The Elbert County tribune., 1912-10-18
HISTORY OF Ell PASO COUNTY.
Contributed by Eli Knowles
EpIToRs NorE:-The following is true
story Of the early history of Ebert and
ElPaso County.
PART II

PART II
Mrs L. A. johnson aud DR.. j. W. Lin
ley, who live near Eastonvile, and who
were pioneers in that regeon, furnishes
The following incidents for this chapter:
In 1851 NJ. M.Delano located a saw mill
ON East kiowa creek which run 10y NJ.
\, Fosters. A stage line run on the
smoky Hill rout, but there were no
settlements between the mill and Fort
Wallace. Large herds of buffalo and
antelope occupied the ranges, and their
was always danger of Indian uepreda.
lions. Mr. Delano and the Wilson Broth
srs since cattle kings, had teams on the
road hauling lumber to Fit Wallace. The
Indians attacked the coaches on he
plains that season aud everybody weni
armed expecting an attack at any time
in January, 1868 p p Conner bought ar
interest in the mill and moved il. f.
March twelve men and several teams
vent cast as far as whore Hugo is nov
on bnffalo hunt and we're caught in
one OF the seyerest storms ever known
in Colorado, Help was sent TO them
and they came back with several loads
Of buffalo meat. John McClain, William
Mathews and James v ,dard were COM
ing from pueblo with load of corn each
and were caught in the same storm near
Squirrel Creek, at the old Santa Ee
stage crossimg. They were out of pro
visions. They broke camp and starttd
for Plum's mill. The storms was so
severe they had to abandon their harses
and got separated. McClean and Ninth
Kept togeather, but became exhausted
aud died. They weae found number
of days afterward. Woodland found
some timber, aud by standing behind a
tree nd exercising by kicking the tree
kept alive. He lost his hat and was
badly frozen. Woodard was killed Il
number Of years after this in dispute
about claim somewhere 10 the moan
tains. This same year three brothers
oy the name Of Gallon and Mexican,
all from Black Hawk, With two wagons
and teams were out ou hunt and
on what is now Alex BIazelton's ranch.
near Ebert Ihe Mexicanshot all three
of the brothers, it is supposed at night
took all their money and a horse, ana
lied. The settlers buried the dead men
near John Schimpf's house. Advertise
ments were put in the Denver papers,
and the husband of sister of the cal
Ions who lived in the mountains came
down and got what property was left.
Tho Mexican was never found. Onl.
the old settlers know now where the
graves are. Such was the fate of three
men who took pity on a vagabond Gress-
er and gave him assistance.
In the fall of the same year the Chey-
enne and Arapahoe Indians went W
Ute pass, had fight with the Utes, and
as they went back raided the settlements
They took some horses belonging to b.
n. Baldwin, near Elbert, also some
stock on Comanche creek, and killed
Mrs Deiterman and little boy. All the
settlers went into camp at George Aux |
ranch on kiowa creek. a company was
sent out from Denver which the settel
ers joined at Middle Kiowa, where they
organized under Major Downing and
went into camp at Reeds. Springs
John Greebe, pioneer cattleman gave |
them a beef, and was afterwards killed |
oy the Indians. The soldiers (?) soon
left there anu wandered back to Denver
without seeing redskIn. Major Down
ing procured the horses for the expedit- |
ion from JACK Hughes, for which hughes
was 10 get $1,000 for their use. As
Downing had lost no Indians he dld no.
nave to lind them. | | is believed that
through his cowardice rnIngs turneu /
out afteiward Is they did, ana he WAS Ia. |
.epute amorg the settlers.
La lew days the Indians appeared |
again, Stealing horaes aud killing cattle
Ihey killed grandson of Mrs l.. A.
johnson, who was only six years old,
near Corners mid. lie was playing WIN
some other boys. y party was madc up !
al tue mllls 10 puisue tue red devils, bul
II was no use as tnes were we'll uiounteu. |
hey expected to meet another party al
Big Sandy from Colorado City VINO haa
suffered from their dep edations. bul I
Instead met ABOUT forty Indians where /
s.nsseli Gates ranch Is now located /
Ineie we're only eight ju the party, one
uaying veeu 'scareu" aud turned back.
Ine Indians seeing they outnuubered
the white party, rushed on them anu
they beat retreat toward B1ou Basin, (
when the Indians got to close they
wonld turn and lire. Milton Carr ison
iAlcd one of the. Indians and another