Traditional Ute Lands, prior to the Treaty of 1868
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The White River Valley is part of the wide-ranging ancestral lands of the Ute Indian Tribe.
As a result of the Ute Treaty of 1868, the Ute Reservation was established, encompassing almost the entire area that we know as the Western Slope. Indian Agencies were built on their lands in order to bridge the gap between tribal members and the U.S. Government. The original purpose was to assist with fulfilling the promises as outlined in the Treaty. As Manifest Destiny pushed settlers further west and valuable resources were discovered in the Rocky Mountains, the purpose of these Indian Agencies was no longer to bridge a communication gap. Instead, Indian Agents were sent to assimilate, or forcibly conquer, the Indigenous Peoples of North America. |
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In 1878, Nathan Meeker was appointed to be the Indian Agent for the White River Indian Agency.
Nathan Meeker was a devout Christian and a prolific writer. As a former journalist, Meeker had very little experience in Indigenous relations, and had taken the position to pay off his debt to the estate of his editor, Horace Greeley, whom had loaned him a large sum of money to start the Union Colony (present-day Greeley, Colorado). The Union Colony was founded by Meeker as a utopian settlement for people with high moral aptitude and strong Christian values. Although the Colony faced significant struggles and was considered a failure by many, it gave Meeker the hubris to believe himself fully capable of "civilizing" the White River Band. |
Nathan Meeker, for whom Meeker, Colorado is named
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Nicaagat, AKA "Captain Jack"
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Tensions between Nathan Meeker and the White River Band steadily grew, hitting a head when Meeker decided to plow up the race track for the horses in September of 1879.
After a heated argument between Meeker and Ute leader Johnson, during which Meeker suggested that Johnson kill his horses and Johnson pushed Meeker into a hitching post, Meeker wrote a letter calling for military protection. This letter reached the hands of Major Thomas T. Thornburgh in Fort Steele, Wyoming. The Major led around 140 men toward the White River Indian Agency. As the troops crossed the Yampa River, 'Captain Jack' (Nicaagat) and Chief Colorow insisted that the troops crossing the northern reservation boundary - Milk Creek - would be considered an act of war. Instead, Major Thornburgh and six of his officers were invited to cross into the reservation for negotiations with Nathan Meeker and Ute leaders, while the rest of the troops were to camp just outside of the reservation. The Major seemed agreeable to this despite disagreement from his officers. The leaders of the White River band, still yet, maintained a deep distrust of Major Thornburgh's intentions, remembering the Sand Creek Massacre just 5 years prior. They positioned warriors high upon a ridge near Milk Creek, waiting to see if Major Thornburgh would keep his word. |
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As the troops reached Milk Creek on September 29th 1879, they discovered that it was dry - there was no water for the men and their horses due to drought.
A decision was made by Major Thornburgh and his officers to have the troops camp further inside of the reservation, hoping to find a better source of water. They crossed Milk Creek. General Samuel A. Cherry led a team of scouts across the ridges just south of Milk Creek, where they then spotted the Ute warriors laying in wait. As General Cherry rode up the ridge to speak with the Utes, a shot rang out. Though it was unclear as to who fired that first shot, it forced both sides into battle. Major Thornburgh was the first fatality, being shot off of his horse. The Utes had significant advantage. They held the high ground and had much better rifles, which were acquired through trade, than what the U.S. Army had issued to the troops. The battle quickly became a siege in which the troops were forced to dig behind wagons, crates, and anything else that could be found for cover. |
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This sign has been placed on State Highway 13, above the valley where the agency was at the time of the altercation between Nathan C Meeker and the White River Utes in September of 1879.
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As the Battle of Milk Creek took off, a few Ute braves rode back to the agency.
Though most of the band had already left for the season, they still needed to warn those that remained to prepare for battle. Hearing this commotion at the nearby encampment and believing that they were under attack, Nathan Meeker and his 10 agency employees assumed a defensive posture. They exited their cabins with their guns drawn while the women and children hid inside of the milk house. The warriors at the encampment believed that Meeker and his employees were going to attack them, and also assumed a defensive posture. In the battle that ensued, Nathan Meeker and all 10 of his agency employees were killed. Found hiding in the milk house were Nathan Meeker's wife and daughter, Arvilla and Josephine, and the wife of the agency's blacksmith, Flora Ellen Price and her children. The women and children were then taken captive, to be used as negotiation leverage, and the agency was burned to the ground as the Utes fled. |
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For the next 6 days, the troops would remain under siege.
The night that the battle started, a few messengers would escape in attempt to spread word of the battle, each going in a different direction in hopes of spreading the word and receiving reinforcements. One messenger, Jo Rankin, rode north and successfully reached a telegraph office in Rawlins, Wyoming, sending word of the battle. A detachment of the Buffalo Soldiers (D Troop, 9th Cavalry) under command of Captain Francis Dodge heard of the siege at Milk Creek and bravely rode into battle on October 2nd, in attempt to relieve the besieged troops. Though this was advantageous for the troops, the Buffalo Soldiers would immediately become trapped alongside them. On October 5th, Colonel Wesley Merritt arrived with over 350 men from the 5th Cavalry Regiment and successfully ended the siege. The Ute Warriors dispersed, and the troops forged on to find the burned White River Indian Agency. |
Milk Creek Battle Monument
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The Battle of Milk Creek and the Meeker Incident ultimately led to the removal of almost all of the Utes from Colorado.
The women and children were released from captivity, safely, during negotiations. This was due largely in part of the assistance of Chief Ouray and his wife, Chipeta. Many of the members of the White River Band who were involved in the Battle of Milk Creek and Meeker Incident were jailed and tried in court. The original Ute Treaty was dissolved, and two new reservations were established - the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in north eastern Utah, and the Southern Ute Reservation in south western Colorado.
The women and children were released from captivity, safely, during negotiations. This was due largely in part of the assistance of Chief Ouray and his wife, Chipeta. Many of the members of the White River Band who were involved in the Battle of Milk Creek and Meeker Incident were jailed and tried in court. The original Ute Treaty was dissolved, and two new reservations were established - the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in north eastern Utah, and the Southern Ute Reservation in south western Colorado.
First Businesses:
James Lyttle, the founder of Meeker's first newspaper, standing next to the building that first housed the Meeker Herald.
Meeker's Main Street, a few years after it's founding circa 1908-1910.
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The Meeker Herald:
The local newspaper, The Meeker Herald started by James Lyttle, was one of the first businesses in town. It informed the citizens of any news coming or going every week on Saturday. From marriages to who was visiting Meeker that week, every citizen was up to date on the local news. The Rio Blanco Herald Times still stands, and recently moved back into the building it was originally in. See what the Rio Blanco Herald is like today, here, or take a look at what the building is like here! The Hugus Store: Known as the earliest business in Meeker, the Hugus store was built in 1879. This was a big chain department store, eventually getting up to 12 stores. The Meeker store moved to many different locations and had many different associates. Eventually having two buildings established just for the business. This building still stands and has many businesses in it. Take a look at what the building looked like compared to how it looks today here! 1887 Stores: In 1887, the town was very new. Despite this, we still had many stores. In all, these are the stores we had:
In the photo to the left you can see Meeker's Main Street a few years after it's founding. You can see how many of the businesses are in barracks as well as the new Meeker Hotel in the back. Many of the first businesses were started in barracks because there were already buildings and there wasn't a need/supplies to build all new buildings. It also helped use these buildings for something because otherwise the buildings would have been useless and eventually be torn down. Some of these barracks still stand and the White River Museum is still held in old military barracks. You can explore more about the museum here and see what the barracks are like today!
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First Churches:
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The first church that Meeker ever had was before it even became a town. In 1885 the St. James Episcopal church held the first formal church service. The building that held the Episcopal church was built in 1889. This building still stands and holds the St. James Episcopal Church in Meeker. The United Methodist Church in Meeker formed soon after in 1892. This was held in the old school house in Powell Park. A building for the church was built in 1911 on Park Street and the church is still held there in a renovated building! Today Meeker has 19 churches and religious organizations. Explore what some of these building look like today here, and learn more about the first churches and their history here! |
Schools:
Coal Creek School circa 1896-1897.
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Coal Creek:
The Coal Creek school was established in 1884. It was a small, one classroom school outside of Meeker. The building was made in 1892, and has since been recognized as a historical preservation in Meeker and at the state level as well. Grade School: Back when Meeker was still part of Garfield County, a vote was caste in 1883. This decided that Meeker would have a school board and school was held in different places. After 5 years of this, another vote was caste that said Meeker should have a school building. Eventually, almost 20 years later, the school became unsafe for students, and many more buildings were built after. Learn more in depth about some of the first school here as well as what the schools are like now! |
First Ranches:
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Ever since the founding of Meeker, ranching and agriculture have been a very big part of the economy and culture. In the slideshow to the left, you can see a few pictures of the first ranches in and around Meeker. Some of these ranches are still in Meeker and operating today. Here is a list of some of the first ranches in or near Meeker:
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Government:
Above is the County officials in 1925.
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At the beginning of Meeker, the town was part of Garfield County. Until 1889, when they left to become their own county. With this came a new government and laws.
In the beginning, Meeker was a majorly democratic town, changing over to a republican town during the civil rights movement. It has stayed as a fairly Republican town to this day, joined by most of Western Colorado. |
Early entertainment:
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Much like today, when Meeker was founded the town was very big into sports and rodeo's. Many of the kids around kept themselves entertained by participating in sports against local towns, riding in the parade floats, playing little games like jump rope, and riding horses. The community also came together a lot to put on rodeo's and picnics to encourage the citizens to get out and get involved in the town. Meeker has always had a very alive and thriving community around it. Meeker also usually had a carnival or circus that kept many entertained during the 4th of July, as well as a parade and many other fun activities. This tradition has carried on to today with Meeker's famous range call happening during the 4th. |
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"History Meeker" Logo designed by Regan Mobley on behalf of the Meeker Regional Library
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