Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Elmer A. and Valeria A. (Hampton) Backus , Wray


In 1880 Warren County, Kentucky, Valeria is 5, born in Illinois, with Wm. R. Hampton 42 born in Kentucky and Sarah J. 34 born in ILlinois. Robert is 10, and Bertha S. 1.
The family is also listed in the 1880 census of Butler County, Kentucky.

William Robert Hampton 1838-1919 is buried in Warren County # 49382643.

In 1900 Bowling Green, Kentucky, on College Street, Elmer is a railroad fireman, born June 1872 in Kentucky, married five years to Ballie A. July 1875 Illinois. Matilda J. April 1895 in Kansas, William H. Nov 1898, Freddie E. January 1900, both born in Kentucky, and boarder Lettie Backus August 1870 Kentucky.

April 1909 "E. A. Backus arrived home Thursday from Bowling Green, Ky. where he has been employed in the railway train service. Mr. Backus has a valuable claim north of Wray where his family has been residing during his absence."

Homer Hampton is in Bowling Green in 1900, 30, with Matilda 29, Ethel B. 4, Roscoe F. 3, and Robert P. 1.

Homer and Matilda are farming in Yuma County in 1910, with Ethel B. 14, Roscoe F. 13, Robert P. 11, Henry P. 9, Cliffie M. 7, Berhta C. 5, Harry E. 4, and Elmer D. 2.

August 1911 "George Hampton arrived from Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he has been for the past year. He was accompanied to Colorado by Miss Bertha Backus and Master Roy Porter, the former a sister and the latter a nephew of E. A. Backus of north of town."

December 1911 "Homer Hampton and E. A. Backus from nine miles northwest of town were in after supplies Saturday."

Homer proved up a quarter in section 4, 4N 44W in 1912, and another in section 4 in 1916.

"The Death Angel called early yesterday morning to take Mrs. Homer Hampton to her rest, after that esteemed lady had suffered ill health for several years and has many times been near death's door. The end has been expectted for some time, although for a few days preceding her death she appeared to be improving.
Matilda Olive Carson was born in Ohio county, Kentucky, October 30, 1870, and died at Wray, Colorado, March 3, 1915.
She was united in marriage to Homer Hampton, at Hartford, Kentucky, November 14, 1893. To this union were born twelve children, nine of which survive the mother and now live in or near Wray. She with her husband and family came to Wray eleven years ago and have since made their home here.
Mrs. Hampton united with the M. E. church in childhood and lived a devoted Christian life in that church until four years ago, when she united with the Latter Day Saints church, where she was a faithful member until death.
The deceased leaves to mourn her departure, the husband, nine children and six brothers, Revs. John T. and R. P. Carson of this state, Rev. E. L. Carson of Illinois, G. C. and J. L. Carson of Kentucky and C. S. Carson whose home is in Arkansas.
The funeral services will be held this afternoon at the Latter Day Saints church and will be conducted by the Rev. J. R. Sutton of Limon, Colorado.
The Rattler joins with the many friends of this family in sympathizing with the bereaved ones."

Homer Hampton 1870-1956 is buried in Bakersfield, California # 118578572.

Elmer proved up two quarters in section 3, 2N 44W in 1916.

Bonnie B. Brown proved up a quarter in section 5, 2N 44W in 1919.
"Claimant names as witnesses: James P. Wilson, Archibald J. Wilson, Noble C. Smithson and Elmer A. Backus, all of Wray, Colorado."

June 1919 " Sarah Hampton, youngest child of Homer Hampton, was born July 3, 1900 and died at her home in south Wray, June 15, 1919, age nine years, eleven months and twelve days. The little girl had been ill for three or four months and spent several weeks at the Backus home north of town in the hope a change would benefit her health. She failed to improve and shortly after returning to her home became ill of typhoid pneumonia which resulted in her death. Besides a host of friends she leaves to mourn her loss a father, five brothers, Roscoe, who is in France, Robert, Henry, Harry and Elmer, all of Wray and two sisters Mrs. Victor Willis and Mario Hampton both of Wray. Her mother preceded her to the great beyond when Sarah was less than a week old. The remains were laid at rest in Glendale cemetery Monday afternoon."

In 1930 Yuma County, Elmer is 57, "Sallie" A. 55, Lettie 20, Thomas A. 18, Richard E. 16, and Frank Kline 24, a visitor born in Pennsylvania.

1935 Wray "Mrs. E. A. Backus and little Elmer and Mr. Homer Hampton of Las Vegas, Nevada, left Sunday evening for Kentucky where they will visit before going on to Florida to spend the winter.
Mr. and Mrs. Ward Wilson moved to the E. A. Backus home this week."

October 27, 1938 "Elmer Abram Backus was born June 16, 1872, at Bowling Green, Ky., the son of William and Matilda Backus. He passed away at 7:55 p. m. October 14, 1938, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Duncan, Frostproof, Fla., where he had been residing for the past three years.
He grew to manhood in and near Bowling Green and at the age of 19 placed his membership in the Christian church at Price's Chapel. On September 19, 1894, he married Vallie Anna Hampton and to them nine children were born, eight of whom survive.
For 11 years he was employed by the Louisville and Nashville railroad, serving as engineer on the Knoxville division at the time of his resignation to move to Colorado. He became active in organizing and maintaining co-operative organizations for the benefit of the farmers of Colorado, serving as member of the executive board of the Farmers Educational and Co-operative Union of Colorado, the Colorado Grain Growers and the Colorado Bean Growers. He was president of the board of directors of the Farmers Union Oil Company of Wray, and also president of the Wray Farmers Union Co-Operative Elevator company. For a number of years he served as a member of the board of directors of the Consumers Cooperative Association of Kansas City, Mo., until failing health forced him to resign.
He had been a member of the Aeolian Lodge No. 51, I. O. O. F., of Bowling Green for the past 40 years.
Surviving him are his wife, Vallie A. Backus, five sons, William H. of Dravosburg, Pa., Fred E. Backus, J. Frank Backus and Richard E. Backus of Frostproof and Thomas A. of Greeley, Colo.; and three daughters, Mrs. Robert W. Duncan, Mrs. J. L. Barberee and Miss Lettie Backus of Frostproof; his father, William Backus, 91 years of age, Bowling Green; four sisters, Mrs. E. F. Thompson, and Miss Lettie Backus of Bowling Green, Mrs. E. Snell of Indianapolis, Ind., and Mrs. Charles Shaffer, Beverly Hills, Calif.; and five grandchildren, James, Elmer and Benjamin Backus, John Erie and Patricia Jane Barberee.
He was a nephew of the late Edward Backus of Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church at Frostproof Sunday afternoon, Oc- : tober 23, 1938, with interment Silverlake cemetery. "
FindaGrave # 30157501.

1952

Vallie Anna Backus died June 1967 in Hillsborough County, Florida

1953 Wray "Former friends and neighbors of the Backus family enjoyed a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Dick Backus and two children and Mrs. Vallie Backus of Frostproof, Fla., on Monday evening of last week before they left for their home on Wednesday."

Valeria Ann "Vallie" Backus 1875-1967 is buried in Frostproof # 30157500.


WILLIAM

William Homer Backus, 21, married Helen Dorothy Billey on May 26, 1922 in Hamilton County, Ohio.

He's buried in Bergen County, New Jersey 1898-1983 # 6077906.

J. FRANK

Frank Backus 1902-1996 is buried in Frostproof # 30158052, with Florence 1907-2003 # 30158053.
"Mrs. Florence Flood Backus of Frostproof died of heart failure Wednesday (May 21, 2003) at Royal Care of Avon Park. She was 95. Born in Havana, Cuba, on Dec. 24, 1907, she came to Frostproof from Plant City as an infant. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church of Frostproof. Mrs. Backus was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin "Dutch" Backus. She is survived by nieces and nephews, Wanda Langford, Florence McLeod, Daniel Woodley and Gary Flood, all of Frostproof, Margaret Elliott, Akron, Ohio. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Frostproof. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Frostproof, Good Shepherd Hospice or the Polk County Humane Society. Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales. "

" Fred Flood's Parents were from Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Flood sailed to America and on February 22, 1886 arrived in New York City with their 7 children. Shortly after, they traveled south to Fort Meade and purchased a home. Fred went to school during the day and there he learned to farm, hunt and fish as the Peace River was right in his back yard. When he turned 20, Fred went back to New York for work. Things didn't work out and he joined the U.S. Occupational Forces and moved to Cuba. While in Cuba, he met his wife Nellie Gaffney. In 1911, Fred moved to Frostproof where he cleared 5 acres of land for citrus. Sometime in the 1920's, Fred began whittling his shiners out of cypress while he nurtured his citrus trees and hunted and fished to feed his family. His first crop finally came in 7 years later. It was sold and he made enough money to build a proper home for his family.
THOMAS
Fred built a porch on the front of his house. It doubled as his fruit stand, as it was located right on Alt. 27. As Fred's grove was producing fruit and providing an income for his family, it allowed him to spend the time he needed on his lures, which were in high demand. E.D. Achter, of St. Joseph Missouri, had been staying in one of the cabins that Fred had rented behind his house. Achter offered to turn his lures for him in trade for rent when he came back the next season. The next year, Achter returned with 12 dozen body's in 3 different sizes, all made of willow wood. The lures were 5 inches; 5 3/4 inches; and 6 1/2 inches. It is told, that 7 gross of body's were made over a 7 year period. In the fall of 1926, Achter supplied the body's for the very first time. Fred made a few of these and sold them to friends and locals. All were aluminum in color.
In 1925, James Backus started dating Flood's daughter, Florence. They were married in 1929. That is when Fred convinced James to help paint his lures. In 1927, the first Florida shiners were in a color other than aluminum. The colors were to match the wild shiners from different lakes at different times of the year.

TOM

1934 "Tom Backus, a Wray boy, is showing good stuff as a member of the Colorado Teachers College football squad this year. As a backfield man, Backus is finding plenty of opportunity for action and is pleasing Coach Hancock. He is small, one of the smallest men on the squad but he has a lot of fight in him and when he hits the line he invariably goes through."

September 1935 "Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Barbaree and son and Tom Backus went to Manzanola, Colo., Friday. Tom Backus will teach in Manzanola this year. Mrs. E. A. Backus acompanied them as far as Colorado Springs and visited there until Sunday."

April 29, 1945 Tampa, Florida "Miss Ada F. Learning, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Q. Learning, of 4307 Neptune, became the bride of S.Sgt. Thomas A. Backus, son of Mr. B. Backus, at his home, 313 W. Amelia last Sunday. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Anderson of Palm Avenue Baptist church. A native of Los Angeles, Mrs. Backus lived in Tampa most of her life, and is a graduate of Plant high school. Sgt. Backus was born in Wray, Colo., and attended the Colorado State College of Education."

June 1947 "A wedding of interest to the people of this community took place at 7:30 P. M. on June 12 at the Camp Lejuene Chapel at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina, when Miss Irene Mae Phillips, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Phillips of Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, became the bride of Thomas A. Backus, the son of Mrs. E. A. Backus, formerly of Wray, but now of Tampa Florida.
The bride, radiant in a gown of old ivory lace, carried a white bible and one orchid with satin streamers. She wore a fingertip veil held in place by a coronet of orange blossoms. Her sister Freda, as maid of honor, wore a long gown of orchid eyelet embroidery. The two bridesmaids, cousins of the bride, were dressed in aqua eyelet gowns. The mothers of the bride and groom both wore blue evening gowns. The groom was attended by his brother Dick as best man. The ushers were Howard Murphy, a cousin of the bride, and Fred Belton of the Camp Lejeune school. The ceremony took place in the chapel which was beautifully decorated with magnolia blossoms, fern, and white gladioli. The bride was given in marriage by her father.
She is an alumna of the State Teachers College at West Chester, Pennsylvania and took advanced work at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania State College, and Columbia University, receiving both Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees. She has been on the teaching staff at Camp Lejeune where she met Mr. Backus.
The groom grew up in Yuma county, graduating from Yuma County High School ip Wray, and later from the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. He was athletic coach and teacher in various schools in Colorado and Florida before going to Camp Lejeune school. He served during the war in the Army Air Corps.
The reception was held at the Officers Club immediately following the ceremony after which the bride and groom departed on a Honeymoon trip to Florida and Puerto Rico. They will be at home to their friends at 3121 Lee Avenue, Midway Park, North Carolina, after July 1. "

Thomas, born September 3, 1912 at Wray, died September 21, 2001.

LETTIE

Lettie Virginia Backus Zion was born May 11, 1910, to Elmer A. Backsu and Valeria A. Hampton, dying March 6, 1988.

August 1931 Wray "Miss Lettie Backus entertained at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Backus, in honor of her cousin, Miss Sara Whiteman, of Frostproof, Fla., a guest at the Backus home, last Friday evening at a candy pull. About thirty young people attended the party and report a very pleasant time."

Lettie married Theodore Charles Zion in 1947 in Hillsborough County, Florida.
In a simple but beautiful and impressive ceremony on Sunday, August 17, 1947, at three thirty in the afternoon in Tampa, Florida, Miss Lettie Backus became the bride of Mr. Theodore Charles Zion of Vernon, Colorado. The church was beautifully decorated with palms and baskets of white gladioli. Elder H. P. Kelley of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints officiated. Dick Backus, a brother of the bride, sang 'I Love You Truly' and 'The Sweetest Story Ever Told' accompanied at the piano by their sister, Mrs. R. W. Duncan. The other wedding music was played by Mrs. Zelma Weiser as the guests were ushered into the church by John Erie Barberee and Jimmy Backus, nephews of the bride. To the measures of 'Lohengrin' the bride, wearing a floor length dress of white eyelet embroidery made in princess style, and a finger-tip veil, carry a spray bouquet of white asters and lilies of the valley, came to the altar attended by Mrs. Dick Backus, matron of honor, who wore blue marquisette and carried a colonial bouquet of pink asters with white streamers. The groom was attended by Johnnie L. Barberee as best man.
After the marriage vows were exchanged, the guests went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Duncan in Tampa for the reception. Wedding cake and fruit punch were served to about eighty guests.
Immediately after the reception, the bride and groom left for a honeymoon trip to Colorado where they will make their home.
The bride is the youngest daughter of Mrs. E. A. Backus, who was a long time resident of Yuma county and now lives in Tampa, Florida. She attended Yuma County High School and the Universities of Colorado and Florida, receiving her B. A. and M. A. degrees. She has taught for a number of years in the schools of Colorado, Iowa and Florida.
The groom attended Vernon High School and Graceland College at Lamoni, Iowa, and the University of Colorado. He has been a successful farmer for a number of years. During the recent war he served more than three years in the United States Army. Since his discharge, he has returned to his home south of Vernon where the couple will live."

She's buried in Wray 1910-1988 # 62528946, with Theodore C. Zion 1912-1976.

RICHARD

Lyndell Juanita Olvey, 22 married Richard E. Backus in Polk County, Florida on November 7, 1936.


November 1949 Wray "Mrs. Adah Olvey left last week on a vacation trip to Frostproof, Fla., where her daughter, Mrs. Dick Backus, and family reside."

1953 Wray " Mr. and Mrs. Dick Backus and two children and the former's mother, Mrs. Vallie Backus, of Frostproof, Fla., came Friday night to visit the Ted Zions and other relatives and friends. The Dick Backus family will also visit Mrs. Backus' brother, Ralph Olvey in Denver, and her mother, Mrs. Adah Olvey, who has been hospitalized in Denver."

"R. E. (Dick) Backus of Frostproof, Florida died June 23, 2015, at age 101. Dick was born on his parent's farm in Yuma County, Colorado on May 15, 1914. He had eight siblings, seven of which were older and one younger sister who died as a child.
After graduation from Yuma County High School, Dick worked his family's farm in Colorado for a brief time. The depression years were difficult. His oldest sister had found her way to Frostproof, Florida. She found him a summer job with their brother-in-law so Dick traveled to Frostproof to work.
He married his high school sweetheart, Lyndell Juanita Olvey, in 1936 and they lived in Frostproof, Florida all their married lives. Juanita died in 1989. In 1993, he married Lois Brennan.
Dick worked at several different jobs as a young man but was best known as a real estate broker in Frostproof. Over the years, he served his church in many capacities. He served the community of Frostproof in many ways as well, most notably as Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce for many years. Because of his community service, he was named Mr. Frostproof in 1964. He was a member of the Frostproof Lions Club and had perfect attendance for over 50 years.
He was a loving father and husband. He was a man of impeccable character and integrity. He loved to sing, he loved to play golf, and he loved to do physically demanding work. He spent many happy hours working in his grapefruit grove.
He is survived by his wife Lois; by his two children; Ben Backus of Peachtree City, GA and Karen Williams (Charlie) of Gainesville, FL; and by seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
Donations may be made in his memory to His favorite charity: The Frostproof United Methodist Church Memory Fund and Building Fund, 150 Devane Street, Frostproof, FL 33843.
Memorial services will be held in the chapel at Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home at 2 P.M. June 27, 2015 with Rev. Sean Robinson officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
A memorial service will be announced in the fall of this year to be held at Frostproof United Methodist Church in Frostproof, Florida"
Richard is buried in Frostproof # 30157608., with L. Juanita 1914-1989 # 30157609.


MATTIE

January 1912 "Miss Mattie Backus is in town this week under the medical treatment of a local physician. While in town she is staying with the P. T. Edmunds family of East Wray."

February 1918 "Sergeant Robert Womack Duncan, who is spending a few days here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence G. Duncan, and Miss Matilda Jane Backus, surprised their many friends here Wednesday by being quietly married by Rev. Dr. F. F. Gibson, pastor of the First Baptist Church. The ceremony was pronounced at Dr. Gibson's residence on Chestnut street at 7:00 o'clock Wednesday night in the presence of immediate relatives and a few friends. Following the ceremony Sergeant and Mrs. Duncan left on No. 7 for Nashville. They will return tonight and on Saturday Sergeant Duncan will return to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The groom is a popular Bowling Green boy, while the bride has gathered about her a host of friends who wish both many years of happiness. At present the bride is bookkeeper at the American National Bank."
Daily Times-Journal, Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The bride of the above sketch is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Backus, residing north of Wray. She grew to womanhood in Yuma county and has an extensive friendship who joins in extending congratulations."

In 1920 Bowling Green, Mattie Duncan is 23, working for the assessor, with Robert W. Duncan 29.

Mattie Duncah 1896-1986 is buried in Frostproof # 30157493.
So is Ribert 1890-1963.

FRED

Fred Edward Backus and Reva Gusta Bagby married on April 15, 1925 in Sumner County, Tennessee.

Fred is a bookkeeper in 1930 Frostproof, 30, with Reba A. 22 born in Tennessee, and James E. 1 in Florida. Reba's mother Fannie Bagby 61 born in Virginia is with them.
(Fannie Bagby 1869-1964 is buried in Bowling Green, Kentucky # 128718357, with John A. Bagby 1860-1910.

In 1940 Frostproof, Fred and ??? are in Frostproof, with James 10 and an eight month old ison.

Fred E. Backus, born January 25, 1900, died July 1, 1984 in Pinellas County, Florida.

"BACKUS, Fred E. 84, of Frostproof, died Sunday. from Bowling Green, Ky. He was an Agricultural Salesman. Affiliations include First United Methodist Church of Frostproof, past Master of Frostproof Masonic Lodge. Survivors include wife, Reva, Frostproof; one son, James, Cheyenne, Wyoming; one daughter, Betty Pearson, Palm Harbor; three brothers, Dutch and Dick, Frostproof, Fla., Tom, of Treasure Island; three sisters, Mattie Duncan and Maude Barbree, both of Frostproof, Lettie Zlon, Wray, Colorado; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held today at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Padgett Funeral Home, Holiday, Fla.

BACKUS, Reva, 96, of Dunedin, born Dec 17, 1907, died March 12, 2003. Survived by son, Jim, Cheyenne, Wyo.; daughter, Betty Pearson, Dunedin; six grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Dobies Funeral Home


BERTHA

September 1912 "The Misses Maud Hampton and Bertha Backus left for their homes in Atlanta, Georgia, after visiting in the Hampton and Backus homes north of town for several weeks. "

B. Maude Barbaree 1905-1994 is buried in Frostproof # 29750707, with Johnnie . 1900-1998.

MAUD

1922 " Miss Maud Backus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Backus, is rapidly recovering from a recent operation that will restore to her the use of a limb that has long been impaired. Miss Backus, when a child suffered an attack of infantile paralysis and as a result of such serious illness one limb was badly twisted out of its natural position so that she was deprived of the use of it and has been obliged to walk with the aid of a crutch for a number of years. Miss Backus has undergone two operations for the correction of this trouble. She is in a hospital at Louisville, Ky., recovering from the second operation, and her physicians assure her that she will soon be entirely well, all of which will be good news to her many friends in and near Wray. "

1927

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