Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:
John Stebbins, 1N 45W
John cash-claimed a 160 acres in sections 34 and 35, 1N 45W in 1882. This was bisected by
the river, AND BEFORE ANY RAILROAD.
"( Written by Clara Counter of the Grammar department. It is probably pure fiction, but is a nice story.)
Mabel and Ruth Stebbins were two little girls who lived with their papa and mamma
on a claim in Colorado. They had lived in a pretty town in Wisconsin,
where they had many cousins. Their grandpa and grandma lived in a big house
on a farm several miles from town aad they used to go there every year to spend
Christmas. They always had delightful times because they rode in a sleigh with bells
on the horses and they had a Christmas tree and got lovely presents and had
everything nice to eat that anyone could think of. They had turkey; goose,
plum pudding, nice pies, all kinds of nice cakes, tarts and preserves,
besides apples, nuts, candy and popcorn.
The summer had been long, hot and dry, and the few
flowers they planted were withered by the hot winds. Some of their chickens died and
the coyotes took all their turkeys but one old gobbler and they were getting him
fat for Christmas.
Their house was built of sod and had four rooms, a kitchen, two bedrooms
and a sitting room, It was neat and cool in summer and warm in winter.
The walls were nice and white inside and there were pretty plants in the east and
south windows. They had nice pictures, plenty of books and an organ in their
homestead house and many other things to make them comfortable and happy.
It was now about a week before Christmas. Mr. Stebbins went to the town about
seven miles away, early one morning. About four o'clock in the evening the
little girls and their mamma were looking for him to return.
As the days were short and night came on early, Mrs. Stebbins told the children
to bring in sage brush for kindling a fire and plenty of coal.
"Look, mamma" said Mabel " we have piled the wood box full of sage brush for kindling
and we have some big chunks of coal to keep fire all night."
"Yes," said Mamma "we will keep up a good fire all night for it will be a cold one.
I believe we are going to have a storm."
In about half an hour the wind began to blow from the north and a big blizzard
came up.
"I wish papa would come home," said little Ruth, shivering.
They waited supper until seven o'clock, but their papa had not come so they ate supper
without him. None of them had much of an appetite for the nice rolls and strawberry
jam which was part of their meal.
At eight o'clock Mrs. Stebbins said, "You children had better got ready for bed.
I will bring your little bed into the sitting room, and we will sit up for your papa and keep
some supper hot for him. I hope he did not leave town , By this time the storm was
rug . jug , and the little girls saw that their mother looked pale and anxious.
They were nearly ready for bed when they heard a knock at the door. Mrs. Seebbins
opeene the door, and a cowboy from the H-i ranch came in. He had a lantern in
his hand, and told them that Joe Winters, their neighbor's boy, was lost in the
storm and a big crowd of men were out searching for him. Mrs. Stebbins had
him stop and drink some hot coffee and eat something before he started
out again. After he had gone, she made a big pot full of coffee, so if anyone
else came along, they could be made comfortable.
"O mamma," cried the two little girls, "Joe will surely be frozen to death."
"We will hope for the best," said mamma, and she thought how dreadfully Joe's
mother must feel. But she told the little girls they had better go to bed.
Their mamma sat alone for a long time. She could see the lanterns
of the men who were looking for the lost boy, and coule hear the
coyotes howling. The little girls could not sleep for it was a fearful night.
About twelve o'clock when the wind had gone down some, they heard a signal gun,
fired to let people know that the boy was found. Mr. Raymond the county sheriff, found him in a little '
claim shanty about two miles from his own home. When he found he was lost he
followed a fence until he came to this little house. No one was at home,
but he went in and made a fire and was all right when the men found him.
They took him home at once.
Soon a team drove up to the doorIt was Mr. Stebbins and a lady was with
him. They wondered who it could he, but soon found it was their grandma, all
wrapped up in furs and rugs. Mr. Stebbins got a letter from
her while in town and stayed that night to meet her at the train.
By the time they were ready to start for home tbe storm had gone down
and was not so bad. They were only a little while on the way. They were
all so happy they almost cried for joy. They had a delightful Christmas
for grandma was there to make the plum puddings and all the nice things.
Just the day before Christmss a wagon drove out from town with a big
box full of Christmas goods and three barrels of apples and nuts.
Christmas morning the little girls fairly danced for joy when they
saw the lovely tree and the beautiful presents. Of courset hey had
Joe Winters over to share their fun. Each got a lovely doll
and a trunk full of doll clothes.. Tben there were books, dresses and
skates—they were just learning to skate-and there were lovely toy dishes
and many other things. Mabel and Ruth were not selfish little girls.
They dividei their presents witli the poor little children. Their
grandma stayed until warm weather came and when she went home the
little girls and their mamma went with her, and spent the next
Christmas at their grandma's house."
POSSIBLY
In 1900 Union County, South Dakota,
Richard Stebbins is 45,
Mattie L. Stebbins
41 Wife,
Ella M. Stebbins
16 Daughter,
Sena M. Stebbins
13 Daughter,
Bessie B. Stebbins
11 Daughter,
Geo R. Stebbins
8 Son, and
Fredrick S. Stebbins
6 Son.
Kalispel, Montana, February 1938 "Funeral services for John R. Stebbins
were conducted at the Waggener Campbell chapel yesterday, Rev. L. I N. Field officiating.
Burial was in I the C. E. Conrad Memorial cemetery.
Pallbearers were F. R. Marsh, William Cusick, Fred Cudck, James Jorgensen, W. B. Jordan and
Paul Walchh.
Born at Wilmington, I11., October 31, 1854, Mr. Stebbins died at his home east of Kalispell
at the age of 83 Saturday. He freighted into the Black Hills with an ox team in 1881,
was married to Martha L. Goss at Elk Point, S. D., in 1882 and came to this district in
19ll. Survivors include his widow and five children; George R. and Fred L. of Crestcn;
Mrs. Lena Cusick, Whitefish: Mrs. Bess Willett, Salem, Ore., and Mrs. Mayme Pcnzicn, Nampa, Idaho. "
George R Stebbins Age: 22
Marriage Date: 17 Jan 1914
Marriage Place: Kalispell, Montana,
Father:
J R Stebbins
Mother:
Mattie Goss
Spouse:
Kathleen Pearl Mack,
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