Colorow (Ute chief)

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This article is about Ute chief. For for the Shoshone chief of the Utes, see Walkara.
Chief Colorow, chief of a Ute band

Colorow was a Ute chief of the Ute Mountain Utes, skilled horseman, and warrior. He was involved in treaty negotiations with the U.S. government. In 1879, he fought during the Meeker Massacre. Eight years later, his family members were attacked during Colorow's War.[1] He was placed in the Jefferson County Hall of Fame in recognition of for the contributions that "he made to our county and, indeed, our state and nation."[2]


Early life[]

Colorow was born a Comanche about 1810. Five years later there was a battle in Northern New Mexico which resulted in him being kidnapped by the Muache band of Utes. He received the nickname "Red" or "Colorado" for his particularly red skin, as compared to the Utes.[1]

Career[]

Colorow Point Park, in Golden, Colorado is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Colorow was a skilled horseman and warrior. He traveled across the trails of Colorado, having known many chiefs of other tribes, fur trappers, military men, and the Spanish.[1] He visited Colorado towns.[3] He engaged in battles with the Arapaho, one near Aspen where he was called a hero and another at North Table Mountain and South Table Mountain that was so severe that the Utes and Arapaho did not want to return to the area. In 1856, a band of Arapaho and Cheyenne stole about 40 Ute horses. With Nevava and Ouray, Colorow fought for the stolen horses and although outnumbered eight-to-one were able to retrieve them and killed four of the enemy.[1]

Colorow traveled with the band and more than 1,000 horses and goats to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near present-day Denver. A camp was first established on Lookout Mountain until fresh pastures were required. They then moved to Rooney Valley, east of Dinosaur Ridge near Morrison. They stayed near mineral springs, called "Iron Spring". Other Native American tribes—Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, and Companche—visited the springs, but the visits were always peaceful there. Colorow held tribal councils at "Inspirational Tree" or "Council Tree" at the foot of Dinosaur Ridge.[1][4] He used a cave near Morrison for temporary shelter, which was named for him, Colorow's Cave.[3] The town of Mount Vernon was built in the area in 1860, and Rooney Ranch that was built in their grazing area.[1] He also spent part of each summer with his band in the Roaring Fork Valley between Aspen and Gunnison, Colorado.[3]

He was a sub-chief by 1868 and was considered for the chief of the Northern Ute. He was involved in treaty negotiations with the United States government and met with President Ulysses S. Grant at a reception in Denver in 1873. He identified himself as a Yampa and Grand River Ute when he signed the 1878 treaty.[1] During the Meeker Massacre (1879), he first tried to negotiate for peace[1] and ultimately was said to have stabbed Nathan Meeker in the mouth to stop his lies.[3] The conflict led to Utes being put on reservations. Colorow left for the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in August 1881, and under a treaty he continued to hunt in western Colorado and did not spend much time on the reservation.[1]

In 1887, some minor incidents occurred near Meeker, Colorado, which caused a Rio Blanco County sheriff to establish a posse and hunt down Utes. He burned down Chipeta's camp and injured many of Colorow's family members, include sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons. Utes had begun to return to Utah when a state militia of about 1,000 men began shooting at them. They were rescued by Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Duchesne. The incident, which caused the loss of more than $30,000 (equivalent to $864,111 in 2020) in property, was called Colorow's War.[1]

Personal life[]

He married three women, who may all have been sisters. His first wife, Recha, gave birth to three of his children Uncompahgre Colorow, Patchoorowits "Gus", and a girl named Topollywack. Recha died when riding a horse; she fell off the horse and her foot was caught in the stirrup and she was dragged to her death. He had six other children with sisters Poopa and Siha by 1857.[1]

He died on the Ouray Reservation on December 11, 1888 and was buried three days later.[1]

Places named for him[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Beth Simmons (February 2016). "Introducing Colorow, a Jefferson County Legend" (PDF). Historoic Jefferson County. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. ^ "Colorow" (PDF). Historoic Jefferson County. February 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Nelson, Sarah M.; Carillo, Richard F.; Clark, Bonnie J.; Rhodes, Lori E.; Saitta, Dean (January 2, 2009). Denver: An Archaeological History. University Press of Colorado. pp. 121–122. ISBN 978-0-87081-984-1.
  4. ^ "Rooney Ranch". Colorado Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Bright, William (2004). Colorado Place Names. Big Earth Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-55566-333-9.
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