Carson William Arbuthnot (1804 - 1873)

Born 3 May 1804 in Jamestown, Pine Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Frances (Jones) Arbuthnot — married Jun 1829 (to Nov 1870) in Pine Township, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1 Jan 1873 at age 68 in Boulder County, Colorado, United States

This profile is part of the Arbuthnot Name Study.

Biography

Carson W. Arbuthnot was born and raised at his fathers timber business in western Pennsylvania. But after the death of his father, many of this Arbuthnot family headed west and fist settled in Tama and Benton Counties in Iowa. Carson's brother, Robert left first in 1850. Carson followed with his wife and nine children and settled there by 1853. It was here that Carson heard the cry of "Pikes Peak Or Bust!" and the gold fever struck the Arbuthnot family. Carson left Iowa, along with his sons, Samuel, William, James, and Charles and the husband of his eldest daughter, Stephen Newton. They arrived in Boulder on June 20, 1859, just a few months after Boulder had been established. They headed up into the mountains to the Horsefal Mine where Carson paid $1,000 for a large claim in this mine. He also established the business of "Arbuthnot and Sons" and each gold mine that the brothers established was set up under this name. The most successful of these was the Sailorville Lode that is up Fourmile Canyon along what is now called Wallstreet. While Carson appears in the 1860 U. S. Census in Iowa, (see sources below), he also appears in the 1860 U.S. Census for the Gold Hill Mining District, No. 1, Nebraska Territory (what is now Gold Hill, Boulder County, Colorado, USA). His son James also appears at this location. There were here in the Colorado mountains in 1860, but his wife made sure to have it appear that the men in the family were all living in Iowa at this time.

Each mining district established their own laws and a Constable was voted in to act upon these laws. In 1860, the Constable, or Sheriff, for Gold Hill was found guilty of collecting too much money for his services. In the minutes of the Gold Hill miner's meeting, it describes what happened after the first sheriff was dismissed. Motion that the meeting proceed to the election of Constable. Carried on motion. Josiah Williams, James Smith, and M. L. McCaslin was apointed judges of election. Robert Culver and E. S. Glotfelter was appointed clerks when the Polls was declared open, there was 41 votes polled of which C. W. Arbuthnot received 17, Jacob Purdy 15, David Lease 8, and P.M. Hosel 1. 'The Judges declared C. W. Arbuthnot Elected Constable. Sheriff C. W. Arbuthnot carried out his duties both in Gold Hill and across the mountain, for the Sugar Loaf Mining District. He served in both of these places until the end of 1862, when Colorado became a Territory and county sheriffs were elected.

In the spring of 1864, Arbuthnot and Sons put up all of their gold discoveries and lodes for sale. I doubt they got very much if anything as the mines became a bust. (Yes, they did find gold, but not enough.) Carson and his sons all established farms around Haystack Mountain, where the Left Hand Creek runs. They dug many ditches as well. Carson and his son William were assigned by the County Commissioners to establish the roads in this area. They were responsible for the naming of these roads. One was named for the Arapaho Chief, Ni Wot (meaning Left Hand). Another for Ni Wot's brother Neva.

In the 1870 U.S. Census, we find Carson living in the City of Boulder along with his wife, Fannie. Also living in the same household is the feminist (probably Boulder's first feminist), Lois Waisbocker, listed as a Lecturer. There were several events where Lois spoke at a theater in Denver. These events were announced in the Rocky Mountain News. This is the person who was living with the Arbuthnot's at that time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Waisbrooker

One wonders if Lois lead to Fannie not being happy in Boulder, for later in the year, we find Fannie living with her youngest daughter, Frances Daily and her husband Philip, back in Iowa. (According to the 1870 U.S. Census for Salt Creek Township, Tama County, Iowa). By November 1870, Fannie passed away in Iowa and is buried in the Arbuthnot Family Cemetery there. Carson lived in Boulder a few more years, died on the first day of January in 1873. Where he is buried is unknown, although many family members believed that he was buried at Haystack Mountain.

Lois Waisbroker went on to lecture and write many books.

-- Donlyn Arbuthnot, local Boulder County historian --

Sources

• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBQ-GGP : 8 September 2017), Carson W Arbuthnot, Pine Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 52, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 439; FHL microfilm 20,536.
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M44C-BLN : 12 April 2016), Carson Arbuthnot, Pine, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family 254, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Iowa State Census, 1856, Microfilm from the Iowa State Historical Society.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8L9-7GP : 2 October 2017), C W Arbuthnot, 1860.
• United States Census, 1860; Census Place: Gold Hill, Unorganized County, Nebraska Territory; Roll: M653_665; Page: 0; Image: 787.
• United States Census, 1870; Census Place: Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado Territory; Roll: M593
• Minutes Book, Gold Hill Mining District. Oct 23, 1860 – 1 July 1865. Boulder County, CO (Boulder Archives, Boulder Public Library, Carnegie Branch for Local History.)
• Bromwell, Henrietta E. “Fiftyniners’ Directory, Colorado Argonauts of 1858-1859. Pikes Peak Region, Vol. 1.” Denver, CO 1926, p. 13.
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #163101092 (accessed 26 March 2024)
  Memorial page for Carson William “Sheriff” Arbuthnot (2 May 1804-1 Jan 1873); Maintained by Donlyn Arbuthnot (contributor 47026424).