Saguache County CO Archives Biographies.....Jeep, Frederick October 9, 1842 - ?
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 8, 2006, 1:15 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Frederick Jeep, one of the oldest settlers in Saguache county, and

conducting a flourishing ranch and cattle industry on his ranch of three hundred

and twenty acres, five miles southeast of the county seat, and one of the most

generally respected citizens of that whole section of the state, is a native of

the province of Hanover, Germany, born on October 9, 1842.  He is the son of

Frederick and Charlotte (Sharper) Jeep, who were also born and reared in

Hanover, and passed their lives in that province.  The father was throughout his

mature life an officer in the customs service, and was prosperous and well

esteemed.  He died in 1872 and his wife in 1901.  Eight of their children

survive them, George, Alvina, Matilda, Frederick, Dora, Emma, Mrs. Carl Nels and

Mrs. Herman Schroeder.  Frederick received a common-school education, and at the

age of fourteen went to sea as a cabin boy.  He followed the sea twelve years,

and in the course of his service visited all quarters of the globe and rose to

the position of a master seaman.  In 1867 he came west and, after a short stay

at Cheyenne, at that time a hamlet of tents, he started farther west from

Julesburg with an ox team.  After two days journeying in this way he fell in

with a United States government expedition, and from that time drove one of the

mule teams attached to it.  Several bands of Indians threatened the train, but

as it was able to defend itself, they did not attack it.  After leaving this

government train Mr. Jeep engaged in making ties for the Union Pacific Railroad,

continuing in that employment until early in 1868, when he came to Denver, this

state, by stage, and there he followed a variety of occupations during the

succeeding four years, but was principally engaged in mining and ranching.  In

1871 he accompanied Samuel J. Slain to Saguache county, traveling overland with

horse and mule teams by way of Turkey creek, Canyon, Fairplay, Trout creek, the

Arkansas river and Poucha [sic] pass.  They were eight days making the trip, and

had an interesting time while doing so.  After his arrival in the county Mr.

Jeep took up pre-emption and homestead claims of one hundred and sixty acres

each, which together form his present ranch, as the tracts are adjoining. He

took the land as nature gave it and the improvements it now contains have all

been made up by him.  These comprise a good modern house, first-rate barns,

fences, sheds and other structures, and artificial supplies of water for

irrigation.  The principal crops are oats, wheat, barley and potatoes, and

cattle are raised in large numbers.  On August 5, 1880, Mr. Jeep was married to

Miss Metta Schwarmann, a native of Germany.   They have had four children, one

of whom, Frederick died, and three, George, Mrs. Bert Alexander and Charlotte,

are living.  With one hundred and twenty acres of his ranch in grain, and the

rest given up to hay and pasture, Mr. Jeep is always sure of a good crop of some

kind, and as the quality of his products is high, the regularity and extent of 

his income is not uncertain.  His natural progressiveness and his patriotism to

the land of his adoption have made him a useful member of the citizenship of the

county, and as he was one of the earliest settlers in the region of his home, so

he has been one of the most influential and effective forces in developing it

and stamping it with the spirit of modern enterprise and civilization.  

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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