History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 24

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

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KIT CARSON COUNTY.

GENERAL SITUATION-RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES-ORGANIZATION-TOWNS AND SCHOOLS.

This county, named in honor of General Christopher (commonly known as "Kit") Carson, one of the most celebrated frontiersmen of his time-a sketch of whose life appears in the first volume of our history-was organized under an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11th, 1889, and the county seat located at Burlington. But an earlier effort to perpetuate the name of this estimable gentleman was made when, in 1870, the county of Greenwood was established and the county seat, Kit Carson, then a considerable town on the Kansas Pacific railway, named for him. The extension of this road to Denver, however, trans- ferred the shipping business to other points, which caused a dispersion of the in- habitants. By an act approved February 6th, 1874, the county of Greenwood was abolished, its territory being merged into Elbert and Bent counties. A part of the same area segregated from Elbert is now covered by the new county of Kit Carson. The people who were instrumental in creating it have thus erected an enduring monument to the memory of the man whose name it bears. By the progress they have made in the development of that hitherto comparatively arid section, it is destined to become an important quarter of the commonwealth.

Kit Carson county is bounded on the north by Arapahoe, south by Cheyenne, east by the state of Kansas, and west by Lincoln. Its form is that of a perfect parallelogram. Its area is 2,150 square miles, and by the census of 1890 its pop- ulation was 2,472.

The principal streams are the South Fork of the Republican river, Spring and Landsman creeks. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad, under the name of the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska, passes straight through the center of the county from east to west, having its western terminal at Colorado Springs. Along this road are the principal towns and shipping stations-Burlington, the capital, located near the eastern border, Bethune, Clairmont, Vona, Seibert and Flagler to the westward, and just east of Burlington, very close to the Kansas border, is Carlisle. The county seat has a population of about 300 and is the largest of the series.

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The county officers for 1890-91 were: Clerk, Daniel Kavanaugh; treasurer, George B. Bent; county judge, Paul B. Godsman; assessor, O. H. McDonald; sheriff, Samuel Beidelman; coroner, C. A. Gillett; superintendent of schools, DeWitt S. Harris; surveyor, Wm. M. Hollowell; clerk of the district court, T. G. Price; county commissioners, E. W. Morgan, DeWitt C. Walton, and Charles R. MeCabe.

This, like nearly all counties situated on the eastern tier, is in the "rainbelt region," that is to say, having no great rivers or other streams from which large irrigating canals can be taken, is mainly dependent upon natural rainfalls for the growth of crops. Most of the settlers are from the western states, largely from Nebraska and Kansas. As there are no forests, these enterprising residents have laid the basis for them in the future by planting two or three million of various kinds of trees under the timber culture act. There are no coal or mineral lands; while a part of the county is an undulating plain, the greater portion is quite level. The soil is of the best quality for corn, rye, oats, barley, etc., and equally adapted to wheat. These grains yield abundantly when the land is well watered; a few irrigating ditches have been taken from the larger streams, but there is not a sufficient volume to cover large bodies of land.

Reference to the assessment roll for 1890 returned to the auditor of state pretty closely defines the principal sources of revenue. The returns for 1889 showed 246,560 acres of agricultural land, valued at $678,200. In 1890 this was increased to 313,990 acres, valued at $895,876. The next largest item for the year was 60.11 miles of railroad assessed at $590,615.08. There were 1,543 horses, 176 mules, 2,465 cattle, 313 sheep and 864 swine, which shows the extent of the live stock. The total assessed valuation of taxable property for 1890 was $1.646,664.03.

In 1889 there were 35,429 acres under cultivation divided as follows: In corn, 27,406; in rye, 2,417; in sorghum, 3,828; in wheat, 350; in broom corn, 368; in millet, 416; potatoes, 182; timothy, 7; alfalfa, 125; oats, 250; the remainder in buck- wheat, clover, etc. There are no data as to yields.

Schools. -- In April, 1889, there were thirty-three school districts in the county. In 1800 there were forty-five. Several good buildings were erected in 1800. Seibert, Vona and Clairmont each have a good school house. Flagler has a frame building of three rooms erected at a cost of $3,000; Burlington a two-story brick, one of the finest in eastern Colorado, built at a cost of $5,000. By the census of 1890 the school population was 733, with an enrollment of 641, and an average daily attendance of 355. The value of school property was $10.317.20.

The years 1889-90 brought grievous misfortune to many settlers on the eastern border. The summers were hot, the rainfalls few, and most of the crops perished from drouth. But in 1891 rains were frequent all through the spring and summer, therefore the land was blessed with bountiful harvests. The watercourses being insufficient to fill more than a small part of the need of artificial irrigation. resort must be had to storage reservoirs, and to the underflow by the sinking of artesian wells.

The town of Burlington was founded in 1887 by the Lowell Town Site com- pany. The first house was built by II. L. Page. There are two churches, the Methodist and Christian. The secret societies are represented by the Masons, Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Burlington has two newspapers, the "Boomerang." edited by J. F. Murray, and the "Tribune," by J. H. Stewart. The county has a very fine two-story court house and a good jail with steel cages. It has no indebtedness. Government lands sub- ject to entry under the homestead law are procurable near the markets and schools.

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LA PLATA COUNTY.

THRILLING DETAILS OF EARLY EXPLORATIONS-TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS OF THE ORIGINAL PROSPECTORS - MATERIAL FOR WRITERS OF WESTERN ROMANCE-A WONDERFUL CHAPTER OF HISTORY-FIRST SETTLERS-PLACER MINING-CAPT. JOHN MOSS-FOUNDING OF SILVERTON-LEGEND OF THE MOQUI INDIANS, SIX THOUSAND YEARS OLD-REMARKABLE DISCOVERY OF A BURIED AZTEC TOWN- PEOPLING OF THE SAN JUAN COUNTRY-MAGNIFICENCE OF THE ANIMAS VALLEY -DURANGO-ENORMOUS BEDS OF COAL.

La Plata was taken from the western part of Conejos, and, together with Rio Grande and Hinsdale, was organized under an act of the territorial legislature approved February 10th, 1874, as the result of a large influx of miners attracted to the region (then generally designated the "San Juan"), in 1872-73, as will more fully appear in the course of our narrative. Its name is derived from the great La Plata chain of mountains, which form a part of its boundary. Several counties have since been segregated from its original extensive domains, the last-Montezuma-in 1889. It is now bounded on the north by San Juan, south by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and New Mexico, east by Hinsdale and Archuleta, and west by Montezuma. Its arca is 1,860 square miles, and by thic census of 1890 its popula- tion was 5,509, an increase of 4,399 in the preceding decade. Its first officers were: Clerk, John L. Ufford; county judge, Samuel Johns; treasurer, B. F. Lovett; sheriff, J. W. Wallace; commissioners, Dempsey Reese, Richard Carley and Alex Fleming. Judicial districts were created the same year, and Thomas M. Bowen was appointed district judge; John L. Ufford, clerk of the court. Originally, La Plata county embraced all the territory now included in San Juan, Ouray, Dolores and San Miguel, with most of Hinsdale. Howardsville, above Silverton, was the county seat and main center of population. On the west and southwest lines of the county were united thie corners of four territories, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, indicated by a square monument. the name of each being marked on the side it touched.

As the early annals of exploration and settlement in the San Juan country are filled with romance and strange adventure, forming a story of wonderful vicissitudes, human devotion and self-sacrifice, considerable space will be devoted to them. The narrative of the original "Baker expedition," which left California Gulch in July, 1860, together with the tragic death of Baker, has been recounted in Volume II, beginning with page 192, and need not be repeated here. In August. 1891, while in Durango collecting data for this chapter. it was my good fortune to discover in a soiled and torn copy of the Daily "Herald," published January Ist, 1888, a com- plete chronicle in detail of the entire course of the exploration and settlement down to 1878, in compact chronological order, prepared by Major E. H. Cooper, now a resident of Cortez. Montezuma county, who was a member of the expedition of which he writes. It contains so many facts worthy of preservation among the per-

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manent records of the state, valuable not only for readers and students of the present generation, but to the historian of the future, I have adopted it, or at least that part which begins where the recital just referred to in our second volume terminates. Here is the story substantially as I found it and will amply repay perusal:

The glowing accounts sent out by Baker of his discoveries and the vast mineral wealth of the country induced Benjamin H. Eaton (in 1884 elected governor of Colorado), D. H. Haywood, Charles L. Hall (now of Leadville), Oscar Phelps. J. C. Turner (sheriff of La Plata county in 1888) and many others to undertake a journey to that wild country. In the party were several women and children. Among the ladies were Mrs. D. H. Haywood, Mrs. Oscar Phelps, Mrs. Nye and daughter and some others. They started from Denver in December, 1860, with ox teams. Their course was due south through Pueblo and on to or near the Spanish Peaks. Crossing the Sangre de Cristo range by way of La Veta Pass to old Fort Garland, passing the Rio Grande at Stewart's crossing near the mouth of Conejos creek and following the latter up to Conejos plaza; thence on to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, where they joined the rest of the Baker party. The entire cavalcade arrived on the east bank of the Animas river, at the new town of Animas City, opposite the Pinkerton Hot Springs, about the middle of March, 1861, and a strong bridge of logs was thrown across the stream, which is still being used by the travel- ing public.

Placer mining had proven a failure, therefore the whole party crossed the Animas and proceeded northward toward Baker's Park. Most of the company, however, only got as far as Castle Rock near Cascade creek, where a halt was made and the ladies made as comfortable as possible. The place was christened "Camp Pleasant." From here D. H. Haywood and a few others made a trip on snow shoes to Baker's Park (now Silverton). The snow being very deep, pros- pecting was impossible and they soon returned to camp, only to learn that the Indians were becoming hostile and were burning the bridges and massacreing all the white people found in small unprotected squads. As they were unable to procure supplies, starvation stared them in the face. Hunting parties wore organ- ized, but, owing to heavy snows, but little game was obtained. Their situation, therefore, was perilous in the extreme, and it was at this time that the spirit of dis- content with Baker began to be dangerous to him, as already related. During the month of June rumors of the outbreak of civil war in the United States reached their camp. The ladies of this little band, patriotic to the core even though dis- spirited by their trials, at once prepared from their white goods, red petticoats and blue bonnets, a rude American flag. The tallest pine tree was selected for a staff. stripped of its branches, and the stars and stripes hoisted to its top, the first that ever floated within the limits of the San Juan region.

By this time the outlook became dark and dismal. Incomers were being massacred by the Indians, and the party was nearly out of provisions. Three parties were now organized, one under the leadership of D. H. Haywood, which in- cluded all the ladies and children, to retrace their steps toward Denver. This group followed as nearly as possible the route they came, and arrived at their destination without loss of life or serious accident. Another small company, with J. C. Turner as leader, took a southerly course toward Arizona: the third followed Capt. Baker in a northwesterly direction. Thus terminated this grand enterprise or attempt to settle southwestern Colorado.

We come now to the second epoch. Early in 1870, while the San Juan was covered by Conejos county and an Indian Reservation, Dempsey Reese, Miles F. Johnson, Abner French, Thomas Blair and others left Santa Fe for a prospecting tour in the San Juan mountains, following nearly the same route pursued by Baker to the Animas river, thence to Baker's Park by way of Castle Rock, Cascade creek

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and the lakes. Late in the fall they located the Little Giant mine in Arastra Gulch, and after making a few other locations or elaims returned to Santa Fé. In the spring of 1871 this party, with Wm. Mullholland and Francis M. Snowden added to their former number, returned to the mines, entering via Del Norte and Wagon Wheel Gap, following the Baker trail. An old-fashioned arastra was built in which about $3,000 in gold was secured from the surface quartz of the Little Giant lode in the space of about six weeks. They then returned to Del Norte, and the display they made of the gold created much excitement. The town of Del Norte, as will be seen by reference to the history of Rio Grande county, had just then been founded. Early in 1872 the original party returned to Baker's Park with several others, among them Seth Sackett and James Kendall. During that season the Aspen, Prospector, Susquehanna and other mineral lodes were discovered, some of which afterward became noted producers of precious metal. Being unprepared for a winter encampment, all returned to Del Norte. This was the primary impulse which led to the treaty with the Ute Indians whereby, under the act of Congress approved September 3rd, 1873, that part of their reservation was ceded to the United States and opened to settlement. For further particulars, see history of the Ute Indians, this volume.

In the summer of 1873 a band of prospectors from California, led by Capt. Jolin Moss, with whom were Richard Giles, John Merritt, Thomas MeElmel, John MeIntire, John Thompson, John Madden, Henry Lee and John Robinson, entered the region, traveling the entire distance on horseback with pack animals conveying their camping outfit. They crossed the Colorado river at old Fort Mohave, passed through the Moqui villages in the north central part of Arizona; crossed the San Juan river near the southern base of Ute mountain, thence in a northeasterly course through the southern part of Montezuma valley-so named by Capt. Moss- in July, 1873, reaching the Mancos river at a point where the present town of Mancos stands, in the latter part of that month. After a few days' rest, they came over the La Plata river and pitched their tents at the mouth of La Plata Canon, and at onee began prospecting for gold. After having secured a considerable quantity of that metal, with numerous fine specimens of quartz rock, they concluded to retrace their steps. They had satisfied themselves that the La Plata mountains were rich in precious metals, and that the La Plata bar contained limitless quantities of free gold. Being out of provisions it was determined to seek some Indian camp as soon as possible. On the way back to the Mancos river, when about midway between the La Plata and the Mancos, on the north bank of Cherry creek, Richard Giles accidentally shot himself in the neck, which came near terminating his life. This unhappy event changed their entire progranime. Capt. Moss, John Robinson and one or two others started at once for Terra Amarilla, New Mexico, 130 miles distant, and then the nearest trading post, in search of provisions, leaving Thos. McElmel, John Madden and John MeIntire in charge of their wounded comrade. A rude shelter was constructed from brush and logs for Mr. Giles, and the camp named Camp Starvation, which it retains to this day. For eighteen days this little party subsisted on roots, berries and what little game could be captured. On the arrival of the Moss party with provisions, Giles had so far re- covered as to be able to move over to the Mancos river, where the entire company remained several days. The Giles and Merritt ranch was there located and a rude cabin of logs erected. This was probably the first permanent ranch claim taken up in La Plata county. While these men were rusticating on the Mancos, waiting for the complete recovery of Giles, Capt. Moss conceived and executed a private treaty with Ignacio, then, as now, chief of the Southern Utes, for the right to mine and farm 36 square miles of that country, with the center at a point where Parrott City now stands, for which privilege 100 ponies and a quantity of blankets were given the Indians. From the fact that the treaty with the United States then pending

ROBERTSON

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had not been fully consummated, and all the country was still held by these Indians, the movement exhibited much tact and wisdom. The contract was made by Moss for Parrott & Co. of San Francisco on the side, and Ignacio for the Utes on the other, and secured to these prospectors peaceful occupation of what they termed "California district." Armed with a copy of this treaty and also with many samples of gold quartz and free gold, as indications of immense wealth await- ing development in the La Plata mountains, the party proceeded to San Francisco. The new enterprise was presented to Parrott & Co., with a glowing account of the country, and soon an expedition was completed under Moss's direction, who was granted carte blanche to draw on Parrott & Co. for all requisite funds to revisit and explore the country. It did not leave California, however, until the next winter.

During the summer of that year, many of those sturdy pioneers who realized the necessity of an agricultural country in close proximity to the mining camp came down from Baker's Park to locate ranches for themselves and families in the beautiful valley of the Animas river. Therefore, within 30 days after the ratifica- tion of the treaty with the Indians of September 3rd. 1873, which opened to settlers the whole San Juan country, save a 15-mile strip along the southern boundary of the territory (that now occupied), every acre of available land in the valley had been located and staked off in ranch claims. No surveys having been made, squatters rights prevailed.

Among the earlier settlers there were Frank Williams, Seth Sackett, Frank Trimble, A. Johnson, David Miller, Robert Dwyer and others. Some of these men remained all winter in the valley and built a few log cabins at or near the junc- tion of Hermosa creek with the Animas river, laid out a town site and named it Hermosa (beautiful). In spring, summer and fall, this is one of the loveliest spots in all Colorado. Robert Dwyer remained on his ranch on Junction creek during the winter and built a log house which he occupies to this day. In the fall of that year a party from Arizona, consisting of Alex Wilson, Mason Greenleaf, William Brookover, M. White, William Crowell and others, started for the La Plata mountains on a prospecting tour. Crossing the San Juan river, near the mouth of the La Plata, they followed up that stream to La Plata bar, where they arrived about November 15th, 1873. Here, to their pleasurable surprise, the first pan of dirt washed indicated about ten cents in gold. Active preparations were made for gulch mining. About December Ist a heavy fall of snow came, driving these prospectors out of the country for the season. They took an easterly course and at length reached Robert Dwyer's ranch on Junction creek, a mile north of where now stands the city of Durango. Most of the party made their way to Denver via Terra Amarilla, where an expedition was organized to visit the La Plata country as early as possible the next spring. This company consisted of Milton White, A. R. Lewis, A. Chubbuck, James Kinney, William Brookover and others. This company arrived on La Plata river May 4th, 1874, and at once began preparations for gulch mining, by whip-sawing lumber for sluices, digging (litches, etc. April 4th following, the Californians under Capt. Moss, arrived on the Mancos river. It was composed of Richard Giles, John Merritt, John Madden, Henry Lee, Ahnerian Root, John MeIntire, James Rateliff, Alex Fleming, John Thompson and others. They brought wagons, a plow and some other agricul- tural implements, the first ever introduced on the Mancos or in the La Plata valley. The snow on the divide between the Mancos and La Plata rivers was so deep it was found impossible to reach the La Plata at once, therefore they contented themselves with locating ranches, buikling cabins and preparing to plant vegetable seeds which they had procured in California. The Giles ditch was soon taken out and something over an acre of ground broken to receive the seed. Messrs. Root, Ratcliff, Lee, Moss and Melntire located ranches but made little improvement thereon. About May 12th, the snow having mostly disappeared, the party, leav-

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ing John Merritt and Ratcliff in charge of the ranches, started for the La Plata, where they arrived May 13th, and were somewhat surprised to find another party already in possession and at work. However, all hands joined in the enterprise, peace and harmony prevailing. The place was named "California Bar," and staked off in claims of 20 acres each. The Parrott City Ditch company was formed, work begun and a blacksmith shop of logs built, where now stands Parrott City. In the Animas valley T. M. Tripp and his brother Charles, A. M. Fuller, Frank Trimble, Seth Sackett, Robert Dwyer and others, including the Lambert family, were developing their ranches and planting such crops as seeds could be procured for. Thus the settlement of La Plata county began.

During the summer and fall of 1874 many prospectors and miners came in and the San Juan country received much attention from the outside world. Valuable mines were discovered and some eastern capitalists invested in them. The town of Silverton was laid out and incorporated by Dempsey Reese, Thomas Blair, Wm. Mullholland and F. M. Snowden, the latter building the first cabin in the town, which he occupies to this day. Further reference to this house appears in the history of San Juan county. The camp soon became a prosperous one. The town of Eureka, at the mouth of Eureka Gulch, was laid out: Animas Forks and Mineral Point were added to the list of towns. Two toll roads were commenced from Del Norte on either side of the Rio Grande river and rendered passable as far as Antelope Park. On the La Plata all were enthusiastic over the prospects; every available man was put to work on the La Plata ditch and each worked with a will inspired by confidence. A. Chubbuck, E. H. Cooper and Harry Jones, a colored man, arrived on the La Plata river from Del Norte July 4th, 1874, bringing a supply of provisions, and were received with hearty cheers from all the men in camp, who had that morning devoured the last they possessed. The mail was distributed, and, while being passed by the "boys," a right royal Fourth of July dinner was being prepared by those not fortunate enough to have letters to read. The bill of fare was beans and bacon, bread and coffee with sugar.

The first lode discovery was made by Almerian Root June 4th and named the Comstock. One William Borran, or Barron, had proceeded up the La Plata, five iniles or more to Barron Gulch, and commenced placer mining on his own account, obtaining several nuggets of gold, one weighing over an ounce, which gave new impetus to the Parrott Ditch company. . Several mineral lodes were located; Cali- fornia Mining district was organized, 12 miles square, with the southern line at the mouth of the Cañon. John Moss was elected recorder. The Parrott Ditch com- pany had nearly completed their task when winter set in and the miners were com- pelled to abandon their enterprise until another season. The party scattered to more genial climes in the lower altitudes, but John Merritt and Richard Giles wintered on their ranches on the Mancos river, and this was the general rendezvous of the California party.

We will now proceed to the upper country where the activity and faith of the people engaged there have accomplished works of extraordinary value. Silverton, nestled in its beautiful park, had, in the meantime, developed into a town of con- siderable dimensions. Geo. Green & Co. had broken ground for the erection of a smelter. They also opened the first general merchandise store in La Plata county, under the supervision of W. E. Earl. Many mines had been located and the assessment work done. Several gentlemen, G. W. Kingsbury, J. R. Hansen, A. W. Burrows, C. H. MeIntire, W. H. Van Geison, P. Houghton and others, were prospecting and locating mines around Mineral Point and developing them as rapidly as possible. There were also many locations in Boulder Gulch, Arastra Gulch, on both sides of the mountains above and below Silverton, descriptions of which may be found in Hayden's report of 1874. W. H. Jackson and Ernest Ingersoll made an extended trip southwest through the Animas valley and over to

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 24

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