Jacob Flowers facts for kids

Jacob Flowers was an important early settler in Larimer County, Colorado during the 1800s. He is known for starting the town of Bellvue, which is located northwest of Fort Collins.

Early Life and River Travel

Before the American Civil War, Jacob Flowers owned and ran three boats. These boats traveled along the Ohio River. They carried people between Marietta, Ohio and St. Louis, Missouri. One day, a big storm destroyed two of his boats. He then took his last boat on a long journey. He sailed down the Ohio River to St. Louis. From there, he went up the Missouri River to Kansas City, Kansas. He settled there with his family in a place called Wyandotte. Today, Wyandotte is part of Kansas City.

Journey to Colorado

In 1873, Jacob Flowers helped organize a group of settlers. They called themselves the Wyandotte Colony. He led this group west to the Colorado Territory. Their goal was to settle at the Union Colony in Greeley. This colony had been started three years earlier. It was a farming community based on shared religious beliefs.

Founding Bellvue

Jacob Flowers did not stay long at the Union Colony. Later that same year, he moved. He went further upstream along the Cache la Poudre River. This new area was just west of Fort Collins. It was a beautiful place known as Pleasant Valley. White settlers had started living in this valley since 1860. Near the town, south of where Stout used to be, were stone quarries. These quarries were important for the Union Pacific Railroad.

Flowers decided to create a new town in this valley. He planned and laid out the town of Bellvue.

Bellvue General Store

In 1880, Flowers opened a general store in Bellvue. This store served the quarry workers and their families. He built the store from sandstone. This building still stands today. Later, it became a meeting place for the Grange. Now, it is known as the "Bellvue Grange." On June 24, 1884, Flowers also opened the first post office in Bellvue at his store.

Community Contributions

Jacob Flowers also built a horse racing track. It had a grandstand for people to watch. This track was used for community events. It hosted dog and pony shows and traveling medicine shows. He also grew a garden and raised pigs. He gave these to families of quarry workers who were struggling. Because of his kindness, people in the area called him "Uncle Jacob."

Flowers Road

Jacob Flowers also mapped out a road. This road went through the foothills west of Bellvue. It was south of Rist Canyon. This road was very important for travel. People used it to move along the south side of the Poudre River. It also helped them reach the timber in the foothills. The road was eventually made longer. It went over Lulu Pass and became known as the Flowers Road. Over time, people stopped using it as much. This happened after State Highway 14 was built through the Poudre Canyon. Today, parts of the Flowers Road are still marked as a foot trail. You can find it in the Roosevelt National Forest.