Andrew J. Templeton

Andrew J. Templeton became a familiar face around the Pike's Peak region, having traveled to the region from Illinois in 1859 with H.G. Weiling. Mr. Weiling later had the stageline between Colorado City and Denver. After arriving in the area, Templeton spent his first winter on the Huerfano River with Charlie Applebee, an old French trapper. The next spring (1860), Templeton found work as a foreman, ranch hand, and freighter for Lewis Jones, whose ranch was 20 miles below Colorado City on Fountain Creek. As a ranch hand, Templeton and co-worker, Lum Shaddock spent their summers herding Jones' cattle in South Park. As a freighter, Templeton hauled freight from the the Missouri River to the mines throughout the Pike's Peak region.

Templeton recalled several incidents involving local Indians that occurred during the summer of 1860. One time, Commanche chief, Old Sattank, and several Commanches surrounded Templeton and 30 other cowboys, wanting sugar, coffee, flour, and other provisions. When the Indians learned the cowboys did not have the provisions, the Indians left. Another incident occurred that summer when Templeton watched a battle between a band of Arapahoes and a band of Utes in South Park. During the battle a Ute came up to Templeton, asked to borrow Templeton's gun, and then returned the gun after the battle. Obviously, the Utes won. 

Although Templeton worked for Lewis Jones until 1864, Templeton was also a Deputy U.S. Marshall from 1861 to 1865 under Marshall A.C. Hunt. During that time, Templeton often used Jim Beckwourth, a well-known trapper, as a guide to fight Indians.

During the height of Indian-Anglo troubles in the Pike's Peak region in 1864, Templeton served four months in the 3rd Colorado Volunteer Cavalry under Colonel George L. Shoup. Enlistees from El Paso and Pueblo counties made up the regiment. After his military discharge in January 1865, Templeton returned to cattle ranching, often wintering cattle at Templeton's Gap.

As common practice among early settlers in the Pike's Peak region, when trouble came, the settlers helped each other. One incident in early 1865, Templeton and several other men joined Sheriff Dave Spielman to apprehend two horse thieves who had stolen "Woodbury's best team of horses." The posse caught the thieves at Trinidad and took the thieves back to Colorado City where Dr. Strickler amputated the thieves' frozen toes.