Was asked a question about an old mountainman.
Page 1 of 1
Was asked a question about an old mountainman.
by Buck Conner 3/7/2021, 1:05 pm
Have handled several of Medina's rifles when still in Loveland at the Library.
I lived 4 miles from Medina's Crossing (his toll bridge) west of Loveland CO, his daughter Lena was buried on our property and Louis Papa (Medina's step son would come to our place to visit his step sister). I found a pair of leather breeches left on our property for years (Mrs. E. Gates who wrote about Medina and Charley Hanson [Museum of the Fur Trade] knew who they belonged to when seen). Both had pictures of Medina wearing them at a ball in Denver (Marino was a fancy-dan and liked to show off at up-scaled affairs. Papa use to wear his step-fathers clothes at parades in Loveland and Ft. Collins around the turn of the century. Mrs. Gates found an old newspaper article that Louis had gotten hurt up the Buckhorn Canyon in the early 1900's. Figured they removed the breeches when taking him to Loveland.
Read on:
Lena Medina died in 1930 with Louis passing on in 1935, in 1960 when the family graves where moved only one female body was identified, that of Mariano's Indian wife - "John". Then the story of the Indian burial on the ridge northwest of Loveland is brought to mind. Harold Dunning, Loveland's historian labels the burial that of an "Indian Princess" to be Lena's resting place, now the appearances of Medina's step son at this location several times a month starts to add up, he's visiting his step sister's grave, along with other family members. Not much has been written about some of the children, Lena and Louis seem to have been the most visible in the eyes of the researchers over the years.
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Lena was buried setting in an upright position along with a small child. Word got out about the find when the labors were working the sandstone quarry uncovered the grave. CSU came out and informed my father-in-law they would be back the following week to remove Lena and child. All the neighbors got together and decided that was her place were Marino wanted her buried (they had Loveland Concrete put an 8 inch slab over the site and then pulled tons of sandstone slab over the concrete. CSU come to remove the bodies and saw what had been done, threw up their hands and left - end of the issue. BC
.....................
Louis Papin (Papa) was well known in the Loveland area and very visible in public as the yearly town marshall for the Loveland Parade and other events in the early 1900's, he was often seen riding his white horse and wearing his father's fancy clothes (seen in several accounts wearing the white breeches and long knitted socks) at special occasions. He rode in the hills around Loveland and up the canyon of the Big Thompson from Loveland to Estes Park most of his life, he would travel northwest of Loveland several times a month to visit family member graves near Masonville, Colorado, now covered by years of quarry work.
Louis Papin (Pappa) was a friend of my father-in-law, his sister Lena Medina is buried on our property outside of Loveland on the Masonville Road. My father-in-law said his father would visit with Louis every chance he got and have Louis help with branding and working the cattle. Louis fell off his horse as he was leaving from his visit to see his sister. He broke his hip and was moved to Loveland Hospital. The medical removed the white breeches he was wearing (Marion Medina's).
BC
Correction: "He rode in the hills around Loveland and up the canyon of the Big Thompson" he worked cattle for different ranches in the canyon and lived in the canyon.
BC
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Not much has been written about Medina when compared to other mountain men of this period. Zethyl Gates a local librarian living in Loveland, is considered the expert on Medina the legend, she wrote a book about him published in 1981. Probably the most complete work assembled of the man, his life and his time from February 20, 1812 to June 28, 1878, along with family relations into the 1920's. Gates has spent much of her life researching this interesting individual, his family and his ancestors, even going to Spain to search family records.
Zethyl Gates was a friend for over 20 years, “She was an amazing person.” She was a librarian by trade, also a local historian who died in 2002. In 1975 we found the white breeches left on the hill as we rebuilt the trail to our shooting range. The leather ball was found in a coyotes den (I throw them in the barn to look at later - like 8-0 years later). Place in a 5 gallon bucket filled with water it took a week for them to soften so we could unroll what was thought to be a leather shirt. Turns out to be fancy now tan leather breeches. I tacked them to a piece of plywood until dry, in the mean time I check with the farmers around the area who knew Pappa and was told that he wore his dad's clothes for special events. Found in the local paper at the library when he hurt himself he has come from the Loveland Firemen's Parade on that day. I took the breeches to the Loveland Library, Mrs. Gates when nuts with this fine, taking pictures and writing a short article in the Loveland newspaper. The breeches hung in my store (Buckhorn Rendezvous) for 7-8 years when I was contacted by "The Museum of the Mountain Man" in WY knowing the historian there. I donated them to the museum where they are on display today.
I lived 4 miles from Medina's Crossing (his toll bridge) west of Loveland CO, his daughter Lena was buried on our property and Louis Papa (Medina's step son would come to our place to visit his step sister). I found a pair of leather breeches left on our property for years (Mrs. E. Gates who wrote about Medina and Charley Hanson [Museum of the Fur Trade] knew who they belonged to when seen). Both had pictures of Medina wearing them at a ball in Denver (Marino was a fancy-dan and liked to show off at up-scaled affairs. Papa use to wear his step-fathers clothes at parades in Loveland and Ft. Collins around the turn of the century. Mrs. Gates found an old newspaper article that Louis had gotten hurt up the Buckhorn Canyon in the early 1900's. Figured they removed the breeches when taking him to Loveland.
Read on:
Lena Medina died in 1930 with Louis passing on in 1935, in 1960 when the family graves where moved only one female body was identified, that of Mariano's Indian wife - "John". Then the story of the Indian burial on the ridge northwest of Loveland is brought to mind. Harold Dunning, Loveland's historian labels the burial that of an "Indian Princess" to be Lena's resting place, now the appearances of Medina's step son at this location several times a month starts to add up, he's visiting his step sister's grave, along with other family members. Not much has been written about some of the children, Lena and Louis seem to have been the most visible in the eyes of the researchers over the years.
-----------------
Lena was buried setting in an upright position along with a small child. Word got out about the find when the labors were working the sandstone quarry uncovered the grave. CSU came out and informed my father-in-law they would be back the following week to remove Lena and child. All the neighbors got together and decided that was her place were Marino wanted her buried (they had Loveland Concrete put an 8 inch slab over the site and then pulled tons of sandstone slab over the concrete. CSU come to remove the bodies and saw what had been done, threw up their hands and left - end of the issue. BC
.....................
Louis Papin (Papa) was well known in the Loveland area and very visible in public as the yearly town marshall for the Loveland Parade and other events in the early 1900's, he was often seen riding his white horse and wearing his father's fancy clothes (seen in several accounts wearing the white breeches and long knitted socks) at special occasions. He rode in the hills around Loveland and up the canyon of the Big Thompson from Loveland to Estes Park most of his life, he would travel northwest of Loveland several times a month to visit family member graves near Masonville, Colorado, now covered by years of quarry work.
Louis Papin (Pappa) was a friend of my father-in-law, his sister Lena Medina is buried on our property outside of Loveland on the Masonville Road. My father-in-law said his father would visit with Louis every chance he got and have Louis help with branding and working the cattle. Louis fell off his horse as he was leaving from his visit to see his sister. He broke his hip and was moved to Loveland Hospital. The medical removed the white breeches he was wearing (Marion Medina's).
BC
Correction: "He rode in the hills around Loveland and up the canyon of the Big Thompson" he worked cattle for different ranches in the canyon and lived in the canyon.
BC
---------------------------------------------------
Not much has been written about Medina when compared to other mountain men of this period. Zethyl Gates a local librarian living in Loveland, is considered the expert on Medina the legend, she wrote a book about him published in 1981. Probably the most complete work assembled of the man, his life and his time from February 20, 1812 to June 28, 1878, along with family relations into the 1920's. Gates has spent much of her life researching this interesting individual, his family and his ancestors, even going to Spain to search family records.
Zethyl Gates was a friend for over 20 years, “She was an amazing person.” She was a librarian by trade, also a local historian who died in 2002. In 1975 we found the white breeches left on the hill as we rebuilt the trail to our shooting range. The leather ball was found in a coyotes den (I throw them in the barn to look at later - like 8-0 years later). Place in a 5 gallon bucket filled with water it took a week for them to soften so we could unroll what was thought to be a leather shirt. Turns out to be fancy now tan leather breeches. I tacked them to a piece of plywood until dry, in the mean time I check with the farmers around the area who knew Pappa and was told that he wore his dad's clothes for special events. Found in the local paper at the library when he hurt himself he has come from the Loveland Firemen's Parade on that day. I took the breeches to the Loveland Library, Mrs. Gates when nuts with this fine, taking pictures and writing a short article in the Loveland newspaper. The breeches hung in my store (Buckhorn Rendezvous) for 7-8 years when I was contacted by "The Museum of the Mountain Man" in WY knowing the historian there. I donated them to the museum where they are on display today.
Last edited by Buck Conner on 3/7/2021, 1:38 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Re: Was asked a question about an old mountainman.
by Buck Conner 3/7/2021, 1:22 pm
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Re: Was asked a question about an old mountainman.
by Buck Conner 3/7/2021, 1:38 pm
We had a famous mountain man living in our area, just a few miles down the road. He was known to have traveled on this land in his adventures.
Homestead wall in the Buckhorn Canyon.
A Famous Mountain Man
According to local historians, mountain man Mariano Medina, for whom the Mariana Butte area is named, arrived with his wife in 1858 and built a cabin near the Big Thompson River two years later, becoming the first permanent settler of the area.
Sometime before 1864, Medina reportedly buried a friend at the site and soon after buried two of his children there. He built a low stone wall around the cemetery and kept it neatly whitewashed. By the time he died in 1878, the cemetery was full, and he had to be buried outside the walls, according to published reports.
"The cemetery was viewed with curiosity mixed with respect by settlers and travelers, who expressed surprise at finding it so well kept in such an uncivilized land."
"Mariano Medina Colorado Mountain Man" by Zethyl Gates).
First created as the Medina family cemetery, friends and acquaintances were also buried in the cemetery outside the sandstone walls surrounding the Medina plot. The earliest grave at this site was of a family friend buried prior to 1864. This was followed by two of Mariano Medina's children in 1864. The cemetery was surrounded by stone walls that were neatly whitewashed. The entrance was topped with a Blue Cross, a symbol of Medina's Catholic faith.
I'll continue this story and how we have connections with this man on the family property. We will share what was found while cleaning up a century of junk left by the forefathers of this ground, Medina's family included.
Breeches in the Fur Trade by Buck Conner
After reading an article entitled "The Well-Dressed Explorer" by Jeff Gottfred of the NWBC located in Calgary, Canada, he mentions David Thompson's leather trousers and long wool socks, along with Samuel Johnson's dictionary's remarks of trousers used in outposts and common wear on the frontier.
I have always felt that one of the problems in living history has been the dating of men's clothing, especially civilian clothing, seems to be volumes on the subject - except women's clothing. After years of research on what is correct and what is questionable, military clothing is extremely helpful in dating civilian wares. For an example, the British Army went from the fly front to the fall front knee breeches in the “Clothing Warrent of 1768“. The military usually changes fashion late, the front fly was probably going out of civilian styles in the early 1790's. If portraying a fashionable gentlemen from Philadelphia, Annapolis or St. Louis, you would be wearing fall front breeches or trousers. But if you were a farmer in the same period you would likely have fly front's. Fly front breeches were developed around 1650 and in a hundred and fifty years, change was the tightness and size of the waistband going from 4 - 6 inches in 1730 - 1750, to 2 - 2-1/2 inch range found on late 1830 - 1850 fall fronts.
This article reminded me of an item I found back in the early 1970’s when living in northern Colorado, northwest of the town of Loveland in a small valley called the Buckhorn Canyon (named by Mariano Medina, the Colorado Mountainman). Medina was reported to have shot and killed several young Utes that had stolen horses from his place of business west of Loveland and had rode them a few miles up this canyon when Medina caught up with them. This same canyon was where it was reported that his daughter was buried.
My ex-wife’s family had several hundred acres homesteaded in the late 1800’s of which only half was farmable, the rest was used for pasture and a small sandstone quarry, it was narrow in width and followed the Buckhorn Canyon ridge down into the valley. Only a few miles from the Big Thompson River that Mariano Medina had his toll bridge on for years, charging according to the numbers wanting to cross the river. Namaqua: Mariano's (or Marianne's) Crossing later became known as Namaqua. According to the local newspapers, these charges helped newcomers make up their mind up about settling on one side or the other of the Thompson. Small settlements started springing up in the area like Berthoud, Campeon and Medina Flat's rather than pay Mariano‘s fees. "His post was a known location for the "pony trade", "Whites", "Mexicans" and "Indians" traded on a regular schedule here in the Big Thompson Valley..." reported the Denver Rocky Mountain News. This horse trade attracted many groups of Indians, they counted theirs and Mariano's wealth by the number of ponies one owned at "Marianne's Crossing".
My ex father-in-law told me as a young boy growing up in the valley he could remember when the Utes would come to town and everyone would gather their tools and vegetables and store them inside until they passed, he said they were looked upon as gypsies and known to steal loose items laying around and sell those items in town for whiskey. This seemed to be the only problem as he recalls was ever present with these people that lived at the northern end of the canyon.
Around 1935 the local college - CSU in Fort Collins was called to look at a grave site that was uncovered in the sandstone quarry on this property. It was decided to be possibly Native American, a women buried sitting up. The college would return in a week to remove the body and look for additional clues at the site. In that time period the local farmers feared that removing the remains could bring a curse on the valley and decided to cover the grave not giving permission to anyone to touch the site. My father-in-law had the pre-mix concrete company pour an 8" slab on top of the grave and then pushed 3 to 4 feet of dirt and riff-raff (broken rock from the quarry) on the slab. When the college showed up a few days later, seeing what had been done demanded the county court to issue an order to remove the body (believed to be Medina's daughter, Lena). After several meetings with the valley farmers and county commissioners, the subject was dropped.
Mariano Medina: His first name was Mariano, his surname has seen different spellings; Medina, Modena and Medena are the more common found. Mariano Medina is what Mrs. Zethel Gates has found on court records, titles and legal documents. Mariano Medina established the first permanent settlement on the right (south) bank of the Big Thompson River in 1858. Mariano’s homestead consisted of a traditional Spanish-style plaza surrounded on three sides by his neatly whitewashed log home, trading store, saloon, corrals and a post office. The settlement was originally called Miraville, then Mariano’s Crossing, Big Thompson Crossing, and by today’s name Namaqua as I‘m sure you are aware of. Mariano is credited with establishing the firsts business, first school, first church, and first cemetery in the valley. Known an excellent horseman and horse trader swapping for worn out stock for his healthy animals he had fattened on river bottom grass. Overland Mail in 1862 selected Medina‘s settlement as a home station. The significance of this first community of “Indians and Mexicans” was discounted by later white settlers.
Now that you have a little history of this area we'll get back to the trousers, forty years later I’m building a new fence on this property and find a small pocket, not really a cave per say. A friend claims we were looking for rattlesnakes, not building fence, can't remember, spent a lot of time on this location year around working, hunting and just looking around. The area was a large rolling hill side that runs for 6-7 miles; not bad walking, lots of game - rabbits, turkey, mule and whitetail deer, along with a local herd of elk. Anyway whatever we were doing we could see something in this loaf shaped hole and after several hours of probing with long sticks we were able removed some of the larger rocks to a point where we could see there were no snakes in the pocket opening. Still not really comfortable I crawled inside with a flashlight and a small shovel and started scraping the ground looking for anything that could have been drug into this natural living quarters that appeared to have housed some local coyotes. Most of the items were clean bones, a few pieces of skulls of small animals, three old beads. There was also found a hard ball of leather that looked like an old shirt, torn but it looked like it was all there. We figured the beads came from the activities of a local mountain man club that ran monthly shoots on the property.
I soaked the hard ball of leather for several days in a 5 gallon bucket of water, once soft the ball was stretched on a plywood surface and tacked down, the leather shirt turns out to be leather breeches that were manufactured by the appearance. Some of the construction was of the early style of machine stitching, commercial type brass buttons with the name “Hammond & Co - Oxford St“, small drop front design with the adjustable waist band tie in the back. The waist band is whip stitched, about 15-16 stitches to the inch with a canvas type material sandwiched between the leather for extra support. The brass buttons are of the dished style with raised lettering of the manufacturer, now white with mineral deposits, pearl buttons on legs suggest they were replacements. The legs are slightly tapered to the knee with the usual buttoned cuff below the knee and the bulky butt area like the military breeches of the early 1800's.
After showing the breeches to the local museum in Loveland, I was sent to the library in search of a Mrs. Zethyl Gates - librarian and local historian. At the time she was still working on a book about local mountain man Marino Medina (she had written several museum papers and articles in local newspapers about this man). She has spent most of her working life researching Medina and others of the late fur trade in Colorado and Wyoming, even traveled to Spain to research Medina's family history.
When walking into the library I was sent to her office at once with my old beat-up leather trousers (breeches) and found a very excited Mrs. Gates, she had been called by the museum about these pants. She showed me a late picture of Marino wearing breeches in Denver like the ones I have found and another picture of Louie Papa (Medina's step-son) wearing the same breeches, taken in a parade in Loveland after the turn of the century - 1900. Interesting, but questionable as to whether they were his or someone else's and how did the trousers get on this hill?
A few years later I was visiting an old friend in Chadron, NE; Charles E. Hanson, Jr., you may have heard of him, showed him the old breeches and told him the story and Mrs. Gates interest. He said, " let's go to the study”, Charlie owned “The Museum of the Fur Trade“. Charlie points out a leather coat (short jacket) with the same brass buttons and of similar construction, it had been purchased from a family in northern Colorado at a gun show. Traded around for a period before finding its new home at the museum. The next thing out of Charlie’s mouth was "how much"? According to Mr. Hanson this type of coat and pants (trousers) were made commercially in Europe and shipped to New York or California dealers during the late fur trade all the way up to and after the Indian Wars. This style of garment sold in the gentlemen shops throughout the Rockies during the mid to late 1800‘s. Interesting how the article of David Thompson's leather breeches has brought about more research and this story.
Born in Taos, New Mexico in 1812, Mariano Medina was a personal friend of Kit Carson, Louis Vasquez, the Bent brothers along other legendary mountain men like Jim Bridger and Tom Toblin.
With his early experiences as a trapper, trader, hide trader, bounty hunter (capturing two Utes for a reward), known for his knowledge of the wilderness. He was a half-breed Frenchman, Jicarilla Apache, and Spanish mix according to those that knew him. His ability was apparent as an aide to John C. Fremont in that exploration of the west in providing his mountain skills and knowledge. He also was employed as a guide for Captain Randolph B. Marcy's exciting trek across the Rockies in the winter during the Mormon War.
It is found in reports of events and journals of several fur trade companies that one Mariano Medina was in their employ from time to time. With the days of the fur trade coming to an end and growing older for acting a guide for these explorations, Mariano settled down proclaiming he was the first settler on the Big Thompson Creek (River) in 1858) near present day Loveland, Colorado. The years spent on the Sweetwater and Green River had taught him about water, crossing it and building structures that would withstand its force. His first venture was with a raft ferrying teams across, charging as much fifty dollars in gold for the service. After a season a toll bridge was built high enough to avoid the high spring run-off, eventually building a fort and trading post "Marianne's Crossing". Soon it became the favorite stopping place for the growing numbers of travelers involved in the western movement and of course his now famous mountainmen friends made frequent stops. Many references in journals, newspapers of the time, mention famous mountain men: "Kit Carson spent the past week with old friend Jesus Garcia Mariano Medina at his post in the Big Thompson canyon". Loveland News June 1858 or "Mr. Ceran St.Vrain has been seen in the company of Mariano Medina near Estes Park, a family outing with several other famous people - William Gilpin (future governor of Colorado), Jos'e de Mirabal and William Bent (trader)". Rocky Mountain News 5th of Sept. 1858.
In March 1861 Tim Goodale and his wife, Jennie, joined old friend Mariano, on the Thompson. Noted this in their journal that “a group of Indians where living about a mile or so below on the south side of the river from Mariano's place, the leader was Nawat (Niwot, or Left Hand) [Arapahoe]. North were Cheyenne’s with their leader Big Mouth, they spent most of their time watching a thousand ponies pastured on the Cache la Poudre River near Fort Collins, Colorado‘. Also noted was the viewing of “a hunting party of Sioux working their way up the Thompson canyon” near present day Estes Park. Mariano had lots of activity around his location, he was pleased, business and the times where good at this location according to friends and family.
"His post was a known location for the "pony trade", "Whites", "Mexicans" and "Indians" traded on a regular schedule here in the Big Thompson Valley..." reported the Denver Rocky Mountain News. This horse trade attracted many groups of Indians, they counted their’s and Mariano's wealth by the number of ponies one owned, this turned out to be trouble for "Marianne's Crossing".
On the morning of 17 April 1861 Mariano Medina experienced a raid at his post, stealing of his ponies, that throws him into a rage. In the days to follow Medina, Goodale, and Mirabal tracked down the stolen ponies along with the band of Indians that had taken them. "On the morning of 21 April 1861 they discovered the remains of a camp fire on the banks of a small creek (Buckhorn Creek), at which time they discharged their rifles and charged forward, the Ute Indians fled in all directions with Mariano, Tim and Jos'e in hot pursuit". according to W. J. Menton, reporter for the Rocky Mountain News. "Cowards!" yelled Mariano, "Come back and fight for horses!". “Suddenly the Indians charged Mariano, taking his hat off and waving as though signaling for help, where upon the Indians scattered, thinking they where out numbered. Mariano shot several of the Indians, leaving the battleground bestrewn with blood, their weapons left in all directions, they escaped with only five ponies." the report reads. Three days later Mariano and his group return with fifty head of stolen horses, the Indians had shot five and had gotten away with five. This event happened three miles north of the Big Thompson in a narrow valley referred to as “The Buckhorn Canyon”. Twenty one shots where fired, in less than three minutes according to reports, with the highest number given to Medina, Sueze Luis, Merival and 'Uncle' Tim Goodale for their skills in handling firearms. After this attack Mariano had his Mexican labors start building his fort to protect the people living at his settlement.
It has been noted that in the 1871 Medina loaned the new found First National Bank of Fort. Collins, Colorado a sum of money to start business, money gotten from the toll bridge operation and trading post enterprise - $61,000.00. A large sum like this shows how successful his business had become. It's said that some would pay as little as 25 cents to make the crossing on a busy day and as much as $100.00 on a slow day, freighters loaded with gold would usually pay the most and Mexicans crossed free. With such extreme changes in "crossing" costs, some researchers claim Mariano was responsible for many of the small communities around the Loveland area. Settlers waiting for a busy business day to make their crossing in moving westward would decide that the area and available homestead ground was more attractive than first thought.
In his later years he was known as a fashionable gentleman of the area, stories of his parties with the new settlers, travelers and guests coming to his settlement. His wines, Santa Fe cooking, and great hostility was becoming legend, Mariano had come into his own. On occasion he would show his now famous Hawken muzzleloader "Old Lady Hawkens", parade around in his white Spanish style leather jacket, London leather breeches, fancy knitted long socks and beaded moccasins. One visitor remarked "what a worldly gentleman Mr. Medina was and a credit to the country", while ladies were charmed by all the airs of this Spanish gentleman, the men were impressed with his guns, and trophies of a wilder time.
Something about this Mexican and his flashing smile fascinated everyone, locals and newcomers alike, anyone that had ever heard of him. A legend in his own time, stories had gotten better with each telling. One such story is about Mariano and his new gun. He was sitting outdoors examing the new rifle, lining up the sights, fingering the trigger, and testing its weight, like a child with a new toy. Suddenly without warning, Mariano raised the gun to his shoulder and fired, shooting a Mexican laborer off the roof of a building he was repairing.
When the sheriff asked Mariano why he shot the man, Mariano replied "AW, him make such a purty target, all dressed up in his white shirt." Another story was a tale that after the death of his Indian wife, Mariano bought a white wife from one of the early settlers, paying for her with whiskey.
Stories and tales of legends aside, it is clear that Mariano was not to be taken lightly. The following appears in the court records of Larimer County, Colorado Territory:
Personally appeared before me, this 29th day of October, A.D. 1864 Richard Castillo who after being sworn entered the following complaint-to-wit-that on the 28th day of October,1864 Marrianna [sic] Medina did make an assault upon the person of the said Richard Castillo with a hatchet or tomahawk with intent to commit bodily injury, and did unlawfully beat and injure the said Richard Castillo.
At times "Medina's Crossing" was referred to as "Marianna's Town" and he was its "major domo" the "Don Juan of the Thompson."
Mariano's daughters where famous for their expensive tastes, styles and clothing, appearing at fashionable engagements with the upper crust of Denver, its fashionable night spots and appearing in parades throughout the area. Stories, poems and articles of these ladies, their father and brother where common news in the weekly papers. To be an associate, friend or guest of the Medina family was to be the "in-thing" in Colorado at this time in history.
Lena Medina still lives on even in 1960, when the family graves where moved only one female body was identified, that of Mariano's Indian wife - "John". Then the story of the Indian burial on the ridge northwest of Loveland is brought to mind. Harold Dunning, Loveland's historian labels the burial that of an "Indian Princess" to be Lena's resting place, now the appearances of Medina's step son at this location several times a month starts to add up, he's visiting his step sister's grave, along with other family members. Not much has been written about some of the children, Lena and Louis seem to have been the most visible in the eyes of the researchers over the years.
Louis, the French trapper's son and Mariano's step son; raised by Medina he recalled going with him (Mariano) to Ft. Bridger, Ft. Vasquaz, Ft. Laramie, and the remains of Bent's Fort, getting his one and only spanking by his mother for racing his pony on the sand dunes of the Salmon River in Idaho.
Louis would have been in his early teens when coming to the Big Thompson Valley with his family, he worked most of his adult life with cattle and cattle ranches in Estes Park, Colorado area. Louis Papin (Papa) was well known in the Loveland area and very visible in public as the yearly town Marshall for the Loveland Parade and other events in the early 1900's, he was often seen riding his white horse and wearing his father's fancy clothes (in several accounts wearing the white breeches and long knitted socks at special occasions). He rode in the hills around Loveland and up the canyon of the Big Thompson from Loveland to Estes Park most of his life. He would travel northwest of Loveland several times a month to visit family member graves near Masonville, Colorado, (The Buckhorn Canyon) now covered by years of quarry work on the hillside.
Not much has been written about Medina when compared to other mountain men of this period. Zethyl Gates a local librarian living in Loveland, is considered the expert on Medina the legend, she wrote a book about him published in 1981. Probably the most complete work assembled of the man, his life and his time from February 20, 1812 to June 28, 1878, along with family relations into the 1920's. Gates has spent much of her life researching this interesting individual, his family and his ancestors, even going to Spain to search family records.
____________________________________________________
Wes Housler of Rocky Mountain College Productions mentioned the idea of breeches or short pantaloons over the phone as we were talking about what supplies would be needed from my firm Clark & Sons Mercantile for their next adventure in the Rockies. This will be number #2 in a new series covering the Fur Trade. I told Wes of what you had just read and we both thought this would be very interesting to anyone working as a trapper or doing fur trade re-enactments.
I have found reference to "short trousers", "pantaloons" and "breeches" by gentlemen that were there, like Osborn Russell in his journal, comments by John K. Townsend at the 1834 rendezvous, field sketches by Miller at the 1837 Green River Rendezvous to name just a few of many remarks about their use in journals, trade lists. etc. At Fort Hall they carried "fall front fly" breeches on their list of supplies, more complicated in their construction and largely commercially made as the talents of a tailor was usually required. Most homemade short trousers, pantaloons or breeches were constructed in a simpler way of closing the front area of the pants.
Wes, like Charles E. Hanson, Jr. had both found countless sources of information on the subject in journals as well as reference to the use in of breeches in many accounts of life on the frontier. Wes has also found reference to the use of these garments in supply lists from a number of suppliers, trading posts and forts.
Using pictures from Colorado Historical Society; photo's from the Zethyl Gates's collection, photo's from the Loveland Reporter Herald that has run accounts of the local mountain man's adventures. Plus the knowledge of Mr. Hanson on the style - cut - manufacture and material used in these short pants and the location of their storage for years has helped to bring ownership closer. It seems I have a mid to late period pair of breeches, believed and now confirmed by those mentioned to have belonged to one Marino Medina.
References
Jeff Gottfred , "The Well-Dressed Explorer" NWBC Journal, 1978.
Ball, Clara, ed. "Loveland-Big Thompson Valley 1877-1977 Centennial", 1975.
Camp, Charles L., ed. "James Clyman Frontiersman." Portland: Champoeg Press, 1960.
Gates, Zethyl, "Mariano Medina Colorado Mountain Man" Johnson Publishing Co., 1981
Magazine 12 (November 1935): 201-214.
Hengesbaugh, Jeff & Housler, Wes, "Dress and Equipage of the Mountain Man 1820-1840" Rocky Mountain College Productions, 1997.
Kephart, Bruce, "Hawken Rifle" Saturday Evening Post, 21 February 1920, p.65.
Newspaper articles
Berthoud, Colorado;
Berthoud Bulletin.
Denver, Colorado; Colorado Prospector, Colorado Tribune,
Denver Daily Times,
Denver Post,
Denver Republican.
Fort Collins, Colorado; Fort Collins Coloradoan,
Fort Collins Express,
Fort Collins Standard.
Pueblo, Colorado; Pueblo Chieftan.
Loveland, Colorado; Loveland Register, Loveland Reporter, Loveland Reporter Herald.
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There are several good patterns available for this style of covering from several suppliers as well as an excellent article that explains the construction of a pair of breeches by Jeff Hengesbaugh and Wes Housler in their book "Dress and Equipage of the Mountain Man 1820-1840" produced by Rocky Mountain College Productions.
Both Wes and Charlie have agreed that if your in freezing water up to your knees, that the breeches or short pantaloons are by far the most practical. They will dry faster and be less of a problem than a pair of long pants in cloth or leather, plus its easier to slip on wool socks, leggings or wrap your lower leg area once on shore. Beats wearing wet clothing that would freeze before getting dry in trapping weather.
I have read of trappers, travelers and adventures stopping to remove their leg coverings to cross streams and creeks in their daily routines as they worked or moved across this country. One account tells of several travelers being way laid as they were putting on their wool socks and footwear after crossing a stream, the robbers took those items along with their other goods leaving them to suffer with bare skin and dealing with the freezing conditions. Read another account of trappers using leather uppers coming down to the knee with blanket sewed on at this point to cover the lower leg and calf area, several of the re-enactors and brothers of the AMM have worn this arrangement for years and claim the blanket dries very quickly.
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Personally I have changed to breeches as my main covering of the lower part of the body about 15-20 years ago, in extremely warm weather leggings and a clout are used. For trapping the breeches are hard to beat, as mentioned with heavy wool sock that go about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the knee and fastened with a military style leather garter. For mild winter conditions, the addition of heavily greased brain tanned leggings works even for colder temperatures. When traveling in spring or fall weather I use lighter socks and leggings or leggings alone with cloth breeches works very nicely.
Seems the more one experiments with their clothing, staying within the chosen time frame, one will get to a point that “what works with the least amount of effort and care is usually what is best suited for that person.” I'm sure as others are, this theory was true in the F & I War, Rev. War, Fur Trade or the Civil War. Don't get sold on that Remington Mountainman look; you know the old trapper with long hair, beard and very long fringe. I would liked to have seen him travel a 100 yards with that long beard and fringe in the Rockies, he would be hog tied to the ground cover by his own makings. As written before, trial and error of your clothing is by far the best way to find what works for you, and consider a pair of breeches in your kit, think you'll be surprised at the benefits of this garment.
When the cold and snow starts later this season, I am planning on making leather breeches, similar to the ones that Marion Medina wore, may have to learn how to knit those long wool socks that were so popular also. Research, research and more research is a never ending process for those's interested in living history correctly.
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When originally writing about Mariano Medina and his breeches I left an important fact out by accident or possibly just so use to looking at these pants I didn't even think about it. Several years ago an AMM Brother was visiting and asked about these breeches, when looking at them he remarked "look someone got hurt and these short pants have been cut off of them". A very important fact that I had failed to mention originally, knew this just passed over. Thanks to Pat Surrina for reminding me. I checked all my original sources with no reference to an accident and then found that “Louis Papin (Papa) was recovering from a fall in the Buckhorn Canyon earlier this year” according to an article in the Loveland Register dated 10 August 1911, could this have been when these "short pants" had received there now present slit openings ? We can only guess from this time on if this was the case or was it at another time the wearer had these leather breeches removed in such a manner.
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The Source of these breeches
Hammond & Co. was founded in 1839 known as a venerable sporting goods firm located at 261 Oxford Street between Audley Street and Marble Arch in London’s prosperous West End.
One employee, Edward Tautz had been the head cutter with the firm since it opened, he decided to establish his own firm in 1867. Tautz had been tailor to England’s finest sporting gentlemen, including Edward VII, as Prince of Wales and took many of his noble clients with him. Some of America’s New York socialites followed Edward to his new establishment shortly after opening also. Tautz’s firm was located in at 249 Oxford Street just down the block from his old employer. In 1875 the firm changed its name to E. Tautz & Sons as Edward brought his son Frederick George Tautz into the business. He fought hard to protect his business from counterfeiters, even going to the extent of using the courts. In 1886 he proved, in court, his invention of the original Knickerbocker Breeches, that were to prove so popular and were the forerunner to today’s plus 2's.
References
Sporting Gazette June 1840
Windsor Archive, Windsor Castle
Sporting Gazette 1869
The Times, London, April 1 1878
Country Life June 1 1881
Country Life, Sporting Gazette, Baileys Hunting Directory
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Mariano Medina: Medina died in 1878 from a painful effect of bullets lodged in his body over time. He asked to be buried with his two horses, his carriage and a keg of whiskey.
Louis Papa
Louis Papa: born at Snake Creek, Utah, in 1844. His mother, Tacanecy, was pregnant when the French trader, Louis Elbert Papin, traded her to Mariano Medina for some blankets and horses. He was 14 when Medina settled on the Big Thompson River. Papa never attended school. He herded cattle and horses around Medina's ranch. The Loveland Library receives requests about the Medina children, Louis being the more popular. Lena, Louis’ sister is reportly buried in the Buckhorn Canyon on the Chance property (where these breeches were found). Papa homesteaded up the Big Thompson Canyon near Smith Park for years. He spent his winter months in Loveland and died in 1935.
Louis was well known in the Loveland area and very visible in public as the town Marshall for the Loveland Firemen’s Parade and other events in the early 1900's. Often seen riding his white horse and wearing his father's fancy clothes (several accounts mention wearing white breeches and long knitted socks at special occasions that belonged to famous his step-father).
Louis Papa died in Loveland at about the age of 91 shortly after mistaking lye for lard in 1935. He rode for the Frank Bartholf Ranch in Estes Park CO, Frank provided a plot in the Bartholf family plot at Loveland's Lakeside Cemetery.
Namaqua: Mariano's (or Marianne's) Crossing later became known as Namaqua. In 1868, a federal post office opened there under that name. The settlement was located across the road from the present site of Namaqua Park. The toll bridge was located west of the present bridge, and at least until 1980, tow pilings from Medina's toll bridge still stood on the south side of the riverbank. In 1956, all that was left of Medina's home was torn down. Some of the original logs were used to reconstruct the cabin in the Loveland Museum/Gallery.
Namaqua Park: In 1960, Medina's and other family member's graves were moved to the current site. The only notice of the move was in the Fort Collins paper. People claim that Loveland residents were not notified of the proposed move. The family cemetery had been located about ¼ mile south of Namaqua on the west side of Namaqua Road.
The late Zethyl Gates thinks Namaqua was named after the beautiful daughter of chief Black Hawk, a Sauk Indian who lived in the Midwest. The Chief's daughter was named Namequa, with an 'e' instead of the second 'a.' The town of Blackhawk, Colorado was named after Chief Black Hawk, and the first postmaster of Namaqua, Hiram Tadder, knew of the Chief and his beautiful daughter. Local buckskinners honor Medina each year on the first of June at the park.
A regular event honoring Mariano Medina was started in 1974 by the founders of the “Buckhorn Skinners” our local mountain man club. Dwain "Trapper Tom" Thompson and Barry “Wounded Baer” Conner both from the Buckhorn Canyon (location where Medina's breeches were found) hold this event on this same property. This is also where Medina's daughter Lena Medina is believed to be buried. Louis Papa spent much of his spare time at this location, owner of his father's leather pants worn in the Loveland Firemen's Parade.
Homestead wall in the Buckhorn Canyon.
A Famous Mountain Man
According to local historians, mountain man Mariano Medina, for whom the Mariana Butte area is named, arrived with his wife in 1858 and built a cabin near the Big Thompson River two years later, becoming the first permanent settler of the area.
Sometime before 1864, Medina reportedly buried a friend at the site and soon after buried two of his children there. He built a low stone wall around the cemetery and kept it neatly whitewashed. By the time he died in 1878, the cemetery was full, and he had to be buried outside the walls, according to published reports.
"The cemetery was viewed with curiosity mixed with respect by settlers and travelers, who expressed surprise at finding it so well kept in such an uncivilized land."
"Mariano Medina Colorado Mountain Man" by Zethyl Gates).
First created as the Medina family cemetery, friends and acquaintances were also buried in the cemetery outside the sandstone walls surrounding the Medina plot. The earliest grave at this site was of a family friend buried prior to 1864. This was followed by two of Mariano Medina's children in 1864. The cemetery was surrounded by stone walls that were neatly whitewashed. The entrance was topped with a Blue Cross, a symbol of Medina's Catholic faith.
I'll continue this story and how we have connections with this man on the family property. We will share what was found while cleaning up a century of junk left by the forefathers of this ground, Medina's family included.
Breeches in the Fur Trade by Buck Conner
After reading an article entitled "The Well-Dressed Explorer" by Jeff Gottfred of the NWBC located in Calgary, Canada, he mentions David Thompson's leather trousers and long wool socks, along with Samuel Johnson's dictionary's remarks of trousers used in outposts and common wear on the frontier.
I have always felt that one of the problems in living history has been the dating of men's clothing, especially civilian clothing, seems to be volumes on the subject - except women's clothing. After years of research on what is correct and what is questionable, military clothing is extremely helpful in dating civilian wares. For an example, the British Army went from the fly front to the fall front knee breeches in the “Clothing Warrent of 1768“. The military usually changes fashion late, the front fly was probably going out of civilian styles in the early 1790's. If portraying a fashionable gentlemen from Philadelphia, Annapolis or St. Louis, you would be wearing fall front breeches or trousers. But if you were a farmer in the same period you would likely have fly front's. Fly front breeches were developed around 1650 and in a hundred and fifty years, change was the tightness and size of the waistband going from 4 - 6 inches in 1730 - 1750, to 2 - 2-1/2 inch range found on late 1830 - 1850 fall fronts.
This article reminded me of an item I found back in the early 1970’s when living in northern Colorado, northwest of the town of Loveland in a small valley called the Buckhorn Canyon (named by Mariano Medina, the Colorado Mountainman). Medina was reported to have shot and killed several young Utes that had stolen horses from his place of business west of Loveland and had rode them a few miles up this canyon when Medina caught up with them. This same canyon was where it was reported that his daughter was buried.
My ex-wife’s family had several hundred acres homesteaded in the late 1800’s of which only half was farmable, the rest was used for pasture and a small sandstone quarry, it was narrow in width and followed the Buckhorn Canyon ridge down into the valley. Only a few miles from the Big Thompson River that Mariano Medina had his toll bridge on for years, charging according to the numbers wanting to cross the river. Namaqua: Mariano's (or Marianne's) Crossing later became known as Namaqua. According to the local newspapers, these charges helped newcomers make up their mind up about settling on one side or the other of the Thompson. Small settlements started springing up in the area like Berthoud, Campeon and Medina Flat's rather than pay Mariano‘s fees. "His post was a known location for the "pony trade", "Whites", "Mexicans" and "Indians" traded on a regular schedule here in the Big Thompson Valley..." reported the Denver Rocky Mountain News. This horse trade attracted many groups of Indians, they counted theirs and Mariano's wealth by the number of ponies one owned at "Marianne's Crossing".
My ex father-in-law told me as a young boy growing up in the valley he could remember when the Utes would come to town and everyone would gather their tools and vegetables and store them inside until they passed, he said they were looked upon as gypsies and known to steal loose items laying around and sell those items in town for whiskey. This seemed to be the only problem as he recalls was ever present with these people that lived at the northern end of the canyon.
Around 1935 the local college - CSU in Fort Collins was called to look at a grave site that was uncovered in the sandstone quarry on this property. It was decided to be possibly Native American, a women buried sitting up. The college would return in a week to remove the body and look for additional clues at the site. In that time period the local farmers feared that removing the remains could bring a curse on the valley and decided to cover the grave not giving permission to anyone to touch the site. My father-in-law had the pre-mix concrete company pour an 8" slab on top of the grave and then pushed 3 to 4 feet of dirt and riff-raff (broken rock from the quarry) on the slab. When the college showed up a few days later, seeing what had been done demanded the county court to issue an order to remove the body (believed to be Medina's daughter, Lena). After several meetings with the valley farmers and county commissioners, the subject was dropped.
Mariano Medina: His first name was Mariano, his surname has seen different spellings; Medina, Modena and Medena are the more common found. Mariano Medina is what Mrs. Zethel Gates has found on court records, titles and legal documents. Mariano Medina established the first permanent settlement on the right (south) bank of the Big Thompson River in 1858. Mariano’s homestead consisted of a traditional Spanish-style plaza surrounded on three sides by his neatly whitewashed log home, trading store, saloon, corrals and a post office. The settlement was originally called Miraville, then Mariano’s Crossing, Big Thompson Crossing, and by today’s name Namaqua as I‘m sure you are aware of. Mariano is credited with establishing the firsts business, first school, first church, and first cemetery in the valley. Known an excellent horseman and horse trader swapping for worn out stock for his healthy animals he had fattened on river bottom grass. Overland Mail in 1862 selected Medina‘s settlement as a home station. The significance of this first community of “Indians and Mexicans” was discounted by later white settlers.
Now that you have a little history of this area we'll get back to the trousers, forty years later I’m building a new fence on this property and find a small pocket, not really a cave per say. A friend claims we were looking for rattlesnakes, not building fence, can't remember, spent a lot of time on this location year around working, hunting and just looking around. The area was a large rolling hill side that runs for 6-7 miles; not bad walking, lots of game - rabbits, turkey, mule and whitetail deer, along with a local herd of elk. Anyway whatever we were doing we could see something in this loaf shaped hole and after several hours of probing with long sticks we were able removed some of the larger rocks to a point where we could see there were no snakes in the pocket opening. Still not really comfortable I crawled inside with a flashlight and a small shovel and started scraping the ground looking for anything that could have been drug into this natural living quarters that appeared to have housed some local coyotes. Most of the items were clean bones, a few pieces of skulls of small animals, three old beads. There was also found a hard ball of leather that looked like an old shirt, torn but it looked like it was all there. We figured the beads came from the activities of a local mountain man club that ran monthly shoots on the property.
I soaked the hard ball of leather for several days in a 5 gallon bucket of water, once soft the ball was stretched on a plywood surface and tacked down, the leather shirt turns out to be leather breeches that were manufactured by the appearance. Some of the construction was of the early style of machine stitching, commercial type brass buttons with the name “Hammond & Co - Oxford St“, small drop front design with the adjustable waist band tie in the back. The waist band is whip stitched, about 15-16 stitches to the inch with a canvas type material sandwiched between the leather for extra support. The brass buttons are of the dished style with raised lettering of the manufacturer, now white with mineral deposits, pearl buttons on legs suggest they were replacements. The legs are slightly tapered to the knee with the usual buttoned cuff below the knee and the bulky butt area like the military breeches of the early 1800's.
After showing the breeches to the local museum in Loveland, I was sent to the library in search of a Mrs. Zethyl Gates - librarian and local historian. At the time she was still working on a book about local mountain man Marino Medina (she had written several museum papers and articles in local newspapers about this man). She has spent most of her working life researching Medina and others of the late fur trade in Colorado and Wyoming, even traveled to Spain to research Medina's family history.
When walking into the library I was sent to her office at once with my old beat-up leather trousers (breeches) and found a very excited Mrs. Gates, she had been called by the museum about these pants. She showed me a late picture of Marino wearing breeches in Denver like the ones I have found and another picture of Louie Papa (Medina's step-son) wearing the same breeches, taken in a parade in Loveland after the turn of the century - 1900. Interesting, but questionable as to whether they were his or someone else's and how did the trousers get on this hill?
A few years later I was visiting an old friend in Chadron, NE; Charles E. Hanson, Jr., you may have heard of him, showed him the old breeches and told him the story and Mrs. Gates interest. He said, " let's go to the study”, Charlie owned “The Museum of the Fur Trade“. Charlie points out a leather coat (short jacket) with the same brass buttons and of similar construction, it had been purchased from a family in northern Colorado at a gun show. Traded around for a period before finding its new home at the museum. The next thing out of Charlie’s mouth was "how much"? According to Mr. Hanson this type of coat and pants (trousers) were made commercially in Europe and shipped to New York or California dealers during the late fur trade all the way up to and after the Indian Wars. This style of garment sold in the gentlemen shops throughout the Rockies during the mid to late 1800‘s. Interesting how the article of David Thompson's leather breeches has brought about more research and this story.
Born in Taos, New Mexico in 1812, Mariano Medina was a personal friend of Kit Carson, Louis Vasquez, the Bent brothers along other legendary mountain men like Jim Bridger and Tom Toblin.
With his early experiences as a trapper, trader, hide trader, bounty hunter (capturing two Utes for a reward), known for his knowledge of the wilderness. He was a half-breed Frenchman, Jicarilla Apache, and Spanish mix according to those that knew him. His ability was apparent as an aide to John C. Fremont in that exploration of the west in providing his mountain skills and knowledge. He also was employed as a guide for Captain Randolph B. Marcy's exciting trek across the Rockies in the winter during the Mormon War.
It is found in reports of events and journals of several fur trade companies that one Mariano Medina was in their employ from time to time. With the days of the fur trade coming to an end and growing older for acting a guide for these explorations, Mariano settled down proclaiming he was the first settler on the Big Thompson Creek (River) in 1858) near present day Loveland, Colorado. The years spent on the Sweetwater and Green River had taught him about water, crossing it and building structures that would withstand its force. His first venture was with a raft ferrying teams across, charging as much fifty dollars in gold for the service. After a season a toll bridge was built high enough to avoid the high spring run-off, eventually building a fort and trading post "Marianne's Crossing". Soon it became the favorite stopping place for the growing numbers of travelers involved in the western movement and of course his now famous mountainmen friends made frequent stops. Many references in journals, newspapers of the time, mention famous mountain men: "Kit Carson spent the past week with old friend Jesus Garcia Mariano Medina at his post in the Big Thompson canyon". Loveland News June 1858 or "Mr. Ceran St.Vrain has been seen in the company of Mariano Medina near Estes Park, a family outing with several other famous people - William Gilpin (future governor of Colorado), Jos'e de Mirabal and William Bent (trader)". Rocky Mountain News 5th of Sept. 1858.
In March 1861 Tim Goodale and his wife, Jennie, joined old friend Mariano, on the Thompson. Noted this in their journal that “a group of Indians where living about a mile or so below on the south side of the river from Mariano's place, the leader was Nawat (Niwot, or Left Hand) [Arapahoe]. North were Cheyenne’s with their leader Big Mouth, they spent most of their time watching a thousand ponies pastured on the Cache la Poudre River near Fort Collins, Colorado‘. Also noted was the viewing of “a hunting party of Sioux working their way up the Thompson canyon” near present day Estes Park. Mariano had lots of activity around his location, he was pleased, business and the times where good at this location according to friends and family.
"His post was a known location for the "pony trade", "Whites", "Mexicans" and "Indians" traded on a regular schedule here in the Big Thompson Valley..." reported the Denver Rocky Mountain News. This horse trade attracted many groups of Indians, they counted their’s and Mariano's wealth by the number of ponies one owned, this turned out to be trouble for "Marianne's Crossing".
On the morning of 17 April 1861 Mariano Medina experienced a raid at his post, stealing of his ponies, that throws him into a rage. In the days to follow Medina, Goodale, and Mirabal tracked down the stolen ponies along with the band of Indians that had taken them. "On the morning of 21 April 1861 they discovered the remains of a camp fire on the banks of a small creek (Buckhorn Creek), at which time they discharged their rifles and charged forward, the Ute Indians fled in all directions with Mariano, Tim and Jos'e in hot pursuit". according to W. J. Menton, reporter for the Rocky Mountain News. "Cowards!" yelled Mariano, "Come back and fight for horses!". “Suddenly the Indians charged Mariano, taking his hat off and waving as though signaling for help, where upon the Indians scattered, thinking they where out numbered. Mariano shot several of the Indians, leaving the battleground bestrewn with blood, their weapons left in all directions, they escaped with only five ponies." the report reads. Three days later Mariano and his group return with fifty head of stolen horses, the Indians had shot five and had gotten away with five. This event happened three miles north of the Big Thompson in a narrow valley referred to as “The Buckhorn Canyon”. Twenty one shots where fired, in less than three minutes according to reports, with the highest number given to Medina, Sueze Luis, Merival and 'Uncle' Tim Goodale for their skills in handling firearms. After this attack Mariano had his Mexican labors start building his fort to protect the people living at his settlement.
It has been noted that in the 1871 Medina loaned the new found First National Bank of Fort. Collins, Colorado a sum of money to start business, money gotten from the toll bridge operation and trading post enterprise - $61,000.00. A large sum like this shows how successful his business had become. It's said that some would pay as little as 25 cents to make the crossing on a busy day and as much as $100.00 on a slow day, freighters loaded with gold would usually pay the most and Mexicans crossed free. With such extreme changes in "crossing" costs, some researchers claim Mariano was responsible for many of the small communities around the Loveland area. Settlers waiting for a busy business day to make their crossing in moving westward would decide that the area and available homestead ground was more attractive than first thought.
In his later years he was known as a fashionable gentleman of the area, stories of his parties with the new settlers, travelers and guests coming to his settlement. His wines, Santa Fe cooking, and great hostility was becoming legend, Mariano had come into his own. On occasion he would show his now famous Hawken muzzleloader "Old Lady Hawkens", parade around in his white Spanish style leather jacket, London leather breeches, fancy knitted long socks and beaded moccasins. One visitor remarked "what a worldly gentleman Mr. Medina was and a credit to the country", while ladies were charmed by all the airs of this Spanish gentleman, the men were impressed with his guns, and trophies of a wilder time.
Something about this Mexican and his flashing smile fascinated everyone, locals and newcomers alike, anyone that had ever heard of him. A legend in his own time, stories had gotten better with each telling. One such story is about Mariano and his new gun. He was sitting outdoors examing the new rifle, lining up the sights, fingering the trigger, and testing its weight, like a child with a new toy. Suddenly without warning, Mariano raised the gun to his shoulder and fired, shooting a Mexican laborer off the roof of a building he was repairing.
When the sheriff asked Mariano why he shot the man, Mariano replied "AW, him make such a purty target, all dressed up in his white shirt." Another story was a tale that after the death of his Indian wife, Mariano bought a white wife from one of the early settlers, paying for her with whiskey.
Stories and tales of legends aside, it is clear that Mariano was not to be taken lightly. The following appears in the court records of Larimer County, Colorado Territory:
Personally appeared before me, this 29th day of October, A.D. 1864 Richard Castillo who after being sworn entered the following complaint-to-wit-that on the 28th day of October,1864 Marrianna [sic] Medina did make an assault upon the person of the said Richard Castillo with a hatchet or tomahawk with intent to commit bodily injury, and did unlawfully beat and injure the said Richard Castillo.
At times "Medina's Crossing" was referred to as "Marianna's Town" and he was its "major domo" the "Don Juan of the Thompson."
Mariano's daughters where famous for their expensive tastes, styles and clothing, appearing at fashionable engagements with the upper crust of Denver, its fashionable night spots and appearing in parades throughout the area. Stories, poems and articles of these ladies, their father and brother where common news in the weekly papers. To be an associate, friend or guest of the Medina family was to be the "in-thing" in Colorado at this time in history.
Lena Medina still lives on even in 1960, when the family graves where moved only one female body was identified, that of Mariano's Indian wife - "John". Then the story of the Indian burial on the ridge northwest of Loveland is brought to mind. Harold Dunning, Loveland's historian labels the burial that of an "Indian Princess" to be Lena's resting place, now the appearances of Medina's step son at this location several times a month starts to add up, he's visiting his step sister's grave, along with other family members. Not much has been written about some of the children, Lena and Louis seem to have been the most visible in the eyes of the researchers over the years.
Louis, the French trapper's son and Mariano's step son; raised by Medina he recalled going with him (Mariano) to Ft. Bridger, Ft. Vasquaz, Ft. Laramie, and the remains of Bent's Fort, getting his one and only spanking by his mother for racing his pony on the sand dunes of the Salmon River in Idaho.
Louis would have been in his early teens when coming to the Big Thompson Valley with his family, he worked most of his adult life with cattle and cattle ranches in Estes Park, Colorado area. Louis Papin (Papa) was well known in the Loveland area and very visible in public as the yearly town Marshall for the Loveland Parade and other events in the early 1900's, he was often seen riding his white horse and wearing his father's fancy clothes (in several accounts wearing the white breeches and long knitted socks at special occasions). He rode in the hills around Loveland and up the canyon of the Big Thompson from Loveland to Estes Park most of his life. He would travel northwest of Loveland several times a month to visit family member graves near Masonville, Colorado, (The Buckhorn Canyon) now covered by years of quarry work on the hillside.
Not much has been written about Medina when compared to other mountain men of this period. Zethyl Gates a local librarian living in Loveland, is considered the expert on Medina the legend, she wrote a book about him published in 1981. Probably the most complete work assembled of the man, his life and his time from February 20, 1812 to June 28, 1878, along with family relations into the 1920's. Gates has spent much of her life researching this interesting individual, his family and his ancestors, even going to Spain to search family records.
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Wes Housler of Rocky Mountain College Productions mentioned the idea of breeches or short pantaloons over the phone as we were talking about what supplies would be needed from my firm Clark & Sons Mercantile for their next adventure in the Rockies. This will be number #2 in a new series covering the Fur Trade. I told Wes of what you had just read and we both thought this would be very interesting to anyone working as a trapper or doing fur trade re-enactments.
I have found reference to "short trousers", "pantaloons" and "breeches" by gentlemen that were there, like Osborn Russell in his journal, comments by John K. Townsend at the 1834 rendezvous, field sketches by Miller at the 1837 Green River Rendezvous to name just a few of many remarks about their use in journals, trade lists. etc. At Fort Hall they carried "fall front fly" breeches on their list of supplies, more complicated in their construction and largely commercially made as the talents of a tailor was usually required. Most homemade short trousers, pantaloons or breeches were constructed in a simpler way of closing the front area of the pants.
Wes, like Charles E. Hanson, Jr. had both found countless sources of information on the subject in journals as well as reference to the use in of breeches in many accounts of life on the frontier. Wes has also found reference to the use of these garments in supply lists from a number of suppliers, trading posts and forts.
Using pictures from Colorado Historical Society; photo's from the Zethyl Gates's collection, photo's from the Loveland Reporter Herald that has run accounts of the local mountain man's adventures. Plus the knowledge of Mr. Hanson on the style - cut - manufacture and material used in these short pants and the location of their storage for years has helped to bring ownership closer. It seems I have a mid to late period pair of breeches, believed and now confirmed by those mentioned to have belonged to one Marino Medina.
References
Jeff Gottfred , "The Well-Dressed Explorer" NWBC Journal, 1978.
Ball, Clara, ed. "Loveland-Big Thompson Valley 1877-1977 Centennial", 1975.
Camp, Charles L., ed. "James Clyman Frontiersman." Portland: Champoeg Press, 1960.
Gates, Zethyl, "Mariano Medina Colorado Mountain Man" Johnson Publishing Co., 1981
Magazine 12 (November 1935): 201-214.
Hengesbaugh, Jeff & Housler, Wes, "Dress and Equipage of the Mountain Man 1820-1840" Rocky Mountain College Productions, 1997.
Kephart, Bruce, "Hawken Rifle" Saturday Evening Post, 21 February 1920, p.65.
Newspaper articles
Berthoud, Colorado;
Berthoud Bulletin.
Denver, Colorado; Colorado Prospector, Colorado Tribune,
Denver Daily Times,
Denver Post,
Denver Republican.
Fort Collins, Colorado; Fort Collins Coloradoan,
Fort Collins Express,
Fort Collins Standard.
Pueblo, Colorado; Pueblo Chieftan.
Loveland, Colorado; Loveland Register, Loveland Reporter, Loveland Reporter Herald.
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There are several good patterns available for this style of covering from several suppliers as well as an excellent article that explains the construction of a pair of breeches by Jeff Hengesbaugh and Wes Housler in their book "Dress and Equipage of the Mountain Man 1820-1840" produced by Rocky Mountain College Productions.
Both Wes and Charlie have agreed that if your in freezing water up to your knees, that the breeches or short pantaloons are by far the most practical. They will dry faster and be less of a problem than a pair of long pants in cloth or leather, plus its easier to slip on wool socks, leggings or wrap your lower leg area once on shore. Beats wearing wet clothing that would freeze before getting dry in trapping weather.
I have read of trappers, travelers and adventures stopping to remove their leg coverings to cross streams and creeks in their daily routines as they worked or moved across this country. One account tells of several travelers being way laid as they were putting on their wool socks and footwear after crossing a stream, the robbers took those items along with their other goods leaving them to suffer with bare skin and dealing with the freezing conditions. Read another account of trappers using leather uppers coming down to the knee with blanket sewed on at this point to cover the lower leg and calf area, several of the re-enactors and brothers of the AMM have worn this arrangement for years and claim the blanket dries very quickly.
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Personally I have changed to breeches as my main covering of the lower part of the body about 15-20 years ago, in extremely warm weather leggings and a clout are used. For trapping the breeches are hard to beat, as mentioned with heavy wool sock that go about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the knee and fastened with a military style leather garter. For mild winter conditions, the addition of heavily greased brain tanned leggings works even for colder temperatures. When traveling in spring or fall weather I use lighter socks and leggings or leggings alone with cloth breeches works very nicely.
Seems the more one experiments with their clothing, staying within the chosen time frame, one will get to a point that “what works with the least amount of effort and care is usually what is best suited for that person.” I'm sure as others are, this theory was true in the F & I War, Rev. War, Fur Trade or the Civil War. Don't get sold on that Remington Mountainman look; you know the old trapper with long hair, beard and very long fringe. I would liked to have seen him travel a 100 yards with that long beard and fringe in the Rockies, he would be hog tied to the ground cover by his own makings. As written before, trial and error of your clothing is by far the best way to find what works for you, and consider a pair of breeches in your kit, think you'll be surprised at the benefits of this garment.
When the cold and snow starts later this season, I am planning on making leather breeches, similar to the ones that Marion Medina wore, may have to learn how to knit those long wool socks that were so popular also. Research, research and more research is a never ending process for those's interested in living history correctly.
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When originally writing about Mariano Medina and his breeches I left an important fact out by accident or possibly just so use to looking at these pants I didn't even think about it. Several years ago an AMM Brother was visiting and asked about these breeches, when looking at them he remarked "look someone got hurt and these short pants have been cut off of them". A very important fact that I had failed to mention originally, knew this just passed over. Thanks to Pat Surrina for reminding me. I checked all my original sources with no reference to an accident and then found that “Louis Papin (Papa) was recovering from a fall in the Buckhorn Canyon earlier this year” according to an article in the Loveland Register dated 10 August 1911, could this have been when these "short pants" had received there now present slit openings ? We can only guess from this time on if this was the case or was it at another time the wearer had these leather breeches removed in such a manner.
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The Source of these breeches
Hammond & Co. was founded in 1839 known as a venerable sporting goods firm located at 261 Oxford Street between Audley Street and Marble Arch in London’s prosperous West End.
One employee, Edward Tautz had been the head cutter with the firm since it opened, he decided to establish his own firm in 1867. Tautz had been tailor to England’s finest sporting gentlemen, including Edward VII, as Prince of Wales and took many of his noble clients with him. Some of America’s New York socialites followed Edward to his new establishment shortly after opening also. Tautz’s firm was located in at 249 Oxford Street just down the block from his old employer. In 1875 the firm changed its name to E. Tautz & Sons as Edward brought his son Frederick George Tautz into the business. He fought hard to protect his business from counterfeiters, even going to the extent of using the courts. In 1886 he proved, in court, his invention of the original Knickerbocker Breeches, that were to prove so popular and were the forerunner to today’s plus 2's.
References
Sporting Gazette June 1840
Windsor Archive, Windsor Castle
Sporting Gazette 1869
The Times, London, April 1 1878
Country Life June 1 1881
Country Life, Sporting Gazette, Baileys Hunting Directory
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Mariano Medina: Medina died in 1878 from a painful effect of bullets lodged in his body over time. He asked to be buried with his two horses, his carriage and a keg of whiskey.
Louis Papa
Louis Papa: born at Snake Creek, Utah, in 1844. His mother, Tacanecy, was pregnant when the French trader, Louis Elbert Papin, traded her to Mariano Medina for some blankets and horses. He was 14 when Medina settled on the Big Thompson River. Papa never attended school. He herded cattle and horses around Medina's ranch. The Loveland Library receives requests about the Medina children, Louis being the more popular. Lena, Louis’ sister is reportly buried in the Buckhorn Canyon on the Chance property (where these breeches were found). Papa homesteaded up the Big Thompson Canyon near Smith Park for years. He spent his winter months in Loveland and died in 1935.
Louis was well known in the Loveland area and very visible in public as the town Marshall for the Loveland Firemen’s Parade and other events in the early 1900's. Often seen riding his white horse and wearing his father's fancy clothes (several accounts mention wearing white breeches and long knitted socks at special occasions that belonged to famous his step-father).
Louis Papa died in Loveland at about the age of 91 shortly after mistaking lye for lard in 1935. He rode for the Frank Bartholf Ranch in Estes Park CO, Frank provided a plot in the Bartholf family plot at Loveland's Lakeside Cemetery.
Namaqua: Mariano's (or Marianne's) Crossing later became known as Namaqua. In 1868, a federal post office opened there under that name. The settlement was located across the road from the present site of Namaqua Park. The toll bridge was located west of the present bridge, and at least until 1980, tow pilings from Medina's toll bridge still stood on the south side of the riverbank. In 1956, all that was left of Medina's home was torn down. Some of the original logs were used to reconstruct the cabin in the Loveland Museum/Gallery.
Namaqua Park: In 1960, Medina's and other family member's graves were moved to the current site. The only notice of the move was in the Fort Collins paper. People claim that Loveland residents were not notified of the proposed move. The family cemetery had been located about ¼ mile south of Namaqua on the west side of Namaqua Road.
The late Zethyl Gates thinks Namaqua was named after the beautiful daughter of chief Black Hawk, a Sauk Indian who lived in the Midwest. The Chief's daughter was named Namequa, with an 'e' instead of the second 'a.' The town of Blackhawk, Colorado was named after Chief Black Hawk, and the first postmaster of Namaqua, Hiram Tadder, knew of the Chief and his beautiful daughter. Local buckskinners honor Medina each year on the first of June at the park.
A regular event honoring Mariano Medina was started in 1974 by the founders of the “Buckhorn Skinners” our local mountain man club. Dwain "Trapper Tom" Thompson and Barry “Wounded Baer” Conner both from the Buckhorn Canyon (location where Medina's breeches were found) hold this event on this same property. This is also where Medina's daughter Lena Medina is believed to be buried. Louis Papa spent much of his spare time at this location, owner of his father's leather pants worn in the Loveland Firemen's Parade.
Loveland Reporter Herald.
Buck Conner- Moderator
- Posts : 1007
Join date : 2021-07-02
Age : 84
Location : Utah, Colorado, Wyoming -
Re: Was asked a question about an old mountainman.
by Buck Conner 3/7/2021, 1:45 pm
Myself and member Michael Thompson became friends over this article as he too has handled Medina's rifles. In fact Mike has become a good customer of GRRW.CA with purchasing:
#1. J&S Hawken
#2. Hawken 1/2 stock
#3. J&S Hawken (from me)
#4. H.E. Leman Trade Rifle (from me)
#5 H.E. Leman Indian Trade Rifle
A few more and he'll have everything GRRW.CA builds.
.
#1. J&S Hawken
#2. Hawken 1/2 stock
#3. J&S Hawken (from me)
#4. H.E. Leman Trade Rifle (from me)
#5 H.E. Leman Indian Trade Rifle
A few more and he'll have everything GRRW.CA builds.
.
Buck Conner- Moderator
- Posts : 1007
Join date : 2021-07-02
Age : 84
Location : Utah, Colorado, Wyoming -
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