Meeker, Colorado

After departing Craig, I turned south on CO Highway 13 toward Meeker.

Meeker was founded by Nathan Meeker who had been a member of the Greeley Union Colony until he was banished for being argumentative.  Meeker became an Indian agent and relocated to this isolated area of Colorado populated with Ute Indians.  Meeker was harsh to the Utes and commented that he wanted to keep them at starvation levels.   He treated Chief George and the Utes poorly.  They came to blows, and Meeker asked for military troops.  Captain Thornbourgh and 200 soldiers came to the area and crossed into the Indian Reservation where they were attacked by 300 Utes in the narrow Red Canyon by Milk Creek.   The captain and nine troops were killed where Milk Creek now crosses Highway 13 at the base of Mount Thornbourgh.   At the end of the battle, 13 soldiers were dead.  A scout slipped away from the battle and rode for 28 hours to Rawlins, Wyoming to seek reinforcements.

At the same time, nine men were killed at the Indian Agency by Utes, and Meeker's wife and two daughters were taken by the Utes.   After four days of fighting, a "Colored Cavalry Unit" from Rawlins arrived to support what remained of Thornbourgh's troops.  After a week long battle, an 850-man relief force arrived to rout the Utes.  Months later, Meeker's wife and children were released after Chief Ouray intervened from southwest Colorado.

I was surprised that there are not historical markers on Highway 13 about this battle.  I also didn't find anything in Meeker about the Meeker Massacre, but I didn't go to their museum.   You would think the state would put up a few historical markers along the highway.  

                               

Meeker is also know for a group of teenagers who admired the Hole in the Wall Gang and called themselves the Junior Hole in the Wall Gang.   They robbed the small and only bank in Meeker but made the mistake of shooting a pistol in the bank to scare the banker which alerted the towns folks.  The town folks then shot the robbers to death as they came out of the bank.  Their bodies were left on display for several days.   Again, I didn't find any historical markers about this incident.   What a disappointment!

  Highway 13 is also under repair with several sections of one lane road.  Expect delays!

  Highway 13 is pretty desolate with not much scenery - or historical markers to read.

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