The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-22
INDIAN AGENT NEEKER.

NC Meeker, Indian Agent at White
river. Colorado. WAS among the persons
murdered by the U,es in their recent
attack upon the reservation. Mr. Mock
er, or Father" Meeksr, as he was gen.
orally called, Vas we'll known in New
York. He WAS born near Cleveland.
Ohio. He published little paper in
Illinois. From there he came to New
York TO take the place Of Scion Rob
inson as agricultural editor OF Mr.
Greeley's Tribune. He took an inter
est in social co operative movements,
and founded the town Of Roselle. in
New Jersey. on the line Of the Central
Rsilroad. In the fall Of 1869 he was
sent by Horace Greeley to Utah to
write letters for the Tribune concerning
that Territory. and he returned to the
East determined TO 20 back AMI settle
in Colorado, about W hich hs had grown
enthusiastic. IIo wished to get twenty
or thirty psrs0ns to so Out with him.
for, by combination. he thought the
land might he got cheaper. Horace
Greeley heard Of his scheme and dinvited
Meeker TO dinner, when it WAS decided
that the latter should go shsad and
write an article on the subject for the
Tribune. which the other would back
up in an editorial. Meeker wrote his
article. His programme proposed
colony OF temperance people. The
colony was to constitute u villag". all
the lots OF which were to b. sold. in
order to obtain funds for making I'M
provemeuts for the common good. such
as a church, . schoolhousc, u library,
&c. and the outlying tracts about the
village were to be spportioned. l, was
especially stipulated Of the prop SID
colony that there xerc I" be mo fences
and no rum IN it
4 great deal of enthusiasm was pro.
vokei by tho Tribune articles. A meet
Iug Of the proposed colOni,ts was held
ia room If the Cooper Union toward
the cless Of the year. at which 100 per-
sons were present. Mr. Greeley presid-
cd. Fifty nine mem bers were enrolled.
and pledged themselves in $3.50 each.
In February. 1870. Mr. Meeker and two
others, - committec. set out to select
the locality. BY this time over GOO
families had joiaed the colony. The
committee selected the site OF the pres
ent town of Greeley. and bought 1891
acres of land from the Denver Pacific
Railroad for f3l .05S cash. aud took up
80 900 acres Of Government land. pay
ing tho preliminary fees. The town
WAS located on the 9th of April. Ralph
Moeker. = sou of tho colonist, continued
the work of writing glowing descrip-
tions Of the land on which tho colony
was to be planted, and in two weeks
more than 200 settlers had arrived.
Many OF them bad no tents or blankets.
and were terrified at fnding themselves
dumped upon desert without shelter.
Only ono building was as yet in the
place, and only one well. There were
no trees. and the white dust skurried
over tho plains in distressing fashion.
Meeker had returned to New York to
settle up his business. or it is probable
that he would have been mobbed.
Many intending settlers simply looked
1t the place, and left without getting
out of the cars. Fifty colonists left in
a single day.
But then irrigation was begun.
Meeker returned and knew what was
wanted. Sun dried brick were made.
and houses were constructed. The
town was laid out mile square, with
streets a hundred feet wide: trees
wore planted everywhere. bitches were
dug, and two artificial lakes were
made. In three years Greeley was a
town of gardens aud rich pastures and
farm lands. 1t was overhung with
shade trees. contained 1000 people.
and vas the prettie,t little place In
Colorado.
The town prospered. hut its founder
did not He is said to have lost good
deal Of money in carrying out his en-
terpriss. In the Greeley Tribune. the
heading Of which WAS . fac simile OF
Horace Greslsy's handwriting. ho sup
ported his patron for President. when
the people. liking Grant better. desert
cd him and took tho Greeley Sun.
Mr. Neeker WAS six feet in hight.
with blue eyes aud . white. clean-cut
iAcs. He had keen business talent.
and was full OF enter prise and nervous
energy. With him at the agency were
his wife and youngest daughter. jose
phins. Two other daughters remained
in Greeley.
Agent Meeker's plan was to have the
Indians cultivate their lands and sup
port themselves after the civilized
fashion. 1t is alleged by those claim
ing to be we'll Informed. that Meeker
found the Indisns smarting under .
sense OF the wrongs inflicted by the
whites.