Hades County: Profile and plan of Saddlerock's Main Street

The story of our founder

Colonel James Middleton Saddlerock was born December 23, 1815, in New Amsterdam, New York, to silversmith Winston Faust Saddlerock and his wife, Helen Agartha Fairfax.
Saddlerock enlisted in the military at 15 years of age. He served first with the 2nd New Amsterdam (N.A.) militia artillery and then as a trooper in the 9th N.A. Dragoons where he distinguished himself in action during the Later Hickory Campaign of 1836 against the Honnisont indian tribe. He quickly rose to the rank of Lieutenant during the war.

After the Hickory Campaign, Saddlerock was promoted to the rank of Captain. He married the daughter of a family friend, Mary Thessaly Jewell, who bore Saddlerock three good boys, William James in 1837, Harold Grogan in 1838 and Jonathan Munn in 1840.

Saddlerock was sent to patrol the Monterrey border in 1841. He was promoted to Colonel in 1842 and given the command of the 12th N.A. Dragoons. He was then handed the mission of riding north along the western faces of the Big Rock Mountains to explore what secrets these lands might hold. Col. Saddlerock took his 300 Dragoons along with 43 members of three survey teams, and three indian scouts to begin his mission.

After his mission was completed, Col. Saddlerock returned to Fort Grande near the Monterrey Border just in time for the beginning of the Monterrey War of 1846. He distinguished himself in action and was wounded twice. The first wound was from a minieball he took in his left side just under his ribs. The second wound was a saber cut to his right arm. The cut greatly reduced the use of his arm, and cut short his military career.
With the Monterrey War almost to an end, and no obligations to the military, Saddlerock decided to settle down on a large parcel of land he himself had seen in Hades County.

In 1848, he brought his wife and three sons to Hades County. They lived on a ranch Saddlerock co-owned with a 12th N.A. comrade of his, Captain John Roland. Saddlerock quickly tired of ranching life and moved his family north where he and other pioneers founded the town of Saddlerock in 1850.

In 1860, the War out East broke out between the Federals and the Secessionists. Saddlerock's sons, all went to fight for the Federals. The sons fought together with the 4th Topeka Cavalry along the Jayhawk frontier, where William was killed in action in 1862. Soon after, back in Hades County, Saddlerock's beloved Mary died of Brucellosis.

In 1865, Harold (wounded in action) and Jonathan returned to Hades County to settle down. Harold bought land to run his own ranch, and Jonathan lives in Saddlerock where he is a freighter with the Weston Freight Company that had been founded by his father soon after the end of the War out East.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Profile and plan of Saddlerock's Main Street

Saddlerock is the county seat of Hades County. Its main street, known as Onundaga Street, in the early days, was remarkable for having buildings on only one side of the street. The other side of Onundaga simply had open land bordered by a large forest. Later in the town's history, a new bank, new stores and a few more saloons would be built on the south side of Onundaga. The forest also would be cut into and a large sawmill operation constructed to help in the town's growth.

In the middle of that forest, a few miles from Onundaga is the Saddlerock mansion, home of the founder of Hades County, Col. James Saddlerock.

2 comments:

The Dale Wardens said...: The town and blog look great! Our group have recently gotten into Old West gaming and your site here will be good inspiration. The miniatures are painted great and the town is really well built. I wish I had your skills. Just have to keep practicing I guess.

The history and storyline make for a good read.

We have been doing LOTOW, but I just got Gutshot to try something new and more detailed out.

Keep up the good work.

David S.
Minnesota, USA; May 28, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Evilcartoonist said...: Thanks, David. I hope you enjoy Gutshot!; May 31, 2008 at 10:53 AM