http://history.oldcolo.com/history/oralhist/oralhist.html#ORALHIST

I will take responsibility for that original error, for I was the first one to interview "J.T" as he was known, way back 30 years ago in 1977, when he was even then very elderly , in his 90s I recall, and I was determined to save the oral history of Colorado City old timers by tape recording interviews. I asked my daughter Rebecca - who is still lives here on the Westside of Colorado Springs with her family, to help me with that long ago task. So as you see on the web site the two oral interviews were done by 'Becky Hughes.' (I have copied your email to her - she will be pleased).

But I remember my chat with J.T. very well, and even a story he told me about sitting quietly in the kitchen of their home when his father, Michael was the Police Judge of Colorado City, overhearing - with big youthful ears - discussions betweenColorado City Police Chief George Birdsall and the Judge how best to handle the drunks and prostitutes that plagued lively 'Old Town." (Birdsall eventually became the highly respected Mayor of large Colorado Springs)

And even more memorable, J.Ts relating to me about being a bar boy for a Saloon of Colorado City, whose owner tried to give the lad, in payment for his services carrying drinks to the second floor where the gamblers were, a rifle which alledgedly had been used by the killer of Jesse James. But J.T.'s mother said "No boy of mine can have a rifle owned by a man who would shoot his own cousin!" So J.T. never got the rifle! Would we loved to have had that rifle in our Museum now!

Nowyour wonderful pictures, and long newspaper article from 1937 you sent us will help us expand our online history even more! For while it will take a few days, I will put those pictures and that newspaper account in the "People' and 'Brief Biographies' section of our Web Site, which has, over the years, gathered 'new' old history from quite a few distant descendents of Colorado City pioneers who have found our web site. We even have heard from the great granddaughter of the builder of the first Cabin (in today's Bancroft Park) of 1859! The Garvin Cabin.

http://history.oldcolo.com/people/people.html

Again we thank you.

Dave Hughes, Board Member
history@oldcolo.com

From: Kent Meyer [kmeyerXXX@XXX.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 10:34 PM
To: history@oldcolo.com
Subject: Colorado City Pioneers
To whom it may concern,

A number of years ago, I happened upon your web site and discovered that you had an oral history of James T. Riley, which is correctly spelled Reilly. You were kind enough to send a transcript of the oral interview(s). We learned a number of things from the interview and greatly appreciate your efforts and applaud your organization.

I have attached two pictures and a transcribed copy (verbatim) of a newspaper article from 1937.

1910 photo.....

Adults standing: Left to right. Peter P. Reilly, Roy Davisson, James T. Reilly, Ann E. Reilly, William I. Reilly, Pauline (Beers) Reilly, Michael J. Reilly, John F. O'Neill.

Adults seated: Left to right. Flora (Pennell) Reilly, "Grandpa" Davisson, Mabel (Reilly) Davisson, Jane (Murphy) Reilly, Michael J. Reilly Sr., Jane (Reilly) O'Neill

Children seated: Left to right. George P. Reilly, Frank P. Davisson, Lelia Davisson, Thelma O'Neill, William Reilly

1937 photo.....

Back row: Flora (Jersie Pennell) Reilly, Lelia Davisson Bennett, Evelyn (Amsler) Reilly, Bob Bennett, Janie Reilly, Daisy Reilly, Roy Davisson.

Middle row: Jim Reilly, Patricia (Jim's daughter), Maxine Davisson, Michael Reilly, Pauline (Beers) Reilly, Jack O'Neill, Jennie (Reilly) O'Neill, William Reilly

Front row: Ann (Reilly) French, Pete Reilly, Mable (Reilly) Davisson

The Beers familiy had come to Colorado City from Jennings, Kansas and previous to that from New York.

Michael Reilly Sr. came from Ireland to Chicago to Omaha to Colorado City. He is listed in Andreas' History of the state of Nebraska, Douglas County, Nebraska.

From a Colorado Springs newspaper article of May, 1937

GATHERING OF PIONEER COLORADO CITY FAMILY HELD MEMORIAL DAY

For the first time since 1918, the Michael Reilly family, pioneer residents of Colorado City, were together Monday, observed as Memorial Day. The four brothers and three sisters and their families went to the Fairview Cemetery and decorated the graves of their parents. The father, Michael Reilly, died here in 1911. The mother, Mrs. Jane Reilly, died in 1928.

The children all grew up here, yet the only one residing here is James T., captain of the West Side fire company.

Of the children, Peter P. and family reside in Huntington Park, California; William I. and wife live in Denver; Michael J. and family, Long Beach; Mr. and Mrs. (Mabel Reilly) R. T. Davisson, Denver; Mr. and Mrs. (Jennie Reilly) John F. O'Neill, Walnut Park, California; Mrs. John French, (Ann Reilly), Redondo Beach, California-----Her husband was killed in a motor accident November 25, last.

Peter Reilly was an old Colorado Midland engineer, William was superintendent of the Gazette and Telegraph mechanical department for seven years and a member of the state industrial commission for eight years, being chairman for four years. The father, Michael Reilly, was police judge of Colorado City, when I. A. Foote was mayor in 1906-1908.

Mr. and Mrs. Reilly were born in Ireland. They were married in Chicago, where they lived for some years, moving to Omaha and later to Colorado City in 1893. He was an iron molder by trade, and in the early days was employed by Hassell Iron Works.

When Michael Reilly was police judge of Colorado City, there was an old terrier about town by the name of Bobby Taylor, who was a member of the Colorado Midland section crew, when not celebrating in Old Town. He would work until he had some money, then he would come to town and drink it up. He acted afraid of water, as he never drank it or took a bath. Because he was often in police court for drunkenness, Judge Reilly gave him one sentence that almost killed him. It was, "It is the sentence of this court that you be given a bath, and it shall be the duty of the police and fire departments to see that this sentence is carried out."

One time old Bobby and a terrier friend swiped a pint of wood alcohol, which they drank. Bobby could stand it, but his friend dropped dead. When police arrived, Bobby was removing the shoes of his dead associate. He said they were better than his shoes, and his friend would not need them anymore

The Reilly family went on to Los Angeles, CA.

Kent Meyer...................my wife's great grandfather is Michael Reilly Sr.