******** Homestead Origins

Haystack Mountain Ranch - Photographs brought home

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:11:00 +0000

The Arbuthnot family lived at a ranch on the south side of Haystack Mountain, Boulder County, Colorado. They lived there from 1859 to 1924. Children who were born here lived on farms on the same road until many years later. Haystack Mountain was home.

Of the six children that were born here at Haystack, four had relocated as adults to California. I recently took a trip to visit their descendants. While there, I was able to share the family history and retrieve photographs taken at Haystack. Here are some of those photos...

Home of William and Mary (Bader) Arbuthnot at the Haystack Mountain Ranch.

William Arbuthnot, son of Carson and Frances (Jones) Arbuthnot
Born August 30, 1835 in Pine Township, Allegheny County, Penn.
Died April 12, 1882 from being kicked by a yearling when branding it at the barn at Haystack Mountain.
This photo is on tin and then painted.

Mary (Bader) Arbuthnot, daughter of John George and Mary (Messinger) Bader.
Born June 17, 1848 Baden-Baden, Germany
Died June 22, 1923 at Haystack Mountain, Boulder County, Colorado
This photo is on tin and then painted.

Haystack Mountain Ranch in winter around 1900.
Home of the Arbuthnot family.
Born here were Frederick 1869, William 1871, George 1875,
Melissa 1876, Stella 1878, and Sidney 1880.

Many thanks go out to Yvonne, Charlotte, Marti, Nancy, and Gordon for sharing your family stories with me.

Children of William and Mary's in 1882.

Lois Waisbrooker, One of Boulder's first feminists

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:30:00 +0000

In the 1870 U. S. Census on page three, household 17, in Boulder City, Colorado Territory is listed Carson Arbuthnot and his wife Frances. Carson ten years earlier had been sheriff in the Gold Hill Mining District, his wife was in Salt Creek, Tama County, Iowa at the time. By 1870, they had been reunited and living together in Boulder. Here is a portion of the U.S. Census where they appear...

Page 3, 1870 US Census for Boulder City, Colorado Territory

What is very interesting about this census are the others who are living with Carson and Franny Arbuthnot. Two men, Scott Thomas, a carpenter and farmer, William Rinker a shoe-maker. And a woman, a lecturer, Lois Weisbroker. None are members of the Arbuthnot family.

I was recently contacted by a person who is researching a 19th century feminist who's name is Lois Waisbrooker. He believes that the woman living with the Arbuthnot couple is the same woman as the one he is researching. Given that the census taker misspelled Arbuthnot as Arbuttmot - I believe that this researcher is correct and the correct spelling for this woman in this household is Lois Waisbrooker.

In the 1870's she appeared before audiences in Denver for several lectures that were announced in the Rocky Mountain News. These appearances coincide with the time period that the census was taken.

Lois Waisbrooker was not only a speaker, but an author who wrote extensively on sex, marriage, birth control, women's rights, and related issues. She was a radical of her time, an anarchist and spiritualist. She was one of Boulder's first feminists who worked tirelessly for the betterment of women. She is best known for her 1893 publication A Sex Revolution. Ms. Waisbrooker was born Adeline Eliza Nichols in upstate New York in 1926.

One wonders, what was her relationship to the Arbuthnots? Did her presence in the Arbuthnot home have any bearing on Franny's leaving to return to Iowa later that year where she died? Were any characters in her book, Mayweed Blossoms, that was published in 1871, have any relationship to those whom she met in Boulder? (Could she have been having a relationship with any of the other men in this household?) Given that her birth name was Nichols, was she related to any of Boulder's other Nichols as there were many in Boulder since it's beginnings in February of 1859, all of whom were either friends or aquaintcients of Carson Arbuthnot. So many questions and again, one may never know the answers.

More information on Lois Waisbrooker.

Carson W. Arbuthnot in the Census

1882 - William and Mary Arbuthnot Family of Haystack Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:43:00 +0000

At the southern base of Haystack Mountain, in Boulder County, Colorado was the Haystack Mountain Ranch. It was established by William Arbuthnot and in 1869 he married his neighbor, Mary Elizabeth Bader in March of 1869. In April of 1882, William was kicked in the chest by a yearling horse when he was branding it with his brand. A week later, he died from this injury leaving his wife and their six children to continue on at the ranch.

Through the generosity of distant cousins in California, I have recently returned from a trip to gather photos and documentation of the Arbuthnot Family. After the children who were born and raised at Haystack Mountain, four of those six children relocated to California. Many of their descendents I have not met before, but thanks to Cousin Yvonne and the family reunion that she organized, I was able to reconnect with these family members - all descendents of the Brammeier-Arbuthnot family. I am very grateful for these folks who have saved the old letters, documents and photos. They have given me a years worth of research. The following are some of the photos that I scanned while in California.

These photos are of Mary and her children - the family at Haystack Mountain in Boulder County, Colorado - from the year that William had died, 1882.

William Carson (Left) Fredrick Wilhelm (Right)
Fred is the eldest child, born 1869 at Haystack Mountain

Melissa Leona (Left), Stella May (Middle), George John (Right)

Sidney Arthur who was only two years old when his father died.
In the arms of his mother Mary Elizabeth Bader Arbuthnot

Of these six children, Fred was the only one who stayed on at his Niwot farm, retiring in Boulder in 1944. William relocated for a while in Montana and later returned to Boulder. Melissa was the first to move to the L.A. area of California with her oil man husband, "Jack" Walker, George and wife Nancy Brammeier moved to the Modesto area in 1908 after selling his farm to Nels Anderson the year before. Stella and Sidney waited until their mother died at Haystack and moved to be close to their brother George in 1924.

Family Tree of William and Mary Bader Arbuthnot

Mary Bader Arbuthnot's story

Great-Grandma's home in Boulder 1902-1915

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Mary Elizabeth [Bader] Arbuthnot in front of her home in Boulder, CO.

I was very curious when I was given this photo. I'd never seen it before. I was told that my Great-grandmother had always lived at Haystack Mountain since marrying my Great-grandfather, William Arbuthnot in 1869. I looked in the old directories and discovered that at this address lived Mary, listed as a widow along with her daughter Stella, listed as a dressmaker. So I headed to the Boulder County Records department and looked up the records of my Great-grandmother's purchases. I found a purchase by her and her son, William C. Arbuthnot in 1902 and a sale in 1915 for the same property. The address is not on these documents, but a legal description is in the document.

Mary's purchase of two lots in Boulder, CO in 1902

Mary purchased two lots 14 and 15, in block 15 of the Maxwell addition of Boulder. She purchased the property with her son for $1,700.

Sale of the same property to the City of Boulder

The property was sold in 1915 for $100 to the City of Boulder. At this time, William had moved to Montana and Mary had to get his power of attorney from there in order to make the sale. I have no idea why she had to sell the property to the city and at such a loss. Again, answers in my research only lead to more questions.

And another question remained. Is this really the same property that is in the photograph. Without an address on the deed, how would I know? I went to the Carnegie Library for Local History in Boulder and looked up the tax records.

Photograph from the Boulder Tax Records

The tax records gave me the proof I needed in the photograph (above) that was attached to the tax record. Lot 14-15, Block 15 of the Maxwell addition is the same as the address on the photograph with Mary. She did live in the city of Boulder if only for a short time.

That's not the end to the story. This address sounded very familiar to me. I think I've been in this house before. I asked a friend of mine if he owned this home. And sure enough - Otto owned this home in the 1970's when I was a folk dancer. We danced many a late night in this home, we sang songs and shared stories. (By now, I'm pinching myself, this is amazing - of all the homes in Boulder that I have been in, I have actually been in my Great-grandmother's home.) Otto and I shared a phone call and he answered my questions about this house. The home was said to have been moved from Left Hand. This makes me think of another photo. Could this have been the house when it was out at Haystack Mountain? (If you look closely on the right side of the photo, you can see Haystack in the background.) Some things are different in the photo, but there are many similarities too.

Could this be the same home that was moved into Boulder?
Unknown family - more research needs to be done to identify them.

And the story doesn't stop there...

Otto shared with me that when he was living there, he found a portrait of a woman in an old picture frame. It was face down in the dust. He cleaned it and had the frame refinished. It's a very old charcoal drawing. A bit spooky looking. Who is this woman? Could she have been a member of Mary's Bader family? Will we be able to identify who she is? This house story has turned into the story of this woman. One we may never know, but cherish just the same.

Found in a shed at the Concord property.
Who could she be?

Climbing Long's Peak in the 1920's

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:54:00 +0000

In the 1920's, this Niwot family and friends loved going on hikes in the mountains just as much as we do today. They didn't have the high tech gear that we have, yet they found ways to make their outings comfortable. On this trip, the hikers from Niwot, Colorado went up to Peace Valley and stayed in a cabin there. Mrs. Robinson and her husband owned and rented cabins there and welcomed their guests.

L to R: Julian Brammeier, Mrs. Travis or Mrs. Robinson (we believe Robinson), Alice Allen sitting on the porch, Helen Knaus and Floyd Dehn arm in arm, Paul Dehn and Pauline Dehn

Julian and Pauline are brother and sister. Pauline is the mother of Floyd and Paul. The boy's father, Charlie Dehn, is snapping the photo. We believe this photo was taken sometime before 1926 as Alice Allen and Paul Dehn were married that year. The names have been written on the back of the photo and had these two been married at this time, it probably would have said, Mrs. F. Dehn instead of Alice Allen.

Floyd was married in 1928 for a very brief while, but the bride was not Helen (that you see him with here). One wonders if he broke Helen's heart.

If you look closely at the photo above, Pauline and Helen are ready to go with tin cups. Helen's cup is around her neck and Pauline's around her waist.

L to R: Charlie Dehn, Floyd Dehn, Helen Knaus, Alice Allen, Pauline Dehn, Mrs. Travis (but this may be Mrs. Robinson as both names are on the back of one photo), Julian Brammeier
Camping at Long's Peak

The photo above was taken by Paul Dehn. Mr. Robinson worked as a fire scout, spending his day or night in tall log built fire towers. He was ever on the look out for fires that needed immediate attention. This was his summer job, in the winter, when the cabins were closed down for the season, the Robinson family lived in Arkansas where he was a foreman for an oil company.

Look closely at the equipment that they took with them on their hike, bed rolls, tin pail and cups, hats, and Pauline has her umbrella. Today with our digital cameras, it is very easy to snap away taking many, many photos. But back in this day, a roll of film was expensive and limited to 12 photos to a roll. And then you had to pay for the processing of the film too. If you wanted more than one copy of a photo, you had to pay more for the copies. Photography was a much more expensive hobby then than it is today. (Relatively speaking that is.)

Compared to today and our photo taking habits, photos were snapped very sparingly. Yet no matter what year that a photo was taken, they are always precious. These photos are very precious to me, they are from the collection of Inez Arbuthnot Twa. They were probably sent to her by one of the hikers, either Julian - her Uncle, or Pauline - her Aunt.

Pauline (Brammeier) Dehn on the way up Long's Peak.

I wonder if Pauline had to use her umbrella up on Long's Peak.

Inez Arbuthnot in California, 1929

Inez lived in California. These camping photos are part of her collection of family photos. She is the eldest daughter of Nancy Brammeier (Pauline and Julian's sister) and Geroge Arbuthnot, they moved to California from their home on Niwot Road to Manteca, California in 1908. In California, Inez's mother had died in childbirth in 1912.

Now for the fourth and last photo from this hiking/camping trip...

Boulder Canyon in 1874

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:37:00 +0000

Engraving of the Boulder Canyon, Colorado Territory, as it appeared in 1874.

Boulder Canyon
From the book titled Picturesque America by W. C. Bryant
published by D. Appleton & Co. in 1874.

At the time this photo was taken, there were 4 toll gates that one had to pass through in order to arrive at Ward. There were many places where one had to cross over the river, making this an extremely difficult route to the mining camps. Going up Left Hand Canyon to Ward and Gold, while still treacherous, was a much easier and preferred route in 1874. Tolls were also collected up Left hand. When wet and muddy, Lick Skillet road (County Highway 89 today) going into Gold Hill from Left Hand can be as slick as a well greased cast iron skillet. Yet Left Hand Canyon was easier than Boulder Canyon for travel in the early days.

News from NiWot - January 12, 1905

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:43:00 +0000

On the same page as the news from Haystack in Boulder County's Rebpublican news paper, "The People's Paper", is the news from Niwot (sometimes spelled NiWot). Here is this weeks publication from the winter in 1905.

The Boulder County Times
Vol. VIII, No. 413
Thursday, Jan. 12, 1905

NIWOT
-- Times Correspondence

Charles Goss and wife of Hygiene, were visiting in NiWot last Sunday.
  Mrs. Barbara Platt is visiting with her sister, Mrs. C. Blanton.
  Peter Anson and wife were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Anson Sunday.
  Mr. Nichols is moving to the Lind place, which he recently purchased.
  The Royal Neighbors of america, Sunshine Camp No. 3556, celebrated their first anniversary last Thursday night. The Oracle, Mrs. Anna Johnson, stated that this camp started with a charter membership of 19 and had increased to 40 members and had taken in over $100, most of which had been used for the benefit of the camp. The play, "How the Husband Got Even," was greatly enjoyed by all present.
  Mr. Nesmith and family have moved north of Greeley. Their many friends regret their departure.
  The Seventh Day Adventist will hold their quarterly meeting at Niwot hall next Sunday, January 14th. Elder Afdehar is expected to have charge of the services. A cordial invitation is extended to all.
  Fred Knaus interviewed the M. W. A. goat last saturday night.
  Election of officers at Left Hand Grange next Saturday night. Thomas Richart was a Denver visitor Monday.

On this same page is an advertisement titled To Cure a Cold in One Day. It reads:

Take LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE tablets. All druggists refund the money if it fails to cure. E. W. Grove's signature on each box. 25[cents].

One wonders if many druggists refunded lots of money, as a cure for colds hasn't been found yet.

Who or what is the "M. W. A. goat"?

And one wonders, how does a husband get even? Sounds like a fun play.

News from Haystack, Jan. 12, 1905

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:39:00 +0000

I really should save these posts and publish them on the anniversary of the date when they were published. But I can't wait, this stuff is just too good to not share when I have it in my hands right now. So let's dive right into the article...

The Boulder County Times
Vol. VIII, no. 413
Thursday, Jan. 12, 1905

Haystack

-- Times Correspondence

  If the TIMES wanted to please it's readers the change in form did it.
  Haystack is rather quiet this week. Everybody is gone, either to Denver to attend the poultry show and State Grange meeting, or else out hunting jacks.
  The Jain family took dinner with Perry's Sunday evening.
  Mr. Knutson has purchased and will locate on the farm formerly owned by Collins, the implement man.
  Elbert Coan has been placed in the Boulder sanitarium, where he can have constant attention.
  The Crocker's will soon move from town to their ranch.
  B. C. Deeter went to Denver on Monday to consult Dr. Chase, the oculist.
  We heard that the Royal Neighbors had a fine time at their blowout, but being only a common neighbor we had to stay hungry.
  The Left Hand Improvement society had a very interesting meeting last Saturday. Next meeting at the Bader school house Saturday, January 21st at 8:00p. m. Everybody invited.
  C. D. Johnson called on Andy Lindberg Monday.
  Lawyer Collins of Boulder, visited Brammeiers last week.
  Frank Neiheisel brought a party from Boulder in a buzz-wagon to hunt Brer Rabbit. People auto know enough to hunt on foot.
  J. B. Allen and Eric Erickson were in Boulder during the week looking after affairs of the Left Hand Ditch Co.
  L. D. Caywood and sons took in the Beasley settlement last ?Sunday.
  Jim Gould's new brick residence is nearing completion
  Miss Edith Culver entertained Miss Winnie Johnson Sunday.

Highlights of this article...

When they say they are out "hunting jacks" I'm sure they mean jack rabbits and not men by the name of Jack.
What is a "buzz-wagon"? I googled it, but no luck although some interesting photos did come up.
I wonder where Mr. Gould's new brick home was located and if he was married at the time.
And it sure seems like Miss Edith Culver entertains Miss Willie Johnson a lot - they must be very good friends.

Other articles from the Boulder County Times:
Thursday, Sept. 15, 1904
Janurary, 12, 1905 - News from Niwot

Haystack Hotel, Sept 15, 1904

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Most of the old newspapers use to be owned or sponsored by a political party. In Boulder, The Boulder County Times was the Republican paper. At the Carnegie Branch Library for Local History in Boulder, Colorado, I found a couple of old editions that have news from various regions around Boulder. In two editions there was news from Haystack. In the article was an item that is now leading me to more research...

"Dr. C. F. Merrill of Gresham, is stopping at the Haystack hotel."

Now I'm wondering where was this Haystack Hotel that Dr. Merrill visited? Or was this simply an inside joke between the reporter and the neighbors of the area. Could my family have rented out some rooms to friends who traveled from afar and called their service the Haystack hotel? Or could this have been a real business that was located near Haystack Mountain?

My father had told me that his Uncle Sid (Sidney Arthur Arbuthnot) was always coming up with "hair-brained ideas" for making money so he could get out of farming. In some other research, years ago, not related to my family, a friend had discovered that there was a time when mule rides were offered up Haystack Mountain to tourists - for a fee. When we questioned my dad about this, he explained that Sid had attended a Business School in Boulder and was full of ideas for ways to make money. And he said that "this was one of Sid's plans that didn't pan out." I wonder if this hotel was one of Sids ideas.

There are some other interesting tid-bits in this article too. I love the vision of school children having their picnic on the slopes of Haystack.

Here is the entire article, it begins with a poem:

Boulder County Times
(8th) Eigth year, Whole Number 396
Thursday, September 15, 1904

Haystack
-- Times Correspondence

While de moon am shinin' bright

I am always out at night,

An' I prowl an' hunt an' scratch

To fin' a good ol' mellum patch

Chicken meat am good an' sweet;

Pork chops fried am hard to beat,

But now's de tme, I'm tellin'

Nuffin's quite so good as mellum.

  The Beet Sugar company put in a screen on the beet dump so the farmers couldn't run in anything but the biggest rocks.
  Republican primaries were held at NiWot and Altona las Friday evening. Some one asked if G. O. P. stood for "good old pie?"
  Miss Maude Caywood has accepted a position with W. H. Laney at Boulder.
  School in District 40 opened on Monday with Miss Melissa Arbuthnot as teacher. She has the best wishes of everybody for a successful term.
  Miss Estella Gehrung is visiting at Grasham, Colorado
  Virginia Birdsall, of Berthoud, called on B. C. Deeter Sunday.
  Mrs. J. Brammeier was calling in Boulder during the week.
  Dr. C. F. Merrill of Gresham is stopping at the Haystack hotel.
  Mr. and Mrs. Sam Caywood, of New Windsor, are visiting at L. D. Caywood's.
  Mrs. J. B. Allen spent Sunday with Mrs. R. Boylan.
  One of Geo. Arbuthnot's horses ran into a barbed-wire fence and was seriously cut up.
  Nearly all Haystack went to Boulder Monday to attend the Republican convention, either as delicates or spectators.
  Misses Ollie and Winnie Johnson entertained Miss Bertie Keeler last Saturday.
  Everybody is on the trade these days. Can anyone tell what Geo Wright got for his mustache?
  J. B. Allen and R. E. Boyland came down from the reservoir for a couple of days. The report the work as progressing satisfactorily.
  There will be an interesting sermon at the Bader school house next Sunday evening and a large audience is looked for.
  S. A. Culver and family have been stopping at Crafton, Nebraska. They are in good health, and expect to be in St. Louis soon.
  Haystack neighborhood is busy shipping baled alfalfa to Texas. Our fine farm produce is always in demand.
  The Misses Clara Strock and Gertie Birdsall will attend the Prep school in Boulder this winter.
  Dr. Clark is quite happy on account of the cold - in other people's heads.
  To Thresh or not to thresh, that is the question that is perplexing the minds of the patient farmers.
  Mr. and Mrs. Max Allen called on Mrs. Allen's sister in Boulder last Saturday.
  The NiWot Sunday school held it's annual picnic on the slopes of Haystack mountain. The old hill rang with shouts and merry laughter of the young folks.
  Mr. John Nelson has been quite ill.
  Fred Arbuthnot sold poor old Riley to C. D. Johnson.
  Miss Emma Prock left Sunday for her home in Colorado Springs.
  Rev. Cornell, of Boulder, delivered a splendid sermon at the United Brethren church Sunday.

Mary Elizabeth Bader Arbuthnot, Born June 17, 1848

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:18:00 +0000

In 1848, on this day in Baden-Baden, Germany, Mary Elizabeth Bader was born to Mary [Messinger] and Johann Georges Bader (known as "George" Bader). Mary married William Arbuthnot on March 14, 1869. They made their home on the south side of Haystack Mountain in Boulder County, Colorado where William had arrived in 1859. Mary's family arrived in 1866 and established the Bader home on the north west side of Haystack Mountain. Mary and William are buried in the Hygiene Cemetery, Boulder County, Colorado. She purchased Haystack Mountain on November 19, 1887 from the federal government and paid $80 for the 80 acres, adding to her husbands original 160 acres. Mary was known by her neighbors as being a very strong woman who "conducted business like a man". Mary lived at Haystack Mountain from 1867 until her death in 1923. Her children, Stella and Sidney who cared for her in her elder years, sold the property the following year.

Happy 163rd Birthday Mary!

Front Row: George, Mary [Bader], Stella
Back row: Melissa, Sidney, William, Fred, Margie [Coe]
The Bader-Arbuthnot Family, circa 1890

Haystack Mountain Ranch in winter
Mary & Williams home is on the right in the trees.
The horses are at Left Hand creek.
Only one barn, on the left, still stands today.

Mary Elizabeth Bader Arbuthnot's Obituary

Esther Arbuthnot Newton & Martha Arbuthnot Byram

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:29:00 +0000

When visiting with a cousin, Lois, she shared with me some photos that her mother had collected. In her collection was a photo of two sisters of Carson W. Arbuthnot. It's good to now know what they look like, even if it was when they were elderly. The exact date and place of this photo is unknown. If you are related to either of these women, I'd love to hear from you.

Martha "Mattie" Arbuthnot Byram and Esther Louise Arbuthnot Newton

Martha was born in Pine Township, Allegehney County, Pennsylvania on May 5, 1843

Esther was born in the same place on September 6, 1830 to Carson & Frannie [Jones] Arbuthnot. She was their eldest child and Mattie was their sixth of nine children.

Martha married Joseph Nelson Byram, Sr. Who served in the Civil War with the 59th Illinois Infantry.

Esther married Stephen Newton, who had come with Carson to Gold Hill and is in the 1860 Census there. He later went back to Iowa where he joined up as a Union soldier.

Oh the stories these women could share!

Arbuthnot Family Tree

How Pioneers got their land

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Most every Sunday, my family took a drive into the mountains west of our home town of Boulder, Colorado. Often when we came home from the north, my dad would drive by the areas where his Great-grandfather, Grandfather, and Father once lived. So many times I heard him point to Haystack Mountain along Niwot Road and tell me that this was our family's homestead, acquiring the land from the United States Government.

When I wrote to the National Archives, requesting the information for this patch of land, I found out that this was not the case. William Arbuthnot did own the land that is now the Haystack Mountain Golf Course. But he did not acquire his land through the "Homestead Act of 1862" that required one to claim the land, build a home and farm the land for five years before one could acquire the deed. William Arbuthnot acquired his land through the Bounty Land Warrant Act of 1855 by paying $200 (plus any other fees). The actual Haystack Mountain was purchased by his wife, Mary Elizabeth [Bader] Arbuthnot, paying cash through the "Cash Act of 1820". This lead me to research all the ways that land was once acquired from the federal government. These are...

Revolutionary War Bounty Land Warrants
War of 1812 Bounty Land Warrants
Mexican War Bounty Land Warrants
Bounty Land Warrants under Acts of 1850, 1852 & 1855
Land (Cash) Act of 1820 (the ability to purchase public lands from 80 to 640 acres at $1.25 an acre. This Act ended the purchase of public lands on credit.)
Presumption Act of 1841
Donation Land Claim Act of 1850
Morrill Land Grant College Act of 1861
Homestead Act of 1862
Timber Culture Act of 1873
Desert Land Act of 1877

Not all states had land available to the pioneers, Colorado was one of the 30 states that did have land available to the pioneers. Also, land was granted to the Railroad companies by the federal government and they sold the land - another way in which the pioneers could acquire land.

And in Oklahoma, land was acquired through the Land Run, as illustrated in one of my favorite Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman movies, Far and Away.

Back to William Arbuthnot and his land...
In order to acquire land from the federal government, my Great-grandfather had to travel to the General Land Office in Denver by horseback with cash in hand. Land speculators would travel where there were many veterans who were young and often did not understand the value of the piece of paper, or "script," that awarded them public lands for their service. In this case, the script was most likely acquired in New Mexico. The land speculators would purchase the script often for $25, much less than it's real value of $200 for 160 acres of land. The land speculator would arrive at the land office in Denver and sell the scripts to those who showed up to acquire land. The soldier's name (who was awarded the script) would be entered onto the land patent paper of the person purchasing the land. On my Great-grandfather's patent, document no. 104725, is the name of German Fajardo. He was a private in "Captain Gonzale's company, New Mexican Volunteers, Navajo Indian War."

On the other side of the road, on the south side of Niwot Road, is where William Arbuthnot did homestead. William "proofed up" in 1872, his application is document no. 250. I'm wondering if that means it was the 250th application that was taken at the Denver Land Office. I'm also wondering if this could have been where his father, Carson Arbuthnot, had started his homestead. I will just have to pay the $40 and get the copies of this file from the National Archives. So, we did homestead after all, just not at the mountain that dad would always point out.

My Great-great-grandfather, J. George Bader, acquired his land through the Morrill College Act, and the money that he paid for his land went to the Colorado A & M College which became the Colorado State University.

Pleasant View Grange no. 164 in 1933

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:29:00 +0000

There was once nearly 500 granges in Colorado and the countryside of Boulder County was dotted with granges. This article that appeared in the Boulder Daily Camera in 1933 is about the Pleasant View Grange. Today, the Pleasant View Grange still stands east of Boulder, Colorado.

Pleasant View Grange History
Boulder Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado
Friday, June 30, 1933

At the regular meeting of Pleasant View Grange no. 164, held June 10, 1933. Gladys Lumry, Mrs. O. C. Zingg and Mrs. Minnie Haworta and Victor Wetterbert were appointed to write a brief history of Pleasant View Grange and ask to have a copy placed in the box in the cornerstone of the new Boulder County Courthouse.

Pleasant View Grange was organized on May 1, 1908 by Moses Hoover, James M. Platt, and J. A. Newcomb, all now deceased.

The first Master was G. W. Wingard; secretary, S. I. Sright; Lecturer, Minnie Hyde. There were fifty charter members; Robert J. Altig, Mrs. Attig, William Anderson, C. C. Anderson, Jennie Anderson, C. B. Bailey, C. L. Davis, J. C. Fox, Mrs. Fox, P. J. Fox, Mrs. L. Garritson, C. K. Gregg, C. M. Hoover, S. R. Hayes, Mrs. Hayes, Norine Higman, Samuel Hanop, Frank, Oscar, and Thomas Hanop, Minnie Hyde, S. E. Lumry, Mrs. J. E. Lumry, Carrie, W. N. and Gladys Lumry, Edward Miller, Wm. Nelson, J. L. Osborn, Harry Orcine, Frank Orcine, E. L. Potter, Luther B. Shufelt, Grace Terry, Vera Terry, S. tingley, J. C. Young, Dottie Young, Mrs. Christine Wetterburg, N. J. Wetterberg, Victor, Alma and Alfred Wetterberg, G. W. Wingard, U. A. and Andrew Wingard, S. I. Wright, Mary Wright, C. Williams and E. J. Maris. The Grange meetings were held in the school house until the Grange hall was built in 1917-1918.

The Sliver Jubilee Anniversary was held April 29, 1933. John Morse, State Master; Rudolph Johnson, State Lecturer and Mr. Pritchard, State Overseer were present. Victor Wetterbert received a Silver Certificate for twenty-five years of continuous membership with the Grange.

The officers for the year 1933 are Master, S. Earl Lumry; Overseer, John Hendricks; Lecturer, Carl Travis; Steward, Gus Timken; Assistant Steward, W. V. Wilson; Chaplain, Bettie Golden; Treasurer, Victor Wetterberg; Secretary, Minnie J. Haworth; Gate Keeper, Martin Harding: Ceres, Fern Timken; Pomona, Anna Hagerman; Flora, Mrs. O. C. Zingg; Lady Assistant Steward, Ellen Travis; Musician, Doris Foote; Executive Committee, Farrand Boswell, H. S. Andrews, H. H. Haworth; Finance Committee, H. S. Andrew, E. A. Baker, C. E. Elder; Flower Committee, Ellen Travis, Edith Hendricks, Mrs. W. V. Wilson.

The membership at the present [1933] is about 80.

For more information click on the links below...

What is a Grange?

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Wilcox, Williamson, Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:09:00 +0000

A portion of the article is below. Click on the article title (below) for more Niwot pioneers.

Pioneers of Niwot, a Rich Agricultural Community
Boulder Daily Camera
Friday, June 30, 1933
(Written by Mrs. C. A. Lippencott, for twenty-five years a resident of the Niwot community, now residing at 620 Concord St., Boulder, Colorado)

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Mrs. W. C. Wilcox

Mrs. W. C. Wilcox a pioneer of Niwot still living was left a widow with a family of eight children, all girls to rear and provide for, and deserves much credit for her industry and faithfulness to her family. They are, Nora - Mrs. Robert Temperman of Longmont, May - Mrs. Laycook of Boulder, Maude - Mrs. Charley Goos of Hygiene, Berth- Mrs. Walter Witt of Sterling, Lottie - Mrs. Charles Dunkley of Portland, Ore., Rozella - Mrs. Earnest Whaley of Niwot, Clara - Mrs. George woodcock of Steam Boat Springs, Katie - Mrs. Elmer Allen, now deceased. Mrs. Wilcox makes her home among her children. Their work is of the greatest value and assistance to ther mother whom they relieve of much care and anxiety by the wise and capable manner in which she is provided for.

Will T. Wilson

Will T. Wilson, a prominent man of Niwot was for many years the station agent of the Colorado and Southern Rail Road. In later years assisted by his faithful wife, Delia Stockley Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are now in the mercantile business in Glendale, California.

Samuel W. Williamson

Samuel Williamson, an early settler in Niwot Vicinity came from Iowa in 1864, buying a farm 3 miles northeast of Niwot where he resided until his death a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson were the parents of eight children. Five still living, quincy, near Berthoud, Walter of Longmont, Enoch of Sterling, Lottie - Mrs. Ereck Ereckson of Niwot and Mrs. Shaw of Denver.

Mr. Fred Tracy now owns and operates the Williamson ranch.

Others

Other pioneers northeast of Niwot on Left Hand were Thomas Cavey and Daniel Tracy, Fred Tracy, a son lives on the old Tracy homestead.

This post concludes this 1933 article. Other pioneers in this article include William Arbuthnot, Sylvanus Budd, Mary Ereckson, Jerome Gould, Meles Jain, Eliza Bader Knaus, Thomas Kneale, Thomas Richart, John D. Steele. Click here for the beginning article and links to the other pioneers of Niwot.

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - John D. Steele

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:29:00 +0000

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

John D. Steele

John D. Steele, a pioneer west of Niwot on Left Hand came with his parents from Wisconsin in 1864. In 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Blevins, a native of Colorado and located on their present homestead which now consists of 565 acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Steele were born eight children, Merle, the first child died in infancy, the other children are as follows, Phoebe, Mrs. Roy Green, Andrew, Douglas, Evert, Alice, Ray and Jessie. Mr. and Mrs Steele are quite popular in the fraternal circles, especially the [Altona] Grange and Mr. Steele in the Modern Woodman and Odd Fellows. Mr. Steele for the past fifteen years has run a thrashing crew, thus being a decided help to all his neighbors and a popular man in his community.

Other pioneers in this article include William Arbuthnot, Sylvanus Budd, Mary Ereckson, Jerome Gould, Meles Jain, Eliza Bader Knaus, Thomas Kneale, Thomas Richart, John D. Steele, Mrs. W. C. Wilcox, and Samuel W. Williamson. Click here for the beginning article and links to the other pioneers of Niwot.

My understanding was that the Steele family arrived in Boulder County in 1866, a year after the Baders had arrived. John D. Steele was more commonly known as "J.D." and he was a baby when his parents set out from Wisconsin. His father had come out with other family in 1859 in search for gold, leaving his mother, Phoebe Anne [Evans] Steele with two small children back home in Wisconsin. J.D.'s father was in Gold Hill and found that he would make a good wage by making water wheels in Left Hand Canyon for the placer miners. With the opportunity for free land, J.D.'s father returned home to get his family. Phoebe ended up pregnant with J.D. and the family decided to wait until after the baby was born before heading out to Colorado Territory. On the trip here, Phoebe had become ill with "mountain fever" what we now know as typhoid fever. Baby J.D. was fed by dipping clean rags into the fresh milk from the cow they had brought with them. J. D. sucked the milk from the rag. His mother recovered, but when they arrived at Valmont, J.D.'s father had become ill with the wretched illness. Eleven days after they had arrived, his father died. Phoebe fulfilled her husbands dream by purchasing 160 acres from Charles Arbuthnot and homesteading an additional 160 acres. This was the first 320 acres of J. D.'s 565 acres.

Other articles about the Steele family...

Steele Family Tree - J.D.'s mother married James Arbuthnot after she was widowed.

In January of 1956, the Boulder Daily Camera published an article by Jewel Jenkins about John D. Steele, his family and his memories. This is an excellent article on the Steele family.

John D. Steele served as a Worthy Master at the Altona Grange, no. 127.

J. D. and Blanche Steele's son Andrew and his wife Doris (Allen) Steele
In our home in Boulder, 1957

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Thomas Kneale & Thomas Richart

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Thomas Kneale

Thomas Kneale was reared and educated on the Isle of Man, came to America in 1872 when a young man of twenty. He settled in Jefferson county where he engaged in the lumber business for twelve years. Spent three years in Wyoming in the live stock business. In 1888 he purchased a farm on 240 acres of rich productive land two miles east of Niwot with good substantial buildings, his place is one of the most attractive farms in Niwot vicinity. He was married to Miss Georgiania Hatfield of Shelbyville, Ill. In Denver, they had a family of ten children, but lost three in infancy, the others are Ethel, Mrs. Chide Carson of Erie, Irl Davis of Longmont, Albert residing on the Thomas Kneale ranch. Belle - the wife of Clarence Jesse of Niwot, Walter drowned in Six Mile reservoir when 24 years old, Thomas Arthur of Fort Collins, and Dora - Mrs. Swisher of Hotchkiss, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kneale, Sr. are now deceased.

Thomas Richart

Thomas Richart was reared and educated in Benton County, Iowa, and when almost twenty years old, came west to Colorado in the year of 1869. As there was then no railroads in the district he followed freighting for a number of years. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Mary Sheppard Gates, also a native of Iowa. the same year Mr. Richart pruchased a farm, one half mile southeast of Niwot.

Thruout his remaining days his attention was given to its further valuable farm property. To Mr. and Mrs. Richart were born six children. Thomas M., William L., and John, all now deseaced. Those living are Mary Alice, Mrs. Solomon Bingham who now occupies the old Richart home. David Roy, living near Niwot on the George W. Dodd ranch, and Henry George now sheriff of Boulder county.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Richart are the parents of two children; Mr. and Mrs. Geroge Richart are the parents of six; Mrs. Thomas Richart had one daughter to her former marriage. Mrs. Orange Wirick, now of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Richart died in 1918.

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Eliza Bader Knaus

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:24:00 +0000

A portion of the article is below. Click on the article title (below) for more Niwot pioneers.

Pioneers of Niwot, a Rich Agricultural Community
Boulder Daily Camera
Friday, June 30, 1933
(Written by Mrs. C. A. Lippencott, for twenty-five years a resident of the Niwot community, now residing at 620 Concord St., Boulder, Colorado)

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Eliza Bader Knaus

Another prominent pioneer still living a mile north of Niwot is Mrs. Eliza Bader Knaus. Her maiden name being Eliza Greub, a native of Switzerland, coming with her parents to America in 1852, settling in Missouri where they resided until 1864. In that year, they drove with oxteam to Colorado, they were three months on the road, Mrs. then only 14 years old, walking most of the way driving their cattle, the one horse she was to ride having run off. Arriving in Colorado the father took up a homestead claim near Niwot. Mrs. Knaus was formerly married to Nicholas Bader. To this union were born three sons, William, Frank, and George. William and George are now dead. Frank lives in Long Beach, California. Mr. Nicholas Bader passed away on his homestead where Mrs. Knaus still lives. Her second marriage to Clemens Knaus in 1874, ten children were born to them. Seven of whom are still living, being John A., east of Boulder, Matilda - wife of Roy Hawley of Rifle, Colorado, Emma - Mrs. Mat Oliphant of Fountain, Colo.

Albert, Fred, Dan and Carl, all of Niwot community. Millie Knaus Duffield, of Roggen, Colorado passed away in 1914 leaving her husband. Ansel Duffield and five children, Clemens Knaus Jr., whose farm joins that of his mother's passed away January 1926, leaving his widow and five children, all married, they are Earl, living on the home place, Mrs. Evert Steele - Maxine, 4 miles north west of Niwot, Mrs. Virgil Nomish - Mildred living in Longmont, Mrs. Chester Hodgson - Helen, 3 miles west of Niwot, and Glen of Longmont. Mrs. Charles Whaley - Jessie Knaus, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clemens Knaus died across the range in 1933, leaving six children. Mrs. Eliza Knaus says she has fifty grand-children and thirty-five great-grand-children. She is now 83 years old and lives on her farm alone, keeping house, tending garden, and chickens, and keeping up all her business affairs. Mr. Clemens Knaus was engaged in farming many years. He was the first president of the Niwot State Bank and he and his sons operated a threshing machine. His well improved farm consisted of 300 acres besides large holdings of dry land.

Other pioneers in this article include William Arbuthnot, Sylvanus Budd, Mary Ereckson, Jerome Gould, Meles Jain, Eliza Bader Knaus, Thomas Kneale, Thomas Richart, John D. Steele, Mrs. W. C. Wilcox, and Samuel W. Williamson. Click here for the beginning of the article and the links to the other pioneers.

Eliza and Clemens Knaus
and their ten children

More information on the Bader and Knaus families...

Bader Family Tree as written by Stella Arbuthnot, Grand-daughter of J. George Bader

Greub=Bader/Knaus Family Tree

Photos from my collection that were not included in the Niwot Historical Societies exhibit titled, Niwot on the Rails, held at the Longmont Museum earlier in 2011. On this blog post is a photo of the three sons of Eliza and Nicholas Bader.

Besides being related to the Bader family through Eliza's first husband (his brother is my Great-great-grandfather), I am also related to the Knaus family on my mother's side of the family. Eliza and Clemen's son John A. had a son, John A. Jr., or as we knew him, Uncle Johnny. My mother's sister, Marjorie Hill, married Johnny Knaus, Jr. We Arbuthnot kids were often lined up with our cousins, the Knaus kids.

Marjorie P. (Hill) and Johnny A. Knaus, Jr.
and their five children
Boulder, Colorado

Arbuthnot & Knaus Cousins - I'm on the far left, the littlest one.
Descendants of William Arbuthnot & Eliza Bader Knaus
Boulder, Colorado (Mapleton Ave)

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Meles Jain

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:21:00 +0000

A portion of the article is below. Click on the article title (below) for more Niwot pioneers.

Pioneers of Niwot, a Rich Agricultural Community

Boulder Daily Camera

Friday, June 30, 1933

(Written by Mrs. C. A. Lippencott, for twenty-five years a resident of the Niwot community, now residing at 620 Concord St., Boulder, Colorado)

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Meles Jain

Meles Jain, a Left Hand resident was a lad of but seven years when brought to the new world by his parents from Switzerland. He was reared and educated principally in the state of New York and in 1860 he came west to Colorado, not long afterwards he enlisted in the Union army and was engaged in service in the front until wounded in 1862. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Case in 1869 Mr. Jain purchased a farm on Left hand. To Mr. and Mrs. Jain were born 9 children: Benjamin, a farmer in Idaho, Lewis of Twin Falls, Idaho, Clide of Casper, Wyo., Bertha - Mrs. J. C. Boylan of Idaho, Clara, Mrs. Wm. Arbuthnot of Boulder County, Roy of California, Ethan of Idaho, Florence - Mrs. J. C. Cunningham Bruning. Mr. Jain died in 1910. Mrs. Jain still owns and occupies the old homestead west of Niwot. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bruning operate the farm, they have on sone Francis L. Mrs. Jain is a consistent member of the Methodist church, Grange and Womens Relief Corps.

More information on the Meles Jain family...

Also known as Miles Jain, he served with the Colorado 2nd - Cavalry and the Colorado 3rd - Infantry. He would have served along with James Arbuthnot, Sylvanus Budd, and David H. Nichols. He can be found by searching on his name, Miles Jain, on the National Park's System's Soldier & Sailors web site.

Clara Jain and William Arbuthnot (Samuel Arbuthnot's son)

Mrs. Jain was a member of the Altona Grange, no. 127.

Her son Clyde, her daughter Lottie Bruning and her grandson Boyd Bruning all served as Worth Masters of the Altona Grange.

Jain Brothers Stage Coach Company
running the stage coach from Boulder to Ward.
they also ran the stage to Gold Hill, Jimtown, and Altona
From the collection of the Boulder Historical Society,
Boulder Public Library - Carnegie Branch for Local History

Aug 24, 1894 - Boulder Daily Camera

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Alvah M. Dodd

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:16:00 +0000

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Alvah M. Dodd

One of the most prosperous and prominent farmers in Niwot vicinity is Mr. Alvah M. Dodd, a native of Iowa, and younger brother of Barnett Dodd. Mr. Dodd came to Colorado in the early eighties, purchasing a farm joining Niwot on the west. He was married to Miss Della Gould, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Gould and on this farm they have lived for more than fifty years, being the parents of fourteen children, four dying in infancy, nine of the remaining ten children are living in Boulder. All but two were married and living in established homes of their own. They are Courtney, living three miles west of Niwot, Guy of Longmont, Inez - Mrs. Forest S. Johnson, two miles east of Niwot, Belle - Mrs C. B. Allen of Niwot, Mary - Mrs. Washam of Santa Anna, California, Ruth- Mrs. Glen McDonald of Niwot, Bessie - Mrs. Roy Rider, near Longmont, Hugh near Niwot on part of the home ranch and John and Alvah Junior still with their parents.

Besides the beautiful and well improved home of Mr. and Mrs. Dodd, where all the children and grandchildren hold frequent family gatherings, Mr. Dodd is an extensive land owner in other sections of that locality. Mr. Dodd was for a number of years president of the Niwot State Bank, where his son Guy was the cashier for many years. Mr. Dodd now retired from active farm work, three of his sons, John, Hugh, and Alvah operate all the farm work and are also engaged in stock raising.

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Henry & Hornbaker

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:20:00 +0000

A portion of the article is below. Click on the article title (below) for more Niwot pioneers.

Pioneers of Niwot, a Rich Agricultural Community

Boulder Daily Camera

Friday, June 30, 1933

(Written by Mrs. C. A. Lippencott, for twenty-five years a resident of the Niwot community, now residing at 620 Concord St., Boulder, Colorado)

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Nimrod N. Henry

Nimrod N. Henry for many years president of Niwot State Bank, Niwot Alfalfa Milling Company and Niwot Creamery Company is thus prominently and extensively identified with important business interests in Boulder county.

Mr. Henry was reared and educated in Iowa and when less than 18 years old made his way, leaving his home on foot to Denver. He secured equipment as a farm hand and in 1870 began farming on his own account on a large acreage a mile south of Niwot.

The Henry ranch now consists of 640 acres and is occupied and tended by tenants. Mr. Henry having retired from active farm work resides in Niwot. Mr. Henry left Iowa in 1865, just three days after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He was married to Miss Melissa Linson in 1873. They were the parents of six children, five still living. They are Horrace of Boulder, Grover of Valpariaso, Indiana, Mrs. Cordie Clifford of Niwot, Jessie, Mrs. Ed Chatfield of Sulphur Springs, Mrs. Stella Woodcock, deceased, and Loella, a school teacher who makes her home with her parents.

In 1872 when the rail road was put through the Niwot section some trouble arose about fencing the road crossings and bitter feelings ensued. The Modoc Indians of Oregon were very hostile also at that time and when a petition was circulated for a post office in connection with the rail road station Mr. Henry and others consented to sign the petition provided it should be named Modoc Post office which it was for a number of years. Later it was changed to Niwot the Indian name for Left Hand.

H. H. Hornbaker

Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Hornbaker came from Iowa to Colorado in 1864 making the journey with oxteam and wagon. Settling on a farm near Niwot, secured as a homestead claim Mr. and Mrs. Hornbaker both now deceased left six children, all in Boulder county, William the eldest, on a farm two miles north-east of Niwot with their family of seven children now living, which are Mrs. Monte Wise of Boulder, Ethel Meile of Longmont, Eva Spangler, Horse Creek, Wyoming, Quincy Lesley and Doil of Niwot and Clarence of Longmont, Frank L. Hornbaker living two and a half miles north east of Niwot on the farm of his grandfather. Enoch Way who came to Colorado and settled the place in 1864. On the same farm lives Jesse Hornbaker, only son living of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hornbaker. One daughter, Mrs. Emil Anderson lives on a farm south of Longmont.

E. E. Hornbaker another son of H. H. Hornbaker lives a mile and a half north west of Niwot on a part of the original home occupied so many years by his parents who later in life lived in Longmont, but both are now dead. Mr. Hornbaker being past ninety years old at time of his death.

Sam another son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Hornbaker, now lives in the mountains near Caribou, a mining town. Mrs. Kenneth Titus, a daughter lives in Longmont and Mrs. Belle McWithey in Missouri. Of the E. E. Hornbaker family there are four children, William Nicholas son of Mrs. E. E. Hornbaker of a former marriage living at Bennett Colo., Harry, Loren and Virginia all of Boulder County. Mr. E. E. Hornbaker, William and Frank all successful farmers and stock raisers.

Niwot Pioneers 1933 - Erekson & Gould

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:51:00 +0000

A portion of the article is below. Click on the article title (below) for more pioneer stories.

Pioneers of Niwot, a Rich Agricultural Community
Boulder Daily Camera
Friday, June 30, 1933
(Written by Mrs. C. A. Lippencott, for twenty-five years a resident of the Niwot community, now residing at 620 Concord St., Boulder, Colorado)

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

Mary Ereckson

Mrs. Mary Ereckson, widow of E. G. Ereckson who came from Iowa in 1859 and settled on a farm one and a half miles southwest of Niwot, still lives on the same farm which is owned by her only living son, Ereck Ereckson. His father, Mr. E. G. Ereckson being accidently killed in 1906, other living children are Mrs. Laura Bader of Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. Nettie Wright Stoker of Brighton, Mrs. LuLu Hussie of Boulder and Mrs. Maude Johnston of California. Mr. and Mrs. Ereck Ereckson's children are the following, Howard of Denver, Homer of Longmont, Mrs. Doil Jones, Wilbur and Stanley Ereckson of Niwot. Mrs. Mary Ereckson now 83 years old lives in her own house alone near her son Ereck who so kindly cares for her. She is a faithful member of the United Brethren church.

Jerome Gould

Jerome Gould another prominent pioneer who arrived in Colorado in 1862, traded a yoke of oxen for 120 acres of unimproved land one mile northwest of Niwot. He was married in 1861 in Iowa to Miss Amy Foster, long since deceased. Mr. Gould as a farmer improved and occupied his Left Hand farm almost 65 years ago. He passed away in 1925 at the age of ninety years.
Of his surviving children are Mrs. A. M. Dodd of Niwot, Mrs. Margaret Remley of Denver, Mrs. Mary Ellinger of Texas, Mrs. Flora Sherman and Mrs. Lola Hill of Niwot. James Foster Gould, son of Jerome Gould who owned and occupied the Gould ranch for a number of years passed away November 11, 1931, leaving on the farm his wife Bertha Paulus Gould and one son Evan Gould, two other children having died in infancy.

Jerome Gould (above) donated land, a corner of his farm, for the Niwot Cemetery. He did this after his son was buried in the Burlington Cemetery at what is now the south end of Longmont. Mrs. Gould was so distraught that her son was so far away that Mr. Gould had his son moved to the Niwot Cemetery. Their son was the first person to be buried in the Niwot Cemetery.

Other pioneers in this article include William Arbuthnot, Sylvanus Budd, Nimrod N. Henry, H. H. Hornbaker, Meles Jain, Eliza Bader Knaus, Thomas Kneale, Thomas Richart, John D. Steele, Mrs. W. C. Wilcox, and Samuel W. Williamson. Click here for the article and links to these pioneers.

Pioneers of Niwot, June 30, 1933

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Seventy-four years after Boulder was founded and 58 years after the town of Niwot was founded, there was interest in those who first came to the area. In the newspaper, the Boulder Daily Camera, on Friday, June 30, 1933 there was an article about many of the early pioneers of Niwot. I won't transcribe the entire article here but I will start with a couple of the pioneers. Each day for several days, I will publish the next names listed here and I'll put a link to each of the people that make up the article in order to complete the story. And so we begin...

Pioneers of Niwot, a Rich Agricultural Community
Boulder Daily Camera
Friday, June 30, 1933
(Written by Mrs. C. A. Lippencott, for twenty-five years a resident of the Niwot community, now residing at 620 Concord St., Boulder, Colorado)

Early pioneer settlers of Left Hand and Niwot community and their posterity still living.

William Arbuthnot

William Arbuthnot of Iowa, came to Colorado in 1859, where he followed mining for some time, later he secured a farm on Left Hand and made the place the object of his care and thought until his death which occurred in 1882. He was married in 1860 to Mary E. Bader, a native of Germany. To this union were born six children, Fred W. and William C., both farmers west of Niwot in Boulder County. George J. of Stockton, California, now dead. Melissa, Mrs. John Walker of Torrance, California, Estella and Sidney also of California.
Mrs. Arbuthnot passed away a few years ago, the farm known as the Old Hay Stack Mountain Farm consisting of 240 acres has been sold to Mr. & Mrs. Pounds.

R. M. and Thomas Beasley

Among prominent pioneers east of Niwot were R. M. and Thomas beasley, both natives of Colorado and extensive land owners in the Beasley school district. R. M. (Dick) sold his land holdings here and is now living across the range. His children mostly grown and married are in varrious locations in Colorado. Thomas is still living on his ranch five miles south of Longmont on the highway. Mrs. Beasley passed away several years ago. The three children of the family are living and are George of St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. Elliott (Rose) and her husband live with her father, Mrs. Amos Lippincott (Medesto) is living on the C. A. Lippincott farm west of Niwot.

Sylvanus Budd

Among the prominent early settlers of Left Hand creek was Sylvanus Budd who came from Ohio to Colorado in 1860, and took up as a homestead from the government a tract of land yet well known over Boulder county as the Budd ranch. It consists of 385 acres acres now owned and occupied by J. W. Madden and wife Katie Budd Madden. Mr. Budd was a Civil War veteran and at one time a member of the house of representatives of Boulder.
Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Budd, Emma, who died in infancy, Katie Bud Madden and Rose Budd, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Budd are silently sleeping in the Niwot Cemetery, both having passed away a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Madden are the parents of six children, Mrs. Russel Johnson of Gering, Neb. Sylvanus Budd Madden of Niwot, Mrs. Lucy House of South Lancaster, Massachusetts, Mrs. Bess Pingenot of Denver, and Mrs. Eva Vandivier of Glendale, California.
Henry Willard Madden, two years old, died in 1906.

H. H. Burch

H. H. Burch of Iowa, arrived in Colorado in 1860 and bought a farm one mile north east of Niwot from Jake Bruce and settled there. He returned to Iowa with mule team in 1865 and returned with two mule teams and wagons loaded with flour and meat. He and Mrs. Burch are among the silent sleepers in Niwot Cemetery. Of their five children, three are still living. Mrs. Amos Entwistle, Maria, of Nunn, Mrs. George Bader, Iva, of Boulder and Dan, now owner of the Senior Burch farm. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Burch are the parents of two children Loraine, assistant register for the University and Henry, engaged in farm work.

Alvah M. Dodd

Mary Ereckson

Jerome Gould

Nimrod N. Henry

H. H. Hornbaker

Meles Jain

Eliza Bader Knaus

Thomas Kneale

Thomas Richart

John D. Steele

Mrs. W. C. Wilcox

Samuel W. Williamson

When William Arbuthnot died in 1882, his brother Samuel executed the estate until it was settled a year later and served as guardian for his widow and six children. After the estate was settled, Samuel declined the job of continuing as guardian (a position required by the courts). Neighbor Sylvanus Budd, above, stepped up and served as guardian for Mary and the children. (As recorded in the probate records for the children of William Arbuthnot).

Get your own Arbuthnott Clan Badge

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Calling all Arbuthnot(t)s - Join me in proudly wearing our Arbuthnott Clan Badge...

Arbuthnott Clan Badge
by The Company Jewelers

The Company Jewelers has created a beautiful sterling silver Arbuthnott Clan Badge.
This is made using a special kind of sterling silver which is more tarnish resistant than traditional sterling silver. It is beautiful! Available in many styles - as a pin, pendent (seen here) or a bolo tie. Anyone who is a member of the Arbuthnott family can wear this peacock badge. I will be wearing mine proudly! Not an Arbuthnot(t)? Then check out their web site and look for other available clans.

Order yours now! Contact The Company Jewelers and tell them that you saw it here on Homestead Origins.

Donations from Haystack Mountain to Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:57:00 +0000

At the end of the year in 1953, my Grandfather, Fred W. Arbuthnot, donated several items to the Boulder Historical Society's museum. As a girl, I would visit the museum with my dad and he would comment on the items we would see there, sharing stories about our family's roots at Haystack Mountain in Boulder County, Colorado. After the museum was moved and many changes, I have wondered exactly what it was that Grandpa donated to the Society. Now I know - I found the following article in the Boulder Daily Camera that lists his donations.

Fred Arbuthnot Donates Pioneer Relics to Museum

Boulder Daily Camera

Jan 2, 1954

Pioneer relics were donated to the Boulder Historical Society Friday for it’s museum by Fred W. Arbuthnot as follows:

A small-bladed ax with long handle used for cutting holes in fence posts for the insertion of fence rails, before the invention of barb wire, and a fence post on which this ax was used.

A heavy iron teakettle.

A hypodermic instrument for vaccinating calves against blackleg disease, used to insert pellets under the skin before the use of a liquid vaccine, about 1900.

A contrivance to hold safety razors for stropping. About 1900.

One large hame, and a set of smaller hames, all heavily built.

Two sorghum skimmers.

A chamber pot, in camouflaged box covered with cloth.

These were the property of Mr. Arbuthnot’s father, William Arbuthnot, who came here as a gold miner in 1860 and left the diggings soon after to take up a homestead near Haystack Mountain in Boulder County. The fence post was taken from a fence n the homestead, where many of the posts are still standing, used for barb wire now. The hames were found near Ward by this pioneer way back in the Sixties, and were supposed to be relics of gold miners from Georgia who came in covered wagons with them harnesses used in the cotton fields of Georgia at that time.

The two sorghum skimmers were brought by Mr. Arbuthnot from Iowa. They were used in cooking sorghum molasses from cane juice, to skim off sediment and to indicate to an expert sorghum cook just when to stop cooking in the open outdoor large sorghum pans. The pioneer chamber pot looks like a modern hassock.

Fence post made by William Arbuthnot
like the one donated to the Boulder Historical Society in 1954.
Haystack Mountain Ranch in the 1950's.

The article states that William Arbuthnot came to the gold fields in 1860. Actually, he arrived with his father and brothers in 1859. He returned to Iowa later that year and then returned again in 1860. I don't know how many times he returned to Iowa and then back to Haystack Mountain, my research indicates at least three trips. The family who now owns the property where the Arbuthnot family homesteaded (what is now the Haystack Mountain Golf Course) told me that they had spilt open one of these fence posts and it was made of aromatic cedar. That would indicate that the wood had been hauled from Iowa. You can still see these fence posts today when you visit the clubhouse at the golf course. They have used the old fence posts as a room divider inside the club house. I was thrilled when I saw that my Great-grandfather's hand made work was preserved there.

I had to look up what a hame is. My Draft Horse Superstore sells hames made in the old way by the Amish. Hames are the wooden and metal pieces that go around a horse and the leather reins are threaded though the hames for guiding the horses and pulling heavy wagons.

Sorghum syrup is very rich in nutrients and was a staple of the pioneer settlers (if they could get the sorghum cane to grow).
Instructions on how to extract sorghum syrup.

I hope to pay a visit to the museum soon and see if they still have these items. I really hope that they do. I had called them a while back and I was told that when my family made their donations, the items were not documented. They had no idea what had come from the Arbuthnot family. I am in hopes that this article will help them identify these items. I sure hope they still have the chamber pot. I can't wait to see how the chamber pot was "camouflaged". (If you don't know what a hassock is, it's a foot stool.)

Julian Brammeier and His Elk - 1929.

noreply@blogger.com (Donlyn Arbuthnot) — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:14:00 +0000

He was born Macon Julian Brammeier probably in a rustic cabin. He went by the name Julian and folks would now say that he was "home schooled", his father educated him by having him memorize items from the newspaper and learned how to read from the Bible. As an adult, Julian hunted as a way of life, working odd jobs for the rail road when he could. He was an outdoorsman living off the land, loved the mountains and was a part of the nature around him. He eat what he killed, always sharing with his brothers and sisters. He never married, probably didn't have time for a woman to cramp his style. He lived with very little money, walking nearly everywhere he needed to go. He would show up at our home in Boulder, unannounced, just in time for dinner. He would join our family as mom always had enough to include Julian. He repaid the family by entertaining with stories or poems. Sometimes from the stories of his adventures, often times poems that he had memorized. Then he would follow the train tracks and make his way to Niwot where his sister lived, showing up just in time for dinner. Julian was loved, especially by his nieces and nephews, by all of us kids. He lost his hearing in old age, probably from the loud blasts of his gun and he never complained. My mom and I would go to his small chinked log cabin, filled with the stuffed animal and bird trophies, bringing him some food, one of mom's homemade pies, checking on him to make sure he was ok.

While many today would say that Julian was a poor man, often unemployed, low class; Julian lived with a kind of freedom that few of us will ever experience. Life was not easy for him, yet he made life fun.

Julian Brammeier with his elk
Boulder County, Colorado 1929
from the collection of Bill Anderson

Other posts about the Brammeier family:
Julian and His Bear
Death of Fred Brammeier
Niwot on the Rails Exhibit