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Centennial

Information about Craig's Centennial

Museum of Northwest Colorado/Courtesy

Pictured is a 1902 New Year's sleigh ride party with some of Craig's young adults.

Museum of Northwest Colorado/Courtesy

This picture of Byron Cooper was taken by Mel Reed, of Leadville, in 1885.

Written in cooperation with the Museum of NW Colorado and Craig Daily Press

Some of the people who helped build Craig did so without benefit of publicity that comes from a long life. But lack of mention doesn't mean lack of importance.

Byron Cooper was born on April 14, 1857, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Indiana for 10 years before returning to Iowa. He stayed in Iowa until he reached manhood.

His father died when he was very young.

At age 23, he struck out for Colorado. He brought his widowed mother along, as he would the rest of his life. He landed in Leadville, where he spent five years working in the booming town. In 1885, they left Leadville and headed farther west, settling in the sparsely populated Bear River area, which eventually would become Craig and the Yampa Valley.

He worked hauling freight and earned a reputation for his honesty and integrity.

During the holiday season, he began offering sleigh rides on his large freight rig. He took youths out at Christmas and hosted the older people for a similar drive on New Year's Eve. His six-up of horses were always decorated for the occasion, and their sleigh bells could be heard all across town.

He was married to Ossa Haughey on Sept 23, 1902, and the couple soon had two daughters - Maud, born in 1903, and Thelma, born in the spring of 1906.

Just weeks after Thelma's birth, Byron came down with measles. Later, spinal meningitis set in, which caused his death on Sept. 14, 1906. At age 39, he left a grieving family and a sorrowful town.

"Last Friday morning, the town of Craig was greatly saddened by the news of the death of Byron Cooper. He had been suffering for about two weeks with a severe case of measles but Thursday morning he was thought to be improving. About noon on Thursday, however, he began to grow worse, and the end finally came about seven o'clock Friday morning.

"Mr. Cooper was known in Craig as an honest and upright man and was one of the best citizens Craig ever had.

"The funeral occurred Saturday afternoon and was attended by a large crowd, despite the rain, who had gathered to pay their last respects to a man who was adored by all for his honesty and integrity." (Routt County Courier, Sept. 20, 1906)

Although he was still a young man when he died, Byron Cooper had the greatest gift that any person could have - the respect of his friends and neighbors.

Shannan Koucherik may be reached at honeyrockdogs@msn.com. The Museum of Northwest Colorado may be reached at musnwco@moffatcounty.net