Author Archives: JvL Bell

Home Remedies for Common Ailments

Posted on March 30, 2016 by JvL Bell

Ladies and gents, listen up, Mr. LeRoy G. Davis of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, has provided us with the following information on remedies for common ailments like colds, stomach issues, sprains, and general debility. You don’t want to miss reading about … Continue reading →

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1864 – Ned Wynkoop Removed From Command of Fort Lyon

Posted on February 29, 2016 by JvL Bell

Today we received word that Maj. Edward Wynkoop was relieved of duty as commander of Fort Lyon. Two months ago, Maj. Wynkoop obtained the freedom of four Indian prisoners before bringing the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian leaders to Denver City to have an Indian Council with Territorial Governor John Evans and Col. John Chivington. Continue reading →

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1859 – Denver City’s Elephant Corral

Posted on January 28, 2016 by JvL Bell

Gold-seekers flocked to Denver City by the hundreds—hoosiers, suckers, corn crackers, buckeyes, red-horses, Arabs, and Egyptians—most hoping to get rich and get out. Many greenhorns arrived, ready to exchange their team and wagon for the mining supplies they needed. Freighting, commercial hauling of supplies, prospered during this era by providing those supplies. Charles Blake and Andrew Williams built Denver City’s Elephant Corral as a trading post aimed at serving both the teamsters and gold-seekers. Continue reading →

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1857 – Lost on the Great Plains

Posted on November 11, 2015 by JvL Bell

In 1541, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado left Tiguex Pueblo and traveled across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles into Kansas with the hope of finding riches. Instead he entered a land so vast it both intimidated and repelled him. The immense … Continue reading →

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1860 – Wind Wagons Head West

Posted on August 4, 2015 by JvL Bell

IN 1860, WITH PIKE’S PEAK GOLD FEVER RAMPANT, SAMUEL PEPPARD CONSTRUCTED A SAILING WAGON WITH THE HOPES OF REACHING THE COLORADO TERRITORY FASTER THAN A TRADITIONAL OX- OR MULE-PULLED WAGON. THE MAY 17TH, 1860 ISSUE OF INDEPENDENT, A NEWSPAPER FROM OSKALOOSA, KANSAS, DESCRIBED PEPPARD’S WAGON IN THE FOLLOWING WAY. “IT WAS AN ORDINARY LIGHT WAGON OF 350 POUNDS, 3 X 8 FEET X 6 INCHES DEEP. OVER THE CENTER OF THE FRONT AXLE WAS A RAISED MAST WITH A SAIL 9 X 11 FEET. THE STEERING APPARATUS RESEMBLED A BOAT TILLER REVERSED.” Continue reading →

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1817 – True Politeness, A Hand-book of Etiquette for Ladies

Posted on June 25, 2015 by JvL Bell

LADIES, THE NEW YORK PUBLISHERS, LEAVITT AND ALLEN, HAVE JUST PUBLISHED THE BOOK TRUE POLITENESS, A HAND-BOOK OF ETIQUETTE FOR LADIES, WRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN LADY. THIS OUTSTANDING 64-PAGE BOOK INCLUDES ETIQUETTE ON SALUTATIONS, DRESS, FASHION, CONVERSATION, VISITING, DINNER TABLE CONVERSATION, AND EVEN COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. IT IS A MUST-HAVE FOR ALL AMERICAN LADIES LIVING IN PROPER SOCIETY. Continue reading →

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1859 – Whiskey Hole for Destitute Prospectors

Posted on June 9, 2015 by JvL Bell

IN JULY 1859, WILLIAM HOLMAN, EARL HAMILTON, DANIEL POUND AND A PARTY OF PROSPECTORS CROSSED KENOSHA PASS INTO SOUTH PARK INTENDING TO PUNISH UTE INDIANS FOR KILLING 5 PROSPECTORS FROM GREGORY GULCH. ON THE BANKS OF TARRYALL CREEK IN DEADWOOD GULCH, THE GROUP RAISED COLOR, WITH DANIEL POUND RUMORED TO HAVE FOUND GOLD AS BIG AS WATERMELON SEEDS. THE TARRYALL DIGGINGS WERE FOUND, ALTHOUGH PERHAPS NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME. Continue reading →

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1859 – Big Phil the Cannibal

Posted on April 21, 2015 by JvL Bell

ALTHOUGH ALFERD PACKER IS COLORADO’S MOST NOTORIOUS CANNIBAL, HE IS NOT ITS ONLY HUMAN FLESH-EATER. A MOUNTAIN MAN KNOWN AS BIG PHIL OR CANNIBAL PHIL IS SAID TO HAVE FREQUENTED DENVER CITY’S SALOONS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS HUGE DOG. HE IS DESCRIBED AS “GIGANTIC IN STATURE AND REPULSIVE IN ASPECT”, BUT IT IS SAID FOR A FREE DRINK, HE WOULD TELL STORIES ABOUT DEVOURING HIS TWO INDIAN WIVES, AN INDIAN GUIDE, AND A FRENCHMAN. Continue reading →

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1868 – Judge Lynch – The Musgrove Killing

Posted on April 21, 2015 by JvL Bell

“I AM TO BE HUNG TO-DAY ON FALSE CHARGES BY A MOB,” WROTE L.H. MUSGROVE TO HIS BROTHER AS HE STOOD ON A BRIDGE OVER CHERRY CREEK. AS DENVER CITY VIGILANTES TIED CORDS AROUND HIS ANGLES AND NECK, HE WROTE A SECOND LETTER TO HIS WIFE MARY, SAYING HE WAS BEING HANGED “BECAUSE I AM ACQUAINTED WITH ED FRANKLIN.” Continue reading →

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1857 – The Great Western Cook Book Recipes for Half a Calf’s Head and Beef A La Mode

Posted on January 4, 2015 by JvL Bell

MRS. A. M. COLLINS AND HER PUBLISHER, THE A. S. BARNES & COMPANY, HAVE GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED THE FOLLOWING REPRINT OF HER RECIPES TO COOK HALF A CALF’S HEAD AND BEEF A LA MODE. THESE RECIPES ARE FROM HER COOK BOOK, THE GREAT WESTERN COOK BOOK OR TABLE RECEIPTS, ADAPTED TO WESTERN HOUSEWIFERY, PUBLISHED IN 1857. Continue reading →

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