Wagon Tracks Volume 23 Article 1 Issue 3 Wagon Tracks Volume 23, Issue 3 (May 2009)
2009 Wagon Tracks. Volume 23, Issue 3 (May, 2009) Santa Fe Trail Association
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VOLUME 23 MAY 2009 NUMBER 3
I GREGORY M. FRANZWA I SFTA SYMPOSIUM ARROW ROCK, MISSOURI SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2009 * * \t\'tb.e Beginni!Je- • •
,,\ / •, TOKEEr .. ,f,~[' j) _-~~:c' t't~~~~JI '. ~:" -~~l\r~~,~ __", THE TRAIL _.~-.~~ .._- ~~,..-- Boonslick 4. Beyond 2009 Santa Fe Trail Symposium Arrow Rock. Missouri by Mike Dickey, Coordinator * * MARK your calendars for Septem BALLOT ENCLOSED IN THIS ISSUE ber 24-27 to be in central Missouri's THE SFTA Nominating Committee ._'. historic "Boonslick Country." The (Margaret Sears, chair, Faye Gaines, The Grand Old Man of Trails, 2009 Symposium will be headquar and Ross Marshall) is pleased to sub Gregory Mathew Franzwa, 83, died tered in Arrow Rock, a National His mit the following slate ofofficers and from cancer at his home in Tooele, toric Landmark, with activities directors to SFTA members. A mail Utah, on March 29, 2009. He was taking place in neighboring Boon in ballot is inserted in this issue of born in Carroll, Iowa, on Feb. 27, ville and stops at Trail sites east and Wagon Tracks, to be returned to 1926. He is survived by his wife, west of Arrow . Rock, including Linda Revello, Santa Fe Trail Assn., Kathy, three children, two brothers, Franklin, "The cradle of our trade." 1349 K-156 Hwy, Larned KS 67550, and his stepmother, Jane Franzwa. This is where it all began. This is postmarked no later than July 15, His remains were cremated and where William Becknell and his 2009. The slate of officers and direc scattered over the Oregon Trail. At party departed, seeking their own tors, and terms (listed in parenthe his request, there were no services. "economic stimulus" in the West dur sis) for each position is below (note Sincere condolences are extended to ing a time ofgreat depression. Cross there are contests for two positions): his family and many friends. ing the river at Arrow Rock, they fol· President (2 years): Joanne VanCoe He was a professional musician, lowed the old Osage Trace to Fort vern, Salina KS served in the U.S. Navy, attended Osage and beyond, impacting the Vice-President (2 years): Roger Iowa State College and the State Missouri economy and American his Slusher, Lexington MO University of Iowa where he earned tory for generations to come. You Secretary (2 years): Marcia Fox, a degree in journalism. He moved to walk the grounds, visit the build Wamego KS St. Louis, MO, in October 1950, and ings, be wined, dined, entertained, Treasurer (2 years): Ruth Olson Pe opened his firm, Gregory M. and educated in places familiar to ters, Larned KS Franzwa Public Relations in 1955, a the early Santa Fe traders such as Missouri Director (4 years): Michael firm which remained in business un Becknell, the Cooper brothers, Mere Dickey, Arrow Rock MO til his move to Tucson, AZ, in 1991. dith M. Marmaduke, the Lamme Kansas Director (4 years; vote for brothers, John Hardeman, Philip W. one): Bonita Oliva, Woodston KS; He founded The Patrice Press in Jim Sherer, Dodge City KS 1967 and operated it until his death. Thompson, and others. " Oklahoma Director (4 years): Larry He was author of more than 20 In 1805, Nathan and Daniel Mor Justice, Alva OK books, most are about historic roads. gan Boone began manufacturing salt Colorado Director (4 years, vote for Gregory was founder of the across the river from Arrow Rock at one): LaDonna Hutton, Rocky Oregon-California Trails Associa Mackay's Saline. Salines or salt Ford CO; Rod Podszus, Colorado tion, one ofthe founders ofthe Santa springs were called "licks" because Springs CO Fe Trail Association, and founder of wild game licked the ground around Texas Director ( 4 years): Clint the Lincoln Highway Association. He them to obtain salt. The Boone fam- Chambers, Lubbock TX led the efforts to create the Santa Fe _ily name stuck and was soon applied New Mexico Director (4 years): Rene National Historic Trail, as well as to describe the surrounding country-.., Harris, Santa Fe NM (continued on page 4) (continued on page 5) (continued on page 4)
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN All matters relating to Wagon WAGON TRACKS (ISSN 1547-7703) Tracks should be directed to SFTA is the official publication of the Santa THE Santa Fe Trail Association is Editor Leo E. Oliva, PO Box 31, Fe Trail Association, a nonprofit or administering two Challenge Cost Woodston KS 67675. ganization incorporated under the Toll-free Phone: 888-321-7341 laws of the State of Colorado. Letters Share grants from the National Park and articles are welcome, but they Service this year. This is a program FPLK: 785-425-6865 E-Mail:
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As with any organization, changes I would like to report on the Chap of the Santa Fe Trail and that should in personnel are made from time to ter President's meeting on Friday be a big symposium. Several ideas time. Wagon Tracks Editor Leo E. morning. We had 10 of the 13 chap were floated for a celebration in Oliva has informed me that he plans ters represented along with our offi 2021. All chapters should be think to retire from this position after com cers. A very nice turnout. ing about how they would like to see pletion of the 25th volume, which is By this time I have sent out for the 200th celebrated, and what they the August 2011 edition. At that comment a general working agree would like to do to contribute to the time, he will have been editor for 25 ment for signage on county roads. celebration. years. I assure the SFTA Board and The three signs are: "Santa Fe Trail We are working with the NPS to our membership that we will move Crosses Here," "Santa Fe Trail - Lo set up a meeting with the five trail ahead toward that goal, as he has re cal Tour," and "Santa Fe Trail Ruts." states State Historic Preservation quested, and that Wagon Tracks will Once we have agreed amongst our Officers (SHPO) to discuss common continue as SFTA's publication. We selves on an agreement and proce procedures for nominating Santa Fe should all be aware that with any dures we will run it past the Na Trail resources to the state and na new editor, or management, we can tional Park Service (NPS) and then tional registers. We should have expect some changes to be made. We be ready to have signs placed. We common procedures throughout the can also expect to continue to pro will probably fund those chapters five states. At least that is the goal in duce an excellent publication. No who have their material ready to go, getting everyone together. This will words, or actions, can express how first. Since the signage fund that we be key in protecting the Trail. truly thankful the SFTA community have from the NPS is revolving, The Gardner design kiosk concept is to Leo and Bonita for their efforts there should be no problem funding was discussed. Chapters that are in and achievements made with Wagon chapters for signs as they become terested in kiosks should work with Tracks. ready. John Atkinson and move forward on The change in editorship should This sign fund is also for replacing planning. The most likely source of not be interpreted as a decline in the interpretive signs that need replac funding for them is challenge cost Santa Fe Trail Association. In fact, I ing. The interpretive signs at Coun share. think quite the opposite is to be ex cil Grove are being replaced through With the retirement of Leo as pected. Mter visiting several chap this fund, as many of them are al Wagon Tracks editor, how will it ters and seeing the upcoming year's most unreadable from exposure. change? Because of a number of fac programs for many of the others, as Please send a list of those in your tors it probably will not be the same well as listening to them explain chapter area needing replacement as it now. People should be thinking about all their ongoing and upcom along with your priority of what about the future and what Wagon ing projects-the enthusiasm and should be replaced right away. This Tracks might look like. The new edi passion for preserving, promoting, should be a simple and quick pro tor will welcome suggestions. and protecting the Santa Fe Trail is cess. Below is a survey address so that very apparent. Another wonderful The sign fund is not for new inter symposium is being planned for Sep people can let the planning commit pretive signs or wayside exhibits. I tee know what they would like to see tember in Arrow Rock, as well as the would ask each chapter to send me a one being planned for September at the trails conference in Santa Fe list of where new interpretive signs in 2010. The SFTA, Old Spanish 2011 in Dodge City. Rendezvous, should go. Once we get a list from the SFTA board meetings, and spring re Trail Association, Camino Real Trail whole trail then we can figure a way Association, and Route 66 Associa treats have" been tentatively sched to fund these exhibits. uled through the year 2013. We have tion are planning a get together in people willing to run for elections The faded Auto Tour Route signs Santa Fe August 6-8, 2010. The sur and others have voiced an interest in along the state highways was dis vey address is:
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1...._G_R_E_G_O_R_Y_M_o_F_RA_N_Z_W_A__1 commissioned Marian to write a The Partnership has developed centennial history of the school, three goals for the Decade that will (continued from page 1) entitled A Century of Progress: provide opportunities for all the other national historic routes. Under History ofthe New Mexico School for trails to enhance or complete their contract with the National Park the Deaf, completed in 1989. Other trails. I appreciate SFTA's leader Service, Gregory assisted with the books include Santa Fe's Fifteen ship submitting a resolution of sup survey of the SFNHT, producing the Club: A Century of Literary Women port for this Decade initiative. The maps and writing three books. He re and. Santa Fe High School, 1899 to goals are as follows: ceived the SFTA Award of Merit in 1999: A Centennial History. Addi GOAL 1: Increase public awareness 1986 and the Rittenhouse Award for tionally, she was one of 23 New ofthe National Trails System and its. Lifetime Achievement in Research Mexico natives chosen to write an component trails so that it becomes and Writing in 1999. For many years essay for A New Mexico Scrapbooh, well known to every citizen and com he edited OCTA's Overland Journal, Memorias de Nuevo Mexico: Twenty munity in the United States. and more recently published the Three New Mexicans Remember GOAL 2: Complete and enhance the popular journal, folio. No individual Growing Up, edited by Michael designated National Trails for public has done more to promote the preser Miller. appreciation and enjoyment. vation and public awareness of his Marian and Lee Meyer were good toric trails of the American West. GOAL 3: Build the capacity ofthe or friends of the SFTA. Sincere sympa ganizations and Federal agencies in To honor the memory ofthe Grand thy is extended to their family and volved to better administer, manage, Old Man of Trails, on April 18, 2009, friends. and sustain National Scenic, His the SFTA board created the Gregory toric, and Recreation Trails. M. Franzwa Memorial Award for PARTNERSHIP FOR NATIONAL ~ Lifetime Achievement to be pre TRAILS SYSTEM REPORT 12th Long Distance Trails Confer ence in Missoula, Montana: sented in alternate years, beginning by Ross Marshall , in 2010, to a SFTA member for ex [Former SFTA President and SFTA An extremely attractive venue traordinary lifetime achievement in Ambassador Marshall is SFTA rep plus exciting programming will be preservation, protection, and promo resentative to and president of the enjoyed by all attendees of this na tion of the historic Santa Fe Trail. PNTS.j tional conference sponsored by the - Partnership on July 11-15. The This award includes a recognition FY09 Appropriations - Yes, I know plaque and $100 cash. theme of the conference is "Gearing it is about five months late, but up for the Decade of the National Congress finally passed the FY09 ...;.;M;.;,;.A~R,;,;,;IA..;.;N~L...;;.M;.;,;E_Y.;;;,E,;,;.R__ Trails: Outreach, Protection, Capac I__ I appropriations bills. The good news ity" as expressed in the above three SFTA charter member Marian is that for the current FYd9 year Decade Goals. Registration informa Meyer, 1927-2009, died in Santa Fe ending this October, our National tion will be on the Partnership's web April 23, 2009, and services were Park Service office in Santa Fe will site at
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2009 SYMPOSIUM DONOR HONOR ROLL Memorial!Honor Gifts: (continued from page 1) MANY members have responded to Cimarron Cutoff Chapter-in mem ory of Helen Brown mer and autumn of 1816, they came various pleas for additional dona like an avalanche. It seemed as Linda Davis-in honor of Faye tions to assist SFTA with its many Gaines though Kentucky and Tennessee projects. Special thanks is extended William H. Dopke-in memory of Eric were breaking up and moving to the to the following for recent donations Thomas Andrews Far West. Caravan after caravan (if we have missed anyone, we apolo William H. Dopke-in memory of Ge passed over the prairies of Illinois all gize and request that you remind neva Wells bound to the Boone's Lick. The us). Hal & Beverly Jackson-in memory stream of immigration had not Donations: of Laura Jackson lessened in 1817." Within a few Leo & Bonita Oliva-in memory of Tom & Jerri Abbott Gregory Franzwa years, these people blazed the trail to Art & Cathie Adams Santa Fe and other points west. Leo & Bonita Oliva-in memory of Morris Alexander Marian Meyer This will be your opportunity to John & Dora Atkins learn about the mighty Missouri John & Barbara Atkinson AWARDS PROGRAM EXPANDED River and its role in the development Mike & Kathie Bell EVERYONE is reminded that of the region and ultimately the road Larry & Barbara Black nominations for 2009 SFTA awards Roberta Bonnewitz to Santa Fe. You will be able to stand are due July 1. Please see last issue Kent Borges & Stephanie Dicenzo on the original ferry landing at "The for classes of awards. These will be , Big Arrow Rock." And yes, we do Jeff Bransford Jean Brittingham presented at the symposium. have ruts here on the east end of the Carl Buchanan Since 1986 awards have been pre Trail! We have sought out speakers Robert & Margaret Buck sented only at the biennial symposi who are experts in the history of the Bob & Ellie Burkhart ums. By action of the governing Boonslick Country and the early de Charlotta M. Burton board on April 18, beginning in 2010, velopment of the Santa Fe trade. Glenn & Rosemary Busset awards will be presented annually Chapters, businesses, or individu Joe & Donna Butcher (at the symposium in odd-numbered als wishing to reserve tables in the Irwin & Florence Cromwell years and at rendezvous in even reception area for exhibits or sales, Carlton & Marketta Damonte numbered years). In addition, two or anyone wanting to purchase ad Doyle & Pamela Daves Theron Dosch new awards have been established: space in the symposium program, LOUISE BARRYWRITING AWARD, to should contact Rich Lawson, 660 David & Betty DuBois Sandy & Kit Carson Farwell III honor the late author of The Begin 238-4871 or
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(maximum of 4 awards), Paul F. Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the Santa Fe done when a wagon becomes stuck in Bentrup Ambassador Award (1 Trail Association, headed by its presi sand or has to ford a river and needs the award), Jack D. Rittenhouse Memo dent, David Clapsaddle ofLamed, Kan. power oftwo ox teams. rial Stagecoach Award (1 award): Only one ofCranmer's original book Another section covers "Rules for Heritage Preservation Award (1 lets is known to survive. Not even the Li Greasing." Every fourth day on the trail, award), Educator Award (maximum brary of Congress lists a copy in its vast the wheels of the heavy Santa Fe-style of 2 awards), Scholarship Award (2 collections. fright wagons had to be pulled and the awards), and Marc Simmons Writing Award (1 award). Although a confirmed Santa Fe Trail axles greased with a mixture of pine tar and grease. Nominations for all awards will be hound for the last 35 years, I'd never solicited through Wagon Tracks each heard ofthe author or his small gem ofa For my money, the most interesting year. One of the many missions of booklet. But I was delighted and sur pages are the final four in this little hand SFTA is to give recognition through prised to read now in great detail about book. They appear under the heading awards to those who make outstand the everyday operation ofan ox train. "Wagon Master's Instructions" and con ing contributions to the preserva To put Cranmer's writing in perspec tain not only explanations about the tion, protection, and promotion of tive, Clapsaddle notes in a brief preface work, but important bits of professional the historic Santa Fe Trail. that after the U.S. seized New Mexico in ethics as well as moral lessons. WAGONS WEST 1846, the majorit)' of goods freighted Remember, what is said here is meant DR. Marc Simmons, founder and over the Santa Fe Trail consisted ofmili to educate novice wagon masters, break first president ofSFTA, recently pur tary supplies destined for Fort Union. ing them in, to become proficient at what chased a copy of Rules and Regula Secondly, these shipments were they do. tions, By Which To Conduct Wagon mainly carried by large transport compa For instance: "Set a good example bef Trains (Drawn By Oxen on the nies, operating under government con ore your men. Never allow card playing. Plains), a little handbook first pub tracts. They hired skilled wagon masters Never call a teamster a son-of-a-b---h." lished in 1866 and recently reprinted like Tom C. Cranmer to meet the chal "Never have a pet, or favorite in the by the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. This lenges of the trail and deliver the car train, to whom you show partiality; treat booklet is available at several muse goes. every man alike." ums and from the Last Chance Store. His booklet seems aimed at educating Here's an example of trail policy: Simmons featured the booklet in younger fellows who wished to become "See to your wagon sheets with your his weekly newspaper column, "Trail wagon masters. own eyes in a storm." Sheets were the Dust," in the Santa Fe New Mexican Cranmer starts with the suggestion white-top canvas covers that protected on April 11, under the heading, "A that 26 wagons is a proper number for a the freight. The wagon master was per glimpse into wheel greasing and wagon train. To manage one that size re sonally responsible for shielding the trail tips." Since then the Last quires a crew of 32 men-including the company's goods from the weather. Chance Store has received orders for more than 70 copies. With Sim wagon master and his assistant-26 team In the 1870 U.S. Census, Tom C. mons's permission, his article fol sters (also known as ox drovers or bull Cranmer is listed as a resident of Otter lows: whackers), and night herders. ville, Mo., having retired from the trail, IN 1866, Tom C. Cranmer, age 30, went A train that large, he continues, acquired a wife and two children, and be to a print shop in Kansas City to arrange "should be divided into four messes, come a "house carpenter." for the publication of a small booklet he seven men in each. Each mess should se His printed Rules andRegulations pro had written. It was titled Rules andRegu lect one of their number as cook, which vide insights into the mechanics of trail lations, By Which to Conduct Wagon relieves him of all other duties except life, available nowhere else. Had he not Trains, Drawn By Oxen on the Plains. yoke, drive, and unyoke his team." published this slim pamphlet, his name today would be entirely lost to history. Kansas City for a few years was the Then the author describes how to han jumping off point for the great caravans dle the oxen, position them in the team, The new reprint edition, priced at a that annually carried tons offreight over and use their yokes and chains. mere $2 (making it an excellent party fa the historic Santa Fe Trail. Cranmer him As soon as the night herders bring in vor or stocking stuffer) is available from self had made numerous trips across the the cattle from their grazing ground, the the Santa Fe Trail Association's Last plains as a wagon master. wagon master, we are told, shouts "Yoke Chance Store at www.santafetrail.org. The contents ofhis pamphlet were in up!" Hearing that command, each team LONE JACK BATTLEFIELD tended to provide guidelines and advice ster, carrying a yoke on his left shoulder ON ENDANGERED LIST. (Rules and Regulations, he called them) and a wooden bow in his right hand, THE Civil War Preservation Trust for the management oftrains using oxen. finds the first one ofhis team and begins recently added the Lone Jack Battle Those dependent upon draft mules had yoking. That job, Cranmer informs the reader, field, south of the Santa Fe Trail in wholly different requirements, of which Missouri, to its list of the 15 most at "should be carried out in as good humor the author was unfamiliar. Hence, they risk sites. For additional information as possible," no doubt a difficult task were not included. on the Lone Jack Battlefield, please The other day I was handed a facsim when dealing with cranky oxen. contact Alinda Miller at 816-805 ile reprint of the 28-page Cranmer item. One section in the booklet outlines the 1815 or
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OUT FROM THE SHADOW OF GIANTS: THE LIFE OF THOMAS OLIVER BOGGS by Priscilla Shannon Gutierrez [Priscilla Shannon Gutierrez is an Panthea left Harmony Mission and educator at the New Mexico School moved to Independence, Missouri. for the Deaf in Santa Fe as well as Thomas must have accompanied adjunct faculty at New Mexico High them, but at an early age went to live lands University. She is especially with his Uncle Albert. Likely he ac interested in southern Colorado companied Boone to the area of Fort northern New Mexico history. She re Scott when the Osage Indians left cently published a biography of Missouri and migrated westward Charles Beaubien. Priscilla has been into Kansas.2 Boone followed the researching the life of Thomas Boggs tribe in his role as trader. Life with for a number of years and extends his uncle on the edge of frontier "J sincere thanks to John Russell for \~ taught Thomas how to trade, and in sharing many primary source docu the process he learned to speak sev ments with her. Boggs's story is an eral Indian languages. These skills important one that has been over would come in handy later. looked, and she is thrilled to share When Lilburn was elected gover his extraordinary life with Wagon ------' nor of Missouri in 1836, Thomas al Tracks readers.} Thomas Oliver Boggs ready had six siblings. The growing HISTORY is filled with individuals vey the Santa Fe Road. At the time, family moved to the center of govern who played an integral role in the Fort Osage was the last outpost of ment in Jefferson City. Lilburn's ten saga of the Santa Fe Trail but whose civilization en route to the Mexican ure as governor got off to a rocky names have either been lost to us or frontier. start. Strained relations with the are buried within the pages of the Thomas's mother, Panthea Boone, then-head of the Missouri Demo stories of better-known individuals. was Lilburn's second wife. She was cratic Party, Thomas Hart Benton, An example of one of these behind Daniel Boone's granddaughter. They worsened when Lilburn refused to the-scenes figures is Thomas Oliver married three years after the death heed Benton's urgings for cabinet po Boggs. His name appears in the his ofLilburn's first wife, Julianna Bent. sitions. The rising tension between torical records and biographies of Interestingly, Julianna was daugh the two men climaxed with an anti well-known icons such as Charles ter to scion Silas Bent and sibling to Benton campaign that was surpris 3 and William Bent, Ceran St. Vrain, William and Charles. Thus Thomas ingly successful for Lilburn. Lucien Maxwell, and Kit Carson; yet found himself connected to the re But the governor's troubles with Thomas Boggs remains virtually un nowned and well-respected Bent Benton paled in comparison with the known. His obscurity is even more family of Missouri. Later, as a young consequences of the executive order puzzling given that Thomas was man, Thomas worked for William he signed in 1838 calling for General guardian to Kit Carson's orphaned and Charles (whom Thomas consid· John B. Clark to lead 5,000 troops children, son of Missouri Governor ered as "uncles" because they were and volunteer militia to expel all Lilburn Boggs, and great-grandson uncles to his half-brothers) as one of Mormons from the state.4 The order of frontiersman Daniel Boone. their most reliable traders. earned Governor Boggs a place in in During the course of his life, Tho In Panthea, Lilburn found a famy in Mormon history and nearly mas played an integral role in the much-needed anchor for his two cost him his life several years later. history ofthe Santa Fe Trail and was young children, Angus and Henry, On the night of May 6, 1842, Orin a major pioneer of northern New motherless since Julianna's death. Porter Rockwell, hired by Joseph Mexico and southeastern Colorado. In addition to raising two step chil Smith to assassinate Lilburn, shot a The lone marker to his remarkable dren, Panthea would have ten more gun through an open window in the life is the town of Boggsville, CO, children from her marriage to Lil family home, hitting the ex-governor south of Las Animas, which he burn. Thomas was the eldest ofthese in his head with four bullets. Miracu founded and named. His unmarked ten children. lously Lilburn survived th~ attack and was elected to the Missouri Sen grave lies elsewhere. During the Boggs's family stay at Thomas Oliver Boggs was born on ate the following year.5 Two years Harmony Mission Panthea's uncle, before the assassination attempt on August 22, 1824, at Harmony Mis Albert G. Boone, worked for a time at sion on the Marais des Cygnes River his father, Thomas had left for the Fort Osage, then left to establish a frontier and did not learn of the near current Papinville, Missouri.l trading post in the region of present shooting until word could be gotten Prior to the move to Harmony, his fa Fort Scott, Kansas. Albert eventu ther, Lilburn Boggs, had been a dep to him on the Arkansas River ally moved to Westport in 1838 months later. uty factor and Indian agent at Fort where he opened a store to supply Osage on the Missouri River. George travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. He had headed west on one of Sibley was the main government fac Kelly's Westport Inn now occupies Samuel and James Magoffins' cara tor at Fort Osage. The year after the building he left behind. vans bound for Chihuahua in Mex Thomas was born, Sibley left to sur- ico. En route, somewhere on the Ci Sometime in 1825, Lilburn and marron River, the caravan met up
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with some traders from Bent's Fort. and Romalda with an opportunity to Thomas and a few of the other lads lay the foundation for the communi left the caravan and headed for the ties ofBoggsville and Las Animas, as north side of the Arkansas. A few well as a place for Josepha and Kit days into the trip, Thomas and his Carson to play out the last weeks of luckless companions lost their their lives. horses and set out on foot with their As the newlyweds celebrated their pack-laden saddles on their backs. new life, Lilburn, still alive and kick When they finally arrived at the ing, had decided it was time to try his gates of the fort, William Bent wel fortune in California. That April, he comed his "nephew" and hired him and Panthea packed up the remain on with the Bent-St. Vrain trading ing children and along with son Wil business. Thomas worked for the liam and his new bride, Sonora Hick Bent brothers and Ceran St. Vrain lin, joined a wagon train bound for off and on for thEi next 16 years and California, headed by William Rus became one of their most valued sell. On May 10, another group of freighters. The Cheyenne and other emigrants caught up with the wagon tribes who traded at the fort called train-the George Donner and James him "White Horse."6 Over in Mexi A. Reed party. As the group made can territory, he was known as their way west, Russell's competence Tomas Boggs. as the head of the wagon train was According to his own· dictated increasingly called into question. memoirs, Boggs entered Mexican Several weeks out, at Ash Hollow territory for the first time in 1844 as on the Platte River, frustration with part of a pack train that the· Bents Russell boiled over. The group forced and St. Vrain were freighting to him out and William was elected Taos.7 Some sources, such Lewis captain, based on his experience Garrard and Lawrence Murphy, freighting for the Bent brothers.lO have Boggs farming with John Upon reaching the Little Sandy in Hatcher on the Poiiil River north of Wyoming, the Boggs's family contin Cimarron, New Mexico, as early as ued on the main trail to Fort Hall 1842. But given Boggs's dictation, . while the Donner and Reed families this date is too early. The Poiiil was opted to follow Langsford Hastings's at the extreme frontier of the vast disastrous shortcut. The decision Beaubien-Miranda-Maxwell grant would cost most of them their lives on the east side of the Sangre de and earn the Reeds and Donners a Cristo Mountain Range. place of infamy in the annals of emi Over the next two years, Boggs grant travel. frequently wound up in Taos while That same year, a fight between freighting for the Bent-St. Vrain en Mexico and the United States was terprise. Thomas's younger brother, gathering steam. There had been William, joined the Bent operation conflicts between the Republic of as well and freighted for them until Texas and Mexico since Texas won his return to Independence, Mis independence in 1836. Texans made souri, around 1845. In Taos, brothers . Romcllda Lun~aBoggs forays into New Mexico. A Mexican Thomas and William became ac trader, Antonio Jose Chavez, was quainted with the customs and lan Romalda was often heard to say murdered on the Santa Fe Trail by that her Tomas was the "cleverest" guage ofthe country, thanks in large John McDaniel and Texan parti person she'd met. In return Boggs part to Charles Bent and Ceran St. sans.ll The admission of Texas into considered himself quite the fortu Vrain. Both men had taken up resi the United States increased tension dence in the town and handled the nate one to be married to one of the between the U.S. and Mexico. Presi unloading of goods to be sold at the premier belles of Taos. Their union dent James K. Polk wanted to ex would prove to be mutually benefi Bent-St. Vrain store. Thom,as and pand the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean, cial for the next five decades. William often stayed at the Bent and sought ways to acquire the home. A short distance away, his Fortuitously, just prior to the Southwest and Oregon.l2 War be good friend Kit Carson had a resi marriage, Romalda's Uncle Cornelio tween the United States and Mexico dence with his wife, Josepha Jara Vigil and silent partner Ceran St. seemed imminent, and the U.S. de millo. Josepha hailed from the well Vrain had acquired a vast tract of clared war against Mexico two weeks established Jaramillo family of Taos land in southern Colorado. The huge before Thomas Boggs and Romalda and was considered one of the most acreage would come to be known as Luna were married. Fears in Santa beautiful women in town. Josepha's the Vigil-St. Vrain Grant. Twenty Fe and Taos created an increasingly handsome older sister, Ignacia years later, entitlement to part of hostile attitude toward Americans. that grant would provide Thomas Luna, was common-law wife to Char- Thomas Boggs became alarmed at
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how quickly events were escalating fight. Little did Armijo know that the His employer, friend, and relative, and realized that Taos no longer was United States had no intention of Charles Bent was dead, a victim of a safe place for Americans nor any confining its annexation of territory the Taos Rebellion in January. As one associated with them. A short to New Mexico. General Kearny had Charles lay dying, his head scalped two months after his wedding, Boggs orders to proceed to California at his and his body riddled with arrows, took his young bride to Bent's Fort discretion, which he fully intended to Thomas's wife Romalda had held her for safekeeping. Joining them were do. stepfather in her arms, tears stream George Bent, another brother in Before marching off to California ing down her face. Ignacia, her three volved in the trade, and his family; with Kit Carson as his guide, Kearny young children (Alfred, Teresina, Josepha Carson; and Ignacia Bent named Charles Bent as the governor and Estefania), Josepha Carson, and and her three children, Alfred, of the New Mexico Territory. Ea Romalda were forced to spend a hor Teresina, and Estafania. Charles gerly, Thomas volunteered his serv rific night huddled together with Bent stayed behind. The entourage ices to the army. Likewise in Califor Charles's mutilated body in a small arrived at Bent's Fort in time for the nia, newly-arrived brother William room, freezing in the cold tempera July 4th celebrations and remained joined the volunteers to support tures. Family supporters finally for several weeks. Kearny and was sent to reinforce the managed to whisk them to safety dis guised as Indian servants. • Late in July 1846, General Ste U.S. troops at Santa Clara and Mon phen Watts Kearny, Colonel Alexan terey. Cornelio Vigil was also killed, der Doniphan, and Major William While Kearny and Carson march along with Sheriff Stephen Lee who Gilpin arrived at Bent's Fort with had been horribly tortured while pa • ed west, Colonel Sterling Price re the invading army. A large fandango mained in Santa Fe as acting mili raded around the town. Ignacia's was arranged for the officers and the tary head of the New Mexico Terri brother, Pablo, along with Narciso Taos families, Mrs. Archie Metcalf tory. In December, he sent Thomas Beaubien were additional victims of and several Indian women at Boggs to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the mob. Farther north in Valdez in tendedYJ Also present was Susan with mail and dispatches. Eight sol the Arroyo Hondo, Simeon Turley's Magoffin, pregnant with her first diers on mules accompanied him. En mill lay smoldering in ruins. Turley's child. Susan was accompanying her route to Leavenworth, near the Ar refusal to turn over Americans to the husband, merchant Samuel Magof kansas, Thomas met up with Lewis mob had cost him his life. Somehow fin, on the way to Chihuahua. The Garrard, who was returning to John Albert and Charles Autobees tumult of the trip on the Santa Fe Bent's Fort from a Cheyenne winter had managed to escape the mill. Al Trail, including an accident when camp. The snow was already waist bert had headed north over Sangre her carriage upset at Ash Creek in high in places and the temperature de Cristo Pass to the settlements on present Kansas, as well as the ensu frigid enough that Thomas was able the Arkansas, carrying news of ing hullabaloo with the arrival of the to walk across the frozen river to Charles's death to his brother Wil troops, proved too much for her. On meet him. Boggs told Garrard that liam. Autobees raced to Santa Fe to July 30, her 19th birthday, Susan Price had paid him $600.00 to get the inform Colonel Price of the massa miscarried the child. 14 dispatches to Leavenworth because cre. The Taoseiios remained on the Ar "only a mountain man could come in Price quickly assembled his troops kansas several more weeks until now" because of the harsh winter and headed north to restore order. things appeared to have settled conditions. 15 When the army arrived in Taos sev down after Kearny's Army of the Not long after the meeting, near eral days later, Ceran St. Vrain and West captured Santa Fe without re Coon Creek in present Kansas, the the other volunteers who accompa sistance, then set out for home. As men got caught in a "norther" bliz nied Price couldn't believe their eyes. the families made their way back zard that blasted a full two days and As they walked the streets of the along the trail, none of them could nearly killed them. The mules that town, they encountered the bodies of have foreseen the tumultuous events didn't freeze to death fled and friends and family members strewn that lay just a few short months Boggs's group were forced to walk in about, many half-eaten by dogs and ahead. snow two feet deep. Their boots wild animals. Fear of being accused On August 1, shortly before the quickly wore out along with the sup as simpatico with the Americans had group left Bent's Fort, James Magof ply of food. Mter two weeks of wan prevented anyone from removing or fin had arrived carrying a secret let dering in the drifts, the group stum tending to the dead for several days. ter from President Polk. The letter bled into a camp of Osages whom The enormity ofevents and his ab • stated that the United States in Thomas knew. The Indians rationed sence during the family's ordeal tended to annex all of the Mexican out some meat to the starving men must have been staggering to Boggs. Territory east of the Rio Grande and and aided them in making moccasins Moreover, with Charles dead and that an invasion was planned for the to replace the worn out boots.l6 Carson away with Kearny in Califor following day. In exchange for a Boggs finally entered Leavenworth nia, it was now up to him to take a bloodless conquest, the U.S. would with the dispatches on February 9 lead as a guardian of the extended only take the eastern half of the ter and remained there until mid March families. Step by step, the group ritory- already claimed by Texas. awaiting orders.l7 When he was fi somehow managed to pull them Under those terms, New Mexico nally able to return to Taos some selves together and move on. Governor Manuel Armijo agreed to time in May what Thomas learned In September, after freighting relinquish the territory without a upon his arrival stunned him. commodities from Independence to
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Santa Fe via the Santa Fe Trail, Tho cattle were selected and Thomas Bent who at the time was living with mas opened a mercantile store in headed back to California with her Aunt Josepha. The chief insisted Santa Fe on Main Street, along with $15,000 worth of cattle.21 Mter driv on buying her. Understandably ter a partner named Keen. An ad in the ing the herd across the Sierra Ne rified, Teresina's tears in front of the Santa Fe New Mexican announced a vada through Carson Pass he pushed chief filled him with laughter, her move from 5 Main Street down to 78 them down into the valley where Lil fear only increasing his desire for the Main Street and reminded buyers burn waited. Enough had survived to young girl.23 Fortunately for the set that the mercantile carried a wide start a business. Eventually Lilburn tlement, Boggs's spur-of-the-mo variety of dry goods and hardware.18 settled near Kelseyville where ment plan worked. Carson and Boggs remained associated with the present Boggs Lake stands while troops arrived from Fort Union in store until 1850. William dabbled in the wine indus the nick of time-the chiefhad issued Later that same year, 1847, Tho try, producing a zinfandel "of note" an ultimatum to deliver Teresina to mas was asked to accompany John shortly after the introduction of the him and it was sure to end in a fight. C. Fremont to Los Angeles. He left a grape to the area.22 Thomas and his family remained now pregnant Romalda with her Thomas got the itch to return to at Rayado until the late 1850s when mother and aunt and headed west Taos five years after his arrival in they accompanied Maxwell's family with Fremont. While in California, California. When packed up, the to the nearby settlement of Ci Boggs traveled north to visit with his family said their good-byes and re marron. Lucien built a huge home on mother and father, who were now turned to New Mexico via Sonora. the plaza. Boggs built a home just living in the Bodega Bay area of Once back in Taos, Boggs hooked up down the road from Maxwell's Aztec Napa County. Thomas stayed with with Kit Carson and Lucien Max Mill. Both the mill and Boggs's home his family until August, returning to well, whom Boggs knew from his still stand today in the old part of Ci New Mexico via Sonora and Chihua days with the Bents. Maxwell and marron. The mill has been turned hua. California so impressed Boggs Carson were planning a move to the into a museum, and the Boggs's that he began to make plans to head Rayado area, which remained large home is now a private residence. west again-this time with his Ro ly unsettled. Rayado Creek had When good weather permitted, maIda and his newborn son, Carlos prime pasturage, hunting, and a reli Boggs and Maxwell ran large herds Adolfo Boggs. A month after his re able source of water. of cattle in the lush bottomlands at turn, Thomas and his two-month-old Maxwell went first and was soon the mouth of the Purgatoire River Carlos were both baptized at Our joined by Carson and Boggs. Max where it joins the Arkansas near Lady of Guadalupe Church.l9 well's wife, Luz Beaubien, came to present-day Las Animas, CO. Wil Plans for the move to California the Rayado settlement, as well as liam Bent's stockade at the Big Tim continued. By 1850 the necessary ar Carson's and Boggs's families. Boggs bers was nearby, and Boggs likely rangements had been made and the went into partnership with Maxwell found food and lodging at Bent's family was ready. With Romalda and to supply Indians with flour and cat place whenever he was in the area. Carlos in tow, Boggs started back to tle as part of government contracts The juncture ofthe two rivers had the Bodega Bay area of northern that Lucien had procured. long been a favored area for camp California. They would live there for Living so far from Taos was a dan ing. Pike stopped there en route to the next five years. gerous proposition, with the Utes, Mexico as early as 1806. Then in At the time of the Boggs's arrival, Comanches, and Apaches increasing 1815, Jules de Mun and Auguste the 4ger Gold Rush was well under their raids on the plains east of the Chouteau established a short-lived way and Lilburn was busy running a Sangre de Cristos. The tribes re trading post near the Purgatoire brisk mercantile business supplying sented the white intrusion on what Arkansas junction. Jacob Fowler prospectors. Miners coming down they considered traditional hunting also mentioned camping and cross from the hills would bring Lilburn and camping grounds, plus the live ing the Arkansas at the mouth of sacks of gold for safekeeping and as stock being raised and fattened by Purgatoire in his journal of 1821.24 payment for goods at the mercantile. the settlers presented an opportu Once again the urge to settle an Lilburn's steady income in hard. spe nity for the taking. untamed area took hold of Boggs. In cie enabled him to eliminate some of One day while Maxwell was away 1865, he dissolved his partnership his old debts still outstandingin Mis on business and Carson was at with Maxwell and decided to move to souri.20 Once again he would gain nearby Fort Union, a group of Co the Purgatoire bottomlands to begin prominence, becoming the first al manches rode up to the settlement. a settlement ther.e. Ceran St. Vrain, calde of the northern district extend Boggs quickly assessed the situation Romalda's godfather, deeded her and ing from Sacramento to the Oregon and decided the best approach was to Thomas a 2,040-acre share of the border. hold a feast "in honor" of their visi Purgatoire bottomlands that were on Mter a time, the Boggs men began tors. At the same time he quietly his grant. to wonder about cattle-breeding pos sent a runner for help from Fort Un Accompanying the Boggs family sibilities, if good stock could be IOn. were two men, Charles A. Rite and L. driven over the Sierra Nevada into The women quickly got to work A. Allen. Mter completing two adobe California. Two years later, Thomas cooking and began serving the food. structures for the families to live in, headed east to Missouri to purchase The chief of the Comanches became the men immediately began digging cattle with a blood line. Mter looking smitten with 12-year old Teresina an irrigation ditch or acequia to tap into several types of stock, Durham
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into the flow of the Purgatoire. With children. out water the community could not Even as Thomas and Romalda sustain the crops necessary to de grieved over the loss of their friend velop the land nor make adobe for and family, the cycle of life contin buildings and shelter. The acequia ued. Romalda became pregnant with was named "The Tarbox Ditch" and their second child. On December 9, was the first irrigation ditch in Colo Boggs House Today 1868, the happy parents welcomed rado. When completed, the main ca deputy county clerk. Later John Minnie Boone Boggs into the world. nal measured seven miles long and married Mattie Smith, the first The year 1868 proved tumultuous c~pable was of irrigating 7,000 i~ 20 scho?lteacher of the community. E. other ways to the growing commu acres. The new community took the R. SIzer also settled in the area es mty. On September 8, the first elec name Boggsville. tablishing a large ranch that was the tions were to be held at the Boggs The home Thomas built for Ro first to grow grain in the territory. home. Unfortunately, that same day maIda and Carlos (now recon In the spring of 1868, Kit Carson a Cheyenne Indian raid on the settle structed at the Boggsville Historic an~ Josepha, now pregnant with ment had been organized. Thomas ~ite) was.an interesting mix of Span theIr seventh child, moved into a ~msey, the elections judge, left the Ish Colomal and Territorial architec small adobe home on Thomas's prop SIzer Ranch and set out for the tl~re. A U-shaped adobe building erty near the end of the Avenue of Boggs home. He never made it. En ~ooms wIth ten and four fireplaces, it Trees. route, a band of 25 or so Cheyenne had a patIo with a portal that opened warriors came bounding over a hill to the south. Later a barn and other Kit had recently retired as the act ing commander of Fort Garland in easily overtaking Kimsey. Later, his structures were added. A double col co.mpanions found his body riddled t~e San Luis Valley. The years were umn of trees was planted that be WIth arrows and his scalp gone. came an impressive "Avenue of fmally catching up to the frontiers man. On April 13, Josefita Carson Mter killing Kimsey, the Chey Trees." Because of the large size, the enne raiders passed the Lambert home became popular for dances and the last of their children was born: Two weeks later, her mother Jose ranch where twenty men, seven other social gatherings. Cowboys women, and eight children were . and settlers would ride 50 miles to pha died from complications ofchild birth. Kit's health, already ailing, crammed into four rooms for protec attend the much-anticipated tion. The Lambert place was the only events.26 quickly deteriorated after the death of his beloved wife. Just a month hou~e that afforded any sort of pro By 1867, the Purgatoire settlers later, at aged 58, Kit Carson expired tectIon between Boggsville and Nine were joined by John W. Prowers and at nearby Fort Lyon where he was Mile Bottoms several miles south of 29 his Cheyenne wife, Amache. Prowers being attended by the Army doctor. the settlement. On to Boggsville built a large two-story house with Both Kit and Josepha were buried in t~e Cheyennes rode, where they twenty-four rooms that included the garden on Charles Rite's prop kIlled a number of oxen before riding family living quarters, a store, a pri erty.28 Later their remains were off with a large herd of horses and vate school, and later a stage station. moved to Taos, NM. mules belonging to Boggs, Prowers, When Bent County was organized in The d~ath of Kit and Josepha Robert Bent, and L. A. Allen. As soon 1870, Prowers added a county of.. as the Indians left, Allen rode to Fort fIce.· 27 I n time John W. Prowers made theIr seven children orphans the youngest an infant of only one Lyon to inform General William would begin the first large-scale cat Henry Penrose of the raid. Forty sol tle operation in Colorado, and he month. The oldest two boys were al ready men, full grown and able to diers of the 7th Cavalry rode out of would become known as the father of the fort under Lieutenant Henry the cattle industry in the state. fend for themselves, but that still left five underage children to be cared Abell. About 20 miles out the sol Around the same time Prowers ar for. Thomas and Romalda took the diers came within sight of'the Indi rived, the U.S. Army moved Fort five children in and became their ans driving the stolen horses and Lyon to its present location on the guardians. Thomas also became the mules. Arkansas, about three miles down executor of Carson's will and estate. In spite of being chased, the Chey fro~ ri,:,er the mouth of the Purga Though valued at $3,000; in reality enne were able to get away from the tOIre. WIlliam Bent's stockade was the estate carried very little actual troops. The stock was never recov still at Big Timbers and for a time cash. Kit's death left his children vir ered even though some of the stolen William functioned as the Indian tually destitute-all the more reason horses were identified a few years Agent for the U.s. Government for Thomas to take them in. The later in several camps of the Chey within the territory. 30 trus~ that. Car~on placed in Boggs by enne. Thomas Boggs and his part William's daughter, Mary Bent, leaVIng hIs chIldren in his care, as ner, Allen, filed a depredations claim had moved there with her husband well as Boggs's commitment to his of $8,055.00 against the government R. M. Moore and their infant at a old friend, speaks volumes about the for their loss of stock. It took the homestead just north of the Boggs integrity of the man. Romalda, who courts almost 20 years to settle the ville settlement. Her brother Robert had remained close to Josepha claim for $7,280.00. Likewise, Prow also had a homestead in the area. throughout their lives must have ers and Robert Bent filed a claim for Other members of the settlement in ~qually fel~ the weight ofrespansibil $10,000.00. The U.S. Court of Claims cluded Thomas's brother, John M., Ity for carmg for her beloved aunt's did not order payment of $6 500 on who arrived in 1869 and became the their claim until 1902.31 '
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. Meanwhile Carlos Boggs, or Char Clayton, New Mexico, where he built ~Ie as he was now known, had grown a ranch home consisting of two-foot mto a fine young man, the son of one thick adobe walls and heavy solid ofthe most prominent families in the oak doors. His sheep camp lay about territory. Romance was in the air 20 miles east of where the town of and in 1873 he wed Eva Matheny Beenham was established. The only from Smithfield, KS. The marriage windows in the place were port holes would last 15 years, but the couple through which a gun barrel could be remained childless. thrust out. Later, Romalda and Min Thomas became actively involved nie joined Thomas while son Charlie in raising sheep and is considered and his wife Eva settled on a home r the father of the sheep business in stead nearby. ~ent Co~nty, Colorado, amassing an At that time the Clayton area was • ImpreSSlVe 17,000 head of sheep by still untamed and Indians were fre -, ;,: Ii" 1 •., >J',"," 1875. His outfit was capable of quently about. While the last of the -'1 ~- ~. -~':-~' ". ~ -r' " - 'if,./{t"" shearing over 50,000 head of sheep a organized Cheyenne resistance .wow.'""', ~,r~ '; ""'":".}2. - :,.-" ",:;.;,;..... ~- ','{ year. In addition to his own flock ended around 1875, the Apaches "'.t.... ' ~ ( ", •• 0 j Bo~gs invited his neighbors to brin~ were on the warpath and the Clayton :;;'''··-, .0. ', ,:.:", i' ~ , , theIr sheep to his facility to be area comprised part of their terri '. 0', -' . ~_ f ..' r '0' 0 -<-.....,;.,.. _ sheared. tory. At one point Thomas managed __ _'"..__l ",...c:: __ .__ to avert a planned Apache raid by Minnie Boone Boggs, taken while at In 1870 Thomas Boggs was school in Higginsville, Missouri. ta.king.Minnie, now 10 years of age, elected the first sheriff of Bent to try to convince the Mexicans living County. The following year he was wIth hIm to meet with Apache lead ers. Romalda was fearful, but reluc on. the grant to sell out. His sympa elected to the territorial legislature. thIes for the Mexicans, many of Politics didn't much suit Thomas so tantly allowed Thomas to take a fur bundled Minnie with him. The whom he knew from his days on the his stay in the legislature didn't last Rayado and at Cimarron, quickly be long. Apaches were so impressed with Minnie's courage and beauty and the came evident and the company fired The family remained at the 35 fact that Thomas had brought her to him after two years. Boggsville settlement until 1877 Also employed by the company when the U.S. Land Office deter parlay, they promised to never raid or conduct a massacre in the area. was a dashing young man from Eng mined that Romalda could not suffi land named George Alexander Bush ciently prove title to the 2,040 acres Gifts were showered on the young girl before she and her dad turned nell. From time to time George's that St. Vrain had given her. Fed up, work brought him from his Cimarron Thomas decided it was time to head their horses round to head back 33 office into Springer where he con back to New Mexico, in spite ofPresi home. The numerous head of sheep he'd ducted business dealings with Tho dent Grant's decision to honor Ro ~as. During one ofthose trips, he set maIda's title five months after the brought with him needed protection so Thomas built a number of sheds to hIS eyes on Minnie, now a young Land Office denied it. Perhaps the lady, and immediately fell for her. need to move on, such an ingrained shelter the animals during the harsh winter months. He took advantage of Minnie was only fourteen at the time part of the man, propelled Boggs for but already a petite beauty with ward once again. Thomas sold his a heavy growth oftimber nearby and built a rustic sawing operation. dainty hands and feet. After a brief ranch and property to neighbor John but intense courtship, Thomas al Lee for the sum of $12,000.00. The Later, the foreman of the Dorsey Ranch, John C. Hill, purchased the lowed the couple to become be- former Boggs's property became the . trothed. But he insisted that Minnie San Patricio Ranch. In 1898, Lee lumber used to build the sheep sheds and used the planks to construct a complete her studies at a girls' col leased the ranch to Allen M. Lam lege in Higginsville, Missouri, before bright. Eight years later, in 1906, the number ofthe first buildings in Clay ton. 34 Boggs then sold the land for she could be wed. George patiently Crebbin Investment Company of waited for two years and on Decem Denver secured ownership from $10,000 to a recently-formed cattle company. ber 9, 1884, the couple married. He Lee's widow, Anna, and began a purposefully selected the 9th be large-scale sheep operation on the Thomas was getting on in years 32 cause that was the day Minnie had former Boggs's acreage. he was now in his sixties-and de b~en born. From then on, George in While Romalda and the family cided to. move the family to Springer, SIsted on making a big deal out of stayed behind, Boggs made his way NM. WIth them were Josefita Car both their anniversary and her south with several thousand head of son and another cousin, Alice Rief, birthday. sheep to Pinavetitos Creek near granddaughter of Charles Bent. Jo sefita, never very strong, died of Their wedding took place in Sprin pneumonia on October 10, 1882. Al ger and, after the ceremony, an enor ice later married and moved into her mous crowd headed to the Springer own home. While in Springer, Tho Hotel for the wedding celebrations. y 0' ~ij;h. .~:,.!~.~ mas was employed as a receiver and Guests included Charles Bushnell ., .,:(__.". , ~::1.':::;....t-;t."""¢-":' A"" George's youngest brother who wa~ agent for the Maxwell Land Grant Boggsville circa 1880 when it was the recuperating from a bad fall into a San Patricio Ranch. Company. The company hired Boggs
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ship's hold while working as first June 13, 1887, when their son Char -. , .," mate on the vessel. George felt the lie was gunned down in his home five '\ . ' .... ; ., > ..... I New Mexico climate would be good miles east of the Bushnell ranch just -",' - for his brother. after returning from Raton with sup Mter the wedding, Minnie and plies. His body was taken to Springer her husband moved to Raton, NM, for the burial. Details about the mur where George had established a mer der were sketchy, but the prime sus cantile business with brothers Char pect in the murder was his good les and Ed Fox. George also operated looking wife, Eva. Charlie's estate a livery stable and held a govern was valued by the probate court at ment contract to provide forage for $2,795.05, but after all of his debts government animals on their way to were settled, there was virtually different forts on the frontier. nothing left.39 Thomas and Romalda, On April 1, 1887, Thomas and Ro in spite of suspicions, refused to maIda welcomed their first grand prosecute her and Eva left the child, Charles Lilburn Bushnell, into county for parts unknown. • the world. Charles was a whopping In 1889, Minnie and George Bush ten pounds and the attending doctor nell left Raton and settled in Clay proclaimed him the largest baby he'd ton, close to brother Charlie. Not Tom Boggs with granddaughter Rose • ever delivered.36 The happy parents long afterward Romalda and Tho May Bushnell shortly before his death telegraphed Thomas to inform him of mas left Springer for the Clayton hailed Boggs as one of the oldest and the birth. When he attempted to area, taking up residence with Min best-known pioneers of New Mexico. share the news with Romalda, she nie and George. The couple had He was buried in Clayton's old ceme refused to believe him remarking, plenty of space. George went all out tery, later known as the Boot Prairie ''You can't make me believe any such and had an elegant two-story home Cemetery. built, complete with a fancy wrap stuff as that on the 1st of April."37 Romalda Luna Boggs survived around porch. Wanting his Minnie to Later Romalda took the train to Thomas by 12 years, doting on her have every comfort, George also Raton to help out with the baby. She grandchildren and living quietly stayed two months and was a huge hired several servants to work in the with her daughter. A fourth grand support for the new parents. While house. -,.-', child, George Alexander Utermarck Romalda stayed in Raton, Thomas Bushnell, was welcomed on January volunteered to replace George on a ,I 1, 1897. Two months later his father I scheduled assessing trip so that he " George succumbed to pneumonia on could stay with Minnie and the new March 1. George A. Bushnell was born. Boggs greatest joy in his final only 33 years old. The young infant years would be his first grandson quickly became Romalda's favorite. whom he spoiled "shamelessly," and Older siblings Charlie and Thomas about whom Thomas loved to boast L~t'~1 ~~;; would tease the baby on purpose just to friends and acquaintances. George to hear their grandmother scold, Bushnell, in a letter to his sister an l" --" Bushnell Home in Clayton, NM, where "Charley, Tommie, what for you nouncing the birth of Charles stated Thomas &Romalda spent their last days tease my baby! Vaya inferno tus di that previously grandfather Thomas A second grandson, Thomas ablos," invariably convulsing the two was six feet tall, but since the birth boys with laughter.40 38 George Bushnell, followed on June was nearly seven feet. 21, 1891; and then a granddaughter, Three years after George Bush Farther east, Charles Bushnell Rose May Bushnell, on March 5, nell's death, Minnie fell head over began the construction of a ranch on 1893. The house was a noisy but heels in love with Fred Burch, a the Tramperos River south of Clay happy one. As the years passed, and wealthy cattleman from Iowa. Their ton. He named the settlement Been his brood of grandchildren grew, the courtship was a whirlwind affair , ham after the place in England locals referred to Thomas and Ro with the couple quietly slipping. where he'd been born. George and maIda as Uncle Tom and Gramma away to Trinidad in 1898 to be mar his brother Charles became impor Boggs. ried. Fred turned out to be the great tant pioneers ofthe area and contrib "" love of Minnie's life. One year after I By 1894 the wear and tear of all uted much to the development of the those years of adventure began to the wedding, Romalda's last grand town of Clayton, officially estab show. Thomas, now 70, suffered from child, Guy Irving Burch, came into lished in 1888. Charlie Bushnell was several ailments and could not get the world on May 24, 1899. Like his renowned for his generosity and kind around any more. In response his father, Guy had dark red ringlets heart. George became the first mer body began to fill with fluid. Then a and big blue eyes. chant to establish a business in Clay lingering illness left him paralyzed Seven years after his birth Ro ton and was instrumental in estab for several months. It proved fatal. maIda died on January 13,1906. Her lishing the school system in Clayton. Thomas Oliver Boggs died at Min obituary in the local paper, the Clay Thomas and Romalda remained nie's home on September 29, 1894.' ton Citizen, referred to Romalda as in Springer until tragedy struck on The newspaper, the Raton Range, one of the town's most respected citi-
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zens and the last "oldtimer." Ro 6. David Fridtjof Halaas & Andrew E. Ma Springer-Tascosa Trail (self-published, maIda bequeathed all of her estate sich, Ha/fbreed. The Remarkable True 1985),15. Story of George Bent (Cambridge, MA: 35. Maxwell Land Grant Papers, Southwest and holdings to her favorite grand DaCapo Press, 2004), 61. Center for Research, University of New son, George Bushnell.41 She was bur 7. Thomas Oliver Boggs Dictated Manu Mexico Library, MSS 147 BC, Items 48, 49, ied alongside her Tomas in the old script (Bancroft Library, MSS P-E30, 1885). 50, 51. cemetery. As the years passed, their 8. The written historical record, in all its vari 36. George Bushnell correspondence to his grave markers became worn with ations, is by and large incorrect in the sister Rose, April 3 & 7, 1887, in Thompson spelling of her name. Family members, Papers, Pioneer Recollections of the time and eventually the locations be including daughter Minnie Boone Boggs Southwest. 117-118. came unknown. Sadly both of their and granddaughter Rose May Bushnell 37. Ibid. final resting places remain lost to insisted it was spelled Romalda. The 38. Ibid. history. author is indebted to John Russell, mem ber of the Boggs-Bushnell family, who 39. Charles A. Boggs Last Will and Testa Within twelve months after Ro has provided a wealth of primary ment, September 6, 1887. maIda's passing, Minnie's great love, source documents on this and many 40. Recollections of Minnie Boone Boggs other aspects of family life. Bushnell Burch, in Thompson Papers, Pio Fred Burch, succumbed to typhus on neer Recollections of the Southwest, 15. December 19. His death seemed to 9. Taos Marriage Records. Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church. 41. Last Will and Testament of Romalda Luna break Minnie's spirit. In a haze for 10. William M. Boggs Collection (Hart Library, Boggs, May 4, 1908. months, she was never the same af Colorado History Museum, MSS 72, Box 2009 STUDENT TRIP terward. A bad fall from a buggy in 71 ). by Chris Day jured Minnie's spine and her condi 11. David Lavender, Bent's Fort (Lincoln: Bi tion continued to worsen until her son Books, 1954), 235. THE 2009 Santa Fe Trail trip for 88 death on June 25, 1913. She was bur 12. Ibid, 261. fifth- and sixth-grade students from ied in the Bushnell family plot in 13. Frances Cragin Notes, Pioneers Museum, north central Kansas will start down Colorado Springs, (VIII (2), 6/17/08 Clayton alongside her first husband, 7/11/08). the Trail on Sunday, May 31, for an George. Eventually, Minnie's chil 14. Susan Shelby Magoffin, Down the Santa ll-day education adventure led by dren and several of her grandchil Fe Trail and into Mexico, ed. Stella M. Janet Armstead and Chris Day. To dren would be interred in the Clay Drumm (Lincoln: University of Nebraska defray some of the trip costs for the ton cemetery, one as late as 1978. Press, 1982), 66. students, two fundraiser campaigns 15. Lewis Garrard, Wah-to-yah and the Taos were done during the school year. Thomas Oliver Boggs and Romal Trail (Norman: University of Oklahoma da Luna Boggs were extraordinary Press, 1955), 104. The students studied the history of individuals who led extraordinary 16. Albert W. Thompson, "Thomas O. Boggs, the Santa Fe Trail during educa lives during extraordinary times. Early Scout and Plainsmen," Colorado tional classes, using Dave Webb's Magazine, VII (July 1930), 152-160. Both left indelible marks upon a Adventures with the Santa Fe Trail. 17. Thomas Oliver Boggs Dictated Manu wide swath ofthe history ofnorthern script (Bancroft Library, MSS P-E30. 1885); An integral part of the trip is the New Mexico and southern Colorado, and Louise Barry, comp.. The Beginning involvement of the SFTA chapters including the Santa Fe Trail. Al of the West (Topeka: Kansas State His from our first day on the Trail to the though intimately entwined with the torical Society, 1972),663,667. last few days of our trip. Cottonwood lives of the Bent brothers, Kit 18. Father Stanley, Thomas Oliver Boggs Crossing members will meet us the Story (self-published, 1972). first day at Lost Springs and give us Carson, Ceran St. Vrain, Lucien 19. Taos Baptismal Records, Nuestra Senora Maxwell, and others; and having de Guadalupe. a tour ofMarion County. The Wagon made major contributors to the 20. William M. Boggs Collection (Hart Library, Bed Spring Chapter will host us the towns of Boggsville, Las Animas, colorado History Museum, MSS 72, Box second night in Ulysses, KS, with a and Clayton; both Thomas and 71 ). tour, meal, and overnight camping. Romalda Boggs remain virtually 21. Ibid. The Cimarron Cutoff Chapter will 22. Wineconsumer Archives
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ANDREAS DETLEF LAUMBACH, SANTA FE TRAIL TRAVELER PROPONENT OF EDUCATION AND PROTESTANTISM IN TERRITORIAL NEW MEXICO by Doyle Daves [This is the second article by Daves, children-19-year-old Heinrich and who received a research grant from his six sisters-in Iowa. Indeed, none SFTA to study Euro-American men of the Laumbachs remaining in Iowa who traveled the Santa Fe Trail, ever made the trip across the plains eventually settled in New Mexico, to join those in New Mexico. and established families by marrying The elder Andreas Detlef Laum local Spanish women. Special thanks bach did not live in New Mexico long; to him for undertaking this project.} he met a tragic end in the fall of ANDREAS Detlef Lauenbach and 1862. Again the family stories differ his wife Anna Koos were born in the in detail. In one version, he was trav early 1800s in the farming village of eling with freighters to Missouri. In Jagel in what was then the Duchy of the other family story, he was herd • Schleswig which occupied the "neck" ing cattle. All agree that, just east of of the Jutland peninsula connecting what is now Springer, New Mexico, Denmark to the European mainland. near the rock crossing of the Cana The Duchy of Schleswig had long dian River, a well-established land been a fief of the Kingdom of Den mark on the Cimarron Route of the A. D. Laumbach II mark. During the years that An Santa Fe Trail, there was an attack dreas and Anna Lauenbach were self "as a stowaway in the hold of a by an Indian war party and the elder growing up and establishing their ship"3 along with a close friend, Fritz Andreas Detlef Laumbach was family, the area became increasingly Eggert, who, like the younger Laum killed.7 Later, it would be noted that contentious. The German language bach, was to found a New Mexico this river crossing was a "site of sev was gaining prominence in the area family. eral Indian raids."s and rising German (Prussian) na Laumbachs on the Santa Fe Trail. Andreas Detlef Laumbach Settles in tionalism called into question Dan There are two somewhat different New Mexico and Becomes a Fort Un ish rule. Indeed, in 1848, ethnic family stories about the arrival of ion Supplier. Germans in Schleswig and the the Laumbachs in New Mexico. Both The younger Laumbach moved neighboring Duchy ofHolstein to the stories agree that the younger An quickly to establish himself follow south rebelled but were defeated by dreas DetlefLaumbach, if not the fa ing his decision to stay in New Mex Denmark in the First War of ther, arrived there in 1859. In one ico. On April 10, 1864, at age thirty, Schleswig (1848-1851). However, the version, the two Andreas Detlefs left he married fourteen-year-old Leonor contention over the area intensified Iowa for Missouri in 1859 where they Ebel, daughter of Daniel Eberle rather than abated and a Second traveled to New Mexico by wagon (Ebel in Spanish, later Ebell) a Schleswig War broke out in 1863 in train on the Santa Fe Trail. The Swiss-born, Catholic immigrant who which the Prussian Army was victo other version states that "When had come to New Mexico over the rious and the area became German.1 young Laumbach reached Iowa, he Santa Fe Trail earlier. Leonor's As a result of the unrest, the heard of gold in Colorado. He decided mother was Maria Viviana Martin. Lauenbachs with their eight chil to go there to pan for wealth...."4 In At age sixteen, Viviana had married dren, others oftheir extended family, this version, the younger Andreas Santa Fe Trail trader and New Mex and friends decided to emigrate to Laumbach (and close friend, Fritz ico settler James Bonney and be America. The family made the move Eggert) quickly gave up the goal of come the mother of a son, Ramon during the late 1850s, choosing to lo getting rich as 5gers, as participants Bonney, shortly before the elder cate in western Iowa where they in the Colorado Gold Rush were Bonney was killed by Indians in Oc helped establish the community of known,5 and traveled south via the tober 1846.9 Not long after James Schleswig in Crawford County. Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Bonney's death, Viviana married Somehow, during the relocation to Trail to the Mora Valley of New Mex Eberle and had three more children America or shortly thereafter, the ico. It is interesting that Leo Oliva, before he too met an untimely family name became Laumbach. in his history of Fort Union, notes death.lO And indeed, from that time forward, that "During the spring of 1859 des The Laumbachs settled in the there have been Laumbachs in that titute emigrants who were part of community of Buena Vista in Mora general area of Iowa as shown by an the Colorado Gold Rush began to ar County, New Mexico, where Leonor's examination of census records. rive at Fort Union, many in need of Hispanic relations had been estab The oldest son, also Andreas food and medical care."6 lished since the settlement of the Detlef, apparently was left behind While it is uncertain whether the area in the 1820s. Leonor's grand when the move to America was elder Andreas Detlef Laumbach ar parents, Bernardo and Maria Apolo made, likely because he had a mili rived in New Mexico with his son or nia (Gutierrez) Martin, were original tary obligation to fulfill.2 The young somewhat later, we know that he did grantees of the Mora Land Grant. er Andreas Detlef, however, soon come. We also know that he left his The new couple settled nearby, and managed to leave for America him- wife, Anna, and their seven younger Andreas engaged in irrigated and
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Andreas Laumbach Faces Questions Zapata re-colonized New Mexico in of Religion and Education for his Chil 1692. When the Santa Fe Trail be dren. gan to bring Protestants into the The Laumbachs came from an area after 1821, the Catholic clergy area of northern Europe which was were as hostile to this new challenge solidly Lutheran. Existing church as they had been to the earlier ones.. records amply document the Laum Although Protestant clergy and mis bach family's active involvement in sionaries first came into New Mexico their village Lutheran community.l4 with General Stephen Watts Kearny We don't know any details of An and the Army of the West iIi 1846, dreas Laumbach's personal educa there was no success in establishing tion but, based on the efforts he ex a lasting Protestant presence until pended to secure it for his children, after the end of the Civil War almost he was clearly a strong proponent. two decades later.is His wife, Leonor Ebel, was Catholic Education, Catholic and Protestant, and, almost certainly, what little Comes to New Mexico. education she had was learned at Apparently the first school in New Leonor Laumbach home. Mexico was opened in 1835 in Taos dry-land farming and stock-raising. When Andreas Laumbach and Le by the historically important CathQ He and Leonor had a large family onor Ebel married and began their lic priest, Antonio Jose Martinez, with nine children living to matur family, educational opportunities in who was later to be excommunicated ity. We have a very brief contempo territorial New Mexico were just be by Archbishop Jean Baptiste rary description of the Laumbach ginning to be available in a few Lamy.19 In 1852, when Archbishop home-site in Buena Vista written by places. S. P. Nanninga, writing in Lamy arrived in Santa Fe to take up Gabino Rendon who visited in the 1942 about the history of education his post, he immediately recognized 1880s. "The Laumbachs had a ranch in New Mexico, noted that during all the urgent need for education and hidden in a canoncito. The patriarch the time since the arrival of Hispan health care in New Mexico. He peti of the family had come from Ger ics in 1598 until roughly the end of tioned the Sisters of Loretto, a many, married a Spanish wife, and the Civil War, 265 years later "Most Catholic teaching order established set up an extensive estate."l1 More of the wealth was in the hands of a in Kentucky, to come to New Mexico descriptively, we are told that "Some few rich individuals and corpora and open schools for the children.20 ten miles down the river from Mora, tions which were not desirous of pay . The first school established by the in an area called Buena Vista, a Ger ing taxes for the education of the nuns was in Santa Fe; in 1869, the man immigrant named Andreas poor. The poor, in turn, had no great Sisters of Loretto established a Laumbach planted fruit trees and vision, knowing very little about school for girls in Las Vegas.2i A few tilled large vegetable plats. When his education."15 Indeed, when the terri months later, in 1870, Presbyterian orchards and gardens abundantly torial legislature held a referendum missionary John Alexander Annin, produced, he hired workers in the in 1856, to test the willingness of recently arrived in Las Vegas to es valley to help with the harvest and New Mexicans to pay taxes to sup tablish a church, was, like Arch marketing of the produce. Every port public schools, the vote was 37 bishop Lamy earlier, distressed at week during the season, he sent a in favor and 5,016 against.l6 the lack of educational opportunities wagonload of select fruits and The situation concerning Protes for children. He soon opened a "free freshly washed vegetables over the tant religion in New Mexico Terri school" in his home which, over the hills to Fort Union."12 The establish~ tory was similar. Catholicism came course of a few months, began to at ment of Fort Union in 1851 created a into New Mexico on a sustained ba tract students from the area as par great need for food for soldiers and sis with Juan de Onate's colonization ents came to appreciate the opportu their animals, for construction mate of 1598. A primary goal of the Span nities it afforded their children and rials, for fuel, and, at intermittent ish government was to convert the to have less fear of the consequences times, for skilled and unskilled la natives of the region to Catholicism of Mr. Annin's Protestantism.22 bor. The establishment of the fort and Spanish clergy and civil gover These schools in Las Vegas were provided some protection from In nors brought dedication and vigor to the first to be established east of the dian raids in the area. However, the the task. Unfortunately, the priests Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New most important effect of the fort lo also expressed an open disdain for Mexico Territory and were about 25 cally was economic. Indeed, the fort the native cultures and religions miles from the ranch home of the and the need to support its personnel they encountered and attempted to Laumbachs in Buena Vista. At that and large numbers of animals had a suppress completely long-held be time, the Laumbachs did not yet larger effect on the wellbeing of com liefs and practices. Scholars have have school-age children-their old mon people in its area, than the concluded that this suppression was est, Margareta, was born in 1865-so Santa Fe Trail itself. Fort Union a principal cause of the Pueblo Re no immediate decision concerning brought a market economy to the volt of 1680 in which hundreds of education was necessary. By the surrounding area, bringing money Spaniards, including many clergy, time the older Laumbach children and relative prosperity to many were killed and all were forced out of had grown to school age, the Presby families that had never had it.13 New Mexico17 until Diego De Vargas terians were beginning to establish
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missions and become an active, effec ily."26 Interestingly, Rafael Gallegos Henry, died, leaving his wife with a tive presence in a number of commu later was ordained as a Presbyterian young family, the three sisters took nities. minister and married Leonor Laum two of the children to raise and send The Laumbachs Confront Religious bach's sister Isabela. to mission school. Questions. We don't know just how or when The dedication ofAndreas and Le At the time of their marriage in the Laumbachs began to embrace onor Laumbachs' family to Presbyte 1864, Andreas and Leonor Laum the Presbyterian brand of Protes rian schooling acquired in the early, bach had to make decisions about tantism, which differs in important quite primitive missions has contin their differing religious back respects from Andreas's Lutheran ued. Nineteen oftheir grandchildren grounds. In the record of their mar upbringing. We do know that, in were educated in Presbyterian riage,23 itis stated that Andreas, as a 1884, Andreas Laumbach formally schools. In later generations, four Protestant and in the presence of joined the Presbyterian Church in teen of their descendants attended witnesses, agreed to allow his wife to Buena Vista,27 while wife Leonor re the Presbyterian boarding schools, raise their children in the Catholic mained Catholic throughout her life. Menaul in Albuquerque (in early faith. Accordingly, the older Laum It seems likely that the Laumbach years for boys, now coed). and bach children were baptized at St. children acquired Presbyterian re Allison-James in Santa Fe (for girls, Gertrude's Catholic Church in ligious practices and beliefs, a little discontinued in 1970). Indeed, at the Mora.24 It seems clear that Andreas at a time, as a consequence of attend present time there is a fifth Laumbach fully intended that his ing the Presbyterian mission generation Laumbach boy in atten ;. children be raised Catholic and was schools. It is not clear just when the dance at Menaul. at least relatively comfortable with schooling of the Laumbach children German immigrant Andreas this decision. started. The first mission school Detlef Laumbach and his native The Laumbachs and the Presbyterian opened in Las Vegas in 1870,28 the New Mexican wife, Leonor Ebel, val Missions. school in Mora opened in 1881, and ued schools, health care, and social However, during the period that the one in Buena Vista was estab services. For decades, beginning in their children were being born and lished in 1888. Impressively, all nine the 1860s, the Laumbach family was baptized into the Catholic faith, An of the Laumbach children attended one of the most important propo dreas and Leonor became reliable the mission schools. nents for these now essential com supporters of Presbyterian efforts to Oldest daughter, Margareta, at munity services in a territory where establish missions in the communi tended the mission schools in both such services were very late in com ties along the Sangre de Cristo Mora and in Las Vegas. Later, she ing. As it happened, the Presbyteri Mountain range. It was almost cer helped create the Presbyterian mis ans were the first Protestant de tainly the promise pf the efforts by sion in Buena Vista "that was more nomination to establish an effective the Presbyterians to bring educa than school-an informal community presence in New Mexico communi tion, health care, and other social center where the teachers were con ties and to bring the services valued services to area communities, includ sulted on problems of health, baby by the Laumbachs. Although unfa ing Buena Vista, that impressed the care, homekeeping, and church mat miliar with Presbyterianism, the Laumbachs. In our day, it is difficult ters."29 Margareta married Presby Laumbach family recognized the to imagine communities like these terian evangelist Jose Emiterio Cruz promise of the new missions that where no such services had ever ex and spent her life in community were being established. Andreas and isted. Presbyterian histories25 con service. Her sister, Estafanita his family quickly became active en tain references which attest to the Laumbach, also married a Presbyte ablers of the Presbyterian efforts to support for Presbyterian missionar rian evangelist, J. S. Candelario,30 establish Protestant communities in ies provided by the Laumbachs in and sister Chrestina attended Pres territorial New Mexico. Histories of the early years when most commu byterian schools in Buena Vista and the struggles to accomplish this nity residents were Catholic, had no Mora and was an active member of goa133 note with pride and apprecia knowledge of Protestants, and were the church in Las Vegas throughout tion the contributions of the Laum acutely aware ofthe Catholic clergy's most of her life.31 bachs; they were a truly impressive anathema for Protestantism. An ex A surely unintended consequence pioneer New Mexico family that con II ample which illuminates the way of the Laumbach's prominence in tributed much to efforts to serve the things were in the area during this Presbyterian mission activities was needs ofcommon people during terri time and the reaction of the Laum the fact that three of the Laumbach torial days. j, bach family is that of Jose Rafael daughters, Anna, Mary, and Leonor, NOTES Gallegos, who lived with the Annin failed to find husbands. At the time, 1. Interviews with Rudy Laumbach, Karl family in Las Vegas for some months suitable Protestant young men were Laumbach, and Janet Girand, descen in the mid 1870s and "was so perse dants of Andreas Detlef Laumbach; very scarce and the overwhelming "Schleswig-Holstein," Wikipedia, the on cuted as a 'heretic' [for having be majority Catholic community had line encyclopedia; and Pete Laum come Protestant] that he moved many ways to discourage young bach, "A Trip to Schleswig: A Part of the away from the town, becoming what Catholic men from marrying Protes Laumbach Family History," unpublished was known as a 'local evangelist' in manuscript. tants. The three sisters lived out 2. Interviews with Rudy Laumbach, Karl the neighborhood of Buena Vista their lives on the ranch in Buena Laumbach, and Janet Girand, descen several miles to the north. He had Vista, whic4 they eventually inher dants of Andreas Detlef Laumbach; and friends there in the Laumbach fam- ited.32 When one of their brothers,' Cee Savvy, "The Trail to Santa Fe: River
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Settlements on the Santa Fe TraiL" En the Catholic Church. Murphy Wagons chantment Magazine (July 1979): 9. 25. Agnew. Hand on My Shoulder. 61: Barber by Lavonne J. Adams 3. Ibid. and Agnew. Sowers Went Forth., 9-11 ; Consider the weight of what was carried: 4. Ibid. and Gerdeman. Presbyterian Missionar ies. 25. 7,000 pounds of blankets, suspenders, 5. "Pike's Peak Gold Rush," Wikipedia. the boots, online encyclopedia. 26. Barber and Agnew. Sowers Went Forth. gin, whiskey, rum, raisins, sardines, 6. Leo E. Oliva. Fort Union and the Frontier 20. dirks, pistols, chisels, hatchets. Army in the Southwest (Santa Fe: South 27. Ibid. 34. Yet even a wagon can be a work of art. western Cultural Resources Center. Pro 28. Gerdeman. Presbyterian Missionaries. Joseph Murphy gauged his wagons' aged fessional Papers No. 41. National Park 25. wood by the feel of its grain, searching Service. 1993). 107. 29. Ibid. 57. for what was most durable. Only saplings were lathed into spokes, their moist wood 7. Interviews with Rudy Laumbach. Karl 30. Ibid. 60-63. Laumbach. and Janet Girand. descen more resilient. Instead of wielding an auger, 31. Antonio A. Sanchez. "Chrestina Laum he burned every hole a size smaller than the dants of Andreas Detlef Laumbach: and bach Sanchez." unpublished manu Savvy. "Trail to Santa Fe." 9. bolts- script. charred wood was less likely to rot, each Santa Fe National Historic Trail Compre 8. 32. Andreas Detlef Laumbach died in 1904 joint hensive Management and Use Plan (US and Leonor (Ebel) Laumbach died in was more snug. Consider how, in the dry air, Department of the Interior. National Park 1933. wagons rumbled themselves apart- axles Service. May. 1990). 104. 33. Agnew. Hand on My Shoulder. 61; Barber snapping, 9. Doyle Daves. "James Bonney. Santa Fe and Agnew. Sowers Went Forth. 9-11; wheels splitting, spokes dropping out like Trail Pioneer. New Mexico Settler." and Gerdeman. Presbyterian Missionar rotten teeth. Wagon Tracks. 23 (February 2009): 9-12. ies. 25. The better drivers tuned their ears to the 10. Viviana Martin married a third time to music Friedrich (Frank) Metzger with whom she TRAIL TROUBADOUR of their wagon, to variations in the timbre ha"d yet another family. -Traffic in Verse of each creak and groan. They soaked 11. Gabino Rendon as told to Edith Jose wheels to swell phine Agnew. Hand on My Shoulder Sandra M. Doe, Editor wood; tightened loosening tires with (New York: Board of National Missions. wedges; This column seeks poetry which splinted wagons minus a wheel with a pole The United Presbyterian Church in the addresses the history, realism, ro U.S.A.. 1953). 61. that trailed eight feet behind, like a stick mance, and diversity of the Trail and dragged 12. Savvy. "Trail to Santa Fe." 9. through dirt by a bored child. 13. Richard Flint and Shirley Cushing Flint. demonstrates authentic emotion, "Fort Union and the Economy of North original images, and skill in crafts MORNING DRILL BOOKLET ern New Mexico. 1860-1868." New Mex manship. Please submit poems for CELEBRATES FORT LARNED ico Historical Review. 77 (Winter 2002): consideration to Sandra M. Doe, 27-55. Dept. of English, Campus Box 32, THE series of articles by Larned 14. Laumbach. "A Trip to Schleswig." historian David Clapsaddle, pub 15. S. P. Nanninga. The New Mexico School Metropolitan State College of Den ver, PO Box 173362, Denver CO lished weekly in the Larned Tiller System (Albuquerque: New Mexico Uni and Toiler in the column titled versity Press. 1942). 19. 80217-3362. "Morning Drill," has been printed in 16. Calvin Horn. New Mexico's Troubled Lavonne J. Adams, BFA coordina Years (Albuquerque: Horn and Wallace. a booklet which is now available. It 1963).59. tor of creative writing at the Univer contains 48 articles, the first 37 of 17. David Roberts. The Pueblo Revolt (New sity of North Carolina Wilmington, which speak in chronological order to York: Simon & Schuster. 2004); and John recently published an award-win the 19-year tenure of Fort Larned, L. Kessell. Spain in the Southwest (Nor ning book of poetry about the Santa, man: University of Oklahoma Press. use of the fort property as a ranch, Fe Trail, looking especially at and the removal of the remains of 65 2002).121-124. women who traveled the historic 18. Ruth K. Barber and Edith J. Agnew. Sow soldiers to the Fort Leavenworth ers Went Forth (Albuquerque: Menaul road. Through the Glorieta Pass re Post Cemetery in 1888. The remain Historical Library of the Southwest. 1981). ceived the Pearl Poetry Prize for ing installments are devoted to anec 9-11 . 2007 and is available from Last dotal accounts of life at the fort. 19. Paul Horgan. Lamy of Santa Fe (Middle Chance Store for $15 postpaid. town. CT: Wesleyan University Press. Written in celebration of Fort Lar 1975).242-243. Kathryn Stripling ByeI', North ned's 150th anniversary, it is avail 20. Ibid. 157-165. Carolina Poet Laureate, praised able at the Last Chance Store for 21. Doyle Daves and Ernest Quintana. Re these poems: "Lavanne J. Adams's $3.00 postpaid. membering Immaculate Conception mesmerizing Through the Glorieta School (Las Vegas. NM: Las Vegas Citi Pass weaves a chorus of women's RALPH HATHAWAY zens Committee for Historic Preserva tion.2006).1-2. voices into a poetic tapestry through SFTA charter member and life 22. Dale B. Gerdeman. Presbyterian Mission which human longing, determina member Ralph Hathaway, proprie aries in Rural Northern New Mexico (Al tion, and landscape itself speak to tor of Ralph's Ruts (for which he re buquerque: Menaul Historical Library of us. With authority and integrity, ceived the SFTA Heritage Preser the Southwest. 1999). 25. Adams has brought both the beauty vation Award), recently suffered a 23. St. Gertrudes Church (Mora. New Mex and the danger along the Santa Fe ico) Marriage Records. MF Roll 94. Frame stroke and has a mass in his cerebel 188. New Mexico Records Center and Trail to life in her poems." lum. So far there has been no perma Archives. Santa Fe. Adams has kindly given permis nent damage. He is 94 years old. 24. We have the Certificate of Baptism for sion to reprint one of these poems in He would enjoy hearing from son Pedro (Peter Joseph) Laumbach dated September 1. 1867. It seems likely Wagon Tracks (this one is not about SFTA members. His address is Room that his siblings born before Andreas women but Murphy wagons).The en 403, Good Samaritan Center, 1311 S Laumbach's joining of the Presbyterian tire collection is a fine contribution Douglas, Lyons KS 67554. We all Church in 1884 were similarly baptized in to trail literature. wish him well.
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CANADA, CONSUMPTION, AND THE KANSAS PACIFIC: DIARY OF A FREIGHTING TRIP FROM KIT CARSON TO TRINIDAD IN 1870 Edited with commentary by David K. Clapsaddle [P. G. Scott's diary and Clapsaddle's with respect to the freight route. time, as the eastern terminus of the commentary supplements Clapsad However, a brief glimpse of the road Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail dle's Rendezvous article that ap is found in "A Diary of a Freighting road.6 peared in the last issue.] Trip from Kit Carson to Trinidad in Lawrence, Kansas, established in THE Kansas Pacific Railway 1870," P.G. Scott's account of his 21 1854, was a popular stop on the Kan pushed westward out of Kansas in day trip. Additional insights into the sas Pacific Railway. How Scott trav 1869, extending its tracks into Colo Bent's Fort Road were detailed by eled from Atchison to Lawrence re rado Territory where the fledgling Scott as he proceeded southwest of mains moot. In 1870 there was no town of Kit Carson was in its first Bent's Old Fort to Trinidad, Colo rail service between the two towns. stage of development. In March1870, rado, and on into New Mexico Terri- Perhaps he traveled by stage or tory.4 . the Southern Overland Mail Com steamboat from Atchison to Kansas pany moved its offices to Kit Carson; Scott was born in Aberdeen, Scot City and then westward to Law and in short order, Kit Carson took land, in 1841. At age 13 he moved rence.7 Alkali refers to a powdery on the appearance of its Kansas with his family to Canada. There he white mineral, a soluble salt, which counterparts with the usual array of attended school and prepared for a spoils drinking water.s I dance halls, gambling houses, and teaching career. However, when his Scott: saloons, in addition to the more re health broke, his doctor advised him "Slept in Music's store at Carson spectable business houses associated to go "west" in search Qf a better cli and thus saved $1.00. Looked 5 with the commission firms and the mate for his lung trouble. around in the morning and what railroad. Excerpts from Scott's diary begins piles of wagons, oxen and Mexicans. With both the stage and railroad with the entry for August 17, 1870: Not one word of English can they headquarters relocated at Kit Car "Left AtchisonAugust 17 (1870) at speak. Was disappointed in getting son, a stage route was developed to 6:10 A. M. and arrived at [Kit] Car out with Romaro, and went to hunt Fort Lyon. Running due south from son at 7:30 on the 18th. The country another train, but if I had not got a Kit Carson, the new road connected looks pretty well till near Lawrence. blacksmith to speak to them I would with the established route ofthe Fort Stayed at Lawrence for 81/2 hrs and never have found where one of them Wallace-Fort Lyon Road at the Big got acquainted with an Irish was bound. There are quite a Sandy station and continued on to American woman. Promised to call number of wooden houses, lots of Fort Lyon, a distance of 55 miles. when I go back. Saw nothing of the tents, dugouts, etc., with plenty of There, it struck the Bent's Fort Road country till next day and by that saloons, drinking and gambling. of the Santa Fe Trail. 1 time we were past all farming. About These Mexicans are small, thin, The stage route is not to be con 9:00 o'clock saw a herd of about fifty dark, dirty, ragged, and generally fused with the freight road devel buffalo and continued seeing them ugly looking beings." oped by George McBride and Dick now and then till after noon, when Music's store had reference to the Wootton, principal owners of the Kit we saw no more. Nothing after that commission house of Webster, Mu Carson and Fort Union Bridge Com but prairie dogs. Saw lots of dugouts sick and Cuniffe.9 Romaro probably pany. The freight road ran south and lots of old ones. Saw Indians or refers to Eugene or Vincente Ro from Kit Carson to a point a few Mexicans at one place piling wood mero. Eugene served as an agent for miles north of the Big Sandy station. and their oxen stampeded. The land such commission houses as Otero, From that location, it departed is all alkali, having p'n appearance as Sellar and Company and Chick, southwest to a ranch on a stream ifsalt were sowed on it. In the buffalo Browne and Company, both which identified by Ado Hunnius as Big range the prairie is literally covered were located at Kit Carson. Vincente Creek. From the ranch, the road with bones and carcasses in every transported freight for the Fort Un turned south to Bent's Old Fort stage of decay. There is actually ion Quartermaster Department.10 where it merged with the Bent's Fort nothing to describe abut the route Here and elsewhere, Scott's obser -\ Road.2 here, prairies with scarcely any vations of his Mexican companions The stage route to Fort Lyon and grass, dugouts at every station. Saw are negative. Similar prejudiced its freighting counterpart to Bent's two antelopes, some buffaloes, etc. characterizations were typical of { Old Fort became, for a three-year pe Everyone carries a pistol apparently other Anglos. Beyond their physical riod, the eastern ends of the Santa and when buffaloes crossed the track appearance, others were quick to im Fe Trail. From those two points, a great number were drawn to get a pugn their character. Janet Le stage and freight traffic pursued the shot at them, and one man with a compte quoted Charles Bent as an Bent's Fort Road to Fort Union and carbine, hit one we thought." example: "The Mexican character is Santa Fe. Both roads met their de Atchison, Kansas, was the second made up of stupidity, obstinacy, ig mise in 1873 when the Kansas Pa city to be organized in Kansas Terri norance, duplicity, and vanity." Jo cific built a spur from Kit Carson to tory. An important place in the de siah Gregg, Rufus Sage, and George Las Animas, Colorado.3 velopment of western-bound traffic, Baxter described Mexicans in simi There is a paucity of information it served as the base for the Butter lar terms.l1 field Overland Despatch and, for a
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Scott: they all have short horns.'''12 - is a little rolling but is almost pure "Great numbers of 'prairie schoo James Mead concurred with sand, grows a little short dry grass, ners,' oxen, tents, etc., all around Scott's assessment of the Mexicans' almoi?t too short for animals to get a here like ·100 gypsy encampments. skill with the whip. He wrote, "The bite at all, and a plant that looks like No fancy cooking apparatus. I won drivers were well known as bull southernwood and which does not der how I will like it. I am going with 'whackers' mostly semi-Indian, half grow very high but is very plentiful. Dolore Pathea. Got acquainted with civilized, brown skinned, with hair of The water is mostly alkali and bad Mr. L. F. Warder, Fort Union, New jet hanging on their shoulders, for stock. In the creeks there is only a Mexico, and he says that if I had not wielding lashes with such skill as to waterhole here and there. At Carson had my passage paid, he would have cut a rattlesnake's head off at twenty they have bored 1,200 feet and have taken me with him and not charged feet, or cut through the hide of a re not got pure water yet." me a 'red.' He gave me his address fractory OX."13 Contrary to the Mexi The short grasses observed by and told me to call if ever I went his can use of the whip, Tom Cranmer Scott included buffalo grass and way. I will have to stay here another advised American freighters, "I grama grass. Colonel Richard Dodge night. Mr. made the bargain would therefore most emphatically described both: "The Arkansas Val for me and I pay $10 and gave the denounce the practice of beating ley at Fort Lyon is covered with tall, half in advance." oxen under all circumstances."14 fine-looking grass, which the large The identity of Pathea has not Scott's "crack of them is like a pis herds of domestic cattle will scarcely been found. This may be a misspell tol going off' is not without scientific touch, preferring to go eight or ten ing or unclear reading of Perea, a validation. In 1959, U.s. Army scien miles away from the river to feed family long engaged in trade be tists set up instruments and meas upon the buffalo-grass of the high tween New Mexico and Missouri. Lu ured the speed of a popper (cracker) plain. Another curious fact in this ther F. Warder, native of Missouri, as it banged. At the instant of the connection is that the cattle under was probably a civilian employee at noise, they discovered the popper ex such circumstances return to the Fort" Union at the time. He was a ceeded the speed of sound, thus the river for water only on alternate member of the Mora County (New noise results from breaking the days. Another good grass is called Mexico) Stockgrowers Association in sound barrier.l5 'bunch-grass.' Neither this nor the 1881. He died in Colfax County, NM, Scott: buffalo can be cut for hay, which, if required, must be cut from the taller in 1925 at age 87. Red is an abbrevia "Quite cold; could wear winter tion of red cent, a large copper coin but coarser and greatly less nutri clothes. When we got through the tious grasses of the bottoms."17 The minted 1793-1857. In colloquial sand the oxen were turned out to terms, it had reference to a trivial southernwood identified by Scott graze about 9 A. M. They then pro was not a true sage, although it is amount. ceeded to gather dry dung to make a commonly called sagebrush. It is Ar Scott: fire with which to do some cooking temsia nova, a member of the worm "Started from Carson at 7 o'clock and such cooking. IfI can partake of wood family.18 Saturday, August 20th, and in one it I need never complain ofbeing fas half hour came to a sandy bottom tidious. I do not think these Mexi Scott: where there were several mule wag cans ever wash, and the hand that "Sabbath, August 21st. Not much ons stuck, but by dint of whipping piled up the dung for the fire and lit like Sabbath in this wilderness, and and shouting they got through. In it was soon up to the wrists in the when they wake in camp it will be our train they put nine yoke of oxen dough for the 'cakes.''' less like it. How I would like to be to one wagon but it took a great deal In the absence of wood, buffalo taken home for one day, but as that of cracking of these terrible bullock dung (chips) provided a ready source cannot be I must try to keep Sabbath whips before we got through. The of fuel. The French called the ma on the plains. Camped last night at 8 'lash' of these whips is about 12 to 14 nure bois de vache, wood ofthe COW. 16 1/2 o'clock and had supper, which was like dinner, only as our camp feet long and the handle about two Scott: feet with a buckskin 'cracker' and was on a ridge of pure sand and a the crack of them is like a pistol go "Dined at 11 o'clock on coffee, strong wind was blowing, it had ing off. These fellows can swing their cakes, and fresh meat, cooked in a quite a mixture of sand in it. I went whips round their heads and strike a deep frying pan; each got some coffee to sleep in a wagon at 10 P. M. and terrible blow." in a tin cup and all hands sat round some time in the night the old Mexi the frying pan and dipped their Train was the shortened form of can asked me if I would stay or go on bread in the pan among the gravy, or .• with the wagon as they were going to ", wagon train, the usual designation rather water and red pepper, and for a caravan. The literal meaning of double for a two hours' trip through picked the pieces of meat out with sand. I said I would go on. Soon I train refers to something which their not overclean hands. The old trails behind such as a bride's train. heard the whips crack and the shout Mexican boss apologized to me for ing begin and between sleeping and Mexican oxen were typically smaller having no plates but on looking he than their American counterparts. waking felt them going down hill and said, 'By gosh, yes, I've found one,' heard them stick, etc., for, it seemed Thomas Burns, an early settler in and so I had it to eat my meat off of, Kansas Territory, described them as to me, a long time, when the old man the old fellow rubbing it clean with again put in his head and told me 'small Mexican cattle, many of them his own hands. black or black-and-tan in color and they were going back and asked if I "The country round here - Carson would watch the wagon.
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"Got up at 5 A. M. and found the ing. While writing an old Mexican, have seen within 200 miles of here." wagon I slept in one-half mile from belonging to a train which is camped Ergo is an archaic word from the rest, fast in the sand. Found the beside us, came and looked over my Latin meaning therefore, hence. rest of the wagons, with 22 more, by shoulder. Last night I saw 14 yoke of Scott's preparation for a teaching ca the dry bed of a stream with holes oxen drawing one wagon." reer equipped him with a vocabulary dug where water stands. This water Notice Scott's reference to the uncommon on the frontier. Sutler is strongly alkali so I had a· good "road." In general, frontier routes was the original title of the civilian wash, but a poor drink." were known as roads, sometimes appointed to operate a retail busi Notice Scott's concern for the Sab traces, infrequently trails. Scott ness at army posts. In 1867, the des bath, the first of several times he re made mention of "11 teams to one ignation was changed to post trader. marked upon keeping the religious wagon," no doubt because of sandy Regardless, the title of sutler contin day. Sabbath was a formality not of terrain. William Bell reported a ued in unofficial use for some time. ten observed by freighters, Mexican similar situation in 1867 with a Apparently, the sutler wagon was or American. There is one outstand Mexican train on the Fort Riley-Fort the vehicle used to transport goods ing exception. The Russell, Majors Larned Road: "When one of these from the railhead to Fort Union by and Waddell Company prohibited wagons stuck fast in a gulley, it was someone who contracted with the work on Sunday. Included in the amusing to see the enormous post trader, perhaps Pathea. The company's instructions to its person amount of brute force which was ap record indicates that Fort Union's nel was the following admonition: plied to pull it out. The oxen from two post trader from April 17, 1866, to "We expect our trains to observe the of the wagons which had passed April 17, 1869, was C. W. Adams. His Sabbath, and whenever an opportu safely across would be attached to successor was John C. Dent, October nity occurs to hear preaching, em the one in difficulties, making a con 6, 1870, to April 12, 1878. No evi brace it."19 tinuous string of from eighteen to dence remains as to an interim post Frontier travelers often found wa twenty yoke. To accomplish even trader.22 ter to be scarce. A common practice this, usually required an amount of Scott: was to dig a hole in a dry stream bed swearing and torturing on the part of "Wednesday, 24th. Stayed in the creating a reservoir into which water the drivers which would be startling same spot all night. Retired at 10 P. would seep. Such is demonstrated in to the nerves of most men not reared M. and slept till 7:30 A. M. Had Thomas Lester Bryant's account at on the plains. When all was ready, breakfast at 10 A. M. Saw a new way Rock Creek in eastern Kansas. He and a dozen 'bull-whackers' had of leave taking by embracing. The wrote, "Spades were put.to active taken their places along each side of men were busy last night fixing the service and in 4 feet we found the the line of oxen, a frightful shout wheel, putting in new spokes. Posi best of water."20 would fill the air, followed by the tively nothing new. The wind blows a Scott: fierce cracking of whips on the de gale today and I wish we were off. voted hides, and the usual chorus of Breast a little worse today and very "Monday, 22d. Started last night endearing terms."21 at 3 1/2 P. M. to take the wagons over bad cough. 'Tell it not in Gath.' I ate a the next 3 miles. They put 11 teams Scott: piece of prairie dog and half cooked to one wagon and by dint of a great "Tuesday, 23rd. Started last night at that, this for supper last night. deal of whipping the last one con at 3 P. M. and were soon out of the The water is so alkaline at our last taining my bed was got through sand when we had good roads but watering place that they think it has about 12 P. M. I got acquainted with vegetation is much the same. It killed an ox belonging to a train an American on the camping ground hardly ever rains here,'ergo' things which is camped beside us. They and learned a few words of Spanish. cannot grow. Very dusty, so I rode have been skinning it and have I got my supper from him. They were most of the time till we camped for brought the meat in, going to eat it I waiting to recover five stray mules. supper. Saw a few antelope. Stopped suppose. Helped to 'set' the tire on For dinner we had cakes fried in 2 hours, starting at 9 P. M. It was the wheel that was broken, a kind of gravy, some pork fried, water put in nice and cool so I walked, then I a rough job." the gravy and one cupful of red pep •drove for the boss. At 1 A. M. a wheel American caravans also began per, making a mixture hot enough to broke. The boss stayed with the their "nooning" at that hour. Tom excoriate the mouth of anyone but a wagon and they hitched the oxen to Cranmer wrote, "Corral about 10 Mexican. I ate a little of it. Walked the 'sutler' wagon and I drove, walk o'clock, and lay by four hours; here out here last 'night over the sand. I ing all night. We got to water at 5 A. you rest during the heat of the day, did not follow the road but took a M., the cattle very tired, and men but if you get breakfast before the straight course, being directed by the too. Mter all it is only stagnant holes morning drive, you will be in the sight of the wagons, sometimes, and in a kind of creek bed and is not good. dust and the heat of the day."23 the cracking of the whips. I wish I had a good drink. Made 27 Scott's use of the word embracing is "Got up this morning at 6 1/2 A. M. miles since 3 P. M. yesterday, going cryptic. One meaning of the word is and find we are camped on sand with slow most of the time. I saw an old encircling. Scott meant that the wag sand as far as can be seen all round, Mexican catching lice on his shirt; he ons drawn up in a circle were dis with a very little dry grass, and came and sat down right beside us patched in a circuitous manner as while breakfast is cooking I write and did it, taking his shirt off and go they departed. Scott's reference to this. I see more pepper sauce prepar- ing over it carefully. I also see a few "Breast a little worse today and very scrubby trees by the water, the first I bad cough' confirms his lung disor-
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der, tuberculosis, known as con for oxen. Sometimes, they were cated. The wagons crossed the Ar sumption in the nineteenth century. called working cattle to distinguish kansas River near Bent's Fort to 'Tell it not in Gath' is an Old Testa them from animals used for beef or avoid the toll at the bridge a few ment quotation from II Samuel 1:20. dairy products. Evidently, Scott was miles upstream. Evidently, Scott felt he should not reminiscing about a long lost love in Scott: make a public complaint about his the Canadian woods where he and "Saturday,· 27th. Started last health; so he confided to his diary. As someone made sugar, perhaps made night near sundown and traveled 5 to the prairie dog, during his first love. miles along the bank of the river. trip to Santa Fe, William Becknell Scott: The land is barren right to the wa "killed and sampled the flesh of one "Friday, 26th. Got to the Arkansas ter's edge in most places, only a little of these rodents and pronounced it River a little before sundown and dry grass. Camped near where there strong and unpalatable."24 camped beside Bent's Fort, an old In is a bridge across the river; a very Scott: dian trading post. The fort is built of common wooden affair. The man "Thursday, 25th. Started at 5 P. sundried brick, in a square with lives in a little flat roofed house with M. from our last camping ground, houses leaned up against the wall on a kraal [corral] beside it. He charges traveled 2 hours, had supper, then the inside. The wall is about 10 feet $1.00 toll for a wagon and when the traveled 3 hours more. I drove part of high and the roofs of the shanties stream is high it cannot be forded. the time. Camped for the night at 12 slope inward. The stables occupy one He also has a great many cows. We P. M. Started again in the morning side of the square. Several lines of saw a great many of them today with and got to water at 12 M. Saw a few stage cross here and there is a P.O. calves at foot. Our crowd cooked no ducks in it. Had a wash. The water is in which I put a letter. There is a dinner yesterday and some of us got salt. Two more trains camped beside large herd of horses and mules and our suppers at a neighboring camp. I us. The oxen when together number 400 cattle belonging to Price who do not know how the rest did. I re 106. Have had no breakfast so far, lives at the fort. In the inside there is tired at 9 1/2 P. M. and slept well, but got a piece ofbread. Had an invi a large yard where they run in the though the wind blew hard and we tation from the old man to go to his stage, etc. The roofs of the houses are had a little rain. I got up at 7 A. M., place. We had a wood fire to cook made of poles covered with a thin had breakfast and we started at 8 A. supper last night, having brought stratum of clay and not calculated to M. Saw glimpses of the river for two some in a wagon. The very smell of hold out water I should think. They hours. I drove most of the forenoon the wood burning brought back old of the fort say it is 55 miles to Car- as the old man was out hunting. We times to memory." son." camped at 11:30 A. M. at a waterhole Whenever possible, wood or chips At the time of Scott's arrival, in a creek bed, but the water is too would be gathered along the way and Bent's Fort was a stage stop on the dirty to wash. Here we met the boss saved for the campfire. James Mead Southern Overland Mail line. There, and had dinner. I feel a little better recalled, "Underneath each wagon a the branch line to Pueblo started.26 today. Saw Pikes Peak and Green net was slung, made ofhides or sacks The station was operated by a Mr. horn Mountains very plain, looking sewn together, filled with buffalo Price. He and his partner, Mr. Lan the same as those I fancied I saw bef chips for fuel, or sometimes, a log of der, were local cattlemen.27 ore." driftwood was swinging."25 Scott: The toll bridge built by McBride Scott: "The river where we crossed it is and Wootton had charges, according "The men were busy with their in two branches, each as large as the to Morris Taylor, of fifty cents per wagon at low water, not more than cattle while I sat looking into the fire Maitland at Codirich. It runs quite 28 and thinking, not 'building castles in rapidly, is clear and has a fringe of $1.50 during other times. The the air,' but looking at the ruins of trees along its banks most places and mountains seen by Scott were Pikes those that had fallen as I thought, a narrow strip of green grass, behind Peak and the Spanish Peaks, some but caught myselfrebuilding before I which rise sand bluffs. The bed of the 70 miles in the distance. knew - vain work! Thinking of the river is sandy and we stuck, of Scott: time I used to sit by the fire in the course, and after trying 20 yoke of. "Sabbath, 28th. I drove the oxen sugarbush when Jane and I worked oxen in vain, we got help, and by un most of the afternoon. We traveled so hard to make sugar. Those times coupling the two wagons that are 18 miles yesterday. We came to a are gone never to return, never! To drawn behind each other we got ranch, two miles from our camping look back they seem to have been through. As the water is quite deep ground, where there is a well. We pleasant times, though I thought the drivers had to strip to their work. drew water and drank and also filled them hard enough then. I would love Had a piece of melon, some green our kegs. The water had not a very to see Canada again in health, and corn, and onions for supper, also good taste, but it was clean and cool all the dear friends it contains. God tasted buckwheat mush without and on the whole was the best drink I grant that I may. Slept well last salt. Slept well, and got up at sunrise have got since I left Lawrence. We night. The country dry and barren as but do not feel very well today." camped at dark and I had a wash and usual. I told the boss that I saw "Maitland at Codirich" refers to supper and then retired about 9 1/2 ducks, when he took his rifle and Maitland River, which flows into P. M. Did not sleep very well till near went out and shot one." . Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, day. Got up at 6 A. M. and found Cattle was a common designation where the town of Godirich is 10- them hitching up. Started at 7 A. M.
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The land seems nearly as barren as "Monday, August 28th. Camped Scott: ever but the bluffs begin to be partly at dark last night and had supper "Tuesday, 30th. Drove the oxen all covered with low bushy cedars. The about 9 P. M. I retired near ten and day yesterday, the boss being hunt road is very dusty and it is not possi slept well though it was quite cold. ing. He and one of the men who ble to get out of it. Sabbath makes no Got up at daylight and had a good joined us the other day brought in difference to anyone here as far as I wash and so had one of the hunters. three antelope, nice and fat they have seen yet. Traveled most of the Since yesterday noon the land is were. Camped for supper and had day close to the sand bluffs, following more rocky, the bluffs higher and some half-cooked antelope and the course of a creek bed. Camped at more abrupt and covered with a started again and drove part of the 111/2 A. M. by the side of a salt creek denser growth oftrees, mostly cedar. night. Mter about an hour the boss and close to a ranch. Two hunters The lower land has greener grass drove and I went to sleep in the joined us in the forenoon. They and and there are more dry water wagon and slept till day. Had more the boss went up to the ranch and courses. The road is much more un antelope for breakfast, started and brought back some curds, melons, even and looks as ifit had been very drove 4 1/2 hours. I got a sight of and green corn, also a little meat. wet some time ago. The look of the Trinidad. The boss pointed it out to They could not wait till dinner was country has improved today. It is me at the foot of a mountain and by ready but fell to and ate the curds, fully as rocky but the trees are in • the side of a stream. Killed a rattle corn, etc., as soon as they came back. patches and strips in the plains and snake on the road and saw snow near It is rather amusing to see the effect their short stems and round bushy the top of a mountain. Had an invita the fresh meat has had on all hands tops reminds me of an old orchard; tion from the boss to go to his place but the old boss. I guess he has eaten while perhaps a pile of rocks nearby when I pleased and stay as long as I too much carrion in his life to be so answers for houses. Saw a shep liked. As we came down into the val easily affected. I have a headache to herd's fire last night; heard the ley we saw corn and wheat by the day. I wonder what the people in sheep bleat and the shepherd shout side of the river, the first I have seen Canada, in myoId home are doing. ing and singing, and in this fore since I left Lawrence. There are no They will manage to keep Sabbath a noon's travel we saw 4 large flocks of fences that I can see. Gave the boss little better than they do here." sheep. These men must have a very 50 cents with which he bought curds The ranch Scott mentioned was lonely time. I don't envy them a bit. and they are.busy eating them now. the Iron Spring station established This morning I saw the mountain at The land has been more destitute of in 1861 about forty miles southwest the foot of which Trinidad is situ grass today than it was yesterday. of Bent's Fort. The water there had a ated. It is 2 1/2 or 3 days distant and There are patches of wild sunflowers high iron content. Such is in keeping seems quite high. I wonder what now right beside the grain but not with Scott's complaint of the water, luck lies at the foot of it for me." half so large as I saw in Kansas near "had not a very good taste."29 Scott's reference to the "plains" is the Missouri River. Drove all fore "Ranch" was derived from the Span instructive. The plains are populated noon and feel very much fagged. Still ish rancho, a small ranch. Through by short grasses as opposed to the I am a good bit better than I was. out the West, a ranch, often spelled prairie which is the home of the tall Lots of mountains to right, left, and ranche, designated any isolated grasses. Prairie is derived form the in front, peak rising beyond peak." place of habitation. Along frontier French with reference to meadow, a The mountains Scott mentioned roads, ranches originated to cater to place of tall grass. Generally speak were the Raton Mountains. Trini the needs of travelers. Sometimes ing, the short grass country begins in dad, which Scott saw at a distance, called road ranches or trading central Kansas and extends west had its 1859 origins with a saloon op ranches, they often served as mail ward to the Rocky Mountains. erated by Gabriel Gutierrez and stations. Ranch and station were of Scott: blacksmith shop run by Joe Walker. ten used in a synonymous fashion. "Camped after 3 1/2 hours' travel In 1861, John Witlock, Chief Sur The cedar mentioned by Scott is near a little shanty, but built of geon of the New Mexico Volunteers, actually juniper. Then, as now, peo stone. I drove all forenoon, the boss laid out a townsite of five streets.32 ple in the Southwest refer to the spe, being hunting. We drove the cattle to Once more, Scott expressed dis cies as cedar. Blevins described the water at a hole beside a pile of rocks. pleasure with his health, "feel very tree as, "stunted, shaggy, twisted."30 We saw some rabbits and the boys much fagged." The creek bed mentioned by Scott killed one with a stone. Our gang Scott: was Timpas Creek which flows into seems fully as dirty, ill supplied with "September 1st. [August 31st.] ,. the Arkansas at present La Junta, provisions, and careless about cook Our train camped near the banks of Colorado. The salt creek noted by ing as any I see. We often get only the Picketwire. I saw some Mexicans Scott referred to the presence of al two meals per day, a piece of cake in threshing wheat by driving sheep kali. The second ranch identified by the hand being the third. I feel the round on it while it is spread on a Scott was Hole-in-the-Rock station pain in my breast today pretty bad." hard mud floor, the stack of loose about fifteen miles southwest of Iron 31 Notice that Scott made a mistake wheat being built in the center. No Spring. Curds are the coagulated in dating the diary. He wrote Mon part of milk produced in the making farming without irrigation. The day, August 28. He should have writ wheat is miserable looking and the of cheese. Again Scott refers to his ten August 29. Notice he complains health, "I have a headache today." corn more miserable still. A great again about his health. deal ofit will not be worth gathering. Scott:
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These Mexicans are a miserable viation for adobe. 34 about the usual way. Trains passing looking set, living in miserable look The Reverend Elijah J. Rice came and repassing every day, oxen or ing houses [mud] with poor crops. I to Las Animas in 1869 and estab mules. 340 soldiers passed here yes believe they are content if they can lished the Methodist Episcopal terday enroute for Fort Union. They keep the life in without attempting Church. Subsequently, he opened were the hardest looking set of sol more. A few sheep and goats, a few the city's first public school, Rice In diers I ever saw, dirty and ragged, asses, and sometimes a few cows, stitute. He left a promising career in their toes sticking through their and stock cattle - that is the more Kansas, serving on the faculty of the boots, etc. Their officers ordering wealthy - and we have the sum and University of Kansas and later as them about very sharply and they substance of the Mexican wealth. president of Baker University. Like very tired looking and travelworn. There are a few low trees along the Scott, he came "west" to seek a better Some Mexicans came along today river; and, along the bottom, there climate for his consumptive condi with asses and large packs of apples are ditches for irrigation. I left the tion. Notice that Scott inquired as to and they charged very high for train 4 1/2 miles below Trinidad and the possibility of light work. Evi them." walked up. I found that Mr. Rice was dently, he was not able to engage in So ends the brief diary of P. G. not at home. I inquired about work strenuous labor.35 Scott, which chronicles his travel on and could have got heavy work but Smith A. Sayers leased some land the freight road from Kit Carson to could hear of no light job. Finally I from Lucien Maxwell near the south Bent's Fort and on to Willow Spring was directed to Mr. Sayer who lives end of Raton Pass in 1868. There, he on the Bent's Fort Road of the Santa in New Mexico. I went with him. established a forage station for the Fe Trail. Mter a briefsojourn in New Trinidad is built on the east bank of army at Willow Spring.36 The moun Mexico, Scott moved to Trinidad; the Picketwire. The houses are tain referred to by Scott as the and in the following year, he made nearly all built of doby, of one story Devil's Tea Table was Fisher's Peak, his way to Las Animas, Colorado.41 and have a mean appearance. The originally called Raton Peak.37 Even the most casual reader will people are nearly all Mexican, the notice two concerns expressed by Americans being nearly all business The pine trees noted by Scott were piiions, common to the canyon coun Scott, the Sabbath and his health. In men or gamblers. Trinidad is at the 38 Las Animas, he was afforded a sem foot of a peak called 'The Devil's Tea try of the Southwest. Scott: blance of society wherein the Sab Table.' I got my trunk into Mr. bath could be properly observed, and "September 4th. Came to Sayer's Sayer's wagon and we started at somewhere along the way he re on the night of August 31st and did near twelve o'clock and traveled gained his health. Upon his death in not feel very well next day. I did not nearly all the way among the moun 1930, he was lauded as follows: "He do a great deal; helped him to fix a tains, the Raton spur. We saw a few was for many years cashier and later bed on the 'bar' and found sawing patches of grain and a few Mexican president of the Bent County Bank and planning rather more than I was huts and then nothing but peak after at Las Animas and took a prominent peak, some quite high, others quite able for. Next day I went with Job part in the development of the Ar low and covered with grass. These Sayers to the Sugarete River to kansas Valley."42 mountains are covered mostly with gather plums. We were gone nearly pine trees, scrubby and pitchy, not all day and got a good few but they Scott was not unlike others who being much use for anything as they are not yet ripe. I would have en preceded him on the Santa Fe Trail are full of knots and won't split. A joyed myself very well if I had been for health's sake, namely Josiah few willows and cottonwoods along gathering them for some one at Gregg and Matthew Field. Gregg the creeks and beautiful grass in the horne...." recovered his health to write the time honored Commerce of the valleys make a few really beautiful Scott's health evidently prevented spots. The grass being short makes Prairies. Field, a one time thespian him from "sawing and planning" or and would-be poet, made his mark them look like a shaven lawn, and any hard labor. The plum trees of with company I could have wished to with the New Orleans Picayune which Scott wrote were Prunus which published his account of Santa spend a while in one of these roman Americana, described as follows: tic places." Fe Trail travels, later published in "shrub or small tree 25-30 feet high Matt Field on the Santa Fe Trail Picketwire refers to El Rio de Las and rarely 12 inches in diameter; collected by Clyde and Mae Reed, Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio, the trunk short, usually dividing near and edited by John E. Sunder. Scott's River ofLost Souls in Purgatory. The the ground; crown broad, with many little diary, not well known, Spanish legend is that the river was spreading branches; usually spread nevertheless provides a singular '. ing by shoots form the roots into named for some men killed some view of the freight road from Kit dense thickets."39 The acorns Scott where along the stream's course, and Carson to Bent's Fort plus details of noted refer to the fruit of the piiion without absolution were condemned the Bent's Fort Road not generally tree called piiion nuts. The nuts were to purgatory. In time, the French known, i.e., Fisher's Peak called the shortened the name to Purgatoire; considered a delicacy by both Indi Devil's Tea Table. ans and Mexicans. Piiion is a Span and later Americans called the river NOTES Picketwire.33 The mud houses ob ish word, literally pine nut.40 1. Janet Lecompte. "The Mountain Branch: served by Scott were made of adobe. Scott: Raton Pass and Sangre de Cristo Pass." Elsewhere, he refers to the building "Wednesday, September 7th. Not The Santa Fe Trail: New Perspectives material as "doby," an Anglo abbre- (Denver: The Colorado Historical much taking place but everything Society, 1987), 63. This variant of the
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Santa Fe Trail was not known as the que: University of New Mexico Press, quently disposed of the trade goods Mountain Branch during the historic 1971).147. at a substantial profit. Mter a three period. Rather. it was called the Bent's 27. Ibid., 150. week stay in Santa Fe, he made his Fort Road. 28. Morris' F. Taylor. Trinidad, Colorado Terri 2. David K. Clapsaddle. "The Fort Wallace tory (Trinidad: Trinidad State Junior Col way back to San Miguel, picked up a Kit Carson-Fort Lyon Roads." Wagon lege, 1966). 104. Mr. McLaughlin, one of his original Tracks. 8 (February 1994): 11-14. 29. Ibid.. 78. 111. party left in the village, and with two 3. Ibid.. 13. 30. Blevins. Wordsworth Dictionary, 49. other unnamed Americans resumed 4. P. G. Scott. "A Diary of a Freighting Trip 31. Taylor. First Mail West. 86, 117. his return trip to Missouri. From Kit Carson to Trinidad in 1870." The 32. Ibid.. 23-24. Colorado Magazine. 8 (July 1931): 146 On the return trip, Becknell for 154. 33. Hobart E. Stocking, The Road to Santa Fe sook the route taken on the Purga (New York: Hastings House Publishers. 5. "Editorial Notes." Ibid. 1971).270. toire to traverse northeast New Mex 6. Wayne C. Lee and Howard C. Raynes 34. Blevins. Wordsworth Dictionary. 3. ico, through the present Oklahoma ford. Trails of the Smoky Hill (Caldwell. Idaho: The Caxton Printers. 1980). 51-52; 35. Taylor. Trinidad, 96. 105. 120. Panhandle, and into present south Richard L. Douglas. "A History of Manu 36. Nancy Robertson, "Post Office Oak Let west Kansas to cross the Arkansas, facturers in the Kansas District." KSHS ters." Wagon Tracks, 4 (November 1989). probably in present Ford County. . Collections. 11 (Spring 1909): 102-103. 18. Pressing on, Becknell arrived at 7. Frank W. Blackmar (ed.). Kansas. vol. 2 37. Marc Simmons. Following the Santa Fe Franklin on January 30, 1822. Of • (Chicago: Standard Publishing Com Trail: A Guide ·for Modern Travelers pany. 1921). 112-113. (Santa Fe: Ancient City Press, 1984). 133. particular interest is that the out 8. Winifred Blevins (ed.). The Wordsworth 38. Blevins. Wordsworth Dictionary, 174. going trip to Santa Fe consumed two , Dictionary of the American West (Ware. 39. Richard J. Preston. Jr.. Rocky Mountain and a half months, the return trip • Hertfordshire. England: Wordsworth Edi Trees (New York: Dover Publications. only forty-eight days.2 tions; Ltd .. 1993).5..' 1947).189. In May 1822, Becknell made a sec 9. P. G. Scott Papers, Colorado State Histori 40. Blevins, Wordsworth Dictionary. 174. ond trip to Santa Fe, this time with cal Society. 41. Scott. "Diary of a Freighting Trip," 154. 10. Leo E. Oliva, Fort Union and the Frontier 42. "Editorial Notes." three wagons of merchandise and Army in the Southwest (Santa Fe: Na twenty-one men. Leaving Fort Os tional Park Service Southwestern Cul "CIMARRON CUTOFF," A 20 age, Becknell and party proceeded to tural Resources Center. 1993).557.569 a point probably in present Rice 570. CENTURY MISNOMER 11. Janet Lecompte, Pueblo. Hardscrabble. by David K. Clapsaddle County, Kansas, where they forded and Greenhorn (Norman: University of the Arkansas and continued as they Oklahoma Press. 1978), 71-72. [SFTA Ambassador Clapsaddle is had in the 1821 expedition up the 12. Thomas F. Burns. "The Town of Wilming president of the WetlDry Routes south side of the river. The route of ton and the Santa Fe Trail." KSHS Trans Chapter and a frequent contributor this party has not been determined. actions. 16 (1910): 599. to Wagon Tracks.) Becknell wrote, "We once more left 13. Schuyler Jones. ed.. Hunting and Trading on the Great Plains 1859 - 1875 (Norman: ON his first and fabled trip to Santa our camp, and after traveling eight University of Oklahoma Press. 1986).46 Fe, William Becknell set forth from days up the Arkansas, struck a 47. Franklin, Missouri, on September 1, southwest course for the Spanish 14. Tom C. Cranmer, Rules and Regulations. 1821, with five companions and a .Country." Arriving at San Miguel 22 By Which To Conduct Wagon Trains (Drawn By Oxen On The Plains) (Kansas string of pack horses laden with days later, the party proceeded on to City. MO: Commercial Advertiser Job trade goods. Reaching Fort Osage, Santa Fe where Becknell sold the Rooms, 1866). 11. the party pressed on through Mis trade goods and his wagons. Re 15. Robert West Howard, The Wagonneer souri and into Indian Territory, ar marking on the return trip, Becknell (New York: G. P. Putman's Sons, 1964). wrote, "We took a different course 33. It is an interesting trivia question to riving at a point on the Arkansas ask what part of a wagon train on the River somewhere east of Walnut from that pursued on our way out Santa Fe Trail could travel faster than the Creek. There, Becknell's men forded which considerably shortened the speed of sound. the river and proceeded upstream to route and arrived at Franklin in 48 16. Blevins, Wordsworth Dictionary. 35. present Colorado where they came to days."3 17. Richard Irving Dodge. The Plains of North "the forks ... and took the left hand Becknell's return route on his sec America and Their Inhabitants (Newark: University of Delaware Press. 1989),79. one [the Purgatoire River]" south ond expedition became the precursor 1 18. Blevins. Wordsworth Dictionary. 200. west. Following Chacuaco Creek for the regular route to Santa Fe, 19. Raymond W. and Mary Lee Settle, War through what became known as Em which, leaving the Arkansas ran to Drums and Wagon Wheels (Lincoln: Uni ery Gap into New Mexico, three the Lower Spring near the Cimarron versity of Nebraska Press. 1966). 176. weeks later they met a party of River, followed that stream to Mid , . 20. Thomas B. Hall. MD.. Medicine on the Spanish (Mexican) soldiers who es dle Spring in the present Cimarron '. Santa Fe Trail (Arrow Rock. MO: Friends of Arrow Rock. 1987). 28. corted then to the village of San National Grassland, and farther 21 . William A. Bell. New Tracks in North Amer Miguel de Vado. There, as good for southwest near Upper Spring which ica (Albuquerque: Horn and Wallace tune would have it, was a French was located a short distance from the Publishers. 1965).26-27. speaking resident whose language Cimarron River. Such is the genesis 22. Oliva. Fort Union. 685. was not lost on Becknell. He agreed ofthe title for Becknell's trek, the Ci 23. Cranmer, Rules and Regulations. 25-26. to accompany Becknell's party to marron Route. Leaving the Cimar 24. Larry M. Beachum. William Becknell: Fa Santa Fe and act as interpreter. ron, the route ran to Cold Creek in ther of the Santa Fe Trail (EI Paso: Texas Western Press. 1982),26. Arriving in the capital city on No the present Oklahoma Panhandle, 25. Jones. Hunting and Trading, 50-51. vember 16, Becknell, welcomed by on to Round Mound and Point of 26.Morris F. Taylor. First Mail West (Albuquer- Governor Facundo Melgares, subse- Rocks in New Mexico, thence to San
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Miguel, Glorieta Pass, and finally con is difficult to determine, but its Trade 1844-1847, ed. By Ralph P. Bieber Santa Fe. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, preference has been contagious. 1995),58: Barry, Beginning of the West, The first 50 miles of the route Scholarly historians have made use 346-347. from the Arkansas River was across of the designation: Max Moorhead, 6. David K. Clapsaddle, "The Dry Route Re a semi-arid region known by the New Mexico /s Royal Road: Trade visited," Overland Journal. 17 (Summer Mexicans as jornada del muerto, the and Travel on the Chihuahua Trail; 1999):2-6. Marc Simmons, Murder on the Santa 7. Morris F. Taylor, First Mail West (Albuquer journey of death. That leg ofthe jour que: University of New Mexico Press, ney brought the traders to Sand Fe Trail, Morris Taylor, First Mail 1971),77,108.' Creek, usually dry. Ten miles farther West. Such usage extends to popular 8. David K. Clapsaddle, "The Fort Wallace was Lower Spring, a sure source of historians and the general public. Kit Carson - Fort Lyon Roads," Wagon water even when the nearby Cimar Even one of the Santa Fe Trail Asso Tracks, 8 (February 1994): 11-14. ron River was not.4 ciation's chapters is named the Ci As to the historic designation of marron Cutoff. Two notable writers Becknell's route, Matthew Field in have refused to use this terminology: Leo E. Oliva, Soldiers on the Santa 1839 wrote, "We traveled by the HOOF PRINTS Semirone road." Five years later, Jo Fe Trail; and a more recent author, Stephen Hyslop, Bound for Santa Fe: -TRAIL T1081T5- siah Webb wrote, "So when the train • left the river by the Cimarron route, The Road to New Mexico and the The Draft Environmental Impact we re-crossed the river and started American Conquest, 1806-1848. Statement for the Long Walk Na Regardless, those engaged in the tional Historic Trail Feasibility on our trip ahead to Bent's Fort." • Second Lieutenant William D. Whip Santa Fe trade never regarded the Study is available for public com ple reported in 1852, "Twenty-five Cimarron Route as a cutoff. From its ment. Please view and submit com miles beyond Fort Atkison is the old advent, it was the direct route, and ments via the Internet at
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The Museum ofNew Mexico Press characteristic manner, the influence their goods: the others would be com has published a new book, El Rancho which our ordinary political habits pelled to remain, or send them to de las Golondrinas: Living History in and institutions exercise, even upon Chihuaba [sic] and other markets New Mexico's La Cienega Valley, by a trading party in the heart almost of below. Among the number who have Carmella Padilla, photography by a wilderness: returned is Capt. R. B. [Richard Jack Parsons, and foreword by Marc From the Santa Fe Caravan.-Letters Bland] Lee, U.S. Army. Simmons. Details at
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House. Website: www.ptsLnetjusers/museum Telephone: 505-374-2977 · June 14, 12:30 p.m.: Friends ofAr • Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. • Call for information. row Rock 50th Anniversary An 12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m., except major Highway of Legends Scenic & Historic nual Meeting at the gentlemen. holidays. Byway Huston Tavern. Fee $25; call for Cimarron Recreation Area PO Box 377 reservations. Cimarron National Grassland Trinidad CO 81082 • June 14, 2:00 p.m.: Free talk by PO Box 300 Telephone: 719-846-7217 Dr. Gary Kremer, Executive Direc 242 E Highway 56 Website: www.sangres.com tor, State Historical Society of Elkhart KS 67950 • Enjoy spectacular scenery, historic Missouri at the State Visitor Cen Telephone: 620-697-4621 E-mail: [email protected] towns, and museums along High ter. Website: wwwJsJed.us/r2/psicc/cim way 12. Stop at Marion and Rich · June 27, 4-7 p.m.: Masonic Lodge · Call for information or visit the ard Russell's beloved Stonewall. Hall Fish Fry, fee charged. web site. • From Cordova Pass trailhead, · July 4, 2 p.m.: Impromptu Parade Citizens Committee for Historic Preser hike in the Spanish Peaks Wilder followed by Fireworks at dusk. vation ness Area and experience Trail Free events. 127 Bridge Street landmarks up close. Barton County Museum & Village PO Box 728 Historic Adobe Museum PO Box 1091 Las Vegas NM 87701 PO Box 909 (300 EOklahoma) Great Bend KS 67530 Telephone: 505-425-8803 Ulysses, KS 67880 Telephone: 620-793-5125 E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 620-356-3009 Website: www.bartoncountymuseum Website: www.lasvegasnmcchp.com E-mail: [email protected] .org · The site is a designated Santa Fe • Call for information. · Call for information. National Trail Interpretive Cen Coronado Quivira Museum Historic Trinidad Rice County Historical Society City of Trinidad Tourism Board ter. 105 West Lyon · Open Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. PO Box 880 Lyons KS 67554 Trinidad, CO 81082 5 p.m.; weekends, 1-5 p.m. Group Telephone: 620-257-3941 Website: www.historictrinidad.com tours available by reservation. E-mail: [email protected] Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site • Call for information. • Trinidad's Main Street, on the 3511 0 Highway 194 East Fort Union National Monument Santa Fe National Historic Trail La Junta CO 81050 PO Box 127 Auto Route, has shopping and din Telephone: 719-383-5010 Watrous NM 87753 ing in an acclaimed national his E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 505-425-8025 toric district. Enjoy self-guided' Website: www.nps.gov.beol E-mail: [email protected] tours of the nearby Purgatoire · Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Guided Website: www.nps.gov/foun River Walk. tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. • Open daily except for major holi • Visit the Louden-Henritze Archae Orientation film and self-guided days. Located 8 miles north of In ology Museum at Trinidad State tours throughout the day. terstate 25 at the end of NM High Junior College. Open 10 a.m.-2 · Visit the Fort trade room and way 161. p.m., Monday-Thursday. bookstore. · Self-guided interpretive trails (1.6 Jefferson Nat. Expansion Memorial Boggsville Historic Site mile and .5 mile) through the ru 11 N Fourth Street PO Box 68 ins. Guided tours by request; St. Louis, MO 63102 Las Animas CO 81054 groups of ten or more people need Telephone: 314-655-1631 Telephone: 719-456-1358 advance reservations. E-mail:[email protected] Friends of Arrow Rock E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nps.gov/jeff 309 Main Website: www.bentcounty.org/sites · Visit the Gateway Arch, Museum Arrow Rock MO 65320 andcelebrations/historic/htm of Westward Expansion, and Old Telephone: 660-837-3231 • Contact Boggsville for information. Courthouse. This National Park E-mail: [email protected] Boot Hill Museum Service site commemorates St. Websites: wwwJriendsar.org; www.ar Louis's role in westward expan Front Street rowrock.org Dodge City KS 67801 sion during the 1800s and honors Telephone: 620-227-8188 • Call for information. individuals such as Dred and Har E-mail: [email protected] Gas and Historical'Museum riet Scott who sued for their free Website: www.boothill.org Stevens County Historical Society dom in the Old Courthouse. • Museum: Call for hours. PO Box 87 · Free ranger-led and special mu • Boot Hill Cemetery, Boot Hill, & Hugoton KS 67951 seum programs. Fees charged for Front Street:Open Monday-Satur Telephone: 620-544-8751 the tram ride to the top of the day 9:00-5:00 and Sunday 1:00 E-mail: [email protected] Gateway Arch and films in the 5:00. • Call for information. visitor center. • Santa Fe Trail Ruts nine miles Grant County Chamber of Commerce Kearny County Museum west of Dodge City on US Hwy 113-B South Main 11 N Fourth St 400; markers and observation Ulysses KS 67880 Lakin, KS 67860 point. Open during daylight hours. Telephone: 620-356-4700 Telephone: 620-355-7448 Cimarron Heritage Center Museum Website: www.ulysseschamber.org E-mail: [email protected] 1300 N Cimarron • Call for information. • Open Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 PO Box 214 Herzstein Memorial Museum p.m. and 1-4 p.m., and Sunday 1-4 Boise City OK 73933 Union County Historical Society p.m. Closed major holidays. Telephone: 580·544-3479 PO Box 75 (2nd & Walnut Sts.) • The main museum features a Con E-mail: museum@ptsLnet Clayton NM 88415 estoga wagon and attractions from
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1872 to the future. The complex displays in all six buildings. Fe Trail sites. also has Lakin's oldest house, a o May 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: 5th An o June 1: "Italians of Colorado: The one-room schoolhouse, train depot, nual Wine Tasting Part, $25 for Trinidad Colony" exhibit opens. 12-sided barn, and a machinery couples and $15 for singles. o June 23, 10 a.m.: Caravan to the building. Santa Fe Trail Center Museum & Library site of Camp Trinidad, the World o West of Lakin is Chouteau's Is 1349 K-156 Hwy War II German POW Camp. land, Indian Mound, and Bluff Larned, KS 67550 o June-August: Children will enjoy Station. Approximately 3 miles Telephone: 620-285-2054 a variety of programs exploring east, wagon ruts can be seen at E-mail: museum@santafetrailcenter. Italian-American history and cul "Charlie's Ruts" site. org ture at the museum and the Car Koshare Museum Website: www.santafetrailcenter.org negie Public Library. Otero State Junior College o Open Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Memo o July 9, 7 p.m.: "Killing for Coal: 115 West 18th Street rial Day through Labor Day. America's Deadliest Labor War" La Junta, CO 81050 o May 2-July 5: "Our Part of the lecture and book-signing by Dr. Telephone: 719-384-4411 Story," pictorial review about the Thomas Andrews. Website: www.koshare.org Historical Society at Fort Larned. o August 23, 12-2 p.m.: Italian Har o Call for information. o June 20, 1-4 p.m.: Kansas Mrican vest Potluck Picnic featuring o Trading Post: online at koshare. American History Seminar hosted dishes made with fresh Italian • org. by the Black Heritage Club of produce. Las Vegas Museum Larned and Great Bend. o Call for details about the above 727 Grand Ave o July 11-Sept. 6: National Geo programs, which take place at four ,• Las Vegas NM 87701 graphic Traveling Exhibit: "The venues. Telephone: 505-454-1401, ext. 248 Flint Hills: A Kansas Treasure," CAMP TALES E-mail: [email protected] featuring the photography of Jim -CHAPTER REPORTS o Call for information. Richardson. Morton County Hist. Society Museum Santa Fe Trail Scenic & Historic Byway Cimarron Cutoff 370 E Highway 56 (PO Box 1248) PO Box 118 President Leon Ellis Elkhart KS 67950 Trinidad CO 81082 PO Box 668 Telephone: 620-697-2833 or 4390 Telephone: 719-846-2396 Elkhart KS 67950 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] (620) 697-2517 (home). -4321 (work) Website: www.mtcoks.com/museum Website: www.santafetrailco.com
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appreciation for his many years of museum. A picnic will follow at the Trail of Conquest and Commerce. work to preserve and protect the Clifton House Stage Station site SFTA Manager Harry Myers pre Trail, for founding and leading the crossing of the Canadian River. Ben sented the program on the "Camino chapter for many years, and for di Benoit will portray Captain Wyn Real." recting the annual trail rides for koop, Colorado Volunteers, who The summer meeting will be on many years. Don is a treasure to the crossed Raton Pass on foot in 1861 to July 18, 6:30 p.m., at the Clapsaddle chapter and SFTA. preserve the West for the North at residence at Larned. A Dutch-oven End of the Trail the Battle of Glorieta Pass. The dinner will be served. group will then visit the Willow La Alcaldesa Joy Poole Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimarron 125 W Lupita Rd Springs Forage Station Overlook Santa Fe NM 87505 and Raton Pass. President Jim Sherer (505) 820-7828 A joint meeting will be held June 1908 La Mesa Dr
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weapons from the Trail period and ten years ago our chapter refinished $131.33 each. Traveling to Albuquer told a number of stories about how three DAR markers, including the que, Dub and Ramona DeKrey will the weapons were used. George also one at the Waldeck site marking be the narrators for the trip. Lodging relayed information about the events what was once French Frank's place. has been arranged at the Days Inn planned to commemorate the 150th The Waldeck marker is featured in (1-800-444-rest) at $32 plus tax anniversary of Fort Larned. the DAR project as an example of nightly. Make your own reservation. The next Quivira Chapter meet how old markers can be renewed. The Days Inn shuttle will provide ing will be June 9 in Sterling. Wil Steve Schmidt recently completed transportation from the train to Old liam Bent (a.k.a. John Atkinson) will his research ofthe Lost Springs area, Town and back to hotel. Participants join us at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and af which is available for $7.00 per copy will return via Amtrak on Saturday. terward will share stories of his at the Last Chance Store. To purchase tickets, send payment eventful life, including the successes, Programs for the coming year are: to Emery Murray, 231 Vigil Ave, Las Animas CO and he will purchase failures, and frustrations of trying to May 21: Galva Community Center, them. For more info, call Emery 719 bring together three diverse cul program by Harry Myers tures. Call Linda Colle at 620-241 469-2050 or 719-456-2050 or Dub 8719 by June 5 if you plan to come. Early May: possible tour ofBlowout Couch 719-980-3000. area (details still undetermined) • The chapter will meet July 19 at JULY 25: Wilson Ranch rock art Lindsborg. Harry Myers will be July 3:-Celebrate relocation of Lost tour. This is a MEMBERS ONLY , . speaking about the SFT and the Spring monument (stay tuned) tour. Lots of rock art, some home ) settlement of the area. The Old Mill Nov. 12: Annual meeting; program steads etc. Marion Wilson and Lolly Museum in Lindsborg is hosting the by Kevin Heibert. Ming will be the presenters. Mid morning start and a sack lunch. Smithsonian exhibit, Journey Stor Bent's Fort ies, June 26-August 9. Journey AUGUST 8: Elkhart, Kansas, Mu President Pat Palmer Stories will cover many of the big PO Box 628 seum and trail sites. Meet at the mu sweeping movements of American " Lamar CO 81052 seum and tour it. Then visit nearby history, and one of the panels will (719) 931-4323 trail sites-probably go to Point of have a wagon talking about the
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Princeton University Library, One City CO 80176 lin marker project. Your member Washington Rd, Princeton NJ Nola Ochs, 14300 SW I Rd, Jetmore ship dues and symposium regis 28544 KS 67854 tration may be paid online with a Texas Tech University, Southwest Francois-Marie Patorni, 918 Don credit card. Collection, Box 41041, Lubbock Juan St, Santa Fe NM 87501 TX 79401 Lee Schertz, PO Box 27, Tie Sid The LCS sends out a monthly "e musings" with special offers, Trail FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS ing WY 80284 Tom & Mary Ann Gilbert, 6210 Rd Allen Schwartz, 163 CR A19A, trivia, and other information. If you SS, Lamar CO 81052 Las Vegas NM 87701 are not receiving this and wish to do Kathleen & William Howard, 3887 Marty Stuart, 307 Court St, Clay so, please send your e-mail address Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe NM ton NM 88415 to [email protected]. You may un 87505 Mrs. A. T. Swan, PO Box 645, subscribe any time. Please check the Bobby, Rachel & MaryAnn Ketch Baldwin City KS 66006 web site regularly to see new items. um, 505 S Forest Ave, Independ Ken Weidner, 2288 70th Rd, Cope land KS 67837 The LCS also handles rare and out ence MO 64052 of-print books about the Trail. If Michael & Kathy Trier, 10109 S TRAIL CALENDAR there is something you are seeking, Wildflower Dr, Unionville MO I I let us know. 62565 ----Everyone is invited to send no Joe & Cheryl Zebrowski, 25 Coyote tices for this section; provide loca FROM THE EDITOR Rd, Las Vegas NM 87701 tion, date, time, and activity. This is Everyone is encouraged to attend
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS a quarterly. The next issue should the symposium in Arrow Rock in I{ Gary Boldt, PO Box 409, Ulysses KS appear in August, so send informa September-see details and registra 67880 tion for September and later to ar tion information in this issue. This William Braden, 143 Enfield Ln, rive by July 20.0ther events are promises to be a great Trail experi Grayslake IL 60030 listed in chapter reports and the ence, and I hope to see you there. Don Chamberlain, 82 Nolen Dr, De catur IL 62521 caches. My retirement as editor is a cou Sharon Drake, 21311 85th Rd, Win Sept. 9-0ct. 3, 2009: Santa Fe Trail ple of years down the road. I have field KS 67156 Bicycle Trek, contact Willard Chil been doing this since SFTA was Cate Fitzmaurice-Torres, 821 Ninita cott at 505-982-1282 or
.. •
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