Orchard Survey of Fremont County 
27 
HISTORICAL DATA 
The first apple trees in Fremont County were planted by William Lee 
in 1862. The spring flood of that year on Spring Creek where the orchard 
was located destroyed the planting, but the orchard was re-set the following 
spring, 1863. 
Jesse Fraser planted the first orchard at Florence in 1866, and the 
same year established a nursery. From this nursery Captain B. F. Rock- 
CAPTAIN B. F. ROCKAFELLOW 
afellow bought his trees for the first extensive planting at Canon City in 
1869. This planting date marks the starting point of commercial fruit 
growing in Fremont County. 
When one looks back upon the extensive and costly planting of Cap- 
tain Rockafellow in a new and untried fruit section, we must admire not 
only the foresight and wisdom, but also the daring which he displayed in 
this enterprise. Subsequent development has amply justified Captain Rock- 
afellow’s faith in the district, and Fremont County and the State of Colo- 
rado owe him deep gratitude for the services which he rendered toward the 
development of fruit growing in the State. 
