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December 25, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 9 | I S S UE 47 | 7 5 ¢
ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
District to renew search for principal Elizabeth High should have leader in place for 2015-16 By Rick Gustafson
Special to Colorado Community Media
Jeff Broome, a professor at Arapahoe Community College and a historian who has studied clashes between Native Americans and settlers in Colorado, points to the field where the Hungate murders took place in 1864. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
A history of peace, violence A look at how clashes erupted in 1800s between settlers, Native Americans By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com POSTAL ADDRESS
ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)
OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Peaceful interactions were common between settlers and Native Americans living in present-day Douglas and Elbert counties before the bloody clashes in the 1860s put a stain on the history of that time period. Elizabeth Tallman, the wife of one the area’s first residents, John Tallman, wrote many articles in her later years recalling her experiences with Native Americans, including tribes led by Chief Washington and Chief Colorow. She was often left alone while her husband tended to the cattle, and the Utes would travel along the Tallman Gulch corridor (it’s actually Sulphur Gulch, but a geological surveyor screwed up a few decades ago and mislabeled it, says Sandy Whelchel, whose ancestors moved to the area from Ohio in the 1880s) and pass the cabin, which still stands near Ave Maria Catholic Church, roughly a quarter-mile from its original spot. One night, Tallman was closing the chicken coop for the night and walked through the door of her cabin to find several Native Americans sitting around her stove. They referred to her as a “heap Bueno squaw” and extended an invitation to her to attend a scalp dance that night, which she politely declined, Whelchel said. “She could hear them all night down there dancing,” Whelchel said, adding most tribes were “not terribly aggressive” with settlers. Another time, according to an article written by Tallman for The Colorado Magazine, Chief Washington wanted to barter for her son, who had red hair and was unique to them. He offered up to 20 Indian ponies, but Tallman continued to refuse. “He just couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t sell the kid,” Whelchel says with a laugh. Franklin Harn, who lived in Parker from 1933-39, recalled that his boss, a blacksmith who grew up near where Interstate 25 now meets Hampden Avenue, told him that Native Americans would peek inside the windows of his school as a boy. And when they were mourning the death of one of their own, he would “listen to the hooting and hollering all night,” Harn said. A story that has lived on through local his-
The Elizabeth School District announced Dec. 8 that it plans to resume its search for a new principal for Elizabeth High School this winter. According to an email from the district, Kin Shuman, director of human resources, expects to post the position for the 2015-16 school year by late January and plans to invite qualified candidates for interviews beginning as early as February. Interviews could extend into March. Ahead of the posting, Shuman intends to hold a series of meetings to hear opinions from students, staff and the community about the strengths, challenges and vision for the future of the school. Those same groups will have the opportunity to participate in a conversation with the candidates invited to interview. Shuman said that the district will not be using a search firm to recruit, and once the interviews are completed, the final decision rests with Superintendent Douglas Bissonette. Principal continues on Page 7
County extension office gains agent N.M. native fills position, which was vacant since 2009 By Rick Gustafson
Special to Colorado Community Media
There exists a headstone in the Parker Cemetery that reads: “Jonathan Tallman - Killed by Indians.” And a monument in Elbert County erected in 1939 by the Pioneer Women of Colorado pays tribute to the Hungate and Dietemann families, who were murdered by Native Americans. According to historians, it was a combination of cultural misunderstanding, broken treaties and outright aggression that led to notorious massacres in Colorado in the 1860s. Some of the most hotly debated murders occurred in the backyards, literally, of some property owners in Douglas and Elbert counties.
Kali Benson has been in her new job as Colorado State University’s Elbert County Extension Agent: Agriculture, Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, and Livestock for a little less than two months. If her job title sounds like a mouthful, try reading her to-do list. The Elbert County Extension Office’s ag agent position has been vacant since 2009, and Benson will be learning the nuances of her job on the fly. So far, she says she has not had a typical day since she started on Nov. 1. When she has not been in training to learn the details of the latest farm bill, she is spending time with the local conservation districts or escorting 4-H members to swine production seminars in Greeley. “The way I like to describe extension is that we were the Google, before there was Google,” Benson said. “If you have a question on something about agriculture, you can give us a call or come in to see us, and we can point you in the right direction.” Initially Benson will center much of her time on the 4-H program, mentoring, coaching and advising 4-H youths with their animal projects as she becomes more familiar her new community. The 4-H program “is a great leader-
Settlers continues on Page 7
Agent continues on Page 15
A memorial to those killed in clashes with Native Americans was erected in 1939 and still stands in Elbert County. Courtesy photo tory is one in which a Native American entered a one-room schoolhouse full of children, who fell silent. “He picked up a book and was looking at it upside down,” Whelchel said. “None of the kids giggled. He was trying to fit in, showing them he could read, too.” The class remained completely still and quiet and the man calmly left.
Conflicts arise