LANDSCAPE-LEVEL HISTORY OF THE

CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT

MONTEZUMA AND DOLORES COUNTIES, COLORADO

by

Jonathon C. Horn

Principal Investigator

Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc.

PO Box 2075

Montrose, CO, 81402

(970)249-6761

Prepared for

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Bureau of Land Management

27501 Highway 184

Dolores, CO 81323

Under terms of

Bureau of Land Management

Delivery Order No. CAP030371

October 2004
ii

CONTENTS

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1

Aboriginal Ute and Initial Contact..................................................................................................... 1

Initial Exploration and Early Interactions with the Ute ................................................................. 3

Spanish Trade with the Ute................................................................................................... 4

Mexican Trade and the Fur Trade Era................................................................................. 4

U.S. Government Expeditions ............................................................................................... 5

American Incursions and Treaties with the Ute ................................................................. 6

History of the Ute During the Reservation Period............................................................................ 6

Navajo Occupation ................................................................................................................................ 8

Trading Posts ........................................................................................................................................ 9

Cattle Industry ....................................................................................................................................10

Lower McElmo Allotment.....................................................................................................14

Lower Aztec Canyon Allotment...........................................................................................14

Aztec Canyon Allotment.......................................................................................................14

Yellowjacket Canyon Allotment ..........................................................................................14

Cross Canyon Allotment.......................................................................................................14

Alkali Allotment....................................................................................................................15

Trail Canyon and Goodman Allotments .............................................................................15

East McElmo Creek Allotment............................................................................................15

Hamilton Mesa Allotment....................................................................................................15

Sandstone Allotment.............................................................................................................15

Burro Point Community and Burro Individual Allotments .............................................15

Range Improvements............................................................................................................16

Historic Native American Conflicts ..................................................................................................16

Initial Permanent Settlement and Agriculture in the Montezuma Valley ..................................18

Dry Farming........................................................................................................................................19

Communities..........................................................................................................................21

Supplemental Irrigation.......................................................................................................28

Roads....................................................................................................................................................29

Railroads..............................................................................................................................................31

Scientific Investigations.....................................................................................................................32

Gas and Oil Exploration .....................................................................................................................33

Mining ..................................................................................................................................................35

Uranium and Vanadium ......................................................................................................35

Coal.........................................................................................................................................37

Monument Place Names ....................................................................................................................37

Historic Settlement Pattern ..............................................................................................................39

Expected Site Types Within the Monument Based on the Known History .................................39

Historic Native American .....................................................................................................39

Exploration, Expeditions, and Research.............................................................................40

Agriculture.............................................................................................................................40

Extractive Industries ............................................................................................................42

Government ...........................................................................................................................42

Recreation ..............................................................................................................................43

Maladaptions .........................................................................................................................43

Transportation .......................................................................................................................43

Rock Art..................................................................................................................................44

Summary of Recorded Historic Sites ................................................................................................44

Correlation of Recorded Historic Sites with Historic Data .......Error! Bookmark not defined.

Threats to Historic Sites and Suggested Protective Measures.Error! Bookmark not defined.

Livestock Grazing.............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chaining............................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
CONTENTS (continued)

iii

Vehicle and Recreational Use .........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Commercial Use ...............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Vandalism .........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Management of Sites and Site Uses ............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Scientific Use ....................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Conservation for Future Use ..........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Traditional Use.................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Public Use .........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Experimental Use.............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Discharged from Use........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

Recommendations..........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

References Cited ............................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

TABLES

Table 1. General Land Office Township Survey Dates. ..............................................................................19

Table 2. Residents in McElmo Canyon as Shown on 1889 GLO plats. .....................................................26

T a b l e 3 . H i s t o r i c S i t e s R e c o r d e d o n t h e Error!

Bookmark not defined.

FIGURES

Figure 1. General location of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. .....................................2

Figure 2. Towns, communities, post offices, and schools. ...........................................................................23

APPENDICES

A. Early Oil and Gas Claims

B. Early Oil and Gas Leases

C. Uranium Claims March 1953 to March 1955

D. Land Entry Attempts, Patents, and Coal Leases

E. Historical and Genealogical Information about Individuals
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Introduction

The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument covers approximately 164,000 acres of land

in extreme southwestern Colorado administered by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the

National Landscape Conservation System (Figure 1). The Monument was established on June 9,

2000 under the authority of the 1906 Antiquities Act in order to protect cultural and natural

resources on a landscape level. The area encompassed by the Monument contains the highest

density of archaeological sites in the United States. These are primarily prehistoric Anasazi

(Ancestral Pueblo) sites, but a large number of sites from earlier and later periods are represented as

well. Included are numerous historic sites from a wide variety of activities.

This landscape-level history is being prepared to assist in management planning for the

Monument and is a companion document to oral histories that have been collected as part of the

same project. The project was carried out by Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (Alpine) of

Montrose, Colorado, under contract to the Bureau of Land Management (Delivery Order No.

CAP030371), administered by Laura Kochanski, archaeologist for the Canyons of the Ancients

National Monument in Dolores, Colorado. The historical narrative portion of the project was

conducted by Jonathon C. Horn of Alpine, and the oral history portion of the project was conducted

by Woods Canyon Archaeological Consultants, Inc. of Yellow Jacket, Colorado, under the direction of

Jerry Fetterman. The history is intended to provide baseline contextual information by which

historic sites in the Monument can be evaluated and considered. It is expected that information

provided in this overview will enable historic sites to be better understood in terms of their thematic

associations and will assist in the thorough researching of historical sites encountered on the

Monument so that they can be understood contextually. This will enable the importance of the

historical sites on the Monument to be adequately assessed and their archaeological research values

to be better understood. In some cases, the contextual information provided by this document may

be all the historical information available by which certain sites can be assessed. In other cases,

such as failed land acquisition attempts, the information provided can serve as a springboard from

which more detailed research can begin.

Included with this narrative is an assessment of the types of historic sites that can be

expected to be present on the Monument divided by historical theme. An assessment is also made of

the known historical sites already recorded on the Monument and the adequacy of previous

recordings. Management recommendations are made for enhancement of the current historic site

database and for the future recording and evaluation of historic sites on the Monument. The historic

period of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument covers nearly 400 years, from the time of

initial contact between the Spanish and Native American groups in the early 1600s to the present.

Aboriginal Ute and Initial Contact

The Ute were the primary aboriginal inhabitants of southwestern Colorado, including the

area encompassed by the current Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The Monument area

is considered to be within the traditional homeland of the Weeminuche band, which extended from

the Dolores River westward through the Abajo (Blue) Mountains into the mesas and canyons of

southeastern Utah and south to the San Juan River (Callaway et al. 1986:339). The date of the first

direct encounter between Utes and Spanish and the nature of their early interactions are no longer

known because the early Spanish records from New Mexico were destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt

of 1680. There are indications that trade relations had been established well before the uprising.

The Muache, Weeminuche, and Uncompahgre Utes may have been in direct contact with the

Spaniards by at least the early 1600s, whereas the Western Utes of Utah were probably not in direct

contact until the middle 1700s (Callaway et al. 1986:354). It appears that the Ute populations may

have been sufficiently dispersed that Old World diseases may have not traveled through Ute groups

as quickly or with as much devastation as in more densely populated areas (Malouf and Findlay

1986:504-506).
2

Figure 1. General location of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
3

Southern and Eastern Ute bands raided Spanish and Pueblo settlements in New Mexico and

Arizona in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; they stole horses from the Spanish and various

other goods from the Pueblos (Callaway et al. 1986:354). Early peaceful contact between the Utes

and the Spanish were probably restricted to New Mexico. Annual fairs at Taos and Santa Fe were

centers of trade with Indians. The Utes were well known for their exceptionally well-prepared deer

hides, which they traded with other tribes and with Spanish colonists of New Mexico (Callaway et al.

1986:345). Raids on Spanish settlements by Utes were also frequent events. This raiding and

trading resulted in the Ute Indians being well mounted over much of their range, though many Utes

continued in a hunting and gathering way of life (Hafen and Hafen 1954:51; Smith 1974). The Ute

obtained horses from the Spanish, possibly as early as 1640. By 1776, Utes in Colorado had a highly

developed tradition of horse use. The use of the horse for transportation had a remarkable effect on

Ute culture. The Ute became mounted raiders, able to expand their range and exploit various

resources in an efficient manner. The horse enabled the Ute to travel over the Rocky Mountains and

onto the eastern plains where they hunted buffalo and acquired many traits commonly ascribed to

equestrian Plains Indian groups, including the use of teepees and their mode of attire (Smith 1974;

Callaway et al. 1986:354; Malouf and Findlay 1986:500).

Adoption of an equestrian lifestyle resulted in a more complex society. Extended family

groups were replaced by band organizations more suited to rapid mobilization facilitated by horses.

The horse enabled the Ute to expand their sphere of influence and interaction, thereby exposing

themselves to previously unknown outside cultural influences. Acquisition of the horse resulted in

new trade relationships between the Ute and other Indian groups. The most influential interaction

was between the Ute and Spanish traders. Most of the early Spanish trading expeditions were

unauthorized and are, therefore, virtually undocumented. It is clear, though, that trade was

conducted and that European-manufactured goods began to be assimilated into the Ute culture

(Malouf and Findlay 1986:500).

Initial Exploration and Early Interactions with the Ute

By right of conquest, most of the present western United States was the domain of the

Spanish from the late 1500s until Mexican Independence in 1821. The territory north of the New

Mexican settlements was little known until the middle 1700s and officially off limits to the New

Mexican citizenry in order to keep peace with the Utes. Despite being illegal to travel in the

northern frontier, the opportunities to trade with the Ute and search for mineral wealth were too

great a draw. Unauthorized exploration seems to have taken place and word began to filter back to

the settlements of gold and silver deposits to the north. Three expeditions by Juan Maria de Rivera

were undertaken from 1761 to 1765 to explore the northern frontier and to attempt to verify the

rumors of mineral wealth. Much of Rivera’s time was spent investigating the La Plata Mountains,

but he also traveled northward to at least the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers

near present Delta, Colorado. There is a possibility that Rivera traveled between the Dolores River

and the San Juan River by way of Cross Canyon and Montezuma Canyon. It has also been proposed

that Rivera reached the Colorado River at Castle Valley near Moab, Utah, during the 1765

expedition, (Barnes 1991; Jacobs 1992). The Rivera expeditions set the stage for the DominguezEscalante Expedition of 1776, intended to find a passable route between Santa Fe and Monterey,

California. With the knowledge of acquired by the Rivera expeditions, Dominguez and Escalante

had some foreknowledge of western Colorado and had guides familiar with some of the route (Malouf

and Findlay 1986:501; Smith 1974). For instance, they knew that north of New Mexico they would

encounter “Tebehuchis [Tabeguache], Muhachis [Moache] and Sabaguana” Utes (Creer 1947:5;

Hafen and Hafen 1954:68). The party was able to easily make their way into southwestern Colorado

following the route of what would later become the Spanish Trail. They entered the area by way of

present Mancos and followed the Dolores River northward, never actually entering the area of the

present Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. It is also interesting to note that they were

joined on the Dolores River by two genizaro half-breed Indians from Abiquiu (Velez de Escalante

1976). They then crossed the Uncompahgre Plateau into the Uncompahgre Valley and continued

northward across the Colorado River, then westward into Utah. They then cut their journey short

and returned to New Mexico through the canyons of southeastern Utah and the Hopi mesas of

northern Arizona.
4

Spanish Trade with the Ute

The knowledge of the northern frontier provided by the Rivera and the Dominguez-Escalante

expeditions apparently stimulated expansion of trade with the Ute. In 1775, Governor Pedro Fermin

de Mendinueta published a proclamation prohibiting any citizen, genizaro, or Indian to trade in Ute

territory. Governor Francisco Trebol Navarro reissued the proclamation in 1778, because the initial

proclamation had been widely disregarded. According to Navarro, some traders were mistreating

the Utes and he was fearful of warfare with the Indians. Exposure to the early traders made the

Utes opposed to any attempts at missionization. Infractions of the trade ban were numerous. In

1783, a group of Abiquiu citizens was prosecuted for trading with the Utes. Vicente Serva was tried

in 1785 and Cristoval Lovato in 1793 for violating the ban (Weber 1971:26-27; Hafen and Hafen

1954:262).

Rumors abound about Spanish mining in the mountains of Colorado and the discovery of old

Spanish mines. An 1891 article in the Rico Sun is typical. It describes evidence of drilling in waste

rock beneath an obviously collapsed adit encountered in the course of doing initial excavation on the

Anaconda and Boss lodes near Rico (Rico Sun, December 5, 1891). Other accounts include the

discovery of Spanish tools, helmets, and weaponry.

In the early 1800s, Spanish restrictions against trade were apparently slackened, reflecting

an official change in policy where trade with Indian groups on New Mexico’s northern frontier was

seen as a necessity in order to create a buffer against American encroachment. Part of this was an

attempt by the Spanish to make the Indians dependent upon them through trade. As part of this

new diplomacy, the Spanish began encouraging trade expeditions (Weber 1971:28). As trade with

the Utes developed, two major travel routes from New Mexico into Utah became established: the

main Spanish Trail and the northern branch of the Spanish Trail. The rapidity of the development

of the route is demonstrated by the journey of Manuel Mestas, a 70-year-old genizaro that had

served the Spanish as an interpreter to the Utes for 50 years, when he traveled to the Utah Lake

area in 1805 and recovered stolen horses from the Timpanogos Utes, presumably following the route

of the main Spanish Trail (Hafen and Hafen 1954:85; Creer 1947). When Jose Rafael Sarracino

spent three months in Ute territory in central Utah in 1811, he found the Indians already in

possession of Spanish-made knives, razors, and awls (Weber 1971:25). By 1813, Utes as far away as

the Sevier River in central Utah were accustomed to trading with the Spanish (Hafen and Hafen

1954:267; Smith 1974).

The Utes were eager to trade with the Spanish and were particularly interested in procuring

horses, though they also obtained other items such as blankets, knives, beads, and agricultural

products. The Spanish were equally eager to trade in order to bolster their meager economy. Slaves

were most highly desired, but tanned hides, furs, and dried meat were also received from the Utes

(Hafen and Hafen 1954:261). As the slave trade became established, Utes began raiding unmounted

Western Shoshone, Southern Paiutes, and Gosiutes as far west as southern Nevada to steal women

and children to sell to the Spanish in New Mexico for use as domestic servants and shepherds

(Callaway et al. 1986:354). In 1812, a Spanish law was passed prohibiting Indian slavery. This did

little to curb the trade, and pelts and slaves continued to be the major items of exchange with the

Utes (Hafen and Hafen 1954:263-264). Local lore suggests that the Spanish mined on Ute Mountain

and that Spanish artifacts have been found on occasion in the McElmo Canyon area, though

confirmation is lacking (Kenyon and Kenyon 2004; Jeter 2004).

Mexican Trade and the Fur Trade Era

In 1821, Spain was overthrown and Mexico gained its independence. Remaining restrictions

on trade were terminated, and trade with the Ute expanded. Coincident with these events was

expansion of the fur trade in the southern Rocky Mountains and the inclusion of numerous

Americans in the fur trade. Before the opening of the Santa Fe Trail in the 1820s, New Mexico was

rather poor in manufactured items; the items the Spanish and Mexicans had to trade with the Utes

were not particularly varied, largely consisting of agricultural products. Consequently, the Utes

eagerly welcomed American traders, who had superior trade goods (Weber 1971:27-28). Americans

attempted to trap in Spanish territory prior to Mexican Independence, but the number of Americans

trapping in the region was certainly small and they were always in danger of arrest. Fred Blackburn
5

reports the initials “WHW” accompanied by an 1819 date along the Animas River. He suggests this

may be the initials of William Wolfskill, but Wolfskill is not reported to have entered the area until

1820, when he was captured by the Spanish and held in Santa Fe (Fred Blackburn, personal

communication to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004). Fur trade posts that supplied trappers and traded

directly with the Indians for hides and furs were set up in the Uncompahgre Valley and in

northeastern Utah and Utes were regular participants at the annual trapper rendezvous that began

in 1825 and continued for 16 years (Hafen and Hafen 1954:86). As a result of their close association

with fur trappers and traders, the Utes became particularly well armed. Fusils, or smoothbore

muskets, were the standard trade gun of the major fur trading companies. They decreased in

popularity only in the 1860s with the increased sale of shotguns, cheap muzzle-loading rifles, and

breech-loading carbines (Malouf and Findlay 1986:505). Fusils were cheap, standard-part rifles that

used a .30-caliber ball or shot. The serpent sideplate was the mark of trade guns and was adopted by

American and Belgian gun manufacturers. Belgian guns were apparently given out “by the

thousands” by the U.S. Government as treaty payments after 1836. Albright percussion rifles were

sold by the Mormons to the Indians in the 1850s. A photograph of Ute Indians in New Mexico,

possibly taken by John K. Hillers in 1870, shows an 1841 percussion rifle that took .54 caliber paper

cartridges and a .50 caliber Springfield rifle made about 1870 that was commonly given as treaty

payment (Malouf and Findlay 1986:505).

The increased contact and fur trade was probably the cause of remarkable culture change

amount the Ute. According to Malouf and Findlay (1986:504):

...mountain men commonly engaged in trade with Indians, usually for beaver pelts

but sometimes for food as well. This doubtless had a profound effect on traditional

economies. Goods acquired from Anglo-American fur companies in some cases

supplanted elements of aboriginal material culture. Trade also exposed Indians to

liquor, which was used by traders to facilitate deals, as well as to firearms.

Acquisition of such items probably had an impact akin to that of the horse by helping

to undermine ancient patterns of subsistence, social organization, and social control.

During the fur trade period, the Spanish Trail was extended to California. Once the

connection was made, annual trade caravans traveled between New Mexico and California.

Although the trade caravans seem to have ended with the Mexican-American War, travel on portions

of the Spanish Trail continued into the 1850s. The annual trade caravans facilitated trade of sheep,

horses, textiles, foodstuffs, and slaves between the two areas. The highly mobile Utes were able to

provide both horses and slaves to the Spanish by raiding widely from the eastern plains to California

and into New Mexico and Arizona. Intertwined with raiding, Ute prosperity was tied to control of

the Utah-Colorado portion of the Spanish Trail (Sprague 1957:68).

The slave trade continued after Mexican independence, mainly by New Mexican traders who

would set out with some trade goods, trade these with Utes or Navajos for horses, then trade the

horses for slaves as far as California. These slaves would be traded to the Mexican Californians for

horses, goods, or cash. Slaves obtained on the way back would be sold in New Mexico (Hafen and

Hafen 1954:268). Horse-mounted Utes took an active role in the slave trade and were depended

upon as sources of slaves by traders. These Utes raided adjacent Indian groups that did not have

horses, such as the Southern Paiute and Gosiute of Utah and Nevada (Malouf and Findlay

1986:503). Occasionally, fur trappers would engage in the slave trade as well. Antoine Robidoux

took several Indian women and young Indians from Utah to New Mexico as slaves in 1842; he also

kept several for his own use (Hafen and Hafen 1954:270). Robidoux ran Fort Uncompahgre in

western Colorado and Fort Uintah in northeastern Utah. Kit Carson, while acting as a guide for

John C. Fremont in 1844, purchased a Southern Paiute boy from the Utes as an apprentice (Malouf

and Findlay 1986:507).

U.S. Government Expeditions

Conflict with the Mormons, beginning in 1857, resulting in what has been termed the

Mormon War, provided the impetus for the U.S. Government to send exploration expeditions to

identify practical routes to reach Utah from a variety of points. The Macomb Expedition was one of

these parties. In 1859, the party, under the command of John N. Macomb, was sent out from Santa
6

Fe and followed the Spanish Trail northwestward past the current Monument into Utah. It was

noteworthy for its exploration of the canyon country of southeastern Utah, including identifying the

location of the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers, and for being the first to discover and

collect dinosaur bone from the Colorado Plateau. They determined that a route through

southeastern Utah to the Mormon settlements was not practical for a wagon road or railroad. They

did considerable topographic mapping, and were the first to report large Indian Ruins along the

route in southwestern Colorado in the vicinity of the current Monument, including Yellow Jacket

Pueblo (Macomb 1876).

In 1874 and 1875, the U.S. Government under the Department of Interior sent a team of

surveyors to southwestern Colorado under the direction of Ferdinand V. Hayden. The mission of the

expedition was to prepare topographic maps, examine topographic features, describe flora and fauna,

and to document the scenery and natural resource potential of the region. The survey took in the

current Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. A few features of the area are shown on the

map that includes the Monument area including Hovenweep Castle, Battle Rock, a “Burial Place” at

the confluence of McElmo Creek and Hovenweep [Yellow Jacket] Canyon, “Indian Farms” in upper

McElmo Canyon near where Mud Creek enters from the south, and ruins farther east and south.

The route of the Spanish Trail is also depicted on the map that, when scaled to current maps, passes

in a southeast to northwest trajectory just northeast of the Monument at the head of Cahone and

Cross canyons. When topography shown on the Hayden Survey map is taken into consideration, it is

entirely possible that the trail passed slightly farther west and actually entered the Monument near

the heads of Cahone and Cross Canyons.

American Incursions and Treaties with the Ute

The discovery of gold at Cherry Creek near Denver in 1858 resulted in a rush to Colorado

that brought miners and other settlers into conflict with the Ute. Miners entered the San Juan

Mountains at Bakers Park (Silverton) in 1860, but it was not until the early 1870s that a real mining

presence was made in southwestern Colorado. The Treaty of 1868 between the Utes and the federal

government reserved all of western Colorado for the Ute as their reservation, but did not anticipate

the expansion of mining in the following years. Trespasses onto the Ute Reservation were made by

miners in the San Juan and La Plata Mountains in the early 1870s that caused considerable conflict

with the Ute. To alleviate the problem, the Brunot Treaty of 1873 was negotiated which resulted in

the ceding of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains by the Ute. A strip of low-lying land to the south

and west of the ceded land remained part of the Ute Reservation; a western strip of land

encompassed the area of the current Monument. Further encroachment on the reservation and the

culmination of hostilities with the Meeker Massacre at the White River Agency in 1879 led to the

removal of the Northern Utes to reservations in Utah and restriction of the Southern Utes on a

narrow strip of reservation land along the southern border of Colorado.

History of the Ute During the Reservation Period

The lands encompassed by the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument were all part of

the Ute Reservation until it was ceded by treaty in 1880, following the Meeker Massacre and

removal of the White River and Uncompahgre Utes from Colorado and establishment of a diminished

reservation for the Southern Utes. The Meeker Massacre resulted in the negotiation of the 1880

treaty with all of the Ute bands in Colorado because the climate in Colorado was such that the

removal of all Utes from the state was desired (Kappler 1904:180-186). The removal of the White

River Utes from Colorado as punishment for their involvement in the Meeker Massacre was a given.

Ouray realized that treaty negotiations would diminish the size of the reservation of the

Uncompahgre Utes, but he did not believe they would result in the removal of the band from

Colorado. After negotiating the treaty in 1880, Ouray died, leaving the conditions of the treaty open

to interpretation by the commission designated to define where the new reservation for the

Uncompahgre band would be. It was expected that the new reservation for the Uncompahgre Utes

would be at the confluence of the Grand and Gunnison River (present day Grand Junction), but at

the suggestion of Otto Mears and without the strong presence of Ouray to say otherwise, this

location was bypassed and reservation lands were selected in northeastern Utah at what became the

Ouray Reservation, adjacent to the Uintah Reservation. The Uncompahgre band was removed to the
7

reservation in Utah in 1881, and their vacated lands were made available to settlement in 1882

(Kappler 1904:205).

Ignacio, leader of the Southern Utes, had the foresight to distance his group from Ouray and

negotiated a reservation in a strip of land along the southern boundary of Colorado. The strip of

land was south of the land ceded by the Utes by the Brunot Treaty of 1873 that removed the San

Juan Mountains from their domain and was considered to be worthless for Euroamerican settlement

(Kappler 1904:151-152). Under the 1880 treaty, the Southern Utes were to have their lands allotted

to individual tribal members with the remaining land sold for the benefit of the tribe (Kappler

1904:180-186). Ignacio objected to the plan and desired to retain contiguous land for the

Weeminuche band.

As early as 1886, the tribe was interested in exchanging their designated reservation lands

along the Colorado border for a reservation in Utah. In 1888, the Secretary of the Interior

authorized negotiations for such an exchange to take place, but an agreement was not approved by

Congress (Kappler 1904:217). In late 1894, tribal members were told that establishment of a

reservation in southeastern Utah was imminent and, in November 1894, 1,100 Utes and their agent,

David Day, migrated there. Uproar by cattlemen and ranchers of the region and new information

that a new reservation was not approved by the government resulted in the Utes to return to

Colorado (McPherson 1995:152; Silvey 1990; Peterson 1975). However, not all of the Utes returned

to the reservation in Colorado. Some stayed behind and became assimilated with the Allen Canyon

Utes and Paiutes, living in the vicinity of the Hatch Trading Post. Navajo also resided in the area,

and there was certainly considerable mixing of the groups. The Allen Canyon Utes reportedly

utilized the lower end of the Monument in Bridge Canyon, Yellow Jacket Canyon, Hovenweep

Canyon, and Cahone Mesa. A group comprised mainly of Weeminuche Ute also resided in

Montezuma Canyon (Knight 2004; McPherson and Yazzie 2004). By the 1920s, the Allen Canyon

Utes had become completely isolated from the Utes in Colorado, were restricted to allotments in

Montezuma Canyon and Allen Canyon, and had limited access to grazing lands because of federal

controls in the 1930s. In the 1950s, the Utes completed legal proceedings that resulted in their

receiving compensation for land they had ceded to the U.S. government. This enabled the Allen

Canyon and Montezuma Canyon Utes to acquire land near Blanding where they established a

community at what is known as the White Mesa Ute Reservation (McPherson 1995:199-200, 212-

214; McPherson and Yazzie 2004).

An agreement in 1895 resulted in proceeding with allotment of Southern Ute Reservation

lands as stipulated in the 1880 treaty. However, one of the provisions of the agreement was for part

of the reservation to be set aside for Indians wanting their own reservation rather than receiving

allotments; they were referred to as the “unallocated Utes.” This resulted in the establishment of

the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in 1895, with its agency headquarters at Navajo Springs. Edgar

Noland established a trading post there, with the help of Al Wetherill, soon after 1895. Because of a

lack of water, the agency at Navajo Springs was quickly abandoned and a new agency was

constructed in about 1898 at Towaoc; it is not known if Noland set up another trading post at Towaoc

(McNitt 1962:308; Kappler 1904:555, 597; United States Supreme Court 1971). A post office named

Navaho Springs was in operation from December 24, 1910 to April 1, 1915, when it was moved to

Towaoc (Bauer et al. 1990:104, 142).

The eastern portion of the reservation lands not set aside as the Ute Mountain Ute

Reservation was still designated as the Southern Ute Reservation. Once allotments for the Utes

living on the Southern Ute Reservation (“allocated Utes”) were established, the remainder of the

land was opened for settlement on May 4, 1899. The 374 allotments designated to the Utes

amounted to about 60,000 acres of land, leaving 636,000 acres open for entry to other settlers. In

addition, the Utes were free to lease their allotted land for farming, ranching, or mineral exploration

(Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 1976:51-52; Grand Valley Times, May 26 and June 9, 1899).

In 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was established that abutted the Ute Mountain Ute

Reservation to the north. When it was realized that the new park failed to encompass the most

spectacular of the Anasazi cliff dwellings, efforts were made to extend the park southward onto Ute

Mountain Ute Reservation lands. In order to acquire the desired land, F. H. Abbott, Assistant
8

Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and James McLaughlin, Inspector with the Department of Interior,

negotiated a land exchange with the Weeminuche Utes that was signed May 10, 1911. The

agreement expanded Mesa Verde National Park about 3.75 miles southward, encompassing 12,760

acres in exchange for 7,840 acres of land vacated from the original configuration of the National Park

and 19,520 acres on the north side of the Ute Reservation on the north side of Ute Mountain (Abbott

and McLaughlin 1911). The land acquired by the Ute on the north side of Ute Mountain extended

down to the south side of McElmo Canyon. Many of the ranchers in McElmo Canyon accustomed to

grazing animals on the slopes of Ute Mountain no longer had access to those lands. This event also

seems to have terminated cooperative ranching ventures between Utes and ranchers in the McElmo

Canyon area (Bridgewater 2004).

Utes may have continued using the Monument area for grazing into the 1930s, but this was

probably limited because of grazing by other ranchers in the area. Numerous of these ranchers hired

Utes as cowboys and farmers, particularly in McElmo Canyon, where Utes were relied upon for hand

labor (Fosnot and Fosnot 2004; Tozer 2004c). Utes still visit the Monument to collect plants and

firewood (Tozer 2004a; Bridgewater 2004).

In the early 1920s, the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Reservations were consolidated,

with Ignacio designated as the reservation headquarters and Towaoc designated as a sub-agency.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs closed their facilities at Towaoc in 1942, including the hospital and

boarding school, leaving a stockman and an assistant as the only government employees. After 1948,

no government employees were present at Towaoc. Oil and gas discoveries on Ute Mountain Ute

lands in the 1950s and land settlements with the U.S. government provided sources of income to

tribal members. On December 29, 1968, the Consolidated Ute Agency was abolished and separate

agencies for the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute were established. The Southern Ute agency

was at Ignacio and the Ute Mountain Ute agency was at Towaoc (Ute Mountain Ute 1976:17-19).

Navajo Occupation

Traditionally, the homeland of the Navajo is considered to have been south of the San Juan

River in New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. However, prehistorically, this boundary may not have

always remained firm and there is some indication that the Navajo were present in southwestern

Colorado at times during prehistory. With the adoption of the horse by the Ute, the Navajo clearly

seem to have been restricted to lands south of the San Juan River. Difficulties between the U.S.

government and the Navajo resulted in a military operation under the direction of Kit Carson in

1863 intended to round up all of the Navajo and send them to Fort Sumner at Bosque Redondo

(Roessel 1983:506-511). In an attempt to escape the roundup, many Navajo headed north of the San

Juan River into southeastern Utah where they were assisted by Southern Paiutes and Utes of the

area. When the Navajo negotiated a treaty in 1868 and were released from their captivity at Bosque

Redondo, they headed back to their traditional homelands. However, many of the Navajo that had

escaped north of the San Juan River had become established there and had developed ties with the

Southern Paiute and Ute through intermarriage, so remained (Benally 2004; Knight 2004). Small

family units moved nomadically throughout the region with small herds of cattle and sheep. With

the removal of the Northern Utes from western Colorado in 1881 and restriction of the Southern

Utes to a small strip of land along the southern border of Colorado following the treaty of 1880, the

Navajo were evidently able to extend their range into southwestern Colorado as far east as the

Dolores and Mancos areas (Benally 2004). Competition for rangeland with the large cattle

companies that occupied the territory at the same time made survival difficult, and gradual

settlement of the region by homesteaders further restricted the available range. In 1884, to alleviate

some of the stress to the Navajo in southeastern Utah due to range competition, the Navajo

Reservation was extended north of the San Juan River in the Aneth area. Part of this was officially

returned in 1892, because of conflicts with existing homesteads, but in 1905, the reservation was

extended northward (McPherson 1995:129-130). Trading posts along the San Juan River and

elsewhere in northern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado created a demand for Navajo

blankets and silver jewelry that bolstered the Navajo economy, particularly beginning in the 1890s.

It appears that Navajo continued a nomadic existence on lands within the current Monument into

the early 1930s. With strict control over grazing lands under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, this

practice seems to have ceased entirely. In addition to nomadic use of the area, many Navajo worked

for larger stock raisers of the area as sheepherders and as seasonal laborers for farmers from the
9

1890s to at least the 1960s. Navajos were also employed to stake uranium claims and worked as

uranium miners (Benally 2004; Fosnot and Fosnot 2004; Tozer 2004c; Connolly 1996:17). While

employed in these capacities, Navajos continued to leave their mark on the landscape wherever they

camped or resided. To the present day, Navajos continue to visit the Monument to collect ochre and

plants for ceremonial purposes and firewood for heating (Benally 2004; Tozer 2004a; Bridgewater

2004a).

Trading Posts

Trading posts were established along the San Juan River in Utah and New Mexico,

beginning in 1868, to cater to trade with the Navajo as they returned to lands south of the river from

their containment at Fort Sumner. The Navajo established themselves on the south side of the San

Juan River and Euroamericans settled on the north side. Although established to focus on trade

with the Navajo, Utes of the region also frequented the trading posts. Items acquired from the

Navajo included wool, silver work, and blankets, which were transported to Durango and Mancos for

shipment by rail for national distribution. Although rugs and jewelry were produced, wool was the

primary commodity traded by the Navajo. Severe drought and early frosts in the early 1890s had a

drastic impact on the sheep herds of the Navajo, resulting in poor economic conditions for them that

reduced their ability to patronize the trading posts. This resulted in a decline in the number of

trading posts in business along the San Juan River (McPherson 1994; McNitt 1965). Beginning in

the 1890s, in order to bolster the Navajo economy and provide a commodity that could be traded,

many trading post operators encouraged production of Navajo rugs with designs that were appealing

to American consumers. Rugs quickly became both a viable tourist trade item and a commodity that

gained national demand and helped replace the declining stock raising industry. New varieties of

sheep for wool were introduced to enhance the quality of the wool used in the rugs (McPherson

1995:197-199). Relaxation of government regulations and encouragement of Indian arts and crafts,

particularly weaving, resulted in a resurgence in trading posts from 1900 to the 1930s. This was

further supported by increased tourism in the area creating a demand for native crafts. The Ute did

not have a comparable product to stimulate their poor economic situation with the decline of

stockraising in the 1890s. Ute beadwork and baskets were not in as high demand as Navajo rugs, so

handicrafts did not provide the Ute with much additional income (McPherson 1995:199). A federal

program aimed at reducing the quantity of livestock being grazed on the reservations was

implemented in the 1920s and 1930s. Once again, the economic base of the Navajo and Ute was

undermined. This and improved transportation resulted in a decline in the importance of trading

posts (McPherson 1994).

Trading posts in southeastern Utah along the San Juan River, particularly at Aneth, and

into northern Arizona relied on railheads in Colorado to move goods to and from their posts.

Freighters were continually on the move between the posts and Durango, and, after the completion

of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad in 1891, Dolores and Mancos. The principal route utilized for

freighting was through McElmo Canyon. It is no wonder that a large number of the settlers in

McElmo Canyon were intimately involved in the Indian trade. Included were Stanley Mitchell, Jesse

West, James M. Holly, and Billy Meadows.

Oen Edgar (Ed) Noland arrived in Mancos in 1873 and married Callie Mitchell, the daughter

of Stanley Mitchell, in 1880 or 1881 (McNitt 1962:308; Miniclier 1994; Wardrip 1993:47). Noland

constructed a trading post near Four Corners on the north bank of the San Juan River for trade with

both the Ute and Navajo. The post may have been constructed as early as 1882, but was certainly in

operation by 1884 or 1885. A second post was constructed on the north side of the San Juan River by

Noland and his father-in-law, Stanley Mitchell, at what they called Riverview at the mouth of

McElmo Creek. This location later became known as Aneth. The Riverview post was operated by

Mitchell. After an incident where Mitchell killed a Navajo, management of the Riverview post was

conducted by Pete Guillet, who then bought the post. It was then sold to Guillet’s brother-in-law,

Sterling Price “Sterl” Thomas, in about 1890. Herm and Pete Guillet then purchased the store of Al

and Frank Thompson in Cortez. Callie Noland died in 1895 and Ed Noland sold his trading post at

Four Corners to A. J. Ames and Jesse West in 1896. The post was later bought by Joseph Heffernan

in 1908 (McNitt 1962:308-309; Wardrip 1993:47). Noland then constructed a large trading post at

the new Ute agency at Navajo Springs (Freeman 1958:249; Wardrip 1993:47). When the agency at

Navajo Springs was abandoned for a new location at Towaoc; it is not known if Noland set up
10

another trading post there (McNitt 1962:308). After 1900, Noland moved to Mancos and bought the

Bauer Mercantile Company in partnership with O. S. Crenshaw (Wardrip 1993:47).

James M. Holly acquired land in McElmo Canyon near the Utah state line in 1894. Holly

moved to Aneth in 1899 to operate a trading post. From 1899 to 1905, Holly was alarmed at the

difficulties area Navajo were having with white ranchers over grazing lands. Desiring to be of more

direct help to the Navajo, he was appointed the Indian agency farmer at Aneth in 1905. He then

succeeded in building a riprap barrier along the San Juan River to protect the irrigation headgates of

the Navajo farmers and began construction of a road from Aneth to the Four Corners (McPherson

1995:132). The Holly ranch was subsequently owned by John Ismay. He and his wife, Eleanor

Heffernan Ismay constructed a trading post there in 1921, which is still in operation (Wardrip

1993:51; Freeman 1958:134-135).

Billy Meadows was an Indian Trader who spent most of his time on Navajo Reservation in

Arizona and New Mexico. He had a trading post on the San Juan River at Chinle, Arizona, which

was destroyed by a flood about 1910, and a trading post near Fort Defiance, Arizona. Meadows

moved to the lower Montezuma Valley in 1902 and into lower McElmo Canyon in 1913, where he

built a new trading post. The post was operated by Andy Hooper. It was owned by Ed Jeters in the

1930s and was last operated by Dick Wilson, when it was known as the Wilson Trading Post

(Wallace 1979b:85-86; Wardrip 1993:50).

Hall’s Trading post in upper McElmo Canyon was built by Ernest and Pocohantas Cabel

Hall. It is not known when the post was established, but seems to have been in operation through at

least the 1930s (Wardrip 1993:51). Their daughter, Lillian Ardella Hall, married Luther Veach, a

prominent sheep rancher in the McElmo Canyon area (Veach 1979:81-82).

Cattle Industry

Initial use of the land encompassing the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument by

Europeans was for cattle grazing. Following the Civil War, large herds of cattle were established in

Texas. Expansion of railroad lines westward, beginning with the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869,

facilitated the transport of cattle to eastern markets. Seeking economical ways to get their animals

to market, cattlemen in Texas began driving their animals northward to railheads that gradually

extended southward and westward into Kansas and eastern Colorado. With good market conditions,

Texas cattlemen sought additional grazing lands, resulting in their driving large numbers of cattle

into southeastern Colorado and New Mexico in the 1870s. In the late 1870s, grazing land in

southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah began to be coveted. This was initially tempered by

most of southwestern Colorado being Ute Reservation land and by the remoteness of southeastern

Utah. Southeastern Utah was expanded into by Mormon cattlemen as early as 1877 with an eye

toward selling beef to the mining settlements of the San Juan Mountains. The first to bring large

numbers of cattle to the region were Philander Maxwell and Dr. William (Billy) McCarty, who

brought 2,000 head of cattle into the Las Sal, Utah area in 1877 (Silvey 1990). In 1868, I. W. Lacy

and L. G. Coleman organized the L.C. Cattle Company and moved cattle from Texas to Colfax

County, New Mexico in the early 1870s. In 1879, Lacy moved the L. C. Cattle Company to Chaco

Canyon and then onto non-Reservation lands in southwestern Colorado. By 1880, they had

expanded their range into the Blue Mountains of southeastern Utah, and the company established

its headquarters on Recapture Creek (Palmer 1990). Joining the L. C. Cattle Company in

southeastern Utah in 1880 was the Kansas-New Mexico Cattle Company, better known as the

Carlisle Cattle Company, which brought 7,000 head of cattle from New Mexico. The Carlisle Cattle

Company was an English syndicate headed by Edmond and Harold Carlisle. Their northern

headquarters was 6 miles from present Monticello and they maintained winter grazing land in

northern New Mexico, centered on Gallegos Canyon, resulting in their large herds passing through

the Montezuma Valley and town of Mancos twice a year. By 1881, the company had illegally fenced

a large amount of the range in the Blue Mountain area. Clearly, cattle and cattlemen encroached on

the Ute Reservation in southwestern Colorado at this time, resulting in conflict between the two

groups.

With the removal of the Ute from nearly all of western Colorado in late 1881, barriers to

expansion of the cattle industry to southwestern Colorado were eliminated and the L. C. and Carlisle
11

Cattle Companies filled the range from Bluff, Utah to the Montezuma Valley of Colorado (Kutac

2001; McNitt 1962:296; McPherson 1995:172; Powell 2003). Nearly instantaneous extension of

railroad lines to Durango and through the Uncompahgre Valley facilitated the transport of animals

to eastern markets, further enhancing the ranching opportunities of the region.

Mormon settlers in the Bluff area moved to secure their own cattle range in 1886. Francis

Hammond, president of the San Juan Stake, organized the Bluff Pool as a cooperative cattle

ranching effort designed to out compete outside non-Mormon operations in the area (Powell 2003).

He bought a ranch in Mancos to finance an irrigation system on White Mesa to prevent entry there

by the L. C. Cattle Company. He then had riders from the Bluff Pool patrol the east side of White

Mesa to prevent L. C. Cattle Company cattle from entering. The Bluff Pool petitioned the Utah

Legislature to tax all cattle coming into Utah from Colorado. Despite taxation, the rangelands of

southeastern Utah were considered to be inexpensive and cattlemen from Colorado utilized

southeastern Utah for winter range. The settlers at Bluff encouraged other Mormons to come to the

area in order to fill the range with Mormon cattle. Disputes and conflicts between Mormon and nonMormon cattlemen continued into the 1890s (McPherson 1995:172-173; Hurst 2003).

The L. C. Cattle Company was probably the most prominent cattle operation to use the land

that is currently the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Upon entering the region in

1879, the herd was in the charge of Henry Goodman. When I. W. Lacy was killed by Dan Howland

at Fort Lewis in 1881, his wife Heddie Brumley Lacy, called upon her brothers, John, Irvin, and Bill

Brumley, to help her keep the cattle operation running. They arrived in 1882 and 1883 and moved

the headquarters of the operation to Brumley Draw, in the vicinity of present Lewis. Perhaps not

coincidentally, Roundup Junction, just south of Lewis and Brumley Draw reportedly was where the

large cattle companies of the region sorted their cattle during the annual roundup (Fred Blackburn

relating information from informant John Redd of Monticello, Utah, to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004).

The cattle headquarters was subsequently moved to the Big Bend of the Dolores (Freeman 1958:143;

Wardrip 1993:128). With the arrival of the Brumleys, Goodman went into the cattle business on his

own.

Cattle prices were high in the early and middle 1880s, but dropped drastically in the late

1880s. Sheep were introduced on the range in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah in the

middle 1880s by cattle operations as a diversification measure. Severe overgrazing by enormous

numbers of cattle and sheep in the 1880s and early 1890s, and a 10-year-long drought culminating in

1896 resulted in starvation of animals on the range in southeastern Utah and, presumably,

southwestern Colorado (McPherson 1995:174-176). The Carlisle brothers began reducing their

holdings in 1892 and had completely sold out by 1910. The L. C. Cattle Company sold 22,000

animals, between 1891 and 1893, and evidently left the area in 1897 with 10,000 head of cattle. Poor

economic and range conditions affected Mormon ranchers as well. In 1895, the sheep portion of the

Bluff Pool was sold to L. H. Redd, Jr. and Hanson Bayles. The cattle portion was sold to the Scorup

brothers in 1898 (McPherson 1995:149, 172-173; Hurst 2003).

The demise of the large, monopolistic cattle companies of the region provided an opportunity

for smaller ranchers to step in and utilize the public domain for grazing into the early 1930s. In

addition, construction of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, in 1890, provided a stimulus for

ranching because livestock could be sent to market from the more accessible shipping points of

Dolores and Mancos. Many of the cattle ranchers that filled the void left by the large cattle

operations were former employees, some were new arrivals. Included were Henry Goodman, John

Brumley, Bill Graham, Jim Morrison, Elbert Nunn, George Sam Todd, “Squire” Wallace, James

Gawith, Adam Lewy, Ellsworth Porter, James Phillip Belmear, and Bill McCabe (Dolores News,

November 21, 1883; Dalrymple 2000; Waldrip 1993:128; McCabe 1979a:55-57, 1979b:61-62; Wardrip

1993:270). It appears that Utes were also able to capitalize on the situation to some extent. For

instance, Jack House (later the leader of the Ute Mountain Utes) and Frank Pyle ran cattle from

Dove Creek to the San Juan River in the early 1900s (McNitt 1962:310).

Grazing in the region continued largely along the pattern that had been established with the

initial entry of cattle to the region in the late 1870s and early 1880s. Cattle and sheep were ranged

in upland areas, such as the La Plata, San Juan, La Sal, and Blue Mountains during the summer
12

months and then rounded up and trailed to winter ranges at lower elevations as far south as

northern New Mexico and the San Juan River of southeastern Utah. The Canyons of the Ancients

area was traveled through on the way to winter range farther south or served as winter range itself.

Several trails through the Monument allowed for movement of animals to and from the winter range

lands. McElmo Canyon was the primary travel route, but was also accessed from the north by four

trails originating in the vicinity of Yellow Jacket and a trail down Trail Canyon. Use of the area

remained unregulated until the implementation of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. As a result,

grazing of the region remained heavy and resulted in continued deteriorated conditions. Water was

a limiting factor in the region as well. Animals were held at reliable water sources, particularly at

springs in McElmo Canyon, until sufficient snowfall, used by the animals for water, allowed their

dispersal throughout the available range (Freeman 1958:112; 132-135). Through time, stock raisers

switched back and forth between cattle and sheep, depending upon economic market conditions.

Since World War II, the focus has been on cattle. Stock raisers hired Navajos and Utes as cowboys

and sheepherders; some Hispanics and Basques were also hired as sheepherders, particularly by the

Redd Ranches. Many of the Hispanic families that arrived to work as sheepherders from the 1910s

to 1930s still reside in the area (Coffey 2003; McAfee and McAfee 2004; Tozer 2004a; Gardner and

Gardner 2004).

Implementation of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 resulted in the establishment of advisory

boards that provided for interaction between federal regulators and local ranchers in the designation

of grazing allotments and their regulation. The Colorado District No. 4 Advisory Board was

established for the entire southwestern portion of the state; the area later comprising all of the

Montrose District of the Bureau of Land Management. Federal grazing lands, at that time, were

under the jurisdiction of the Division of Grazing. The advisory boards were comprised of private

citizens and representatives of the Division of Grazing. The initial meeting for District 4 was held in

Norwood on October 14, 1935. Subsequent meetings in the 1930s and early 1940s were held

frequently at various locations throughout the grazing district so as to be convenient for ranchers to

attend. With the establishment of the Bureau of Land Management in 1946, which acquired the

duties of the Division of Grazing, meetings were held regularly, but less frequently, and only in

Durango.

At the time of the first meeting, there seems to have already been some division of grazing

lands among the users. The intention of the advisory board was to regulate the number of animals

and period of time animals were allowed on grazing lands, to administer range improvements, and to

license users of the grazing lands (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting October

14, 1935; March 23-24, 1936). In order to administer the grazing lands under their jurisdiction, the

board called for the collection and preparation of data in regard to the condition and carrying

capacity of the grazing lands and to evaluate the commensurate and priority ratings of the various

applicants for those grazing lands (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting March

24, 1936). There was a clear understanding that grazing lands were in poor condition, explained to

be the result of recent drought and overgrazing (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board

Meeting March 23, 1936; April 13-14, 1936). In order for an applicant for a grazing permit to be

considered to have priority or commensurability, it was required that they have a working livestock

operation that had been in place in 1932 and 1933, have ranch improvements, and previously had

made use of the public domain for which an application was made (Colorado Grazing District No. 4

Advisory Board Meeting, August 3, 1936). A committee was appointed to cooperate with various

agencies regarding the protection and care of wildlife; protection of deer and elk winter ranges were

planned to result in grazing restrictions (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting,

August 22, 1936).

The first meeting of the Advisory Board recommended temporary grazing licenses for the

1935 and that those licensed should be restricted to customary use with priority given to individuals

with demonstrated use for a number of years prior to 1934. Segregation of ranges to prevent

overstocking was recommended, as was the establishment of designated stock driveways. Because of

the poor condition of the range, drastic action was recommended in limiting the amount of time stock

was allowed to graze and to forbid lambing on the public domain (Colorado Grazing District No. 4

Advisory Board Meeting, July 22-24, 1935).
13

Permittees within the current boundaries of the Canyons of the Ancients National

Monument mentioned in the grazing board meeting minutes during the 1930s included Charles E.

Blackmer of Cortez (sheep), J. C. and C. M. McClure [McCluer] of Cortez, Martin Silbo, W. R. Veach,

Les Gawith (sheep), Walter Hall of Cortez, John Miller, John Ismay, Roy J. Retherford of Lewis, W.

G. Rutherford of Lewis, Gladys Morrison, George Dalton and Sons of Monticello, Utah, Wm. E.

Ragsdale, Victor C. Huskey, and W. T. Huskey (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board

Meeting, August 4, 1936; August 21, 1936; March 30, 1938; December 13, 1938; January 5, 1939;

June 21, 1939).

Charles E. Blackmer applied to graze 1,100 head of sheep on Cahone Mesa in Utah and

Colorado in 1936; this was in line with his use of the range for the previous 20 years. The Blackmer

Ranch was purchased by Alma J. “Japp” Redd in 1936, enabling him to be in line for a transfer of

Blackmer’s grazing permit. Redd had a large permit area along Lower Yellow Jacket between T. A.

Cresto, Wallace Brothers, and Harry Morgan between McElmo and Yellow Jacket Creeks and

southwest of Cannon Ball Mesa (Sections 10, 11, 25, and 26, T40N, R15W. Later, Redd acquired Bill

Palmer’s permit for the Little Cahone area (Sections 20, 21, and 29, T39N, R18W); acquired the

permit to graze a large area in the Bridge Canyon area; acquired the permit of Les Gawith for the

Moccasin, Yellow Jacket, and Burro canyons area, in addition to other grazing lands to the north of

the current Monument (BLM, Sherman and Norman Zwicker file [Burro Point Community 8000 and

Burro Individual 8041]). Les Gawith started in the sheep business in 1927 or 1928. He began with

400 sheep and wintered about 1,200 in Utah in 1932 and 1933. He began using the current

Monument area for winter grazing in 1934 and used the West Dolores River area for summer range.

By 1938, he had about 2,000 sheep (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting, March

30, 1938). W. G. Rutherford of Lewis began grazing sheep in Squaw and Papoose Canyons in 1931

(Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting, March 30, 1938).

In 1940, grazing permits for 10-year-long periods began to be issued by the Grazing Service,

rather than by the advisory board (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting,

February 6-7, 1940; February 8, 1940). Individuals mentioned as grazing within the current

Monument boundaries in the 1940s included Theodore J. Rodewald of Ackmen, Roland Schneider of

Ackmen, C. W. Ayers of Cahone, Virgil E. Bane of Ackmen, Craig Williams of Dove Creek, Frank L.

Royce of Cortez, Boyd Hall of Cortez, Mary Taylor of Cortez, Harold McComb of Cortez, Warren Pyle

of Cortez, Gardner Brothers of Dolores, Bill Palmer of Pleasant View, A. H. Bradfield of Cahone, Ray

Ismay, Julian Edmonson of Cortez, Ray Ismay, Roy J. Retherford of Lewis, Charles Stiles [Styles] of

Cortez, Craig William of Dove Creek, A. C. Watkins of Dove Creek, Harold McComb of Cortez, C. C.

Hudgens of Dove Creek, A. C. Elliot of Cortez, Lowell E. Truelson of Cortez, Mrs. J. W. Jordan,

George S. Gardner of Dolores, Charles E. Blackmer of Cortez, T. A. Cresto, and W. R. McCabe

(Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting, June 22 1940; March 7, 1940; March 7,

1942; November 11-12, 1942; April 3-4, 1944; April 28, 1944; February 16, 1945; November 7, 1945;

January 7, 1948). In 1945, Millard Steerman acquired the ranch of R. R. Carpenter and was granted

Carpenter’s permit to graze on the public domain (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board

Meeting, September 21, 1945).

Individuals mentioned as grazing on the present Monument in the early 1950s included John

Ismay, Alma Redd, T. A. Cresto, Fred Blackmer, Mr. Baird, and Irma Ruth and W. O. Rutledge

(Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting, September 15, 1950; April 22, 1954; April

4, 1955; September 28, 1955).

The minutes of the Grazing District are not very specific as to who was grazing where or for

the number of animals and period of time grazing was permitted. Lands in and around the current

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument were generally referred to as the “McElmo Unit” in the

early grazing records. Some of the allotments were specified geographically and, later, under the

jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, by the permittee’s name. In 1999, the allotments

were given geographic names.

Currently, 174,108 acres within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument boundaries

are under grazing permits, which accounts for 95 percent of the Monument. Of these 159,696 acres

are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, accounting for 97 percent of the land in the
14

Monument under their jurisdiction and 14,412 acres on private land, accounting for 76 percent of the

private land within the Monument. None of the National Park Service land in the area is included

in grazing permits. There are 28 allotments permitted to 22 individual livestock operations. The

permits enable livestock to be grazed on the Monument from November 15 to May 30 of each year.

No grazing occurs between June 1 and November 14. Grazing has continued much as it had prior to

the establishment of the Monument.

The grazing allotment case files at the Bureau of Land Management office in Dolores contain

some historical information pertaining to grazing of the current Monument area since the

implementation of the Taylor Grazing Act:

Lower McElmo Allotment

A permit was issued on September 18, 1963 to James H. Cline for what is currently known

as the Lower McElmo Allotment. Cline was permitted to graze 1,000 sheep between December 1 and

April 15 of each year (BLM, James H. Cline file [Lower McElmo 8011]). Currently, the allotment is

utilized by Richard Parry of Foxfire Farms, Inc. (Mike Jensen, Bureau of Land Management, to Jon

Horn, September 7, 2004).

Lower Aztec Canyon Allotment

A permit for what is now known as the Lower Aztec Canyon Allotment was issued for seven

animals to Boyd Hall on March 19, 1935. The permit transferred to W. R. McCabe in 1940 and then

to Vance McCabe in 1961. On October 26, 1994, the permit transferred to Jerry Jones. At that time,

the boundary of the permit area was modified and the number of permitted animals increased to 12

(BLM, Jerry and Carol Jones file [Lower Aztec Canyon 8039]).

Aztec Canyon Allotment

Terzo A. Cresto was issued a permit for 63 animals in what is now known as the Aztec

Canyon Allotment on December 26, 1956. The permit transferred to G. Steerman on April 25, 1962

and the number of animals was increased to 102. The permit transferred to Johnny Green on March

15, 1979 and then to James A Black on October 26, 1982 (BLM, James A. Black file [Aztec Canyon]).

Yellowjacket Canyon Allotment

What is currently known as the Yellowjacket Canyon Allotment is comprised of several early

allotments that transferred from Leslie Gawith to Alma J. Redd on January 15, 1945. Originally 536

animals were permitted in the allotment, which was then reduced to 87 in 1962. This may represent

a shift from grazing sheep to cattle. The permit transferred to James H. Fulton on February 18,

1977 and then to Harold A. Mackay on April 21, 1995. Robert P. and Mary J. Johnson acquired the

permit on December 4, 1995 (BLM, Robert P. and Mary J. Johnson file [Yellowjacket Canyon 8057]).

Cross Canyon Allotment

The Cross Canyon Allotment is currently permitted to Majors Limited Liability Company,

which acquired it from Richard C. Perkins (Mike Jensen, Bureau of Land Management, to Jon Horn,

September 7, 2004). The allotment is comprised of the former McClean Basin, Plateau, Little

Cahone, Cross Canyon, and Mt. Elliston allotments. The Plateau allotment dates to 1934. F. A.

Cline’s permit to graze 1,680 animals and W. L. Wallace’s permit to graze 254 animals was

transferred to the H. C. Perkins Sheep Company in 1957. The permit transferred to Richard C.

Perkins in March 1959. The Little Cahone allotment was originally permitted to Bill Palmer in 1942

for 98 animals. Portions were sold to Gordon and Lisle Adams June 25, 1956 and Alma J. Redd on

June 30, 1956. These were then transferred to Perkins on February 27, 1961. The Mt. Elliston

allotment was formed from part of Plateau Creek allotment when it transferred from Harold Redd to

Perkins on September 6, 1995 (BLM, Richard Perkins file [Cross Canyon and McLean Basin]).
15

Alkali Allotment

The Alkali Allotment was formed when Richard Perkins transferred 2,422 animal units from

the Cross Canyon allotment to John and Margaret Black in 1981 (BLM, Richard Perkins file [Cross

Canyon and McLean Basin]).

Trail Canyon and Goodman Allotments

What is currently known as the Trail Canyon and Goodman Allotments date to August 17,

1943 when the area was permitted to R. R. Carpenter. The permit for 220 animals transferred to

Millard Steerman in 1945; the number of animals permitted was reduced to 162 in 1962. On April

17, 1978, the permit transferred to Reece and Leslie Malles, who then transferred it to Bill and

Roscoe Rose on December 3, 1996 (Colorado Grazing District No. 4 Advisory Board Meeting

September 21, 1945; BLM, Rose file [Trail Canyon 8024 and Goodman 8078]).

East McElmo Creek Allotment

George Luther Veach was permitted for 1,300 sheep in 1935 for what is now known as the

East McElmo Creek Allotment; he also grazed sheep on the north side of Mesa Verde National Park.

In 1945, he acquired the permit of W. E. Hall, enabling him to graze a total of 1,800 sheep between

December 1 and April 30. Veach acquired the permit of W. E. Porter in 1950, resulting in his ability

to graze 2,200 sheep. The grazing land acquired from Porter was evidently later sold by the

government, resulting in a reduction in the number of animals Veach was able to graze. Darrel

Veach, G. L. Veach’s son, seems to have taken over the allotment, but not in any official way. In

1999, Darrel Veach’s sons, Casey and Corey, continued the family’s use of the allotment, which was

formally permitted to them in 2000 (BLM, Veach file [East McElmo Creek 8033]).

Hamilton Mesa Allotment

The Hamilton Mesa Allotment is currently used by Steve, Tim, and Jay Wallace, sons of W.

Wesley Wallace. The Wallaces acquired the permit for the allotment from the Miller family (Mike

Jensen, Bureau of Land Management, to Jon Horn, September 7, 2004). John T. Miller first

acquired grazing privileges in the area when he bought a ranch in McElmo Canyon from John Ismay

in 1938. John T. Miller was the son of I. O. and Eleanor Miller, early residents of Arriola. He

married schoolteacher Josephine Smith in 1911 and they had five children. Josephine died of an

infection in 1919. Before going into the livestock business, Miller did wheat threshing, worked on

the construction of Narraguinnep Reservoir, farmed near Yellow Jacket and Arriola, and worked as a

cowboy for other ranchers, including the McClures and Blackmers. (Nix et al. 2004). The allotment

later passed to his sons, John H. and Robert E. Miller.

Sandstone Allotment

Roy Retherford received a permit to graze 1,050 sheep and six horses in Sandstone,

Mockingbird, and Woods Canyons between December 1 and May 1 in 1936 after having been rejected

for a permit in 1935. On October 16, 1940, he purchased the permit of D. M. and C. M. Johnson for

40 cattle and three horses. He then acquired a permit held by a Mr. Womack for 60 animals in

December 1942 and the permits of C. M. and J. C. McComb and C. E. Blackmer for 250 cattle on

December 26, 1945. Much of his permitted area was transferred to Wesley Wallace in 1976. The

remainder, presently known as the Sandstone Allotment, was transferred to T. Dodd and Glenna

Harris in 1988 (BLM, Harris file [Sandstone 8013]).

Burro Point Community and Burro Individual Allotments

A portion of what is currently known as the Burro Point Community and Burro Individual

Allotments was permitted to E. A. Porter in 1935, when the area was known as the McElmo

Common Allotment. Porter transferred his permit to William, Charles, and Nathan A. Porter in

1938. Another portion of the current allotment was transferred by Martin Silbo to Eldon Zwicker in

1939. By 1957, the area was being grazed by Walter Hall, Nathan A. Porter, and Eldon Zwicker.

The portion held by Nathan Porter was acquired by Dwight Wallace in 1960. Eldon and Lila Zwicker

obtained the permit to graze the northwestern portion of the Burro Point Community from Alma J.

Redd, but the date is unknown; it was probably in the late 1950s or 1960s. Zwicker also seems to
16

have acquired Walter Hall’s grazing privileges in the Burro Point Community at about the same

time. Eldon Zwicker transferred his permit to Sheldon and Sherman Zwicker, his two oldest sons, in

1970. Eldon Zwicker acquired the grazing privileges of Robert A. Wright in either the Burro Point

area or Cannon Ball/Yellow Jacket area in 1973. All of the Zwicker grazing privileges transferred to

Sherman Zwicker in 1979 and transferred back to Eldon Zwicker in 1983 (BLM, Sherman and

Norman Zwicker file [Burro Point Community 8000 and Burro Individual 8041]). Currently, the

Burro Point Community Allotment is permitted to three entities: Sherman and Norman Zwicker;

Casey Veach; and Steve, Tim, and Jay Wallace. Casey Veach acquired Sheldon Zwicker’s portion of

the permit through a base property lease. Steve, Tim, and Jay Wallace acquired the permit for a

portion of the Burro Point Community through a base property lease with Jackie Wallace and the

permit for the Burro Individual Allotment through a base property lease from Jackie Wallace and

Stan Wright (Mike Jensen, Bureau of Land Management, to Jon Horn, September 7, 2004).

Range Improvements

Part of the role of the grazing district advisory board and the Division of Grazing was to

administer improvements such as fences and reservoirs to enhance and improve the range. Few

projects are documented in the records, however. It is uncertain if this is an indication that few

projects were undertaken or if improvements were generally considered to be commonplace and did

not merit mention in official records. The only project known to have been constructed during the

period of oversight by the Division of Grazing was construction of Little Cahone Lake Reservoir by

the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1939. The work was conducted for the U.S. Government to

provide livestock watering. Work commenced on June 6, 1939 and resulted in the construction of an

8.2-foot-tall dam designed to retain slope runoff in a reservoir with a capacity of 135,401 cubic feet.

The reservoir was constructed at a cost of $1,705 (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 5,

Page 20). It appears that the CCC from a Division of Grazing camp near Ackmen conducted a

considerable number of range improvements in the area, including stock water developments and

construction of corrals (White and White 2003; Harris and Harris 2004; Gardner and Gardner 2004).

However, records of these improvements no longer seem to exist.

After the establishment of the Bureau of Land Management, a few more water projects were

documented, but these are still few in number. The first was the Redd Ditch, constructed in May

1949 by Alma J. Redd at a cost of $5,000. The 20,901-foot-long, 1.5-foot-deep, and 3 to 6-foot-wide

ditch had its headgate on the south bank of Yellow Jacket Creek near the west quarter corner of

Section 30, T36N, R19W (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 6, Page 24). On October 4,

1951, Eldon Zwicker applied for a permit to construct five reservoirs on land he was permitted to

graze. Two reservoirs were in Section 28, T36N, R18W, one was in Section 20, T36N, R18W, and one

each were in Sections 13 and 24, T36N, R19W (BLM, Sherman and Norman Zwicker file [Burro

Point Community 8000 and Burro Individual 8041]; BLM, Range Improvement File, Project No.

230434). A third project was Steerman Reservoir, constructed February 3, 1953 by Millard

Steerman in the southeast quarter of Section 21, T36N, R17W. This was a small stock pond with a

capacity of 2 acre feet of water (BLM, Range Improvement File, Project No. 230043). The only other

early range improvement that is documented is the chaining in the Burro Point allotment in 1963

and 1968 (BLM, Sherman and Norman Zwicker file [Burro Point Community 8000 and Burro

Individual 8041]). Numerous stock water and fencing improvements were made in the 1960s and

1970s, but these are not yet considered to be historic.

Historic Native American Conflicts

Problems with the Ute, Navajo, and Paiute were most pronounced in southeastern Utah,

where band and tribal affiliation was often obscure and relinquishment of tribal land sovereignty

unsettled. This led not only to conflict between Native Americans and Euroamerican settlers, but

between Indian groups with contrasting uses of the land, particularly as the available land base

shrank and environmental changes occurred as a result of overgrazing, beginning in the late 1870s

and early 1880s. Overgrazing by large cattle companies and herds of Navajo sheep radically

changed the ability of the Ute and Paiute, in particular, to conduct their traditional hunting and

gathering subsistence. Although the greatest impacts of these changes were felt in southeastern

Utah, similar challenges were met by the Ute in the southwestern portion of Colorado, including the

Canyons of the Ancients area, where Utes ranged off of their reservation and were able to practice
17

traditional hunting and gathering activities. The example of Jack House teaming with Frank Pyle in

the early 1900s, grazing animals in the Dove Creek area prior to agricultural settlement is a

reflection of extended use of the public domain by the Ute off of the reservation.

A well-documented altercation between cowboys in southwestern Colorado and southeastern

Utah and Paiute and Ute Indians took place in 1881, resulting in what has been termed the Pinhook

Massacre. On April 30, 1881, R. W. May and Frank Smith went to John Thurman’s cabin at what is

now known as Burnt Cabin Springs and discovered Dick May and John Thurman had been killed by

Indians, the cabin burned down, and the horses they had been caring for driven away. Despite being

on the Ute Reservation, Thurman’s camp had been used as a wintering place for local cowboys and

Thurman had been caring for horses belonging to J. B. Alderson there. The Indians implicated in

the murders and destruction were reportedly Paiute, who were joined soon thereafter by

Uncompahgre Utes (Daughters of Utah Pioneers 1972:38). Soon after the discovery of the bodies of

May and Thurman, a roundup of cattle in the Blue Mountains of Utah began. During the roundup,

Mike and Pat O’Donnell, Spud Hudson, Charley Johnson, Louis Paquin, Al Nunn, George West, and

Dave Willis were attacked by Indians; one of the attackers was killed. The roundup ceased and men

went to the Big Bend of the Dolores (now under McPhee Reservoir) to get volunteers to fight the

Indians. Volunteers included Hiram H. Melvin, Tom Click, Billie May, and Jordan Bean from the

Big Bend, Dave Willis, Tom Pepper, Jess Seeley, and Hi Barber from Mancos, Marion Cook, Harg

Eskridge, and Ike Stockton from Durango, Wiley and H. S. Tartar, T. C. and D. G. Taylor, Tim

Jenkins, Billy Parks, Jimmie Heaton, Charley Reynolds, Jimmie Hall, Jack Galloway, Bill Dawson,

Mr. Purdy, Ed Summers, Bill Robins, and Tex La Fone, who met at Big Bend on May 31 and headed

to the Blue Mountains the next day (Bean 1943:19-20). The Indians were pursued to the La Sal

Mountains and a running battle was held across Wilson Mesa and into the Pinhook Valley, where

several of the pursuers were killed (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers 1985:11-12; Silvey 1990;

Peterson 1975). After having been badly beaten, the cowboys retreated to Spud Hudson’s cattle

camp at present day Monticello and returned to Big Bend by way of Piute Springs and Cross Canyon

(Bean 1943:23-24).

Under the 1880 treaty that resulted in the removal of all but the Southern Utes from

Colorado, the Southern Utes were placed on a narrow reservation along Colorado and New Mexico

border in late 1881. There was no requirement that the Ute remain on their reservation and Utes

could leave the reservation with the permission of the Indian Agent to hunt. Conflicts between Utes

and cowboys continued as a result, with cattlemen frequently accusing Utes of killing their cattle for

food. Edmund Carlisle, co-owner of the Carlisle Cattle Company complained frequently about

conflicts with Indians in the vicinity of the Blue Mountains in Utah. Troops were sent to the area in

June 1884, resulting in an ambush that killed two soldiers at Soldier’s Crossing in Montezuma

Creek (McPherson and Yazzie 2004). In 1885, a group of Utes camped on Beaver Creek north of

Dolores was fired upon by a number of cowboys sure that the Utes were subsisting on their cattle.

Only one of the Utes escaped what has since been known as the Beaver Creek Massacre and until

recently the identities of the cowboys involved has remained a secret. It is now known that Jim

Morrison and James Phillip Belmear, prominent cattlemen that likely ranged their cattle in and

around the current Monument, were part of the group involved in the event (Wardrip 1993:270).

There were some Ute reprisals on settlers in the area that caused considerable panic in the region.

In response, Fort Narraguinnep just east of the Monument was built in 1885 by Jud Pearce, George,

Ben and Bert Robinson, John and Sant Bowan, R. B. Dunham, James Moore, John Trimble, Sam

Todd, Jack Leslie, and the John Spalding family. Ironically, some of the builders of the small log

structure were participants in the massacre (Denham 1942:78; Wardrip 1993:270).

McElmo Canyon was an important thoroughfare between Colorado and Utah, particularly for

movement of herds of cattle between winter and summer ranges and with the establishment of

trading posts along the San Juan River beginning in the 1880s. As the entire canyon became settled

in the 1880s, conflicts between Utes and settlers were frequent. Because of the narrowness of the

canyon, settlers were able to fence across it to contain their livestock. As Indians traversed the

canyon, they tore fences down or left gates open. In addition, small groups of Utes commonly

accosted settlers for food and goods (McPherson 1995:147). In general, however, relationships

between the settlers and the Utes was quite good, until some hard feelings developed when
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expansion of the Ute Reservation on the north side of Ute Mountain displaced some homesteaders

and prevented some ranchers from grazing on lands they were accustomed to there.

Pressures mounted to remove the Southern Utes from their reservation and an agreement

was made in 1888 to move the Utes to San Juan County, Utah. The cattle companies in

southeastern Utah fought the agreement, as did the Indian Rights Association, based in

Philadelphia, which lobbied Congress to keep the Southern Utes in Colorado. Despite this, 1,100

Utes and their agent, David Day, moved onto the designated land in southeastern Utah in November

1894 (McPherson and Yazzie 2004). The federal government ordered the Utes to return to their

reservation in Colorado. The eastern portion of the reservation was subsequently allotted and

opened to outside settlement. The western portion remained intact and became known as the Ute

Mountain Ute Reservation. The western portion of the reservation had an agency established at

Navajo Springs in 1896. The agency was later moved to Towaoc. The Towaoc area had little to

encourage the Ute to congregate there and members of the group continued to range widely between

Utah and Colorado.

Initial Permanent Settlement and Agriculture in the Montezuma Valley

Initial settlement of the Montezuma Valley in the vicinity of Cortez was by Porter Mitchell,

who established a trading post at a pair of springs on the south side of McElmo Creek in 1882.

About the same time, the Harris Brothers of Mancos established a store at Mitchell Springs and a

saloon operated by Tom Coppinger was a popular hang-out for cowboys. A post office known as

Toltec was established on January 26, 1887 and lasted only until November 21, 1887, having been

superseded by the town of Cortez, just to the north (Bauer et al. 1990:142). By 1889, Mitchell

Springs had been abandoned and the Mitchells moved into McElmo Canyon (Wardrip 1993:48).

Bringing irrigation water from the Dolores River was the key to settlement of the

Montezuma Valley. The Montezuma Valley Water Supply Company was formed in 1885 to bring

water to the valley and lay out the town of Cortez. Establishment of the company was the result of

James W. Hanna being able to interest outside capitalists in forming a company for the purposes of

constructing an irrigation system and becoming a town company. The townsite was laid out in 1886

and a post office was established there on June 21, 1887 (Freeman 1958:66; Bauer et al. 1990:38).

The company completed a 5,400-foot-long tunnel through the divide separating the upper

Montezuma Valley from the Dolores River in late 1888. Water was diverted from the Big Bend of the

Dolores River, transported through the tunnel, and distributed by canal to the Cortez area beginning

in 1889. With irrigation water to the valley assured, settlement of the Cortez area began in earnest.

At the same time the tunnel was under construction, the Dolores Number Two Land and Canal

Company began construction of the No. 2 Canal for the distribution of water in the northern portion

of the Montezuma Valley. Water was obtained from the tunnel intake and transported

northwestward through a deep cut into the upper valley and then distributed westward.

Narraguinnep Reservoir was constructed for water storage as part of the project. The high cost of

construction of both projects resulted in the consolidation of the Montezuma Valley Water Supply

Company and the Dolores Number Two Land and Canal Company as the Colorado Consolidated

Land & Water Company in 1890. This company was also fraught with financial troubles, but was

successful in extending canals and laterals into the valley. By 1894, the company had transferred its

holdings to the Montezuma Water and Land Company, which went into receivership and was

managed by the receiver until 1907. It was not until 1907 that the Number 2 Canal was completed

and able to carry water into the northern portion of the valley. This included the Lone Pine Lateral

that terminated at the head of Trail Canyon. Excess water flowed into Trail Canyon. This and

water that entered McElmo Creek as irrigation runoff from elsewhere served as a new source of

irrigation water that spurred agricultural settlement in McElmo Canyon. The Montezuma Valley

Irrigation District was formed by landowners in 1902 with the intention of taking over the water

system. In 1907, a plan was finally agreed upon whereby the Empire Construction Company was to

take over and improve the system, including the construction of two storage reservoirs in the upper

Dolores River area. At the same time, the U Lateral from the No. 2 Canal was completed that

brought irrigation water to the Lewis area and stimulated additional settlement in the northernmost

part of the valley. Initially the improvements resulted in increased agricultural settlement in the

valley, but this stalled in the middle 1910s. Reorganization was undertaken in 1920, resulting in the
19

formation of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company as a mutual ditch company backed by the

individual irrigators (Freeman 1958:96-101).

In the midst of the difficulties with managing and operating the irrigation system, a scheme

was evidently planned, in 1907, to bring additional irrigation water the mesa tops in the Canyons of

the Ancients area from the Dolores River. The plan included the construction of two storage

reservoirs – John Bull Reservoir and Dunton Reservoir – on the West Dolores River. Water released

into the West Dolores River from these reservoirs would then have been taken out from the Dolores

River above the town of Dolores and transported by canal above the heads of all of the canyons

tributary to McElmo Canyon with laterals extending onto the mesa tops between the canyons (Boyle

et al. 1907). This plan never got beyond the planning stages, but shows the degree to which

irrigation water in the upper Montezuma Valley was desired.

All of the lands encompassed by the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument were

surveyed by the General Land Office between 1881 and 1891 (Table 1). These surveys enabled

settlers to file homestead applications for the surveyed lands in order to begin acquiring lands from

Table 1. General Land Office Survey Dates.

Township/Range* Survey Date Acceptance Date Notes

36/16 1881 1881

36/17 1889 1889

37/17 1884 1885 Resurveyed 1913-1914; accepted 1917

36/18 1889 1889

37/18 1884 1885 Resurveyed 1916 and 1923; accepted 1924

38/18 1884 1885 Resurveyed 1915-1916; accepted 1917

39/18 1884 1884 Resurveyed 1916; accepted 1917

35/19 1889 1889

36/19 1889 1889

37/19 1889 1889 Resurveyed 1930; accepted 1932

38/19 1891 1891 Resurveyed 1920; accepted 1922

39/19 1891 1891 Resurveyed 1920; accepted 1922

35/20 1889 1889 Resurveyed 1942 and 1959; accepted 1959

36/20 1889 1889 Resurveyed 1942 and 1959; accepted 1959

37/20 1889 1889

38/20 1891 1891

39/20 1891 1891 Resurveyed 1940; accepted 1942

*Township North, Range West, New Mexico P.M.

the public domain. As lands began to be entered upon, problems with the accuracy of many of the

initial surveys were evidently noted. In order to rectify these problems, several of the townships

were resurveyed.

These surveys show an expectation that the land within the Canyons of the Ancients

National Monument were suitable and available for settlement in the 1880s and early 1890s. Some

lands were taken up, particularly in McElmo Canyon and on some mesa tops and valley bottoms in

and adjacent to the current Monument. However, the majority of lands in the vicinity of the

Monument were unirrigable and not in high demand for permanent ranching settlement. It was not

until the dry farming era that these lands wee seen as suitable for settlement.

Dry Farming

Although irrigation was the stimulus for initial agricultural settlement in the region, it did

not account for much of the settlement of the area in and immediately adjacent to the current

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Dry farming as a theory emerged in the 1890s and

began to be experimented with by Utah State Agricultural College near Verdure in 1903 (McPherson

1995:110). The success of the program stimulated dry farming attempts throughout the region. The

first attempts at dry farming in the Montezuma Valley were near Lewis in 1909 and 1910. From

that time onward, settlers flocked to the area to take up lands not previously thought suitable for
20

farming. The opportunity of becoming self sufficient through farming and acquiring personal

property in the process was appealing to a large segment of the American population displaced from

other agricultural areas that had been fully settled. Settlers to southwestern Colorado from this

period appear to have come largely from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Beginning with veterans of

the Civil War, veterans were given preferred status in acquiring Homesteads from the public

domain. This status seems to have continued with returning World War I veterans, who comprised a

large number of the new settlers to the area. There seems to have been a considerable amount of

turnover of the properties settled upon with additional settlers coming in from these places to carry

on the settlement. During the Depression years of the 1930s, displaced farmers from the Dust Bowl

states further swelled the ranks of settlers attempting to make a living dry farming in southwestern

Colorado and southeastern Utah.

Dry-land farmers were generally quite poor and initially were able to raise only enough food

to subsist on. With few tools and no money to buy farm equipment, clearing of land for agriculture

was slow and labor intensive. As more land was cleared each year, surpluses began to be raised that

enabled improvements in living conditions to be made. As more land was cleared, profits from

surplus crops increased, leading to an ability to move away from subsistence crops to commercial

crops. Beans and wheat were the crops of choice and have remained so on dry farms of the region.

Initially, farm equipment was borrowed or purchased and used cooperatively. Extra money or

purchases by trade were made by selling eggs, cream, or surplus food crops (Wardrip 1993; Dicken

1986). With clearing of the land, the planting of agricultural crops, and the elimination of predators,

jackrabbit populations became enormous. To eliminate them, rabbit drives were held as social

events in the 1930s accompanied by picnics and visiting (Dicken 1986; Fosnot and Fosnot 2004;

Connolly 1996:15). The most important social events for the communities of the area from the 1910s

to 1940s were dances held at the local school houses. These were often attended by entire families

and provided opportunities for social interaction and entertainment. Dances were probably the most

important social venues for young adults and resulted in introductions and courting of couples that

frequently led to marriages. Dances also had a darker side that included arguments and fights, and

opportunities for drinking during Prohibition.

During Prohibition (1914 to 1933), manufacture of bootleg liquor was a common occurrence

in the canyons. Only a few names have come to light regarding this activity, but bootlegging seems

to have been a way that some individuals supplemented their farm income. A ready market existed

for liquor and it was a regular part of the social scene at dances. A man named Tucker reportedly

made bootleg liquor around Hovenweep, Thomas Jackson's father had a still in Cross Canyon, and a

man named Kilpatrick had a still west of Cahone. The Dixon brothers were also mentioned as being

in the business, “Grandpa” Ernest Ives burned coal from Yellow Jacket Canyon to run a still, and

someone evidently had an operation in Woods Canyon (Fosnot and Fosnot 2004; Connolly 1996:17;

Harris and Harris 2004; White and White 2003; Young 2004). The remoteness of the area has

appealed to its share of disreputable individuals and the smaller canyons have reputedly been

hideouts for outlaws throughout history (Dicken 1986; Shear 2003; Springmeyer 2004).

Ranchers and farmers would occasionally round up wild horses for their own use or to sell.

Navajos of the area would also catch horses to ride or eat (Benally 2004). Clyde Tozer set traps for

wild horses in Wagon Box Canyon or at the toe of the Sleeping Ute Mountain. He used the horses for

ranch work (Tozer 1979: 77-78). In order to improve the wild horse herds, ranchers would let

stallions loose to breed with the wild mares. The practice of catching wild horses on the Monument

continued into the late 1950s (Tozer 2004a; Benally 2004; Springmeyer 2004).

Many settlers relied on hunting of deer for meat, often poaching animals out of necessity

(Wardrip 1993; Springmeyer 2004). Trapping coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and an occasional beaver for

their furs also brought in extra income. Trapping for recreation and extra income continued for some

into the 1970s and early 1980s. Hunting is now more of a recreational activity on the Monument

than a necessity (Tozer 2004a; Fosnot and Fosnot 2004; Young 2004; Young and Young 2004). Both

farmers and ranchers seem to use the Monument area more for recreational purposes than they did

in the past. Previously, the Monument was utilized for resources that supplemented their income or

facilitated their survival – such as trapping, hunting, or prospecting. Now, with more spare time,
21

local ranchers and farmers use the Monument for sightseeing, hiking, hunting, and horseback

riding.

The completion of McPhee Reservoir as part of the Dolores Project in the 1980s and the

extension of canals and ditches to distribute water from the project have changed the complexion of

agriculture in the area. Many former dry farms are now challenged to raise crops that cover the

costs of irrigation. Consequently, crops in the area are changing, and many former bean and wheat

farms are now raising alfalfa.

Conflicts between cattlemen and early dry farmers were a common occurrence. Because the

dry farmers were settling on public domain lands previously used extensively by cattle and sheep

grazers, some ranchers felt infringed upon and made life as difficult as possible for the “dry nesters.”

Threats of violence and destruction of property were common tactics. Ranchers would cut the fences

of the new settlers and let their animals in to destroy crops. In retaliation, some dry farmers would

shoot a trespassing beef and consider it payment for the damage caused. Others were outright

aggressive themselves, destroying stock watering locations. Conflicts escalated to the point that

federal Marshals were sent to Dove Creek to restore order. As more dry farmers entered the area,

the ranchers gradually gave up their resistance as futile (Dicken 1986; Bertrand et al. n.d.:18;

Wardrip 1993; Connolly 1996:15). The settlement of their former grazing land certainly put more

pressure on the lands that remained available and probably intensified overgrazing. Ranchers also

took steps to acquire lands of their own from the public domain to assure their ability to continue to

graze.

Communities

With the coming of irrigation, communities became established at Arriola and Beulah in the

late 1880s (Figure 2). Those lands not served by irrigation remained unsettled until the 1910s when

the concept of dry farming took hold. Dry farming initially took place adjacent to irrigated lands in a

generally northward trajectory that was facilitated by the establishment of community centers

where basic amenities could be obtained. The earliest of these was Lewis, established in 1911,

followed by Ackmen in 1913, Cahone and Yellow Jacket in 1914, and Dove Creek in 1915. All of

these primary communities were along the road north of Cortez leading to Utah that generally

followed the route of the Spanish Trail of generations before. Generally, these communities were

comprised of a general store with a post office. As land was taken up and the population increased,

schools were established that became centers of social activity and provided more of a sense of

community. With expansion into even more remote locales, additional communities were added,

usually focused upon a school or post office. Included were Goodman Point/Shiloh in 1915, Sylvan in

1916, and Ruin Canyon, Spargo, and Ruin Point in 1920.

Ackmen

Ackmen was the forerunner of Pleasant View. The community was started about 1913 with

the expansion of dry land farming (Freeman 1958:147). In 1916, the Hadley Store was built by

James and Lura Hadley at the head of Sandstone Canyon, which had been a popular stopping point

along the road to Utah, sometimes referred to as Sandstone. A school seems to have been started

there in 1917 (Wardrip 1993:433). When the Hadley’s applied for a post office, their daughter

suggested the name Ackmen. The Ackmen Post Office was established November 5, 1917 and

terminated May 31, 1941 (Bauer et al. 1990:9). Ackmen had a newspaper and other businesses in

place as of 1920 (Wardrip 1993:433). On January 24, 1923, Alfred Hadley was shot and killed by J.

F. Fincher. Hadley was the son of James and Lura Hadley and ran an automobile service garage.

Fincher had arrived in Ackmen the previous year to dry farm, and was the proprietor of the town

hotel. He had become enraged over rumors of improper relations between his daughter and Hadley,

which, subsequently, were found to be false (Times Independent, Moab, Utah, January 25, 1923;

February 1, 1923). When the route of the state highway between Cortez and Dove Creek was

surveyed in 1935, Ackmen was no longer along the main travel route. Consequently, the town of

Pleasant View was established along the highway and most businesses moved there. The

newspaper, however, was moved to Dove Creek (Freeman 1958:147-148).
22

Three other schools operated in the vicinity of Ackmen. Hovenweep School was built in 1913

just west of Ackmen; it apparently operated until 1954 (Wardrip 1993:471). Dripping Springs School

was on Cahone Mesa between Ruin Canyon and Hovenweep Canyon southwest of Ackmen. It was

established in the middle 1920s and closed in the mid-1940s (Wardrip 1993:473). Shelf Rock School,

about 4 miles north of Ackmen and 3 miles west of Pleasant View, evidently operated in the 1920s

(Wardrip 1993:475).

Arriola

Arriola was established as soon as it was clear that irrigation water would be available in the area

from the Montezuma Valley Water Supply Company in the middle 1880s. The Arriola School

District was organized in 1887 (Freeman 1958:139-140). Among the first settlers at Arriola were

Isac Orlando (I. O.) and Eleanor (Ella) Miller along with their three children. They came to Colorado

from Ohio in 1884 and first settled in Hay Gulch near Durango. Miller worked as a stone mason on
23

Figure 2. Towns, communities, post offices, and schools in the vicinity of the Canyons of the

Ancients National Monument.
24

the Strater Hotel and as a teacher. They filed on land in the Montezuma Valley and then moved to

the Arriola area in 1888. The area did not have a name at that time, and the school was simply

called District No. 9. I. O. Miller suggested Arriola as a name for the community in honor of where

he was born in Stark County, Ohio. I. O. and Eleanor taught school, and Eleanor served as the

postmaster for Arriola for a time (Nix et al. 2004). The Arriola Post Office ran from December 18,

1894 to June 15, 1904 and from June 20, 1908 to August 15, 1933 (Bauer et al. 1990:14). Between

Arriola and Lewis was the Garret Ridge School. It operated as a grade school from at least 1929 to

1932, then was a two-year high school from 1932 to 1946. The school building was moved to Arriola

for extra classroom space in 1948 or 1949 (Wardrip 1993:397-403).

Beulah

Beulah, on Alkali Draw just north of Cortez, was first settled by cattlemen George

Longenbaugh and Frank Thomas in 1885. A school district was formed in 1889 or 1890. Later, stock

raisers Joe and Dave McClure and Frank Blackmer settled there (Freeman 1958: 104-105,140-141).

George Longenbaugh was the cousin of Harry Longabaugh, infamously known as the Sundance Kid.

At age 14, Harry Longabaugh moved to the Durango area with his cousin, George, in 1882, where

they raised horses. When the family moved to the Cortez area in 1884, Harry came along and found

work with the L. C. Cattle Company. It was during this time that Harry Longabaugh met the other

members of what became known as the Wild Bunch. Tom McCarty was reportedly a neighbor and

Robert Leroy Parker was the older brother of Dan Parker, employed by the Carlisle Cattle Company.

Matt Warner (Willard E. Christiansen) supposedly met Longabaugh at horse races in the area; they

reportedly met George (Butch) Cassidy at a horse race in Telluride in 1888. Longabaugh was jailed

in Sundance, Wyoming and released a month before he, Tom McCarty, and Matt Warner robbed the

bank in Telluride on June 24, 1889. They reportedly hid out at the Longenbaugh Ranch at Beulah

before departing to Utah (Wommack 2001).

Cahone

Dry farmers began settling in the Cahone area by 1914, with a great influx during the spring

of 1916. A post office was established at the Bert Ballenger place, about 1 mile northeast of the

present community on May 21, 1916; it closed on November 30, 1917. The post office was reopened

on June 12, 1920 and is still in operation, though it has moved from place to place (Freeman

1958:148; Bauer et al. 1990:27). Floyd Johnson established a store at present Cahone in 1921. The

post office moved to the Jeff Simmons place 1 mile south of town, but was then moved into the

Ballenger Brothers store when it was built in the town. A school was built near the first post office

in about 1916; it was moved to the new townsite in 1917 or 1918. Bean production started in the

area in 1927 and winter wheat was first grown in 1928 (Freeman 1958:148; Wardrip 1993:594).

Nearby, the Cross Canyon School opened in the early 1920s, but was soon abandoned. The Cross

Canyon School was reestablished in 1937 and remained open until 1948 (Wardrip 1993:604). Little

Grove School, about 2 miles southeast of Cahone was also the center of a small community there

(Waldrip 1993:589-592).

Dove Creek

The Dove Creek area was first noted as a good grazing area for cattle and sheep in the 1880s

because of its excellent growth of grasses. Dry farming settlement of the Dove Creek area began

about 1912 by Phillip M. Mellott, Oscar O. Vaughn, and Bedford F. Hancock. The Stokes brothers

constructed a general merchandise store on the land now comprising Dove Creek in 1912-1913,

which they sold to P. R. Butt (Dicken 1986; Freeman 1958:150). A post office was established at

Dove Creek on January 16, 1915. Homesteading took place in earnest from Dove Creek to Cedar

Point on the Utah state line after 1918. The High Hill School was the first school built near Dove

Creek; it was a log structure 4 miles to the west constructed in 1919 (Bauer et al. 1990:47; Freeman

1958:151-152). In January 1922, the post office and store was destroyed by a fire that was believed

to be arson (Grand Valley Times, January 19, 1922). Dove Creek was made the county seat of

Dolores County in 1944; the records were moved from Rico (Freeman 1958:153).

Several schools were in the vicinity of the Monument in the Dove Creek area. Big Valley,

about 7 miles southwest of Dove Creek on Bug Point, was served by two schools. The first Big Valley

School began operation in the late 1910s or early 1920s. It was replaced by the second Big Valley
25

School in 1939, which operated until 1946 (Wardrip 1993:616-618). Farther out Bug Point in Utah

was Urado. Urado was accessible only from Colorado, and had a school and a post office. The school

operated from the 1920s to the 1940s (Wardrip 1993:614). The Cedar Point School, near the Utah

state line about 8 miles west-southwest of Dove Creek, was built by 1919 and used into the 1950s

(Wardrip 1993:619-621).

Lewis

The Lewis area was initially settled when the headquarters of the L. C. Cattle Company was

established in Brumley Draw in about 1883. Initially, the cattle operation had been headquartered

in Durango, but when L. C. Lacy was shot and killed by Dan Howland at Fort Lewis, his wife,

Heddie Brumley Lacy called upon her brothers to assist her in keeping the cattle operation going.

John and Irvin Brumley arrived in 1882 and Bill Brumley in 1883. The Brumleys took up land on

Brumley Draw as their cattle headquarters in 1883; later they moved their headquarters to the Big

Bend of the Dolores River. Because of the presence of the cattle company, the Lewis area was

initially referred to as Texas Flats (Freeman 1958:143; Wardrip 1993:128, 406). Agricultural

settlement in the vicinity of Lewis began in the early 1890s, when extension of irrigation water

appeared imminent through the No. 2 Canal. Unfortunately, the construction of the canal was

fraught with difficulties and was not completed until 1907, with water available in the area

beginning in 1908 and 1909. The availability of irrigation water resulted in quick resettlement of

the area. Once the irrigable lands were taken up, dry land farmers began settling the outlying area.

The first experimentation with dry farming in the Upper Montezuma Valley took place north of

Lewis in 1909 and 1910. The success of dry farming there spurred settlement of unirrigated lands

throughout the region. The U Lateral off of the No. 2 Canal was completed in 1912 or 1913, enabling

additional land to be put under irrigation. The town of Lewis began when W. R. Lewis bought the

Del Raplee place in 1910, where he opened a store. A post office was established at the store on

September 7, 1911. The Lewis School was established in 1910. The school was remodeled several

times and used until 1967 (Freeman 1958:142-144; Wardrip 1993:406-414; Bauer et al. 1990:89).

Pleasant View

Pleasant View was established when it was realized that the state highway alignment,

surveyed between Cortez and Dove Creek in 1935, would not pass through Ackmen. Most of the

businesses in Ackmen moved there, and the Pleasant View post office was established on June 23,

1939. However, the Ackmen newspaper plant was moved to Dove Creek (Freeman 1958:147-148;

Bauer et al. 1990:115). Calvin Denton built a new store and established a post office at Pleasant

View in 1937; he previously had a bean cleaning and storage operation in Ackmen. The school at

Ackmen was not moved to Pleasant View until 1938 (Wardrip 1993:445, 447).

Ruin Canyon, Spargo, and Sylvan

The Ruin Canyon and Spargo post offices were within about 1.5 miles of each other and their

names were used to refer to the same community 6 miles west of Pleasant View, generally known as

Sylvan. Among the first residents of the area were Roy G. Marr and Daniel V. Marr, who arrived

from Kansas in 1915. The Sylvan School was established there in 1916 and a new schoolhouse was

constructed in 1917. Sylvan was reportedly named by a Mrs. Long (White and White 2003). The

school was enlarged through time and operated until 1954. The first post office established in the

area was named Ruin Canyon. It was in operation from September 3, 1920 to July 31, 1928. In

1924, Jesse A. Glore established a homestead nearby and applied for a post office he called Spargo.

The post office began operation on November 17, 1920, but was ordered closed on February 27, 1924

because of its close proximity to the Ruin Canyon post office, where mail was subsequently

distributed (Wardrip 1993:461-470; Freeman 1958:278; Bauer et al. 1990:125, 134).

Squaw Point and Sego

A post office was in operation at the Squaw Point community from November 3, 1920 to May

15, 1926 (Bauer et al. 1990:135). The community was 8 miles southwest of Dove Creek, just

northwest of the Montezuma County line in Dolores County. Farther out on Squaw Point, about 3

miles south of the Squaw Point post office, was the community of Sego. The Sego school was

organized in 1917; it closed in the early 1940s, but reopened for a short time in the early 1950s. A
26

post office was in operation there, named Sago, from July 20, 1922 to December 15, 1925. The school

served as a factory to manufacture mattresses for the CCC in the middle 1930s (Wardrip 1993:476,

612-613; Bauer et al. 1990:126). About 1_ miles northeast of the Squaw Point post office was the

Shady Grove School; it seems to have been in operation from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Yellow Jacket

Farmers first arrived in the Yellow Jacket area in about 1912. Yellow Jacket farmers were

in close proximity to more prosperous irrigated lands, so were able to borrow threshing equipment,

enabling them to be the first dry land area to grow wheat and beans. Equipment was used on a

community level, and the ability to borrow machinery enabled large tracts of land to be cleared and

farmed by about 1920 (Freeman 1958:145-146). The first store at Yellow Jacket was opened in 1914

by Charles W. Merritt, 3 miles west and 0.75 mile south of present store. The Yellow Jacket Post

Office was established there on May 5, 1914 (Bauer et al. 1990:155). Matie Bainter bought the store

and post office and operated them until 1915. George and Wilhelmina Schaaf built the current

Yellow Jacket store building in 1914 and purchased the Bainter store in 1916, resulting in the post

office moving to Schaaf’s store. Drought in the 1910s resulted in many homesteaders selling out.

Terenzio and Anna Gai bought up many of the places and began growing pinto beans (Wardrip

1993:421).

Two schools served the Yellow Jacket area. The Fair View School was built in 1911 or 1912

1.5 miles west of the present Yellow Jacket post office. It was closed between 1927 and 1933 and

students attended the nearby Four Corners School. A new schoolhouse was built next to the original

school in 1938 that operated until at least 1945 (Freeman 1958:146; Wardrip 1993:422-426). The

Four Corners School was about 5 miles southwest of the present Yellow Jacket Post Office, 7 miles

west of Lewis. School began being taught there in 1916. A new schoolhouse was built that burned

before 1925. After rebuilding, the school seems to have remained in operation until 1956 (Wardrip

1993:429-431).

Goodman Point, Shiloh, and Renaraye

Goodman Point began being settled about 1910, and the community there became known as

Shiloh as Texans moved into the area. The first Shiloh School was built in 1911 or 1912 and a new

schoolhouse was built at the same location in 1922. The school was also known as the Goodman

Point School. It remained open until 1963. The area was served by the Renaraye post office from

July 10, 1915 to January 15, 1929. The name was a composite of the first names of residents Rena

Cook and Raye Rowley (Wardrip 1993:340-341; Freeman 1958:105; Bauer et al. 1990:120).

McElmo Canyon

McElmo Canyon was a primary travel route for cattle ranchers moving animals from

summer and winter ranges. It also became the primary route used by freighters moving goods and

supplies to and from Bluff, Utah and trading posts along the San Juan River. It also saw heightened

use during the various gold, oil, and gas booms along the San Juan River, in the Aneth area, and in

McElmo Canyon itself. Until the Montezuma Valley began to be irrigated in 1889, McElmo Creek

was generally a dry watercourse. This is further suggested by the initial 1881 and 1889 General

Land Office (GLO) survey plats for the townships covering McElmo Canyon referring to the drainage

as “McElmo Arroyo.” Irrigation runoff was channeled into McElmo Creek turning it into a perennial

stream and providing water that could be used to irrigate farmland in the canyon (Freeman

1958:132). The availability of water stimulated permanent settlement in the canyon beginning in

about 1891. However, the 1889 GLO Plats show several houses and cabins in the western portion of

the canyon. Information about these early entrants is included in Table 2. As oil and gas

exploration boomed in the early 1900s, road improvements were made to facilitate the movement of

goods and services. To capitalize on the traffic through the canyon, Jim Lamb built a stone building

that was used as a stage stop and may have provided overnight accommodations (Bridgewater 2004).

Table 2. Residents in McElmo Canyon as Shown on 1889 GLO plats.

Name Legal Location Additional Information

Hamilton Sec. 31, T36N, R18W Probably Ezra Hamilton, identified as an early

settler of McElmo Canyon (Freeman 1958:135). Land
27

later acquired by Victor N. Ashbaugh as Homestead

Entry Patent on September 9, 1913.

Finley Sec. 31, T36N, R18W Perhaps Alonzo L. Finley. Land acquired by Victor

N. Ashbaugh as Cash Entry Patent on September 11,

1894.

Ellsworth Porter Sec. 32, T36N, R18W Land acquired by Porter as Cash Entry Patent on

September 11, 1894.

Ulysses G. Carpenter Sec. 34, T36N, R18W May have also been known as Grant Porter (Freeman

1958:134). Land acquired by Carpenter as Cash

Entry Patent on February 21, 1893.

Stanley Mitchell Sec. 31, T36N, R17W Land acquired by Mitchell as Cash Entry Patent on

June 11, 1908.

Carson Sec. 32, T36N, R17W Land acquired by Norman Hall as Cash Entry Patent

on May 31, 1899.

Ada Gifford Sec. 33, T36N, R17W Land acquired by Jasper D. Hall as Homestead Entry

Patent on June 11, 1900.

William Gifford Sec. 33, T36N, R17W Land acquired by James T. Giles as Homestead

Entry Patent on June 11, 1900.

John S. Wilson Sec. 34, T36N, R17W Land acquired by Wilson as Cash Entry Patent on

March 21, 1893.

Two post offices served McElmo Canyon. The McElmo Post Office, run by Harrison Hill,

operated from March 11, 1892 to March 15, 1911 (Freeman 1958:135; Bauer et al. 1990: 96). The

Moqui Post Office, run by Alexander “Sandy” Tozer, operated from June 18, 1900 to April 15, 1914

(Freeman 1958:135; Bauer et al. 1990:101). McElmo Canyon was served by several schools. The

Upper McElmo School was operated at two locations between 1896 and 1942. The McElmo School

seems to have been in session at least in the early 1910s. Battle Rock School was established in

1915 and continues to run as a charter school. The Lower McElmo School was established about

1918, moved to a new location in 1938, and closed in 1951 (Wardrip 1993:308-327).

McElmo Canyon was the first area in Montezuma County to begin fruit growing. The first

fruit trees were brought to the canyon from Canon City by Jasper and Norman Hall (Freeman

1958:134). The climate was well suited to apples, peaches, pears, plums, and grapes. Peaches from

what became known as the “Gold Medal Orchard” won a national award at the 1904 St. Louis

World’s Fair (Freeman 1958:106). Growth of the fruit business in the Cortez area was hampered by a

small market and a lack of a rail connection to transport produce out of the area. Farmers were

reluctant to form cooperatives to market their produce. This failure to find an adequate market was

compounded by insect problems, resulting in farmers switching to hay and feed corn in the 1950s,

though some fruit growing continued into the 1970s (Freeman 1958:135; Kenyon and Kenyon 2004).

Noah Barnes, who received a Homestead Entry Patent for land at the junction of Trail Canyon and

McElmo Canyon in 1900 was renowned for his watermelons (Freeman 1958:134).

Several settlers in the canyon were involved in trading posts at Aneth and along the San

Juan River. Included were Stanley Mitchell, Jesse West, Billy Meadows, and James M. Holly

(Freeman 1958:133). Holly acquired land in McElmo Canyon near the Utah state line in 1894. He

moved to Aneth in 1899 to operate a trading post. From 1899 to 1905, Holly was alarmed at the

difficulties area Navajo were having with white ranchers over grazing lands. Desiring to be of more

direct help to the Navajo, he was appointed the Indian agency farmer at Aneth in 1905 (McPherson

1995:132). The Holly ranch and adjacent Frank Ottoway ranch were later owned by Fred Taylor,

then John Ismay (Freeman 1958:134-135). Ismay and his wife constructed a trading post on the old

Holly ranch in 1921; the post is still in operation (Wardrip 1993:51; Freeman 1958:134-135).

Alexander “Sandy” Tozer operated a trading post at Aneth (Holyoke) in 1895, and moved to

Zuni before returning to settle in McElmo Canyon in 1898 (Tozer 2004a, 2004b). The Tozers then

conducted cattle ranching and farming in the area and still reside in the canyon.

An early settler in McElmo Canyon was Harry Baxstrom. Baxstrom evidently became

familiar with the canyon as a freighter between Cortez and Aneth and Bluff. Harry’s father, Peter,
28

was responsible for the construction of several of the early stone buildings in Cortez, including the

Wilson Building. Harry joined his father in the construction business and was responsible for

several of the stone structures in the canyon, including the Meadows and Bauer residences and the

old Battle Rock School. Stone was quarried west of Cortez, perhaps near the mouth of McElmo

Canyon and from the lower end of Trail Canyon (Baxstrom 2004).

Another interesting character who resided in the canyon was Reverend Howard Ray Antes.

Antes was an Indian Missionary and fruit grower. He took over the Jim Giles place [at the mouth of

Trail Canyon] and operated the “Gold Medal Orchard.” Antes was a Methodist Missionary and

established the Navajo Faith Mission at Aneth, which he named when he arrived there in 1895. The

community had previously been known as Riverview from 1878 to 1885, Holyoak from 1886 to about

1895, and Guilette for Pete Guilette, who ran a trading post there prior to 1890 (McPherson

1995:18). The mission included a large house, school, and farmland and orchards along the San

Juan River by 1904. With Antes’ persistance, the federal government was convinced to extend the

Navajo Reservation north of the San Juan River, encompassing the Aneth and Montezuma Creek

areas, on May 15, 1905. Soon thereafter, Antes came into conflict with Indian Agent, William T.

Shelton. After being unsuccessful in having Shelton discredited, Antes sold the Navajo Faith

Mission to the government in 1909 and moved to McElmo Canyon (McPherson 1995:127-131;

Freeman 1958:133-134).

Sterling Price “Sterl” Thomas also seems to have been active in McElmo Canyon. Price was

the editor of the Montezuma Journal in 1889 and took over the operation of the Riverview (Aneth)

trading post of the Guilette Brothers in 1890. He was elected County Sheriff in 1893 and on March

20, 1917 was granted a Homestead Entry patent for land southwest of Cortez at the end of the

Highline Ditch. He reportedly initiated the guiding of tourists to the Indian ruins in the McElmo

Canyon area (Freeman 1958:67, 123, 129, 248; Fred Blackburn, personal communication to Jon

Horn, August 1, 2004).

Supplemental Irrigation

Although dry farming proved to be successful, opportunities to use irrigation were seized

upon when available water made the projects viable. The earliest of these small projects was the

Rock Creek Reservoir and Canal in McElmo Canyon, just south of the Monument. The Rock Creek

Reservoir and Canal Company platted the Rock Creek Reservoir Ditch on December 19, 1904. The

headgate was in the northwest quarter of section 36, T36N, R18W and conveyed water to fill Rock

Creek Reservoir near Battle Rock. The canal was reportedly 2 feet deep and 4 to 6 feet wide.

Construction on the canal began on December 1, 1904 (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book

1, Page 8). Rock Creek Reservoir was platted at the same time by the company. It reportedly had a

34-foot-long dam that was constructed beginning December 3, 1904 at a cost of $8,000. Water from

the reservoir was for irrigation of land in parts of Sections 31 and 32, T36N, R18W, Section 6, T35N,

R18W, Sections 3 and 4, T35N, R19W, Sections 32 and 33, T36N, R19W, Section 35, T36N, R20W,

and Section 2, T35N, R20W (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 1, Page 9). The Rock

Creek Reservoir Ditch was extended in 1909 for irrigation of 400 acres of land in Sections 33, 34, and

35, T36N, R18W. The extension was platted by the Lamb Brothers on February 27, 1909

(Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 1, Page 42).

On April 17, 1908, John W. Galloway claimed water from Ute Creek, a tributary of McElmo

Creek from the south, that he had been using to irrigate portions of Section 31, T36N, R17W and

Section 36, T36N, R18W. He reported that he had been using the water for irrigation since about

1896 (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 1, Page 36). Ute Creek was an important

tributary of McElmo Canyon and provided the only water in the canyon prior to the flows being

supplemented by irrigation runoff (Fred Blackburn, personal communication to Jon Horn, August 1,

2004).

Within the current Monument area, a ditch was platted on the east bank of Trail Canyon by

A. J. Brinker on April 10, 1911. The 4,500-foot-long, 1-foot-deep, and 2 to 4-foot-wide ditch conveyed

water from Trail Canyon Creek for irrigation of 80 acres in the Sections 14 and 23, T36N, R17W.

Work on the ditch was begun on March 17, 1911 (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 2,

Page 31).
29

Later in 1911, Isabell Mitchel, John Galloway, George R. Galloway, James Finnel, Jesse

West, and A. J. Tozer platted the Black Dike Ditch in McElmo Canyon, just south of the Monument,

to irrigate land above Battle Rock. The ditch had its headgate on the south bank of McElmo Creek

in the southeast quarter of Section 32, T36N, R17W. The ditch ran 21,848 feet, was 2 feet deep, and

4 to 8 feet wide. Construction of the ditch began on September 12, 1911 (Montezuma County Clerk’s

Office, Plat Book 2, Page 52).

The Wood Ditch was platted by E. V. Wood of Reneraye in 1919. The 5,255-foot-long, 1-footdeep, and 2 to 3-foot-wide ditch had its headgate on the south bank of Yellow Jacket Wash in Section

30, T37N, R18W, within the Monument. It was intended to capture seepage and waste water from

the laterals of the No. 2 Ditch of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company system. The ditch was

surveyed on July 21, 1919 (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 4, Page 17).

Just east of the Monument, C. H. Wilson extended a ditch that originated from the west bank

of Alkali Creek near the west quarter corner of Section 31, T36N, R16W that conveyed seepage water

from the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company system into Section 34 north of McElmo Creek.

Wilson constructed his ditch in 1919 from an original ditch that had been constructed by Charles

Scholles in 1900 to Section 35, (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 4, Page 28).

The General Land Office survey plat for the 1924 resurvey of Township 37 North, Range 18

West shows a ditch on the south side of Yellow Jacket Creek that begins on the east section line of

Section 25 and running just over two miles to the west to agricultural fields in the eastern portion of

Section 27. A house is shown between the ditch and the creek on the western edge of Section 26.

These lands were later acquired by Fred V. Womack in 1940 and John M. Daniel in 1938 and no

prior entry on the parcels was officially made. This clearly shows that early residential occupation

and agriculture was being carried out there in the early 1920s, but by whom is currently not known.

The outermost expansion of dry farming agricultural was within the current boundaries of

the Canyons of the Ancient National Monument. The majority of the attempts were failures that

resulted in the land never going out of the public domain. A considerable quantity of land within the

Monument was subject to homesteading attempts that failed and were remained in the public

domain by way of cancellation or relinquishment.

Roads

Early travel in the region was generally by ways of paths of least resistance. Canyons were

frequently used as routes of travel, but more commonly canyons and heavily vegetated areas were

avoided as being too steep or difficult to traverse. Two principal travel routes existed in the vicinity

of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The first was the generally north-south route of

the Spanish Trail. The Spanish Trail in the vicinity of the Monument followed the route taken by

the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition in 1776. Soon thereafter, the route taken by Dominguez and

Escalante was extended northwestward into Utah, through East Canyon and the Spanish Valley on

its way to Utah Lake on the west side of the Wasatch Range, where it turned southeastward and

eventually extended as far as southern California. By the time it connected to southern California in

the 1820s, the territory it traversed was part of Mexico, so the Spanish Trail name is a bit of a

misnomer. From the late 1820s through the 1850s, the route was used for annual trade caravans

transporting goods between New Mexico and California. In 1859, the Spanish Trail was the route

used by the Macomb Expedition in its reconnaissance in anticipation of military movements against

the Mormons. The Macomb Expedition is best known for its exploration of southeastern Utah; their

travels took them to an overlook of the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers and they were

the first to collect dinosaur fossil specimens from the region. In the vicinity of the Monument, the

expedition was the first to describe the ruins of Yellow Jacket Pueblo (Macomb 1876).

The route of the Spanish Trail is depicted on the map prepared by the Hayden Expedition

during the examination of the region in 1874 and 1875. When scaled to current maps, the route of

the trail is shown to pass in a southeast to northwest trajectory just northeast of the Monument at

the head of Cahone and Cross canyons. When topography shown on the Hayden Survey map is

taken into consideration, it is entirely possible that the trail passed slightly farther west and
30

actually entered the Monument. The route from the southeast would have been by way of a small

drainage south of and tributary to Little Cahone Canyon, the lower end of Little Cahone Canyon,

across Cahone Canyon, and out of the canyon onto the mesa top to the northwest. About 0.5 mile

farther northwest, the route would have entered a small drainage heading northwest into Cross

Canyon at its junction with Alkali Canyon, and continued across Cross Canyon, which it exited by

way of a drainage continuing to the northwest. Whether this route is topographically feasible is not

known. It appears that the junction of Cross Canyon and Alkali Canyon may have provided a

reliable source of water known as Ojo Valecito [Vallecito], which means Little Valley Spring.

Until the advent of the automobile, travel from Cortez northwestward into Utah along the

general routed of the Spanish Trail was along little more than a wagon track through the sagebrush.

Even with agricultural settlement of the region in the 1910s, no formal road improvements were

forthcoming until the early 1920s. Existing roads from Moab to Gallup were linked in 1921 to form

what was initially termed the Moab to Gallup Highway. Mileage of the route was logged and a map

prepared so that it could be used to promote tourism to the region. A key promotional point for the

highway was a spur that could be taken from Cortez to Mesa Verde National Park (Grand Valley

Times, August 18, 1921). A committee was organized, comprised of community leaders from the

towns traversed by the route, to promote the road, which was named the “Navajo Trail.” The

highway was touted as a scenic route that provided a connection between the Pikes Peak Ocean to

Ocean Highway (Midland Trail) at Thompson Springs north of Moab, Utah, and the Santa Fe Trail

(National Old Trails Highway), which passed through Gallup, New Mexico (Grand Valley Times,

September 1, 1921). The organization was supported by all of the towns along the route through

their Chamber of Commerces. The principal towns along the route – Moab, Monticello, Mancos,

Cortez, and Gallup – committed to and succeeded in raising $150 each for route-marking signs,

which were produced in Cortez and installed in early November 1921 (Grand Valley Times, October

20, 1921, November 3, 1921, November 10, 1921). With the route marked, maps and promotional

literature were produced for distribution to tourists through automobile associations nationwide.

One of the benefits of the route that was promoted was that it was passable throughout the winter

and tourists on the Pike’s Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway could deviate south along the Navajo Trail

to the Santa Fe Trail and travel all the way to California (Grand Valley Times, November 10, 1921).

Beginning in December 1921, efforts were made to have the Navajo Trail designated as a federal

interstate highway, thereby making it eligible to receive federal funds for improvements (Grand

Valley Times, December 22, 1921; December 29, 1921). By early 1922, the road had been designated

as a federal aid project in Colorado with improvement work between Cortez and Dove Creek planned

for that summer; similar designation for the Utah portion was made in 1923 (Grand Valley Times,

February 9, 1922; August 23, 1923, November 8, 1923). In 1925, the route was officially designated

U.S. Highway 450 (Times Independent [Moab, Utah], November 26, 1925). Federal surveyors laid

out a new alignment for the highway that was in a straight line, rather than the circuitous route it

had taken that followed land ownership boundaries on section lines (Times Independent [Moab,

Utah], May 27, 1926). Soon thereafter, the route was graded and surfaced with gravel. The last

section of road to be graveled was 15 miles between Shiprock and the Colorado state line in 1930

(Times Independent [Moab, Utah], June 26, 1930). However, in the early 1930s, Colorado failed to

maintain their section of the highway and travelers had difficulties traversing the route, particularly

during the winter months (Times Independent [Moab, Utah], December 3, 1931, December 29, 1932).

This was remedied a few years later when a more direct route was laid out by the State Highway

Department in 1935 and 1936, assisted by laborers from Camp DG-9-C of the Civilian Conservation

Corps stationed west of Ackmen, and an oil surface was applied to the whole route in 1936 and 1937

(Freeman 1958:116, 118, 147, 152; Wardrip 1993:436-437). The completed highway was numbered

U.S. Highway 666; this designation was changed in 2003 to U.S. Highway 491.

The second principal travel route in the vicinity of the Monument was through McElmo

Canyon. This was a natural travel way between the Montezuma Valley and the San Juan River.

Although considerable travel had taken place by stock raisers moving cattle and sheep between

summer and winter ranges, freighters moving goods to and from the town of Bluff, Utah, and trading

posts on the San Juan River, and by local settlers, travel through the canyon was along a relatively

unimproved route that followed the path of least resistance. Modifications of the road alignment

became necessary with increased water flow in McElmo Creek due to irrigation runoff from the

Montezuma Valley. From the early 1900s to the early 1910s, some of these route changes were
31

formally platted (Montezuma County Clerk’s Office, Plat Book 3 Pages 18, 57, and 58). Gas and oil

exploration along the San Juan River near Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah in 1909 was the primary

impetus for early road improvements in the canyon. Cortez benefited greatly by being the supply

base for oil exploration, so the County Commissioners approved expenditures to improve the road

through McElmo Canyon. Considerable road construction was done in 1910, but flooding in 1911

resulted in abandonment of much of what had been done and construction began on a new route on

the south side of the canyon (Freeman 1958:132, 259, 260, 265). The road in McElmo Canyon was a

gravel road until it was paved to the Utah state line in 2002. Prior to being pave, it had been

considerably upgraded and well maintained, principally because of its importance in serving the

Aneth Oil Field in Utah.

With the advent of gas and oil exploration and prospecting for uranium, a large number of

roads were constructed on federal land. Evidently, some of the roads were constructed by the federal

government in the late 1940s and 1950s to facilitate the discovery of uranium deposits. Oil and gas

roads have been constructed by oil companies to provide access to drilling locations and producing

wells.

A third travel route is indicated by the General Land Office (GLO) survey plats for the

resurveys of Township 38 North, Ranges 18 and 19 West from 1917 and 1922 for a road to Bluff,

Utah originating at Ackmen at an intersection with the main road to Monticello from Dolores and

Cortez. The road headed southwest on the mesa between Ruin Canyon and Hovenweep Canyon.

The route may mirror that of a road shown on the 1891 GLO plat of Township 38 North, Range 19

West, so may be quite old.

Railroads

Initial settlement and the growth of the Montezuma Valley was facilitated by railroads. In

1881, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad extended their line from Alamosa to Durango. The

following year, this line was extended northward to Silverton to tap the riches of the San Juan

Mountains. Also in 1882, the expulsion of the Ute from most of western Colorado enabled the

Denver & Rio Grande Railroad to extend a their line to Gunnison westward to Montrose, then

northward through Delta and Grand Junction on its way to Salt Lake City, providing the railroad

with a transcontinental connection. Having a railroad nearby made it possible for the cattle industry

of the region to flourish and stimulated agricultural settlement. Even closer rail service was

afforded the region in 1890-1891 with the construction of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad through

Dolores and Mancos. Both towns prospered as a result of their rail connection, and the agricultural

settlement of the Montezuma Valley was further stimulated, but a railroad extension to Cortez was

not forthcoming, though highly desired.

Plans to construct a railroad to Cortez north from Gallup had been proposed in the later

1880s, but the decline of the silver industry associated with the Panic of 1893 put an end to these

plans. It was with great anticipation that plans were made in 1913 to construct a railroad between

Albuquerque and Salt Lake City through Cortez. Meetings were held in Denver to formalize plans

for the railroad with W. K. Palmer of Kansas City. A committee of Cortez men was established,

comprised of E. R. Lamb, C. H. Rudy, G. O. Harrison, L. G. Grasse, Charles Hopper, F. M.

Goodykoontz, James M. Clark, W. J. Moffitt, and F. L. Miller. Unfortunately, the Albuquerque,

Cortez & Salt Lake Railroad never got beyond the planning stage (Grand Valley Times, October 17,

1913).

Still, the idea of building a railroad was not dead and promotion of a railroad was again

initiated in 1921, but failed to materialize (Freeman 1958:230, 278). Coal and oil of the area were

the subject of much interest and a rail line north from the Santa Fe Railroad in New Mexico was

promoted for a short time in 1926. The plan was to extend a branch line from the Santa Fe Railroad

near Gallup northward through the San Juan Basin and onward through Cortez, terminating at

Moab. The prospect of a rail connection again caused considerable excitement in the area, but no

firm plans were ever made and the project failed to make headway (Times Independent [Moab,

Utah], September 9, 1926).
32

Scientific Investigations

Scientific interest in the Monument area has largely been with its archaeological resources.

The Macomb expedition of 1859 was in keeping with government exploration expeditions of the time

in that, not only was information being collected for military purposes, but data about the natural

and physical characteristics of the areas being traversed were documented. Although the expedition

did not detour into the present Monument beyond following the route of the Spanish Trail, they did

note the presence of Yellow Jacket Pueblo (Macomb 1876). The Hayden Expedition had a more

direct mandate of preparing rather detailed topographic maps of the region and collecting

information about its natural and scientific wonders along with some information about the people

who resided there. Although they did not explore the Monument area extensively, they did visit

Hovenweep Castle and examined the extensive canyon system sufficiently to depict it rather

accurately. Lewis Henry Morgan ventured into the region in 1878 and was the first to attempt to

document and interpret the ruins of Mancos Canyon, Yucca House, and Mud Springs with an

anthropological perspective (Fred Blackburn, personal communication to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004).

As the lands in and around the current Monument began to be surveyed in preparation for

settlement, the prominent Indian ruins of the region were noted. In 1889, the ruins at Goodman

Point were brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Interior, John W. Noble, by the

Commissioner of the General Land Office. An inspector was sent to the area, who recommended that

steps be taken to preserve the ruins. Following the recommendations of both the inspector and the

Commissioner of the General Land Office, Noble directed that Section 4 of Township 36 North,

Range 17 West be withdrawn from the public domain in order to protect the ruins there “from

wrongful removal or destruction” (Noble 1889). This was soon after the excitement of the discovery

of Mesa Verde was made public and interest in ruins associated with the “cliff dwellers” was quite

high. Still, it is quite remarkable that the withdrawal of land containing the Goodman Point Pueblo

was the first time the federal government took official steps to protect archaeological resources on

the public domain. The portion of Section 4 with the ruins on it has remained under federal control

and is currently part of Hovenweep National Monument. At about this same time, James M. Holly,

a trading post operator at Aneth and later resident of McElmo Canyon conducted excavations in

what later became Hovenweep National Monument. The Holly Ruin is named for him (Fred

Blackburn, personal communication to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004). Interest in Anasazi ruins was

widespread and they were recognized as important tourist destinations. To capitalize on this

tourism, the Manitou Cliff Dwellers Ruins Company dismantled an Anasazi ruin in McElmo Canyon

and transported it to Manitou Springs, where they reassembled the stones into a replica Anasazi cliff

dwelling that was opened to the public in 1906. Evidently, Adam Lewy facilitated the purchase of

the cliff dwelling for the company (Fred Blackburn, personal communication to Jon Horn, August 1,

2004).

The first professional archaeological survey within the current monument boundaries was

carried out by Sylvanus G. Morley, Alfred V. Kidder, and John G. Fletcher for the School of

American Archaeology, later known as the School of American Research, in 1907 (Morley 1917;

Woodbury 1973). The party was based at the Holly Ranch in McElmo Canyon (Lipe 1996). The

following summer, Morley returned and excavated the south pueblo of Cannonball Ruins, the report

of which was published later in 1908 (Morley 1908). Not only was this the first professional

published excavation report for the McElmo District, it provided important data for the definition of

the Anasazi in the northern San Juan region. The survey and excavation were the first professional

archaeological projects conducted by Morley and launched his career as a prominent Mayanist (Lipe

1996).

In 1919, Jesse Walter Fewkes conducted a survey of the region focusing on the more

spectacular ruins of the area (Fewkes 1919). With this more detailed information and the original

recognition of important ruins on the public domain, other parcels of land were withdrawn, together

designated as Hovenweep National Monument in 1923. A more comprehensive investigation of the

prehistory of the region began in 1928 when the Colorado Historical Society initiated excavations

under the direction of Paul S. Martin. Martin worked at many of the most prominent ruins in the

area under the auspices of the Colorado Historical Society and the Chicago Field Museum through

1936 (Martin 1936; Tyson 1996). His work at Lowry Ruin stimulated the General Land Office to
33

terminate land entries there and withdraw the site area from the public domain. Lowry Ruin was

designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 (Athearn 1996; Schroeder 1962).

In 1962, National Park Service archaeologist, Albert H. Schroeder, conducted a large survey

of lands surrounding some of the Hovenweep National Monument units. Part of this work resulted

in the designation of Lowry Ruin as a National Historic Landmark (Schroeder 1962, 1968). Between

1965 and 1971, considerable additional archaeological survey was done by the University of

Colorado. Work was supervised by Robert Lister from 1965 to 1969 and by David Breternitz from

1969 to 1971. Several ruins within the current Monument were stabilized by the University of

Colorado in the 1970s (Martin et al. 1971; Breternitz 2004). Subsequent surveys between 1974 and

1977 were conducted in the vicinity of the Hovenweep units by San Jose State University (Winter

1975, 1976, 1977; Hammet and Olsen 1984). The majority of cultural resource inventories in the

Monument area since 1977 have been by a variety of cultural resource consultants on a project

specific basis. The only exception was an inventory conducted by Alpine Archaeological Consultants,

Inc. of areas surrounding the Hovenweep Units in 1990 (Greubel 1991). In addition, Fort Lewis

College and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center has tested or partly excavated numerous prehistoric

sites in the Monument area. Most recently, Woods Canyon Archaeological Consultants of Yellow

Jacket have been conducting large block inventories for the Canyons of the Ancients National

Monument.

Gas and Oil Exploration

Oil and gas exploration in the Four Corners area began in the early 1900s. Evidently, in late

1908, McElmo Canyon had been identified as an area with good potential for the discovery of oil.

Consequently, local individuals began staking claims, with Ezra and Isabella Hambleton staking the

first claims on November 15, 1908. It appears that the convention for filing claims for oil and gas

claims was unclear for a number of years and the claims were made as placer claims, usually of 160

acres in size. Claims made from 1908 to early 1913 were filed in the Montezuma County

Courthouse, so a good idea of where the initial exploration took place is recorded, as are the names of

the individuals involved (Appendix A). After January 1, 1913, it appears that interest in staking

claims ceased and no further claims were recorded. No other areas in the vicinity of the Monument

seem to have been involved in this initial oil and gas excitement. The claims were probably made in

the hope that they would be leased and the claimants would benefit not only from the lease, but from

whatever oil was discovered.

The first discoveries of oil of any merit in the region were made along the San Juan River at

Mexican Hat in 1909, where eight oil rigs were put into production. This and subsequent discoveries

in the vicinity of Bluff caused considerable excitement in the Cortez area. The Montezuma Oil &

Development Company was organized in 1910 by individuals from Cortez. They intended to acquire

oil leases and bring in an oil rig capable of drilling to depths of 5,000 feet. By 1912, this first oil rush

to southeastern Utah had ended (McPherson 1995:249-251; Freeman 1958:261).

In 1911, oil exploration began in the Cortez area. The Big Four-San Juan Oil and

Development Company brought a drill rig from Pagosa Springs to begin drilling for oil in McElmo

Canyon near Battle Rock in 1911. There, the company made the first strike of oil in Montezuma

County when it encountered oil at a depth of 150 feet on July 12, 1911. The flow of oil was light and

was accompanied by a large quantity of water. Evidently, the find was not viable economically and

no other discoveries were made. In 1914, the Big Four oil rig was moved to Disappointment Valley

to begin explorations there (Freeman 1958:263-264, 269). About 4 miles south of Cortez, the Mesa

Verde Oil & Gas Company began drilling a well in June 1911 that encountered artesian water at 635

feet and a small amount of gas. The company started a second well in October 1911, apparently with

no success (Freeman 1958:263-264). The lackluster results in the Cortez area resulted in exploration

being focused elsewhere. In February 1913, oil was discovered at the meadows below Farmington,

which gave hope to speculators in southwestern Colorado, but no further exploration in the Cortez

area seems to have resulted (Freeman 1958:266).

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 changed the way that coal, phosphates, oil, gas, oil shale,

sodium, sulphur, and potash were managed on federal lands. As a result, these minerals were no

longer subject to being claimed in the fashion that precious metals were. This eliminated the filing
34

of mining claims for oil and gas in county courthouses. Instead, leases of lands for oil and gas

exploration were recorded with the General Land Office and then with the Bureau of Land

Management, after its establishment in 1946 (Appendix B). Leasing of lands within the current

Monument boundaries began in late 1920 and was intensive through 1923. This period of

speculation was bolstered by the discovery of oil by the Midwest Oil Company in McElmo Canyon in

late 1921. The well had been started by the Midwest Refining Company in 1920 and turned over to

the Midwest Oil Company for completion. The excitement caused by the discovery resulted in

considerable leasing activity in the McElmo Creek area, as well as on what was termed the “Dove

Creek Dome” and in southeastern Utah. The company capped their well after the discovery in order

to secure additional leases in the area (Grand Valley Times, September 1, 1921; September 8, 1921;

September 15, 1921; September 22, 1921). It was expected that the company would resume drilling

in 1922. Instead, they pulled the casing from the well and dismantled the drill rig (Freeman

1958:277-278). The company moved to another location in McElmo Canyon where they encountered

a good gas deposit at a depth of 4,200 feet on March 25, 1922. It was expected that with deeper

drilling that oil would be struck. After drilling several hundred more feet, the bottom of the well was

shot with nitroglycerin in order to fracture the stone and, presumably, release underlying oil.

Shooting the well failed to produce any oil. The casing was pulled to a depth of 1,900 feet, where a

small flow of oil had initially been encountered, and the lower portion of the hole filled with rock in

preparation for shooting the well at that level. Evidently, this effort also failed to yield oil in

sufficient quantity to be economic (Grand Valley Times, April 6, 1922; April 13, 1922; June 1, 1922;

June 18, 1922; Freeman 1958:278). In October 1922, the discovery of a producing well in the San

Juan Basin, 15 miles west of Farmington, New Mexico, kept hopes high (Freeman 1958:279), but the

failure of the most promising discoveries in the immediate area and with no new discoveries being

made, few leases were negotiated in 1924 and 1925.

From 1926 through 1928, leasing increased considerably. This coincided with the discovery

of oil and gas nearby at Gibson Dome and Cane Creek and exploration of the Lisbon Dome, all in

southeastern Utah. These discoveries gave impetus to exploring the Dove Creek Dome, which was

probably the focus of much of the leasing (Times Independent, Moab, Utah, March 3, 1927). Leases

throughout the 1920s were principally to what could be termed local individuals, dominated by

people from Durango. Individuals from Silverton, Cortez, Dove Creek, Ackmen, Renaraye, and Ruin

Canyon are also well represented. Considerable leasing to individuals from Denver also took place.

In addition, leases were made to individuals from Greeley, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Salt Lake City,

Casper, Wyoming, and distant states, such as Oklahoma, Kentucky, Idaho, Michigan, Illinois,

Washington, and California. Although most of the leasing by local individuals was probably as

speculation with hopes that the leases would be acquired by a large oil company, some of the

exploration was financed by local speculators. For example, Howard A. Garwood and Charles Milton

of Ackmen organized a company, in 1925, that put thousand of acres under lease and planned to drill

for oil near Ackmen (Freeman 1958:282).

Beginning in 1928, leases were dominated by individuals from Pueblo; this trend continued

into the 1950s. Only three leases were established from 1929 to 1931. From 1932 through 1934,

leasing increased somewhat. Even with previous failures, McElmo Canyon continued to be the focus

of exploration. A well drilled by Teague & Coon in McElmo Canyon on the Jesse West ranch struck

gas accompanied by a small amount of oil at 3,131 feet in late 1934 (Freeman 1958:287-288). Again,

the flow was insufficient to be economical. No leases were established in 1935, and just a few leases

were put in place from 1936 to 1938. From 1939 through 1942, only one new lease was made, and

from 1943 to 1947, leasing was relatively infrequent. Stanolind Co. struck gas with a small amount

of oil in McElmo Canyon at a depth of 4,762 feet in the summer of 1944, but abandoned the well later

that year (Freeman 1958:295-296).

A major discovery of oil was made 12 miles west of Pleasant View in 1948 (O’Rourke

1992:158), ushering in a resurgence in leasing in the area that has continued vigorously to the

present day. The dry ice plant in McElmo Canyon was made possible by the discovery of carbon

dioxide encountered in an oil and gas drill hole at a depth of 7,000 feet. In order to take advantage of

the discovery, Colorado Carbonics, Inc. was formed in 1949 to investigate the feasibility of utilizing

the gas for the manufacture of dry ice. The gas was piped 4_ miles down the canyon to a convenient

place for a plant. Natural gas from a 1,500-foot-deep well nearby was piped 1_ miles down canyon to
35

the plant for power and heating (Freeman 1958:158). The presence of oil in the Aneth area was

recognized in 1953. The first producing well was drilled by the Texas Company (Texaco) in early

1956. The discovery resulted in the development of the Aneth Oil Field (McPherson 1995:209).

Although in Utah, the Aneth Oil Field is accessed by way of McElmo Canyon and is supplied by

businesses in Cortez.

Mining

Mining in and around the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument was principally

focused on uranium/vanadium and coal. Although prospecting for uranium and staking of claims

was rampant in the Monument in the 1940s and 1950s, actual mining was quite limited. Coal

mining also seems to have been on a small scale and rather peripheral. Other mining is alluded to

within the Monument (Dicken 2004), but except for uranium/vanadium and coal mining, no specific

information is known to say where and when such mining would have occurred or for what minerals.

The only non-uranium/vanadium precious metal mining known in the vicinity of the Monument was

a single mine at the Black Dike near Battle Rock in McElmo Canyon, dug by Jack Kelly. The mine

reportedly yielded small quantities of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, vanadium, uranium, and barite.

Kelly also reportedly prospected and mined on Ute Mountain. An individual named John Voelter

also reportedly did some prospecting in the McElmo Canyon area after World War I (Jeter 2004;

Bridgewater 2004; Baxstrom 2004; Kenyon and Kenyon 2004).

Uranium and Vanadium

The advent of the nuclear age brought the canyon lands of southeastern Utah and

southwestern Colorado into focus as a primary sources of uranium. Gold and silver mining had been

the impetus for settling southwestern Colorado, but those deposits were in the San Juan and La

Plata Mountains, well to the east. A small amount of mining took place in the La Sal Mountains of

Utah and gold was discovered on the San Juan River in Utah that resulted in a short-lived rush

there in 1892 and 1893 (McPherson 1995:126, 135-136).

Uranium was first discovered in 1879 in the Sinbad Valley of Colorado, but was not properly

identified until 1898. Radium, found in association with uranium, was much sought after in the late

1890s for medical experiments, principally by French scientists Antoine Henri Becquerel and Pierre

and Marie Curie. A mill was established on the Dolores River in San Miguel County to process

radium ore. The high price of radium stimulated a mining boom in the Colorado Plateau region of

Colorado and Utah focusing on carnotite ore that contained uranium, vanadium, and radium.

Carnotite ore from the Colorado Plateau was no longer economically competitive on the world

market after 1921 because of an influx of high-grade pitchblende ore from the Belgian Congo. As a

result of the plummeting price for radium, most mining and milling of carnotite ceased in Colorado

and Utah in 1923 (Amundson 2002:2-4; Chenoweth 1990:20; Hahne 1989).

Despite the collapse of the radium market, vanadium became increasingly sought after

beginning in the late 1920s. Union Carbide, the Vanadium Corporation of America, North Continent

Mines Company, and the International Vanadium Company acquired carnotite mining claim

holdings in Colorado and Utah and constructed vanadium processing mills in the region. Howard

Balsley of Moab formed a uranium-buying company in order to acquire uranium ore that was being

discarded by vanadium miners in the region. Balsley established warehouses at various places in

southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado, including Dove Creek. Beginning in 1934, he sold

his uranium ore to the Vitro Manufacturing Company for use in coloring ceramics and glass

(Amundson 2002:5, 7). Vanadium does not seem to have been sought on the Monument, but a

uranium/vanadium mine reportedly was operated on the east end of McElmo Canyon between World

Wars I and II (Jeter 2004).

In the late 1930s, the principles of radioactivity and the energy potential of nuclear chain

reactions began to be understood, including its potential as a fission explosive device. Beginning in

1942, the Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey combined to conduct secretive core-drilling

programs at select locations in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison formation on the Colorado

Plateau. Exploration was reported to be for vanadium, but was actually done to explore for uranium

in order to acquire ore for development of the nuclear bomb under the Manhattan Project (Godfrey
36

1991:31; Carter and Gualtieri 1965:39). Uranium ore for the Manhattan Project was acquired as

discarded material from vanadium tailings from mills in Blanding, Utah, Naturita, Durango, Slick

Rock, Gateway, and Loma and from the stockpiles held by Howard Balsley (Amundson 2002:8-9).

Following World War II, the Atomic Energy Act was passed to promote the use of nuclear

energy for both domestic and defense purposes. It established that fissionable materials would be

under the control of the federal government, but promoted exploration for and mining of uranium by

the general public. The act also resulted in the government establishing prices for uranium ore and

being the sole buyer, refiner, and producer for atomic use (Amundson 2002:19-20). Beginning in

1948, the government began working to expand the uranium industry. The Atomic Energy

Commission joined with the U.S. Geological Survey to identify and withdraw public lands where

uranium was known to exist and lease them for mining; the present Canyons of the Ancients

National Monument was not one of these areas. However, guaranteed prices resulted in citizen

prospectors fanning out across the Colorado Plateau in search of uranium deposits that would make

them rich. Government-sponsored exploration and purchase continued through 1958 (Amundson

2002:22-23). In 1958, the government determined that supplies of uranium had reached a point

where unrestricted exploration and purchase was no longer necessary. Although the quantity of ore

sent to processing mills increased through the early 1960s, rampant prospecting and speculation

activities ceased (Amundson 2002:106-111).

Exposed in the canyons of the Monument are the geological Summerville formation and

Entrada sandstone. The Entrada sandstone evidently was the formation that uranium prospecting

focused upon. Although uranium deposits were found within the Monument, mining was of small

scale. Rather extensive staking of claims took place as speculative ventures. Some of the claims

seem to have been surveyed, but none ever became patented and left the public domain. The vast

majority of the claim records for the Monument are in the Montezuma County Courthouse; only one

uranium claim seems to have been recorded for the Monument area in the Dolores County

Courthouse. Claim records in the Montezuma County Courthouse were examined for the period of

March 1953 to March 1955 to get a sense of where uranium prospecting was focused and who was

active in the staking of claims (Appendix C). During that two-year period, over 1,600 claims were

staked within the Monument. The majority of the activity seems to have been centered on Cross

Canyon, though Cannon Ball Mesa, Goodman Point, McClean Basin, Yellow Jacket Canyon, Bridge

Canyon, Ruin Canyon, Hovenweep Canyon, Cahone Mesa, Sandstone Canyon, Grave Yard Canyon,

Blue Basin, and Cow Canyon are also mentioned. Like the initial phases of oil and gas speculation

in the region, many of the individuals that filed Location Certificates for uranium claims were local

residents. It also appears that speculators were active in staking claims; these individuals evidently

were financed by investors who then had their names attached to a claim. It is difficult to ascertain

the mechanisms by which names were attached to claims. Clearly, when individuals from out of

state are listed on a claim, they were likely investors only and not participants in the actual staking.

Many of the local individuals listed on the Location Certificates may also have been investors only,

with no actual on-the-ground participation. The impetus for such rampant speculation was hope

that a claim would be leased, then produce a wealth of uranium for which the locators would gain

royalties.

The majority of the mining claims in the Monument were filed by individuals. In only a few

instances are companies listed. Some of the companies are local entities, such as from Durango or

Grand Junction. One of the more interesting companies involved in uranium exploration in the

Monument was the Neese Exploration Company, founded by Urban E. Neese in the early 1950s.

Neese was the founder of Tidelands Exploration Company of Houston and Calgary. It provided

seismic, gravity, and magnetic surveys worldwide. Neese sold his interest in the company to form

the Neese Exploration Company in Houston, which specialized in the collection and processing of

gravity data. The company is still in existence as Neese Gravity Meter Exploration Group under the

leadership of Urban’s son, Robert U. Neese (Neese Gravity Meter Exploration

www.gravityservices.com , November 17, 2003). According to Robert U. Neese, his father was a

mining engineer, educated at the University of Alaska, and became potential field geophysicist. The

company initially focused on gravity survey work for oil exploration throughout the Rocky

Mountains. When the uranium boom took place, the company offered claim surveying and conducted

core drilling through a subsidiary company named Los Amigos; they also acquired a number of
37

claims. The company had offices in Grand Junction, Cortez, Montrose, Durango and Denver

(Personal communication, Robert U. Neese to Jon Horn, November 17, 2003).

Local residents Robert and Francis Young reportedly staked 3,000 uranium claims in the

Monument with Danny Dalrymple. They mined what they called the Blue Eagle Mine in Cross

Canyon from 1951 to 1960 and kept the Blue Eagle claims until about 1980, when the assessment

costs became too expensive for them to keep the claims current. They mined using a Model A Ford

engine to run a compressor to power a jackhammer and drill. Ore was blasted loose and taken by

wheel barrow to a chute, where it was loaded one ton at a time into a Dodge Power Wagon. Initially,

the government paid $3 per ton for the ore with a $3 per ton premium; vanadium sold for 23 cents

per pound. If the ore had sufficient uranium content, the government would pay to have it shipped

to the mill. Consequently, a large quantity of low-grade ore was disposed of. When the government

ceased paying the premium, it was no longer profitable to mine the ore. Dalrymple evidently

reopened some old mines in the 1970s. Channing Mining Company operated one of the three larger

uranium mines in the Cross Canyon area. Numerous smaller operations in the Cross Canyon area

were run by Bob Hampton, Fendell Sitton, Ernest Watkins, Tommy Ringwald, Johnny Paycheck,

and Bud O'Bannon (Young 2004; Young and Young 2004; Harris and Harris 2004).

Jerry Chaffin did some uranium prospecting in 1948 or 1949 and staked a group of 15 claims

in Yellow Jacket Canyon near Lone Pine Canyon. He dug a tunnel 15 feet deep as improvement

work and did this every year as assessment work for a while. He only needed one tunnel to hold all

15 claims in the group. Samples taken as the tunnels were dug were sent to the Colorado School of

Mines for analysis. The ore was too low grade to be economical to mine, so he gave up his claims.

After he quit doing assessment work, the claims may have been restaked by Bob Layton (Chaffin and

Chaffin 2004).

Other local individuals known to have done uranium mining on the Monument were Audrey

Wayman with her brother, Bob Holland, and his son, Howard Holland, and a man named Sparks,

who had a uranium mine in Squaw Canyon (Wayman 2004; Young 2004).

Coal

Four coal leases were granted within the current boundaries of the Monument (Appendix D).

The first was granted to Joseph Murphy and Peter Ely of Lewis on May 12, 1923 for land on the

northwest side of Yellow Jacket Canyon just north of Dawson Draw; it was terminated on May 11,

1925. A second lease was granted to Jacob M. May and others of Lewis on October 1, 1926 on the

southeast side of Yellow Jacket Canyon, nearly opposite that of the Murphy and Ely lease; it was

terminated September 30, 1928. On September 27, 1937, Arley C. Short of Cortez obtained a coal

lease. On the same date, Harry W. Oborne of Colorado Springs obtained a coal lease. Both of the

leases were for land west of Alkali Creek about 2 miles north of McElmo Canyon. Short’s lease was

terminated on September 26, 1939 and Oborne’s lease was terminated on December 17, 1939.

Other coal mines may predate these leases or be in the vicinity of the Monument. Homer

Hughes reportedly had a coal mine in Yellow Jacket Canyon on Pat Honaker’s place; he hired

someone to do the mining (Honaker and Honaker 2004). A coal mine was developed off of the end of

Squaw Point by Henry Mars. He could not compete with other mines in Hay Gulch and near

Shiprock, so it was never developed beyond a source for local consumption (Dicken 2004). Another

coal mine was reportedly present in Hartman Draw (Jeter 2004). Another small coal mine in Yellow

Jacket Canyon was reportedly used by “Grandpa” Ives to run a still (Connolly 1996:17). Closer to

Cortez are several coal mines in upper McElmo Canyon near Mitchell Springs (Fred Blackburn,

personal communication to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004).

Monument Place Names

Several of the place names within the Monument have historical significance that is known.

The Hayden Expedition recorded a few place names in and around the current Monument during

their mapping of the region in 1874 and 1875. Included are McElmo Creek, Hovenweep Creek,

Battle Rock, and Yellow Jacket Spring. These are names with the greatest historical antiquity,

though Native Americans certainly have names for places in the Monument that may have greater
38

time depth. The word Hovenweep is clearly of Ute origin. The origin of “McElmo” has been reported

to have been named for an individual that died in the canyon. Local residents, Kelly and Gary

Wilson, report that McElmo Canyon was named for Thomas McElmel, who came as a miner to the

La Plata Mountains in 1872 or 1873 with John Moss; he died in McElmo Canyon and is reportedly

buried in Graveyard Canyon (Wilson and Wilson 2004; Fred Blackburn, personal communication to

Jon Horn, August 1, 2004). Possibly collaborating this information are stories of a miner by the

name of McElmo that died while traveling through the canyon between Utah and the San Juan

Mountains. Battle Rock was named for a large battle between the Navajo and the Ute. Castle Rock

in McElmo Canyon was named by a woman friend of the Meadows family that thought the rock

looked like a castle (Tozer 2004a). However, there are problems in the designation of these two

places in that Castle Rock was what was originally referred to as Battle Rock and what is currently

called Battle Rock was later referred to as Battle Rock Mountain (Fred Blackburn, personal

communication to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004). Other named locations in McElmo Canyon include

Fortress Rock, just northeast of Battle Rock, and Turtle Rock, immediately south of Battle Rock, that

are labeled on the 1889 General Land Office (GLO) township survey plats of the area. Yellow Jacket

Spring, as depicted on the Hayden Survey map, is shown in the vicinity of Little Cahone Canyon

rather than in the vicinity of the community of Yellow Jacket or the head of Yellow Jacket Canyon.

Likewise, what is depicted on the Hayden Survey map as Hovenweep Creek best corresponds to

Yellow Jacket Canyon.

Goodman Point, Goodman Canyon, and Goodman Lake are all named for Henry Goodman,

who came to the area in the early 1880s as the foreman of the L. C. Cattle Company. He was later a

prominent rancher in his own right, using the Monument area for winter range, beginning in the

middle 1880s. Goodman Lake is depicted on the 1889 GLO township plat of the area. Henry

Goodman’s name is also plotted on the 1884 GLO township plat for Township 39 North, Range 18

West along the Utah Road in Cahone Canyon. The map is clearly inaccurate when compared to

current maps with the topography incorrectly depicted and offset nearly one mile to the south.

However, the location is shown at the junction of canyons, one of which is labeled Valecito Canyon.

It is likely that this junction is that of Alkali Canyon with Cross Canyon and the junction is the point

where Ojo Valecito was depicted along the Spanish Trail on the Hayden Expedition map of 1874-

1875. Some confirmation of this is a trail shown reaching the same intersection from the southeast

that likely is the same as the Spanish Trail. That Henry Goodman’s name is attached to the

junction, suggests he may have controlled the spring there (Ojo Valecito) as part of his ranching

operation.

Bill Graham, an early cattleman in the Dove Creek area, reportedly named Dove Creek, Bug

Springs, Secret Springs, and Cedar Point (Ellis 2002). Charles Johnson, son of Charles “Racehorse”

Johnson, was nicknamed “Bug.” It is possible that Bug Point and Bug Springs were named for him

(Bankston 1987:109). Trail Canyon was a major thoroughfare for moving cattle in and out of

McElmo Canyon and the name dates to the early period of cattle ranching in the area. Other names,

such as Ruin Canyon, Cow Canyon, Cahone Canyon, Hackberry Canyon, Bridge Canyon, Spook

Canyon, Burro Canyon, Sandstone Canyon, and Cannon Ball Mesa probably were named during the

ranching period as well; some of these appear on the GLO township plats of the area. The 1889 GLO

plats document Hovenweep Gulch, Yellow Jacket Arroyo or Gulch, Cottonwood Creek, and

Montezuma Creek. Some names no longer in use include Mockingbird Gulch for Hovenweep

Canyon, and Line Gulch (named for its proximity to the Utah State line) for Bridge Canyon. In

addition, the spring at the Goodman Point Group of Hovenweep National Monument is referred to as

Juarez Spring on the 1889 township plat of the area. In 1891, the names Ruin Canyon, East

Hovenweep Creek, Cross Canyon, East Montezuma Creek, and Cohone [Cahone] Canyon are first

noted. Bowdish Canyon was probably named for Peter, George F., or Henry Bowdish; Porter Cove

for Ellsworth Porter; Tozer Canyon for A. J. “Sandy” Tozer, Hamilton Mesa for Ezra Hamilton, and

Finley Canyon (a southern tributary of McElmo Canyon opposite Tozer Canyon) may have been

named for Elonzo L. Finley. The Bowdishes, Porters, Tozers, Hamiltons, and Finleys were all early

settlers in McElmo Canyon. Risley Canyon may have been named for Galusha A. Risley, who

received a homestead patent for land in Lost Canyon in 1890, and was likely an early cattleman that

used the area. Negro Canyon was reportedly named for a black man that settled in the canyon

during the dry farming era. Woods Canyon was also reportedly named for an early settler in the

canyon, perhaps Gordon Woods (Chaffin and Chaffin 2004).
39

Historic Settlement Pattern

Initial historic settlement within the current boundaries of the Canyons of the Ancients

National Monument was in the early 1890s by cattlemen, Adam Lewy, George F. Bowdish, and

Albert and William Prater, for land in the bottom of Yellow Jacket Canyon (Appendix D). Between

1907 and 1912, some lands were entered upon under the Desert Land Act, which required that

irrigation water be brought to the land (Appendix D). The majority of these were on land between

Alkali Canyon and Trail Canyon and between Woods Canyon and Yellow Jacket Canyon. These

entries were probably fueled by the expectation that existing canals would be extended to serve these

areas or that the proposed Southwestern Ditch and Reservoir System would actually be built.

Additional good grazing land in the canyon bottoms and on the mesa tops seems to have been the

reason for a number of acquisitions and attempted acquisitions in the 1910s and 1920s (Appendix D).

Also during this period, a considerable number of attempts at settlement for dry farming took place

throughout the Monument area, but particularly adjacent to successfully acquired lands outside the

Monument. No real pattern can be seen to this agricultural settlement, only that it was extensive.

In the 1930s and early 1940s, large tracts of grazing land were acquired along water courses and on

mesa tops by stock raisers (Appendix D). It is likely that this activity was in response to the Taylor

Grazing Act of 1934, which regulated grazing on the public domain. Most of these acquisitions were

through the Stock Raising Homestead Act and allowed for up to 640 acres to be obtained. It is likely

that stock raisers saw acquisition in this manner as a way to guarantee winter range within the area

regulated under the grazing act; it was also, perhaps, a way to increase a ranch’s land base to qualify

under the act for grazing on the public domain. In the 1950s, there seems to have been somewhat of

a return-to-the-land movement by returning World War II and Korean War veterans that may

account for many of the Homestead Entries during the period (Appendix D). Some of the entries

during this period also seem to be attempts at acquiring additional grazing lands, but others may

have been earnest attempts at dry farming, several of which were successful.

Expected Site Types Within the Monument Based on the Known History

The history of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument suggests that a wide array of

cultural resource site types should be present within the Monument. These sites can be classified as

belonging to one or more of nine historic themes: (1) Historic Native American; (2) Exploration,

Expeditions, and Research; (3) Agriculture; (4) Extractive Industries; (5) Government; (6) Recreation;

(7) Maladaptions; (8) Transportation; and (9) Rock Art. These thematic categories are in general

keeping with those proposed by Buckles and Buckles (1984) and the National Register of Historic

Places.

Historic Native American

Historic Native American sites within the Monument will be largely associated with Ute and

Navajo occupations, though some entry into the area by Southern Paiutes cannot be ruled out. It is

also possible that historic Puebloan people made pilgrimages to the area and have left shrines or

rock art that can be attributed to them. The earliest historic Native American sites in the area will

likely be associated with the Ute. Sites from initial contact with Euroamericans into the early 1930s

would be expected to be short-term camps associated with resource procurement and grazing. All

Ute sites prior to the 1890s will not be connected to Euroamerican settlement, but some sites

between the 1890s and 1930s will be tied to agricultural settlement of the region, reflecting

employment of Utes as cowboys, sheep herders, and hand laborers at ranches and farms.

The pattern for Navajo sites is expected to be the same, except for the period of initiation was

likely in the 1880s, when cession of the land comprising the Monument by the Ute may have

provided an opportunity for nomadic Navajos in southeastern Utah to expand their range into

Colorado. Like the Ute sites, Navajo sites dating prior to the early 1930s would be expected to be

mainly short-term camps associated with resource procurement and animal grazing. From the

1890s to 1930s, some sites will likely be tied to agricultural settlement of the area by Euroamericans,

reflecting employment of Navajos as cowboys, sheep herders, and hand laborers.

For both Ute and Navajo, the majority of sites after the early 1930s will be tied to

agricultural settlement and employment by Euroamerican farmers and ranchers, but some sites can
40

be expected to be the result of continued use of the Monument for specific resource procurement,

such as plants, horses, and firewood. Some sites from the late 1940s to the 1960s may be the result

of Utes and Navajos employed to stake uranium claims. Sites associated with the employment of

Utes and Navajos on farms may be more complex than Ute and Navajo camps elsewhere because the

length of seasonal employment and repeated employment on farms may have resulted in more

permanent site features being constructed, resulting in their being recognizable as habitations.

These sites would be expected to be concentrated on or in close proximity to lands where land

acquisitions from the public domain were attempted or succeeded.

Differentiating Ute and Navajo sites from each other may be difficult, and the methodology

and rationale in doing so is an important research avenue. Both Utes and Navajos used sweat

lodges and both may have used wickiups and forked-stick hogans. However, morphological

differences in features and site layout may exist, as may artifact disposal patterns and artifacts

considered to be diagnostic. Historic rock art will contain elements typical of contact with

Euroamericans and may include depictions of elongated horses, rifles or pistols, hats, headdresses,

buffalo, trains, wagons, and teepees. Typical of Ute rock art are bears and bear paws.

Exploration, Expeditions, and Research

Sites associated with exploration and expeditions are expected to be extremely rare within

the Monument. Although the Rivera and the Dominguez-Escalante expeditions may have passed

near the Monument, it is doubtful that they actually ventured onto Monument lands and the

likelihood of finding evidence of their passage, if they did, is very remote. The Spanish Trail

evidently crosses a small portion of the most extreme northeastern portion of the Monument.

Anecdotal information at this time suggests that the route of the trail can be identified. The 1874-

1875 Hayden Expedition map indicates a water hole along the route, “Ojo Valecito,” may be present

on the Monument. This further suggests the potential for archaeological remains associated with

use of the trail from the late 1700s to the 1850s to exist. A few artifacts have been found in the area

that may be of Spanish origin, but whether they are indicative of Spanish incursions or the result of

trade with Native Americans is not known (Kenyon and Kenyon 2004). The Macomb Expedition of

1859 followed the route of the Spanish Trail and may have ventured slightly into the Monument

during their passage. The possibility of discovering evidence of the passage of the Macomb

Expedition is remote, but remains a possibility along the Spanish Trail corridor. The Hayden

Expedition was in southwestern Colorado in 1874 and 1875 making scientific observations and

mapping the region. It is evident from the mapping that was done of the current Monument area

that they spent sufficient time to portray the topography relatively accurately and to identify some

specific places. Consequently, it is possible that campsites of the expedition may be present within

the Monument. Because the duration of stay at any one campsite was likely brief, probably only

overnight, the possibility of recognizing a Hayden Expedition campsite is unlikely.

Archaeological sites within the Monument were recognized as early as the 1880s as being

significant and worthy of some sort of protection through withdrawal of land from settlement.

Establishment of Hovenweep National Monument in 1923 was further recognition of the importance

of the archaeological sites of the region, and designation of Canyons of the Ancients National

Monument is further recognition of those archaeological values. Scientific investigation of the ruins

of the area began as early as 1919 with the work of Fewkes, and formal excavations of sites was

initiated by Paul S. Martin in the late 1920s. The early investigations took place more than 50 years

ago, so are of historic age, and those activities may be considered important as scientific

investigations in their own right. That some investigators have thought this to be a possibility is

evidenced by the recording of Doc Ives’s field camp (5MT6754) from the Fort Lewis College

archaeological field school in the 1960s. Although not of historic age, recordation of the site shows

that camps associated with scientific investigation of the archaeological sites of the region may be

recognizable on the landscape and are, themselves, now becoming part of the archaeological record of

the Monument.

Agriculture

The Agriculture theme can be broken down into two basic subthemes: Ranching and

Farming. Although the two subthemes are reasonably discrete, ranching often involves farming,
41

such as growing of alfalfa or corn for feed or cutting wild hay, and farmers often raise grazing

animals for meat. Consequently, the home bases of these two activities can appear somewhat

similar. However, ranching has a larger signature on the landscape in the West because of the

practice of gazing on the public domain.

Ranching can be broken into three temporally discrete periods on the Monument. The period

of early ranching prior to 1900 was associated with large cattle operations that dominated the open

range. The dominion of the large cattle operations was relatively short lived, beginning in the late

1870s, expanding throughout western Colorado in the early 1880s, beginning to break down by the

late 1880s and gradually phasing out in the 1890s. In the Monument area, sites associated with this

period of ranching would be mainly expected to be short-term seasonal camps occupied during the

winter grazing period and camps associated with moving cattle between winter and summer ranges.

Repeated use of particularly favored locations might result in some sites being recognizable as

habitations, but generally camps would be expected to be dispersed over the landscape and

individually ephemeral.

From the middle 1890s to the early 1930s, small stock raisers filled the void left by the

departure of the large cattle companies. Some ranchers switched between cattle and sheep,

depending on economic conditions. Short-term seasonal camps occupied during the winter are

expected to be the predominant site type from the period, but some land acquisitions were made of

bottom lands in and adjacent to the Monument by ranchers in order to establish or expand their

home ranches where more complex sites can be expected. In some cases, small irrigation

improvements may have been made. It is also possible that some basic range improvements may

have been made infrequently on the public domain, such as spring developments and corrals. Still,

grazing during this period was on open range, so short-term camps should be ubiquitous across the

terrain and not generally tied to land acquisition attempts.

Ranching in the area changed dramatically in the middle 1930s with the implementation of

the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 and designation of grazing allotments to specific ranchers. Shortterm winter camps dispersed over the landscape from the 1930s to the present would be expected to

be associated largely with sheep grazing, as sheep need to be accompanied on the range. Camps

associated with both sheep and cattle grazing would also be expected to be found at specific locations,

such as corrals and water holes. All of the camps from this time period will be tied directly to

individual grazing allotments. More land acquisition attempts were made during this time period to

assure winter grazing lands and to expand the landholdings of existing ranches in order to solidify

eligibility for grazing permits on federal land. Improvements on these parcels would be expected to

be substantial habitations. These will only be found on Monument lands in cases where the land

acquisitions failed or successful land acquisitions have been reacquired by the government. During

this period, numerous range improvements have taken place to enhance range conditions. The

permit system and the assignment of allotments to individuals has been a stimulus for many of these

improvements, because the permittees feel ownership for the lands under their use and benefit

directly from the improvements. Such enhancements include stock watering ponds, corrals, fences,

chaining, and grass seeding.

Farming was a relative latecomer on the Monument in comparison to ranching. Expansion

of farming onto what are now Monument lands did not take place until the dry farming took hold on

adjacent lands in the 1910s. The vast majority of farming sites on the Monument are the result of

unsuccessful land acquisition attempts. These are recognizable as rather simple habitation

complexes of only one or a few year’s duration, mostly dating to the 1910s to 1930s period, though a

few 1940s and early 1950s examples may exist. The importance of these short-term failed farms

cannot be overemphasized because the only place where they exist is on public land, they have the

ability to provide moment-in-time data about homesteaders, and they provide data sets by which

households from a common time period and activity can be compared. Failed farms may exist on

private lands as well, but these were usually occupied for longer periods of time and were more likely

reoccupied by subsequent owners or tenants. More complex farming operations exist as private

inholdings or successful land acquisitions that have been reacquired by the government. These sites

may be important as complexes and for architectural characteristics they may contain, but are
42

usually not as important archaeologically because moment-in-time data is difficult to acquire at

them as a result of subsequent or continuous occupation obscuring and mixing deposits.

Extractive Industries

Extractive Industries on the Monument can be separated into two types: Mining and Oil and

Gas. The historical record indicates that the only mining that has taken place on the Monument has

been for coal and for uranium/vanadium. Other minerals may have been sought on the Monument,

but documentation of such prospecting has not been found. Coal mining on the Monument and

adjacent lands was small scale and may date as early as the 1890s, though records of coal leases only

date to the 1920s and 1930s. It is expected that coal mining sites will be typical small-scale

operations mined through a portal or as an open cut. Mining equipment or evidence of the type of

equipment in use should be in evidence, along with some sort of loading facility. An actual residence

associated with the mine is possible, but unlikely.

Uranium/vanadium prospecting and mining on the Monument predominantly took place

from the late 1940s to early 1960s, with some minor mining taking place into the 1970s. It is

possible that some prospecting and mining of vanadium took place prior to 1923, but this is unlikely.

The majority of evidence of the uranium boom in the area will be mining claim markers. Some small

prospect pits may also be found that were dug to comply with the requirement of doing annual

assessment work to hold the claims. In a few instances, mainly in Cross Canyon, actual uranium

mining took place, with values of vanadium also recovered. These were small operations that will be

evidenced by an adit dug into a slope with waste rock below that has been leveled to form a working

area for the mine. It is unlikely that any mining equipment is present, but discarded pieces of

equipment are likely that will indicate how the mining took place. A loading facility or remnants of

one will likely be evident. A short distance away, an explosives magazine may have been cut out of

exposed bedrock. A considerable amount of domestic trash is likely to have been deposited, and

evidence of an austere residential structure may be present.

Oil and gas exploration has taken place throughout the Monument area. Initial exploration

between 1908 and 1913 was focused on McElmo Canyon. McElmo Canyon continued to be a prime

area for exploration, but subsequent activity was conducted in the Dove Creek area in the middle

1920s. Large tracts throughout the Monument area were leased from the 1920s to middle 1930s. In

1948, discoveries west of Pleasant View started a new surge in oil and gas exploration throughout

the Monument area that has largely gone unabated to the present day.

Early oil and gas exploration from the 1900s to 1930s was done using rather mobile cable

drilling rigs powered by steam. Steam engines used in the area were probably fueled with coal, so

discarded piles of coal cinders and slag may be good evidence of oil and gas drilling from the period.

Also likely to be found are pieces of wire rope, pipe, and anchors driven into the ground used to

support wooden derricks or steam engine smoke stacks. Pieces of large-diameter pipe will likely only

be found on wells where oil or gas was encountered and casing of a well was undertaken. It is

possible that gasoline engines began to be used to power drill rigs beginning in the 1930s. Cable

drilling was probably replaced by rotary core drilling by the time the most recent surge of

exploration took place, beginning in the late 1940s. Substantially more clearing and leveling of drill

pad locations has been the case with the latest phase of oil and gas exploration as well.

Government

The Government theme is one that will most likely be applied secondarily to sites of other

themes. For instance, it is likely that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was active within the

Monument boundaries conducting range improvement projects in support of ranching. A stock pond

or corral built by the CCC would best fit under Agriculture – Ranching, but the CCC association

would also indicate the Government theme would be appropriate. This same scenario might apply to

roads classified under Transportation if they were constructed by the Government or if culverts or

bridges of CCC construction were features of the road. The Government theme might also be applied

if sites in some way reflect government policies, such as the implementation of the Taylor Grazing

Act or association with Hovenweep National Monument.
43

Recreation

The Recreation theme generally includes evidence of such activities as hunting, camping,

hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and bicycling. Judging from the responses of the oral

informants for the project, use of the area for recreation has been a relatively new phenomenon, as

most of the farmers and ranchers that lived in and around the Monument recreated very little and

utilized the Monument area for specific resource procurement. For instance, hunting is typically

considered a recreational activity today, but for residents of the area during difficult economic times,

hunting was a means of survival. Similarly, recreational looting of archaeological sites of the region

may be a relatively new concept, whereas looting in the past may have been a way for a family to

make money enough to survive. In general, recreational sites will be ephemeral camps reflecting

stays of short duration. Because of their ephemeral nature, the focus of the recreational activity may

not be readily apparent.

Maladaptions

Maladaptions are activities considered illegal or counterproductive to society at large.

Several activities that took place on the Monument may be considered to fall within this theme.

Included are bootlegging, looting of archaeological sites, poaching, and hiding out from the law. Most

of these sites may not be readily identifiable from their physical or archaeological remains and may

be best identified through oral informants. Bootlegging is very time specific, being tied directly to

the period of Prohibition in Colorado from 1914 to 1933. The sites will likely be in rather hidden

locations, and any equipment that remains may not be readily visible. Such things as copper tubing

and large quantities of jar and bottle fragments to the exclusion of other household-type items may

also be an indicator. Campsites of individuals involved in looting archaeological sites may have

broken fragments of Anasazi pottery and other prehistoric artifacts that are mixed with historical

materials and obviously not in prehistoric context. It is unlikely that outlaw hideouts and poaching

camps can be identified with certainty without additional site-specific historical information, some of

which is provided in the oral interviews for this project, but they may have characteristics that may

help in their identification. It would be expected that hideouts and poaching camps would be

situated in hidden settings away from regular travel routes with several possible exits available and

may have a corral in association. The camps may not be in very convenient locations and may blend

well with the surrounding landscape; campfire locations will be situated so as to enable smoke to

disperse and not be noticeable. Artifacts at the camps will not be particularly distinctive and the

occupants will not have left inscriptions or graffiti to identify themselves or to mark the spot.

Poaching camps will likely date primarily from the 1910s through 1930s time period.

Transportation

The Transportation theme encompasses linear resources identified as roads or trails. Linear

transportation resources are frequently difficult to deal with as a cultural resource because they are

rather generic, do not often have characteristics that enable their age to ascertained, and often have

seen continual use or have been upgraded so that their historicity is not apparent or lacks integrity.

The only transportation route within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument that has

sufficient historical documentation and possible integrity of location to be identified with certainty is

the Spanish Trail. Although the route of the trail within the Monument has yet to be documented,

oral history and a correlation of the 1874-1875 Hayden survey map with current topography

suggests that the route exists and is likely to retain historical integrity.

The canyons of the Monument formed natural travel routes that were certainly used in

prehistoric times by historic Native Americans and by early cattle ranchers and travelers. The

routes may be accompanied by a variety of associated sites and rock art that shows the general

course of travel. However, beyond oral tradition and some general historical references, these routes

are impossible to pinpoint with certainty. Consequently, as far as cultural resource management is

concerned, the routes cannot be confirmed as entities for which physical remains can be definitely

tied to a specific use that can be evaluated for historical integrity or significance.

Roads may have been constructed or improved in the Monument during the 1930s by the

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), but no documentation has been found yet to ascertain where

these may have been. Associated features, such as culverts and bridges, if they exist, may link some
44

roads to the CCC. More recent road construction to facilitate uranium exploration and for gas and

oil drilling may be of historic age, but documentation is generally lacking and the roads can be

considered background infrastructure. Individually, these recent roads add little to our

understanding of history, and their recording will do little more than clutter the database.

Rock Art

Rock art is not so much a theme as it is a type of site; however, it is often difficult to place

rock art into a particular thematic category, as the most frequent historic inscription is a name often

accompanied by a date. Historic Native American rock art is discussed somewhat under the Historic

Native American section above. It is a distinctive subset of rock art in that it is purely

representational and is typically comprised of particular motifs that are frequently recognizable.

Historic Euroamerican rock art is usually less well executed than prehistoric or historic Native

American rock art. The Painted Hand Petroglyph Panel (5MT13288) is a particularly good example

of rock art from multiple cultural periods, from prehistoric times to nearly the present. Included in

the panel are typical historic Ute elements: elongated horses with mounted individuals, buffalo, and

bear paws. Numerous Euroamerican inscriptions are present that document use of the area from

the 1890s through the 1960s; though inscriptions as early as 1878 are reported in McElmo Canyon

(Fred Blackburn, personal communication to Jon Horn, August 1, 2004). Some of the names are

recognizable cattle ranchers or members of cattle ranching families, frequently including what

appear to be brands. Several Hispanic names, some with place names in New Mexico, are likely

sheep herders.

Summary of Recorded Historic Sites

Within the Monument, 209 archaeological sites or site components have been recorded of

historic age. In 44 instances where a historic component was clearly denoted as a minor element,

such as a rock cairn that would have individually been recorded as an isolated find, or where no data

on the historic component was recorded, the site has been excluded from this analysis. Many of the

remaining 165 sites are multicomponent prehistoric/historic sites for which the historic component

may be a minor constituent (Error! Reference source not found.). Where the actual complexity

of a historic component is uncertain, the site has been retained. Of the remaining sites, one is listed

on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), 18 have been officially determined to be eligible

for listing on the NRHP, 32 have been recommended by the field recorders as NRHP eligible, 12 are

officially not eligible for the NRHP, 37 have been recommended as ineligible, 12 have been officially

determined to need additional data before an official NRHP determination of eligibility can be made,

16 have been recommended by the recorders as needing additional data, and 16 sites have not been

evaluated whatsoever. At the numerous multicomponent sites, it is often unclear if the eligibility

determination pertains to both the prehistoric and historic components or was intended to apply just

to the prehistoric component. Clarification of eligibility status by temporal component at the

multicomponent sites within the Monument is important for future management.

The quality of the recordation of historic sites within the Monument is something else that

needs to be taken into consideration when examining the database. Of the 164 historic sites or site

components under consideration, only 36 have any dating information attached to them. Three of

these indicate dates or date ranges more recent than 50 years ago. The lack of dating information

for most of the historic sites indicates an inability to adequately analyze historic artifacts by

recorders and/or an absence of research about individual sites and their artifacts. Both of these

deficiencies do not permit historic sites or components to be placed in historical context very well, let

alone enable them to be evaluated as members of a particular historical theme. The result is an

inability to adequately evaluate historic sites or components lacking critical information for

significance in terms of the National Register criteria. In general, a lack of concrete data leads to

faulty National Register evaluations, usually resulting in evaluations of insignificance.

For the purposes of this analysis, historic sites in the Monument have been divided into eight

site types based on information provided by the recorders. They are Camps, Habitations, Mining,

Native American, Rock Art, Stockraising, Transportation, and Scientific Investigation. Forty camps

have been recorded on the Monument. Camps seem to be a catch-all category for scatters of historic

artifacts of small size or complexity that lack associated structural elements. It is often difficult to
45

ascertain a particular thematic association for scatters of this sort, but closer examination of

artifacts and features may enable better categorizations to be made. The 37 habitations contain

structural elements that indicate long-term residence. In two instances, wells have been recorded at

sites, but no other structural remains seem to have been evident. In nearly every other instance
Recorded on the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument by Type and Eligibility.

e Eligibility Site Type Date

Officially

Eligible

Camp

Officially

Eligible

Camp

Officially

Eligible

Camp

Officially

Eligible

Camp

Officially

Eligible

Camp

rreltail Pueblo Field Eligible Camp

Field Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible CampField Eligible Camp

Field Eligible Camp

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp 1966-83

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp
e Eligibility Site Type Date

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp 1920-60

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp

Officially Not

Eligible

Camp

Field NotEligible

Camp

Field NotEligible

Camp

Field NotEligible

Camp

Field NotEligible

Camp

Field NotEligible

Camp 1910-20

Officially Needs

Data

Camp

Officially Needs

Data

Camp

Field Needs Data CampField Needs Data CampField Needs Data CampField Needs Data Camp 1993

None Camp

None Camp
e Eligibility Site Type Date

None CampNone CampNone CampNone Camp

Site Complex Listed on NRHP Habitation/Homestead 1920-50

Officially

Eligible

Habitation/Homestead 1940

Officially

Eligible

Habitation/Homestead 1949

Officially

Eligible

Habitation/Homestead 1930-40

Officially

Eligible

Habitation/Homestead

Officially

Eligible

Habitation/Homestead

Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead 1920-30

ann Homestead Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead 1934

Field Eligible Habitation/HomesteadField Eligible Habitation/Homestead

y Ruins Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead

Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead

pring Ruin Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead

Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead 1900-50

r Place, Rock House, Uncle

eth's Place

Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead 1924

Field Eligible Habitation/Homestead

Field NotEligible

Habitation well
e Eligibility Site Type Date

Field NotEligible

Habitation/Homestead

Field NotEligible

Habitation/Homestead

Field NotEligible

Habitation/Homestead

Field NotEligible

Habitation/Homestead 1960-70

Field NotEligible

Habitation/Homestead

Field NotEligible

Habitation/Homestead

on-Taylor Homestead Trespass Officially Needs

Data

Habitation/Homestead 1920-40

Officially Needs

Data

Habitation/Homestead

Officially Needs

Data

Habitation/Homestead 1930-49

Officially Needs

Data

Habitation/Homestead

Field Needs Data Habitation wellField Needs Data Habitation/Homestead 1900Field Needs Data Habitation/Homestead

 Chimney House Field Needs Data Habitation/Homestead

Field Needs Data Habitation/Homestead 1920-39None Habitation/HomesteadNone Habitation/HomesteadNone Habitation/Homestead
e Eligibility Site Type Date

None Habitation/HomesteadNone Habitation/Homestead

Field Eligible Mining

Field Eligible Mining Mine adit

Field NotEligible

Mining claim

Field NotEligible

Mining claim

Field NotEligible

Mining claim

Field NotEligible

Mining claim

Officially

Eligible

Native Americanhabitation

Officially

Eligible

Native American sweatlodge

1940-70

Officially

Eligible

Native American camp

Officially

Eligible

Native American camp

Officially

Eligible

Native American camp

Field Eligible Native American sweat

lodge

Field Eligible Native American sweat

lodge

Field Eligible Native American campField Eligible Native American
e Eligibility Site Type Date

habitation

Field Eligible Native American camp

Field Eligible Native American sweat

lodge

Field Eligible Native American

habitation

Field Eligible Native American camp

Field Eligible Native American sweat

lodge

1950

Field Eligible Native American camp 1915-30Field Eligible Native American camp 1915-30Field Eligible Native American camp 1915-30Field NotEligible

Native American sweatlodge

Field NotEligible

Native American sweatlodge

Field NotEligible

Native American camp

Field NotEligible

Native American camp 1915-30

Field NotEligible

Native American sweatlodge

Field Needs Data Native American sweat

lodge

Field Needs Data Native American campField Needs Data Native American

Ramada

Field Needs Data Native American sweat
e Eligibility Site Type Date

lodge

Officially Needs

Data

Native Americanhabitation

Officially Needs

Data

Native American sweatlodge

Officially Needs

Data

Native American camp

Officially Needs

Data

Native American sweatlodge

1950-70

None Native American sweat

lodge

None Native American sweat

lodge

Officially

Eligible

Rock art

Officially

Eligible

Rock art

Field Eligible Rock art 1921

Field Eligible Rock art

Gallery Field Eligible Rock art 1886-1969

y Rock art Site Field Eligible Rock art

Field Eligible Rock art

In The Sky Field Eligible Rock art

Field Eligible Rock art

 Canyon Panels Field Eligible Rock art 1647-1913

Field Eligible Rock art

ed Hand Petroglyph Panel Field Eligible Rock art

 Canyon Panels Field Eligible Rock art
e Eligibility Site Type Date

Officially Not

Eligible

Rock art

Field NotEligible

Rock art

Field NotEligible

Rock art

Field NotEligible

Rock art

Field NotEligible

Rock art

Field Needs Data Rock art 1938Field Needs Data Rock artNone Rock artNone Rock art 1921

ui Lake Officially

Eligible

Stockraising stock pond

 Cajon Lake Field Eligible Stockraising stock pond

Field Eligible Stockraising stock pondField Eligible Stockraising sheep

camp

Field Eligible Stockraising sheep

camp

hanical Rabbit Site Field Eligible Stockraising corral

es Reservoir Site Field Eligible Stockraising stock pond 1930-60

Officially Not

Eligible

Stockraising sheepcamp

Officially Not

Eligible

Stockraising stock pond 1930-39
e Eligibility Site Type Date

us McElmo Dome #9415a Officially Not

Eligible

Stockraising stock pond

Officially Not

Eligible

Stockraising stock pond 1930-60

Field NotEligible

Stockraising corral

Field NotEligible

Stockraising sheepcamp

Field NotEligible

Stockraising corral

Field NotEligible

Stockraising LineCamp

Field NotEligible

Stockraising lambingpen

Field NotEligible

Stockraising stock pond

Field NotEligible

Stockraising corral

Field NotEligible

Stockraising corral 1920

Field NotEligible

Stockraising corral 1915-30

Field NotEligible

Stockraising corral

Officially NeedsData

Stockraising corral

wren Site Officially Needs

Data

Stockraising stock pond
e Eligibility Site Type Date

None Stockraising stock pondField Needs Data Stockraising corral 1930-39Field NotEligible

Transportationroad/trail

Field NotEligible

Transportationroad/trail

1930

ves' Field Camp Field Needs Data Scientific Investigation

Camp
habitations are also described as Homesteads. Such a

determination should be based on correlation with

historical records that document a site falls on a

parcel of land where a homestead attempt occurred. In

addition, the artifacts at the site should correlate to

the period of time that the homestead is documented to

have taken place. If one or both of these criteria are

not met, then a habitation site is likely associated

with some other historical activity. Only six mining

sites have been documented on the Monument. Four of

these are mining claim markers, whereas the remaining

two seem to have more substantive mining activity

represented. In no case is dating information

provided, making associations somewhat tenuous, though

nearly all mining sites on the Monument are probably

associated with uranium exploration. The 32 historic

Native American sites have been identified as 13 camps,

14 sweat lodges, four habitations, and one ramada.

Spatial distribution of these sites, their temporal

periods, and associated artifacts will be critical to

make cases for historical associations of importance.

The relative quantity of historic sites associated with

Native American use on the Monument is remarkable and

shows use that is not well documented in the historical

record. The 22 rock art sites with historic

inscriptions appear to be mainly prehistoric panels to

which graffiti has been added. Only five of the rock

art sites have associated historic dates indicated by

their recorders, though, in at least one case, numerous

inscriptions include actual dates. The 25 stockraising

sites include 10 stock ponds, nine corrals, four sheep

camps, one line camp, and one lambing pen. Only three

stock ponds and three corrals have dates ascribed to

them. Because corrals and stock ponds are readily

recognizable, recorders have done a very good job of

associating sites to the historic stockraising theme.

Two transportation sites have been recorded in the

Monument. Linear features of this sort will have

little or no historical documentation on which to fall

back upon, so will generally be of little historical

importance. Most roads and trails in the Monument are
background infrastructure that generally accrued

through use or specific need. The only exception may

be the Spanish Trail in the far northeastern portion of

the Monument. The single Scientific Investigation site

documented on the Monument is the camp used by Doc Ives

during archaeological work. No date is provided in the

documentation, but the site is clearly less than 50

years of age. It is possible that other similar sites

may exist on the Monument.

Correlation of Recorded Historic Sites with Historic Data

As summarized above, 165 historic sites or site

components have been recorded in the Canyons of the

Ancients National Monument. These are classified as 37

Euroamerican habitations, 40 camps, 6 mining claims and

adits, 25 stock raising sites (including camps,

corrals, stock ponds, and a lambing pen), 22 rock art,

2 transportation sites (trail and road), 1 scientific

investigation site, and 32 Native American sites

(camps, sweat lodges, habitations, and a ramada).

These divisions are based on information provided by

the site recorders and do not necessarily correlate

well with the historic thematic divisions based on what

we now know about the history of the Monument. Further

investigation of the recorded historic sites should

enable this difference to be rectified.

The highest correlation between previous settlement

(relinquished or cancelled land entry or patented

inholding) and the presence of a particular site type

is for habitation sites (25 of 37 sites; 67.5 percent).

It is actually surprising that the correlation is not

higher, but this suggests that a rather large amount of

settlement on the public domain was for other reasons

than land acquisition or perhaps was conducted prior to

agricultural settlement of the surrounding area. Camps

are slightly more likely to be found on land subject to

settlement activities (23 of 40 sites; 57.5 percent).

It is possible that some of the camps on lands where

settlement activities took place show ancillary

activities took place during the period of time
settlement was attempted or reflect less intensive use

of the land before or after settlement attempts. The

third highest correlation is for sites classified as

being associated with Native American use (18 of 32

sites; 56.25 percent). For early sites, this may

reflect that the land seen as suitable for settlement

was also seen as being suitable for use by Native

Americans. Use by Native Americans may also be linked

to Euroamerican settlement activities, in that Native

Americans may have been farm or ranch laborers and made

improvements on the land during their tenure.

Stockraising sites are expected to be present

throughout the Monument area, and a correlation with

settlement attempts would not necessarily be expected.

The distribution conforms with general stockraising

activities throughout the area with only 11 of 25 sites

(44 percent) being on lands where settlement activities

took place. Mining, predictably, is largely on lands

not subject to settlement attempts (two of six sites;

33.3 percent on lands subject to settlement

activities). That any mining activity is evident on

land that was subject to settlement attempts may

reflect mining that took place either before or after

the settlement attempts. Rock art sites would not be

expected to be linked to settlement activities.

Rather, they should be linked to geologic settings that

afforded rock panels suitable for inscriptions. The

low percentage of rock art on land subject to

settlement attempts (four of 22 sites; 18.2 percent)

probably is a reflection of settlement largely taking

place in less rugged terrain than would typically

afford suitable rock art venues. The number of

transportation sites recorded is too low to evaluate

for correlation with settlement attempts, but both are

on lands not subject to land acquisition. The single

Scientific Investigation camp is on land where a land

acquisition attempt was made, though there is no

correlation between the site type and the attempted

land acquisition.
Threats to Historic Sites and Suggested Protective Measures

Little specific information could be gleaned from

the site data for the Monument to shed light on threats

to historic sites. In general, it is expected that

threats to historic sites are essentially the same as

would be expected for prehistoric sites in the area.

One aspect of the recent inventory of 9,712 acres in

the Monument by Woods Canyon (Hovezak et al. 2003) was

assessing damage to the archaeological sites they

encountered from all sources. Based on their findings,

some statements can be made regarding impacts to sites

in the Monument, including historical sites. Overall,

erosion has the greatest impact on the physical

integrity of sites in the Monument. Most of this

erosion is simply the nature of the setting and

environment of the region and the placement of sites in

that setting. However, certain human activities may

speed erosion that can be or are currently being

compensated for to varying degrees by management.

Among these activities are livestock grazing, chaining,

vehicle use, recreational visitation, and commercial

use. Vandals often target archaeological sites in

order to plunder them for items of value. Senseless

damage is another form of vandalism, often associated

with recreational use. Natural and human-caused

disturbances to archaeological sites can be remedied to

varying degrees through restrictions, law enforcement,

erosion control/stabilization, and exclusion fencing.

Livestock Grazing

As might be expected, livestock grazing has caused

rather widespread impacts to the land, but, perhaps

surprisingly, these impacts have had low actual impacts

to archaeological sites. This is probably because

grazing is seasonal, widespread, and not concentrated,

suggesting that current management practices are

adequate in protecting the land.

Chaining

Chaining may have impacted some sites, but the

extent and nature of damage to historic sites is
currently unknown. Chaining is not a current

management practice on the Monument and has not been

undertaken for over 30 years, so cannot be considered a

current impact, though the erosion accompanying

chaining may have had an effect on some sites that, in

some instances, may be ongoing.

Vehicle and Recreational Use

Vehicle use has evidently impacted some sites, but

presently is not widespread. As recreational use of

the Monument increases, damage by vehicles –

particularly off-road vehicles – can be expected to

increase and may eventually be a major source of site

deterioration. Growing use of the Monument for

recreational use, particularly in conjunction with offroad vehicles, is expected to have an increasing impact

on sites simply from increased visitation. Damage due

to vandalism is also a side-effect of recreation that

can be expected to impact archaeological sites.

Management of vehicle and recreational use can be

managed somewhat through education, but regulations

that restrict or outlaw vehicle access in some areas is

the most certain way to lessen impacts to

archaeological sites.

Commercial Use

Direct impacts and erosional damage can be expected

from commercial use of the Monument, such as gas and

oil exploration. At present, the extent to which

historic sites have been impacted by commercial use is

not known, but is suspected to be low and can be

expected to remain low due to current regulatory

management practices.

Vandalism

Premeditated vandalism through looting is most

often associated with prehistoric sites, but also

occurs at historic sites, usually where bottles are

suspected to be present. Senseless property

destruction is another form of vandalism often

associated with casual visitation. Education and
reduced access are also measures that can be taken to

combat both forms of vandalism, though in some cases

increased visitation is a form of self-patrolling that

may inhibit the most heinous forms of vandalism, such

as site looting. Security patrols and the official

presence of personnel also deter vandalism through

education and scrutiny. Highly visible sites may be

more likely to be the subject to recreational overuse

or vandalism. These would be sites with standing

architecture or rock art panels. In some instances,

historic inscriptions occupy the same panels as

prehistoric rock art. Care should be taken that the

historic inscriptions are not perceived to be intrusive

to otherwise prehistoric panels and are not removed or

obliterated. At the same time, education of visitors

should ensure that historic inscriptions do not serve

as incentive for vandals to add their own graffiti.

Management of Sites and Site Uses

Management of cultural resource sites within the

Monument is mandated to follow BLM Manual Guidance

8110.4 that recommends allocating cultural resources to

potential uses. Specified uses are Scientific Use,

Conservation for Future Use, Traditional Use, Public

Use, Experimental Use, and Discharged from Use. The

documentation for the majority of the historic sites

within the Monument is incomplete or outdated, making

it impractical to place sites into specific use

categories at this time. It is possible, however, to

specify criteria for placement of a site into a

particular use category.

Scientific Use

Historic sites that retain integrity of cultural

deposits and are considered National Register-eligible

under criterion d should be considered for Scientific

Use. In addition, some sites may have research values

other than archaeological data, such as rock art, which

may yield important information relative to styles,

cultural meaning, and history.
Conservation for Future Use

Well-preserved historic sites should be considered

for Conservation Use. These would most likely be farm

or ranch complexes at which the primary structures

remain in good condition and have historical

architectural integrity. It is also possible that

historic Native American habitation sites may also fall

into this category if they contain readily recognizable

structures and features, such as hogans and sweat

lodges, that can be stabilized and maintained.

Traditional Use

No Traditional Use sites of historic age are

currently known on the Monument, but both Native

American and Euroamerican traditional uses are likely

to have taken place there. Individuals and groups

having cultural connections to the Monument should be

ensured continued access.

Public Use

Interpretation for public use may be possible for

sites with good integrity for all of the historic

themes identified for the Monument. Farming and

ranching sites with standing architectural elements in

good condition would be foremost of the sites suitable

for interpretation. Rock art panels may also be easily

interpretable, so long as they have been thoroughly

documented and steps to prevent vandalism are taken.

Sites with archaeological values may be amenable to

public use, so long as the data from those sites have

been collected or secured. The safety of the public

must be taken into consideration, making some historic

sites unsuitable for public use. For instance, it may

not be wise to encourage visitation to an abandoned

uranium mine because of the potential for exposure to

radiation.

Experimental Use

Sites set aside for experimental use should be

those that contain redundant data that, if lost, would

not adversely affect the potential for historical
understanding of the region. An example might be the

remains of a failed homestead from a particular time

period for which numerous other homesteads are known to

exist or a rock art panel that has been thoroughly

documented and contains inscriptions not considered

artistic or unique. In addition, sites considered not

eligible for inclusion on the National Register of

Historic Places that would otherwise be classified as

Discharged from Use might be suitable for Experimental

Use.

Discharged from Use

Sites considered not eligible for inclusion on the

National Register of Historic Places and not selected

for Experimental Use can be considered to be in the

Discharged from Use category.

Recommendations

The biggest drawback to management of known

historic cultural resources in the Monument at the

present time is the adequacy of the documentation.

Until recently, the quality of recordation of historic

resources has generally been low, largely because the

focus has been on the more glamorous prehistoric

resource base. Consequently, historic resources were

overlooked during early inventories, have been recorded

as background noise on otherwise prehistoric sites, or

have been only cursorily recorded individually. It is

recommended that all of the recordations of historic

sites or historic components of multicomponent sites be

reexamined in detail so that they can be assigned to

pertinent themes and their periods of significance be

identified. In the process, the site and feature

descriptions and recorded artifact data should be

examined and a determination made as to whether the

site and artifacts have been adequately described and

analyzed. If the site and feature descriptions or the

artifact information are inadequate, it may be

necessary to return to the site and gather the

necessary data. It will also be necessary to examine

the site maps to determine if a site has been
adequately mapped or if a historic component of a

multicomponent site has been adequately demarcated.

Further examination should be made to ascertain if

background historical research has been conducted and

if it is adequate. The National Register eligibility

of the historic site should then be evaluated relevant

to its historical context, thematic association, period

of significance, and historical integrity. On

multicomponent sites, it is imperative that the

historic component is evaluated independently and is

clearly separate from the evaluation of prehistoric

components.
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1950 September 15

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1913 October 17.

1921 August 18; September 1, 8, 15, 22; October 20;

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1922 January 19; February 9; April 6, 13; June 1,

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1923 August 23; November 8.

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APPENDIX A

EARLY OIL AND GAS CLAIMS IN THE VICINITY OF

THE CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT
in Montezuma County Courthouse On or Near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

1

Location Date Locators Book/Page

S_ of SE_ Sec. 25, N_ NE_ Sec. 36

T36N, R19W

Jan. 16, 1909 A. R. Mollette, R. D. Brewington, T. F. Burris, Mrs. T. F.

Burris, Chas. Burris, G. F. Bowdish, Clara Bowdish, H. G.Thurman

19/278

S_ of SE_ 26, N_ of NE_ 35, T36N,

R19W

Jan. 9, 1909 T. F. Burris, Chas. Burris, Mrs. T. F. Burris, H. G.

Thurman, G. F. Bowdish, A. R. Mollette, and R. D.Brewington

19/278

SE_ of NE_ Sec. 33 T36N, R18W

SW_ of NW_ Sec. 34 T36N, R18W

Nov. 15, 1908 Ezra and Isabella Hambleton 19/266

SE_ Sec. 28 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 28 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 25 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 25 T36N, R18WS_ of NW_, N_ of SW_ Sec. 30T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18W

Dec. 10, 1908Dec. 10, 1908Dec. 11, 1908Dec. 11, 1908Dec. 12, 1908Dec. 12, 1908Dec. 14, 1908Dec. 14, 1908Dec. 22, 1908Dec. 18, 1908Dec. 18, 1908Dec. 19, 1908

William W. McEwen, William A. Pery, George E. West,Clayton C. Perkins, Joseph A. Coppinger, Jesse T. Hallar,Charles E. Dudley, Gilbert W. Miller

19/267-273

Parts of Secs. 33 and 34 T36N,

R19W and Secs. 3 and 4 T35N,R19W

Jan. 22, 1909 V. N. Ashbaugh, Geo. Ashbaugh, E. G. Fluharty, Ada D.

Fluharty, Geo. Edmonson, A. P. Edmonson, and M. E.Edmonson

19/273

SW _ Sec. 3 T35N, R19W Jan. 27, 1909 Joe Heffernan, W. E., C. E., Geo. J., and V. N. Ashbaugh, G.

F. Bowdish, S. A. Bowdish, Sr., A. P. and M. E. Edmonson

19/274

N_ of SW_, S_ of NW_ Sec. 36

T36N, R19W

Jan. 3, 1909 E. T. and Ada S. Fluharty, Clara and G. F. Bowdish, Loyd

Dawson, R. D. Brewington, Rosa and Clarence Thomas

19/275

S_ of NE_, N_ of SE_ Sec. 26 T36N,

R19W

Jan. 18, 1909 Ada and E. T. Fluharty, Mrs. T. F. Burris, T. F. Burris, A. R.

Mollette, Geo. F. Ashbaugh, H. G. Thurman, and ClaraBowdish

19/275

N_ of NW_ Sec. 36, S_ of SW_ Sec.

25 T36N, R19W

Jan. 9, 1909 Chas., T. F., and Mrs. T. F. Burris, Chas and Larry

Hindman, V. B. Stone, G. F. and Clara Bowdish

19/276

S_ of NE_, N_ of SE_ Sec. 25 T36N,

R19W

Jan. 16, 1909 E. T. and Ada D. Fluharty, A. R. Mollette, Chas., T. F., and

Mrs. T. F. Burris, Geo. Edmonson, G. F. Bowdish

19/276

S_ of NW_, N_ of SW_ Sec. 26

T36N, R19W

Jan. 18, 1909 Rosa and W. C. Thomas, A. R. Mollette, H. G. Thurman, G.

F. Bowdish, T. F., Mrs. T. F., and Chas Burris

19/277

S_ of NW_, N_ of SW_ Sec. 25

T36N, R19W

Jan. 17, 1909 F. W. Nickel, H. G Thurman, T. F., Mrs. T. F., and Chas.

Burris, V. N. Ashbaugh, A. R. Mollette, and Clara Bowdish

19/277

N_ of SW_, S_ of NW_ Sec. 31

T36N, R18W

Jan. 3, 1909 Charles, B. N., Fannie W., and Geo. J. Ashbaugh, Geo.

Edmonson, J. A. and Anne Heffernan

41/1

N_ of SE_, S_ of NE_ Sec. 36 T36N,

R19W

Jan. 3, 1909 Geo., Jessie, Charles E., and F. W. Ashbaugh, J. A. and

Anna Heffernan, G. F. Bowdish

41/2

S_ of NW_ Sec. 35 N_ of SW_ Sec. Jan. 3, 1909 Clara and G. F. Bowdish, E. T. and Ada Fluharty, Geo., 41/2
in Montezuma County Courthouse On or Near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

2

Location Date Locators Book/Page

35 T36N, R19W Jessie, Geo. And V. N. Ashbaugh

S_ of NE_, N_ of SE_ Sec. 35 T36N,

R19W

Jan. 3, 1909 Geo. and Jessie Edmonson, C. E. and Fannie Ashbaugh, E.

T. and Ada D. Fluharty, G. F. and Clara Bowdish

41/3

N_ of NW_, N_ of NE_ Sec. 25

T36N, R19W

Jan. 22, 1909 G. J. Ashbaugh, H. G. Thurman, G. F. and Clara Bowdish,

A. R. Mollette, T. F. and Mrs. T. F. Burris, Rosa Thomas

41/11

NW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R19W Jan. 21, 1909 Clara and G. F. Bowdish, H. G. Thurman, A. R. Mollette,

Chas., T. F., and Mrs. T. F. Burris, V. B. Stone

41/12

N_ of NW_, N_ of NE_ Sec. 26

T36N, R19W

Jan. 21, 1909 Geo. Edmonson, E. T. Fluharty, G. F. Bowdish, Chas., T. F.,

and Mrs. T. F. Burris, A. R. Mollette, H. G. Thurman

41/12

NE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R19W Jan. 21, 1909 Ada D. Fluharty, Clara and G. F. Bowdish, W. C. Thomas,

Chas., T. F., and Mrs. T. F. Burris, A. R. Mollette

41/13

SW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R19W Jan. 21, 1909 E. T. Fluharty, A. R. Mollette, T. F., Chas., and Mrs. T. F.

Burris, H. G. Thurman, G. F. Bowdish, Rosa Thomas

41/13

Sec. 34 T36N, R19W Jan. 14, 1909 Charles and Hiram Messenger 41/14

S_ of SE_ Sec. 27, N_ of NE_ Sec.

34 T36N, R19W

Feb. 6, 1909 A. P. and M. E. Edmonson, G. F. and Clara Bowdish, V. N.

and C. E. Ashbaugh, T. F. Burris, H. G. Thurman

41/16

S_ of NE_, N_ of SE_ Sec. 34 T36N,

R19W

Feb. 6, 1909 S. A. Bowdish, Sr., Clara and G. F. Bowdish, Chas. and Geo.

J. Ashbaugh, A. P. and Jessie Edmonson, and H. G.Thurman

41/16

S_ of SW_ Sec. 26, N_ of NW_ Sec.

35 T36N, R19W

Feb. 12, 1909 Laura and Clarence McNutt, Dr. E. L. Sperry, G. F. and

Clara Bowdish, A. E. Fluharty, Maud Sperry, H. G.Thurman

41/17

S_ of SE_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19W, N_

of NE_ Sec. 3 T35N, R19W

Feb. 5, 1909 Geo., A. P., M. E., and Jessie Edmonson, H. G. Thurman, C.

E., Geo. J. and V. N. Ashbaugh

41/18

S_ of NE_, N_ of SE_ Sec. 31 T36N,

R19W

Feb. 3, 1909 E. R. Miller, Clara and G. F. Bowdish, Geo. and C. E.

Ashbaugh, Ross and Clair Thomas, E. T. Fluharty

41/18

S_ of NW_, N_ of SW_ Sec. 32

T36N, R19W

Feb. 1909 Daniel and Emma Tschap, G. F. and Clara Bowdish, Ada

and E. T. Fluharty, Chas and T. F. Burris

41/19

S_ of NE_, N_ of SE_ Sec. 32 T36N,

R19W

Feb. 3, 1909 C. E., Geo J. and V. N. Ashbaugh, E. T. Fluharty, Jessie and

Geo. Edmonson and S. A. Bowdish Sr. and Jr.

41/19

S_ of NW_, N_ of SW_ Sec. 33

T36N, R19W

Feb. 3, 1909 Ada D and E. T. Fluharty, C.E. and Geo. J. Ashbaugh, Geo.

and Jessie Edmonson and S. A. Bowdish Sr. and Jr.

41/20

N_ of SE_ Sec. 33 T36N, R19W Feb. 5, 1909 Roy and Grace Waters and Daniel R. And Emma Y. Tschap 41/20

NE_ Sec. 33 T36N, R19W Feb. 5, 1909 R. D. Brewington, H. G. Thurman, S. A. Bowdish, Sr. and

Jr., G. F. and Clara Bowdish, E. T. Fluharty and C. E.Ashbaugh

41/21

NW_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19W Feb. 5, 1909 Geo. and Jessie Edmonson, E. R. Mullen, Ada D. Fluharty,

Geo. and C. E. Ashbaugh and G. F. and Clara Bowdish

41/21

SW_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19W Feb. 5, 1909 Clara and G. F. Bowdish, S. A. Bowdish Jr. and Sr., Ada

Fluharty and A. P and M. E. Edmonson

41/22

NE_ of NE_ Sec. 31 T36N, R17W Feb. 12, 1909 J. H. Parker and Elmer Mitchell 41/22

S_ of NE_, NW_ of NE_ Sec. 33

T36N, R18W

Jan. 27, 1910 Harrison Hill, Colson, Geo. L., Ezra, Jim and Isabella

Hambleton

41/23

SW_ Sec. 32 T36N, R17W Jan. 1, 1911 H. M. and P. T. Guillet, W. L. and E. Southers, J. J. Downey, 41/25
in Montezuma County Courthouse On or Near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

3

Location Date Locators Book/Page

R. E. Wilson and A. J. and A. C. Jessup

SE_ Sec. 32 T36N, R17W Jan. 1, 1911 N. M and P. T. Guillet, W. L and E. Southers, C. Gifford, C.

W. Jessup, G. R. Elliot and J. J. O’Rourke

41/26

ca. SW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W, 1

mile north of Lamb’s Road Housein McElmo Canyon

Feb. 16, 1911 Roswell and Mary Lillie, P.F. and M. Z. Rudy, Ellen L. and

C. N. Rudy and O. A. and Effie O. Fleming

41/31

NW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W A. W. Woods, Mary Lillie, P. F., M. Z., Ellen L. and C. H.

Rudy and O. A. and Effie O. Fleming

41/32

NE_ Sec. 27 Feb. 16, 1911 Roswell Lillie, A. W. Woods, P. F., M. Z., Ellen L., and C. H.

Rudy, O. A and Effie O. Fleming

41/32

SE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W Feb. 16, 1911 Foswell and Mary Lillie, A. W. Woods, Ellen L., C. H. and M.

Z. Rudy, O. A. and Effie O. Fleming

41/33

SW_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18W

Feb. 15, 1911 J. W. and Sylvia A. Barker, Marion A. and A. W. Woods,

Herbert and Bessie Clark, John E and Elizabeth Doulon andE. O. Woods

41/33-35

NW_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 15 T36N, R18WAdjoins Hercules Sec. 22 T36N,R18WSE_ Sec. 15 T36N, R18WAdjoins Omar Sec. 22 T36N, R18WSec. 22 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18WAdjoins Fortune Sec. 22 T36N,R18W

Feb. 15, 1911 A. W. Woods, J. W. and S. A. Barker, C. T. and Daisy D.

Vincent, J. J. and Florence C. Downey, W. J. Jordan andAlta Woods

41/35-39

1_ mile north of McElmo Creek and_ mile southwest of large buttedividing east and west forks ofRock Creek

Feb. 25, 1911 Clinton J. and Louise D. Closson, J. W. and Ada R. Huff,

James R. and Louise R. Martin, Jacob Dukesherer and A. L.Raplee

41/41-45

SW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W

Feb. 26, 1911 W. E. and Hunter Hall, G. R, John, Carrie and J. K.

Galloway, D. H. Saylor and H. M. Guillet

41/45-46

SE_ NE_ Sec. 33 T36N, R18W Mar. 18, 1911 C. S. and G. L. Hambleton 41/46

NW_ NE_ Sec. 33 T36N, R18W Mar. 29, 1911 James Lamb and E. J. Hambleton 41/47

NE_ Sec. 19 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 18 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 18 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 19 T36N, R19W

Apr. 10, 1911 A. W. and Alta Woods, J. J. and Florence Downey, C. J. and

Louise Closson, R. J. Huff and J. W. Barker

41/56-58

SW_ of NW_ Sec. 34 T36N, R18W Mar. 18, 1911 J. and E. J. Hambleton 41/64

NE_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19WNW_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19WSW_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19WSE_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19W

Apr. 17, 1911 E. O. Kelly, A. W. and M. F. Kermode, W. D. and I. Clucus,

R. C. and M. C. Kermode and N. J. McLeod

41/64-66

NE_ of NW_ Sec. 33 T36N, R18W Mar. 24, 1911 C. L. and G. L. Hambleton 41/67
in Montezuma County Courthouse On or Near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

4

Location Date Locators Book/Page

SE_ Sec. 30 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 29 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 32 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 19 T36N, R18W

Apr. 8, 1911Apr. 8, 1911Apr. 8, 1911Apr. 9, 1911

Harry Sprague, C. E., W. E., Victor, Geo. J. and F. W.Ashbaugh, Samuel Burke and Walter Brown

41/67-69

SW_ Sec. 36 T36N, R19W Apr. 10, 1911 Jessie and Geo. Edmonson, C. E., V. N., Geo. J. and F. W.

Ashbaugh, J. A. Heffernan and Samuel Burke

41/69

SW_ of SE_ Sec. 36 T36N, R19W C. E. and Geo. J. Ashbaugh 41/70

N_ of SE_, S_ of NE_ Sec. 36 T36N,R19WN_ of SW_, S_ of NW_ Sec. 31T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 31 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 20 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 30 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 29 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 25 T36N, R19WNW_ Sec. 36 T36N, R19WSE_ Sec. 25 T36N, R19W

Apr. 19, 1911Apr. 9, 1911Apr. 8, 1911Apr. 9, 1911Apr. 9, 1911Apr. 9, 1911Apr. 10, 1911Apr. 10, 1911Apr. 10, 1911

J. A. Heffernan, George, V. N., W. E., C. E. and F. W.Ashbaugh, Harry Sprague, George Hutt, H. F. Bowdish andAnna Heffernan

41/70-74

N_ of NE_ Sec. 36 T36N, R19W Apr. 10, 1911 Clara Bowdish, Harry Sprague, C. E. and Geo. J. Ashbaugh 41/75

SE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R19W Apr. 12, 1911 E. T. Fluharty, G. F. Bowdish, Geo. Edmonson, J. A.

Heffernan, V. N., Geo. J., C. E. and T. W. Ashbaugh

41/75

SW_ Sec. 26 T36N, R19W Apr. 12, 1911 A. J. Tozer, Geo. Edmonson, G. F. Bowdish, J. A. Heffernan,

C. E., F. W., V. N. and Geo. J. Ashbaugh

41/76

NW_ Sec. 35 T36N, R19W Apr. 12, 1911 Emma and E. A. Porter, G. F. Bowdish, J. A. Heffernan, C.

E., V. N. and F. W. Ashbaugh and George Edmonson

41/76

NE_ Sec. 35 T36N, R19W Apr. 12, 1911 Mary Tozer and G. F. Bowdish, V. N. and Geo. J. Ashbaugh,

J. A. Heffernan, and Geo. Edmonson

41/77

SW_ of SE_ Sec. 33 T36N, R18W Apr. 14, 1911 Chas. Messenger and A. J. Smith 41/77

NE_ Sec. 34 T36N, R19WSE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R19WSE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R19W

Apr. 8, 1911 John R. Armstrong, Wm. Stellmacher, Johanna McWilliams,

James and Sam Smith, Wm. Flynn, R. W. and J. M. Rodgers

41/79-80

SE_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18W

May 5, 1911 James and Johanna McWilliams, J. R. and Samuel T. Smith,

Wm. Flynn, J. R. Armstrong, Jack Nivins, Wm. Stellmacher

41/80-81

NW_ Sec. 4 T36N, R17WSE_ Sec. 31 T37N, R17W

Apr. 28, 1911Apr. 29, 1911

H. P. and E. H. McCann, Fred, D. C., George W. and E. J.Davy, Frances Howard, D. A. Cameron

41/9141/94

SW_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 15 T36N, R18W

May 17, 1911 J. R. Armstrong, James and Johanna McWilliams, W. Z.

Dawson, Carl Washburn, Ed Billingsley, F. C. Shampson,Wm. Stellmacher

41/97-101
in Montezuma County Courthouse On or Near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

5

Location Date Locators Book/Page

NE_ Sec. 15 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W

June 5, 1911 J. H. and Sam Garvin, Wm. and Mary Sanderug, Sam

Garwin, L. H. and Elick Caldwell, Wm. Z. Dosen, GrayMartin

41/104-105

Feb. 15, 1911 Sylvia A. Barker, Marion A., A. W. and E. O. Woods, John E.

and Elizabeth Donlon

41/107

SE_ Sec. 29 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 29 T36N, R18W

June 23, 1911 J. M., J. A. and J. R. Clark, C. H. and E. L. Rudy, W. J.

Jordan, A. W. Woods, C. J. Vincent, J. W. Masner

41/108-109

SW_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 20 T36N, R18W

June 23, 1911 J. W. and Norah Masner, J. E. Manchard, O. H. and O. E.

Stone, Jas., J. A. and J. R. Clark

41/111-112

NW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W June 11, 1911 C.T. Vincent, J. J. Downey, Roth F. McKinley, J. W. and S.

A. Barker, A. W. and Alta Woods, W. J. Jordan

41/116

Sec. 29 T36N, R17W Jan. 1, 1912 Tom Spence, Roy London, Joch S. and John C. Wilson, A. W.

Woods, Jim Jackson, Stanley L. Lee and W. J. Jordan

41/126

SE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 25 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1912 W. P. Spence, R. V. London, A. W. Woods, W. J. Jordan, C. T.

Vincent, J. J. Downey, P. J. McPolin, C. H. Rudy

41/127-128

SW_ of NW_ Sec. 24 T36N, R18W Jan. 1, 1912 Ezra and Isabella Hambleton 41/128

NE_ of NW_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18W Jan. 1, 1912 O. L. and Geo. L. Hambleton 41/129

S_ and NW_ of NE_ Sec. 23 T36N,

R18W

Jan. 1, 1912 Charles Mott, C. S., G. L. and Ezra Hambleton, A. J. Smith

and J. D. Lamb

41/129

SE_ Sec. 25 T36N, R18W Jan. 6, 1912 W. P., Tom and M. E. Spence, C. A. and Corabell Allison,

Cora Potter, Blanche Muhl, Fred Davidson

41/130

SE_ of SW_ Sec. 30 T36N, R17W Jan. 6, 1912 R. B., Pearl, Elizabeth B. and W. B. Barrett, L. D. and Nellie

Zimmerman, S. J. Safford, J. A. Crowe

41/130

Jan. 1, 1912 A. Bayton, T. B. Finch, P. A. Maguillis, A. W. Woods, J. I.

Wilson, S. W. Bryant, Harry Rainy

41/131-132

E_ of SW_, W_ of SE_ Sec. 24

T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1912 Charles Messenger, Charles Mott, C. L., G. L. and Sylvia

Hambleton, A. H. Baxstrom, Alph. W. Kermode, A. J. Smith

41/133

W_ of SE_, SW_ of NE_, NE_ ofSE_, SE_ of NE_ Sec. 29 T36N,R17WSW_ Sec. 25 T36N, R18W

Jan. 6, 1912 Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Wilson, Mrs. Carrie Wilson, Mary Wilson,

W. A. Jackson, Stanley L. Lee, W. P. Spence, Roy London, A.W. Woods and S. W. Bryant

41/133-134

SE_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18W Apr. 22, 1912 A. W. and M. A. Woods, W. J. Jordan, Chas. Mott, J. E.,

Julia, D. H. and Anna Callery

41/135

SE_ Sec. 29 T36N, R17WNE_ Sec. 29 T36N, R17WSW_ Sec. 28 T36N, R17WNW_ Sec. 28 T36N, R17W

June 4, 1912 W. N. McComack, J. S. Wilson, W. J. Jordan, Mrs. Cora

Adams, Mrs. R. E. Johnson, Mrs. W. L. Newkirk, Miss.Maude London, Roy V. London, Mrs. J. M. Caress, R. E.London, D. B, London, J. L. London, N. E. London, L. P.Carpenter

41/135-137

SE_ Sec. 29 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 29 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 J. M., J. R., J. A. and M. C. Clark, J. and M. Carlton, J.

Gress, C. H. Rudy

41/137-138
in Montezuma County Courthouse On or Near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

6

Location Date Locators Book/Page

SW_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 11 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 E. L. and C. H. Rudy, O. E. Stone, J. M., J. R., J. A. and M.

C. Clark and J. Gress

41/138-141

SW_ Sec. 11 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 13 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 13 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 W. J. Jordan, J. E. and Phil Callery, H. N. Sprague, R. F.

McKinley, C. A. Johnson, J. J. Downey, Jack Kelly, S. M.Burke, W. P. Spence, A. W. Hocking, J. Lesher, W. J. Moffitt,R. C. Kermode, E. E. Johnson and Frank Shea

41/141-143

NW_ Sec. 15 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 15 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 14 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 F. M. Goodykoontz, Victor C. and Otto Johnson, R. C.

Kermode, John Wesch, W. W. Hays, Frank She and Eva She

41/144-145

SE_ Sec. 21 T36N, R18W Jan. 1, 1913 Anna, Phil, Julia and J. E. Callery, W. J. Jordan, W. L.

Hilton, Edwin G. Kelly, Al Woods

41/146

SE_ Sec. 13 T36N, R18W Jan. 1, 1913 W. J. Jordan, J. E. Callery, W. P. Spence, C. A. Johnson, A.

W. Hocking, R. F. McKinley, H. N. Sprague, Jack Kelly

41/146

SW_ Sec. 13 T36N, R18W Jan. 1, 1913 W. J. Jordan, J. E. Callery, W. P. Spence, C. A. Johnson, R.

C. Kermode, W. J. Moffit, R. F. McKinley, J. Lesher, PhilCallery

41/147

SW_ Sec. 25 T36N, R18W Jan. 1, 1913 S. O., C. L., T. L. and Della M. Miller, C. O. and May

Livesay, Elmer and Lulu Davis

41/148

SE_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 16 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 Mrs. A. L. Cotton, Alice Scott, John Morgan, W. T. Harrison,

Jim Sleep, J. A. McCrimmon, O. W. Nyburg, W. H. Tritz

41/148-150

NE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 27 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 Roswell and Mary Lillie, A. W. and Marion Woods, P. F., M.

Z., Ellen L. and C. H. Rudy

41/152-153

SW_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WNE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 23 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 Sylvia Barker, Hubert and Bessie Clark, Fred and Edith

Crider, Marion, V. R. and A. W. Woods

41/153-155

SW_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18WSW_ Sec. 28 T36N, R18WNW_ Sec. 28 T36N, R18WSE_ Sec. 26 T36N, R18W

Jan. 1, 1913 John J., Florence C., J. R., Inez and J. B. Downey, A. W. and

M. A. Woods, S. A. Barker

41/155-157
APPENDIX B

EARLY OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE

CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT AREA
 Early Oil and Gas Leases on Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands

Canc = Canceled Rel = Relinquished Term = Terminated 1

Township Range Number Date Termination Name Address

36N 18W Dur 09212 5/18/21 Rel 9/1/21 Lucien H. Norton Silverton

38N 19W Dur 09279 10/7/21 Canc 6/4/24 Frank M. Downer, Jr. Denver

39N 19W Dur 09284 1/25/23 Canc 4/7/24 Everett Owens Denver

38N 19 and 20W Dur 09289 8/12/21 Canc 7/16/25 Fred C. Rabb Denver

38 and 39N 19W Dur 09304 12/19/21 Canc 12/1/25 David Johnson Durango

37N 19W Dur 09314 9/21/21 Rel 2/25/22 Frank L. Watson Silverton

38N 19W Dur 09318 5/25/22 Canc 5/22/25 William S. Pickerill Durango

36N 18W Dur 09320 11/18/21 Canc 3/11/22 George A. Draper Durango

37N 19W Dur 09325 9/23/21 Rel 12/20/21 Edward C. Green Silverton

37N 18W Dur 09330 4/14/22 Rel 3/9/23 Max T. Smith Wallace, ID

39N 19W Dur 09695 2/10/22 Canc 3/18/24 Ben B Russell Durango

36N 18W Dur 09990 10/28/22 Rel 1/29/23 Grover Damon Durango

37 and 38N 19W P 049075 10/1/27 Canc 7/24/29 Royal C. Fosnot Ackmen

38 and 39N 18W P 049076 7/27/26 Canc 7/24/29 Jesse A. Glore Ruin Canyon

39N 20W P 049078 3/4/27 Canc 7/24/29 Charles F. Milton Ackmen

37N 18W P 049079 7/30/26 Canc 7/24/29 Courtney Dow Ruin Canyon

36N 17W P 049353 3/11/21 Canc 11/29/27 Frank A. Kemp Denver

36N 18W P 049354 3/10/21 Canc 12/18/28 W. H. Cooper Jr. Denver

36N 17W P 049355 9/7/20 Canc 2/18/29 Arthur Eaton (deceased) Denver

36N 17W P 049358 3/19/21 Canc 3/17/28 H. A. Edmonds Ft. Collins

36N 18W P 049362 4/2/21 Rel 9/6/27 Cerena M. Bateman Detroit, MI

36N 18W P 049364 3/10/21 Canc 11/29/27 E. M. Harrison Denver

36N 17W P 049414 8/23/21 Canc 11/5/27 S. A. Lane Denver

36N 17W P 049415 8/19/21 Canc 5/25/28 George E. Cramer Denver

36N 18W P 049416 8/25/21 Canc 5/25/28 Clark Mitchell Denver

36N 18W P 049417 8/25/21 Canc 6/8/28 Tom Harrison Denver

36N 17W P 049418 8/23/21 Canc 3/30/29 W. A. Matlock Denver

36N 17W P 049419 9/2/21 Canc 11/11/28 Nathan Gregg Denver

36N 18W P 049446 11/28/21 Canc 1/30/28 Minnie A. Johnson Cortez

36N 18 and 19W P 049450 11/3/21 Canc 11/28/27 L. W. Stegeman Durango

36N 18W P 049452 6/20/21 Canc 9/19/27 E. P. Wilson Durango

38N 18W P 049467 12/16/24 Canc 3/20/28 George W. Jackson Denver

37N 17W P 049468 7/26/23 Canc 12/7/27 Forest White Durango

39N 19W P 049469 11/24/22 Canc 4/13/28 Whitney Newton Jr. Denver

38N 19W P 049471 6/1/21 Canc 3/20/28 I. J. Quigley Denver

39N 20W P 049472 3/24/23 Canc 4/13/28 H. L. Patton Casper, WY

38 and 39N 19W P 049473 6/3/21 Canc 3/20/28 James M. Douglass Denver

38N 18W P 049474 12/30/25 Canc 3/14/28 R. H. Nichols Casper, WY

38 and 39N 20W P 049475 4/17/24 Canc 12/6/27 E. J. Sullivan Denver

36N 16 and 17W P 049479 1/30/23 Canc 11/17/27 Lee E Tripp Cortez

36N 16W P 049480 12/24/21 Canc 9/19/27 Clark R. Hickman Cortez

37N 18W P 049481 12/19/21 Canc 11/5/27 F. J. Bawdon Silverton

38N 18W P 049482 5/21/24 Canc 1/20/28 Benjamin B. Allen Silverton

37N 18W P 049485 5/26/22 Canc 10/6/27 James J. Garman Durango

37N 17W P 049486 10/20/22 Canc 1/18/28 William G. Clucas, Fredrickton

OH, Durango

39N 19W P 049487 7/17/22 Canc 10/6/28 George Lane,

Cheney Jensen,

Martiruan Stephens

Durango

Salt Lake

37N 19W P 049488 2/12/26 Canc 10/24/28 Eugene H. Kennedy Durango

38 and 39N 18W P 049490 2/13/24 Canc 9/25/26 Chiles P. Plummer Casper

38N 20W P 049491 1/31/25 Canc 12/6/27 James U. Pearson Silverton

37N 18W P 049492 1/23/22 Canc 1/20/28 Alfred Smith Cortez

38N 18W P 049494 12/6/22 Canc 8/31/26 Arthur F. Hoffman Mancos

38N

36N

18W

19W

P 049498 4/6/25

2/10/22

Canc 4/13/28

Canc 11/14/27

Robert P. Newton Denver

39N 19W P 049499 9/30/22 Canc 6/4/27 Samuel A. Cox Pagosa Springs

39N 19W P 049500 11/28/22 Canc 4/14/28 Wilbur Newton Pueblo

37N 17W P 049502 10/20/22 Canc 6/9/30 W. H. Cofield Cortez

37N 18W P 049513 4/14/22 Canc 1/20/28 Hearald A Smith Cortez

36N 17W P 049581 3/17/22 Canc 10/6/27 Hazel E. Westover Johnson Denver

36N 17W P 049589 11/7/21 Canc 12/2/27 John B. O’Rourke Durango
 Early Oil and Gas Leases on Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands

Canc = Canceled Rel = Relinquished Term = Terminated 2

Township Range Number Date Termination Name Address

37N 19W P 049597 10/16/23 Canc 12/16/27 Arthur Strong Greeley

37N 19W P 049599 6/7/22 Canc 3/19/28 Clifford C. Chamberlin Denver

38N 20W P 049608 2/10/22 Canc 12/22/27 Walter M. Faley Durango

37N 18W P 049609 1/24/22 Canc 12/21/27 William A Maxwell Denver

37N 19W P 049611 6/7/22 Canc 11/29/27 B. U. Bennett,

R. E. Myers

Durango

36N 18W P 049613 10/26/22 Canc 5/11/28 Evert E. Williams Dolores

36N 18W P 049614 2/10/22 Canc 11/29/27 Charles E. Hall Durango

36N 19W P 049624 5/13/24 Canc 12/21/27 Albert L. Brown Durango/

Mancos

36N 19W P 049625 2/10/22 Canc 12/22/27 George Myrle Weaver Durango

36N 17W P 049628 3/17/22 Canc 5/19/28 Lewis Hutchinson Renaraye, CO

37 and 38N 20W P 049632 7/25/22 Canc 3/30/29 Rod S. Day Durango

36N 17W P 049634 1/20/23 Canc 9/13/27 Thomas Annear Denver

36N 17 and 18W P 049638 5/12/22 Canc 12/20/27 Shelby Harliss

R. M. Barthalomew, agent

Cortez

Casper, WY

36N 17W P 049639 11/21/22 Canc 5/25/28 Robert C. Finley

R. M. Barthalomew, agent

Renaraye

Casper, WY

38N 17W P 049641 11/27/23 Canc 5/25/28 Thomas Annear Denver

38N 18W P 049642 10/27/23 Canc 12/2/27 A. L. Burnett Durango

37N 19W P 049646 1/17/23 Canc 11/29/27 D. H. Hines Alamosa

36N 20W P 049648 6/29/22 Canc 12/20/27 Alice L. Herr Durango

35N 20W P 049649 3/21/22 Canc 11/21/27 Clayton C. Perkins Durango

36N 19W P 049652 7/28/22 Canc 12/13/27 Clarence J. Murray Alamosa

36 and 37N 19W P 049655 8/8/22 Canc 7/24/29 James M Clifford Silverton

37N 20W P 049657 5/10/22 Canc 1/30/28 Barry Sullivan Durango

37N 20W P 049658 1/14/22 Canc 12/20/27 John M. Schultz Durango

37N 20W P 049659 3/11/22 Canc 11/17/28 Don F Eddy Durango

36N 20W P 049660 3/11/22 Canc 11/28/27 Albert P Roat Durango

36N 19 and 20W P 049662 5/23/22 Canc 12/14/27 Nate Stein Durango

35N 19W P 049674 5/12/22 Canc 10/1/27 Lee Starbuck Durango

35N 19W P 049682 5/24/22 Canc 6/8/28 Alva V. Nutt Denver

35N 20W P 049683 3/21/22 Canc 4/25/28 Erwin E. Eveleth Carumna, MI

36N 19W P 049684 7/26/23 Canc 5/26/28 E. L. Dyer Lexington, KY

35N 19W P 049685 3/11/22 Canc 5/26/28 Edward Moore Alamosa

36N 19W P 049687 7/26/23 Canc 6/8/28 Charles M. Burke Cortez

36N 19W P 049688 5/23/22 Canc 5/28/28 Harry B. Hazard Cortez

35N 19W P 049689 8/25/22 Canc 3/27/28 William E. Simmons Alamosa

35N 19W P 049695 6/7/22 Canc 3/27/29 Al Newmeyer Cortez

35N 19W P 049696 4/7/22 Canc 5/28/22 Oliver S. Sisk Alamosa

35N 20W P 049697 6/7/22 Canc 3/8/28 Harry Warner Jones Chicago, IL

35N 19W P 049698 10/20/22 Canc 6/8/28 C. U. Ueitch Lexington, KY

35 and 36N

35N

19W

19 and 20W

P 049699 5/24/22 Canc 5/26/28 John F. Lueders

36N 17W P 049701 4/13/22 Canc 5/26/28 Pearl Black Renaraye

39N 20W P 049705 3/9/23 Canc 5/25/28 John L. Dougan

S. M. Lane

Salt Lake City

35N 19W P 049706 6/23/22 Canc 6/7/28 Charles M. Burke Cortez

35N 19W P 049708 10/20/22 Canc 12/14/27 Beatty H. Buehler Lexington, KY

36N 17W P 049713 5/24/22 Canc 5/28/28 James M. Layman Renaraye

35N 19W P 049714 3/11/22 Canc 5/28/22 Kit Carson Alamosa

36N 17 and 18W P 049717 2/24/23 Canc 7/18/28 Merwin Tozer Cortez

37N 19W P 049734 3/21/22 Canc 6/7/28 Edward F. Evarts Chesaning, MI

35N 19W P 049738 5/24/22 Canc 5/26/28 Guy A. Davids Owassa, MI

37N 18W P 049767 10/28/22 Canc 12/14/27 Joseph E. Dresback Silverton

35N 20W P 049825 3/9/23 Canc 3/27/28 Irvin H. Will Dolores

36N 17W P 049845 12/9/22 Canc 6/11/28 Patrick H. McCabe Dolores

36N 18W P 049916 5/15/23 Canc 1/30/28 George A. Draper Durango

38 and 39N 19W P 050089 3/23/28 Canc 9/16/29 Foy C. Roberts Denver

38 and 39N 19W P 050090 6/25/27 Canc 9/16/29 Thomas A. Curry Denver

38N 19W P 050091 7/15/26 Canc 4/2/29 Clarence A. Dillard Denver

39N 19W P 050178 7/18/26 Canc 3/25/29 James McCormick Tacoma, WA
 Early Oil and Gas Leases on Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands

Canc = Canceled Rel = Relinquished Term = Terminated 3

Township Range Number Date Termination Name Address

37N 18W P 050181 4/1/26 Canc 3/30/29 Miriam Clark Cortez/

LA California

38N 19W P 050194 11/24/25 Canc 2/5/29 Winifred B. Hunt Denver

38 and 39N 19W P 050195 7/1/27 Canc 4/22/29 James O. Newton Denver

38N 18W P 050231 5/14/25 Canc 7/25/29 Howard A. Garwood Ackmen

36N 18W P 050235 6/24/25 Canc 7/25/29 A. G. Tilton Palisade

38N 19W P 050264 7/16/27 Canc 10/24/29 Paul T. Hoffman Denver

37 and 38N 18W P 050265 12/10/25 Canc 6/13/28 James Richmond, Sr.

Jean Richmond

Ackmen

39N 18W P 050276 5/22/26 Canc 4/3/29 Leroy Perry Ackmen

39N 18 and 19W P 050278 3/21/27 Canc 7/18/27 Francis E. Fosnot Ackmen

39N 18W P 050307 6/25/27 Canc 7/20/29 Lee Morris Dove Creek

38N 19 and 20W P 050308 5/7/27 Canc 8/25/33 Miss Adelaide Cope Elliott Cahone

38N 18W P 050312 10/19/26 Canc 5/24/29 Charles H. Harvey Dove Creek

38N 19W P 050314 8/10/26 Canc 3/30/29 Floyd E. Johnson Cahone

38 and 39N 18W P 050315 2/19/27 Canc 7/18/29 Phillip M. Mellott Dove Creek

39N 19W P 050316 8/9/27 Canc 7/18/29 Charles B. Morgan Dove Creek

39N 19W P 050320 5/4/28 Canc 7/17/29 Emil E. Johnson Cortez

39N 18W P 050324 5/9/27 Canc 7/17/29 C. V. Kinney Dove Creek

38N 20W P 050351 3/12/27 Canc 7/17/29 A. Rex Mollette Durango

38N 20W P 050352 10/25/26 Canc 7/17/29 Wallace B. Mollette Durango

38 and 39N 19W P 050353 1/31/27 Canc 7/26/29 Clayton C. Perkins Durango

38 and 39N 20W P 050368 3/19/27 Canc 7/24/29 Florence C. Downey Cortez

39N 19W P 050372 3/8/27 Canc 7/24/29 Edward Kent Ackmen

37N

37 and 38N

18 and 19W

19W

P 050373 12/16/26 Canc 7/2/30 Edward M. Gregory Ackmen

38N 19W P 050478 10/27/26 Canc 7/24/29 Luke M. Lancaster Ruin Canyon

38N 19W P 050654 10/8/26 Canc 1/20/28 Roy G. Marr (Mars?) Cortez

39N 19W P 050751 7/26/27 Canc 7/18/29 Gus D. Dunn Tulsa, OK

38N 19W P 050885 11/3/27 Canc 7/17/29 Frank L White Cortez

38N 18W P 051040 3/28/27 Canc 7/16/29 Joseph H. Jackson Mancos

38 and 39N 18W P 051232 10/4/28 Canc 8/19/29 Laura A. Garwood Cortez

36N 16 and 17W P 052234 5/18/28 Canc 7/25/29 Paris Hoerner Las Animas

36N 18W P 052236 3/6/28 Canc 7/25/29 John J. Broska Ft. Lyon

36N 18W P 052266 3/6/28 Canc 11/25/29 William F. Sutton Denver

37N 18W P 052267 5/4/28 Canc 7/25/29 William F. Sutton Denver

36N 18W P 052469 5/18/28 Canc 1/1/40 Mrs. J. A. Bigelow Pueblo

36N 17W P 052470 9/12/28 Canc 1/1/40 N. L. Nelson Pueblo

36N 18W P 052474 5/18/28 Canc 12/31/38 Mrs. Rosine Nicoletti Pueblo

36N 18W P 052977 2/14/29 Canc 6/9/41 John P. McNierney Denver

36N 18W P 052978 2/1/31 Canc 1/1/40 Samuel J. Mehalowitz Pueblo

36N 17 and 18W P 053259 5/24/30 Canc 1/1/40 Frank A. Nicoletti Pueblo

36N 17W P 055174 9/20/32 Canc 1/1/40 Robert S. McIlvain Pueblo

36N 17W P 055175 9/23/32 Canc 1/1/40 Harry O. Schmidt Pueblo

36N 17W P 055176 1/14/33 Canc 1/1/40 Harry A. MacIntosh Pueblo

36N 17W P 055181 4/8/33 Canc 1/1/40 Emma R. Kizlin Pueblo

37N 18W P 055182 12/9/32 Rel 12/31/39 Mrs. Blanche Vay Pueblo

36N 17W P 055183 4/15/33 Canc 1/1/40 Florence S. Merriman La Jolla, CA

36N 17W P 055188 12/16/36 Canc 1/1/40 Charles A. Muller Pueblo

36N 17W P 055201 1/11/33 Canc 1/1/40 Faye M. McIntosh Pueblo

36N 17W P 055206 3/21/33 Canc 6/9/44 James R. Treadwell Pueblo

37N 17W P 055216 5/4/33 Term 8/10/42 William B. Stewart Pueblo

36N 19W P 055220 1/4/33 Term 4/30.41 Andro M. Petros Pueblo

39N 19W P 055262 4/15/33 Canc 10/28/36 James McCormack Tacoma, WA

36 and 37N 17W P 055518 9/27/34 Canc 1/1/40 C. D. McIntosh Wash DC

36N 17W P 055522 3/28/38 Term 5/12/42 Edgar S. Kellar Penrose

36N 17W P 055535 3/27/37 Canc 12/5/40 Anna Schmidt Pueblo

36N 19W P 055616 7/21/34 Term 2/28/40 Dr. Amherst Merriman Pueblo

36N 17W P 055752 10/5/37 Canc 1/1/40 E. D. Spruill Pueblo

36N 16W P 055784 3/10/36

12/31/38

Canc 12/31/38

Canc 12/6/40

John Martin Broan Pueblo
 Early Oil and Gas Leases on Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands

Canc = Canceled Rel = Relinquished Term = Terminated 4

Township Range Number Date Termination Name Address

39N 19W P 055910 12/23/36

12/31/38

Canc 12/31/38

Rel 9/26/40

A. L. Pahl Pueblo

36N 19W P 055911 12/31/38 Canc 12/6/40 Robert M. Miller Pueblo

39N 19W P 055923 7/23/37

1/1/40

Canc 1/1/40

Rel 9/19/41

William H. Boyle Pueblo

39N 19W P 055942 11/23/36

12/31/38

Canc 12/31/38

Rel 9/26/40

Blanche D. Morgan Pueblo

39N 19W P 055945 2/18/37

12/31/38

Canc 12/31/38

Rel 9/26/40

Robert M. Miller Pueblo

36N 19W P 055973 12/31/38 Canc 12/6/40 J. D. Moore Pueblo

38N 19W P 055999 3/15/37 Term 6/9/41 J. E. Ritter Pueblo

36N 17W P 056279 10/9/36 Canc 6/9/41 G. W. Epeneter Pueblo

38N 18W P 056308 8/21/37 Term 3/18/40 Raymond W. Coon Cortez

38N 19W P 056309 12/31/38 Canc 12/16/41 Perry Coon Durango

36N 16W P 056318 7/26/37 Term 6/9/41 Joseph L. Peterson Pueblo

38N 18W P 057887 8/1/45 Term 7/31/50 Dr. C. W. Streamer Pueblo

37N 17W P 058260 1/1/40 Rel 12/30/41 C. D. McIntosh Wash, DC

38N 19W P 058324 7/1/43 Term 6/30/48 W. N. Clark

So. Colo. Power Co.

Pueblo

39N 19W P 058491 8/1/43 Term 7/31/48 H. B. Brack, A. R. Davis, Dean

Dudley, John M. MacIndoe,

George D. Meston, Joseph L.

Peterson, E. D. Spruill. Dr.

Ray R. Taylor, and Dr. Jesse

W. White

Trans. to Byrd-Frost Inc,

Pueblo

Houston, TX

38N 19W P 058518 8/1/43 Term 7/31/48 Anna G. Driscoll, Faye M.

MacIntosh, H. Elwyn Davis,

and Marie Porter

Trans. to Byrd-Frost Inc,

Pueblo

Houston, TX

38N 18W P 058786 8/1/46 Term 7/31/51 Harry B. Brack

Dean Dudley

Pueblo

36N 16W P 058866 11/1/46 Canc 9/28/54 Lois Harris

Trans. to Byrd-Frost, Inc.,

Cortez

Houston, TX

38 and 39N 20W P 058908 4/1/46 Term 3/31/51 Helen G. Pahl

Margaret B. Miller

Trans. to Byrd-Frost, Inc.,

Pueblo

Houston, TX

37N 17W P 059378 2/1/48 Canc 2/24/56 Vivien E. Milenski

Trans. to Western Nat. Gas

Co.

Cortez

Houston, TX

39N 18W P 059548 2/1/49 Assigned Clarence Thornton

Trans. to Colo. Petroleum Co.

Trans. to Cortez Oil Co.

Paonia

Denver

Tulsa, OK

39N 18W P 059697 3/1/50 Rel 2/25/59 Howard A. McIntosh Pueblo

37N 17W P 059861 7/1/48 Rel 6/1/55 Bernard M. Bench Denver

37 and 38N 17W P 060037 8/1/48 Rel 6/23/58

Term 5/31/58

Arthur Lyon

Transferred to Gulf Oil,

Cortez

Denver

38N 17W P 060037A 7/1/58 Canc 4/30/56 Cortez Oil Co. Tulsa OK

39N 18W P 060090 7/1/48 Canc 12/20/48 Russell R. Sidebotton SF, CA

36N 16W P 060117 8/1/48 Term 7/31/59 Neal Neece

Trans. to Cortez Oil Co.,

Dallas

Tulsa, OK

36N 16W P 060144 6/1/47 Rel 10/2/56 Marshall Rowley Artesia, NM

39N 18W P 060149 9/1/48 Term 8/31/53 Bertha Lyon Las Vegas

39N 20W P 060155 7/1/49 Assigned Claude D. Fleet Ft. Worth, TX

37 and 38N 20W P 060234 10/1/48 Term

11/30/59

George D. Fehr

Trans. to Big Horn Powder

River Corp.,

Salt Lake City

Denver

37N 17W P 060235 6/1/50 Rel 5/9/58 George D. Fehr

Trans. to Gulf Oil Corp.,

Salt Lake City

Denver

36N 20W P 060281 9/1/48 Rel 5/20/52 L. W. Winkler

Trans. to Aztec Oil & Gas

Denver

Dallas, TX
APPENDIX C

URANIUM CLAIMS IN THE

CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT AREA

MARCH 1953 TO MARCH 1955
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

1

Location Date Locators Book/Page

West rim of CrossCanyon in Squaw PointM. D.

March 21, 1953 Thomas F. Kelley, Carl Marlett and E. R. Brown 179/148-153

Cross Canyon June 22, 1953 Elree Young 181/ 32-33Cross Canyon July 10, 1953 Elree Young 182/17-22N and E of Old HallTrading Post on the UteReservation

July 15,1953 Jack C. Rogers, S. J. Auringer and Grover Brittain 181/391-402

July 15, 1953 andJuly 18, 1953

J. C. Rogers, S. J. Auringer & Grover Brittain 182/8-12

Sec. 30, 36/18 October 28, 1953 CUNAC Minerals, Inc., by Ivan M. Ashley, Jr. 183/376-377

West bank of Cross

Canyon approx. _-1 milebelow the mouth ofRuin Canyon and _ mileabove Hansberry RockHouse

January 20, 1954 Dick Powell, Frank Kister and Wayne Simpson 186/64-76

East bank of CrossCanyon, 1 mile north ofHansberry Rock house

February 27, 1954 N. G. Barnard and Jim D. Barnard 186/345

SW Sec. 9, 36/17 February 7, 1954 Oristle F. Story 186/2-7

South side of CannonBall Mesa

February 9, 1954 Chas Roscio and E. B. Roscio 186/298-299

SW Sec. 12, 36/17 February 13, 1954 Albert Crites 186/132

Center of peak of February 14, 1954 Lloyd H. Fulks and Jack H. Swanner 186/393-398
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

2

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Goodman Point

Sec. 23, 36/17 February 15-17, 1954 Albert Crites 186/149-152

NW Sec. 19, 36/17SE Sec. 7, 36/17

February 16, 1954 Theron O. Story 186/133-138

SW Sec. 9 36/17 February 17, 1954 Don E Story and Joe Fulki 186/169-174

Sec. 23, 36/17 February 17, 1954 Albert Crites 186/213

East bank of CrossCanyon approximately _mile above HansberryRock House

February 18, 1954 Lewis Q. Imel 186/212

Point where RuinCanyon and CrossCanyon intersect

February 20, 1954 Raymond Donovan and A. E. Wayman 186/318-320

East bank of CrossCanyon, _ mile north ofmouth of McClain Wash

February 25, 1954 Frank Krater 186/326-327

Canon Ball Mesa February 26, 1954 Joe Roscio (Dunton) and Byron Butler (Phoenix) 187/238-240

? February 28, 1954 Bert Stuckman 187/122-123

East bank of CrossCanyon, _ mile north ofmouth of McClain Wash

February 28, 1954 Dorothy Krater 186/328

Cross Canyon nearmouth of McClain Basin

February 28, 1954 Bert N. Stuckman 186/344

West bank of Cross

Canyon _ milenorthwest of IndianTower Point

March 1, 1954 Frank Krater 187/127

NE Sec. 8, 36/17 March 1, 1954 A. E. Story 186/307-308

West Bank CrossCanyon

March 2, 1954March 5, 1954

Dick Powell, Frank, Krater, Wayne Simpson 187/3

East bank of CrossCanyon, _ mile NW ofHathaway Well

March 2, 1954 John Baskett 186/329

Sec. 31, 36/19 March 2, 1954 Albert Crites 186/372-376

Cross Canyon March 4, 1954 Owen J. Uptain 186/358-359

Cross Canyon March 5, 1954 John Baskett 190/86

Sec. 23, 36/20 March 6, 1954 C. W. Winship and Bill Edmonson 187/ 390-393
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

3

Location Date Locators Book/Page

SW Sec. 9, 36/17 March 6, 1954 R. E. Forbes, M. D. 186/362-365

Cross Canyon next toCyclone

March 7, 1954 C. O. Truman 187/192

3 miles north of

junction of YellowJacket Creek andMcElmo Creek

March 8, 1954 Jose M. Martinez and Hugh Banelly 187/77-80

Bridge Canyon ca. 3miles north of thejunction of YellowJacket Creek andMcElmo Creek

March 8, 1954 Jose M. Martinez and Hugh Banelly 187/167-172

1 mile north of junction

of Ruin Canyon andCross Canyon

March 8, 1954 N. G. Barnard and Lewis Q. Imel 187/322

NW Sec. 9, 36 March 8, 1954 Don E. Story and Joe Fulki 186/378

Cross Canyon March 12, 1954

March 13, 1954March 13, 1954March 11, 1954March 11, 1954March 11, 1954March 12, 1954March 11, 1954March 11, 1954March 12, 1954March 13, 1954March 12, 1954March 12, 1954March 13, 1954March 13, 1954March 12, 1954March 13, 1954March 12, 1954

Owen J. Uptain and O. L. Chapman 187/48-65

March 13, 1954 andApril 4, 1954

C. W. Winship, W. & W. S. Steerman, Juanita andHalena Winship, Fulman Edmonson, SamuelRedford

187/394-401

Adjacent to Little HopeNo. 2 (Cross Canyon?)

March 14, 1954 Alva and Eugenia Edwards 187/179
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

4

Location Date Locators Book/Page

West bank of Cross

Canyon southwest ofthe old HanberryHomestead

March 15, 1954 L. A. Simmons 187/114-116

Cross Canyon March 16, 1954 Glen Kirk 187/92-93

Cross Canyon March 20, 1954 George Wayne Bishop, H. R. McBride, and Jame F.

Hum

187/153

Cross Canyon March 22, 1954 Claude C. Bishop, George Wayne Bishop, and J. B.

Ratcliff

187/132-139

SE NE and S SE Sec. 9,

36/17

March 22, 1954 Jim Fulks 187/141-146

Bridge Canyon ca. 3_miles from YellowJacket and McElmoCreek

March 24, 1954 Jose M. Martinez and Hugh Banelly 189/94

Cross Canyon on southside of Spook Point

March 26-27, 1954 George Wayne Bishop, W. R. McBride, and Jame

Hum

187/222-226

Cross Canyon March 27, 1954 James E. Rehr 187/193

Cross Canyon March 27, 1954 J. B. Ratcliff, Claude B. Bishop, George Wayne

Bishop

187/194-196

Cross Canyon March 27, 1954 George Wayne Bishop and Hal Dick Smith 187/276-27935/20 ca 1500’ east ofHall Store Bldg, onReservation Fence Line

March 30, 1954 Alfred Comstock and Melvin Forest 187/271-272

35/20 ca 1500’ east ofHall Store Bldg, on

March 30, 1954 John Ritter and Abe Imel, Jr. 187/273-274
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

5

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Reservation Fence Line

35/20 ca 1500’ east ofHall Store Bldg, onReservation Fence Line

March 30, 1954 John Isavill 187/275

March 30-31, 1954 Frank Roberts, Jeanette V. Martin, Owen J.

Uptain, O. E. Chapman

187/242-251

SW Sec. 26, 36/17 March 31, 1954 Albert Crites 187/260

East bank of CrossCanyon east of CliffHouse No. 1 and 2

April 1, 1954 Dick Powell, Frank Kister and Wayne Simpson 187/333-334

East bank of CrossCanyon adjoiningGopher by HaroldHamiltonWest bank of CrossCanyon adjoiningBobbie Joe No. 2

April 2, 1954April 4, 1954

Sean L. Sligar, A. L. Sligar, Harvey Wilson andCarl E. Retherford

187/330-331

Cross Canyon, _ milefrom McClain Wash

April 3, 1954 Percy R. Krantz 190/248

SW SW Sec. 9, 36/17 April 3, 1954 R. E. Forbes, M.D. 187/316-317

_ mile east of CrossCanyon on north bankof Ruin CanyonRuin Canyon 1_ milefrom junction withCross CanyonRuin Canyon 2/3 milefrom junction withCross Canyon

April 3, 1954 L. R. French and Lewis Q. Imel 187/323-329

_ mile southwest ofjunction of Cow Canyonwith Cross Canyon;

April 5, 1954 Carl E. Retherford, Harvey Wilson, Albert Sligar,

Sean Leo Sligar

188/3-9
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

6

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Cow Canyon intersectsCross Canyon on OldShoe claim

In Ruin Canyon where

Ruin Canyon intersectsCross Canyon; adjoinsStarter No. 1

April 6, 1954 Lewis Q. Imel, N. G. Barnard 188/1-2

Cross Canyon NearMcLain Basin

April 8, 1954 Percy R. Krantz 190/332

_ mile north of Millard

Steerman’s lower TrailCanyon ranch house

April 11, 1954 W. W. Vencil, Lew Vencil, Philip Kenyon 188/244-245,

338-339

NE NE Sec. 23 38/18 April 13, 1954 Owen J. Uptain, Jeanette V. Martin, N. C. Terhune 188/332-337

Ruin Canyon April 15, 1954 Wayne Bishop, Herman Lewis and M. B. Gerber 189/34-38North bank of RuinCanyon

April 15, 1954 Carl E. Retherford, Harvey Wilson, Albert and

Gean Sligar

189/42-46

Ruin Canyon, 1 milefrom head of canyon

April 15, 1954 G. C. Peters, Herman Lewis and Wayne Bishop 191/23-37

SW 17 37/18 April 16, 1954 C. H. Pruitt 188/377-378

Sec. 33, 38/18 April 20, 1954 A. W. Brazle and L. G. Randol 189/24-26

SW Sec. 8, 36/17

Goodman Point M. D.

April 26, 1954 A. E. Story 189/121-124

West bank of Cross

Canyon, adjoins CliffHouse No. 9

May 5, 1954 Dick Powell, Wayne Simpson, Frank Krater 190/331

SW Sec. 5, 38/19 May 7, 1954 A. E. Patscheck, J. H. Nielson, W. R. Kenney 191/84-86

East side of CrossCanyonCa. 2_ miles SE cor29/30/31/32, 39/19

May 9, 1954 Al Farley May 9, 1954
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

7

Location Date Locators Book/Page

_ mile NE of Cross

Canyon fork

May 13, 1954 Carrie L. Roberts, Mary Dykstra

Box 1087, Farmington, New Mexico

190/234

Sec. 23 and 26, 38/18 May 13-15, 1954 W. W. Chapman, Algene Chapman, Melba E.

Chapman, Jeanette V. Martin, N. C. Terhune, O.E. Chapman and Donald E Willis

190/215-230

Bridge Canyon, 3.5miles from YellowJacket and McElmoCreeks

May 16, 1954 Mike J. Martinez, Jr., Cleo Martinez per, Mike J.

Martinez Jr.Box 115, Gill, Colo.

190/252-253

Sec. 14, 15, 22,23,26and 27, 38/18

May 17-22, 1954 Neil C. Terhune, Ethyle Lynne Tanner, W. W. Pete

Chapman, Jeanette V. Martin, Melba E. Chapman,O. E. Chapman

190/379-408

Adjoining previous May 20, 1954 Jose M. Martinez and Hugh Bonelly 190/299-300First canyon north offCross Canyon

May 23, 1954 Albert C. Harms, Henry W. Lindsey and Joe Self 190/352-356

Sec. 5, 38/19 June 2, 1954 J. H. Nielson, W. R. Kenney and A. A. Patscheck 191/96

Sec. 5, 38/19 June 2, 1954 A. A. Patscheck, G. W. Patscheck and Louis

Patscheck

191/97

East side of CrossCanyon, Sec. 5, 38/19

June 2, 1954 Al Farley and Fred Forbidussi 191/154

Sec. 14 or 15, 36/18Sec. 29, 36/18

June 5, 1954June 10, 1954

Iran Van Tuyl and John R. Anderson 192/3-60

Ruin Canyon, 38/19 June 7, 1954 Carles A. Smith, G. C. Pilvy 191/113-114

N o r t h r i m o f

Hovenweep Canyon

June 7, 1954 R. M. Eaton 191/115

N o r t h r i m o f

Hovenweep Canyon

June 7, 1954 O. E. (Corkie) Chapman, Jeanette V. Martin and

O. L. Chapman

191/116-121

SE of Blue Hill June 8, 1954 Ethyl Lynn Tanner with Melba E. Chapman, O. E.

Chapman, O. L. Chapman and Jeanette V. Martin

191/176-182

Ashbaugh Draw nearBlack Hill

June 17, 1954 Samuel Redford and C. W. Winship 191/241-242

June 17, 1954 Stanley Karaiwicz and Carl Lambert 191/251-260
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

8

Location Date Locators Book/Page

NE Sec. 5, 38/19 on

west side of CrossCanyon

June 20, 1954 W. R. Kenney, J. H. Nelson, A. E. Patscheck 191/271-272

Sec. 5, 38/19 on east

side of Cross Canyon

June 22, 1954 George W. Taylor, Alvis L. Stewart and Vick S.

Tucker

191/339-348

NW Sec. 8, 38/19 on

east side of CrossCanyon relocated

June 24, 1954 G & H Uraniam, 629 Main, Durango

W. R. Kenney, J. H. Nelson and A. E. Patscheck

191/328/330

Cahone Mesa June 24, 1954 George James of Rico. Colo. 193/70

Cahone Mesa June 24, 1954 E. B. Stewart 193/71-73

Cahone Mesa June 25, 1954 George Edmonson – Cortez, Colo. 193/58-59

Blue Basin June 25, 1954 Julian Edmonson — Cortez, Colo.

C. W. Winship – Towaoc, Colo.W. S. Stevenson – Mancos, Colo.

193/60-61

East of Blue Hill June 25, 1954 Sam Redford – Cortez

C. W. Winship – Towaoc, Colo.

193/62-65

East Bridge Canyoneast of Cline Reservoir.Spillway

June 25, 1954 Sam Redford – Cortez, Colo.

C. W. Winship – Towaoc, Colo.W. S. Stevenson

193/66-69

Blue Basin June 25, 1954 C. W. Winship and Sam Redford 193/23436/2036/20Sec. 27 and 34, 36/20

July 2-3, 1954July 1, 1954July 26, 1954

Benford Yarbro 193/164-205

Sec. 29, 36/17 July 3, 1954 Betty D. Mayhew and Paul E. Anderson 192/156-157

East bank of CrossCanyon

July 5, 1954 Frank Krater 192/151-155

Sec. 3, 4, 38/19 and Sec.34, 39/19

July 9, 1954 J. Foley Broaddus and U. E. Neese 192/309-330

3 miles north ofJunction of YellowJacket Creek andMcElmo Creek, joiningMockingbird No. 1

July 20, 1954 Jose M. Martinez of Cortez 192/395-398

S SE Sec. 21, 37/18 July 22, 1954 W. A. Wilson, Annie L. Wilson and Carl Camp 194/84/85
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

9

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 21, 37/18 July 22, 1954 Thelma Lee Short and Carol Camp 194/86-87Sec. 25 and 36, 37/19and Sec. 20 and 29,37/18

July 22-27, 1954 Monte R. Potter, Isabel Von Potter, George W.

Short, Thelma Lee Short, W. A. Wilson and AnnieL. Wilson

193/106-116

By Yellow Jacket Creek,adjoin Mockingbird No.4 claim

July 23, 1954 Jose M. Martinez, Joe Espinoza, Chris Lucero,

Mrs. Carlota MartinezCortez, Colo.

193/122-127

NW Sec. 28, NE 29 andSW 31, 37/18

July 23-24, 1954 Monte R. Potter, Isabel Von Potter, George W.

Short and Thelma Lee Short

193/117-121

Sec. 36, 37/19 July 23-25, 1954 W. A. Wilson, Annie L. Wilson, George W. Short

and Thelma Lee Short

193/100-105

Cahone Mesa July 24, 1954 Fred Livingstone and Donald C. Smith 193/235

Sec. 3, 10 and 33, 38/19 July 24-27, 1954 J. Foley Broaddus, U. E. Neese 193/206-212

West of Blue Hill inBlue Basin

July 25, 1954 Sam Redford, W. S. Stevenson, C. W. Winship and

George Livingstone

193/232-233

July 27, 1954 Jose M. Martinez, Chris Lucero and Joe J.

Espinoza

193/228-229

Blue Basin July 30, 1954 James W. Winship and C. W. Winship 193/242

North rim of RuinCanyon, 5° west of ShipRock

August 1, 1954 A. L. Sligar and Gean L. Sligar 193/266-269

Mesa north of BlueBasin

August 1, 1954 Sam Redford and C. W. Winship 193/291-292

Sec. 23-26, 38/20 August 2, 1954 William Balbin – Farmington 194/259-265
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

10

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 23-25, 38/20 August 2, 1954 Joe Ulibarri – Farmington 194/266-272Sec. 25, 38/20 August 2, 1954 Owen J. Uptain – Farmington 194/273-279Sec. 25, 38/20 August 2, 1954 Vestry Martin 194/280-286

August 10, 1954 G. W. Taylor, R. E. Willford, O. V. McNieme, A. L.

Stewart and Vick Tucker

194/34-43

Sec. 4, 38/19 August 14, 1954 Harry Smith – Denver 194/144-145Sec. 4 and 5, 38/19and Sec. 33, 39/19

August 14, 1954 G. W. Taylor, A. L. Stewart and Vick Tucker 195/57-70

Sec. 33, 34, 39/19 and

Sec. 3, 4, 10, 38/19

August 16, 1954 J. Foley Broaddus and U. E. Neese 194/91-120

Sec. 33, 39/19 August 16, 1954 Joe Gooch, Ralph Cole and Al Stewart – Durango 194/138-143
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

11

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 33, 39/19 August 16, 1954 W. Lynn McCollough – Aguillar, CO.

C. L. Files – Rockford, CO.Agnes McCollough

195/19-26

Sec. 33, 39/19 West sideof Cross Canyon

August 16, 1954 Joe Gooch and Walter Martin 195/52

Sec. 22, 36/17 August 17, 1954 Joe Williams and Gary Mc Comb 194/124-127

Cross Canyon inColorado and Utah

August 18, 1954 Josephine and Coy Lindsey — Albuquerque 195/53-54

Cross Canyon inColorado and Utah

August 18, 1954 James C. Greer – Albuquerque 195/55-56

Sec. 5, 38/? East side of

Cross Canyon

August 19, 1954 Walter Martin — Hennessey, OK. 195/27

Sec. 24, 38/19 August 20, 1954 A. L. and Gene L. Sligar 195/1-8

Sec. 18, 38/19 August 22, 1954 U. E. Neese 195/173-176

Sec. 36, 38/20 and Sec.6, 37/19 and Sec. 30, 31,38/19

August 25, 1954 Charles R. Smith and G. C. Peters 194/323-332

Cross Canyon August 25, 1954 Elree Young 196/356-357

Sec. 33, 39/19

East side of CrossCanyon

August 28, 1954 A. N. Ball 195/51

Sec. 34, 36/20in Bridge Canyon

August 29, 1954 C. W. Winship 194/337-340

Sec. 5, 38/19

West side of CrossCanyon

August 30, 1954 Joe Gooch, Ralph Cole and Al Stuart 195/49-50

West side of CrossCanyon

September 1, 1954 A. A. Patscheck, Louis Patscheck and G. W.

Patscheck

195/79

Sec. 18, 38/19 September 7, 1954 A. L. and Gean Sligar

Surveyed by Neese Exploration Co.

196/116-117

Sec. 28, 38/19 September 14, 1954 Joe R. Cozzie 198/210

Sec. 28, 38/19 September 14, 1954 Wm. A. Merritt, Jr., Charles L. Files, W. Lynne 198/211
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

12

Location Date Locators Book/Page

McCollough

Cross Canyon, 28, ?/19 September 15, 1954 Howard W. Cooper

G & H Uranium629 Main, Durango, CO.

197/114-115

NW Sec. 35, 36/20 September 20, 1954 C. N. Stafford 196/18-23

Sec. 33, 39/19 October 1, 1954 Joe Gooch, A. L. Stuart and Vick Tucker 196/115

Sec. 19, 38/19 October 1, 1954 Neese Exploration Co. 196/189-196

W Sec. 26, 37/18 October 1, 1954 Lavena Gardner Saunders and Jewell L. Gardner 197/282-284

Sec. 9, 38/19 October 2, 1954 Wilma and A. L. Stuart, Robbie Lee and Vick S.

Tucker

196/197-206

2.7 miles NE of NW cor.Sec. 35, 36/20

October 12, 1954 Lavena Gardner Saunders, Jewell Gardner and C.

N. Stafford

196/336-339

Sec. 34, 37/20 October 20, 1954 Southwestern Skyways, Inc., Santa Fe, NM.

W. J. McConathy, Jack Hamilton and E. C. Arnold

201/295-334

In Cow Canyon

(Colo./Utah)

October 21, 1954 Jim Vlech 198/34-35

In Cow Canyon,

adjoining Lindsay No. 2

October 24, 1954 M. H. Russell 198/33

Joins No. 9, 14 October 24, 1954 Robert I. Miller

5950 No. Cloverly,Temple City, CA.

197/129

Sec. 4, 38/19 October 30, 1954 Ralph Cole, Joe Gooch, A. L. Stewart and Vick

Tucker

199/136

Sand Creek east side,west side

October 30, 1954 John M. Meadows,

E G Merritt & Associates

197/276-281

Sec. 12, 37/20 November 1, 1954 Russell Vaught 198/310-315Sec. 19, 20, 29 and 30,36/18

November 1, 1954 Almar Exploration Co. – H. R. Pace, agent 198/357-366

Sec. 20, 21, 28 and 29,36/18

November 1, 1954 Genie Dessert 198/367-386

Sec. 4 and 33, 39/19 November 1, 1954 A. L. Stewart and Vick Tucker 197/273-274

Sec. 29 and 32, 39/19Sec. 4, 39/19Sec. 4, 5 and 33, 39/19

November 3, 1954 Ralph Cole, Al Stewart, Joe Gooch and Vick Tucker

Durango, Colo.

197/210-226

Sec. 27 and 34, 38/18 November 5, 1954 W. H. Russell and Jo Marie Bailey 197/307-33639/19 9.5 miles west

and 1.5-2.5 miles northof Pleasant View

November 7, 1954 Jerry T., Jim R. and Lillian M. Eddy and Lester R.

Keeter

198/164-183
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

13

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 4, 38/19 nearabandoned White No. 1oil well

November 10, 1954 R. J. Seltzer (Syracuse, NY) and Harry Smith 198/81-82

Sec. 9, 38/19 November 10, 1954 A. L. Stewart and Vick S. Tucker 200/279-280

Sec. 3 and 34, 37/20part in Colorado andUtah in Cow Canyon

November 11, 1954 Henry W. Lindsey and Albert C. Harms 198/23-32

Ruin Canyon November 15, 1954 Besdman Uranium Co.

Dave S. Scogin and Wayne Bishop

198/200-207

Sec. 9, 38/19 November 25, 1954 Donald F. Stewart 199/133

Sec. 9, 38/19 November 25, 1954 Betty Joe Elliott 199/134

Sec. 9, 38/19 November 25, 1954 Yvonne Mount 199/135

Sec. 9, 38/19 November 25, 1954 Wilma C. Stewart and Robbie Lee Tucker 199/137

Sec. 27, 36/19 November 28, 1954 L. S. M. Mines Co., Scott E. Murray 198/329-333Bridge Canyon November 28, 1954 C. W. Winship 202/62

Sec. 8 and 9, 38/19 December 1, 1954 W. D. Ratliff 199/127-132

Sec. 26, 37/20 December 20, 1954 Southwestern Skyway Inc., Santa Fe, NM

By W. J. McConathy

201/155-170

West of Santa Fe No. 40 December 20, 1954 Southwestern Skyways, Inc.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

202/1-44

West side of dry wash 1mile south ofHovenweep RoadNE Sec. 35, 37/20

December 23, 1954 Southwestern Skyways, Inc.

Santa Fe, NM

202/364-402

Sec. 24, 38/20 December 27, 1954 Jeanette V. Martin 199/337-343Sec. 24, 38/20 December 27, 1954 Odie Chapman 199/344-350

NE Sec. 9, 38/19 January 1, 1955 Charles R. Randol, Suter O. Seeling and Robert

Vann

200/371-385

37/20 alongsouth/southwest rim ofCross Canyon

January 3, 1955 Southwestern Skyways, Inc.

SF, NM

202/45-47

NW Sec. 13 and NE 14,37/20

January 4, 1955 Ross Mashert and D. G. Hutton 200/194-206

Sec. 19 and 30, 38/19

Sec. 24 and 25, 38/20

January 9, 1955 M. U. T. Research and Development Co.

B E ThurstonBox 1661, Farmington, NM

200/340-344

Sec. 4, 37/18 January 13, 1955 George Wilhite and Wesley Williams 200/281
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

14

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sandstone Canyon37/18

January 13, 1955 George Wilhite and Wesley Williams 201/171-220

37/18 in SandstoneCanyon

January 13, 1955 Jim Posey 201/222

37/18 in SandstoneCanyon

January 14, 1955 Billy Kimmel 201/221

Adjoin previous LonePine Claims

January 17, 1955 Marjorie Bell Shepherd, Roy Shepherd, W. B.

Lancaster and Bud Ines

200/118-121

January 22, 1955 Ben Archibeque

Mancos, Colo.

200/227

Sec. 27, 36/19 January 28, 1955 Fred Livingstone 200/388-394

Sec. 32, 39/19 February 5, 1955 W. D. Ratliff, William H. Elliott, Chas. L. Files and

W. Lynne McCullough

201/91-110

Sec. 6, 38/19 February 5, 1955 W. Lynn McCullough and Chas. L. Files 201/138

Sec. 32, 39/19 February 5, 1955 William H. Elliott 201/139-140

Sec. 32, 39/19 February 5, 1955 W. Lynn McCullough 201/141

Sec. 32, 39/19 February 5, 1955 W. D. Ratliff 201/142-143

Sec. 32, 39/19 February 5, 1955 Earl Holland and Chas. R. Files 201/144

_ mile north of Millard

Steerman’s Lower TrailCanyon ranch house

February 5, 1955 W. W. Vencil, Lew Vencil and Philip Kenyon 201/266-267

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 Donald W. Jackson and William H. Elliott 201/111-115

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 William A. Merritt, Jr. 201/116

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 Dick Ratliff 201/117-118

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 John Siegfried 201/119

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 W. Lynn McCullough and Charles File 201/132-135

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 Dick Ratliff 201/134-135

Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 Charles L. Files and W. Lynn McCullough 201/136Sec. 33, 39/19 February 9, 1955 Charles L. Files and Earl Holland 201/137Sec. 17 and 18, 37/18 February 12, 1955 John Pock 201/229-232

Sec. 9, 38/19 March 1, 1955 John Siegfried and Nolon E. Hart 202/107

Sec. 19, 38/19 March 3, 1955 Nolon E. Hart 202/103-106
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

15

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 19 and 20, 38/19

Sec. 19, 38/19 March 3, 1955 John Siegfried 202/108-111

200 feet north and 60feet east of Ismay’sStore

March 5, 1955 Bert R. Wood, Herman H. Roundtree and H. A.

Wood

202/148-155

Sec. 7 and 8, 38/19 March 6, 1955 Rex Spaulding, Harry B. Spaulding, Bill Elliott, A.

L. Stewart, Joe Gooch and Wilma C. Spaulding

203/22-30

Sec. 8, 38/19 adjacent to

Bob Hampton’s claimsbeing mined by L. E.Rue Mining Co.

March 6, 1955 Wilma C. Stewart 203/31

Sec. 34, 36/20 March 7, 1955 Bert R. Wood, H. A. Wood and Herman H.

Roundtree

202/195-206

Sec. 17 and 18, 38/19 March 7, 1955 John E. Pock 202/218-219

Sec. 16, 38/19 March 9, 1955 W. D. Ratliff and Nalon Hart 203/124

750 ft SW of McIntocheoil well

March 9, 1955 Lee Barks, Jim Souther and Vern Reindel 202/213-217

Sec. 8, 38/19 March 9, 1955 W. D. Ratliff 202/232-233

Sec. 16, 17, 19 and 20,38/19

March 9, 1955 W. D. Ratliff and Nolon Hart

G & H Uranium

202/234-244

Sec. 19, 38/19 March 9, 1955 John Siegfried; G & H Uranium 202/245

Sec. 26, 27, 34 and 35,36/20

March 11, 1955 C. W. Winship 202/224-231

South of tract 58 in Sec.

22, 39/20

March 11, 1955 John Martin, Smith Darrison and W. B. Mellor 202/253-266

Sec. 26, 27, 34 and 35,35/20

March 12, 1955 Joe Auringer and Cliff Murray 204/266-318

Sec. 26, 27, 34 and 35,36/20

March 12, 1955 C. W. Winship 202/267
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

16

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 5, 38/19 March 14, 1955 V. S. Tucker—Durango 203/128-130

Joins Blue Eagle inCross Canyon

March 15, 1955 Mary Watkins 203/20

Sec. 1 and 12, 37/20 March 15, 1955 E. J. Hess

Hess Exploration Co., Grand Junction

203/131-167

1 mile east of the

Macintosh No. 1

March 15, 1955 Dallas C. Hamblin 202/281-282

Sec. 26 and 35, 38/20Sec. 26 and 35, 38/20and Sec. 2, 37/20

March 16, 1955February 21, 1955

Glen SchearBy M. E. Mosher

202/299-320

Big Basin off Dry CreekLittle basin off McElmo

March 17, 1955 Glen Kirk 202/321-330

Rinson Basin March 19, 1955 Phillip Kenyon and Vivian Kenyon 202/359-360

Sec. 36, 35/20 March 22, 1955 Herbert Herren, G. L. Herren and Jess Warren 203/394-401

South of tract 58 in Sec.

22, 39/20

March 23, 1955 John Martin, W. P. Mellott and Smith Dawson 203/325-326

Sec. 19, 38/19 March 24, 1955 John Siegfried 203/123Sec. 19, 38/19 March 24, 1955 Frank and Harold Luzar — Durango 204/250-255

Sec. 20, 37/18 March 26, 1955 A. T. Conover, W. E. Brady, George and Thelma

Short and M. R. Potter

203/197-201

NE NE Sec. 10, 37/18 March 28, 1955 A. L. Frazier 204/171-180

SW of tract 58 in Sec.

22, 39/20

April 3, 1955 Howard Bowles and Lincoln Underwood 204/137-141

On Colorado/Utah linein Bridge Canyon northof Ismay store

April 6, 1955 C. W. Winship 203/293

Sec. 3, 38/20 April 6, 1955 Pete Seever and C. C. McClough 203/387-390East bank of CrossCanyon

April 6, 1955 (4?) Frank Krater 190/248

Sec. 9, 37/17 April 8, 1955 L. E. Cash, Howard Jenkins and J. B. Sanchez 203/249

Sec. 35 and 36, 38/20east of junction of Ruinand Cross Canyons

April 12, 1955 Robert E Clark 203/352-354

Sec. 35, 38/20 April 16, 1955 Robert E. Clark 204/10-12
nyons of the Ancients National Monument Lands March 1953 to March 1955

17

Location Date Locators Book/Page

Sec. 35 and 36, 38/20 April 19, 1955 Robert E Clark 204/19-2035, 38/20 April 20, 1955 Robert E. Clark 203/362-36320, 37/18 April 27, 1955 CBS Mining Co. 204/ 230-236NW SW Sec. 36, 35/20 May 1, 1955 Herbert Herren 204/147-156

Sec. 29, 36/17 May 1, 1955 Atomic Energy Exploration Co.

John M. Meadows, Agent

204/197

West of head of GraveYard Canyon, southside of Goodman Pt.

May 3, 1955 Atomic Energy Exploration, Co.

John M. Meadows, Agent

204/198

Sec. 14, 38/20 May 5, 1955 R. R. Burrows, H. W. Klock and Laurense

Bumpuss

204/199-200

Sec. 11, 35/20 May 8, 1955 Stephen G. Pappas 204/388-398

Sec. 33, 36/17 November 22, 1955 Charles William Van Horn,

Sam Dollar Pinkerton, Jr.

199/69-73

Sec. 8, 38/19Sec. 17-20, 38/19Sec. 18, 19 & 20, 38/19

March 2-3, 1955 John E. Pock and W. D. Ratliff 202/112-131

Sec. 8 and 17, 38/19 February 20-22, 1955 W. D. Ratliff and John E. Pock 201/343-366

Sec. 21, 36/19 March 20-22, 1955 A. T. Conover, W. E. Brady, George and Thelma

Short and M. R. Potter

203/43-45

Sec. 20, 36/18 March 21-24, 1955 Harold D. Bolster, Jr. 203/56-85

 continue into mid to late 1956.

um

 miles south-southwest of B. C. Berry Ranch at Dove Creek. Map show it on the west side of Dove Creek half way

Dover Creek and the Junction of Dove Creek and Cross Canyon. Located January 13, 1950 by Roy A. Wydoff, Jr.

house, County Clerk’s Office Book 58, Page 184).
APPENDIX D

LAND ENTRY ATTEMPTS, PATENTS, AND COAL LEASES WITHIN THE

CANYON OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT BOUNDARIES
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

1

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

 W SE 29 160 DLE Dur 0616 10/24/07 Canc 11/21/10 Thomas H. Omo W SE 29 160 HE Dur 02493 10/20/09 Rel 4/9/13 William H. Beall W SE 29 160 DLE Dur 04309 4/9/13 Canc 9/4/14 Harry Beall

, W SE 29 160 HE Dur 08721 3/20/20 Rel 10/16/20 Peter J. Sheddy

 W SE 29 160 HE P 049585 7/18/21 Canc 7/21/27 Alonzo G. Holder

160 HE P 049665 11/16/22 Canc 4/16/28 Clarence W. Hiltz

 W SE 29 160 HE P 053627 10/14/29 Canc 8/19/37 Mary Stine

W, NW SW, 29, SE NE,

E 30

160 HE P 055057 11/20/31 Canc 6/25/37 Samuel E. Miller

160 HE P 055261 6/1/32 Canc 2/10/38 Robert E. Usrey

W 14, W NW, NW SW 23 160 HE Dur 0111 7/3/06 Rel 9/30/09 Thomas Morris

4 160 HE Dur 3567 3/18/07 Canc 9/20/07 John W. Galloway

 N SW 25 160 HE Dur 3568 3/18/07 Canc 6/18/08 William N. McCormic

k

 25 80 HE Dur 3569 3/18/07 Canc 11/1/07 George R. Galloway

E, E SE 23 120 HE Dur 3582 4/3/07 Canc 11/7/07 Otis W. Duncan

24, NW NE 25 120 HE Dur 3631 7/1/07 Canc 11/12/07 Adolph Sperlich

 24 80 HE Dur 3632 7/1/07 Canc 6/1/08 William G. Oliver

-8 29 80 DLE Dur 030 8/7/07 Rel 1/20/12 James R. P. Galloway

 25, SW 24 240 DLE Dur 0222 11/2/07 Canc 4/15/10 Edmund P. Martin

24, W NE 25 160 DLE Dur 0694 11/12/07 Rel 10/20/12 Adolph Sperlich

-4 23 160 DLE Dur 0693 11/15/07 Rel 10/14/12 Mary A. Lamb

E, NW SE 23 80 DLE Dur 0741 11/23/07 Canc 6/5/09 Glenn Tubbs

-4 26 160 DLE Dur 0751 11/30/07 Canc 7/1/13 Raymond P. Alexander

W 23, W NW 26 120 DLE Dur 01772 1/29/08 Rel 7/6/10 James E. Finnell

 24 80 DLE Dur 01813 6/2/08 Canc 3/10/13 William G. Oliver

 N SW 25 160 DLE Dur 01815 6/22/08 Canc 3/16/15 Charles A. Bozarth

W 11 40 DLE Dur 0891 1/14/09 Canc 5/19/10 Thurough A. North

E 23, W NE, SE NW 26 160 HE Dur 01828 6/20/09 Rel 7/14/11 James A. Honaker

4 160 DLE Dur 02742 6/2/10 Rel 6/1/15 Royal W. Calkins

W 25 40 DLE Dur 02747 6/6/10 Canc 5/9/16 Daniel H. Argens

W 23, W NW 26 120 HE Dur 02897 9/16/10 Rel 2/27/11 Nolan G. Womack

, NW SE 29 120 DLE Dur 02996 11/11/10 Canc 12/11/22 William N. McCormic

k

W 23, W NW 26 120 DLE Dur 03073 2/27/11 Canc 6/29/14 Nolan G. Womack

 29 40 HE Dur 03627 1/29/12 Rel 11/9/17 William N. McCormic

k

-4 23 80 DLE Dur 04039 10/14/12 Canc 12/19/19 Mary A. Lamb

 25, W SE 24 160 DLE Dur 04058 10/26/12 Rel 3/21/19 Adoph Sperlich, SE NE, NW SE 8 160 HE Dur 04356 5/9/13 Rel 10/27/13 John H. Farmer

16 160 HE Dur 04564 10/10/13 Canc 5/2/14 Joseph C. Phillips

,3,4,6 8 135.87 HE Dur 04675 2/11/14 Rel 11/6/16 William M. Conoley,3,4,6 8 135.87 HE Dur 06146 11/6/16 Rel 11/23/18 Noah P. Loupe
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

2

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

W 25 40 HE Dur 06725 3/7/17 Rel 11/22/22

-2, NW NE 26 120 HE Dur 06852 4/9/17 Canc 10/28/21 William Ross Grim

SW SE 23 93.5 HE Dur 07627 2/28/18 Rel 12/13/18 Wilson J. Shaffstall

24, W NE 25 160 HE Dur 08055 3/21/19 Rel 11/12/19 William W. Fulks

E 15 40 HE Dur 07382 4/10/19 Rel 8/30/20 Joseph C. Phillips

E, NW SE, 15 80 HE Dur 07460 4/10/19 Rel 8/30/20 Lige Phillips

21, S SW 22, NW, N SW

E, N SE 28

640 SRHE Dur 08634 1/19/21 Rel 9/17/24 Arthur M. Dobbins

160 HE Dur 010218 8/25/22 Rel 5/22/23 Elsie N. Finley

W 25, Lot 1 26 65.90 HE P 049899 12/2/22 Canc 2/20/28 Frank L. Belden

26, NW NW 25 120 HE P 054305 8/23/30 Canc 4/28/36 Malcom K. Overstreet

NW SE, Lot 4 4 240.98 HE C 03277 1/19/55 Canc 11/18/57

, NE NW, S NW, N SW,

E 10 (Sliver)

320 DLE Dur 0846 1/23/08 12/20/11 Allen R. Godfrey

4

 33

121.42 HE Dur 02757 6/17/10 Rel 12/31/10 William H. Wagner

SE NE 4

 33, SW SW 34

161.42 HE Dur 03028 12/31/10 Rel 12/15/11 Austin Kilcoyne

 N SE 9 (Sliver) 160 DLE Dur 03175 4/13/11 Canc 8/9/12 Henry W. Royce

, NE NW, S NW, N SW,

E 10 (Sliver)

320 DLE Dur 03173 4/25/11 Rel 6/27/18 Virda E. Garlinghouse

SE 5 320 DLE Dur 04019 10/2/12 Rel 9/16/13 Mina Cherry

-2, E NW 19 163.67 HE Dur 04128 12/26/12 Canc 9/10/23 Chester A. A. Wilson

 W SW 31 159.75 HE Dur 09219 11/18/20 Rel 10/3/22 James E. May

W 9, NW NW 16, E NE 17 160 HE P 050343 2/26/27 Rel 6/14/28 Richard Lu Wallen

W, E SW, NW SE 17 160 HE P 056052 8/14/37 Canc 12/2/42 Tony Duran

W 28, SE SE 29, NE NE

W NW 33

160 HE Dur 04606 12/1/13 Rel 10/19/14 Thomas R. Jordan

E 11, NW NE, N NW 12 160 HE Dur 05370 9/2/15 Rel 6/5/17 Henry S. Moses

(Moser?)

-2, S NE 2 124.36 HE Dur 07506 12/6/17 Rel 7/7/19 Elisha J. Barnes

W 27, NE, SE 28 640 SRHE P 049592 12/11/22 Canc 4/16/28 Anna Meadows

124.36 HE P 049620 12/27/22 Canc 3/26/28 John W. Fulks

5, S NE, S NW 16 320 HE P 051174 5/7/27 Rel 1/20/28 Jessie L. Pharo (Miss)

W SE, SW 27, NE NE, S

E 28

640 SRHE P 053145 11/14/29 Rel 12/19/36 Jack J. Meadows

 N SE, SW SE 29, S SE

E 31, NW NE, NW 32

640 SRHE P 055079 11/8/32 Canc 8/14/38 Emma L. Porter

10, SW SW ll, NW NE, N

4

240 HE C 01502 9/4/52 Rel 5/21/53

10, SW SW ll, NW NE, N

4

240 HE C 06777 8/4/54 Canc 6/13/61 Elroy M. Darr
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

3

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

, E NW, N SW, SE SW 11 280 HE C 01457 7/24/56 Canc 10/10/61 Maurice E. Grant

160 HE Dur 04155 12/28/12 Rel 5/26/13 Clarence J. Smith

W, N SW, SW SW 3 160 HE P 049770 9/27/22 Canc 2/15/29 Theodore H. Payne

W, NE SW, S SW 12 160 HE P 050333 8/30/26 Canc 11/24/31 Floyd Cummings

, SE NE, NE NW 28 160 HE P 053338 3/14/29 Rel 4/12/34 Charles R. Johnson

W, SW 3, SE NE, E SE 4 320 HE P 052789 12/16/29 Rel 10/16/30 Alvin H. TurnerW, SW 3, SE NE, E SE 4 320 HE P 054398 10/16/30 Canc 4/14/36 Roy R. CookE, SE NW, Lots 6-7 5 175.72 HE P 054403 11/17/30 Canc 8/7/36 Raymond B. Buford

 20, N NE, NE NW, S NW

E NE, E SW, N SE, Lot 8

t 5 31

 SW NE 36

640 SRHE P 052293 1/9/31 Canc 6/10/35 Carter Clay

 13 80 HE P 055324 2/13/33 Canc 10/6/38 Pearl Sheppard

160 HE Dur 04126 12/9/12 Canc 7/31/17 Jesse C. Frost

 SW SW, NW SE 35 160 HE Dur 09097 9/10/20 Canc 10/13/23 Marion S. Boler SW, W SE 32 320 HE Dur 08907 9/28/20 Rel 10/31/24 Roy L. Mitchell

E, NE SE 23, SW NW, NW

4

160 HE P 049319 10/26/20 Canc 2/2/26 Walter A. Brown

1 & 16, W SE 31 160 HE Dur 09232 11/22/20 Canc 6/23/21 Roy L. Mitchell

N SE 19, N SW 20 320 HE Dur 08444 1/19/21 Canc 1/17/23 Jacob F. Huffman

160 HE Dur 08672 1/19/21 Rel 9/13/23 George W. Berry

W, N SW 22 120 HE Dur 08673 1/19/21 Rel 10/26/25 Efton F. Hawkins

 18, Lot 8, W NE 19 121.97 HE Dur 08469 4/19/21 Rel 7/29/24 William E. Brayson

 N NW 27, S SW, S SE 22 320 HE Dur 09404 11/1/21 Canc 12/2/22 William E. Tillman

18, 20.33 HE P 049509 9/5/22 Rel 7/13/29 Edmund Herren

E, W SE 23, NW NE 26 160 HE P 049907 5/8/23 Canc 10/4/28 Charles C. Wagner

3 160 HE P 05051 7/21/26 Canc 10/16/31 Benjamin B. Mills

320 HE Dur 08947 12/28/20 Canc 8/29/30 Orson E. Stone

5-16, SE 19, Lot 6 30 280 HE P 050341 7/16/28 Rel 10/31/38 Murry B. Gosnell

, NW, NW 20 320 HE P 054271 8/5/30 Canc 2/27/36 Sumner T. Bangs

 SW SW 28, NW NW 33 160 HE P 054441 12/8/30 Canc 3/16/36 Herbert Harvey

 N SE 23, N NW, SW NW,

W 24

320 HE P 054402 7/3/31 Rel 10/4/34 Henry J. Wilhelm

18 80 HE P 054948 9/17/31 Canc 12/28/32 Christopher C. Willey

 27 80 HE P 054423 1/20/32 Rel 7/11/37 Frank Morrow

, E SW, NW SE 27, NE

, N NW 34

320 HE P 055915 3/22/34 Canc 11/14/39 John C. Hackett

W 35 40 HE P 060382 12/7/50 Canc 1/6/55 Lewis J. Risenhoover

29 80 HE Dur 08785 12/28/20 Rel 8/9/24 John D. Carver

-8, 10-11 7 139.72 HE P 049667 10/3/21 Canc 2/24/27 Edward J. Calhoun,10,15,18 18 160 HE Dur 09790 10/5/21 Rel 3/11/22 Charlie L. Wagoner-6,11-12 18 160 HE Dur 09893 11/21/21 Rel 3/11/22 Charlie L. Wagoner
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

4

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

-6, 11-12 8 160 HE Dur 010071 5/1/22 Rel 1/17/23 Clifford J. Crandell

 NW SE 20 120 HE P 049360 8/28/22 Rel 11/10/27 William T. Mays

E 17, SE 18, NE 19 640 SRHE P 049302 10/7/22 Canc 1/20/28 Roscoe B. Mays

8 160 HE P 049914 7/2/23 Rel 1/8/27 Jefferson F. Simmons,

Jr.

W SW, NE SE, S SE 20 360 HE P 049872 2/28/24 Rel 11/10/27 William T. Mays

, SW 16, NW, SW 21 640 SRHE P 052402 4/24/28 Canc 10/17/30 Johnie B. Preston

E 17, E NW 20 400 SRHE P 052521 7/24/28 Canc 7/16/36 William T. Mays

 SW SW 17 120 HE C 0352 9/28/51 Canc 10/3/56 Lester L. Green

E, S NE, SE SW, SE 21 320 HE Dur 07484 12/1/17 Rel 2/13/20 Claude L. Gordon

 5, E NE 6 159.72 HE Dur 07487 4/1/18 Canc 2/5/24 Martin Guthrie

 SW, SE 3 480 SRHE Dur 06904 11/19/19 Rel 6/12/25 George Edmonson

, NE, S SE, NE SE 31 400 SRHE P 052636 11/13/29 Rel 11/2/32 Glen C. Sears

W 30, NW, SW 31 640.36 SRHE P 052656 11/13/29 Rel 11/2/32 William A. Sears

 NW, N SW, SE 19, NE 30 639.12 SRHE P 052667 11/13/29 Rel 6/29/33 Lyman E Sears

W, S SW, NW SW 21, SW

1, SW NW 28, NE, NW 29

600 SRHE P 052692 11/13/29 Canc 10/19/35 Frank B. Baxstrom

SW 10, NW 15, NE 16 640 SRHE P 053577 9/13/30 Canc 5/21/40 Malcolm D. Conoley

 S SE 3, SE NE, E SE, 4,

E 9, N NE, W NW 10

480 SRHE P 053874 10/11/30 Rel 12/26/33 Lowell Truelson

 N SE, SE SE 10, W SW,

W, NE SE, S SE 11, N NW

E NE S NE 15

640 SRHE P 053880 11/18/30 Rel 4/21/34 B. A. Gardner

W 5, SE SE 6, NE, N NW,

W, N SE, SE SE 7, W NW,

 8

642.25 SRHE P 054010 4/11/31 Rel 10/26/32 Harry H. Stanley

8, SW 9, NW 16, NE, E

7

640 SRHE P 053574 4/18/31 Rel 9/2/39 James A. Fulks

 15, SE 16, NE, SE, NE

, NW NW 22

640 SRHE P 053576 4/18/31 Canc 12/15/36 John Voelter

 SW NE, SE NW, E SW,

,2,3,4 18, NE NW 19

, SE NE, N SE 13

642.48 SRHE P 053881 4/25/31 Canc 5/1/37 William D. Watson

W, E SW, Lots 3-7 6

2, S NE, SE 1

651.13 SRHE P 054502 3/23/32 Canc 12/31/37 Ralph N. Fowler

E 22, NW, SW 23 640 SRHE P 054482 3/25/32 Canc 2/11/38 Sherman Dawson

W, Lot 2-4 7

W 2, W NW, NW SW 11,

 SE 12, NE NE 13

600 SRHE P 054698 7/21/32 Canc 10/12/37 Guy C. Murphy

, E SW, N SE, Lots 1-4 30

 SE 25

639.48 SRHE P 055417 11/2/32 Canc 5/31/40 Beaulah R. Veach

W 5, SE SE 6, NE, E NW, 642.25 SRHE P 055412 11/19/32 Canc 8/8/37 John L. Fulks
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

5

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

 SE SE, Lot 1 7, W NW,

 8

W 5, NE, E NW, E SE 8, W

E NE, NW 9

640 SRHE P 054829 4/25/33 Canc 4/21/39 Eva C. O’Due

E NW, NE SW, SE, Lots

9, NE 30

639.12 SRHE P 055647 6/29/33 Rel 9/31/35 Leonard W. McSherry

E, E SE 10, NW NW, S SE

NE 15

320 SRHE P 055974 1/22/36 Canc 7/22/39 Allen J. Tozer

 S SE 10, N NE, N NW 15 320 DLE Dur 01791 3/26/08 Rel 4/19/12 Clarence E. Todd

 & 2 2

35

121.93 DLE Dur 01792 3/26/08 Rel 4/28/09 Archie Calhoun

 & 2 2

E, E SE 35

161.93 DLE Dur 02016 4/28/09 Canc 10/5/12 Andrew C. Todd

29, S SW, SW SE 30, NW,

31, NW, NW NE 32

640 SRHE P 050301 11/17/26 Rel 12/14/31 Emma L. Porter

, E NW, E SW, W SE 7 320 SRHE P 052263 2/23/29 Rel 2/7/31 Clifford M. Alley

, SE SW, SW SE 20, NW

9, N NE, SW NE, SE NW,

W, N SW 30

441.60 SRHE P 052613 11/13/29 Rel 3/16/33 Anna E Heffernan

W 8, W NE, E NW, E SW,

17

640 SRHE P 053789 10/11/30 Canc 5/26/26 George E Hamiston

W 13, S NW, SW, NE SE,

14, NE NE, S NE 22, NW

 NW 23

640 SRHE P 053774 8/23/30 Rel 10/1/35 George S. Gardner

E, E SE 13, NE, NE NW, S

N SW, SE SW, N SE, SW

640 SRHE P 053481 4/11/31 Canc 11/26/37 William E. Porter

642.16 SRHE P 053917 4/11/31 Canc 2/16/36 Glen E. Puett

 S NW, SW, SE 9, NW 16 640 SRHE P 053918 4/11/31 Canc 12/15/36 Leona M. Puett

W, S SE 21, S NW, SW 22,

7, N NE, NE NW 28

640 SRHE P 054020 4/11/31 Canc 12/15/36 Clyde R. Striegal

E, NE NW, S NW, SW, W

, SE SW, SE, Lot 4 30

641.76 SRHE P 053808 4/13/32 Canc 3/29/35 Fred H. Taylor

 S NW, SW, SE 28, E NE,

29

640 SRHE P 054920 12/22/32 Canc 8/30/38 Emilio B. Roscio

&2, S NE, E SW, W SE 1 319.42 HE Dur 06868 4/10/18 Rel 7/3/22 Vernia B. Stone

6, NE 17 320 HE Dur 07090 4/10/18 Rel 7/8/20 Richard Hansberry

6, NW 21 320 HE Dur 07099 7/10/18 Rel 10/8/18 Robert L. Seright

11, NW, W SW 12 320 HE Dur 06867 4/19/19 Rel 2/18/22 George M.

Longenbaugh

W 7 311.82 HE Dur 09025 8/7/20 Rel 5/19/25 Milo Williams

E 12 40 HE P 049844 8/28/23 Canc 6/14/26 Theodore J. Rodewald
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

6

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

 12, NE, NW SE 13 240 HE P 049840 1/26/24 Canc 6/13/36 Peter J. Arnold

W SW 13, S SW 12 320 HE P 049833 11/13/24 Rel 8/20/30 Horace B. Denton

7, S NW, SW 8 320 HE P 050201 5/25/25 Canc 11/11/36 George A. Naylor

W, SW SE 13, W NE, E

NE SW, NW SE 24

320 HE P 052796 2/15/32 Canc 11/17/39 Richard L. Wallen

W 8 320 HE P 059372 10/3/49 Canc 1/5/56 Millard I. Ayers

 S SE 5 160 HE P 059375 2/13/50 Canc 1/5/56 Homer L. Maslen

6 80 HE C 0450 7/2/51 Canc 9/19/57 Owen J. Uptain

W, Lot 1 17, N NE, Lots

18

231.03 HE C 01062 3/23/53 Canc 5/20/58 Clifton Ward Colbert

N SW, SW SW 8 280 HE C 013513 8/22/56 Canc 7/19/63

11, N NE 14 160 HE Dur 06672 2/12/17 Rel 11/16/20 Ben L. Wilson

160 HE Dur 06690 2/19/17 Canc 9/3/18 David F. Ralston

10, NE, E SE 15 320 HE Dur 06176 7/31/17 Rel 3/7/21 Jasper K. Stymus

3 160 HE Dur 06806 7/31/17 Rel 7/2/18 Frank L. Wright

25, S SE 26, N NE 35, N

6

320 HE P 049411 2/2/24 Canc 7/31/29 Henry W. Vaughn

E, S NE 20, S NW 21 200 HE P 049403 7/11/24 Rel 11/3/25 Luke M. Lancaster

NE SE 35, Lots 1 & 2 36 124.26 HE Dur 010784 5/25/25 Rel 6/12/25 Johan Ghask

160 HE P 050061 8/22/27 Canc 11/4/32 Horace F. Lee

,6,7,10 & 11 2 207.72 HE P 052323 6/22/28 Canc 6/10/35 Jasper Foster, 8, 11, 12, S NW, N SW 3 328.51 HE P 052851 2/3/29 Canc 5/5/31 William F. Young

E, S NE, N SE 32 160 HE P 053811 12/7/29 Rel 3/12/34 Vernon J. Jackson

W, SW NW 34 80 HE P 053812 12/7/29 Canc 10/7/37 George E. Maslen

25, S SE 26, N NE, NE

5, N NW 36

360 SRHE P 054031 4/4/31 Rel 10/1/35 Raymond Q. Meek

, 11,12, SW NW, NW SW

203.12 HE P 054752 6/10/31 Rel 4/16/34 Jack Yates

E 28 40 HE P 054212 3/25/32 Canc 12/22/37 Pattie E. Rodman

,NE SE 31, Lots 1 & 2, N

237.62 HE P 054317 3/25/32 Canc 9/29/38 Bert E. Ping

, E NW 7 160 HE P 055359 2/6/33 Canc 9/12/38 Armor Mills

3 & 14 6 83.18 HE P 055719 9/18/33 Canc 3/6/39 Orval K. Jones

, SE 14 320 HE P 055832 12/26/33 Canc 6/29/39 Mayne C. Miller

13 80 HE P 058055 3/29/48 Canc 7/7/55 William O. Wayman W SE 4, NW NE, N NW,

W 9

320 HE C 0573 2/18/51 Rel 2/23/54 Robert Allen Axtell

 7 80 HE C 06466 4/25/55 Canc 5/5/61 Pearl J. Dean, widow

of Robert Lee Dean

4 80 HE C 08494 10/12/55 Canc 2/6/61 Gean Leo Sligar

3 & 14 6 80 HE C 09882 12/10/57 Canc 2/28/63 Robert L. Dean

deceased
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

7

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

Pearl Dean, widow

160 HE Dur 05705 5/16/16 Rel 4/4/17 Joseph A Warren

4 160 HE Dur 05720 5/23/16 Rel 11/22/16 Martin F. Jones

160 HE Dur 05755 6/5/16 Rel 1/19/17 Robert W. Long

W 26 320 HE Dur 05689 12/23/16 Rel 9/27/17 Leone V. Shutt

E 23 320 HE Dur 05759 12/23/16 Rel 12/14/17 W. Fletcher Lanier

5 160 HE Dur 06831 4/4/17 Rel 6/17/20 Alfred A. Williams

W 28 320 HE Dur 06858 11/14/18 Rel 8/15/19 Jesse B. Shean

160 HE P 050036 3/18/24 Rel 12/11/27 John W. Gills

0 & 11 1, Lots 13-15, 18-

320 HE P 049999 4/18/24 Canc 12/13/27 John E. McLeod

4 160 HE P 050026 9/13/24 Rel 6/24/29 Lucy J. Baumgartner

 E SW, SE 8 320 HE P 050158 9/15/24 Rel 9/10/29 Lynn C. Shaw

1, 12, 15 & 16 18, Lots 5,

 10 19

320 HE P 054474 11/28/30 Canc 8/28/36 Arthur R. Thurman

-15 1, E SE 2 277.83 HE P 054401 12/5/30 Rel 10/22/31 Henry R. Willey

W, SW SE 8 80 HE P 055581 5/3/33 Canc 12/27/38 Jesse D. Gift

, 11,12, 13, 15 3 145.36 HE P 055812 11/27/33 Canc 5/25/39 Roy R. Cross

E 32 40 HE P 055855 1/17/34 Canc 8/19/39 Tillie Randol

W, SW SE 5, NW NE, NE

160 HE P 056115 4/17/36 Rel 4/21/39 Charles W. Reedy

 21, W SW 22 120 HE P 055982 10/1/36 Canc 1/27/42 Emmet Pittman

, 11, 12, 13 & 15 3 145.36 HE P 058620 12/12/49 Canc 1/5/56 Floyd T. Cross4, 15, 16 & 18 5 160 HE P 059537 5/12/50 Canc 1/5/56 Leonard Legg

W, E SW, S SE 21, W SW

280 HE C 0345 12/19/52 Canc 3/4/59 Martin Sanford

Bussard

W 5, NE NW 8 80 HE C 010796 1/5/56 Canc 5/31/61 John Beasley

E 25, NE, SE 36 640 SRHE P 052654 2/23/29 Rel 11/2/32 Andrew M Sears

 NW, NE SW, N SE 11,

N SW, NW SE 12

640 SRHE P 054381 3/23/31 Canc 5/3/38 Thomas L. Lamb

 S SE 11, S SW, SW SE

NW 13, N NE, N NW, SW

4, E NE 15

640 SRHE P 054367 3/23/32 Canc 3/27/37 Andrew C. Kissite

W 25, NE, SE 26 640 SRHE P 054497 3/23/32 Rel 5/1/37 Teller Hall SW, Lots 3-4 1, S NE, N

E 2

638.86 SRHE P 054503 3/23/32 Canc 3/30/37 Walter D. Goff

 26, Lot 4, NE SE, S SE

ts 1-4, NE 34, W NW 35

577.73 SRHE P 054534 3/23/32 Rel 2/8/34 James H. Redshaw

-6, S NE, NW SE 3, Lot 1,

 SE NE, SE 10

572.46 SRHE P 054382 7/18/32 Rel 6/25/34 Samuel D. Redfried

-6, S NE, NW SE 3, Lot 1,

 SE NE, SE 10

573.06 SRHE P 056048 6/25/34 Rel 8/2/39 Glen Taylor

 26, NE SE, S SE 27, NE, 577.74 SRHE P 056145 9/12/34 Rel 3/11/38 Adaline Baugh
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

8

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

-4 34, W NW 35

E 27, NW NE 34 80 DLE Dur 0717 11/18/08 Canc 3/20/13 James A. Honaker

, E NW, E SW, W SE 12 320 SRHE P 052298 2/23/29 Canc 8/3/34 Robert L. Seright

 W SE 13, W NE, E NW,

 W SE 24, W NE, E NW

640 SRHE P 052603 11/13/29 Canc 10/17/35 Willard G. Belmear

, NW, SW, W SE 14, E

 SE 15

640 SRHE P 052546 12/7/29 Canc 7/12/35 Matthew Alley

, NW, W SW 13, E SE 14,

 NE SE 23, W NW, NW

4

640 SRHE P 053821 11/8/30 Canc 8/17/36 Albert M. Puett

640 SRHE P 053792 6/15/31 Canc 11/12/36 Harry K. Wallace640 SRHE P 049711 12/28/23 Canc 5/27/29 Pedro Romero

 SW NE, E NW, E SW,

E 23

320 HE Dur 010158 11/11/22 Rel 8/11/23 Ervin Roy Levagood

 SW SE 23, W NE, SE

W SE 26

320 HE P 050012 9/14/23 Rel 1/18/27 Roy M. Sharples

E 2, NE NE 11 280 HE P 049852 1/4/24 Rel 5/27/29 James H. West

W 2, NE 10, W NW, SE

1

320 HE P 055228 5/5/32 Rel 8/11/34 James Franklin Beal

E, SE NW, N SW, SW SW

NW, SW NW 11

320 HE C 02223 3/24/55 Rel 3/19/56 Nide C. Stebbins

, NW, SW 23 320 HE Dur 08171 6/11/19 Rel 5/14/20 William L. Roberts

(Durango)

E, W SW, SE SE, SE 13 320 HE Dur 08500 10/6/19 Rel 4/5/20 Frank Griffith

(Dove Creek)

E 13 40 HE Dur 08757 4/5/20 Canc 2/18/22 Raymond Bass

(Dove Creek)

 NW 14 240 HE Dur 08595 4/26/20 Rel 6/16/20 James F. Stephens

(Mancos)

 NW 14 240 HE Dur 08944 6/16/20 Rel 10/5/21 Lee R. Randolph

(Dove Creek)

W 36 80 HE Dur 09135 10/4/20 Rel 9/13/23 Charlie J. Cooper

(Dolores)

E 35 40 HE P 049435 8/30/22 Rel 12/18/25 Lewis Lamoureux

Kennedy

-2 19 108.96 CL P 056865 9/27/37 Term 9/26/39 Arley C. Short (Cortez)

W, E SE 24 400 CL P 056855 9/27/37 Term 12/17/39 Harry W. Oborne

(Colo. Srings)

E, SW NE, NE SW 4 121.42 CL P 049867 5/12/23 Term 5/11/25 Joseph Murphy and

Peter Ely (Lewis, CO)

W 9 40 CL P 050505 10/1/26 Term 9/30/28 Jacob C. May et al.

(Lewis, CO)
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

9

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

6 160 CE Pat. 05646 Pat 10/14/18 Charles E. BlackmerW, N SE 20, NW SW 21 160 CE Pat. 05670 Pat 9/10/18 Lee Dawson

W, SW SE 7, NE NW, NW

160 CE Pat. 08159 Pat 1/8/21 Charles A. Johnson

1 160 CE Pat. 05649 Pat 5/19/17 Louis B. Smith

160 CE Pat. 05648 Pat 5/19/17 John H. Taylor

0 160 CE Pat. 05647 Pat 8/9/20 Taylor E. Velarde

, N, SE 24 640 SRHE Pat. 1088269 Pat 2/5/37 James J. Chamberlan

d

(heirs)

W SE 14, LOTS 2-4, W

W NE, SE SE 15, LOT 1,

22, NW NE, NW NW 23

628.01 SRHE Pat. 1039933 Pat 8/18/30 George F. Englehart

 14, S, E NE 23, SW 24,

W 26

640 SRHE Pat. 1104204 Pat 8/4/39 Gorham F. Steerman

, SE 22, S NW 26, LOTS

E, NW SE 27

577.04 SRHE Pat. 1105669 Pat 10/18/39 Millard W. Steerman

W, E SW 30, NE NW 31 160 CE Pat. 08370 Pat 3/2/21 Tula M. Parker

 N SW 25 160 DLE Pat. 866867 Pat 6/8/22 Raymond P. Alexander

NE, NE NE 22, SW SW

E, E SE 27, NE NE 34,

W 35

640 SRHE Pat. 1101482 Pat 3/2/39 A. Harry Baxstrom

W, N SW 14, E E, SE SW,

E 15, E W, NW NE, SW

640 SRHE Pat. 1101686 Pat 3/14/39 Howard L. Baxstrom

W 14, W NW, NW SW 23 160 CE Pat. 02468 Pat 6/11/12 Arthur J. BrinkerW 23, S NW, NW SW 26 160 HE Pat. 04997 Pat 4/5/20 Jacob M. Dobbins

27, E, E W 28 640 SRHE Pat. 1107517 Pat 3/27/40 Arthur M. Dobbins

W 25, LOTS 1-2, NW NE

160 HE Pat. 1151115 Pat 3/28/55 Otho Matauw Junior

Donalson

15, E SE 16, E NE 21, W

2

320 HE Pat. 877894 Pat 8/29/22 Robert C. Finley

W 25 40 HE Pat. 02782 Pat 4/22/14 D. Witt T. Grigory

4 160 CE Pat. 05211 Pat 12/3/19 Frank L. Kirk

24, W NE 25 160 HE Pat. 934542 Pat 3/24/24 Frank J. Koehn

 LOTS 3-4 23 160 HE Pat. 965081 Pat 8/13/25 Cecil E. Milligan

, NE SW, NW SE 15 160 CE Pat. 881169 Pat 9/23/22 J. Frederick Schnaufer

, SE SW, SW SE 20, NW

9, LOT 3, N NE, SW NE,

W, NE SW 30, E SW, W

E SE 34

641.6 SRHE Pat. 1109026 Pat 8/16/40 Terzo A. Cresto

160 CE Pat. 05571 Pat 6/17/19 James Gawith

10, W NE 15 160 CE Pat. 1049924 Pat 9/23/31 James Gawith

20, W SW 21 160 CE Pat. 05039 Pat 1/13/16 Gebard Griffith
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

10

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

E 2

65, Secs. 35 and 36

140.99 CE Pat. 05570 Pat 5/3/17 Roy W. Hale

W 15, E SE, SE NE 16 160 CE Pat. 2 Pat 2/14/93 Adam Lewy

W 11 40 CE Pat. 14 Pat 6/28/95 Albert Prater

E, NE SE 10, W NW 11 160 CE Pat. 5 Pat 9/11/94 William F. Prater

10, E NW 15 160 CE Pat. 03756 Pat 7/16/13 Clarence C. Todd

 4, S SE, SE NE, NE SE 5 640 SRHE Pat. 1102979 Pat 6/5/39 Lyle C. Wallace

W 16, E E 17 640 SRHE Pat. 1103483 Pat 6/28/39 Walter W. Wallace

 1-4 7, S 1, E NW, E SE 12 641.68 SRHE Pat. 1103484 Pat 6/28/39 Walter L. Wallace

, SW, SWNE, SE NW,

E 5, LOTS 6-7, SE, E SW

622.98 SRHE Pat. 1103738 Pat 7/13/39 Donald B. Wallace

E 34, N NW, SW NW 35 160 CE Pat. 10 Pat 9/11/94 George F. Bowdish

, NW SE 27 120 CE Pat. 0718 Pat 8/8/10 John E. Evans

 SE SW, SW SE 26 160 HE Pat. 1167623 Pat 12/17/56 Eugene Ismay

W SE SE, W NW SE SE

7.5 Public land

sale

COC 014132 Pat 11/20/79 Eugene Ismay

 W NE 34 160 CE Pat. 05024 Pat 6/1/16 Perry L. Majors

E 23, W NE, N NW 26 640 SRHE Pat. 1103132 Pat 6/12/39 Charles W. Winship

 6-7, S NW, SW NE 5 215.72 HE Pat. 1186070 Pat 9/4/58 John J. Ferrick

 N SW 26, N S 27 320 SRHE Pat. 1095891 Pat 2/25/38 Daniel M. John

7 160 HE Pat. 1019401 Pat 9/20/28 John T. Miller

 20, N NE, S NW, NE NW

OT 8, E SW, N SE, SE NEOT 5 31

67, Secs 25 and 26

646.58 SRHE Pat. 1125950 Pat 5/25/49 George W. Short

 NW 25, S NE 26 320 SRHE Pat. 1106757 Pat 2/1/40 Fred V. Womack

59A-H, Secs. 18 and 19 316.44 HE Pat. 1004789 Pat 7/2/27 Clifford M. Alley

45, Sec. 6

 N SE 1

309.84 HE Pat. 901916 Pat 4/5/23 Robert L. Bogan

39, Sec. 3

 (se sw) 34

231.74 HE Pat. 1031646 Pat 10/23/29 Abe Chancellor

63, Secs. 19, 20, 29 and 30 160 CE Pat. 964951 Pat 8/10/25 Edward C. Forest64 Sec. 33 160 CE Pat. 05186 Pat 4/20/16 Elmer Griffith51, Secs. 3, 4, 9, and 10 160 CE Pat. 940380 Pat 6/20/24 Robert W. King52, Secs 2, 3, 10, and 11 640 SRHE Pat. 1013931 Pat 3/19/28 Robert W. King59A-H, Secs. 18 and 19 316.44 Exchange

Taylor Act

COC0000781PT

Pat 1/11/54 Caroline Murphy,

Edmond Lee Murphy,Pat Murphy, WilliamTerry Murphy

38, Secs. 1 and 2 118.49 CE Pat. 896565 Pat 2/19/23 Theodore Rodewald37, Secs 1 and 12 278.92 HE Pat. 1024035 Pat 2/20/29 Theodore J. Rodewald
 and Coal Leases within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Boundaries

h Entry SRHE = Stock Raising Homestead Entr *Map Number is keyed to GIS database on file at Canyons of the Ancients NM.

ent CL = Coal Lease

ancelled Term = Terminated y

11

on Acres Entry Type File Number Entry Rel/Canc/Pat Name

53, Secs. 2 and 11 160 CE Pat. 916017 Pat 9/5/23 Roland R. Schneider54, Secs. 1, 11, and 12 320 HE Pat. 973660 Pat 1/30/26 Roland R. Schneider

N 13 640 SRHE Pat. 1029124 Pat 7/1/29 Roy D. Akin

W, E SW, SW SE 1 160 CE Pat. 09603 Pat 3/18/22 James Boggan

 10, SW, E NW 11, NE

4

320 SRHE Pat. 1096392 Pat 3/29/38 J. Alva Hansberry

 10, SW, E NW 11, S 12,

NE NW 14

800 Exchange

Taylor Act

COC012239PT

Pat 1/29/74 Richard Perkins,

Richard C. Perkins

320 Exchange

Taylor Act

COC012239PT

Pat 1/29/74 Richard Perkins,

Richard C. Perkins

 W SE 32 160 CE Pat. 993925 Pat 1/8/27 Consuelo Inez Preston

E, SE NW 36 80 CE Pat. 970065 Pat 11/24/25 Johan Chack

34, SW SW 35 94.26 HE Pat. 1167286 Pat 12/6/56 Abe Chancellor

 SW NE, NW SW 35 160 CE Pat. 1023879 Pat 2/18/29 George W. Cooper

25, S SE 26, N NE, NE

5, N NW 36

360 SRHE Pat. 1112452 Pat 10/31/41 Robert H. Gardner

25, N NE 36 160 HE Pat. 1035207 Pat 3/7/30 Murry B. Gosnell

, SE NW, NE SW 25 160 SRHE Pat. 1104283 Pat 8/4/39 Murry B. Gosnell

W 4, NW NE 9 80 HE Pat. 1180399 Pat 3/20/58 Jack W. Peabody

W 4, N NW, SW NW 9 160 HE Pat. COC 0007992

01

Pat 3/20/58 Jack W. Peabody

SE NE 8, NW SW 9 160 HE Pat. 1130785 Pat 1/8/51 John E. Pock
APPENDIX E

HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUALS
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUALS

The following historical and genealogical information is a compilation of data gathered about

individuals mentioned in the historical record as having some association with the lands now

encompassed by the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Much of the information was

gleaned from the cemetery information presented on the Colorado GenWeb website. The land patent

information was gathered from the web-based BLM General Land Office data base. The information

presented herein is largely not duplicated in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

historical narrative, nor is most historical information presented in that narrative duplicated here.

Most of the information presented here is unverified. It is being presented for general information

and may provide a first step in doing more detailed research into the individuals listed.

Roy Durwood Akin

Born May 9, 1885, died June 5, 1953

Wife: Amy Gertrude Akin

Born September 17, 1889, died April 24, 1948

Both are buried in Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, Dolores, CO.

Married Amy House on September 18, 1907 in San Miguel County.

Clifford Alley

Born April 23, 1893, died August 14, 1963.

Private in the U.S. Army

Buried in Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver

George F. Ashbaugh received a Homestead Patent for portions of Sections 28 and 29 36/15 on June

28, 1894. He was an early settler of McElmo Canyon (Freeman 1958:133). George and Rick

Ashbaugh were fruit growers and farmers (Freeman 1958:134).

Victor N. Ashbaugh

Born July 16, 1855, died in April 1931

Buried in the Battle Rock Cemetery.

Received Homestead Patents for part of Section 31 36/18 on September 11, 1894 and parts of Section

31 36/18 and Section 6 35/18 on September 9, 1913.

William Elzie Ashbaugh

Born August 14, 1883 in Elk City, Kansas, died in 1940

Buried in the Battle Rock Cemetery.

Married Alberta Rhoda Holley on October 26, 1912.

Born July 21, 1895 in McElmo Canyon, died in 1934

Buried in the Battle Rock Cemetery.

Her parents were James Milton Holley and Savilla May Hogan Dobler, who were married in Cortez

on March 4, 1894.

William Ashbaugh received Homestead Patent for part of Section 32 36/18 on December 9, 1909 and

Stockraising Homestead for parts of Sections 27 and 33 36/19 on January 20, 1939.

Millard I. Ayers

Born October 23, 1919, died October 5, 1989

World War II veteran.

Buried in Sunnyside Cemetery, Pleasant View

Edgar E. “Ed” Ballenger

Born 1879, died 1968.

Buried in Cahone Cemetery.

Ballenger was a member of a pioneer family to Cahone. He began a term as Dolores County

Assessor in 1932 and served through 1946. He was a County Commissioner from 1948-1952 and

1956-1960 (Dove Creek Press January 13, 1961).

Nathaniel G. Barnard received a Homestead patent for part of Section 35 39/19 on August 4, 1939.
A. Harry Baxstrom, 1880-1965

Wife: Bernice E. (Sayler) Baxstrom, 1883-1955

Both buried in Cortez City Cemetery

Baxstrom came to Cortez in 1885 with his father, Peter Baxstrom. Peter Baxstrom was a stone

mason, responsible for the construction of many of the stone buildings in Cortez. Harry worked with

his father until he died in 1917, then continued in the business. He lived in upper McElmo Canyon

(Wardrip 1993:245-246). Harry Baxstrom received a Cash Entry Patent for part of Section 34 36/17

on October 25, 1913 and a Stockraising Homestead for parts of Sections 22, 26, 27, 34, and 35 36/17

on March 2, 1936. Peter Baxstrom received a Homestead Patent for part of Section 27 36/16 on

August 16, 1904.

Frank B. Baxstrom, 1890-1945

Wife Mary E. Baxstrom

Both buried in Sunset Cemetery, Dolores.

Harry and Will Beall were former editors of the Montezuma Journal before 1906 (Freeman 1958:67).

Charles E. Blackmer, 1882-1952

Buried in Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, Dolores, CO.

M. A. Blackmer opened a hotel in Cortez in 1897 (Freeman 1958:252-253).

George Franklin Bowdish

Born June 10, 1864 in Prairie du Chein, Wisconsin, died November 23, 1938 in Porterville, CA.

Son of Stephen Andrew Bowdish, Sr.

Bowdish received Homestead Patent for parts of Section 34 and 35 36/20 on September 11, 1894.

Married Clara Edmundson about 1888

Born March 7, 1859 in Missouri, buried March 26, 1928 in Porterville, CA.

Children: Allen E. Bowdish, born March 1, 1890 in Durango

 George F. Bowdish, born May 1897 in Colorado

 Wilbur Bowdish born about 1899 in Colorado

Henry Bowdish was an early settler in McElmo Canyon. He came to the canyon in 1891 with George

Edmonson and Andy Majors. Sisters were Lucindy and Mollie. Children were Jack, Frank, Bob,

Maude, Elmer, Jesse, and Wiles (Freeman 1958:133).

Stephen Andrew Bowdish, Sr.

Born August 12, 1842 in Lynnville, Indiana, died August 13, 1928 in Los Angeles, CA.

Stephen Andrew Bowdish, Jr.,

Born April 2, 1875 in Westmoreland, Kansas, died in 1911.

Son of Stephen Andrew Bowdish, Sr.

Anne Laura Bowdish McNutt

Born January 26, 1866 in Esire, Iowa

Daughter of Stephen Andrew Bowdish, Sr.

Married to Clarence McNutt.

Walter A. Brown, 1859-1933.

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery

Homesteaded a farm below Battle Rock (Freeman 1958:135).

Irvin Brumley came to Colorado in 1882 from Cleburne, Texas to help run the Lacy Cattle Company

operation in the Dolores/Cortez area.

John H. Brumley was born in Purdy, Tennessee on March 30, 1845. He moved to Cleburne,Texas

with his family in 1847 and later served in the Confederate Army. He married Sarah Elvirah
Johnson in 1866 and went into the cattle business. They moved to Cimarron, New Mexico in 1879

and came to Dolores in 1883 or 1884 to help his sister with the Lacy Cattle Company herd. He

served as the Marshal of Dolores in 1887 and 1888. In the spring of 1889, he moved to the Bob

Mansher place at Lewis where he farmed and raised cattle until 1900, when he sold the place and

returned to Dolores. Just prior to his death on September 26, 1927, he lived at Northdale, CO and

Lockerby, UT. His five children were Lulu Goodman and Anna Green of Moab, Jessie Hosea, J. M.

Brumley (Montezuma County Judge in Cortez), and Lucy McConnell of Dolores (Dolores Star,

September 30, 1927 and October 27, 1927, quoted in Ellis 2002).

John Brumley of Cleburne, Texas was killed when a load of logs for his house near Big Bend fell on

him. He had bought the Bean Ranch and 500 head of cattle. He was survived by his brothers

William and Jim (Dolores News, November 21, 1883, quoted in Ellis 2002).

Samuel M. Burke – served as Montezuma County Clerk 1910-1926, following Harry Sprague

(Freeman 1958:124-123).

T. F. Burris – possibly Thomas Burris working in oil fields as a laborer in Oklahoma in 1920.

Archie Calhoun

Born September 28, 1882, died December 3, 1959 in Eagle County.

Living in San Miguel County when registered for the draft in 1917.

Dr. Royal William Calkins

Born March 18, 1870, died December 9, 1961.

Married Margaret A. Black on April 20, 1920 in San Juan County, Utah.

Went to medical school at the University of Iowa, moved to Cortez in 1908, and practiced medicine

into the early 1930s. Credited with saving 462 lives during the influenza epidemic in 1918. The

Calkins Building (former Cortez Elementary School) was named for him in 1950 when it became the

Junior High School with the construction of the Cortez High School. The building was used as the

Cortez schoolhouse for grades 1-12 from 1909 to 1947; it is now used as the school district office.

(Ooton 2000).

John D. Carver, Sr.

Born June 1918, died March 1984.

Buried in the Arriola Cemetery.

He was a dairyman in Montezuma County (Freeman 1958:95)

James M. Clark

Born in Canada in May 1858; married Jane Ann Carlton in about 1887. She was born in England in

March 1869. They lived at Arriola in 1900 and in Cortez in 1910. John R. Clark was their son.

Clark received Homestead Patents for part of Section 1 36/17 on November 16, 1891 and part of

Section 7 35/16 on February 17, 1910.

He was a liveryman in Cortez in 1910. He served as the Montezuma County Sheriff from 1906 to

1908, following Richard C. Kermode (Freeman 1958:123).

Carter Clay, 1883-1957

Buried in Arriola Cemetery.

Carter Clay was an old time cowboy who was an early settler at Arriola (Freeman 1958:140).

Malcolm David Conoley, 1908-1964

Buried in Shiloh Cemetery

William Malcolm Conoley, 1882-1978

Buried in Shiloh Cemetery

Roy R. Cook

Born November 4, 1882.

Registered for the draft in 1917 as a Rio Blanco County resident.
Joseph A. Coppinger – The Coppingers were all good farmers and stockmen. Joe Coppinger had his

ranch near the Blue Door School in the lower Montezuma Valley. Hag Coppinger was just to the

west and Top Coppinger was in the center of the valley. Bill Coppinger was south of the airport

runway. Walt Coppinger of Mancos ran cattle (Freeman 1958:130).

Terzo Andrew “Chris” Cresto

Born November 30, 1898, died November 22, 1973

Listed in 1917 Draft Registration for Montrose County as being Italian with a relative living in

Paradox, CO.

Cresto was born in Turin, Italy and came to America in about 1904 and lived with an uncle in Rico.

He married Adele Roscio on January 20, 1924. Cresto worked at a variety of jobs on Dolores River,

then in various places in Montezuma and Dolores County. Bought a place on West Dolores River in

1926 and began raising cattle in partnership with Roy West. Began searching for land for winter

range and began raising sheep in the middle 1930s. He then began acquiring land in McElmo

Canyon for winter range. Was in sheep business until 1948, then turned back to cattle. He served

as a Director of the Taylor Grazing Board (Cresto 1979:27).

Floyd Thomas Cross, 1908-1967

Buried in Cortez City Cemetery

Floyd D. Cummings, 1894-1957

Wife was Mary M. Cummings, 1900-1937

Both buried in Sunnyside Cemetery.

Lloyd E. and Jeanie W. Dawson received a Homestead Patent for parts of Sections 11 and 12 36/13

on June 9, 1917.

Robert L. Dean, 1922-1954

Buried in Dove Creek Cemetery

Arthur M. Dobbins

Born January 5, 1895, died February 21, 1986

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery, Montezuma Co., CO

Jacob Dobbins, 1875-1941

Wife: Cora Dobbins, 1879-1960

Both buried in Battle Rock Cemetery, Montezuma Co., CO

Otho Donalson

Born October 6, 1893, died March 1979

John J. Downey received a Cash Entry patent for part of Section 35 38/17 on September 5, 1923.

Lillian M. Eddy

Born November 8, 1904, died June 26, 1972

Buried in Arriola Cemetery.

Alonzo P. Edmonson settled in the area in the early 1880s and made his home in McElmo Canyon for

a number of years where he ranched and ran an Indian Mission school. He had two children: Clara

Bowdish (formerly of McElmo Canyon but moved to Porterville, CA) and George Edmonson of

McElmo. Edmonson died December 7, 1915 (Ellis 2002). He received a Homestead Patent for parts

of Section 35 36/20 and Section 2 35/20 on September 11, 1894. Edmonson served as a county judge

from 1898 to 1902 (Freeman 1958:123).

George Benjamin Edmonson, 1870 to 1938

Buried in the Battle Rock Cemetery.

Wife: Jessie Bowdish, married October 2, 1896 at Dove Creek.
Born October 15, 1878 in Irving, Kansas, died May 8, 1978.

Buried in the Battle Rock Cemetery.

He received Homestead Patents for part of Section 3, 35/19 on May 3, 1891 and part of Section 31

36/19 on June 22, 1915.

George Edmonson

Born November 23, 1913, died June 18, 1986

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery.

Julian Edmonson

Born December 28, 1903, died December 21, 1962.

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery.

Edmonson received a Cash Entry patent for part of Section 3 35/19 on April 7, 1937.

George F. Englehart

Married Helen Madeline Honaker on July 3, 1924 in Durango

She was born January 26, 1905 in Durango

Joseph Espinoza received Homestead Patents for part of Section 31 37/14 and Section 6 36/14 on

November 16, 1921 and part of Section 219 37/14 on May 17, 1929.

John H. Farmer, 1871-1956

Buried in Cortez City Cemetery

John J. Ferrick

Born February 20, 1912, died November 9, 1998

Robert C. Finley, 1875-1931

Wife: Cora H. Finley, 1876-1931

Both buried in Arriola Cemetery

Melvin Forest

Born May 14, 1905, died July 25, 1994.

Buried in Fairview Cemetery.

Married Lucy Forest on October 12, 1928.

Forest received a Homestead Patent for part of Section 34 38/16 on October 12, 1931 and a

Stockraising Homestead patent for part of Section 2 37/16 and part of Section 35 38/16 on June 20,

1938. He was

Joe D. Fulks

Born November 26, 1919, died March 8, 1985.

Buried in Shiloh Cemetery.

James A. Fulks

Born February 5, 1907, died March 28, 1978

Buried in Shiloh Cemetery.

John L. Fulks

June 12, 1911 – February 4, 1973

Wife was Laura E. Fulks

Both buried in Shiloh Cemetery

John W. Fulks

July 7, 1880 – January 17, 1948

Buried in Shiloh Cemetery

Lloyd H. Fulks

Born September 21, 1917, died January 6, 1998
Buried in Shiloh Cemetery.

Fulks married Virginia Marie Jessup September 4, 1938 in San Juan County, Utah.

John Warren Galloway

Born March 24, 1889 at Bedrock.

The Galloway brothers, Jim, John, and George, were fruit growers in McElmo Canyon (Freeman

1958:133). The Galloway ranch in McElmo Canyon sold in 1907 (Freeman 1958:255).

George S. Gardner, 1853-1920

Buried in Arriola Cemetery

George S. Gardner, Jr., 1897-1951

Buried in Arriola Cemetery

Jewell L. Gardner

Born March 17, 1903, died March 24, 1977.

Buried in Arriola Cemetery.

Gardner acquired parts of Section 18 37/14 and Section 13 37/15 on February 27, 1957 and parts of

Section 17 and 18 38/16 on April 5, 1962.

Robert H. Gardner, 1904-1979

Wife: Margarite Gardner, 1908-1987

Buried in Arriola Cemetery

Gardner married Margarite on November 23, 1939.

Virda E. Garlinghouse, 1883-1969

Husband: Elias B. Garlinghouse, 1869-1930

Both buried in Sunnyside Cemetery

James Gawith came to Colorado from Kansas in the middle 1880s when he heard about construction

of the large irrigation ditch from the Dolores River to Cortez. He and George Stanford replaced M. J.

Mark, the first engineer that laid out the irrigation system for the Montezuma Valley Water Supply

Company, founded in 1885. Served as Montezuma County sheriff from 1908-1912 (Freeman 1958:96,

124). Gawith married Ida Elizabeth Walters. He began raising cattle, then sold the cattle and went

into sheep business. His son, Les Gawith, joined him in sheep business, which they sold to Summers

and Redd in 1947 and went back into cattle business (McCabe 1979a:57).

Henry Goodman

Born 1853, died May 26, 1934.

Goodman grew up in Edgefield, South Carolina. Went to Texas by 1870 where he managed the

gambling portion of I. W. Lacy’s saloon in Abilene. He helped take the Lacy-Coleman herd up the

Goodnight-Loving Trail with Clay Allison in 1870. He was then made foreman in 1871 and later

took the LC herd to the Montezuma Valley. Goodman Point, Goodman Lake, and Goodman Canyon

are named for him. He married Lula Brumley, daughter of John Brumley, in 1889. The LC Cattle

Company ran 22,000 head of cattle to Cortez when it was broken up in 1896. The Carlisle Cattle

Company ran 30,000 head of cattle when it was broken up the same year. In the 1880s, Goodman

ran his own stock through the Montezuma Valley from Mancos to Cross Canyon, Recapture, and

Verdure Canyon. He partnered with Harry Green, his son-in-law, in a cattle and sheep business

based out of Moab in 1896. They used the Leadville area as their summer range until 1913. In

January 1913, the Indian Creek Cattle Company bought 10,000 sheep and grazing rights in the Elk

Mountains and Cross Canyon from Goodman and Green for $50,000 (Dalrymple 2000; Wardrip

1993:128).

F. M. Goodykoontz had a ranch near the east end of Mesa Verde. Was a farmer, former postmaster

at Cortez, representative in the State Assembly, then returned to farming (Freeman 1958:131).
Murry B. Gosnell married Mae L. Herren Gosnell. Their children were Murry Gosnell, Jr. and

Wilma Gosnell. The Gosnells lived at Sylvan at least during the middle 1930s.

Herman M. Guillett acquired a Homestead Patent for part of Section 35 36/15 on June 15, 1911.

Peter T. Guillett was granted a Homestead Patent for part of Section 33 36/15 on October 2, 1911.

The Guillett Brothers bought the first store in Cortez in 1890 and operated it for nearly 40 years.

The store had been started by Al and Frank Thompson in 1887 (Freeman 1958:57). They purchased

the store after Noland sold his trading post at River View (Aneth) in 1890, that Pete Guillett had run

for him after his arrival from Missouri in 1885 (Freeman 1958:128-129). The brothers bought a flour

mill from J. E. Shutt in 1897 and were incorporators of the Cortez National Bank in 1907, with

Herman Guillett serving as the bank president (Freeman 1958:249, 255-257). Herman Guillett also

served as the first mayor of Cortez in 1902 (Freeman 1958:69).

John Colby Hackett, 1910-1975

Buried in Arriola Cemetery

William E. Hall was granted a Homestead Patent for part of Section 33 36/17 on July 8, 1914 and a

Stockraising Homestead patent for parts of 7, 8, 17, and 18 35/17 on December 18, 1925.

F. C. Hallar was involved in drilling for oil west of Cortez in the 1920s and 1930s (Freeman

1958:237).

Jesse J. Hallar was granted Homestead Patents for parts of Section 6 35/16 and Section 1 35/17 on

June 11, 1900 and for part of Section 35 36/13 on May 27, 1901. Jesse Hallar and the Carpenter

family had difficulties resulting in Hallar killing one of the Carpenter boys. Upon being released

from jail, he waylaid the Carpenter family in September 1894 on his way to town to face charges of

killing of the Carpenter boy. He wounded several of the family and was shot in the leg by one of the

Carpenter boys; he subsequently lost the leg (Freeman 1958:134, 208). Jackson Day was shot by

Hallar in 1894, but Hallar was acquitted (Freeman 1958:209). In 1910, it was reported that he was

the owner of a winning racehorse at the county fair (Freeman 1958:220).

John A. Hansberry (J. Alva Hansberry?)

Born December 3, 1884, died December 1966

Married to Clair E. Hansberry, 1891-1990

Both buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Yellow Jacket, CO

John Heffernan arrived in the Mancos area in 1881 (Freeman 1958:138).

Joseph A Heffernan

Born September 26, 1870, died October 28, 1925

Wife: Anna E. Miller Heffernan

Born April 7, 1878, died November 15, 1919.

Both are buried in the Cortez cemetery.

Joseph was the son of John Heffernan, a settler at Lake View in 1881. After the death of his father,

Joseph ran the ranch and later became an Indian trader (Freeman 1958:138). Joseph and Anna ran

a trading post on or near the Ute Reservation in the early 1900s. Their children were Anna E.

Heffernan and Eleanor Heffernan Ismay.

Harrison Hill ran the McElmo post office about 1891 (Freeman 1958:135). He received a Homestead

Patent for parts of Section 32 and 33 36/19 and Section 4 35/19 on September 11, 1894.

Clarence Hiltz, 1887-1966

Buried in the Cortez City Cemetery.

Bob and Jim Honaker moved into lower Montezuma Valley from Mancos when water for irrigation

became available (Freeman 1958:138).
George Hutt of Rico served as a State Representative from 1904-1906. He was the owner and

publisher of the Cortez Herald beginning in 1908; the paper was taken over by C. H. Rudy in 1911

(Freeman 1958:123, 256, 262).

Abraham L. Imel, Jr.

Born May 21, 1917, died May 16, 1988

Buried in Sunnyside Cemetery.

He married Mable I. Imel on October 16, 1937.

Eugene Ismay,

Born 1924 in McElmo Canyon.

Eugene Ismay was the son of John Harvey Ismay and Eleanor H. Heffernan Ismay. They evidently

resided in Cortez by 1923 and had moved to McElmo Canyon by 1924.

( http://www.geocities.com/davenixon.geo/Pedigrees/Family54.html).

George A. James

Born November 2, 1919, died January 30, 2000

Buried at Sunset Cemetery.

He married Betty E. James October 26, 1940.

George Ralph James

Born January 20, 1927, died May 7, 1994

buried in Sunnyside Cemetery.

Silas E. “Ed” Jeter

Born April 26, 1885, died November 5, 1938.

Wife was Lena A. Jeter

Both buried at Battle Rock Cemetery

Charles A. Johnson, 1876-1935

Buried in Cortez City Cemetery

Charles A. (Charley) Johnson was the son of Charles “Racehorse” Johnson, who came to the area

from Pine River in 1881 with 2,000 head of cattle and a herd of race horses; he was the first mayor of

Dolores in 1900. Settled in the Dolores Valley, where the McPhee sawmill was later built, and had a

large cattle and race horse business. He accidentally shot and killed himself (Freeman 1958:50-51,

55, 305). Johnson received Homestead Patents for part of Section 23 37/17 on March 18, 1909 and

parts of Sections 7 and 18 35/19 on January 8, 1921.

The Johnson family settled for some time in Disappointment Valley and became connected by

marriage to the Brumley family. Charles Johnson, son of Racehorse Johnson, was nicknamed “Bug.”

[It is possible that this was the origin of the names of Bug Point and Bug Springs.]

Martin F. Jones, 1863-1933

Wife was Mittie Jones, 1865-1948

Both buried in Dove Creek Cemetery

Thomas Reid Jordan, 1851-1936

Buried in Cortez City Cemetery

Lester F. Keeter died October 17, 2000 in Clovis, NM at 91.

Thomas F. Kelley

Born April 9, 1889, died August 17, 1974

Buried in Dove Creek Cemetery.

Wife: Zelma M. Kelley.

Alfred Walter “Alph” Kermode, 1870 to 1937
Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Alph and Richard C. Kermode ran a trading post at Four Corners (Aneth area). They sold the

trading post and moved to Cortez in 1910. Alph Kermode and his family moved into McElmo

Canyon, where he had the mail route (Steerman 1979:71-72; Wardrip 1993:324). He received

Homestead Patents for parts of Section 3 on April 8, 1911 and October 30, 1914.

Allen Kermode ran a bakery in Cortez (Freeman 1958:123).

Minnie F. Kermode – 1878-1960

Richard C. “Dick” Kermode had been in the freighting business in Silverton in the early 1890s, then

was in the livery business in Cortez (Steerman 1979:71-72). He and Alph Kermode ran a trading

post at Four Corners (Aneth area). They sold the trading post in 1910. He served as Montezuma

County Sheriff from 1902 to 1906. He was the first farmer to locate north of Cortez and was soon

joined by Alph and Ridgway Kermode. He received a Cash Entry patent for part of Section 32 36/16

on November 15, 1909. Kermode received the first motor truck in the area on July 17, 1916 and

began hauling freight (Freeman 1958:270).

All of the Kermodes came from the Isle of Wight in the English Channel (Freeman 1958:130).

William T. “Billy” Kimmel received a Homestead Patent for part of Sections 3 and 4 37/18 on July 12,

1956

Frank Koehn

Born February 1, 1893, died July 25, 1988.

Wife: Lola M. Koehn

Born September 14, 1900, died September 25, 1995

Both buried in Cortez memorial Cemetery

Percy R. Krantz

Born September 10, 1899, died May 18, 1979

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Frank W. Krater

Born November 21, 1911, died July 20, 1986

Buried in Fairview Cemetery.

James D. “Jim” Lamb was an orchardist in McElmo Canyon (Freeman 1958:134). He received

Homestead Patents for part of Section 31 38/16 on July 18, 1893 and part of Section 33 36/18 on

February 12, 1893. His daughter was Dorothy Lamb (West 1998:5). Much of his land in McElmo

Canyon was devastated by flooding in 1909 and 1911 (Wardrip 1893:320). The Lamb family arrived

in Cortez in 1887. The started a drug store and, in 1889, expanded into general merchandise

(Freeman 1958:67).

Thomas L. Lamb was an orchardist and farmer in McElmo Canyon (Freeman 1958:134).

Luke M. Lancaster, 1896-1972

Buried in Cortez Memorial Cemetery

Adam Lewy, 1848-1921

Buried in Cortez City Cemetery

Lewy was the first sheriff in Montezuma County; he was elected in 1891 (Freeman 1958:122). Lewy

has been implicated as one of the cowboys involved in the Beaver Creek Massacre in 1895 (Wardrip

1993:270).

Roswell Lilley (Lillie?) – Incorporator of the Cortez National Bank (Freeman 1958:255).
George M. Longenbaugh,

Born February 22, 1853, died June 1, 1923

Buried in Arriola Cemetery

Children were Walter, Harley, Edward, George, and Bertha. Longenbaugh homesteaded near

Beulah School in 1885. He lived there until about 1905 and moved to Hartman Draw. Longenbaugh

helped organize the Montezuma Valley Irrigation District. He served as a clerk in the House of

Representatives (Freeman 1958: 73, 140, and 241).

Perry L. Majors, 1880-1930

Buried in Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, Dolores, CO

George E. Maslen, 1873-1960

Wife was Rose Maud Maslen

Both buried in Sunnyside Cemetery

Bill McCabe came to Dolores in 1902 from Nebraska with his parents. They went into the cattle

business at Dolores. McCabe enlisted in the Army during World War I. When he returned, he also

went into the cattle business at Dolores. He married Lola Morrison. McCabe wintered animals along

Montezuma Creek, then in San Juan County, New Mexico. He served as a Montezuma County

Commissioner for 8 years and was on the Dolores Town Board for 12 years (McCabe 1979a:55-56).

Samuel Milton McConnell

Born August 3, 1846, died July 2, 1922.

McConnell served in the Confederate army and moved to Cleburne, Texas after the Civil War, until

1878. While there, he married Lucinda Katherine Brumley. They moved to Trinidad, CO in 1881,

then continued to the Big Bend of the Dolores in 1884, where he resided ever since (Dolores Star

Press, July 7, 1922, quoted in Ellis 2002). It is likely that McConnell helped to operate the Lacy

Cattle Company in Colorado, as his movements closely correspond with John H. Brumley and was a

relative by marriage.

William N. McCormick was an investor in the Dove Creek State Bank about 1955 (Freeman

1958:154).

Leonard W. McSherry, 1868-1936

Buried in Cortez city Cemetery

Jack T. Meadows

Born August 4, 1904, died April 25, 1978

Buried in Cortez Memorial Cemetery

Edward G. Merritt received parts of Sections 12, and 25 37/17 (ca. 10 acres) on July 15, 1982.

Charles Messenger received a Stockraising Homestead Patent for parts of Sections 3 and 4 35/18 and

34 36/18 on October 28, 1925.

Hiram Messenger (Messinger) buried in Cortez cemetery – no date.

John T. Miller, 1878- July 1962

Buried in Arriola Cemetery

Miller was listed as being at school at Arriola in 1887 (Freeman 1958:140). Miller ran a threshing

machine with a steam engine for farmers of area and worked for the Montezuma Valley Irrigation

Company for a long time while living at Arriola. He sold the threshing machine and took up a ranch

in Yellow Jacket Canyon, farming and raising cattle and hogs. He sold that ranch and bought a

ranch in McElmo Canyon. He later got a BLM permit for winter range in McElmo Canyon. He took

his sons, John and Robert, as partners in the cattle operation, known as Miller Brothers. They used

Navajos as ranch hands (Miller 1979:59-60).
Cecil Ernest Milligan

Born December 31, 1899 in Glade, Osborne County, Kansas

Died May 6, 1966 in Cortez, CO

Buried in Arriola Cemetery.

Cecil Milligan was the son of George T. and Lori Ann Milligan. He came to Colorado with his family

in 1913 and married Ella Parker on November 14, 1922. Ella had previously been married to his

brother, Frank Thomas Milligan, who died in 1921 (also buried in Arriola Cemetery). Cecil and Ella

resided on a farm at Beulah until 1942, when they moved to Cortez and he worked for Jett and

Slavens Hardware until 1961. Their daughters were Mabel Higman and Norma Coppinger of Cortez

and Esther Beam of Durango. Their son was Milford Milligan of Cortez. His brothers wereGlen

Milligan of Cortez, George Milligan of Weiser, ID, and Emory Milligan of Murray, UT.

(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~majorville/parker/milligan_cecil_ernest_obituary.html)

John Morgan was a brother of Mrs. Pete Guillett and Mrs. E. Guillett (Freeman 1958:131).

Frank Morrow, 1868-1938

Buried in Sunnyside Cemetery

Scott E. Murray, 1891-1981

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery.

Elbert “Al” Nunn

Born in Memphis, Tennessee on April 25, 1845, died on May 3, 1940 in Cortez.

Nunn served in the Union Army and continued his military service under Sheridan and Custer in

1867 and 1868. He then cared for racehorses in Kansas and moved to Texas. He came to

Montezuma County with the Bean family in 1872. He freighted to Silverton in 1875 and worked of

Charlie Johnson at Pine River beginning in about 1879. He married Johnson’s daughter, Henrietta

(Nettie) Johnson, on February 18, 1880 (Bankston 1987:14-15). In 1881, he took the Johnson cattle

to the Blue Mountains during the summer. That same year, Charlie Johnson moved west of the Big

Bend and started a ranch there (Bankston 1987:15). In 1884, Nunn thought the Blue Mountains

were not safe enough to run cattle in because of Indian problems, so brought Charlie Johnson’s and

his cattle to Cross Canyon, where he built a stone house and moved his family from Pine River. His

son, Elbert “Cuck” Nunn was born there. In 1893, the Nunn and Johnson cattle were added to a

cattle pool and herded to the Blue Mountains for the summer. When the branded calves amounted

to considerably fewer than expected, Nunn removed his cattle and branded mavericks to replace the

calves they had been shorted. Consequently, Nunn and George Endrich were sent to the State

Penitentiary in 1894, but were pardoned by the governor after only four months (Bankston 1987:54-

55). In his early years he ran cattle west of Dolores for Bill Graham, who named Dove Creek, Bug

Springs, Secret Springs, and Cedar Point. After his first wife died, he married Nellie Elizabeth

Johnson on February 20, 1897. He later married Sophia Durchols on August 3, 1925 at Cortez.

They moved to the old homestead in Disappointment Valley for two years, then went to California for

1 year and returned to Cortez (Ellis 2002).

Thomas H. Omo, 1874-1932

Buried in Cortez Memorial Cemetery

John H. Parker received Homestead Patents for portions of Section 19 36/16 on December 6, 1906

and part of Section 5 35/16 on May 18, 1915.

Sam Dollar Pinkerton, Jr. was the son of Sam Dollar Pinkerton, Sr. and Amy West.

Sam Dollar Pinkerton, Sr., 1900-1984

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery

Wife: Amy West.

John E. Pock received Homestead Patents for parts of Sections 8 and 9 38/19 on January 8, 1951 and

Section 2 38/19 on January 17, 1956.
Emma L. Porter, 1877-1957

Buried at Battle rock Cemetery

William E. Porter, 1904-1961

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery

William “Bill” Prater was a native of Great Britain. He filed naturalization papers in Summit

County on September 3, 1888. Prater ran cattle on Mesa Verde for several years. One of the trails

on the mesa was originally known as the Wetherill Trail, later known as the Prater Trail. Gus

Stevenson settled on the old Bill Prater place in the Upper Montezuma Valley (Mancos area)

(Freeman 1958:31-32).

Al Prater initially settled in the Mancos area. Nick Arnie, brother-in-law of John White, settled on

the Al Prater place in the Upper Montezuma Valley. This was later the home of Bessie Morefield

(Freeman 1958:31).

Al Puett was an early homesteader and cattle rancher in the lower valley southeast of Cortez. He

then moved to Summit Ridge. He was involved in chasing the Utes into Utah in 1881. He was an

incorporator of the Summit Irrigation and Reservoir Company in 1904 (Freeman 1958: 78, 131, 204,

and 225).

Charles R. Randol

Born July 5, 1921, died August 2, 1989

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Married N. Grace Randol, born February 5, 1924.

Tillie Randol, 1871-1959

Buried in Sylvan Cemetery

Adelbert A. Raplee received a Homestead Patent for part of Section 1, 37/17 on October 21, 1898.

Samuel D. Redford

Born April 14, 1886, died November 7, 1967.

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Wife: Ethel S. Redford

Born May 13, 1895, died February 8, 1975.

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

John W. Ritter – received five patents for land in the area.

Theodore Rodewald

Born September 16, 1898, Died June 1979 in Harrison, Arkansas

Joseph (Joe) Roscio received a Stockraising Homestead Patent for parts of Sections 32 and 33 36/19

on October 31, 1941.

Henry W. Royce, 1853-1943

Wife: Lucy D. Royce

Both buried in Sunnyside Cemetery

Clayton H. Rudy, 1868-1938

Wife: Ellen L. Rudy, 1877-1968

Both buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Ellen Rudy received a Cash Entry Patent for part of Section 7 35/16 on August 4, 1927. C. H. Rudy

was an incorporator of the Cortez National Bank in 1907 and served as its Vice-President. He was

an incorporator of the Valley Fair Association in 1909 and purchased the Cortez Herald in 1911

(Freeman 1958:255-256, 259, 262).
Davis H. Saylor was a corporal in Company B, 7th Maryland Infantry. Saylor married Alice M.

Mulkey in October 1880 and moved west to Totten Lake in 1882 where they homesteaded. After

having trouble with Indians, they moved to Durango for a short time then returned to their

homestead. They later moved to Cortez where he died in 1933 and is buried in Cortez Cemetery

(Freeman 1958:137-138). (See 1905 Progressive Men of Colorado)

Glen Schear, 1912-1982

Wife: Zelpha Schear. 1915-1955

Both buried in Dove Creek Cemetery.

Roland R. Schneider

Born November 24, 1896, died May 24, 1974.

Private in the U.S. Army.

Buried in the Cortez Cemetery.

Schneider was an unmarried man. When he died, his assets were used to establish the Roland R.

Schneider Scholarship available through the First National Bank of Cortez

Lester O. Seelig

Born June 10, 1918, died October 18, 1974.

Buried in Fairview Cemetery.

Arley C. Short

Born March 30, 1880, died May 14, 1961.

Buried in Arriola Cemetery.

Wife: Eula Short. Parents of George W. Short.

George W. Short

Born January 14, 1912, died February 4, 1987

Buried in Arriola Cemetery.

He was the son of Arley and Eula Short. He grew up in the Beulah community northeast of Cortez

and received a Stockraising Homestead Patent for parts of Sections 20, 29, and 30 37/18 on May 25,

1949. His brother Howard ran the family cattle ranch at Beulah until 1992.

( http://www.cortezjournal.com/index_obituaries.asp).

Leone Virden Shutt

Born October 31, 1887, died February 11, 1979

Buried in Dove Creek Cemetery

World War I veteran

Jefferson F. Simmons, Jr. – An early post office for Cahone was at the Jeff Simmons, Sr. Place. Jeff

Simmons, Sr. arrived at Cahone about 1914 (Freeman 1958:148-149).

Loyal A. Simmons

Born March 13, 1913, died July 6, 1979.

Wife: Dovie La Nelle Simmons

Born November 10, 1912, died November 24, 1996

Both are buried in the Sunnyside Cemetery.

Simmons received a Homestead Patent for part of Section 33 39/16 on August 4, 1939 and bought

part of Section 30 39/16 on July 16, 1965 with Dovie La Nelle Simmons.

Albert J. Smith

Born January 23, 1873, died April 26, 1915

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Dr. Edward Lafayette Sperry

born May 31, 1856 in Dayton Ohio, died about 1927.

Wife: Mary Maude Bowdish

born July 15, 1872, died March 3, 1972 in San Diego.
She was the daughter of Stephen Andrew Bowdish, Sr.; they married in Cortez October 16, 1897.

Harry N. Sprague acquired the patent to the Alfalfa Lode on December 17, 1908 in Section 32 37/11.

He was on the first Board of Trustees for Mancos in 1894 and was the Montezuma County Clerk and

Recorder from 1906 to 1910 (Freeman 1958:124, 200, 239).

Henry H. Stanley, 1897-1966

Buried in Shiloh Cemetery

Gorham Steerman

Born April 29, 1908, died June 1981

Wife: Lorna M. Paquin (Lorna Kermode Paquin Steerman),

Born June 23, 1912, died May 27, 2002

Steerman was a senior at Dolores High School 1926-27. His first wife was Helen Miller, who died

August 14, 1956; they had three children. Steerman was in the sheep and cattle business and had a

ranch at Lakeview (Steerman 1979:72).

William S. Stevenson received Homestead Patents for part of Section 33 36/14 on January 27, 1912

and part of Section 28 36/14 on August 29, 1922.

Egbert Bryant Stewart

Born September 12, 1896, died July 12, 1975

Buried in Battle Rock Cemetery.

Wife: Ida T. Stewart.

Fred H. Taylor

Born November 7, 1860, died July 20, 1941

Wife: May L. Taylor

Both buried in Peoples Cemetery, Dolores

Fred Taylor bought the Jim Holly and Frank Ottoway ranches in McElmo Canyon. Taylor was in

the sheep business in 1911. He also evidently owned an 850-acre ranch near Mancos that was

bought by the Frink and Stephens cattle operation in 1913 (Freeman 1958:52, 134, 136, 137, 224,

and 310).

George W. Taylor received a Homestead Patent for parts of Sections 20 and 29 36/15 on November

16, 1891.

George Sam Todd

Born September 29, 1854 in Liberty, Missouri, died August 10, 1929.

Todd came to southeastern Colorado in 1876 because of poor health and went into the cattle

business. He came to southwestern Colorado in 1881, first to the Disappointment Valley area, then

to the Dolores area, where he continued in the cattle business. He married Johanna Spalding in

1886; they met in the Disappointment area (Ellis 2002). Todd has also been implicated as one of the

cattlemen involved in the Beaver Creek Massacre (Wardrip 1993:270). He owned the Todd Coal

Mine on the north face of Mesa Verde (Wardrip 1993:46). Todd served as the Montezuma County

sheriff from 1912 to 1914 then moved to Marvel in 1924. His daughter Bessie was married to Harley

Longenbaugh (Ellis 2002).

Alexander Johnson “Sandy” Tozer

Born March 22, 1856, died December 12, 1924.

Wife: Mary Ann Greelish Tozer

Born January 3, 1873, died March 14, 1928.

Alexander and Mary Tozer ran a store and post office at Old Aneth; they were Indian traders in

1890s. They moved into McElmo Canyon in about 1900. Tozer acquired a Cash Entry patent for

part of Section 35 36/18 on November 9, 1912.

Clyde Ishmel Tozer

Born September 16, 1895, died December 15, 1972
Son of Alexander and Mary Ann Tozer; born at trading post in Aneth.

Clyde Tozer married Liddie Meadows in 1916. He caught wild horses for use in ranch work, setting

traps in Wagon Box Canyon or at the toe of the Sleeping Ute Mountain. He also raised mules.

Liddie died during WWII, so he married Sally Edmonson and moved to Rico (Tozer 1979:77-78).

Lowell Truelson

Born June 7, 1900, died February 7, 1978

World War I veteran

Wife: Olive June Truelson

Both buried in Sunset Cemetery

Jose “Joe” Ulibarri. 1908-1992

Buried in Sunset Cemetery

Owen Jasper Uptain

Died August 31, 1999,

Wife: Louise Knobel Uptain,

Born March 14, 1925, died July 21, 2001 in Tennessee.

Both buried in Sylvan Cemetery, Pleasant View

Louise attended Highlands University in New Mexico, and married Uptain on August 20, 1949; they

lived in Cortez.

John H. Voelter, 1903-1979

Buried in Cortez City Cemetery

Lyle C. Wallace, 1904-1951

Wife: Mary A. Wallace, 1909-1996

Both buried in Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, Dolores, CO

Filed for homestead in Negroe Canyon in 1929 and had range in New Mexico. Lyle was killed in an

automobile accident (Wallace 1979a:91-93).

Walter Winfred Wallace, October 31, 1880-1956

Buried in Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, Dolores, CO

He was the son of Henry Black “Squire” Wallace, who came to Colorado in 1870s, near Bayfield.

They then cattle ranched in the Disappointment Valley and in the Groundhog area before settling at

Dolores. Walter Wallace moved from Dolores to Mancos in 1911 and became associated with the

Bauer Mercantile business (Wallace 1979c:87). Wallace and W. J. Miller formed the Miller

Hardware Company in Mancos in 1914. The company took over the hardware department of the

Mancos Mercantile Company. Walter W. Wallace married a daughter of C. J. Scharnhorst (Freeman

1958:130, 225). He then bought a ranch north of Mancos in about 1917. Lyle, Walter L., Donald,

and Walter W. Wallace homesteaded in Yellow Jacket and Negro Canyon area in 1929 in order to

obtain winter range for cattle. They then acquired additional winter range north of Farmington

beginning in 1940. Dwight purchased the cattle and grazing permit of his uncle, Nate Porter, in

1956. He then bought, his uncle’s, Bill Porter’s, farmland in McElmo Canyon soon thereafter

(Wallace 1979c:87).

Walter L. Wallace

Born April 1, 1902, died July 3, 1987

Wife: Wilda B. Wallace,

Born November 23, 1907, died January 20, 1996

Both buried in Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, Dolores, CO.

Joseph Alpha Warren, 1873-1954

Buried in Dove Creek Cemetery

William D. Watson built the Cortez Sales Barn buildings in 1938 (Freeman 1958:161).

Audrey E. Wayman, 1910-1990
Buried in Fairview Cemetery.

He married Maybell C. Wayman on October 8, 1935.

John Wesch was involved with the reorganization of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company in

1920 when he served as the Secretary-Treasurer and was the assistant to the Superintendent of the

company. He served as Montezuma County Treasurer from 1906 to 1910 and from 1928-1930

(Freeman 1958:101, 123-125, 276-277).

George E. West came to the Mancos area with several hundred head of cattle in 1876. He later

served as State Senator from 1908 to 1916 (Freeman 1958 28, 124).

John S. Wilson, 1854-1917

buried in Cortez Cemetery

Wilson moved into McElmo Canyon in 1886 and was an early farmer there. He was the father of

Claude Wilson (West 1998:1)

Kerre M. (Carrie?) Wilson

Born July 31, 1863, died January 10, 1916

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Husband: John S. Wilson (Wallace 1979c:87).

John C. Wilson

Born October 13, 1883, died April 4, 1912

Buried in Cortez Cemetery.

Bob Wilson had an oil well drilled on his place northwest of Mancos by J. O. Gill on August 30, 1924.

This was the first test of the Mancos Structure. Well was abandoned on March 20, 1925.

Charles Winship

Born September 23, 1904, died July 1971

Winship came into the Mancos Valley very early and rented the Judge Morris ranch. He married

one of Henry Walters’ daughters (Freeman 1958:130). He may have had a son by the same name.

Charles W. Winship received a Stockraising Homestead patent for parts of Sections 23 and 26 36/20

on June 12, 1939.

Frank L. Wright, no birth or death dates.

Buried in Sylvan Cemetery

Robert Elree Young

Born December 27, 1890, died November 10, 1976.

WW I veteran

Buried in Dove Creek Cemetery.

He married Zelma Manola Lofland on April 17, 1923. They seem to have resided in Aztec in 1949.

Eldon Emil Zwicker

Born June 26, 1913 in Sherrard, Illinois, died November 26, 2000.

Zwicker came to Colorado in about 1936; his father ran cattle between Dove Creek and Monticello.

He married the daughter of Jasper Halls. In his early years, he worked for Bill McCabe, but then

went into the cattle business on his own. He had summer range at Nipple Mountain (Cortez Journal

November 28, 2000). In 1958 it was reported that they had 500 to 600 head of cattle that were

grazed on Bear Creek in the summer and kept on or near their ranch near Cortez in the winter

(Freeman 1958:135).
References Cited

Bankston, Wilma Crisp

1987 Where Eagles Winter: History and Legend of the Disappointment Country. Mesa Verde

Press, Inc., Cortez.

Cortez Journal

2000 November 28.

Cresto, Adele

1979 Chris Cresto. In ‘Pert Near Never Got Nowhere: A Collection of History Compiled by

the Southwestern Cowbelles, Mostly True, compiled by the Southwestern Cowbelles,

pp. 27. Southwestern Cowbelles, Cortez, CO.

Dalrymple, Dick

2000 Mr. Goodman- A Western Archetype on the Colorado Plateau. [http://www.larned.net/

rogmyers/goodman.htm]. May 25, 2004.

Dove Creek Press

1961 January 13.

Ellis, Darrel

2002 Serious and Grave Plots: A Listing and Look at the People Who are Buried in the

Mancos Valley Cemeteries. Fifth Raccoon Press, Mancos, CO.

Freeman, Ira S.

1958 A History of Montezuma County, Colorado: Land of Promise and Fulfillment. Johnson

Publishing Co., Boulder, CO.

McCabe, Leona Gawith

1979a Leona Gawith McCabe. In ‘Pert Near Never Got Nowhere: A Collection of History

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Miller, Audrey

1979 Miller’s Cow Outfit. In ‘Pert Near Never Got Nowhere: A Collection of History

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Cowbelles, pp. 59-60. Southwestern Cowbelles, Cortez, CO.

Ooton, Jenn

2000 Calkins Alumni Hope to Turn Historic Building into Museum. Cortez Journal August

1, 2000.

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1979 Lorna Kermode Paquin Steerman. In ‘Pert Near Never Got Nowhere: A Collection of

History Compiled by the Southwestern Cowbelles, Mostly True, compiled by the

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Tozer, Elizabeth Rae

1979 Clyde Tozer. In ‘Pert Near Never Got Nowhere: A Collection of History Compiled by

the Southwestern Cowbelles, Mostly True, compiled by the Southwestern Cowbelles,

pp. 77-78. Southwestern Cowbelles, Cortez, CO.

Wallace, Mary A.

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History Compiled by the Southwestern Cowbelles, Mostly True, compiled by the

Southwestern Cowbelles, pp. 91-93. Southwestern Cowbelles, Cortez, CO.
Wallace, Jackie

1979c My Husband, Dwight Wallace. In ‘Pert Near Never Got Nowhere: A Collection of

History Compiled by the Southwestern Cowbelles, Mostly True, compiled by the

Southwestern Cowbelles, p. 87. Southwestern Cowbelles, Cortez, CO.

Wardrip, Molly K.

1993 Montezuma’s Trails of Time. Molly K. Wardrip, Cortez, CO.

West, Stella Wilson McCutcheon

1998 A Dab or Two. N.p., Cortez, CO.