James H. Baugh

James H. Baugh (February 6, 1832 – August 15, 1891), born in Missouri, was a Colorado pioneer. In 1859, he followed the Pike's Peak Gold Rush to present-day Colorado, which was in Kansas Territory at the time and became Colorado Territory in 1861. He lived in St. Charles County, Missouri with his parents and siblings in 1850. Baugh was the oldest child on the 1850 census.

Colorado pioneer Clear Creek Valley

Baugh arrived in Denver on June 1, 1859, at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. He settled and began farming on August 15, 1859, from Clear Creek and along the Old Prospect Trail in present-day Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Baugh built what is called Pioneer Sod House between 1863 and 1870, Since the sod house was built with tall prairie grass, it is likely that the house was built before 1864 when the prairie grass was gone.

Baugh ran a farm and orchard on the land, using water from irrigation ditches from Clear Creek, and raised chickens. He grew potatoes, oats, wheat, and vegetables. He sold his produce in mining camps and Denver.

Baugh was unable to pay property taxes in 1876 and he left the Wheat Ridge area in 1877 Also unable to pay the 1880 property taxes, the county treasurer put his farm up for sale to pay taxes. Baugh rented out his farm at that time. He subdivided his 160-acre parcel of land in 1888 and 1889 and sold the farmhouse in 1889 to Samuel Longenecker.

Longmont Baugh moved to the Longmont, Colorado area in 1877. He lived in Weld County, Colorado in 1880. On December 22, 1889, Baugh married Mary J. Brown in Denver, and they lived on a farm near Longmont. Baugh died August 15, 1891, on his farm in Longmont. Mary gave birth to their daughter Hattie a few days after Baugh died in 1891. Hattie Baugh Gibson inherited her father's homestead parcels.