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Lot 470
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Small Archive of Colorado Documents: Land Speculation, Gold and Silver Mining, City Lots in Denver
Small Archive of Colorado Documents: Land Speculation, Gold and Silver Mining, City Lots in Denver
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Description:

19th Century Colorado
Denver, CO; Elizabeth, CO; Colorado County, TX, 1857-1891
Small Archive of Colorado Documents: Land Speculation, Gold and Silver Mining, City Lots in Denver
Archive
[COLORADO.] Archive of letters and deeds, 1857-1901. 5 letters + 6 deeds, 30 pp.

This small archive illustrates the complications of settling the West and extracting its natural resources. The documents involve land titles, gold and silver mining operations, settlement, irrigation canals, and even the daily life of settlers of Colorado, from a wife and mother of several small children in Elizabeth to an attorney and mining company executive in Denver. Several of the deeds involve town lots in Denver, as it developed into a modern city. Five also involve early Jewish settlers of Colorado.

Contents and Excerpts
- Mike Muckleroy, Autograph Letter Signed, to J. W. Laurence, April 20, 1857, "Postok Pointe," Colorado County, [Texas]. 2 pp., 7.875" x 12.5".
"I received your favor from belvill per Son Charles in relation to the compromese of sirtin lands spoken of by you claimed by The heires of E. Bailey De. I have not bin a ware untill recently that I was an intruder upon any land holder in this state."
"I bought and setled in faith in the Spring of 1841 and have cultivated and improved in like faith. Notwith Standing that Mr E. Bailey was then in my neighourhood often and untill his death in the fall of 1844. or 45 and never heard of his claim untill recently from Professer Bailey statements to me I have but about 450 acres of his claimed Estat in my tract...."
"I am desirus of avoiding a law suit tho all men a ply to that sorce for Justis and but fu ear Satesfid with its desission.... If I am an intruder I am Responsible and am the last man that wold have bin had I known it."
Mike Muckleroy (1808-1896) was born in Tennessee and migrated to Texas in 1840. He was an early resident of Colorado County, and two years after his arrival, he joined the campaign to expel General Adrian Woll from San Antonio. For his service, he received a Republic of Texas land grant. He served as a county commissioner (1846-1852, 1876-1878). He sold his property in 1895 and moved to Terrell, where he lived with family members until his death.

- Gustave Guinaud and Amelia Guinaud, Manuscript Document Signed, Deed to Esther Sands, for four lots in Denver, Colorado, June 11, 1863. 3 pp., 7.75" x 12.375". General toning and some staining.

- Esther Sands and Abraham Sands, Manuscript Document Signed, Indenture to Julius Mitchell for a lot in Denver, Colorado, August 7, 1865. With certification by Joseph B. Nones. 3 pp., 7.875" x 12.625". Expected folds; some staining.
Abraham Sands (1835-1887) was born in Poland into a Jewish family but immigrated to the United States as a small child. He married fellow Polish Jewish immigrant Esther Sands (1840-1903), and they had at least five children. By 1860, he was a dry goods merchant in Leavenworth, Kansas. He began a dry goods business with his brothers in Helena, Montana, in 1866. He moved his family to Denver in 1881, when he was president of both the Sands & Boyce dry goods business and the Sands Cattle & Land Company that owned approximately 8,000 head of cattle. The dry goods millionaire and cattle king committed suicide by cutting his own throat.

- James Hall, Partially Printed Document Signed, Indenture to Esther Sands, for four lots, August 11, 1865. 2 pp., 8.625" x 14". Minor tears on folds; some edge chipping.

- E. McClintock, Partially Printed Document Signed, Quit-Claim Deed to Julius Mitchell, for two lots in Denver, Colorado, July 30, 1869. 2 pp., 8.5" x 14". Embossed seal intact; stained and toned.
Julius Mitchell (1807-1885) was a Reformed Jew who was born in Alsace-Lorraine and came to the United States in the early 1830s. His family settled in St. Louis, and he became a merchant and a pioneer settler of Denver, Colorado, in 1859. He helped establish the Hebrew Burial and Prayer Society there in 1860, operated a profitable mercantile business, and invested in town lots in Denver that made him a wealthy man.

- Bertha Berry, Partially Printed Document Signed, Deed to Yetta Michell, for lots in Arapahoe County, Colorado, February 2, 1881. 2 pp., 10.5" x 16.5". Expected folds; edge chipping.
Bertha Hoffman Berry (1858-1937) was born into a Jewish family in Cincinnati, Ohio, and married Samuel Berry in 1881. That same year, they settled in Leadville, Colorado, where he opened a boot and clothing store. They remained in Leadville until 1902, when they moved to Spokane, Washington.
Henriette "Yetta" Marks Mitchell (1815-1889), also a native of Alsace-Lorraine, was the wife of Julius Mitchell.

- Leander Van Scotten, Autograph Letter Signed, to "Father" [Daniel Hoffman Van Benshcoten (1797-1885)], February 1, 1883, Denver, Colorado, with Emilie, Autograph Letter Signed, to "Father." On North Star Mining Company letterhead. 5 pp., 8.125" x 11". Expected folds; general toning; some residue from paperclip.
"Judge Jackson an old friend of mine from Cleveland, O. the President of our Company came on and also an other member of our Company and I was obliged to go with them to our Mine near Leadville, nearly 200 miles into the Mountains. After looking over our Mine and making our plans for future work there went over one of the Roughest Mountain roads for 35 miles into the Mount of the Holy Cross District, was sick all the while but if I had been well would have enjoyed it very much."
"I hold what is equal to about 26000 shares in our Company. Have sold some a while ago at 50c a share but do not want to sell any more than will bridge me along at that price for we all feel sure of making our strike soon and then they will be worth 10[.]00 a share."
"Father I have so often thought of you this winter as we had Antellope Steak and venison. Yesterday I was down in one of our large game stores and saw more than 100 dead Elk—and lots of black tail deere. In another large room or store was lots of dead Antellope. Just thought Oh! how I wish Father could take his birth day diner with us and have a feast on his favorite dishes."
"Now Father accept your Rocky Mountain Boys love and best regards, while thanking you for all and many cares bestowed upon me while in childhood and more mature age—and the deep interest you have for me as your lamp burns lower and my locks are beginning to silver over."
Leander Van Scotten (ca. 1827-1892) was born in Ohio and became an attorney in Cleveland. In 1848, he married Mary Thompson (1829-1861), and they had at least seven children. After she died, he married Emily Maria Dame (1833-1920), and they had at least two children. In the 1880s and 1890s, he was the secretary of the North Star Mining Company in Denver, Colorado.

- P. S. Grosscup, Typed Letter Signed, to George G. Topping, December 10, 1883, Chicago, Illinois. 4 pp., 8" x 11".
"I have not written to you in reference to the irrigation scheme sooner because I was not able to state anything definitely, and had not acquired any information of a definite character. I have laid the plan before some of our men who are in the habit of engaging in enterprises of that character, and find a number of objections raised."
"Nearly all the lands through which that river passes being now owned by the U.S., it might be doubtful if the state of Colorado could give an exclusive franchise for the use of the waters running through these U.S. lands. And it might especially be very doubtful, should the diverting of these waters into your canal cause a lessening of the stream below the point of divergence, if the U.S. could not prevent such diverting of the waters from their other lands."
"It does not seem from anything that you have yet told me, that if a company were organized, it would be able to obtain a title in the lands in the valley irrigated. At least, you have not told me of any plan by which said title could be obtained from the U.S. for a large body, including the bulk of these lands. The homestead or pre-emption acts restricting the entering of a great number of acres by one person or company, would seem to stand in the way of getting a monopoly there.... So that the scheme presents nothing more or less than the canal itself, and the profits of such an enterprise."
"These men who are ready to invest in such enterprises will before concluding a trade, send an expert to look over the ground at any rate, so that nothing can be gained by exaggeration and I can get their attention for the scheme if it looks fair and honest on its face."

- "Hattie," Autograph Letter Signed, to "Clar hub," October 10, 1887, Elizabeth, Colorado. 3 pp., 7.75" x 10.5".
"I am gathering my crops this week was away working Last week so my corn is very dry & hard to cut. You see Libbie is married had a quiet wedding."
"I enclose 5[.]00 & wish you would try Petersons if Bradly has not any & get a pr of shoes – 4½ E or 5 D or D½ width. double sole. Common sense or Walking Phast goat or Dougolo Kid, but prefer straight goat. Button, with extension sole if they have it. Be sure they are wide enough & heavy. I don't care how heavy & look out for the seem over the bunion, that the toe piece is deep enough to come past the big toe joint. If you can find it in any other shoe beside Common sence I can have the heels taken off, so dont mind the heel only the rest part of shoe."

- "Hattie," Autograph Letter Signed, to "folks at home," November 28, 1887, Elizabeth, Colorado. 2 pp., 7.75" x 10.5".
" am in an old dog house with 6 nasty nonothing young ones, 4 miles from home but board at houce so get along nicely. I rec'd the shoes all right just what I wanted. The bal of money left if any you may send me the Harpers Bazarrs for 2, 3 or 4 weeks what ever the money takes. I can get along with my underware as long as I am at home this winter & stockings too, at least will not need for a while & then will send to Chicago for I can do better there after holadays.

- Hugh H. Thomas, Partially Printed Document Signed, to P. H. Mullen, for one lot in Arapahoe County, Colorado, October 11, 1901. 2 pp., 11" x 17". Expected folds.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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