Pueblo County CO Archives Biographies.....Baxter, O. H. P. 1835 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 27, 2008, 7:51 pm

Author: R. M. Stevenson (1881)

HON. O. H. P. BAXTER.

    Mr. Baxter was among the early men in Colorado, having come West in 1858.
For nearly twenty-two years he has steadily remained and advanced with the
country, and now he is a prominent citizen and capitalist of Pueblo. He was born
at Madison, Ind., October 31, 1835. He received a common school education, and
learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1855, he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he
pursued blacksmithing for a short time; he also afterward worked for a time at
Moline, Ill. In 1856, he located at Nebraska City, where he followed his trade
for about two years. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Baxter started for Pike's Peak,
and, in October, he arrived at the mouth of Cherry Creek, where Denver is now
situated. For about two years, he engaged in prospecting and mining in the
mountains. Soon after the discovery of the famous Gregory lode, in 1859, he went
to Central, where he remained some months. He spent some time in South Park, and
was among the early adventurers in California Gulch. In September, 1860, he came
down to Arkansas Valley, and located upon a ranch about five miles below Pueblo.
The following spring, he sold out and removed to the mouth of the St. Charles
River, where he located a ranch, and began farming. He was one of the first
farmers in the county. In 1864, Mr. Baxter volunteered in the United States
service for a term of three months. He raised a company, of which he became
Captain, in the Third Colorado. He was with his regiment at the noted battle of
Sand Creek. After the expiration of his term, he returned to his ranch and
continued farming; hie also kept up his stock business, in which he had been
interested since 1862. Mr. Baxter was a member of the Territoral Legislature in
1864-65. He was a member of the Council during the sessions of 1865-66 and
1866-67. He removed to Pueblo, in 1866, and bought a half interest in the
well-known Jewett Grist Mill, which interest he has since owned. He was one of
the first town company which located the town of Pueblo in 1861. The town was
afterward jumped by parties who obtained a patent, but some years later, owing
to priority of title, it reverted to the original company. In 1870, the County
Commissioners appointed Trustees, who proceeded to organize the town of Pueblo
on a permanent basis. Mr. Baxter was one of the Trustees and continued as such
for several years afterward. He was, for a number of years, a County
Commissioner, and was also a Commissioner of the State Penitentiary several
years. He is at this time a Commissioner of the State Insane Asylum. Mr. Baxter
is now one of the largest property holders of Pueblo County. He is connected
with many of the important interests of Pueblo; he is improving his real estate
and steadily increasing his fortune. He was married in Pueblo County, April 17,
1866, to Miss Edna A. Henry, by whom he has three children.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

History of the  Arkansas Valley, Colorado
By J. Harrison Mills

O. L. Baskin & Co.
Chicago
1881


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