Thomas Baker was born Nov. 8, 1852, in either Bristol, Gloucestershire or Somersetshire, England, depending on the source. I believe he grew up in Somersetshire. As far as I can tell his parents, George Baker and Elizabeth White, never came to America. Thomas ventured alone to Ottawa, Canada in 1872,[Read More…]
History Lessons
HISTORY LESSONS: W.H. Clark: Meeker Founders
Hoover? Hoover? Was he a vacuum cleaner salesman? In 1896, Mr. Louis Janin, a successful California mining engineer, employed W. H. Clark, a veteran surveyor and a recent graduate of Stanford, Mr. Hoover. Janin sent the two men on a survey trip in the Four Mile District. They were to[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: H.R. Bergh: Meeker Founders
EDITOR’S NOTE: This fall will mark the 140th anniversary of the official founding of the Town of Meeker (and this newspaper). This article is about H.R. Bergh. He was a shareholder of the Meeker Townsite; however, he was not counted among the Founding Fathers enshrined on the courthouse rock. I[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Charles S. Attix: Meeker Founders
EDITOR’S NOTE: This fall will mark the 140th anniversary of the official founding of the Town of Meeker (and this newspaper). Charles Sheldon Attix was born in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, on May 27, 1852, to William Attix and Cordelia Brown. He enlisted on Jan. 2, 1877, in Chicago, Illinois,[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: The Allsebrooks: Meeker Founders
EDITOR’S NOTE: This fall will mark the 140th anniversary of the official founding of the Town of Meeker (and this newspaper). Mr. Allsebrook is the first name listed on the founder’s plaque on the boulder in front of the courthouse. Many immigrants have shaped Meeker and Northwest Colorado. George Samuel[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: D.M. Richards, organizer of the Meeker Townsite Company
EDITOR’S NOTE: This fall will mark the 140th anniversary of the official founding of the Town of Meeker (and this newspaper). In light of that upcoming event, we’ll be sharing town history and stories about the town’s founders in the coming weeks. In the fall of 1883, the White River[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Meeker History Primer Part 2
EDITOR’S NOTE: This fall will mark the 140th anniversary of the official founding of the Town of Meeker (and this newspaper). In light of that upcoming event, we’ll be sharing town history and stories about the town’s founders in the coming weeks. The Meeker Townsite Company was formed by a[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Meeker History Primer
EDITOR’S NOTE: This fall will mark the 140th anniversary of the official founding of the Town of Meeker (and this newspaper). In light of that upcoming event, we’ll be sharing town history and stories about the town’s founders in the coming weeks. When someone on the Front Range asks, “Where’s[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: The Rio Blanco Store Pt. 2
There were many owners of the Rio Blanco Store, even more operators. I was able to document most: Irvin Melville & Lilie Arnold Kellogg, Carl &Lona Dixon Lindstrom; Andrew Asberry Alley Jr; Parker L. Snyder; Donald & May Snyder McKay; Benjamin Marton Strawbridge; Gene Voeltzel; Owen “Pete” George Roberts; Christian[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: The Rio Blanco Store
Long time residents fondly remember the Rio Blanco Store as a place to get gas, eats, and treats. It was located along Highway 13 near the intersection with the Piceance Creek road, north of the Rio Blanco School. There is nothing left to see now. The State scraped away even[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Husband finds pickle relish
March 25, 2025, a date that will live in history. This husband (me) found a jar of pickle relish in the pantry that his wife could not. I thought about renting a billboard, but none were available. Now, it is not special for men to search for 30 minutes for[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: ‘Gunsmoke’ Meeker-style
“Gunsmoke” was one of the longest-running American TV shows, airing from 1955 to 1975. Stories of the West were, and still are, popular. There is something about the elements of adventure and the independence of frontier life that continues to captivate audiences. Marshal Dillon, Doc, and Miss Kitty were fictional[Read More…]


