Wild West History of Frontier Colorado, A: Pioneers, Gunslingers & Cattle Kings on the Eastern Plains

by Jolie Anderson Gallagher

Jolie Anderson's collection of wild west tales focuses on the early frontier history of Colorado's plains and includes a look at some of the state's early pioneers like the "59ers" who promoted the state through travel guides and newspapers, exaggerating tales of gold discovery and even providing inaccurate maps to promote settlement in the plains; the perils of living and traveling the major gold routes the town of Julesburg relocated four times in a decade; feuds; Indian fights; outlaws, and even early rodeo history. These stories and events shaped the Colorado territory and are a rich glimpse into the early history of the state.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2011

Reviews

[Mitchell Gally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wild West History of Frontier Colorado by Jolie Anderson depicts multiple stories of the wild west of Colorado’s frontier. The book starts off with the history of the Argonauts, ambitious men who traveled to the unexplored west in search of gold and riches. Then it told very thrilling stories depicting the towns of Colorado as dangerous places where “more brawls, more fights, more pistol shots with criminal intent happened than any community of no greater numbers on earth.”(27). The book gets into very entertaining stories of specific gunslingers and villains. Towards the end of the book, it became very educational as they ventured into the political debuts of the West. In particular who the eastern plains belonged to, as they were promised to the Native Americans specifying that whites could not claim the land, they still did, which caused multiple battles and bloodshed. I really enjoyed how educational this book was. I also liked the illustrations and thought that they fit very well with the personification of those described in the stories. The only thing that I thought was kind of strange was the book referred to Native Americans as Indians at certain times which isn’t really geographically accurate. Without this book I would not know as much about the gold rush, how new pioneers exaggerated to draw people to the west, and the pioneers' relationship with Native Americans. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to learn about the history of Colorado or a fan of thrilling stories of the wild west.

[Tommy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book, “A Wild West History of Frontier Colorado,” by Jolie Anderson Gallagher, told multiple notorious stories that shaped the history and reputation of wild west Colorado. It told stories of the armed press of the mid-to-late 1800s, cross-dressing gun-slinger, Mountain Charley, murderous politicians, and many more. I found the book to be mildly-interesting at some times, and painstakingly boring at most. The stories had the potential to be very interesting and engaging, but I found the way the book was organized and the ways the stories were told to be really confusing. The stories are constantly switching to different decades which makes it confusing to follow what time period the story is taking place in. The author also would introduce characters in the beginning of a story only to never mention them again. She’ll also introduce characters with absolutely no context as to who they are and you don’t know if they’re the former senator of Colorado or a guy who murders people on river boats. Ultimately, not a fan of this book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand the reasons for separating into chapters based on primary subjects and events but there were times that a given story did not truly seem to fit the category it... I think that for me this may have seemed less choppy and more coherent if approached from a chronological view point instead. Maybe. Regardless, I enjoy knowing more about the history of our state and the things that happened just a few years before my ancestors moved here from the east.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but great read about famous figures of the Colorado frontier, starting with the gold rush which brought so many people to the state, and ending with the Cheyenne Indian battles of the late 1800s. This book covers several notables like James Denver (who the city was named after), William Larimer, Charley Harrison the infamous gambler, Ned Wynkoop, Buffalo Bill, Slade, and others. Amazing history into Colorado in just 129 pages.

[Gary Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about 1850s-1860s Colorado, covering the early miners, politicians, thieves, Confederates, Native American, and cowboys that settled the Colorado plains. There isn't a single narrative thread throughout the book, but you'll read stories about a number of familiar characters.

[Sandra Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent History!

The details photos, and maps are outstanding. The author gives life to a little known portion of Colorado history. I live in Julesburg and appreciate knowing more about it's history.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick read about Colorado history. Wild times! Book is good starting point for reading about Colorado history.

[Valarie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, especially if you are from Colorado. Even covered one of my ancestors Laura Roper and her capture by the Cheyenne in 1864.

[Don Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read on the early history of Colorado. Or just as equally, some of the early characters of Colorado history. It is not an in-depth book and it doesn't pretend to be. One of its pluses. I liked the limited photos of people and places. I thought they were relevant to each series of stories and not overdone. The book also contains simple maps to show trails, forts, towns and historical events. Once again not overdone, but relevant and much appreciated for the clarity they add. While much of popular Colorado history focuses on the gold rush and the mountains, this book mostly highlights the characters and events east of the Divide and on the plains where statehood took root amid the struggles of competing cultures and nature.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The printing quality is good. It's glossy with adequate black and white photographs.

The book has six chapters: the argonauta, politiciana and other scoundrela rebel and ruffians, the people and the plains, vigilantes and villains, and cowboys and Indians.

Each chapter is devided into several parts, following one or two characters. I have mixed feeling about this book. It's easy to read, but by following a certain character, I felt like the story missed a bigger picture of the development of the city and town.

[Dave Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great anecdotal history of the settling and early statehood of Colorado!

[Thomas Stevens]

Interesting stories.