Benjamin Tyler was born in 1851 in Placerville California. His parents Had traveled from Missouri to California in the great Gold Rush. Ben Sr. had made his fortune in gold and decided to take the family back to Missouri. As was told in my family history Ben looked pretty grubby and when he tried to book room on a ship in San Francisco for himself and the family he was refused but family was able to board. He left to go clean up and shave then returned to book passage and was allowed but he had to pretend he did not know the family for the entire trip to Panama and overland through the Panama Jungle (The Canal was not built yet). This trip was several months long to reach their home in Missouri.
Upon returning to Missouri the Civil War started and of course the fortune in gold was invested in confederate dollars. We all know how that ended don't we!
Ben Tyler who was born in Placerville California was my great grandfather. After growing up in Missouri Ben traveled with his two brothers, Charles and William to Colorado and ended up in Park County Colorado. Shawnee, Colorado to be specific. Ben married Mary Ella Price and Homesteaded just outside of Shawnee. William also married a Price sister, Sarah. Ben was a logger/rancher and well respected person in the valley.
Ben Sr. was in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. I had also heard that there was another brother George and he was in the Confederacy and renounced it and joined the Union Army. We had brothers fighting brothers. I was able to actually confirm this with online civil war records of Missouri.
In 1907 my grandfather, also Ben Tyler was about 9 years old and riding with his dad in a wagon hauling logs to the mill and the load broke loose and great grandfather Ben was hit on the head and severely injured. He was taken to his house but never recovered and died days later.
Mary Ella was widowed and had to raise the nine children. She was a tough little lady and from my understanding of the verbal history of our family she did a fantastic job considering the times. I attended her funeral in 1965 at the small Shawnee cemetery when I was only eight years old and remember it to this day.
I am not sure when this happened but the US Forest Service named a trail after my great grandfather in the Lost Creek Wilderness Area.
I made a trip back to Colorado several years ago and got to hike many miles into the Ben Tyler Trail.
Trail Head.
Trail beginning overlooking the South Platt River.
Indian Paintbrush.
Trail.
Wildflower.
Mrs. nancat357 (Nancy)
Trail heading in to wilderness area.
Nice views.
Tyler Creek.
Another great view.
Another shot of Tyler Creek.
More Trail.
A weed?
Clark Tyler
Shawnee Cemetery Ben and Mary Ella Tyler Headstones.
Original Homestead restored by my cousin Ruthy.
Ben Tyler Sr. 1846
Great grandfather Ben and some of his family. Right to left - Ben, Mary Ella, on the donkey - Sadie, Martha, Bennie (my grandfather), and Dewey. Also the donkey Tony. Photo taken 1900.
I hope you enjoy some photography and a little of my family history. My cousin has made the homestead into a Bed & Breakfast it seems.
Listed on the Colorado Register of Historic Properties, the 1884 Ben Tyler Homestead and ranch are associated with the early settlement of Platte Canyon. The main house has been fully restored and now serves as a bed & breakfast inn near Shawnee.
http://www.triplecrownheritage.com/...
http://www.btfishingcabins.com/
http://www.mapbuzz.com/...