All sources point to a cowboy from Duluth, MN whose name is unknown.
As the unknown cowboy convalesced and his strength returned, he sang across the hospital ward in a mellowed tenor voice, and the other patients always called for more. One of the songs he sang was Colorado Trail. Camilla and I have added two new verses to the traditional first verse. I chose this song because we'll be driving from Florida to Colorado in April to play a concert at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the Auraria Campus, in Denver on April 5th. Singing my sweet song Riding through the purple hills Just like Roy and Dale All along, along along The Colorado trail.