History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 110

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

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In 1831, Kit Carson came to Bent's Fort, and was employed by the Bents as a hunter, 2

at which, it is supposed, he continued up to the time of Fremont's first expedition.

From the first the firm established direct communication with the East and made an- nual trips by wagon to Independence Land- ing. At that point they received their sup-

plies, shipped by steamboat from St. Louis, and there they forwarded by boat to St. Louis their robes and peltries.

Freighting to Santa Fe was begun by Mex- icans perhaps as early as 1846. Maj. George C. Sibley had located a route at least as far as the United States boundary, afterward known as the Santa Fe Trail. Isolated expe- ditions from the American frontier to Santa Fé are reported from the year 1822 to 1840, but it is safe to assume that the freighting business was irregular and unimportant till after the establishment of peace at Guadalupe Hidalgo, in 1848. William Bent began haul- ing annuity goods in 1849, and from this on made two trips a year.

Charles Bent and St. Vrain became identi- fied with the people of New Mexico, and their relation to the firm was finally severed about the fall of 1847. In that country they found congenial society, or at least a society. which was preferable to the solitudes of the plains. William Gilpin brought out in 1847, an expe- dition against the Indians, and applied to Bent, St. Vrain & Co., for provisions. Charles Bent was opposed to furnishing them, but William buying out his brother's interest became head of the firm and undertook the contract. Groceries were brought from Santa Fé on pack mules for this purpose; beef was raised at the Fort. The contract looked a little hazardous, but the vouchers were faith- fully paid by the Government.

Robert Bent died October 20, 1841, at the age of twenty-five years, and was buried near the Fort. George died not far from this date and was also buried there, but the remains of both were subsequently removed to St. Louis.

About this time came out from St. Louis, a young man who afterward became somewhat conspicuous as a politician, viz., Frank P. Blair. He accompanied Bent's train in the summer, and remained until the next spring.

William Bent's first wife bore him five chil- dren, named respectively, Mary, Robert, George, Julia and Charles. Her death fol- lowed closely the birth of the last, and her husband married her sister, then living with the tribe.

The years 1842 to 1849 includes the period of Capt. Fremont's various exploring expedi-

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HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY.

tions, on the first three of which he was accom- panied by Kit Carson. On the second expe- dition, in the summer of 1843, Fremont being on the Fontaine qui Bouille, sent Carson to Bent's Fort (or Fort William as it was called by its proprietors) for a re-enforcement of mules, which were furnished by Bent to the number of ten, each equipped with a back-saddle. In 1845, on his third expedi- tion, his route being along the Arkansas, Fre- mont halted at Bent's Fort, from which point he sent a message to Carson, then settled at Taos, that he wished him again to accompany him as guide. This Carson hastened to do, selling his property at a sacrifice, and plac- ing his family under the care of Charles Bent, also resident at Taos.

Col. Fremont's fourth expedition, which started in 1848, brought him to Bent's Fort a second time. From a letter written there under date November 14, 1848, to Col. Ben- ton, at St. Louis, the following extract will prove of interest:

"We found our friend, Maj. Fitzpatrick, at a point about thirty miles below this in what is called the "Big Timber," and surrounded by about 600 lodges of different nations, Apa- ches, Comanches, Kiowas and Arapahoes. He is a most admirable agent, entirely educated for such a post, and possessing the ability and courage necessary to make his education available. He has succeeded in drawing out from among the Comanches the whole Kiowa nation with the exception of six lodges, and brought over among them a considerable number of the Apaches and Comanches. When we arrived, he was holding a talk with them, making a feast and giving them a few presents. We found them all on their good behavior, and were treated in the most friendly manner; were neither annoyed by them nor had anything stolen from us. I hope you will be able to give him some support. He will be able to save lives and money for the Government, and knowing how difficult this Indian question may become, I am particular in bringing Fitzpatrick's operations to your notice. In a few years, he might have them all farming here on the Arkansas."

This expedition proved a most unfortunate one for Col. Fremont, who in the dead of

winter undertook to cross the range to Grande River, a venture which would not be under- taken now except on snow-shoes, and that with convenient stations in reach. The result was he lost most of his men, animals and stores, and was compelled to fall back on Taos, which he reached the latter part of Jan- uary. The mistake which led to this disaster, according to Fremont, was in having engaged Bill Williams, a hunter at Bent's Fort, as guide. Williams, he says, "proved never to have in the least known, or entirely to have forgotten, the whole region of country through which we were to pass." At Taos, Fremont again met Kit Carson, and was for several weeks his guest, in the meantime re-organizing preparatory to proceeding to California by a more southerly route. While at Taos, Col. Fremont met Messrs. St. Vrain and Aubrey, en route from Santa Fé to St. Louis.

On these two latter expeditions Fremont obtained at Bent's Fort considerable supplies of provisions and equipments.

As an example of the business methods of those days at Bent's Fort, the following copy from an original paper is of service:

$300.

[Copy.] FORT WILLIAM, ARKANSAS RIVER, March 13, 1843.

On or before the first day of September next, I promise to pay to the order of Bent, St. Vrain & Co., the just and full sum of Three Hundred Dollars, without defalcation, for value received, payable in good, merchantable beaver, at the rate of four dol- lars per pound. WILLIAM S. WILLIAMS.

Test. : W. A. TRAIN.

I have four beaver traps, belonging to Bent, St. Vrain & Co., for the use of which for my present hunt, I am to pay them one pound good beaver, each ; and, if they are not returned, I am to pay them eight dollars each for them. or thirty-two dollars. WILLIAM S. WILLIAMS.

FORT WILLIAM, ARKANSAS RIVER, March 13, 1843.

Test. : W. A. TRAIN.

Sterling Price and his command en route to Mexico in 1847-48, traveled by way of Bent's Fort, and was accompanied by Will- iam Bent in the capacity of guide as far as Taos. From this brief association with the military, Bent fell heir to the title of Colonel, and this title ever afterward distinguished him from other members of the family.

830

HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY.

Bent's Fort was blown up in 1852, by its proprietor. The Government had been mak- ing overtures for its purchase, and had made Col. Bent an offer of $12,000, while his price was $16,000. He very emphatically refused the offer, and one day while on a spree loaded all the goods he could get on his wagons, sixteen in number, set fire to his premises and pulled out. A considerable quantity of powder remained in the fort, and, as the train wound its way down the river, the ascending flames accompanied by a succession of loud reports told how effectually the fortress was being converted into a ruin. Thus the Ark- ansas Valley was again devoid of human hab- itation.

The first camping place for the caravan was at the mouth of Horse Creek. In the spring of 1853, Col. Bent commenced a new fort forty miles east of the first, on the same side of the Arkansas. This he completed the next year, and here he continued his former business of trading with the Indians and freighting.

In 1859, Col. Bent was appointed United States Indian Agent for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, but resigned the next year. In the fall of 1859, he leased his new fort to the Government, when it was occupied by troops and called Fort Wise, in respect to Gov. Wise, of Virginia. The same year, Bent also began improvements near the mouth of the Purga-

toire, at the place now known as Judge Moore's. This was the first improvement in the county, outside of the forts. The struct- ure consisted of a stockade inclosure 100x100 feet, with rooms on the north and west sides. The year 1860, R. M. Moore, a son-in-law of Bent, came out from Jackson County, Mo., and occupied the stockade. Col. Bent began to haul goods for the Government from Leav- enworth to Fort Union in that year, and con- tinued as freighter and Indian trader till his death, May 19, 1869. While en route from New Mexico to the States to buy goods, he became indisposed and stopped at his son-in- law Moore's house. Here he gradually grew worse, his ailment proving to be pneumonia, and in spite of skilled medical · attendance, died in seven or eight days from the time of attack.

Col. Bent was the latest survivor of the original firm. His brother Charles was ap- pointed Governor of New Mexico, but had been assassinated by Mexicans and Pueblo Indians of that Territory at his home at Taos. St. Vrain died of disease about the year 1867, and as a monument of his endeavor while in New Mexico, left to his heirs and assigns a half-interest in the immense tract of land granted to him and Cornelio Vigil by the Mexican Government, of which more particu- lar mention is made in another chapter.

THE EVENING STAR MINE, MIDDLE WORKINGS , CARBONATE HILL, LEADVILLE COL.

HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY.

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CHAPTER III.

OTHER PIONEERS-THE INDIANS AND THE MILITARY.

M AJ. FITZPATRICK retained the agency for the Indians of the Upper Arkan-

sas till the time of his death, in 1855. The rendezvous for the Cheyennes and Ara- pahoes was at the Big Timber, that being the name of the site of Bent's new fort. A con- siderable body of gigantic cottonwoods grew there at the time; in fact, large timber was then quite abundant along the river. The Kiowas and Comauches received their annui- ties at the old Cimarron crossing of the Ar- kansas. Fitzpatrick was greatly esteemed by the Indians, and among white men since is re- puted to have been the best agent these tribes ever had. His wife was a half-breed Arapa- hoe, a daughter of John Poisal. Poisal was an interpreter for several tribes, and was known by the Indians as "Old Red-Eyes," on account of the inflamed appearance of his eyes.

Fitzpatrick's successor was Robert Miller, who had been acting as agent in Kansas. His administration lasted only during 1856. He was accompanied out by John W. Prowers, then a youth of eighteen, who acted as his clerk in the distribution of goods.

There were still no improvements in the county outside of Bent's new fort. Charles Antobees, with a small settlement of Mexicans, was on the Huerfano, a few miles from its mouth; and Dick Wootton, with a few of the same sort, lived at the foot of the Greenhorn, at the place still known as Greenhorn. Both were farming, and found a market for what they could not consume at Fort Union, N. M.

Robert Miller was succeeded by Col. A. G. Boone, whose administration was distinguished by the first important treaty with the Indians, whereby they surrendered the ownership of the plains country of Colorado to the Government, and accepted a reservation. This occurred in 1860. The reservation assigned to them lay along the Arkansas on the north side, was bounded on the east and north by Big Sandy, and extended westward to within six miles of

the mouth of the Huerfano. The considera- tion was certain annuities, the erection of a number of buildings, and a supply of imple- ments and seeds for farming purposes. Un- der Agent Colley, in 1863, the agency was re- moved from Big Timber to the Point of Rocks. Buildings were commenced there on a large scale, and, the next spring, from 300 to 400 acres of land was broken up, planted, and an irrigating ditch taken out. But, as the farm- ing scheme progressed, the Indians grew rest- less, and their dissatisfaction finally culmi- nated in hostility, They opened the ball by stealing all the horses belonging to the con- tractor, and from that event forward, till 1865, there was no permanent peace.

The experiment at Point of Rocks has since had a parallel in that by N. C. Meeker at White River. The enthusiastic prediction of Fre- mont has scarcely been realized, but there is reason to believe that, under a different admin- istration than Colley's, better results would have been reached.

A treaty was made in October, 1865, on the Little Arkansas, which removed the Indians entirely from the country, and located them at Darlington, Ind. T., where they have re- mained till now. At this council, William Bent and Gen. Carson acted as Government Commissioners. In the interval preceding this treaty, however, Col. Bent had held a "talk" with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes (summer of 1864), and procured a cessation of hostilities on their part, which continued in effect till the massacre of Big Sandy in No- vember.

An important provision of the treaty of 1865 was the allowance to each part-blood Indian, child or adult, of one section of land, to be selected from the reservation on the Ar- kansas. These tracts have since been desig- nated as Indian claims, and are numbered seriatim. They were selected by the claim- ants, as suited their fancy, usually embracing

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HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY.

choice hay bottoms, their lines being governed by the Arkansas on one side, and the varying line of the bluffs on the other. From their irregular shapes, they have sometimes been denominated "beef-steak claims." In each case, a patent, with a carefully drawn plat, was issued to the claimant.

The first regular military post in Bent County was Bent's new fort, named by the Government Fort Wise. It was garrisoned by four companies of the First Cavalry, Col. Sedg- wick commanding, in 1860. The troops had come out on an Indian campaign the year before. One column moved up the Platte un- der Col. Sumner; another, up the Smoky Hill under Col. Sedgwick. The latter took post at Fort Wise, and was joined by two companies of the Tenth Infantry. A. B. Miller, since of Denver, was post trader. A. T. Winsor, of Lexington, Mo., was next, and he was suc- ceeded by Stewart & Shrewsbury.

To J. W. Prowers is due the credit of es- tablishing the first permanent herd of cattle in the country. It consisted of 100 cows, bought of John Ferrill, of Missouri, and brought out by Prowers in 1861. Their range was from the mouth of the Purgatoire to Caddo.

Upon the opening of the war of 1861, the regular troops left Fort Wise, and were suc- ceeded by various detachments of volunteers, usually Colorado cavalry. A notable war in- cident-perhaps the most important which oc- curred on Colorado soil-was the capture, in 1862, by Capt. Otis' company, First Cavalry, of a party of fifteen to twenty Confederate volun- teers, under Capt. McKee. The capture was made on Clay Creek. McKee had organized his recruits at Denver, and was heading for Texas. The same year, a band of peaceable Indians, known as the Caddos, having been compelled to leave Texas on account of their fidelity to the Union, the Government undertook to lo- cate them on the Arkansas. For this purpose, a site was selected by Gen. Wright, at the mouth of the creek still known as Caddo, where three large stone buildings were erected, designed as quarters. A few of the Caddos came up and inspected the place, but decided not to accept it, and the preparations for their accommodation were accordingly discontinued.

The place was occupied by John W. Prowers, in 1863, as a ranch, from which he furnished supplies to the troops.

L. A. Allen and twelve other young Mis- sourians arrived at Fort Wise (then called Fort Lyon) in June, 1863, driving a herd of 700 cattle for Solomon Young, of Jackson County, Mo., and, while encamped there, were required by the post commander, somewhat to their distaste, to take the oath of loyalty, after which they proceeded to Spring Bottom.

The third improvement outside of the fort, as it appears, was that of old Thomas Rule, at the mouth of the stream which still bears his name. He came out in the fall of 1863, bringing his three sons, two of whom were married and accompanied by their wives. They built a small stone house, but soon abandoned it on account of the hostile attitude of the Indians. "Elder Rule " became well known in the several pioneer settlements, which he visited in the capacity of a mission- ary of the "Hardshell" Baptist denomination. He subsequently located on Turkey Creek, where, at last accounts, he still resided.

Thomas O. Boggs and L. A. Allen came' over from Hicklin's ranch, on the Greenhorn, in the fall of 1863, bringing a large herd of cattle, the property of L. B. Maxwell. These they held on the Purgatoire, near Red Rock, till the next fall, when they returned, with what had not been killed or stolen by the In- dians, to New Mexico. It was not long pre- vious to this that Joe B. Doyle, B. B. Fields, Mr. Kroenig and others had settled on the Huerfano and begun farming operations, sell- ing their produce at Forts Union and Lyon. Nine Mile Bottom, a fertile and attractive park, nine miles in length by one and a half in width, on the Purgatoire, thirty miles above its mouth, also began to attract settlers. Urial Higbee, Samuel T. Smith, William Richards, Bob Jones, John Carson (nephew of Kit) and Jim Elkins settled there in 1865, and at once engaged in farming and stock-raising.

Thomas O. Boggs returned from New Mexico in 1866, accompanied by Charles L. Ritc and L. A. Allen, and began his improvements at the place since known as Boggsville, three miles from the mouth of the Purgatoire. The first important enterprise was a large irrigat-

HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY.

835

ing ditch, in which Mr. Boggs was joined by John W. Prowers and Robert Bent, a son of Col. Bent. Under this ditch, farming was at once commenced at Boggsville and at the Bent place on a large scale, and carried on with suc- cess. Over one thousand acres were in culti- vation. It is needless to remark that good prices were realized, as, for example, corn, 8 to 12 cents per pound; flour, $8 to $12 per hundred; vegetables in proportion. A lot of

potatoes brought from the mountains sold at 25 cents per pound. Wheat was hauled to Pueblo or Trinidad, where it was ground, and the flour brought back. The same year, sev- eral other ranchmen made locations on the Purgatoire and Arkansas, and a few herds of cattle and sheep were introduced. During 1866 and 1867, the Indians were comparatively quiet, and the settlements were quite rapid in various parts of the county.

CHAPTER IV. KIT CARSON.

TT is not the purpose in this sketch to re- write Kit Carson's biography, but merely to present a few facts gathered from local sources, which properly form a part of the history of the times. Carson's engagement with Bent, St. Vrain & Co. has already been alluded to. Subsequent to this, his home was at Taos, from which point he accompanied the expeditions of Fremont.

We again hear of Carson in 1859, as Indian Agent at Taos, from which it seems probable he had continued his residence there after his return from Fremont's last expedition, in 1849. His varied experience as a guide and hunter, and his intimate acquaintance with Indian character, had fitted him in an eminent degree for the post of agent. As showing his con- clusions on the policy necessary to be pursued by the Government with the Indians, the sub- joined extract from a letter written by him to the Superintendent of Indian affairs at Santa Fé, is apropos:

UTE AGENCY, TAOS, N. M., March 31, 1859. * *

* * The Indians of this agency have always depended on the chase for a subsistence, and as game is fast disappearing, and their hunting grounds either being settled by the whites, or in- vaded by their hereditary foes, the Indians of the plains, it behooves the General Government to do something for them if it wishes that they be perpet- uated. I only know of one mode of saving them from annihilation. It is this : Remove them as far as practicable from the settlements ; settle them on a reservation ; give to each family a sufficiency of ground, that by its cultivation they may be able to raise produce for their maintenance ; also cattle to stock their farms ; have troops stationed on the re-

serve, not only for the purpose of guarding them from their enemies but to deter them from leaving the homes the Government chooses to assign for their habitation ; with Indians arrived at the age when habits of life are permanently made, compulsion to retain them on the reserve will be required ; but the benefit to be received by the rising generation will justify such a course.

I am confident that many of these Indians can be made to support themselves ; but Government must render them assistance. Give good land ; have com- fortable houses built, and allow no persons to remain among them excepting those employed as their in- structors, and such others as the Indian Department may consider uninjurious to their welfare ; and, be- fore the expiration of twenty years, the Indian, that to Government is now a cost, will be able to render aid, etc., as any citizen.

Liquor is the cause of great destruction to these Indians. So long as they are permitted to visit the settlements, they can always procure it. There are disreputable men living in each settlement, who, for a blanket, or in fact, any article the Indian may have, are ready to furnish liquor.

On the 6th of this month, at the ranches, three miles from here, arrived three Jicarilla Apaches ; a Mexican of said place joined them ; and, I presume, entered into the traffic of liquor. He was not long in their company, when a difficulty arose. Liquor, the main cause ; the consequence being that the Mexican was shot dead by one of the Indians ; In- dian tried to make his cscape ; Mexicans, hearing of the murder, and perhaps not knowing the cause, pursued him. He was overtaken and carried here, to be turned over to civil authority ; died a few minutes after his arrival ; canse, maltreatment from the hands of his captors, The deceased Mexican was a man of the lowest character, and the Indian the same. I have stated the circumstances to some of the principal Jicarillas, and they consider the case properly disposed of, life for a life being justice.

Difficulties of the above description will often occur, if the Indians continne, as heretofore, in the settlements, and perhaps never again be so easily settled. If the deceased had been a Muahuache, I

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HISTORY OF BENT COUNTY.

am satisfied that the band would, at least, have killed four or five Mexicans, and stole a number of horses to pay the friends of deceased.

I will do all in my power to keep them out of the towns. I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. CARSON.

During the war of 1861-65, he was com- missioned a Colonel of volunteers, and em- powered to raise a regiment in New Mexico, under which authority he organized what be- came known as the New Mexico Battalion.

In 1864, he was in command at Fort Union, and in 1865 and 1866, in command of the post at Fort Garland, holding the rank of Brevet Brigadier General. The next year, he re- moved with his family to Boggsville. He had obtained title, under his friend St. Vrain, to two ranches on the Purgatoire, the first about one mile south of Boggsville, since purchased by Henry Kellogg; the other at the southern extremity of Nine Mile Bottom, afterward known as Maine ranch. He made some slight improvements on these ranches, but took up his residence at Boggsville, in a house belong- ing to Thomas O. Boggs.

He was in poor health at the time of his ar- rival in Boggsville, and, on a trip to Washing- ton that winter, contracted a severe cold, from which he was unable to rally. The trip was taken much against his will, but at the earnest solicitation of Gov. Hunt, who wished him to accompany a visiting party of Utes. He was a sufferer from heart disease, but the immedi- ate cause of his death does not appear. Dur- ing the later months of his illness, he was a guest at the house of the Post Surgeon, Dr. Tilton, at Fort Lyon. Here he was visited for several weeks by Capt. Pfeiffer, an inti- mate personal friend, who had commanded a company in the New Mexico Battal- ion. Pfeiffer remained with Carson till the death of the latter, which, as near as can be ascertained, occurred in May, 1868. His wife had preceded him only a few days, and their remains were buried side by side in the garden of C. L. Rite, at Boggsville. The following winter, their bodies were taken up and removed to Taos, N. M.

Carson's age was probably fifty-nine, though authorities conflict as to the date of his birth and of his death. In appearance, he was un-

der the medium height, rather stooping (prob- ably from infirmity), his hair gray, eyes blue and small, with a merry twinkle about them. He was sociable and humorous in nature, though unassuming. Among his neighbors, he took rank with such men as Zan Hicklin, L. B. Maxwell, William Bent and Thomas Boggs. He was by no means profane or rough, but was noted for gentlemanly de- meanor. One of his favorite amusements was. horse-racing, which he indulged in even as late as 1868.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 110

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080