by Meg Dunn | Aug 27, 2016 | Agricultural History, Frontier Faces, Masonville/Buckhorn Valley
James Robinson Mason was an early pioneer in northern Colorado. He settled along Buckhorn Creek where he raised cattle, was an active Democrat, and held a position on the school board. He visited Fort Collins frequently on business. And in 1896, he gave his name to a...
by Linda Devers Iannuzzi | Jun 5, 2016 | Frontier Faces, Guest Post
People move to Fort Collins for all sorts of reasons. But back in the 1800s, it was very common for people to travel west for their health. Asthmatics, consumptives, and others were told by doctor’s that they could either stay where they were in the east or...
by Meg Dunn | May 3, 2016 | Frontier Faces
Andrew Armstrong was an early Fort Collins pioneer. As a builder, he had a hand in constructing many residential and commercial buildings. He was active in his church and was an ardent Mason. He was one of the early pillars of the community upon which our city was...
by Meg Dunn | Apr 1, 2016 | Agricultural College / A&M / CSU, Frontier Faces
While digging through photos at the CSU Archive for the article on Margaret House, I came across this shot of the Jesse Harris spring. (I’ve modified it slightly by zooming in on the spring and the people and cropping out some trees, grass, and a sidewalk.) What...
by Meg Dunn | Jan 23, 2016 | Fort Collins, Frontier Faces, Historian’s Toolbox
On Tuesday I shared the few details I have been able to glean on the lives of Harkless Hicks, his first wife Hattie, and his second wife, Josie. On Thursday I wanted to head over to Grandview Cemetery to see where they were buried. But first I had to figure out where...
by Meg Dunn | Jan 19, 2016 | Fort Collins, Frontier Faces, People Groups
While researching stories, such as that of Charley Clay, Hattie McDaniel, and the Collamer brothers, I repeatedly kept coming across a neighbor’s name in the census records and city directories that intrigued me — Harkless Hicks. I’ve never met...
by Meg Dunn | Dec 15, 2015 | Fort Collins, Frontier Faces
While researching for the story on Miles Maryott back in October, I came across a Fort Collins Weekly Courier article that intrigued me. It mentioned a painting done by Miles that was to be donated to the Elks Lodge. I wondered if the canvas might still be around....
by Meg Dunn | Nov 20, 2015 | Frontier Faces
While flipping through the May 20, 1923 Fort Collins Express, I came across an article entitled, “Crossing the Plains in 1862 by Mrs. W. D. Taft.” The story was a reprint of a reading that Mrs. Taft gave to the Pioneer Association (an organization that is...
