In 1882, John and Fanny Bee brought their family from Iowa to Fort Collins. Two years later Fanny’s sister, Lizzie, and her husband Al Morse, joined the Bees in Fort Collins. Both families took homesteads and began the process of starting a new life on the arid plains of Colorado. In 1894 Al and Lizzie bought the present Bee farm. After Al passed away in 1899, John and Fanny’s son, Arleigh, took over the farming for Aunt Lizzie.
In 1902, John and Fanny sold their homestead to the North Poudre Irrigation Co. and moved their two story home to the Morse farm. Irrigation and sugar beets were introduced to the farm at about this time which brought a degree of prosperity. New buildings were added. Fanny and John passed away in 1905 and 1906.
In 1908, Arleigh married Al Morse’s niece, Selecta Shaw, and the farm was deeded to them two years later. They had three children. Arleigh dug one of the first wells in the area that was used for irrigation and he fed lambs.
In 1939 ,their youngest son, Francis, graduated from Colorado A&M (CSU) and joined the farming operation. He married Sylvia Saue in 1942 and a small home was built for them on the farm. Francis started a dairy operation with a herd of registered Jersey cows. Seven children were born to them and two sons have continued to farm until recently.
This current generation would like to share the family legacy with others. Thousands of items have been saved by family members through the years. In 1998 the family began the process of preserving and displaying these items. Written histories, diaries, excerpts from Arleigh’s letters and pictures are used to share the farming history.
This current generation would like to share the family legacy with others. Thousands of items have been saved by family members through the years. In 1998 the family began the process of preserving and displaying these items. Written histories, diaries, excerpts from Arleigh’s letters and pictures are used to share the farming history.