True Trailblazer
RICHENS LACY “UNCLE DICK” WOOTTON
1816-1893
by Antoinette Wharton
Having one profession in the 1800s
is just not something all too common
amongst our legends. Richens Lacy
Wootton, also known as Uncle Dick,
exemplifies that fact.
Wootton
was an American frontiersman,
mountain man, trapper, army scout,
buffalo and cattle rancher as well as
entrepreneur.
In 1836, he led a guided wagon
train out of Independence Missouri.
He settled in Trinidad, Colorado and
by 1865 had leased land from Lucien
Maxwell in what is now known as the
Raton Pass. He employed Ute Native
Americans to build the 27 mile stretch
of land that vastly improved the Santa
Fe Trail in this area. The building
included cutting down hillsides,
blasting through the mountain,
removing rocks, and building bridges.
He then built a tollhouse in front of
his residence where passangers paid
$1.50 per wagon and $.25 cents per
single horseman. However, Native
Americans were able to use the toll
road always free of charge. His home
was also a stagecoach stop where
travelers could come and get a hot
meal.
36
N
After the road had been
opened, the Atchison, Santa
Fe and Topeka Railway
offered his $50,000 for the
tollway. He refused that
offer and recommended
instead the railway bring
his wife groceries and a
train pass for life. This
agreement was signed with
only a handshake.
If you’ve ever crossed the
Raton Pass, you can see his
name historically preserved
on the mile marker directing
to the site of his ranch.
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