USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Vol. I > Part 34
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The first meeting of the Pioneers' association, which included only the immigrants of 1858 and 1859, was held for organization June 22d, 1866. The following were present: Richard Sopris, Charles C. Post, D. C. Oakes, W. H. Morgan, William N. Byers, Dr. Adams, Andrew Sagendorf, E. B. Sopris, A. C. Hunt, Edward H. Willoughby, H. R. Hunt, S. M. Logan, Wm. M. Slaughter, John S. Jones, Henry J. Rogers, J. W. McIntire, Dr. J. H. Morrison, A. McFadden, John J. Riethmann, William Graham, George C. Schleier, Joseph L. Bailey, Nelson Sargent, Fred Z. Salomon, Lewis N. Tappan, A. G. Rhoads, John Q. A. Rollins, Andrew Hiveley and John Robinson.
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Salomon. Capt. Richard Sopris was made chairman, and Lewis N. Tappan, secretary. A com- mittee was appointed to nominate permanent officers of the association, who reported as follows:
For President, D. C. Oakes; for Vice-Presidents, Richard Sopris of Arapahoe; C. L. Tourtellot of Boulder ; John S. Jones of Clear Creek ; Lafayette Head of Conejos; Capt. Hendren of Costilla; George A. Bute of El Paso ; William H. Green of Fremont ; William M.
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Slaughter of Gilpin ; James S. Gray of Huerfano ; W. A. H. Loveland of Jefferson ; Robert L. Berry of Lake; Henry B. Chubbuck of Lari- mer ; H. A. W. Tabor of Park ; R. B. Willis of Pueblo; Wier P. Pol- lock of Summit ; Mark B. Houghton of Weld.
Recording Secretary, H. R. Hunt ; Corresponding Secretary, Wm. N. Byers ; Treasurer, Henry J. Rogers. The organization was main- tained for a short time, and years afterward was succeeded by another and broader, which extended the privileges of fellowship to all who came to the country during the period between 1858 and 1861. This associa- tion is now in existence; the bond between the members has been strengthened by the constant thinning of their ranks by death, and the fraternity will probably endure until the last remnant shall have "passed over the Range" whence none return.
In August, 1866, the Kountze Brothers, who had for some years conducted a banking business both here and in Central City, secured a charter from the Treasury Department and immediately established the Colorado National Bank, with Luther Kountze President, Joseph H. Goodspeed Vice-President, and Charles B. Kountze, Cashier.
This institution was the outgrowth of a movement begun by Luther Kountze in 1862, who opened business in a small corner of Tootle & Leach's general store on Blake street between F and G. Six months later it was removed to W. S. Cheesman's drugstore on the corner of F and Blake, where it remained until the completion of the new bank- ing house on the corner of F and Holladay. Mr. Charles B. Kountze arrived in July, 1864, assisting his brother until 1865, when Luther went to New York and established a branch on Wall street in that city. Thereafter the business in Colorado was conducted by C. B. Kountze under the name of Kountze Brothers, until the organization of the Colorado National in 1866. A branch was established at Central City in 1862. The firm now has three large houses, one in Denver, another in Omaha, and a third in New York, with strong connections in London.
An exhibit of the growth of the Denver house appears in the fol-
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lowing comparative statement. The first quarterly report published October Ist, 1866, gave-Loans and discounts $120,258.31. Deposits $189,101.96. December 12th, 1888, the statement showed-Loans and discounts $2,076,499.07 and deposits $3,043,224.32.
On the 4th of September, 1866, George T. Clark resigned the cashiership of the First National bank, and was on that date succeeded by D. H. Moffat, Jr. Fred Z. Salomon and George Wells were chosen directors in place of Eben Smith and George T. Clark. The latter proceeded to Central City and took personal charge of his banking house there which had been established in 1865. He possessed great energy and capacity for business, and but for his lavish generosity would have attained exalted rank as a financier. His intercourse with men was characterized by perennial geniality and the quaintest and most fascinating humor. During his lifetime, and especially in the first ten years of his residence in Colorado, many, almost innumerable op- portunities in fact, for the acquisition of wealth were presented to him, but he was not acquisitive. Whatever he made was freely divided with his multitude of friends. If one were in need he had only to apply to George Clark to find immediate relief. No charity left him without its reward. No friend applied for aid in vain. He came into prominence in connection with the coining mint of Clark, Gruber & Co. and later as the agent of Hinckley's express. In the early years of the munici- pality of Denver he was elected mayor, and gave the people a vigorous and thoroughly honest administration; was the first cashier, as already noted, of the First National bank, conducted two extensive private banks, and was at times deeply immersed in local and territorial politics. No man of his time was blessed with more or warmer friends. Gen- erous to recklessness, companionable to a most charming degree, he thought more of being happy and entertaining others than of money- getting, hence at his death in 1887 after a long and eventful career, enjoying the esteem of all who knew him, he left only a moderate competence to his family. When by act of the Legislature a commis- sion was created to supervise the construction of a State capitol, he
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was made its secretary, which position he retained to the close of his useful and honored life.
On the 19th of June, 1866, Bayard Taylor with the eminent artist Beard, arrived in Denver. Mr. Taylor lectured to a large audience during his stay, and then made an extensive tour of the mountains, taking notes according to his lifelong custom and, some years later, published the results of his trip, whereby many were attracted to the country. He was followed on September 10th by General W. T. Sherman and staff, who came in an ambulance, and was met several miles out by a large concourse of citizens on horseback who extended to him the hospitalities of the city. On the 11th a grand banquet was given in his honor at the Pacific House, where he had an opportunity to fully test the quality of his welcome, as well as the caliber of our Western pioneers, for the hotel was crowded with guests.
In this month also, the first fair of the Colorado Agricultural So- ciety was held, on grounds then about three miles north of town, other- wise than by the society's buildings, wholly vacant, but now a thickly populated suburb of the city. The exhibits made in 1866 and subse- quently were among the most creditable that have ever been witnessed in this section of the west.
On the 10th of January, 1867, the second bill providing for the ad- mission of Colorado as a State, passed the Senate with the following amendment by Senator Edmunds:
" That this act shall go into effect with the fundamental and per- petual condition that within said State of Colorado there shall be no abridgement or denial of the exercise of the elective franchise, or of any other right to any person by reason of race or color, except Indians not taxed." The Nebraska bill passed at the same time, but when the bills reached the House it was discovered that considerable opposition had sprung up since the last session, in which both had been adopted by majorities sufficient to have carried them over the veto. The House had become in the interim even more radical than the Senate in its prejudice against the admission of States having the word
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"white" in their constitutions, and while the Edmunds' amendment, which satisfied Charles Sumner, was designed to remove the objection, doubts of its successful operation were freely expressed, and numerous other pretexts advanced for the prevention of its passage. At the December session Hon. J. M. Ashley, chairman of the Committee on Territories in the House, introduced a bill providing for impartial suf- frage in all territories of the United States, and the measure was still pending. On the 11th of January Senator Wade's bill amending the organic acts of all the territories to the effect that there should be no denial of the franchise on account of race, color and so forth, and re- pealing all acts in conflict with the same, was taken up and passed. It was immediately enrolled and transmitted to the House, where half an hour later it went through under a call for the previous question. Therefore, in less than two hours after its introduction by Mr. Wade, it had passed both houses and was on its way to the President for his approval. And this was the beginning of impartial suffrage in Colorado.
Both bills for admission (Nebraska and Colorado) passed the House on the 18th of February, 1867, with the further amendment tacked on to each below that attached by Senator Edmunds, "that the legislature of said State by a solemn act shall declare the assent of said State to the said fundamental conditions, and shall transmit to the President of the United States an authentic copy of said act, upon the receipt whereof the President, by proclamation, shall forthwith an- nounce the fact, whereupon said fundamental conditions shall be held as part of the organic law of the State, and thereupon, without any further proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of said State into the Union shall be considered complete. The State legislature shall be convened by the Governor within thirty days after the passage of this act, to act upon the conditions submitted herein." The bill passed, ayes one hundred and six, nays fifty-five. The amendments having been concurred in by the Senate, the measures went to the President. Excepting the amendment just recited, the bills were the
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Of Chamberlin
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same as those adopted the previous winter. In our case the original State legislature was revived and given authority to pass upon the question thus submitted. Johnson promptly sent them back with a veto which simply reiterated the objections given in the first instance. The Nebraska bill was passed over the veto, but it was found im- possible to carry the Colorado bill by the same means. On the Ist of March the Senate, without debate, refused to take any further action.
Though twice defeated, the ardor of our Senators elect was by no means extinguished. They girded up their loins manfully for another struggle, and six days after the veto, Senator Harlan introduced a third measure, essentially the same as the last, but with a clause continuing in force the existing territorial suffrage law and reserving the right to enforce it and the civil rights law in the State when admitted. At the same session, Congress changed the annual sessions of the territorial legislature to biennial sessions, and increased the pay of the members from four to six dollars per diem. This bill was approved March 30th, 1867.
It was confidently expected that all the new Senators would heartily support Senator Harlan's bill, and that the third appearance of this already familiar and somewhat shabby specter would be finally dis- posed of by taking it out of the hands of the President and making Colorado a State by a two-thirds vote over his objections. This belief was strengthened by the admission of Nebraska, and by the passage of the reconstruction acts, tenure of office and other great measures which for so long a time had been absorbing the attention of our statesmen. On the 20th of March the House Committee on Territories recom- mended the admission of Colorado. About the same time the act granting the elective franchise and equal civil rights to the negroes be- came a law by constitutional limitation, the President having refused to sign it. Governor Evans advised his friends here that the prospect for the Colorado bill was extremely favorable, since the recommendation had been announced. Among other reports received in this period was one which stated that Governor Cummings' administration of Indian
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affairs had been undergoing investigation, and that his distribution of annuity goods, with other transactions in connection with a certain treaty negotiated by him with the Utes for the cession of their lands in Middle Park, were to some extent irregular.
At the municipal elections held April Ist, 1867, the colored people cast their first ballots. There was no objection on the part of any class of citizens, no desire to prevent or interfere with the full and free ex- ercise of the right granted them by law. They went to the polls at the hour of their opening, voted quietly but quickly, and stepped aside so as to avoid any prejudice which might remain on the part of white citizens to this intimate contact with a downtrodden race, with an in- telligent realization that such prejudice existed, and if irritated might precipitate serious results. In the city of Omaha less discreet action brought on a disgraceful riot, in which the blacks were expelled from the polling places.
When it was seen that no opposition had been or would be en- countered, no obstructions placed in their way, that their ballots were to be cast as freely as those of the white people, they were overjoyed, and their gratitude found expression in a public meeting held the day following, which was addressed by W. J. Hardin, two sons of Frederick Douglass, and other really excellent speakers. At the close, resolutions were adopted reciting, that whereas it was the first opportunity afforded them to exercise the sacred right of casting their votes, and though the white voters had been largely opposed to it, their regard for law and order impelled them to make no resistance, therefore re- solved, that "we are proud of the respectful recognition of our right to the franchise and grateful for the treatment we received at the polls." Thanks were tendered to Mayor M. M. De Lano for his vigil- ance in providing for their protection.
Before proceeding to the consideration of the interesting series of movements which resulted in the construction of our first railways, it may be well to give a brief epitome of the condition of the churches that had been established, with an account of their beginning.
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The first services held under the Methodist organization were in- stituted by a local preacher named George W. Fisher, in November, 1858. Meetings took place, now in a saloon, at another time in a lowly cabin, and again in the open air, wherever auditors could be gathered by this zealous Christian pioneer. In June, 1859, the Kansas Conference sent the Rev. W. H. Good to take charge of the Cherry Creek mission. He was accompanied by the Rev. Jacob Adriance who became pastor of a circuit embracing Denver, Golden City, Boulder, and all other points of settlement in the valley, that is to say, on the plains. Mr. Good returned to Kansas, and in April Rev. J. M. Chiv- ington was sent out by the conference of that jurisdiction, as presiding elder of the "Rocky Mountain District." Under Elder Chivington's supervision the Denver appointment was first occupied by the Rev. Loudon Taylor of the Upper Iowa Conference, and subsequently by the Rev. A. P. Allen of the Wisconsin Conference. In November, 1860, the regular meetings were held in what may be termed a shed or rude addition to the old "Herald and Commonwealth" office on the corner of Twelfth and Larimer streets, West side. In the spring of 1861, Rev. W. A. Kenney was appointed pastor of the church in Denver, and in November of that year the society rented the brick portion of the old Episcopal Church building on the corner of Fourteenth and Ara- pahoe-now occupied by the Haish Manual Training School, a depart- ment of the Denver University-where they held regular meetings until the spring of 1862. The building was the property of the M. E. Church, South. Mr. Kenney died in the spring of the year last mentioned, and for a time the church was left without place or pastor, Rev. Chivington having taken a commission in the First Regiment of Colorado volun- teers for the war. The Rev. Dennis succeeded him as Presiding Elder.
In October, 1862, Rev. O. A. Willard was transferred from the Wisconsin Conference and stationed at Denver. After some shifting about from place to place, the old Methodist Church building in the bed of Cherry Creek was secured, and in this, under the ministrations of Mr. Willard, the society prospered in a very gratifying degree. In
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June, 1863, the "Rocky Mountain," later the "Colorado Conference" was organized, and Mr. Willard elevated to the post of Presiding Elder. This left the society without a pastor, until Rev. George C. Betts was appointed to the charge, which he afterward vacated, returning to the East and entering the Episcopal ministry. During the pastorate of Mr. Betts the flood of 1864 swept away the little church, which again inter- rupted the regular religious exercises. At length the society secured temporary quarters, first in the Denver Theater, and then in the Col- orado Seminary, where meetings were held until the 12th of February, 1865, when the church on the corner of Fourteenth and Lawrence streets was completed and dedicated. The Rev. George Richardson officiated at the opening, and conducted services until the conference in June of that year, when he was succeeded by the Rev. W. M. Smith, who in time gave way to Rev. B. T. Vincent in June, 1866.
Protestant Episcopal Church. The first services of this denomi- nation were held in a schoolhouse on McGaa-now Holladay-street January 20th, 1860. On the 19th of February a temporary vestry was elected as follows : Charles A. Lawrence, Samuel S. Curtis, Amos Steck, E. Waterbury, Thomas G. Wildman, D. C. Collier, C. E. Cooley, Dr. A. F. Peck, Thomas J. Bayaud, and Richard E. Whitsitt. Mr. Bayaud was made Senior Warden, and Mr. Curtis Junior Warden.
On Easter Monday, April 9th, 1860, the first canonical election of the church was held, when the two Wardens were retained in office, Amos Steck chosen Treasurer, and Henry J. Rogers Secretary. The other members of the vestry elected on this occasion were Thomas G. Wild- man, C. A. Lawrence, Dr. Drake McDowell, H. J. Bulkley, O. P. Ingalls, and Andrew Sagendorf. Thus St. John's Church in the Wilder- ness was established, with Rev. J. H. Kehler as rector, which position he occupied until his election to the chaplaincy of the First Colorado cavalry. He delivered his farewell sermon on the Sth of June, 1862. Mr. Kehler was succeeded by the Rev. H. B. Hitchings. By purchase, the church became possessed of the building on the corner of Four- teenth and Arapahoe streets, which was in due time materially enlarged.
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Roman Catholic Church. First services held in a private residence, in June, 1860, by the Rt. Rev. J. B. Milge, Bishop of Leavenworth, Kansas, who subsequently visited the several towns in the Terri- tory, and on his return the Denver Town Company donated an entire block for the use of the church, where the cathedral now stands. Arrangements were then made for the erection of a suit- able edifice-the present cathedral-which, when completed, was, next to the Methodist Church, the most imposing structure in the city. Pending these arrangements, the Bishop received from Rome a decree annexing this Territory to the diocese of Santa Fé, New Mexico, and soon afterward returned to the East. The Catholics here held a meeting and elected Judge G. W. Purkins, President of the Church Association. Subscription books were opened, and the responses being sufficient to warrant such action, the building was begun, but the subscriptions were not paid in very promptly, owing to the general hard- ness of the times, therefore the workers made very little progress. Meanwhile, Rt. Rev. J. B. Lamy, Bishop of Santa Fé, received official notice that the Pike's Peak region had been united to his diocese, and in October, 1860, the very Rev. J. P. Machebeuf, who for ten years had been Vicar-General of New Mexico, together with Rev. J. B. Raverdy arrived in Denver, to take charge of the Catholic missions of the Territory.
A new appeal for funds was made which met with better success, and work on the building was resumed. On Christmas night following the arrival of the Bishop, the first services were held in the unfinished build- ing, which was not completed until 1861. In 1862 the church organ was brought from St. Louis, and also a bell weighing eight hundred pounds, which was hung in a temporary frame tower in front of the church. This bell was destroyed by a furious wind storm which blew down the tower on the night of Christmas, 1864, and completely shattered it. It was replaced by another weighing about two thousand pounds, the one now used. With the progress of years, the Catholic congregation has multiplied in numbers, until it is now perhaps the largest in the city.
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St. Mary's Academy was established in the fall of 1863, in the dwelling house of G. W. Clayton, at that time one of the largest in town, and was subsequently purchased by the church. In August, 1864, three sisters of the order of Loretto, opened the academy. As the attendance increased, other sisters were brought from Santa Fé in 1865.
Presbyterian Church. The first services in this church occurred on the 15th of June, 1859, in the Pollock House, corner of Fourth and Ferry streets, Auraria. The congregation was somewhat remarkable in that early period, owing to the presence of several ladies. The Pollock House having the rather phenomenal luxury of a plank floor, induced its selection. The Rev. Mr. Hamilton, afterward of Central City, delivered the sermon. In the spring of 1860 Rev. Mr. Rankin arrived and estab- lished a regular congregation, the trustees being Richard Sopris, Wm. M. Clayton, R. E. Whitsitt and Daniel Moyn. Mr. Rankin officiated as pastor for four months, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. S. Bill- ingsley who organized the Presbyterian Church in the International Hall on Ferry street, between Fourth and Fifth, December 15th, 1861. The officers of the church were the three ruling elders, Simon Cort, John Irvine and Robert Lansing. The membership numbered only fifteen. During the administration of Mr. Billingsley, which continued about a year, the society worshiped for a time in a room over the store occupied by Messrs. Greenleaf & Brewer, and afterward in International Hall.
Rev. A. R. Day succeeded Billingsley, arriving here in the fall of 1862. His first efforts were devoted to securing a permanent church edifice, and a movement to that end was organized. Lots for the building were donated by the United States Board of Domestic Mis- sions for the Presbyterian church by Major John S. Fillmore. Sub- scription books were opened, and nearly eight thousand dollars secured. With this amount a small church was built on Fifteenth street, between Arapahoe and Lawrence. Mr. Day remained until the spring of 1865, when he resigned, and was succeeded in July of that year by Rev. J. B. McClure, who arrived October 18th. In the
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spring of 1867 (April) the membership numbered eighty. The church officials of that date were : Elders, John Q. Charles, Dr. W. F. McClel- land, W. W. Slaughter, John Irwin, and John McCall; Trustees, O. A. Whittemore, B. F. Woodward, Moses Hallett, W. F. McClelland, and A. E. Moyn.
Baptist Church. This society was temporarily organized by the Rev. Walter McD. Potter in the winter of 1863-4. Its first inde- pendent services were held in a hall in Bayaud's block on Sixteenth street, December 27th, 1863. Meetings were continued regularly each Sunday until May 2d, 1864, at which time a permanent organization was effected, with the following membership: The pastor, Francis Gallup, Henry C. Leach, Adelia Voorhies, Lucilla Birdsall, Lavinia Hall, Lucy H. Potter, Alice Hall, and Eliza Thoroughman. The church grew slowly until the autumn of 1865, at which time the membership numbered seventeen.
Through all this period search was instituted for a site, and ways and means for a building. A fund for the purpose was subscribed. In the fall and winter of 1865 Mr. Potter hoped to have the structure under way, but his health failing, he was compelled to leave his field of labor. He returned to his home in the East, and in 1866 passed away. He was succeeded by Rev. Ira D. Clark. The church services were held during the fall and winter of 1865-6 in the U. S. court room in McClure block, Larimer street, near the present railroad building. In the fall of 1866 the society, which had received a considerable increase of membership, began the erection of a fine church on the corner of Sixteenth and Curtis streets-now occupied by the Riche block. The basement of cut stone was completed, but winter coming on, a temporary roof was thrown over it. The congregation worshiped here for some time. Owing to its rather grotesque appearance it was christened by the irreverent "the Baptist Dugout." And here the experiment ended. The lot with its remarkable incumbrance, was sold and finally occupied by a business block.
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