White River Agency, Colorado. July 11, 1879 Sir: Jack a principal Ute chief, wishes to inform you that Rainbow (Sarap) died 8th instant, after a long illness. Rainbow was a chief of such influence that formerly he visited Washington among the Ute delegation, and he received a silver medal from[Read More…]
Tag: Meeker History
MUSEUM MUSINGS: Letters from history, No. 61
Department of the Interior Office of Indian Affairs July 9, 1879 F. W. PITKIN, Denver, Colo.: The War Department has been requested to send troops, to bring the Utes back to their reservation. E. A. HAYT. Commissioner White River Agency, Colorado. July 10, 1879 Sir: Please send 200 sheets of[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Agency Survivors, Part IV
So, what happened to the captives taken hostage by the Utes? After 23 days in captivity, Mrs. N.C. (Arvillia) Meeker, daughter Josephine, Mrs. Price and her children were welcomed back in Greeley with honors. When Nathan and Arvilla left Greeley, they didn’t take their three older children. Mary Ann, Rozene[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Agency Survivors, Part III
The result of Meeker’s first panicked letter to Washington, D.C., was an order to Major Thornburg at Ft. Steel to take troops to the White River Agency. They left Rawlins in the evening of Sept. 23. In route, Thornburg sent a courier, scout Charlie Lowry, ahead to Agent Meeker inquiring[Read More…]
MUSEUM MUSINGS:Letters from history, No. 60
White River Agency, Colorado July 7, 1879 Sir: In reply to yours June 27 (A., Colorado, M., 1282), in which you say my expense account of E.E. Clark, in getting a blacksmith, October, 1878, is disallowed because no exigency is shown, and because it is believed a smith could have[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Agency Survivors, Part II
Descendants of Edwin L. Mansfield claim that he was only White River Indian Agency employee to escape with his life. That statement was not entirely correct as we shall see later. All during the summer of 1879, Agent Meeker had urged military intervention to enforce his ideals of a Ute[Read More…]
MUSEUM MUSINGS: Letters from history, No. 59
White River Agency, Colorado July 7, 1879 Sir: As I have on hand well towards 700 sacks of flour, I would ask the authority to increase the amount weekly issued. The reasons are, first, the present amount looks, and is small; second, the ration list calls for 50 pounds flour[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Agency Survivors
A couple of weeks ago Kevyn Mack of the White River Museum produced Letter No. 56. Correspondence between Nathan Meeker and E.A. Hayt, commissioner, Indian Affairs. On July 2, 1879, the commissioner had approved the appointment of five employees and mentioned two resignations: Edgar E. Clark and James S. Fullerton. This[Read More…]
MUSEUM MUSINGS: Letters from history, No. 57
Editor’s Note: For those following these previously unpublished letters between Nathan Meeker and officials in Washington, D.C., it’s worth pointing out that the letters below were written just a few months before the uprising of the White River Utes and Meeker’s death. White River Agency, Colorado July 7, 1879 Sir:[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Fire, the sequel
As a veteran Boy Scout, I can tell you that any camping experience can be rated on the quality of food consumed, how many blisters on your heel, and the availability of dry firewood. A rainy day spent in a leaky tent with no chance of lighting a campfire can[Read More…]
MUSEUM MUSINGS: Letters from history, No. 57
Editor’s Note: For those following these previously unpublished letters between Nathan Meeker and officials in Washington, D.C., it’s worth pointing out that the letters below were written just a few months before the uprising of the White River Utes and Meeker’s death. White River Agency, Colorado July 2, 1879 Sir:[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Miller Hill Cemetery Pt. 4
The Meeker Herald in the July 27, 1895 issue reported the US 8th Calvary was headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to persuade members of the Bannock tribe to return to their reservation. A large number of Indians were roaming the area hunting game. They were granted these hunting rights by[Read More…]
