William Byers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Byers
William Newton Byers
Born	February 22, 1831 Madison County, Ohio, U.S.
Died	March 25, 1903 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Resting place	Fairmount Cemetery
Occupation	surveyor
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth (Sumner) Byers

William Newton Byers (born February 22, 1831, in Madison County, Ohio; died March 25, 1903) was an important pioneer in the American West. He played a key role in the early development of both Omaha, Nebraska and Denver, Colorado. In Nebraska, he was the first deputy surveyor and served on the first Omaha City Council. He was also a member of the first Nebraska Territorial Legislature. Later, in Colorado, he founded and edited the Rocky Mountain News, Denver's first newspaper. He was married to Elizabeth Sumner Byers, who was known for her charitable work in Denver. Their home, the Byers–Evans House, is now a museum.

Early Life

William Newton Byers was born in Madison County, Ohio. His parents were Moses and Mary Byers. In 1851, he moved with his family to Iowa. A few years later, in 1854, they moved to Omaha, Nebraska, just as the city was being planned.

Career and Contributions

Starting in Omaha

In Omaha, Byers became the first deputy surveyor for the Nebraska Territory. A surveyor measures and maps land. In this role, he created the first official map, or plat, of Omaha. This map showed the layout of the new city. He also worked with Andrew J. Poppleton to create the city's first detailed map. Soon after, Byers joined Omaha's first city council. He also became a member of the first Nebraska Territorial Legislature. This group met in Omaha on January 16, 1855.

Moving to Denver

In 1859, Byers moved to Denver. He wanted to take advantage of the recent gold discoveries in the area. He brought printing presses from an old newspaper in Nebraska by oxcart. With these presses, he and J. H. Kellom wrote a guide for people looking for gold. This guide was published in 1859. Byers then used the printing equipment to start the Rocky Mountain News newspaper in Denver. This was the very first newspaper printed in Colorado. The Rocky Mountain News continued to be published until 2009.

Hot Sulphur Springs Dispute

In 1863, Byers acquired land known as Hot Sulphur Springs in northern Colorado. However, there were disagreements over who truly owned the land. The Ute tribe believed the land was theirs. They tried to legally challenge the ownership, but they were not successful. Byers had big plans for the springs, hoping to turn the area into a famous resort. However, his plans were delayed because the railroad did not reach the area until 1928.

The Sand Creek Massacre Stance

William N. Byers supported the actions taken during the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. This was a tragic event in Colorado history. Because of his support for this event, some places named after him have been renamed in recent years. For example, a school originally named William N. Byers Junior High School changed its name in 2023. A branch of the Denver Public Library also changed its name in 2021. These changes reflect a modern understanding of historical events and figures.

Personal Life and Family

Elizabeth Byers' Contributions

William Byers was married to Elizabeth Byers. She moved to Denver when it was a small settlement. Elizabeth faced many challenges during her time in Denver. She experienced the loss of both of her children with William. Their homes also suffered from a fire and a flood. Despite these difficulties, Elizabeth was very active in helping others. She founded the Ladies United Aid Society in 1860. This group later became the Ladies Relief Society in 1872. With Margaret Gray Evans, Elizabeth also founded the Old Ladies Home. In 1885, she established the Home of Good Shepherds to care for homeless girls.

Homes and Hobbies

Storm in the Rocky Mountains

After moving to Denver, William and Elizabeth Byers lived in several large homes. One of these is now known as the Byers-Evans House. Today, this house is a museum located next to the Denver Art Museum in downtown Denver. In 1891, the Byers family moved to another large home they built. William Byers loved gardening and was a skilled horticulturalist. He planted many different types of trees on his property. He also used much of his land for farming and gardening. The land where this later mansion stood was given to the Denver Public Schools in 1921. Some of the trees he planted might still be growing around the DSST Cedar Middle and High Schools today.

Guiding an Artist

William Byers was also an experienced outdoorsman. He spent a lot of time exploring the mountains near Denver. In 1863, a famous artist named Albert Bierstadt asked Byers to be his guide. Byers led Bierstadt on an expedition from Idaho Springs, Colorado, to the top of a mountain. Bierstadt named this mountain Mount Rosalie. It was later known as Mount Evans, and is now called Mount Blue Sky. Bierstadt's famous painting, Storm in the Rocky Mountains, was inspired by this trip.

Death

William N. Byers passed away on March 25, 1903. He was buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.