Nostalgia & History > Colorado Central Railroad

Date: 11/09/07 04:27
Colorado Central Railroad
Author: flynn

Solon D. Ackley is listed in the 1920 U.S. Census living in Precinct 3, Red Cliff, Eagle County, Colorado. He is listed as 46 years old, married with 5 children. He was born in Kansas and his father and mother were born in Ohio. He is listed as sheriff of Eagle County.

In the 1910 U.S. Census Solon D. Ackley is listed as living in Precinct 1, Mesa County, Colorado. He is listed as 35 years old, married with 3 children. He is listed as a fruit farmer.

In the 1910 U.S. Census Garfield Ackley, Solon’s brother, is listed as living in Precinct 3 Red Cliff, Eagle County, Colorado. Garfield was born in Kansas and is listed as 27 years old. He is listed as a barber with his own shop. He is listed as living with his sister, Minnie and her husband Jack McArthur. Minnie Garfield was born in Kansas and is listed as 39 years old. Jack McArthur is listed as a hack driver.

The 1900 U.S. Census shows Solon, 26, October 1873, and Garfield, 19, October 1880, living together in Precinct 6, Minturn, Eagle County, Colorado. I cannot make out their occupations. I have copied some occupations from the census and have enclosed the copy as Picture 1 below. Solon’s is first on the list and Garfield is second.

The 1880 U.S. Census shows Solon D. Ackley as 6 years old living in Knox County, Ohio. The 1880 Census is very difficult to read.

Fortunately the Ackleys are listed in the 1885 Colorado Census. They are listed as living in Eagle County. [Most likely Red Cliff.]

Name Age Born Relationship Occupation
Ackley, Solon N. 48 Ohio Head Post Master
Ackley, C. V. 44 Ohio Wife House keeper
Ackley, Minnie E. 16 Kansas Daughter At school
Ackley, J. Frank 14 Kansas Son At school
Ackley, Solon D. 11 Kansas Son At school
Ackley, Annie 6 Kansas Daughter At school
Ackley, Garfield A. 4 Kansas Son

The 1885 Colorado Census shows that Solon D. Ackley is the son of Solon N. Ackley. In my posting of November 7, I included photo Z-524 from the Denver Public Library digital photo web site, http://history.denverlibrary.org , and speculated if Solon N. Ackley was related to Solon D. Ackley. Photo Z-524, “Title: Solon N. Ackley. Summary: Studio portrait of Solon N. Ackley, of the Colorado Volunteers, First Cavalry Regiment, Company F. Date: April 13, 1864. Creator: William Gunnison Chamberlain 1815-1910. Collection: First Colorado Cavalry album.”

Tolland replied to my November 7 posting and included a web site, http://www.fortgarlandmuseumfriends.com/Cavalry.html , that gives the February 28, 1863 Roster of the First Cavalry of Colorado.

If you click on the above web site and on the home page of this web site Windows Internet Explorer look for the icon of a magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Click on the downward sign directly to the right of the icon of the magnifying glass. A menu appears. Click on Find on this page. A place to type appears. Type in Solon D. Ackley. Click on Next. The name Solon D. Ackley appears highlighted on the page.

In his reply Tolland said “The ‘1st Colorado Volunteers’ are responsible for a rather unfortunate incident in Colorado History, according to my recollection. The Sand Creek Massacre happened in 1864 according to a history source, the same year as this photo. According to following web page, Solon was indeed under the command of Colonel Chivington.” “An interesting name to note in Colorado history. It should be noted that there were members of that command who did not take part in the massacre such as Edward W. Wynkoop.”

Wikipedia has an article on The Sand Creek Massacre, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Creek_Massacre .

I did a Keyword search on the Denver Public Library digital photo web site for Colorado Central Railroad and got 446 photos. Below are eight photos from this search.

Wikipedia has an article on the Colorado Central Railroad, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Central_Railroad .

Wikipedia also has a related article on the Gilpin Tramway, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilpin_tramway .

Picture 2 below, is DPL Z-3389. “Title: Arrival of first passenger train on the Colorado Central Railroad at Central City photographed by Charles Weitfle, Central City, Colorado. Summary: Men pose with the first Colorado Central Railroad passenger train to arrive in Central City (Gilpin County), Colorado. Commercial buildings, churches and wood frame houses are in the distance. A sign reads ‘Teller House.’ Date: May 20, 1878.”

Picture 3 below, is DPL C-320. “Title: Central City. Summary Stereographic view of a locomotive of the Colorado Central Railroad looking toward Central City in Gilpin County, Colorado in the distance. A man stands with hands on hips at the side of the locomotive, and another man leans against the front of the engine. The Teller House, named for Henry M. Teller, one of Colorado's first senators, is in the distance in Central City. The Central City public high school is also in the distance. Numerous houses and other buildings dot the hillside. Date: (between 1875 and 1900?). Creator: Joseph Collier. Notes: No. 36. Central City, from the East. Central City is the oldest mining town in Colorado. It is situated in the heart of the mining region, is the county seat of Gilpin County, has a population of about five thousand people, and has an elevation of from 8,000 to 8,900 feet above the level of the sea. It is midway between Black Hawk and Nevada, forming with them a continuous town. It is connected with K.P. and U.P. railways.”

Picture 4 below, is DPL Z-3390. “Title: Mountain railroading [graphic] / Photographed by Charles Weitfle, Central City, Colorado. Summary: A view of a Colorado Central Railroad train on a hillside in Central City (Gilpin County), Colorado. Shows the ‘Dostal Block,’ a sign on the building reads ‘W. Aitcheson.’ A mine is on a hillside in the distance. Date: (between 1878 and 1880?).”

Picture 5 below, is DPL Z-3394. “Title: Buggy riding. Photographed by Charles Weitfle, Central City, Colorado. Summary: View of a Colorado Central Railroad freight train beside Clear Creek in Clear Creek Canyon, Jefferson County, Colorado. Men sit in a carriage in an open railroad freight car. The railroad grade is near steep canyon walls. Date: (between 1871 and 1890?).”

Picture 6 below, is DPL C-84. “Title: Beaver Brook. Summary: Colorado Central Railroad Car #2 is stopped at the Beaver Brook Station near where Beaver Brook meets Clear Creek on the border of Clear Creek and Jefferson counties in Colorado. Several men stand on the locomotive and the ground in front of it. The Beaver Brook Station was a popular location and had a dance pavilion on the rocky hill across from it in the left midground. Large rocks stand on the near shore of the brook, where the water is raging. Date: (between 1875 and 1900?). Creator: Joseph Collier.”

Picture 7 below, is DPL Z-3418. “Title: Huntsman's Reed & McKenneys, Rocky Mountain Scenery. Summary: View of Huntsman's Bridge, on the Clear Creek Line of the Colorado Central Railroad just west of Chimney Gulch, on Clear Creek in Clear Creek Canyon, Jefferson County, Colorado. Shows a wooden railroad trestle bridge built on a stone block foundation. A wooden building is beside the bridge. Date: (between 1871 and 1880?). Creator: Reed & McKinney.”

Picture 8 below, is DPL Z-3384. “Title: Forks of Clear Creek C.C.R.R. Summary: View of Forks Creek (Jefferson County), Colorado shows a Colorado Central Railroad train on a railroad bridge. A frame building and heavy railroad equipment are by the tracks; sign reads ‘Fast Trains... Toledo.’ Date: (between 1871 and 1890?).”

Picture 9 below, is C-97. “Title: Forks at Clear Creek. Summary: Two passenger trains of the Colorado Central Railroad, Engine No. 12 and a Porter engine, are stopped on the tracks in front of the station at Forks Creek in Clear Creek County, Colorado. A group of people, including several conductors, stands on the platform in front of the lunch room with a sign "Refreshments." Suitcases and rocks with graffiti are near the tracks; Clear Creek, a water tank, and wood bridge are in the background. Date: (between 1875 and 1900?). Creator: Joseph Collier.”