Dubuque County IA Archives Obituaries.....Karrick, Joe February 20, 1902 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marianna Williams mikegene1@earthlink.net June 5, 2008, 3:57 pm Dubuque Daily Globe Journal Feb 21, 1902 Obit: Dubuque Daily Globe Journal Feb 21, 1902 Early Settler Resident of Dubuque Obit: Joseph Karrick, one of Colorado's earliest settlers and best known cattlemen, died yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the C. F. & I. hospital after an illness lasting only since last Thursday. At that time he was stricken with paralysis and was brought to Pueblo Saturday and given every attention. His advanced age, however was against him and he sank solwly until the end came. Deceased was 79 years of age, having been born November 11, 1823, in northern Louisiana. He leaves to mourn his death his brother George in Colorado Springs, a sister, Mrs. Rebecca Nairn, in Tacoma, Wash., a sister-in-law, Mrs. B. F. Karrick, of this city, her three children, Etta, Frances and Joseph. His brother, B. F. Karrick, with whom he was associated in business for many years, died April 4, 1901. Deceased was never married. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning at the undertaking rooms, 112 North Main street. The death of Mr. Karrick removes one of the most picturesque old timers of the state. Since 1869 "Joe" Karrick has been a familiar personage and but few careers are so replete with stirring incidents and exciting episodes. From boyhood, Mr. Karrick was of an adventurous turn, never having been content with the humdrum of life, but always seeking the more varied existence. While a young boy, his parents moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he grew to young manhood. Attracted by the glowing accounts of the golden west he joined a party of "forty-niners" during the Californis gold excitement and sought the land of the setting sun. Success attended his first expedition and many stories are told of his return to his home at Dubuque, arrayed in a dazzling costume bespangled with gold coins, which was the admiration and envy of all the small boys of the town. Late in the 50s he made his way to Nevada sharing the hardships of the pioneers with never a murmur and glorying in the rough life of the border times. After a number of years spent in Nevada he came to Colorado in the late 60s, joining his brother in the cattle business in which line he continued until about four years ago, when he engaged with the C. F. & I. company, in the capacity of engineer, holding that position until the time of his death. Mr. Karrick was a typical westerner of the early days. Whole-souled, brave, carrying his heart upon his sleeve, he was popular with all who knew him. Blessed with a physique of iron, no hardship had any terrors for him. His sympathies were ever with the weaker side of a controversy, at times regardless of the merits of the case. If anything was going on, "Joe" Karrick was there. One incident in his career illustrates forcibly his chief characteristics. In 1876 he joined General Custer's forces in Wyoming and but narrowly escaped being one of the brave band who were massacred (sic)by the Indians in that battle immortalized in American history as "Custer's last fight." He was in Major Reno's command and while the fighting was going on was lying in a ravine under a sharpshooter fire poured into the troops by Indians on the surrounding hills. One redskin in particular picked off a soldier at each rifle crack and a reward was offerd to the man who could quiet the crack shot Indian. "Joe" and a companion volunteered to earn the reward, but not before the redskin had sent a bullet through Mr. Karrick's left cheeck, knocking out several teeth and leaving a scar that he wore a beard ever after to conceal. He was one of the type that made famous the early days and gave a romance to the west that will cling the more tenaciously as the influx of "tenderfeet" gradually eliminates the "old timer" style of living. Additional Comments: Joe Karrick was the son of George Ord Karrick and Amanda Goza. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/dubuque/obits/k/karrick234nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/iafiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb