Another city to which LDS converts from Tennessee (and the rest of the South) were directed to gather was Manassa, Colorado. The site was near two ranches that Mormons had purchased in 1879. The exact site was chosen based on the expect route of the railroad. The line eventually was laid three miles to the west. Regardless, the colony thrived mostly due to continued immigration and sound leadership.
Saints came to escape persecution in the south, but found the climate cold and harsh. Saints like the Talley and Depriest families of Lewis County found their way here, along with many others.
The Manassa Stake was formed in 1883.
So successful was Manassa that additional colonies were set up nearby including Sanford and Morgan (named after John Morgan, the Southern States Mission President at the time).
Today Manassa has three wards and a population of over 1,000 within the city limits. About half of the town is Mormon, most of the rest is Hispanic Catholic.
1 year ago
7 comments:
Fascinating to see these other colonies of Mormonism which rose in the west. I had not realized they had gone into Colorado that much.
stumbled on your site..I was reading about the Cane Creek massacre and how many of those saints went to Manassa Co. My dad and grandfather bother were born and raised in Manassa. I seem to remember some family history with locations from Tennesee. Now I have some digging to do.
Jen, Saints from all over the Southern States came to Manassa. Consider yourself luck to have ancestors from Tennessee. Good luck with the digging.
Glad I found this blog, thanks for the links. I've enjoyed reading all you have here. We are relatives of the Depriests from Manassa, Co. I even lived near Hickman County, TN at one time. Heard about the Cane Murders because the road sign marking the spot was in the yard of a member of the LDS church and we asked about it. I guess the sign was frequently vandalized. I found the newpaper articles about the incedent in a local library. Seems every year the topic was visited by the newspaper on the anniversay. Anyway thanks.
Thanks for stopping by Vicki.
That sign is down again. It was vandalized a year ago and still hasn't been replaced.
thanks - my ancestors the Salazars are from here and part of the lds hispanic history
The oldest tree in Sanford was planted in approx 1885 by Jobe Whitney. It's huge and beautiful but it's now "in the wrong place". Does anyone know about that tree? Or Mr Whitney?
Post a Comment