"A Look Back"

The Stories presented here are about people and events during the early days when this corner of Colorado was first settled.

Julia Carpenter – Craig’s grand Lady
By Shannan Koucherik for the Museum of NW Colo

When the doctor delivered the fragile three-pound baby girl on June 1, 1877, he didn’t give much hope for her survival. Her parents, Charles and Isabelle Easum drew on their faith and common sense when they took on raising their fourth child, daughter Julia.

She was still a frail toddler when her two older brothers bundled her into their red wagon and began to pull her around on their adventures. Their mother wasn’t too pleased with the idea, but Captain Easum, who had commanded troops during the Civil War, overrode his wife’s objections.

Julia Easum soon grew strong, if not tall. What she lacked in physical stature she made up for in mental acuity. She began her formal schooling at age eight and finished the first three grades in one year. She graduated from Louisville High School not too far from the family plantation in Jefferson County, Kentucky and then went on to a two-year “normal course,” earning a teaching certificate. She taught school for several years until her life took a turn that would alter it forever.

One of her parents’ friends was Z.Z. Carpenter. He was a Civil War veteran and a widower with a small family. As he got to know the tiny young woman, Carpenter found himself, “head over heels in love” with her despite nearly 20 years difference in their ages. Her parents were not impressed and rejected his proposal of marriage.

Carpenter had tried his hand at several professions before he headed west and ended up in Craig where he received a position as a U.S. commissioner. Here he found a place that fit him and he was finally able to settle down.

“Major Carpenter moved his U.S. commissioner and real estate office into the Starr building north of the post office (on Yampa Avenue) this week. The Major is now ‘well onto the ropes’ in the land office business and is doing good, honest work for settlers who either file or prove up before him.” (Moffat County Courier September 7, 1911)

He didn’t give up on Julia and the couple kept in contact with each other. In 1913 Julia was visiting friends in Denver when Carpenter’s son met with her and told her that his father wanted to talk with her. He took her to his office at the Joslin’s Dry Goods store and she spoke with Z.Z. on the telephone.

Carpenter wasn’t about to let her get away again. He proposed over the telephone, she accepted and they were married shortly after on July 22, 1913. Their honeymoon trip brought Julia over the mountains and into the Yampa Valley for the first time. She was struck with the beauty of the place that was to be her home for the next 77 years.

The newlyweds settled into life in the back of their business where Julia joined her husband in the office during the day. They were soon able to buy the building from Byron Shelton and Carpenter deeded it to Julia in 1914 when she took over the operation of the business. They were happy and prosperous. Major Carpenter had a major stroke in 1923 but clung to life until 1926. After his cremation, his remains were returned to his family’s plantation in Kentucky.

Julia never had children, but she adopted the small town of Craig as her own and was active in its social life. In 1927 she became the Organizing Regent for the David Moffat Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as Regent until 1934 and then became registrar. Her sister Ida came to live in Craig shortly after Julia’s marriage and the two stayed together most of their lives.

She not only sold real estate and insurance, she also purchased commercial property and invested in Craig’s future. She became one of Craig’s leading figures and kept her business going until she reached more than 100 years of age.

The City of Craig honored her with a proclamation of “Julia E. Carpenter Week” when she reached the century mark in 1977. Generations of Craigites had known her in business and social endeavors and they celebrated her long life with her.

In 1979, The Empire Courier reported that “At 101, Julia Carpenter has seen enough snow.” She told a reporter that, “Most of (her) friends who lived here have died and she’s tired off the snow, so, after 65 years in Craig, she is making plans to leave.”

She was still operating her business six days a week, but admitted, “I tire very easily now and it was getting to be too much for me.” (ibid)

She knew that it would take some time to pack up a lifetime’s possessions and memories but she was determined to go home to Kentucky.

On December 19, 1980, Julia Carpenter did head for her family home in Kentucky. It wasn’t exactly as she had planned, as she died in Craig, but she is buried with the rest of her family on the land where the tiny baby drew strength from the sun and fresh air.

It was a prescription for a long and productive life.