USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 28
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 28
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
Col. Owings was in many respects one of the most remarkable men who ever figured in Colorado politics. Those who knew him well say that he was almost entirely uneducated, having been a poor boy and obliged to work instead of attending school in early life. But he was always an enter- prising fellow, with a certain " dash " which carried him forward despite the defects of his education, and, in the war, he made a good, clcan record, which commended him to all his army comrades and superior officers. After serving a few years, in one of the departments at Washington, where
he widened his circle of friends by his character- istic push and energy, he was sent out to Colorado as Register of the Land Office at Fairplay, and at once began to work for a place in the politics of the then Territory. Though his qualifications for the important position of Delegate were not con- spicuous, to say the least, he was able to dictate the nomination of Mr. Chaffee. Leaving the land office subsequently, he was soon afterward ap- pointed a special agent of the Postal Department, and served in that capacity for some time in Colo- rado and the West. The Colonel is now Secre :- tary of Washington Territory, and if he lives and loses nothing of his " organizing " force, he will be heard from erelong in some conspicuous position.
Soon after the Republican nomination of 1870, the Democrats placed Judge George W. Miller in the field against Mr. Chaffee, but the latter was elected and commenced the Congressional career which redounded so greatly to his credit.
On the 15th day of August, 1870, the first Kansas Pacific train rolled into Denver from the Missouri River, 639 miles away, and the citizens turned out again to celebrate the important event. The rejoicing on this occasion was not so wildly enthusiastic as when the Denver Pacific was opened, but it was earnest and genuine. As be- comes a railway center, Denver always rejoices over the addition of every link to her railway sys- tem. Shortly after the completion of the Kansas Pacific, track-laying on the Colorado Central be- gan at Denver.
The usual number of " distinguished gentlemen " visited Denver during the summer of 1870. A large party of Eastern railroad men, editors, etc., arrived September 3. On the 27th, during the progress of the fair, Gen. Jim Nye reached Den- ver and was serenaded. His speech on that occa- sion will long be remembered, by those who heard it, as among the best ever delivered in Denver. Horace Greeley came October 11 and lectured the same evening. Mr. Greeley was more than pleased, he was positively delighted with the mar- velous growth and prosperity of Denver, and the
223
HISTORY OF DENVER.
mines which he had visited in their infancy and of which he had prophesied great things while so many doubting Thomases throughout the East had discredited his statements. He was particularly glad to meet the old pioneers who had welcomed him on his former visit, and complimented them highly on having stood by Denver through her dark days when many timorous men were desert- ing her fortunes as the rats desert a sinking ship. The subject of his lecture, "Self-made Men," was singularly appropriate in Denver where almost every successful man is self-made in the highest sense of the term.
A pleasant feature of 1870 was the dedication of a new Odd Fellows' Hall in the old National
Building by the Grand Lodge. Hon. C. P. Elder, Grand Master, delivered the address. Denver was making rapid progress during the entire year. The Water-Works Company was incorporated November 3, the new Congregational Church was opened on the 6th of the same month, and ou the 30th the original Denver Library Association was organized. Unfortunately the latter organiza- tion, though often galvanized into life and action, has never been able to maintain itself, and is now merged into the High-School Library which, though yet in its infancy, is expected to supply Denver eventually with a good library and reading room, than which nothing could reflect much more credit upon our city.
CHAPTER XII.
PROGRESS IN THE YEARS 1871-72.
C YOMING down to the later years of Denver history, the rush of events is so much in- creased that they seem to dwarf each other, and happenings which were worthy of record in the early history of the city are perforce omitted from this time forward, lest these pages should be cum- bered with unimportant records. The building of a two-story frame house was an event in 1860, whereas, in 1870, a whole block of brick stores would be noted in the newspapers only in connec- tion with other and perhaps more important im- provements.
The Denver & Boulder Valley road was opened for business in January, 1871. Though subse- quently extended to Boulder City, and thus made a thoroughfare for passenger travel, at first it was simply a coal road connecting the Erie Mines, in Weld County, with Denver and the railway system of the Territory, which, for a long time, drew its supply of coal exclusively from that quarter.
Denver was first lighted with gas on the 22d of January, 1871, Col. Archer's works being com- pleted at that time. No improvement could
possibly have been more welcome, and Col. Archer most emphatically supplied a "long-felt want." Still the manufacture of gas in Denver, at an ear- lier day, was altogether impossible. Without rail- roads, neither the machinery nor supplies could have been successfully transported, and it was no lack of enterprise on the part of the people which kept Denver in darkness so long a time.
" Governor " MeLaughlin was defeated for Mayor, in the municipal election of 1871, by Mr. John Harper, a most worthy citizen, since deceased.
During the summer of the same year, the Den- ver Medical Association was first organized, as was also the first Colorado Press Association, which, however, was not perpetuated, and was re-organ- ized in 1878. Decoration Day was marked by the usual observances, including an address by Gen. Robert A. Cameron, of the Greeley colony. Work on the Denver & Rio Grande Railway track was commenced in July, and prosecuted so vigorously that Colorado Springs was reached that season.
Among the arrivals that summer was Mrs. Lip- pincott, better known as Grace Greenwood, who
Y
224
HISTORY OF DENVER.
fell in love with Colorado at first sight, and at once became a true and steadfast friend of the country. Her vigorous letters to the Eastern press did much to advertise the beauties as well as the resources of Colorado. She attended the very successful Agri- cultural Fair of that season, and went into eesta- sies of delight over the " big pumpkins " and gorgeous vegetables on display, which, indeed, were worthy of her admiration. She saw Mani- tou, and surrendered unconditionally to its romantie scenery, buying a lot there and erecting a house, which is still called " Grace Greenwood's Cottage," though no longer her property.
Among the other substantial improvements of 1871 was the street-railway system, though not completed until later. Another feature of the year was the mass meeting in aid of the Chicago fire-sufferers, when $10,000 was contributed to their relief. The year closed without further hap- penings of note.
The ninth annual session of the Colorado Leg- islature convened in Denver on New Year's Day, 1872, and for forty days and nights the members divided their energies about equally between the labor of drawing their salaries, attending to busi- ness, and enjoying life in the metropolis. The formal opening of the street railway gave them an opportunity for a " free ride " on the second day of their session, and on the sixth the stock men of the body assisted in organizing the Stock-Grow- ers Association, which has since become so impor- tant to the interests of that class of citizens. Ten days later, an " Old Settlers' Re-union " was held, which was full of interest for all present. These re-unions appear to have been abandoned of late years, but they should be perpetuated by the Pio- neer Association.
January 17, 1872, the Grand Duke Alexis reached Denver from his buffalo hunt on the Plains, and " put up " at the American " tavern." The Alexis furore had preceded him, and Denver gave him a truc Western welcome, including a dinner, which is said to have been the squarest meal ever eaten in Colorado. The Grand Duke, who
was a thorough gentleman as contradistinguished from the ordinary European royal snob, enjoyed his visit immensely, and all the more because he was not prepared to expect such entertainment in the Rocky Mountains.
Among the other notable visitors to Denver during 1872 was Maj. James Bridger ; the well- known pioneer explorer, for whom Bridger's Pass is named, eame on a visit to his old friend and fellow traveler, Col. A. G. Boone, of this city. Gen. O. O. Howard passed through the city in June, and the latter part of July, Solon Robinson, agricultural editor of the New York Tribune, ar- rived here in the interest of that journal. Mr. Robinson's letters to the Tribune were very rcad- able as well as reliable, and his report of the prog- ress of the Greeley Colony was particularly in- teresting.
The meteorological features of 1872 were strik- ing, to say the least. The rains descended and the floods came several times during the summer in different localities. Clear Creek was flooded in May, the Colorado Central Railroad suffering se- verely. Denver was visited by a like affliction, with much danger, in July. The fall was dry and warm, but the winter was severely cold and des- perately windy. It was, however, an improve- inent on the winter of 1871-2, when a deep snow covered the ground so long that stock suffered greatly, and game was almost starved out. Thou- sands of antelope approached the towns in search of food, but, as they were too poor to eat, few of them were killed. Notwithstanding the severity of the season, the loss of stock was only estimated at about five per cent of the value of herds. The old and infirm cattle perished in large numbers, but their value was small.
The political campaign of 1872 was in some sense a very exciting one. The Greeley move- ment down East exerted a considerable influence in Colorado, although, of course, the Territory had no voice in the Presidential contest. A cor- responding fusion of Democrats and Reformers took place in Colorado, as in the East, and ex-Gov.
Herft Cloughy
G
227
HISTORY OF DENVER.
Hunt was nominated for Delegate against Chaffee, the regular Republican nominec. Many Repub- licans supported Hunt, who was a capable and deserving candidate, but, on the other hand, many Democrats voted for Chaffee, and the latter was re-elected. This contest was the beginning of a bitter feud in the Republican party of the State, which lasted until 1876.
Here is a brief pen-picture of the prosperity of Denver in the fall of 1872, from the pen of ex-Gov. Bross, of the Chicago Tribune, who was among the visitors to Colorado that year :
" The opening of five lines of railway to Denver has increased the business and population of the city most wonderfully. Large, substantial stores and elegant dwellings have been built in great number. The Holly Works furnish an abundant supply of pure water, the streets are well lighted with gas, and everything, as one wanders about the city, betokens a vigorous and most gratifying prosperity."
More railroads were talked of, and, but for the panic of the following year, more would have been built. The Colorado Central graded a line down the Platte Valley to Julesburg, which was never finished. Denver added 492 buildings, valued at over half a million dollars, to her former estate. Guard Hall, so named in honor of the then newly organized Governor's Guards, was completed and dedicated. The famous Clear Creek Cañon was opened to tourists by the completion of the narrow- gauge railroad to Black Hawk and Floyd Hill. The Denver & South Park road filed Articles of Incorporation. Another big fair was held at Denver, under the management of the Agricul- tural Society, at which an address was delivered by Judge Belford. Shortly after the fair, a flood of grasshoppers overwhelmed the country, but, happily, they came too late to do much injury.
Among the purely local sensations of 1872 were the Erlanger swindle and the shooting of young Hayman by Charley Hughes. Erlanger was a plausible villain, who played the savings-bank
game in Denver and Central City, and got away with a good many thousands of dollars deposited with him. Of course he undertook to pay a high rate of interest on deposits, and so induced people to take their money out of other banks and invest it in his wild-cat concern. Erlanger made his escape and was never captured, mainly because his dupes would not pay the expenses of a pursuit. About a year ago, Dr. W. H. Williams, a leading physician of Denver, saw the oily Erlanger in San Francisco, but, although notice of his whereabouts was promptly sent to Denver, the same old trouble about advancing money for his arrest enabled Erlanger to make his escape once morc.
The Hughes-Hayman homicide attracted much attention for several reasons, first, the standing of the parties, next, the nature of their quarrel, and finally, their extreme youth. Both were beardless boys, and their quarrel was about a courtesan. Hayman was shot by Hughes on the corner of Larimer and Fifteenth streets, where Jacob's clothing store is now located, and died very soon after being taken home. There was a marked division of public sentiment in regard to the shoot- ing, some persons aud newspapers regarding it as a cold-blooded murder, while others were equally positive that it was a justifiable homicide, which view of the case was maintained by the verdict of the jury before which young Hughes was after- ward tried, and by which he was acquitted. The boys had always been great friends up to the time of their unfortunate quarrel.
At the end of 1872, Denver claimed a popula- tion of 15,000, an increase of ahout 5,000 during the year. The excess of business for 1872 over the preceding year was estimated at three and a half millions. Real estate was active. The Rio Grande road had been opened to Pueblo and the new town of Colorado Springs had become a place of considerable importance. The Greeley colony was flourishing. Mining industry was making rapid strides, and Denver was on the high road to prosperity as she had never been before at any period of her history.
228
HISTORY OF DENVER.
CHAPTER XIII.
DENVER FROM 1873 TO 1875.
T HE prosperity of 1872 was carried forward into the first half of 1873, although busi- ness was obstructed somewhat in January by the prevalence of the famous horse disease known as the "epizootic." Its ravages were not very fatal, however, the climate of Colorado apparently resist- ing its most insidious advances.
Our present beautiful High School building, then known as the Arapahoe Street School, was completed early in January, 1873. On the 17th of the same month, the Denver Typographical Union celebrated Franklin's birthday with a gorgeous banquet at the American House, said to have heen second only to the Duke Alexis dinner in the amount of eating and drinking, and speech- making indulged in by the participants.
One week later, the people were deeply aroused by the public execution of Theodore Miers, who was hung for the murder of George M. Bonacina, on a ranche near the city. Miers was a German, and the sympathies of the German residents of Denver were enlisted in his behalf, but they were unable to secure a commutation or even a stay of his sentence. Gov. McCook was absent from the Territory and Secretary Hall was Acting Governor. MeCook telegraphed a reprieve from Texas, but the Acting Governor could not see his way clear to a recognition of its legality, and the execution proceeded under direction of Sheriff D. J. Cook. Miers was hung publicly, a short distance from the city, and his execution was witnessed by an immense crowd.
News of the defeat of the Colorado Enabling Act, then pending in Congress, was received in Denver January 30, and a prolonged howl went up from press and people in regard to the injustice done to the people of the Territory. Gov. McCook had managed to make himself rather unpopular, and a change of Governors was demanded from
the new administration. President Grant promised to appoint a Colorado man to the office, and finally did appoint ex-Secretary S. H. Elbert. The new Governor arrived in Denver from Washington April 4, and took possession of the office on the day following.
Among the notable events of the spring of 1873 were the re-organization of the Agricultural Society, which was incorporated as the "Colorado Indus- trial Association " and the labors of the revivalist Hammond at Guard Hall. Hammond found Denver a pretty hard field for his peculiar style of evangelism, and succeeded only in arousing a temporary excitement without much enthu- siasm.
The municipal election resulted in the choice of Gen. F. M. Case for Mayor and a revival of an ancient scheme for turning the channel of Cherry Creek outside the city-a scheme still discussed periodically with great pertinacity.
President Grant revisited Denver April 26, 1873, and was received with great enthusiasm. It was the first visit of a live President to Colo- rado, and the people had not seen the General since his first visit six years before. His kindly recognition of Colorado by giving the people a Governor of their choice had won him a high place in their esteem, and their greeting was sincerely cordial as well as extremely demonstra- tive. It was during this visit that the President walked from his hotel in Central to his carriage on a pavement of silver bricks-an actual occur- rence, though considered apocryphal down East by those who underestimated the resources of our Territory at that period of its history. The President remained in Colorado several days, and was much pleased, not only with his reception, but with what he saw.of the increased prosperity of the country.
229
G
HISTORY OF DENVER.
It was about this time that the celebrated sale of the Caribou Mine was consummated in Holland for $3,000,000-a fortunate sale for the promoters of the enterprise, but unfortunate to Colorado, because the property, through mismanagement, never realized the expectations of its purchasers. It soon became involved in litigation, and a few years since passed into the hands of ex-Senator Chaffee at a merely nominal price. But it was and is a valuable property, and is to-day yielding large returns to its lucky owner.
Gov. Elbert went earnestly to work in his new office for the advancement of Colorado. At his suggestion and under his direction there was held in Denver, October 15, 1873, an irrigation con- vention which was attended by the Governors of Nebraska and Wyoming, and by representatives from many of the Western States and Territories, including Utah, where irrigation had been practiced with great success. Gov. Elbert's address ou this occasion was a very able argument in favor of governmental aid to irrigation by grants of arid lands for reclamation. The convention was in session two days, during which many addresses were made and many important facts elicited from the experiences of those present. The only official action of the body was the adoption of a memorial to Congress, which was never heard of after being forwarded. About the same time, the City Council made a conditional contract with J. G. Pease for sinking an experimental artesian well near the city, and $2,000 was subscribed by other parties, but the well could never be induced to " flow."
The fire department was made happy in the summer of 1873 by the receipt of a couple of new bells-historie bells. They came from Cincinnati, where they were cast from old Spanish cannon, date 1726, which had been used at Vera Cruz in the Mexican war, and captured by our troops in that campaign. The largest one now hangs in the tower of the central fire station.
Denver being a little dull about midsummer, some of her fun-loving citizens hit upon the happy idea of having a genuine Indian war-dance
for a change. A band of Utes, hunting on the Plains, had met with a hunting party of their old enemies, the Cheyennes, and succeeded in killing and scalping a warrior. With this proud trophy in their possession, they had beat a hasty but masterly retreat upon Denver, and were encamped in the outskirts of the city. The war-dance was fully arranged, and would have come off according to the " small bills " and programmes but for the intervention of the police. However, it was not the first show which came to grief in Denver, nor the last.
Perhaps no event of 1873 was more deeply deplored in Denver than the death of the lament- ed Bishop George M. Randall, of the Episcopal Church. He was universally respected, not to say beloved, and his labors in the cause of religion and education are a proud monument to his worth. To him, more than to any other man, Denver and Colorado owe their prominence in Episcopal work. He was emphatically the father of its churches and the founder of its schools. Without disrespect to his successor, it may be said that his place could never be filled as he filled it.
The fair of 1873 was the first held under the auspices of the new Association, and the new management was universally commended. The year closed without any further notable happen- ing. The panic had not much distressed Denver, but business was dull, and improvements had been checked for the time being.
The year 1874 was chiefly remarkable for its political conflicts, which, of course, raged most fiercely in and around Denver, the political center. The war opened early. The Territorial Legisla- ture, which assembled in Denver January 5, opened the ball by introducing a bill to remove the capital from Denver to Pueblo, and on the 31st, the measure was adopted in the Lower House by a strong vote. This sudden and nnexpected revival of the old capital war, when Denver sup- posed the matter was permanently settled, served to create the most intense excitement for a time,
230
HISTORY OF DENVER.
and the wire-pulling and log-rolling of that mem- orable session will long be remembered. There being but thirteen members of the Territorial Council, or Upper House, every possible effort was made by Pueblo, as well as Denver, to secure seven votes in that body, either to carry or to defeat the bill according as they were cast. Denver triumphed in the end, and, February 9, the bill was defeated. It was said, but perhaps maliciously, that a certain well-known Southern Colorado member of the Council, who voted against the bill, did not dare to go home via Pueblo, and did not visit that city for several years.
While the Legislature was still in session, news came from Washington that Gov. Elbert had been removed and McCook re-appointed. To say that this caused intense feeling and excitement would be to put the matter very mildly. The temper of the people bord red upon rebellion. Every Repub- lican member of the Legislature signed a protest against the removal of Elbert, and the News, hith- erto a stalwart administration organ, declared war upon the powers at Washington, all and singular.
McCook of course had some friends in Colorado, and the Denver Tribune espoused his cause, but with a good deal more zeal than ability. A long and hard and exceedingly bitter fight against the confirmation of McCook followed, and it was not until June 19 that the Senate acted upon the matter. Meanwhile, other Colorado officials had been removed, among them Capt. Frank Hall, who had served as Territorial Secretary since May, 1866, with much credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. The new-fledged officials and a coterie of their personal friends attempted to run the political machine that summer, and although their nominee for Delegate to Congress, Hon. H. P. H. Bromwell, was a worthy gentleman and well qual- ified for the office to which he aspired, he was not elected. However, as these matters have all been discussed in their proper connection, it will not be necessary to enlarge upon them here. Suffice it to say that Denver was shaken from center to
circumference by the political squabbles of that year, and it was long ere peace was fully restored.
An official census of the city in January, 1874, showed an actual population of 14,197. The growth of the city during the year, while not re- markable, was still encouraging. Business was fairly active, and the railways were constantly bringing distinguished visitors to the country. During the summer and fall of 1874, Denver was visited by Senators Cameron and Logan, each ac- companied by a party of friends; Schuyler Colfax, who delivered an address at the Denver fair, Sep- tember 26, and many others. Hon. Wm. J. Barker was Mayor of the city, and under his ad- ministration most of the gambling-houses were closed, the Blake street saloons were kept under wholesome restraint, and the city assumed an air of peace and dignity to which it had long been a stranger.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.