Bent’s Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association December 2016 Newsletter Page 1 ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— to the lack of Chapter Events water in that Apishapa Tour visits Remote area for live- Areas of the Canyon stock, have been set On Saturday, October 8, seventy-six tour participants aside for the met at the Apishapa State Wildlife Area Turnoff on Hwy Apishapa 10, to begin their journey into the Apishapa Canyon. Of State Wildlife this group 34 were Bent's Fort Chapter members and Area (8,000 eight participants were from the Corazón de los Cami- acres). It is a nos Chapter. The other participants were from the Ap- place that ishapa Valley History Society and members of the probably Bourne family. We were greeted by a perfect day to be Tour attendees at the Goodnight corrals looks much outdoors with sunny skies, comfortable temperatures as it did in and little to no wind. the 1800s when the settlers first explored this remote We drove approximately 25 miles to our first stop -- area and attempted to make a living off the land. the Bill Bourne Homestead. Bill and his wife lived at the Thanks go to Larry Bourne for leading the tour and to homestead from about 1935 until his untimely death in members of the Bourne family who shared some of their 1942. Bill had lived in Delhi (off CO Hwy 350) as a family history. Thanks also go to Tim and Annette Rob- youth, so it was a natural extension to continue living in erts for joining us on the tour and letting us onto the site the area. But one does wonder how he managed to of the Goodnight corrals. It was truly a day enjoyed by have enough food, water and other supplies in this iso- all. ☼ lated area of the Canyon. At the homestead we viewed the remains of his home along with seeing the still- standing barn. Amazingly, the barn was moved to this remote site when Bill lived on the property. Driving another few miles we arrived at the site of the Goodnight corrals that were active in the late 1860s. Over the years the corrals have been added onto mak- ing it hard to tell what was the original fencing. About a half mile west of the corrals was a small burial plot with six graves of some of the cowboys that worked the cat- tle. Sadly some of the markers have broken off or been stolen. Today there are about a dozen families that call the Apishapa Canyon home. And some of the lands, due Bourne family members on the tour in front of barn BFC News Features Chapter Events . 1 Colorado Santa Fe Trail Great Events Planned for 2017 . 3 Signage Project . 3 Upcoming Chapter Events . 9 Bent’s Fort as Mail Station Along the Santa Fe Trail . 5 Membership Report . 9 The 2016 Santa Fe Trail BFC Officers & Committee Chair . 10 Hall of Fame Inductees . 6 Upcoming 2017 Events . 10 Membership Form . 11 “The Santa Fe Trail Lives On” Holiday Celebration at Bent’s Old Fort December 2016 Newsletter Bent’s Fort Chapter Page 2 Talk on Amache Highlights and tan hides, and learn the other chores expected of November Meeting Cheyenne women. John Prowers first saw Amache in 1856. He began his Pat Palmer called the meeting pursuit of her around 1860 after seeing her perform a to order followed by the Treasur- Cheyenne dance. However, it wasn’t until a year later at er's Report and reading and ap- the urging of Mary Bent (daughter of William Bent) that proval of the July meeting he asked Amache’s father, Chief Ochinee or Lone Bear minutes. Next LaDonna Hutton (also known as One Eye), for Amache’s hand in mar- spoke about the planning meeting riage. The request was granted and in 1861 John Prow- to be held on December 10 for ers, aged 25, married Amache who was 15. Shortly af- the 2021 SFTA Symposium. ter the marriage Amache went to Westport, MO, where Charlie Hutton is working on the Amache Ochinee she learned the ways of the Symposium budget. Other news Prowers white woman, returning a few included the announcement that months later to Southeast all Santa Fe Trail signs for Colorado have been placed Colorado. in the ground and thanks were given to those who It was while John and helped with the project. Amache lived in the aban- LaDonna Hutton then talked about the need to doned Caddo Indian Agency change the Chapter By-laws to state that in the event of which they had taken as their the Chapter’s dissolution that all remaining funds after home that the Massacre at payment of any outstanding expenses be sent to the Sand Creek occurred. SFTA. The motion passed. In other action it was ap- Amache’s father, Chief Lone proved to send $150 for the laying of wreathes at Ft. Bear, was killed during the Lyon. fight, her mother escaping. In other business the possibility of forming SFTA The Prowers then moved John Prowers chapters in Garden City, KS and Trinidad, CO was men- south to land near the Arkan- tioned. If anyone is interested in working to start one of sas River, which is today a these chapters, please contact Pat Palmer. Larry few miles west of Lamar, and Bourne noted that 400 people attended Boggsville's then to Boggsville where they th 150 anniversary celebration on October 1. Next Chad built a large home. They later Hart spoke about Canyons and Plains, emphasizing that moved to West Las Animas. the organization will be more focused on promotion of Amache, though married to SE Colorado. John Prowers and close The meeting was adjourned followed by a potluck friends with Mary Bent, still lunch. Once again Chapter members provided excellent faced prejudice from others Chief Lone Bear (One Eye) dishes for all to enjoy. Lunchtime music was provided including John Hough, John by "Mr. Pickatune", Leon Davis, on the piano. Prowers brother-in-law, who always called her that After lunch Sandy Dexter spoke about the life of “Indian woman”. Amache. Sandy has been doing research for two John Prowers died in 1884 at the age of 46 leaving and one-half years on the Amache a widow with nine children to care for. Though life of Amache (Walking she was left a $3000 annual stipend to live on it would Woman) and has found last for only nine years. In 1891 she married Dan some very interesting ma- Keesee, a rancher in the area. Little is known of her life terial on her life. after the death of John Prowers and her marriage to Amache Ochinee was Dan Keesee. It is known that Amache and her second born in the summer of husband traveled to Cambridge, MA where she passed 1846 amidst a forced away at the age of 58 in 1905. It is speculated that the march of the Cheyenne Keesees moved to Cambridge where there was a hospi- Sandy Dexter tribe. Sandy explained tal that cared for ailing individuals no matter their race. that while Indian children Thanks are extended to Sandy Dexter for her most were watched over by the tribal women, children had a interesting and informative talk about the life of lot of freedom as they grew up. It changed for the Amache. We all learned so much about Amache and young girl after her first menstrual cycle as she was then many of the people she knew throughout her life. ☼ considered a woman and was taught how to cook, clean December 2016 Newsletter Bent’s Fort Chapter Page 3 Great Events Planned for 2017 Colorado Santa Fe Trail Signage Project The Bent's Fort Chapter Board met on December 10 and tentatively planned some great activities for the coming By LaDonna Hutton, in collaboration with Kevin Lindahl, year. Following are the dates and events planned: Charlie Hutton and Pat Palmer January 14: Bent's Fort Chapter Annual Meeting It’s been quite a multi-year project but the last Santa Fe The annual meeting will be held at the JW Rawlings Her- Trail sign in SE Colorado was planted October 28, 2016. itage Center and Museum located at 560 Bent Avenue There have many individuals who helped make the sign (corner of Hwy 50 and 5th St.) in Las Animas, CO. The planting project a success. Following is a brief outline of Chapter meeting will start at 11 AM followed by a ca- the project. tered lunch. Mike and Patti Olsen will be the featured In April, 2010 the Santa Fe Trail Association devel- speakers. The title of their talk is "Those Literate Ladies: oped an Agreement with the National Park Service. It Women Writing on the Santa Fe Trail." was determined that the individual chapters could apply for funds through the SFTA. Sign requests could include February 11: Love to Read Along the Santa Fe Trail Local Tour Route, Original Route, Crosses Here, and We will once again meet to talk about books from the Ruts signs that included the National Historic Trail logo. 1800s that discuss travelers and life along the Trail. Af- ter the book discussion, there will be a catered In Colorado, the Bent’s Fort Chapter developed a sign lunch. Tentatively, the panel will be held at the Lamar plan for the counties of Prowers, Bent, Otero, and Las Cultural Events Center in Lamar, CO. Animas. In the spring of 2011, a committee of individu- als consisting of Dub Couch, Kevin Lindahl, Pat Palmer, March 11: Geocaching along the Trail Jeff Trotman, Emery Murray and LaDonna Hutton met to The geocache event, while for all members, is geared to determine locations of signs for the sign plan.