The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-01-24
THE FIRST PARsoN.
Episodes in the Early Days of
Leadville.

Parson Tom UZZell was the tlrst
clergyman to set up the tents of the
Lord in Leadville. He is now the
preacher in the Peoples Tabernacle
in Denver. He has been in contact
with many Western types, but his
latter experience is uneventful when
compared with that of 1878 and
1879, when sin was running riot in
Leadville. In those days he was
frequently placed in positions in
which any other mans life would
have been endangered, but some
how Parson Toms honest simplic-
ity always stood him in good stead,
and he made friends instead of en-
emies even among outlaws. The
wickedest men in the camp respect
ed him, and gave literally to his
church, and, although he never sue
ceeded in turning them from evil,
they invariably came to him when in
trouble, and when summoned to the
Court of the Most High, Tom Uzzell
whispered assurances of hope.
"If hell itself had opened it's jaws
in those days | don't believe Lead
vile would have hesitated an in
stant," Parson Tom said one day.
There were no depths Of vice to
which it did not sink, and it's early
record of crime is second to none
in any section of the wild West.
The town was hell bent, and in
most cases | think it gained its OBJ
jective point"
Parson Tom was called one night
to perform the marriage ceremony
for the notorious doc" Baggs. The
prospect was not alluring, but Par
son Tom, to use his own language,
didn't like to refuse" and be went
to the notorious dive, where the
rooms above the gambling house
beamed with light and splendor,
and the wedding guests in rich at
tire impatiently awaited the COM
ing of the clergyman. The bride,
whose character was not of the best,
was arrayed in conventional bridal
attire of the most luxurious quality
and doc" was resplendent in full
evening dress. None of the minor
fashionable details had been forgot
ten. The men and women were the
entire sporting population of Lead.
vile. For moment the splendor
of the scene and the digity of the
bridal party almost staggered the
parson, whose drawing-room expe-
rience had been very limited. But
he summoned sufficient voice to
unite the pair and to ask for Gods
blessing on the marriage. All pres
ent bowed their heads, and Tom
was encouraged to elaborate some
what on his usual form of suppl
cation. After Baggs had kissed bis
bride he slipped $40 note into the
parsons hand. When Parson Tom
started to retire the bridegroom for
got his lines and swore viciously.
g you, Uzzel," he said, "wha1
are you thinking of? You're not
going until we've had something to
eat -
81 kept the money in my hand
all the time," he said afterward, ano
I was mortally afraid they'd do
me, but they didn't. They kept ut
appearances until | left, and Baggs
sent me home in the handsomes1
carriage in the town."
In those days marriage licenses
were not required in Leadville, and
Parson Uzzell thinks that he must
have married and remarked many
persons to others when they hao
tired of their bonds. Names were
very easily changed when occasion
required. Whenever the Parsons
suspicious were aroused he always
Investigated to the best of his abil
ity, but he invariably heard stories
that might be true.
The bad men of Leadville always
sent for Parson Tom as death ap
preached, seeming to regard his
presence as direct interpositior
with the Almighty. They dieo
hard" he said,' but they always
wanted me with 'em."
Once there was a sad harvest O.
death, and the funerals at which
Parson Uzzell officiated. averaged
as many as six a day. Like the ole
circuit riders, he flung thunderbolts
of warning right and left, and the
people who received them wept bit.
ter tears until his exhortations were
finished. Then they went their ways
A big German, who kept famous
beer garden at the corner of State
and Pine streets, frequently trans
formed the garden into hall, where
DR.. Gibbons, an early Colorado re
former, and Parson Uzzell gav'
temperance lectures jointly.
"The proprietor would cover W
the counters in q jiffy," accordin;
to the parsons description, "ant
the exhortations would 60 on quit'
/ lively for time, but we never &C
complished much, for before ou
words were cold beer was selling
again as fast as it could be drawn
and the lecture was forgotten. Th
tinkle of glasses always began be
fore we had time to get out"