xt72jm23fg38 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72jm23fg38/data/mets.xml Colorado Historical Records Survey United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects Colorado. Department of State. Colorado Colorado Historical Records Survey United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects Colorado. Department of State. 1941 195 p.: ill. c 28 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:C 719/no.35 books  English Denver, Colo.: the Survey  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Colorado Works Progress Administration Publications Archives--Colorado--Larimer County--Catalogs Larimer County (Colo.)--History--Sources Inventory of the County Archives of Colorado. No. 35. Larimer County (Fort Collins), 1941 text Inventory of the County Archives of Colorado. No. 35. Larimer County (Fort Collins), 1941 1941 1941 2020 true xt72jm23fg38 section xt72jm23fg38 INVENTORY OF

THE COUNTY ARCHIVES
OF COLORADO

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L;l‘,¢§fif\3§5

U hi i \JE'W ET? {3f KENTUQKV

No.35 LARIMER COUNTY

(FORT COLLINS)

COLORADO HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY
WORK PROJECTS ADMlNISTRATION

DO NOT DISCARD
* a:

 

    
   
  
    
      

INVENTORY OF THE COUNTY ARCHIVES

OF COLORADO

NO. 55 LARIMER COUNTY (Fort Collins)

Prepared by

The Colorado Historical Records Survey
Division of ProfeSsional and Service Projects
Work Projects Administration

Sponsored by

Colorado Department of State

 
 

Denver, Colorado
The Colorado Historical Records Survey

October 1941

  

 

HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY PROJECTS

Sargent B. Child, Director
Rush Razee, Jr., State Supervisor

HSEARCH AND RECORDS PROGRAMS

Harvey E. Beclmell, Director
Robert H. Slover, Regional Supervisor
Laurence H. Wimberly, State Chief

DIVISION OF COMIVIUNI'IY SERVICE PROGRAMS

Florence Kerr; Assistant Commissioner
Mary H. Isham, Chief Regional Supervisor
Margaret S. Reef, State Director

E

WORK PROJECTS [LUMINIS TRATI ON

HOWard 0. Hunter, Commissioner
8. L. Nicholson, Regional Director
Paul D. Shriver, State Administrator

 

 FOREWORD

The Invent01ry of the County Archives gfm Colorado is one of a number
of guides to historical materials prepared. throughout the United States
by workers on the Historic: 1 Records Survey Projects of the Nork Projects
Administration. The publication herewith presented, an inventory of the
archives of Larimer County is number 55 in an alphabetical listing of the
sixty-three Colora1do counties.

 

 

The Ilistorical Records Survey Program was undertaken in the winter of
1955-56 for the purpose of' providing useful employment to needy unemployed
historians, lawyers, teachers, and research and clerical workers 3. In
carrying out this objective, the project was organized to compile inven—
tories of historical materials, particular].y the unpublished government
documents and records which are basic in the administration of local gov—
ernment, and which provide invaluable data for students of political,
economdc, and social hi story. Up to the present time the Survey has is-
sued approximately 1,350 publications thioughout the country. The archi—
val guide herewith presented is intended to reet the requirements of the
day—to— day administration by the officials of the county, and also the
needs of lawy: rs, busines semen, and other citizens who require facts from
the public records for the proper conduct of their affairs. The volume
is so designed that it can be used by the historian in his research in
unprinted sources in the same way houses the librtry card catalog for
printed sources.

The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey Project
attempt to do mere than give merely a list of records — they attempt fur:
ther to sketch in the historical background of the county or other unit

of government, and to describe precisely and in detail the organization
and functions of the government agencies whose records they list. The

county, town, and other local inventories for the entire county will,
when completed, constitute an encyclopedia of local government as well
as a bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records Sur—
vey Projects, even in a single county, would not be possible without the
support of public officials, historical and legal specialists, and many
other groups in the community. Their cooperation is gratefully acknowledged.

The Survey Program was organized by Luther H. Evans, who served as Di-
rector until Mhrch 1,1940 when he was succeeded by Sargent B. Chrld. The
Survey ope‘atcs as a no tion—wide series of locally sponsored projects in
the Division of Community Service Programs, of which Ems. Florence Kerr,
Assistant Commissioner, is in charge.

HOWARD O. HUNTER
Commissioner of work Projects

 

 PREFACE

The Historical Records Survey was created in the winter of 1955-56
as a Nation—wide Werks Progress Administration project for the discovery,
preservation, and listing of basic materials for research in the history
of the United States. Under the direction of Dr. Luther H. Evans, the
Survey undertook an extensive program for the inventory of State and local
archives, early American imprints, church archives, and collection of
manuscripts. The Survey as a single Nation~wide project sponsored by WPA
itself was terminated August 51, 1959, and the work of the Survey was con—
tinued in the individual states by locally sponsored projects ope -rating
within the national WPA Historical Records Survey frogral.

The Colorado Project of the Historical Records Survey was established
February 1956 under the administration of the Federe 1 writers' Traject.
Because of the impossibility of simultaneously placing local units of the

we projects in the same communities, the Survey commenced to function in—
dependently of the writers' Project in July, 1956. In November, 1956,
with Preston B. Albright as director, the project became an independent
part of Federal Project No. I. On July 16, 1957, Mr. Albright was suc—
ceeded asState Director by C. M. Suble tte, zznd after his death was suc—
cecded by Rush Ra zee,. Jr., Februarys o, 1940, who had previously served

as Assistant State Director. The work of the Colorrdo unit of the Federal
Historical Records Survey was continued by the Colorado Historicsl Records
Survey Project established September 1, 1959, and sponsored by the Depart—
ment of State, with George E. Saunders as Secretary of State until January
1, L941, when Welter F. Morrison became Secretary of State.

The Inventory of the Archives of Colorado when completed will consist
of a book for each of the 65 counti_ s and an additional volume of essays
on county government within the State. The county inventories are divided
into a historical sketch, an essay on governmental organization, an essay
on care and housing of records which pictures the conditions under which
records are preserved, a listing of abbreviations, symbols, and explana-
tory notes, followed by the inventory proper, arranged by office and bu—
reau. The records are arranged with those of the administrative branches
of the county government first, followed by land registration, Federal,
law enforcement, fiscal, educational, and miscellaneous agencies. Minor
agencies are placed in the general arr ingcment according to function,
rather than according to constitutional or statutory responsibility to a
major subdivision.

Records are described in entries whose style is formalized to give
the following information: Titles of record, dates for which available,
quantity, labeling of volumes or containers, variant titles, description
of record contents, manner of arrangement, indexing, nture of recording,
size and type of volume or containers, and location.

The Survey is now engaged in preparing a comprehensive st.2 Itemci it of
the general law regulating county government, to be titled Countym Govern-
ment in Colorado. It is expected that this book will serve as handbook

 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *III
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV
General
Historical Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Establishment of County. Boundaries. Topograph‘. Sett oment.
First Officials. rirst Elections. County Courthouse. County
Jail. Poorhouse and county Hospital. Agriculture. Roads.
Bridges. Railroads. Election l)recincts. Newspapers.
Map Showing Evolution of Boundaries of Lsrimor County . . . . . 5
Governmental Organization and Records EJystem . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Chart of County Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Housing, Ca e, and Accessibility of the Records . . . . . . . . . 28
Floor Plans of Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Explanatory Notes, Abbreviations, and Symbols . . . . . . . . . . 55
County Offices and their Records
Board of County Commissioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3?
Proceedings. Budgets. Taxes: levies; refunds. Receipts and
Disbursements: financial statements; audit; claims; warrants.
Roads: establishment; maps and specifications. Contracts.
County Property: documents; buildings; insurance. Bonds.
County Officials: register; appointments; bonds; reports. Pub—
lic Welfare. Liquor Licenses. Meat Inspection. Bounties.
Legal Opinions. maps: state; county; cities and towns; school;
mining; drainage; railroad. Correspondence.
County Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Election: electors; candidates; officials; returns; maps. Mhr—
riages. Hunting and Fishing. MilitarV. Financial Records:
funds account; bank account; receipts. Correspondence. Motor
Vehicles: registration; ownership; repossessions; reports;
drivers.

/

Recorder of Deeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Reception. General Indexes. Reel Eroperty: misc l.aneous;
patents; warranty deeds; quit claim deeds; tax deeds; sheriff's
deeds; cemetery deeds; estate deeds; trust deeds, private

 

 Table of Contents

Board of Equalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tax Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assessment: general; improvement; motor vehicle. Taxes: re~
ports; receipts; abatements; delinquent. Foreclosures: ready
reference; proceedings; notices; certificate of purchase; re—
demptions; delinquent. Ownership: real property; motor vehi—

cle. Maps.

County Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Receipts and Disbursements: cash accounts; funds accounts; bank
accounts; warrant; reports. Funds: foe; receipts. School Dis—
tricts: funds accounts; warrants. Bonds. Bounties. Corres—
pondence.

Superintendent of Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General Business: Record; reports. Financial Record: budgets.
School District: boundaries; election; directors; census. Tea-
chers: certificates; qualifications; attendanCe reports. Pupils.
Library. lbrrespondence.

Lend Conmdssioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Surveyor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Records. Field Hotes.

Road Overseer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
water Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Irrigation Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Board of Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Physician to Board of Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eublic Health Nurse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Registrar of Vital Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Department or Public Welfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
County Administration of Public Relief: minutes; clients.
Finance: record; payrolls; reports. Relief Committee.
Agricultural Extension Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Home Demonstration Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Subject Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of Publications of the Colorado Historical Records Survey

Page
131

131

138

144

151

56

'161
161
162

‘164

'195

 

  

(First entry, p. 38)

HISTORICAL SKETJH
County gent: Fort Collins;1 population 12,251.2
Area: 2,629 square miles;3 rank in State, 9th.4
Eggulgtigg: 35,539;5 rank in State, 6th.6
fissessed yoluetign: $36,476,070;7 rank in State, 5th.8
£§§2§§EQ.E§;ESJ Egan Eronerty: $14,652,510;9 rank in State, 2nd.lO

Assessed yhluo, Cpttlc: $624,470;ll rank in State, 5th.12

 

value Mhnufactured Products: $8,393,355;13 rank in State, 4th.14

 

~.—...__.—_ “gm-W -_—..——~_

Establishment of County

 

\

The First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Colorado, on Novem—
ber 1, 1861, divided the Territory into severigen counties, one of which
was Larimer, with the county seat at Loporte. The county was named in
honor of General William Lorimer, one of the famous "Leavenworth men" who
founded Denver City.16
hwlgfies

Larimer County occupies. a central position in the northern tier of

 

1. County Commissioners Record (of Proceedings), vol. 0, p. 52,
see entry 1. Hereinafter cited as Commissioners Record.

2. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Denver (0010.) Pest, Jan. 6, 1941.
Hereinafter cited as Final Census Count, 1940.

5. Colorado State Planning Commission, Colorado Year Book,
1939, 1940, p. 479. Hereinafter cited as Year Book.

4. Ibid. ‘

5. Final Census Count, 1940.

6. Ibid.

7. Ysor\Book, p. 157.

8. Ibid., p. 24.

9. Ibid., p. 165.

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid., p. 151.

12. Ibid.

15. Ibid., p. 124.

14. Ibid.

15. T.L. 1861, p. 55, secs. 20, 21.

16. wetrous, op. cit.,p. 42.

 

 STATES LINE COLORADO - WYOMING

   

 

  

 

    

  

    
 
   
 

   
 

 

  

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Location of Iarimer /
County :‘Iithin the State 1.5.3 1332 CCUF‘TTY ‘
Dotted. Lines Show Foruor ioundaries of Igrimer County 16361-1909
Heavy Lines Show Present Fsoundm'ios of Lax-inner County 1909-1941

 

 

  

-6...

Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 58)

Colorado counties, lying south of the 41st parallel and between meridians
105 and 106 west. It is bounded on the north by the State of Wyoming, on
the east by Held, on the south by Boulder, and on the west by Grand and
Jackson Counties.

The common boundary line between Larimer and Weld Counties on the east
and Boulder County on the south still exists as established in 1861.2 From
1861 until February 2, 1874, Summit County lay to the west and to the south
of the western half of Larimer Gaunty, their common boundary running from
a point "at or near Longs Peak" along the "summit of the Snowy Range" to
the northern boundary of the Territory.3 On February 2, 1874, Grand County
was created from that part of Summit County which bounded on La imer County.
On January 29, 1877, Routt County was created from.th€t part of Grand County
lying west of Larimer, leaving Grand County to the south of that part of
Larimer County known as North Park.

Litigation arose following the creation of Routt County between Larimer
and Grand Counties concerning'the identity of the "Snowy Range" or Continen—
tal Divide as a boundary line, each county claiming the North Park area.
This was settled by Supreme Court opinion, which ruled that the Continental
Divide or Snowy Range, and not the Medicine Bow Range was the boundary.6 On
Why 5, 1909, Jackson County was created from this North Park area,7 and the
summit of the Medicine Bow Range became the present western boundary line
of Larimer from Mount Richtofen, to the northern boundary of the State.

gpgograghy

The elevation of Larimer County varies from 4,875 feet at Timnath on
its eastern boundary line,9 to 14,255 feetlo at its southwest boundary cor-_
nor, the summit of Longs Peak. *

The surface of the county is diversified by plains, foothills, and high
mountains; the western half being composed of the high densely—wooded Medicine
Bow Range, the central section being foothills, ranging in elevation from

 

1. United States Department of the interior, General Land Office, Map of
the State of Colorado, 1954. Hereinafter cited as Map of Colorado.
. T.L. 1861, p. 55, sees. 20, 22; C.S.A., ch. 44, secs. 9, 42.
T.L. 1861, p. 55, sac. 20; C.S.A., ch. 44, sees. 42, 75.
T.L. 1874, p. 70f., secs. 1, 2; C.S.A., ch. 44, secs. 50, 51.
G.L., secs. 395, 594; C.S.A., ch. 44, sees. 64, 65.
Supreme Court of the State of Colorado, Report of Cases
Vol. IX, pp. 272—281, sec. 34.
L. 1909, p. 432, sec. 1; C.S.A., ch. 44, sec. 35.
Map of Colorado.
Year Book, Gazetteer of Cities and Towns of Colorado, 1940,
in.pocket inside back cover. Hereinafter cited as
Gazetteer of Cities and Towns.
10. Year Book, p. 51.
11. T.L. 1861, p. 55, sees. 20, 22; C.S.A., ch. 44, secs. 9, 42.

monsoon:
I O I.

“.0034!

 

  

-7-

Historical Sketch ' _ (First en.ry, p. 58)

6,000 to 8,000 feet, lightly timberod and covered with grass, the eastern
‘ fourth being sandhills on the north and irrigated lands on the south.1

Although Larimor County is essentially an agricultural county, almost
half of the lend is forest area.' The Roosevedt National Forest covers
602,252 acres“ and the Rocky Mountain National Park covers 141,480 acres.5
The Rocky Mountain is one of the most accessible of National Parks and
attracts thousands of tourists each year.

There were 23,507 acres of surveyed, unappropriated public domain in
‘ Larimer County on April 50, 1938,4 The land was withdrawn from homestead
entry on November 26, 1954.5

The State of Colorado owns 65,171.8 acres of school sections in
Larimer County. This land was granted to the tate by the Federal govern—
ment in 1876. The State also owns 5,241.5 acres which comprises the Agri-
cultural College lands received under the Morill Act6 on January 27, 1879.

There are 784,329 acres of patented land within the county,8 com—
prising 46.62 percent of its total area.9

Settlement

The first official white settlement in the county was made at Laporte
about 1830, but according to Philip Covington who pasSed through the county
in 1828, there were smite men, Canadian trappers with Indian wives, liv-
ing at Laporte at that time. Antoine-Janis is believed to have been the
first permanent white settler in that part of Colorado north of the.Arkan—
sas River. Ansel wetrouslo quotes a letter Written to him by Antoine Janis,
from Pine Ridge Indian Agency, on Mbrch 17, 1883, in which Janis states:
"0n the first of June 1844, I stuck my stake on a claim in the valley, in—
tending the location selected for my heme, should the country ever be set-
tled. Bold Wolf, chief of the Arapahoes, called a council of his braves,
who finally gave us permission to locate, and donated to us all the land
from-the foot of the mountains to the mouth of Boxelder Greek (which is
about eight miles from.the mountains). my associates in the donation were

 

_l. U. S. Department of Agriculture, "lend Classification of
’ Colorado," Coleredo .‘xgriculturg Statistics, 1959,

inside back cover.

2. Year Book, p. 19.

5. Ibid. . . , _ '

4. United States Department of Interior, General Land Office,
thant Public Lands, Information Bulletin No. 4, 1939
series, p. 4. Hereinafter cited as Information Bulletin, No. 4.

5. Year Book, p. 376.

6. 12 Stat; 503. 4

7. L. 1879, p. 174f.

8. Year Book, secs. 1-5, p. 19.

9. lbid., p. 15.

O. Whtrous, op. cit., p. 44.

 

  

Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 58)

Elbridge Gerry and Nicholas Janis. In the winter of 1858, settlers and §,.
prospectors came flocking in. A town company was formed, consisting of 1
Nicholas, Gerry, Todd, Randall, Raymond, John Batiste, Oliver Morisette,
Antoine Lebeau, B. Goodwin, Revofire, and others who located a townsite
and called it Colone. We had the site surveyed and mapped, and built 50
houses or cabins."

In 1859, Rock Bush filed on a claim on the north side of the river;
in 1861 more settlers located on the river bottoms southeast of the pre—
sent city of Fort Collins. More settlements were made later in the year1
after the title to the Indian lands passed to the United States.

The transfer of the Overland Stage Route, in 1862, from the North to
th* South Platte, and the running of daily coaches through Larimer County,
resulted in many newcomers during 1862—1864.“

On march 17, 1862, the Laporte Townsite Company filed a squatter's
claim to 1280 acres.3 The constitution of this company, which had a capi—
tal stock of $120,000 was recorded between march 24 and August 6, 1862.4
The town of Laporte was named by the First Territorial Legislative Assem—
bly as the temporary county seat on November 1, 1861.5 There is no official
record of its having been approved as a permanent county seat at the second
annual election for county officers, as the statutes required 6 but all
county business was arried on there until November 17, 1868.¢ The first
post office in Larimer County was established in Laporte in June 1862.

Fort Collins, which was made the County seat by an election held Sep4
tember 8, 1868,9 owes its origin as a town to a flood of the Cache 1a
Poudre River, June 9, 1864.10 This flood washed away the Laporto toll
bridge, stalled 200 emigrant wagons,‘and flooded the camp of Companies "B”
and "F", 11th Ohio volunteer Cavalry, stationed there to protect the Over—
land stagecoaches and the emigrant trains from Laporte to Virginia Dale.
Colonel William 0. Collins, at Fort Laramie, ordered Captain Evans, com—
mander of the post at Laporte, to locate a camp beyond danger of floods,
and on August 20, 1864, directed that a’é mile square tract of land situ-
ated in township 7 north, range 69 west, be set aside as a military re—
servation. This reservation was confirmed in turn by the General Land
Office, the Secretaries of War, and Interior, and finally so ordered by

 

 

l. Whtrous, op. cit., p. 51.

2. Ibid.
3. Ibid., p. 48; Miscellaneous Real Estate, vol. A.,
pp. 14, 15, see entry 172.

4. Ibid., miscellaneous Real Estate, vol. A, pp. 28ff.

5. T.L. 1861, p. 55, sec. 21. .
6. T.L. 1861, p. 151,“ sec. 2. ' ,»
7. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 57, see entry 1. E
8. watrous, op. cit., p. 48. ‘
9. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 52, see entry 1.
10. Agnes wright Spring, "The Founding of Fort Collins,"

Colorado fiagazine, X (1935), 47-55.

 

 i
q
1
l
k
I

 

Historical Sketch - ' (First entry, p. 58)

President Lincoln, on November 14, 1864. The fort, which had been named
Camp Collins in honor of the Col_one1 was manned until the spring of 1867,
when it was abandoned. On Dec mber 28, 1867, the Seventh Colorado La—
gislative Assembly requested Congress that the abandoned fort be opened

to preemption and homestead entries.2 A second request, Feb. 11, 1870,
that the reservation be transferred to Colorado for the purpose of the
establishment of.an agricultural college}3 Congress opened the land to
_preemption and homestead, May 15,1872.4 fifter the reservation was re-r
leased, General Robert A. Cameron organized r company to colonize the

Fort Collins district and found a townsite. In. 1872, the Fort Collins
Agricultural Colony was promoted by members of the Greeley Colony in Weld
County. Fort Collins was first incorporated as a town by order of th

board of county commie ssioners, February 5,1875.6 The first town tm stees
named were: B. T. Whedbee, G. C. Blake, H. C. Peterson, W. C. Stover, and
W. S. Vescelius.’7 Fort Collins was incorporatecl as a second—class city,
February 12, 1883. 8 -

Estes Park with a present-population of 994,9 and an area of 225 acres,
was named, in 1864, in honor of Joel Estes who lived there from 1860 to
1866; 10 and was incorporated April 17, 1917.11 The village lies at an alti-
tude of 7,500 feet,12 and is a noted mountain summer resort. In 1874, the
Park Road Company built a toll road from St. V in to Estes Park.15 Estes
Park is now the converging point for three h..rd— surfaced highwrmys U. S.
34, through the Big Thompson canon, Colorado 7, which wl nds along the South
St. Vrain river, and skirts Longs Peak; and Colors ado 66, which climbs the
North St. Vrain.l4-‘

Virginia Dale, an unincorporated village, identified as school district
number 12,15 was one of the west's mast noted localities in early days; its
name and fame being spread by Overland stage travelers. It was the first
Overland division point northwest of Denver from.June 1862 until 1867 and
was situated just south of the Territorial boundary line; also a camping
place for emigrant trains, as it lay on the only route they were permitted
to travel because of Indian depredations.16

 

1. Agnes Wright, loc. cit.
2, Priv:te Acts, -emorlals, zn3 Joint Resolutions of the 7th. Session of
tile Legislative fissembly oi Colorado Territory, 1867, 68, p. 25.
3. T.L. 1870, p. 168.
4. 17 Stat. 165.
5. Jerome C. Smiley, Semicantennial History of the State of Colorado, I, 457.
6. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 171, see entry 1.
7. Ibid.
8. Gazetteer of Cities and Towns.
9. Final Census Count, 1940.
10. watrous, op. cit., p. 176.
ll. Gazetteer of Cities and Towns.
12. Ibid.
15. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 229, see entry 1.
14. State Highway Department, Colorado Highways (1940 map and
descriptive folder), Imp. Hereinca fter cited as Highway 18p.
15. (As sessmco nt nd Tax Documents), entry 381.
16. watrous, op. cit., p. 189.

 

 

  

 

-10-

i
f
|
r
L
l

Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 38)

On October 7, 1867, the board of commissioners fixed the rates of $011
on Laporte, Virginia Dale, and Boundary Linc Whgon Road, and ordered the
clerk to direct a notice to the company and place it in the hands of the ;
sheriff to serve.1 This reed became U. s. 287. ?

The town of loveland was established in 1877, when the Colorado Cen-
tral railway entered the Big Thompson valley.5 This new town was about a
mile from St. Louis, then the trading center of the locality, but follow—
ing the removal of the postoffice from St. Louis to Loveland, St. Louis
was ggedunlly supplanted by its neighbor‘L which was incorporated April 50,
1881. '

Other incorporated towns in Lnrimer COunty, with dates of incorpora—
tion are: Bellvue, August 31, 1896; Berthoud, August 28, 1888; Timmeth,
July 6, 1920; and Wellington, November 10, 1905. Other towns in the coun—
ty not incorporated are: Buckeye, Drake, Eggers, Glenderly, Glen Haven,
Home, Livermore, Log Cabin, Mhsonville, Orcutt, Repple, Rex, Roach, waverly,
and Wilds.5

First 6fficie1s
.__.__.,_i._____

There is no official record of the names of the three commissioners
whom.Covernor Gilpin appointed, as required by statute, to conduct the
first general election in Larimer County on December 2, 1861.7 Joseph
Mason, James B. Arthur, and William B. Osborne were appointed on August
16, 1862, by Governor John Evans to hold office until their successors
should be elected and qualified.8 However, these appointments were can—
celed, September 24, 1862, by Acting Governor Elbert.9

Until October 8, 1864, in the first minutes of proceedings of board
of county commissioners there was no further official record of county
officers.lo

That these officers had been elected that year is evidenced by an act
of the 6th Legislative Assembly, January 8, 1867, to legalize the acts of
H. W. Chamberlain, county clerk of Larimer County, in canvassing the vote
of said county in 1864 without the aid of two gustices of the peace.-

 

1. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 40, see entry 1.

2. Highway Map.

5. Hall, op. cit., p. 189.

4 Watreus, op. cit., p. 204.

5. Gazetteer of Cities and Towns.

6 Office of Secretary of State, Index to Cities and Towns.
See Inventory of the State Archives of Colorado,
Series VI, Department of State, entry 42.

7. T.L. 1861, p. 47. '

8. Governor of_Colorado Territory, Executive
Records, vol. I, p. 79. I

9. Ibid. ' i

10. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 1, see entry 1. n

11. T.L. 1867, p. 57, sec. 1. - -

  

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f

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E

-11-

Historical Sketch (First entry, p. :58)

The first public trustee was appointed by the governor in 1921.1

The first judge of the district court in Larimer County was the Hon.
William R. Gorslines,‘ who opened a term.on October 20, 1868.3 The clerk
of the 2nd judicial dietrict was H. H. Atkins, the deputy district clerk
for Lerimer County was J. C. Mathews,4 who was also clerk and recorder,
and ex officio clerk of probate court, at this time.6

The first probate judge, John E. washburn, heard his first civil
case, an action of debt, on March‘l6, 1865.7 W. H. Chamberlain, clerk
and recorder, was ex officio clerk of the probate court.8 Judge A. F.
Howes heard the first probate action, December 7, 1868; W. H. Chamberlain
was still the ex officio clerk. -The first county judge was Jay H. Bough—
ton, whose official bond wee npproved,-Octobor 23, 1876.10 Charles P.
Scott served as clerk of the ecunty court until Nevember 19, 1877. l The
next clerk, Khud Patton, was appointed January 21, 1884.12' The first pro-
bation officer, Charles E. Sanders, was appointed in March, 1920.13

There is no official recOrd to show by what authority J. C. Peabody
acted as Justice of the Peace in 1862, when he acknowledged instruments
recorded in Record, "A" of the recorder's office.14 The first Justices
of the Peace appointed by the board of county commissioners were as fol—
lows: Harris Stretton -February 11, 1867,15 Frederick Whllece (also
Mhllis), June 3, 1867.16 On April 1, 1867, J. M. Smith was elloWed $7.75
for "Service as Justice Peace"}7 but not until Septembei 5, 1867, was
any record made showing the approval of e bond for him. 8 Justice pre—
cincts were not designated in the records by a number until October 5,
1868, when "the bond of Geo. van Dyke Justice of Precinct No. 5", was
approved.19 Other Justices names were:- John E.'Weshburn, appointed for
precinct 4, on January 4, 1870;20 James S. Carey, appointed for precinct

 

 

1. Office of Secretary of State, Misc. Book 2, Executive
Order 9689 '

2. R.S. 1868, p. 268, sec. 11.

5. R.S. 1868, p. 265, sec. 2.

4 District Court Record, (note on inside book cover), entry 262.
5. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 55, see entry 1.

6. Probate Record, vol. A, pp. 13, 14, see entry 300.

'7. Ibid.’ p. l,

8. Probate Judge's Docket, vol. A, p. 1, see entry 504.

9. Probate Record, vol. A, pp. 15, l4,'ond 177, see entry 500.
10. Commissioners Record, vol. 2, p. 52, see entry 1.

11. County Court Record, vol. B, p. 258, see entry 321.
12. Record of Actions and Fee Book, vol. E, p. 404, see entry 324.
13. Commissionerslfiecord, vol. T, p. 229, see entry 1.
14. Miscellaneous Real Estate, vol. A, see entry 172.
15. Commissioners Record, vol. 0, p. 28, see entry 1.

16. Ibid., p. 31.

17. Ibid., p. 50.
18. Ibid., p. 56.

19. Ibid., p. 52.

20. Ibid., p. 72.

 

 

  

~12,—

Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 58)

5, July 11, 1870;1 and on October 8, 1872, bonds approved for O. P. Yelton,
precinct 2, and for J. H. Swan and James Rowland,precinct 1.2 The first .
Constables mentioned in the commissioners records Were as follows: C. W. l
Howell, bond approved September 5, 1867'5 W. D. Hayes,.$62.75 allowed for 1
services as constable, October 5, 1868;: W. E. Blackhart, $21.90 fees al— E
lowed and his resignation accepted, Julv 5, 1869; C. W. Howell and Joseph
Milner, bond approved, January 4, 1872; Jacob Malay and A. G. Wilson,

precinct 2, and A. G. Wilson,.precinct 5, bonds approved, October_8, 1872.7

 

The first district attorney for judicial district 2, of which Larimer
.. f)
County was a part, was elected September 8, 1868.0 -

A county attorney, whose name was not stated, appeared for the county
in the first case tried in the probate court, March 20, 1865.9 On July
‘15, 1865 James M. Smith was allowud $71.75 "for services as County At—
torney."iO ‘

There is no official record of the election, or appointment of a
sheriff prior to October 5, 1868. On January 8, 1886, the board of county
commissioners allowed to Henry Arrison, $28.25 "for serving election noti—
ces."ll This was the duty of the Sheriff}2 but the record does not iden-
tify him as such. On February 11, 1867, Sherman W. Smith was named as
"the late deputy sheriff",15 and H. B. Chubbock was paid $8.50 for "service
as Sheriff attendance on Probate Court."14 The first record of the ap—
proval of an official