The Greeley tribune., 1909-10-28
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:. OLD-TINIE "REMINISCENCES
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To the Greeley Tribune:-I was
much interested in reading the we'll
written article of Miss Frances To-
hey in the Tribune of October Is,
entitled Civic Loyalty and Patriot
ISM and your editorial regarding
it in the issue of the Goth inst, with
the suggestion, or rather invitation,
that the old timers and others
tell you what they think about it.
My first thought war what is a
Historic Pageant'?" and, without
looking at the dictionary, the thought
came. "a spectacular procession,
but you write of it as something
that shall impress upon the minds
of the younger generation some OF
the most important chapters OF the
early history of Greeley and the
Union Colony, A celebration or
pageant similar in character to
those observed in many old world
cities" and suggest that the date
of such celebration be lin May, dur
ing the week corresponding to the
date of the founding of the colony .
This, however, would not be strictly
historic, for the beginning OF the
Union Colony and the founding OF
the town of Greeley was on April
IS, 1870, on which date, at 3 o'clock
D. M. the certificate of organization
of the Union Colony of Colorado was
filed for record in the office OF the
county clerk and recorder of Weld
county, Colorado, the office being a,
Evans and Frank +. Meyer, the
clerk.
The filing of this document with
the secretary of state was on the
l3th day of April, 1870. On that
day, April 10. 1870, the individual
members of Union Colony No. be-
came members of the body polltic
known as the Union Colony of Colo
rado. with Nathan c. Meeker Rob
ert cameron, Henry 7. West, w. N
Byers and Daniel Witter as trustees
At a meeting of the trustees Nathan
C. Meeker was elected president
Robert A. Cameron, vice president
and superintendent, and Henry L
West. secretary.
Now. referring to the subject OF
"a historic pageant. where shall We
begin?
The birth of the idea of founding
colony was caused by Mr.. Meeker :
falling in love with the beautiful val
lev wherein Colorado Springs is no"
located. This idea grew and culmin'
ated in the meeting held in Coopers
Institute building, where the society
of Union Colony No. 1" was organ,
iezd and the locating committee
named to spy out the land
think John Leavy and Ovid Plumt
are the only ones living in Greeley
who were present at tnat meeting
and, so far as ] know. Brother LeaV!
is entitled to the honor of naming
the organization Union Colony
The next step was the trip to sp!
out the land by the locating commit
tee consisting of N. G. Meeker, II. "A
Cameron ana w. G. Fisk OF Toledo
Ohio. | went with this committee
with their permission, paying, how
ever. my expenses. This committee
started on or about February |, s'o
as have an entry February 2, lS'o.
"Started for Colorado. | journeyed
with them from Omaha, where theS
spent sunday, through the entire
trip. which included Salt Lake CITY,
4 (then Great Salt Lake, Ogden and
other places in Utah.
our prospecting from Denver TO
. ! Canon Nily Was III
seated Two horse, canvas covered
wagon, and each man was equippea
with blankets to be used at night
and "grub basket" was taken along
10 help out when we found no settler
to entertain us, whic' happened
about every noon.
When night was near we stopped
at the tirst house we came to, ana
! were always kindly entertained
though charge was made for meals
n thinE. without exception, and we
managed TO sleep comfortably before
the wood fires on the ground hoor
/ nf the litchens by doubling up the
blankets and persons.
Al salt Lake City we were furnish
cd with a nice carriage by John W.
young, The third son of Brigham
| young, which enabled us to quite
thoroughly investigate their system
of irrigpton, and there and at Ogden
na discovered that the uplands were
hotter Gtted for fruit and grain than
NO batfom lands, which is an an
s,car 10 nose who claim that the 10
c,tors we're not aware of the vaiue
oT the upland when they made theii
The Locating committee returned
N New York City and made report
to the executive committee. Wnloli
,,.os that the Valley of the Fountain
I'LL In