1800
Nomadic Cheyennes and Arapahos continue to migrate south from Great Lakes Region, ranging south to the Missouri River, and west into the Plains.
1803 (approx.)
Black Kettle born to Sutaios band of Cheyennes in the Black Hills. Oral traditions vary, and Black Kettle's parents' names may have been, Father - Swift Hawk Lying Down, Hawk, or Hawk Stretched Out Mother – Sparrow Hawk Woman, or Little Brown-Back Hawk Woman.
Little Raven (Southern Arapaho), born approximately in this same time period.
Louisiana Purchase - Land bordering Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains between the Gulf of Mexico and the Canadian border purchased by United States from France for $15 million. Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 includes exploration of land later to become the Colorado Territory.
March 9, 1814
John Evans born to Quaker farmers David and Rachel (Burnett) Evans in Waynesville, OH.
January 27, 1821
John Milton Chivington born to Issac and Jane (Runyun) Chivington in Lebanon, OH.
1823 (Approx.)
Niwot or “Left Hand” (Southern Arapaho) is born.
1830
St. Louis natives William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain open trading post on Arkansas River near present-day La Junta, Colorado. Over the next 30 years, Bent will establish a strong relationship with both the white emigrants entering the territory, and the five major Indian tribes roaming the buffalo hunting grounds. Bent will marry a Cheyenne woman, Owl Woman, and have four children (Robert, Mary, George and Julia). Owl Woman will die in 1847 while giving birth to Julia, and Bent will later marry her sister (Yellow Woman) and have one more child, Charles.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations divide southern tribes, including Black Kettle’s Sutaios range toward Arkansas River, northern bands continue to range from Platte to Smoky Hill rivers.
1835-1845
John Evans earns medical degree and builds a prestigious career in Ohio. He will develop new and more humane treatments for the mentally ill, and focus his studies on diagnosis and treatments for cholera.
June 19, 1836
Edward Wanshaer Wynkoop born to John W. and Angeline Wynkoop, Philadelphia, PA.
Winter 1838
Cheyenne Dog Soldier Chief Porcupine Bear kills his cousin, Little Creek, in a drunken brawl near Fort William (later Laramie) WY. The Dog Soldiers are disgraced and banned from the Cheyenne Nation, forced to camp away from other Cheyenne clans. The evolution of the new Cheyenne Dog Soldiers (Hotamitaneo) begins, giving rise to a hostile Cheyenne warrior society that embraces a racist doctrine of exterminating all white emigrants. This event marks the beginning of dissension between the older, peaceably inclined Cheyenne leadership and the young warrior societies. Sometime during this era, two Cheyenne brothers are born - Bull Bear and Lean Bear (or, Starving Bear). Both are destined become Dog Soldier warriors.
July 26, 1838
Silas Stillman Soule born to Amasa and Sophia Soule, Bath, ME.
1840
After a decade of violent territorial warfare against Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache tribes, Southern Cheyennes and Arapahos agree to make peace. All tribes remain friendly with relatively small amount of white explorers, trappers and settlers in the region.
September 1844
John Chivington ordained a minister of the Episcopal Methodist Church. Will preach the gospel throughout the Midwest for next 10 years.
1846-48 Mexican-American War
Bent’s trading post serves as staging area for Union soldiers. Cheyennes, Arapahos, Kiowas. Apaches and Comanches, all trading customers of Bent’s post, warily move eastward and away from growing number of white soldiers.
1847
Dr. John Evans moves to Chicago to teach medicine. He will take an interest in land development and railroad building, and eventually leave medicine to pursue a career in business. While in Chicago, Evans becomes involved in Illinois politics, casting his lot with a young politician by the name of Abraham Lincoln. Over the next 15 years, Evans will be a major influence in building Chicago railroads, and will make a fortune in real estate. He will help found Northwestern University and the town of Evanston, named in his honor.
1849
California Gold Rush sends thousands of white emigrants across the Plains and into the mountains, putting a strain on relations between whites and Indians competing for buffalo hunting grounds.
U.S. Army attempts to purchase William Bent’s fort, but after a dispute over the price, Bent destroys post and relocates downstream to be closer to Indians west of present-day Lamar, Colorado.
Cholera spreads throughout the Plains as more emigrants pass through. Plains Indian tribes are hit hard by the epidemic. Tension mounts within destitute Indian tribes.
September 17, 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie (Horse Creek Treaty)
Legally defines land in eastern Colorado between the Platte and Arkansas rivers as the exclusive domain of the Cheyenne and Arapahos, cementing peaceful relations between Indians and white emigrants passing through Kansas and Colorado on their way to California. (At this time, present-day Colorado was a part of several territories.)
