davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23
Early | history Of Delta County

ers. The former were cattlemen, COM
ing in in 1881, and some of them are
still owners of herds that Craze the
Uncompahgre Plateau.
Other cattlemen of those early days
were A. L. Botsford, Koehler, Levi
and Ross Wilmot, Duke Brothers,
George Miller, Rogers. Aaron Clough
Isham Stephens, Enos Hotchkiss, the
Mahers, Savages, Barrows, Hartman
and Mcintyre, also Ed Chreighton.
The first ditch was taken out by Otis
Standish, who owned large tract of
land on Garnet Mesa. This ditch was
afterwards known as the Garnet Mesa
ditch and was filed upon November
80, 1881, by Otis Standish, S. B.
Crockett, T. L. Eggleston. Thomas
Hannum, and taken out of the I'm
compahgre river near point speci.
fed as "the ford and about half a
mile from Ben Gheen's cabin" This
ditch was Incorporated later in 1888.
A prominent settler of the county
was Samuel Wade, who founded Pa.
onia in September, 1881, and planted
the first orchard there in 1882. Asso-
ciated with him was w. A. Clark.
This same year Enos Hotchkiss plant
ed an orchard at Hotchkiss and about
the same time one was set out in
North Delta by Mr.. Spar.
Early settlers of the Surface Creek
country were the Kennicotts and
Teachouts, and James Zaninetti, Cap
tain Spalding and Richard Forrest.
who planted the first alfalfa in that
section.
Pioneers of Read were Capt. Henry,
Lambert and the Seeley brothers.
Among the earliest settlers of the
town of Delta we're Henry Hammond,
Levi Scheid, w. o. Stephens, George
Moody, w. NJ. Crotser. j. Barker,
A. C. Butler, William Mathers, I. NJ.
and George Conklin, R. M. and I. NJ.
McMurray, s. Huntingdon, Thomas
Vickers, Gael Hastings. George Nc
Granahan, A. r. King, Ed Kellogg and
T. H. McGranahan. Stephen Ingersoll
settled on a ranch at Dominguez.
The railroad service began in Delta
in the fall of 1882. The first bridge
in the county was built across the
Gunnison at Delta in 1882. In the
same year one was laid across the
North Fork at Hotchkiss. Both of
these bridges went out in the high
water of 1884 A ferry was after
wards operated at Delta for several
years, and another near the present
state bridge. These were in use in
1sS5-S6-87-SS-S9.
A postoffice was established at
Delta in January, 1889, antedating the
one at Grand Junction. The first
county officers were appointed by the
governor after the organization of the
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

country from Western Utah. 1t must
be said here. however, that the son
of the first man shot gave his life for
his father. When the younger man.
who was ahead, heard the shot he
stopped his horse, and seeing that his
father had fallen he raced back to his
assistance. 1t was then he was shot.
He would probably have escaped as
his uncle did had he cared to leave his
father to his fate.
In August, 1900. William Womack, a
prominent rancher of the Tongue
Creek country. visited the Grand Mesa
lakes for little fishing. The Surface
Creek Ditch and Reservoir Company
had originally owned the rights to
these public utilities, but had sold
them to Mr. Radcliffe. wealthy Eng
lishman. Mr. Alexander and Richard
Forrest had also sold him the ranch
and holdings which they possessed.
Originally the ranchmen had retained
their right to fish in the lakes during
the season, but through chicanery had
been legally defrauded of this right.
Being true Americans. they were
ready to fight for their rights.
Mr.. Radcliffe had hired a man by
the name of Mehaney to guard the
lakes and prevent anyone fishing
there without a permit. Mr.. Womack
believed himself to be exercising his
rights and on reaching the lakes start
ed to fish. The man shot and killed
the ranchman. then hurriedly left the
lakes and came down and gave him
self up to the authorities.
The people of the county were wild
with anger and determined to lynch
the man. The next night after the
murder the crowd reached the court
house. where they believed the muir
derer to be secreted. A guard had
been posted about the building and
for some time. four men circled the
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

, tiers knew what these ruins were.
Probably learned the fact from the
Indians.
The first American to leave an i'm
press on the county was Capt. John
Gunnison, who was sent out by the
government to find route for rail-
road and travelled through this valley
and down the Gunnison river in 1858.
He is supposed to have made camp
on the Hutchison ranch down the
Gunnison river about five miles. He
was later killed in Utah.
The territory of Colorado was or
ganized in 1861, consisting of II coun-
ties. One of these was Lake County,
of which Delta County was a part to-
gether with the rest of the Western
Slope. The county seat of Lake was
Oroville, later known as Deadville.
Gunnison County was set out from
Lake County in 1877 and included
Delta County. Delta County was seq
regated from Gunnison February H.,
1888.
This county was part of the Ute
Reservation. The Indians were re-
moved in September, 1881. A town
company had been formed with Gov
ernor Crawford of Grand Junction as
| the moving spirit, and in December,
1881, the town of Delta was plated by
Samuel Wade, but the town itself was
not begun until the spring of 1882
1t was first called Uncompahgre. but
| later was called Delta because of the
resemblance of the plat of the town
site to the Greek letter Delta.
| The first house built within the
present townsite of Delta belonged to
George Moody, who came in before
the Indians went out and piloted the
soldiers about the county. The house
| is standing at this date near the old
fair grounds (192D, on land now be-
longing to I. NJ. McMurray, who pur-
chased it from George Moody.
| Thomas Overbay used to tell inter-
esting tales of his adventures in the
valley before the Indians went out.
The government forbade white set
tiers coming in before the Indians
were removed, but Mr.. Overbay was
of an adventurous spirit and anxious
to spy out the land for himself, so
came in by night. He found a loca-
tion a few miles up the Gunnison
which suited him and he determined
to remain. He had to evade both the
soldiers and the Indians, and had to
get his food and cook it by night and
hide by day in the underbrush, which
at that time lined the banks of the
river. He was successful and took up
the land he had selected. Since his
death it is occupied by his family.
Among the earliest settlers were R.
s. Kelso, ]. F. Cole and s. huntington,
Henry Hammond and Thomas Wick
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

building, each pair in opposite direc-
tions.
However, by a clever ruse. when
the four men reached the same spot.
their attention was arrested and in
the brief respite given the sheriff.
Tom Smith. had rushed the man to
waiting carriage and he was safe
from lynch law. Mehaney was later
tried and given a short sentence.
Later the angry men returned to
the lakes and burnt all buildings and
everything possible belonging to Rad
cliffe. Afterward this was paid for.
however, for Radcliffe was British
subject and the United States had to
pay him $4,000 for the damage done
his property.
The material for this sketch OF the
first twenty years OF Delta county
history has been collected with much
pleasure. wish to thank Mrs. W. d.
Hines, Mr. Ernest Clack, Mr.. George
Merchant, Mr.. Thomas Vickers. Mr..
r. d. Kelso and Mr.. Richard Forrest
for the valuable information fur
nished me.
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

county in 1888 The commissioners
were Samuel Wade, Enos Hotchkiss
and A. E. Kirkbride, clerk and re-
corder; Ed Kellogg. treasurer; T. H.
McGranahan, county judge; W. A. Nc
Dougall, surveyor; William Marcy.
county superintendent of schools;
George Merchant, present county as
SCISSOR; coroner, w. o. Stephens. The
assessed valuation of the county in
1883 was $45O,964.S2. The valuation
in 1920 was $19.071 Ass.
The first home of the county Of
ficials was an old log structure which
stood on the corner of Rlmer and
Third streets, where the White garage
is now located. It was built in the
rudest fashion, as the logs stood on
end. Afterwards county building. a
small frame, was built on the corner
of Third and Main streets. where the
Western Colorado Power Company
has its offices. &
The. patent for the land on which
Delta stands was given in 1886 and
presented to the town of Delta. A. r.
King was at that time mayor and be.
came the custodian. The first school
was started by the efforts of George
Moody and was financed by subscrip-
tions. as at that time there were no
public funds available for the pur-
pose Mrs. A. w. Carr was the first
teacher.
The first paper of the county was
the Delta Chief founded in March,
1888, by Robert Blair. The Laborer,
the predecessor of the Tribune, was
founded in 1890 by r. j. Coffey and
C. NJ Snyder.
Among the pioneers in fruit raising
were Mr.. Coburn of North Fork and
George McGranahan, who had a fine
orchard in bearing on Garnet Mesa in
1890. His ranch now belongs to Mr.
Wilkinson.
Among the men who left a perma-
nent impress on the county was P. NJ.
Condit, who was responsible more
than any other individual for the fine
system of schools of the county. Mr..
Condit came to Delta from Ohio in
1886. He was a graduate Of Oberlin
College and a man of high attain
ments. His ideals were high and re-
suited in the graduation of the first
high school pupils on the Western
Slope in June, 1889. The class con-
sisted of two pupils, Jacob Cowen of
Hotchkiss and Adah McMurray of
Delta.
The outstanding tragedies of the
county were two. The first occurred
in the summer of 1898, when the
Farmers and Merchants Bank was
robbed by. the McCarty men. and A.
l.. Blatchley, cashier. was murdered.
A. A. Wolbert was assistant cashier
at the time and witnessed the murder
The shots aroused the town and as
the men on horseback raced for the
Gunnison river bridge, Ray Simpson.
fine shot, killed two of them. The
third made his escape, though a posse
of men secured the hills for him. The
men had laid their plans carefully.
working their way through the rougl
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

The Fred f. Willis ranch this year
cultivated As acres of land, OF which
II acres planted to wheat Will yield
80 bushels per acre. five acres in
oats will yield 60 bushels per acre.
five acres in potatoes will yield $50
sacks. four acres in beets yielding
10 tons, Is acres in alfalfa yielding
as tons, one acre OF green beans
yielding three tons which brought
$50 per ton at place for Delta can
ming factory.
The Delta independent., 1921-09-23

Have you reserved your copies OK
the big Harvest Number Of the Inde-
pendent? It is handsome souvenir
and you will be surprised to learn OF
the advantages all about you The
price is 10 cents.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
FAREWELL LUNCHEON
FOR MISS ROBERTSON

The women's morning class at the
Y. NJ. C.. A. on Wednesday,, gave q
farewell luncheon for Miss Helen
Robertson, who has resigned her
duties as physical director of the wo-
mems and girls classes at the Y. M.
c.. A. Miss Robertson concluded her
duties yesterday and the class pre-
scented her with a bar pin or green
gold set with saphires in rememp-
rance and appreciation OF her WORK
with them during the past eight
months. Miss Margaret Reichardt,
who has been assisting Miss Robert
son in the evenings will assume an!
of the duties on Wednesday, June g..
The luncheon was catered in the
auditorium of the building by Mrs.
Iver Larsen, around tables most at
tractively set and decorated with
beautiful bouquets of red n white
peonies and roses. Miss Laura Brod-
head was the POSTMASTER and MISS
| Robertson answered her toasts with
appropriate responses. The delicious
menu consisted of fruit cocktail
chicken croquets. mashed potatoes
peas with cream sauce, pickles. cell
| cry, radishes, hot biscuit jelly. Ice
cream and coffee.
The morning class is n of the
best classes at the "Y" on Wednes-
days and their physical improvement
| since the opening of the Y in Oc-
tober is remarkable.
Those present at the luncheon
| yesterday were Miss Helen Robert
son. Miss Laura Brodhead, Mrs.
| Jeanne Howell, Mrs. William Dun
ham. Mrs. Arthur Stern, Mrs. Harry
Golenbock. Mrs. Max Fucker, Mrs.
Leo Goldberger. Mrs. Coyen. Mrs.
Robert McNitt, Mrs. Charles Thomp-
son. Mrs. William Pemberton, Mrs.
Francis Seaman, Mrs. Atkinson. Mrs.
Arthur Durham, Mrs. Harry Water
Dor, Mrs. Thomas, Miss Helen NJ.
Grannis. Mrs. Walter H. War;, Mrs
| Schuyler Pew. Mrs. G. w. Fithian,
Mrs. Samuel Cutler, Mrs. Vogel, Miss
Lola Compton. Mrs. Martin Meinzer.
Mrs. S. Rubenstein and Mrs. Jesse
m
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
CARD PARTY TONIGHT
AT YACHT CLUB

Many people of the city are look
ing forward to attending the card
party to be given under the auspices
of the Raritan Yacht Club Auxiliary
tonight il the assembly hall of the
club in Water street. 1t is very sell
dom that the members of the aux
iliary give their husbands and other
guests, the opportunity to enjoy their
weekly parties at the club but the
few evening parties that have taken
place in the assembly hall have been
most pleasant occasions. In addi-
ton to the usual games of bridge
and five hundred, pinochle will be
one of the games in which some OF
the lovely prizes, secured for the
OCCASION, will be awarded. Tables
have been arranged to accommodate
a large crowd and the committee
has prepared delicious refreshments
to conclude the evening. Mrs. Fred
Schulze, as chairman, is assisted by
a competent committee n the ar
rangements and tickets may be pro-
cured at the door tonight by those
who anticipate attending.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
SCHOOL EXHIBIT HELD
TODAY AT WOODBRIDGE

WOODBRIDGE, May 26.-An ex-
hibition of the work done by the
pupils of the township in manual
training, drawing, basketry n
sewing is being held in the gymna-
SUM of the Barron Avenue School.
The exhibition started yesterday and
will be open afternoons and evenings
today and tomorrow. From 4 to
$3.50 in the afternoons and from
1880 to 9 in the evenings.
The parents and friends of the
pupils are urged to visit the exhibit
ton as the children worked very
hard to have their work of sufficient
merit to be placed on exhibition.
The next school event will be the
County Field Day to be held on Nell
son Field. at New Brunswick on
June a.. The various schools in the
township are entered in the compel
tive events.
The Township Field Day to be
held on Tuesday, June 81, is more
in the form of an exhibition as 1t
is not a competitive affair. Further
details of this event will appear
later,
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
NATIONAL POLICY TO
MEET NEW CONDITIONS
fBy The Associated Press.1

ATLANTIC CITY. May 26-De-
velopment of a national policy to
meet new conditions of foreign trade
and finance was urged by Eugene
Meyer, managing director of the
War Finance Corporation in ar ad-
dress before the Pennsylvania Bank
ers Association. Such a policy must
be one which the people must I'M
derstand and support and broad
enough to indicate direction for
American industry and commerce.
1t must be honest and generous
toward others, but must protect
American rights and American pur-
poses. 1t cannot be narrowly sell
fish and succeed. Not only do we
need to develop policies. but we
need to create organizations to car
nv them out. Though we do not in
tend to initiate European methods,
their pre-war financial structures
offers one suggestion which l con-
slider of immediate and permanent
value to our reconstruction pro-
gram. I refer to establishment in
American financial centers of prop
erly constructed public markets for
sound securities of foreign countries
either governmental or in foreign
terms"
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
SMITH, WELL KNOWN
4. CHARACTER HERE, DIES

4 Frank Smith, q well known char
Acter about the city, was found dead
in bed at 308 High street, about 2:50
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Smith,
who had been taking care of the
apartment of Mr.. and Mrs. William
Ward where he died, had not been
feeling well for the past week and
had been under the care of a ply
stefan. He was able to be about.
When Miss Grace Sheppard, of 1914
Front street, went to the house yes
terday to make up the bed and to
clean up she found Smith still in
bed. She attempted to rouse him
and when he failed to answer she
notified the police.
< Lieutenant William Calvin de-
tailed Patrolmen Koyen and Cloo-
ney to the house, where they found
him dead in bed. Coroner Hanson.
was notified and he gave Undertake
err Thomas +. Burke permission to
remove the body to his morgue.
Smith val sixty-four years old
and had resided in this city for a
number of years. He resided in
Front street. He has a sister in
Brooklyn and a nephew on the
New York police force. Arrange
ments for the funeral are being
completed. 1t will be held Satur-
day morning from Burke's chapel
followed by O. solemn requiem mass
At st. Mary's church. Interment will
he IN st. Mary's cemetery.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
MARKET CASE
To Be HEARD
Claim Monmouth HuckSters
Were Selling as Farmers
in the Public Market Here

The case of two Monmouth coun-
ty men who sell in the local public
market as farmers. and who are said
to be hucksters by members of the
local huckster's Association, will be
heard before Recorder Harold e.
Pickersgill next Tuesday morning.
Both sides were scheduled to be
heard this morning, but the Mon
mouth county men arrived too late,
and it was decided by David Wi
lentz, representing the local side of
the case Recorder Harold F.. Pick
ersgill and a Freehold lawyer rep
~resenting the Monmouth county
men, to hold the hearing on Tues
day morning.
The local huckster's association,
Chamber of Commerce, Superinten-
dent of the Public Market Henry
loft and the police are co-operat-
ing in an effort to prevent out-of-
town hucksters from coming into
this city and selling their goods as
farmers. 1t is claimed by the local
hucksters that a number of men
who occupy stands in the section of
thy public market assigned to
fsfmers, purchase their goods In
Hew York and elsewhere like the
focal hucksters, and do not grow
products themselves. A number
of arrests have been made in these
cases to date.
Lieutenant Detective John Huff
and l.. Jaffe, representative OF the
local hucksters association were in
Monmouth county yesterday inves-
,tigating the case.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
w, C. A. CAFETERIA
ADDS TO FUND

Proceeds at the Y. w. c. A. cafe
terra yesterday were necessarily
limited at the regular luncheon of
yesterday but nevertheless the COM
mittee took in $40 before the con-
clusion of the evening classes to add
to the memorial fund. The dona-
tons were splendid and the COM
mittee are grateful for the manner
in which the women so generously
respond to all requests.
Donations of yesterday follow:
Mrs. Wilson, cake; Mrs. Howard
Brown, cake; Miss Clara Gill, cake:
Mrs. John Biting, salad; Miss Mil
bred Hart, tomatoes and cheese;
Mrs. liver Larsen, potatoes, coffee,
sugar. butter and eggs, lettuce. to-
matoes, pickles and rolls: Miss II.
NJ. Grannis. soup, beans. salad
dressing; Mrs. w. II. Fraser, cake;
Mrs. Marcy Michaels, candy; Mrs.
David Preacher, cake; Mrs. Robert
McHose, cake; Mrs. Emil Stremlau,
pie; Mrs. Meade, pie. and Miss NJ.
P. Meade, fudge.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
REV. AND MRS. NIELSEN
SAY FAREWELL To FRIENDS

Rev. Ole Nielsen. pastor OF the
Danish Methodist Episcopal
church at Madison avenue and JEFF
ferson street, for the past eight
years and a half, who sails for CO.
penhagen, Denmark. tomorrow, bid
farewell to all his friends-and men,
bers of the congregation In the city
Yesterday. He with his wife vent
from here to Brooklyn to remain
with friends until tomorrow. when
they will sail on the steamer
Stavangerfjord, for Denmark.
Rev. Mr.. Nielsen goes to accept
a charge from Bishop Anton Bast
in the Copenhagen area of the Dan
-ish conference that includes Nor
way, Sweden and Denmark. A fare
well reception was rendered by the
congregation and members OF the
church to Rev. and Mrs. Nielsen last
week, when the church was crowd
ed with members and friends OF the
church to bid them God speed on
their Journey overseas.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
HOME FOR AGED PLANS
FOOD SALE JUNE a

The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Home
for the Aged made preparations for
a food sale to be held on Saturday
afternoon, June 4, yesterday after
noon at their meeting at the home OF
Mrs. william Walters in water
street. Mrs. V. c. Christoffersen was
appointed chairman and the date
and arrangements will be announced
later. Mrs. Cyril Arundel announced
$4,000 as the proceeds of her recenl
card party given for the Home :
benefit and Mrs. eugene Dieterly
nrocceds of S1S5 from the recent
rummage sale. The appointment oil
Mrs. George Hadden as chairman OF
the publicity committee concluded
the afternoons business. Next month
the auxiliary will be entertained a.
the home OF Mrs. Lavinia RANKIN
73 Center street.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26

MRS. MAGUIRE'S PUPILS
GIVE PLEASING RECITAL

The pupils of Mrs. Fred s.
Mcguire gave a piano recital at her
studio in State street last night and
the program presented, in which
each and every pupil took part, was
thoroughly enjoyed by the parents
and other guests who attended, do
ing credit to both teacher and pupil.
The program follows:
Chorus 800. Ortiz
Junior Pupils
America blehl
Esther Jaffe, Diana Jaffe
Waltz Spencer
Mary Murray
Charles Buchanan
(a) Starlight Waltz ..Brainard
(b) Sleeping Doll .Oestom
Ethel Roth
Cabaletta LACK
Emma Avchen
Dolls Dream ........... Oestom
Sara Siskind
Waltz spencer
Eleanor Goldman
Pearl Waltz Sange
Gussie Chesansky
La Fontaine Bonn
iii ouIllSOh
Brownies Jubilee Spencer
Stella Roth
Part 2
japanese Dance Baker
Esther Jaffe. Sara Siskind,
Anna Samson
NOcturne .......... ClOy
Diana Jaffe
Narcissis Nevin
Nettie Goldman
Stella Roth
Flower Song LANCE
Ida Bodine
Dance of the Demons
Regina Goldberger, Nettie Goldman
Gypsy Dance ............ Lichner
Esther Jaffe
Saratoga Gallop ...-...... wilson
Regina Goldberger
(a) Rocco ........... Alletter
CD Arrogonaise .......... Thome
Rose Buchanan
March Meyerbeer
Ida Bodine, Anna Samson
Chorus Billiard
Junior Pupils
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
ASSAULT AND BATTERY
CASE Is DROPPED

The assault and battery complaint
sworn out by Joseph Galaida. pro-
prietor of an establishment at 632
Amboy avenue, yesterday morning
against Louis Mortenson, of 552
Hall avenue, and his father. Neils
Mortenson, of 63S Amboy avenue,
was withdrawn by the complainant
later in the day. The defendants
were placed under arrest by Officers
Bachman and Koyen yesterday
morning shortly after the COM
plant had been drawn.
Louis Mortenson was the COM
plainant witness against Joseph
Galaida in a recent liquor violation
case. which was thrown out of court,
when it was proven that the action
of the witness, was prompted
through spite. Mortenson was a
tenant in Galaida's house, and after
he failed to pay rent for four months
he was ordered out.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-26
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
TO HAVE PARTY

Each year the congregation of the
First Presbyterian church cele-
brates it's birthday at a party. given
under the auspices of the Ladies'
Society in the chapel on Rector
street. This year the party will
take place tomorrow night and as
usual the admission will be as many
pennies as each guest is years old.
The proceeds will be put towards the
sum of $500, which the society has
pledged as it's share in the church
mortgage.
Mrs. J. C. Divine and Mrs. George
Hadden have arranged an entertain
ing program which includes a short
play to be presented by three
members of the Girls Club and sew
eral varied musical numbers. Re-
freshments and a party time will
| follow in conclusion of the promis-
ingly delightful evening. Invitations
are out but everyone is invited
whether receiving an invitation or
not.
The program Of entertainment
follows:
One Act Play-"Who Are your
Miss Alberta Williams, Miss
Claire Pfeiffer, Miss Doris Willsey
Piano DuetAWinifred Sturgis, Lucy
Bernard.
Piano 0olo-Miss Dorothy MADDEN
Vocal Duet-Miss Lillian Sprague,
Miss Mabel Brown of Brooklyn.