Part 1: Our Founding Fathers: Part One
At the suggestion from George’s brother, Col. William B. Hazen, the post office appointed George Stillwell Hazen postmaster of Meeker, Summit County, Colorado on Oct. 4, 1880. George had some experience in this job. He was the civilian postmaster at Fort Buford, Dakota Territory on Dec. 2, 1879. He also was the census taker there in 1880. It is probable that George accompanied his brother with some of the 6th Infantry regiment from Fort Buford in July of 1880. This argument is supported by a short mention in the Meeker Herald (Sept. 5, 1885 edition) “Judge Hazen came here with the military establishment.” Col. William Hazen didn’t stay long at the Camp on the White River. On July 12 he left his second in command, Lt. Col. Daniel Huston to deal with the garrison command. Col. Hazen had been summoned to Washington, D.C., for court proceedings. George apparently felt his opportunity was in the White River Valley.
After the garrison was abandoned in 1883, George was among the group of investors to form the Meeker Town Company. He was instrumental in dealing with the paperwork involving the purchase of the land from the U.S. government. There was a long period of time during which the town was in limbo. The Army had sold the log garrison buildings at auction to local entrepreneurs, but not the land. Technically, they were all squatters without land titles. The area had been surveyed and lots sold by the Meeker Town Company for building. The land had belonged to the Ute Tribe who had been forced to give it up by treaty. After long legal wrangling, the land was declared public domain and the Meeker Town Company was able to acquire title to the land and in turn transfer title to the lots already sold in advance.
The Sept. 5, 1885, edition of the Meeker Herald announced the resignation of George S. Hazen as postmaster pending the arrival of his replacement. The May 8, 1886, newspaper announced that “Judge Hazen,” who resigned as postmaster, would be replaced by John V. Huston.
In his obituary, George was reported to have served one term as Judge in Garfield County. At some point in time, George had been accused of diverting cash from express mail. An audit by the Postal Inspector indicated that $297 in stamps were unaccounted for. On June 19, 1886, Inspector Waterbury formally arrested George Hazen and took him to be arraigned the court in Aspen, Colorado. [I caught my mistake from last week. I said Glenwood Springs incorrectly.] He must have had friends in high places because his $2,000 bond was assured by none other than U. S. Senator Horace A. W. Tabor. It was said that brother William made restitution of the $297 and all was smoothed out. George was once again a model citizen of Meeker. In 1906 George Hazen was elected S.V. Commander of Post 109 of the Grand Army of the Republic, Meeker.
By ED PECK | Special to the Herald Times