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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page GENEALOGICAL CHART - Fontispiece CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE........... 8 INTRODUCTION. ......................................... .. 13 PREFACE. ................................................ 17 CHAPTER ONE Ancestry-Genealogical chart-Biography of General Larimer from 1809 to 1855-Financial reverses-l\ligration from Pittsburgh to Nebraska. .............................. .. 19 CHAPTER T\v~O General Larimer's family joins him in Nebraska-By river from Pittsburgh to St. Joseph in 1855. ...................... .. 27 CHAPTER THREE A.rrival in Nebraska-A Prairie Fire-The severely cold winter of 1855-6-Wild game-l\lenlber of the Legislature- Woman's Suffrage " .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 CHAPTER FOUR Indians as neighbors-The founding of LaPlatte-Flood in the sprihg of 1856-~10ved to Olnaha-A Pittsburgh-built house in Onlaha-Founding of the Omaha Republir.an-~'f.oYed to Leavenworth. ....................................... .. 39 CHA.PTER FIVE Discovery of gold in the Pikes Peak Region-Furor created by the news-Organized a party to cross the plains-The outfit - The Santa Fe Trail-Aubrey's long distance ride. ...... .. 45 CH.A.PTER SIX The lnaking of a corral-Buffalo hunting-Lost on the plains- An Indian canlp-Indians attenlpt to steal our cattle Allison's Ranch-Mail and Stage Coach-The ",vheelbarrow man "-The Oskaloosa Party-Another band of Indians. .. 54 5 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER SEVEN Green Russell-Gold prospects-Bent's Fort-Story of a dis consolate Indian-Colonel Bent's career-A letter from Bent's Fort. ............................................... .. 66 CHAPTER EIGHT First glimpse of the mountains-Cheyenne Indians-Wild game -Le Compton Party-Organization of Arapahoe County Mexicans steal our horses-Lieutenant Marcy's catastrophe -Heavy snow fall-Headwaters of Cherry Creek--Arrival at its mouth " 74 CHAPTER NINE Auraria-Its inhabitants-Its business-The founding of Denver -Building of the first cabin-St. Charles Town Company "Golden City"-Letter from General Denver-The Georgia Party-The Lawrence Party-Stockholders of the Auraria Town Company-The Denver City Town Company. ..... .. 85 CHAPTER TEN Laying out the streets of Denver-Early letters from Denver Securing a charter for Denver City. .................... .. 99 CHAPTER ELEVEN Certificate of stock in Denver City Town-Company-Building cabins-Early life in Denver revealed by letters-False claims. ............................................. .. 106 CHAPTER T\VELVE Church services-With Christmas comes whiskey-Sports-A Christmas dinner-Merchandising-Chasing a murderer. .. 117 CHAPTER THIRTEEN Denver's first election-William Clancy-New Year's Eve cele- bration-The first sawmill-Mail service 128 CHAPTER FOURTEEN Gold prospecting-The first white woman at Denver-A theatrical troupe-The first hanging-"Noisy TOlu"-Locating a ceme- tery 139 CHAPTER FIFTEEN Small towns surrounding Denver-High cost of living-Large Dumber of immigrants-Anger of the disappointed-A decep- tive guest. .......................................... .. 152 TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 . CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Gold Fever of 1859-Exaggerated reports-Gambling-"Til- Ham McGaa, alias Jack Jones 164 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Establishing a Stage Line-Clerking in the Postoffice-Personal reminiscences-A shooting affray-_J\n Indian massacre Colonel Alexander Majors-Denver Hall-Other gambling dens 172 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN A trip to the l\10untains-The career of "Old Brown"-Gregory's gold discoveries. ..................................... .. 185 CHAPTE~ NINETEEN Horace Greeley visits Denver-Visits the gold diggings-News paper correspondents, Richardson and 'lillard-Villard's bill Greeley's nomination for the presidency-His physical col- lapse 191 CHAPTER T"VENT)~ Horace Greeley's description of crossing the plains-_J\n accident -His description of life in Denver-The author's retrospect regarding the settlement of Denver and surrounding country 200 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE General Larinler leaves Denver-Begins war ser-vice-Recrniting officer-On Court Martial-Battle of Baxter Springs-A..n officer's salary in the Civil 'Var-Death of General Larimer .. 210 CHAPTER T"TENTY--T'~VO The close of General Larimer's career-Perpetuation of his name -l\1ilitary record of his descendants. ................... .. 221 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE \Villialn I-Ienry Harison Larimer-A trip up the l\lissouri River to Fort Benton, May 1st to July 6th, 1867-Difficulties of naviga tion-Fuel supply. ................................... .. 224 CHAPTER T'VENT1'--FOlTR From Fort Benton to Helena, l\'fontana Territory-Bandits Pioneering life-l\1isfortunes-Returns frolu l\Iontana in 1867~Subsequentcareer and death. ................... .. 233 CALENDAR: YEARS 1855-65 .......... .. .... 239 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . 240 INDEX TO NAM:ES AND TOPICS . 241 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Date Event Page 1807 Pikes Peak discovered by Zebulon M. Pike. .. .. 153 1809 Oct 24 William Larimer, Jr., was born. ............. .. 19 1820 Long's Peak was discovered. ............... .. 153 July 13 First ascent of Pikes Peak was made. ....... .. 153 1828 Aug 3 William Larimer, Jr., commissioned Second Lieu- tenant, Eighth Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania. .......................... .. 223 1830 Operating the Conestoga Wagon System. .... .. 20 1834 Oct 16 William Larimer, Jr. married Rachel McMasters. 20 1840 Dec 9 William Henry Harrison Larimer was born. .. .. 224 1845 Apr 15 William Larimer, Jr. commissioned Major of First Battalion, Sixth Regiment, Allegheny County Volunteers, Pennsylvania. ................ .. 223 1848 June 4 Commissioned Brigadier General of Pennsylvania Troops by Governor Johnston 223 1852 Dec 22 Commissioned Major General by Governor Bigler of Pennsylvania. ........................ .. 223 1854 May 30 The Douglas Bill passed by Congress. ....... .. 27 1855 Left Pittsburgh for the West and founded Larimer City in Nebraska 22-28 1855 Oct I-lis family left Pittsburgh to join him in Nebraska 29 Oct 25 A lunar eclipse. ........................... .. 33 1855-56 Very cold winter spent at LaPlatte, a town founded by William Larimer in Nebraska .. " 36 He was a Member of the Nebraska Legislature.. 37 1857 Financial panic in the United States. ........ .. 42 1858 Feb 17 Green Russell and his Party left Georgia. .. .. 45, 94 Spring Gen. Larimer moved from Omaha to Leaven- worth. ................................. .. 43 May 12 Lieutenant Marcy's disaster. ............... .. 179 May 23 Lawrence Party left Lawrence, Kansas. ...... .. 95 June 1 Russell's Party arrived at head of Cherry Creek. 45 June 24 . Russell's Party arrived at mouth of Cherry Creek 94 8 CHRONOLO"GICAiL TABLE 9 Date Event Page 1858 Aug Lawrence Party arrived at Cherry Creek ..... 45, 95 Sept King arrived at Leavenworth with gold from the Pikes Peak Region.. ..................... .. 45 Sept 24 Townsite of 640 acres known as St. Charles located. ................................ .. 93 Oct 1 The Leavenworth Party, under leadership of General Larimer, left Leavenworth, Kansas.. 49 Oct 10 James W. Denver resigned the governorship of Kansas Territory. ....................... .. 90 Oct 10 The Oakes Party arrived at Cherry Creek. ... .. 85 Oct 29 Leavenworth Party arrived at Bent's Fort. ... .. 68 Oct 30 Auraria Town Company was organized by Russell 95 Nov 6 Meeting for election of Delegate to Congress from Kansas Territory Note book Nov 12 Leavenworth Party reached headwaters of Cherry Creek. ................................. .. 81 Nov 16 Arrived at Dlouth of Cherry Creek, Auraria ... " 81 Nov 17 General Larimer selected site for a town later . named Denver City. .................... .. 87 Nov 21 First Church Service in Denver, preacher, l\Ir Fisher, Methodist. ...................... .. 102 Nov 22 Board of Directors of Denver City chosen and officers elected. ......................... .. 89 Nov 23 First regular mail service started by Sanders. 3 .. 135 Nov 25 Denver City Town-Colnpany organized. " lVole book Nov 29 Comlnittee selected to consider consolidating Auraria and Denver City lVote book Dec 14 Townsite of Highland located. .............. .. 147 Dec 25 The first Christmas dinner in Denver City " 119 Dec 25 Dick Wooten arrived with food and whiskey 118 1859 Jan 7 Jackson's discovery of gold 165 Mar 3 First child born in Denver City to l\Irs 'Vnl. l\1cGaa. ............................ Note book lVlar 8 Date of certificate of Denver To,vnship share 2 .. 107 Mar 20 First burial in Mt. Prospect Cemetery. ...... .. 151 Spring First bridge across Cherry Creek " 130 First saw-mill erected by l\10yne & Rice. ..... .. 132 Mar 28 First County Election. .................... .. 129 Apr 8 First hanging by a Vigilance CODlluittee. .... .. 147 Apr 11 Gen. Larilner presides at Convention to create a State " Note book Apr 16 John Scudder shot and killed P. T. Bassett..... 137 April Population of Denver and Auraria about 1,000.. 103 Apr 21 First printing press and first load of lumber arrived in Denver. ...................... .. 143 10 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Date Event Page 1858 Apr 23 First issue of the Rocky Mountain News 143 Apr 24 Mort Fisher arrived with much needed provisions 155 May Stage Line proposed by Mr Sargent. ........ .. 172 May 6 John H. Gregory's discovery of gold. ........ .. 188 May 7 First Stage Coach arrival. .................. .. 193 May 9 Mr Greeley left New York en route to Denver. Tribune May 12 The Larimers start on a trip to the mountains. .. 185 May 20 First Stage Coach reaches Leavenworth on its return trip from Denver. ................. .. 173 May 24 At 6:00 a.m. Horace Greeley left Leavenworth. Tribune