Pueblo County CO Archives History - Books .....Chapter 5 The Battle Won 1917
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Book Title: Pathbreakers And Pioneers Of The Pueblo Region

CHAPTER V.
THE BATTLE WON.

    The victor who stands upon a summit and views a conquered city wrested from
the enemy by a fair fight, has feelings akin to those of the pioneer who looked
out over this vast area of western territory and beheld the receding forces of
nature withdrawing from the combat.

    The battle with the wilderness was a fair one, but with odds somewhat in
favor of the wilderness. This advantage was due to two things over which the
pioneer had no control. In the first place the wilderness was in undisputed
control and in the second place it had enlisted as an ally, that dreaded foe-the
red man. Against this combined foe thoroughly entrenched, the pioneer was
compelled to charge. It seemed for a time that this combination was too strong
for the pioneer to cope with successfully, but his indomitable perserverance,
his undaunted courage, his unparalleled bravery finally won for him a lasting
victory.

    Three events occurred in the year 1868 which not only indicated the progress
of the town but also gave promise of its permanence. They were the building of
the telegraph line to Pueblo, the establishing of a weekly newspaper, The
Colorado Chieftain, and the building of the first church.

    In the fall of 1867 the United States and Mexico Railway and Telegraph
Company was organized in Denver for the purpose of building a railway and
telegraph line to Mexico via Pueblo and Santa Fe. In May of the following year
their telegraph line entered Pueblo, thus making the first permanent link in
that chain which was to bind the town to eastern civilization.

    The Colorado Chieftain, the first issue of which appeared on June 1, 1868,
was the pioneer newspaper of Southern Colorado, and for some time continued to
be the only paper published between Denver and Santa Fe. This paper, now known
as the Pueblo Chieftain, has had a somewhat remarkable career, never having
missed an issue or changed its location since it began nearly fifty years ago.
Its files are complete and contain some of the most valuable historical material
to be had anywhere in the west. The paper was established by Dr. M. Beshoar. A
year or two later Dr. Beshoar removed to Trinidad and sold the Chieftain to
Samuel McBride, who later sold it to Captain J. J. Lambert. George A. Hinsdale
and Wilbur F. Stone were its editors. The subscription price of the paper was $5
a year and 25c a copy. It continued its weekly publications until 1872 at which
time it became a daily.

    Among the business firms who advertised in the initial issue, the following
will be of interest to the older residents of the city: C. D. Peck, meat market;
Henry Hiney, Planters Hotel; James Rice, cigars and tobacco; Rettberg and
Bartels, groceries; Thatcher Bros., dry goods, groceries, hardware and clothing;
Leonard and Dotson, saw mill at Mace's Hole. The following professional cards
appear in the same issue: P. R. Thomes, M. D.; A. A. Bradford, attorney-at-law;
Wilbur F. Stone, attorney-at-law; George A. Hinsdale, attorney-at-law; Henry C.
Thatcher, attorney-at-law.

    The first issue of the Chieftain contains a notice of the death of Kit
Carson, and a memorial tribute to the famous pioneer by Wilbur F. Stone.

    The following are interesting news items selected from the first issue of
the Chieftain:

    "The railroad prospects for Southern Colorado are growing brighter every
day. Three different routes through the southern part of the state have been
surveyed or examined by the U. P. R. R. Co., from which to select for the main
line of their road. The third route is up the Arkansas through Pueblo."

    "Several of our boys have just returned from a prospecting trip about the
headwaters of the Huerfano."

    "M. D. Thatcher received nineteen heavy wagon loads of freight on Friday
last. He has now a splendid stock of goods."

    "Messrs. Wildeboor & Gilman have placed a row of pine boughs in front of the
awning of their popular restaurant. They make a delightful shade. The idea is a
capital one."

    "We note that a good many hogs are running at large in our streets in
violation of the statutes. Their presence in the streets is a nuisance which
ought to be abated. Why is not the law enforced?"

    "Among the improvements lately commenced in our town we notice a large
warehouse for M. D. Thatcher, Esq., at the corner above Thatcher's store."

    "H. C. Thatcher, Esq., is also erecting a new office building on Santa Fe Ave."

    "J. E. Smith is erecting a capacious blacksmith shop on the first cross
street above Anker's."

    An account of the Democratic County Convention, held on May 13, 1868, is
given in this first issue of the Chieftain. The names of the following persons
appear as delegates to the state convention: M. Anker, Wilbur F. Stone, J. M.
Branneman, P. K. Dotson, M. Beshoar, Lewis Barnum and others.

    An account of the Republican Convention, which was held a little later,
shows the following men as prominent in political circles: M. G. Bradford, J. D.
Miller, H. C. Thatcher, A. A. Bradford, O. H. P. Baxter, M. D. Thatcher and C.
J. Hart.

    The following stage schedule published in the Chieftain gives a vivid
picture of the splendid isolation of Pueblo before the coming of the railroad:

Schedule of Mail Stages.

Pueblo to Denver                            Tues., Th., Sat
Pueblo to Canon City                        Mon., Fri.
Pueblo to Santa Fe via Ft. Garland          Thursday only
Pueblo to Bent's Fort                       Tues., Th., Sat.

    The article quoted below, from the Chieftain, gives a glimpse of the
development of the Pueblo region during 1867 and 1868:

    "A glance at the products of Pueblo County for the last year (1867), will
indicate faintly some of Pueblo's resources. There were produced during the past
year in Pueblo County, 300,000 bushels of corn, 100,000 bushels of wheat-to say
nothing of oats, buckwheat and barley. There were owned in the county, 12,000
head of cattle, 20,000 head of sheep and 2,000 hogs.

    "Eight months ago there were scarcely 75 inhabitants in Pueblo; now its
population is but little less than 500 souls. Pueblo stands forth today with
bright prospects of a permanent and prosperous future."

    In 1871 the "Pueblo People," a weekly paper, made its first appearance, with
Mr. Hinsdale as editor. It continued its existence until 1874 when the plant and
equipment were taken over by the Chifetain. [sic]

    In 1874 the Pueblo Republican was established under the management of J. M.
Murphy. After a short life it was purchased by Dr. Hull and brother of Missouri
and in 1876, after a change of name and principles, it emerged as the
"Democrat," and still later became the "Daily News," under the ownership of
Judge Royal.

    In April, 1868, steps were taken toward the erection of the first church
building. Church services had been held by various denominations in the old
court house at Third and Santa Fe. The Episcopal Church continued its efforts
until the organization known as St. Peter's Church, had been effected and
sufficient funds raised to warrant the erection of a church building. The
project was placed in charge of the following committee: George A. Hinsdale,
Wilbur F. Stone, H. C. Thatcher, J. W. Snyder, F. W. Walker, Jas. Rice and Klaas
Wildeboor; the building committee being composed of Messrs. Hart, Young and
Weston. The building was constructed of adobe bricks and still stands at the
corner of Seventh and Santa Fe. At the time it was erected it was in the
outskirts of the town, there being but two buildings beyond it.

    A tower, ten feet square, was erected upon the church from which was
suspended a bell. A member of the committee states that on a certain beautiful
Sunday morning, when for the first time the old bell pealed out in clear tones
its call to worship,-tones which were strange, indeed, to the ears of these
isolated westerners-tears came to the eyes of more than one person whose soul
was stirred by the memory of a little church back in the "states," from which he
had been separated for so many years.

    In 1868 another serious Indian outbreak occurred. The Indians remained on
their good behavior for some time after their Sand Creek lesson, but the spring
of the year just mentioned saw them on the war path again, and during that
summer they kept the inhabitants of the Fountain valley and Monument creek in El
Paso County, in constant terror, many atrocious murders being committed by the
savages. Fortunately, the Pueblo region was again spared, no depredations being
reported from this section. Much apprehension was felt for the settlers in the
more remote sections of the Pueblo region, however, and many of them loaded
their belongings upon their wagons and taking their families, came to Pueblo to
remain until the Indians were ready to sign another "treaty of peace."

    The following clippings from the Chieftain of September 10,1868, speak
eloquently of the situation:

    "Quite a number of families have moved into town for the purpose of being
safe from the Indians."

    "The Indians took, on Saturday last, 29 head of horses belonging to Jacob
Geil. The horses were taken from a place near Terrils on the Fountain, 30 miles
above Pueblo."

    "Owing to the Indian dangers along the route from Denver to this place, the
coaches on the Denver and Santa Fe stage line will run only once a week until it
becomes sufficiently safe to replace the stock at the stations on the route."

    The danger in which the Pueblo region was placed by the Indian outbreak was
greatly augmented by the removal of the troops from Forts Reynolds and Lyon. The
inhabitants of Southern Colorado had by this time become indignant beyond bounds
at the failure of the government to protect its citizens from the savages. The
government not only failed to provide adequate protection to its frontier
population, but it persisted in the pernicious practice of issuing arms and
ammunition in large quantities to the Indians, presumably for their use in
hunting buffalo. In many instances the Indians were better armed and possessed
greater quantities of ammunition than the settlers.

    In the year 1869, the business men of Pueblo and vicinity realizing the
benefit to the city of united action in advertising the resources of this
region, organized the Board of Trade of Southern Colorado, their primary object
being to publish and distribute literature advertising the Arkansas valley
hoping by this means to attract the Union Pacific railroad to this region. From
this pamphlet the following information is gleaned: The population was slightly
less than 800. The moral tone of the town was pronounced by the editing
committee as "good," the tangible evidence offered in proof of this assertion
being the fact that the town had two church organizations, the Episcopal and the
Methodist. The location of Pueblo, "at the crossing of the great routes from the
east and between New Mexico and Colorado, brought a throng of people to its
public houses." This report shows further that during the year 1868 the value of
merchandise sold was $390,980, and the total value of manufactured goods,
consisting largely of leather goods, furniture and agricultural implements,
aggregated $35,600, and, finally, that during the same year one million pounds
of freight had been received in Pueblo.

    Of the many "colonies" establishing themselves in Colorado during the early
seventies, one is of special interest to us in view of the fact that it located
in close proximity to Pueblo.

    In 1869 a group of Germans living in Chicago were desirous of securing a
location in the west. The advertising pamphlet of the newly organized Board of
Trade of Southern Colorado, having fallen into the hands of one member of the
group, it was decided to send a committee to the Arkansas valley to reconnoiter.
The final result of this investigation was a recommendation that the colony be
brought to the Wet Mountain valley, some fifty miles west of Pueblo.

    Accordingly, in the spring of 1870, the colony, consisting of about 350
persons with a full equipment of farm implements and machinery for grist mills,
etc., embarked from Chicago under the leadership of Carl Wulstein, one of their
own countrymen. They were obliged to make the journey overland from the terminus
of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, which was at that time in western Kansas. The
United States government co-operated freely with the colonists in this
enterprise. Their goods were hauled by government wagons, they were given the
use of government tents and it was even asserted that provisions for the journey
were provided at government expense.

    A grand reception was held for these colonists upon their arrival at Pueblo.
The usual round of addresses of welcome and responses were given by citizens and
leading members of the colony. The travelers camped just outside the town, and,
upon their departure the next morning, halted on Santa Fe Avenue in order that
their caravan, consisting of some seventy wagons, might be viewed by the populace.

    From Pueblo the party moved on to the Wet Mountain valley where all who were
eligible took up homesteads. Soon afterwards the town of Colfax was laid out.
Lacking a motive either political or religious, it was inevitable that there
could be no permanent coherence and in consequence but a short time had elapsed
e'er the process of disintegration set in. Although most of the colonists
remained in the valley and became prosperous farmers, the organization itself
soon disbanded.

    The Central Colorado Improvement Company, though often referred to as the
"South Pueblo Colony," was not a colony in the strict sense of the term.
Although it was responsible for the establishing and the developing of South
Pueblo, it acted more in the capacity of a townsite company, drawing people to
its project by means of advertising the resources of this locality. The most
characteristic feature of the "colony," namely the simultaneous movement of a
group of settlers into a region, was lacking. The history of this organization
will be considered more in detail in a later chapter.

    On March 22, 1870, Pueblo became an incorporated town with the following
persons as trustees: George A. Hinsdale, M. G. Bradford, James Rice, H. C.
Thatcher, and J. D. Miller as clerk, and Z. G. Allen as constable, all receiving
their positions through appointment by the Board of County Commissioners. On
April 4, following, an election was held, the following persons being elected:
George A. Hinsdale, Lewis Conley, O. H. P. Baxter, Sam McBride and C. P.
Peabody, with August Beech as clerk and J. F. Smith as constable. At this
election 110 ballots were cast.

    While the federal census of 1870 recorded the population of Pueblo as 666,
the county census at the close of that year gave the town a population of 1002
and that of the county 2323.

    Other events which indicated the rapid and substantial development of the
town at the close of this period were the securing of a daily mail service from
Denver, the creation of the Arkansas Valley Land District, together with the
opening of the land office in Pueblo, the abandonment of the old toll bridge,
which was made possible by the erection of a new county bridge across the
Arkansas, and the erection of the new court house, these events occurring within
the space of two years.

    During the first ten years of her existence, Pueblo was obliged to content
herself with nothing better than a tri-weekly mail service, but in the winter of
1870, through the influence of Pueblo's territorial delegate, A. A. Bradford, a
daily service was secured between Pueblo and Denver.

    Pueblo had long felt the need of more adequate facilities for entering
public lands, the nearest office being at Denver. By the most patient and
painstaking efforts of our territorial delegate, the office at Pueblo was
secured with M. G. Bradford as the receiver and Ed. Wheeler as register.

    Early in the history of Pueblo a private bridge was built across the
Arkansas at the foot of Santa Fe Avenue, and for many years W. H. Young enjoyed
the exclusive privilege of collecting tolls from all those who preferred to
cross the river with dry feet. The question of a county bridge had been agitated
for some time but through the influence of the owner of this private bridge,
definite steps toward the building of a free bridge were postponed from time to
time.

    Finally, however, matters had proceeded so far that the private monopoly
seemed in imminent danger of being swept away by the progressive spirit which
had taken hold upon the community, whereupon, Young threatened to institute
injunction proceedings to prevent the erection of the bridge or to bring suit
for damages against the county in case the bridge was built.

    Another controversy arose over the location of the proposed bridge. One
faction wished the bridge to be located at the foot of Main Street, while the
other faction stoutly insisted that it should be on Santa Fe. The Main Street
faction raised a bonus of $1600 to secure the bridge on their street, and,
although the Santa Fe-ites secured a bonus of only $1525, the commissioners
decided in their favor and built the bridge on Santa Fe.

    In April, 1872, the contract for building the bridge was awarded to the firm
of Redfield, Smith & Co. The commissioners, fearing legal difficulties with
Young, required of those citizens interested in having the bridge built, a
guarantee bond to protect the county against any judgment that might be secured
by Young. The bond was presented by Wilbur F. Stone and was signed by Bartels
Bros., John A. Thatcher and sixteen others. So far as the records show no
damages were ever sought.

    In October, 1872, the first annual fair was held by the newly organized
Agricultural Society of Southern Colorado, although it was not until November,
1886, that the present State Fair Association was incorporated, at which time
fifty acres of ground near Mineral Palace Park was purchased for $3,000, some
$5,000 being expended for improvements. The first fair was held in the fall of
the next year. Land values increased so rapidly that in 1890 the association was
able to sell its property for $48,000. Soon after this the present location,
comprising 100 acres on the mesa, was purchased for $30,000.

    The Pueblo Public Library Association was founded in 1873. This was a stock
company which issued 200 shares of stock at $50 each. The stock was quickly
purchased by public spirited citizens and articles of incorporation were duly
filed by the committee consisting of G. Q. Richmond, J. O. Jordan, A. P. George
and C. J. Reed. In May of the same year the Pueblo Library and Reading Room was
formally opened by an address by Mr. George A. Hinsdale. This first library was
located on the west side of Santa Fe Avenue, just below Fourth Street.

    On May 9, 1871, the Board of County Commissioners voted to call for the
submission of plans for a new court house and for bids for the erection of the
same, the building to be erected upon the ground which had been secured by
pre-emption. All of these years court had been held in the little adobe building
on Santa Fe, but now it was proposed to erect such a building as would be
adequate for many years to come.

    There were in the treasury something over $35,000, the aggregate receipts
from the sale of the county land. This made it possible to erect this
magnificent building without adding a cent to the tax levy. This building served
the county for nearly forty years and was torn down to give place to the largest
and most costly county building in the state.

    With the completion of the court house and the coming of the Rio Grande
railroad, Pueblo took her place as the recognized metropolis of Southern
Colorado. Its rapid growth is indicated by the fact that on March 26, 1873, the
town trustees passed an ordinance, declaring that Pueblo, having exceeded the
required population of 3,000, should become the City of Pueblo, it having been
originally incorporated as the Town of Pueblo. Its population at this time was
nearly 3,500.

    In the same year a bond issue of $130,000 was authorized by a vote of the
people for the purpose of installing a system of waterworks and on June 24,1874,
the present water system was completed. Business houses were closed and with
impressive ceremony, conducted by the Masonic lodge, the water works building
was dedicated. Probably no other single improvement had as much to do with the
subsequent growth of Pueblo as did the building of this water system.

    The coming of the railroads into Colorado affected profoundly the destiny of
the state, the most important result being the hastening of statehood through
the rapid increase of population and wealth. The history of the struggle for
statehood is an interesting one,-so interesting, in fact, that the writer almost
yields to the temptation to turn aside and devote some time to its consideraion.
Since it is not properly a part of this book, however, its discussion must be
omitted. Suffice it to say, that Pueblo was a vital force in shaping the future
welfare of the state, during the period of constitution-making, through her two
most excellent and able delegates, Hon. Henry C. Thatcher and Hon. Wilbur F. Stone.

    The Centennial celebration of 1876 was observed by Pueblo and due regard was
had for the fact that it was also the celebration of Colorado's admission as a
state. Upon this day, under the cottonwood tree near the old Baxter mill, where
the Federal building now stands, Judge Stone delivered a historical sketch of
Pueblo. This sketch was later forwarded to the national capital and deposited in
the archives of the Library of Congress.

    The gold discovery in Leadville, in the year 1877, proved a bonanza to
Pueblo. During the seven years following this date her population was increased
threefold. Other mining camps sprung up in the vicinity of the headwaters of the
Arkansas, all of which increased the carrying trade and other forms of business
of Pueblo, this being the chief and practically only distributing point for the
entire region of the headwaters of the Arkansas.

    Under this stimulus many new business blocks were erected and new firms
entered the field to capture a share of the lucrative business which had sprung
up as a result of these various mining enterprises.

    Two interesting bits of history not generally known by the younger
generation of Pueblo citizens deserve mention here, not so much because of their
importance as on account of their interest.

    On January 1, 1874, a bill was introduced in the territorial legislature for
the removal of the state's capital to Pueblo. A strong array of facts was
presented by the Colorado Chieftain in support of the bill. A forty-acre tract
of land was to be provided and a cash bonus was to be raised by Pueblo citizens
to reimburse the state for certain expenses incident to the removal of the
offices to Pueblo. This bill passed the house by a vote of 16 to 5, but was lost
in the senate through the "perfidy" of a certain senator from the southern part
of the territory.

    The other incident was the proposed secession of Southern Colorado and the
organization of the state of San Juan. This occurred in the year 1877 and was
the result of the influence of certain men in this section, who felt that Denver
and the northern part of the state were securing more than their share of the
political honors of the state. A memorial was prepared to be presented to
Congress pleading the right of the citizens to organize a new state, using as a
precedent the case of West Virginia.

    In the height of its popularity the movement suddenly collapsed through the
influence of a newspaper article written by E. K. Stimson of Pueblo, holding the
whole movement up to ridicule.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Pathbreakers and Pioneers of the Pueblo Region
Comprising
A History of Pueblo from the Earliest Times
By MILO LEE WHITTAKER
THE FRANKLIN PRESS COMPANY 
1917


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