History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 31

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 31

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Banks .- The Bank of Sterling was established as a private institution in 1884 by M. H. Smith, who still conducts it. Its capital is $20,000. The Logan County Bank, of the same character, was opened in 1887 by Allen Winch, the present owner. Its capital is $30,000.

At the session of 1889-90, Congress established three new land offices for Colorado, one at Sterling, another at Akron, and a third at Hugo. The Sterling office, which includes in its district all of Logan, Sedgwick and Phillips counties, and parts of Yuma, Washington, Morgan and Weld, opened August 15th, 1890, with Norman H. Meldrum, receiver, Herbert E. Tedmon, register, and C. E. Don Carlos, chief clerk.

Secret Societies .- The Masons have Sterling lodge, No. 54, opened under dis- pensation, May 26th, 1883. Logan lodge, No. 60, I. O. O. F., was organized Feb- ruary 19th, 1887, and September 28th, 1887, a charter was issued. Both orders have large memberships. The order of Modern Woodmen also has an organiza- tion at Sterling.

The county seat of Logan county is a thoroughly well-established town, with most encouraging prospects for the future.

Among the stations on the Cheyenne branch of the Burlington railroad are Willard, west of Sterling, and Fleming, east. Atwood and Merino are on the Omaha Short Line of the Union Pacific, southeast of Sterling, and Iliff, Crook and Red Lion, on the same railroad, northeast of Sterling. Rockland is in the far southeastern part of the county, and about three miles from Le Roy. All are small places with school houses, and where religious services are occasionally held. There is a Methodist church at Fleming and a number of business houses. Ex- cepting churches, the same is true of the others named.

Robert H. Steele First Governor of Jefferson (now Colorado) Territory 18-11-60

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By the census of 1890 Logan had 1, 104 persons of school age; 37 enrolled in the high school; 126 in graded and 710 in the ungraded schools, the total enroll- mient for the year being 873, with an average attendance of 506. There were 39 dis- triets, and 30 school houses, with 917 sittings. The valuation of this property was $32,336.56. There were six teachers in the graded schools and forty-nine in the ungraded. W. F. Bybee is the principal at Sterling.

The assessed valuation of property in Logan county in 1887, the year of its organization, was $1,420,085.00 In 1888 it had increased to $3.326,313.10. In 1889 Sedgwick and Phillips counties were severed from its territory, when the aggre- gate dropped to $1,845,297.18. For 1890 it was $1,736,613.14. Of agricultural land returned, there were 317,130 acres, valued at $497,855. In the list were 3,630 horses, 133 mules, 18,223 cattle, 14,368 sheep and 720 hogs.

MESA COUNTY.

EXPATRIATION OF THE UTE INDIANS-RESERVATION OPENED TO SETTLERS-FORT CRAWFORD AND GENERAL MCKENZIE-FIRST RANCHES TAKEN UP-ORIGINAL SETTLEMENTS-THE FOUNDING OF GRAND JUNCTION, DELTA AND OTHER TOWNS -GOVERNOR GEORGE A. CRAWFORD-GROWTH OF HORTICULTURE-THE INDIAN SCHOOL-WHITE WATER, FRUITA AND OTHER VALLEYS-COAL AND OTHER RE- SOURCES.

Mesa county was created from the western part of Gunnison, by an act of the General Assembly, approved February 14th, 1883. Its name is derived from the Grand Mesa, a prominent table-land within its boundaries. It is pre-eminently a region of mesas and valleys, flanked by mountain ranges. It is bounded on the north by Garfield, south by Delta and Montrose, which were created almost simul- taneously with Mesa, east by Pitkin, Delta and the northerly part of Montrose, and west by the Territory of Utah. Its area is 3,000 square miles. By the census of 1890 its population was 4,260, but has since been materially augmented by immigration. Up to the year 1881* all the region described was comprised in the reservation of the Uncompahgre band of Ute Indians. The tragic events attend- ing the massacre of Major Thornburg and a part of his command on Milk river, and of Agent N. C. Meeker, together with the employés of the agency on White river, in September, 1879, as stated in the history of the Ute Indians in this volume, and in Volumes HI and IHI preceding, left the general government no alternative but to remove these troublesome savages out of Colorado. But even after the act of Congress had been approved, the entrance of settlers was for a long time obstructed by the sullen obstinaey of the Indians, who refused to vacate. Abridg- ing the details, in the latter part of August, 1881, General MeKenzie, then com- manding the United States troops in that section, received orders to remove the Uncompahgres by force, if necessary, to the new reservation provided for them at Uintah in the Territory of Utah, and they were promptly executed. Pending this movement, a number of white people had congregated upon the border, ready to make the descent as soon as permitted. Meanwhile, however, in preparation

* Many of the important facts relating to the early annals of this county are compiled from a pamphlet published in 1886 by Charles W. Haskell, the accuracy of his dates and statements having been vouched for by leading citizens of Grand Junction.

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for opening the lands to settlers, a corps of surveyors led by Russell J. Mershon had surveyed the same. The troops held the intruding immigrants in check by picket lines. At five o'clock on the morning of September 4th, 1881, permission to enter was given by the commanding officer, and soon the various bands of impa- tient waiters passed the boundary and began making locations. There was no tumultuous disorderly rush, nor were there any disgraceful conflicts, but a delib- erate, orderly entry of earnest, intelligent, law-abiding men, who came to make homes and render these valleys fruitful. A small company led by the Russell brothers crossed the Grand river September 8th, and about the same time J. S. Gor- don, William Green and a Mr. Forbush entered the Grand valley from the west. The first ranch located in this valley was by J. Clayton Nichols, September 9. Some of the men, on returning to Gunnison for provisions, met there Governor George A. Crawford, formerly of Kansas, who had been for some time exploring the western slope with a view to the establishment of new towns, and had organized a party for that purpose. Mr. Crawford induced Mr. Wm. McGinley to accompany him- self and associates as a guide, and, with R. D. Mobley, M. Rush Warner, Col. Morris and S. A. Harper, he proceeded to Grand river, arriving September 22nd, and on the 26th formally selected section 14, at the junction of the Grand and Gunnison rivers, the most eligible situation for a town site in all that region of country. As this event forms the basis of nearly all subsequent operations in the county, let us first define the incidents attending the primary stages of occupation.

The original certificate of incorporation of the Grand Junction Town com- pany was drawn at Gunnison, October 10th, and contained the names of Geo. A. Crawford, R. D. Mobley, M. Rush Warner, James W. Bucklin, Allison White and H. E. Rood-the last two residents of Philadelphia-as corporators. It was filed with the secretary of state November 19th following. On the 31st of October Crawford and Mobley returned to the town site, accompanied by A. G. Robinson, and occupied a log cabin which had been built in the meantime by Wm. MeGinley, J. Clayton Nichols and J. Milton Russell for the town company. This cabin stood on the street called Ute avenue. John Allen, representing Mershon and Majors, lived in a tent in the middle of the company's section, and called the town, or what there was of it, "West Denver." On the 5th of November a meeting of settlers was called, when Governor Crawford stated the object, and presented petitions for signature, asking for the construction of a county road by the state. and for a post office and the establishment of post routes by the post office department; also for recognition by the interior department of the reservation survey. It was then determined by unanimous vote to name the town Grand Junction. On the 15th Wm. Oldham and A. G. Robinson began a log building for Mr. Mobley, and on the 18th work began upon a cabin for the town company. On the 21st .F. Bascom Wilson arranged to run an express line to the military cantonment, seventy-five miles distant (afterward called Fort Crawford), and carry the mails.

Meantime, about the last of September, a surveying party sent out by the Denver & South Park railway company under Capt. Irwin entered the valley, and on the 5th of October were followed by another corps in the interest of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad. At this time the embryonic city had but a small population, and as most of the names have been preserved, we record them as follows: Geo. A. Crawford, R. D. Mobley, J. M. and O. D. Russell, J. Clayton Nichols, Wm. McGinley, M. A. Graham, Walter Christley, H. P. Giles, J. S. Gordon, Wm. Green and family, J. C. Brown, J. N. McArthur and family, D. G. McArthur and family, C. F. Mitchell, M. Haggerty, C. A. Brett, B. F. Carey, Daniel Mullen, Wm. Nish- witz, Thomas Williams, Wm. Keith, J. C. Holden, W. S. Kelley, Messrs. Warner, Fitzgerald and Foster, M. L. Allison (now president of the town company), Benj. Scott and N. N Smith. Most of the available river front for twenty miles had been covered by ranch claims.

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At the outset of this enterprise the prospect must have been dismal in the extreme. The landscape presented was dreary and forbidding. Excepting the distant mountains, there was scarce an object upon which the eye could rest with pleasure. The land, a reddish adobe, was covered with sage brush, spotted here and there with alkali, and, to all but the few who had some familiarity with its qualities, scemed utterly worthless for agriculture or anything else. It must have required great courage and fortitude for any farmer accustomed to more inviting conditions to content himself with this bleak desolation. There were neither roads nor bridges. All provisions had to be brought in by wagon or pack trains from Gunnison or from the cantonment, seventy-five miles away. Only a few rude cabins had been erected, winter was coming on apace, and there was still much appre- hension that the Utes might break away from their reservation just over the border and return for pillage and massacre.

The first stock of merchandise arrived December 10th, brought in by Giles & Mitchell, who opened a store. Prior to the introduction of a sawmill by Wm. Innis and Martin Hobbs, late in 1881, all the lumber used was whip-sawn, mainly by Henry and Robert Henderson, which they sold for $160 per 1,000 feet. To illustrate the scarcity of lumber at this period, it is mentioned that Governor Craw- ford obtained as a special favor three small boards to make a cupboard for his cabin. His door was of the class called "puncheon."

The first regular meeting of the directors of the Grand Junction Town com- pany was held December 12th, when by-laws were adopted. On the 14th J. Clayton Nichols, B. A. Scott and G. H. Broderson made a tape-line survey of the west end of Colorado avenue, there being no regular surveyor nearer than Ouray or Lake City. The town company's boarding house, a log building-afterward the Grand Junction hotel-was begun at this time. On the last day of December Governor Crawford returned from Gunnison accompanied by Samuel Wade, an engineer, who surveyed the town site substantially as we find it at the present epoch. It was begun January Ist, 1882, and completed on the 5th. On the 14th the Grand Junction house, the first hotel in the place, was opened by William Green. On the 9th of May a post office was established and R. D. Mobley installed as post- master. The town site of 640 acres was duly entered in the United States land office at Leadville, December 6th, 1882, by Mayor Charles F. Shanks.

Unquestionably, the Hon. George 'A. Crawford was the founder and inspiriting force in all the primary movements leading to the selection and subsequent devel- opment of Grand Junction, that is destined to be a city of great prominence and wealth, for, notwithstanding the dreariness of the prospect, the work that has been done by this people in the few intervening years demonstrates that no other place among the towns recently located possesses conditions more favorable to such an issue. Hle was a singularly magnetic, lovable man, of fine culture, remarkable gifts of oratory, great persuasiveness and very charming manners. lle was scrupu- lously honest withal. The absolute purity of his life inspired all men with unbounded faith in him. He was as free from mercenary thought and action as any man of his time. He had been a stalwart champion in the early battles of the Free soil element in Kansas, a mighty politician of the patriotic school, a leader in the highest and best principles of his party. lle took a vigorous, thoroughly loyal part in maintaining law and order, in the enlistment of troops for the war, in the founding of good government for the territory and afterward for the state, and was foremost in locating and building some of the better towns of Kansas. His friends nominated and fairly elected him to the chief magistracy, but he was not permitted to reach the office. He was appointed commissioner to the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and exerted great influence toward its success. The Colorado and Kansas exhibits were combined in one building and he promoted both. Soon afterward he came to Colorado and began an investigation of its resources. He

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was a natural organizer of towns, manifested superior judgment in the selection of eligible points, in laying them off and in starting them on the high road to pros- perity. This is evident in the location of Delta and Grand Junction, for both were of his choosing. In his expeditions to the western part of our state he traveled on horseback, and at length discovered at the junction of the Uncompahgre and the Gunnison, and also at the confluence of the Gunnison and Grand rivers, two of the most admirable sites within our jurisdiction, and there, as soon as permitted by the expatriation of the Indians, planted the colonies of Delta and Grand Junction. As we have seen, he drew the articles of incorporation and secured the proper institution of these places, built cabins, encouraged the formation of ditch and canal companies, and in multifarious ways advanced all worthy undertakings. He was a man of the people, a wise counselor, a safe guide, not a mere speculator, nor a selfish money-getter for himself, for he accumulated but little property ; a help- ful friend rather, fond of well-doing and of promoting the welfare of all with whom he was associated. He had been the friend and companion of many distinguished men, all of whom appreciated his great talents. What a pity he could not have lived to witness something, at least, of the grand consummation of his plans for Mesa and Delta counties, the bright prospects he had assisted in preparing for those he had drawn about him.

Governor Crawford passed away at the Brunswick hotel in Grand Junction on Monday, January 26th, 1891, mourned by every soul that knew him. In his death the western slope lost one of its greatest and best men, a statesman, philan- thropist and philosopher.

While the town was in process of formation during 1881-82, other settlers in the valley were preparing for the development of agriculture. They had then no thought of its better adaptability to horticulture. It being distinctly manifest that no crops could be matured without irrigation, the first steps taken were in the cooperative construction of ditches. "Originally the canal system of Grand valley comprised four distinct corporations. The 'Pacific Slope' was the first con- structed, mainly to supply the town of Grand Junction with water. It is about nine miles long. The next was the 'Pioneer,' or Mesa county, covering about 9,000 acres of land, with a length of twelve miles. The third was the Independent Ranch- man's,' taken out of the Grand river below its junction with the Gunnison, watering about 5,000 acres, and extending to a point just west of Fruita, twelve miles down the valley. The fourth and most comprehensive was the 'Grand River canal,' designed to cover some 50,000 acres. These four canals, projected in 1882-83, were all completed and in running order in 1885." Grand river has its source in Grand lake, in Middle Park, and flows into Green river, the two forming the Rio Colorado, which empties into the Gulf of California. "From the point where the Grand debouches from the Hogback Canon, fifteen miles east of Grand Junction, to where it enters the canon beyond Fruita, the valley or basin is about thirty-five miles in length, varying in width from three miles at Grand Junction to fifteen at Fruita. It is in this hasin that the Grand River canal meanders." The Grand Valley Ditch company was organized in the summer of 1882 by E. S. and William Oldham, John Biggles and Wm. Cline. It was surveyed, located and partly con- structed by January Ist, 1883, when a controlling interest was purchased by Matt Arch, of Tomichi, who reorganized the company under the name of the Grand Valley Ditch company. The head of the canal is twelve miles northeast of Grand Junction, three miles below the mouth of the cañon. In 1884 a partial supply of water was furnished to farmers, but it was not until the season of 1885 that a full volume of water was flowing. It is 35 feet wide at the bottom, 50 feet at the surface, and 5 feet deep. The grade is 22 inches to the mile. "There are four falls or drops along the line; the first 5 feet, two and a half miles east of Grand Junction; the second of 15 feet is half a mile further west; the third of 33 feet is

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just north of town, while the fourth of 15} feet lies just above Fruita. At the big drop of 33 feet the canal bifurcates, and what is called the 'lateral' or Fruita canal leaves the main channel and runs in a general northwesterly direction for sixteen miles. In 1883 not more than 1,000 acres were in tillage; in 1884 about 5,000; in 1885 fully 8,000, and in 1886 over 10,000." Work began on the Pioneer ditch, located by Harlow & Fitzpatrick, March Ist, 1882, designed to water their farms twelve miles above the town. It was completed April 20th, and during that summer Mr. Harlow raised the first crop of vegetables, cereals and grasses har- vested in Mesa county. This was, in fact, the first practical demonstration of the qualities of the soil, proving its value and inspiring all others with hope and courage.

The Pacific Slope canal was begun March 20th, 1882, and opened July ist following. During that season the settlers were severely harassed by horse and cattle thieves, who committed numcrous depredations, but they were pursued by the officers and citizens, their leader was killed and the gang effectually broken up.

It will be discovered by the foregoing that from September, 1881, to the spring of 1883 the few people were mainly engaged in perfecting their locations, founding the capital, opening roadways and ditches, and in laying the various lines incident to residence in new and untried lands. These undertakings made but little impression upon the state at large, owing to the complete isolation of the com- munities. They were as insulated and alone, apparently, as if they had formed a part of Alaska's interior, and almost as completely neglected by their contempo- raries. From 1882 to 1885 the farmers raised fine crops of grain, but owing to their remoteness from markets no profits accrued. In the meantime, a few, believing that certain fruits could be matured, planted trees and vines. The issue being extremely favorable, a majority abandoned agriculture for export and turned their attention to horticulture, with what effect will appear in the course of our narrative.

Although there were but few women and children, one of the first public enterprises established, after shelter for their families had been provided, was the opening of public schools, a noteworthy characteristic of all American settlements. This element of character is one of the most prominent in the race, and one of the more commendable. It is the basis of much of our greatness as a nation. No man, unless he be utterly depraved, willingly permits his children to reach maturity without acquiring some sort of an education.

The first election held was for a school board, when the following were chosen: Dr. H. E. Stroud, O. D. Russell and W. M. McKelvey. The school house at this time was a rude picket cabin, and Miss Nannie Blain was the teacher.

The vote on incorporating the town was taken June 22nd, 1882, and carried without division. The first Union Sunday-school was organized in July, and met every Sunday thereafter until superseded by a regular organization under the anspices of the M. E. church (South), superintended by Mr. J. A. Hall. Services were held in the picket school house.

The first regular municipal election was held July 16th, with the following result: Mayor, Charles F. Shanks; trustees, A. A. Miller, J. M. Russell, G. W. Thurston and W. F. Gerry; city clerk, P. H. Westmoreland. The trustees appointed James Davis, marshal; W. J. Miller, attorney, and H. C. Hall, street commissioner. The year 1882 witnessed material progress. Among the more notable events, and one that caused greatest rejoicing, stimulated hope among the unfortunate and despairing, and advanced all things most rapidly toward con- summation, was the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad from the cast, to connect at that point with the Rio Grande Western from Salt Lake and Ogden, thus forming a new trunk line across the continent which pierced the heart of Colo- rado. A temporary bridge across the Grand river was completed November 23rd, when the first locomotive entered the precinets of Grand Junction. The first freight train crossed on the morning of the 25th and a few hours later arrived

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the first passenger train from Denver. The work of building roundhouses, machine shops, etc., began in April following. These valuable accessories gained, the future was no longer problematical. This little band of sturdy settlers then began to comprehend the great importance of the situation they had chosen. Their next move was for the creation of a new county by the legislature that was to assemble the following January (1883). A petition setting forth their desires was circulated, signed and placed in the hands of their special representative. Mr. W. J. Miller, with instructions to lay it before the Assembly and labor steadfastly for divorce from Gunnison county. At a later period, to expedite matters, Governor Crawford and M. L. Allison were deputized to assist him. The bill creating the county of Mesa passed the Assembly February 11th, and on the 14th received the signature of the governor, Hon. James B. Grant. The attainment of this aim was hailed with universal rejoicing. A public meeting was held and enthu- siastic speeches graced the occasion. On the 21st following Governor Grant vis- ited Grand Junction, the newly ordained county seat, and was cordially welcomed. Soon afterward he made the following appointments to serve until the next general election in the fall of that year:

Clerk and recorder, M. L. Allison : sheriff, Martin Florida; county judge, Robert Cobb; treasurer, S. G. Crandall; assessor, Win. Keith; surveyor, A. J. McCune; coroner, J. N. McArthur; county commissioners, George W. Thurston, T. B. Crawford and B. F. Carey.

In April the following municipal government was elected: Mayor, W. J. Miller; recorder, W. P. Coghill; trustees, J. R. Gibson, A. A. Miller, J. E. Ballew and Charles Youngman. A . J. McCune was appointed surveyor, and J. T. Clegg street commissioner.

On the IIth of June the commissioners met at Gunnison, with the authorities of that county, to determine the proportion of the indebtedness of Gunnison county to be assumed by Mesa, which was ultimately fixed at $7,208, when the latter issued a bond for the amount. At the November election, 1883, the following county offi- cers were chosen by popular vote: Clerk and recorder, J. A. Layton; county judge, R. D. Mobley ; treasurer, N. N. Smith; sheriff, Wm. Innis; assessor, J. E. Scribner; coroner, Dr. II. E. Stroud; superintendent of schools, Geo. S. Caldwell; surveyor, A. J. McCune; commissioners, J. F. Brink, C. A. Brett and J. M. Russell. The first term of the district court was begun January 26th, 1884, Judge M. B. Gerry presiding. On the 14th of February the Western Stock-growers' association was organized and on the 16th the following officers were elected: President, J. F. Brink; vice-president, Allen D. Campbell; secretary, Fred. S. Rockwell; treasurer, F. R. Fish. The stock-growing industry has from the beginning constituted a prominent feature of Mesa county's internal economy, and the association com- bined all the various interests for mutual protection and advantage.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 31

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