Greeley Daily Tribune from Greeley, Colorado • Page 20

PAGE FOUR THE TRIBUNE-REPUBLICAN; GREELEY. COLORADO eVENINO, OCTOBER 10; First White Man's Government in County Organized in 1859 for Protecting Early Settlers from Inroads of Claim Jumpers First white man's government in Weld county preceded the founding of Greeley by the Union Colony by 11 It was organized by a group 'S i ea 'of OC tho 6 'flr 8 5 9 govcrnment: located at "je Junction of St Vrain and South Platto rivers near the site of old Fort St. Vrain. me of Greeley. Tho official name of the government "The St, Vrain County Claim club (Nebraska territory)." Beginnings Are Simple Ilio beginnings of.

this political body were exceedingly simple. The colonists who organized It were confronted by the following conditions: The nearest governmental authority except for United States military posts was SCO miles away. Tho region TTOS still part ot Nebraska territory. The country had not even been surveyed Communication with civilization was a matter of weeks and months. Faced with this situation the tlers formed a crude but workable government by agreement among themselves.

They left behind them fairly complete record which is now safeguarded in the vault of the Weld county commissi'oners' office here. The prospectus and initial meeting of the settlers' government Is set forth In the first two pages the little record book as follows: Becord of First Meeting in St. Vrain County "Mooting of the settlers and those to hold claims near St. Vrain fort where the following named sons ffere present and took part In es taMlching the club: C. P.

Hall, S. Jlott, H. G. Granam, William N. Byers C.

B. Miller, 0r. Coolc, R. B. Brad lord, George Trowbridgo, James Steck wd G.

U. Jones. St. Co.unty Record "At a meeting ot the Citizens of St Vrain lield Oct. 6, 1869, C.

P. Hall wa duly chosen chairman and H. J. Gra 1mm, secretary. Tho object of the meeting having been, by the chair innn, stated, to be for the purpose organizing a claim club laying off St Vrain county, and electing a recordc for the same, after which.

Mr. Byer moved that each claimant be entitle to 1GO acres on the public lands to staked and plainly marked and record cd which shall be sufficient to hoi it valid until June 1, 1860, whe farther improvements must bo made "Above motion adopted. Mr. Byer moved also that: Area of Jurisdiction "The jurisdiction of this club sha be co-extensive with- the county of Vrain (in Nebraska territory) to em brace not less than twenty-four mile square with the town of St. Vraiu nea ounty met in mass meeuog ui s- Here are me urni recuiueu jauu rain on tho 23rd day of October, i awa affecting Weld county as present- 860, having learned that one of the I cu the committee and nnanimously dest citizens and residents of Nov.

I860: ounty was trespassed upon by a cer- j. Resolved that tho claims in St. ain person or persons by having a Vrain county that have been staked, arg'e amount of timber cut, a cabin' marked, recorded and improved for .1 4i i i year or more shall bo held good and valid especially to those who are residents of this county and their families. 2. Resolved that the camping on a claim and merely cutting the hay shall ng that the claim trespassed upon was regularly recorded, staked and marked, a regular chain of title de- oribing it to said claimant, viz, H.

J. a Tho matter evidently terminated peaceably for shortly afterward Hawk- Ins and Heenan are found taking out claims in their own names In the prescribed manner. on Oct. 23, 1850, tho citizens met and elected George French, president, The above resolu- w. j.

Graham as see- on being discussed by J. F. Rhpads nd others was unanimously adopted. olicy Laid Down gainst Trespassing At the same meeting George French troduced the following resolution: "Whereas the citizens of St. Vrain ounty met in mass meeting at St.

and re-elected H. J. Graham as secretary. A committee of three George French, J. H.

Overton and A. A. Smith --was appointed to draft rules for the community. First Published Land Laws for Area Here are the first recorded land old English system still used in New I England. This system was adopted because government engineers nad not yet surveyed tho country.

Practically every claim, was in tho river A Typical Lund Sal. A typical land sale of 1862 follows: John Overton sold 329 acres of land to B. F. Reynolds for JMOO, 1600 payable Jan. 1, 1862, and tuoUematnlng tp be paid June 15, 1862.

The eforred payment was secured not nly by a Hen on the land but also by ion on one hundred tuns ot hay to cut upon the claims the following ear to secure the payment of the love mentioned sumti of money. The steady advance in the price ol nds Indicates that the colony was rosperlng. 'olorado Territory reated in 1861 On Feb. 26, 1861, congress passed a ill creating. Colorado territory.

Here- ofore all of the state In the Mexican ession had been a part of Kansas anfl orth of there including present Weld ounty a part ot Nebraska. The first Colorado territorial iture met at the call ot Governor Wilam Gilpin who had been appointed lilt and depredations committed up- his claim. "It is therefore resolved that the Itizens of this county disapprove ot aid act of trespass upon the property a worthy citizen. a worthy citizen. claim anu merely UULUUB mo ua.j that having examined the not be considered improving of claim ecord of St.

Vrain county and find- pr give-title claim. 8. Resolved that any citizen of this county who may wish to become a member of this club shall have the right to do so by paying into the treasury of the county $2 and having -raham, that said Graham 1 has en- treasury ox uvuui-j eavored to develop the resources claim recorded In the St. Vrain iis country, by plowing and planting county record, ind cultivating and preserving the imber on the same and has done all hat Is required ot any citizen in this erritory to perfect and maintain a lear and perfect title, therefore be resolved that we as citizens of St. Vrain do hereby pledge ourselves that we will sustain said H.

J. Graham to his claim and that we will use sucb. measures as to carry out the spirit ot his resolution. "Resolved that whero a record has existed in this county for one year and more and citizens of this vicinity lave chosen to live and act under uch record and rules as they formed wo disclaim the right ot strangers oming among us and infringing upon hose rules and records without giving due notice ot tho same and a fair opportunity of all parties to be heard upon changing such rules." It was also resolved that a committee of five bo appointed by tho chair .0 give notice tp the trespassers on Graham claim to leave within 24 Hours. Warning To Vacate Given The notice to vacato as served folDWS: "We the undersigned acting as a committee for the citizens of St.

Vrain, do hereby notify you Hiram Hawkins the center. "Motion was adopted Moved by T. G. Lowe that H. J.

Gr, ham be elected recorder of St. colony and that ho be allowed on dollar for recording each paper corded; motion adopted and H. J. Gr ham declared duly elected- recorder) after which -meeting adj. sine die.

C. P. HALL, President, H. J- GHAHAM, secretary. The first filing of a claim to land Olio Jn Weld county follows: First Land Title in New County Claimed H.

Molr claims the following described piece of land situated in St. Vrain county, Nebraska territory, to- wit, commencing at the junction of Bt. Vrain creek with the South Platte river and running up St. Vrain creek about three quarters of a mile to a square hewed pine stake thence east to the Platte river down said Platte river to point of beginning, at tho Junction of said streams. Said claim was claimed July 21, 18G9, and renewed Sept.

30, 18G9, and work done to the twelfth day of October, A. 1869. J. MOIR. "Witness, H.

J. Graham." A Real Estate Deal Here is the nubile record of the first land sale: J. Graham bought ot 0. P. Hall for the sum of $50 eighty acres ot his claim and said H.

J. Graham claims another 80 acres lying directly south ff said 80 ho bought of C. P. Hall. "Said claim of 160 acres H.

J. Gra iam has improved and ploughed and planted upon this 15th day of May, A. D. 1860, said claims include the grove ot timber south of St. Vrain town site about three quarters of a mile distant from the south line of uld townsite, May 15, 1800.

H. J. GRAHAM." Document recorded as No. 28 was the first quit claim deed, Feb. 21,1860, given by W.

N. Byers to Ellen D. Graham. It was given In consideration of Rise in the price ot land was indicated by the wiling ol 160 acres by George Hauxhuri to John H. Overton for f200.

This was on March 1, 1860. Burton MuBely' alio sold claim to on April 1860. Trespassers Are Proceeded. Against record of the first land title nit More a ettliens court as fol lava: "At a meeting, ot the cltlMns of St. Train held on the 25th ot October, I860, J.

W. -was chosen chairman and A. H. Smith, secretary. H.

J. Graham arose and jitated in brlel the object ot meeting. On motion ot Mr. H. J.

Grabam the chairman ap pointed a committee of five to examine the record ot orgnnlied club ot St. Vrain county consisting of Mr Thomas, I. J. Rhoads, George French Smith and S. Carpe.

The committee after examining Dai- record reported In the caie between H. J. Graham and Hawkins and Keen an the following resolution: "Rewlved that we the citizeni Bt. Vrain county appointed a com by the BUM meeting amem tied after flying the laws and record Impartial examination do conilde H. J.

Graham the rightful and legal owner ot Claim No. 10 In the record above mentioned and that we will do utmost if necessary In defending him right to that property acalnit any and all who may by any aWemft to deprive and Jeremiah that you aro now occupying the premises ot H. J. Graham, much to his detriment and 4, Resolved that George (French, H. Overton, Albert Thorn, Lincoln Carpe, J.

W. Reddlck, V- Mogee, H. Graham, M. V. Boughton, Ed Bough A.

A. Smith and M. Smith arc now voters of this, dounty by residence 6. Resolved' that each citizen this county who is a member this club shall have the right to tak up and hold 160 acres ot tho publi land and also to hold and occupy am claim any claim he may purchase am pay a valuable consideration therefor C. Resolved that a claim hold bj purchase shall be as valid a titlo as 1 taken up by the owner.

Settlers of Area Increase Rapidly Many new claims were filed afte tho adoption of, this code of rules Among theta were those of the fo lowing: Valentine Mogel, Frank Reynolds John Mogin, Simeon Carpe, Scott Wi Hams, L. Bailey, D. J. Hopkln Hiram Hawkins, A. Lemberson, An drew J.

Smith, I. F. Finncy, Jaco Snell, Oscar F. Barber, M. C.

Bough ton, Lamberson, Oriri J. Ruby Thomas Holllngshead, John Gardne Jeremiah Heenan, James B. Miller. The settlers laid out a townsite a Fort St. Vrain with blocks numbere up to 420.

Among the streets name that you are thereby requested to quit possession of the same within the next 24 hours." Signed by I. J. Rhoads, J. H. Overton, V.

Moyer, S. Carpe and A. A. committee. were Tuscarawas street and Sixteent street.

Metes and Bounds Used All descriptions ot land in th First Mantecilirmg in Greeley Making of Buffalo Robes When Supply Was Abraham Lincoln. ADranam jumcom. It created 17 counties of which Weld was one with the county seat St. "rain. The county included all ot the resent seven northeastern counties.

SVeld was placed in the first judicial istrict with Arapahoe, Boulder, Dougas, El Paso and Larimer. Colorado territory a home made" territory called Jefter- on established in 1859. Jefferson ter- itory had recpgnized nine ccunties, ne pf them "St. Vrain." Because the ountry had not been surveyed all boundaries were very sketchy at the Sti Vrain County Claim club con tlnued as a governing body until 1863; First Recorded Meeting of Weld Board in 1863 First recorded meeting of the commissioners of Weld county was held Jan. 5, 1863.

The meeting was held "at the residence of D. P. Hopkins at St. according to the record. There were two commissioners, B.

Farwell and M. P. Wills. U. Boughton was clerk.

Farwell was named chairman ot tho board and Ernest Teidman was appointed county surveyor. The board appointed F. W. Hammitt probate judge, Jay Thomas was named constable. D.

J. Hopkins was appointed assessor. The Hopkins residence was adopted as the regular meeting place. The Hopkins plaie extended from the southwest corner of St. Vrain town- site.

Board Approves First Petition The first petition presented to the board was read at the opening meeting. The petition follows: "Now on this day came I. L. Mackey, Edwin Toole, A. G.

Clark and I. A. Coolc and present their petition in writing and pray to bo Incorporated Denver In Arapahoo county, In a westerly direction and terminating at or near the mouth ot Bijou creek in said county of Weld to be known as the Platte Valley Wagon Road company." Road Tolls Allowed The petition also that the petitioners intend to level, bridge and "causeway" tbe proposed route and to establish toll gatea at which the sum of 76 cents Is to be collected for each wagon or carriage drawn by twp horses, oxen, mules or other animals and 15 cents extra for each additional span of draft animals. Tho petition was granted. Flrtt Tax Levlet In Weld And next came the first tax levy which was as follows: "Ordered that for the support of the erritorial government of Colorado for the year-1863 a tax of hfee mills on the dollar be levied and collected and that for ordinary county revenue Including the support ot the poor that a sum of two mills on the dollar be assessed and collected with a loll, tax of fifty cents." Pint Juries are Named The commissioners then chose a grand Jury as follows: David Smith or "down the Platte," Ed Collins, fames Newel for Cashe La Poudre John Thacker for tho Thompson, A (Continued on Page but peared, Greeley's first sizable manufacturing Industry was This business flourished shortly after the founding dwindled as tho buffalo herd whlcb.

swarmed the Th'e following interesting account of tho preparation ol the Tribune ot Aug. 2,1876. "Hall Johnson's Buffalo 'Robe factory is well worth. ing is of large size, there are convenient vats, and all good work. A steam engine does about 10 days work robes pliable.

From 10, to 12 men are constantly employed and four more men will soon be engaged. The capacity of the factory at present Is 12 robes a day; which are bought at the end of every montb. by Mr. Flory who pays each and he also buys from all the other factories. Mr.

Hall invented a knife 1 for fleshing the robes which is Indispensable and patent has been' applied for it. "Other devices have been adopted to save labor, and to make the work etfective. The monthly sales of this establishment are from $2000 to J3000 a month. "Fedderson Fuller are working much; in the 1 same, way, though with horsepower and they finish CO robes a week. Their robes are considered as good as the best.

Mr. Koogle finishes about 100 robes a week and soon, will increase to 150 a week. Mr. Bennett is doing a good business though not aulte to the'extent of BO. a His improvements are new and good.

The 350 ftobe. "Thus not fat finished in our bringing in on the robes aro tanned, because thei dressed and aro Ian Indians cut out tlilci able to pare them "Attempts aavo men, in Nebraska, a rado, but all have fan, the proper skill aniai are no other rote these in Greeloy, in thj In all about 30 mm are "Frank Clark has Hshed a factory ot thg acity of the rest and do well." A. Conley, WUM ventor, has patented an vice for plastering vail claims and records of sale are 1 TvriLiug ttuu into a body corporate and politic for the piSrpose of constructing an eligible wagon road commencing at about nine' miles in a westerly direction from Julesburg on or near the terri- clalms and records ot sale are irom juieauuis ----metes and bounds road leading from said town to Progress It seems a long time since the first wood burning engine heroically panted its message of the advent of the "Iron Horse." Here to stay, to prosper and succeed through the foresightedness of business men and investors who saw its possibilities. This same attitude of progressiveness, with' the benefit of years of experience in the- mercantile business, 17 years in Greeley, has resulted in giving the people of the Greeley District a Hardware Store; of outstanding quality merchandise at moderate prices with satisfaction in every transaction or money back--and that's Lee Bros. Hardware Co.

815 Ninth Street 1903 FOR TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS The HAWE BUILDING 810 EIGHTH ST. has been The Center of Greeley Merchandise A. J. Condon, 1903 to 1912; Crockett-Moody, 1913 to 1929 NOW Stamp Redemption Station St- Floor. Ericsqn and Soapes the new owners of this a a served the people of the Greeley District for so many years, are indeed glad to be part of a comm i that has shown such wonder- and a becoming the central trading point of the rich and large county of As our present location has been known for 27 years as a store for the best of merchandise at the lowest prices consistent with quality so it will continue to be the people's- mer- chandise mart; not only i our people with quality goods but giving a service and attention to its patrons that will them to comeback again.and with pleasure.

Fashionable I extreme-pi esquebutveryij able. TliT woman chooses her i robe from lection may be of its ashion-r ness. She may be assured good taste, stock includes! ions street, afte ately a MOODY'? value Coats, Suits, Dresses, Millinery, Corsets, Lingerie, Infants' (Second. Floor) Piece Goods, Bedding, Novelties, Hosiery, (First Floor).