Cy's Attic - These articles are from a series written by Del Miller and published in  "Timnath Times".  A new article will be posted monthly.

Past articles from Cy's Attic related to the history of Timnath have covered the Indians and their Council Tree. However, have you wondered what initiated the arrival of the white settlers?  There were several reasons. First and foremost was the discovery of gold and silver in the mountains that brought many gold prospectors and miners into the territory to seek their fortunes. Another reason was the Homestead Act of 1862 that provided 160 acres of public land to any United States citizen who lived on their land for five years. Finally, those suffering from tuberculosis and other lung diseases came in the hope that the dry, light air and abundant sunshine would improve their health.

Only a few prospectors struck it rich and many of those who did not, returned to their former homes. Others, however, found new challenges and remained in the territory. It was a time when Indians roamed the vicinity and the entire territory was in a state of unrest. Those who remained on the frontier were self reliant and resourceful; they had to be able to protect themselves and provide for their own needs. The first settlers in this vicinity located close to the river to be near a supply of water and to take advantage of its fish and the game located near by. 

The first white man to settle in the Timnath area was Ebenezer Davis. Born in Wales, Ebenezer came to the United States in 1856. A short time later, in 1858 he was lured to Colorado by the discovery of gold. Failing to locate a good claim he made his camp on the west bank of the Cache la Poudre River in 1859. He became a friend of Chief Friday and traded with the Indians for furs in the winter and prospected for gold in the summer. His log cabin was close to the river about two miles south of the present site of Timnath. Ebenezer found it quite profitable to harvest the natural grass hay growing nearby during the summer and selling it in the mining camps. The remainder of his time was devoted to farming and ranching. He married a teacher from La Porte and they lived on the farm south of Timnath until 1900.

Eventually, Ebenezer's three brothers came to settle in the Timnath area. One of

his brothers, John, also cut hay to sell in Cheyenne and Laramie. He always timed his arrival in Cheyenne to be in the morning so he could leave in the early afternoon and avoid the outlaws in the Cheyenne area. In 1880 another brother, Thomas, was kicked by a horse and died. He left a widow and five children to continue the farming operation. For many years the homes of all four brothers were within three miles of each other and Timnath. There are relatives of the Davis brothers still living in the Timnath area.

Have you wondered why the title of these articles is Cy's Attic? It is in honor of Cyrus Davis and his wife Edith. Cyrus (Cy to everyone) was the great nephew of Ebenezer Davis and the grandson of Thomas Davis. He was a self taught, knowledgeable man. If you wanted to know anything about flowers, rocks or history he had the information some where in his house.  For several years he was the neighbor of Russ & Del Miller. He sparked our interest in the town by sharing his stories and his knowledge of the history of the Timnath community as well as his first hand knowledge of the early pioneers. Cy & Edith shared with us the many slides of their frequent trips and were delighted when Russ would play their old pump organ.