The Dolores star., 1908-09-04
OF MqsTEzuM!A COUNTY
Resd by Mrs. 4. W. Dillon at The
PJ0necrs' Reunion.

fyOssSHbe Neuuspp.
The CLINT Of gold Hrst lured the pros
pector with his pick shoYel and pan
ktrapped on the back NJ his faithful
buEfo TO the deep cRnon's and snow
Glad SUBMITS Of the La Plata mQun-
taipe: Next came the COW boy and
the abundant grass and water In the
ho concluded to stay, took ppe ranch
and went to raising cattle. After this
came more COW boys AND soon q small
settlement was established ON the MAN.
cos and Dolores rivers respectively.
Life in these remote eettlements WAS
no long unbroken dream of happiness
for the summers were short the winters
long and snoY became very deep
which caused considerable hardship
sometimes In securing necessary sup
plies. The Indians, true 70 their ma
ture resented the encroachment on
their domain and made more or less
trouble. The first settlement ON the
MancOs was made in 1874 by Dick
Giles, John Merritt, H. NJ. Smith,
John Mcintyre, James Clemniens,
Peter Holmes, although In 1873 John
Moss made treaty with the Indians,
they allowing him land % miles square
in which to carry on mining. A post
office was established at McIntyre's
now the Cheely place in 1874 the mail
being brought from Parrot City, on
horseback In summer and on snow
SHOES in winter. Previous to this the
settlers took turns In going after the
mails. In the fall of 1875 Manse Reid,
Lou Paquin, Pat O'Donnell, Major
Sheets, Mr.. Gregor and Wylie Gray
beal came into the country with a herd
of cattle which marked the beginning
Of the very extensive cattle Industry.
In the winter of 10 the mail carrier
froxe to death in Thompson's Park
within SHORT distance Of the Cayi-
ness house.
The nearest Railroad was Alamosa,
from which place the settlers brought
their supplies by wagon and pack horse.
The Mancos and Rear Greek hills still
bear evidences Of the manner in which
the pipneer overcame difficulties In
travelling. With the advent of the
Iron horse into Durango in 'sl we
thought we were indeed becoming quite
cosmopolitan though many hard trip
lay between us and our supplies.
Land taken up and Improvements
began at this time, 80 was by the fol-
lowing personsl Giles Smith, Barge-
brand, Wisecarver, Kramer, Clemmons,
White, Sheek, Whitlook, Mcintyre
and Worefield.
The first school was taught by Miss
Lizzie Allen of Parrott City, she was
only girl of l8 but did herself aud
Mancos credit, the first Of the term was
taught in cabin on the Root place,
but before the three months were up
the people had built commodious log
school house, that was used for school
nj sa1l ,,s,l,lSn t1,np !,
In 'Sl came the first store and the
town of Msncos was partly laid out.
George Bauer established the first bank
in "a the business being carried on in
the store building.
The first saw mill owned and operat-
ed by H. f. Morgan In 1850, it was
situated ON Cherry Creek, from there
he went to Durango, but In 'S2 he
moved his mill to Lost Canon where
he operated for q number of years.
. The first Sunday School was con-
Quoted by Mrs. Wetherill in 'Sl and
this for time was the only social
gathering except occasionally u dance.
After while that chief source Of recre-
alton and knowledge in newly fiedged
communities-The Lyceum-was or
ganised and the eloquence and oratory
Of that time was duly appreciated.
The first death to occur was that of
Dick Giles on the Menefee ranch, the
first wedding was that of Mr.. Ratliffe
and Mrs. Moqeouch, the first white
child born was William Menefee, the
first ordained minister who conducted
services at Manoos was Rev. Howard,
whom many OF you know, he preached
his first sermon at the home of Mr..
Sheek in the early SOS.
Ed Caldwell and Clark Britain own
ed and run threshing machine during
the Fall of 'Sl, the grain was standing
In the field in October on the Sheek
place when about foot of snow fell
causing great CONSERVATION to the own
er Mr.. Caldwell who thought winter
had surely come, but the snow soon
melted, and no harm was done.
The first settlement on the Dolores
was made by William Dick, and
George May In 1877, though previous
to these locations had been made by
Ford who later abandoned their claims.
In 10 number of others came;
among whom were DENLY, Bean, Hess,
Crumley and the Georgietta Bros. Mr..
Burch Joined these In 80. A post
office was established in 80 with Billy
May as post master, the first election
was held at the Crumley ranch in 80,
o. d. Pyle was elected Justice of the
peace, position that he held contin.
uously for 35 years or until his death.
The first school was taught by Miss
Lulu Frink at the "Old Bend" In 9
log house that was built to serve both
as temple of learning and place to
] dance In.
The iirst minister to look after the
spiritual welfare was George Burnett,
who swapped horses through the weeh
and preached the gospel on Sunday.
The Kuhlman Bros. and Cal House
located their ranches In 10. At thai
| time the nearest land office was ir
Lake City. Grandpa johnson settlec
ON his ranch in the summer Of 'S1, anC
at Christmas time his family arrive ac
conlpanied by Mr.. MacCwaig, who