Lewis Northey Tappan facts for kids
Lewis Northey Tappan (June 15, 1831 – February 25, 1880) was an abolitionist, which means he worked to end slavery. He was also a politician and a pioneer who helped build new towns and businesses in Colorado.
Lewis was the son of Colonel Ebenezer Tappan, a manufacturer and state lawmaker from a famous family in Massachusetts. He was also related to other well-known abolitionists and helpers of society, Lewis Tappan and Arthur Tappan, and their brother, U.S. Senator Benjamin Tappan.
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Early Life and Kansas Adventures
Lewis was born in Manchester, Massachusetts. He started his career in business in Boston. In 1857, he moved to Kansas to join his cousin, Samuel Forster Tappan. His cousin was very active in the Free-State movement, which wanted Kansas to become a state where slavery was not allowed.
Lewis became the Secretary of the Senate under the Topeka Constitution, which was a plan for Kansas's government. He also helped negotiate the Fort Scott Treaty. He was one of fifteen brave men who went to Lecompton to get back a famous box. This box held fake election results that were meant to make Kansas a pro-slavery state. Finding this box helped stop the pro-slavery group in Kansas.
Pioneering in Colorado
In 1859, Lewis moved to the Colorado Territory. He quickly became involved in the first city government of Denver. With his brother, George Hooper Tappan, he built Denver's very first wooden building. They also opened the first store in the territory.
Lewis continued to be active in politics. He was a member of Governor Gilpin's council and worked for Governor Cummings. In the summer of 1860, the Tappan brothers opened their store in their new two-story building. Lewis also helped organize the first Sunday School in Denver.
Founding Colorado City
In 1859, Lewis N. Tappan and other town builders met in Denver City. On August 11, 1859, they created the Colorado City Town Company. The very next day, August 12, they officially founded Colorado City. A few days later, on August 15, 1859, Tappan and the same group formed the El Paso Claim Club. This club was like an early local government that helped record land claims and settle arguments over land.
Lewis Tappan became a director, secretary, and treasurer for the Town Company. He also held the same roles for the Claim Club. Today, Colorado City is a historic area within Colorado Springs. There, Lewis ran a store that sold general goods and mining supplies.
Exploring New Places
Even though he was busy with business in Colorado City, Lewis Tappan still found time to explore. In 1859, he joined a group of people, including Anthony Bott and Melancthon S. Beach, on a multi-day hike to the top of Pikes Peak. When they reached the summit, they found signs that others had been there before them. Records show that a group from Lawrence, Kansas, had hiked to the top in 1858.
Tappan was also one of the first three white men to enter and name the beautiful area known as "Garden of the Gods". This happened in August 1859. Lewis N. Tappan and other explorers were looking around the area. One of them, Melancthon S. Beach, thought it would be a "capital place for a beer garden." But his friend, Rufus Cable, was amazed by the huge rock formations. He replied, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods."
Lewis N. Tappan and his brother, George H. Tappan, owned and ran "Tappan & Co.", a general store in Colorado City. They also had stores in Denver and Golden. Their other brother, William Henry Tappan, helped them with their businesses.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1866, Lewis Tappan married Elizabeth Sanford from Albany, New York. Later, Lewis moved back to Manchester, Massachusetts. In 1877, he was elected to the Massachusetts legislature. He became a successful real estate developer in Manchester and had homes there and in Boston.
Lewis made several trips across the Great Plains. He became involved in mining in Leadville, Colorado, where he found a lead mine and built the first smelting works in the territory. Sadly, after witnessing a very sad event where a guest fell during a tour, Lewis went into shock and never fully recovered. Lewis Tappan passed away in 1880 from a nervous illness. He was survived by his three children: Lewis Hooper Tappan, Sanford Tappan, and Blanche Tappan. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Claridon Street Church in Boston.
See also
- 1877 Massachusetts legislature
