USA > Colorado > Larimer County > History of Larimer County, Colorado > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
Brusque, big-hearted Peter Turner, the founder and guardian spirit of Berthoud, builded better than he dreamed of when he erected the first frame cabin on the present site of the town, and it must be gratifying to him now to look back and note the changes that have since taken place; to glance up and down its busy streets and see the large well-filled blocks, the handsome homes, churches, schools and hotels that have clustered about that lonely spot on the open prairie which he named Berthoud thirty years ago. Mr. Turner is still living in the enjoy- ment of rugged health and loves to tell of the days when Berthoud was born. In the country immed- iately tributary to Berthoud there are annually pro- duced 500,000 bushels of wheat, 65,000 bushels of oats, 30,000 bushels of barley, 75,000 to 100,000 sacks of potatoes, thousands of tons of sugar beets, and from 40,000 to 50,000 tons of hay. The surplus of all these products, in addition to the tons and tons of fruits and vegetables, is sold on the streets of Berthoud and the money spent or banked in that town. The surplus hay is converted by the thrifty farmers into beef and mutton for the Eastern mar- kets. About 25,000 sheep and lambs and from 2,000 to 3,000 head of cattle are annually fattened in the feeding pens of the Little Thompson valley and mainly shipped and sold to Eastern consumers. The feeding and fattening of live stock helps to keep up the fertility of the soil and thus increase the yield of farm products and the value of the farms. Good farm land, having stable water rights, ranges in value from $100 to $200 per acre and very few of them are ever offered for sale.
The Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, Daughters of Rebecca, and several other secret fraternal orders are represented in Berthoud by flourishing lodges.
[196]
HISTORY OF LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
The bank of Berthoud, established in 1892, with T. C. Bunyan as President, does a large, safe and constantly increasing business. The First National Bank established in 1905 with Guy E. Loomis as Cashier, is also a stable and flourishing financial institution, while the Bulletin, an up-to-date weekly newspaper, furnishes mental pabulum and the current neighborhood news to the reading mem- bers of the community.
The following sketch of the early history of Berthoud is taken from the Berthoud Bulletin of December, 1910:
"The thriving little city of Berthoud is situated on the Colorado & Southern railroad in the south- east corner of Larimer county. The first store was started in old Berthoud in 1880 by Snyder & Grill. This was a general merchandise stock and was bought by J. Y. Munson & Company in 1881. In 1883 the stock of goods was moved to the pres- ent Berthoud and located in the building where J. H. McClung's meat market now is.
"The first blacksmith shop was started by W. C. Fenton's father on the lots where the U. B. church is situated. The second store was commenced by Bowman & Day where L. M. Walker has his pool hall. The first church that was organized was the Presbyterian, which held services in the building now occupied by M. D. Whipple as an office. The U. B. church erected the first church edifice which is now owned by the Baptist denomination and is in first-class condition. Berthoud's splendid public school was commenced in a two-room building on the ground which is now Sixth street. Afterward additional ground was purchased just west, and the new school building was erected where it is now. Since that time there has been an addition which doubles the capacity of the structure and gives Ber- thoud ample facilities in the school line.
"The pioneer lumber yard was started in 1886 and was purchased the next year by the Fairbairn Lum- ber Company, which is still doing business in town.
"The first newspaper was launched in July, 1890, and was known as the Blade, which name was after- wards changed to the Berthoud Bulletin. This paper has had a rival at times, but it was found that the field was too small for two papers, so the rival papers were moved elsewhere.
"The original grain business was commenced by F. A. Crane in the building where C. A .. Williams now has his garage. As this country has always been a great grain producing district the ware- house was entirely too small and the wheat in sacks
would often be piled two or three feet high from the depot to Mountain avenue, a distance of three hun- dred feet.
"At no time in its history would this town toler- ate a saloon for more than a year at a time. Some- times one would be started, but at the next election it would be voted out. As water is of prime neces- sity the people early, about 1887, put in what was known as the Berthoud Ditch and Reservoir water works at a cost of $12,000 to supply water for the town. Since that there has been expended $33,000, making the plant cost $45,000.
"The sewer system on which the health of the town depends was originated in 1900 and is known as the public sewer, which starts one mile south of town and comes up Second street to Mountain avenue, then west to the Presbyterian church. This sewer was constructed by J. B. Ware. Since that time there has been constructed nine district sewers and two sub-sewers. The entire cost of Berthoud's sewer system has been $12,000.
"Among the catastrophes of the early times was the fire of the Davis-Hartford Merchandise Com- pany, which burned them out entirely, but they re- built and are among our most prosperous merchants today. The next fire was the burning of a hotel on the east side of the railroad track. J. C. Shull con- ducted on Third street the pioneer restaurant in the town. Uncle Sam first had the mail delivered by Lewis Cross in the J. Y. Munson & Company's store, while the C. & S. railroad affairs at the depot were attended to by L. H. Kelly, one of the towns- men. These were some of the pioneers, and from their efforts and that of many others the hustling town has grown to its present size."
Churches of Berthoud
The Presbyterian church was organized in 1884. It was the second religious denomination to occupy the field in the town of Berthoud, then but four years old. The first pastor was Rev. John Wilson, and the present pastor is Rev. C. A. Wilson. The church has a membership of 85 and the value of church property is $6,000.
Christian Church .- This church was organized in 1894 with Rev. E. F. Harris as pastor. The name of the present pastor is Rev. M. P. Goody- kountz. The membership roll contains the names of 60 persons, and the church property is valued at $3,000.
[197]
HISTORY OF LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
Methodist Church .- Those of the Methodist Episcopal faith living in Berthoud and vicinity per- fected a church organization in 1902, and Rev. Rigdon was assigned to the pastorate by the Colo- rado Conference. There are now 70 members in the organization and Rev. W. J. Kidd is the present pastor. The church property is valued at $7,000.
Baptist Church .- This denomination perfected a church organization in 1904, with Rev. W. H. Whittier as its first pastor. There are now 46 members, and Rev. J. A. Partee ministers to the congregation. The value of church property is $2,000.
German Congregational Church .- This church was organized in 1909. It now numbers 100 members and the present pastor is Rev. J. H. Eckert. The first pastor was Rev. Peter Krejar. The church property is valued at $3,000.
United Brethren Church .- This organization was first known as the Little Thompson Mission and it was served by Rev. E. J. Lamb. Services were first held in the school house in old Berthoud, but soon after the completion of the Colorado Cen- tral railroad from Denver to Cheyenne, the congre- gation met in what is now the town of Berthoud. The U. B. is the first and oldest church organiza- tion in the Little Thompson valley. The first pastor, as appears by the record, was Rev. H. Arch- aret, who was appointed June 18, 1875, to take charge of the Big Thompson Mission. The present pastor is Rev. T. A. Reiser and the membership list contains the names of 192 persons. All the depart- ments of the church are well organized and doing efficient work.
Banks of Berthoud
The Berthoud National Bank .- This bank opened its doors for business on April 1st, 1892, and its nearly twenty years of usefulness has been pro- ductive of good results. It was started as a private institution by T. C. Bunyan, who is still its ex- ecutive head. It was incorporated as a National bank on November 16th, 1905, and opened for busi- ness as such on January 2nd, 1906. Its capital stock is fixed at $50,000 and its circulation amounts to $50,000. Its resources at the present time amount to $318,290.61, its deposits to $198,587.71, and its surplus and profits to $18,897.79. The officers and directors of the bank are: President, T. C. Bun- yan; Vice-President, Thos. Kerley; Cashier, John Bunyan; Assistant Cashier, J. A. Bunyan.
National Bank of Berthoud .- This bank was chartered and opened for business in 1905, with a
full paid capital stock of $25,000, with Guy E. Loomis filling the position of cashier. Its resources at the present time amount to $74,805.78; its de- posits to $40,935.86, and its surplus and profits to $3,220.92. The present officers and directors of the bank are: President, F. A. Bein; Cashier, Guy E. Loomis; L. H. Fagan and L. W. Hendershott.
Buckhorn Valley
The Buckhorn creek, from which the valley de- rives its name, heads in the foothills about thirty miles northwest of Fort Collins, flows a south- easterly course and empties into the Big Thompson river about eight miles west of Loveland. Before the country was settled up, the valley and the range of low, grass covered hills bordering the stream, was a favorite feeding ground for deer, antelope and mountain sheep. The stream no doubt takes its name from the numerous horns shed by the males of these animals that were scattered up and down the valley. In places the stream canons up and at others it widens out into grass covered meadows and parks and is one of the most beautiful of the small streams that flow out from the hills. The fine grazing grounds along its banks early attracted the attention of stockmen and they were the first to settle in the valley, and large herds of cattle were pas- tured there in the late 60's and early 70's. The land along the stream is now all taken up and occu- pied by thrifty farmers, whose well cultivated fields and orchards are in striking contrast with conditions as they prevailed when the first settlers located in the Big Thompson valley. I have been unable to learn the name of the first white settler in the Buckhorn valley or the date of his settlement. B. F. Milner and family probably made one of the first settlements, and he is still a resident of the valley. He was followed by George Lawrence who located on what is now known as the Neville place, a Mr. Oliver who lived on the place now owned by Samuel Steele, Buck Platt, S. H. Gransbury, and Alex McWhorter settled on the Thompson place. John C. Ish with a herd of cattle occupied what is now the Henderson place. Other early settlers were Joseph McFadden, C. C. Hayes, J. B. Fletcher, Hank Steward, William Trowbridge and George W. Buffum. These were all stockmen and beyond putting up hay, paid but little attention to cultivating the soil. Now there are many fine farms in the valley with comfortable dwellings and
[198]
HISTORY OF LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
outbuildings, good orchards and other evidences of progress and prosperity. Among the most notable of these are the farms of J. R. Mason, the Smith Brothers and others. C. G. McWhorter has one of the finest orchards in the county, from which in favorable seasons he derives a good income. He has been successful in growing peaches, for which he finds a ready home market.
Masonville is the trading point in the valley. Here is established a general store, postoffice, school house and other public conveniences. A church was erected there last fall and has since been duly dedi- cated. There is probably as much intelligence, cult- ure, wealth and comfort centered in the Buckhorn valley as can be found in the same limited suburban area in the State of Colorado.
Masonville Presbyterian Church
This church was organized October 10th, 1909, by Rev. Franklin Moore, with 20 members, and on February 18th, 1911, the corner-stone of an attract- ive place of worship was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The church building, completed, is estimated to cost $2,100. Christian work had been carried on in the Buckhorn valley for about 30 years, beginning with the organization of a Sunday school in 1880, with . Mrs. Elizabeth Carter as Superintendent. The school was conducted several years under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church, George E. Trowbridge being the local preacher. In the meantime the Dunkard denomina- tion conducted religious services in J. R. Mason's new barn, Rev. T. S. Flag being the preacher. In 1897 the Methodists temporarily abandoned the field and Rev. J. S. King, a Congregationalist, took charge of the work. In 1902, Rev. L. J. Lamb, a Methodist, served the little flock as pastor until death called him hence in 1903. The church was then supplied by Rev. L. C. Woodford for six months and he was succeeded by Rev. Pearl Symes who served the congregation for two years. Rev. R. S. Wallace, assistant pastor of the Fort Collins Baptist church, preached for the congregation in 1908. In June, 1909, Rev. Franklin Moore, former pastor of the Fossil Creek Presbyterian church, took charge of the work at Masonville and in October of that year organized a Presbyterian church. The congregation now supports a flourishing Sunday school and a Christian Endeavor society. The officers of the church are Pastor, Rev. Franklin
Moore; Ruling Elders, C. G. McWhorter, L. A. Sheldon and E. O. Smith; Trustees, Chas. Stobbe, Frank Nicodemus and J. H. Spence.
Redstone Valley
Redstone creek, a tributary of the Buckhorn creek and it in turn of the Big Thompson, rises in the mountains near Stove Prairie, about twenty miles west of Fort Collins. It flows in a southeasterly course and empties into the Buckhorn near Mason- ville. It derives its name from immense red sand- stone cliffs which line its banks for miles and the valley takes its name from the stream. In places the stream canons up closely and at other places the valley widens out into beautiful meadows, parks, groves of timber and cultivated fields, affording the visitor a variety of charming views and beautiful landscape scenes. The drive along the stream for ten or twelve miles is one of the most charming in the mountains. High, timber-covered hills rise to the east and to the west of the valley, whose sum- mits range from 7,000 to 7,500 feet above sea level. Horsetooth mountain, seen so plainly from the Plains, shows off to much greater advantage when seen from its western base, which rests in the Red- stone valley.
In the early days the Redstone valley and the grass covered slopes of the hills which encompass it on the east and on the west, was the favorite graz- ing ground of many herds of cattle and they waxed fat on the nutritious grasses found here. Sawmills came in later and stripped the hills of merchantable timber and hundreds of thousands of feet of pine timber were manufactured into lumber and then hauled to either the Fort Collins or Loveland markets. Here, also, in this secluded vale, a num- ber of families built themselves homes and engaged in stock raising, lumbering, mining, or timber haul- ing. Among the first of these were Ex-Sheriff James Sweeney, John Deaver, Adam Blackhurst, Nicholas Patterson, Albert Yale, Sam West, Ben Johnson, Miss Gloria Norcross, Lewellyn and Frank Bart- holf. But few of the original settlers of the valley are to be found there today, the most of them hav- ing moved either to Loveland or Fort Collins. Miss Gloria Norcross, a Virginia lady, who came there with her uncle, the late Nicholas Patterson, in 1879, has lived there the longest of any one as a continu- ous resident. The Redstone valley has been her home for 31 years and she has no desire to move away or to change her abode. Among the present
[199]
HISTORY OF
LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
residents of the valley are J. C. Brown, Des Ames, Bayard Thompson, Miss Norcross, William Night- ingale, Sr. and his son William Nightingale, Jr. and John Nightingale. William Nightingale, Sr. and family located in a beautiful park known as Happy Hollow, in 1883, and his brother John and
HORSETOOTH FALLS
family settled close by them in 1887. Happy Hol- low derives its name from an incident that occurred in the early 70's. A party of Eastern tourists camped there for several weeks one summer and they were so charmed with the surroundings and had such a good time that they named the park "Happy Hol- low". One among the number was a contributor to Harper's Magazine, and he perpetuated the name in an illustrated article descriptive of the charms of
"Happy Hollow," that was published in the mag- azine. Happy Hollow is reached by wagon road from Fort Collins or Loveland over one of the pleasantest eighteen-mile drives in the county, and it is becoming a favorite mountain vacation resort. Scores of people from the valley towns and Plains country have found this to be a delightful place in which to spend a few weeks in the summer time, camping out, gaining rest and storing up strength for life's arduous duties at home.
The whole country in the vicinity of Happy Hol- low is mineralized and a great deal of prospecting with varying results has been done, and it would not be surprising if rich gold, silver and copper veins are found here. Indeed, the Nightingales have already a mine near their homes that promises to become a regular bonanza.
The Alford District
What is known as the Alford District embraces a section of the mountains lying between Livermore on the south and St. Cloud on the north. It is watered by three branches of Rabbit creek, which head in the hills several miles to the west and north- west, and is an excellent stock and dairy region. The valleys of the three streams afford good meadows and considerable tillable land. In the early days it was almost inaccessible on account of the high hills surrounding it and the difficulty the settlers ex- perienced in making roads suitable for travel. In the early 80's the county built a good road over Calloway hill, since which time the district has be- come better known.
The first settlers in this district were N. C. Al- ford who settled on the North branch in 1867, after whom the district takes its name, J. W. Calloway, John S. Williams, Joseph Harden and his four sons, David, Charles, James and M. B. Harden, who settled on Middle Rabbit creek at about the same time. William Calloway settled on North Rabbit in 1867, but later took up and improved what is known as the Cradock ranch on the North fork of the Poudre. A. R. Milne settled in the valley of the North fork above the canon in 1874, and his neighbors, D. M. Halligan and family in 1880. H. A. Keach located on North Rabbit in 1882. Mr. Keach came to Colorado in the 70's, but went back to his native state, Vermont, where he married and soon after returned to Colorado. In September of the present year he sold his ranch and stock and is now a resident of Seattle, Washington. Among the
[200]
HISTORY OF LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
later settlers in that district were W. W. Lowery, C. R. Bullard, William Stewart, S. H. Birdsall and C. R. Salisbury. Mr. Lowery and Mr. Bullard both died several years ago. All of these early settlers were engaged in stock raising or dairying.
N. C. Alford was engaged in horse breeding and brought from Iowa the first registered Percheron stallion ever introduced in the county. He sold his ranch and stock to Henry T. Miller in 1880, and moved his family to Fort Collins, which city has since been his home.
The Hardens disposed of their holdings on Mid- dle Rabbit in 1873 and took up a fine ranch on Meadow creek, nearly two miles east of the foot of Cherokee hill that year, where they engaged in the horse business. Joseph Harden, the father, died on this ranch a good many years ago. A postoffice was established at Alford along in the 80's, but was discontinued about two years ago for the reason that no one wanted to be bothered with its duties. The settlers now depend upon the Livermore postoffice for their mail.
Early Settlement of the Laramie River Valley
Tamerlane Forrester, one of the first white men to locate permanently in that part of the Laramie river valley situated in Larimer county, has kindly furnished me with the following account of the early settlement in that valley :
"Although one of the old timers in Larimer county, I was born in the State of Missouri, where I spent the days of my childhood. When quite a youth, I moved with my family, to Kansas, where, after attaining riper years, I served in various cam- paigns against the Cheyennes, Arapahoes and Sioux. Later the Indians becoming less hostile and of- fensive, I, with the energy and ambition of youth, decided to push farther west, and seek my fortune in that mountainous country. With that object in view I traveled overland as far as California, pass- ing through all the perils and hardships that visited those early pioneers of this great Western country.
"The Golden State, however, did not offer me the inducements I anticipated, so in 1876, I drifted back, and took up my headquarters about fifty-two miles northwest of Fort Collins, at a place known as Tie Siding, a short distance over the Wyoming border. I here spent a year occupied in making ties, before I moved to the Laramie river, where, with the exception of numerous pleasure trips to
different parts of the country, I have lived ever since. I became a resident of Larimer county in the year 1877.
"During my year's stay in Tie Siding, I made many trips to Fort Collins, which was then a small town of some hundred and fifty souls. The sur- rounding country at the time was given up mostly to farming on a small scale, and on account of the small population one was acquainted with all the inhabit- ants.
"I have been a regular visitor to Fort Colins ever since, in fact not a year has gone by without I have enjoyed a short stay there, and strange as it may seem, the only individual I remember as having lived there in the early days, and who is still a resident, is James Sweeney. Jim Sweeney was Sheriff in the old days, serving in that capacity for four terms, with praiseworthy zeal and efficiency. His well deserved popularity was enormous, his friends were legion, and his enemies very few.
"My parents, my three brothers, and my five sis- ters took up our abode on the Laramie river in 1877, in a house, long since destroyed, situated some four and a half miles from the Wyoming line near Grace creek. After a short time however, we moved up the river to one of its tributaries, since known as Forrester creek, and the site of my present ranch.
"Here my mother died in 1884, and my father followed her some five years later, both being buried in a little private graveyard on one of the pretty hills overlooking the river, and within sight of their earthly home. After the death of our par- ents, the children, one by one drifted elsewhere, with the exception of myself. The five girls mar- ried, four are still living, Mrs. Peck having died at Fort Collins in 1905. Mrs. Falkenstein and Mrs. Detro are in Alberta, Canada; Mrs. C. J. Sperr and Mrs. Z. Zinn reside in Fort Collins. My brothers, C. C. and W. L. Forrester live in Denver, Colorado, and A. C. Forrester in Taplen, Idaho.
"At the time of my arrival on the Laramie river, the life, customs and conditions were far different from those existing at the present time. The popu- lation, which was much greater then, was occupied in the cutting, hewing and floating of ties for the U. P. railroad. All the way up the different creeks on either side of the river were tie camps and the hills were dotted with the cabins of the tie makers. Daw- son, who had the contract for the U. P. railroad, had his headquarters near the junction of the Mc- Intyre and Laramie rivers, which in recent years has been named Gleneyre. Dawson's headquarters ran a commissariat for all the tie makers, and there
[201]
HISTORY OF LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
could always be found some one with whom to pass the time of day. The surrounding hills abounded in antelope, elk, and deer and on Dawson's pay roll were several paid hunters employed to furnish game for the different camps. The ties were gotten out during the winter, piled along the river banks, and in the spring pushed into the river and floated to Lara- mie in drives of from 35,000 to 250,000, taking from ten days to three weeks to make their destina- tion, according to the flow of water. When Daw- son gave up the contract, he was succeeded by Coe & Carter, which firm through the able management of O. P. Yelton, continued to supply the railroad with the necessary ties. Besides the men connected with the tie camps, one was frequently meeting with jolly, sociable cow-punchers riding for some of the big outfits on the Laramie Plains.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.