The Holly chieftain., 1904-02-19
History of Holly.

erly written without reference to the
history OF the site upon which Holly
stands. This carries one back almost
to the earliest written history OF the
United States.
In 1886 Alvar Nunez Cabeca De Vacs
Travelled over the site Of Holly to a
point little east of Bent's Fort, which
is located at the head OF the Amity
canal
In 1541 Francesca VasQuez de Coro-
nado marched over the site of Holly.
In 1906 Captain Zebulon Pike, fol-
lowing what was afterwards known as
tho Santa Fe Trail. passed over the
townsite of Holly. 1t was upon the
report made by him that the vast trade
with Mexico started over land, and the
Santa Te Trail grew to be the artery
OF commerce between Mexico and the
United States.
Mi. John Luke, one OF the Oldest
cow-punchers in our section OF coun-
try and well known to many OF our
citizens, says that the spring south OF
the Ranch House, which was covered
by stone spring house by Mr.. Holly,
was known in early days as the Warm
Spring. When all OF the other water
in the country was frozen over. the
water from this spring, coming warm
from the earth, left an open water hole
in Wild Horse creek, and the Vapor
caused by the warm water striking the
cold air gave 1t its name. Mr.. Luke
tells of times when the buffalo and an
telope for hundreds of miles around
were congregated on the townsite OF
Holly. to drink at this spring. whore
they had become 80 tame that he has
frequently ridden among them as he
would among herd Of cattle.
This spring was favorite camping
place for the travellers on the Santa
Fo Trail in making for Fort Bent AT
that time Fort Bent was the only place
OF safety for the white men in this
section OF the West, and was the OBJ
jective point OF all wayfarers on tho
Trail.
The original site OF Fort Bent is
about forty miles west Of Holly. max
ing this spring u conTanicnt resting
place for the night preceding the ar
rival there
MI. Joseph A. Thatcher, president OF
the Denver National Bank. came TO
Colorado driving a bull team" in 1860.
AS near as it is possible to locate the
following incident, it occurred at Warm
Spring referred to above.
Mr. Thatcher was accompanied by
several companions with an extensive
outfit There had been several Indian
scares on the preceding days. and one
OF the chief men OF the party was In
Structed to ride at the rear end OF the
outfit to protect them from Indians.
Just about dusk on the night preced-
ing the day they expected to arrive at
Fort Bent. and as they were turning
into camp at the spring. a tremendous
row occurred in the rear and several
shots were fired. Investigation proved
that Colonel William Bent, the origin
al Bent of old Bent's Fort, driving four
fast and rangy mules to an ambulance
and accompanied by his wife. several
outriders and band OF loose horses
and mules, had been hurrying to camp
at the Warm Spring. Overtaking Mr..
Thatcher's outfit, they were about to
drive around them, when the rear
guard became excited and, taking them
for Indians, fired shooting through
the ambulance Of Colonel Bent and en-
dangering the life of himself and wife
It WAS with a great deal OF trouble
that Mr.Thatcher succeeded in prevent
ing Colonel Bent from hanging his
partner according to the quick and
summary justice OF the plains at that
time Colonel Bent made the remark
, that, while the man may have made 8
mistake, the world would be better OF
without ouch fools than with them. and
he felt 1t to be his duty to send him on
the "1ong trail" Due persuasion, how
ever, upon Mr.. Thatcher's part, pre-
. vented his execution, and it is to be
hoped that life in the West relieved
the tenderfoot OF his tendency to over
excitement.
In 1871 the stone ranch house and
barn on the south OF the track were
constructed by Mr.. Hiram S. Holly. ns
the headquarters for the great "SS'
cattle ranch. Associated with Mr. Hol.
ly at that time were Mr.. Dennis Sulli-
van, now of Denver, and Mr.. Joseph
A. Thatcher. referred to above. These
buildings were erected by our fellow
townsman Mr John Cores. and he tells
us that at that time the instructions
to the people were in event OF IN In
dian scare, all hands should rush to
tho barn, which had been built with
portfolios in it. so Us to permit the
: defenders to use their rifles with the
least danger to themselves. Depreda-
tons were constantly made by the In
dans and it was only at the risk OF
life that any person could 80 beyond
sight of the settlements.
N The bunch Of trees around the mouth
III OF Butte creek. just southwest OF Hol-
&llv. was n favorite rallying place fol
VI the Indians and Is the graveyard 70,
n many brave settlers. In 1873 the IN
II dians raided the settlers south OF the
gf river and killed and scalped seven men
Vat one time.
The hay barn aad the two houses