The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 67, Number 333, November 29, 1926 page 1
Bill Judkins, Pioneer Scout, Dies, As He Lived, Upon Trail
Body Found Near Mountain Ranch; Was Intimate of Colonel Cody and Chief Ouray and Founded Golden. William (Bill) Judkins, 84, prospector and Indian fighter, has had his wish to "die-on the trail". The body of the one-time scout under Buffalo Bill Cody, friend of Chief Ouray and Civil war veteran, was found Sunday on a trail near the James Berrian ranch, 12 miles south of Evergreen, where he had been caretaker for four years. An overturned water pail was near the body. Mr. Judkins, Deputy Coroner C. A. Sanders of Golden said, evidently had died of heart disease several days before. Mr. Judkins came to Colorado in 1861 from Nashville, Tenn., and for 65 years had lived the state's romance. He and his brother, Charles, who died in 1924, aided in founding Golden, Colo. Under General West he fought in Indian campaigns and at his death efforts were being made to obtain a pension for him. Years of prospecting had caused him to feel "at home" only in the hills and he would venture into the mountains and sever communication with relatives for years at a time. Two years ago Berrian moved from the ranch, but the old mountaineer would no go. "These hills are home to me," he said, "I'd be uncomfortable anywhere else. I'm geting old, but I hope I die on the trail and not in bed." Pointing to a small, unnamed peak, he expressed the wish he might be buried on it. This wish, Coroner William Wood of Golden said, probably will not be granted and he probably will be burjed beside his brother in the Golden cemetery.
The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 67, Number 333, November 29, 1926 page 1
Bill Judkins, Pioneer Scout, Dies, As He Lived, Upon Trail
Body Found Near Mountain Ranch; Was Intimate of Colonel Cody and Chief Ouray and Founded Golden. William (Bill) Judkins, 84, prospector and Indian fighter, has had his wish to "die-on the trail". The body of the one-time scout under Buffalo Bill Cody, friend of Chief Ouray and Civil war veteran, was found Sunday on a trail near the James Berrian ranch, 12 miles south of Evergreen, where he had been caretaker for four years. An overturned water pail was near the body. Mr. Judkins, Deputy Coroner C. A. Sanders of Golden said, evidently had died of heart disease several days before. Mr. Judkins came to Colorado in 1861 from Nashville, Tenn., and for 65 years had lived the state's romance. He and his brother, Charles, who died in 1924, aided in founding Golden, Colo. Under General West he fought in Indian campaigns and at his death efforts were being made to obtain a pension for him. Years of prospecting had caused him to feel "at home" only in the hills and he would venture into the mountains and sever communication with relatives for years at a time. Two years ago Berrian moved from the ranch, but the old mountaineer would no go. "These hills are home to me," he said, "I'd be uncomfortable anywhere else. I'm geting old, but I hope I die on the trail and not in bed." Pointing to a small, unnamed peak, he expressed the wish he might be buried on it. This wish, Coroner William Wood of Golden said, probably will not be granted and he probably will be burjed beside his brother in the Golden cemetery.
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