Angel Creek, Colorado

Angel Creek grew up from a trading post on the banks of the Purgatoire River, set up by Samuel J. McCready, a prospector, in 1842. He stopped on his way to the Rocky Mountains and beyond. He found an easy place to cross the Purgatoire, or Purgatory as the English speaking  migrants would call it, and built a ferry, to assist others crossing. his trading post came next and was soon a convenient stopping place for wagon trains heading west. In a matter of months other prospectors and  settlers were choosing to stay on the green banks of the purgatory and very quickly a settlement started to spring up, centred on the ferry and trading post.

During the winter of 1842/43 there were some disputes with the local Ute indians, but after that relations with the local native population were pretty good. 

By the start of the Civil War, Angel Creek was a thriving town, being an excellent point to resupply if travelling west. It was also close to several cattle trails heading south. Sam McCready had maintained an interest in running the town. He had sold his trading post business, and had opened the only saloon & hotel in town. Sam is now extremely rich, his business has made him far more money than prospecting probably ever would have. Sam's two of Sam's sons fought in the Civil War for opposite sides: Michael the oldest fought as a cavalry man in the army of the Confederacy and was killed at Tupelo fighting alongside Major General Forrest. Patrick fought as a cavalry man in the Union army and saw action in the east under the leadership of Custer. He was wounded at Yellow Tavern and pensioned out of the army. He returned to take over the family business.

After the war other veterans moved west, several infamous personalities stayed in Angel Creek at one point or another, including the James boys and Cole Younger.

Angel Creek continued to grow as the railways spread across the land. Speculators  moved into the area hoping that one of the railway routes would come in there direction. In 1869 a number of large land grants were made causing friction between small farmers and cattlemen, Angel Creek became a lawless place for a while, then a US Marshall was appointed to the area to assist the local Sheriff keep the peace. The range war continued outside town, the main protagonists being  Sam Wrightson, a Texan cattleman who had moved into the area and Benjamin Callaghan a local Cattleman. Both men would often hire gunmen to fight the opposing faction.

It is within these surroundings that we play our games.