Mardos Collection
DAVID JOHNSON LYKINS.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 255
since then he has been independent. Though reared a Presbyterian, he has long been identified with Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church of Denver, and has served as senior warden. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Loyal Legion. In the Grand Army of the Republic he has served as quartermaster.
AVID JOHNSON LYKINS, who died March 1, 1898, aged almost seventy years, was one of the typical pioneers of Colorado. Brave and fearless in the days when those qualities were of prime moment to the few white settlers of the valleys and mountains of the frontier; "enduring hardness like a good soldier," kind-hearted and generous to those needing a helping hand, industrious and diligent in business, he is remembered most kindly by his hosts of old associates and acquaintances. From comparative poverty he rose to a position of wealth and influence by the exercise of the rare business talents with which he had been endowed, and by the persistence and determination to succeed in his undertakings which were among his marked characteristics.
The Lykins family originated in Scotland, but prior to the war of the Revolution three brothers of the name came to the United States, one locating in Philadelphia and the other two in Virginia. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a patriot of the Revolution, enlisting from Virginia. Jonas Lykins, the father, born near Winchester, Va., removed to Indiana in the early days of its history, and became an extensive land owner on the Wabash River. He lived to be eighty-two years old. His wife was Miss Ann Johnson in her girlhood. She was born in Virginia and removed with her parents to Indiana. She died in February, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety years. Her father, David Johnson, was of Virginian birth, and he, too, fought in the colonial army against the British.
David J. Lykins was born near Winchester, Ind., July 2, 1828, and was the only one of five children born to his parents who survived to mature years. He was brought up on the old homestead and when still a mere youth embarked upon his business career. He first went to Illinois, thence drifted to St. Joseph, Mo., then an out-post of civilization, and in 1849 crossed the plains to California. On the long and perilous journey he suffered greatly, and once, when the party was nearly out of food supplies, he traded his horse for seven pounds of flour. Arriving at his destination, he engaged in gulch mining, and was very successful. He traded in stock and tried various methods of making money, and, at the end of seven years, had accumulated about $10,000. Then returning home by the Panama route, he soon settled in Missouri, buying a farm of over two hundred acres near St. Joseph. He cultivated the place for about three years and one hundred and seventy-four acres of the original tract is still owned by his widow.
In 1859 Mr. Lykins joined the western tide then making for Pike's Peak, and crossed the plains for a second time. He drove some cattle this time, mostly thoroughbred Shorthorn stock, and at first located on Cherry Creek. A few months later he settled in what is now called Lykins' Canon, between St. Vrain and the Left Hand, in Boulder County. In time the range proved too small and he went into the cattle-raising business on a larger scale on the Little Thompson. He built a home and improved a ranch, adding to his landed estates from time to time, until he owned twenty-five hundred acres, nearly all of which is in one body; in addition to this he leased sixteen hundred acres of school land. His ranch is watered by the Little Thompson and numerous springs. Few, if any, men in this part of the state were more successful in raising cattle and in general farming and kindred enterprises.
It was against the principles of Mr. Lykins to accept public office, otherwise he might have held many positions of honor. For years he was a Democrat, but finally transferred his allegiance to the People's party. He was a charter member of St. Vrain Lodge No. 23, A. F. & A. M.; belonged to Longmont Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and Commandery No. 12, K. T. Hewas also identified with the Association of Colorado Pioneers. In 1864, when the Indians raided the upper St. Vrain, pillaging and destroying property of the settlers and carrying away all of their cattle and horses, a band of white men was formed, who choose Mr. Lykins as their captain. They followed the Sioux and made it so hot for them that they fled from their camp, leaving their stolen property. While his comrades were
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