This lone grave is that of William T. Bird, son of William C. & Mary E. Bird. The Bird family moved west from Springfield, MO in the summer of 1875. Their destination was Colorado City. Included in this wagon train were Tom & Margaret Gibbs, Riley Wilson and his wife, and Alex & Alice Gray and others. The long journey finally over, a place to settle was found up above Colorado City and the families filed for homesteads.
Fate intervened in the spring of 1881. One of Wm. Birds teams was stolen. A cracked horseshoe made it possible to follow the trail for some distance before it was lost. It would be two months before news came of the horses whereabouts - off over the range from Breckenridge, several days travel, in Egeria Park. William Bird, John Phillips and a deputy sheriff from Breckenridge set off to retrieve them. Descending the long wooded slopes of the Gore Pass, they found themselves in a wide, lush valley, watered by the leisurely bends of a clear river. At the future site of Yampa they located one of the horses and eventually the second horse was recovered. William Bird had decided that this was a perfect place to move his family.
In the summer of 1882, Bird, sons Tom & Albert and John Phillips, Riley Wilson and a few others packed over the range to Egeria Park. William and Albert claimed adjoining homesteads. They worked all summer to build cabins and establish their homesteads. In August fate would strike again. The Birds and Phillips were away from the cabin cutting wild hay. While they were gone thieves entered the cabin and stole all of their supplies, including John Phillips only pair of boots. At daybreak William, Albert, Tom, John Phillips and a friend, Ed Watson, set out in pursuit of the thieves, they were all armed. They caught up to them in Oak Creek Canyon. In the following gun battle Tom was shot and killed. Both outlaws were killed also. Returning home Tom (Wm. T. Bird) was buried on Alberts homestead.
The following year, after spending the winter in Colorado City, they returned to the Yampa Valley. From this time on they would spend the rest of their days here. These early families were the beginning of the community of Yampa. Because of the extended Bird family it was referred to as "Bird Town".
Land records show that this section was homesteaded by James Bird in 1892 and was patented in 1902. James sold to Robert Bird in 1907 and back to James in 1913. Bird sold to Bowman in 1937 and then it was deeded to Hinman in 1951. In 1965 Hinman sold to DeGanahl, who in turn transferred it to the Lazy E H Ranch in 1978.
This site is located on private property, permission is required for access.
ROUTT COUNTY CEMETERY: #RT024
COLORADO HISTORICAL SITE: #5RT953
LOCATION: 450 ft west of RCR#21
BURIALS: 1 burial with 1 inscribed stone
CONDITION: 2 ft x 6 ft in poor condition
USGS QUAD MAP: YAMPA, CO 7.5 1972 UTM 13; 337000 mE 4447750 mN
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: T2N R85W 6th PM NW4, SE 4, SE 4, SW 4 SEC 3
© 2004-2008 Roger & Joyce Cusick
National Association for Cemetery Preservation, Inc.nacpinc@hotmail.com
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