Pueblo County, Colorado
George W. Hepburn

Contributed by Karen Mitchell.

This gentleman came West at an early day. He was born in Pottsdam, N. V., in 1836.

When sixteen years of age he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned to be a printer, living there about three years. The winter of 1854 and 1855, he spent in Washington City, acting as reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. In the spring of 1855, he went to Omaha, Neb., where he bought a half-interest in the Nebraskan, a newspaper then published at that place. In 1857, disposing of his interest in the Nebraskan, he purchased the Times, which he also sold a short time afterward. In 1858, awakened by the gold excitement in the Rocky Mountains, Mr. Hepburn made his way to Pike's Peak, and spent some time prospecting for mines. He returned East in 1859, and came to Colorado again in 1860.

At the breaking-out of the late war, he enlisted in the New Mexican Fourth Cavalry, and served in that about a year, after which he entered the Government employ as a millwright, and continued in that capacity to the close of the war. After the war, he engaged for a time in the cattle business.

In 1867, he located at Pueblo, where he has since resided. In 1868, 1869 and 1870, he engaged to a considerable extent in mining and milling. In 1871, he started, at Pueblo, a newspaper called the People, which he conducted himself about a year.

He was elected Probate Judge of Pueblo County in 1871, which office he held two years. During that year, he was married in Pueblo County to a Miss Dotson. He was elected a County Commissioner in 1874, and filled the office three years.

Since 1877, Mr. Hepburn has devoted his attention especially to mining. He now has valuable interests in various camps, some of which he is operating vigorously. Mr. Hepburn's sociable manners, and his many years of Western life, have won for him hosts of acquaintances and warm friends, who delight to take him by the hand.  

History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado O L Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1881



Contributed by Jean Griesan.

George Hepburn came to Colorado with his brother, Edwin, and he it was who started the Pueblo Chieftain (should read the Pueblo People newspaper). George W.'s daughter is Mrs. M. P. Keating of Pueblo. George W. died in 1919.

Extracted from "The Real Pioneers of Colorado," by Maria Davies McGrath, published in 1934 by The Denver Museum, retyped with added notes by Jane P. Ohl, in October 2001.



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