DC Oakes

DC Oakes was one of the first pioneers to come to the Colorado Territory. He arrived in 1858 and then brought his family in 1859.

Oakes settled on the land that is now occupied by Jellystone, I-25 and East Plumb Creek at the base of Hunt Mountain. He brought one of the first sawmills to Colorado and ran his lumber opration in this area with a lumber yard in Denver.

Oakes also wrote a pamphlet about Colorado that sold over 100,000 copies and almost single-handedly caused the Colorado gold rush. He also served on the first City Council of Denver.

Well-respected, Oakes had numerous friends, including Kit Carson, Jim Baker (mountain man), Charles Stobie (mountain man, artist, and all-around dandy), Bill Cody (Buffalo Bill, Olive Oakes' cousin), Chief Ouray, and many more.

In this group photo (swipe photos at top), Oakes is seated with Stobie on the left and Baker on the right. The photo was probably taken when Oakes served as an Indian agent with the Ute Indians.