WESTCREEK CEMETERY, Douglas County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/douglas/cemeteries/westcrk1.txt The Burial Ground at West Creek, Colorado On September 19, 1940, the regent, registrar and historian of Zebulon Pike Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Colorado Springs, Colorado, made a trip to a small burial ground which they had often noticed in driving along the "Decker Road" from Woodland Park - on the Colorado Springs-Cripple Creek highway to "Deckers" on the South Platte River. The little cemetery is at West Creek in Douglas County: section 30, township 10, range 69. The visit to West Creek and interviews with old residents there and in Woodland Park were productive of rather meager results, but the data obtained were so typical of the early days in a short-lived mining community that a few details may be worth recording. The settlement was originally called Pemberton for one of a group of ranchmen occupying this beautiful upland valley about twenty-five miles in a straight line north and slightly west of Pike's Peak. In 1895 some slight evidence of gold deposit was reported in the valley and in an incredibly short time five thousand people were living in shacks and tents frantically prospecting for gold. Pemberton was re-named West Creek, and one man, Hiram Abbey, laid his ranch out in town lots. He gave a site for the school house and donated the land for the cemetery. Life in such a place is often difficult, especially for infants and small children. Most of the people are transients, often quite destitute. The valley now is occupied by ranchmen again, and some lumbering is carried on. On this first visit to West Creek, information was secured from the post-mistress, Mrs. Hancock, who directed us to her mother, Mrs. Hickox in Woodland Park and urged us to see a Mrs. Stapish, who is the best authority on the history of the valley. The cemetery was carefully inspected. There are evidences of care bestowed on the graves. They were usually inclosed by rail or picket fences to prevent depredations, and marked by a head-board and foot-board. But with the passage of time the inscriptions on these have been effaced. Only one board marker can still be deciphered and two others were determined by the aid of Mrs. Stapish's brother who lives in Woodland Park. Two recent burials, in 1939 and 1940, are touching evidence of the strength of the fascination which this sunny slope among lofty, snow-clad peaks, wooded hills, and grassy green valleys, had for the men who toiled there with the lure of gold before them. On February 5, 1941, the regent and historian drove to Castle Rocks, a distance of about fifty miles north of Colorado Springs, to see if the county records of Douglas County would give further information. The county clerk, county assessor, and two lady-assistants made a great effort to assist the investigation, but could add nothing except the exact location of the cemetery. Two W. P. A. workers who are interested in the same project were interviewed; our records added two names to their list. In the county clerk's office, the best fortune of all was encountered. Mr. Stapish of West Creek was there with his son; the latter was dispatched to find his mother. She soon came in and proved to be a woman of charming personality, very accurate and dependable in her statements, and excellent source of information. We agreed to meet her on February 7th in West Creek Post Office, this second time, after a drive of forty-five miles, we found the two W. P. A. workers there also. All proceeded to the cemetery with Mrs. Stapish who added several names to our list. The W. P. A. workers extended a cordial invitation to us to go to a much more extensive and older cemetery at Franktown, east of Castle Rock, an opportunity we hope to accept in the near future. Interments which can still be identified at West Creek cemetery: 1 Alice Davidson ) Sisters-in-law, in the same lot, June 1863 - December 1896 ) the graves with cement markers, ) which were "moved in there" 2 Fannie Frasier ) probably after the death of (2). October 1872 - June 1905 ) 3 Our Mother ) Good recent stone, set by a son Elizabeth Savary ) from Nova Scotia ten years old December 7, 1861 - April 30, 1899 ) when mother died. 4 Mrs. Mollie Huggins ) Board marker illegible Aged about 35 ) good picket fence Died about 1900 ) 5 Uriah Haig ) Poor marker, but legible Postmaster ) Died December, 1912 ) About sixty years old ) 6 John B. Weller ) Good stone 1864 1939 ) Pick and shovel ) 7 Charles W. Jones ) Veteran of World War August 19, 1940 ) Undertaker's marker to be Aged 42 years ) replaced by government stone 8 Mary Ellsworth ) No marker Died 1900 ) Mrs. Stapish's playmate 12 years old ) 9 George Miller ) Fence - no marker Died about 1900 ) 10 Mrs. Charles Briggs ) Grave cannot be located Died about 1900 ) Mother of five little girls ) 11 ______ Thompson ) Grave cannot be located