History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 21

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791

USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 21

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In 1868, when Governor Hunt's treaty with the Utes for their location upon reservations at White river and the Los Pinos was made, the Uncompahgres, Mouaches, Capotes, and Weeminuches were encamped in the vicinity of Fort Gar- land, in the eastern part of the San Luis valley. In attempting to remove them to the Los l'inos they could only be gotten as far as Cochetopa creek,-where the post office of that name now stands,-in the western part of Saguache county. The Los Pinos where it was designed that they should be settled is some 60 miles south- westerly. But here they were determined to remain, and, consequently, the agency was established at Cochetopa in 1869. But in order to conform in some degree to the terms of the treaty, a small creek running into the Cochetopa at that point was named Los Pinos. Here they remained until removed to the U'neompahgre reserva- tion under the treaty of 1873. The cattle camp was located near the present site of Gunnison City, for the reason that it was a fine grazing section. It was some 25 miles by trail from Cochetopa to the cattle camp. The live stock centered there for the use of the agency was bought by Governor E. M. MeCook, under the circum- stances related in Chapter VIII, Volume II. The first agent was Lieutenant Speer ; the second, the Rev. Mr. Trask ; the third, General Charles Adams: the fourth, Rev. B. F. Bond; the fifth, Major W. D. Wheeler; the sixth, Major W. M. Kelley: the seventh, Capt. Stanley, and the eighth, Major Wm. Il. Berry, who removed the Uncom- pahgres to Utah, under orders from General Mckenzie, who led the military escort. It was at the agency on the Cochetopa, misnamed the Los Pinos, that General Charles Adams took Alfred Packer, "the man eater,"in hand, as related in Volume III. beginning at page 245. When Barlow & Sanderson established their stage line from Saguache to Lake City, the road built by Enos Hotchkiss and Otto Mears passed directly through this reservation. Mr. llerman Lueders, now secretary of the state board of capitol commissioners, who was an employé of the agency under

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Gen. Adams, built one of the cabins at the cattle camp and all of the stock corrals. The first was erected by Alonzo Hartman, who came in 1872. Six miles above on a stream then called Camp creek, a tributary of the Tomichi, there were two small cabins built some years before, by whom no one knows, but probably by trappers or prospectors. But the actual foundation of the present city of Gunnison may be said to have been laid by Mr. Alonzo Hartman, who built the first house, and Her- man Lueders, who, in conjunction with Hartman, built the second, the original cabin being too small for their joint occupancy. They are there to this day.

We have the statement following from Mr. Hartman: "I came to Gunnison December 25, 1872, from the Los Pinos agency in Saguache county. I went there from Saguache. At that time the government had 1,000 cattle and a like number of sheep at Gunnison, or rather at the cow camp cabins that were situated a mile below the present town of Gunnison. General Chas. Adams sent James P. Kelley and myself to take charge of the stock. Sidney Jochnich also accompanied us. Sylvester Richardson came with a colony in 1874. They built cabins on ranches from one to five miles above Gunnison. Richardson's party was stopped by the authorities, but as the leader claimed they were not on the reservation they were allowed to proceed. Most of the colonists departed, each in a separate way, but Richardson, J. B. and W. W. Outcalt, with others, remained."

J. R. Trimble, Fred. Pheffer and one known as "Mick," early trappers and miners, came in 1874. James Watt and Jack Howe were among the pioneer ranch- men. Jesse Benton came about 1875. Alonzo Hartman, first postmaster at Gunni- son, came to Colorado with his parents in 1863. His father, Thomas Hartman, died in Denver about 1885. Alonzo spent some time in Black Hawk, Central City and Golden. In 1870 he went to Saguache and later to Gunnison. Parlin's station on the D. & R. G. R. R. was named for John Parlin, who came about 1877 and located on a ranch near the present station which bears his name. Sargent, also on the same road, was named for Joseph Sargent, who was connected with the Los Pinos agency in 1872. He located a ranch in the early time which was simply a cow camp for the agency. Nicholas Meyers, a stock grower and ranchman, was also among the pioneers of Colorado and the Gunnison region. In his narrative he says: "I came to Colorado in May, 1859, and was engaged in mining at Black Hawk four years, then went to Trail Run; afterward to Tarryall in the South Park. At a later period I was engaged in stock raising on Spring creek, Douglas county, but in 1873 went to the San Luis valley, locating about 8 miles below on Sagnache creek and resumed stock growing. In 1879 I left for Razor creek in the Tomichi valley. Doyleville, 18 miles east of Gunnison, was the post office station, and there I took up a ranch. Among my neighbors were llenry and John Kennedy, H. Hartman, Wm. Snyder, Sam Parratt, George Pierce, J. Ballard Coats, John Coats and others. I built the first store at Ohio City in 1880."

Mr. C. P. Foster says: "I came over from Saguache in 1874 where I was con- nected with the commissary department of the Indian Agency and attended to the farming. In 1876 I located on the Cebolla, taking up a ranch about 30 miles south- west of Gunnison. The post office was at White Earth, near the junction of the Powderhorn and the Cebolla. It is now known as Powderhorn post office, and is about three miles from the original site. Gunnison received mail once a week via Saguache through the White Earth office. Dr. Dorr and Ed. Singer were prospect- ing and hunting in this section in 1874-75. The early ranchmen on the Cebolla from 1874-76 were A. W. Testamen, James Jones, Eph. Matthias, Wm. Snyder, Wm. Pontus, W. B. Jacks, - Condit, W. P. Sammons, A. J. Stone, J. R. Smith, E. T. Hotchkiss, James Andrews, John McIntyre and others. This settlement was situated about midway between Gunnison and Lake City. Del Dorita was an early mining camp, started in what is now called MeDonough Gulch. For many years the Ce- bolla valley has been a fine stock growing and agricultural region. On the hillsides

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are the famous iron deposits that give promise of becoming the most valuable in Colorado. The Kezar settlement, named for Gardner Kezar, was located a little east of Cebolla, on the Gunnison, in 1877, by A. W. Mergleman, James A. Preston, P. T. Stevens, A. Pomel, James Brennan, James McLeod, Charles E. Stevens, A. K. Stevens, Gardner Kezar and others, who engaged in ranching and stock raising. Thus, both east and west of Gunnison, men had been pursuing these peaceful avo- cations some time anterior to the great influx of prospectors from Leadville and other camps in the Arkansas valley, and had become comfortably settled."

The vanguard of ranchmen and cattle growers, as we have seen by the fore- going narratives, were employés of the Indian agency. The existence of the precious metals in the mountains and in some of the gulches was known to them, but the country belonged to, or was claimed by, the Ute Indians. Nevertheless, a number of bold prospectors had ventured in, made discoveries, and in due course exciting reports went abroad which caused the great inpouring that established camps and opened the gold, silver, coal and iron mines.

As related at the beginning of this chapter, the county, though but sparsely inhabited, was created March 9th, 1877, at least two years prior to the development of the mining sections. W. W. Outcalt and Lyman Cheney, who had been ap- pointed commissioners, met April 9th, 1877, and were duly qualified, as also Samuel B. Harvey, clerk, and Amby Hinkle, sheriff. Wm. Yule, the third commissioner, did not meet with the board at that time. At the next meeting Mr. Cheney was made chairman; Amos O. Miller qualified for the office of assessor; Robert Stubbs was appointed a justice of the peace; Eugene W. Roberts, constable; James H. Yates, coroner, and L. S. Mattox, overseer of highways. At a meeting of the board held May 22nd, the county seat was temporarily located at Gunnison, then a mere cluster of rude cabins. On the 2nd of July the county was divided into election precincts and judges of election appointed.

Gunnison, the county seat, stands at the foot of the western slope of the great Continental Divide near the Gunnison river. None of the customary wild, feverish efforts to establish a metropolis and engage in speculation were observable in its creation, after the failure of the Richardson colonization scheme in 1874. The town company was organized in 1879, composed of ex-Governor John Evans, Henry C. Olney, Louden Mullen, Alonzo Hartman, Sylvester Richardson and others. Mr. Mullen became president and manager, Howard Evans, secretary, Sylvester Richard- son, vice-president. The survey was made April Ist, 1880, by Mr. Richardson, and laid off by Henry C. Olney, J. R. Hinkle, Samuel B. Harvey, James P. Kelley and Alonzo Hartman. The plat was filed March 9th, 1880. West Gunnison was laid off by the Gunnison Town and Land company May 14th, 1880, by Louden Mullen, trustee, and the plat filed June 15th following. It occupies a superb position about the center of the valley, commanding all its great diversity of mineral, coal and other resources located and being developed in the adjacent mountains. To the north, in the Elk mountains, and to the east in the Continental Divide are many mining camps, all tributary to this commercial and industrial center. One familiar with the region may stand in the streets of Gunnison and point out the locality of nearly every town and hamlet in the county, for the view is broad and far-reaching. While the towns can not be seen, the places where they lie concealed are in most cases indicated by some conspicuous promontory or other distinguishing feature of the magnificent landscape. All the principal streams rising in the mountains flow toward Gunnison City as to a common level. For some time a spirited rivalry between the two divisions of the town prevailed. The Lewis, now the La Veta Hotel, one of the finest in the state, was built in West Gunnison. In 1880 the two were united and incorporated, when the following municipal officers were chosen: Mayor, F. G. Kubler; recorder, H. L. Ross; trustees, Joseph Adams, J. A. Preston,

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F. C. Smith and Joseph Woodward; treasurer, E. T. Sutherland; police magistrate, George Simmonds; marshal, J. H. Roberts.

In 1881 the following were elected: Mayor, F. G. Kubler; recorder, H. L. Ross; trustees, Joseph Brennan, J. R. Parks, Herman Holloway, J. A. Preston; treasurer, E. T. Sutherland; attorney, Thomas C. Brown; police magistrate, J. P. Harlow; marshal, R. C. Bailey.

In 1880-81 the growth was almost prodigious, stimulated by an incessant rush of immigrants from all quarters of the state. Gunnison promised to become one of the great cities of Colorado. Business houses multiplied, all manner of ex- pensive enterprises were commenced and some of them completed. A number of men who have since won considerable fame in state politics and in other directions became leaders in the progressive movement. Mr. C. W. Shores, the most remark- able sheriff Colorado has produced, who has pursued to capture, trial and im- prisonment, various bands of train robbers, and many other desperate criminals, who, when he once takes the trail never falters or leaves it no matter into what danger it may lead, is still a resident of the county. All over the state he is ac- counted the bravest of the brave, an estimable citizen withal, and a man well worth knowing. Henry C. Olney, for years business manager of the Rocky Mountain "News" at Denver, and the pioneer journalist of the county, register of the first land office at Lake City, editor of the "Silver World" in the latter place, and later register of the land office at Gunnison; Theodore Thomas, afterward attorney-general of the state; Alexander Gullett, Frank C. Goudy and A. M. Stevenson, eminent lawyers and politicians; James W. Bucklin, one of the founders of Grand Junction; Clem and Fred Zugelder, for whom the quarries from which were taken the granite which forms our beautiful state capitol, and many others not now recalled, all have been prominent in promoting the glory of Gunnison.

Down to the close of 1882 brisk activity prevailed, and it was between that date and the spring of 1879 that most of the important mines were discovered, camps formed and local institutions planted. In its general review of the situation pub- lished January Ist, 1884, the Daily "News-Democrat," while deploring the sub- sidence of the boom, summarizes the condition of things at the close of 1883 sub- stantially as follows: "First and most important, the completion of the Denver and Rio Grande railway via Gunnison to the western boundary of the state, and thence via the Rio Grande Western to Salt Lake and Ogden: second, the comple- tion of the Denver & South Park R. R. to the coal fields at Baldwin, 18 miles north- west of Gunnison ; the organization of a company for the building of iron and steel works and the commencement of work upon the buildings; the completion of the Lewis hotel at a cost of $250,000; the extension of a branch line to the Crested Butte coal mines; the building at Gunnison of planing mills, round houses and machine shops; the grading of streets and paving of sidewalks; the erection of gas works, and a complete water supply system; three costly brick and stone school houses; the acquisition of seven religious organizations and the erection of six churches; the opening of two theaters; a free reading-room, a park and a skating rink ; one weekly and two daily newspapers; a brick jail, court house and county hospital: a smelter for gold and silver ores; steel works in process of building; a street railway; numerous lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, G. A. R., and other secret orders; two National banks, many real estate, insurance and loan companies, and a large number of strong mercantile houses." All this in Gunnison. In the several mining camps a number of mills, concentrators, smelters and other forms of reduction works were established, the great anthracite and bituminous coal mines put in active production, and scores of coke-ovens furnished.

The Moffett smelter, using the Bartlett process, proved a lamentable failure. After turning out a few small lots of bullion it was discovered that the process was not adapted to the ores, when it closed, and since has been wholly removed.

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The great burst of excitement passed away in 1883 and has not been renewed. It was based in the first instance upon the expectation of great rewards created by glowing reports of the enormous extent and exceeding richness of the mines, which inspired thousands to believe that a greater than Leadville had been or would be found among the mountain slopes. While it is true that many superior mines of gold and silver were discovered and many extensively opened, distance from markets, high transportation charges, the collapse of local reduction works, dis- appointment in not finding vast beds of carbonate ores worth millions, the severity of the winters in the higher altitudes and the lack of capital for investment, together with the general decline of interest after the blow which struck Leadville in 1881-82, all combined to bring about depression in Gunnison. Again, the influx of people during the period mentioned was largely composed of men who came without money or provisions, having little or no experience, expecting to pick up gold in the very streets and roads. Many were "Kansas grasshopper sufferers," who came west to recuperate their fortunes. They refused to work in the operated mines, preferring to follow town site booms in the hope of striking wealth without any particular effort. They were neither builders, laborers nor producers, simply drift. When the short race was run, they disappeared. . The country lost heavily in popula- tion, the craze subsided, leaving only a handful of sturdy workers to shape the future of the county.

Agricultural Resources .- Among the tributaries of the Gunnison river, one of the most beautiful of Rocky Mountain streams, are Taylor and East rivers, which unite seven miles northeast of Gunnison and form the main stream. Next in im- portance is Ohio creek. Hot Springs, Razor, Armstrong and Little Tomichi creeks are affluents of the Tomichi, a tributary of the Gunnison. Likewise Lottes, Texas and Spring creeks are tributaries of Taylor river; Cement, Brush and Slate of East river. The valley of Quartz creek, an affluent of the Tomichi, is also an ex- cellent agricultural section. The better tillable lands lie along the alluvial margins of the principal water courses named above. Ranches where large quantities of hay are cut, vegetables raised, and butter and milk produced, are scattered about near the larger mining towns which afford ready cash markets. The Tomichi valley extends east 42 miles from Gunnison to Sargent's, and thence northward to the mining district which bears its name. Upon these lines and the small creeks that flow into it are some of the better farms.

Ohio creek runs south from above Mount Carbon to the Gunnison. The great Ohio creek valley extends from Mount Carbon very close to Gunnison, 17 miles. It is from one to two miles wide, well suited to agriculture and the greater portions are taken up in ranch claims. Although very little grain is raised, potatoes and all the hardy vegetables yield profusely. Along the Powderhorn, Cebolla, the upper Gunnison, East, Slate, Taylor and Anthracite, there are numerous farmers, but hay is the most profitable crop. Some idea of the present condition of agricul- ture is obtained from the report of the county assessor for 1891, which is only approximately correct, however, but is the best data now procurable. Acres of land under irrigation, 16,870; acres in wheat, 15, yield 200 bushels; in oats, 60, yield 1,800 bushels; barley, 25, 1,450 bushels; rye, 9, 400 bushels ; potatoes, 205, 16,500 bushels; timothy, 250 acres, 260 tons; native grass, 11,200, 10,500 tons. The ranchmen produced 24,300 pounds of butter and 110,000 pounds of cheese.

As originally constituted, this county embraced all the Elk mountain range, which Hayden describes as "a wiklerness of pyramidal cones rising to the height of 13,000 to 14,000 feet, and unique in form and structure." Here is the great mineral belt containing veins of gokl, silver, lead and copper, with some fairly valuable placers. This belt has been traced clear through to California Gulch. In early times, prior to the advent of railways, the ores produced in Gunnison county were sacked and packed across the range 90 miles to Lake City for treatment. The only

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practicable route from the east when the tide of immigration rolled in was via Alamosa and Saguache, over Cochetopa Pass, a distance of 150 miles over rough and rugged roads. Barlow & Sanderson, the famous stage men, carried passengers, mail and express.

Let us now take a hasty glance at the founding of mining towns. It is im- practicable to set forth their rise and progress in detail, hence we shall not attempt it. Most of them have undergone many changes, some have been wholly aban- doned, while others maintain a precarious foothold. Still others, illustrating the survival of the fittest, have been materially prospered by the passing years.

Virginia City was surveyed and platted in May, 1879, by A. J. Sparks. During that year this town and its contemporary, Hillerton, were brisk competitors for the supremacy in Tin Cup district. At one time Hillerton had a population of about 2,000, but is deserted now. The name Virginia City was changed to Tin Cup, which it still retains. It is situated in the northeastern part of the county, 35 miles from Gunnison, and the district embraces some excellent placers in addition to numerous gold-bearing lodes. The town is the commercial center of the mining section, located at the head of Taylor Park at an altitude of 10,200 feet. It has a very large area of superior mining territory. In July, 1882, it had a population of about 600. In 1880 the Gold Cup mine was sold for $300,000. The surface ores as a rule were high grade, assorted lots shipped to Pueblo carrying from 114 to 600 ounces of silver per ton, with a considerable percentage of gold. The mine called Tin Cup is an extension of the Gold Cup. The camp, like all the others of the early period between 1879 and 1883, was struck by the general paralysis, but in 1891 a revival took place, and it is now enjoying much prosperity.

Irwin was platted November 20th, 1879, and the plat filed February 4th, 1880. It is located on Anthracite creek, 30 miles northwest of Gunnison. The survey was made by Frank P. Swindler, a deputy U. S. mineral land surveyor. It was first known as Ruby Camp, from the large quantities of ruby-silver ore found in the lodes, but finally took the name of Richard Irwin, a noted prospector and mining correspondent. August 24th, 1879. Ira Brown, George K. Cornwell and Richard Irwin filed a plat of the town of Irwin. For a time this was regarded as the richest district in the county, and believed to be the uniting point of three very extensive mineral belts. The more prominent of the mines which procured its fame were the Forest Queen, Bullion King, Monte Cristo, Ruby Chief, Justice, Lead Chief, Last Chance and a few others which attained importance through development. Smelt- ing plants and reduction works were built there. J. H. Haverly, the noted manager of theatrical and minstrel companies, purchased a group of prospects in this district and advertised them extravagantly. It was a brisk and extremely promising camp from 1879 to 1882, but thence forward to 1890 its population decreased until only a small number remained. It is now in process of resurrection by the introduction of new capitalized forces. The Forest Queen and the Bullion King are steady shippers, and the Ruby Chief is being steadily developed. From the large amount of excellent mineral in that section, it is clear that an early awakening of its former activity may safely be predicted, for it contains treasures worth seeking.

Schofield was surveyed and platted August 24th, 1879, by J. Evans, for a com- pany composed of Daniel Haines, S. H. Baker, B. F. Schofield, H. G. Ferris, Wm. Agee, E. D. Baker, A. H. Slossen and G. Edwards. It is located on Rock creek between Elko and Crystal City, 8 miles northwest of Gothic, and some 40 miles west of Gunnison. It never was a mining camp of much importance, though the central station for a number of prospectors.

Pitkin, named for Governor F. W. Pitkin, was surveyed by A. J. Sparks, and the plat filed July 16th, 1879. It is situated on Quartz creek, on the Denver & South Park R. R., 27 miles northeast of Gunnison. Two years later it had a popula- tion of about 1,500, many stores and saloons, a newspaper, one or two hotels, a

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bank and other accessories denoting a prosperous settlement. Mining claims were as numerous as the people. With the general departure of interest which marked all enterprises in Gunnison county, Pitkin suffered in common with its contem- poraries. Within the past two years, however, its prestige has been restored and it is now in a better condition than ever before, for the reason that the formations enclosing the valuable deposits are better understood and worked by more experi- enced miners. The more prominent now under operation are the Fairview, Nest Egg, Sacramento, Tycoon and Little Roy. The Fairview was discovered in 1878 and is accounted a great mine. In July, 1890, its manager began shipping ore to market, and there has been a steady increase of the product to the present time. The Sacramento has been worked almost continuously since 1880. It consists of 23 claims, located on the "gold belt" three miles northwest of Pitkin. This district bids fair to become one of the great producers of the state.

Tomichi District, with White Pine for its principal center, is at present the most active in the county. Mr. Geo. S. Irwin writes that the "first prospectors there were the Boon brothers, who came over from Chaffee City in the fall of 1878." Others followed in rapid succession, and in 1881 a town company was organized and the town of White Pine located, surveyed, platted and soon afterward incorporated. Milton Spencer was elected mayor, Stanley Neal clerk, John S. Barber, John W. Jett, John Hammond and John K. Terrell, trustees. Many mines were located on Granite mountain, carrying wire and native silver. "Contact mountain was found to be a mass of magnetic iron, and in the eastern part of the district the lime belt was discovered, which since has given birth to the famous May-Mazeppa, Eureka, Beta, Morning Star and Denver City mines."

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 21

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company Publication date: 1889-95 Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co. Number of Pages: 791

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791