Meeker-Greeley Colony Colorado ~  1870

The success of the Meeker-Greeley colony, organized at New York City in the winter of 1869-70, and locating within the borders of Colorado in the spring following, was such as to give a decided impetus to similar organizations in various sections of the States. Scarcely a State east of the Mississippi but has had its colony scheme and colony excitement. In fact, colonization schemes are just now the rage, and the rage intensifies daily as the season advances. The results thus far developed set at rest the many grave doubts expressed by wiseacres while the plans were being agitated, as to the practicability of what might be termed cooperative immigration.

We cannot afford space to give an extended history of the various organizations of this character which have, thus far, cast their lots, both real and figurative, on Colorado soil. A brief outline of such as have advanced far enough to have an initiatory history will be sufficient to show that the colonization theory has been carried into practical execution, and is an unqualified success.

By this means families retain their relative positions in community, instead of each wandering alone and into comparative seclusion to wait for the slow development of the country about them. They do not break away from the social circle, but carry it with them into the far-west wilds.

Rocky Mountain Directory & Colorado Gazetteer

Source: Rocky Mountain Directory and Colorado Gazetteer, 1871, S. S. Wallihan & Company, Compilers and Publishers, Denver, 1870.