Colorado

History Of The Area compiled by Donna L. Drummond

1878:

James M. Landis followed the Sopris route with a donkey pack train down the Roaring Fork River to Grand Springs. He filed squatters rights to 160 acres and built his small log cabin on the bank of the Roaring Fork. Isaac Cooper entered the valley from Aspen simultaneously to James M. Landis. He had become ill during the civil war and never fully recovered. Landis sold Cooper the Hot Springs. At the same time Landis came, three prospectors from Leadville explored down the Eagle River valley: John Blake, Frenchy Cleiofar and a man named Bell. They came by way of the northern rim of (Glenwood) canyon. They met George P. Ryan a wealth hunter and adventurer from Philadelphia at the No Name or Grizzly Creek fault and joined him. The parties prospected on the flat tops.

1883: 

James Landis with Perry Malaby built the first bridge across the Roaring Fork River

ARCHITECT: Theodore Von Rosenberg. ST JAMES HOTEL

GRAND SPRINGS HOTEL: Fred A. Barlow

KAMM DRY GOODS

PAT CARR'S SALOON

UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE

1884:

The new town was named DEFIANCE and was growing

Mrs. E.M. Landis, James mother, moved out from Kansas and was the first white woman to enter the valley. Dolly Barlow; Ella Barlow; Fred Barlow; Chang the Chinese cook; M.V. Blood; Flora Maxfield all arrive

THE UTE CHIEF, newspaper editor, J.S. and W.J. Reid

JAMES LANDIS and DOLLY BARLOW the first wedding in the town

HARRY, the first child born of this union was also the first white child born in the new town

JUDGE: John Noonen