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…]
Tag: History Lessons
HISTORY LESSONS: The grain scale and bushel basket
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…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Earthquake!
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…]
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Stagecoach picture
Special to the HT MEEKER | The mystery photo shows metal stagecoach cutouts mounted on three parking lot light poles at Smoking River Brewery. Despite years of exposure, the cutouts remain intact — notably without bullet holes. A closer look reveals a marking, “S/S,” etched into the metal. The slash[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Morgan Horses
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…]
HISTORY HUMOR: Who’s hunting whom?
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…]
HISTORY LESSONS: We could have been ‘Sherman County’?
“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…]
HISTORY LESSONS: E.P. Wilber, Founder & Pioneer
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…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Fish Duck
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…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Mrs. S.C. Wright
There were 26 signatures on the original 1883 Meeker Townsite incorporation papers. None of them were women. That didn’t stop Mrs. S.C. Wright from buying some shares. I am going to use her story to introduce two men in her life who were also shareholders. Charles Dunbar and William H.[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: G.D. Thayer… not a founder, but a stockholder
George Dana Thayer, AKA G.D. Thayer, or Dana Thayer, was not an original 1883 Meeker Townsite Company member, however, he did become a stockholder by June 1886, where he was listed as secretary of the Townsite Co. and Meeker Town Recorder. Dana Thayer was a retail grocer at Fort Fred[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: F.E. Sheridan, Founder
Francis E. Sheridan, known here as Frank or F.E. Sheridan was a member of the Meeker Townsite Company. I am sure in French Canada, where Francis Xavior Sheridan was born, the name rolled off the tongue rather smoothly. Frank believed that his birth name might be a hinderance doing business[Read More…]
