Society of Colorado Pioneers
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The Society of Colorado Pioneers was an American organization. It was formed in 1872 to recognize and support the first Anglo American settlers in Colorado. The organization originally only for men, spun off a woman's auxiliary group and later a sons group. In 1943, the "Society of Colorado Pioneers" was consolidated into the woman's group and became the "Pioneer Men and Women of Colorado".
The Society of Colorado Pioneers was established to recognize pioneers who came to Colorado before 1861: Men could become full, dues-paying members. Women, who were exempt from dues, could become "honorary members".[1]
Those who settled by 1858 were truly pioneers: "The early pioneer came to a silent wilderness. He took hold of the territory 'in the raw.' He had nothing by his hands, his energy and his courage to start a new civilization in the wilderness". In 1859 and 1860, people began arriving in thousands to settle in the mountains, mining camps or valleys. After 1860, trails were blazed and evidence of civilization had emerged, like newspapers, schools, churches, businesses and other forms of society.[2]