Photo courtesy of Colorado Historical Society.

The exact location for these graves has not been identified. This area was an island at one time. The north channel was filled in many years ago. The area is still referred to as Dream Island. The name Dream Island is reported to come from the fact that there were several burials at this site.

The first burial on the island was that of Johnny Tow, a trapper. He was among the first to be attracted to this part of the state. For a long time he trapped throughout this section. For much of the time he made his headquarters about 12 miles west of Steamboat Springs, at the mouth of the stream later named Tow Creek in his honor. While present day residents pronounce the name as if it were spelled "toe", the old pioneer pronounced it with the ow as in "now".

It was in the latter 1870's that Tow died at the home of James Crawford, in Steamboat Springs. One day in the early spring James Crawford was hunting in the hills west of Pleasant Valley. Snow still covered the ground except for the southern hillsides. Crawford found Tow at a small campsite near the river in an old dilapidated tent and very ill. With the help of his brother, Henry Crawford and Tom Livington they removed Johnny to the Crawford cabin where he was given care until his death a short time later. He was buried on the "island" near the river bank with all the tenderness and care that would have been his had he passed his last days among relatives. This was the first burial of a white man at Steamboat Springs.

It was several years before Johnny Tow had a companion grave by his side. Then it was "Pony" Whitmore who joined him. "Pony" Whitmore was one of the early day characters of Routt County. He was a typical pioneer, a lover of the wilds, one of those strange characters whose great delight is to go into solitudes and open the way. With W. H. Dever, another early character, he located the Gilpen mine on the head of the Elk River. Whitmore died in Steamboat Springs in 1884 and was buried beside Johnny Tow on Dream Island. In an article written by Bill May, he states that "Pony" Whitmore's first name was actually Elzy. He also states that he was buried Sept. 17, 1886. We are not sure at this time where the different dates originated.

During research of this site several people have said that there were others buried on the island, but that some of them were moved when the "new" cemetery was started up on the hill. One person mentioned that a Mrs. Woolery was moved to the "new" cemetery from the island. A Mrs. Woolery died in 1887 and was buried in the new cemetery. In researching the Steamboat Springs Cemetery there is a stone there which shows that both Mrs. Woolerys are buried there now. It may be possible that the first Mrs. Woolery was buried on the island and then moved to the new cemetery when the second Mrs. Woolery died. To date we have not found any records that would imply that any graves were moved from the "Dream Island Cemetery."

In an article in the Steamboat Pilot dated Nov. 29, 1911 it states the following: "next year Steamboat will have a meeting of the pioneers. At that time steps should be taken to mark the burial places of "Johnny" Towell, the first merchant of Routt County, and "Pony" Whitmore, the pioneer prospector. Both are buried below town, but there is no mark of any kind to show where two of the most adventurous pioneers of the early days are resting. During the summer months, frequently tents are stretched over the graves of these hardy frontiersmen, just because the tourists do not know any better. The property is owned by the town company and arrangements are being made to beautify the island, but how can that be done when all the old pioneers know that it is a graveyard? The remains of Towell and Whitmore should be removed, placed in the present cemetery and suitable monuments erected over the graves." This leads us to believe that the graves had not been moved as of that date. Research will continue on this site to determine whether the graves are still there or if they were moved at a later date.

Land records are confusing for this site due to its location and the fact that it is no longer an island. Charles Mayo received the first homestead exemption on this land in 1876. His patent was recorded in 1884. In 1877 we find where Mayo sold 1/4 interest to four men, including: Wm. Walton, Perry Burgess, Wm. Mellen and James Crawford. At the same time (8/2/84) that the Mayo patent was recorded all four quarters were transferred to the Steamboat Springs Town Company. On May 14, 1910 the Town Company transferred the property to John Burroughs. From 1910 to 1935 there were several transactions in this section, including the Steamboat Town Co. to individuals and to the Regents of the University of Colorado. On several of these transactions it states land with some exceptions including "Burroughs Island". In 1934 John transferred 1/2 interest to Nellie Burroughs. Nellie sold to J. H. & Clarence Dickson on June 24, 1935. On Oct. 13, 1935 the Town Company sold to the Town of Steamboat Springs lands "except Burroughs Island". We did not find a transfer from Dickson to Waller, but note that Waller sold the land to Sam & Angelo Iacovetto on June 27, 1950. Sam sold his interest to Angelo in 1956. We should note that in earlier transactions it appears that the land was measured at approximately 11 acres. When Angelo Iacovetto sold to James Schneider in 1972, the land was 12.52 acres. From 1972 the land went to Schneider & Sons, then to Yampa Valley Land & Cattle Company and then to the Dream Island Mobile Home Park. From 1977 froward the land mass was recorded as 13.86 acres. The change over the years was from filling in the north channel, this changing it from an island to part of the north bank of the Yampa River. Research will continue on this site as we feel that it is one of the most significant sites in Routt County.

This site was first recorded by Thelma Stevenson in March 1975 and was later recorded by Steven A. Wings, CIS, DSC on an Antiquities Site Inventory form. The informant for this recording was Don Bruns, Recreation Planner, BLM, Box 218, Craig, Colorado, 81625.

ROUTT COUNTY CEMETERY: #RT002
COLORADO HISTORICAL SITE: #5RT434
LOCATION: 100 ft south of US Hwy. 40
BURIALS: 2 burials with 0 inscribed stones
CONDITION: unknown
USGS QUAD MAP: Steamboat Springs, CO 7.5 1969 UTM 13; 343700 mE, 4483800 mN (estimates)
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: T6N R84W 6th PM SW4, SE4, NE4, SEC 7
SE4, SW4, NE4, SEC 7
N 2, NE4, SE4, SEC 7

© 2004-2008 Roger & Joyce Cusick
National Association for Cemetery Preservation, Inc.nacpinc@hotmail.com

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