Denver, Colorado Territory Wagon Sales & Repair Journal, 1867-1870: An Annotated Index
It appears that this merchant sold and repaired mostly Schuttler and Bain wagons that were brought in as far as they could by rail, most probably to the Cheyenne station, then driven to Denver by drayage companies. Among the items often repaired were yokes, rakes, tongues, boxes, bows, seatbacks and covers for the wagons.
The book includes accounts of a more personal nature as well, such as clothing he had on hand, including a fine black suit, a heavy beaver overcoat and a pair of Buffalo overshoes. Among the personal items he had on hand on 1 Jan 1868, were a watch and chain, gold and silver specimens, field glasses, Indian trinkets, a photograph album, four mountain scenes, an 8 inch Colt revolver and a pocket Derringer. On 31 December 1867, he subscribed to the Rocky Mountain News for $7.00, and lists his books, including a 2 Volume set of the Library of Mesmerism, Mines of Colorado, a Hand Book for Home Improvement, Esop’s [sic] Fables, Mayhew’s Book Keeping, a township map of Pennsylvania, and the History and Directory of Denver.
At some point, the book was given to most probably a daughter to use as a scrapbook of sorts, where she filled the first 30 or so pages with articles about homemaking, including a recipe for waterproof glue (adapted for Colorado), and advice such as that for “making sleeves of a different material for the dress as the effect is particularly good on women who are inclined to stoutness.”
Denver, Colorado Territory Wagon Sales & Repair Journal, 1867-1870: An Annotated Index
Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, Board of Managers Reports, 1871-1877: An Annotated Index of Marshals, Wardens, Guards, Board Members, Prisoners, and Local Businesses
The Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, Board of Managers Reports, 1871-1877: An Annotated Index of Marshals, Wardens, Guards, Board Members, Prisoners, and Local Businesses contains the names of the penitentiary’s first one hundred prisoners (including escapees), a physical description of the person, why they were in the penitentiary, which county sentenced them and where they were born.
In addition, the Board of Managers Reports included the services provided to the prison by local businesses, the names of each member of the Board, along with the names of US Marshals, wardens, guards, nurses and other personnel.
An inventory dated 1 Dec 1874 shows a prison (40’x70’), a guard’s sleeping apartment, a guard’s dining room and prison kitchen, the warden’s residence (brick, 6 rooms and hall, one outhouse and store house), a shoemaker’s shop (adobe with cellar), a carpenter’s show (wood 15’x20’), a blacksmith’s shop (wood 14’x17’), a stone cutter’s shop (wood, 15’x32’), two outhouses for general use, a bake oven (10’x12’), 360’ of stone embankment in front of the prison, 330’ of picket fence with 2 single gates and 1 double gate, 700’ of board fence around the garden, all on 40 acres of land.
Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, Board of Managers Reports, 1871-1877
The Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the University of Colorado, 1870-1876 chronicles the establishment of the University, donation of land, struggles with the legislature over funding, and efforts to raise funds in the community and beyond. The Minutes identify many of those involved in the building of the first building on the University campus, now affectionately known as Old Main.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/CU_Trustees_Minutes.html
The Boulder County, Colorado District Court Civil Appearance Docket, 1878-1882 is a a brief synopsis of the cases heard before the District Court.
The majority of cases in this record are civil cases including a few guardianship cases, along with a few criminal cases.
There are quite a number of water rights cases along with a synopsis of who had water rights, for how much water, and in what order.
The first section of this book is a list of cases in the order that they appear in the ledger along with the case number, the primary plaintiffs and defendants in the case, as well as the cause of action, if one was given.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Civil_Appearance_1878-1882.html
Early Land Owners Along the St. Vrain River, Nebraska and Colorado Territories, 1858-1861
December 30, 2015
The Early Land Owners Along the St. Vrain Creek, Colorado Territory, 1860-1861 is comprised of the recorded land records from four different sources of the same area and time period.
The Record Book of Franklin Township Land Claims (along St Vrain Creek), 1860.
The Record Book of Troy District Land Claims (along St Vrain Creek), 1861
The St Vrain’s Land Club’s Land Claims, 1861
The St Vrain County Land Claims, 1858-1861
These original land club claims records are available for research in the Carnegie Branch Library for Historical Research in Boulder, Colorado and the archives of the Denver Public Library in Denver, Colorado.
The men and women in these claims were among the first to build cabins and begin farming and ranching in what is now Boulder and Weld Counties, Colorado.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/St_Vrain.html
The Boulder County, Colorado, District Court Guardians Bonds, Vol. A, 1876-1902 is a District Court record of the men and women who posted bonds in their roles as guardians for children who were due an inheritance. Often a surviving parent would petition to act as the guardian of their own children, but sometimes guardians were assigned by the court if the child was under the age of 14. Minors over the age of 14 were allowed to choose their own guardians during this period. The journal names the deceased, often details the relationships between the deceased and his or her heirs, frequently gives the ages of the children at the time of the bond hearing and occasionally gives the child’s exact birthdate. The journal also names the guardians, the sureties, the judges who heard the cases, and the clerks who recorded the bonds.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/guardian_1876.html
The Boulder County, Colorado Probate Court Fee Book, 1874-1890 records the fees paid to and by the estates of the probate cases listed in the book. The records show the names of the deceased and the administrators or executors of the estate along with the judges and clerks who recorded each transaction. Oftentimes, guardians were assigned to children under the age of 14 even if a parent was still living to ensure that any inheritance was protected and preserved for the child. Minors over the age of 14 had the right to request their own guardian. The journal also shows the names of debtors who owed an estate money, and the creditors who were paid by the estate.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/probate_fee_1874.html
Boulder County, Colorado Teachers, 1878-1900
September 13, 2013
New book. Boulder County, Colorado Teachers, 1878-1900: An Annotated Index has been compiled from the annual reports to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The introduction lists the 66 school districts in Boulder County prior to 1900. This book includes the names, years and school districts where each teacher taught.
Available on Amazon.
Boulder County, Colorado District Court Execution Docket, 1875-1885
September 9, 2013
New book. Boulder County, Colorado District Court Execution Docket, 1875-1885: An Annotated Index is a register of the court asking the sheriff to execute the judgment of the court. It’s an interesting look at the winners and losers of both civil and criminal cases, and the actions taken to satisfy the court’s judgment against the losers.
Available on Amazon.
New Book! Boulder County Commissioners Journal, 1871-1874: An Annotated Transcription
August 1, 2013
The Boulder County Commissioner’s Journal, 1871-1874, continues where the first Journal left off. Citizens in Boulder built new roads and fixed up old ones, paid for the care and keep of paupers, and maintained law and order. The County Commissioners hired and paid for work on behalf of the county, chose grand and petit jurors, appointed road viewers and overseers, and took applications for business licenses. If you had ancestors in Boulder during this time period, chances are pretty good that they’re mentioned in this journal.
Boulder Pioneers Project 