Azel Slaught was a homesteader who developed his land into the small town of Slaughts just east of what was to be Shawnee. His development allowed other pioneers to open businesses like the Price mercantile store and small restaurants that served the miners passing by through the canyon. As he and his neighbors achieved homestead status from the US government, Azel bought his neighboring lands from Israel Cramer and Augustus Curley expanding his territory into what is now Shawnee. He eventually sold to a man named Ezra Fairchild who started to develop the area into the small town of Fairview in 1876 which is now Shawnee. Fairchild sold right of way to the Denver, Southpark, and Pacific Railroad to build the railroad, depot, and telegraph lines, and eventually the Shawnee Lodge, giving Shawnee it's name, and creating a mountain tourist destination advertised in Denver newspapers.