Hist: Williams Fork, Moffat County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/moffat/history/wmfork.txt From "Fifty Years of Progress", published 1958. Used with permission. Transcribed by: Harva Lou Buchanan Golden, Colorado 25 November 2000 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CRAIG - MOFFAT COUNTY GOLDEN JUBILEE Fifty Years of Progress 1908 - 1958 EARLY DAY SETTLERS ON WILLIAMS FORK By Frances H. Dunstan The Williams River winds its way through the valley from Pyramid to Hamilton and has two branches. The one down the valley is known as the East Fork and the one running from the upper country near White River to a point above Pagoda is the South Fork. In early days, there was an abundance of grass and water and settlers began moving in, between 1887 and 1898, and most of them entered the cattle business, while a few trapped during the winter months. They suffered many hardships, such as cloudbursts, hail storms and an invasion of Mormon crickets one year and deep snow every winter. There were no automobiles or modern machinery and no conveniences in the homes. One summer a fire started on White River, near Meeker, and raged over the Flat Tops and on toward Yampa and the ranchers having stock grazing on the Flat Tops, had much difficulty driving them out of the path of the fire. Neighbors shared their work, such as erecting houses and barns, building ditches and haying and also enjoyed parties and dances at each other's homes. When a death occurred in a family, there were always friends to build the coffin and dig the grave, since there were no undertakers in the community. Pagoda was the center of the community and a post-office was established in the home of James A. Bennett in 1889, and he was the first postmaster. In 1905 or 1906, J. W. Hugus and Co., built a store at Pagoda and the post-office was moved there and Clyde Downs, now at Craig, was manager of the store for a year. Hugus and Co., then sold the property to James A. Bennett and the following named people conducted the store and post-office for different periods of time. First was Tom Deakins, then William R. Greene now residing in Santa Cruz, California. Next came Kapple, Parrish, Douglas Bennett, now conducting a store in Hayden, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Dunstan. The store was closed by the Dunstans in 1943 and the post office was discontinued in 1946. The community is now served by a star route from Hamilton, three days a week. The Pagoda Cemetery site was chosen by Mrs. James A. Bennett and is situated on a hill overlooking her old home at Pagoda. She was the first person to be buried there and at the present time, there are forty-eight resting there--many old timers and some of their children and grand-children. The Pagoda store was a gathering place to discuss important matters concerning the community. Elections were held there and neighbors enjoyed visiting together. In earlier days, there was a daily mail from Craig and when the settlers first came to Williams Fork, the mail as carried on horseback or snow shoes from Hayden, the neighbors each taking their turn, since there was no post-office at Pagoda at that time. Groceries and supplies were hauled in wagons from Denver and Rawlins, Wyoming, and supplies had to last a year. There was plenty of coal everywhere and small mines were opened in near-by gulches and each rancher mined his own coal. Wild game was plentiful so a good supply of venison and elk meat was found in each home. Schools were opened and the children attended until ready for high school and then went to Hayden or Craig. The schools on Williams Fork are now of the past. The Pyramid school closed many years ago and the Beardsley, Dunstan and Pagoda schools just recently. The Waddle Creek school still maintains its district and may be in use again in a few years. I recall a few of the weddings which took place in those "good old days." Maud Dunstan and Frank Wise were married in Hayden in 1910, they now live in California. Willard Hauck and Gertrude Richmond were the first couple to be married in the Christian Church in Craig; the ceremony was performed by Rev. J. L. Ellis. The Haucks now live in Meeker and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in December, 1957. Thomas H. Dunstan and Frances H. Bennett were married at Pagoda by Rev. J. L. Ellis in 1909. Here are some of the names of the early settlers in the community and also of those who came later. The Johnson brothers --Lou, John, and Albert; Charles Egry; Reinhard Miller; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Dunstan and her son, Willard Hauck; Tom Dunstan, brother of Dick; the Shaw brothers-- Graham, Herbert and Jack; Mr. and Mrs. George Heron; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Heron; the Deakins brothers--Tom, William, and later John and his family; Mr. and Mrs. James A. Bennett; at a later date, Andrew and John Bennett and their families. Johnny Lyons, his wife and Patrick Sullivan and family were located on South Fork. Mr. and Mrs. Al Durham, and Mr. and Mrs. Blamey on Waddle Creek. J. P. Morin or Moran and Teddy settled close to Pagoda. George Walker settled on South Fork and his daughter Jennie married Victor Robertson. The Turner family, Tom Wise, Leon Green, J. W. and Dad Scott, Mrs. Dillabough and Mrs. Dayton were other early day settlers. I have probably omitted some names and I hope my apoligies will be accepted. Teddy Moran was an interesting character. He was a French Canadian and studied to be a priest but went into ranching after moving to Pagoda. He passed away a few years ago and had requested his ashes be scattered over his old home on the ranch. Mrs. George Heron was a registered nurse and there were no doctors near-by so she went to take care of the sick, whenever and wherever called, night or day made no difference to her, if she was needed. Dr. William E. Driscoll and his wife settled under the Flat Tops in later days and he, at one time, drove a team to Pyramid from Oak Creek, in the middle of the night and in a raging blizzard. I had great need for him and was so thankful for an old country doctor who always made it through, regardless of the circumstances. Bally Price was a stage driver for many years and he visited from ranch to ranch. Riding the "grub line" as he expressed it. Nothing was known of his family and I presume he has gone to his last resting place many years ago. The ranchers took time to relax and enjoy the early morning chorus of wild birds and the beautiful sunsets in the evenings and when doing chores, they could sit down and watch the deer browsing in the meadows and on the hillsides or going to the river for water. No frantic hustle and bustle as of today and I know they were happy in their way of life. How do I know? Because I also lived on ranches on Williams Forks for many years, coming from Denver in 1907, and although I now reside in Craig, my heart is still at Pagoda where my husband was laid to rest in October, 1955. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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