Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Hotchkiss History
(Editor’s Note: Many facts on early Hotchkiss history were supplied by history students of Hotchkiss high school, under the direction of teachers Granville King and Jack Scott.)
Hotchkiss and North Fork valley pioneers were the survivors and children of those who pressed westward after the 1860’s. Many were lured here by fabulous tales of gold and adventure.
One of the adventurers was Enos Hotchkiss, founder of the town that bears his name. When he was in his early twenties, he traveled to California where he engaged in mining and pursuing this occupation returned to Colorado by way of Nevada, Idaho, and Utah.
In Colorado Hotchkiss entered into partnership with Otto Mears, known as the pioneer of the San Juan’s. Under this partnership many toll roads were built from Denver, through Fairplay, Colorado, and on to Saguache and Lake City, Colorado. Hotchkiss located the famous Golden Fleece mine at Lake City and Hotchkiss Mountain there bears his name.
In 1879 McIntire, an Indian agent at Fort Crawford, (a military fort near Montrose, Colorado.) sent word to Hotchkiss that the Indians were to be removed from the country to the north then the territory would be opened for settlement…sometime soon.
Behind his saddle, Hotchkiss carried his equipment. His only resource was a rifle. His route was approximately down through the Uncompahgre, and past the present sites of Montrose and Olathe, Colorado.
He met Indians only once on his journey—near Delta, Colorado. One of the Indians was his friend, Charlie-the nephew of Chief Ouray of the Utes.
The next morning Hotchkiss made his way up the Gunnison River and crossed near the old State Bridge near Austin, Colorado. When he rode across what is now Rogers Mesa to his eyes ‘it shone with a shimmer of white from the white sage’ that is now extinct in that vicinity.
The country was well grassed-a wonderful field for cattle and horses. Most of the grass has been trampled out by generations of grazing cattle.
On August 15, 1879, Hotchkiss- probably one of the first white men to view the North Fork Valley-rode to the brink of the hill now called Rogers Mesa. With his spy glass he located two Indian camps, on Quackenbush Creek and one near what is now Paonia, Colorado.
From here Hotchkiss rode on up the river to the northernmost branch of the Gunnison River-now known as the Muddy River. He then made his way back toward Black Mesa to Gunnison, Colorado, then the hub of a rich mining district, and found a location of a road which he then followed to the North Fork Valley.
On Black Mesa he encountered the first white men he had seen since leaving the old Indian agency at Fort Crawford. The men were Oregon Bill and party of scouts.
His journey consumed more than a month and in 1882 he received the news that the Indians would be removed the following summer. With two companions who were around 20 years old, George H. and William F. Duke, and another man named Platt, Hotchkiss started from Powder Horn on Cealla Creek south of Gunnison, Colorado with their destination the North Fork Valley. William Duke drove a heavily-laden supply wagon pulled by a team of eight yoke of oxen. Another wagon was driven by George Duke.
The trip across the Black Mesa took 10 days and when they drove down the Black Mesa grade, the men tied huge spruce trees behind their wagons to slow the wagons down.
On Black Mesa they met a party of whites whom the Indians had driven out, and then Duke says “We boys wanted to go back, but Hotchkiss said there was no danger.” So they continued their journey, arriving at the North Fork of the Gunnison River where the water proved too high to cross.
The men constructed a cabin just across the river from the Old Hotchkiss homestead, leaving Platt in charge, went back for another load of supplies. On their return to the valley several other pioneers accompanied them, including Samuel Wade.
Hotchkiss and Wade rode to the present site of Paonia, Colorado, where Wade selected land for his home site-later one of the most beautiful and fertile farms in Colorado.
Hotchkiss, on his return to the cabin, found that in his absence the man he had left in charge, Platt, had gone crazy and killed the dogs, buried them in the cabin and scattered his provisions all over outside.
Will and George Duke lived on the Hotchkiss claim during the winter of 1881-82 where they cleared land and made ready material to build a house.
Nearby campers included Bill Berry, Charles Gray, Milt Frady, E. W. Gates and W. Dever in Paonia, Colorado. Also were Ezra Wade, Samuel Wade, William Clark, Joe Brown, Sam Angivine, George Wade, Albert Goodenow and E. Quackenbush. Most of these young men contributed much to the development of the North Fork Valley.
In 1882 more settlers migrated to the valley. Hotchkiss and Samuel Wade brought their families. C. O. Rogers, for whom Rogers Mesa is named, took up land on the east side of Rogers Mesa.
Mr. Barrow settled on Barrow Mesa, known by his name.
Henry Rogers arrived in the valley in 1881. He was one of the party the Indians had driven out and whom Hotchkiss and his men met on Black Mesa. Roberts also made his home in the valley in 1882.
At a housewarming held in the new home of Enos Hotchkiss in September, 1882, the entire population of the North Fork Valley attended –36 person.
At this time, there was numerous game on the outlying mesas around Hotchkiss, Colorado, during the winter. A mountain lion is reported to have become tangled in tent ropes at the old Hotchkiss camp. In 1886 Ed Duke shot a lion where the railroad now crosses Leroux Creek. In the early 80’s bear tracks were often seen on the river bottoms. Some of the animals were killed near Hotchkiss, Colorado.
Enos Hotchkiss brought the first herd of cattle (1,500 head) into the valley in 1882 and the first flock of sheep in 1889.
In the North Fork Valley early in the years, cattle raising was the principal industry. The spring roundup began in about June and stared at Crystal Creek above Maher, Colorado, gradually working past Saddle Mountain. The last big round up was held in 1890.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Settlers
Among the earliest settlers in the Hotchkiss, Colorado, area was “Stoney’ Spurling who filed a claim on 120 acres on the mesa that bear his name. The property is now owned by Elizabeth Montague.
Spurling also owned the claims now known as the Tom LeValley and J.B. Drake ranches.
Aaron Kluff came to Hotchkiss, Colorado, in 1881. Other early settlers included James A. Head, 1882; Clark Dunn, 1882; Frank Short, 1882.
Luther “Lou” Gelwicks settled in Hotchkiss, Colorado, in 1885, A.K. Stephens and W. J. Shephard in 1881. J. A. Burdick settled here in 1882 on the property now owned by Joe Holvoet.
In the early ‘80’s Reudolph Feutz lived on the present Wheeler ranch, and J. C. Mitchell owned the land where the Bell Creek House stands today.
Henry Roberts settled in Hotchkiss, Colorado, in 1882.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Tidbits
An opera house once stood on the site of the present Watson Feed Store.
In 1910 the population of Hotchkiss was listed at 1,000 persons.
In 1886 Duke and Roberts (Lelia Copeland’s father) opened the first store in Hotchkiss.
The first Hotchkiss post office in 1882 consisted of a desk-now kept in the home of Hooley Hotchkiss.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Hartman Trail
The Hartman trail over Black Mesa Canyon was named for Sam Hartman who used the path for his cattle drives. This was originally an Indian trail.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Family Shopping
Today most of the family shopping is done by the women-folk. In the early days of Delta County, many women never went to town when the household supplies were purchased-the men-folk did the buying.
In 1885 there was little merchandise from which to choose-in fact a small store in a log building at Hotchkiss carried all the supplies that were available there most of the year. This general store was situated between Gray’s Crossing and the school house and started to operate in the spring of 1885.
A stage ran from Delta to Hotchkiss twice a week but only small packages were handled. Large quantities of supplies at that time were less frequently hauled from Delta and Montrose, Colorado.
Later a daily stage served the area but groceries and dry goods came to Hotchkiss only three or four times a year.
As far as fashions in clothing were concerned, pioneer women knew or cared little about the latest styles-what they wanted was something that would wear indefinitely.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Delta County
Until Delta County was activated in 1883, this area was part of Gunnison County, Gunnison Colorado. The nearest post office and trading center for North Fork of Delta County was in Gunnison, Colorado.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—History of Early Days on Rogers Mesa
Pioneer Resident Tells History of Early Days in Rogers Mesa Area
By Edgar G. Riehl of Glendale, California
I was born in Colorado on a homestead, 20 miles from Sterling, about 10 miles from Atwood, Colorado.
My first home was a sod, one-room hole in the side of a hill facing the Pawnee Creek, and this sod shanty had only one window.
My parents started with a few head of cattle. No sod had ever been turned. Because of the lack of trees for fuel mother dried cow chips, when they were dry on one side she had to turn them. This was an all summer chore.
In the year 1898 a severe blizzard came across the prairie and thousands of head of cattle drifted with the storm, mostly following Pawnee Creek. Our cattle drifted away with the rest of them. This blizzard lasted for three days.
As the cattle passed the window, great gray wolves were walking with them. These wolves stopped and looked into the window. At this time father was in Sterling, Colorado, trying to find some work to keep the wolf at the window, not at the door. My mother and three small children were alone. This was the turning point. My folks made up their minds to go away from the blizzards and the wolves.
The cattle were all gone. Some were found to have drifted to the Kansas and Nebraska line. With a few things my parents left for Delta County.
Delta was a settlement of about 200 people, with one street which started at the D & RGW station. Father went to the assessor’s office and found many pieces of property which could be had by paying back taxes.
It was an all-day trip to Rogers Mesa. The place was occupied by a family named Heasters. This place is near Lazear (now the Ted Trimmer place). There was a log two-room cabin, nothing else on the 160 acres.
Half a mile away was a school house, also made of logs, located on the northeast corner of Bob Craig’s ranch. School was held from three to four months each year. The teacher received $50 per month and lived in home of the pupils.
The teacher started the fires and swept out when he/she could not stand the dust any longer.
The desks were hewn from logs and the tops were carved with initials of all former pupils. We did not have to use the desk surface for writing as no one ever had pencil or paper-the old slate was our standby. If school was on or not it made little difference-we were always finding excuses for not going.
There were only about 10 ranches/farms on Rogers Mesa. Those who had No 1 and No 2 water rights in Leroux Creek were those who had it best. Their farms/ranches seemed green and they had green trees around their houses. Very little was raised, so what could you sell? All lived off the land in some way, but most depended on a few head of cattle.
In our family, to start, there were no cattle to sell. If it had not been for the cotton-tail rabbits we should have been hungry more times than we were, and the prairie dog graced our table to fill an emergency. One could depend on the prairie dog –his towns were everywhere, yes, and at our back door.
Some corn and potatoes were raised with the early water, which would stop about June 15th. Mother learned to cook potatoes in many different ways-what she could do with the potato would fill a book.
The few head of cattle were driven to Leroux Mountain each summer to conserve the small amount of alfalfa, which was only one cutting, sometimes two. When we sold our cattle they were driven to Delta, Colorado.
Some fruit trees were planted for home use and seemed to get along with what water we had.
When the water was gone from the ditch it was carried from the North Fork of the Gunnison River, a mile and half away. I made many a trip with the old burro to the canyon below the ranch. Many are the times I cursed that old balky burro-but she received nothing for her work, she made her living on rabbit brush.
The cattle got the alfalfa when there was any. Sometimes to get feed we gathered the cactus and burned the spines from them. I can still see the cows turning the cactus in their wide-open mouths to keep the small stickers from hurting.
The few farmers decided to build a big ditch so as to have later water. This was to come from the North Fork of the Gunnison River, after the survey made by Mr. Greenwood.
In the fall the ranchers started with their teams and small scrappers to dig the Fire Mountain Canal.
They only worked in winter so they could take care of their alfalfa. These sturdy pioneers lived like rats in the holes they dug in the side of the hills. Little was accomplished in a day, for they toiled for seven years.
At last the water was turned in. We waited for two days and then went to where the canal crosses the Leroux Cree, but no water came. A rider was sent to investigate and it was found that the ditch would not hold water—it went into the ground or else the whole side of the mountain would have slide out.
It was then about two more years until the water would pass through. The thunder storms would bring cloud-bursts and the ditch would break. As years went by the banks became more stable.
After the few fruit trees began to bear, all began to pack fruit and haul it to Delta, Colorado, and then they waited for returns.
Most of the time the fruit did not pay for nails and boxes, I have known times when we paid freight charges and that was all. Where is the courage such as the early pioneer of Rogers Mesa had today?! —always it was said “next year will be better.”
As for Hotchkiss, Colorado, there was a one-room log school house not far from where the old brick one stood later. The post office was a one-room log cabin. Bridge Street was the only thoroughfare.
The Hotchkiss Block was the first structure to amount to anything. To a small boy’s mind this was a grand structure.
I well remember Mr. Hotchkiss and the boys. Their brick house near Leroux Creek Bridge was a grand castle.
The cowboys ruled the streets Saturday nights. I have seen many a wild horse race, firing of guns and shouting-also a few killings, one of which I shall never forget.
Everything came to Hotchkiss, Colorado, by covered wagon so the road to Delta, Colorado, was some highway. Water for drinking purposes was used from a ditch which ran along each side of Bridge Street in Hotchkiss, Colorado.
Well do I remember the first pipe-line for Hotchkiss, Colorado, as soon as the water was turned in all the pipes broke apart. Such mud you never will see again!
Many things could be written but the struggle for an existence in pioneer days cannot be exaggerated. There are no words powerful enough for the praise of a great people that struggle dot get this country on its feet.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Population
The population of Hotchkiss today is estimated at a little over 700.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Water System
In 1903 the Hotchkiss, Colorado, water system was built, making available to residents an unlimited water supply.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Panic of 1893
When the Panic of 1893 swept the nation no serious losses, were suffered here in Delta County, although residents even in this remote section of the country felt the effects somewhat.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
