The Glenwood post., 1918-04-06
published in the Columbine, the annu-
al of the 1916 Graduating Glass of
Garfield County High School.)

on the part of those concerned tends
to efface from memory many incidents
in the early pioneer life of country.
Fguratively speaking, in the early
days the hills and valleys were full of
game, the streams were alive with trout,
and the menu at all times was almost
venison straight. No one had money;
there was no opportunity to make any
There were no railroads or other roads
except an indifferent trail from Lead
vile and another from Aspen.
The people lived in crude cabins"
with dirt floors, dirt roofs and the
simplest kind of furniture. The home
consisted of:
ga dugout on the hillside,
And bear hide for a cot;
And the culinary fixin's,
Jest a pan and coffee pot.''
There were no doctors, no courthouse,
no jails, no churches, no schoolhouses
and, strange as it may seem, everybody
was happy. But comparatively few
ranches were taken up in the county
and it was first choice almost every.
where. "Help yourself" was the in
vitation and if the pioneer did not do
so, it was his own fault. The grasp of
commercialism had not yet shed its
baleful influence in the community and
the wants common to all made a kim
dred fellowship with none of the jeal-
ousies SO peculiar to later life. The
telegraph and telephone were luxuries
back in "the states,' and if a person
was indiscreet enough to mention an
automobile or an aeroplane, the auditor
would significantly tap his temple with
the index finger, shake his head and
wonder how the poor fellow ever
reached this country.
Among the main events in the early
days were the elections. The first one
was held in November, 1882, the polling
place being small hut on the Roaring
Fork river hear the present site of the
Noonan bridge. At that time our see-
tion If the state was included in Summit
County and the first fight was over
the moving of the county seat from
Breckenridge to Dillon. There were
just thirty-eight votes cast in the terri
tory between Emma and Grand Valley.
then called Parachute; they were all
for Dillon. James Landis was given
the sum of 5000 to be used in campaign.
ing purposes. He proved himself a
great political leader. The judges of
election were: James Lands, Philip
Van Cleve and Charley Harris; the
latter still holds his warrant for $3.50
which he received as pay for sitting as
judge.
Garfield County was originally a part
of Summit County, which composed
what is now Summit, Eagle, Rio Blanco
and Garfield counties. 1t was SO named
because the sentiment of the people
very much favored the man who had
been in the presidential chair, James
A. Garfield, and whose untimely death
they mourned. The county was organ
lied during the early part of the year
1888 by an Act of the General AS
sembly.
There were few white people here
previous to that time. 1t had been a
part of the Ute Indian reservation,
hence unexplored territory. Prospect.
ors from Leadville had ventured into
the reservation as early as 1870 and
had reported carbonate deposits. The
news spread and with it the idea that
much mineral treasure was to be found
resolved to make thorough search, but
fearing an attack from the Utes, sever.
al parties entered the territory, built
fort Of pine logs and named it Fort
Defiance. Another camp was made and
named Carbonate City, and this place
later became the first county seat Of
Garfield county. It was located abont
sixteen miles northwest of the presep.
site of Glenwood Springs. The place
is now an abandoned mining camp.
Carbonates Of q low grade were found
and much prospecting was done. All
transportation was done by means of
hand sleds Of "pack men" as there
was no road.
In November, 1881, Perry Malaby,
John Manning and few Others
reached what we are all now pleased TO
call Glenwood Springs. They made the
trip down from Aspen on the running
gears of a wagon and for part of the
distance used the bed of the Roaring
Fork river as road. Mr.. Malaby af.
Hnu j.