Mancos Colorado and Surrounding Area

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

This is a repost from earlier.

How many have heard of Mancos? For those of us who live in Colorado, it is the name of the town and river in southwest Colorado.

The name, Rio de Los Mancos, first appears in the records of the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante expedition. The story is that one of the writers fell and hurt his hand; thus the word 'mancos' which means left-handed or one-armed.

The Mancos River, originally called El Rio de San Lazaro,  begins Northeast of the town of Mancos. At that point, the West Mancos and East Mancos rivers join and continue South through that part of Colorado into northern New Mexico, near the Four Corners region.

Mancos and surrounding area
from Wikipedia 

For some of you, this may sound familiar. Why? It is also one of the entrances to Mesa Verde National Park. Along with the Ute Mountain Ute Mancos Canyon Historic District, a private park, it makes up one of the largest archaeological preserves in the United States. This region is important as a window into the culture of the Anasazi present in the area before the influx of the Spanish, English, and others.

The Mancos Valley, where the town of Mancos is situated, was described in an 1897 article as “lying along the eastern border of the county of Montezuma. It is about twelve miles long and two to three miles wide. It is the county's oldest farming section, first settled around 1877. Probably three thousand acres are under cultivation in this valley, which is famous for its immense yields of alfalfa, wheat, and oats.”  The article also says the town of Mancos is incorporated and has all the different branches of business and industry that make up a thriving western town. It is a supply point for the La Plata mines in Montezuma County. Ranching also took place in the general area.

During the recent devastating flooding in Southwestern Colorado, Mancos was less impacted than some other areas.

As I research my next book, I will continue my search in Montezuma County, Mancos, Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park, and the stories this historically rich area has to offer.

Until next time:

Stay safe - Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

A Look Back - Planning Forward

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw 

2025 is about to be a scene in the rearview mirror. Here is a look back at the year of blog posts:

January - I began the year on a Thank You: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/01/thank-you.html

February - A look at my reading list and the importance of stories: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/02/and-next.html

March - Relevance and a rant of sorts: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/03/relevant-it-depends.html

April - The upcoming A250-C150: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/04/150-250.html

May - A look at AI and its influence? :https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/05/andi-share.html

June - Some of my favorite opening lines: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/06/opening-lines.html

July - A look at some of the painters and photographers of the Old West: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-other-side-of-west.html

August - A deep dive into the people that caught my reading attention: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/08/research-reading-deep-dive.html

September - A bit about the man made 'famous' in Isabella Bird's book  "A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains": https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/09/rocky-mountain-jim.html

October - A look at a man who impacted early Colorado: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/10/sir-st-george-gore.html

November - Dr. Dunlop and her connection to the Lake County War: https://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2025/10/sir-st-george-gore.html

As I plan 2026, my thought is to deep-dive into the people who were involved in the effort to secure Colorado's statehood in 1869, the results, and the process that led to Colorado becoming the Centennial State. For those who have the time to read these blogs, as well as the others who post here, we hope our offerings are of some use and enjoyment.

Until next year, 

Stay Safe, Stay Creative, and Stay Happy,

Until Next Time,

Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

Sgt. J. W. Peterson - 2nd Colorado Cavalry

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

GAR Section of Evergreen Cemetery, 
Colorado Springs, CO. 
Image (C) Doris McCraw

John W. Peterson enlisted in Denver, Colorado, Colorado Territory, as a private on September 1, 1863. He mustered out of Company E of the 3rd Infantry to transfer to Company M of the Colorado Cavalry as a Seargent on October 1, 1863, when that unit was organized. 

Various companies of the 2nd Cavalry served in Missouri, the District of the Frontier, and New Mexico. They were the first to leave the territory to serve on the Union side of the conflict. The history is varied and a bit hard to follow. For those who would like to know more you can find the information U. S., Amerian Civil War Regiments, 1861-1865.

His personal life is a bit of a mystery, for there was also another John Peterson in Colorado Springs at the same time. Trying to decipher who is who has been more time-consuming than expected. So far, any records that match show he never married. Hopefully, time will bring more of Sgt. Peterson's life to the forefront. So far the John Peterson, born around 1835 in Illinois shows the most promise.

We do know he died on April 9, 1904, and is buried in the GAR section of Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs.

For more on the Civil War Veterans and Veteran's Wives in this series:

Martha Douglass - Prairie Rose Publications

William T. Douglass - Western Fictioneers

Private John H. Long - Western Fictioneers

Isabella Long - Prairie Rose Publications 

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Wrap up - Year End

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Five days, just five more days left to 2023, and then on to 2024. It has been a year. 

Let's begin by finishing the story of the De La Vergne family, specifically Edward, the son of  George W. from the Fish Farm story.

Edward was one of the first to invest in the Cripple Creek Mining District. Some stories claim he was the one who located the first paying gold. After Robert (Bob) Womack located the mineral in Starvation Gulch he decided to invest despite what others were saying about the danger of another hoax.

Image from Find a Grave

He was born in 1846 in Marietta, Ohio, the youngest of ten children. He moved to Colorado Springs, in 1878 with the rest of the family. During his time in Cripple Creek, he was vice president and general manager of the Elkton Mining and Milling Company along with owning additional mining properties.  

Like many others, De La Vergne was involved in community affairs and politics. By 1904 he was elected to the State Senate and served until 1908 when his term ended.

He married Alice Hook in 1896 who was born in England in 1864.

Edward died in September 1917.

With that end tied up the rest of the year will be devoted to where I want to take my writing in 2024.

I would like to resume the author biographies, especially the new members. Also, if I'd asked you to participate earlier and didn't get it posted, let me know. I'm in the process of migrating files over to a new system and don't want to overlook anyone.

As 2023 ends, what are your plans for the coming year?

As always:

Until Next Time Stay Safe & Stay Well

Doris

Emma F. Langdon and the Power of Words

Post by Doris McCraw aka Angela Raines

Photo property of the Author

“THE state of Colorado ceased under the administration of James H. Peabody, to be republican in its form of government, and became a military oligarchy. The expressed will of the people was ignored by their chosen representatives; thus bringing upon the state a series of calamities, the magnitude of which may now readily be seen.”

The above is taken from the introduction to Emma's book “The Cripple Creek Strike, A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado 1903-4-5”. Regardless of your belief in who was right or wrong during this tumultuous time, this book is considered the definitive work on the region and events of the time and area. That it is written by a woman makes it even more amazing.

Here then is the story of Emma F. Langdon.

Emma was born September 29, 1875, in Tennessee. She married Charles Langdon, born June 9, 1870, in 1896. She also became a stepmother to Lucille M. Lockett with this marriage. In 1900 the family was residing in Junction City Kansas.

In 1903 Emma and her husband moved to Victor, Colorado, and worked at the Victor Daily Record. Although Emma had said a woman belonged at home and not in public life, her sentiment was not to be.

On May 15, 1893, in Butte Montana, the Western Federation of Miners was born. It was comprised of forty delegates from fifteen unions from the states of Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, and South Dakota. Approximately six months later the unions negotiated shorter work days (eight hours) and an increase in pay ($3.25 a day) in the Cripple Creek-Victor area. In 1903 the tensions between miners and mine owners increased. The union supported the smelter workers who were working long hours and less pay.

The situation became so volatile that the mine owners censored and arrested anyone who opposed their edits. This resulted in the workers at the Victor Daily Record being rounded up so that this pro-union newspaper could not put out the next issue. When Emma was told of the 'arrest' she went to the paper and that night barricaded herself in, set type, and put out the paper on schedule. When she delivered the issue to the men who had been taken to the 'bullpen' the laughter of the captors changed and the incarcerated rejoiced.

In 1904 when the strike ended those who had supported the union were requested to leave. Emma moved to Denver Colorado where she remained until her death on November 30, 1937. She continued her work on behalf of the union.

The story of the Labor Wars in Colorado is full of people from both sides that made their mark on the region's history. From 1893-1914 and the Ludlow massacre, Colorado was a hotbed of conflict between the haves and have-nots with errors in judgment on both sides. Not an easy read, but a fascinating one.

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy.

Doris

It all Began with a Headstone: Who was Jane Kirkham?

Post by Doris McCraw aka Angela Raines 

Photo property of the author

Jane Kirkham - It all began with a headstone. 

Image from the Loveland Reporter-Herald

Along Highway 24 near the junction of Highway 82 on the east side of the Arkansas River, you will find a lone headstone. This area is near the old stage road between Buena Vista and Leadville. Should you get out of your car and walk to this small white grave marker you would read the following:

My wife — Jane Kirkham, Died March 7, 1879, Aged 38 years, 3 months, 7 days.

But who was Jane Kirkham? No one seems to know for sure. Therein is where myths, legends, and stories begin. This post hopes to look at some of the more prevalent stories and a couple of possibilities.

Searches so far the exact date the stories began has not been found. What has been found are various stories about who she was and why the headstone is located where it is.

In John Halfor's book "Strange but True, Colorado: Weird Tales of the Wild West" he tells the tales of a gold shipment being held up in a spot where there were other hold-ups. The guards shot the robber and when they pulled the mask off the robber they saw it was a woman. She also was the wife of one of the guards who was so ashamed he buried where she fell. 

Most of the stories follow this story with the 'husband' being the sheriff, or some other authority figure who kills his 'wife'. 

It's the book "Forgotten Tales of Colorado" by Stephanie Waters that has the sheriff pursuing the bandit and bullets ricocheting off rocks like lightning that really makes it 'come alive'. She ends her story with the line, "...but at least he had the decency to erect the lonesome tombstone..."

Lest you think the story ends there, Jane Kirkham's name shows up in a court case in the town of Rosita in Custer County as having property in that town. 

There are also those who have tried to find out more about the person whose name appears on that stone. There are no newspaper reports about the stories mentioned earlier in the post, nor does her name appear in any census records in that area. 

There is also a story that she was a woman who was riding the stage and died in childbirth and they buried her there.

One person suggests, after doing ancestor research, her name was Eliza Jane Harris, born in 1840 in Iowa. Here is the link to that story: https://www.tamatoledonews.com/opinion/editorials/2022/10/21/a-history-mystery/

A YouTube video from 2018: https://youtu.be/FQmzW7E2OnY

and the article the above photo came from: https://www.reporterherald.com/2018/02/16/jane-kirkham-grave-remains-a-mystery/

I leave it to you and your research or imagination to answer the question - Who is Jane Kirkham?

Until next time: stay safe, stay happy, and stay healthy.

Doris