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Ed Rich was born in 1885 and came with his family as a young boy to Routt County. They came by train to Wolcott and then stage to what later became known as Oak Creek. His father Eben bought ranch land and profitably raised cattle and horses. Ed earned his way to Dartmouth and also played football. In 1910 he was "All American". He married Edith Moore soon after graduation and tried lumbering in Vermont and ranching near Raton before returning to his father's ranch, taking it over after Eben's death. In the winter's he mined coal on contract to get cash for the family to live on and pay overwhelming debts. He left ranching when he was elected Sheriff, serving a two year term. During his term of office coal miners were striking and mine owners refused to talk. There was violence that went uncontrolled. He was encouraged by leading citizens to run for Sheriff. They knew his reputation for honesty and they also knew he would not tolerate the violence that was going on unchecked. Since he was also a coal miner they felt he would stand a good chance of being elected. The first thing he did after taking office was buy a machine gun. He practiced daily from the Strawberry Park Road, shooting at a target on the cliff on the other side of Butcherknife Creek. Well, he got some criticism of course, but he didn't back down. He went wherever violence erupted and enforced the law. That stopped the riots and the strike was settled and the miners went back to work. During his term of office he fired that machine gun only at a target on a cliff. He did not seek a second term but moved to Denver where his sons, Dillon and Elwin were attending Colorado University. In 1950 Ed retired to enjoy a quiet life, living for some time in Evergreen. Ed Rich died in Denver, November 1976 at the age of 91.
Resource:
Steamboat Pilot, November 1976
E. Dillon Rich
© 2004 Joyce Cusick nacpinc@hotmail.com
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