Lewis Northey Tappan
Encyclopedia
Lewis Northey Tappan was an abolitionist, politician, and Colorado pioneer and entrepreneur. He was son of Colonel Ebenezer Tappan, a manufacturer and State Legislator of the prominent Tappan family of Massachusetts. He was also a first cousin once removed of abolitionists and philanthropists
Lewis Tappan
and Arthur Tappan
, and their brother and U. S. Senator, Benjamin Tappan
of Ohio.
Born in Manchester, Mass., and initially involved in business in Boston, Lewis went to Kansas in 1857 to join his cousin, Samuel Forster Tappan
(1831-1913), who was already heavily involved in the Free-State movement as clerk of the Topeka Constitutional Convention and later, acting Speaker of the State House of Representatives. Lewis became Secretary of the Senate under the Topeka Constitution and one of the Fort Scott Treaty Commissioners.
Lewis was one of the fifteen armed men who went to Lecompton to recover the infamous candle box containing fraudulent election returns, the discovery of which caused the downfall of the Kansas pro-slavery party.
In 1859, Lewis moved to Colorado Territory where he joined the first city government of Denver, built its first frame building with his brother George Hooper Tappan (1833-1865), and operated the first store in the territory. He was further involved in territory politics as a member of Governor Gilpin's council and as a staff member to Governor Cummings. In the summer of 1860, the two brothers opened their store after constructing the first frame building in the town--two stories high. He was a member of the city government of Denver and organized the first Sunday School there.
Coming to the Pike's Peak region in 1859, Lewis N. Tappan, along with several other town promoters, met in Denver City and organized the Colorado City Town Company on August 11, 1859, founding Colorado City on August 12. A few days later, on August 15, 1859, Tappan and many of the same eager town promoters organized the El Paso Claim Club, a vigilante form of civil government, to record real estate claims and settle land disputes. Tappan not only became the Town Company's director, secretary, and treasurer, but he also became the Claim Club's director, secretary, and recorder. Colorado City
is now a national historic district within Colorado Springs, where he operated a general and mining supplies store. Although Lewis Tappan was active within the business community of Colorado City and El Paso County, Tappan still found time to explore the surrounding area. In 1859, Tappan, Anthony Bott, George Bute, Melancthon S. Beach, A.D. Richardson, several people from Golden City, and several women hiked to the summit of Pike's Peak, taking several days. At the summit, the hikers found evidence of others having reached the summit. Records indicate the members of the Lawrence, Kansas, prospecting party hiked to the summit in the summer of 1858.
Tappan was one of first 3 white men to enter the region known as “Garden of the Gods
”, which they named. The name of the park goes back to August of 1859. Several surveyors including Lewis N. Tappan, who would later discover a lead mine in Quartz valley, explored the area. Upon discovering the site, one of the surveyors, Melancthon S. Beach, said it would be a "capital place for a beer garden." His companion, Rufus Cable, who was awestruck by the impressive rock formations, replied, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." As with other early entrepreneurs in Colorado City, Lewis N. Tappan and his brother, George H. Tappan, owned and operated a general store in Colorado City, "Tappan & Co.", along with their first store in Denver and another in Golden. They were also assisted by their brother William Henry Tappan (1821-1907).
In 1866, Tappan married Elizabeth Sanford, daughter of Giles Sanford of Albany, N. Y. Lewis returned to Manchester and was elected to the Mass. legislature in 1877. He was a prominent real estate developer in Manchester and maintained homes both there and in Boston. Making several trips across the Great Plains, he became active in mining in Leadville, CO, discovering a lead mine and building the first smelting works in the territory. Following a tragic accident he witnessed when a guest of his fell to his death in a shaft while touring with Lewis, he went into shock and never recovered from it. Lewis Tappan died of nervous prostration in 1880. Three children survived him: Lewis Hooper Tappan, Sanford Tappan, and Blanche Tappan. He was at the time of his death a member of the Claridon Street Church in Boston.
Lewis Tappan
Lewis Tappan
Lewis Tappan was a New York abolitionist who worked to achieve the freedom of the illegally enslaved Africans of the Amistad. Contacted by Connecticut abolitionists soon after the Amistad arrived in port, Tappan focused extensively on the captive Africans...
and Arthur Tappan
Arthur Tappan
Arthur Tappan was an American abolitionist. He was the brother of Senator Benjamin Tappan, and abolitionist Lewis Tappan.-Biography:...
, and their brother and U. S. Senator, Benjamin Tappan
Benjamin Tappan
Benjamin Tappan was an Ohio judge and Democratic politician who served in the Ohio State Senate and the United States Senate...
of Ohio.
Born in Manchester, Mass., and initially involved in business in Boston, Lewis went to Kansas in 1857 to join his cousin, Samuel Forster Tappan
Samuel F. Tappan
Samuel Forster Tappan was an American journalist, military officer, abolitionist and a Native American rights activist...
(1831-1913), who was already heavily involved in the Free-State movement as clerk of the Topeka Constitutional Convention and later, acting Speaker of the State House of Representatives. Lewis became Secretary of the Senate under the Topeka Constitution and one of the Fort Scott Treaty Commissioners.
Lewis was one of the fifteen armed men who went to Lecompton to recover the infamous candle box containing fraudulent election returns, the discovery of which caused the downfall of the Kansas pro-slavery party.
In 1859, Lewis moved to Colorado Territory where he joined the first city government of Denver, built its first frame building with his brother George Hooper Tappan (1833-1865), and operated the first store in the territory. He was further involved in territory politics as a member of Governor Gilpin's council and as a staff member to Governor Cummings. In the summer of 1860, the two brothers opened their store after constructing the first frame building in the town--two stories high. He was a member of the city government of Denver and organized the first Sunday School there.
Coming to the Pike's Peak region in 1859, Lewis N. Tappan, along with several other town promoters, met in Denver City and organized the Colorado City Town Company on August 11, 1859, founding Colorado City on August 12. A few days later, on August 15, 1859, Tappan and many of the same eager town promoters organized the El Paso Claim Club, a vigilante form of civil government, to record real estate claims and settle land disputes. Tappan not only became the Town Company's director, secretary, and treasurer, but he also became the Claim Club's director, secretary, and recorder. Colorado City
Old Colorado City
Old Colorado City, formerly Colorado City, is a national historic district in the city of Colorado Springs. Its approximate boundaries are U.S...
is now a national historic district within Colorado Springs, where he operated a general and mining supplies store. Although Lewis Tappan was active within the business community of Colorado City and El Paso County, Tappan still found time to explore the surrounding area. In 1859, Tappan, Anthony Bott, George Bute, Melancthon S. Beach, A.D. Richardson, several people from Golden City, and several women hiked to the summit of Pike's Peak, taking several days. At the summit, the hikers found evidence of others having reached the summit. Records indicate the members of the Lawrence, Kansas, prospecting party hiked to the summit in the summer of 1858.
Tappan was one of first 3 white men to enter the region known as “Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.-Genesis of the park:Entrance to the park is free according to the wish of Charles Elliott Perkins, whose children donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909....
”, which they named. The name of the park goes back to August of 1859. Several surveyors including Lewis N. Tappan, who would later discover a lead mine in Quartz valley, explored the area. Upon discovering the site, one of the surveyors, Melancthon S. Beach, said it would be a "capital place for a beer garden." His companion, Rufus Cable, who was awestruck by the impressive rock formations, replied, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." As with other early entrepreneurs in Colorado City, Lewis N. Tappan and his brother, George H. Tappan, owned and operated a general store in Colorado City, "Tappan & Co.", along with their first store in Denver and another in Golden. They were also assisted by their brother William Henry Tappan (1821-1907).
In 1866, Tappan married Elizabeth Sanford, daughter of Giles Sanford of Albany, N. Y. Lewis returned to Manchester and was elected to the Mass. legislature in 1877. He was a prominent real estate developer in Manchester and maintained homes both there and in Boston. Making several trips across the Great Plains, he became active in mining in Leadville, CO, discovering a lead mine and building the first smelting works in the territory. Following a tragic accident he witnessed when a guest of his fell to his death in a shaft while touring with Lewis, he went into shock and never recovered from it. Lewis Tappan died of nervous prostration in 1880. Three children survived him: Lewis Hooper Tappan, Sanford Tappan, and Blanche Tappan. He was at the time of his death a member of the Claridon Street Church in Boston.