Little Known Abeyta
Mountains are usually the first thing people picture when they think of Colorado. I love the mountains for many reasons, especially the majestic scenery. But rarely does anyone say they love the Great Plains of Colorado. Why? Because the mostly flat and desolate region is not as grand or picturesque as the rest of the state. However, the plains, which take up most of eastern Colorado, have an abundance of history, but it is almost never talked about.
In May, I wanted to get away for my birthday. The only place you can escape to during Covid is nature, so it was into the mountains for me. Well, it turns out that everyone else had the same idea. So, my boyfriend and I adventured the opposite direction toward La Junta to hike Picket Wire Canyon, located along the Purgatorie River in the Comanche National Grasslands. Also known as Red Rock, this area is uncharted territory. Its main attraction is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. It is an impressive area to visit.
Also along the trail are ruins of an old mission and a few headstones. I came across one that said, translated into English: "Abeyta died the day of 26 of February of 1895." It’s most likely made from sandstone, and the epithet is hand-chiseled. The first name and date of birth were missing, and Abeyta is a common Hispanic name. I knew I had my work cut out for me.
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In 1897, a group of New Mexicans, led by Damacio Lopez, migrated up the Purgatory River and established a settlement that became known as the Damacio Lopez Plaza. Many Hispanics living in what is now northern New Mexico and southern Colorado lived on communal land grants given to them by Span, Mexico, or the governor of New Mexico[1], which could explain why the Lopez Family moved to the area. Agriculture and ranching were the main sources of income. But the families of the Lopez Plaza grew wheat and sold it many miles away in Trinidad, Colorado.[2]
Traditionally, most New Mexican of the time were Catholic. They tiny settlement did not have a church or priest. This was a quandary for the religious settlers at the mouth of Minnie Canyon on the Purgatory River. In order to attend church services, they had to journey to Trinidad. Finally, Damacio found a clergyman who would be willing to travel to the small community for services, and in 1898 he even sold a piece of his land to priests. The community then built a small church, which became known as the Dolores Mission.
According to the U.S. Forest Services website, the remaining headstones next to the mission are of those of children.[3] I reached out for more information but received no response. I then contacted the Denver Diocese, who directed me to the Pueblo Diocese, who recommended the St. Patrick Catholic Church in La Junta. No response yet.
So, as I wait to hear back, my assumption for the Abeyta headstone (which, by the way, is something you should never make the conducting historical research) is that this was the final resting place of a one-day-old baby who was born and died on February 26, 1895 and did not live long enough to receive a first name. Families living in the southeastern part of Colorado suffered many hardships. An unpredictable climate, physical exhaustion and a high mortality rate did not make living conditions any easier.
In 1904, a flood destroyed the plaza. It is interesting to note that although the small community founded by the Lopez family is long gone and the property was donated to the U.S. Forest Service in 2007, the Dolores Mission is still listed as church property to this day.
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As I finished up my hike, I stopped and looked far beyond the river. I was struck by how isolated this remote area of Colorado still is. So far from the nearest settlements, I wondered how life must have been those many years ago. The sky was just beginning to turn into soft cotton candy colors of blue and pink; it was a beautiful, quiet scene. I may not learn anything more about the Abeyta headstone, but at least it will not be forgotten. The legacy of these early settlers lives on in the art, culture, and livelihood of the residents of the area.
[1] “167 Years Ago the U.S. and Mexico Signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.” 167 Years Ago the U.S. and Mexico Signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo | History Colorado, February 2, 2015. https://www.historycolorado.org/press-release/2015/02/02/167-years-ago-us-and-mexico-signed-treaty-guadalupe-hidalgo.
[2] “You Would Never Hear People Complain’: Elfido López Recalls Rural Mexican-American Life in the Late 19th Century.” HISTORY MATTERS - The U.S. Survey Course on the Web. Accessed November 15, 2020. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/89/.
[3] “Dolores Mission and Cemetery” sign. U.S. Forest Service, Picket Wire Canyon. Viewed 24, May 2020.
Other Sources
“Noel: Digging up History in Southeastern Colorado.” 2009. The Denver Post. August 27, 2009. https://www.denverpost.com/2009/08/27/noel-digging-up-history-in-southeastern-colorado/
Another fantastic history lesson!
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