This article, from a Craig Colorado newspaper published in 1952, describes the Haughey families' move to Colorado as told by two of Francis and Isabella's children.

Attractive Haughey Girls Tell Of Days When Life Was
Primitive But Delightful In Craig. [Colorado]

By Hazel Pearson

This is the story of the two pretty Haughey girls, who were the belles of Craig back in 1897 when Craig was no more than a “jumping off place” for sure.  Miss Ossa, was born January 6, 1875, and Miss Maud, born March 22, 1879, as they were known then, are the last two of a family of ten Haugheys.

Francis Marion Haughey, Civil War veteran, whose home was in Stuart Iowa, about 40 miles west of Des Moines, came to Leadville, Colorado, with son Robert, when he heard of the gold rush there in the early 1880s.  He worked as a miner and during a lull decided to see what was on the other side of the mountain.

It was about 1884 when he came to Craig from Leadville with son Bob on snow shoes and pulling a hand sled with provisions.  The other side of the mountain appealed to him and so he took up a homestead about a mile east of Craig just below the [current] cemetery.  The property stretched over and beyond Dead Man’s curve and it was there he and his son Grant, started the family home.  It was built of cottonwood logs, hand hewn.  Two of the rooms were 16 feet long and boasted a basement under the kitchen with a fireplace leading up through the kitchen.

Now things were shaping up and in 1886 he sent for his wife and six children in Iowa.  The eldest daughter Jane had married previously and was living in Kansas.  They shipped what furniture they thought could be transported and came by train to Rawlins.  Mrs. Haughey realized they were coming to the wilderness managed to bring and care for a dozen little downy chickens in an old grape box for their new home.

An older sister, Melissa, and brother Ed, left the family group at Cheyenne and went to Leadville to make their home.

“We were met at Rawlins by Father with a wagon and an Indian pony team. My, we were glad to see a familiar face again.”  Said Mrs. Cooper, “but we didn’t know what was in store for us and there was plenty of excitement.  Sleeping under the stars, father killing an antelope one evening for our breakfast next morning.  And the stories of the friendly Indians who had warned the settlement that fall before of heap big snow, which went unheeded and many died from starvation.

“Father had to walk most of the way to Craig because the poor old ponies just couldn’t haul all of us and our belongings too.”

“Remember, said Mrs. Hess, we had to travel on the old government trail because of the high water even though it was June. We soon had the basement kitchen livable, cooking on the fireplace and even though the floor was dirt we had rugs made of deer and elk hides. Climbing into our bunk beds on either side of the 16-foot room was quite a chore but we managed.

Right away I fell in love with horses, said Miss Ossa, and was never afraid of any of them.  One time I decided to go to town and the only animal available was a stallion that had never been broken to ride.  After a little difficulty I managed to get the saddle on him and rode to town.  It was uneventful, he was gentle as a kitten.  I had learned to ride sidesaddle on a man’s saddle.  Another of my favorite horses was Kit, a gentle young mare, and we would ride her after the cows, which at eventide had lain down and could not be seen anywhere nor could the tinkle of the bell be heard by human ears.  Kit would listen with her ears, standing straight up and then walk right to the place where they were.

I guess I was the tom-boy of the family,” said Miss Maud.  “I remember racing madly down the hill just above our place till all the hairpins in my hair were gone and I must have resembled a wild Indian.  I dearly loved to follow the boys into the woods in search of meat and killed my first five-point buck when I was 15.  This is the head here in my bedroom.”

“We didn’t think of hardships in those days” went on Miss Ossa, “although all supplies were brought from Rawlins.  Twice a year father and some of the boys would make the trip, bringing back barrels of oatmeal, dried fruit and other needed supplies.  Mother sent back to Iowa for material.  Lawn for dresses was 3 cents a yard and all of her thread.

While accompanying the men folks to Black Mountain for lumber, we discovered a lovely berry patch, red rasberries and even yellow ones. At first the berries were picked and then spread on a paper sprinkled with sugar and allowed to dry.  After stewing slowly they were almost as good as the fresh berry.  Later the womenfolk would accompany their men to the spot and do their canning on the spot.  Sixty-five gallons were needed for our family,” said Miss Ossa.

“In 1897, a contest was held in the newspapers throughout Colorado and the most popular and prettiest girl from each county was sent to Denver to be feted at luncheons, dinners, parades and so on, by the Slaves of the Silver Serpent.  Miss Maud was chosen to go from Routt County.  She wasn’t nearly as impressed with all the pomp and splendor as her sister, Mrs. Melissa Young of Leadville, who made the necessary white dress,” said Miss Ossa.

About 1901 the young folks were having themselves a time with parties and dances and in the winter time, sleighing parties.  However, young folks as well as the older ones would pile on two sleds drawn by six or eight horses and driven by a handsome up and coming young man, Byron Cooper.  His dexterity with the horses impressed all of the community and more especially the pretty Miss Ossa and the couple were married at the home of the bride in 1902.  Mr. Cooper was a freighter from Craig to Rawlins.

Two children, Maud, now Mrs. Dick Toole of Craig, and Thelma, Mrs. Harold Springer of Eaton, Colorado, were born.  Rocky Mountain spotted fever took the life of Mr. Cooper in 1906 and the bereaved young widow and her babies returned to the home of her parents to help care for her mother, who wasn’t well at the time.

In 1914 Mrs. Cooper went to work in the clerk and recorder’s office in Moffat County and held the position until 1924 when she went to work in the Zimmerman Abstract office, a position she held until 1945.

Mrs. Copper has three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  The latter consists of twins boys and a girl.

It was in 1913 that a young man, who worked for the telephone company, came through Craig building new lines.  He too, was impressed with the possibilities of Craig and charmed by the pretty Miss Maud and in January, 1914, the couple were married at the Haughey homestead and he took up ranching.  For 24 years the Hess family lived on a ranch just bellow where the refinery was.  To this union, a boy, Frank, who now lives in Lakewood, and a girl, Isabella, Mrs. Roy Loerke, who lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, were born.

The Hesses have three grandchildren, one boy and two girls.

That is the story of the last two Haughey girls, as pretty and gracious in 1952 as they must have been over 50 years ago.  Mrs. Cooper lives on Legion street in East Craig and Mrs. Hess is living with her husband at 664 Russell street.

 

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