Godbe's Chicago Smelter
(At Spring 700 feet S.W.)
A detachment of the U.S. Army, the first to enter the Rocky Mountain region, consisting of two companies of artillery, 85 dragoons, 130 teamsters, herders and hostlers from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, under the command of Col. E.J. Steptoe, reach this point September 2, 1854. They erected quarters, stables and corrals, cut 200 cords of wood and stored 200 tons of hay for their 450 mules and 300 horses. The camp was located on the East shore of Lake Shambip (Rush Lake). The detachment left for Benicia, California, in early April, 1855. (At Spring 700 feet S.W.)
An overland Stage Station was located here from 1868 to the early 1870's. W.M. S. Godbe's Chicago ore smelter was erected here in 1871 and operated until about 1880.
The place was known as Slagtown. The present line of the Union Pacific Railroad reached here in 1902.
