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William Green Russel passed though Douglas County in 1849
with a party of miners, including some Native Americans from the Cherokee
Tribe, on the way to California. He returned to Colorado in 1858 with
a party that started Auraria (later Denver) Photo courtesy of the Denver
Public Library Western History Collection 
Peter Brannan came to Douglas County in 1860. He settled in the West
Plum Creek Valley. Note Dawson Butte in the background. Photo courtesy
of the Larkspur Historical Society.
This map shows Colorado in 1861. Note that Douglas County stretched to
the Kansas border. From Douglas County History Research Center
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1858
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| * Castle Rock named by miner David
Kellogg. (Marr p.138) |
| * Spring - Green Russell leads a
more in depth gold hunting expedition through Douglas County which
eventually leads to the settlement of Denver and Auraria at the confluence
of Cherry Creek and the Platte River. (Spencer) |
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1859
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| |
| * The D. C. Oakes lumber mill begins
shipping wood to Denver. (Hall Vol.
III p.335) |
| * John H. Craig, Jack Johnson, and
Charles Holmes settle in Happy Canyon. (Hall
Vol. III, p.334) |
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1860
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| |
| * Over the next
decade, the area of Perry Park is homesteaded by Peter Brannan, Albert
Dakan, James Gott, Benjamin Quick, and George Ratcliffe. (Webb
p.11) |
| * March 24 - Town of Huntsville founded,
first territorial post office located there. (Bauer,
Post Offices, p.76) |
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1861
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| |
| * Colorado Territory established. Douglas County,
named in honor of famed 19th century orator Stephen Douglas, is one
of the original 17 counties. The county stretches to the Kansas Border,
with Frankstown as the county seat. (Stone
p.172) |
| * United States Civil War begins. Colorado, as part
of the Kansas Territory, remains in the Union. |
| * Frankstown, named for James Frank Gardner, first
county clerk and recorder, is formed. (Weir
p.184) |
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