered rich gold mines in these regions, although
with Jesuitical slyness he refused to reveal the locality,
out of consideration for his "dear Indians," whom in
his writings he describes in colors not very different
from those on frontiersmen's palette.
I have already related how strong was the impres-
sion in the public mind that gold existed in the Big-
horn and Black hills countries when the treaty wks
made with the Sioux and Arapahoes in 18G8, exclud-
ing white men from all that region extending from
the Missouri river to the 104th meridian west, and
between the 43d and 4Gth parallels ; and also from
the country north of the North Platte river and east
of the summits of the Bighorn mountains, permitting
no settlements of white men, no forts, and no roads in
all that territory. Of this impression the (commis-
sioners were well aware, and equally cognizant of the
fact that where gold is known or believed to exist
men will go, at any risk to themselves, and in oppo-
sition to any laws. In the face of this knowledge,
the commissioners pledged the government to keep
white men out of this entire region, and to close up
the road to Montana.*
artist, F. E. Hayden naturalist and surgeon, M. C. Hines asst, George Wal-
lou time-keeper, and several unprofessional gentlemen. The escort was
cointnaiided by .John MuUan.
<The wording of the treaty seems to imply a reservation of the country
lying nortli of Nebraska, but simply to regard as ' unccded Indian territory '
that portion afterward included in Wyoming. Wi/om. Compiled Laws, 1876,
Ixx. It gave, wliile excluding white men from Indian territory, the right to
the Indians to liunt outside their reserved lands on the Republican fork of
the Smoky Hill river, and 'on any lands north of North Platte.' On their
part, the Indians agreed to preserve peace, to make no opposition to railroad
construction, to attack no travellers, kill no white men, and take no captives.
The treaty was confirmed Feb. 16, 18G9.
WYOMING. 767
On the 3d of July following the treaty with the
Sioux, the same commissioners concluded a treaty
with the Shoshones and Bannacks, at Fort Bridger,
and set apart as a reservation for the former tribe all
that countr}^ lyi^o south of the Ow] creek mountains,
and north of the divide between the Sweetwater and
Popo Agie rivers, and between the Wind river moun-
tains on the west and Bighorn river on the east,*
leaving north of the Sweetwater mountains only a
single narrow strip of country between the east shore
of the Bighorn river and the west flank of the Bio--
horn mountains which white men might traverse, and
on which the Indians were permitted to hunt so long
as unoccupied, or game could be found upon them.
At the moment these treaties were being negotiated,
the Union Pacific railroad company was already be-
yond Laramie City with its track, and towns and
population were drifting with it rapidly westward.
Congress had established the territory of Wyoming
between six and seven months before the senate con-
firmed the treaties with the Sioux and Arapahoes,
Shoshones and Bannacks, excluding from occupation
and exploration fully half its area. Before the treat-
ies, or the organization of the territory, gold mining
was already being carried on in the Sweetwater coun-
try, and settlements being made. Such was the con-
dition of Wyoming relatively to the Indians and the
government, such the keeping of the compact made
by the government with the savages, when it became
a territory, and for which a reckless peace commission
and a careless senate were responsible.
The Sioux and the Shoshones preserved for some
time a peaceful attitude toward the white people, ex-
cept where renegades of these tribes joined with the
Arapahoes, who paid no more attention to the treaty
than the United States had done, merely presenting
^ This is not the exact description of boundary, but comes near enough to
it for my purpose.
768 MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
themselves at the agencies to draw their rations.
These Arabs of the plains roamed as far west as the
Sweetwater, and were so swift and so cunning that
their raids were at first imputed to the Shoshones.
Their depredations, which included many murders,
and the destruction or robbery of a large amount of
property. H. G. Nickerson, in the spring of 1870,
after a number of murders had been perpetrated, vis-
ited the Arapahoe camp as a sp}^ and being suspected,
very nearly lost his life." Upon the evidence gathered
by him, a company of 175 well-armed men was raised
to avenge the death of these citizens. But through
the leadership having been assumed by one William
Smith, a bravado, who was subsequently killed in a
brawl, the intended effect of the lesson was lost.
Dividing his command, Smith marched in broad daj--
light with sixty men toward the Arapahoe can) p. On
the way he met a party of Indians, with their chief,
Black Bear, oroino- to the settlements to trade, with
.... .
their families, sixteen in all, and slew them without
mercy. This piece of infamy gave the Indians further
grievance, of which they quickly availed themselves.
These disturbances led to the establishment of a per-
manent military post in the vicinity of the Sweetwater
settlements, which was named after Lieutenant Stam-
baugh, a promising young officer killed in a skirmish
May 4, 1870. Men slept with their cartridge belts
and gun at hand, and when surrounded, crawled into
a thicket to defend themselves as best they could.
* Herman G. Nickerson, born in Ohio in 1841, received a collegiate edn-
, cation in the same state, and entered the union army in 1861 as a private in
the 23d Ohio regt, and was mustered out in 1865 at Nashville, M^ith the cus-
tomary honors. He returned to Ohio to study law, but his health failin '
he went first to Ne'<rask:a City, then to Bozeman, Mont., in 18(56, driving ;i
team, and fighting Indians nearly all tlie way from Fort Laramie, having l
of liis company killed. On one occasion 180 head of stock were captured.
Selling his goods, and engaging in mining, for 15 years Nickerson continued
to reside in this district, undergoing all the difficulties attending pioneering
and Indian disturbances. He went into sheep-farming in 1882 on a large
scale. In 1868 he was appointed supt of schools, and was chosen justice of
the peace several times, appointed U. S. commissioner in 1870, elected to
the lower house of the legislature in 1871 and 1884, and was elected probate
judge and county treasurer of Fremont co., of which he secured the organi-
zation.
WYOMING. 769
In the winter of 1868-70 a scheme was set on foot
at Cheyenne for raising an expedition of two thousand
men to explore the " unceded Indian territory," which
by the treaty of 1868 was promised to the Sioux for
a special preserve.
Meanwhile the Indian commissioner invited Red
Cloud and Man-afraid-of-his-horses to Washington, in
order that they might observe the power and magnifi-
cence of the government. Red Cloud became so well
con^dnced of the superiority of the United States in a
long war that he gave his influence for peace, and for
some months restrained his band from hostilities. It
was during the summer of 1870 that a geological sur-
vey of Wyoming was made from Cheyenne to Fort
Fetterman, to the South pass, to Fort Bridger and
the Uinta mountains, to Henry fork of Green river,
to Brown's hole, to Green river station, on the Union
Pacific railroad, and thence via Bridger's pass back
to Cheyenne.
In May 1873 General Ord, commanding the mili-
tary department of the Platte, ordered a military
expedition to the headwaters of the Snake, Bighorn,
and Yellowstone rivers, which was placed in charge
of Captain Jones. The route of the expedition lay
from Bryan, on the Union Pacific railroad, north
through the Wind river valley, across Wind river
mountains, and that interesting northwest corner of
the territory dedicated to the nation for a public park.
This was the first attempt of a government expedition
to approach this region from this direction,' and was
'In 1870 Lieut Gustavus C. Boane, by order of Major Baker, command-
ing at Fort Ellis, Mont., made a reconnaissance from the fort to Yellowstone
lake, via the general course of the east Gallatin river This was the first
military expedition to this lake, and was accompanied by a party of ci\-ilian3
from Helena, namely, the surveyor-general of ^Iontana, H. D. Washburn, N.
P. Langford, T. C. Everts, C. Hedges, Samuel T. Hauser, Warren C. Gil-
lette, Benjamin C. Stickney, jr, Walter Trumbull, and Jacob Smith. They
proceeded to the geyser basins and Yellowstone lake, making an extended
report of their explorations. The highest mountain in that region was named
after the stirvevor-general, Washburne. U. S. ^en. Ex. Dor., 51, 41st cong.,
.3d sess.; Owrland Monthly, vi. 4.31-7, 489-96; MUsoula Pioneer, March 9-30,
1872. It was upon the report of this expedition to the sec. of war, and
through the labors of the Montana delegate, Clagge:t, that the Yellowstone
770
MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
successful, the expedition proceeding through the
Yellowstone national park to Fort Ellis/
national park was reserved for a pleasure ground for the benefit and enjoy-
ment of the people. U. S. H. Ex. Doc, 3'26, p. 162, 41st cong., 3d seas.;
Comj. Glohe, 1871-2, app. 694; Annual lirpt Supt iVai. Park, 1881, 74-5;
Hayth'u, Great Wtst, 36-8. Another government party in 1872 designed
visiting the Yellowstone park, namely, the peace commissioners to the Sioux,
Yellowstone National Park.
headed by Gen. Cowan. They were prevented by these Indians. No, so the
U. S. geol. surveying exped., under Hayden, which approached from the west
by the Snake river canon through the Teton range, finding immense snow-
drifts and glaciers in July, and a lake at an altitude of 10,200 feet, which
was frozen 15 feet deep. N. Y. Herald, in Helena Rochf Mountain Gazette,
Sept. 29, 1872. Hayden penetrated to the geyser basin, which was described
in his report. Numerous visiting and exploring parties have traversed the
park since 1872, notably one which full in witii the Nez Perces, under Joseph
in 1877, by whom they suffered severely. A reconnaissance for a wagon-road
from Fort Washakie was made in 1881 by (iov. Hoyt and Col Julius VV.
Mason, 3d cav., and a small escort. Trans Wyom. Acad. Sciences, 43-69.
» Mess. Gov. Campbell, 1873, 10. Wijow. H. Jour., 1873, 27. Illiigerao,
Knocking Round t/ie Rockies, 181. 'It is the intention of the military authori-
WYOMIXG. 771
Tli9 inevitable crisis was approaching when the
adoption of a decided poHcy with the Indians would
be forced upon the government for the mutual good
of white and red men. Some depredations being
again committed by the Cheyennes and Arapahoes in
Wind river valley in 1874, Captain Bates attacked
ties,' says Gov. Campbell, 'to ask of congress an appropriation sufficient to
construct a military road from some point in Wyoming on the X. P. R. B..,
to Fort Ellis.' Jones, on p. 55 of his report, says one important object of
his expedition was to discover a practicable route to Yellowstone lake from
the south or southeast, and that he has found it practicable to build a wagon
road via Yellowstone lake to Montana, which would save a considerable
distance. It was discovered that there were three passes through the .Sierra
Shoshones, affording approaches to Y^ellowstone basin. First, from the head
of Clarke fork to the east fork of the Yellowstone; second, from the head
of the north fork of Stinking^ ater, entering the basin opposite the foot of
Yellowstone lake, (Colter's route, 1807) which route was followed by the
expedition; third, from the head of Ishawooa river, entering the basin oppo-
site the head of the lake. Missoulian, Aug. 22, 1873. All these passes were,
he acknowleged, difficult. But one at the head of Wind river, a little south-
east of the lake was practicable from Wind river valley. This pass he
named Togwater, an Indian word. Its altitude was 9,621 feet, and the
slopes of approach long and gradual, so that a raiboad could be built over
it. U. S. H. Ex. Doc, 285, p. 55, 43d cong., 1st sess. Jones' report contains
contributions on the geology, meteorology, botany, and entomology of
Wyoming, besides its geographical and descriptive matter. The W yommg
legislature of 1873 petitioned congress to appropriate money to establish a
military road over the 'route reported upon by Capt. Jones. Wyom. Sess.
Laws, 1873, p. 261-2. Again in 1879 congress Mas memorialized on the sub-
ject of a road to Montana over the Jones survey of 1878, but nothmg
resulted from these petitions, and the approach via the route from Bozeman,
has alone been rendered practicable to ordinary tourists.
N. G. Langford, of Montana, was made superintendent of the Yellow-
Btone park in 1872, and made some improvements by way o f laying out
roads to points of special interest in the reservation. Little, however, has
been done, the object being to keep it in a state of nature as much as possi-
ble and to preserve the game. For a long time it had not even one resident,
and no accommodations for visitors until 1880. In that year G. W Mar-
shall erected a cabin at Mammoth hot springs in Firehole basm, and kept a
hotel Marshall was born in 111. in 1846. In the Firehole he was m truth
a tresspasser; but Secretary Schurz, of the interior department, being in the
park during a rainstorm, and having no shelter, suggested that he should
enlarge his domicile and prepare to furnish accommodation to tourists, for
which purpose he secured Marshall a permit from the government, to res^e
in the park and keep a hotel. In 1884 he obtained a lease for ten years. He
had a daughter born there Jan. 30, ISSl, the first child born on the reserva-
tion, and 50 miles from any neighbors. Gov. Hoyt named her Rose Park,
in memory thereof. Marshall married Sarah Romrell m 18/ o.
The government superintendent of the park had his headquarters at
Mammoth springs, but as no work could be carried on m the winter, did not
reside there permanently. His duty is to construct roads and bridle paths to
discover mountain passes, geysers, hot springs, falls, fossil forests, and relics
of prehistoric people, in which latter search considerable success was
attained, as sho^ in a previous chapter. He also enforced the observance
of rules against the spoliation of timber; against hunting, trappmg, and hsii-
ing, except to supply food to visitors or residents; against the removal ot
772 MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
their camp at Point of Rocks, on the head of Powder
river, with thirty-five soldiers and seventy-five Sho-
shones, killing about forty of them, with a loss of
three soldiers killed and several womided, including
himself. The Indians were in force, numbering be-
tween two and three thousand, and the battle was a
victory which relieved the western division of the
territory of the Arapahoes for the remainder of the
summer, only one murder occurring during the re-
mainder of the year.' In the meantime the Sioux, as
before, were preserving an armed neutrality, drawing
their rations, and keeping the agents who furnished
them in a state of alarm by their overbearing man-
ners. Red Cloud had consented, reluctantly, to be
removed to an agency of his own on White river, late
in 1873. Like Spotted Tail's agency, it proved, on
the survey of the boundary, to be in Nebraska, with-
miueral deposits, or any curiosities; against liquor selling; and against set-
tling on the reservation, except under a lease from the department of the
interior. Report of P. Norris, supt, 1881, p. 75; Helena, Montana Herald, Nov.
18, 1879.
In order to maintain these laws and regulations against infringement, the
legislature of Wyoming in March 1884, passed an act making that portion ©f
the park which was altogether in Wyoming, (a narrow strip on tlie north
and weit, projecting beyond the boundary,) a precinct of Uinta county, the
governor appointing commissioners, justices of the peace, and constables, to
serve until officers were elected, and the territorial laws are made operative
in the park; and to carry out this act, an appropriation was made from the
territorial treasury for the payment of these officers, and the construction
of a jail in Firehole basin. Wyom. Scss. Laws, 1884, 177-83, 194-5, 195-7.
Liivs appertaining to the Yellowstone National Park, passed by 47th cong., 2d
sess., ch. 143, Sess. Laws; 48th cong., 1st sess., ch. 332, Sess. Laws; Mont,
Jour. Council, 1883, 239-iO.
Wyo:niug thus became actually possessed of the largest and most remark-
able pleauire ground in the world. Among the many descriptions of its
scenery, are Gen. Gihhnns' Lecture on t/ie Womlers of Yellowstone Park '\n Helena
Gaz'-tte, Sept. 29, 1872. Letters of C. C. Clawson in Deer Lodtje New Northwest,
May 18th and June 1, 1872. Nortons Wonderland, 1-81, a complete account
of the ditfereut geysers and other curiosities, with a good map; Richardson's
Wonders of Yelhwstons Park, 1-256, a more labored description than the
former; Ray nowl. Camp and Cabin, 154-207, narrative of a visit to the park;
Gunnison, Rambles Overland, 29-44, including a ramble in the park; a series
of descriptive articles in Tlie Contrilnttor for 1883, a monthly magazine pub-
lished iti Salt Lake Citv; a series of articles in Deer Lndije New Northwest,
from 0;t. 5th to Nov. 23, 1872. Rept of Supt, for 18S0. with map; Dunrarcn's
Gieat Dlnide, 194-293, a readable narrative of a tour by a party of English-
men, a-nong whom was tlie author, the earl of Dunraven, in 1874, and Stan-
U'lft Wonderland, still another descriptive an<l narrative account of a tour.
'T'i'> battle was foue;ht July 4th, and tlic 17th of Sept. following a murder
was committed. Rep, Sec. Lit., vol. 1, 578, 43dcoug,, 2d sess.
WYOMII^G. 773
out the limits of the reservation, but since it was the
best location for opening farms, the land being good
and water plenty, it was retained for the Indians.
Owing to an extraordinary nugget of gold being
exhibited at Bisraark by a Sioux woman, who pro-
fessed to have obtained it in the Black hills. General
Custer determined upon a military reconnaissance to
that region, accompanied by scientists who should
settle the question of its value as a mining country.'"
It was a well organized and well furnished expedition,
and when it returned there was wild agitation over
the question of to go or not to go where Custer had
led. No secret was made of the existence of gold in
abundance ; on the contrary, the military officers, the
scientific explorers, and the press correspondents con-
nected with it, combined to paint the Black hills
region with the most brilliant touches of fascinating
description. Water, soil, timber, minerals, all came
in for a share of this enthusiastic praise. If a scheme
had been purposely devised for violating the treaty of
1868, it could not have aroused the people more
quickly. As if to remove the last impediment, an-
other military expedition was fitted out at Kawlins
late in the summer, the object of which was to rid
the country of wandering Indians. A camp^ was to
be established on the Sweetwater, where the infantry
should guard the military stores, while the cavalry
scouted as far north as Fort Reno, and scoured the
whole country east of the Bighorn mountains and
west of the Black hills, drained by the Cheyenne,
1" The expedition consisted of 5 companies of cavalry under Custer, and
5 under Gen. Forsyth, and Gen. Tilson; 2 companies of infantry under
Major L. H. Sanger; a battery of gatling guns under Lieut Josiah Chance;
a detachment of engineers, under Col Ludlow, W. H. Wood, asst; 60 scouts
under Lieut Wallace; Lieut Calhoun, A. A. A. Gen; Capt. A. E. Smith,
quartermaster; J. W. Williams, chief medical officer; Allen and Bergen,
asst surgeons; Col Fred Grant, acting aid-de-camp; Louis Argard, guide and
interpreter; Professors Winchell and Grinnell, and others. Bismark Trilmne,
June 17, 1874; Deer Lodge New Northivest, July 11, 1874. The route of the
expedition was Fort Laramie, thence north, stiiking the Black hills about
French creek, passing northward to Bear Lodge mountain, the Little Mis-
souri, and Hart river, and thence east.
774 MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Powder, and Tongue rivers, thus enabling the settlers
to further break the treaty at will. To prevent this,
General Sheridan hastened to warn the public against
invading the Sioux Indian reservation, unless author-
ized by the secretary of the interior or act of congress
to do so. In spite of this interdiction, several com-
panies proceeded to organize, at different points in
Dakota, Montana, and Iowa. Orders were issued to
generals Terry and Ord, should these companies tres-
pass on the Sioux reservation, to burn their trains,
destroy their entire outfit, and arrest their leaders,
confining them at the nearest military post. The
commander of Fort Ellis, in Montana, succeeded in
preventing a Bozeman company from starting. They
were more readily quieted, the promise having gone out
that Sheridan would soon open the country from the
western slope of the Black hills to the Gallatin valley.
The only party that really reached the Black hills
during the season of 1874, was one which left Sioux
City October 6th, consisting of twenty-seven men, a
woman and boy. The men were well mounted and
armed; they had six wagons and were provided with
provisions and mining tools. They proceeded to the
Niobrara above its mouth, where they met 200
mounted Indians, and held a parley with them. No
opposition was made to their progress, and they kept
on to their destination, finding a pass through the hills
to a point two miles from Harney peak, wliere they
erected a stockade eighty feet long, and built a log
house. They found the weather cold, but sunk
twenty-five prospect holes, finding gold in each, and
discovered several quartz lodes. They were not dis-
turbed either by Indians or militarj^ companies for a
considerable time,^' but were finally arrested and
taken to Fort Laramie. In March 1875, the presi-
dent directed another order to be issued, excluding all
white persons from the Sioux reservation
i^Dcfr Lodge Nein Nnrthwp.tt, March 19. IST.'). Amoiig the party were
Eph. VVitcher. of Yanktou, aud Gordou. Wicchcr returned to Yankton
before the arrest.
WYOMING. 775
The government was now forced into a position
in which it must pay or fight. It preferred to pay,
and steps were taken to secure the consent of the Sioux
to the sale of the Black hills, a cc^mmission being
appointed to negotiate for the purchase. While this
matter was pending, preparations went on uninter-
ruptedly for mining. The books of the Black Hills
Transportation company at Sioux City showed that
from April 7th to May 7, 1875, over 300 men, forty
wagons, and a pack-train had left that point for the
mines, and about 200 had gone from Yorktown and
other points, including a few women. In the east a
company of 1,800 men was formed, O. H. Pierson,
president, which was only waiting the result of the
negotiations of the commissioners. It was the inten-
tion of this company to open mines and lay out towns
by corporate means.
So confident was the secretary of the interior of
the purchase of the Black hills that he authorized an
exploring expedition under the charge of Walter P.
Jenney of the school of mines of New York,^' which
organized at Cheyenne in May. It was attended by
a military escort under Colonel R. I. Dodge.
In the meantime meetings had been held in Chey-
enne early in January, looking to the organization of
a citizens' company for the purpose of exploring in
the Bighorn mountains, and developing the Black
hills mining region,'^ Cheyenne being once more filled
with a surging mass of humanity panting to acquire
wealth by luck rather than labor. The merchants of
the town quickly perceived the advantage to be
reaped from a mining excitement, with Cheyenne for
an outfitting point, and entered into the project of an
exploring company with enthusiasm.
12 His assistants were Henry A. Newton of Ohio, geologist; H. P. Little,
formerly of the U. S. navy, astronomer; Dr V. P. McGillicuddy, topog-
rapher; D. Newberry, and a corps of surveyors. Id. Bept Sec. Int., vol. 1,
538; 4t cong., 1 sess. ; Deer Lodge New Northiiyest, May 14, 1875.
'^^ Cheyenne New% Jan. 11, 12, and 13, 1875. The committe appointed to
devise plans for carrying out the purposes of the organization were F. E.
Warren. A R Converse. J. R. Whitehead, Luke Murrin. P. S. Wilson, J.
Joslin, E. P. Snow, D, McLoughLu, M. E. Post, and A. E. Swan.
776 MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Early in May there appeared upon the scene a
leader such as the occasion demanded. This was C.
C. Carpenter, a man with considerable experience
both as a frontiersman and a military officer. Making
Cheyenne his headquarters, he issued his i^eneral
orders like the commander of an authorized army,
vindicating the character and purposes of his men,
which Governor Pennington of Dakota had attacked,
and promising them that they should not be prevented
from entering^ the Black hills or Bigrhorn mountains.
And, in truth, it would be an awkward thing for the
government to train its guns on the citizens of an
organized territory for traversing any part of it for
what it might contain.
In July the commissioners reached the Black hills,
finding mining camps and military camps at peace
with each other, and the Indians more or less sullen
on this account. They had exhibited some temper by
destroying a few hundred dollars' worth of goods
belonging to a trader, but further than that there had
been no trouble in the Black hills. It was in vain,
however, that terms were proposed for the ceding of
the mining territory, or an)^ part of the unceded
Indian lands heretefore reserved by treaty from the
occupation of the white race. At a general council
held in September," the demands of Bed Cloud and
Spotted Tail were exorbitant, being no less than
$600,000,000. In this matter the ability of a savage
to comprehend such a sum being on its face impossi-
ble, it was plain that they were not without malicious
white advisers. The council ended by placing the
government under greater embarassment than before.
" However unwilling we may be to confess it," said
the secretary of the interior, " the experience of the
past summer proves either the inefficiency of the large
military force under the command of such officers as
generals Sheridan, Terry, and Crook, or the utter
'* In May a large Sioux delegation had been taken to Washington for an
interview with the president, which was intended to smooth the way to an
arrangement. Rept Sec. Int., vol. 1, 509; 44 cong., 1 sesa
WYOMING. 777
impracticability of keeping Americans out of a coun-
try where gold is known to exist, by any force of
orders, or of United States cavalry, or by any consid-
eration of the rights of others." ^"
1^ If the government was in a hole, as the Indians would have said, it was
put there Ly the secretary, and not by the people of the west, who v/oukl
never have bound themselves by such a treaty as that of 18G8. The nation
was bound by a promise, the inevitable breaking of which could produce
but one result, since the very explorers authorized by the secretary of the
interior to make an examination of the Black hills had reported finding a
gold field fifty miles in extent.
Up to this time miners, except about 500, had yielded to authority, and
kept out of the forbidden territory. But seeing that delay did not lessen
the difficulty, they began early in this year to prepare for a general move-
ment in that direction. In Feb. 1876 Custer City had been laid off, and was
the central point for trade. The improvements mentioned were Bevy and
Boughton's saw-mill from Cheyenne; two portable saw-mills en route from
Colorado; the steam saw-mill from Spotted Tail agency being the first to
blow a whistle in the Black hills, Feb. 6, 1876. A herd of cows had ar-
rived for a dairy. A couple had been married at Custer, namely William
Hardestyand Ida Simms. Cheyenne Leader, Feb. 19, 1876.
Parties from Illinois, Neljraska, and Colorado were on the road in Febru-
ary, and newspapers gave full information about routes and outfitting places,
each one in its own interest, Omaha and Cheyenne taking the lead. By the
4th of March there were 4,000 people in the Black hills, and the military
had orders from the president not to interfere with them.
The Sioux nation at this time numbered about 35,000 persons, divided
among ten agencies, situated chiefly in north-eastern and eastern Dakota.
Of these, 9,087 were Ogallalas, of whom Red Cloud was principal chief, and
7,000 Brules, over whom Spotted Tail was head chief. Add to these 2,294
northern Arapahoes and Cheyennes, who were associated with the Ogallalas
and Brules in the treaty of 1868, and there T-:re over 19,000 aboriginals,
who had the privilege of roaming over a large part of Wyoming.
Generals Reynolds and Crook, hoping to gain a victory over some of the
hostiles which should render future concessions obtainable without a general
war, left Fort Fetterman early in March to attack Crazy Horse. After
passing Fort Reno, from which point only the cavalry was allowed to pro-
ceed, he took a northerly direction seventy miles to Tongue river, the march
lying over high, well-grassed plains, watered by numerous streams flowing
toward Tongue river, which was foimd to course through a narrow valley
furnished -nath an alrandance of timber. After scouting toward the Yellow-
stone, and exploring the lower Tongue and Rosebud valleys without finding
the enemy, the expedition marched toward Powder river through a moun-
tainous region, the weather being very cold, and the troops enduring much
hardship. The scouts discovered the enemy's camp on that stream, which
was attacked at daylight on the 17th by the main force under Reynolds,
Crook having gone toward Sitting Bull's camp on the Rosebud, with only
two companies of cavalry. The attack on Crazy Horse failed through the
disobedience of Captain Webb of the 3d cavalry, who remained inactive,
although ordered to charge from one side of the village, while Captain
Eagan met him from the other. Eagan was left to fight his way out, after
having plunged into the midst of the Sioux, with a loss of ten men killed
and wounded. The savages fled, leaving their lodges and camp property,
which were destroyed, and many of their horses captured. Knowing that
this blow would only exasperate the Sioux, and finding circumstances against
him, while his command was insufficient to carry out his designs, Reynolds
returned to Fort Fetterman, and Crook went to Omaha, determined not to
778 MILITARY AXD INDIAN AFFAIRS.
make any further demonstrations against the enemy until new troops were
sent to the frontier. Scarcely had lie reached headquarters when Governor
Thayer of Wyoming ai)plied to him for military protection for the road lead-
ing from Cheyenne to tlie Black hills.
Ahout the 1st of June Crook prepared to take the field again with 1,000
men, and a large numljer of scouts from different tribes. About the middle
of the month the command started from camp on Goose creek, northwest of
Fort Philip Kearny, and on the 17th attacked the Sioux on the head of Rose-
bud river, ligliting them all day without achieving any signal victory. The
Crow scouts who had been sent forward had not behaved with the caution
necessary, or M-ere ignorant of the country, and Mere themselves surprised
by coming on Sitting Bull's camp in a canon of tlie Rosebud, alarming the
Sioux, and being fired on. They retreated to Crook's command, which was
lialted, and which now pushed forward, met by the Sioux, also eagtr for the
combat. The face of the country hereabout was a succession of ridges, which
made it difficult to operate with cavalry, but the most brilliant exploit of the
day was a charge made by the first battalion of the 3d cavalry, under Colonel
Mills, Mho took his three companies up over a ridge onto the plateau between
him and the next ridge, crowded with savages, stopping to deliver one vol-
ley, and then mounting the second ridge at a gallop, driving the enemy to
cover behind a third ridge. The battalion then dismounted, and deployed
as skirmishers, holding the position they hati carried. The second battalion,
under Colonel Henry, were to attack Sitting Bull's right, and driving it
back; and the third battalion, under Colonel Van Vliet, that of holding the
bluff in ths rear of the troops to check any advance from that quarter. The
battle raged obstinately all day, and had it not been that the Sioux aimed,
generally, too high, the loss on the side of the army M'ould have been great.
^\s it was, eight were killed and twenty-one wounded, including the gallant
Colonel Henry. The loss on the part of the Indians -was 50 -warriors and
100 horses killed, and many of both wounded. They abandoned their vil-
lage on the approach of Mills in the afternoon, and moved rapidly northwest,
whereupon Crook turned back to camp at Goose creek, forty miles distant,
not being prepared to jiursue a numerous enemy who could not be surprised.
Thus ended the second battle with the Sioux.
About the middle of May a force of 1,000 men, under General Terry,
left Fort Lincoln for the Bighorn country, to enter it by way of the Missouri
and Yellowstone rivers in Montana. The expedition was composed of
twelve companies of the 7th cavalry under Custer, and about 450 other
troops. At the mouth of Powder river the cavalry was disembarked, and a
supply depot established. Major Reno of the 7th was sent up Powder river
to look for the enemy, while Terry consulted with (ribbon, whom he found
awaiting him with 450 men from Fort Ellis, concerning the summer's cam-
paign. Reno returned from his scout without having encountered any Ind-
ians, and on the 21st of June, several days after Crook's fight, which had
again douljly exasperated the Sioux, but which was entirely unknown to the
two generals, whose plans included Crook's co-operation, now withdrawn
until he could be reinforced, they settled upon their course.
Gibbon, who was on the north side of the Yellow'stone, was to cross at
the mouth of the Bighorn, and proceed up it to the junction of the Little
Bighorn, to be tliere on the 2Gth. Custer was to proceed up the Rosebud to
ascertain tlie direction of an Indian trail seen by Reno. If it led toward tlie
Little Bigliorn, he was to avoid following it, but to keep south for some dis-
tance before approacliing the stream in order to be where he could intercept
the savages should they move that way, and to give Gibbon time to come
up.
Custer left the mouth of the Rosebud on tlie 22d, striking the Indian
trail. On the 24th his scouts discovereil fresh trails twenty miles above the
mouth of the Little Bighorn, and on the ff)llowing morning a deserted village.
A little further down the stream they reported a large village, anil the Ind-
ians fleeing. Sending his adjutant to Reno, who was on the opposite or west
wyo:mixg. 779
side of the stream, to bring him over for a conference, he determined to at-
tack without -svaiting for Gibbon, believing that to wait would be to permit
the escape of the enemy. Reno was ordered to recross to the west side, and
attack from the upper end of the village, which was in a valley, while he
should strike the lower end, and meet him.
Leaving a reserve of four companies, under Benton, Reno entered the
valley at the time and in the manner appointed, but instead of finding a
frightened and yielding people, which bj- their apparent alarm they might
have been, he found himself surrounded by a terrible and infuriated horde,
bent upon his annihilation. Dismounting, the men fought their waj- on foot
through the woods to a high bltiff, which he attempted to hold while sending
Captain Weir with his troops to open communication with Custer. Weir
was surrounded, and forced to retreat to Reno's position, now placed on the
defensive, being furiously assaulted. The battle lasted imtil 9 o'clock in the
evening, when the Indians retired to hold their customary war-dances and
death rites.
During all this time no word had reached him from Custer, whom he
imagined to be fighting like himself, cut ofif from communication by the
great body of Indians. The battle was renewed with fury between two and
three o'clock on the morning of the 2(3th, the troops fighting from rifle-pits
constructed during the night, and barricaded ^vith dead horses and mules,
and boxes of hard bread. In the afternoon the Indians, having fired the
grass in the valley, retreated under cover of the smoke, taking their way
toward the Bighorn mountains, in good order, with all their property and
families, their scouts having discovered Gibbon's command approaching, a
few miles distant.
The rebef which this movement furnished to Reno, whose fortifications
contained eighteen dead and forty-six wounded, was great, the men having
been fighting for twenty-four hours without rest, and their sufi'erings being
extreme for want of water. Eight men had been killed and wounded in the
endeavor to procure a few canteens full for their dj-ing comrades, and not
until midnight of the second eiay did they again make the attempt.
Althougn wondering at the continued silence and absence of Custer, the
truth did not suggest itself to any one until nightfall, when a lieutenant of
Gibbon's scouts dashed into their midst with the astounding intelligence that
of the five companies of the gallant 7th cavalry which had entered the valley
a few miles below simultaneously with themselves, every man and every
officer la J' dead on that fatal ground.
As there -n ere no reliable witnesses, so there could be no incontestable
history of the engagement. The account which was pieced together from
the narrative of a scout who was hidden in the woods which covered the
blulf aljove the valley, and the reluctant admissions drawn afterward from
the Sioux, were all the foundation on which to build a theory of the fight.
All that could be learned was that soon after reaching the valley, which
could be entered onlj^ by a narrow defile, the command was checked in its
march by a terrific firing from ambush, which compelled the troops to dis-
mount. Tliey were soon surrounded, and while fighting their way toward
the hills were all cut off. Thus perished 259 officers and men, in the third
battle with the Sioux.
The remainder of the 7th cavalry under Reno and Gibbon's command,
retreated to Bighorn river, whence the wounded were transported by steamer
to Fort Lincoln. Terry's division remained all summer on the Yellowstone,
having occasional skirmishes with the Indians, but making no movement
toward the interior. It was not until August that, being joined by Gen.
Miles, with six companies of infantry, 21st regiment, under Col Otis, that
he moved up Rosebud river to form a junction with Crook, who had been
reenforced by cavalry, making the number of men in the field against the
Sioux, in Wyoming and Montana, over S.fMX). Acrai'n=>t such a force as this,
the Indians could not be brought to battle, liut. eluding the troops, moved
their villages up and down the country, from the Missouri to the head of
780 MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Powder river. Only onc^e during many months were tiiey surprised, when a
quantity of winter stores, and many of their liorses were captured on the
road to tlie Black hills hy a detachment of Miles' command.
Tlie point in which the white soldier is su])erior to the Indian warrior, is
in stul>l)oru endurance. The Indian must have, after his outburst of fury, a
period f)f repose; after gorging himself like an anaconda, he must lie torpid
for awliile. Keeping on the march for months exhausted his ardor and his
resources. In Septeuiber the least valiant of the Sioux began to visit the
agencies to beg, and being turned away, offered to surrender. In October
the troops of Miles' command in Montana captured a large part of Sitting
Bull's supplies, in return for that chief's attempt to take a train on its way
to Fort Keogh. Starvation is a greater general than the greatest. It
brought 'J,000 of the Sioux people to Miles' feet, but did not bring Sitting
Bull and his immediate followers, who continued hostilities as before until
January, wlien he went over the border into the British possessions, where
the authorities compelled him to promise peace or be ejected from the
country.
Crazy Horse, with whom Crook was left to deal, proved equally obdurate
if less successful. When Terry's force moved up Rosebud river to join
Crook, Crazy Horse eluded both, dividing his followers into small parties,
and sending them by diiferent routes to Tongue river, and across the country
to Powder river, following the latter to its mouth, pursued all the way l)y
the troops. At this point the two forces separated, Terry going north of the
Yellowstone to prevent escape in that direction, and Crook returning south-
east on the trail of the Sioux until it became undistinguishable. On the 14th
of Sept. his advance surprised a village of thirty lodges near Slim Buttes,
180 miles from tlie Cheyenne river agency, inflicting considerable injury.
In retaliation Crazy Horse attacked his main column, the battle again being
a drawn one, after which the Indians went into winter camp on Tongue
river, at the eastern base of Wolf mountains.
About the middle of November Crook's force left Fort Fetterman to find
Crazy Horse, Gen. McKenzie striking on the 25th a detached village of
Cheyennes, on the west fork of Powder river, destroying it and butchering
men women, and children like the bloodiest savage of them all, and depriv-
ing those who were left of subsistence at a season when to obtain it was
most difficult. By this cruel punishment another portion of the natives were
brought to surrender.
Again, in January, Miles came upon the village of Crazy Horse on
Tongue river, skirmishing with the Indians from the 1st to the 7th, and
having a five hours' engagement with them on the 8th, which compel.'ei
them to abandon their position; but owing to the worn-out condition of hi.-s
army trains he found it impracticable to follow. This ended the campaign
of 1876. In the spring of 1877 Lame Deer, another hostile chief, 'was
attacked at his village of fifty lodges on Rosebud river, by Miles. The Ind-
ians fled, but their horses, provisionfi, and camp equipage were captured.
Raids by this band on settlers, surveyors, and wagon trains followed, contin-
uing until July.
In July 1876 Sheridan requested the interior department to turn over to
the military the management of the Lower Brule, Cheyenne river, and Stand-
ing Rock agencies, on the Missouri river, and also the Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail agencies, which were placed in charge of army officers. From
time to time during the summer and autumn, numerous small parties sur-
rendered, being, as they acknowledged, 'tired of war.' Those whom Miles
captured on the Yellowstone were ordered to go to the Cheyenne river
agency in November, hostages being retained for their obedience. In the
spring other parties came in, rspresenting that the main body were willing
to do the same, upon which report Spotted Tail was induced to visit the
hostile camps with a deputation of head men, and persuade the Indians to
return to their allegiance. He returned in May with 1,10(). In June. Crazy
Horse formally surrendered with his Cheyenne allies at Red Cloud agency.
WYOMIXG, 781
But his submissson vras rather to gain time than to be at peace, and being
found inviting the Indians to renewed hostilities, he was arrested, and his
followers disarmed. He soon escaped, and being re-arrested Sept. 4th, at
the agency, to which he had returned, was taken to Camp Robinson on the
5ch, and while being disarmed, resisted, and was wounded by the guard,
from which wound he died the following day.
In this month Lame Deer voluntarily surrendered, making an end of
the Sioux war. A commission visited the agencies in October, to negotiate
with the Sioux for a surrender of the Black hills, and the privilege of hunt-
ing outside the reservation, which had been guaranteed to them by the treaty
of 1868. The}' were asked to reUnquish all claim to any country west of the
103d meridian; to grant a right of way for three roads across their reserve;
to consent to the removal of the Red Cloud and .Spotted Tail agencies to the
Missouri river; to receive their suppUes at such points as the president
might designate, and to enter into arrangements looking to their becoming
self-supporting at an early day.
These concessions were made, though partly under protest, as to removal.
On the side of the United States it was agreed that their subsistence should
be provided for until they should become self-supporting, and they be fur-
nished with schools, and instruction in agriculture and the mechanical arts.
This treaty congress ratified February 28, 1879. Their removal to the Mis-
souri river took place late in 1877, when 14,000 of these people were taken
in winter to new and unprepared situations, where the usual unhappiness
and rebelliousness prevailed. In the following spring an effort was made to
find land suitable for farming on the western side of their reserve, where at
Pine ridge and Rosebud agencies the two principal chiefs of the Ogalallas
and Brules were finally settled with their people. They roamed, by per-
mission, in small bands through the Black hills in search of game.
The northern Cheyennes to the number of 300 were removed to the Ind-
ian territory, to which they went willingly in May 1877, but where they,
with characteristic restlessness, soon became troublesome, and in September
1878 left the territory to return north. Troops from Camp Roljinson pur-
sued to bring them back. Fighting occurred, in which both sides sustained
losses, and the Cheyennes subsequently committed atrocities in Nebraska,
as of old. They finally surrendered, were taken back south, and again in
January Dull Knife's band attempted to escape, when forty of them were
killed bj' guards, and the troops being called out, the fugitives were pur-
sued for two weeks and nearly all cut off.
The remainder of the band in ISSl was permitted to be incorporated with
the Sioux at Pine ridge agency, where a vigilant police system, in which
service the most trusty natives were employed, preserved order, and pre-
vented thieving and mischievous roving. In 1881 the Indians at Pine ridge
agency earned .S41,3S2 freight money, using their ponies and wagons to
transport the agency goods from the nearest point on the Missouri river.
This would seem an improvement on the chase, whether the game were buffa-
loes or white men.
The northern Arapahoes, who surrendered themselves with the Chey-
ennes in 1876, a^ked to be allowed to go upon the Shoshone reservation, and
the consent of that tribe being gained, were placed there, where they have
remained at peace. The Shoshone chief, Washatin, was a rare Indian, for
he would work, and also weep over the idleness and drunkenness of his
young men. According to some authorities, the good behavior of the Sho-
shone? and Banuacks was due to the severe treatment of them by General
Conner at Bear river in 1867, when thev lost nearly 500 warriors. But pre-
vious to that engagement, Washakie withdrew his band; therefore he has
the benefit of the doubt, and has certainly been a consistent friend of the
white people ever since the treaty. In compliment to his fidelity, his musi-
cal name has been bestowed upon a military post on Wind river, and upon
a group of mountain peaks, the AYashakie Needles, in the Shoshone moun-
tains.
782 MILITARY AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
When Ute Jack was planning the outhreak of 1879 in Colorado he vis-
ited the Shoshones to incite them to insurrection, which cau^ied an order to
be issued for liis arrest. He seized a gun, and going into a lodge where wjw
the sergeant of the guard, shot him dead, and wounded another man, when
he was killed. This incident checked any tendency to insubordination
which the Utes may have created.
CHAPTER VII.
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
1868-1888.
Division of Territory into Counties— Birth oe Towns, and Growth of
Population — Pioneers and Prominent Men — Commerce and Indus-
tries—Grasses AND Grazing — Ranchos and Ranges — Stock -Raising
— Some of the Great Cattle Men — Land Surveys and Sales— Im-
provement OF Breeds — Cattle Driving from Texas and Oregon —
General Condition of the Country — Agriculture and Mines —
Biographical.
The growth in population of Wyoming was slow
during the Indian wars, first, from the natural evi-
dence of danger, and second, from the exclusion of
white people from the best lands in the territory.
The government surveys were also impeded except
along the line of the railroad, where the population
was gathered into towns. The legislature ot 1875
established two counties in the northern portion of the
territory, which had not enough white inhabitants for
the four years following to organize.^ The amount of
land which had been entered for settlement in 1876,
before the northern portion of the territory ¥ras thrown
open, amounted altogether to 38,734 acres. It
increased steadily thereafter, and in 1883, over 79,-
000 acres were entered at the land office. The whole
amount filed upon from 1873 to 1883 was 201,264
acres.' The population at this time did not exceed
30,000. In 1886, with a population of 65,000, the
^Mess. Gov. Hoyt, 1879, p. 33; Compiled Laws Wyom., 1876, 198-201;
Wyom. Sess. Laws, 1877, 34.
^Bept of Gov. Hak, 1883, p. 51; U. S. H. Ex. Doc, 72, p. 156, vol. 19; 47
coQg., 2 sess,
C783)
784 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
amount of land entered under the homestead and
other acts of congress was 20,991,967 acres. The
first division into counties, of the territory, was by
running imaginary Unes from the northern to the
southern boundary. Carter county, first organized by
miners and estabUshed by tlie Dakota legislature
December 27, 1867, was bounded by the 33d merid-
ian on the west, and extended east two and one-half
degrees.*
The counties above referred to as having been
erected in 1875, were named Crooks and Pease; the
former being taken from that portion of the counties
of Laramie and Albany lying north of 43° 30', and
including as much of the Black hills country as lies
in Wyoming ; and the latter from Carbon county,
north of the same line.'
Uinta county, containing 15,000 square miles, was
the most western division. Historically, it is the
most interesting portion of the territory, having been
occupied by adventurers ever since 1823.*
3 The first legislature of Wyoming changed its name to Sweetwater, as
has before been mentioned. On the 5th of March, 1884, the legislature cre-
ated the county of Fremont out of that portion of Sweetwater lying between
an east and west line as drawn by the survey V>etween townships twenty-six
and twenty-seven north, and the line of 43° 30' north latitude, including the
Sweetwater and the Little Wind river valleys, leaving to Sweetwater county
the Red desert and the broken country .south of the Union Pacific railroad.
*This rectangular mode of division is extremely simple, and in this
mountainous region as convenient as any. Tlie county of Pease had its
name changed in 1879 to Johnson, in honor of Edward P. Johnson, territorial
auditor, and beloved pioneer of Wyoming. These three additions to the
original five counties constituted in 1884 the whole of \Vyoming not reserved
to the use of the Indians.
^It was taken off from Utah and Idaho on the organization of the terri-
tory of Wyoming, to straighten the west boundary, and was by the first
legislature attached to Carter county for judicial purposes. Evauston, a
town which the Union Pacific railroad company founded and nourished, was
then in its infancy, having been located in June, 18G9; but in August it was
declared a voting precinct for the purpose of electing a member of the legis-
lature. On the 1st of December the county was organized, and Merrill, a
place whicli no longer exists as a town, named as the temporary county seat.
Tlie officers appointed liy the governor were J. Van A. Carter county clerk,
R. H. Hamilton slieriff, W. A. Carter treasurer and probate judge, and E.
S. Jacobs superintendent of public schools. The first election to permanently
l.icate the county seat was held Septeml>er G, 1870, Evanston having a small
majority over Merrill. Tlie commissiouer.j elected were J. Van A. Carter,
Piussell Tlinrp, and J. L. Atkinson. Jesse L. Atkinson was l)orn in Nova
Scotia in 1830, and settled in Uinta co. in 1870, engaging in lumbering, get-
WYOMING. 785
Uinta was the fourth county in population, having
about 4,000 inhabitants. Its resources are timber,
coal, iron, sulphur, of which there is a mountain on
the west fork of Bear river, agriculture, and grazing.
Coal oil is also believed to exist in the county.®
ting timber from the Uinta mountains. Then he went to cattle-raising
with Benj. Majors of Colo, and accumulated a fortune. Sheriff of Carter
county was Harvey Booth, county clerk Lewis P. Scott, probate judge and
treasiirer W. A. Carter. Evanston, the county seat, is the chief office of the
western division of the Union Pacific railroad, altitude 7,000 feet. It was
incorporated in December 1873, disincorporated in 1875, and incorporated
again in 1882. Its population in 1886 about 2,000. Frank M. Foote pro-
cured its disincorporation. He was born in South Bend, Ind., in 1846, came
to Bryan, Wyoming, in 1871, where he was employed by the U. P. R. R,
as clerk, and subsequently as agent. In 1872 he removed to Evanston,
where he subsequently resided. He was elected to the legislature in 1875.
was elected probate judge and treasurer the following year, and reelected in
1878. In 1879-80 he served also as deputy sheriff, and in 1881-2 as under
sheriff of the county. He engaged in cattle-raising in 1883, his range being
near Medicine Butte, 15 miles from Evanston. Evanston was surveyed and
lots offered for sale June 25, 1870, E. S. Whittier being the first purchaser. A
post-office was established in April, with Charles T. Devel postmaster. In July
Whittier took the office, which he held 8 years. A public school was opened
July 8, with 8 pupils. There were, in 1883, 12 school districts in the county,
with 622 children in attendance. The first marriage celebrated in the county
was on June 1, 1871, between George East and Annie Porter. The first church,
presbyterian, was incorporated July 17th, the baptist church Sept. 7th, and
soon after the methodist church. The railroad machine shops were located
here in Nov. 1871. On the 10th of Oct. 1872, the first newspaper, the
Evanston Age, was started. Tlie Times, The Chieftain, and the UintaCo. Argus
were all published at Evanston. On the 6th of June, 1873, the Evanston
library and literary association was incorporated, which received much as-
sistance from W. W. Peek. The Evanston Water Ditch co. was incorporated
to bring water to the town from Bear river, 8 miles distant. F. L. Arnold, in
Trans. Wycmi. Acad. Sciences, 1882, 96-7. A court-house and jail were
authorized at Evanston in 1874. Wyorn. Sess. Laivs, 1874, 226. A land dis-
trict was created, with an office at Evanston, in 1876. V. S. Statutes, 126-7,
44th cong., 1st sess. Almy, near Evanston, is a coal-mining town. There
are a number of small towns in the county, namely. Aspen, Hilliard, Old
Bear City, Piedmont, Leroy, Bridger, Carter, Hampton, Millersville, Coke-
ville, Beckwith, Niigget, Fossil, Twin Creek, Ham's Fork, Waterfall, Wright,
Opal, Nutria Moxa, and Granger, the latter being on the boundary line
between Uinta and Sweetwater counties, and the initial point of the Oregon
short line railroad.
* In the summer of 1868 coal was found three miles from Evanston. In
1869 the first mine was opened. In 1870 the Rocky Mountain Coal and
Iron company was organized.
Newell Beeman, born in Ontario co., N. Y., in 1844, came to Almy in
1871, engaging as book-keeper of the R. M. C. & I. company, and in 1873
became supt and business manager. He was elected county commissioner
in 1874, and twice reelected; was also school trustee, and several times on
the republican central committee for the territory. The coal, according to
Beeman, is semi-bituminous brown coal, of good [quality, which is used by
the company and the towns along the railroad. Its quantity is practically
unlimited.
Justin Pomeroy was the first agricultural settler and cattle-r3.iser north
of ths railroad in Uinta co., where a large number of farms were later
Hist. Nev. 50
786 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Since the completion of the Oregon Short Line rail-
road, this county has progressed rapidly in improve-
ments, and is destined to be one of the most impor-
tant in the future state. Its assessed valuation in
1883, was $2,096,377.
Sweetwater county by the erection of a new coun-
ty, Fremont, out of the Sweetwater region, has lost
the significance of its name, as well as the most val-
uable portion of the territory. The county seat,
which in early times was at South Pass City, was
removed in 1874 to Green river.'
Fremont county established in 1884, contained an
opened, chiefly, however, for raising hay, oats, potatoes, and vegetables. In
1868 Moses Byrn and C. Guild located themselves on Muddy creek, 12 miles
east of Fort Bridger.
John W. Myers took a land claim at the crossing of Bear river on the
old stage road. In 1877 a Mormon colony located in Salt river valley, 140
miles north of Evanston. The valley is 20 miles long, and 7 to 9 miles -wide,
with beautiful scenery. In 1868 Beckwith, Quinn, and company took up a
tract about 50 miles north of Evanston, containing 15,000 acres, 4,000 of
which is under cultivation, 400 acres being in lucern, which yielded from 2
to 3 tons to the acre, and cut twice a year. From 3,000 acres of irrigated
meadow land they cut in 1881, 3,500 tons of hay, and thrashed 1,800 bushels
of barley. They wintered 2,500 head of cattle, of which 97 were thorough-
bred Durham bulls and 40 thoroughbred cows. They o-maed a large number
of thoroughbred horses, and fattened a herd of Berkshire hogs on lucem,
turnips, and barley raised on the rancho. Blythe, Pixley, Christie, Lank-
tree, and many others had extensive ranches on Bear river previous to 1880,
since which time there has been a marked increase in settlement. Trans.
Wyom. Acad. SdnxrM, dr., 1882, 98-9.
Robert L. Hereford was born in Va, in 1827, and crossing the plains in
1851, wandered about the Rocky mountain region and west coast, always
occupying high and respcmsible positions, when he went to Big Thompson
river, Colo., in 1860.
Jesse Kniglit, born in 1850, and educated at an academy, went to Omaha
in 1869, to Wyoming in 1871, remaining at South Pass city until 1873, being
one year in merchandising business, and two, clerk of the court for the 3d
judicial district. Uinta county being added to the district in 1873, and he
has been in the same office ever since.
' Green river was an interesting point to travellers on account of the fos-
sils found in the Green river sholes. These are arranged in thin layers of
dififerent colors, some of which contain thousands of impressions of fish,
insects, and water plants. At Burning Rock cut, between layers of a light
colored, chalky limestone, were strata of a dark color, saturated with
petroleum, which, being ignited, burned for several days hence the name.
The Sweetwater OaaMe is published at (ireen river. Green river, named after
a member of Ashley's expedition of 1823, and not on account of its color as
is commonly asserted, furnishes some of the finest view.s of the passage of
the continent. All the other towns in the county with the exception of
Downieville, on Green river, are simply railroad stations. They are Mars-
ton, Bryan, Wilkins, Salt AVells, Point of Rocks, Hallville, Black Butte,
Bitter Creek, Table Rock, Tipton, Red Desert, Washakie, Latham, Creston,
and Fillmora. Wolfe, Mercantile Guide, 178-84.
WYOMING. 787
area of about 20,000 square miles, inclusive of the
whole Sweetwater mining country, the Shoshone res-
ervation, and the elevated valley of the Bighorn on
the west side of that river, with the Shoshone moun-
tains on the western border/
^ The Wind river valley is a fertile and beautiful region, popularly known
as the garden of Wyoming. The first commissioners appointed to organize,
■were, H. G. Nickerson, B. F. Low, and Horace E. Blion. The first com-
missioners elected were, R. H. Hall dem., A. J. McDonald, and H. E.
BUnn rep. , J. J. Atkins was elected sheriff on the republican ticket. Ervin
F. Cheney appointed deputy district clerk. South Pass city is the oldest
town in the county. A newspaper was started there in 1868 by N. A.
Baker called TJie J^feivs. It was sold to E. A. Slack, who moved it to Lara-
mie. This paper was succeeded by the Sweetwatei' Miner, which was
removed to Bryan.
Horace E. Blinn was born in Snelbum, Vt, in 1847, and educated there.
In 1870 he migrated to Wyoming, locating himself at Camp Brown, now
Fort Washakie, as post trader with J. K. Moore, and remaiaiag tliere three
years. He then went to Boulder co., Colo, where he erected a saw mill.
In 1881 he returned to North Fork city, Popo Agie valley, settliug three
years later in Lander.
Louis P. Vidal, bom in France, came to Wyoming, located himself finally
in Atlantic City, and took up the extension of the Buckeye mine. He
erected several houses there, and took contracts for supplying Camp Brown
with certaia necessary articles. In 1871 he went to this post, which had
been removed to the Shoshone reservation, and named Fort Washakie, but ia
1872 engaged in stock raising with his residence at Lander, the most impor-
tant toAvn in Fremont county.
Among the early settlers of what is now Fremont county, was John D.
Woodruff, born ia Broome co., N. Y., in 1847, and in 1866 came to Wyoming.
Being well acquainted with the country, he acted as guide to generals
Sheridan and Crook when selecting the site Fort Custer.
The pioneer cattle raiser of Fremont county was John Luman, bom in
1838, in Jackson co., Va. In 1854 he settled in Kansas, migrating to Colo
in 1859, and soon going to Fort Bridger, where he was employed by the post
sutter two years. He then returned to Colo, remaining there seven years,
mining and prospecting. He later became a successful stock raiser.
Another pioneer was James A. McAvoy, bom in Ohio in 1842, and in
1868 came to Cheyenne. Thence he went to South Pass city in 1869, remain-
ing there, engaged ia mining. In 1873 he located himself on Willow creek
in the Wmd river valley, withia the liaes of the ladian reservation. He next
engaged with Samuel Fairfield in constructing a road from the timbered
lands at the head of Big Popo Agie to Lander. 'NATien Fremont co. was
organized he was elected county clerk.
Still another sort of frontiersman was Major Noyes Baldwin, born in
Woodbridge, Conn., in 1826, served in the civil war and afterward came to
Wind river valley and established a trading post, dealing with the Indians
for three years. He was one of the first discoverers of gold at South pass,
with him beiag Henry Ridell, Frank Marshall, Harry Habbei, Richard
Grace, and others. He is now a resident of Lander.
Robert H. Hall, bom at Sacketts Harbor, N. Y., in 1852, came to Camp
Stambough in 1873, remaiaiag there for over four years, when he removed to
Lander, having become iaterested in cattle.
James J. Atkins, born in Wis. in 1853, came to Dakota in 1872, and
afterward to Lander, where he secured a farm and raised stock. He was
elected sheriff on the organization of Fremont co.
788 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Carbon county contains 13,500 square miles. As
its name indicates, it overlies extensive coal deposits,
particularly in the southern portion. It has several
mineral districts, in which are found the precious
metals, besides copper, iron, iron-paint, fire-clay,
gypsum, salt, and coal oil. The latter promises to be
one of the foremost resources of the territory, and
particularly of Fremont and Carbon counties. The
petroleum of Wyoming lies near the surface, and
resembles the best Russian and Rangoon oils. For
lubricating purposes it is not excelled by any known.*
•This county embraces a large extent of the Laramie plains, devoted to
grazing. (Jood agricultural lands are found chietiy along the north Platte.
Rawlins, founded in 1870, and named in honor of John A. Rawlins, is the
county seat, and has about 1,800 inhabitants, railroad machine shops, banks,
an assay office, established by the legislature in 1877, good public buildings
erected in 1882, two newspapers, the Tribune and Journal, and a general
condition of prosperity. It is situated in the midst of a mineral district,
centrally in relation to other districts, and the east and west portions of the
territory, and is the natural outlet of northern Colorado. The mineral paint
mine at Rawlins was discovered by John C. Dyer and others. It was
worked, but not profitably, owing to railroad rates. The Rawlins district
contains copper mines which assay 40 per cent of copper to the ton, with an
ounce of silver and traces of gold. The Ferris mineral district near Rawlins
was discovered by George Ferris, John C. Dyer, and others. The Medium Bow
Range contains several mining districts. Dexter district, 40 miles south of
Rawlins, Summit, Douglas, Centennial, and Bramel districts, are in this
range, and contain botli quartz and placer mines. Hanspeck gold placer
mines, 80 miles south of Rawlins, yiebl well to the hydraulic process. The
.Seminole district, 35 miles north of Rawlins, contains quartz, free milling,
yielding from §12 to !$.30 per ton.
Carljon is a coal mining town, where about 500 miners are employed.
Warm Springs is a settlement of 250 people in the Platte valley, and the
only agricultural town in the county. Large herds of cattle have been kept
on the ranges for stock-raising purposes, but there is a tendency to dairying
and farming, which will ultimately drive out the stock cattle, and result in
more compact settlement. The population of Carbon co. in 1883 was about
5,000, distributed upon farms, in railroad towns, and in the mines: and the
assessed valuation §3,662,368. The railway stations are Separation, Green-
ville, Fort Steele, Edson, Station House, Percy, Medicine Bow, and Aurora.
Taking into consideration the age of the territory, the wealth of this, the
third county in value, is worthy of remark. Its property had increased in
1886 to between $4,000,000 and §5,000,000. The history of the men who
founded the prosperity of the county is proper in this place.
James France, born in Pa in 1838, came to Wyoming in 1868, and opened
store under the firm name of H. C. Hall & Co. A branch store was estab-
lished at Rawlins in 1869, of which France took charge. He continued in
merchandising until 1884, when he engaged in banking, erecting a building
for that purpose. He was elected to the legislative council in 1874, and
was appointed territorial auditor by Gov. Hoyt, vice Downey, elected to con-
gress. He was appointed postmaster in 1871, retaining the office until 1885;
and was several times county commissioner, being chairman of the board
for three terms.
DewittC. Kelley, bom in Pa in 1850, came to Rawlins in the spring of
WYOMING. 789
Johnson county was organized out of the northern
1870, engaging as book-keeper for France, which situation he retained until
1882, when he was transferred to the James France bank, of which he was
made cashier. In Dec. 1882 he went into merchandising for himself. The
same year he was elected probate judge and county treasurer, and reelected
in 1884.
John C. Davis, born in Ireland and educated in England, came to Wyom-
ing in 1869, and was engaged in diflferent situations for 7 years, when he
went into mercantile business, managing the establishment of J. W. Hughes
for four years, and being made partner in 1880.
Barton T. Ryan, born in Ind. in 1838, and accompanied Gen. SuUy on
his march across Dakota to the Yellowstone, to intimidate the Sioux, and
being in the battle of Deerstand, where 15,000 Indians were opposed to
3,000 troops. In the fight 585 Indians were killed against a loss of a few
men killed and wounded on the side of the army. In 1870 he purchased an
interest in a lot of cattle shipped from Iowa to Carbon co., and engaged in
the business.
Isaac C. Miller, born in Denmark in 1844, came to Omaha in 1866, and
the following year to North Platte, merchandising at Bitter creek until 1870,
when he located himself at Rawlins. In 1871 he went to mining at Hahn's
peak, and in 1873 returned to Rawlins and engaged in cattle raising. He
was elected sheriflf in 1880, holding the office two terms.
Perry L. Smith, born in 111. in 1836, came to Rawlins in 1868, dealing in
icattle and keeping a meat market. He was appointed county commissioner
in 1869, and subsequently elected two terms, being chairman of the board
each term. In 1874 he was elected county clerk for two years, and in 1879
was elected to the council of the legislature, being reelected in 1881. He
was appointed territorial auditor in 1884.
Samuel Fairfield, born in New Hampshire in 1836, came to Lander in 1873,
and erected three saw-mills, one of which he sold to the government, remain-
ing in that region until 1880. He then moved to Rawlins, where he remained
three years, when he went to Garfield co., Colo, and with others located the
town of Meeker on land purchased of the government, and j)artly improved
for a military post.
Jolm C. Dyer, born in Washington, D. C, in 1845, came to Fort Bridger,
Sweetwater mines, and Cheyenne in 1867, where he engaged in merchandis-
ing, following the railroad west to Rawlins. He became interested in min-
ing, and was one of the discoverers of the Ferris district, George Ferris,
another of the company, discovering the first mine, which entitled him to
have the district named for him.
Robert M. Galljraith was born in England in 1844. He had charge of
the shops at Omaha, Laramie, or Benton, beginning when he was but 22
years of age, and havkig then 700 men under him. In 1870 he became inter-
ested in mines in the Seminole district. In 1882 he engaged in merchandis-
ing at Rawlins, selling out in 1884, and going into the stock business with
Blake, his cattle range being 30 miles south of Rawlins. He was elected to
the territorial council in 1882.
James V. Cantlin, born in 111. in 1848, went to western Neb, in 1868,
and thence to Rawlins in 1871. He was appointed postmaster at Ferris in
1877, and deputy sherifi' of Carbon co. in 1878, holding until 1884, under
James Rankin.
Homer Merrill, bcrn in Rochester, N. Y., in 1846, came to Wyoming in
1872, and was admitted to the practice of the law at Laramie<City, i-emoving
to RawUns in 1874. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Carbon co.
soon after, which office he held almost continuously for 10 years, and was
supervisor of census in 1880.
A. L. Mauk, born in Pa in 1846, of German and French parentage, came
to Rock Spring, Wyoming, in 1878.
William McCarty was horn in Irelaad ia 1837, and after some mining
790 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
portion of Carbon county in March 1881.'* It pos-
sessed at this period assessable property valued at
$1,259,981, which had increased in 1883 to $2,481,-
404, It contains a large amount of good land which
is being brought into a condition for farming by irri-
gating canals cut on the bench lands lying back of the
meadows along the numerous streams in the county.
Coal is abundant and of good quality. The county
seat is Buffalo, founded in 1879-80 by W. L. Andrews,
A. J. McCray," William H, Phillips, and Charles
Williams, on the south side of Clear creek. It is now
chiefly on the north side of the stream, and within a
short distance of Fort McKinney.'*
The town was incorporated in 1884, having at the
age of three years 500 inhabitants and a municipal
experiences in Colorado, became to Eureka, Nev., Cal., and Mont., returning
to Utah and Colo, and finally settling in Rawlins in 1S75. He accompanied
Gen. Crook in his expedition to the Powder river in 1876.
Frank A. Hinman, born in Iowa in 1857, and educated in Colo common
schools, engaged in placer mining in 1877 at Halm peak.
Benjaram F. Northington, born in Ky in 183:i, of English parentage,
was educated in Cal. His father erected the first grist-mill in Ky. In 1849
he went to Texas in the cattle business, and to Cal. through Mex. and Ariz,
in 1849, in a company commanded by David S. Terry, the first to take that
route and cross the Colorado near Yuma. In 1873 he settled in Raw-
lins, giving up mining, though be went to the Black hills in 1876. He was
elected sergt-at-arms of the bouse of representatives in 1875.
Charles E. Blydenburgh, A. B., A. M., and Em. was born in Brooklyn,
N. Y., in 1854, and came to Wyoming in 1878, locating himself at Rawlins,
with J. (x. Murphy, in the business of mining engineering. When the terri-
torial assay office was completed, according to an act of the legislature of
1877, the firm took charge of it.
'"J/ViM. Ghv. lloyt, 1882, p. 19. This county was first established under
the name of Pease in Dec. 1875, but was not to be organized until it should
have 50D electors residing within it. Comp. Law'i Wi/om., 1876, 198-201.
Owing to the obstinacy witli which the Sioux resisted white occupation, it
was not settled until after the Indians were placed on reservations under
renewed treaties. Its advance since 1877 has been rapid. It was finally
named Johnson, in honor of E. P. Johnson of Cheyenne. Johison Mvmoi-ial,
24.
" Alvin J. McCray, of Buffalo, Wyoming, was one of the first settlers.
He was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 18.'52. In the spring of 1876 he joined the
migration to the Black hills, locating himself at Deadwood, where he es-
tablished the first hotel.
'^Thc first actual permanent settler in the county was Elias N. Snider,
post-trader at Fort McKinney. Snider was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in
1842, and in 1877 was made post-trader of Fort McKinney, which appoint-
ment he resigned in 1870 to engage in stock raising and farming. Major B.
J. Hart was the first to locate land west of Snyder, and Hart's claim became
a part of Buffalo. When the county was organized he was elected probate
judge, and served one term. In 1882 he was elected to the lower house of
the legislature and reelected in 1884.
WYOMING.
791
Jf pi
,, * i ^ J 111 I
792 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
government.'* The citizens are intelligent and liberal,
supporting law, order, and education generously. It
has one newspaper, the Echo, founded by a company,
and first edited by T. V. McCandlish.'* In the mean-
time, stock-raising is the principal source of wealth,
there being a number of stock companies in the coun-
try, as well as individual owners." The military post
" The first mayor of BuflFalo was H. A. Bennett, born in Tenn. in 1854,
and removed in 1877 to Cheyenne, and thence to Rock creek, where he
engag d as clerk with G. 1). Thayer, and remained until 1881, when he
remov od to Powder river and went into business with Conrad, to whom he
sold out in 1882.
Another early settler was Richard Kennedy, who was born in N. Y., and
brought up in Iowa. In 1872 he drifted to Montana, mining near Helena,
prospecting on Clark fork in 1873, trapping in the Bighorn mountains, trad-
mg with the Crows, organizing a town site co. in 1877 and calling it after
Gen. Miles. Before it had obtained a good start a rival Miles city was
started two miles nearer the fort, which overshadowed his town.
Stephen T. Farwell assisted in forming the county organization, and was
a justice of the peace previously. He was elected probate judge and county
treasurer in 1884. Farwell was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1836.
Noel T. Wel)ber, another early settler, was born in N. Y. in 1822. In
1864 he joined the 3d Colo regt., Capt. Talbot's co., and served four months,
being at the battle of Sand creek. He has had a varied experience.
James M. Lobban, who was born in Miss., came to Fort McKinney in
1879, engaging as clerk to the post trader, J. H. Conrad, and remaining until
1882. Lobban was elected probate judge and county treasurer in 1882,
and member of the lower house of the legislature in 1884.
Frank M. Canton, a native of Va, born in 1854, removed to Colo in 1868,
with his father, who settled himself southwest of Denver. He soon went to
Montana, and engaged with William Jamison, who was in the stock busi-
ness, remaining until 1877, when he came to Cheyenne and went into the
service of the Wyoming Stock growers association, as a detective. He made
many arrests of horse and cattle thieves, and some worse criminals, estab-
lisliiiighis reputation for nerve and ability. In 1882 he was elected sheriff
of Johnson co., to which he had removed with his family in 1881.
i*Culleu Watt was born in Scotland in 1864, and educated in Canada.
In 1867 he came to Laramie river in Wyoming. When Fort McKinney was
building in 1878, he located a large tract of land 2^ miles east for a farm
and stock range.
Eugene B. Mather and George W. Munkers brought in the first consign-
ment of goods for Iloljert Foote of BufiFalo in 1882, consisting of 80,000
pounds. I have already mentioned Munkers. Mather was born in Pa in
1840, and in 1868 went to Butler co., Kan., and established the first saw-
mill in that region, 20 miles e. of Wichita, remaining there until 1873. In
1876 he went to Colo with his brother-in-law, Munkers, and thence to Buf-
falo, where both took up their residence. Mrs Mather is a daughter of
Justice Pomeroy of Uinta co., the first white settler of Fouteville.
'^ AVilliam J. Clarke, a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1859, and
educated at York, came to Wyoming in 1878. He remained there until 1881.
Clarke made his residence at BufiFalo.
Fred. G. S. Hesse, born in England in 1852, came to Wyoming in 1876
from Tex., where he had arrived 3 years previous.
Delos Babcock, born in Iowa in 1857, went to Colo in 1873. In 1878 he
came to Wyoming.
Charles H. Burritt, born in Vt in 1854, and educated iu Middlebury col-
WYOMING. 793
has assisted materially in opening up the frontier.
The legislature of 1879 passed an act to locate and
establish a territorial wagon road from Rawlins to
Fort McKinney, which being used by the military is
improved by the soldiers. The presence of a garrison
gives a feeling of security which settlers would lack,
surrounded as the territory is on the west, north, and
east by Indian reservations.
The second town in the county was Sheridan, sit-
uated where the Bozeman road crosses the middle
fork of Tongue river/^ Bighorn city, a few miles
south of Sheridan, on the same stream, is the third.
There are post-offices at Depot McKinney, Trabing,
and at Colo, all on the road to Montana
Albany county, with less area, has more population
than any county except Laramie. It comprises the
eastern portion of the Laramie river, the remainder
of its surface being broken and mountainous.^'
lege and at Brown university, E.. I., studied law in Detroit with Wm A.
Moore. He came to Cheyenne in 1879. In 1883, he settled at Buflfalo in
the practice of the law.
Chauncy Stoddard, born in Peru, N. Y., in 1829, came to Wyoming,
Johnson co., in 1879, an important cattle man.
John R. Smith was born in Ohio in 1844. In 1879 settled near Trading
P. 0. He was one of the commissioners appointed to organize the county,
and was treasurer of his school district.
i^ Sheridan was incorporated in 1884. Wyom. Sess. Laivs, 1884:, 129. Its
first mayor was John D. Loucks, who was born in N. Y. in 1845. With J.
M. Works, he settled in 1880 on Big Goose creek. He was appointed post-
master in 1882, was elected justice of the peace, and chosen on the school
board, which he was active in establishing. The first 40 acres of the town
were laid off in lots, and about four buildings erected; the 2d year there were
50 buildings, and every lot sold.
Henry Held, born in Bavaria in 1849, came to Cheyenne in 1868 and to
Sheridan m 1882.
Marion C. Harris, born in Ind. in 1856, came to Wyoming in 1883.
James B. Culver, born in N. Y. in 1857. In 1884 he came to Sheridan,
and engaged with J. W. Conrad & Co. .
1' Its resources are principally grazing and mining. It is especially rich
in iron, its Iron mountain yielding 85 per cent pure metal. Laramie City,
the county seat, has 4,000 inhabitants. The military post and reservation
of Fort Sanders adjoins it on the south. The Union Pacific railroad oper-
ates large rolling mills at this place, and in 1883 erected soda manufacturing
works. There are 2,000 inhabitants divided among a dozen railroad sta-
tions, and a number of ranches devoted chiefly to cattle-raising. The as-
sessed valuation of the county in 1883 was $2,833,515. Nathaniel K. Bos-
well discovered the soda lakes in 1869, and subsequently sold them to the
railway. He was then shipping 20 tons por week, at a profit of $7.50 per
ton. The railway men would only pay what the mine had cost; and when
794 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Laramie county was divided in 1877, and the north-
ern portion given the name of Crook. It remained
for some time unorganized, being very sparsely popu-
hited. On the western flanks of the Black hills, in
Boswell refused to sell, made the shipping rates so high as to take away his
profit, and compell hini to sell at their price, ^1*2,000, the property being
worth $2,000,000. The soda is from 2 to 21 feet tiiick, over alx)ut200 acres,
and forms as fast as it is removed. Boswell was born in N. H. in 1840, and in
1S67 removed, to Cheyenne and went into the drug business, having a branch
at Laramie, where he settled himself in 1868. He was sheriff 9 years, during
which time he made several arrests of noted desperadoes. See Cook's HamU
Up, 143. He has been also U. S. dept. marshal ever since 1869. Fort San-
ders took charge of the prisoners before a jail was erected, and had at one
period 37 convicts, 14 of whom were in for murder, and all arrested by Bos-
well. He was appointed chief of the Wyom. stock-growers' asso. in 1883,
and had from 30 to 50 subordinates, recovering stolen stock, and seeing that
branding was properly done. He stopped that kind of stealing when the
thieves turned their attention to horses, 300 of which were stolen in 1884.
Tiie tliieves were well organized, and had their stations extending from
Oregon to North park, where were their headquarters. In 1881 he engaged
in cattle-raising on the Laramie river, 30 miles s. w. of the town of Wyom-
ing, where he had 8 miles of river front.
The station of Sherman is the liighest point on the U. P. R. R., and haa
200 population. Tie Siding, Red Butte, Wyoming, Cooper Lake, Look-
out, Miser, Rock Creek, and Wilcox are on the road. Cummins City is on
tlie Laramie, North Park, and Pacific R. R., and has about 300 voters. It
is a mining town in the Bramel district, wliich is partly in this and partly in
Carbon co. Laramie City was incorporated in 1873, and reincorporated in
1884. ]Vyo7,i. Se.ss. Fmws, 1873, 201. Id., 1884, 84.
Among the foremost of the Albany co. men are tlie following: James H.
Hayford, born in Pottsdam, N. Y., in 1826, removed to Cheyenne in 1867,
and edited the Rocky Mountain Star for two years, when he came to Laramie
and purchased the Laramie Sentinel. He was appointed terr. auditor in
1 870. Mr Hayford has been active in forwarding every good undertaking
in his city and territory since their foundations were laid.
In regard to newspapers, Laramie has had several which did not long
survive. That peripatetic journal, the Frontier Index, belonging to the
erratic Freeman, was the first newspaper published in Laramie, the next
l)eiiig the Ddibj Sentinel, which, after running 2 years, was cliangcd to a
weekly. In 1879 the Times newspaper was first issued here. It came from
Salt lake originally, where it had been a Danish journal. It was moved to
Evanston, and thence to Laramie by C. W. Bramel and L. D. Pease. Pease
ran it about 2 years. In Marcli 1880 was organized the Booinerany PuhltJih-
intj Co., which issued the d. and w. Boomerang, E. W. Nye editor and man-
ager. The stock was held by H. Wagner, J. J. Strode, Jacob Blair, A. S.
Peabody, and others. The Tirnen was revived for a short time as the Mi«8-
in'j Link, and again as the Tribune. The Boomerang and the Sentinel also sur-
vived.
Robert Marsh, an Englishman, came to W^yomingin 1868. He was with the
railway co. for 11 years, in various capacities. He was elected mayor of Lara-
mie in 1880, through the city council, of which he was a member. He was on
the school board 7 years; vice-president of the board of trade several years;
and appointed by the county commissioners com'r on livestock brands many
years in succession, associated with S. F. Phillips. He thorougly identified
himself with the interests of Laramie and the county, and became one of
the largest owners in the Wyoming Central Land and Improvement com-
WYOMING. 795
the valleys of Sun Dance and Sand creeks there was
an agricultural district and settlements. The small
grains were found to do well, and experiment proved
that it was not necessary to irrigate in this region, the
pany, from which he himself purchased 50,000 acres. He married a daugh-
ter of George Harper, one of the earliest settlers in the county, and has sev-
eral children.
Mortimer N. Grant was bom at Lexington, Mo., in 1851, and came to
Wyoming in 1869 in the service of the gov't as surveyor, and surveyed in
every part of the territory.
Thomas Alsop, from Staffordshire, England, discovered the coal banks at
Carbon on the railroad, taking out in the winter of 1868, $128,000 worth of
coal, locating himself 8 miles above Laramie City on Laramie river. He was
elected county commissioner in 1875.
Robert E. Fitch, born in X. Y. in 1843, came to Laramie in 1872, and
took charge of the puljUc schools untU 1882.
Ora Haley, born in east Corinth, Me, in 1844, settled himself in Laramie
City in 1868, engaging in butchering with Charles Hunton. Haley was
elected to the lower house of the ter. legislature in 1871, and in 1881 to the
upper house; and was chosen a member of the city council in 1878-9 and
1880. He was highly esteemed in the community, and felt a just pride in
his success.
Charles E. Clay, born in Va in 1838, came to Fort Laramie in 1865. Li
1875 he removed to Cheyenne; in 1882 to Rock Creek. His brother, William
Clay, came to Wyoming in 1875, and established himself in cattle-raising on
the Chugwater.
John H. Douglas-Willan was born in Dublia in 1852, of Scotch parent-
age, and went to Li^rimer co. , Colo, in 1875 to engage in cattle-raising, but
removed in 1877 to Wyoming, locating himself on La Bonte creek in Albany
CO. Li 1883 he formed the Douglas- WiUan Sartoris co., of which he was
prest and manager.
J. E. Y'ates, bom in Canada in 1834, came to Colo, and enlisted in the 3d
Colorado regt in 1864, and was with Chi\-ington at Sand creek. Wlien
Cheyenne was founded he removed to this place, and assisted in establishing
7 he Leader newspaper. In 1870 he again removed to Laramie, taking a
position on the Sentinel, managed by J. H. Hayford. In May 1871 he en-
tered into partnership with Hayford, and purchased the Sentinel.
Michael H. Murphy, born in Pa in 1845, came to Laramie City in 1869,
and in 1875 was elected on the democratic ticket to a seat in the legislature.
John W. Blake, bom in Bridgeton, Me, came to Laramie iu 1874, stud-
ied law, and was admitted to jjractice in 1877. In 1884 he was elected to
the upper house of the legislature.
Charles W. Sj)alding, born in Marysville, Ky, in 1835, came to Laramie
in 1876, as one of her best citizens.
William Lawrence, born in Scotland, came to Laramie in 1876, engaged
in divers business ventures ^vith success.
Otto Gramm, born in Oliio in 1845, came to Laramie City in 1870. The
fire department of Laramie was organized by Gramm, aided by Wanless.
He was on the school boa: d which made the lirst pivrchase of lots for school
purposes. In 1878 he was appointed dept. fish commissioner under H. B.
Rumsey; was sec. of the board appointed by the legislature in 1882, and ap-
pointed ter. fish commissioner in 1884; one of the solid men of Laramie, and
a man of culture; was elected probate judge and county treasurer in 1884
for two years. In 1885 he was elected city treasurer.
WiUiam Crout, born in X. Y. in 1826, served in both the Mexican and
civil war, after which he was sent to the frontier, via Leavenworth and Fort
CoUins, escorting the mail from Denver to Salt Lake, where he was dis-
796 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
precipitation being sufficient for perfecting crops.
The farming lands were surrounded by uplands suita-
ble for grazing, and the mountains were covered with
pine and oak timber. The assessed valuation of
improved land, town lots, cattle, and horses, in 1877,
was $1,607,882, and of personal property $81,987.
Laramie county proper'* contained 6,800 square
miles, and a population of 9,000. Its assessed valua-
tion in 1883 was $7,345,055, more than two-thirds of
which was in personal property. The amount of
property represented by these figures, compared with
the population, makes Laramie one of the wealthiest
counties in this or any other territory."
Cheyenne, the county seat and capital of the terri-
tory, had a population in 1886 of about 7,000. It
was the centre of the stock interests of Wyoming, and
portions of Nebraska, Dakota, and Montana, and had
a large trade with miners, stockmen, freight contract-
ors, and with the military establishments of Camp
charged ia the spring of 18GG, and in 1883 engaged in stock-raising in Car-
bon CO., 60 miles due w. of Laramie.
Gustave Schnitger, born in Prussia in 1823, was in 1878 appointed U. S.
marshal of Wyoming, with headquarters at Cheyenne. In 1883 he removed
to Laramie. William R. Schnitger of Cheyenne, son of Gustave, was dep-
uty marshal under his father, and also city marshal of Cheyenne, by ap-
pointment and election.
'*By reference to U. S. Sen. Doc., 62, p. 99, vol. ii; 41 cong., 2 sess., it will
be seen that an attempt was made to have the name of Ogallala adopted in
place of Laramie.
"The average wealth of Colorado, a notably rich state, is over $500 per
capita, while the average wealth of Wyoming is neany $800. The usual av-
erage in agricultural counties is $200 to $300 per capita. Carbon county
averages over $700 per capita; Albany county $472; Sweetwater $984; and
Laramie over $800. It is noteworthy that the only one of these districts
which has no railroad property to assess sustains the highest rate of value to
the individv-al. Copper mining districts have been formed in Laramie
county at Platte Canon, Rawhide Buttes, Black Buttes, Sand Creek, and
Hurricane. At Silver Crown, an abandoned district, new and rich discov-
eries of copper were made in 1882. Tlie first smelting-works erected were
at Platte Canon, twelve miles west of Fort Laramie, in Dec. 1882 by the
Wyoming Copper company. There is a coal oil l)asin in Crook county, in
the vicinity of Jenny's stockade. Coal and salt are found in close proxim-
ity to the oil. Mica exists in the Laramie range, and a deposit twenty miles
north of Fort Laramie was sold to a New York company in 1882, which
began shipping it east. This body of coal was discovered by Cyrus Iba in
1880. Associated with Iba in the ownership were Johnson and Edward J.
Baker. Iba was born in Pa in 1830, and after busy and adventurous life,
came to Cheyenne in 1875, and thence procuedeil to the Black hills, where
lie made his coal discovery and his fortune.
WYOMING. 797
Carlin and Fort Russell. It covered an area of 1,500
acres was generally well built, and ornamented with
shade trees. It had one street, Ferguson, with more
handsome residences than any avenue in any town ot
equal population in the United States.
Sinnn- all in excellent taste, and showing the presence of abundant means.
^"eTe'seL of shade trees b largely d«e%o Dwrght ^ *, -h° -J mayor
S^fs^T. He brought trees ''''J^J^^^^llZt^l^'^-fsl^t^^^
Ele^carT^fngr ^^.^^Z frSgSt'Utractor for the govt ad
i^neyenne, *.<*iijfiug v/ prppted a house on Lodge role
:i^^'S.'^,%^^^^rJ^rn"l^T:..^^. of the city^couneil
mmmm
^"^SeToSiifusfalrArc-onrpleted in 187-2 cost W7,0M. It wa, u <,
-, , 1 1 !•„„ ™ 1^7*^ TVip citv hall, erected in lo/'l, cost ?>ii,uuw.
?h'e aTeune" So"se'1fa JSSem' Iproveuieut b.«ng erected in ^SSl
?S*»a.house was built of Y* -J* *- "Tf "sc Jtt i^ S pf
S thf cSreS^^lf of-f f S^s&d de^caied Se^t.
23d. A brick parsonage was added; total cost S6 000. a wooden
consecrated to worship m ^^^^ city, x organized in the spring
dedicated Dec. 19th; -st So,OOO.^e l;t P -^^/^^. gg^soO, was built,
with9members Feb 1 1S70. Achurcn^ church was erected, costing
and dedicated July 17, 1870. In Ifg^^^^^.^^/i;^^^^^^^ at a cost of §8,000.
$15 500. A church was erected m 1881 by the baptists, au
The colored methodists had their house of joj^mp arrangement
The county hospital, of brick and wood cost §21,00U. its arr g
for the comfort of the inmates isjery complete ^ 1 instituted
Tliere were, in 1886, three odd fellow l°/g^^'„J?^^y^7All° mania No. 5
April 15, 1868, Hope No. 2, instituted Aug 30, f^l, AUemama
(Overman), instituted Jan. 1, 1883. T^^^" ^^ f ^^^^^a peb. 29^^ 1^ Wyo-
^g r CmS l5!T873?'w^^L^^ltar\cX£i? 13, 1879. member-
798 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
The stations along the railroad have scanty
resources and small populations, a condition which
ship 24, Aug. 18, 1880. N. Mcr. Proceedhujs Gr. Lal'je, 1879, p. 93. The
Knights of Tytliias, Cheyenne lodge No. 2, organized Jan. 9, 1875.
Cheyenne fire department organized a.s follows: Pioneer H. and L. co. in
1867. Its building and apparatus cost $4,500. The Alert Hose co., organ-
ized in Oct. 1877; Duilding and apparatus, $3,000. The Durant steam fire-
engine CO. organized in 18G8; apparatus cost §10,000. The J. T. Clark hose
CO. organized in 1879. Water came from Lake ^Iallpahlutah, 1 J miles north.
The city is lighted l)y electricity, being the first town in the world to use
electric lights before gas.
The Wyoming Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters, founded in 1882,
and located at Cheyenne, is an exponent of the progressive tendencies of
the people. The territorial library, at Cheyenne, in 1886 contained over
11,000 vols.
The manufactures of Cheyenne are chiefly those connected with the rail-
road car and macliine shops, the manufacture of wagons and harness, some
small boot and shoe factories, 2 breweries, a planing mill, and foundry and
machine works. The most interesting industry pursued here is that of
making jewelry out of native metals and gems.
The first of four banks established was the First National, by A. R. Con-
verse, in 1871, with a paid up capital of $75,0L)0, which has beea increased
to $200,000, with a surplus of $50,000. Mr Converse died in the summer of
1883, when T. B. Hicks succeeded to the presidency. The bank of Morton
E. Post & Co. -was established in 1876 by Stebbins, Post & Co. Stebbina
retired in 1883. The Stockgrowers' National bank began business in 1882,
its organizers being J. M. Carey, Thomas Sturgis (president), H. G. Hay,
and W. C. Lane. Its paid up capital in 1883 was $447,000. The banking
house of A. T. Kent is also a savings deposit bank. In 1868 Mowry A.
Arnold opened the first savings bank in Wyoming, which continued only
until 1873.
Cheyenne had in 1886 three newspapers: The Cheyenne Leader waa started
in July 1867 by Nathan A. Baker and J. E. Gates. Baker sold in April
1872 to H. Glafeke, who owned it until Oct. 1881, when it was sold to the
Leader Printing co., composed of Morton E. Post, A. H. Swan, G. L. Hall,
J. W. Collins, J. C. Baird, E. A. Reed, Frank H. Clark, and H. B. Kelly.
Before the year was out, the company sold to W^. C. Irvine, and he again to
Morrow & Sullivan. Soon after it was owned by Morrow alone, and in
1884 it passed into the hands of the Democratic Leader co., composed of W.
C. Irvine, J. C. Baird, N. N. Craig, John F. Coad, Fred. Schwartze, Luke
Murrin, David Miller, Thomas Mulqueen, Charles F. Miller, Luke Voorhies,
C. P. Organ, and others. The democrats needed a newspaper for campaign
purposes, and the republicans allowed them to get it.
The Cheyenne Sun was originally the Daily Ne^vx, started by Benton and
Fisher in 1875, and had run al)out half a year when it was purchased by A.
E. Slack, and its name changed to Tlie Sun. Slack started the Independent
at Laramie, a daily, changing its name to The Sun, and conferring the name
on the Neu's, as above. Slack was born in N. Y. He served in the civil
war, and came to Wyoming in 1868, mining for a time at South pass, and
running a saw-mill, which furnished lumber to the military posts, until 1871,
when lie went to Laramie, and engaged in newspaper business. He became
sole proprietor of the Sun.
The Nor Uare-sf Live-stock Journal, devoted entirely to stock interests, was
owned and controlled by A. S. Mercer, who, with S. A. Mamey, started it
in 1883. I have had occasion to mention Mercer in my Hi.<<tory of Washin(jton,
216, this series, in connection with the territorial university. He was bom
in 111. in 1839, and went to Washington ter. as a surveyor for the govt in
1861. The following year he took charge of the infant university. In 1863
he was appointed com'r of immigration, and proceeded east on this business.
WYOMING. 799
must exist so long as grazing without agriculture con-
tinues to be the bias of the people. A movement was
He brought back with him ia 1864 a number of women who were competent
teachers, but who soon married. In 1865 he returned to New England, and
brought out a shipload of 300 women, who also soon settled in homes of their
own. He erected the first grain wharf at Astoria in 1866, and originated
the project of shipping direct to the east by sailing vessels. He sent the
first cargo of wheat from Oregon to Liverpool, assisted by a pool of farmers.
In 1874 he started the Oregon Granrjer at Albany, but soon went to Texas,
and started the Sherman Courier, and no less than 5 other newspapers at dif-
ferent points in Tex. before coming to Cheyenne, in 1883.
The Wyoming Tribune was started Nov. 20, 1869, by Edward M. Lee,
Samuel A. Bristol editor. It suspended in Sept. 1872. Bristol was born in
Conn, in 1841, migrated to Colo in 1867, and to Cheyenne in 1869. The first
exclusively job printing office and book bindery in Wyoming was started in
May 1882 by Bristol and John J. Knopf, the latter soon selling out to Wil-
liam M. Knabe. BristoVs Newspaper Press, MS., is a history of these
journals.
Of other publications which had but a brief existence at Cheyenne was
the Star, started by O. T. B. Williams in 1867, which ran for about 1 year.
The Argus, a democratic newspaper, started ia 1867 by L. L. Bedell, and
suspended in 1869. It was resuscitated by Stanton and E,ichardson, prac-
tical printers, but only ran a few weeks. The Cheyenne Gazette, established
by Webster, Johnson, and Garrett in 1876, only ran a few mouths, and was
removed to the Black hills. It came originally from Plattsmouth, Neb., to
Laramie City, where it was called the Chronicle, the name it bore at Platts-
mouth. Directories of Cheyenne and Laramie were published about 1873 by
J. H. Triggs. A. R. Johnson and T. N. Tuthill published a Cheyenne Direc-
tory in 1883, from which I have made some quotations. For other notes
about Cheyenne, I have consulted Wyoming Territorial Affairs. MS., consist-
ing of selected extracts from the Clieyenne Sun, 1875; Slaughter, Life in Colo
and Wyom., MS.; Wyominy Indians and Settlers, MS., consisting of selected
extracts on the subject indicated, taken from the Cheyenne Sun, 1876, and
containing a pretty full history of the Bighorn and Black hills expeditions;
Wyoming Miscellany, MS., consisting of selected extracts ivom the Cheyenne
Weekly Tribune, 1869-70; Boettcher, Flush Times of Colorado, MS., I; Bowks,
TIi£ Sivitzerland of America, 16-17; Graff, ' Graybeard,' Colorado, 27; Strahorn,
Hand-book of Wyom., 142-5; Hayden, Great West, 204-8; CcrrleU, Fmndiny of
Cheyenne, MS.; Ingersoll, Knocking Arowul the Rockies, 31; Rept Gorv. Wyorn.,
1881, and 1883, and many private dictations.
There were few towns in Laramie county. Hartville, Fairbank, and
Millersburg, on the North Platte river, are camps belonging to the copper
mines. Chugwater is a road station at the south end of the timber region.
Hat Creek is a post-office merely. There are a great number of ranchos,
and the land is largely occupied and owned by cattle raisers. F. B. Haight
lives at Chugwater, and John Storrie at Hat Creek. The amount of land
surveyed, in 1882, in Wyoming was 412,270.91 acres; sold, 58,307.25 acres.
In 1883 there were 1,216,611.03 acres surveyed, and 187,488.65 acres sold.
In Laramie and Johnson counties there were incorporated in 1882-3 seven-
teen irrigating canals, tunnels, and ditches.
Horace A. Roy, born in la in 1857, iu 1881 came to Cheyenne as surveyor.
He ran the 11th auxiliary meridian 172 miles, from Latham north to Beaver
creek, and the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th standard parallels, subdividing and
sectionizing this area, under the contract of C. W. Brown. In 1884 he was
elected surveyor of Laramie co., in which he ran nearly 2,000 miles of lines,
including the irrigating ditches of the lone Land company and the Union
Cattle company.
Among the leading residents of Cheyenne, most of them at some time
stock-raisers, are: J. M. Carey, who first engaged in the business in 1871
800 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
made in the direction of agriculture by the Wyoming
Development company of Cheyenne, which, in 1883,
with his brother. He drove Texas cattle into the country, and improved
them.
One of the first to engage in stock-raising was E. W. \\liitcomb, born in
Oxford, Mass, who came to Wyoming in 1857, freighting for Johnson's army
en route to Salt lake. In the spring of 18G8 he went to the north Platte.
He made a business of stock-raising, including sheep.
Another early stock-raiser was H. B. Kelly, born in Mo. in 1834. He
was elected to the ter. council in 1875. The following year he burnt a kiln
of brick, and erected a house on the Chugwater, where he remained until
1880, when he sold a herd on that range to the Swan Land and Cattle co. for
§105,000, and put another herd on tlie north Crazy Woman creek of Powder
river, which he sold soon after for §100,000, and turned his attention to rais-
ing high grade bulls. He was elected county commissioner in 1881, and
reelected 1884.
John Hunton, born in Va in 1839, came to Wyoming in 1867. In 1884
he incorporated his stock as the John Hunton Cattle company.
John W. Snyder, born in Wis. in 1837, after a life of vicissitudes, with
his brother drove from Texas 3,300 stock cattle to Nebraska, and sold them
to Edward Creighton at Omaha. In 1S7G tlicy came to Cheyenne.
A. C. Snyder, a native of Pa, came to Cheyenne in 1869. He engaged
in stock business on the Chugwater.
Mowry A. Arnold is of the Rhode Island family which settled in that
state in 1635; migrated to Colo in 1865, and mined and taught school at Cen-
tral. In 1867 he came to Cheyenne and taught. His wife was elected supt
of public schools of Laramie co. in 1871, holding the ofl&ce two years.
Charles F. Cofifee born in Mo. in 1847; in 1871 he moved to Cheyenne
from Texas, and raised high grade cattle and horses.
A. H. Swan came to Wyoming in 1872, and in 1874 was joined by his
brother, Thomas Swan, and they were in time among the largest ownera
north of Texas. Among their first investments was the purchase of John
Sparks' herd on the Chugwater. They invested heavily with a Scotch
syndicate under the name of Swan Brothers' Land and Cattle co., and con-
trolled 200,000 head. They purchased a large herd of A. R. Converse in
1884, and made other purchases in the territory without moving the cattle,
and had between 40 and 50 ranches.
George T. Morgan, an Englishmen, came to Wyoming in 1876 to look
about with the view of introducing choice English stock. In 1878 he came
again in cliarge of a consignment of Hereford bulls to A. H. Swan, the first
introduced into Wyoming, and cost if 10,000 to import. In 1883 and 1884
they imported 500 head of tlioroughbred cattle. The Swan brothers, with
Morgan for manager, established the Wyoming Hereford association, the
largest and finest blooded breeding farm in the world, consisting of 40,000
acres under fence, with good buildings, windmills for lifting water, and
other improvements.
Hiram S. Manville, born in Mass in 1829, came to Wyoming in 1879. About
1881 A. R. Converse combined with him, forming the Converse Cattle com-
pany, with a capital of $500,000. The officers of the company were: A. R.
Co ■ ■ ■ ' ■• - -
ur^
were trustees.
Samuel Haas, a native of Pa, is a very prominent cattle man of Lara-
mie CO.
A. T. Babbitt, member of the executive committee of the stock growers'
association, came to Cheyenne in 1878. In 1881 he organized the Standard
Cattle CO., consisting of A. T. Babbitt of Ohio, George R. Blanchard of
New York, and R. M. Alley of Boston, of which Babbitt was manager.
Babbitt is the author of the comprehensive Jieport on the Qrauiuj Interest and
urer
verse, prest; W. C. Irvine, vice-prest; James S. Peck, sec. and treas-
•; H. S. Manville, gen. manager; and Judge A. C. May, all of whom
WYOMING. 801
was organized for the purpose of irrigating a tract
of 60,000 acres lying southeast of Big Laramie river,
and eighty miles northwest of Cheyenne in Laramie
county. This land is considered as among the fin-
est in the territory for agricultural purposes. The
soil is deep, some of it being of a clay formation, but
the greater portion consisting of a rich sandy loam,
well adapted to irrigation. Its fertility has already
been demonstrated by the raising thereon of a succes-
sion of valuable crops. ^^
Beef Supply, 1884. He organized in 1882 the Wyoming Copper co., whose
works are located at Fairbanks, 100 miles n. of Cheyenne, in which was in-
vested $200,000, and which produced in 1883, 100,000 pounds of copper
bullion.
Harry Olerichs, born in Baltimore in 1854 came to Cheyenne in 1878; en-
gaged successfully in the cattle business. He was elected to the lower house
of the legislature in 1880, and was talked of for governor when Hale de-
ceased.
H. E. Teschmacher was born in Mass in 1856; came to Wyoming in 1879.
In 1885 he owned, with his brother, Arthur, 6 ranchos and a residence in
Cheyenne. He served in the territorial legislature in both houses. His
father, H. F. Teschmacher, came to Cal. in 1842, and was alcalde of San
Francisco.
Thomas W. Peters, born in Philadelphia, came to Wyoming in 1879; is a
wealthy and influential citizen, being a successful cattle raiser.
T. B. Hord, born in Ohio in 1850, came to Wyoming in 1880 to engage in
stockraising, and invested judiciously.
John Chase, born in N. Y. in 1842, migrated to Atchison, Kan., in 1863,
and from there to Denver the same year. The party for Colo consisted of
Gen. Bela M. Hughes, William R. Ford, and Thomas Stevens. He remained
in Denver 10 years in the banking business. From Denver he came to Chey-
enne in 1873, where he kept the Inter-Ocean hotel, the first in the world to
be lighted with an electric lamp in every room.
C. A. Campbell, born in lower Canada in 1850, came to Colo in 1871. In
1876 he went to Cliicago. In 1880 he returned west, settling at Cheyenne,
and engaging in stock-raising.
Charles Hecht was born in Germany in 1842. During the civil war he was
agent for purchasing horses for the govt. In 1866 he went to Colo. In his
experience he had many skirmishes with Indians. He now owns several
ranges stocked with blooded horses and cattle.
C. S. Morgan was appointed territorial secretary in 1880, and reap-
pointed in 1884. During most of this period he was acting-governor of
Wyoming. Having selected Cheyenne for his home, he is doubly interested
in the development of the country. Morgan is from Pa, and was a member of
the legislature of that state for 5 years before his appointment to Wyoming.
Deane Monahan, born in Ireland in 1836, came to the U. S. in 1848,
joined the army, and served until 1884, when he was honorably retired on
account of injuries received by his horse falling with him on the ice. He was
with Crook in his Bighorn expedition in 1876.
E. R. Hurd, born in England in 1852, came to Cheyenne in 1876; is a
successful contractor and builder.
21 In order to bring water upon this tract it was necessary to tunnel 3,000
feet through a mountain, and to conduct the water of the Laramie river into
Hist. Nev. 51
802 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Blue Grass creek, thence into Sabille, and from the .atter stream into a
canal, the whole cUstance being 8() nulus, more than half of which was dug
out. Two hundred miles of lateral ditches were re(juireil to irrigate the
tract. Nearly iialf a million dollars was expended in con)pleting the work,
which was finished in ISSG. It is estimated that the tract thus reclaimed
will support a farming population of 3,750, and cause tiie building of a town
of 2,000 inliabitants. The elevation of tliis tract is from 4,500 to 5,000 feet,
and consequently its climate will not interfere with the raising of anj' farm
products that can be matured anywhere in the neighboring states and terri-
tories. The founders of this enterprise were J. M. Carey, il. C. Plunkett,
Thomas Sturgis, M. E. Post, A. Gilchrist, W. C. Irvine, and AV. P. Max-
well. Another land company was organized in 1884 under the name of
Wyoming Central Land and Improvement company, theol<ject of which M'as
to acquire agricultural, mineral, grazing, and timbered lands and railroad
lauds, and to sell, lease, or develop them at pleasure; to engage in stock-
growing or mining, or to cultivate by irrigating and farming any portion of
them suited to agriculture.
Andrew Gilchrist, general manager of the W. D. co., was born in Ayr-
shire, Scotland, in 1841; came to Wyoming and engaged in the cattle busi-
ness, having several ranches, and meeting with much success.
The advancement making in the farming interest is further illustrated by
the enterprise of Thomas W. Rutledge and Benjamin Hellman, who in
188.3 dug ditches l>y which 10,000 acres, 42 nules north-west of Cheyenne,
were reclaimed. In 1885 the whole tract was fenced with wire, and half of
it well irrigated and cultivated. Their principal ditch was 27 miles in
length, 20 feet wide at the mouth, and G feet at the lower end. On tlie irri-
gated land tliey raised two and a half tons of hay per acre, oats weighing
52 pounds to the bushel, and wheat which averaged 47 bushels per acre. One
potato havijig 22 eyes produced 22 hills of potatoes.
Rutledge was born in Canada in 1828. He migrated to Denver in 1865,
and to Cheyenne in 18G7.
The future of the country, whether devoted to farming or grazing, de-
pends largely upon irrigation, altliough it is almost universally conceded
that since settlement began, there has Ijeen a cliange in the climate and a
greater rainfall. In 1889 over 5,000 miles of canal had lieen constructed,
whereljy some 2,000,003 acres had l)een reclaimed, and it was estimated that
4,000,000 additional acres could be placed under cultivation. The legislature
of 187.3 asked for tiie aid of congress in irrigating arid lands, and congress, as I
have before mentioned, has legislated on the subject of artesian wells in the
territories. The territorial laws also deal with the subject of irrigation, each
county being authorized to appropriate .$3,500 for the purpose of sinking arte-
sian wells at the county seats, or at any town where there is a voting popula-
tion of 400 or more. The legislature of 1879 protested by memorial to C(mgres8
against tlie great cattle companies fencing streams of water away from the
public, where they liad no title to tlie lands enclosed, or only a portion. So
difficult is it to coml)at a reputation established, however falsely, that no
effort was made in the first ten years of the history of the territory to in-
troduce farming anywhere except in a few small and comparj^tively low val-
leys. Tiie census of 1880 contained a most discouraging report, the number
of acres given as improved being less than 2,000, and tlie number of bushels
of wheat raised in 1879 less than 5,000. Tiiis was increased to 25,000 in
1882, which was good evidence of wiiat the country could produce should
farming be undertaken in earnest. Tlie oat crop for 1882 was 47,000 bush-
els. The value of tliese crops was $53,. ")00. The potato crop amounted to
85,000 liushels, wortli .$94,050. Tlie farmers of Wind river valley alone
raised 48,329 bushels of grain. It must be remembered that the agricul-
tural or land improvement companies had not then got their land under cul-
tivation, and that the increase in production would l)e rapid after they were
colonized or settled. The amount of cultivable land in the territory was
estimated in 1884 to be not less than 8,000,000 acres, and the productions
WYOMING. 803
-which might be considnred as sure, were wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, roots
generally, garden vegetables, and all the hardier fruits. There were raised
1,000,000 bushels of oats in 1887.
The per cent of persons engaged in farming in Wyoming in 1882 was 18,
and the value for the year of farm products per capita of those engaged was
§227.21. This is a low figure compared with California or Nevada, only
about half that of Oregon; about two-thirds that of Colo; equal to that of
Utah; and greater than that of New Mexico, Dakota, or Arizona. The locust
and the grasshopper, these pests of all dry and most open countries, make
periodical visits to Wyoming, but as the farmers learn how to entrap them,
become less formidable. From all these facts it -nill be seen that the^ set-
tlers of the future will have a choice between agriculture and grazing. Worse
things might happen to Wj'oming than to be altogether a cattle country,
provided the land and the herds should be divided up, as in time they must
be. Beef-making and dairj'ing, added to farming, however, would secure
the greatest amount of profit and permanent wealth, A large number of
well-to-do men are worth more to the state than a few extraorcUiiarily rich
ones. Few phenomenal things in society have a continued existence. In
the past large profits were made by buj-ing cheap cattle, fattening them, and
selling them for double the amount given. This profit decreases with the
increase of cattle buying, which raises the price of the cheap cattle, but not
of the beef cattle. The annual loss of from three to five per cent is interest
paid on the capital invested to that amount. As the country settles up, the
large herds will become unwieldy, and the owners glad to sell, because they
will not have room for them on their own land, and the government is bound
to protect the settler rather than the tenant. There is always the danger
that the native grasses, which could not be excelled for the stock interest,
may be crowded out by seed introduced by the breaking of the soil, even by
the roads, in which case a change would occur in the cattle-raising; and
whereas now from ten to fifteen acres a head are necessary, more land would
be required; and whereas now a steer can be raised in a large herd for one
dollar, and in a small herd for four or five dollars, it will then cost double,
and be profitable enough at that.
The number of cattle in Wyoming in 1884 was 1,151,900, and the capital
invested in the business, without the land purchased, was estimated at
§100,000,000. Although a superior horse-raising climate, on account of the
lung power imparted by the altitude and dry air, and notwithstanding horses
take care of themselves by pawirg through the snow when cattle are not
able, the investment in this class of stock has been only about one twentieth
that put into horned stock. There were in the territory in 1885 about
500,000 head of sheep, valued at something over a million and a half, making
a total invested in stock of §106,500,000. To protect such an amount of
movable property from loss by theft, accident, and disease is the object of
the Wyoming Stockgrowers' association, an organization which has admitted
members from Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Texas, and some of
the states east of the Missouri river to its benefits. It establishes, besides,
by special legislation, the laws which govern the stock interest. It employs
a police force, Mith the best detective talent ui the country, and constitutes
a power from which it is difficult for ofl"enders against the laws to escape.
The inspection of cattle is an important part of the association's labor. In
1883 there were 189,838 inspected at points of shipping, and 100,000 on the
ranges. Over 1,000 estrays were found, and their value returned to their
owners. Over 600 were killed by the railroad, for which the law requires
payment. The saving effected by the association is considerable, to say
nothing of the greater security from contagion which this vigilance secures.
The mineral resources of Wyoming are yet undeveloped. Copper, as I
have already stated, has been actually smelted at Fairbank, in Laramie
county. It occurs in Silver Crown district, twenty -two miles west of Chey-
enne, on Rawhide creek, on the Platte river west of Fort Larnmie, near
Rawlins, near Laramie peak, near Inya Kara, in Crook county, in the south-
S04 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPxMENT.
east slope of the Wind river mountains, in Uinta county, anJ near the Colo-
rado line in Carbon county. This pretty general dissemination of copper
ores seems to promise that it will become in the future a leading industry.
The oil-basius before referred to are two of them in Fremont county, two
in Carbon county, one in Crook county, one on the border between Carbon
and Johnson counties, and one in Uinta county, near Aspen and Milliard.
This product is regarded as of great value to the territory, but as yet has
not been more tliau simply tested for its quality, although several companies
have been formed to sink wells. Soda and mica are the only other mineral
products Iteing worked. A mine of pure graphite was discovered near Lara-
mie in 1887. The railway company erected furnaces at the soda lakes in
Albany county in 1883. This deposit is a sulphate, and is several feet in
tliickness, over an area of tifty-six acres. There are several lakes of tlie bi-
carbonate of soda near Independence rock, in Carbon county, aggregating
4G0 acres. It has been tested for glass-making, and found to be superior for
that purpose. Glass works have been erected in Laramie and Cheyenne.
One mica mine has been opened in Laramie county. Iron, fire-clay, natural
soap, gypsum, and building stone are abundant but neglected resources.
VVyoming has not yet established a reputation as a gold and silver mining
territory, notwithstanding the incorporation of various companies whose
purpose was to work certain mines in certain districts. A small amount of
gold has been annually extracted from the Sweetwater mines ever since
1868, but the amount has been diminishing rather than increasing, if we
may believe the reports, official and otherwise. In 1879 the product was over
$23,000, and but $5,000 in 1882. This report, however, takes no account of
the recently discovered mining districts, applying only to Sweetwater.
Manufactures have almost no existence beyond those operated by the railroad,
and half a dozen breweries. The raw material still awaits the apphcation
of capital to its development.
The animal food supply of the territory has been increased by the good
offices of the board of U. S. fish commissioners, for which the laws of Wyo-
ming provided in addition to the national commission. The distribution for
1885 was 50,000 whitetish in each of the following streams and lakes: Bear
river, Green river, the lakes north of Rawlins, Lake Creighton, and in Lake
Mapalutah in Laramie county. In Lake Minneliaha, the same county. Lake
Hattie in Albany county, the lakes north of Rawlins, in Green river and
Bear river 40,000 lake trout each. In the streams about Evanston, 25,000
brook trout; in the streams about Rawlins, 30,000 brook trout, and in the
Laramie county streams 25,000 of the same. The legislature in 1886 appro-
priated 2,000 for a hatchery, which was not erected because congress failed
to give a title to the land on which the improvements were to be made, since
wliich 40 acres have been secured for the purpose. At the U. S. hatchery,
750,000 trout and whitefish were produced in 1886. The wild game of the
territory is protected by law, and also by an association of citizens, who have
voluntarily assumed the duties of guardians of the few herds of buflFalo left
on the plains, and the elk and deer of the hills, to prevent their being
slaughtered merely for the peltries.
The want of Wyoming, after the settlement of the Indian troubles, was
railroads. These it did not get for some time, except the Union Pacific,
which merely crossed tlie territory at its least productive latitude, and the
branch to Denver, wliich was of little value to tlie business of Wyoming.
Cattle, wool, and coal were all that was to lie exported over either, while
everything used in the industries of the territory, or that was consumed by
the people, with the exception of meat and a small proportion of their bread
and vegetables, was imported at a high rate of transportation. The con-
struction of the Oregon Sliort Line railway was a partial relief to the most
western division. The Central Pacific of Wyoming, owned by the Chicago
and Northwestern, was a benefit to the central and eastern divisions. But
there was still the whole country between that road and the Yellowstone
WYOMING. tOo
river in Montana dependent entirely upon wagon transportation. The
Cheyenne and Northern was completed 120 mUes to Douglas in 1888,
thereby securing $400,000 from Laramie county to the Union Pacific, it.s
owner. The Chicago and Northwestern in 1887 extended its line from
Douglas— old Fort Fetterman — west to Fort Caspar, 60 miles, with the evi-
dent intention of continuing westward to meet the Oregon Pacific. Rival
roads soon entered the field, the Burlington and Missouri running its main
line from Broken Bow in Nebraska to Fort Laramie; a branch from southern
Nebraska to Cheyenne; and another branch from the main line in northern
Nebraska to the Black hills and northeastern Wyoming. The projected
Laramie and Denver Short line was strongly urged about this time. Indeed,
it cannot be long before railroads will penetrate all the valleys of Wj'oming,
climbing the intervening ranges as do the Colorado lines, and extending
northward and westward to British Columbia and the Pacific ocean. Where
they lead, immigration will follow.
The formation of a new land district in 1887 was indicative of the drift
of population, embracing as it did Johnson and Crook counties. In the
eastern portion of the new county of Converse 300 settlers began farming in
1887-8. For the first time flouring-mills were erected. A flouring mill was
erected at Buffalo, in Johnson co. , one west of Buffalo, a third at Sheridan,
in the new county of Sheridan, and a fourth at Laramie, which went into
operation in 1888. The first woollen mill was erected at Laramie 1887. In the
upper Platte valley there were 2,000 persons living upon farms, and 500,000
acres were sown to grain in 1888. This change would have come in time,
but it was hastened by the check which was given to stock-raising by a suc-
cession of severe winters, making it necessary to confine herds within limits
where they could be sheltered and fed. This could not be conveniently
done where the numbers were very great, the natural food supply becoming
soon exhausted. Men naturally reflected that while a few became wealthy
quickly under the former system, by resorting to farming a greater number
would become comfortably well off, the cattle would be divided among them,
population would increase, taxes diminish, and that men were of greater
value to the country than herds of wild cattle.
Cheyenne and Laramie each maintained a board of trade, which published
information calculated to attract the capitalist or the home-seeker. I am,
myself, indebted to them for various interesting facts of importance in
history.
Among those who have assisted to build up the state are the following:
Allen Thompson, born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1849, entered the union army in
1861, and served through the war. He came to Fort Laramie in 1867, and
in 1869 to Cheyenne.
Charles W. Riner, born in Ohio in 1854, went to Colo for his health in
] 869, and settled himself in Cheyenne in 1870. He was elected to the lower
house of the legislature in 1882, and to the city council in 1884.
W. P. Carroll came to Cheyenne in 1873, and was associated with W. W.
Corlett in the practice of law. He was elected county attorney in 1874-7,
and afterwards city attorney. He was appointed supreme court reporter in
1880, which office he retained for several years.
E. F. Stable, born in San Francisco in 18S0, in 1881 was appointed dept
U. S. surveyor for the dist of Wyoming, and for 4 years was engaged in
Cheyenne.
Charles F. Miller came to Cheyenne in 1867. In Jan. 1877 he was elected
probate judge, and reelected in 1879. He has an interest in the Union Mer-
cantile CO. of Cheyenne, and was the projector of the gas co.
Walter S. Hurlbut, born in Mo. in 1840, migrated to Colo in 1862, and
to Idaho in 1863. In 1884 he was appointed receiver in theU. S. land office.
Will R. Swan, a native of Ohio, came to Wyoming, and engaged in
plumbing and gas-fitting, having branch establishments in different parts of
the territory and in Iowa. Being a natural mechanic, he became interested
800 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
in this trade, personally superintending the setting up of engines and steam
boilers.
James E. Tuttle, born in New Jersey in 1832, came in 1859 to Colo. He
was elected treasurer of Park co. in 1862, and again in 1864. In 1866 he
went to Denver, and in 1871 to Cheyenne.
E. Nagle, born in Ohio in 183.3, came in 1868 to Cheyenne. He was ap-
pointed penitentiary comm'r in 1881, being chairman of the board. He was
elected county comm'r in 1876, and was tendered the nomination as delegate
on the republican ticket in 1881.
Samuel Augliey, naturalist, born in Pa in 1832, found in his botanical
researches in Wyoming 72 tlitferent species of grass, Mhich he believed might
be doubled. The govt published for him Notes on the Nature of the Fooii of
the Birds of Nelirnska, and otiier works of the same class. He was appointed
territorial geologist of Wyoming by (iov. Hale in 1883.
A. J. flray, born in Mass. in 1837, was with Gen. Miles in his campaign
against the plains Indians in 1871; was in military service 19i years. He
was a member of the Mass. Medical society, and vice-prest of the Wyoming
Academy of Science, etc., of whicli he has been general secretary.
W. W. Crook, born in Ky in 1836, came from Kansas to Wyoming in
1875, remaining 2 years at Laramie City, then removing to Cheyenne.
Orin C. Waid, born in Ohio in 1845, went to N. Mex. in 1864, and thence
to Wyoming in 1867. He states that in 1886 there were but three men in
the ler. who were alone in the cattle business, namely, Cliarles Hecht,
Charles Coffin, and himself, the others being in companies.
A. H. Reel, born in Jacksonville, 111., in 1837, came to Colo in 1860. In
1869 he was elected a member of the citj' council on the democratic ticket,
which office he filled until 1871, being again elected in 1878 for three years.
He was elected to the lower house of the legislature in 1875, to the upper
house in 1877, and reelected in 1882. He was one of the originators of the
Stockgrowers' association, of the city water works, and one of the incor-
porators of the gas company. In 1885 he was chosen mayor of Cheyenne,
He wag married in Denver in 1879.
INDEX.
Note. — For names, as of pioneers, officials, etc., in addition to alphabetical
list, see also under heading of ' Names. '
A
Adams, Gov. Alva, biog. of, 634;
election of, 1886, 647.
Adam?, Lt-gov. J. W., election of,
192, biog. of, 321.
Adams, Samuel, biog. of, 508.
Agriculture, great basin, 21-3; Ne-
vada, 1852, 73, 244-5, 262-3, 266-7,
270, 275; White Pine cc, 279-80;
Eureka CO., 284; Colorado, soil, etc.,
330; first farming, 355; 1864-8, 492;
public land surveys, 533; area in
cultivation, etc., 1866-70, 534-5;
soil, 535-6; irrigation, 536 et seq. ;
canals, etc., 538-40; grain counties,
540; fruit-growing, 541; horticul-
tural society and state board of
agric, 542-3; stock-raising, 543 et
seq.; Fremont co., 604; Weld co.,
638; summary of, 639; Wyoming,
802 et seq.
Aiken, T. A., biog., 576.
Aikins, S. J. biog. of, 576.
Alamosa, town, descript. of, 593.
Albany county, Wyo., organized, 739;
hist, of, 793-t.
Albertson, N., founds Central, 382.
Albrecht, C. H., mention of, 74.
Albrecht, Miss R. F., marriage con-
tract of, 74.
Alexander, Col E. B., mention of,
697.
Alexander, J. F., att'y-gen., 322.
Allen, Capt., mention of, 104.
Allen, B. D., biog. of, 592.
Allen, G. B., biog. of, 380.
Allen, Mrs, school of, 1854, 75.
AUen, W. P., mention of, 76.
Alma, town, 384.
Alsop, Thos, biog. of, 795.
Ambrosia, N., mention of, 76.
American desert, descript. of, 17.
Anderson, W. W., biog. of, 653.
Antelope island, descript. of, 12.
Anthony, Edmund, biog. of, 654.
Antiquities, Colo, 499; Wyo., prehis-
toric race, 673.
Anza, Col, exped., 1775, 27.
Apache canon, battle at, 422.
Applegate, Jesse, explor. of, 62.
Applegate, Lindsey, explor. of, 62.
Arapahoe county, Colo, attempted or-
ganization, etc., of, 1858, 401-2;
hist, of, 548 et seq.; general de-
script., 548-9.
Arbuthnot, S., biog. of, 576.
Archuleta, A. D., biog. of, 593.
Archuleta county, Colo, creation of,
644; democratic rioters in, 648-9.
Arkansas valley, settlement of, 387 et
seq.
Armor, J., founds Central, 382.
Armstrong, A., biog. of, 627.
Arnold, M. A., biog. of, 800.
Arthur, J. B., biog. of, 626.
Ashlev, Congressman D. R., elections
of, 188.
Ashley, E. M., biog. of, 653.
Ashley, W. H., mention of, 38; ex-
plor. of, 679-80.
Atchison, J. H. , mining share of, 107-
8.
Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe R. R.,
Grand Canon contest, 605-7.
Atkin, J. D., biog. of, 654.
Atkin, Leonard, biog. of, 658.
Atkins, J. J., biog. of, 787.
Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph co.,
231.
Aughey, Sam'l, biog. of, 806.
Augur, Gen'l, mention of, 725-6.
Auraria, Colo, founding, etc., of, 367
et seq.; election at, 1860, 403.
Austin, Nev., hist, of, 267-8.
Authorities, Colo, Nev., and Wyo.,
list, xiii.-xxvii.
Aux, George, biog. of, 382.
(807)
INDEX.
Avery, D. E., mention of, ]42.
Ayre, Lieut, Indiau battles of, 4G0.
B
Babbitt, A. T., biog. of, 801.
Babcock, Delos, mention of, 792.
Bacon, C, biog. of, G15.
Bacon, J: L., biog. of, G39.
Bailey, J. L., biog. of, 54G.
Baker, explorations of Colo, 497-8.
Baker, James, biog. of, 353.
Balch, W. R., 'Mines ami Miners,'
149.
Baldwin, A. W., secedes from union
party, 178-9.
Baldwin, C. P., biog. of, 589-90.
Baldwin, Major N., biog. of, 787.
Ballon, W. T., town founded by,
276.
Bancroft, Dr. F. J., biog. of, 572.
Bank of California, White Pine min-
ing control, efifort for, 279.
Banking, Colo, 567.
Bannacks, Indians, attack Reese's
party, 67-8.
Barela, C, biog. of, 627-8.
Barker, A. H., biog. of, 367.
Barnard, E. L., mention of, 69-70;
absconding of, 71.
Barnard, Frank, death of, 70-1.
Barnard, J. P., mention of, 70-1 .
Barnard, T. G., mention of, 71.
Barney, Libeus, biog. of, 385.
Barry, David, mention of, 73.
Bartleson, John, co., etc., of, 47 et
seq.
Bartlett, Judge A., appointment of,
737.
Bassick mine, hist, of, 596.
Bateman, A. L., mention of, 293.
Bates, Capt., defeats Indians, 1874,
772.
Bates, G. C, biog. of, 657-8.
Bates, Mary Barker, biog. of, 657.
Battle mountain, name, 206; Nev.,
town, descript. of, 267.
Beall, S. W. , delegate to Washington,
1861, 407.
Beaman, J. S., biog. of, 616.
Bean, Robert, mention of, 42.
Beatie, H. S., first house in Genoa,
66-7.
Beatty, Judge W. H., biog. of, 203.
Beaubien grant, hist, of, 594.
Beck, Judge W. E., election of, 452.
Becker, G. F., 'Monograph,' etc.,
149.
Becker, Peter, biog. of, 624.
Beckwith, Capt. K. G., explor. of,
mention of, 699.
Beckwith, G. L., biog. of, 650.
Beckwourth, J. P., mention of, 45;
biog. of, 352; in Ashley's exped.,
680.
Bee, F. A., biog. mention, 228; tele-
graph line built by, 230.
Beeman, Newell, biog. of, 785.
Belden, Josiah, mention of, 47;
'Statement,' 48; further account,
54.
Belford, Congressman, election of,
449.
Belford, J. B., biog. of, 445.
Belford, J. B., judge, 1870, 1874,440.
Belknap, C. H., election of, 203;
assoc. just., 322.
Bell, Dr W. A., biog. of, 604.
Belty (William), mention of, 52.
Benevolent societies, Nev., 301.
Bennett, H. A., biog. of, 792.
Bennett, Delegate H. P., election of,
415-16; biog., 416; election of, 1862,
429.
Bennett, Rev. J. L., pioneer clergy-
man, 293.
Bennett, John, biog. of, 487.
Bent county, Colo, hist, of, 574-5.
Bent family, biog. mention, 353.
Bent, W. W., rept, etc., of, 458.
Bergh, Aljraham, biog. of, 630.
Berry, L. W., biog. of, 616.
Berry, Robt, biog. of, 623.
Bertlioud, E. L., survey of, 551.
Betts, J. A., biog. of, 634.
Beverly, J. M., biog. of, 381, 615.
Beverly, W. H., biog. of, 615.
Bibliography, Nev., 243-4, 308-9;
Colorado, 525 et seq.
Bid well, John, journey to Cal., 1841,
47; troubles of, 49 et seq.
Big Meadows, battle of, 214.
Bingliam, Lieut, deatli of, 421-2.
Bishop, Frederic, mention of, 73.
Bisliop, John, mention of, 100.
Black Hawk camp, 382.
Black hills, Wyo. (see also mining),
descript., 661; explor. of, 773 et
seq.
Blackburn, Abner, gold discov. of,
93.
Blackburn, J. L., assassination of,
167.
Blackfeet, Indians, attack Nidever's
party, 40.
Blake, J. J., mention of, 90.
Blake, J. W., biog. of, 795.
Blake and Williams, mention of, 371.
Blakeslee, Senator, mention of, 290.
INDEX.
809
Blasdel, Gov. H. G., election of, 1864,
184; message of, 185; re-election of,
1866. 188.
Blinu, H. E., biog. of, 787.
Blossom, J. A. , biog. of, 268.
Blunt, Gen., victory of, 424.
Blydenburgh, C. E., biog. of, 790.
Bonanza firm, hist, of, 134etseq.; tax
troubles of, 196-8.
Bonneville, Capt. E. L., adventures
of, 41, 43; explor. of, 681.
Boone, A. G., mention of, 439; Ind.
treaties of, 1861, 458.
Boswell, N. K., mention of, 759
Boughtou, J. H. biog. of, 627.
Boulder county, hist of, 575-80.
Boulder creek, Colo, gold found at,
1859, 575.
Boulder, town, founding of, 376; hist.
of, 576, 579-80.
Boundary, Cal. and Nev., commis.
appointed 1S54, 76; Colo and New
Mex., 1869-9, 498-900; Wyo., de-
script., 659; 1868, 740; survey of,
752.
Bowen, Senator T. M., election and
biog. of, 451-2.
Bowers, J. W., mention of, 574.
Bowers, L. S., biog. of, 171.
Bowles, J. W., biog. of, 385-6.
Boyd, Judge T. P., biog. 410.
Brace, C. C, biog. of, 579.
Bradford, Delegate A. A., election
and biog. of, 434; reelection of,
1868, 435-6.
Bradley, Judge George, appointment
of, 72.
Bradley, Gov. L. R., election of,
1870^ 189-90; biog. of, 194.
Brazee, A. W. judge, 1885, 440.
Brantner, Samuel, biog. of, 386.
Breene, Lieut-gov. P. W., election of,
1884, 449; biog. of, 508.
Brendlinger, H. J., biog. of, 572,
Brevoort, Henrv, mining invent, of,
119.
Bridger, James, anecdotes of, 3-4;
explorations of, 37; biog., etc., of,
684-5.
Brisbane, W. H., biog. of, 508.
Bromwell, H. P. H., defeat of, elec-
tion 1874, etc., 439.
Brookfield, A. A., biog. of, 576.
Brown, Clara, biog. of, 61&-17.
Brown, George, mention of, 74.
Brown, J., mention of, 71.
Brown, J. M., biog., 384.
Brown, S. W., biog. of, 384.
Buckland, S. S., mention of, 209.
Bucknum, Dr A. C, biog. of, 656.
Buffalo, town, hist, of, 790-2; plan of,
701.
Bunker, B. B., app't'd U. S. att'y,
157.
Burdsal, C. S., biog. of, 385.
Burlington and Colorado R. R. 555.
Burnham, Dr N. G., biog. of, 657.
Burning Moscow company, hist, of,
122 et seq.
Burritt, C. H., biog. of, 792-3.
Busby, Michael, death of, 214.
Bute, explor. of, 388.
Byers, W. N., biog. of, 374; attack
on, 409.
Byrnes, William, mention of, 69-70;
attempted assassination of, 71.
California legislature, boundary reso-
lution of, 1858, 152; gov's mess.,
1861, 153; volunteers from against
Inds, 212.
California gulch, descnpt. of, 396.
California Mining co., organization,
etc., of, 136 etseq.; output, etc.,
137.
California State Telegraph co., 231,
Calkins, C. C, biog. of, 651.
Call, Judge Anson, ap't'ment of, 72,
Campbell, C. A., mention of, 801.
Campbell, E. L., defeat of, guberna-
torial election, 449.
Campbell, H. A., biog. of, 615.
Campbell, Gov, J. A., appomtmenfc
and biog. of, 741; administ. of,
750.
Campbell, R., mention of, 683.
Canby, Gen., milit. movements of,
1861, 421 et seq.
Canon City, founding of, 391-4; hist,
of, 605-8. . ^ u- .
Canon City and San Juan R. R., hist.
of, 606-8.
Canons, Colo, descript. of, 326-7.
Cantlin, J. V., biog. of, 789.
Canton, F. M., biog. of, 792.
Capital, Colo, rivalry for, 417.
Capital, Wyo., descript. of, 760.
Carbon county, Wyo., organized,
739; hist, of, 788.
Cardenas, Capt, G. L. de, route of,
Ca?ey!"j.^M.!"biog. of, 741, 790-800;
defeat and election of, 1874, 1SS4,
749-50. ^ ^^^
Carlin, Nev., settlement of, 276.
Carlisle, J. N., biog. of, 634. ^_^
Carpenter, C.C, Black hill exped., ub.
810
INDEX.
Carpenter, M. B., biog. of, 570.
Carringtou, H. B., Ind. campaigu of,
718-19.
Carroll, W. P., biog. of, 805.
Carson, Kit, mention of, 24, 353; biog.,
etc., 45, 468; with Fremont, 57.
Carsou City, founding of, 1858, 86;
capital located at, 163; descript.,
169, 255.
Carson co., creation of, 75; exodus
of Mormons from, 80-1; elimina-
tion of, 165.
Carson lake, mention of, 13; descript.
of, 14.
Carson river, bridge over, 1852, 72-3.
Carson valley, settlement of, 66 et
seq.; annexation petitions of, 1853-
6, 74-5, 78; map, 94.
Carson and Colorado R. R. , 239.
Carstarphen, O., biog. of, 598.
Carter co., Wyo., organization of,
732; named changed, 744; organiza-
tion of, 784.
Cary, J. L., mention of, 73, 75.
Case, F. M., mention of, 533, 553.
Cassidy, Congressman G. W. , election
and biog, of, 203.
Castle island, descript. of, 12.
Catlin, W. C, mention of, 393.
Caves, Nevada, descript., 4.
Central City, Colo, founding, etc., of,
380-3; hist, of, 611-15.
Central Pacific railroad, Nevada, af-
fairs of, 232 et seq. ; corruption of,
etc., 234-6; lands of, 288.
Chaffee county, Colo, hist, of, 581-5.
Chaffee, Senator J. B., election of,
432; reelection of, 437; biog. of,
438; election of, 1876, 445.
Chapman, M. R., biog. of, 599.
Charcoal burners' riot, 284-5.
Chase, John, biog. of, 801.
Chatfield, I. W., biog. mention, 556.
Cheney, E. F., mention of, 759.
Cherokees, in Colo, 1858, 363-4.
Cherry creek, descript. of, 281.
Cheever, D. A., biog. of, 571.
Chever, C. G., biog. of, 384.
Cheyennes (see also Indians), threat-
ened attack of, Aug. 1864, 463;
hostilities of, 711.
Cheyenne, town, rise of, 733; capital
located at, etc., 746; hist, of, 796.
Chilcott, Senator G. M., election and
biog. of, 435; app'tment of, 451.
Childs, Judge J. S., mention of, 74;
app'tment of, 84.
Chiles, J. B., visit to Cal., 1841, 47;
CO. of, 1843, 55.
Chinese, Nev., 292.
i Chivington, Col, biog. of, 421; Sand
I creek battle, 466 et seq.
Cholera, Nev., 1850, 68.
1 ChoUar mining co., litigation of, 126-
7, 173.
I Chorpenning, G., lawsuit of, 76; mail
contracts of, 226-7.
Church, Frank, biog. of, 653.
Churchill county, Nev., hist, of, 262.
Civil War, Colo, 420 et seq. ; battle
Apache canon, 422; Pigeon rancho,
422-3; Peralta, 423; Cabni creek
victory, 424.
I Clapp, Miss H. K., biog. mention,
, 171.
I Clark, mention of, 72.
Clark, H. F., mention, 103.
I Clark, J. E., mention of, 103.
I Clark, Judge I., appointment of, 72.
I Clark, W. G., biog. of, 444.
Clarke, R. M., state att'y-gen'l, 1865,
i 188
Clarke, W. J., biog. of, 792.
Clay, C. E., biog. of, 795.
Clayton, P. H., mention of, 89.
Clayton, T. S., biog. of, 654.
Clear Creek county, Colo, hist, of,
586 et seq.
Clemens, Gov. O., acts, etc., for
boundary, 154-4; app't'd terr. sec,
157.
Cleveland, Pres., silver views of, 201.
Cleveland, C. C, quells Ind. trouble,
221.
Climate, great basin, descript. of, 4-
6; Nevada, 245; Colo, temperature,
etc., 329; storm and flood at Den-
ver, 1864, 490; Wyoming, 670.
: Cline, J. W., biog. of, 386.
I Cloudbursts, Nev., 245.
I Cobb, F. M., biog. of, 366.
Cobb, E. W., biog. of, 386.
Coffee, C. F., mention of, 800.
Coffman, E. J., biog. of, 650.
Cole, William, biog. of, 368.
Colfax Agricultural and Industrial
Colonization company, hist, ot,
595.
', Collier, D. C, biog. of, 370; nientiun
of, 497.
j Collins, Dr J. W., biog. of, 655.
Collins, Lt-col, Ind.. victory of, 715.
! Collins, R. J., biog. of, 590.
\ Collins & Co., mention of, 104.
Colonies, Nev., Mormons, Carson
valley, 1855, 78; list of colonists,
1855, 79; Mormons abandon, 80.
Colorado, history of, 323 et se(j. ;
physical features, 323 etseq. ; d; ,-
covery and occupation, 338 et so: ^ ;
INDEX.
SU
French occupation, 343; Pike's
exped., 344 et seq.; Long's, 348;
progress of settlement, 1859-60,
387 et seq. ; organization of govt,
1858-61, 401 et seq.; territory or-
ganized, 1861, 413; seal of, 418;
Indian wars, 1860-80, 455 et seq. ;
mining, 1859-75, 482 et seq. ; floods
and Ind. troubles, 489etseq. ; boun-
dary with New Mex., 1868-9, 498-
90; agriculture and stock-raising,
533 et seq. ; railroads of, 552 et seq. ;
education, 558-60; religion, 560;
counties, 574 et seq. ; events, 1886-
8, 643 et seq.
Colorado in 1863, map, 409.
Colorado Central R. R., 552-4, 556.
Colorado City, founding of, 389-90.
Colorado river, descript. of, 16.
Colorado springs, hist, of, 388, 600.
Colorado sprinp^s and vicinity, hist,
of, 600-4; map, 602.
Colter, John, explor. of, 675-6.
Commerce, Nev., prices, 1850, 68;
transportation, 226 et seq.; Colo-
rado, 566.
Como, Nev., decline of, 258.
Comstock, H. T. P., career, etc., of,
98 et seq. ; disposal of mining title,
etc., 105-6.
Comstock, Henry, the Gold Hill
mines, 109-10.
Comstock lode, see Mining.
Conejos county, Colo, hist, of, 591-3,
Congress, U. S., Nev. boundary com-
mis. app't'd, 1860, 152; additional
ter. granted to Nev., 1866, 156; act
for R. R. survey, 1853, 360; admis-
sion of Colo territory. 1861, 413;
appropr. for Colo, 1862-3, 429; ap-
propr., 1863-6, 434; 1880 et seq.,
450; appropr. for Wyo., 1846, 688.
Conner, General, operations, etc., of,
218-19, 717.
Connor, Col, regiment of, 181.
Conrad, Capt. B., Indian victory of,
220.
Consolidated Virginia, see Virginia
Consolidated Mining co.
Constitution, Nev. State, vote on,
1863, 184; amendments to, 203-4.
Constitutional convention, Colo, 1860,
404; 1864, 430-1.
Conventions, Nev., for ter'l gov't, 82,
87; state, 1863, 177 et seq.; 1864,
180.
Converse, A. R., biog. of, 758.
Converse county, Wyo., 75.
Cook, mention of, 51.
Cook, Gen. D. J., biog. of, 760.
1 Cook, G. W., biog. of, 510-11.
; Cook, Richard, mention of, 520.
Cooper, Gen., defeat of, 424.'
Cooper, J. A., biog. of, 573.
: Cooper, Thos, biog. of, 589.
Copeland, S., biog. of, 616.
Corlett, W. W., biog. of, 749.
Corning, G. C, biog. of, 444.
' Coronado's expedition, failure in
reaching Colo, 338.
I Cosser, Mrs, the Colo divorce case,
I 73-4.
; Cosser, Walter, mention of, 73.
j Cosser, W. P., mention of, 75.
! Costilla CO., hist, of, 594 et seq.
I Coimties, Nev., organization, etc., of,
159, 253; Colo, organization of,
1859, 402; hist, of, 574 et seq.;
Wyoming, 784 et seq.
I County commissioners, Nev., 1861-2,
list, 162.
Cowan, A., mention of, 78.
Cowan, Mrs A., biog. of, 171.
Coyner, D. H., 'The Lost Trappers,'
350-1.
Cradlebaugh, Judge J., app'tment,
etc., of, 89; election of, 1861, 158.
Craig, L. W., biog. of, 586.
Craig, W. B., biog. of, 653.
Cramer, F., biog. of, 655.
Crandall, J. B., stage line of, 227.
Crane, J. M., ter'l delegate, 1858, 83;
death of, 89.
Crawford, D. C, biog. of, 444.
Crazy Horse, Ind. chief, battles of,
777, 780; death of, 781.
Crested Butte, town, founding of,
523.
Crime, Nev., 291-2; Colo, 1860-1,
408; 1860, 412; Leadville, 512-13;
Wyo., Cheyenne vig. committee,
1867, 738; road agents, 758-9.
Crook, Gen., Sioux campaign, 1876,
777 et seq.
Crook, W. W., mention of, 806.^
Crooks CO., Wyo., boundary of, 784.
Grossman, G. H., valley named for,
24.
Crout, William, biog. of, 795-6.
Crow, Henry, biog. of, 384.
Crowinshield, W., mention of, 228-9.
Culver, J. B., mention of, 793.
Cummings, Gov. A., reorganizes
Carson co., 84; appointment of,
1865, 435.
Curry, A., mention, 103, 159.
Curry, A. V. Z., founds Carson city,
86.
Curry, C. W., mention of, 103.
Curtis, Allen A., gift of, 297.
8li
INDEX.
Curtis, Gen. S. R., Ind. war orders
of, 446.
Custer, Gen., milit. exped. to Black
Hills, 1874, 773; defeat aud death
of, 778-9.
Custer city, Wyo., founding of, 777.
Custer county, Colo, hist, of, 595.
l^aggett, C. A., niontion of, 73.
Daggett, V. D., elected pros, att'y,
1854, 76.
Daggett, Congressman R. M., biog.
of, 203; speech of, Feb. 25, 1881,
235.
Daley, D. C, silver discov. of, 403.
Dargin, D. G., meutioiij 622.
Davis, H. C, 322.
Davis, J. A., mention of, 596.
Davis, J. C, biog. of, 789.
Dawson, J. A., biog. of, 647.
Dayton, town, founding of, 1S56, 79;
name, 95; descript. of, 258.
Dead Men's gulch, name. 383.
Death valley, descript. of, 3.
Decker, W. S., biog. of, 652.
De Coursey, M. L., biog. of, 604.
Deep creek, importance of, 16.
Defiance mine, yield of, 278.
Deidesheimer, Philip, timbering sys-
tem of, 113; plan of cribbing, 114;
biog., etc., of, 115; arrest of ' Ophir '
men, 123.
De la Martyr, see Martyr.
Delta CO., Colo, hist, of, 596.
Democrats, see Politics.
De Mont, Capt., co. of, etc., 66.
Denver, Lieut-gov. F., election of,
1870, 190; state prison war, 314.
Denver, Gen. J. W., mention of, 372.
Denver, founding of, 369; capital es-
tabl. at, 417-18, 551-2; riots in
1879-80, 448; storm and flood, 1864,
490; hist, of, 1859-86, 548; incorp.
of, land titles, etc., 549; plan of,
550; immigrant route by, 551 ; mint
at, 551-2; R. R. lines to, 552 et
seq. ; street railways, 558; education
in, 558-60; religion, 560-4; water
supply, 562; drainage, 563; manu-
factures, 564; chamber of commerce,
565; banking, 567; society, 567-70.
Denver Circle li. R., 555.
Denver expositions, Wyoming exhibit
in, 752.
Denver Pacific R. R. , Colo, 553-4.
Denver, South Park, and Pacific R. R.,
555.
Denver, Utah, and Pacific R. R. , 555.
Denver and Rio Grande R. R., strike,
1885, 453; extension of, 1881, 524;
map of the alignment around Dump
mountain, organization, etc., of,
554 et seq.; Grand caiion contest,
605-8.
Deseret, state of, organized, etc., 6*5.
Deseret Co., creation of, 72.
De Smet, 1'. J. de, missionary labors
of, 686.
Dickens, W. H., biog. of, C50.
Dickson, see Hancock and Dickson.
Dickson, L. H., biog. of, 650.
Dittenrieder, Mrs L. M., journal of,
73.
Doane, Lieut G. C, milit. exped. of,
1870, 769.
Doherty, W. F., biog. of, 592.
Dolores county, Colo, hist, of, 597.
Dominguez, F. F. A., explorations of,
36.
Douelson, T., biog., 384.
Dotson, P. K., biog. of, 634.
Dougan, D. H., biog. of, 573.
Douglas, John H., biog. of, 795.
Douglas CO. , organization and hist, of,
253-5, 598.
Dover, James, marriage contract, etc.,
of, 74.
Dovey, W. C, superintendent pub.
instruct., 322.
Downey, Delegate S. W., election of,
750.
Downing, Jacob, biog. of, 651.
Doyle, J. B., mention of, 371.
Drake, G. W., biog. of, 386.
Draper, J. A., mention of, 393.
Drummond, Judge W. \V., boundary
communication of, 151-2; reagitii-
tion of boundary question, 156.
Du Bois, J. J., biog. of, 507.
Ihidley, J. H., biog. of, 368.
Duggan, Martin, biog. of, 512-13.
Dunagan, J. J., biog. of, 655.
Duncan, Lieut, victory of, 220.
Duncan, Judge C, mention of, 72.
Dyer, J. C, biog. of, 789.
D
Eagle CO., Colo, hist, of, 599.
Earthquakes, Nev., 245.
Eaton, Gov. B. H., election and biog.
of, 449.
Eaton, H. C, biog. mention, 618.
Eberhardt mine, 278.
Eckley, J. E., mention of, 188.
Eddy, H. H., biog. of, 638.
INDEX.
813
Education, Nev., 292-3; Colorado,
393, 558-60; Wyoming, 761.
Eilers, A., biog. of, 519-20.
Elbert, Gov. S. H., appointment, etc.,
of, 436-7; election of, 445.
Elbert co., Colo, hist, of, 599.
El Dorado, Colo, founding of, 387-9.
Elections, see Politics.
Elkins, J. T., biog. of, 508.
Elko county, Nev., hist, of, 274.
Elko, town, settlement of, 276.
Elliott, V. A., judge, 446.
Ellis, J. B., mention of, 73-4.
El Paso claim club, 389.
El Paso CO., Colo, hist, of, 599-604.
Emigration, see Immigration.
Empire, town, hist, of, 592.
Escalante, Fr. S. V. de, map, etc.,
of, 35-6; exped. of, 339 et seq.;
map of route, 342. |
Esmeralda co., Nev., hist, of, 259; ju-
risdiction diflSculties of, 162 et seq.
Espinosa's bandits, murders and death
of, 424-5. 1
Eureka county, Nev., hist, of, 281. i
Eureka, town, hist, of, 283. !
Eureka and Palisade R. R., 239. i
Evans, Col, defeat of, 218.
Evans, Senator J., app't'd gov., 427;
election of, 432; call for vol't'rs, 461.
Everett, Dr A. S., biog. of, 656.
Everts, Philetus, biog. of, 322.
Expeditions, Nev., earliest, 26 et seq.;
Fremont's, 1843-4, 55 et seq.; Colo,
338 et seq. ; local expeds from New
Mex., 338; Escalante's exped., 339
et seq. ; Pike's, 344 et seq. ; Long's
exped., 348 et seq.; Fremont's,
1842-4, 357; Gunnison's, 1853, 360;
miscellaneous govt, 361-2; Wheel-
er's and King's, 362; to Gunnison
countrv, 517 et seq.; Wyoming,
Spanish claims, 672; Verendyre's,
1743^, 674; Colter's, 675-6; Lisa's,
676; Williams', 676-7; Hunt's, 679;
Long's, 679; Ashley's, 679-80;
Bonneville's, 681; Wyeth's, 682;
Fremont's, 1842, 688; to open roads,
699-700; Stansbury's, 764; War-
ren's, 765; Raynold's, 765-6; geol
survey, 769; milit. expeds, 1873,
169-70.
Eyser, Charles, biog. of, 386.
Eyster, C. S., judge, 1866, 440.
Fair, Senator J. G., mention of, 118;
Con. Virginia purchase, 134 et seq.;
biog. 135; senator, 203.
Fairfield, Samuel, biog. of, 789.
Farrell, M. J., biog. of, 239.
Farwell, S. T., biog. of, 792.
Fennimore, James, mention of, 72;
career of, 99 et seq.
Ferguson, Charles, mention of, 73.
Fetterman, Lt-col, defeat and death
of, 722-3.
Finances, Nev., taxes, 1861, 161;
1871-88, 310; rejection national
currency, 1863-4, 183; mining tax
troubles, 195 et seq; monetary
standards, 198 et seq.; Colorado,
Gilpin's treasury demands, 426;
banking, 566; summary of, 640; in
1887, 648; Wyoming, 755; territory
bonds, 760.
Finfrock, J. H., biog. of, 716.
Finley, A., map, 1826, 34-5.
Fish culture, Nev., 241; Wyoming,
804.
Fisher, A. N., supt pub. mstruction,
1865, 188.
Fitch, R. E., mention of, 795.
Fitch, Congressman Thos, election
and biog., 189.
Flaniken, Judge R. R., app'tment of.
Fain, Sheriff J. C, mention of, 70-1;
election of, 1854, 76.
Fleeson, Capt., Ind. battle of, 214.
Flood, J. C, Con. Virginia purchase,
134 et seq.; biog., 135.
Floyd peak, height of, 9; name, 24.
Flumes, Nev., 287-90.
Foley, M. D., biog. of, 225.
FoUensbee, George, mention of, 71.
Fontaine City, fight with Missourians,
390-1.
Foote, F. M., biog. of, 785.
Ford, Gen. J. H., mention of, 467.
Forest Queen, mine, discov., etc., of,
523.
Fort Leavenworth, 351-2.
Forts, Colo, 352-5; Wyoming, 682 et
seq • Fort William, 683; Laramie,
fort, hist, of, 683-4; cut of, 690;
20vt purchase of, 691; Fort Lara-
hie in 1874, plan, 692; Fort Brid-
ger, 684; cut of, 685; Fort Platte,
685; Fort Kearny, established,
1847, 489-90; Fort Supply, 697;
Fort Randal, 710; Fort Halleck,
714; Fort Sedgwick, 714-15; Fort
Philip Kearny, Fetterman, Ind.
disaster at, 720 et seq; Fort Fet-
terman, 725.
Fosdick. H. M., biog. of, 634.
Font, Father P., map, etc., of, 27-8.
814
INDEX.
Fountain colony, hist of, COO-1.
France, occupation of Colo, 343.
France, James, biog. of, 788.
France, L. B., biog. of, G52-3.
Franktown, founded, etc., 79.
Fremont, J. C, route, etc., of, 1843,
55 et seq. ; notoriety of, exploration,
65; explor. of Colo, 1842^, 356;
explor. Wyo., 1842, 688.
Fremont county, Colo, settlement of,
392; hist, of, 601-8.
Fremont county, Wyo.. hist, of, 786-8.
Frost, John, biog. of, 267.
Fuller, C. W., mention of, 256.
Fulton, D. J., biog. of, 385.
Fur-traders, Colo, 350-1, 354-6; Wy-
oming, 677 et seq.
Gage, S. T., biog. of, 187.
Galbraith, R. M., biog. of, 789.
Gale, Judge W. H., mention of, 440.
Galloway, B. S., biog. of, 625.
Gamble, .James, mention of, 231.
Garber, Judge, mention of, 191.
Garces, Father F., explor. of, 27-31.
Garfield county, Colo, hist, of, 609.
Garrison, A. F., pres't of comm., 404.
Garrison, W. H., sale of mining title,
123-4.
Geist, A. W., biog. of, 634.
Genoa, town, name, 79; avalanche at,
1882, 254.
Geology, see Mining.
Georgetown, Colo, hist, of, 590-2.
Gerry brothers, biog. of, 353.
Gerry, Elbridge, mention of, 463.
Gest, J. H., mention of, 382.
Geysers, Wyo., 668.
Gibbs, Elijah, land troubles, etc., of,
430.
Gibson, T., mention of, 382.
Gdchrist, Andrew, biog. of, 802.
Gilpin, Gov., app'tment, etc., of, 413;
biog. of, 414; instructions, etc., of,
415; message of, 419; organization
of troops, 420; removal of, etc.,
426-7; election of, 1865, 432.
Gilpin county, Colo, mines of, map,
380; hist, of, 610.
Gird, C. C, biog. of, 653.
Goben, H, mention of, 280.
Goddard, L. M., biog. of, 508.
Goddard, O. J., biog. of, 559.
Godey, mention of, 57.
Godin, exploit of, 40.
Gold Hill mines, first owners, etc.,
of, 109.
Gold canon, mining camps, etc., in,
1857-9, 94-6.
Golden, founding of, 380-1.
Golden Gate, founding, etc., of, 380-2.
Goodwin, C. C, defeat of, 1872, 191.
Gore, Sir George, travels in Wyo.,
695-6.
Gorsline, W. B., judge, 1866, 440.
Gosh Utes, hostilities of, 219.
Gould, J. B., biog. of, 616.
Government, see Politics.
Graham, Benj., i)rospecting exped. of,
518.
Graham, H. J., delegate to congress,
403.
Graham gang, expulsion of, 597.
Gramm, Otto, biog. of, 795.
Grand county, Colo, hist, of, 616.
Grant, Gov. J. B., election and biog.
of, 449.
Grant, M. N., biog. of, 795.
Grattan, Indian massacre of, 709.
Gray, A. J., biog. of, 806.
Great American desert, see American
desert.
Great Basin, descript. of, 1 ; Fremont's
knowledge of, 2; wonders of, 3
climate of, 4-(5; geology of, 6; riv
ers of, 14-16; springs of, 16, 17
deserts of, 17, 18; vegetation of
18, 19; animal life in, 19, 20; miu
eralsof, 20, 21; agriculture of, 21-3
soils of, 21-3.
Great Salt Lake, see Salt Lake.
Greeley, Horace, praise of Colo, 398;
Green river, descript. of, etc., 8, 786.
Greene, James, mention of, 73.
Greenwood, John, mention of, 60.
Greenwood, W. H., biog. of, 608.
Gregory, J. H., biog. of, 377.
Griclley, charitable work of, 182.
Grigsby-Ide company, mention of, 60.
Grimes, C. M., mention of, 595-6.
Grimes, W. S., biog. of, 656.
Grosch Bros., silver discov. of, etc.,
96 et seq. ; death and books of, 98.
Gross, C. J., biog. of, 571.
Guerillas, Colo, 1863, 424-5.
(iuiness, Lieut, death of, 725.
Gunnell, A. T., biog. of, 624.
Gunnison, Capt. J. \V., K. R. survey,
etc., of, 360-1, 695; party of mas-
sacred, 360-1.
Gunnison county, organization, etc.,
of, 522; hist, of, 617.
Gunnison county, prospectors in, etc.,
516 et seq.; rush to, 1880, 524.
Gunnison, mining region, map, 521.
Gunnison, town, settlement of, 521 et
I seq. ; hist, of, 617-18.
INDEX.
81.-
H
Haas, Hermann, biog. of, 716.
Haas, Sam'l, mention of, 801.
Hague, J. D., mention of, 362.
Haguis, J. N., mention of, 393.
Haines, James W., biog. of, 288-9.
Hale, Gov. W., appointment, death,
etc., of, 752-3.
Halej', Ora, biog. of, 795.
Hall, C. L., biog. of, 623^.
Hall, Frank, mention of, 71; biog. of,
440.
Hall, Geo. W., biog. of, 590.
Hall, R. H., biog. 787.
Hall, Spafford, mention of, 73^.
Hall, W. L., mention of, 71-3.
Hallack, Chas, biog. of, 573.
Hallett, Judge M., biog. of, 411-12;
app'tment, etc., of, 1866, 439-40.
Hallock, J. F., comptroller, 322.
Hallock, Nelson, biog. of, 623.
Hamilton, W. H., mention of, 280.
Hamilton, Nev., hist, of, 280.
Hanchette, mining invention of, 318.
Hancock and Dickson, explor. of,
1804-7, 675.
Harding, silver discov. of, 103-4.
Harding, Justice S. S., succeeds Hall,
439.
Hardenville, founding of, 103-4.
Hamey, Genl, defeats Sioux, 1856,
etc., 710.
Harris, John, map of, 32.
Harris, M. C, mention of, 793.
Hart, Major B. J., mention of, 790.
Hart, Wm, the Comstock discov.,
101.
Harting, S. J., biog. of, 658.
Harvey, .John, mention, 624.
Harvey, T. .J., app't'd Ind. commiss.,
208.
Haskdl, N. R., mention of, 69; at-
tempted murder by, 71.
Hastings, L. W. , ' Emigrant Guide, '
etc., 55; mention of, 60.
Hawes, .Jesse, biog. of, 639.
Hawkins, R. T., mention of, 73.
Hawkins, DrT. H., biog. of, 658.
Hawley, T. P., mention of, 191, 322.
Hay den, Prof. F. V., explor. of,
361-2, 518-19.
Haynes, J. H., mention of, 73.
Hays, Col J. C, Indian victory of,
213 et seq.
Hazzard, G. W., biog. of, 385.
Head, Lafayette, biog. of, 444.
Healy, Mrs, mention of, 60.
Hecht, Charles, biog. of, 801.
Held, Henry, mention of, 793.
Hellman, Benj., mention of, 802.
Hellr oaring river, 667.
Helm, Judge J. C., election of, 452.
Helm, W. A., biog. of, 394.
Henderson, E. W., biog. of, 377.
Henderson, G. L., biog. of, 386; men-
tion of, 622.
Henry, Alexander, exped. of, 678.
Henry, J. W., Judge, 446.
Henshaw, George, mention of, 47.
Hereford, R. L., biog. of, 786.
Herzinger, J. L., biog. of, 626.
Hesse, Fred. G. S., mention, 792.
Hickman, Bill, Indian murders of,
205.
Hickman, N. C, biog. of, 622-3.
Hicks, George, Sr, prospecting party
of, 364-5.
Hidden Treasure mine, discov. of,
277-8.
j Hinman, F. A., biog. of, 790.
Hinsdale, G. A., county named for,
I 618.
I Hinsdale co., Colo, hist, of, 618.
j Hunton, John A., mention of, 800.
I Hill. Senator N. P., election and biog.
of, 450; mining developments of,
486.
Hobart, Senator W. W., public ex-
! pense bill, 1881, 312.
i Hodges, H. M., mention of, 76.
' Hofifman, Maj. Wm, mention, 697.
I Hogle, A. W., biog. of, 856.
Holladay, Ben, mention of, 73.
j Holly, Justice C. F., mention of, 440.
I Holman, W. J., gold discov., 383.
i Hopper, Charles, guide of Bartleson
i CO., 53.
I Hoppin, J. H., biog. of, 263.
I Hord, T. B., mention of, 801.
Horn, T. G., mention, 610.
I Hover, W. A., biog. of, 652.
I Howe, Church, biog. of, 741.
! Howell, Eugene, biog. of, 274.
Howland, J. D., biog. of, 369.
Hoyt, Gov. J. ^Y., app'tment of, 751.
Hu(5rfano co., Colo, hist., 619.
Huffaker, G. W., biog. of, 86.
Hughes, B. M., biog. of, 572.
Hughes, Harvej', mention of, 74.
Humboldt CO., Xev., hist, of, 262-4.
Humboldt lake, descript. of, 14.
Humboldt river, descript. of, 15; dis-
cov. of, 36-7.
Hunt, Gov. A. C, app'tment of, 436;
founds Salida, 584.
Hunt, A. S., app't'd U. S. marshal,
427.
Hunt, W. P., explor. of, 679.
Hurd, E. P., mention of, 801.
816
INDEX.
Hurlbut, W. S., meutiou of, 805.
Huston, G. W., biog. of, 623.
Hutton, Levi, ludiaus attack, 1856,
206.
Hyde, Judge 0., appointment of, 76.
Hyde, Orson, curse, etc., of, 80.
Hylton, T. A., mention of, 69-70.
Iba, C, biog. of, 796.
Idaho, Nevada annexation scheme,
317.
Idaho Springs, town, hist, of, 598.
Iliff, J. W., biog. of, 385.
Illustrations, see Maps.
Immigration, to Oregon and Cal.,
1839-46, 46; route of, in Colo, 1841,
356; Colo prospecting parties, 364
etseq.; return of, 375-6; overland,
1860-1, 398-400; Wyoming, 1841-3,
687.
Indians, Nev., victory of Pyramid
lake, 209 et seq. ; Hays defeats,
213 etseq.; troubles with, 1861-2,
217; victory of, 218; treaty with,
1862, 218; 186.3-4, 219; battles
with, 1864-6, 219-21; affairs of,
1874-80, 221-3; reservations, 221-
3; hostilities, etc., 1849-82, 205 et
seq.; attack on Hutton and Pier-
son's party, 1856-7,206; hostilities,
1858-60, 207 et seq.; war council,
208; attack at Williams' station,
209; Colorado tribes, treaties, etc.,
455-7; appropr. for, 1860, 457; bri-
gandage, etc., of, 457; the Colo
regiments, 459; hostile combina-
tion, etc., 1864, 460; outrages, etc.,
of, 1864, 461; council of, etc., July,
1864, 462; threatened devastation,
463-4; peace proposals of, 465-6;
the Sand creek battle, 466 et seq. ;
renewal of hostilities, 1865, 467;
treaty, 1865, 468; hostilities renew-
ed, 1866-8, 469-70; Utes, tribes, ter-
ritory, etc., of, 470; raids, etc.,
1863, 471; treaties with, 1865-8,
471-2; head chief, 472-3; war with,
1878, 474-9; treaty, 1878,479-81;
Wyoming, hostilities of, 1862-3,
701; Sioux massacre, Grattan, 709;
defeat of, 710; Cheyennes, 711;
hostilities, 1867, 724; treaty, 1867,
726; Arapahoe and Clieyenue hos-
tilities, 714-15; Sioux hostilities,
1864, 714-16; Connor and Sully's
exped. ag'st, 1865, 717; treaty with,
717-18; Fetterman massacre, 720
et seq.; territory of, treaty of.
1868, etc., 766-7; Arapahoe depre-
dations, etc., 767-8; Bates defeats
Arapahoes, 771-2; Red Cloud,
agency, 1873, 772-3; Sioux hostili-
ties, 1876, 777 etseq.; treaties and
reserves of, 1877-81, 781-2.
Industries, Colo, summary of, 639.
Insane asylum, Nev., 317.
Iron CO., creation of, 72.
Irrigation, Nev., 290-1,317-18; Colo-
rado, 536^0; Wyoming, 801-2.
Irwin, J., biog. of, 625.
I Ives, explorations of Colo, 517.
Ives, Butler, boundary commissioner,
I 1853, 155.
i "^
J. 0. R. stump, cut, 678.
Jackson, G., gold discov. of, 376.
Jackson, H. B., biog. of, 639,
j Jackson, W. S., R. R. president, 555.
j Jameson, H. H., mention of, 69.
j Jamison, A. E., mining discov. of,
I 1865, 103-4.
, Janin, Louis, mention of, 142.
Jefferson, Pres., encourages explora-
tion, 344.
Jefferson county, Colo, hist, of, 619-
21.
Jefferson, territory of, attempt for,
1859, 403.
Jenkins, J. W., correspondence with
Elbert, 436-7; biog. of, 653.
Jenney, W. P., explor. Black hills,
775.
Jennings, Wm, mention, 98.
Job, Moses, mention of, 74.
Johnson, Pres., veto of Colo state
bill, 432.
Johnson, Gov., indorses Nev. petition,
1858, 83.
Johnson, E. P., biog. of, 748.
Johnson, W. T., mention of, 553.
Johnson county, Wyo., hist, of, 789-
93.
Johntown, mention, 95.
Jones, delegate, election and defeat
of, 1870-2, 749.
Jones, H. F., biog. of, 654.
Jones, Judge, app'tment of, 1861,
166.
Jones, Judge W. S., biog. of, 741-2.
Jones, Senator J. P., biog. of, 149;
senator, 1873, 190-1; reelection and
monetary report of, 198 et seq.; the
silver question, 320.
Jones, S. L., mention of, 225.
Journals, see Newspapers.
Juab CO., creation of, 72.
Da)EX.
817
Justice, Nev. and Utah, and judges,
1852, 72; 3d dist created, 1854, 75-
6; tirst suit and trial, 1853, 1855,
76-7; popular admiaist. of, 86-7;
U. S. court established, 89; judicial
districts, 1861, 166; administ. of,
166 et seq.. 172; Colorado, arlmin-
ist. of, 1860-1, 407-8; judiciary,
439-40, 445-6, 452; Wyoming, 747.
Julesburg, town, Inds. destroy, 715.
Kansas, territorial affairs of, 401.
Kansas Pacific R. R., Colo, 552 et
seq.
Kellog, S. B., gold discov. of, 397;
biog. of, 581.
Kelly, D. C, biog. of, 788-9.
Kelly, H. B., biog. of, 800.
Kelly, Henry, mention of, 280.
Kelsey, Benj ., mention of, 53.
Kendall, Congressman C, election of,
1870, 190; 1872, 191; bill of, 291.
Kennedy, Richard, biog. of, 792.
Kennedy, W. R., biog. of, 624.
Kenyon, Asa, mention of, 74.
Kern, E. M., mention of, 62.
Ketchum, Capt. W. S., mention of,
692.
Kimball, H. C, in Wyoming, 1S47-8,
694.
Kmg, B. L., settler, 1852, 72; men-
tion of, 81.
King, Clarence, explor. of, 362.
Kingman, Judge J. W., app'tment,
etc., of, 741-2.
Kinkead, Gov. J. H., election and
biog. of, 1878, 193.
Kinna and Nye, mention of, 371.
Kinsey, S. A., mention of, 69, 71.
Kirby, Joseph, the Comstock discov. j
100 et seq.
Kitely, W. J., biog. of, 650.
Klein, Jacob, biog. of, 172.
Kline, Perry A., biog. of, 484.
Knott, E. H., mention of, 73.
Knott, Thomas, mention of, 7.3, 75.
Knox, T. W., mention of, 382.
Knight, Jesse, biog. of, 786.
Kouutze, L., mention of, 553.
Kuykendall, W. L., mention of, 719.
Lake county, Nev., jurisdiction diffi-
culties of, 164.
Lake county, Colo, hist, of, 621-2.
Hist. Xev. 52
' Lake Tahoe, see Tahoe.
Lakes, Nev., descript. of, 10 et seq.;
Colorado, 336-7.
Lancaster, A. B., biog. of, 277.
Land grants, Mexican, in Colo, 356.
Lander county, Nev., hist of, 264-5.
Lands, Xev., settlement of, etc., 71,
75, 250-3; Colorado, laws for, 4.30;
grants to Colo, etc., 1876, 447; sur-
vey of, 533; Wyoming, school, 761;
go\-t laws, etc., 762, 783.
Langford, N. G., supt Yellowstone
nat. park, 771.
La Plata county, Colo, hist, of, 623.
Larimer county, Colo, hist, of, 625.
Laramie, see also Fort Laramie.
Laramie city, Wyo., founding of, 7.39,
Laramie county, Wyo., creation, etc.,
of, 736; hist, of, 794-801.
Laramie hills and plains, 660.
Las Animas county, Colo, hist, of,
627.
Las Animas grant, map, etc., 631.
Las Animas mining dist, formation of,
1871, 500.
La Salle, explorations of, 343.
Lassen, Peter, presides at meeting,
1857, 83; death of, 207.
Latter-day saints, see Mormons.
Law, John, biog. of, 624.
Lawrence, William, mention of, 795.
Lawrence company, prospecting ex-
ped. of, 365-6.
Laws, Wyo., code, 1868, 745.
Leadville, Colo, founding of, 396; riot,
1879-80, 448, 514-15; discov. of
silver, organization, etc., 504 et
seq.; name, 509; population and
growth, 510; business of and map,
511-12; crime, etc., 512-13; riot in,
514-15.
Leavenworth, Col J. H., com. of,
424.
Leavenworth company, founding of
Denver, 369.
Lee, Judge Alfred, appointment of,
72.
Lee, C. F., biog. of, 625.
Lee, K M., app't'd sec. of state, 741.
Legislature, Nev., 1861, laws, etc.,
158 et seq.; 1862-3, 176; loyalty of,
182-3; mining taxes, 194-5; Colo-
rado, 427-8; territor}- of Jefferson,
406; Wyoming, 743, 756-8.
Lehow, 0. E., biog. of, 586.
Leonard, 0. R., chief-just., 322.
Lincoln county, Nev., hist, of, 271.
Linfrock, W. E., mention of, 717.
Lisa, Manuel, explor. of, 676.
Lobban, J. M., biog. of, 792.
INDEX.
Locke, Judije P. B., decisions, etc.,
of, ll'.i; resignation of, 174.
Londoner, Wolfe, biog., etc., 412.
Long, 11. A., l>iog. of, 052.
Long, Maj. S. H., explorations of,
348 et seq., 079.
Lougniont, town, hist, of, 578-9.
Looniis, Al)ner, biog. of, 020.
Looinis, Washington, mention of, 70;
execution of, 71.
Lovejoy, F. W., K. R. pres., 555.
Loveland, Chester, mention of, 81.
Loveland, William A. H., biog. of,
556.
Luman, John, biog. of, 787.
Lumber, Nev., 254, 287-90.
Lykins, D. J., biog. of, 054.
Lyon, J. E., mention of, 487.
Lyon CO., Nev., hist, of, 258-9.
M
Mackay, J. W., Con. Virginia pur-
cliase, 134 et seq.; biog., 135.
Mackay, Mrs. J. W., charitable gift
of, 301.
Magin, Antoine, ' Histoire Univer-
selle,'33.
Magnus, Peter, biog. of, 385.
Magraw, W. M. explor. of Colo,
1857, 361; mention of, 099.
Mails, Nev., Salt Lake city and S.
Bernarilino routes, 73; 1851-3, 220-
7; daily overland, 1801, 229-30;
Colo, Indian disturbances of, 1804,
402.
Maincville, F. De, biog. mention,
508.
Maldonado, Gabriel, mention of, 107.
Mammoth cave, Nev., descript. of, 4.
Mankin, John, Mormon property
purchased, 81.
Manufactures, Nev., 1884, 286 et seq.
ManviUe, H. S., biog. of, 800.
Maps (also plans and illustrations),
probable route of Cardenas, 27;
Padre Font's map, 1777, 28; map
by John Harris, 1005, 30; Granata
Nova, 31; Utah and Nevada, 1795,
32; Rector's map, 1818, .33; Finley's
map, 1826, 34; Escalante's route,
35; Fremont's route, 1843-4, SO;
1845, map, 01; route of the Oregon
CO., 63; Carson valley, 94; Esca-
lante's route, 342; mines of Gilpin
CO., 380; Colorado in 1863, 409;
Thornl)urg battle-ground, 475; Un-
compahgre agency, 478; Uintah
reservation, 480; San Juan mining
district, 49.'); Leadville and vicinity,
511; plan of Denvor, 550; maps,
alignment of the Denver and Rio
Grande R. R., around Dump moun-
tain, 555; railroads of Colo, 550;
Salida and vicinity, 585; Colorado
springs ami vicinity, 002; Las Ani-
mas grant, 031; J. 0. R., stump,
cut, 078; Old Fort Bridger, cut.
685; Fort Laramie in 1874, plan.
092; R. R. builders' fort, cut, 733;
Yellowstone national park, 770;
plan of Bufialo, 1884, 791.
Marcy, Capt. R. B., exped. of, Wyo.,
1857, 099.
^larsh, Rob., biog. of, 794-5.
Marshall, F. J., biog. of, 589.
Marshall, G. W., biog. mention, 771.
Marshall, J. Y., biog. of, 507.
Marshall, Lieut W. L.. explor. of,
362.
Martial law, Colo, proclamation of,
448, 514.
Martin, Thomas S., ' Narrative ' of, 62.
Martyr, G. De L., biog. of, 652.
Marysville mines, discov. of, 506.
Mather, Eugene B., biog. of, 792.
Mauk, A. L., mention of, 789.
Maxwell grant, see Beaubien grant.
Maxwell, J. P., biog. of, 579.
May, David, biog. of, 624.
Mayfield, Wm, murder of Blackburn,
107.
McAllister, H., biog. of, 600,
IMcAvoy, J. A., biog. of, 787.
McBrown, I. K, biog. of, 385.
McCarty, Wm, biog. of, 789-90.
McCaslin, M. L , biog. of, 309.
McCook, Gov. E. M., app'tment of,
etc., 4.30-7.
McCoy, <J. W., biog. of, 649.
McCray, A. J., biog. of, 790.
McDougal, G., exped. of 1885, 64-5.
McDougal, J. H., mention of, 90.
McDougall, George, mention of, 00.
McFerran, Judge W. B.,_biog., 001-2.
McGaa, Wm, biog. of, 372.
Mcllvoy, D. D., biog. of, 615.
McKay, Thomas, mention of. 45.
McLaughlin, C. H., biog. of, 571.
McLaughlin, P., the Comstock dis-
cov., 100 et seq.
McMarlin, James, mention of, 74, 70.
Mc\Villia.ns, J. \V., biog. of, 208.
Meek, Joseph, mention of, 43^.
Meeker, N. C, app'tment and murder
of, 473-5.
Meek, Stephen, mention of, 4.3-4.
Meldrum, J. M., defeat, election,
1882, 750.
INDEX.
MeMrum, N. H., elected zee. of state,
448.
Mercer, A. S., biog. of, 798.
Merchant, Harmou, biog. of, 654.
Meredith, Henry, death of, 212.
Merrill, Homer, biog. of, 789.
Merritfc, Colo, relief of, Ute war, 475.
M^saco., Colo, hist, of, 028.
'MeTcaa ' mine, support system of,
112. cave in of, 113.
Mexijo, Colo boundary, settlement of,
1819, 348.
Meyers, W. H., lieut-gov., 449.
Mighels, Henry, biog. of, 170.
Mighels, R. H., defeat of, election
1878, 193.
Miles, Col, battle with Sioux, June
1876, 778; captures Ind. supplies,
etc., 780.
Mdes, A. H., biog. of, .385.
Milheim, John, biog. of, 385.
Military, Nev., 1861-3, 181; Colorado
posts and stations, 1847-57, 359-
60; 1865-6, 469; troops organized
1831, 420; hist, of the 1st reg't
421-3; 2d regiment, 42.3-4; 3d regi
ment, 424; militia in Ind. service,
1834, 431; Wyoming, stations
tab. 1816, 688; post commanders,
1867, list. 724.
Millard CO., creation of, 72.
Miller, C. F., biog. of, 805.
Mdler, C. P., biog. of, 627.
Miller, Isaac C, biog. of, 789.
Miller, Joseph, mention of, 679.
Miners' League of Storey co., organ-
ization of, etc., 131-2.
Miners' Protective association, organ-
ization of, 130.
Mining, Xev., geology of great basin,
64-7; great basin, minerals of, 20-1;
gold discovery, 1859, 86; geol. and
config. of Comstock lode, 92-3;
early gold mining, Nev., 93; the
Grosch silver discov., 1853, 96; Com-
stock's discov., 98 et seq. ; claims
locatel, 103 et seq ; Hardin's dis-
cov., 1819, 103^; Reesa River dist,
103-^; Pobosi dist, 104; Washoe,
name, etc., 104; claims, etc., 105
etseq. ; qaartz law, 1859, 107-8; j
Gold hill mines, 109; mills and pro- |
cesses, 110 et seq.; processes and:
machinery. 111 et seq.; timbering j
system, etc., 112 et seq.; tailings,!
processes, etc., 116 et seq. ; descript. |
of mining terms, 121-2; litigation, j
etc., 122, 173; laws, 127, 177;
stock board organized, 1862, 129;
stocks, 129 et seq. ; temperature of
mines, table, 130; miners' wages,
130 et seq.; yield, etc., 132 et seq.,
stocks, rise and decline of, 137 et
seq.; yield of Comstock, 1881, 140;
Sutro tunnel, 141 et seq.; depths of
mines, 174-8; gjol. of Comstock,
149; litigation over, 173; t<'ixation,
194; mineral productions, etc., 201;
questionable value of mines, 224;
Comstock ethics, 225; coal, 241-2;
miscellaneous minerals, 242-3;
Reese river mines, 265; mineral
land, 253; White Pine mines, 277-9;
Eureka CO., 281-2; yield, 283; Es-
meralda county, 2.59; Elko county,
275-6; Lincoln co., 271; miners'
union, .304; legislation, 1887, 318,
320; Colorado geology, 3.30-2;
minerals, 332-3; gold discoveries,
1852, 363 et seq. ; prospecting
expeds, 364 et seq.; disappointed
gold-seekers, 1859, 374-5; gold dis-
coveries, 1859, 376; Gregory's dis-
covery, 377-9; laws adopted, 1859,
378; yield and finds, 1859, 379;
mines of Gilpin county, map, 380;
other finds, 1859, 381 et seq.; atCal.
gulch, etc., 1860-1, 398-7; mining
ditch, 1859, 397; mills, etc., 1860,
398; production, 1859-60, 419;
placers, production and decline
of, 482; quartz-mills, 483; processes,
484; yield, 484-5; silver discov.,
485-6, 492; Colorado Smelting co.,
486; lead, 486-7; management of
mines, 488-9; mines and mdls, 494;
San Juan mining dist, map, etc.,
495; diamonds, 497; surrender of
Ute reserve, 501; mining in, 501-3;
Cal. gulch, new discov. in, 504 et
seq.; smelting, 508; miners' strike,
513; smelters, Leadville, 1879, 516;
prospecting, Gunnison countr}-, 516
etseq; coal discov., 1877, 522-3;
silver and gold discov "s, 1879, 523;
geology of Gunnison mines, 524;
national mining exposition. 565;
Chaffee county, 581-90; Silver Cliff
dist, 596-7; Gilpin co., 610; sum-
mary of, 639-40; yiebl, 1886-7. 645;
Wyoming geology, 663; De Smet's
gold discov., 686^7; early prospect-
ing, 695; gold di«cov. by RevnoMs,
etc., 700: gold discov., 1867, 730;
quartz, 733; Custer's mineral report,
773; Black hills, attempts to nur-
chase. etc., 774 et seq. ; coal, 785.
Mint. Nev., fnundincr, etc., of, 314;
Colorado, 428.
Mirage, Nev., mention of, 5.
829
INDEX.
Missionaries, Wyo., 1S34-9, 685-6.
Missouri Fur co., 677-8.
Mitchell, H. K., mention of, 142; de-
feat of, election, 1866, 188.
Mofifatt, D. H., biog. of 572.
Mojaves, Indians, Garces' visit to,
28-9.
Monahan, Deane, l>iog. of, 801.
Monetary commission, Nevada's share
in, 198 et scq.
Monheimer, J. H., biog. of, 625.
Montrose county, Colo, hist, of, 628.
Moonlight, Gov. T., app'tment, etc.,
of, 754.
Moore, M. R., biog. of, 586.
Morgan, C. S., biog. of, 801.
Morgan, G. T., biog. of, 800.
Morgan, T. G., biog. of, 269.
Morgan exploring exped., 67.
Mormon battalion, Colo, 357-9,
Mormon cave, Nev., descript. of, 4.
Mormons, Nev., settlements of, 65-6,
68; in Carson valley, 78; exodus of,
80; discov. of Potosi mines, 104;
legislation against, 317; in Wyo-
ming, 694, 696.
Morrisites, Wyo., 703.
Morrison, Geo. H., biog., etc., of,
316.
Morrison, J. H., biog. of, 3S4.
Morrison, S. B., biog. of, 384.
Morrissey, J. D., biog. of, 508.
Mott, Judge G. N., app'tment of, 157,
106; elected delegate to cong., 1862,
176; resignation of, 173.
Mottsville, mention of, 72.
Mount Vernon, founding of, 380-1.
Mountain City, founding of, 382.
Moynahan, James, biog. of, 573.
Muukers, G. W., biog. of, 728-9.
Murat, H., biog. of, 371.
Murdock, N. E., mention of, 254.
Murphy company in Nevada, 1844,
59-60.
Murphy, M. H., mention of, 795.
Musser, Delegate J. J., election of,
90.
Myers, J. W., biog. of, 786.
N
Nagle, E., biog. of, 806.
Na'nes of persons (early pioneers, etc.),
Nev., member of ter'l gov't meet-
in t 18.")7. 82: coTimitteos for govt,
]«."S8. S3; officials and candidates,
eb'ction 1S58. 85; early settlers,
8f»: mining locators u]) to .Sent..
1859, 105-6; locators Gold Hill
mines, 109; councilman, represen-
tatives, etc., 1861, 158-9; 1862-3.
177; county commissioners, 1861-2,
162; Lake co. officers, 164; early
school-teachers, etc., 168; members,
state conven, etc., 1863, 179; 1864;
180; volunteer officers, 1863, 181-2;
state officens, 1864, 184; 1868-70,
189-90; 1874-5, 191-2; 1878-9,
193-4; members legisl., 1865, 185;
Ormsby's Indian rangers, 209 et
seq. ; road and railroad owners, etc.,
232-3; railroad incorporators, 238 et
seq. ; stock-raisers, 247-8; clergy-
men, 293-301; Colorado members
Escalante's explf>r. party, 339-40;
residents of Pueblo, 1846-7, 358;
early prospecting parties, 364 et
seq.; Cherokee prospecting party,
1858, 364-5; founders of Denver,
369; mine discoverers, 1859, 379;
town founders, 1859, 381; Arkansas
valley settlers, 387 et seq. ; Colorado
city, town, co., 389-90; Canon city
founders, 391—4; Fremont co. set-
tlers, 394; Pueblo pioneers, 394-5;
residents Cal. gulch, 1860, 396;
pioneers at Granite, 397; county
commissioners, etc., 1859, 402; con-
stit. convention delegates, 1860,
405; ter. officials of Jefferson, 1860,
406; ter. officers, 1861, 413; grand
jury, 1861, 414; members legisl.
18(31, 416; councilmen 2d session,
420; mendjers constit. conven.,
lSo4, 431; 1876, 433; judiciary,
18o5-75, 4.39-40; 1876, 445-6; other
state officials, etc., 440-3; state
officers, 187(), 444-5; 1886, 647;pres.
electors, 1884, 452; the Sand creek
participants, 467; immigrants to
Montana, 483; mines and mill
owners, 4S3-4; silver discoverers,
49;i-4; bankers, and officials of
Leadville, 511-12; explorers of
Gunnison CO., 516 et seq. ; journal-
ists, 527-32; Denver officials, 1861,
549; Pioneer association, 571; pio-
neers Boulder co., 575-80; Ciiatfee
CO. pioneers, 583 et seq. ; Silver
Cliff officials, 1879-81. 598; Gilpin
CO. pioneers, 615; settlers Golden
city, 620-1; pioneers of Pueblo co.,
633 et seq.; WvomiuT. Missouri
fur companv. 677-8; earlv trappers,
6S1; milit. officers, e+c . 1847. 689,
69S; miners. 1S6S. 732; Cheyenne
founders, e^c , 731-5; Liraniic co.
officials. 1867. 737: ter. offici-.1s,
1869, 741; members Icgis. 1870,
INDEX.
821
743; connty officials, 744; Cheyenne '■
officials, ISiiO, 74(5; judiciary, 747-
8; officials Hoyt and Thayer's ad-
niiuist., 751-2, ter. officials, 1884, 1
753; officials Moonlighc's adininist. ; !
754; university regents, 761;
members Doane's exped. 1873, 769;
Uinta CO. jjioneers, etc., 784-6;
Wind river valley, 787; Carbon co., 1
788; Cheyenne e liters, 7!'8-9. |
Natrona county, Wyo., 758.
Nevada, general discript. of, 1 et seq. ; '
origin of name, 23, 150; earliest ex-
plorations of, 26 et seq. ; first Euro-
pean in, 27; maps of, 27, 28, 30-6;
immigration through, 54; first set-
tlements, 1849, 6-5-6; organization
of Deseret, 66; organization of ter.,
etc., 82 et seq.; Comstock mines,
92 et seq.; area and boundaries,
151 et seq.; organization of ter.,
1861, 157; election 1861, 158; ter.
seal, 161; the silver question, 198 et
seq.; transportation, etc., 226 et
seq.; general condition, 1883-6,
285; finances of, 1871-88, 310 et
seq.; politics, 1862 et seq., 176;
admission as state, 179; state seal,
180; loyalty to union, etc., 1861-5;
181 et seq.
Nevada Central R. R., 238-9.
Nevada, Colo, founding of, 380-1.
Nevada silver association, organiza-
tion of, 200. ,
Nevada and Oregon Narrow Gauge R.
R., 240.
Nevers, S. A., biog. of, 81.
New Mexico, Colo boundary line,
1868-9, 498-900.
New river, see Reese river.
Newspapers, Nev., hist, of, 169; list
and founders of, 305-8; Colorado,
527; Leadville, 515; Wyoming,
'Sweetwater mine,' 732; Cheyenne
Argus, Leader, and Rocky Moun-
tain Star, 735; Laramie city, 794;
Cheyenne, 798-9.
Nickerson, H. G., biog. of, 768.
Nidever, George, explor., etc., of, 39-
41 ; battle with Blackfeet, 40; with
Shoshones, 42-3.
Niles, Surveyor H. W., election of,
1854, 76.
Noble, Lieut, defeat of, 218.
Noble, Worden, biog. of, 732.
Nomenclature, Nevada, 23.
North. Judge J.W.,app't'dsurv.-gen.,
1861, 157-8; app'tment and decis-
ions of, 173; resignation_of. 174.
North American fur co., 679-80.
Northern mystery, mention of, 32.
Northington, B. F., biog. of, 790.
Nuckolls, E., biog. of, 622.
Nuckolls, Delegate S. F., election of,
743.
Nuestra, Senora laa Nieves, Colo,
Escalante at, 340.
Nye, Gov. James W., boundary ad-
dress of, 153; app'tment of, 157;
elected senator, 186-7; defeat of,
187.3, 190-1.
Nve, M. C, mention of, 47.
Nye CO., Nev, hist, of, 269.
Oakes, D. C, biog., etc., of, 367, 373
Obiston.F. F., biog. of, 592.
O'Brien, Maj. N. J., biog. of, 715.
O'Brien, W. S., Con. Virginia pur-
chase, 134 et seq.; biog., 135.
O'Connor, Dr J. W., biog. of, 584.
Ogden, P. S., biog. and explorations
of, 36-37.
Ohmertz, Miss Millie, biog., 584.
Od-basins, Wyo., 804.
Olds, John, mention of, 73.
Olds, L., mention of, 73.
Olerichs, Harry, biog. of, 801.
'Ophir,'mine discov., etc., of, 98 et
seq.; timbering system of, 113 et
seq.; lawsuits, etc., of, 122 et seq.;
yield, 132.
Oregon battalion, 689.
Oregon immigration, route of, 60;
Scott- Applegate co., 62; map of
route, 63.
O'Riley, Peter, the Comstock discov. ,
100 et seq.; biog. and death, 107.
Ormsby, Maj., Indian battle of, 210;
death of, 211.
Ormsby, W. M., memorial of, 83.
Ormsby co., Nev., railroad troubles
of, 236-7; hist, of, 255.
j Oro city, Colo., see Leadville.
I Osborn, W. B., biog. of, 626.
Osburn, J. A., member Ophir co., 105.
' Otis, H. G., founds Central, 382.
I Ouray, Ind. chief, biog. of, 473.
I Ouray co., hist, of, 629.
Outcalt, J. B., mention of, 618.
Overland Telegraph co., 231.
Overland Traffic, Colo, 398-400.
Pacific Coast Pioneer society, 305.
822
Il-TDEX.
Pacific Telcgrapli co., 555-7.
Paoilic Wooil, Lumber, aud Flume co.,
'288 9.
Pail.Uufortl, G. F., settlement of
Elko, 27 G.
Pah Utes, Inds, hostilities of. 1857,
200 et seq. ; reservation of, 221.
Palmer, J. A., settlement of Carlin,
27(5.
Pattee, J. M.. Wyo. lottery, 745.
Palmer, (reii. W. J., R. R. enterprises,
etc., of, oo^-'), GOO; bioj;., G03-t.
Paris exposition, Nev. mmeral speci-
muns at, 305.
Park CO., Colo, hist, of, G29.
Parker, C. M., biog. of, G.')G-7.
Parkinson, Controller R. W., election
of, 188.
Parks, golil discovd by, Colo, 3G4.
Parsons, prospecting exped. of, 519-
20.
Patio mining process, descript., 117.
Patterson, A. H., biog. of, G2G.
Patterson, E. H. F., silver discov. of,
493.
Patterson, Delegate T. M., election
of, 1874, 437; defeat of, election
1878, 449.
Patcie, biog. of, .352.
Patton, R. F., bravery of, 716.
Paul, A. B., sec. sanitary commis.,
182.
Paul, Henry, biog. of, 616.
Pauly, P. .J., biog. of, 651.
Payne, Capt., battle with Utes, 474-7.
Pease co., Wjo., boundary of, 784.
Peck, Geo., biog. of, 3G6.
Penitentiary, Nev., hist, of, 314-15;
Wyo., 745.
Penrod, Emanuel, the Comstock dis-
cov., 101 etseq. ; mention of, 107.
Penrod, Comstock, & Co., mine of,
etc., 103.
Peralte, battle at, 423.
Pesse, E. L., defeat, election 1878,
750.
Peters, T. W., biog. of, 801.
PetriKeil forest, Nev., 4.
Physical features, Nev., descript. of,
6 et seq.; Colo, 323-4, 333-6; Wyo.,
659-71.
Pierce, .J., mention of, 553.
Pierson, Capt., battle with Pah Utes,
206.
Pierson, O. H., mention of, 86, 90,
108.
Pigeon rancho, battle at, 422-3.
Pike, Z. M., explorations of, 344 et
sen.
Pike 8 Peak, discov. of, 345.
Pile, Gov., prospecting party of, 500.
Pioche, F. L. A., meutiun of, 272.
Pioche, Nev., settlement, etc., of,
272.
Pioche and Bullion ville R. R., 239.
Pioneer Stage line, organization of,
227.
Pitkin, Gov. F. W., election and biog.
of, 448; defeat of, senatorial election
188:J, 451-2.
Pitkin CO.. Colo, hi.st. of, 630.
Pitt, Thomas, mention of, 74.
Placerville and Humboldt Telegraph
CO., 230.
Plans, see maps.
Playter, J. H., biog. of, 624-5.
Plumas CO., Cal., jurisdiction troubles
of, 164. _
Politics, Nev., elections, Carson co.,
1854, 76; Id., 18.'36, 78; 1859, 89-
90; 1861, 158; 1862, 176; for state
conven 18G3, 177-8; 1864, 180-
4; 1866, 188; 18G8 and 1870, 189;
1874, 191-2; 1876, 192; 187S, 193;
1880, 203-4; Mormons and anti-
Mormons, 84-5; state convention,
177 et seq.; party split, 178-9; stite
admission, 1864, 190; 1861-5, 181
etseq.; republicans, Nev., victory
of, 1868, 18y; defeat of, 1870, 189-
91; election, 1876, 192; 1878, 193;
legislative majorities of, 198; de-
feat of, 203-4; senatorial elections,
1865, 186-7, 1873, 190-1; demo-
crats, defeat of, 1868, 189; victory
of, 1870, 189-91; election, 1876,
192; 1878, 193; victory of, 203^;
1886-7, 320-1; Colorado elections,
at Auraria, 1860, 403; 1862, 429;
1874, 436-7; 1876, 442-5; 1878, 449;
1884, 452; 1886, 647; constit. con-
vention, etc., 1860, 404 ec seq : re-
publicans, victory of, election,
1861, 416; convention 1861, 415-16;
politics, 1801-86, 426-54; demo-
crats, organization of, 1862, 429;
victory of, 1874, 433-7; Wyoming,
women's rights in, 746; elections,
time fixed for, 748; Laramie county,
olectiou, 1867, 7.37; 1870, 742-3;
elections for delegate, 1870-84,
749-50.
Pollock, I. .T., biog. of, 623.
Pomeroy, Justin, biog. of, 785-6.
Pony express, 213, 228, 399.
Populaticm, Xev., 1860-1. 167 et seq.;
Lincoln county, 273: Colo, census,
1860. 414; 1876, 44<;; Wyoming, 7S3.
Post. Delegate M. E.. biog. of, 7.34;
election, etc., of, 750.
DTDEX.
823
Potosi Mining co., litigation of, 173. | Reynolds, James, robberies of, 18G4,
Powell, in the Cole divorce case, 74. I 425.
Powell, Maj. J. W., explor. of Gun- Reynolds, Capt. W. F., explor. of,
nison country, 517; lud. battle of, 1859, 699, 7U0.
I Rhodes, L. R., biog. of, 655.
I Rice, J., biog., etc., of, 633.
' Richards, J. \V., biog. of, 385.
j Richardson, A. I)., mention of, 382.
Richardson, S., Gunnison exped. of,
etc., 519 et seq.
Rickman, Robert, mention of, 47.
Riley, Capt., niilit. exped. of, 351.
Riling, John, biog. of, 623.
Riner, C. W., biog. of, 805.
Rio Buenaventura my.stery, mention
of, 34.
Rio Grande county, Colo, hist, of,
632.
125.
Pray, A. W., mention of, 254.
Preble, C. S., important advice of,
252.
Public buildings, Nev., 314 et seq.;
Colo, 606-8.
Pueblo, Colo, residents of, 1846-7,
358; founding of, 394-6; hist, of,
630-3.
Pueblo county, Colo, hist, of, 630.
Parsley, James, gold discov. of, 347.
Putnam, C. A. V., elected state
printer, 191.
Pyramid lake, descript. of, 12; dis-
Quivira, mention, of, 32-3.
Railroad builders' fort, cut, 733.
Railroads, Xev., 232 et seq.; fares
and freights, 234^5; interstate com-
merce bill, 318-19; business and
of, 552 et seq. ; map, 556; progress,
1886-8, 646; Wyo., construction.
etc., of, 733, 804.
Raynolds, Capt. W. F., explor. of,
765-6.
Ractor, William, map of, 1818, 33-4,
Red Cloud, Ind. chief, 718, 769.
Redding, Johu, mention of, 72.
Reel, A. H., biog. of, 806.
Reese, .John, mention of, 67, 73; trad
covery of, 1844; 58; battle of, 209 , Rische, biog. of, 507.
et seq. Rivers (see also Physical Features),
Kev., descript. of, 14-16; Colo,
227-8.
Roads, ISTev., 1854, 227; 1856-9, 232;
Colo, 1859, 397; Wyo., 699.
Robinson, Lj'man, biog. of, 507-8.
Robertson, N., biog. of, 734.
Robison, G. B., assassination of,
448.
Robinson, Judge R., app'd boundary
comm'rs, 154.
Roche, Mayor, closes gamljling dens,
649.
progress of, 319-20; Colo, act for Rock Springs, Wyo., riot against
survey, 1853, 360; beginning, etc., ' Chinese, 1885, 753-4.
Rocky Mountain Fur CO., 680-1.
Rogers, W. B., biog. of, 654.
RoUandet, Edward, biog. of, 655.
Roller, W. W., biog. of, 582.
I Rollins, A. J., mention of, 71.
I Rooker, Airs, at Denver. 1858, 371.
I Rooney, S. R-, mention of, 29.3.
I Roop, Gov. S., election, etc., of, 90;
I mention, 164.
Roop CO., Xev., descript. of, 262.
ing-post, etc., 68-70; bridge fran- Rose, J. H., mention of, 72, 78, 80-1.
chise of, 72; explor. of route,
lawsuit of, 76.
Reese river, origin of name, 24.
Reithmann, Emile, biog. of, 654.
Rsithmann, J. J., biog. of, 372.
P».eithmann, L. D., biog. of, 372.
Reitz, Henry, biog. of, 372-3.
Religion, Xev., 29.3-.301; Colo, 560-4.
Reno, Major, Sioux campaicm, 778-9.
Reno, Xev. hist., etc., of, 255-6, 293,
315.
Republicans, see Politics.
Reynolds, Col, explor. of, .361
Rothwell, Dr E. J., biog. of, 657.
Routes, post, in Colo, 438.
Routt. Gov. J. L., appointment and
biog. of, 437; election of, 1876, 444;
disposal of school lands, 'V47-S.
Routt CO., Colo, hist, of, 635.
Rowell, C. J., biog. of, 507.
Roy, H. A., biog. of, 799.
Rudd, Anson. bio2. of, 393-4.
Ruff, Capt. C. T., establishes Fort
Keamv. 689-90.
Russell, W. G., exped., etc., of, 364-5;
journal. 373; biog., 379.
Re-7noMs. Genl. 'battle with Crazy Rus==ell. W. H.. mention of, 228.
Horse, 1876, 777. ■ Rutledge, T. W., mention of, 802.
INDEX.
Ryan, B. T., biog. of, 789.
Kyau, J. J., biog. of, G26.
S
Sabine boundary, arrangem't for, 343.
.Saguache to., Colo, liist. of, C3G.
Salaza, A. A., biog. of, ol>4.
Salida, town, hist, of, 584; map of and
vicinity, 585.
Salomon, F. Z., mention of, 371.
Salt Lake, descript. of, 11.
Salt Lake City, founders, mention of,
G5.
Sampson, A. J., biog. of, 444.
San Francisco Stock and Exchange
Board, organization of, 1862, 1*29.
San Francisco and Washoe R. R.,
233.
San Juan co., Colo, hist, of, 636.
Sau Juan mining district, map, 195.
San Miguel co., Colo, hist, of, 637.
Sanborn, Gen., Ind. treaty of, 1865,
468.
San<l creek affair, Colo, 468 et seq.
Sangree de Cristo grant, see Beau-
bien grant.
Sanitary fund, contributions to, Nev.,
182.
SanU F6 trail, 350-2.
Sarpey, P. A., biog. of, 353.
Sawyer, E. H., mention of, 608.
Schleier.G. C, biog. of, 369.
Schnitger, Gustave, biog. of, 796.
School laud. Colo, legisl. on, 447.
Schussler, H., survey of, 257.
Scott, J. D., gold discov. of, 376.
Scott J. H., mention of, 71, 73.
Scott, Levi, e.xplor. of, 62.
Scott Bluffs, descript. of, 693.
Seal, territorial, Nevada, 161; Colo,
state, 418.
Sears, H. D., mention of, 76.
Sears, J. P., biog. of, .384.
Sea, inland, Nev., supposition of,
10-11.
Seavy, M. M., biog. of, 385.
Seaton mine, mention of, 485.
Serre, M., in Bonneville's party, 681.
Sessions, D. R., mention of, 316.
Sharon, Senator Wm, withdraws sen-
atorial contest, 1873, 190-1; elec-
tion of, 1875, 191-2; biog. of, 204;
R. R. built by, 236-7.
Shattuck, J. C biog. of, 445.
Sheldon. M., biog., etc., of, 63.3.
Sheridan co., Wyo., 758.
Sheridan, Gen., Ind. reserve orders,
1874, 774.
Sheridan, town, hist, of, 793.
Slierinantown, descript. of, 280-1.
Sherrer, Jacob, biog. of, 6.")4.
Shoslioues, Indians, Nidever's battle
with, 42-3.
Shute, Rufus, biog. of, 622.
Sibley, Gen., milit. movements of,
1861, 421 et seq.
Sides, R. D., co. treasurer, 1854, 76.
Sierra de la GruUa, Escalante names,
340.
Silver congress, Denver, 1885, 451.
Simpson, Capt. J. H., mention of, 24,
699.
Sinclair, William, mention of, 40-1.
Sioux, hostilities of, 1854, 709; Har-
ney defeats, 1856, 710; 1867, 724;
war with, 1876, 777 et seq.; removal
of, 781.
Sitting Bull, Ind. chief, battle with
Crook, June, 1876, 778; Custer,
778-9; in British possessions, 780.
Six-mile canon, mining camps in, 95.
Skerritt, Thomas, biog. of, 384-5.
Skull valley, origin of name, 23-4.
Slack, A. E., biog. of, 798.
Slingerland, Lt-gov. J. S., election of,
188.
Slough, Col, resignation of, 423.
Smedley, Wm, biog. of, 655.
Smith, A. J. mention of, 402.
Smith, Capt. E., mention of, 750.
Smith, E. B., biog. of, 484.
Smith, H. P. A., resolution of, 404.
Smith. J. R., biog. of, 793.
Smith, J. S., explorations of, 38-9.
Smith, Martin, memorial of, 1858, 83.
Smith, P. L., biog. of, 789.
Smith, Maj. S. P., Ind. vict. of, 220-1.
Smith, Win, Inrl. massacre of, 768.
Smoke, Mrs, mention of, 371.
Smythe, S. S., biog. of, 656.
Sness, Henry, biog. of, 655.
Snyder, A. C., mention of, 800.
Snider, E. N., biog. of, 790.
Snyder, J. R., mention of, 60.
Snyder, J. W., mention of, 800.
Society, Nev., first marriage, ball, and
divorce, 73; Mormon plan of, 1856,
79; gambling penalties, etc., 1861,
162; crime, 167, 171-2, 291-2: Chi-
nese, 292; education, 292-3; religion
and churches, 293-301; benevolent
societies, 301 ; fraternal societies,
302; libraries, 303; sciences, 3C5;
newsjjapers, 305-8; Colo, crime,
1860-3, 408-10, 412, 512-13; general,
567-70; summary of, 641-2; Wyo.,
crime and vig. committee, Chey-
enne, 738.
INDEX.
Solomon. Dr J., biog. of, 657. '
Sopris, Richard, biog., etc., of, 368, |
38-2. _ ;
South Pass city, founding of, 731. i
Southard, Samuel, biog. of, 639. ,
Spiulding, C. W., mention of, 795. j
Spencer, Samuel, wan .rings of, 350.
Spickeman, A. H., mention, 622.
Spink, Delegate S. L., election of,
1868, 739.
Springmeyer, Senator, mention of, 290.
Squires, Al., mention of, 73. |
St Vrain, Col C, biog., 353.
Sta^e lines, Nev., 1857-9, 227 etseq. ;
Colo, 399-400.
Stable, E. F., biog. of, 805.
StaUcup, J. C., biog of, 573.
Stan dart, S. H., biog. of, 573.
Stanford, Leland, railroad affairs of,
232.
Stanley, R. K., biog. of, 624.
Stansbury, Capt. H., mention of, 695;
explor. of, 764.
Stanton, I. X., biog. of, 635.
Statehood, Colo, efforts for, 1862-4,
430-1; admission, 432-3.
Stard, J. H., biog. of, 585-6.
Stebbins, Mart., mention of, 81.
Stedman, Dr A., biog. of, 657.
Steele, Gov. R. W., biog. of, 410.
Steele, Delegate W. R., elections and
defeat of, 1872-6, 749.
Steinberger, A., delegate to congress,
1858, 403.
Steptoe, Col, mention of, 24, explor.
of, 1854, 361.
Steptoe valley, origin of name, 24.
Stevens, Elisha, trip through Nevada,
59-60.
Stevens, W. H., mineral discov. of,
504-5.
Stevenson, C. C, gov. 1886, 320-1;
biog. of, 321.
Stewart, Capt., Indian victory of, 213
et seq.
Stewart, Frank, mention of, 100.
Stewart, .Sanator Wm M., pres. Sutro
Tunnel CO. , 142; att'y fees of, 127;
biog., etc., of, 174; secedes from
Union party, 178-9; election of, 1865,
186; 1887, 320; Idaho annexation,
317.
Stiles, Judge C P., appointment of,
76.
Stock-raising, Xev., 247; Colo, 543 et
seq.; first attempts, etc., cattle,
54:3-4; grasses, 544; laws, 545; cat-
tle companies, 545-6; sheep and
wool, 546-7; horses and mules, 547;
Wyoming, 802-3.
Stoddard, mention of, 793.
Stone, A. \V., judge, 1885, 440.
Stone, Judge \V. F., biog. of, 411;
election of, 446.
Storey, Capt., death and biog. of, 215.
Storey county, Nev., descript. of,
256-7; R. R. troubles of, 236-S.
Stowel, C. S., quartz-mill of, 494.
Strait, W. W., biog., etc., of, 633.
Streeter, Judge Rienzi, biog. of, 650.
Strike, Denver & R. G. R. R., 1885,
453.
Strock, D. D., biog. of, 615.
Sublette, W., mention of. 40, 683.
Sully, Gen. A., Indian victories, 1SG4,
714.
Summit county, Colo, hist, of, 637.
Sumner, E. C, biog. of, 385.
Sumner, Col E. V., defeats the Chey-
ennes, 711-12.
Sunderland, T., mention of, 236.
Sutro, Adolph, organization, etc., of
Sutro tunnel, 141 et seq.; defeat,
senatorial contest, 1875, 191-2.
Sutro tunnel co., organization, hist.,
etc., of, 141 et seq,
Swan, Delegate A. H., election and
biog. of, 750, 800.
Swan, W. R., biog. of, 805-6.
Swasey, W. F., mention of, 60.
Sweetwater co., Wyo., name, 744;
hist, of, 786.
Symes, G. R., congressmaji, 1884,
449-
Tabor, Senator H. A. W., at Cal.
gulch, 1860, 396; wealth of, 507;
biog. of, 508-9; elected lieut-gov.,
448.
Tahoe, lake, descript. of, 13; origin
of name, 24-5.
Talbot, Theodore, mention of, 62.
Talcott, M., mineral discov. of, 264.
Taylor. D. C. biog. of, 654.
Telegraph, Nev., 1861, 230; 186^-6,
231; Colorado, 555-8.
Teller, Senator H. M., election and
biog. of, 445; app't'd Sec. of Inte-
rior, 451; Ind. service of, 463.
Territorial organization (see also gov-
ernment and politics), Colo, 1861,
413; Wyo., efforts for, 739; admis-
sion, 740.
Terry, Gen., Soux campai.cpi, 778.
Teschmacher, H. E., biog. of, 801.
Thatcher, Justice H. C, election and
biog. of, 445.
I Thayer, Gov. J. M., app'tm't of, 750.
826
INDEX.
Thomas, John, mention of, GO.
Thomas, Rufus, mention of, GO.
Thombji, V. R., biog. of, Gli'i.
Thompson, Allen, biog. of, 805.
Thompson, H. S., mention of, 00.
Thompson, J. A., stage line of, 227.
Tliompson, James, mention of, 100.
Thorn burg, Capt., death, etc., of,
474-7.
Thornburg battle-ground, map, 475.
Thornton, H. I., mention of, 101.
Thorrington, W. B., mention of, 73;
e.xecution, etc., of, 84.
Tilton, Virginia, Virginia City named
for, 1G8.
Timpanogos river, descript. of, 15.
Tooele Co., creation of, 72.
Topography, great basin, descript. of,
1 et seq.
Towns, Nev., founded by Mormons,
185G, 70; hist., etc., 253 et seq.;
Colo, birth of, 380-2; founded,
1S8G-7, G44.
Townsend, U. S. marshal, mention of,
427.
Trading posts, Nev., 66 et seq.; Colo,
354-6.
Treasure Citj', descript. of, 280.
Trefen, Rev. J. L., Methodist Mining
CO., 205.
Tritle, F. A., defeat of, 1870, 100.
Truckee river, mention of, IG.
Tucker, A. VV., biog. of, 615-16.
Tucker, L. R., LeadviUe riot, 514.
Tucker, explor. of, 388.
Tuffy, G., treasurer, 322.
Tiilloch, James, mining convention
of, 118.
Turner, Judge G., app't'd chief just.,
18G1, 157, lOG; resignation of, 174.
Tutt, Lieut J. W., mention of, 207-8.
Tuttle, J. E., biog. of, 806.
U
744;
Uinta CO., Wyo., creation of,
hist, of, 784-6.
Uintah mountains, descript. of, 8.
Uncompahgre agency, map, 478.
Uncompah^re co., see Ouray co.
Union Pacific R. R., Colo, 552.
Union ville, Nev., founding, etc., of,
263^.
United States an I Mexico Telegraph
CO., 557-8.
Utah lake, descript of, 12.
Urah territory, division of, 72.
Utah, western, see Nevada and Car-
Utc reservation, treaty releasing por-
tion, 1873, 301.
Ute Inds, removal of, etc., 450; ter-
ritory tribes, etc., of, 470; raids
f)f, etc., 1SG3, 471; councils with,
1865-6, 471-2; treaty and head
chief, 186S-75, 472; devastations,
etc., of, 1876, 473; war with, 474-
8; Thornburg battle-ground, map,
475; treaty, 1878, 479-81.
Van Deren, A. J., biog. of, 484.
Van Sickle, Henry, mention of, 7.3,
76.
Valleys, Colo, 329.
Verendrey, S. De la, expcd. of, 1743-
4, 674.
Vickers, W. B., mention of, 347.
Vidal, Louis P., biog. of, 787.
Vigilance committees, see Crime.
Virguiia City, founding, etc., of, 108;
population, etc., 167-8; hist, and
descript. of, 257.
Virginia Consolidated Mining co.,
mill of, 118; hist, of, 1.33 et seq.;
output of, etc., 137; taxation of,
19G.
Virginia and Truckee R. R. co., sub-
sidy to, etc., 195, 2.36-8.
W
Wasatch mountains, descript. of, 9.
Waid, O. C, biog. of, 806.
Waldheimer, M. J., biog. of, 573.
Walker, E. T., democratic rioter,
649.
Walker, Capt. R., trapping exped.,
41. 44; in Bonneville party, 681.
Walker, Joseph, party of, mention,
62.
Walker lake, descript. of, 12-13.
Walker river, descript. of, 15.
Walrod, A., biog. of, 367.
Walsh, James, purchase of Comstock,
mining sliarc, etc., 105-6.
Walton, R., mention of, 254.
Wanless, John, defeat, election 1870,
749.
Ward, .Tudge J. S., mention of, 164.
Warren. Gov. F. E., app'tment, etc.,
of, 75.3-4; biog., 754.
Warren, Lieut G. K., explor. of, 361,
765.
Warren, G. W., mention of, 254.
Washburne, H. D., explor. of, 361.
INDEX.
827
Washington co., creation of, 72.
Washoe co., Nev., hist, of, 255-6.
Washoe lake, waters of, 14.
Washoe mines, name, 104.
Washoes, Ind, troubles, etc., with,
206-7.
Wasson, Warren, Incl. agent, 216.
Water rights, Xev.,_ininmg and other
purposes, 1855, 77.
Watkins, R. G., Ind. battle of, 211.
Watt, CuUen, biog. of, 792.
Weatherlow, Wm, app't'd Ind. com-
mis., 209.
Webb, E. H., biog. of, 582. __
Webb, Josei)h, mention of, 72.
Webber, X. T., biog. of, 792. _
Weber, Charles, mention of, it.
Weber co., creation of, 72.
Weber river, descript. of, 15-
Weld, secretary, removal and death
of, 427.
Weld CO., Colo, hist, of, 638.
Wells, E. T., judge, 440, 445 ^
Wells, Geo., 'Book of Deeds, Mb.,
101.
Wells, J. H., biog. of, 650.
Wells, R. C, mention, 622.
Wenban, Simeon, biog. of, 282.
Wenzell, C. H., biog. of, 625.
Wessels, Gen. H. W., mention of, /24.
Western Utah, see Nevada and Car-
son CO.
Westonn, Eugene, biog. of, 394.
^Vheaton, Gen., Ind. peace proposals,
Wheeler, B. A., biog. of, 653.
Wheeler, B. C, biog. of, 651.
Wheeler, F. A., biog., 623.
Wheeler, Geo. M., explor. of Colo,
.362, 519.
Whitaker, Bishop, efforts to promote
education, 293.
Whitcomb, E. W., biog. of, 800.
White, D. D., mention of, 483.
White, James, the Comstock discov.,
White Pine co., Nev., hist, of, 277.
Whitsitt, R. E., biog. of, 369.
AViggin, 0. P., biog. of, 3o3.
Wilkinson, Gen., Pike's exped., 344.
Williams, A. J., biog. of, 368; men-
tion of, 543.
Williams, B r>., resolution of, 404;
election, 1861, 416.
Williams, Bill, mention of, 62. _
Williams, E., wanderings of, ^^■
Williams, Evan, biog., etc., of, 22o,
■290.
Williams, Ezekiel, explor. of, 180/,
676-7.
I Williams, J. A., mention of, 76.
1 Williams, T. H., defeat, senatorial
i contest, 1874, 191-2.
I Williamson, G. R., biog. of, 309.
' Wilson, A. D., explorations ot Colo,
499.
i Wilson, B. F., biog. of, 269.
1 Wilson, C. F., biog. of, 623.
1 Wilson, P. S., biog. of, 652.
! Wilson, W. S., biog. of, 'zC6.
i Winnemucca, Ind. chief, 208; trou-
bles with, 219-20.
Winnemucca lake, descript. of, 13.
Winnemuccas, Inds, hostilities of, i:09
ot 360. ^. .
Winterbotham's History, mention ot,
33
Winters, J. D., the Comstock discov.,
Withrow, Chase, biog. of, 615.
Witter, Daniel, biog. of, 572.
WolfskiU party, mention of, 39.
Womack, S. P., discov. ot Seaton
mine, 493.
Wood, F. J., biog. of, 589.
Woodburu, W., congressman, Ibbb,
.320. ^ ^^^
Woodruff, J. D., biog. of, /b7.
Woodward, mail contract ot, J.ib.
Woodwar.l, A., mention of^ 69.
Wooten, R., mention of, 3/1.
Workman, J., wanderings ot, 3oO-l.
Worrall, C. C, biog. of, 6o6.
Worthington, Congressman i±. ^.,
election of, 184. _
Wren Thos, defeat, senatorial elec-
tion, 1880, 204.
Wright, A., biog. of, o/6.
Wrioht, ^Vm, writings of, 9o.
Wyeth, N. J., trapping exped. of,
682. ., ,
Wynkoop, Major, recovers Ind. pris-
oners, etc., 464-5.
Wyoming, hist, of, 659 et seq.; boun-
daries and surface, 659-71: early
explor. of, 672 et^eq.; settlement
and prospecting for gold 694; po-
lit social, and material affairs,
730 et seq; railroads, 733; name
and admission of, 18b»^ -IVJ,
finances of, 755; fucat.on, 61 Re-
sources and development, 1868-86,
783 et seq. ^_ _qq
Wvoraing Development CO., mO, /yy
802.
Yamajabs, see Msjaves^
Yates, J. E., biog. of, /9o.
S28
INDEX.
Yellow hills, (leacript. of, 8.
Yellowstone hike, descript., 665.
Yellowstone national park, map, etc.,
770.
Yellowstone river, ilescript., 664.
Young, Brigliain, the Potosi mines,
104; in Wyoming, 1848, 694.
Young L. M., mention of, 73.
Youuker, J. T., biog. of, 366-7.
1 Zweck, George, biog. of, 649.
2557