Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Martin Corliss, children Albert N. Corliss, Norman L. Corliss, Daniel T. Corliss, Amy M. (Corliss) Currier, John A. Corliss , 1 South 43 West


Martin, born in 1821, was living with his son Albert Corliss in Tuttle precinct, Kit Carson County, in 1900, born October 1821 in Vermont, widowed. His father was born in Pennsylvania, mother in New York. Albert N. was born Aug 1864 in Vermont, married eight years to Lillian M. May 1876 in Illinois, with Luella Y. Dec 1894, Joseph M. Mar 1898, and Sherman April 1900, all three born in Colorado.

In 1910 Martin is with daughter Amy M. Currier in Thayer County, Nebraska. John and Amy have Sarah A. 21 and Joseph M. 10, both born i nNebraska.
On the same page is his son Mizra G. 59, married 24 years to Rebeccca 48, with Rhoda 21, George 19, Fred 17, Martin 15, and Reuben 12, all kids born in Nebraska.


NORMAN
Norman L. Corlis was born January 17, 1862 in St. Albans, Vermont to Martin and Paulina Corlis.


By N. L Corliss - Thanks to Nathan Kramer !

It was on the 13th day of August in 1885 a tall, wiry looking youth left Vermont with a mind fully made up to see some of the wonders of the western world. I started from Swanton, Vermont. When I reached Chicago, I took an immigrant train to Scotland, Dakota. The train was filled with Europeans, some of whom carried all of their possessions in an old blanket.
In due time I reached Scotland. I went into a store and asked where John Corliss lived. These are the directions I received: The storekeeper said: "Now I have you to the tow mill." This was the place where they prepared flax for weaving into cloth. "You turn the tow mill around and continue on north for a mile or two until you come to a house with a straw shed. That isn't the place, but the people living there will tell you where to go."
They pointed west and I could see the small house where my brother lived. I left the road and continued straight west across road prairie until I reached the residence of my brother whom I had not seen for fifteen years.

This was a newly homesteaded country and the principle crops were wheat and flax. More flax than wheat. I stayed there two weeks and most of the time we threshed flax. This was pitched by two of the husky daughters of Russia and, believe me, they knew how to pitch flax.
Having two brothers and a sister in Nebraska, I now left Dakota and in due time found myself in Hebron, Nebr. This was a good corn, hog and cattle country. There was better water but the land was more broken. After staying in Nebraska for a month I went to Republic county, Kansas, and husked 1600 bushels of corn for two cents a bushel. I finished this job the night before Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 1885. That night at 12 o'clock I took the train for Wray, Colo., and at eight o'clock the next morning arrived there. Wray consisted of a railroad depot, section house and a sod hotel. The land locaters name was Witcliff Newell. He took me out 4 1/2 miles south of Wray and located me on 160 acres preemption. After six months continuous residence, I proved up on the land.
I filed on a homestead and tree claim nine miles southeast of Wray and went to breaking prairie.
The winter of 1887, I joined up with a surveying outfit and went down into then Elbert county, now Kit Carson County. This was the first I saw of the country around the south fork of the Republican river. It was about a year before the railroad was built on, which Burlington is situated.
My brother John, whom I visited in Dakota, became dissatisfied with the country and sold out. He covered his wagon and with a wife and five children came overland to Colorado. He located near the McKrellis ranch in Elbert county about 25 miles northwest of Burlington.
He tried dry farming there for a few years and then was elected treasurer of Elbert county. He held the office for two years. He then sold out and went to Missouri. He died about 1913 and is buried in Ash Grove, Mo.
My brother A. N. Corliss settled in Elbert county about 1889. He lived and tried farming for a few years on a dry land claim. He afterwards sold out and settled on a claim on the Republican river near the old Tuttle ranch, where he accumulated about 2000 acres on the Republican and Launchman, which he still holds as the Corliss ranch. He served as county assessor for several years.
This ranch holds the fable of a miner who died in Chicago. This is his story: "Go to the Launchman. Follow up the Launchman until you come to a spring. Southeast from the spring you will find a mound. In that mound you will find a soldier's blouse, a ramrod, and a gun. Southeast from that mound you will find a cave. In that cave you will find --." And he died. I was one of the hundreds who visited that cave expecting to find a fortune. After scraping and digging for some time, I finally found a few Indian beads.


Martin J. Corliss proved up a quarter in 17, 6S 45W, Kit Carson County, in 1901.


Norman L. Corliss wrote in 1916, with an address of St. Albans, Vermont
" I was glad to hear that Colorado had gone dry, and we hope to to the same the 7th day of March.
I, with my mule team, drew the press from the car for the first Rattler ever printed.  That was , as I remember it, in June 1886.  I asked Wickliff Newell what they were going to name their paper.  Pointing to the rattle of a rattlesnake, which hung on the wall, he said 'There !  That fellow has fourteen rattles and he shook off a peck before I killed him.'"

Norman cash-claimed 160 acres in sections 11 and 12, 1S 43W in 1891.

DANIEL

Daniel Corliss cash-claimed a quarter in 14, 1S 43W , also in 1891.
Daniel T. Corliss 1859-1934 is buried in Thayer County, Nebraska # 106026175.
Amy M. and Norman L. each cash-claimed quarters in 32, 1N 43W in 1890.
In 1900 Franklin County, Vermont - St. Albans - Norman L. Corliss born Jan 18864, married five years to Agnes October 1867, have Donald J. May 1898, all in Vermont.
In 1904 James L. Corliss was delinquent on taxes for land in 26, 3S. 43W. 1916 Neighborhood News - Wray "Quite a number of our young people went down to the Corliss pond to skate, Thursday evening." (from the names, it appears to be in the Idalia area."
Norman L. Corliss 1862-1942 is buried in Swanton, Franklin County # 18938047.

AMY
Amy M. Currier 1857-1934 is buried in Thayer County, Nebraska # 106068254, with John Levi Currier 1856-1941.

ALBERT In 1887 Albert N. Corliss (known to friends and family as A.N.) left Vermont at the age of 23 to start a new life in Colorado. On June 26, 1892 he married Lillian May Yale and three years later took up a homestead on the Republican River in Kit Carson County. The area was known as Tuttle and had artesian wells, the South Fork of the Republican River, and several natural lakes on the property.

In 1900 Kit Carson County, Albert N. Corliss born Aug 1864 in Vermont, married 8 years to Lillian M. May 1876 Illinois, have Luella Dec 1894, Josh M. May 1898, and Sherman April 1900, all three born in Colorao. His father Marty J. Oct 1821 Vermont is with them.
Lillian M. Corliss cash-claimed 40 acres in 17, 7S 44W in 1914, another 40 acres in February 1917, and 80 acres in 18 in 18, 6S 45W in April 1917.

Albert timber-claimed a quarter in 31, 6S 44W in 1903.


Albert Nathan Corliss 1864-1956 and Lillian Mae (Vale) Corliss 1876-1959 #106036559 are buried in Thayer County, Nebraska A daughter was born Dec 29, 1894 in Kit Carson to Albert N. Corliss and Lillian Yale. They had a son March 8, 1898, a son April 13, 1900, and a son Aug 30, 1905.
An infant died April 22, 1902.
In 1910 A. N. Corliss of Tuttle was secretary of the Dist. No. 39 School.
1910

1912 Burlington "Miss Louella Corliss has discontinued her school work here, on account of her mother's health, and returned to her home at Tuttle."

At age 23, Albert arrived in Wray, Colorado by train, his sister Amy Melissa and her husband John Currier being in that area. After working on the Bar T Ranch in Kit Carson, County, he took a homestead twelve miles north of Burlington, in northeast Colorado. There he met and married Lilliam Mae Yale whose family had traveled to the west in a covered wagon. Their married life began in a dugout on the Colorado plains. Eventually a room was added above ground. later, Albert gave up that holding and took another on the Republican River about 27 miles northwest of Burlington.
"Eleven children were born and raised by the banks of the Republican, and after 1917 in Hebron, Nebraska, where Albert and Lillian moved to better educate their children. Education was always a concern of Albert's, and he served on the School Board for the Tuttle School District #39. That district's schoolhouse was initially constructed of sod, being replaced by a wooden frame house soon after the turn of the century.
"In 1906, a telephone line was strung up the river. It consisted of one line, resting on fenceposts supported by two by fours or on the barbed wire fences with rubber from old boots providing insulation. Always a prudent risktaker (not an oxymoron in his case), Albert owned forty shares of the new Stratton Telephone Company, purchasing them for $5 a share.
"Snowstorms on the plains could be terrifying. Albert's son Sherman Henry (b. 5 Apr 1900) later told of a storm in 1910 when his brother Joe (Joseph Martin, b. 8 Mar 1898) and father Albert went out to search for cattle as the snow began to fall. As it began to get dark, Albert told Joe to turn back home, about four miles away. In trying to reach the farmhouse, Joe became disoriented. When Albert arrived at home hours later and discovered that Joe was missing, he went back into the storm to search for him. Joe found sanctuary at a neighboring ranch, and those neighbors rang a dinner bell, hoping that the peal would carry to spread the good news that Joe was safe. Each successive rancher down the river did the same until the Corlisses got the message! Albert had brothers (John Anson and Mirza George) as well as sister Amy who also migrated west, and their stories are as fascinating."

From Gail Reynolds: Residence: St. Albans, Vt. and Stratton, Colo. Homesteader and county assessor. At age 23, he came to Wray, Colorado in 1887 on the train and married the daughter of a prominent family, the Yale family who migrated in 1886 from Illinois in a covered wagon. They were related to the Yale of Yale University and the Yale Lock. He worked on the Bar T Ranch in Kit Carson County and then took a homestead twelve miles northwest of Burlington, CO. Albert's and Lillian's first home was a dugout and later a room was added on top. Albert later relinquished his homestead there and took another on the Republican River about 27 miles northwest of Burlington in 1895. He was interested in education, serving on the school board for the Tuttle School District #39. That district had a sod schoolhouse which was finally replaced with a wooden frame house in 1901 or 1902 which was moved to the site by horse and wagon by Albert and his neighbors. In 1906 a telephone line was established up and down the river. It was one line resting on the fenceposts with two by fours for support. Sometimes it rested on the barded wire fences with rubber from old boots serving as insulation. It was known as the Stratton Telephone Company. Albert's wife Lillian was the operator. Albert owned forty shares of the company at $5 per share. His son Sherman recalls that during the first fall snowstorm in 1910 his brother Joe and Albert went to search for cattle in the late afternoon. After some time, Albert told Joe to return home because it was getting cold and dark. They were about four miles from home. Joe became disoriented. When Albert arrived home to find that Joe was not yet there, he went back out to search for him. Later when Joe had found sanctuary from the storm at a neighboring ranch, those neighbors rang the dinner bell. Folks at the next ranch, hearing the signal did the same, and so on down the river to let everyone know he had been found. In 1917 Albert and Lillian bought land near Hebron, NE and leasing the ranch in Colorado, they moved the family east for the sake of better schools. Paulina was born in Hebron. Son Joe moved back to the ranch in 1919, and Luella also returned. Albert's granddaughter Jackie Williams Williamson says: "My grandma and grandpa Corliss were very special to me. I spent much time at their big house in Hebron. I especially enjoyed going out to the farm with them where my uncle lived, but was where they moved when they came to Hebron from Kit Carson County in 1917. I remember going to Church, S.S. with them, to band concerts in the park, to the Fairmont Ice Cream store. Also enjoyed always hearing Grandpa's stories of St. Albans and Colorado. Grandma had too many bad memories. She didn't like to remember the so called "good old days".

In 1912 School Notes for Burlington "Lulla Corliss has taken up Rhetoric."
1912 "Miss Louella Corliss has discontinued her school work here, on account of her mother's health, and returned to her home at Tuttle.



Sherman Henry, son of Albert Nathan and Lillian Mae Yale Corliss, was born near Tuttle, in a sod house on the Republican River, on April 5, 1900, and departed this life on March 17, 1992, at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington. He was united in marriage to Grace Messing on Dec. 20, 1924, at Belleville, Kan. Grace passed away on April 8, 1974. To this union were born 10 children.
On Jan. 11, 1975, Sherman married his brother's widow, Rubbie Delores Schmitt Corliss.
Sherman moved with his family to Hebron, Neb., in 1917. He was a farmer and rancher from his early days, farming from 1924 to 1934 near Hebron. In the spring of 1934 he moved his family back to the ranch on the Republican River, northeast of Stratton, where he resided until his retirement.
In the Spring of 1935, he lost his crops, livestock and fences in a flood that altered the course of the river, destroyed his fields, and filled up the lakes and riverbed with sand. Through his perseverance and hard work he transformed the ranch into a productive ranch again.
He was actively involved in the churches he attended, served on the school board, the Federal Land Bank board, and was a member of the Cattlemen's Association.
In his early years he attended church in the local school in Colorado and the Christian Church in Hebron, Neb. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bethune until its closing, when he became a member of Hope United Church of Christ. After moving to Burlington, he joined the First Christian Church of Burlington.
Funeral services were held on Friday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Burlington, with Rev. Dwayne Davenport and Rev. Ted Meter con4ucted the services. Hendricks Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. Song selections, "Face to Face," and "These Hands," were sung by the ; Hope Messengers, and "The Lord's Prayer," was sung by Bob Hendricks, with Velda Adolf and Dorothy Isaac as pianist and organist.
Surviving are his wife Rubbie of Grace Manor Care Center of Burlington, and his children and sons and daughters-in-law - Betty and Richard Guy of Bethune, Lowell and Virginia Corliss of Stratton, Lyal Corliss of Crescent City, Calif., Mervin and Esther Corliss of Stratton, Albert and Arnella Corliss of Yuma, Doris and Roy Henry of Joes, Lois Schafer of Burlington, Mary and Clinton Hasenauer of Wallace, Neb., David and Betty Corliss of Stratton, and Ruth and Richard Hampton of Westminster; stepson Raymond and Norma Corliss of Arvada; 29 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren, and 3 step-great-grandchildren; 2 brothers and wives, Ralph and Marie Corliss of Arizona City, Ariz., Edward and Ruth Corliss of Fort Morgan; 3 sisters, Myrna Mack of Sun City, Ariz., Mary Miller of Marysville, Kan., and Pauline Williams and Lawerance of Hebron, Neb.; 2 sisters-in-law, Mae Corliss of Geneva, Neb., and Lucille Corliss of Eustic, Fla., and a host of friends and relatives.
Preceding him in death were his first wife, Grace Corliss, twin granddaughters, daughter-in-law Deloris Corliss, son-in-law Ralph Henry, sister Luella Hitchcock, brothers Joe, Harold and Frank Corliss, and his parents.
Casket bearers were grandsons Anthony Corliss, Russell Corliss, Verlin Corliss, Ronald Henry, Todd Hasenauer and Theron Hampton. Honorary casket bearers were grandsons Edwin Guy, Clifford Henry, Leroy Henry, Melvin Henry, Russell Henry, Seth Hasenauer and Gerald Cody. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery.



Luella Yale Corliss married Gordon A. Hitchcock, both of Stratton, July 25, 1921 in Burlington.
Lillian Mae, daughter of Sherman Henry Yale and Sarah D. Bevier Yale, was born in Galva, County, Ill., May 17, 1876, and departed this life at the Thayer County Hospital in Hebron, Neb., July 29, 1959, at the age of 83 years, 2 months and 12 days. At the age of 10 she migrated with her parents in a covered wagon to eastern Colorado, settling near Burlington. Her parents were postmistress and mail carrier at a small post office called Yale. She was a direct descendent of the founders of Yale University and the inventors of the Yale lock. She was preceded in death by her parents and her only brother, William Henry Yale. June 26, 1892, she was united in marriage to Albert Nathan Corliss. They were married in a sod house 22 miles northeast of Burlington. Mr. Corliss passed away in May, 1956. To this union 13 children were born, three of which died in infancy. The surviving are Luella (Mrs. Gordon A.) Hitchcock, Burlington; Joseph Martin Corliss, Denver; Sherman Henry Corliss, Stratton; Edward William Corliss, Kersey; Harold N. Corliss, Hebron, Neb.; Ralph Rosser Corliss, Lincoln, Neb.; Mary Etta (Mrs. J. W.) Miller, Maryville, Kan.; Frank N. Corliss, Eustis, Fla.; Myrna (Mrs. Clarence) Wright, Hebron, Neb.; Pauline (Mrs. Lawrence) Williams, Belvedere, Neb. Mrs. Corliss was baptized into the Congregational Church when but a young woman, later transferring to the Christian Church of Hebron, where she has been a faithful member until the time of her death. She was also a member of the Eastern Star Lodge. She enjoyed the work in the church and lodge and participated in many of. the social activities of both. Mrs. Corliss, with her husband and family, moved to Hebron in April of 1917. They lived on a farm, until 1930, at which time they retired and moved to town. Besides her ten children she leaves .43 grandchildren and 36 great: grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held in the Christian Church, Hebron, July 31, 1959, with Rev. Ralph Dyer officiating. Pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased, Jim Corliss, Don Wright, Dick Miller, John Corliss, Roger Corliss and Bert Hitchcock. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Hebron.
JOHN
John Anson Corliss, born 1848 in Swanton, Vermont to Martin Joseph Corliss and Paulina Skinner, both born in St. Albans, died 1915 in Greene County, Missouri.

John Anson Corliss, sergeant in Company I, 9th U.S. Infantry. Discharged at Fort Bridger, Wyoming May 16, 1870, re-enlisted in Compan C, June 1, 1875.
One tree said he and Margaret Eliza Hinchman had Clara Belle Corliss May 9, 1889 at Hale, Yuma County.
In 1900 Kansas City, John born Feb 1838 (sic) age 52, in Vermont, a grocer, married 29 years to Grace Oct 1850 New York, have Lilly 15, Dakota Territory, and Clara Belle 10, COlorado.
John is an optician, working at his home, in Springfield, Missouri, in 1910, 62, married two years to Margaret A. 52, North Carolina. Her children are Charles, Frank and Virgie Woodard all born in Missouri, are with them.
John 1845-1915 is buried in Ash Grove, Missouri # 51220904 "Father of: Mabel Franklin, Albert Anson, Mary A., Charles P., Lillian P. and Clara Belle. Sgt in US Army on western frontier 1867-70
Graduated Eastman Business College 1871
Settled in Hale, Colorado in 1887


John A. Corliss applied for an invalid veteran pension on December 16, 1890, from Colorado, for service in Company I and H, 9th infantry.
John proved up a quarter in 29, 6S 44W - Kit Carson County - in 1893, and timber-claimed another in 1895.
Thought to be John Corliss at his homestead in Colorado. From the Lake Mansion Collection. Nell Corliss Lake contributed to this collection.
Justice in 1889

In 1892 John was the "J.W." of the Burlington, Colorado Masonic Lodge.
Treasurer Kit Carson County, Colorado "
In 1910, Lillie Smith is 25, married to Sterling J. Smith, 31, a street car conductor in Springfield, Missouri, , with Vialo L. 2.
Sterling James Smith registered for WWI living in Wyandotte County, Kansas, born Dec 22, 1879, working as a block clerk for the Frisco Ry. Co.
In 1920 they're in Wyandotte County, Kansas, where Lillian says she was born in North Dakota.

They're in Kansas City in 1925, with Viola, 17. Lillian was born in North Dakota (but one tree said she was born in Yankton, SD) Sterling is a signalman for the Union Pacific.
In 1940 Sterling Smith, widowed, 61 born in Missouri, is at the county farm in Vernon County, Missouri.

Clara Belle Corliss married Horace Spragins August 16, 1916 in Lawrence County, Missouri.


In 1920 Cement, Caddo County, Oklahoma, Clara "Spurgin" born 1890 in Colorado, father born in Vermont - mother in Massachusetts, is married to Horace, 35 born in Missouri, and newborn Evelyn Ruth Spurgin , born in Missouri.
In 1925 Stanton County, Kansas, "Horrice" is 40, now married to Bella/Zella R. age 21, with "Evilin R. Spregins", 8. Zella was born in Oklahoma about 1904.

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