(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
