Scratched on a rock

Stu Kettle · January 06, 2014, 10:33:44 AM

A friend of mine found this rock in a pasture in an area where the local folklore is that a large battle between soldiers and Indians took place. Any ideas what the numbers might signify?

River City John · January 06, 2014, 10:47:22 AM

Any possibility it's a surveyor's stone?

RCJ

Charlie Bowdre · January 06, 2014, 10:58:19 AM

17th March 1899 ?? next guess?

Major 2 · January 06, 2014, 01:32:35 PM

Yeah ! I was thinking 17 March 1899

St. George · January 06, 2014, 01:36:26 PM

With a name like 'Rufus' - I'm thinking it was a favorite animal...

Scouts Out!

Stu Kettle · January 06, 2014, 02:20:19 PM

What about the 7s after Rufus' name?

Pitspitr · January 08, 2014, 08:00:46 AM

A brand maybe???

Maybe we're making this too difficult. Maybe there weren't any trees for the kid to carve his name into so he used a rock???

Stu Kettle · January 08, 2014, 08:15:22 AM

Might be a brand - I didn't think of that. Could it be a claim marker?

Delmonico · January 08, 2014, 08:29:42 AM

Quote from: Pitspitr on January 08, 2014, 08:00:46 AM
A brand maybe???

Maybe we're making this too difficult. Maybe there weren't any trees for the kid to carve his name into so he used a rock???

A vandal.

Pitspitr · January 08, 2014, 08:37:29 AM

Our family has one of the oldest registered brands in the state. It started out as a 7. There got to be so many people using 7 as their brand that the state required us to add a character. Mine became (7 (Quarter circle seven). We also had a pennant seven and the lazy T seven. The Quarter Circle and Lazy T 7's are both still active. 1899 would be early enough that a brand still could have been a single character.

Ol Gabe · January 08, 2014, 08:59:27 AM

A google search of the data comes up with a plethora of places and historical info, if we can get the exact location it would be helpful to narrowing down the time, place, people. Can we get that info Stu?
Best regards and good researching!
'Ol Gabe

Stu Kettle · January 08, 2014, 10:26:20 AM

It was found in northwestern Colorado. I'll contact my friend & see if I can narrow it down any more than that.

Charles B Gatewood · January 09, 2014, 07:11:59 AM

Howdy Stu,
Yes, let us know where it was found. My wife's family has been in that area since the 1880's and they may know what it means.

CBG

Stu Kettle · January 09, 2014, 07:42:57 AM

I mistyped my last post - it's northeastern Colorado. & I still haven't spoken to the lady that found it for a more precise location.

Charles B Gatewood · January 09, 2014, 01:07:05 PM

Well that's okay. My neighbor is about 90 and grew up on a place close to Ft Morgan on the Platte.

As an side story. He told me that as a boy he trapped badgers. Once when setting a trap he found an old rifle and his dad
recognized it as a Trapdoor. After they looked it over he is pretty sure it ended up in the scrap pile.

CBG

Mustang Gregg · March 17, 2014, 11:12:55 PM

Near the Fremont Butte?