100 Year Families
The year 2024 commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the annual Town of Milliken’s celebration of Beef n’ Bean Day. Milliken Historical Society has chosen to recognize those families that have remained a part of this community for not only those 100 years but beyond by recognizing one of those families each month at the Milliken Town Hall and keeping their story on display at the Heritage House Museum. Articles will also be publicized in the Johnstown Breeze. Those families having been recognized are the Binder family and the Vetter family with the Briggs/Sauter family being presented during October/November.
BINDER
Godfrey Charles Binder and his friend Carl Vetter, both in their mid-teens,
immigrated to the United States in 1893. Charley’s older brother and a sister had
both previously immigrated to the Chicago area, which gave the two young men a
destination in the United States. Their parents gave approval and assisted them
by purchasing a transportation “package deal” at a cost of $125 each.
They remained in Chicago where Charley worked for his uncle and his brother,
William, in their butcher shops. The young men’s desire was to travel to
Colorado, so after a short time in Chicago they ventured that direction by riding
the rails of the Union Pacific Railroad finding themselves in Cheyenne, WY. They
continued their travels on foot until reaching the home of Carl’s uncle, William
Vetter, in Windsor, CO.
In 1894 Charley found employment on the farm of Jay Parish in the Johnstown
area. After four years learning the ins and outs of ranching, farming and American
ways and becoming skilled in the English language he was given the opportunity
to manage a farm owned by the Englebreit Sauter family.
In 1903 Charlie met and married Mary Stroh of Denver, CO. Six children were born
to this marriage: Rose Marie, Dorothy, Charles Jr., Floyd R., Florence Ruth and
Howard William.
Beginning in 1904 Charles pursued purchasing farm land including land purchased
from the Joe Sauter farm, Allen Swink farm, Link Miner, the old Hillsboro place
and acreage from John Arndt. In addition to the farming of a number of crops
including beets and potatoes, he pursued cattle feeding and raising livestock.
At the time of Charles’s passing in 1955 his son, Floyd and his wife Esther
(Webber) Binder took over the agricultural endeavors his father developed. They
lived in the home located in the former Hillsboro community which was
incorporated when the railroad extended the size of the town and renamed the
new community after Judge Milliken. Three children were born to Floyd and
Esther: Dean, Tom and Carol. At the time of Floyd’s death in 1960 Esther and the
family continued to farm the land.
Dean/Joyce, Tom/Norma and Carol/Fred Sauer continue to live in Milliken with
Dean’s daughter Deana and family living south of Milliken and son Randy and
family living in Floyd and Esther’s home built in old Hillsboro. Tom’s son, Craig and
family have also chosen to remain in Milliken.
They have continued to run Binder Family Farms (formerly the Little Thompson
Ranch) of close to 920 acres in addition to other acreage totaling over 1800 acres
farmed each year. In 2004 the Binder Family Farms was honored by the Colorado
Historical Society by being inducted into Colorado’s Centennial Farm Program.
Dean, Tom and Carol being joint owners of the Binder Family Farms LLC, carrying
on that legacy to their children to the 5 th generation in Milliken, CO.
VETTER
Carl Vetter was born in Kallenberg, Wurtenburg, Germany in 1877. At the age of 15 In 1893 with the approval of his parents he and his good friend, Godfrey Charles Binder, boarded a ship bound for the United States. Charley had an older brother and sister that had previously immigrated and settled in the Chicago area so that became their destination. Carl and Charley lived with the Binder families while in Chicago both finding employment as butchers with Charley working for his uncle and his brother, William, in their butcher shops and Carl working in the same profession in a business nearby. The young men’s desire was to travel to Colorado, so after a short time in Chicago they ventured that direction by riding the rails of the Union Pacific Railroad finding themselves in Cheyenne, WY. They continued their travels on foot until reaching the home of Carl’s uncle, William Vetter, in Windsor, CO. After working in the agricultural field with area farmers Carl’s desire to own his own land was fulfilled in 1905 when he was able to purchase in 3 parcels 240 acres of land ¾ of a mile east of Jack Rabbit Trail (Hwy 257) on the current Road 52, Milliken. In 1904 prior to purchasing that farm he met and married Annie Sauter who happened to live in the neighboring farm just south of his new land. Five children were born to Carl and Annie Vetter: Carl Jr, Gus, Fred, Frank and Lily who died in infancy. They lived in a small home on the property until Carl was able to build a three-story family home remaining on the property to this day. Carl and Charley Binder continued their friendship through the years both actively engaged in farming and improving the surrounding area and community. Both were involved in the building of the Hillsboro Lake and dam south of the current Hwy 60 and Road 19. Carl also was given the title of “Bean King of Weld County.” In 1945 Frank took over the management of the farm. Frank married Clara Wiest and to that union were born five children: Larry, Sharon, Frank Jr., Charles (Chuck) and Pam. Larry took over the management of the farm in 1988 and with the help of his brother, Chuck, the two of them maintained the farm land. In 2020 Chuck retired from working with the farm with his children contributing their labor to assist Larry when needed. From 1905 until the current year of 2024 a Vetter has remained on the property tending the farm. The Vetter farming establishment was honored by the Colorado Historical Society by being inducted into the Colorado’s Centennial Farm Program.
Articles
LET'S TALK ABOUT MILLIKEN
Compiled by Milliken Historical Society
Like any story, the juicier the better! So goes the “story” of the town’s purpose and especially the naming of the streets in this cozy, little community. You’ve heard it before. The question is, Fact or Fiction? Maybe it would be wise to learn a little more about the history of this town.
On July 10, 1909 a town plat was filed for this small developing community born out of the emergence of the Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railway Company. The town of Milliken became an official name on the State of Colorado map January 6, 1910.
In actuality the town had its original source from the settlement of Hillsboro which was established from land donations located in the southwest corner of the current Highway 60/ Quentine Avenue intersection. The people of Hillsboro had named their streets, had a general store/post office, developed businesses and organized a school, but once the railroad came to town, growth took another turn, and the little community of Hillsboro, formed around 1905, was annexed into the new settlement of Milliken.
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EARLY PHYSICIANS OF MILLIKEN
Information courtesy of Lois Ann Onorato
Dr. George W. Sibbold was the first physician to practice in Milliken. He arrived in Milliken in 1909 from Denver and moved into the house built for Judge Milliken at 119 South Frances Avenue. Dr. Sibbold was appointed for the Denver, Laramie & Northwestern Railway to Denver. His first week proved to be a busy one. William Francis, apparently a member of the railway’s construction gang, suffered a dislocated ankle and a crushed foot. Sam Collins suffered a badly crushed and sprained wrist, and Bud Reed developed a bad attack of pneumonia. Dr. Sibbold stayed in Milliken only for a short time returning to Denver in February, 1910.
The year 1910 marked a flurry of new doctors in town. In March Dr. E. H. Bidwell arrived from Connecticut. Another physician, Dr. Grantham, arrived in 1910. Apparently neither of these physicians stayed for very long; however, when the third physician showed up, he stayed until his death 47 years later.
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Broad Street of Hillsboro, CO in 1910
Scranton House and Miners Saloon (first two buildings on the left side of photo)
Part of present-day Milliken includes the former settlement of Hillsboro, which was situated on the western edge of Milliken near the northeast corners of what is now Quentine Avenue (containing CO Hwy. 257) and Broad Street. Evidence of the settlement can be traced back to at least 1864, when Hillsboro Precinct #3 was established (Shwaydedr, v. 5, pg. 203). In 1870, 75 people lived in the precinct, which "covered the area along the Big Thompson River from the Weld-Larimer County line east to about where (present-day) Milliken is today." In 1890, its population was 460, and by 1910, it had grown to 830 people. Ten years later, :it became the Milliken Precinct No 3" (Shywayer, v. 5, pg. 203). For those who may have seen the name spelled "Hillsborough," it appears that this spelling was used at some point. On December 4, 1891, the name of the post office was changed from Hillsborough, Weld County, Colorado to Hillsboro, Weld County, Colorado. Residents also remember a Hillsborough community north of Johnstown, which is possibly the same one that Shwayder refers to in a post office reference.
First Train Comes with 650 People
The Milliken Mail, Special Opening Day Edition, January 6, 1910
Under some of the most trying circumstances the Denver, Laramie railroad has arrived at Milliken and is headed for Greeley and ultimately Wyoming, where it is planned to build another large town. But it is Milliken we wish to particularly discuss at this time. The country surrounding where Milliken is built and upon which it must depend for support to a certain extent is the richest farm land lying out of doors. This is all an old-producing anwell-irrigated country and the arrival of the road will bring hundreds of people to make their homes here and help develop a bonanza in farming lands. If you are looking for a healthful climate dear reader, we have it here, also the opportunity to make an easy living and some big money besides. Come and live in the shadow of the mighty Rockies. The scenery in these mountains is unsurpassed, and they are only a few hours drive from Milliken. Thousands of people come to Colorado during the summer months to escape the intense heat of the Middle and Eastern states. Come here to make your home and you will have an ideal climate the year round. The name Colorado is derived from an Indian word meaning "color red," or in other words, red blood. The Coloradoan enjoys conditions for the making of pure, red blood that residents of few other state possess. The air and water are of the purest, and these two elements alone are of great consideration.