La Junta tribune., 1909-11-27
:. :. woooavFrs "REMINISCENCES

] Iluo tn8t my FemluHceuCe8 Ot -
Junta's early days tend more in tho
direction Of land than Of people. for
II did not make my home here until
1895. although my knowledge Of the
place dates back to ls7s-thirty years
40. Ny first visit to Colorado was
In 1875. when l visited Denver and
Colorado Springs. At this time !
met my friend. Major Jas. NJ. Rice.
who had recently laid out the town Of
La Junta. Of which he was part own
lsIAnd the main promoter. he having
ae luired an interest in the land In
1875 from Edward c. Smith. por.
tion OF whose homestead became part
Of the original town site. Smithland
avenue was named after this pioneer.
who died in 1873, leaving his estate
badly involved. SO that his widow and
children derived little benefit from
his Investments here.
Rice. whose home was In Trinidad.
passed away In December. 1879. leav.
Ing his estate badly emil arrased. His
will named me as one Of three exc
cutors. The others. who resided In
Quincy. ILL.,, and Keokuk. Iowa, de-
clined to serve. AZ | was foot-loose.
having shortly before returned from
= prolonged absence In Europe. de-
cided to come out and undertake the
thankless task OF winding up an In
solvent estate. seeking and finding
other employment. meanwhile. to pay
my expenses while out here.
Rice's holdings included q half.in-
terest In the La JuntA town-site. l
acquired the Smith interest. by pur-
chase at Q sale under 4 deed OF trust;
and then proceeded to wind up the
Rice estate by selling the realty at
public sale. for the purpose Of paying
claims-Mrs. Joanna E. Wallace. =
sister Of Major Rice. and the princi-
pal creditor. becoming the purchaser.
In 1885 l purchased her interests In
Colorado.
Al the time I took charge Of af.
Mira the town Of Ia Junta was prsc-
ccally AsaA-eho extsnsioa Of The
railroad beyond this point having pat
An end to the active business carried
on here while this was . terminal
point. Houses and warehouses were
moved away. and there was not much
LETT to Indicate IT. former temporary
importance - . transfer point. The
land was unsaleable and seemed Al
most valuelsss. Many lots had been
sold In the boom days." At high
prices; but only three buyers ever
took the trouble to record their deeds
(Rice sought to buy these back At
from so TO SIS apiece.) Many fol-
lowed up the railroad to repeat their
spsculations At new points. A few
OF the early settlers. however. stayed
With the old town.
J. C. Denny. at one time agent for
Rice. wrote me In 1850 that nrs.
wickham would take an acre. where
Ase home IT," at e26. He asked
for Q lot on which To build . school
house. suggesting that the west line
would make . good location: just
south Of track ard near engine house" "
The neglected taxes Of the time show
something OF the conditions then. On
The 9Th Of April. 1881. ] paid the
treasurer Of Bent county 500. In full
. settlement OF all taxes on the Rice
J and Smith lands for the years 1876
iASso inclusive. This WAS . compro'
mise settlement The taxes Of the
Rice estate In 1881 were S30.55. on .
valuation OF $3.50. Rice's entire In
tcrcsts at La Junta were appraised. In
1881. At e?.t25. and were sold. In the
latter part Of that year. At executors
sale. for $500.
Bat the tide was turning. The rail-
road company wanted more land at
Ia Junta. Al first ten acres WAS
talked Of. then twenty TO thirty acres.
and finally . sale was made Of i:s
acres. At 80 a. scrs--taking In al
the land north Of the track formerly
belonging 70 Smith and Rice. includ.
Ing blocks I to ~. Inclusive. Of the
oVtgjpsl town. The streets and 81.
legs. Including Cheyenne street aud
Water street aud Pueblo Plaza. were
vseatsd By the town authorities. st
~ request Of the railroad company.
he fact that the company Vas
seeking 70 buy lAad. ted 70 Inquiries
tes town jots. TIE earliest applicant.
! believe. WAS James Hiresn. who
took posssssion q two lots h block
10. and Dut impeovsmsots thereon.