Overview

Iron-willed men dug for gold. A hundred and fifty years later, two brothers dig there, too, and find gold of their own. Colorado joined the Union when it became our nation's 38th state on August 1, 1876, but this was hardly its beginning. Within its borders, a cultural and industrial revolution was already well underway. Perhaps this was no more evident than in the northwest corner of the state on land that would become Routt County. The men and women of this time truly experienced it all. Cultural tension, a construction boom, economic and infrastructure development, politics, fraudsters, fire, harsh weather, lawsuits, a religious uprising, and, of course, countless prospectors and gold miners looking to strike it rich are just a handful of the factors that drove this transformation. First, this book aims to provide a written, factual record of the broad events described above, with a heavy emphasis on the involvement of John V. Farwell, a highly successful businessman of deep faith, integrity, and high moral regard, and the lasting legacy he left in the region. With his substantial investment in gold mining claims, a mining camp, wagon roads, and the mind-boggling engineering feat that was the seventeen-mile-long Farwell Ditch, Farwell established what is considered to be the first wage-paying enterprise on Colorado's western slope, and his impact would be felt for decades. Much of this incredible history was nearly lost. To the best of my ability, this book aims to provide a detailed and accurate account of many historic, intertwining events that contributed to Routt County's rich past. Second, this book tells the fascinating story of how the Farwell Ditch was discovered by chance by distant family members of John V. Farwell, nearly 150 years after it was constructed. Piecing together not only a significant part of Colorado's history, but also an unknown part of our own family's history, has been the adventure of a lifetime. Years of boots-on-the-ground research and diving into historical records led to a treasure of our own, resulting in a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Reviews

The story of the Farwell Ditch in remote northwestern Colorado had long faded into obscurity when, by chance, Nolan Farwell visited the area while on vacation with his family several years ago. This book is a fascinating account of his discovery, as well as his subsequent research and exploration of the Farwell Ditch with his brother Rodney, and their connection to the visionary entrepreneur who built it. Their original archival research, mapping, and photographs shed light on the ditch's history, providing an entertaining and informative narrative about the engineering behind its construction and the early history of mining in Routt County. Arianthé Stettner, Historic Routt County

Author Information

Nolan Farwell is the author of North Routt Revolution: Grit. Grief. Gold., a gripping exploration of ambition, hardship, and hidden history in the rugged mountains of Northwest Colorado. Raised on a family farm in Northeast Kansas, Nolan developed an early appreciation for hard work, open spaces, and the stories buried in the land. Today, he works as a Financial Advisor in Waterloo, Iowa, where he helps clients navigate complex futures with the same methodical curiosity he brings to historical research.In his spare time, Nolan is drawn to the high country of Northwest Colorado, where a chance discovery in 2014 changed the course of his life. While exploring the area, he stumbled upon Farwell Mountain-a peak named for a distant ancestor-and embarked on a years-long journey into its past. His research, along with that of his brother Rodney, uncovered the remarkable story of John V. Farwell, a prominent Chicago merchant who, in the 1870s, spearheaded an ambitious effort to industrialize gold mining in the region through innovative hydraulic engineering. Along the way, Nolan and Rodney also brought to light the pivotal roles of figures such as Robert McIntosh and William Flick, among others, whose grit and ingenuity helped shape the North Routt mining frontier.The Farwell brothers have conducted exhaustive archival research, fieldwork, and advocacy to preserve this forgotten chapter of American history. Their efforts recently culminated in the successful nomination of the Farwell Ditch-a remarkable 17-mile-long water conveyance system (later extended to 18 miles) built to power John V. Farwell's mining operations-to the National Register of Historic Places.Through North Routt Revolution, Nolan Farwell brings to life a tale of visionary enterprise, human struggle, and the enduring legacy of those who chased gold in Colorado's rugged mountains.

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