Craig Daily Press / A renaissance man

Town site developer William F. Teagarden tried his hand at many trades

Enlarge photo Courtesy Photo

By Bridget Manley

January 19, 2008

Centennial

Information about Craig's Centennial

This week in history

In January 1911, Craig residents began preparing for an anticipated break from Routt County.

Craig was part of Routt County until later that year when Moffat County was created.

“In view of the near approach of county division, the new county of Moffat is already getting considerably agitated over the question of officials,” The Craig Courier reported Jan. 19, 1911.

The officials were to be chosen by the state’s governor. The governor had selected officials for Jackson County earlier in his administration, appointing individuals that county residents had selected by petition.

“This proved to be a wise method and the new county (Jackson) is now running smoothly with gradually decreasing taxes,” according to the Courier.

Craig — Postmaster, miner, real estate salesman, town site locator.

William F. Teagarden did it all.

Teagarden hailed from Ohio and moved to Colorado in 1887. In Glenwood Springs, he and his brother-in-law, William H. Tucker, embarked on a business venture together.

In 1889, “he and his brother-in-law, W.H. Tucker, came here and located the town of Craig,” The Craig Empire reported May 30, 1914. “A company was organized, the town laid out, a publicity campaign started and ever since that time Mr. Teagarden has been a consistent and effective booster for Craig and Northwestern Colorado.”

The town Teagarden helped develop was later named after W. B. Craig, an influential pastor of First Christian Church.

Teagarden remained active in Craig after its establishment. He became Craig’s second postmaster in 1890 and later helped construct the First Christian Church.

He began a successful real estate business in Craig while maintaining another office in Denver. His business “brought about some of the biggest deals ever made in this section,” according to the Empire.

But large real estate sales weren’t enough to keep Teagarden in the states.

In 1901, he sought adventures in Mexico, where he began working for a mining company.

“This country is very nice in some respects,” he wrote back to his sister, Mrs. William H. Tucker. “We travel a good deal at night to avoid the hot sun. We often start out at 1 (or) 3 o’clock in the morning and rest during the heat of the day.

“I do not mind it for a short time, but would not think of staying here long,” he added.

Teagarden’s prediction proved accurate.

By 1903, he had returned to Craig and married Rachel McCracken.

When the two were wed, “A large dining room table groaned under the weight of innumerable beautiful tokens from true and admiring friends,” according to The Craig Courier.

According to the newspaper’s account, Teagarden had no shortage of friends.

“Mr. Teagarden, or Willard, as he is known to his friends — and that’s everybody —while yet a young man, is a pioneer of Craig and it may rightfully be said that he has had a finger in everything that has been for the good of the town at it’s inception,” the Courier reported.

When the town was incorporated in 1908, Teagarden was selected as one of the town’s first trustees.

Teagarden continued selling real estate in Craig until shortly before his death in 1914.

He was 49.

“For the present he had many more (real estate deals) outlined, and expected this year to be the most successful year of his career,” the Courier reported May 30, 1914.

Bridget Manley can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 207 or bmanley@craigdailypress.com