RBC | In the aftermath of the 1879 Ute uprising, U. M. Curtis was involved with the 1880 Congressional investigation and the 1880 Ute treaty which created two Ute Agencies to distribute goods and educate the bands. Curtis was once again listed on the document as interpreter and signed as[Read More…]

RBC | Uriah Martin Curtis was appointed government interpreter to the Utes by Agent Simeon Whiteley in 1863. Whiteley opened his agency for the Northern Utes at Hot Sulphur Springs, now in Grand County. The Utes had been camping there in the winter for many years. I am not sure[Read More…]

RBC | The Union Pacific Railroad established a depot in Rawlins, Wyoming, in 1868, the same year as the Ute treaty that pushed the tribe into western Colorado Territory.  The first White River Agency was established in the area where the river leaves the canyon. Nathan Meeker relocated the agency[Read More…]

RBC | There were several reasons that many military men and former military men became western frontier explorers, miners, cowboys, lawmen and outlaws. Veteran campaigners were familiar with traveling long distances, often without regular meals or water. Veterans of the Indian Wars had a healthy respect for the Native American[Read More…]

RBC | No, it’s not a fancy wash tub like Ma Kettle washed the clothes and kids in.  Terry Mobley tells me that his tub was used to measure a bushel of grain by volume. The traditional wash tub had crimped seam and a flat bottom. Terry says his tub[Read More…]

RBC | Robert Haag, in his book about the early years of Rangely, Colorado, references an earthquake in 1882. In Haag’s account, Charles Porter Hill and Joseph Studer had arrived at the White River and had camped for the night just upstream of Douglas Creek. Today it is known as[Read More…]

When Ron Hilkey owned the Adams Lodge, he would guide his guests to Marvine Lake, where he had row boats available. Ron had to haul in those row boats on pack animals. He devised a system using two Morgan horses, one leading the other. They were connected by a frame[Read More…]

The Meeker Herald Sept. 17, 1887, told this story: It is not generally known, but it is a fact nevertheless, that Morgan Edgar and Frank Barton roosted in a tree in the Lime Kiln mountains a few days ago. How they came to select such a singular place to pass[Read More…]

“WELCOME TO SHERMAN COUNTY, COLORADO.” That is what a sign along Highway 13 from Rifle to Meeker could have read.  When the Colorado legislature was considering dividing Garfield County in January of 1889, that was the first name proposed for our county. A committee was formed to oppose the division[Read More…]

Pioneer and Founder, E. P. Wilber was a member of the Meeker Townsite Company. This is an abbreviated version of his obituary published April 23, 1958: Rio Blanco County lost its oldest and one of its most loved and respected Pioneer, when Mr. Edwin P. Wilber passed away last Friday[Read More…]

I am still waiting for history to repeat itself from this article published in February of 1890. “The News of Meeker is responsible for this: Frank Barton of Meeker, Rio Blanco county, while out hunting the other day shot a fish duck. Nothing strange in this, but we doubt whether[Read More…]