History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 30

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 30

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first county officers appointed in 1867 after the creation of the county were: County clerk, James M. Stoner; probate judge, Horace Long; sheriff, George McBride; treasurer, Wm. Hoehne; superintendent of schools, Jefferson W. Lewelling; assessor, Samuel Smith; commissioners, Jacob Beard, Isaac Van Bremer and Helario Madril. The first elected officers, 1867-68, were: County clerk, George S. Simpson; probate judge, Juan N. Gutierrez, Sr .; sheriff, Juan N. Gutier- rez, Jr. (who resigned January 14th, 1868, when John D. Kinnear was appointed to fill the vacancy); treasurer, James M. Stoner; superintendent of schools, Jefferson W. Lewelling, who resigning in October, 1867, Joseph Davis was appointed; assessor, Jesus MI. Garcia; coroner, Ramon Vijil; commissioners, Lorenzo A. Abeyta, James S. Grey and Wilford B. Witt.

Those elected for 1890-91 were: Clerk, J. M. Garcia: treasurer, T. B. Collier; county judge, W. G. Hines; assessor, J. L. Budge: sheriff, L. M. Kreeger ; coroner, W. L. Walker; superintendent of schools, G. C. Shiels; surveyor. J. F. Ramey; clerk of the district court, A. B. Holland; commissioners, R. H. Purington, W. A. Collins, Thomas Cook.

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It is indisputable that the capital city of Las Animas county might have been advanced far beyond its present dimensions and strength, but for the almost crimi- nal policy of the Palmer-Hunt management of the Denver & Rio Grande railway. This line was completed from Pueblo to El Moro, in 1876, but instead of extending it five miles further to the established commercial emporium of the county, and thus aiding its people to build a large city from its multifarious resources, it was ob- stinately held there for the dual purpose, first of creating a rival town that was in- tended to sap and destroy Trinidad, and secondly, to accommodate the coal mines and coke ovens of the Colorado Coal and Iron company.

This state of things continued until 1888, when the road was completed to its proper destination, and, by the subsequent laying of a third rail, opened it also to the trains of the Denver, Texas & Gulf road from Pueblo. It was this suicidal folly which caused the people of Trinidad to espouse the cause of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé road during its desperate struggle with the Denver & Rio Grande, in 1878-79. El Moro was founded by the Southern Colorado Coal and Iron company, in 1876, and occupied chiefly by the station and workhouses of the railway company and the employés of the Colorado Coal and Iron company, work- ers in the coke ovens built there, the coal being brought to them from the great Engleville mines, two miles east of Trinidad and about seven miles south of El Moro. They put forth great efforts to absorb and destroy the main town, but never suc- ceeded. Immediately after the extension of the road to the capital, El Moro was practically abandoned by all save the employés of the Coal and Iron company. Most of its buildings were moved or fell into ruin. Outside of Trinidad, Engleville, Stark- ville and Sopris, all coal mining settlements, and the coke ovens, there are no con- siderable towns, but there are a number of small farming hamlets along the various water courses, devoted to agriculture, stock raising, etc.

The native resources of the country are very numerous, and will eventually be developed. The principal city is admirably situated for a large export trade with New Mexico, Arizona and Texas when its people shall have established factories for the conversion of its abundance of raw materials into merchantable forms. It has been, and is still, a center of great wealth, but the subsidence of its vast trade in cat- tle, sheep and wool left a certain paralysis from which the place is just now recover- ing. The present is an opportune time for the introduction of new blood, capital and enterprise. When this is done, Trinidad will rise to a city of great magnitude and importance in the Colorado system.

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

LINCOLN COUNTY.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION-STOCK GROWING AND AGRICULTURE-EARLY SETTLERS- SCHOOLS, ETC.

This county was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, and was organized by an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11th, 1889, from territory originally belonging to Elbert and Bent counties. It is bounded on the north by Arapahoe, south by Otero and Kiowa, east by Kit Carson and Cheyenne and west by Elbert and El Paso. Its area is 2,600 square miles, and by the census of 1890 its population was 689. Though but recently elevated to the dignity of a distinct corporation, Hugo, one of its settlements, dates back twenty years or more, when it was a part of Arapahoe county. It is watered by the Big Sandy river, which takes its rise in the Divide in Elbert county and flows across Lincoln in a southeasterly direction, finally emptying into the Arkansas, just west of Toledo, in Prowers county. In the northern part of Lincoln are the headwaters of the Arickaree, which flows northeast and empties into the North Fork of the Repub- lican, near Haigler, Nebraska. In the southern portion are Rush, Horse, Steele's, Fork, Pond creek and other small streams. The valleys are moist and the whole surface is covered with rich grasses. The soil is a rich loam, and is highly pro- dnetive. But little farming is done, although the possibilities are boundless. The section is a virgin one, with a million acres of available agricultural land. It is the stockman's paradise. for its range is very extensive, and the wire fence of the farmer is confined solely to a few valleys. But, while the land is fertile and under irriga- tion, is capable of producing as abundantly of grain and vegetables as any part of the state, the people have been content to continue in the pursuits long since estab- lished of raising beef and sheep and producing vast quantities of wool for the eastern markets. With the new accessions which have been coming into the county during the past few years, the okl industry of stock and sheep growing is chang- ing, and the prospect is that agriculture will be more generally followed, for no county in the state is better adapted naturally to the pursuit of farming than Lincoln.

The early settlers were nearly all from Texas and different points in Colorado, but the recent population is largely from the eastern states, and it is this element that has taken up the business of tilling the soil. There are some years when farmers in this county may wholly rely upon the natural rainfall for the fructification of their erops, but where irrigating canals are universally used, as they soon will be, no such thing will ever be heard of in Lincoln county as the failure of crops through insufficient moisture. Looking to the official reports for data, we find in the assess- ment roll of the county for 1800 that 18,200 acres of land had been used for agri- culture. The number of acres is now much greater and is yearly increasing, and will continue to multiply under the new impulse which has been given by the in-

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coming population. The Kansas Pacific branch of the Union Pacific railroad and the Rock Island and Pacific roads pass through the county.

Arriba, Simon, Bovina and Mirage are small stock raising stations.

Schools. - There are seven schools in the county; some of them in sod houses, but all supplied with maps, charts, globes, etc. Says Mr. H. A. Lowell, the county superintendent: "It is surprising to see what neat and comfortable houses they are, both in winter and in summer. They have a good corps of teachers and are making fine progress. The principal school is at Hugo. The building is constructed of brick, costing $8,000. District No. 3, at Arriba, built a good frame school house in the spring of 1891. Bovina has a sod house, 18 x 26 feet," and, says the super- intendent, "I doubt if many frame houses of its size are as well lighted and com- fortable as this one." The schools of Lincoln county are in a very creditable con- dition.

The assessed valuation of taxable property in 1890 was $1,763,856.62.

Hugo is the county seat. It is located 105 miles southeast of Denver, has a population of about 450, and its altitude is 5,000 feet above tide water.

Its present business men are: W. L. Clowes (postmaster), John Connolly, Ewing & Powell, J. W. Gardner, Holt Live Stock Co., John Johnston, T. M. Lint, H. A. Lowell, W. S. Pershing, F. Schneider, Dr. Thayer, Frank Tompkins, U. S. land office (J. H. McKee, register, and L. E. Foote, receiver), W. H. H. Wagoner, Wagoner & Henry, J. W. Williams and D. Wilson.

LOGAN COUNTY.

THE FOUNDING OF TOWNS-ORGANIZATION-EARLY SETTLERS-BUILDING CANALS FOR IRRIGATION -COWBOYS KILLED BY INDIANS -LOCAL INSTITUTIONS AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.

This county was named for Major-General John A. Logan, one of the most illustrious volunteer commanders in the war of the Rebellion. It was established from the northeastern part of Weld county, by an act of the General Assembly, approved February 25th, 1887. As then instituted, it was bounded on the north and east by the state of Nebraska, south by the new county of Washington, created at the same session, and a small part of Weld and west by the latter. The eastern part of Logan was again subdivided, and Sedgwick and Phillips counties created therefrom in 1889. It is now bounded as follows: North by the state of Nebraska, cast by Sedgwick and Phillips counties, south by Yuma, Washington and Morgan, and west by Weld. Its area is 1,830 square miles, and by the census of 1890 its popula- tion was 3,070. It lies in the open plains region, and is devoted to agriculture and stock raising. The principal stream is the South Platte river, with Pawnee, Cedar, Lewis and other creeks as tributaries.

The following towns have been surveyed and plats filed in the county clerk's office:

Sterling, September 24th, 1881, by M. C. King. Atwood, July 28th, 1885, by V. P. Wilson, of Dickinson county, Kansas, filed July 29th, 1885; surveyed by J. C. Ulrich. Red Lion, November 5th, 1886, filed November 8th, by F. O. Bell and E. O. Wright; surveyed in March, 1886, by A. B. Codding. Iliff, April 16th, 1887, by Andrew Sagendorf, register of the state board of land commissioners of Colo- rado, by direction of said board. Willard, October 29th, 1888, by the Lincoln Land

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company, H. B. Scott, president, and R. O. Phillips, secretary, filed December 7th, 1888; surveyed June 13th, 1888, by A. B. Smith. Rockland, November 27th, 1888, by Charles E. MePherson, George F. Weed and Robert Plunkett. Le Roy, Feb- ruary 13th, 1889, and filed February 14th, 1889, by Michael Thimgan; surveyed by W. L. Hayes, the same month. Fleming, February 21st, 1889, filed on the 26th by the president and secretary of the Lincoln Land company; surveyed June 14th, 1888, by A. B. Smith.

When established by the legislature, the following county officers were ap- pointed by the Governor: Commissioners, D. B. Morgan, Henry Schneider and Jacob Furry. The latter deceased during his term, and W. S. Hadfield was ap- pointed to the vacancy; sheriff, John Tobin; clerk and recorder, W. F. Kiester; treasurer, M. H. Smith; county judge, T. L. Watson; assessor, H. T. Sutherland; coroner, Dr. David Beach; superintendent of schools, Oscar Frego; surveyor, J. J. Cheairs.

The first meeting of the commissioners was held March 18th, 1887, at Sterling, which had been designated as the county seat. D. B. Morgan was elected chair- man of the board. July 15th, voting precincts for election purposes were estab- lished, and judges appointed. In November following, the list of officers sub- joined were chosen:

Commissioners, J. W. Ramsey, C. C. Washburn and J. F. Watts; sheriff, D. Buchanan; clerk and recorder, J. N. Knoblaugh ; treasurer, M. H. Smith; county judge, R. L. Rowden; coroner, David Beach; superintendent of schools, Oscar Frego; assessor, H. T. Sutherland; surveyor, J. W. Whipple. At this election also, the question of permanently locating the county seat was voted upon, and a sharp contention for the prize ensued. Sterling received 605, Holyoke 517, Julesburg 138, scattering 74. The total vote was 1,334. No place having received a majority, another election was called for December 20th, 1887, at which time 1,222 votes were cast, of which Sterling received a majority and was declared to be the county seat. Julesburg, at a later date, became the capital of Sedgwick, and Holyoke of Phillips county, which left Sterling undisputed master in Logan.

Below are the present officers of Logan: Commissioners, J. W. Ramsey, Joseph Cramer and Wesley Desellem; sheriff, D. Buchanan; clerk and recorder, Charles L. Lake; treasurer, M. Thimgan; county judge, E. E. Armour; superin- tendent of schools, W. B. Wheeler: assessor, George E. McConley; coroner, T. W. Ritchie; surveyor, B. J. Ball; clerk of the district court, H. E. Tedmon.

Sterling is the largest and most important town in the county. It is situated on the South Platte river, at the intersection of the Omaha Short Line of the Union Pacific with the Burlington & Missouri River railroads. The county building, a two-story brick, was erected in 1888 at a cost of about $10,000. The jail, built the same year, is of Fort Collins sandstone, and cost about the same amount. The county building was first built as a town hall for the city, but was sold to the county, which furnished it at a cost of $5,000 and arranged the interior for the use of its officers and courts. The upper floor is used for the three-fold purpose of a court room, public assembly hall and opera house. Sterling has two fine school build- ings, the Franklin (frame), erected in 1883, at a cost of $6,000, and the Broadway in 1888, costing $10,000. These several edifices, together with private business blocks and many fine dwellings, impart an appearance of solid permanence, and denote the character of the people who have cast their fortunes there. The site, a smooth, level plain, is surrounded by fertile farms watered by canals from the Platte river. David Leavitt, a railway surveyor, in passing through this section in 1871-72, was so well pleased with it, he returned a little later, located a ranch and surveyed the Sterling ditch. A post office was established on his claim and the basis of the future town laid, which he called Sterling for a town of the same name in Illinois, his former home, and to which he, very naturally, was partial. When the Omaha

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branch of the Union Pacific railway was built, the post office was removed to the present site of Sterling. The settlement was confined for several years to the line of the Sterling ditch, but the construction of the Pawnee ditch and the railroads, together with other enterprises, gave this section, then a part of Weld county, a new and strong impulse. M. C. King and R. E. Smith were the first to erect houses in the present Sterling. The original settlement mentioned above is one of the historic points in the eastern plains. Among the immigrants attracted to Greeley by the success of the Union Colony were quite a number from the southern states. To them is due the greater credit for founding this settlement and the building of the Sterling canal. Major E. L. Minter, who had been an officer in the Confederate army, was among the leaders in this movement. The Sterling settlers started from Greeley in June, 1873, with several rafts of lumber, which they floated down the Platte. But, the water getting low, they were obliged to abandon their rafts at the narrows, some 45 miles from their place of destination, whence the lumber was hauled to the settlement and built into cabins on the claims they had selected. When these locations had been perfected, a part only remained to make improve- ments thereon, the others returning to Greeley, to farm and raise money to aid the new enterprise. Among those who remained to build and improve were J. M. King, Wm. Calethorp, Robert Eaton, James Ralls, Hugh Clark, Frank Saper, A. McCleod, B. F. Prewitt and others. The Sterling ditch was built in the fall of 1873 and 1874 by the settlers who had learned something of irrigation methods at Greeley. It was taken out just below the mouth of Pawnee creek, and extended thence to Cedar creek, a distance of about 17 miles. The first crops were raised in 1875 by M. C. King, R. E. Smith, R. G. Smith, R. C. Perkins, Major E. L. Minter, M. S. Smith, Hugh Davis, Hugh Clark, D. B. Davis, H. D. Ayres, J. H. Prewitt, and others whose claims were watered by this ditch. Miss Carrie Ayres, now the wife of Dr. J. N. Hall, of Sterling, taught the first school in the Sterling settlement, in a sod school house. She was the first teacher there for five years. The original school was convened and for some time held in a dugout, in remarkable contrast to the pair of fine houses for educational purposes since erected. But it is a striking feature of Colorado people, no matter whence they came, when fairly settled them- selves, to build fine, substantial schools just as soon as they can be afforded, and as remarked elsewhere, they are, as a rule, the best structures in the town.

Soon after founding the settlement they were threatened by roaming bands of Indians, but escaped serious damage. Three cowboys from Tracy's ranch, near Pine Bluff, Wyoming, while driving a herd of stock from Iliff, were killed near Seventeen Mile Springs, northwest of Sterling. Four cowboys were in the party, and the one who escaped came to Sterling and reported the facts. A company was organized and started in pursuit of the Indians, but failed to find them. They recovered the bodies of the slain, bringing them back for burial. This raid caused them to take defensive measures, therefore a fort was built about three miles below the present Sterling. It was 200 feet square, made of sods and dirt, and large enough to shelter all the families. They would often congregate at each other's houses to guard against attacks that might be threatened or inade. S. S. Kempton was elected captain of a temporary military company. Arms and ammunition were supplied by the state. At another time, when the Cheyennes broke loose from their reservation, and took the warpath in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas, some of the Sterling settlers moved their families to Sidney, Nebraska, for protection.

Among the pioneers was HI. Godfrey, who owned the old Fort Wicked ranch on the Overland Stage route, near Merino, on the South Platte. The Wisconsin ranch, about twelve miles east of Fort Wicked, was another old time stage station, which about 1874, was used by the Schneider Bros. (Henry and James) for a sheep ranch. John W. Iliff, J. L. Brush, Bruce F. Johnson, M. P. and W. L. Hender- son and S. S. Kempton were among the early stockmen when Logan formed a

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part of Weld county. W. S. Hadfield owned the Hadfield ranch, near the mouth of Pawnee creek, in 1872. M. H. Smith, who founded the Bank of Sterling, was one of the original Greeley colonists. He came from Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith staked a claim near the old Jim Moore ranch, in 1871, on the south side of the Platte, about three miles east of Sterling. M. P. and W. L. Henderson, from Greeley, also staked claims about the same time. In 1875 M. H. Smith and W. L. Henderson ran a dairy there, marketing the products in Denver.

There are five churches in Sterling, the Cumberland Presbyterian, Christian, Baptist, M. E. Church South and the Catholic. The Methodists have an organiza- tion, but, as yet, no building. The M. E. Church South was first organized in 1875, by the Rev. Mr. Craven. The Rev. W. A. Freeman was appointed to that work October 31, 1881. He was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Major, August 14th, 1882; August 24th, 1890, Rev. H. S Groves took charge. At the first quarterly conference of the M. E. Church South at Sterling in 1881, the presiding Elder, the Rev. D. L. Rader, and the pastor, Rev. W. A. Freeman, were present, and the follow- ing were the church trustees: J. A. Gragg, J. W. Snyder, R. G. Smith, S. B. Roe- buck, S. R. Propst, Rev. Mr. Cage, W. E. Tetsell. The church is now a brick struc- ture erected in 1881. Their first house of worship was a sod hut.

The Catholic church (frame) was built in 1887-88. The Rev. Father Howlett has been prominent in the Christian work here. The Cumberland Presbyterian is a frame building, Rev. J. G. Lange, pastor, who, in October, 1880, succeeded Rev. R. A. Williams, who had ministered to the congregation for several years. The Baptist church, a frame, was erected in 1889. Rev. Mr. Kneeland is the present minister. The corporators were G. W. Barrett, F. S. Lewis, H. C. Hatch, J. D. Adams and Wm. Ilarris as trustees, with T. J. Salisbury, church secretary. The Christian church was incorporated July 14th, 1888, with W. H. Bennett, Nimrod Hicks and A. C. Stratton as trustees, with W. D. Taylor as secretary. The build- ing was erected about four years ago, the Rev. M. Meavers, Evangelist, in charge. It was dedicated by the Rev. Eugene Brooks. Rev. Mr. Winters was the first regular pastor. A series of revival services by Evangelist Meavers led to the organization of the church.

The first quarterly conference of the M. E. church at Sterling was held October 27th, 1888, by the Rev. J. H. Merritt, presiding elder, and the Rev. W. P. Rhodes, pastor. Prior to that time the following members had been received: Mrs. A. H. Pettit, Mrs. Mary Watts, John F. Watts, A. W. Warren, Mrs. Augusta Warren, Mrs. Orpha Bump and S. A. Burke. Rev. W. P. Rhodes was succeeded by Rev. Wm. John, in September, 1889.

The Emanuel church of the Evangelical association of North America was incorporated July 15th, 1889, with the following trustees: George Shoeman, Frederick Bernhard, Peter Koenig, John G. Held and Fred Dorn-the church being at Le Roy. The Fairview Union church, of Fairview, was incorporated August 20th, 1890, with 11. H. Kister, D. S. Wall and W. J. Collett, trustees.

Forty-one of the residents of Sterling filed with James C. Scott, judge of Weld county, October 7th, 1884, a petition praying him to call an election for the in- corporation of the town. On the 13th he appointed Jesse S. Waugh, John Alex- ander, Martin H. Smith, Thomas L. Watson and Morris Davis, commissioners, to provide for such election, which was hekl November 8th, when 65 votes were cast in favor and 4 against. The first mayor was George E. Wilson. The early records are not in possession of the city clerk, hence we are unable to present the list com- plete. The first accessible appears of date November 20th, 1887, as follows: Mayor, Richard Scully; trustees. M. H. Smith, D. B. Delzell, George Gunn, F. P. Jones and George Barrett; clerk, F. M. McDonald.

April 3rd, 1888, the following were elected: Mayor, J. N. Hall; trustees, S. E. Vance, L. M. Judd, A. O. Tagader, II. C. Sherman, J. D. Adams and Allen Winch ;

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treasurer, Geo. A. Henderson; clerk, F. H. McDonald; marshal, J. L. Hicks; attorney, C. L. Allen: police magistrate, George Barrett. J. H. Plain became mayor in 1889, and J. C. Scott in 1890.

The people of Sterling voted $10,000 in bonds for a water system, which was built. It has a hose, and hook and ladder company. The public library con- tains about 1,000 volumes. An athletic club was organized in 1890 with 21 mem- bers, W. Nauer, president, and H. D. Hinkley, secretary. This club has a reading room, connected with a very complete gymnasium.

The Logan County Fair association was incorporated June 13th, 1888, by J. A. Tyler, L. E. Sherman, Oscar Frego, A. O. Tagader, W. H. Schenck, John Tobin, A. F. Spoor, Thomas L. Watson, R. J. Patterson, H. C. Sherman and F. S. Lewis. The Sterling Cheese company was incorporated January 29th, 1890, by J. H. Plain, George A. Henderson and W. L. Hayes, of Sterling.

The Pawnee Ditch company was incorporated December 29th, 1881, with a capital stock of $45,000, by Benjamin H. Eaton, J. L. Brush and Silas Haynes. The Pawnee Ditch and Improvement company was incorporated April 5th, 1882, with a capital stock of $45,000, by Benj. H. Eaton, J. L. Brush, Charles Emerson, George H. West and Silas Haynes.

Newspapers. - The Logan county "Advocate" was started at Atwood by John IV. Wilson in October, 1885, who moved it to Sterling in March, 1887, where he still publishes it, with V. S. Wilson as local editor. There were three other papers in Sterling, but the "Advocate" has survived them all. The "Republican," still published and edited by A. F. Spoor, was founded by him January 19th, 1890. Mark Little, who established the Colorado "Cactus" at Leslie, in Washington county, May 13th, 1888, is employed on the Sterling "Republican." He sold the "Cactus" to W. T. Michel, November 22nd, 1889, who changed the name to the Leslie "Re- publican." Among other papers in Logan county were the Fleming "Herald" by Reed Bros .; the Le Roy "Republican" by Mark Little; the Rockford "Times" and the Wemple "Optic," near Le Roy.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 30

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