KLAMATH ECHOES
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Sanctioned by Klamath County Historical Society
NUMBER 11 lo&t of the Oregon Stoge Compony cooche& stored ot the west end of Klamoth Avenue, Klomoth Foils, in the foil of 1908. - Priell Photo
OLD STAGECOACH WHEEL Old sragc:coach whcd all cuvered wich dusr, Spokes weather beaten, iron work all rust, Your travels are over, I know how you feel, Old age has us hobbled, Old Stagecoach Wheel. Together in youth, our range rhe wide west, Each day a rough road, each night glad to rest. In the evening of I ife, my thoughts often steal To those days long ago, Old Stagecoach Wheel. You sang of your travels, a tale of the road, The rocks and the sand, the weight of the load. How dry were your axles, your voice would reveal, And l answered your cry, Old Stagecoach Wheel. At Beswick Hotel we listened, as evening grew still, You told of your coming from old Topsy Hill. Arrival at change stations and every meal, Depended on you, Old Stagecoach Wheel. Sometimes we gathered when days work was done, Told of the day's struggles under boi ling hot sun. White resting our horses, and talking a big deal, We leaned on you, Old Stagecoach Wheel. Final meeting of the Oregon • California stages on their last run over the Siskiyou Mountains on December 17th, 1887 near the summit. -Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum
DEDICATION Wtdtdicatuhis, tht 11thimuofKLAMATH ECHOES to tht mtmory ofall Pionur Klamath Country Stagt and uam Frtight drivm, eht •Knights of tht Wbip," 1863- 1909. To you whost courag( ltd you through triaLs and hard ships, fought and won. To you whou faith in God and man inspirtd tht la bors without which wt couid not havt opmtd our btlovtd Klamath Country. To you who "htld tht ribbons" but havt long sinu turntd th( bend in tht road.
ii Joe Moore (left) and Jim Moore (right) crossing the Klamath River at Keno en route fTom Ager to Klamath Falls in the early 1900's before Pokegama. - Maude Baldwin Photo
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Stage from Pokegama to Klamath Falls at Spencer Station near the eastern base of Hayden Mountain. - Ray Telford Photo
iii A buckboard mail stage and team bogged down in snow somewhere on the Southern Oregon Wagon Rood, probably on Hayden Mountain. This photo was salvaged from a waste basket, thrown away as being useless because the emulsion was peeling from the glass plate (note the black marks).
A Model T Ford stuck in a mud hole at the Anderson Ranch, near Spencer Creek, on the Southern Oregon Wagon Road in 1915. Harry Ackley in the man in the white shirt, others unidentified. - Maude Baldwin Photo
iv Klamath Echoes Staff
DEVERE HELFRICH ...... Managing Editor
HELEN HELFRICH ...... Assistant
Officers KLAMATH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY JIM COLEMAN ...... President
WILLIAM E. KRAL ...... Vice President
NELVENE NITSCHELM ...... Secretary-Treasurer
BOB ELLIOTT, SAM RITCHEY, LEONA ANGEL and DOROTHY TEATER ...... Dirmors
Address all communications to: KLAMATH ECHOES P. 0. BOX 1552 KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON 97601
SECOND PRINTING 2006
THE COVER: Our cover was drawn by Stephanie Bonotto Hakanson, artist for all previous Klamath Echoes' covers.
v Editor's Page
Stagecoach to Linkville (Klamath Falls, Oregon) is an evolutionary history of transporta tion (staging and freighting) as it progressed toward the Klamath Country. Although there were numerous trails leading into and through this country, we offer here only the story of transportation routes over which hundreds of passengers and tons upon tons of freight and express entered or left rhe Klamath Country. The writing of this story of Stagecoach to Linkvilk has been a pleasant and nostalgic adventure. Furthermore, although many years of exhaustive research and interviewing have elapsed since the study was first commenced, they have indeed been highly rewarding. The early history of transportation routes leading west co the Pacific Coast is necessarily brie£ That of staging between the various gold mushroom camps up and down California and Oregon is somewhat more derailed but must be given for a thorough understanding of rhe evolution of staging and freighting imo the Klamath Country. Only with the begin ning of settlement in the Klamath Country has the history become more derailed regard ing the various routes, stations, contractors, drivers and events of approximately fifty years. Many interviews have been made; many hours spent relocating stations and retracing the several routes into the Klamath Country. We find that memories have dimmed and facts and events become somewhat confused. Therefore we must rely to a great extent upon old newspaper files from our neighboring communities, since our own early newspapers have become lost, strayed or stolen, with fires contributing greatly to the loss of many early is sues. This writer, more or less a newcomer to early local history, therefore rather than be criti cized for statemems old-timers might question, has to a large extent made this history a compilation of newspaper recordings. This, it is felt cannot be questioned roo much, rhus preserving a true and factual history of those early and now romamic times. Old-timers and others may criticize a newspaper article as being wrong in some minor derail, but they must admit that the reporting of some particular event at some particular time in the past cannot be questioned. Further these newspaper articles record evems uppermost in the thoughts and minds of those early day participants, cogether with their contemporary styles of writing. We have tried and we think have succeeded in recording a story whose value lies in its fidelity in its suict adherence to truth and its faithfulness to facr. -D. H.
vi Four horse stagecoach ot the " Big Point" on Topsy Grade, headed toward Klamath Falls. - Moude Baldwin Photo
vii STAGE COACH TO LINKVILLE
Only one quarter of a cenrury elapsed be In 1840, mher missionaries and emi cween the first wagons breaking a trail west grants reached Fort Hall with wagons. ward from rhe Missouri River and the first There, five mountain men traded for rhree stages and freight wagons to begin running of rhe wagons, loaded their fami lies and on the Pacific Coast. possessions aboard and late in rhe season During chis period of rime, several over extended wagon tracks co Fort Nez Perce land routes to Oregon and California were on the Columbia River ar the mouth of the established. These roures became rhe nucleus Walla Walla River. There the wagons were of rhe stage and freight roads of rhe Pacific lefr, although one was eventually rafted Coasr. Only segmenrs of rhem remain to down the Columbia in 1842, to become the day as mure testimony of the almost insur firsr wagon to reach the Willameue VaHey. mountable hardships our forefathers faced Until rhe year 1841 , all wagons had been and overcame in their conquest of rhe west. directed along rhe Oregon Trail with rhe The evolution of how these segments, on be Willamerre Valley rheir desired goal. That ing joined end to end, became our overland year a group, rhe Bidwell - Banleson parry, routes and evemually the foundation co our wirh California, then a possession of Mexi transportation system, will be given briefly co, their avowed destination, turned south in the following pages: shortly after passing Soda Springs, Idaho. In 1822, William Becknell led a small They only succeeded in getting their wag caravan of wagons, the first ro roll westward ons into presem Nevada a few miles west of from rhe Missouri River, from Arrow Rock, the Grear Sale Lake Desert. No route as Iacer Missouri ro Sama Fe in New Mexico. followed, was pioneered. Eight years Iacer, in 1830, William Sub 1843 wirnessed an extension of rhe Or lette rook ren wagons and two cans from egon Trail, and rhe beginning of the Cali Sr. Louis co the easrern base of rhe Rocky fornia Trail. The "Grear Migration" to Or Mountains, where Wind River issues from egon rhar year of nearly I ,000 people with approximately 200 wagons, made their way rhem. The Sama Fe Trai.l was followed to near present Gardner, Kansas. west from Independence, Missouri, follow ing or closely approximating the established Following the accomplishmem of Sub road co Fore Nez Perce on rhe Columbia. leue, Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, in 1832, At char point some of the emigrants stayed mok twenty wagons through the South Pass for the winter, some took to rafrs, while of rhe Rocky Mountains tO Green River ar a some abandoned their wagons, and traveled point near present Daniel, Wyoming. horseback rhe remainder of the distance. The next wagon advancemem wesrward Yer another group succeeded in driving occurred in 1836, when rhe missionar their wagons down rhc sourh bank of the ies, Whitman and Spalding, broke a crack Columbia co present The Dalles, Oregon, through to Snake River ar rhe mouth of where they too dismantled their wagons and rhe Boise River. The wagon, belonging co transported rhem by raft the remainder of Spalding was taken by Whitman, nearly co the way inro rhe Willamette Valley. Fr. Hall, where a from ax.le was broken. Nor Ar the same time a small group wirh three co be denied, Whitman cur the bed in two, wagons Q. W. Nesmith, an Oregon bound made a carr of the vehicle and succeeded in emigrant of 1843 recorded in his diary, that reaching Old Fort Boise. rhe number of wagons was five - Ed.) and guided by Joseph Walker, rurned from rhe through California's Surprise and Goose Oregon Trail near Rafr River in sourhern Lake Valleys, and Oregon's Klamath, Rogue Idaho. They pioneered me California Trail and Umpqua River Valleys. The Willarnen:e down the Humboldt River in Nevada. How VaLley was entered near present Conage ever, they turned from rhe Iacer day Califor Grove late in the year. nia Trail ar rhe Humboldt Sink to continue Further, late 1846 saw rhe starr of an sourhward inro California, arriving in pres orher wagon road exrension which reached em Owens Valley, where they abandoned California's Coast in the exrreme southern rheir wagons. This parry rhus fell shorr of portion. The Mormon Battalion under Col esrablishing a wagon route into California's onel Phillip Sr. George Cooke, with rwenry great central valleys. \\ragons left Sante Fe, New Mexico, on Oc Aside from some new by-passes, only rhe rober 19m of that year, to open the shortest Srevens-Townsend-Murphy parry exrended possible road to California. Passing through any roads wesrward in 1844. After follow southern New Mexico, Arizona and Califor ing the previous year's California roure to nia, they arrived at San Diego on January rhe Humboldr Sink, rhey turned west, lay 28th, 1847. ing out a new roure, the Truckee, to a point The big news of 1848 was the discovery of some rwenry miles west of rhe Sierra Nevada gold at Sutter's Mill on the American River, summir, where rhey were compelled ro leave east of Sacramento, California, on January their five wagons until the following July 24th. The electrifying news was first an (1845). when rhey drove them through ro nounced in San Francisco in May and spread me Sacramento Valley. like wildfire thereafter. Late in 1845, the Barlow Road extended No roads worthy of the name, or at least, the Oregon Trail from The Dalles on rhe lin1e better than crude trails then existed Columbia River, to a point a few miles shy anywhere in Oregon or California. There of rhe Cascade Mounrains summit, sourh were, however, a few emigrant trails, trapper of Mr. Hood. Leaving rheir wagons for the trails, and innumerable Indian trails that be winrer, the emigrams made their way into came the nucleus of future stage and freight rhe Willamerre Valley, to rerum in the !are roads that led to the many mushrooming spring of 1846, and drive their wagons in gold mining camps of the late forties and early Ju1y, into rhe valley sen:lemems. early fifties. It will be noted thar wagons reached Ore The year 1848 also brought with it three gon's Willamene Valley, by me water roure, new additions to roads of the west. First, a few years before any reached California's some discharged members of rhe Mormon cenrral valleys. However, it will now be seen, Battalion, the Bigler parry, who were present wagons actually reached the Sacramento at Surrer's Mill when gold was discovered, Valley overland, one year before they reached rendezvoused in Pleasant Valley, near pres the Willamette Valley by the same method. em Placerville, preparatory to making their 1846 also saw the opening of another way to Salt Lake City. With sevenreen wag overland route into the valleys of Wesrern ons they pioneered a new road easrward, later Oregon, the Applegare Trail {see Klamath known as the Carson Route, to the Truckee Echots No. 9 for the Applegate Trail swry River at present Wadsworth, Nevada, where as far as rhe Rogue River VaHey in Oregon they intersected the Truckee Route. Proba -Ed). This route turned from the California bly three westbound emigrant trains entered Trail at rhe "Big Bend" of me Humboldt California by me newly opened route that River, crossed the Black Rock Desert ro pass year. 2 A fourth emigrant rrain, that led by Peter Sometime during the spring of 1850, gold Lassen and consisting of some ten wagons was discovered on Salmon River, a rriburary (some say twelve), turned from the Califor of the Klamath, and by July on the Klam nia Trail at the "Big Bend" of the Humboldt ath River itself, above rhe mouth of Trin River, to follow the Applegate Trail ro Goose ity River, and finally at Scott River on the Lake. There they rurned sourhwest down Klamath, in September. Pin River to cross Big Valley (called Round A new route of travel began to develop ar Valley by Fremont in 1846), which they left this rime, the third leading northward from south of presem Beiber, California. the Sacramemo Valley. The first had been In the meantime, the news of the dis the old trapper's trail from O regon, which covery of gold in California reached Port led down the Sacramento River Canyon. A land, Oregon by schooner on July 31, 1848. branch of this trail, the Sheep Rock Trail, Shordy thereafter, approximately 150 men, passed east of Mount Shasta, crossed Pin with 50 wagons, left the Willamette Valley River near present Fall River Mills, and en headed for rhe gold fields. They were closely tered the Sacramemo Valley by one of the followed by 20 wagons with ox-reams from several branches of Cow Creek. The second Washington. Back tracking on rhe Apple route was the 1848 wagon trail south and gate Trail to present Tu lelake, California eastward along the Applegate Trail to a they rurned south to enter Big Valley some junction with the Lassen Trail in Big Valley, seven or eight miles north of presenr Look which passed south of Mount Lassen. This out. There they came upon Lassen's wagon new third roure, rhe Trinity Trail, led norrh tracks and overtook him somewhere in the ward from Shasta City, ro Trinity River and mountains to the south. All three parries up that stream to cross over Scott Moun continued on together, entering the Sacra rain and enter Scott River Valley near pres memo Valley at Vina, over what became em Callahan, in Siskiyou Counry, Califor known as the Lassen Trail. Thus was estab nia. The route divided in Scott Valley, one lished the first overland trail for wagons be branch followed down Scott River to the tween Oregon and California. Klamath, while the other turned eastward The discovery of gold in California ar first to Yreka. Each of rhese rhree main roures drew countless thousands of people to the has ar one time or another served as the Mother Lode coumry, but shortly thereaf main wagon road used by stages between ter they were compelled to search farther Oregon and California. afield. By-passing the Mother Lode country The Oregon miners, in passing back and of California's central Sierras, the history forth between California and Oregon, had of those prospectors and miners who made observed the same soil and geological srruc their way north to that vast country lying on rures found in the known mining regions of both sides of rhe California-Oregon State rhe Mother Lode country. Thus it followed Line will be followed. that in March, 1851 gold was discovered at There, as early as rhe summer of 1848, P. Yreka, by Abraham Thompson, one of a par B. Reading discovered gold on the Trinity ry of Oregon prospectors. Yreka grew rap River near present Weaverville, California. idly and a post office was established there In 1849, he made a new gold discovery at on August 19, 1853. Reading Springs (some four miles west of Providing transportation to and from present Redding), later to become Shasta the various diggings, providing supplies to Ciry, boom rown and supply cenrer for all these people and the various mushroom northern California and even poims in camps. providing mail facilities to the same Southern Oregon. individuals, and providing a means of car- 3 Pack train owned by Ezra J. and Aaron J. Eller at their ranch in Scott Valley In the early 1890's. This train packed Into the Salmon River section. -Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum
Mule pack train on snow shoes crossing Salmon Summit, Si.skiyou County. - Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum
4 Mule pack train at Snowden, western Siskiyou County. - Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum
Packing o Muller ring into the western Siskiyou mining district vio the Pinkerton ranch. - Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum
5 ing for and transporting the newly mined to discover gold at Rich Gulch in the Rogue gold, all presented new and profitable en River Valley, which resulted in the founding terprises. Staging, freighting, mail delivery of Jacksonville, Oregon. A post office was contracts, and the express business followed nor established there, however, until Febru in short order, to become more lucrative in ary 18, 1854. many instances chan the actual mining of By 1851, Sacramento, rather chan San gold itself. Francisco, had become the most important At first, and for many years to follow in center of stagecoach travel. By November some locations horse and mule pack trains 12th, of that year the following lines led out were relied upon w dispense these services. of Sacramento: 6 daily to Marysville; 1 to Ox reams and prairie schooners were pressed Nevada City; 2 to Coloma; I to Placerville; imo use, hauling freight as early as the au I to Auburn; I to Stockton, also I tri-week tumn of 1848, from the Sacramento docks ly; and 1 to Drytown and Jackson. Ir is also to the nearby foothill mines. In Oregon, noted, in summing up the situation at the transportation by the same means, of farm end of 1851, that a stagecoach line had been supplies to the Willamerte River pons soon established w Shasta City. developed. From these Lictle ports small Inconclusive evidence points to the fact steamers carried the commodities down that the Yreka Emigranr Road may have stream to the ocean going ships docked at been opened up in late 1851 from the Apple Portland. These ships in turn delivered their gate Trail at the south end of Lower Klamath loads, at first co the port of San Francisco, Lake, via Grass Lake and Sheep Rock, ro the and later to those located at Sacramento and new mining town of Yreka. If nor 1851, then Stockton. for certain in 1852.
Most pack trains for the Northern Cali This larrer yl'_ar :~l~o wirnessed the opening fornia mines from Oregon originally our of Nobles' Cur-off leading from rhe com fitted in Portland, but by 1850 Sconsburg bined Applegate-Lassen Trail across Black at the head of navigation on the Umpqua Rock Desert to Shasta City, via present Su River, was founded and soon superseded irs sanville. This practically eliminated the Las more distant rival. sen Trail and even effected traffic along the The Sacramtnto Transcript of January Applegate Trail. 22, 1851 wrote: "Scarcely a day has passed, Early in 1853 the town of Crescent Ciry, within the last week, that we have not ob California was founded. Lying just south of served large trains of mules, heavily packed the California-Oregon boundary, it soon with sacks of flour, boxes, and kegs, leaving became the chief supply point for the new the ciry for the Northern mines. The recent gold camps of Southern Oregon from Jack discoveries there seem to have imparted an sonville to Sailor's Diggings (Waldo) which impetus to all." heretofore had been dependent on packers Later, the Shasta Courier of November from Scomburg or Yreka, the latter in rurn 11th, estimated that the number of mules dependent on Shasta City. chen being packed our of Shasta to the north The Kelsey Trail and the Cold Springs ern mines was considerably above 2,000 and Trail, with a branch to Happy Camp, were that each was capable of carrying an average the main pack trails used. The pack trail to load of 200 pounds, and averaging rwo trips the Southern Oregon mines ~as "well trav each per month. eled in 1853" and "crowded by 1854". Pack It fell to rhe lor of rwo Scottsburg pack trains continued along the Cold Springs ers, Cluggage and Poole, in December, 1851 Trail until 1857 when replaced by a pioneer 6 wagon road differing somewhat in location The Sacramento Union of June 29, 1854 between Crescent Ciry and rhe State Line. announced that stage officials " ... have tak The Sacramento Union of September 30, en up to Portland, Oregon Territory, anum 1857 announced: "Tri-weekly stages estab ber of splendid coaches, which they intend lished between Yreka, via Jacksonville, ro to place on the route from Jacksonville, 0. Crescent City." After Forr Klamath was es T. to Yreka, and from thence to the foot of tablished in 1863 most, if nor all, of the fort's Scott Mountains." supplies for several years came by this route. It will be seen that to get stage coaches The Crescent Ciry road deviated somewhat on the route between Yreka and Jackson from the present Grams Pass-Crescent City ville, they had to be shipped north by boac U.S. Highway 199, bur in a general way ap co Portland, chen conveyed southward ap proximates it. The original freight and stage proximately 300 miles overland to Jack road turned from Highway 199 near Illinois sonville, the northern terminus of the stage Valley tO follow up the Applegate River ro line. The first daily mails, however, were Jacksonville. taken over the Siskiyous by horseback abour Returning to the Central California Val July 1, 1854. It may not have been unrillare leys, we find char about five-sixths of the in August before all necessary equipment staging firms in California were consoli for staging was on the ground. The horses dated on January 1, 1854 under rhe name were taken overland from Shasta Ciry, being "California Stage Company". Somehow, by dropped off at way stations along the route this merger, by other consolidations and by where they would be needed. purchases accomplished by lowering passen Road building (improvement of exist ger rates, ere., full possession of the entire ing routes and the projection of new ones), Sacramento to Jacksonville run came into seems to have been in the air in 1854. Ir is the company's control. highly probable that a new emigrant road By mid-May, the firm was examining a was established during the late summer or route with the view of establishing a line of early fall of this year which had a significant coaches between Shasta Ciry and Jackson effect on future California-Oregon stage ville, coaches to be run from Shasta Ciry to and freight routes. The new emigrant road the foot of the Trinity Mountains, then hors branched from Nobles' Cur-off at Poison es and mules to carry passengers over Trinity Lake, about 35 miles northwest of Susan and Scott Mountains, to Callahan Ranch in ville, California. Continuing northwest Scott Valley, thence coaches to Yreka and on erly it crossed Pit River in Fall River Valley, to Jacksonville. probably closely approximating the present The Sacramento State journaL of June 5, day "Old Pittville Road," to follow the trap 1854 noted " ... that a series of twelve con per's trail east of Mr. Shasta, through what tracts; to twelve separate individuals or firms, became known as Military Pass, and joined had been ler by the Post Master General, for the Yreka Trail near Sheep Rock. This was carrying mail between Sacramento and Pon once known as the Lockhart Road, and later land. Some by steamboat and some by horse still, part of the Pitt River Road from the coaches, but mostly by horseback. Both ends Sacramento Valley to Yreka. of the route had rwo branches, those in the Yet another road entered the planning north separated by the Willametre River, and stage when a group of men from Yreka an those in the south by the Sacramento River, nounced late in December, their intention while the much longer segment between to construct a "Turnpike Road" from Yreka Tehama and Corvallis was by one route, of to Shasta City (hereafter called Shasta) via course let to several different contractors." the Sacramento River Canyon. 7 A certain amount of road improvement continued until September, when the com northward, although small, must have been pany was forced to close it and rerum ro the performed during me period of time up tO the Trinity route because of Indian hostillties lare summer of 1855. At least by September along Pit River and Hat Creek. While rhls 15, 1855 the Shasta Courier announced char line was in operation, passengers were taken " ...wagons recenrly senr our from Red Bluff, through from Sacramento to Yreka in three California ro resr the road &om the Sacra days, whereas it required rl1e same length of memo Valley, via the Lockhart Road made a time from Shasta to Yreka over the Trinity successful trip, hauling with ease respectable River route alone. loads through to Yreka ..." On March 31, 1857 rhe Sacrammto Unum This road had irs beginning ar Red Bluff, reponed: «An opposition passenger pack-train head of navigation on the Sacramento River. has been established between Shasta and Yreka Following up Blue Tenr and Barrie Creeks to by rhe Sacramento River route." a junction wirh Nobles' Cur-off in rhe Sierra As late as April 10, 1858 this route was srill foothills, it crossed the summit near Manza using mule pack trains to carry passengers nita Lake in present Lassen National Park, daily through the Sacramento River Canyon north of Mr. Lassen. There the Lockhart road, between Pit River bridge and Soda Springs, a opened by the assistance of rhe citizens of distance of40 miles. Coad1es were used for 17 Red Bluff, really began, turning north down miles our of Shasta on the south and 49 miles Losr and Har Creeks to angle cross country to our of Yreka on rhe north. present Fall River Mills where Pit River was crossed at the Lockhart Ferry. Following up Likewise, as of June 29, 1860 mere still re the western side of Fall River Valley past the mained six miles over Scorr Mountain on rhe sire Iacer to become Ft. Crook, the road turned Trinity route, where mule pack trains were be wesrerly to head almost direcrly toward Mr. ing used ro uansfer passengers between stage Shasta. coaches. Then on September 15, 1860 the Sacrammto Union further reported char «ar 6 After reaching a location midway between o'clock roday through srages commence rur~ present Barrie and McCloud, or about nine ning from borh Sacramento and Portland." miles from each, the road seems to have de Freight, however, was still being hauled over veloped early imo rwo branches, bur exacdy the Pit River Road. when is unknown at presenr. The right hand or older route followed the 1854 emigrant trail It was nearly a year before the Sacramento through Military Pass, east ofMt. Shasta and Union on AprilS, 1861 announced: «The Cal on ro Yreka past Sheep Rock. The left hand ifornia Srage Company commenced rurmmg route passed through present McCloud and on straight through without laying over nights." to the vicinity of present Mounr Shasta City Ar the same time they also announced char (once known as Sisson) approximating Srate "... 3 miles remain to build on the Sacramento Highway 89. From there it turned north past River Road." Weed and on to Yreka. Freight was hauled on During the winter of 1862-63 special sleighs the Pit River Road from points in the Sacra were insralled on Score Mountain when the memo Valley, to Yreka as late as 1869 at least. road became dosed by snow. In previous years It is not known definitely which branch was ir was necessary ro exchange rhe stagecoach used at first or if both at various times. wheels for runners in order ro pass over the '" ... much heavy freight ro Yreka" was con mountain. veyed over the Pit River road in 1856, and In the meantime the Sacramento River by July 2nd, the California Srage Company's Canyon road, according ro the Shasta Courier coaches were routed over it, leaving the Shasta of December 1864 had fallen into disrepair, road at Corronwood. This new stage line was due ro being in rhe hands oflawyers, and most
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A.s- 1. !~-,·;~...J, l'.J ..... I ,..------'\ \! ,;____ / ...... - ~ -~--~,-- ' \ "LIFOF?NIA \'. ~-- O DDrt"'fS ~~ I I ' ,...... , J·• I ' l f(l,. m ~· ( Yrek4 • •• \ .. ·: ·. ~ \ -,_ 00 : ·. ••' ' ··· ·-M .. ,-_w Ft.0 VGI,e:T 0 "·.\ • ., I '\. .• -,. •. ···~ $ /,eer Rock -\ \··; /' ·· .. : ~ .. .·t .. ··. ... ~ 'tw,..e.:~ ~\. Mr. Shds14 ~ ~ ~ . ~ . ~ c.,J/qh l?ed Bluff I' of the travel transferred ro the Trinity road. Beginning on May I, 1885 the north bound The dare of the Sacramento road's reopening trip from Delta consumed bur 24'h hours, is also unknown at present. with no overnight layover. Of course both AsofJune 17,1870 rhe Yreka}oumalin re schedules included stops for three meals per ferring ro the various roads, reported: "On the day and &equem horse changes. Sacramento River route, Ream's six-mule ream On July 31, 1885 the California and Or hauled 9,000 lbs. over these mountains and it egon railroads were sold to the Central Pacific is plain that they no longer offer obstacles to railroad, and construction up the Sacramento the rravd. Dave Ream and Bill Eddy made the River Canyon was recommenced. Slate Creek trip from Red Bluff in eight days." became the railroad terminal with stage and By June I, 1871 the Yreka journal an freight travel on February 2, 1886; Castle nounced: "The California-Oregon stages start Rock (Dunsmuir) on August 21, 1886; and on (the Sacramento) river route today." There Montague, a few miles east of Yreka {the lat after, the Pit and Trinity River routes were ter being by-passed by the railroad), on March never again used as overland roads for stages 10, 1887. and freighters between Southern Oregon and Finally on December 17, 1887 the "Last points in the Sacramento Valley ofCalifornia. Spike Ceremony" was held at Ashland and the By the first of September, 1872 stages were California and Oregon Stages ceased to run. connecting with the Oregon railroad (build Transferring our attention now to the ing south from Portland) at Roseburg in the Klamath Country we find that the first traces north, and with the California railroad (build ofwagon wheels across this section were left by ing north from Lincoln) at Redding in rhe the emigrants traveling to the valleys of West south. Thereafter, for the next ren years the ern Oregon, or the miners from California rwo railroads remained stationary and the headed for the John Day Country of North California & Oregon stages ran daily between eastern Oregon. these two points. Next, carne the establishment of Fort I ...... Yainax f '" '• ..: b.. ?,l_y .. :· . ••· ..... 'iJrf!ound . . ,: ••• .d F?oyston '• • ... · ... •. . , • • • ••, : • L • ···•. . ,: ·o ,onanx.4 Ort!w's ...... ,.•" tl L<~I{ev•- Valfey •• OREGO N . - Kftt~TMti.Lk. C f\ L I f: 0 R N I A :H ~··- La;,d 's LanJi'?J : B idwell ••• . 0 • .. 0 .· A l turas c~Jar vi, e was discovered there, traveled it between the from the Oregon road arjas. Bradley's ranch Shasta Valley and the Klamath Country. towards Bogus (the probable location of lat Man Frain, who for many years lived er day Ager), in reference to which we learn along the upper Klamarh River Canyon, a petition is to be presented to the Board of followed it up ro Link River in 1857. Rob Supervisors, asking to have this private road err Whittle and later Francis Picard caught declared a public highway. From KiUibrew's fish at "Fishing Falls" wesr of Keno, which ferry to the old emigrant or Applegate road were packed to Yreka and sold to the miners (this segment led up Klamath River to Span thereabouts. Then with the establishment of nus Gulch, then up that to Long Prairie Fe. Klamath, the soldiers' express followed Creek and followed ir ro what larer became it as rhe best all-winter roure. Lastly, rhere Parker Station slightly north of old Weyer are records of its use in following winters by haueser Camp No. 4) there needs ro be bur some of Klamath's early settlers, such men seven or eight miles of road built, which will as George Nurse, 0. C. Applegate, 0. A. connect us with the Klamath Lake country, Stearns and others. as well as opening a direct road ro Surprise Valley. As previously stated, Roberr Whittle car ried in 1300 pounds of freight from Yreka, ... Mr. Nurse, the sole trader of rhar sec the first of which we have an authentic re tion ar present, who has two trading Posts, cord, in May of 1865. Without question, the came into town lasr Monday for goods to Klamath River route was followed. From replenish a porrion of his needed assort that date until early in 1868 we have found ment, and says rhis is the best place for him no documented record of its further use, bur to purchase goods if rhe road is opened from know without a doubt that it was used. Killibrew's ro the Applegate road, from the While operating the Suder's store at Fort fact char he could ream cheaper by getting Klamath, George Nurse seems ro have se goods via Red Bluff, than packing from cured most if nor all his supplies from Rogue J a~kso~ville and gerting goods via Crescent River Valley points, packing them in by way Ctry... of Mount Pit, except possibly a few winter YrekafouT7UII. March 6, 1868: " ... and in trips by way of the Klamath River. After the meantime goods for Link river could be moving his store to Link River he began to packed this short distance, and hauled the purchase a large portion of his supplies in balance of the way in wagons. This is the Yreka. only feasible route for the Klamath Lake By rhat time a variant route was devel settlers in winter and the most desirable in oped berween Yreka and Link River, and summer... " these developments are best described by Yreka Journal. April 3, 1868: "Geo. newspaper articles of the day: Nurse, rhe Klamath Lake trader, leaves here Yreka journal. February 28, 1868: " ...The this morning with a pack train well loaded people of Link river are anxious to do their wirh supplies and rakes freight ar ten cents trading with Yreka in preference to Jackson per pound. The travel ro rhar section via ville, although they belong to that counry, Killibrew's ferry averages from ren ro fifteen for rhe reason that they can get ro Yreka ar persons per day, most of the travel coming all seasons of the year. A good wagon road from Oregon, it being necessary to come now runs from Yreka to Killibrew's ferry on down to Corronwood in California and the Klamath (Killibrew's serried by 1862 or then go north again." before, became in 1869, the Ward Ranch, Yreka journal. June 12, 1868: Trade from now submerged by Copco Lake), rurning off the Klamath Lake country with this section 14 is steadily increasing, and orders come into "May 27: A pack train loaded with goods town through different individuals every for the Klamath Lake country, by McCon time the rri-monrhly military mail and ex nell & McManus, left rown early yesterday press comes along from Forr Klamath." morning. Yreka Journal. (From the Road Super "June 17: ... Nurse's bridge across Link visor's survey): "... The route by the South River will be completed by the first ofJuly. of Klamath River is considered the best "July 1: Geo. Nurse, arrived in town with one for the interests of this county, from his pack train from the Klamath Lake coun the fact that it would be all in rhe State ... try, with a load of wool, and will return to The road on the South side of the Klamath morrow with a stock of goods." would avoid any crossing of rhe river, and take to the mountains shortly after leaving As late as 1869, the only post office east of Killibrew's ferry." (A gradual extension of the Shasta-Cascade Mountains in any way connected with rhe Klamath Country, was this road followed until some seven years located at Willow Ranch on Goose Lake, in later the first Topsy Grade carried it out of the Klamath River Canyon.) California a few miles south of the Califor nia-Oregon Line. Ir was probably run by A. Yreka journal. July 24, 1868: "We have Snider who settled there in 1868, and ran heretofore mentioned the route via KilU a store and hotel on the military road from brew's on the north side of Klamath River, Sacramento Valley to Fort Bidwell in Sur and also rhe route in the same direction on prise Valley. the south side of the Klamath River, bur we A new road was constructed in now think a better route can be obtained via 1869 between the Rogue River VaHey and the Lirde Shasta River, to Willow Creek; thence Klamath Country. It was built ro replace to rhe old emigrant road on Lost River, the almost impassable Applegate Trail, Irs thence easterly within three or four miles story is best told by 0. A. Stearns, emigrant of Clear Lake ... (This latter road, already in of 1853, and soldier at Fort Klamath un existence, and known as the Ball Mountain til 1867, when he settled on a tract of land Road, rhus received rhe first attention of Sis midway between present Keno and Klam kiyou County road builders.) ath Falls. His reminiscences were recorded On the same day the Yr(ka Union wrote: in the Klamath Republican of December 1, "Another large assortment of goods for the 1909 and in part follows: Klamath Lake section, purchased by Geo. "... When the first settlers came over this Nurse from McConnell & McManus of side of rhe mountain Ashland was a very this city, leaves town today by pack train via small village of less than a hundred people. Killibrew's ferry." There was bur one small store - rhat of R. Further information for 1868 is lacking H. Hargadine- a grist mill, sawmill, marble bur the story is continued in 1869 by four mill, hotel (Emery's), and a blacksmith and articles primed in the Yreka journal: wagon shop. It was trade from this side of "March 26: George Nurse, from the the mountain rhar made Ashland the best Klamath Lake country was in town this town in Rogue River Valley. Let those dis week purchasing goods to replenish his pute that fact who may. stock, and brought with him a Large as "Those who have traveled across the moun sortment of furs. He also intends bringing tain between Ashland and the Klamath Ba in shortly, a lor of wool, which is obtained sin at any time during the past twenty years from the various herds of sheep in the vicin (1889-1909) are wont to declare that it was no ity of Link and Lost rivers. wonder this country did not settle up - the 15 roads were so atrocious that no one would plating the asking of congress ro authorize a willingly go over them the second time; and military road to the Klamath Basin by way yet, compared with what they once were, of Dead Indian and Buck Lake, with a land they are now equal to a turnpike. gram of six or ten sections per mile. How "The old road, as formerly traveled was the ever, the urgent needs of the people out here old emigrant road first traveled by the Apple caused the court to consent to the survey, gate parry in 1846... upon the condition that a bond of $1,000 be first furnished to secure the cost in event "As the objective point of these emigrants of the survey being rejected. The bond, wirh was westward, and they never anticipated F. B. Sprague and the writer, was given, and any attempt to rerum over the road, their in the spring of 1869, W. F. Songer, 0. T. only concern in crossing a mountain range Brown and Samuel Colver were appointed as was to find a practicable way up; the going viewers, and I think J. $. Howard as survey down was easy. (Traveling west, there were or, and the road was surveyed and accepted. four wagon slides over the Cascades, at Jenny Creek, Keene Creek, Green Springs "The new road, as surveyed, made some Summit and at Strychnine hill on Tyler very material changes in the old emigrant Creek - Ed.) At these places (traveling east road to overcome rhe steep grades, it was Ed.) it was necessary ro unload all wagons necessary to secure funds in some way to and pack on animals or carry on the backs open ir up, as there was chen no county road of individuals the entire load, as it rook four fund for such work. A subscription was sran good horses to pull the empry wagons up ed and $600 pledged for the work. The set these places. When pack animals were used, tlers in the Klamath Basin in Oregon then as was frequently the case, no trouble was numbered not more than a doz.en families, experienced. with a large number of bachelors. The poll "When the weather was good the task of books of the election in 1870 showed bur hauling supplies, though tedious and slow, thirty-two voters. Yet of the $600 subscribed was nor dangerous, but sometimes the early over $400 was by residents of this county rains or snows would come and catch the (Klamath), 0. T. Brown and George Nurse seeder on the wrong side of the mountain, each subscribing $100 and others &om $5 to when trouble of a serious and often danger $50. On the other side of the mountain but ous character ensued, as many can testify to one person below Ashland contributed (D. their sorrow. E. Steams on Wagner Creek). Sam Colver rook charge of rhe work, and for the amount "The first arrempr to better the road was of money expended did the largest and best made in the fall of 1868, when the writer cir work ever accomplished ar one rime on char culated a peririon among the settlers this side road. of the mountain asking the County Court of the counry Oackson) to have viewed and sur "In 1872 a bill granting $25,000 towards veyed a wagon road from a point on the stage surveying and constructing the Southern road near the Songer place by Soda Springs Oregon Wagon Road was passed by the Or across rhe mountains ro Brown's ranch {ar egon legislature. The funds, however, were Spencer Creek) on the Klamath, thence up m come from the sale of swamp and over rhe Klamath valley to and across Link river, flowed lands, and as rhey depended upon a thence down Lost river and around TuleLake very unpopular and questionable source, it ro the stare line. Considerable opposition ro was difficult to get money on the warrants. the measure was found on the west side of The governor appointed as a commissioner the mountain, partly caused by a local feud ro construct, or supervise the construc among rhe settlers on Emigrant creek and tion of work, Silas J. Day of Jacksonville, partly by Ashland citizens who were concern- George Nurse ofLinkville and Judge Mason 16 of Goose Lake. George Nurse at that time Link River, Lost River , Hot Springs, Goose was the owner of a roll bridge across Link Lake Valley m Lake Ciry, in Surprise Valley, river, built in 1869 at a cost of $1,500; this California. Another was from Eugene Ciry, he sold to the commission for $2,500; Judge by Butte Disappointment, Big Prairie, Pine Mason did the survey work and kept a team Openings, Diamond Peak, Sprague's Valley, of mules and wagon at an expense ofsix dol Goose Lake, Surprise Valley to Winnemuc lars per day for the ream, while other exorbi ca, Nevada. This larrer route seems never to tant expenses ran the preliminary survey and have progressed farther chan the petition other costs up ro such a sum char it is gener stage. ally believed there was nor to exceed $10,000 1870 witnessed new developments on in money acmally expended in work. Several three different roads perrainlng to the Klam changes have since been made by this county ath Country: and much money spent our of private as well as public funds, so char che road is much im First, the reactivation of an old bur sel proved over former conditions. No one here dom used route, of which the YrtkJZ Journal regrets char they are no longer obliged ro pull of August 17th had the following to say: their reams over that mountain ro obtain "A Dalles paper says: Dr. William McKay their supplies. starred from here, accompanied by his fam ily, for Fort Klamath with six wagons loaded "In those days rhe keepers of road houses with a grist mill, agricultural implements, were important citizens, and at times of the goods, etc. He takes the old Stein (Steen's year their accommodations were taxed ro the Mountain) road to Willow Creek, where utmost. Capt. John Smith now lives, and then turns "No early pioneer bur remembers the and crosses Crooked River, raking the route hearty cheer and hospitable board of Mrs. traveled some two years ago by the lace Mr. 0. T. Brown on the Klamath, of Mrs. Hen Huntington, Superintendent of Indian Af ry Duncan of Johnson Prairie, of Mrs. Jas. fairs for Oregon." Purvis at Jenny creek, and of Mrs. Zenas Howard or Mrs. Will Breedings on Green This shipment of equipment and supplies Spring mountain. Others have come dose, was for Klamath Agency and was in addi bur their's were the pioneer houses of the tion to that year's shipment of supplies co road, and the thoughts of their beautiful rhe military forces stationed at nearby Fort tables and excellent cooking heartened so Klamath, where they seem co have arrived by many a srorm-bound and weary traveler and the same route from The Dalles. are cherished as among rhe pleasant recollec Second, the completion of the Dead In tions of those days." dian Road, a route Rogue River Valley see The Applegate Trail, Southern Oregon ders bad commenced as early as 1862, bur Wagon Road and present State Highway No. only constructed to Lose Prairie, some 15 66 all approximate each ocher, criss-crossing miles west of Lake of the Woods. In the several rimes and never separated more than fall of 1870, 0. C. Applegate with a crew a few miles ar any rime. This route, first used of 21 Klamath Indians, slashed our a make in 1846, has through the years remained shift road from Pelican Bay, via Lake of the the main road between the Central Valleys Woods to join up with the settlers road tO Lost of the Klamath Country and the head of Prairie. Rogue River Valley at Ashland. Third, the replacement of the Naylox Rim On January 29, 1870, U.S. Senator Wil derour away from the shoreline of Upper liams introduced a bill in the Senate to es Klamath Lake, opened in 1866 by Lindsay tablish certain post routes in Oregon. One Applegate. Later in rhe fall of 1870, after of them was from Jacksonville, Oregon by completion of the Dead Indian Road, 0. C. 17 Applegate, this time with a crew of45 Klam "This is by far the most direct, and seems ath Indians, grubbed our a hazardous road the best for any freight from San Francisco. some six miles in length along the shoreline It is the route by which supplies for the post, berween Modoc Poim and Barclay Spring. since the forts establishmenr, have arrived, The various freight romes leading to Fort with exception of last year, as before men Klamath, as then existing was described in a tioned." letter from G. A. Goodale, 1st. Lieut. 23rd Regarding the routes of those early ship Infry., Commanding at Fort Klamath, dared menrs of supplies to Fort Klamath there is February 21, 1871 to the Asst. Adj. Genl., one additional record in which the Shasta Dept. of Columbia, Portland, Oregon: Courierof]une 3, 1865 states: "Governmenr It "#1. From San Francisco by rail and wag Freights. is ordered that all government on road via Chico, and Link River, Oregon. supplies for Fort Klamath, Goose Lake or This post is as yet not connected with Yreka, Surprise Valley, Fort Crook, and Smoke Creek stations be forwarded via Red Bluff. Cal. by ~'agon road, rhough the comple Chico and Red Bluff are engaged in a strong tion of a road in the early Summer is quite comest for supremacy in good roads and certain, sufficienr money therefore having best routes ..." This seems to refute one of by citizens of California and Oregon been Lieut. Goodale's statements, but is quesrion subscribed. Length of the road ro Yreka 112 able, since the word "ordered" is used, in miles. (He seems to have been unaware of stead of''delivered". the Ball Mountain Road- Ed.) A new means of freight transportation "#2. Route from Portland, Oregon, via opened up early in 1871 when the Yreka Eugene City, over the Odell Wagon road Journal of June 8th, announced: "We learn (Oregon Central Military Road), said road from Bob Whittle, that the new schoo not coming ro this post, bur entering the ner lately built at Klamath Lake, has been Fort Klamath and Camp Warner road fifteen launched and is used for travel across the miles east of here. From whar I can learn, lakes." However, it is not until March 20, rhis road from Eugene Ciry, is very rough, 1872 that the journaL identified the schooner and impracticable for loaded wagons. as the "Mary Moody," under the command "#3. Route from Portland, via Dalles City, of a Capt. Brown. Thus, connecting at Link Warm Springs Indian Reservation, and De River with the Southern Oregon Wagon schutes River. Road, an enterprise was begun that plied "This is the route taken lasr year (1870), on Klamath's several lakes and streams for supplies having been shipped from San Fran many years. It tended to divert traffic from cisco, via Portland. The most indirect of all those first difficult and hazardous routes ro rhe routes, ir is considered in practicabiliry, Klamath Agency and Forr Klamath. next to the Crescent Ciry route. From Warm It will now be seen that roads by 1871 Spring Reservarion south, the way is rough, had progressed to the point where wagons never having been worked, it being simply a almost entirely replaced pack trains into wagon crack, south from the Deschutes river, and out of the Klamath Country. However, water has to be hauled. isolated stock and sheep men obtained their "#4. Route from San Francisco, via Cres supplies by the larrer means well into the cenr Ciry, Cal. Crescent Ciry, on the coast, present century. terminus of water transportation. From The Oregon Sentinel of Jacksonville on thence to this post by good wagon road rwo Saturday, October 21, 1871 reported: 'Mr. hundred miles. George Nurse of Link River came in Mon- 18 day. He loaded several freight reams with in use. However, rhese offices seem nor m merchandise, bought of our merchants, for have assumed actual operation umil July 1, his scores at Link River, the Agency and 1872 at which rime rhe first mail route be Fort Klamath. (This is rhe only mention tween Ashland and Lake City was acrually chis writer has ever found co dare, suggest pur into operation. ing rhar George Nurse ever had a score ar The yea r 1872 in rhc Klamath Country, Klamath Agency. - Ed.) may well be described as coming in like a The Jacksonville Dmzocratic Times of rhe lamb and going our like a lion. Ir opened same dare wrote char George Nurse was with routine matters, and closed with the leaving with four reams for Link River and Modoc Indian War in progress. Fort Klamath. Ir further stated chat private The first contemporary information express cost $2.50 for a letter from Ashland found co dare concerning the Ashland-Lake co Link River, and expounded the need for City mail route appeared in rhe Jackson a post route. ville Democratic Times of February 3rd, Supplies m Fort KJamath in 1871 were 1872 which announced: "Goose Lake Mail freighted in over rhe Oregon Central Mili Route. We learn by rhe Washington corre tary Road, via Diamond Peak as proven by spondence of the Eugene journal of Decem a letter written from Fort Klamath, April ber 28th and January 3rd char ac the requesr 14, 1872 by G. G. Hunr, Major lsr Cav of Senaror Corbett, che Postmaster General alry, Comdg. Post, ro the Asst. Adjr. Gen has authorized 0. A. Steams and Wm. An eral, San Francisco. In part he stared: " .. .lr gle ro carry the mail, by special contract, for is by chis route supplies reached this posr one year from the 1st of July, once a week last year, a portion however, having been by over the route from Ashland via Link River the Comracmr (Robert Grant) abandoned and Langel! Valley, ro Lake Ciry, California, in che snow last November where they still wirh a branch from Link River co Sprague remain." (Locarion and comments on this River Valley. The correspondent chinks cache have previously been mentioned-Ed.) $4,200 per annum is the compensation." In summing up the mail situation in 1871 What acrually transpired, and who first we find char according ro rhe 1903 History carried rhe mails, has become somewhat ofCmtral Oregon, che Oregon legislature in confused since che History of Cmtral Or 1870 had memorialized Congress co gram egon records that"... in rhe spring of 1872 a mail facilities ro that pan of Sourhern Or contract was let m Mr. Kilgore, ofAshland, egon east of the Cascades. One route was to carry mails from that point co Lake Ciry, from Ashland, by Brown's, Link River, Lost California. The contract called for weekly River, Yainax, Drew's Valley, Hor Springs trips and for this service the contractor re (in Goose Lake Valley) to Lake City in Sur ceived nearly $5,000 per year. Mr. Kilgore prise Valley, California; and another was had charge of the mail route until 1875. A from Yreka, by Ward's (formerly Killibrew's route from Redding, California, norrh ro on rhe Klamath River), Brown's, Link River, connect with chis line was also established. and Klamarh Agency to Fort Klamath. A post office was ar once established at New Sometime in 1871 the Ashland-Lake Pine creek, in Goose Lake valley, just north City route seems co have been adopted. Ar of rhe state line, and rhe seeders for the first lease on December 11th, three post offices time had mail facilities." were established in the KJamath Country, Prior co these happenings an adverrise Linkville, Yainax and Laugeil's Valley. Only menr by the Deparrment of Columbia, one, Linkville (KJamath Falls) still remains Portland, Oregon appeared in rhe Jackson- 19 viUe Oregon Sentinel of November 25, 1871 Probably the freight shipments were thus which caUed for sealed proposals for carry divided ro accommodate more civilian busi ing the military mails berween Jacksonville ness concerns, contractors, ships, railroads and and Fort Klamath. The mail was to be car team freighters. A depot at Old Camp Baker, ried weekly commencing January 1, 1872 approximately V2 mile west of present Phoenix, and continuing w June 1, 1872. Oregon may have been the point to which all three routes converged before continuing on Next, follows a lener (microfilm copy to Fort Klamath, via Rogue River and Annie from the National Archives) written June 16, Creek, although #27 from Redding i.s uncer 1872. In it Major G. G. Hum, command tain. This route would have followed up rhe ing Fort Klamath, informs the Department Sacramento River Canyon, continued across of Columbia, Portland, that " ... on and after Shasta Valley, and over the Siskiyou Moun the 1st ofJuly 1872, Linkville, Oregon ... is tains, the latter a very difficult road, by which m be a postal station, to which the mail of to reach Camp Baker. The only other possible this post may be sent ... via Jacksonville." alternative would have been from Shasta Val These two bits of informarion seem £O in ley, over Ball Mountain, thence northward dicate char the Henley-Fort Klamath mili through present Dorris, California, Keno, Or tary express route ended by December 31, egon and on past Aspen Lake to Pelican Bay. 1871 and the Jacksonville-Fort Klamath Government dispatches of 1873 indicate there route established to fill in until such rime was a road in this location at that time. as the Ashland, via Linkville, m Lake Ciry Then, on November 29, 1872 came the first roure began to function on July 1, 1872. batde of the Modoc Indian War, a short dis Bids for a military mail route from Linkville tance east of the Stone Bridge on Lost River, in to Fort Klamath was advertised for on July turn some three miles by paved road southeast 27th, and a semi-weekly route established ofMerrill, Oregon. Disastrous results followed October 1st, 1872. with the deaths of settlers and the destruction of their property. Re-enforcements were sem Freight routes for supplies to Fort Klam for, andsoon arrived from Camp Warner, Forrs ath also underwent some changes in 1872, Bidwell and Harney, the Oregon Stare Militia as indicated by another advertisement by in Rogue River Valley and volunteer citizens of the Department of Columbia in the Jack the Yreka vicinity. By December 17th, Major sonville Oregon Sentinel of April 6th, 1872 Gen. Frank Wheaton, in charge ofthe District when it wrote that proposals to transpon of the Lakes, from his newly established head supplies to Fort Klamath, commencing July quarters in Linkville sene a telegram to Gen. 1, 1872 and ending june 30, 1873 would be Canby at Portland in parr stating: "... 93,000 received to and including May 6th. An in pounds of grain will be required for a 30 day novation to previous years was instituted, in supply for cavalry horses, pack and team mules as much as supplies were to be conveyed in ... I shall today draw upon Lieut. E. W. Stone over three different routes instead of one. (ar Jacksonville) for 130,000 pounds of oats Route #26. 200,000 lbs. (100 tons) from and barley to be hauled from Jacksonville to Crawleys. The Klamath grain contractor can the terminus {Roseburg) of the Oregon & supply ir if he works day and night ro move California Railroad. wagons over rhe Cascades before deep snows Route #27. 200,000 lbs. (100 tons) from come. The 20 miles of the 80 berween Jack the terminus (Redding) of the California & sonville and Linkville will probably be blocked Oregon Railroad. up. Pack trains can run all winter." Roure #28. 200,000 lbs. (100 rons) from Supplies over the Green Springs seem to San Francisco, via Crescent City. have arrived after a great deal of trouble bar- 20 cling the rain, mud and snow of that route. the Modoc War. By January 26th, 33,000 The History ofCentral Oregon further states pounds of beef had been transporred from that"... the winter of 1872-73 was a severe one Yainax; 40,000 ro 70,000 pounds of sup and many hardships were encountered in de plies were transferred from the depot at the livering the mail." head of Goose Lake; and large amounts of arms, ammunition and supplies were hauled However, that portion of the mail route be in from Fort BidwelL As rhe winter passed tween Ashland and Linkville would have been and the war continued, with over 1,000 kept open, more or less, by the government troops then on had, the Ball Mountain supply trains. and Green Springs roads saw the bulk of To the east, between Linkville and New freighting activities, in the neighborhood of Pine Creek, a mail subcontractor, one Reed, 150,000 pounds or more, of supplies arriv " ...carried the mail on snow shoes, hauling ing in Klamath County over each route. a hand sled upon which the mail sacks were scrapped." Mid-May witnesses a new route being put to use, that from the Red Bluff- Redding By December 31, 1872 Kilgore asked for a area over the mountains to Fall River Valley, military escort for Reed, beginning January thence by way of Big Valley norrhward past 2, 1873, between Yainax and Drew's Valley. Timber Mountain to TuleLake. Bad weather and the threat of Modoc Indians delayed the mail for several weeks at one time, The Ball Mountain road probably saw the it being reported on January 12 that Reed de most use from the railhead at Redding into clined to return from Lake Ciry without an es the Modoc War theatre. The war itself may cort. By January 20th, a considerable amount be considered to have closed June 3, 1873, of regular mail for Goose Lake and points east with the captUie of Captain Jack. Thereaf had accumulated at Yainax. The U.S. Gov ter, until the mid-eighties, this route was ernmem, on February 8, 1873 again asked used by private freighters hauling in supplies for sealed bids for delivering supplied to Fort for Linkville, Bonanza and other Klamath Klamath for the period from July 1, 1873 to Counry poims. June 30, 1874. The amounts and routes used, The Yreka Union of May 17, 1873 gave to be the same as the previous year. the following points and distances on the During early 1873, tremendous amounts Ball Mountain road between Yreka and the of freight were transported co the scenes of Lava Beds: Yreka ...... to ..... Shasta River ...... 4 miles Shasta River ...... to .....Jncc. in Lirde Shasta River ...... 5 miles J net. Little Shasta River ...... to ..... J nee. Fe. Crook Road ...... 2 miles ]nee. Fe. Crook Road ...... to ..... McMurren's ...... 3 miles McMurren's ...... to ..... Cleland's Mill ...... 5 miles Cleland's Mill ...... to ..... Ball's Meadows ...... 5 miles Ball's Meadows ...... co ..... Ball's Ranch ...... 7 miles Ball's Ranch ...... to ..... Butte Creek Mound (Macdoel) ...... 8 miles Butte Creek Mound...... to ..... Dorris' Cut Off ...... 5 miles Dorris Cut Off...... co ..... Hole in the Ground ...... 3 miles Hole in the Ground ...... to ..... Dams Ranch ...... 4 miles Dorris Ranch ...... co ..... Fairchild Ranch...... 2 miles Fairchild Ranch ...... to ..... Crossing Willow Creek ...... 5 miles Crossing Willow Creek...... to ...... Where road leaves Klamath Lake (Sardine Flat) ...... 7 miles Where road leaves Klamath Lake ...... to ..... Bluff at Lava Beds ...... 9 miles 21 It was over rhis Ball Mountain Road, and by rhe Oregon residems - Ed.) He says thence down rhe Sacramemo River Can the weather has prevented any work for yon co railhead ac Redding chat rhe Modoc some rime past, bur as soon as the wearher Indian Tribe was hauled in October, 1873 moderates to permit work, rhe road can be when exiled from rhe Klamach Country. finished for wagons to go over ir in about From Redding chey were taken to rhe seven or eight days. The road is abour com Presidio in San Francisco by crain, then pieced except to cake out boulders, which again by train co Fort D. A. Russell at frost renders hard ro ger out umil a rhaw Cheyenne, Wyoming. Shordy rhereafrer comes." they were rransferred co Fort McPherson, By May 29th, 1873 rhe Yreka Union near Norrh Platte, Nebraska for a shon wrote that "lighr teams are using the road scay, before being taken to the Indian Ter up rhe Klamarh River, although it is not ritory in extreme nonheastern Oklahoma, yet fully complered by Schwatka the over their home for years to come. seer." Time marched on as Klamath emerged Nexr, rhe Jacksonville SentineL as quored from its bloody barb of a few shore months by rhe Yreka Union of July 3, 1875 report during late 1872 and early 1873. It was Au ed rhar "Alex Miller of Linkville, has the gust 26, 1874 before we get our first hint mail conrracr from Linkvi lle to Langell's from the Yreka journal that a new road, or Valley, Clear Lake, and back once a week, rarher rhe extension of an old one (the fu at $700 per annum. The distance is 106 rure Topsy Grade road between Yreka and miles, and the service is ro commence on Linkville), was being built up the Klam the 1st of July." (The Bonanza post office, arh River Canyon. This item read: "Some served by rhis mail roure, was established founeen four horse reams are now engaged Seprember 23, 1875 - Ed.) hauling freight for Fort Klamath from Further, rhe Union had written on June Roseburg . . . If rhe Yreka and Linkville 30th: "Capr. Ferree, who resides near Fon roads were completed, all this freighting Klamath (Naylox), and who has been as well as rhe uade of rhe whole Klamath awarded the milirary express contract Basin, would come through or from this from rhe Fon co Linkville, which com county as rhe cheapesr, quickest and easi mences on July 1st, was in rown (Yreka) est roure." yesterday. He says rhe people of the Klam Next on December 19th, following, the arh Basin are all anxious for a mail service Journal again informs us that H. C. Tick between Linkville and Yreka in preference ner "is scill engaged in building" the road to the Triangular course via Ashland, in from Yreka ro Linkville. coming from the Sourh and Easr. Besides Then on February 3, 1875 the journal rhis, the road is impassable in Winter to scared: "H. C. Tickner came in town a Ashland, while wagons can be hauled all couple of days ago from Klamath River, the time over the new road from Yreka. where he has been overseeing the work on The Ashland mail carriers know all chis; rhe new wagon road to Linkville, via Shov hence their rushing imo prim ro dispute el Creek and Klamath river, towards the the faces presented by us." Oregon line to join the road lately built The History of Central Oregon best from Linkville. (No information wharever summed up rhe situation concerning rhe has been located on the consrruction done mail and stage enterprises for 1875, when 22 --.- •• • • •u.J•• V4aksonv tile •• ······· \ .. Horn brook Creek ~ .. '(1/:/low Creel< Mt,.,. .. . • ...... · ,.. ... : . Mount~ ; ,., 'ToQ c/ : •••~ .. .. -~ ...... ··. ..· • L ,, ..· ...... '\ fYJ . o· ·•··•·•.•. : o,r4 'j_&J ~ • • Yrt!k4 • ...... ·.· ...... ···:· .. •• Nesf Mt,. . • •. • ••••••o • ••L:-ttle Klama11! O RE GON CALI--F O RNIA-- • they srated: "In 1875 Uuly 1st) Garrett & going to the Klamath Lake country will Harron were awarded the contract ro convey save two days by going by this route and rhe mails, subletting the route &om Linkville have much pleasanter travel1ng. Persons at to Lake City to John McCurdy. Then they Linkville or at other parts of the route can turned their attention and energies roward get most any anicle they may wanr in this building up a first-class old rime stage roure city, and as cheap as they can be gor any between Ashland and Linkville. The terms where." of rhe contract called for semi-weekly trips In the meantime the post office ofWillow from Ashland ro Linkville, which continued Creek, was established north of Montague until rhe expirarion of the first rwo years. on September 22, 1876, to be closed our to Receiving nearly all the government passen Agcr February 3, 1888 after the railroad 's ger traffic to and from Fort Klamath, which completion. At the same time, September was heavily garrisoned at thar period, and 22, 1876, the post office of Bogus was es as the Klamath country was beginning to tablished several miles east on rhe Linkville be rapidly serried up, the staging business road which closed our to Ager December increased accordingly. Two-horse stock and 13, 1913, which in turn was in existence light wagons failing ro accommodate the until January 31, 1940 after which it was general public, regular Concord coach, four served by the rural route to Beswick on the and six-horse stock, was substituted at great Klamath River at Shovel Creek. expense, and the service increased ro daily trips, running the original contract price up Beswick post office was established April ro $17,000 per year, which continued unril 18, 1882 and was closed out ro Montague on the expiration of their comract." May 15, 1947. Beswick also served the log ging communiry of Snow in Oregon, high According ro the Yreka Union of July arop the Klamath River Rim. Snow post of 19, 1875 tht' G:urerr and Harron conrr:~c-r fice was established June 21., ~~~4 and was for rhe past year had been for two trips per closed out to Old Pokegama, a few miles week, bur commencing ar this time three farther north on September 2, 1899. Old trips per week were to be made, and seem ro Pokegama posr office was established No have remained that number for several years. vember 22, 1898 and received its mail from Stages left Ashland for Linkville on Mon the Ashland-Klamath Falls mail stage. days, Wednesdays and Fridays, returning on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. In ad To close our our history of the Yreka to dition a stage left Linkville on Wednesdays Plevna post offices we find rhar Topsy post for Lake City, California, arriving there on office was established January 9, 1884 at Saturdays. In returning this stage left Lake the Overton ranch near the head of Topsy City on Mondays, arriving in Linkville on Grade. Major Overton was listed as the only Thursdays. postmaster and the office was closed Febru The first mail and express roure, via ary 2, 1885 ro the Plevna post office or rural Topsy Grade, was established somewhere route. around April 1, 1876 as indicated by rhe At the same rime, the old Rancheria Yreka Union of April 15th, of rhar year: Trail rhat passed norrh of Mounr Pin, and "Bob Whittle while carrying the U.S. Mail near Four Mile Lake from Forr Klamath ro on rhe new route established between here Rogue River Valley began to fall imo disre and Linkville will also run an express for pair and was still unopened on account of passengers and parcels, which will be a great snow and faJien timber as late as July 27rh. accommodation to the senlers on the route. However, the road did see Limited use unril Persons from the lower pan of the State shortly after the turn of the century. 26 On August 3rd,]. M. Suaon, editor of rhe Tiding;, March 24: Mr. Hammond, the Ashland Tidingr, while making a tour of the mail carrier who crossed the mountains yes Klamath coumry, wrote a leaer from Half terday, says the road to Linkville is in excel way House owned and operated by Henry lent condition. Duncan at Long Prairie Creek berween Tidings, April 21: Ga rrerr & Ferree's stage Hayden and Parker Mountains. Srages trav rri-weekly to Linkville. eling borh ways berween Linkville and Ash Y,·eka journal, May 2: A large number of land stayed over nighr there. Duncan at the Oregon reams are now on rhe roads berween rime was busy purring up hay in preparation here and Reading (Redding), and take wool for the long winter ahead. Sutton, headed and hides from Southern Oregon on their east, menrioned chat he took breakfast at the down rrips in great quantity. We under Soda Springs House (on Emigram Creek at stand rhat teamsters are hauling freight from the western base of Green Springs Moun Reading ro Jacksonville for 3 cents, only a tain) "conducted by J. H. and A. H. Rus quarter of a cenr more than our summer rate. sell. By November lltb, however, Duncan We notice by the Roseburg lnd~pmdmt that seems to have sold our to Wm. G. Parker and private enterprise is beginning ro fix up the moved to Ashland. Wm. G. Parker, irwill be roads in that section. A road scraper, hauled remembered, was a member of the fifteen by ten horses, is doing a good deal for the man Applegate exploring parry who in L846 road near Myrtle Creek. As much was done laid our the Applegate Trail. Halfway House in rwo days, as a thousand men could do became known as Parker Station and lies with pick and shovel in a week. northeasterly from old Weyerhaueser Camp 4. Little sign remains of tbe station today. Tidingr, June 1: A Murmur From Stage Drivers. Stage drivers are nor generally given Ar this same rime, November 11th, the to profanity. Indeed our observation has led Ashland-Linkville road was reported " .. .in us to regard them as, eminently a moral class excellent condition, Garren and Harron of men. Bur under severe provocations, like bringing in the mail ahead of time," while other mortals, they will use language that is the Oregon and California road over rhe inadvisable except when used by ministers Siskiyous was "almost impassable in many or travelers who have been left by the cars. places". One of these rare instances of moral de Finally on December 2nd, it was an linquency among stage drivers occurred in nounced that Garrett and Hatton had this place the other day when Bob Garrert, bought an "elegant new Concord coach for of the Linkville line, and one of the drivers the Linkville run." on the 0 & C Line chanced to meet. The Several changes and advancements in the subject which first came up was in regard mail and stage lines to Linkville rook place to rhe roads. "The roads are all right" said this year and are best explained by a number one, with a moderately forcible expletive, "if of newspaper articles: ir were nor for the emigrants." "That's so," replied rhe other with a rather strong adjec Ashland Tidings, January 15: Regular hack tive accompanimenr. Then they both began lines established from Linkville to Bonanza - well, we must spare our readers and the and from Langel! Valley ro TuleLake. emigrants. We had heard language, slight Yn·ka Union, February 10: Capt. Ferree ly forcible before, bur this time we were has bought the stage line berween Ashland completely extinguished. We fled in uner and Linkville formerly owned by Harron dismay, When the storm had subsided we and Garren. {Ferree seems to have bought timidly inquired the cause of rhe excitement our Hatton's interesr only- Ed.) and were told that in checking their wag- 27 ons on rhe mountains, rhe emigrants left At 4 on Monday morning 1 was aroused the boulders used in checking in the road from slumber and informed the Stage was "Why," said Bob, "the road over the moun ready and soon found myself seared beside rain is blockaded by them. And char's what "Bob rhe stage driver". Contorting my coun caused good moral stage drivers to swear. tenance to conform as nearly as possible to Tidings, June 2: Riding on a Stage Over the condition of rhe road and the speed of the Road co Linkville. Ir was Sunday morn our four grays as they whirled us away to ing May 20, 1877, in the town of Ashland. ward breakfast at the rate of ten miles an The crowd was watching the motions of a hour. The air was sharp and bracing and rhe man who was intently engaged in packing scars seemed to wink, smile and sparkle with away to the best advantage the detached an expression ofsarcastic delight at the pros portions of chat interesting machine, known pects before us, this ofcourse we did nor rel as the "Linkville Stage". The portions being ish bur as protest was useless and also most secured inside and on top of another inter inconvenient, we used our utmost endeavor esting machine and one wirh which I was so to keep the peace and our seats also. soon to form an acquaintance rhe remem Soda Spring was reached in good time and brance of which will be co-existent with my we felt much cheered and assured co behold memory, and undoubtedly be incorporated "little faces at rhe window" and larger ones with my midnight dreams. This lase named smiling ar rhe door. Hoc coffee, ham and "machine" is most familiarly known as a eggs gave us new strength ro encounter rhe twelve hundred pound four horse lumber perils ahead. We were now at the foot of rhe wagon; none of your light springy vehicles. mountain, and a fresh ream was pawing at bur one that when under-way, forcibly im the rack to bear us on. This team consisted presses him who rakes passage there on that of six srrong specimens of the equine race, he's traveling, and one that is not doomed co rwo of which had never been hitched but the fate of the wonderful "one horse shay". once or twice before, consequently five men The man engaged, before mentioned, is also were brought in requisition, nor so much to familiarly known as "Bob" the stage driver, help us start as to prevent our starting roo a fine jolly, intelligent, and genial geode soon; for some time driver and assistants man grown fat with fun and good living, were kept at a respectful distance by rhe lav round and rubicund with jollity, rhough on ish use which our young boy made of his chis occasion a sad expression suffused his rear defenders, by a judicious manipulation usually smiling face and a sense of uneasi of expletives, superlatives and some of the ness and dread hung upon every moment. most soul stirring and emphatic expressions ln explanation of these strange things, I known to the Oregon vocabulary, all rhings was informed chat an iocidem had occurred were righted and I found myself again seated on the day before known co stage men as a beside "Bob rhe stage driver". A flourishing "Breakdown,"' and if I intended to rake a of rhe driver's arm, the discharge of a bomb rrip co Linkville next day l there beheld che shell from rhe end of his whip cracker, a mode of conveyance and it was incumbent lunge, a jar and a desperarc effort w prevent upon me to make my preparations accord being hurled off into space brought back to ingly. Four o'clock A.M., was the rime for mind rhe important fact that "we were trav starting. Distance 62 miles, roure over the eling". Impressions were made on all sides Cascade mountains; elevation 6,000 feet and one particular struck me forcibly, viz., or more; rocks not sufficiently softened to that 'rwas our province to crumble all rhe make our conract with them uncomfortably rocks found on or in the viciniry of che road pleasant. "co Linkville". A strange jumbling ofsounds 28 and sights, seemed co surround us, and only boys, warmed at the srove, fed by the cooks one of the five senses appeared to remain and at the earJjest convenience rolled myself intact and that the sense of feeling, and l inro the arms of Morpheus and dreamed could only gain consolation in the thought thar I was transformed into the head of a that probably philanthropists in after ages battering ram and used to demolish the might hear of this sacrifice co appease the walls of ancient Troy. wrath of the travelers' God and eulogise our Now suanger, reader, traveler, I have one unselfish offering, but whether we were be request to make of you, if in the course of ing crushed beneath the wheels of Jugger human events "it becomes necessary" for naut or pounded co death in a quartz mill I you to travel over the Linkville stage route was unable ro determine. and you see an opportunity to roJJ a rock our We had advanced ro a considerable dis of the pathway of "Bob the stage driver" I tance with naught to relieve our siruadon, beg of you in rhe name of justice and mercy which was growing monoronous in spite of don'r, I beg of you, don't neglect ro do it, the great variery of our movements, when and if the Hon. Counry Court, of Jackson we mer the pleasant and affable gentleman counry, would for a short time turn their from Fort Klamath who we were informed attention coward rhe rising sun and ad was on his way ro the house of the girl of his minister the imperative duty demanded of choice and only a couple more suns were to them by rhe interests of irs people and rhe rise ere he should fold his blushing bride to traveling public in rhe way of improving his heart and be overwhelmed with happi rhe Linkville stage road, furure generations ness. A halo of joy seemed to encircle him will bless them, "Bob the stage driver" will and we saluted him with a smile, intended bless them and if they ever have occasion to for encouragement, but I was sorry for the cross the mountain with him, his joJJy good effort, for I fear 'twas roo sickly to be ap nature and mirth loving disposirion will be preciated. We were now nearing the sum pleasant ro recall in afrer life. Yours will be mit of the mountain and moving among lengthened, by it your prospect for future the clouds, but I failed to observe that the will be brighter and remembrances of the rocks were softening. Noon came and with past more pleasant, and I can assure you it dinner, a change of horses and again we that you'll be carried through on rime. Bur were moving on (The Summit Ranch one two things are necessary co keep in order ro mile west of Green Springs Mountain Sum enjoy it viz. your sear and temper. - C. B. mit - Ed.). Some relief came in the shape W. (C. B. Watson, the !are Hal Ogle's uncle of a snow srorm, but we were now on the on his mother's side- Ed.) down grade and had no time ro speculate Tidings, June 22: Soda Springs 10 miles upon rhe mutability of human affairs or from Ashland on rhe Linkville Road. rhe changefulness of climate "business is Tidings, July 20: An Old Pioneer. We business" and my pilot, the commander of have had with us a few days in Ashland our craft - "Bob rhe Srage Driver" - cried Capt. Solomon Tetherow, one of the old "down brakes". I complied with unerring Rocky Mountain men. He first went with certainty and missed my aim. Gen. Ashley and Maj. Henry (who was We descended to better roads, the excite with Lewis and Clarke) to the mountains ment wore away, my load of brake tending in 1823, he and James Bridger being the responsibility dropped off. I lapsed into youngest members of the company we be silence, finally ro slumber and at 8 P.M., I lieve. Mr. Terherow is now the sole survivor. was grasped by rhe hand by Linkville's ac Since his youth he has been one of the lead commodating hotel keeper, smiled ar by rhe ing spirits on the frontiers and his stories of 29 Oregon and California Overland stage at Cole's Station near Hilt in northern California. - Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum Ferrying across the Klamath River, probably at the north end of the Anderson Grade between Yreka and Henley. -Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum 30 Pack train at State Line Station between Klamath Falls and Dorris Pack train in Klamath Falls approaching the intersection of Sixth and Pine Streets in front of the old Iris Theatre. Early Teens. Packers in front of the Midway Stable on Main Street in Klamath FaUs, near First Street (approximate site, present Molatore's Restaurant. -Maude Bolclwin Photo 31 advenrure in the early days are as thrilling as Linkville and Lakeview, will stan for Lewis Ned Buncline's border tales. In 1845 he led ron soon. Tom knows how to make money. an emigrant train across the plains to Oregon (This is all the information rhar has ever and settled in rhe Willamette valley, where he been found on Tom Laing- Ed.) srill resides. He is now in his seventy-eighth Tidings, December 13: Charlie Adams, year bur quite strong and vigorous, and is yet well-known knight of rhe whip, is now driv able to keep pretty well up with the stron ing each alternate trip of the Linkville stage, gest young men on a hum in the mountains. rhus dividing the labor with the indefati Mr. Tetherow is spending the summer at Mr. gable Garren. Parker's on the Linkville road, Mrs. Parker being his daughter. Tidings, December 21: The editor of the Yreka Journal thinks the Yreka-Linkville Tidings, August 3: Linkville items. The mail should be thrice weekly, instead of Yainax mail carrier brought in a supply of weekly. The opinion that it would be, if the butter, cheese and eggs from Alkali for par California representative had labored as ties from Jacksonville on the way to Crater much as Oregon's had. Lake. Klamathetfsky. 1878. Tidings. August 17: Linkville stage - A1 Ferree the driver, arrives Tuesday, Thursday Newspaper excerpts from the Ashland and Saturday (at Ashland) at 1 P.M. Tidings alone will continue the history of staging and mail se rvice into the Klamath Tidings, October 12: Capr. Ferree re Country during this year. turned to Linkville. He is parr owner of the Garren stage line, and proprieror of Lakev January 4: Capt. Ferree of Lake county iew Corrages (Naylox), pleasant and home was in Ashland several days. The Capt. is like house on the road between Li nkville and socially a decided success, and he can run Fott Klamath. a stage line, farm, stock ranch and keep a good horel 'in the bargain'. Tidings, Friday, October 26: The Wed ding. On October 21st, Mr. Robert Garrerr, OUR PLEVNA - The name of the Horse of the firm of Garrett & Ferree, mail contrac shoe City of the Turks' has become famous tors, himself the driver on rhe Ashland and rhroughour Christendom from reason of gi Linkville Srage Line, was married to Miss gantic military operations carried on about Ella Thornton. The ceremony was performed that city during the eastern war, and now we by Rev. J. B. Donaldson at the residence of are ro have a Plevna of our own in the land James Thornton Esq., the bride's father, in ofpine and juniper and sage. A shon distance above the sire of our Plevna are rhe extensive Ashland and was a decidedly pleasant affair. marshlands of the Lower Klamath Lake, and After the wedding, the happy pair, accompa mile below the Klamath river enters a canyon, nied by a number of friends, repaired to the so thar the location is the most feasible one for Soda Springs, where quite an elaborate dinner a crossing place. There is a ferry at the place, had been prepared by the Russell family. On called Whittle's Ferry (now Keno- Ed.), al Monday morning they left the Soda Springs though the proprietor now is William H. for the Lake counrry, to visit their friends Roberts, which has constantly increasing busi in the Sage Brush land. We hope their trip ness. The Yreka road to Linkville crosses at this through life may be long and pleasant and point, and forms a junction with rhe Ashland that the life "harness", which galls and frets road about mile norrh of the ferry. Immediate so many, may ever rest gently upon them. ly on the north side of the river are the ranches Tidings, November 30: Tom Laing, for of Messrs. 1hompson and Walker, both old mer mail contracror on the route berween rime residents of Jackson county, and on the 32 south side, near the ferry, is me residence of margin of a pine forest near Bonanza. Robert Whittle and his wife Matilda, who November 29: Mr. Colwell, proprietor of were famous as interpreters and Lava Beds the Linkville Stage line, has a fine new buck messengers during the peace negotiations of board . . . a grear improvement over the old the Modoc War. About 1/2 mile below the backbreaking coaches and as easy on passen ferry, on the south side, is me sawmill of Mr. gers as a barouche. Pran. Here rhe Klamam commences irs rapid descenr rhrough the canyon, affording horse December 12: M. Colwell, contractor Ash power sufficient ro drive a 'canyon full' of land-Lakeview mail, began daily service last mills. Forests ofyellow pine reach down ro the Monday, to Lakeview in 60 hours. river. At no disranr day we confidendy expect 1879. ro see quire a village spring up ar this poinr. There being no other contemporary source January 18: Ab Giddings, Joe Clow, Milo of information available, we will continue our Mathews and the irrespressible Garren, heroic stage history with newspaper excerpts. stage drivers. Yreka Union, April 19: The stock of M. June 14: Bob Garren, tirdess and indefuri Colwell, says the jacksonvilk Smtintl, mail gable driver, will remove his srock ro rhe Jack conrracror between Lakeview and Ashland, sonville and Crescenr City route by the end of was arrached on Sarurday last (April 12th) by the month. Mr. Courtney of Soda Springs. His stock at June 17: M. ColwdJ, is the new contractor Linkville was attached the same day, and it is of the mail run berween Ashland-Linkville said that it is anached along rhe whole route to Lakeview ... Garren has subler the mail route Lakeview. ColwdJ is making efforts m exui from Ashland ro Crescent City ro Richard care himsdf from his difficulties. Ish. Ashland Ttdingr, May 2: The mail is nor Garrett and Ferree dissolve partnership of going through. Colwell, rhe sub-contractor is the LinkviiJe Srage Line. M. Colwdl rakes broke and has no credit. The mail is sometimes over the mail. three weeks lace in arriving at Lakeview. Thatcher and Worden ofLinkville awarded H. F. Phillips will run hacks co Linkville the freighr comract from Redding ro Fort for the accommodation of the public. (Phil Klamarh. lips was a Southern Oregon man who evi dendy saw an opportunity and made some July 26: William D. Corpe, rhe !are mail sort of deal with Colwell or others in author contractor on the Linkville-Yreka (Topsy ity, whereby he would ddiver the mails, ar least Grade) route, has gone into partnership with temporarily- Ed.) George Nurse in the Livery stable business. (George Nurse some rime later married Cor Union, May 3: S. S. Huntley, the original contractor in the Ashland and Linkville route, pe's daughter Mary-Ed.) telegraphs ro parries in Jacksonville that he September 20: M. Colwell's Stages advertise will soon be our co straighten maners on that that they leave Ashland on Monday, Wednes route. (This is the only mention ever located day and Friday for Linkville. Return Tuesday, of S. S. Hundey. He seems to have been the Thursday and Sarurday. real comraccor, sub-lening to Colwell. In Stage for Lakeview leaves Linkville on "straightening out" the LinkviiJe route, Hunr Wednesday, arrives on Saturday, carrying mail ley either sold or sub-lee again, chis rime co H. and passengers. F. PhiUips, then apparently drops our of the November 8: S. D. Whitmore, formerly of picture - Ed.) Ashland and original proprietor of the Soda Tidings, June 21: The Military express Springs, has hewed him out a home at the runs from Linkville via Klamath Agency 33 Joe Mggre, freighter, and hia famou1 wheel horse on Rivenide Street in West Klamath Falls. - Maude Boklwin Photo Stage Coach on the Scott Valley, Siskiyou County, Caljfomia run near Etna. - Courtesy Siskiyou County Museum 34 and back three rimes a week, making rhe in many places on the road. The mail from return trip on Sunday. We have been in Yreka was brought over the mountains either formed that Mr. Roork, rhe Indian agent, on a bobsled or on horse back, and the car from conscientious motives refuses ro give rier was two days and a half and rwo nights out the Agency mail on Sunday. Therefore in making the distance from Yreka ro Bar the plans of the Government ro furnish tri cons, about 40 miles. No mail from a grearer weekly mail each way is thwarred. We do disrance than Yreka was broughr. Although believe that the Government should relieve rhe terrible roads made slow travel necessary, Mr. Roork from a position that requires ei there was no impassable barrier to rhe stage ther violation of dury or conscience. travel in the Oregon portion of the route, and Tidings. June 27: The four-horse ream on the mails came with tolerable regulariry from Phillips Linkville Stage Line makes a fine the norch. appearance. Ibid. Snowed Up or Lost. Word reached (Adv.) "The Ashland and Linkville Stage here the latter part of last week that John Line will hereafter run a line of stages dai McCurdy, the mail carrier on the route be ly between Ashland and Linkville for rhe tween Linkville and Lakeview had left the transponation of passengers and express latter place nearly a week before, and had not matter. On Mondays, Wednesdays and reponed at this end of the route. We were Fridays at 5 o'clock A.M. a fine four horse unable to learn the particulars, but from coach will starr from Ashland, arriving at the way the story reaches us, it would seem Linkville in the evening of the same day. that no one had come rhru from Lakeview Leaves Linkville Tuesdays, Thursdays and since McCurdy had lefr, and the people in Samrdays in the morning, arriving ar Ash Linkville supposed he had lefr Lakeview at land in the evening. On alternate days a the rime mendoned. Later - we learned just two horse hack or buck-board will make rhe before going tO press that Mr. McCurdy had trip. Office in Ashland at rhe livery stable. reached Linkville all right, after being on the In Linkville at Thatcher and Worden's store. road three days, i nsread ofa week, as reported (The larrer location was the famous Brick above. Mr. McCurdy was not lost, but the Srore at the corner of Main and Conger terrible storms made travel simply impos -Ed.) H. F. Phillips, Prop." sible, and he was compelled to seek shelter Tidings, August 1: H. F. Phillips had co somedmes. send two hacks beside the stage ro carry the Ibid. Mail Carrying Under Difficulties. passengers from this place to Linkville last The people interested in the mail route be Friday morning. tween this place and Lakeview have reason to 1880. be thankful ~hat the comract of carrying the mails upon this difficult route is in the hands This year began in the grip ofsevere winter of so conscientious and persevering a man as snow storms which lasted for some time and Mr. Phillips. Last winter, with not half the grearly hampered mail deliveries and uans difficulties in che way of blockaded roads char porration of any kind. The Ashland Tidings Mr. Phillips has had co comend with, the car alone, cominues the staging story for this rier made a miserable Failure of the business, year: and finally was forced to throw ir up alto January 16: The Overland Roads. When gether. Up to the rime of rhe last heavy storm Ab Giddings arrived with the stage from the the road has been kept open by the sleighs sourh last Sunday, he reponed that on the and wagons, but last Friday (Jan. 9th) the other side ofthe Siskiyou Mountains the snow snow on the Cold Spring (Hayden) moumain was drifted to the depth of ten or fifteen feer was about seven feet deep, and as it was impos- 35 Porker Station on the Southern Oregon Wagon Rood as it looked about 191 S. It was demolished years ago. - Hal Ogle Photo The old Bailey Stage Station on the Southern Oregon Wagon Rood between Ashland and Klamath Falls, built in 1899, a s it looked in 1971. An earlier station was once located nearby. - Helen Helfrich Photo 36 sible ro get through with sleighs, the mail was the mails were canied across Upper Klamath brought in on horseback. On Sarurday morn Lake on ice by Ike Mose, Modoc Indian and ing Mr. Phillips scarred our with an extra four relative of Captain Jack, who lived at Modoc horse team, with the determination to break a Point - Ed.) road for sleighs, and be is still our on rhe road. Ibid. RUNAWAY. As Walter Phillips was lr has been snowing some on the mountains speeding toward Linkville (at three or four nearly every day since, and he has doubtless miles per hour - Ed.) in the mail curter last kept busy all the time with the extra ream. We Monday morning, he was dumped our in the believe the mail has been pur through some snow when going down the mountains this how ro rhe full number oftrips required by law side of Parker's by a turnover maneuver of the up ro this time, and Mr. Phillips deserves the sleigh. He picked himself up in time to grasp fullest credit for his perseverance ... Since the the hack of the curter, and succeeded in right foregoing was pur in rype Mr. Phillips has re ing it again, but could not climb on, and was turned, and has given us a vivid picture of the left behind by the flying team which soon dis rough experiences that have been undergone appeared from his sight down the mountain in putting the mails through. Eight horses and side. Afrer running about two miles the horses several men worked for many hours to get over attempted m pass a sleigh in which the Parker the mountain on Sunday. Large trees were boys were riding. and one of the boys reached blown down across the road, many of which our and caught the nearest horse by the bit, had to be cur our as it was impossible ro go bringing the runaway ream co a stand. They around them with a ream. The drivers on the turned back with the ream, and soon met route, Walrer Phillips, Bud Oliver, Collie Scow Walter coming down the road on a trot with and John May, have displayed extraordinary the letter sack under his arm. He took charge pluck and fortirude in the double and difficult of the team and afrer going back for the rest of work they have done on the road. the mail sacks and other packages left in the Ibid. Adv. EUREKA LIVERY. Sale and snow, started his team again down the moun Feed Stables. J. N. T. Miller & Co., Propri tain and 'held 'em level' rill they reached the etors, Linkville, Oregon, Large new barn and station. corral, and every arrangement to give satis February 4: Snow is six or seven feet deep faction in every branch of the business. Hay. on the summit of the Linkvllle road. Charley Grain and Flour constantly on hand for sale. Slade says he was thirteen hours going rwelve Ibid. H. F. Phillips purchased Ashland Liv miles. ery Stables from Chapman and Neil. April 8: ... Disappointment in the defeat of Ibid. UNKVILLE LIVERY STABLES. the roll road petition, as it might have given a Manning and Webb, are pleased to announce good road, instead of the one which now jolts that their stables at Linkville, Lake County, one nearly to death. Oregon are in excellent repair, amply pro May 7: A number of gray wolves have vided with feed, and that customers will he been seen on the road between Ashland and waited on promptly, and in the best style. A Linkville within the past few weeks. They are good Hack, Excellent Buggies and No. I Rid large, fierce beasts, larger chan a blood-hound, ing Horses always on hand. Horses promptly and an unarmed man would have little chance cared for, and TOURISTS AND OTHERS of life if attacked by one. A week ago Oscar OUTFITTED on rhe shortest notice. Do nor Phillips heard a number of them following Fail ro give the Linkville Stables a trial. him as he drove the stage through the forest January 23: (From Fon Klamath.) The mail this side of Ways (Cooper Station). He was is very irregular, now coming in every third or unarmed, and it is needless to say he made fourth day and no buckboard for over a week. good time.. Last Friday Collie Stowe sent in a (This may have been one of the winters when foot cut from a wolf he killed. He says as he 37 was driving the stage through the woods he September 17: Joseph Swingle, driving a came upon the wolf, feeding upon the carcass loaded wagon down Keene Creek hill on the of a horse. Instead of running off. the beast Linkville road. The horses started ro run, and showed fight, and Stowe killed it with an axe. the wagon was turned over. Mr. S. severely The wolves are attracted ro that region by the bruised, picked himself and gear up, caught carcasses ofsrock that winter killed. The more his team and continued onward. they eat the less there will be left ro polluce the 1881. air. Ashland Tidings, January 14: One of H. May 14: A new postal route established F. Phillips stage teams was drowned in from Linkville, via Plevna, Klamath Ferry the anempt to cross Emigrant Creek on (Whirde's Ferry or Keno), Miller ranch (near Worden), Dorsey's (Dorris Ranch), Fairchild Wednesday morning. Ed Davis and Wal ranch, Bell (Ball) ranch, and to Mount Shasta ter Phillips were driving in the thorough (Little Shasta). brace on the regular trip to Linkville, and as the stage usually passes Emigrant May 21: The Linkville road is almost im Creek before daylight, ir is supposed they passable for teams, some Ashland business were unable to see the dangerous condi men contribute funds to aid in repairing. tion of the ford. The horses were carried June 17: W G. Parker says considerable down stream and the stage also went travel on the Linkville road, but the teaming down stream. Mail sacks were lost. The season not begun yet. stage was a total wreck and everything July 8: Sumner Parker, son ofW. G. Parker lose. of the stage station, married Alice Howard, Jacksonville Democratic Times, Septem daughter of Zenos Howard. They will live at ber 9: John Lacey again bought the sta the Station. tion he recendy sold to H. F. Phillips on The badly mutilated body of a man was Corral Creek. (Originally the old Naylor found between Linkville and Lakeview, wild place norrhwesterly from Pinehurst on animals had mutilated. He was about 50 and Jenny Creek- Ed.) of light complexion. A pair ofspectacles, a bro Times, September 16: Three soldiers ken pipe, patched with leather, 60 cents, and who were surveying the telegraph line a paper with the names of Rockford, Roaring between Fort Klamath and this place Springs, and Shirk ranch was found (all near reached Ashland last Wednesday (14th), Steen's Mountain). Evidently he was travel having set the stakes for the poles the ing eastward. Nearby was a walking cane, whole route. The line follows the road all two quilts and a saddle blanket. Supposition the way, and the distance, measured by is that his horse got away. Being a stranger he chain, was found tO be 991.4 miles. did not know the way, and died from lack of food. Last fall a small white pony was found The first intimation we have of a daily on the east side of the valley and no one has mail being established between Ashland claimed him yet. and Linkville appears in the Democratic Times of November 25 when it was writ August 15: Captain D. ]. Ferree of Lake ten: "Three drivers are now employed on County came into town Saturday. He rode Phillips stage line. Walter Phillips drives from Fr. Klamath by the old Rancheria trail, from Ashland co Parker's and back each and he says it is the worst he has ever traveled. day, and Charley Slade and Mike Parker He passed over it once before, about ten years drive berween Parker's and Linkville. ago, and if he is forgiven for following it this rime, will promise not to try ir again for ten Times, December 9: The telegraph line years. between Ashland and Fon Klamath will 38 Stagecoach to Ager in front of the Beswick HoNI at Shovel Creek, before 1903. Driver, Harry Rolf. - Moude Baldwin Photo be in running order as soon as the bat 1882. teries arrive, which will not be long. Mr. Lee us repeat; the first daily mail co Whiting of the Infantry Company of Fore Linkville, now Klamath Falls, com Klamath will be the operator at Ashland. menced running from Ashland on Janu Tim~s. December 23: Z. M. Brown ary 1, 1882. Ocher events of great im has taken Walter Phillips' place on the portance to the Klamath Country also Linkville stage line for a short time. occurred during this year. They include Tim~s. December 30: From and after the telegraph's arrival, and extension ro January 1, 1882 the mail will be car the east, advent of Wells-Fargo Express ried tri-weekly between Linkville and Company, and lase but far from the least, Lakeview, bur the same, six times weekly, the creation of Klamath Counry with between Ashland and Linkville. Mail Linkville as county seat. All of these change from Ashland to Fort Klamath, events will be taken up in order in the fol via Linkville to six times per week. lowing contemporary newspaper articles Tidings, December 30: Telegraph office and from ocher sources: opened in Greenman's Hotel (Linkville Dtmocratic Timts, January 27: Wm. Hotel). Private Brown of L Troop, 1st Taylor, Fort Klamath expressman thrown Cavalry, the operator. A repair station has from buckboard near Linkville, fracture been established at Parker's Station. of rib and injury of two others. The same bit of information was report Timts, February 3: Major Barren of the ed by the ]acksonvili~ Dtmocratic Timts Mountain House expects to put up a hand one week later, on January 6, 1882. some residence next season. (At the junction 39 of the Linkville road and Siskiyou Mountain built this summer from Linkville to Lake road, approximately six miles south ofAshland view and Camp Bidwell, which will bring us -Ed.) in telegraph communication with these places, journal, February 4: The snow is four and via the branch line already extended as fur as one-half feet deep at Fort Klamarh and eight Linkville from Ashland, Ogn. inches at Linkville. journal. July 12: P. F. McManus carries The present cold weather has no doubt fro srage passengers between Yreka and Plevna, via zen over Big Klamath Lake completely, so that Bogus Creek and Klamath River. (Via Topsy reams with full loads can navigate its surface Grade-Ed.) the entire length. 15 degrees below zero at Fort ]Ott mal, July 15th: Hailstones the size of wal Klamath last Thursday night. nuts, break all the windows on one side of the Times, February 8: Wells-Fargo & Company house ofW G. Parker of the stage station. have established an express office at LinkvU!e, journal, July 26: The telegraph line is opened Ogn., with Reames and Martin as agents. (In berween Forr Klamath and Camp Bidwell. the Old Brick Store- Ed.) Tidings, August 11: The stage Hank Gid Ttmei, February 24: Mail service, Linkville dings was driving on the Linkville line upset ro Fort Klamath, six rimes a week, awarded when coming down the hill near Spencer's last John Hailey for $1,970 per year. Saturday. John Hailey and wife were the pas Jerry Culverhouse bid $14,000 on the sengers, and Mr. Hailey received some slight scratches and contusions, but was nor much Linkville to Lakeview route, but now claims he didn't know it was reduced one half so couldn't hun. Mrs. Hailey escaped injury entirely. afford to rake it proportionately. journal, September 9: The stages ofWednes journal, March 18: On the Ashland and day night from Redding, were well crowded Linkville road, six feet of snow blocks traveL on both roads, having fifreen soldiers for Fore Klamath, besides the commanding officer and Times, March 24: Via the Lakeview Her inspector of garrisons. The soldiers started for ald. Jerry Culverhouse will assume charge of Linkville and Fort Klamath via Klamath river the Ashland-Linkville mail route at the proper Wednesday morning in rwo wagons, and the time instead of giving it up. captain and Forr Inspector in a carriage. The journal, March 25: ...George Otto, Klam soldiers are mosdy new recruits direct from Sr. ath River mail carrier to Linkville. Louis, with a few transferred from Montana ro journal, May 31: The following conrracrs for get a warmer climate, without much relief in furnishing Ft. Klamath with supplies have been that respect, owing ro the high altitude of the awarded: Oats 150,000 lbs., E .R. Reames; Fore. 100,000 lbs., L. Soloman; 76,000 lbs., New On October 17, 1882 Klamath Counry was man Fisher; 65,000 lbs., Beall Bros. Wood, created out of Lake Counry, which in rum had Sikes Worden. Bran, 30,000 lbs., Newman been created our ofJackson Counry. Linkville Fisher. Hay, Sikes Worden and Mr. Hodges. was made the counry sear. For the complete Newman Fisher of Jacksonville secured the history ofKlamath Counry, see Klamath Echoes rransporration contract for both summer and No. 1, pages 1-5 inclusive. winter. Via Ashland Tidings. Tidings, September 15: Freight from Fort Journal, June 3: Mail stage for Linkville, Klamath and other points of Lake counry is via Willow Creek and Bogus, every Monday going over rhe Linkville road chis fall. Team morning, arriving in Yreka every Thursday. sters don't like the Rogue river route. (Via Topsy Grade- Ed.) Tidings, September 22: The Yreka mail co journal, June 21: A telegraph li ne is ro be Plevna by Willow Creek and Bogus (over the 40 The original Mart Frain home at the Truitt place one mile below Shovel Creek on the Klamath River at it appeared April 4, 1973. During Snow and Pokegoma log driving days it served as a saloon. - Helen Helfrich Photo Topsy Grade - Ed.), leaves Sarurday ar 9:30 expecting ro arrive late ar stations as daylight A.M. arriving ar Plevna Sunday ar 2:30 P.M. became shorter. Some young men owning a Rerurnlng, leaves Plevna Thursday ar 9:30, ar ranch a lirrle above Shovel Creek, heard him riving at Yreka ar 2:30 P.M. Friday. sing our ro parries across the river ro come and journal, October 28: The death ofP. F. Me get some articles he had brought them. This Manu.~. the mail carrier, off the grade near call artracred their arremion, and they saw by Shovel Creek is reported. the lighrs, be had scarred on his way again ro journal, November 1: ...We have inter ward Shovel Creek. . .Pat being found dead by viewed Mart Frain and Gus Hahn, who fur the side of rhe road, and the wagon on irs side nished us a correct account of the sad accident having rurned over once and a half inro an irri causing the insranr death of Mr. McManus. gating ditch close ro the Klamath river. Spindle The accidenr occurred abour seven o'clock on front wheel ourside broke when hirting a lasr Thursday evening, about a mile and a half large rock abour size of a man's head. Wagon above Shovel Creek, and rwo miles and a half rurned over on him, breaking neck and both above Man Frain's place where he generally shoulders. Wagon loaded with a large heavy stopped overnight excepr when he had a load chesr, a firkin ofburrer and a nwnber ofsmall ofpassengers. He usually reaches Frain's befOre er articles ofexpress matter and a mail sack. No dark and was gerring along alrighr when Gus passengers. Steep bank about 7 ft. high. One Hahn mer him near Whirde's Ferry. ... Pat had horse stripped of harness, the other under the rhe lamps lit, which he had lately procured, wagon, almost dead when found. 41 jourruzl, November 25: Mr. V. H. Pease, McManus is in Idaho at his old home ac business agem of the National Mail Associa cording to Bob Emmitt, one of his bonds tion of this coast, was in town Thursday and men. started for Linkville same day via Ashland, to Tidin!J, September 21 : The Kilgore Broth see about mail carrying between these points ers have sold their contract on the mail route where a sub-contractor failed to fulfill his between Linkville and Lakeview to parties in contract. Goose Lake valley, who have already taken 1883. charge of the business. jourruzi, April 11: Mr. Nate Clark, attends Ibid. R. L. {Bob) Oliver sold the stage sta the McManus store in Plevna ... tion formerly owned by Thomas Way ro H. journal, July 7: Linkville Mail. Messrs. Q E. Cooper. (This site has become known as A. Brooks and J. W. Manning of Linkville, Cooper Stage Station, about four miles west of Ogn., were in town on the founh and had Keno on the Southern Oregon Wagon Road petitions numerously signed by the citizens of paralleling the north side of the Klamath Riv Klamath counry, Ogn., and Siskiyou Counry, er between Spencer Creek and Keno - Ed.) Cal., for a tri-weekly mail between Yreka, 1884. Linkville and Fon Klamath, the most direct This year began with a "hassle" in prog and natural route for speedy, certain and reg ress between the Ashland Tidin!J and the ular reception of mail matter by southern Or Yreka journal over which was the best road egon, a route that should have been provided with a daily mail long ago. Mr. Manning in for transportation into the Klamath Basin, tends running a semi-weekly stage line for the the Green Springs route, or rhe Klamath present, having bought out Cobb McManus River route, via Topsy Grade. who carries a weekly mail, and if he can get According to the journal of January 9th, r:he service raised will run three trips a week, "The Tidings says the Ashland route is not or a daily if the busi ness will justify. He is an blocked any longer by snow than the route energetic, go ahead man, and just the man to between Redding and Roseburg is during gain the support and confidence of the people some winters, just as though that made the of Siskiyou and Klamath counties, whose Ashland road preferable to the Klamath interests are mutual, and apparently like the river road .... Further, rhe people of Klam same country by the natural advantages of ath county, in Oregon, are making efforts easy communication between them through to have their daily mail changed to the only open valleys and up the Klamath river. The route open at all rimes for travel, during the business with Willow Creek, Shovel Creek, year, by wagon road, for their own personal and Bogus Creek in this state, and Linkville, benefit, rather than be discommoded be Fort Klamath, Lost River, Plevna and other yond endurance, simply ro benefit Ashland sections in Southern Oregon, will greatly or any other locality inside of Oregon ... .In enhance the prosperity of Yreka, and we are addition, Capt. Burton, at Fort Klamath, is pleased to know the right place has taken hold ready ro pur 50 soldiers at working on the of the enterprise of affording us a tri-weekly stage line on this route. Oregon end of the road just as soon as the Linkville people are ready to commence journal, July 14: Nate Clark (administer work. With the daily mail on the Klam of estate) employed in the srore of the late ath river road, a daily line of stages could P. F. McManus at Plevna absconded with be run all rhe year round, without losing $1,500. an hour's time on any trip. The military au journal, July 25: Nate Clark who ab thorities are also satisfied now that it was a sconded with $1,500 as adm. of estate of great mistake to connect the telegraph line 42 at a lirde way office, like Ashland, when by journal, January 30. The contract for car coming ro Yreka ir could be connecred with rying the mail three rimes a week from Yreka a repearing office, open at all times, and ro Plevna, where it connects wirh rhe Ashland managed by a force of three operarors." daily mail ro Linkville, has been awarded to The Tidings was then "anxious to know Jerry Culverhouse for the sum of$2,300 per annum, service to commence the 1st of next how much Yreka had expended on rhe im July. This is a very low figure for a tri-weekly, provement of the Linkville road." The jour but there is a good deal of passenger and nal of January 18th, answered char "their express business to be gained, as ir will be district had built a splendid road all rhe rhe main route for travel from Linkville and way to the Oregon line," and furrher srared Fort Klamath, in order ro make rhe rrip with that "every effort made about Linkville to safety, security and pleasure. The people of fix up the Oregon portion of the road was Bogus and Willow Creek, will also find this opposed by the people of Jackson County. line a great convenience, in being able to get ... Further than this, there is a conrinu aboard the stage every orher day towards ous line of farms along the entire Klam reaching Yreka, or rhe main srage line for rhe ath river route ro Plevna, with a splendid north or sourh, rhe larter to be superseded half way house at Shovel Creek, kept by R. soon by the railroad now in progress. This Beswick, ro accommodate travelers, while line will also secure a large passenger busi on the Ashland route from Barron's (at the ness in summer to rhe famous Shovel Creek junction of the Green Springs road and old springs, rhe half way station, where Dick Highway 99 - Ed.), there is but one house, Beswick has a fine hotel for the accommoda we are rold, for the entire distance, an old tion of rravders and visirors. shanty in seven feet of snow ar rhe presenr Tiding.r, March 21. News from Plevna. time (Parker's station), for accommodation The citizens are trying to secure a mail route of travel." from Plevna to Dorris Ranch (Lava Beds). In rhe meantime on January 11th, an or The P. 0. Deparrment has established a P. ganiuuional meeting was held in Linkville 0. arTopsy. to build a wagon road down the Klamath Residing Republican, Saturday, April 19. river. Such men as S. B. Cranston, Gen. Ir is claimed, says the Yreka journal, that John F. Miller, W. C. Hale, F. A. Cogswell, freight can be delivered at Ashland from San J. W. Manning, J. L. Hanks, 0. A. Stea Francisco via Portland, at 80 to 90 cents per rns, E. R. Reames and C. S. Moore were 100 pounds for all kinds of goods, and by appoinred ro various offices and commit ream from Ashland to Yreka rhe cost will nor tees ro iniriare further proceedings. Several exceed three-fourths to one cent per pound. proceedings were set in motion, subscrip Freigbr to Redding averages ar leasr 76 cents tions were ro be sought; cooperation of per 100, and if delivered at rhe proposed ter Capr. Burton, Commanding Officer at Fr. minus above Dog Creek, the railroad freight Klamath, was ro be sought; rhe road was is likely to be a little higher, with probably to be surveyed; and a point on the incom l!h cents from Dog Creek to Yreka, at rhe ing Cenrral Pacific railroad for a depot was reamster rates, if not more. At this figuring ro be chosen, presumably at or near Willow the Ashland way will be a little the cheapest when rhe depot is at Dog Creek, and a grear Creek. saving over hauling from Redding. We can Wirh a definite goal now in sight, and not expect to ger freight by teams from Red the wheels of progress set in motion we will ding at less than 2 cents, and by Ashland we once more continue wirh contemporary can get goods by steamer, railroad and team, newspaper accounts ro tell our story: via Portland and Ashland from San Francisco, 43 Mcintyre's gray eight·mule team, the best on the road, and always driven by Lum Lowden, headed east on Main Street in the center of the 700 block. About 1905. - Maude Baldwin Photo at 2 cenrs or less. By direct shipments from journaL, August 20. From the Linkville Star Chicago, the steamer cost from San Francisco of last Saturday, we glean the following items: could be saved, and rhus gain another quarter The detachment of31 soldiers of Capt. Miller, of a cent per pound. who has been out for some time, repairing the military line from this place to Ashland, re Regarding the above article, it may be well rurned home on Thursday, having completed to remind the reader that the Oregon & Cali their labors in good shape. fornia railroad, extending southward from Portland, reached Ashland on April 19, 1884, journal, September 5. Mr. J. G. Waugh, therefore the above interest in &eight rates. proprietor of the Linkville stage line, is put ting up a barn at Way's station, 5 miles from 1885. Shovel Creek. Waugh has been the proprieror Journal, January 3. The Linkville srage driv of a ferry just above Redding for some time, er, while on his trip from town to Linkville last which be still owns. Tuesday, with the carr recenrly brought into journal, September 26. Now that we are requisition, for gerting over the mud easier, sure that the CaLifornia and Oregon railroad had a breakdown near Truitt's place on Bogus. will be completed within the next 12 months, The axle was broken, which threw the driver, don't let us F.UI ro have the wagon road down Eli Clauson, under the wheel, injuring his the Klamath completed by the rime the rail head by cutting the scalp slightly. The carr was road is finished. (By October lOth, the Central rigged up specially for the adobe section, since Pacific had purchased the 0. & C. railroad the accident to the stage two weeks ago, and with the understanding that Delta to Ashland bad cutters just behind the wheels for scraping section was to be finished in three years. Ar off the mud. The whole weight of a load rest chis time consrruction crews were working on ing on the axle, is a heavy bearing for axles of rhe road bed north of Delta, and had been for ordinary srrengrh. some time- Ed.) journaL, January 8. Passage on the Waugh 1886. stage line - $3.00 ro Shovel Creek, $8.00 to journa~ Saturday, January 2. Stages leave Linkville. Yreka as follows: For Plevna, via Willow Creek 44 and Bogus, every Wednesday and Saturday journal, June 26. The present Democratic morning, returning every Wednesday and Administration has been dealing very unjust Sarurday. ly with this county in postal service. Several journal, February 6, Yreka and Plevna Mail. routes having been cur down since Cleveland Mr. Waugh, the sub-contractor in carrying came in power, both on this side of the coun the mail from Yreka to Plevna, once its reduc ty, and also in Scon Valley. Under a Republi tion to weekly service, has refused to carry it can Administration, we had a tri-weekly mail any longer, as he had an agreemeor to carry it from Yreka to Plevna, and now only a weekly, tri-weekly, when it was reduced to semi-week with four post offices on the route, while the ly, and lately 10 wcddy with corresponding Ashland route to Plevna without a single post reduction in pay, without allowance of extra office is given a tri-weekly mail. Other mail time for weekly trips. He found it to be a los routes in this counry have also been similarly ing business and quit, as be was under no ob cut down, and we hope efforts will be made Ligations to accept less than tri-weekly pay and to reestablish bener mail facilities all around. carry the mail accordingly, which pay at one We expect our Congressman is much to third rate was nor sufficient ro make weekly blame through neglect, for cuning down of trips in sixteen hours each way. C ulverhouse, mail service in Siskiyou. the original contractor, on being notified, au journal, July 3. New Line to Shovel C reek. thorized the Yreka P.M. to make temporary The C. 0. & I. Stage Co., having received arrangements umil he could come here and the contract to carry a semi-weekly mail Mart Frrun has been carrying the mrul the past from Willow Creek to Beswick's at Shovel two weeks. Culverhouse, expecting to be here Creek Springs, Klamath river, will run a from Modoc counry in a few days, he being semi-weekly stage line between the points in that section going over his Line ro Alturas, named, connecting with the regular daily when notified of Mr. Waugh's relinquishment line of the same company between Ashland of the service on the terms allowed. and Southern's. "!he stages for Beswick's will journal, April 3. Our old friend Billy leave Willow Creek every Monday and Fri Carl, formerly Division Agent of the C. & day, and rerum from Beswick's on the fol 0. Stage Company, was in town this week, lowing days. The mail to Plevna has been and left an order with Swan and Lemay, for suspended, bur a daily mail is carried from two stages and rwo buckboards, to carry the Ashland to Plevna and LinkviUe. There mrul on a contract he has secured for a route will be a good deal of travel ro Plevna and in Oregon. Unkville from Beswick's as it is a long way from here to UnkviUe via Ashland, in face Ibid. Mr. W. L. Smith, Division Agent, C. twice as far as via Beswick's. & 0. Stage Co., is in town agrun this week having returned from a trip to Ashland. journal, July 17. John Cooley makes the Wm. Cad, of Canyonville, Ore., has secured semi-weekly connection wirh C. & 0. stages, the contract for carrying the mail between in running a stage to Bogus and Shovel Creek Lakeview and Linkville for $2,400. Springs from Willow Creek, so that parties leaving Yreka every Wednesday and Friday journal, May 19. Billy Carl, formerly Di can reach the above places on the same day, vision Agent of the C. & 0. Stage line, nonh and return on the next day ifso desiring. of Yreka, for several years until the railroad shonened the distance to require but one journal, November 17. The rrrun has such agent, has located at Lakeview with his reached McCloud, 2 miles south of Sisson family, and has the mail contract from Ash (now Mount Shasta City- Ed.). land ro that place, via Linkville. Billy is an Ibid. By January 1st, the railroad will reach energetic and enterprising stage man ... Edgewood (near Weed). 45 The Culley Stowe log cabin, with a shake roof, at the Way Station as it appeared in July, 1948. It has since been remodeled. - l>evel'e Helfrich Photo 46 1887. majJ marrers on time and without being wee journal, January 8. By the end of the and damaged is via Yreka, in place of com week, rails will be laid to the vicinity of the ing through Ashland. The road is much bet Sale Works and the 0. & C. stage will cease ter by way of Yreka, and conrains very lirde to run into Yreka. snow at any poinr. journal, January 15. Laird's (later Thrall) By February 9th, rhe railroad and stages is the liveliest camp in the country, and is were connecting ar Gazelle. a stop over for the C. & 0. stages, hauling journal, February 16. Fred Clift and men to work on the railroad. George Chase have purchased the Linkville journal, January 26 The New Route: -Lakeview Stage Company's coach for the run between Linkville and Yreka. Linkville people, says the Lak~vi~w Ex amin~r. anticipate that the bulk of freight journal, February 23. Mr. Clift started this year for Lake Counry, will pass through from Linkville last Friday on his first trip their town on rhe road down the Klamath. with a stage to Yreka, but found snow so We hardJy think so. It will be a difficult un deep near Chases ranch, chat he returned ro dertaking to turn the srream of travel from postpone rhe rime of making regular trips. an old established road, where stations are until snow disappeared co some extent. The numerous and feed cheap, to a new road heavy snow fall this winter, in this county where stations are few on the last few hun and along the Oregon boundary, is unprec dred miles, and feed very high. However, it edented, rhe like of it not taking place for is only a question, when all our freight, and a period of over 30 years. The new line via even our mail, will come via Linkville, as it is Klamath river, under management of Clift rh e shoner and most practicable route, when & Chase will be a great accommodation for the road once gees serried for heavy reams, all in rhe Klamath basin desiring co travel and feed stations are established. By the new on the shon:est and easiest stage route to rhe roure freight can be landed in Lakeview for railroad. 2 cents per pound or less, based on calcula Ibid. A dispatch from Lakeview, Or., to tions made by merchanrs and freighters of 7h~ Ashland Tidings, scares that John Carter, both towns. The people of Klamath have the stage driver berween Lakeview and Bly, taken hold of the maner in earnest, and will assaulted a lady passenger named Hauge on do all in their power to turn travel through his stage last Thursday night about 10 miles their town as ir will undoubtedly be of great south of Bly. The lady was rhe only passen benefit to them, directly and indirectly. ger, and was severely bruised in the struggle When we left there on the 17th, $1,400 had co prevent the brute from accomplishing al ready been subscribed for working the big his purpose. She reached Lakeview Friday hill below Plevna (Topsy), and ir was expect and swore out a warrant against Carter who ed chat several ocher subscriptions would be had skipped. He was arrested and jailed in received. Lakeview, and denies having gone as far as journal, January 29. The Linkville people the lady states. raised about $1,400 towards improving the journal, March 9. The first stage of Chase wagon road down the Klamath River via and Clift's new rri-weekly line arrived here Shovel Creek, and expect in the near future last Sunday (6th) from Linkville, which en to gain the easiest and shortest road to the terprise will be a great accommodation to railroad for all Eastern Oregon. the people of Southeastern Oregon, as this is Journal, February 2nd. The Linkvitl~ Star the shortest, easiest and quickest route co the thinks the only way for that place to receive railroad, far preferable to either the Ashland 47 All that remains o.f the old Bogus Station on the Ager· Linkville Road. As it appeared April 4, 1973. - Helen Helfrich Photo or Redding routes. Both men are old hands The road overseer is Mr. Waugh. The grade is at the stage business, and will run four horse 18 inches m the rod, whereas the former grade teams, and first class srages, built expressly for was 64 inches to the rod. H. M. Thatcher is to comfortable travel over our mountain roads. be the forwarding agent from Willow Creek. The stages from Chewaucan, Summer Lake, Journal, May 28. Good work is now being Silver Lake, and Lakeview connect with this ac:omplished on the Linkville wagon road, line, bur sleighs are used in making the trips at both by George Chase, on the Oregon por present from most of the places east and north tion, and by Road Overseer Waugh in this of Klamath Lake basin. county. New grade is being built at places in By March 19th, stages and trains were con Sl:ovel Creek section with not over 18 inches necting ar Momague. m the rod, where the grade formerly measured journal, April 9. The new siding of Ager is m as high as 64 inches to the rod. When the pres be on the old Hi Richardson place. em work is completed, this road will be fully ~al to the best roads in the county through journal, April 23. The new railroad termi m:lUnrain sections. nus will be at Hornbrook by May 1. Journal, June 8. The jacksonvi/k Timts says journal, April 27. From the Linlwille Star: sur services have been ordered as follows: Ash The mail will be changed from Ashland to land to Linkville from June 6, 1887, change Willow Creek (a few miles south of Ager) on of service so as m omit Ashland and Soda july 1st. lr will be carried by Clift and King Springs, and begin at Willow Creek, Califor stage. nia, embracing the offices of Bogus and Bes journal, May 14. The rown sire at Ager's wick, next after Willow Creek, reducing the place near Cooley's on Willow Creek is now distance seven miJes. This change is the result being surveyed, and the sire for a depot se of long and continued effort. It has probably lected. Ager is also having lumber hauled ro lxen brought mostly by the influence of con put up a hord. This will be the sration for all mcrors, carrying mail between Ashland and business from Linkville and Eastern Oregon, Linkville. Many residentS of southeastern Or from which point a daily mail will be carried egon however have petitioned for the change, to Linkville after July lsr. on the ground that with the completion of the journal, May 18. George Chase is now California and Oregon railroad to rhe Klam working on the Linkville road via Shovel Creek arh river their commercial relations for the near the state line (the second Topsy Grade). most parr, would thenceforth be with Califor- 48 • - .... . McClintock's Station north of old Bogus on the Ager-linkville Road, as it appeared April 4, 1973. -Helen Helfrich Photo The aid Willow Creek Station on the Oregon-California Stage Rood between Yreka and later day Ager, as it looked April 4, 1973. -Helen Helfrich Photo nia, and San Francisco leners could be more the same effect is produced. The contractors quickly received by a stage running up the on the Ashland roure claim thar they have Klamath river imo Oregon, than by the route lost heavily on rheir contract. &om Ashland ro Linkville. "Jhe mail comrac C. S. Moore is now driving on mrs claim thar in summer the road over the Ibid. Mr. Cascade range east of Ashland is so rough and the Linkville stage line from Yreka ro Shovel rocky that fast time cannot be made, while in Creek, unciJ Frank King. one of the propri winter there is so much snow on rhe line thar etors, is able ro resume dury. Frank has experi- 49 enced a rough time the past rwo weeks, from sometime between May 28th, and June 8th, a severe arrack of rheumatism, but it is now probably closer co the 8th. The fuse passenger improving. train passed through the Siskiyou mountains The Linkville srage driver who arrived here on October IOth - Ed .) Sunday, says rhe road was not stocked or any jouma~ Wednesday, December 21. Lase arrangements made for commencing daily Sarurday, the 17th, the last spike celebration trips by Dr. Warren's line, when he left Shovel was held at Ashland. Also the last trip of the Creek bur probably may be during the week. stages from Ashland, driven by Charley Laird, Ibid. Dr. Warren's stage line is not yet Frank Hovey, Dan Cawley and others, the srocked or stationed, from Ager ro Linkville. veteran driver Cawley bringing up che rear, as lr is co be known as the Warren Stage Com firsr over the Siskiyous and 30 years later the pany. lase over. journaL, June 11. Dr. Warren, of Western 1888. Stage Company has stocked the road and journal, February 8. Linkville Irems. From now carries a daily mail from Willow Creek the Star of last Friday we glean the following: to Linkville, excepting Sunday. This will be a Daily coaches commenced running between grear accommodation ro rhe people of Eastern Linkville and Lakeview Saturday. Link-ville Oregon, for easy communication with the rail now has good mail facilities, and when a tri road, and greater regularity of mail service. weekly is established - which we hope will be journal , June 22. The jacksonville Times soon - to Clear Lake, we wiJI have better. says: The Western Stage Co.'s stages now run Ibid. No connection with the outside world, regularly berween Willow Creek, CaL, and and no news except a little specially secured Linkville and make good rime, connecting by telegraph, has made Siskiyou county an iso regularly with rhe trains. Chas. Slade, Sdl lated section with Klamath and Lake counties McCord and Chas. Howard ace in the capac in Sourhern Oregon, similarly situated. The ity of drivers and give the fullest satisfaction, situation for the past rwo weeks- ." manipulating the reins over first class four Ibid. The Lakeview Examiner says : Billy Carl horse stock all the way. Eating srations have is the victim ofan unfortunate accident. While been established at Cooley's, ac Lennox's and himself and Horace Dunlap were leading rwo at Emmitt's, where the best meals are served. new horses (to be used on the increased mail The Stage Company is giving a superior mail service) Monday, from the weighing scales the service. horse Horace was leading became frightened journal, July 2. There seems to be some and jumped on Billy, knocking bim down and doubt whether a depot will be built at Willow breaking the large bone in his right forearm Creek, the railroad evidently desiring to have and fracturing the small bone. Billy has han the Linkville, Eastern Oregon, Shovel Creek dled horses all his life and chis is the first time and Butte Creek business come to rhe Mon he has been hurt by one. He is getting along tague depot. nicely, able for his usual rations, and we expect journal, October 12. Quoting from rhe to see him out, jolly as, of yore. Ashland Tidings: The operating rerminus, has jou.rnal, February 15. Charley Slade was been moved from Cole's on the sourh side of somewhat hun last week by the breakage of the Siskiyou mountain to the point where the front axle of the stage, while making his the railroad first crosses the Stage road on regular trip to Linkville. He was thrown our the north slope of the mountain, after pass on the wheelers near the school house at Shov ing through the long runnel at the summir. el Creek, and received but slight injuries, no New terminus named Siskiyou. (The railroad bones being broken. The six horses in the ream moved its terminus from Hornbrook ro Cole's were stopped after running a short distance, so 50 The original Beswick Hotel at Klamath Hot Springs near Shovel Creek on the Klamath River. Built in the mid· 1870's, it appeared thus on April4, 1973. - Helen Helfrich Photo The later Beswick Hotel across the stage road north of the original hotel. This building, built of stone, burned and the stone was used to construct a dance pavilion, now also destroyed. - Maude Baldwin Photo 51 that no damage, of any consequence was sus snow at Parker's and five on the summit, travel tained. Mr. & Mrs. McConnell accompanied to and from Ashland on the old road is of by Dr. Roberrson wem our ro see him, Char course, almost impossible, even the Ager road ley being a nephew ofMrs. McConnell, whose is badly blocked, though all the mails are com deceased fiuher, W. D. Slade, formerly resided ing nearly on time up co dare. in Yreka for many years, having been one of Ibid. Tom Lang, the boss of the Western che founders of the Mountain Herald, the first Stage Company's scabies at Keno who was newspaper published in Siskiyou counry. stabbed at Keno, was in rown last week. He journal, February 29. The mail between says char Mr. Nichols of the company, has jusr Willow creek and Linkville will be daily (sev rcrurned from Sisson with two light-made en times a week) after March 1, 1888. Order wagons for the route from Ager ro Linkville. and notice just received from the post office He is determined to spare no expense in mak deparrmem. ing nice, easy riding for passengers on his line, 1889. both in winter and summer. Tidings, February 7. The srage road between Yr(ka Union, November 21. It is reported linkville and Ager has been kepr opened, that the LinkviUe and Ager stage was stopped and the mails have been carried through and robbed Monday night, about 15 miles with sleighs, with bur few irregularities. The north east of rhe larrer place, while on irs way stages, on runners, have also been running be w the former one. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s trea tween Linkville and Lakeview, and between sure box, said to contain several thousand dol Linkville and Fort Klamath. lars, was taken. Tidings, February 10. The report that the journal, November 27. Another Stage mail carried between Linkville and Ager had Robbery. The Linkville stage from Ager co been kept open and the mail carried between LinkviiJe lase Monday evening, was stopped th~ poin~ dw ing the: ptc:~c:lll r.1ilroad bkx.. k by a highwayman, near the Lennox place, ade was erroneous. Klamath counry has been where rhe Shovel Creek road strikes the Klam until the last week cur off from both mail and ath River above Bogus, and rook $300 from telegraphic communjcation with the ourside the express box, but did not disturb the mail. world. Mr. Wilson, who came from Linkville It was after dark when the stage was over via Ager, reportS that the mail has not been hauled, as che mail is now carried on the slow carried over the route for three weeks or more. winter time, owing to the heavy condition of Deep snowdrifts blockaded the road, and si nee the road, rhe stopping overnight place being at the rains began the sticky mud from Ager east Klamath Hoc Springs, some five miles above about 8 miles has been impassable. Along up the place of robbery. These frequent robberies Lircle Bogus the road has been badly washed of the Linkville stage are committed by men by the flood, and will require considerable coming over the California line from Oregon, work to pur it in repair. and alchough the hunt was made for the rob ber, he evidently returned w Oregon for hid Tidings, February 13. The weather remains ing and escape. In cases of murder, robbery, dear, the days warm, but nighrs very cold. ere., there ought ro be a mutual law in Cali The mail &om Bonanza and Bly still carried fornia and Oregon, ro permit the officials of on snowshoes. The mail from Lakeview ar either stare to have full power ro foUow and ar rives occasionaUy, that is the lerter part, noth rest such characters without a requisition from ing else is brought. The mail to K~o g~. by snowshoes yet. No mail whatever IS amvmg the governor. from Ager, although the road on the moun 1890. rain is passable. Mail from Fort Klamath and joumal, January 8. From the Linkvilk Star the Agency comes by horseback. Curly Webb of last Saturday. With three and a half feet of i:as rumed over the mail carrying business on 52 The " Big Point" on Topsy Grade, looking downhill or west toward Ager. Klamath River in the lower right hand corner. - Moude Baldwin Photo The " Big Point" on Topsy Grade, looking uphill, or east toward Klamath Falls. -Maude Baldwin Pholo 53 the Ft. Klamath route to Ava Bed, and is hold County Star of last week we glean the follow ing down the position of Deputy Sheriff, Sher ing: Monday, while Ab Giddings was loading iff Childers being at Salem to stay. grain into a wagon at Judge Smith's grocery, Tidings, February 26. The ranch of Orto an accident happened that disturbed the peace Bros. Wm. Ouo, of this place, and his and harmony of the occasion and dsew Mr. brother on rhe Klamath River, three miles Giddings imo a state of exposure to great from Shovel Creek, was damaged to the ex bodily harm. A band of confounded hogs, tent of $500 or $600 by the washing away driven around the corner of the granary, sud of a fine bridge, and other ranches along the denly hove in view, frightened the horses and river were damaged by the washing of the went away with a grunt ofsatisfaction at seeing bottom land, depositS of dsifr and lines of Ab crushed between the wagon and the waU fencing. and the horses flying. Ab luckily escaped with a bruised shoulder, bur the confounded hogs Tidings, March 28. The new contrac are still laughing ro think how "slick" they did tors for rhe seven day mail service each way pur that squeeze onto one ofthe finest old boys on the Ager-Linkville route, are ro receive that ever cracked a lash on the California and $2,700 a year, making each trip during the Oregon stage-road. summer or dry sea.son on a 10-hour sched JournaL, July 20. L. H. Johnson, formerly of ule, the distance being about 53 miles. The Yreka and Etna, has become sole proprietor of contract was awarded ro the C. 0. & I. Stage A. D. Carrick's blacksmith shop at Linkville. Co., and Col. Stone of the Scott Valley line Mr. Johnson is the boss iron-smith, who is to be the Superintendent. caught nor only Mr. Carrick, but many other journal, July 9. The Linkvilk Star says Bob good blacksmiths. So says the Linkvilk Star. Emmit, with a crew of 35 men has reached journal. September 2. Nearly Killed Him. Topsy with his road work, which is done in Will Murray had a terrible fright at Klamath such fine shape that everybody is praising it. Hot Springs, one evening last week. He was (This construction was in part ar least the disporting in the warm plunge bath, which completion of the third or last, and pres is made private by a six-foot fence, when a ent Topsy Grade- Editor) Ed. Grubb, who friend, who is acquainred with Murray's retir brought Jesse D. Carr from Shovel Creek ing disposition, pur on a lady's hat and peeped Sunday, said, "I trotted all the way over the over the inclosure. Murray saw a pair of mis road Bob made." chievous eyes and the hat. In an efforr to hide 1891. his nude condition he remained under water so long he strangled and had to be rolled on journal, February 11. A dispatch from Linkville, Or., states that Fred Clift was seri a barrel for an hour ro bring him back to life. ously stabbed by John Fairchild, a nineteen He opened his eyes and the first words he said year old son of John Fairchild of Butte Creek were, "Help, cake her away!" As reported by in this county. Clift was intoxicated and the Sisson Mascot. sought a quarrel with Fairchild who tried ro Journal, February 3. L. H. Jackson (John escape from him. Clift pursued him, when son?), blacksmith, from Yreka and Erna of the Fairchild called out to the by-standers, "Stop past, sold out in Linkville, and intends to lo him boys, if he catches me, I'U kill him." He cate at Klamath City (Klamathon). caught Fairchild who stabbed him with a pen Journal, June 22. Stage Robbery. Ballard, of knife in the arm, neck and head. Clift was the Lakeview-Klamath Falls stage, was startled placed under arrest. No blame is attached to to a high degree yesterday morning, Thursday, Fairchild who acted only in selfdefense. June 16, about 2 o'clock, while rolling through journal, April 22. From the Klamath the sylvan gloom of Drew's Canyon. 54 "Throw up your hands!" cried somebody debts accrued, on account of Frank's death, from some recess in the gloom. The sound the heirs, rwo sisters, not understanding mat struck him so harshly that his ears felt as dead ters, until posted by telegraph. The line is do as 2 last year's bird's nests, and madam echo ing a good business, and has the contract for was courteous enough ro awaken and lash carrying a daily mail berween Klamath Falls and whip through the dismal forests a hun and Lakeview. dred reverberations of the startling command journal. September 13. Stage Robbery on the "Throw up your hands!" Klamath River Road. The stage from Ager to Mr. Ballard threw both hands as high as he Klamath Falls was robbed near McClintock's, could into the melancholy starlight and saw in rhe Bogus Creek section, last Sunday eve rwo masked men standing erect by the dark ning, and rhe express box and passengers re roadside and covering him with pistols. lieved of what they possessed, the express box probably contained but linle if any money, but While one of them kept the driver carefully whether rhe passengers had much we were un covered, the other as carefully rook our Well able to learn up to the time of going ro press. Fargo & Co.'s express box, cut it open with a Sheriff Walker started out immediately and hatchet and rifled rhe contents, the amount of will endeavor to capture the robber, although which is not yer known. Then the stage went it is probable rhar he has made cracks for Or on. egon. No highwaymen have yet been captured The robbers are supposed to be camping in on this route, as it is the most advantageous the vicinity of the canyon, where it is easy to for robbers to escape by reason of the rough hide, and where the possibility of being caught oamre of the country and dense forests along is light and easy on their minds. From the the river and the Oregon boundary line. Klamath Fails Star. From William Lennox, who arrived in journal, June 29. Dan Cawley, genial old town yesterday we learn that the highwaymen driver of Col. Stones' easy summer coach, is failed to get anything from rhe express box or the veteran of the coast. Came back in '54, registered mail sacks, bur secured about $80 driving the first and last stage carrying U.S. from 2 passengers. The robber was evidendy mail across Siskiyou Mountain. Klamath Falls an old hand ar rhe business and performed his Star. work with coolness and determination. His Journal, September 21. A Keno correspon feet were covered with gunny sacks, so that denr of the Klamath Star says AI and Henry he could nor be tracked, and he was also dis Smith of Keno purchased a hay baler ar Yreka, guised with an accent indicating char he was with which they contemplate puning up hay probably a German. He is undoubtedly the for the Pokegama Mill Co. man who stole a har at the Walbridge & Carr Co., srore at Ager, from Mr. Hawkins, on the Ibid. The Riverside Hotel at Keno, Or., on same day, and was seen on the road by others, Klamath River, near the California boundary, so that SheriffWalker undoubtedly has a good was burned down last Wednesday night. Loss description of the road agent. $1,500, insured for $1,000. The robber obliged the passengers ro get out 1893. and march up the hill on the road a shore dis Journal, January 18. The Klamath Falls Star ranee, and requested the driver Jack Barde, ro says that Reames, Martin & Co., anached the rhrow our the registered mail matter. Jack said National Mail Stage Line Co., at that place, he had none, that no registered mail was for lase week, for $1,000 bur the maner has since warded on Sundays. Jack was then requested been serried, as an agent of the Frank Clug co dismounr and walk up in line with the pas gage heirs passed through Yreka some days sengers, when a search of the stage was made. ago from Kansas to make a setclement. The On finding a registered mail sack, the high- 55 A Western Stage Company coach in front of the Keno, Riverside Hotel en route from Ager to Linkville. The hotel burned September 18th, or 20th, 1892. J teams corner of South Sixth and Walnut Streets, where is now located. Ed Lovelady at left, Vesta Hunsaker on the horse and Bob Hunsaker with team at right. - Maude Baldwin Photo ---.. ~ ~- ...... --~ - Klamath Falls General Delivery (Mundy and Hilyard) teams at some unknown feed yard, probably after 1908 when freight began to arrive by railroad. 56 wayman called on Jack ro come back when stream between Hornbrook and Pokegama. he informed him that he was the biggest liar The Sheriff and his deputy procured several of in the counrry. The registered sack conrained the letters, which had been opened and corn only an empty pisrol which was nor wanted and at one place found where he had shot and without cartridges. Securing all char could be skinned a rabbit in making a meal. The stage found ofany value, the driver was given charge robber is an experienced hand at the business, of the stage again and ordered co drive on. and plays his points with as great skill as the journal, September 20. Another Stage Rob noted Black Bart, but the booty is light on this bery The same highwayman who stopped the road except in overhauling passengers. stage last Sunday evening on the up trip at }ouT7UJI, September 27. The Klamath Falls Bogus on the road to Klamath Falls to Ager, Exprm says SheriffWalker and his posse hunt overhauled it again on the down trip ro Ager ing a robber of the Agee-Klamath Falls stage, about 10 o'clock last Tuesday morning ar the found a letter addressed to him by his sister, samepoim. bur this is nor so. The Sheriff found several Sheriff Walker, who visited Bogus in search business letters raken from the stage, also the of the robber, supposed he made cracks for hat stolen at Ager, and an old pair of prison Bune Creek, and perfected arrangementS to shoes. The Express says he is supposed to be head him off in that direction, nor suppos an escaped convict named Duffy from Folsom ing he would undertake to return ro Bogus. for whom a reward of $2,000 is offered. The Norwithstanding reports of parties concern Sheriff received a telegram from W. F. and ing the highwayman, the sheriff was unable to Co.'s detective Thacker at San Francisco, that obtain any description whatsoever, except that he suspected Duffy, but there is no description he was a large man and spoke broken English obtainable, the hac found being the only ar with a German accent. On the second stop ticle recognized on him by small school girls ping of the stage, the robber relieved a couple who had seen him before the first robbery. A of Chinamen of $90, without touching the school book on astronomy was found in his mail or express, and returned a couple of pen tracks mward che railroad. The Sheriff hav sion drafts to the driver from kindness to old ing curtailed his leisure hours for studying the soldiers, knowing well enough that he could stars of the cerulean domme. When robber not collect them without giving himself away. ies are committed the Sheriff may be able to He did nor go through a sick hostler in the make successful captures if descriptions are stage, who had $140 of wages just paid him, secured but cracking a man up the Klamath saying char he did nor wish to rob poor men. river section or in the rough Siskiyou moun On receiving news of the second robbery, tain regions along the Oregon boundary, is a Deputy Sheriff Hobbs visited Bogus, and very difficult undertaking. found that the highwayman had camped in jou77Ul/, Ocrober 25. Runaway Stage Acci McCiimock's field near the family residence dent. Lase Thursday, the 6-horse team of the and after the robbery proceeded down Klam Ager-Klamach Falls stage en route ro Ager, ath River in the direction ofPokegama going became excired by a young horse in the lead around all the houses he came to, so that no kicking over the line pole causing a runaway one might see him, as shown by his cracks. He but the driver Jack Bartle managed the horses was traced co within 4 miles of the railroad, until near McCiimock's when a single tree was where the country was so rough and rocky broken to start them again at furious speed. that his cracks were not visible, although there Driver held on to the lines with determined seems to be no doubt that he reached the rail effort but the king bole of the stage giving way road and may now be enjoying himself in San threw him to the ground, when he succeeded Francisco. From his action in keeping down in stopping the team. Henry Truitt, a passen to the C. & 0. railroad, which crosses that ger, on hjs way to Yreka, jumped our and suf-. 57 on a ranch, married and began to improve his land, which he finally sold for $2,500 and invested in another farm. He is now en gaged in stock-raising, agriculture and stag ing, and is a successful business man. His stage line is one of the best equipped in the Wesr. Daily coaches run from Ager to Lakeview, a distance of llO (?-Ed.) miles, and seventy horses and fourreen drivers are employed. Ibid. R. W Marple was born at Fair mount Park, Philadelphia, in 1849. After attending the schools of that city he entered a bank as accountant and later was with the B. & 0. Railway company as corresponding clerk; was also for a time ciry ticket agent of the Philadelphia & Reading railway. He came to this place in 1876 and rook a mail contract; was afterward employed in the R. W. Marple, killed in a freight team runaway county clerk's office. He engaged in stock at Way Station in 1904. -Maude Baldwin Photo raising in Big Valley, Ca., in 1882, but later moved his cattle ro this county and is now fered the dislocation of his shoulder, besides in that business. He is also proprietor of scratches about the head, and was brought to large livery stables here and does a thriving Yreka in a buggy by Jud Agee. Mr. Truitt's boy, business. He was married in Minneapolis George, who remained in the stage, escaped to Miss E. M. Tomlinson, and two boys uninjured. The driver received only a slight his bruise on the knee. Col. Stone, the Superin and four girls help ro make up a charming tendent, was soon on the ground to look after family. The eldest daughter, Miss Lydia, the welfare of the injured. taught a term in the public schools of this place and is now finishing her educadon at 1894. the Monmouth Normal school. Klamath Falls Express, July 5. John Schal Klamath Star·, March 21. A. H. Mack lock has obtained the mail conrract between Stage Line. Daily from Ager tO Klamath this place and Fon Klamath. Falls, Dairy, Bonanza, Bly and Lakeview. 1895. Daily from Lakeview to Bly, Bonanza, Klamath Falls Express, Souvenir Edi Dairy, Klamath Falls and Ager. tion, January 10. A. H. Mack, Jr. Visitors Star, April 18. The contract for carrying to Klamath coumy will board one of the the United States mail from Lorella twice coaches of the Ager and Lakeview stage line a week was awarded ro H. D. Lawton, of when leaving the cars at Ager, Cal. The pro Atchison, Kansas, for $230 per annum. It prietor of the line is Henry Mack, who was is a pity that our mail service should be re born in Illinois in 1858. He moved to Cali tarded by allowing anyone ro bid in a route fornia when a boy and later traveled all over at figures at which nobody can carry the the Pacific coast, coming to Klamath coun mail, thus giving poor facilides in return ty in 1885 without a cent in his pocket. Like on the route. The contractor is supposed to O£her sensible men in a new counrry he filed make the distance, 16 miles, in 3~ hours 58 and for three momhs in the year must go on cion of a strictly business nature. The orator snowshoes, bur if the postmaster ar each end had introduced and defined his subject, and of the line of contract will enforce the P. L. now carne the logic. & R., the carrier will lose his pay for ar least "If you'd like to save your life, come our rwo-thirds of his trips. tee that stage with your hands up." Ibid. ANOTHER HOLDUP. An Invis The dependent theme of discussion ible Robber Stops rhe Stage Below Topsy promptly changed from the vehicle to rhe Grade. The robber who held up the stage at road, where he pur his best foot forward and 12:30 Thursday morning last, may be safely stuck both hands well up. Then the orator classed as an orator. He depended altogether reasoned to the conclusion rhar Seechrisr on his eloquence. Nobody saw or was aware would be apr ro see Christ in short order if of a gun, a mask or other kind of persuading he didn't "Take that big stone and bust open thing other than sheer eloquence. The rob the express box," which he did. Then after ber's utterances did not imply very elevated exercising the drummer's rational faculty on rhoughr, it must be confessed, bur they did the wisdom of cutting open and emptying imply thought of a pretty srrong emotion, the mail sacks, throwing the rifled box and and they were well adapted co excite emo robbed sacks back, placing his own money, tion in the heart of the lonely driver on the consisting $16.35 in rhe road and ''getting", box and the solitary passenger inside the the orator ceased, and the drummer rook lumbering vehicle. The place was a lonely, the orders and executed them in a business wooded spot at the foot ofTopsy Grade, and like way, as drummers are wonr ro do in all the gloomy silent condition of things sur countries. rounding the event very favorable to a short The driver had no money, and the stage speech of the class which is invariably pref was allowed to proceed, when rhe invisible aced by the word "Halt !" thief gathered up the spoils and departed, "Halt! Throw up your hands!" were the none know just in what direction. The strong coarse exclamations which echoed amount of money taken from the express from behind a large tree by the sylvan road box was small, probably nor $20, and only side and rolled in startling reverberarions one lerrer was opened. through the forest. Low, the new driver Harry Pierson, a Keno young man got quickly pulled up on his reins, flung his himself arrested Monday on suspicion, hav hands up in the cold starlight and waited for ing said he had a watch he got "on the grade", the rest of the speech. but as neither the watch nor the story kept Having thus introduced his subject, the good time he was discharged. concealed orator proceeded to define it, so The sheriffs of both Siskiyou and Klam that his hearers should have no doubt as ro ath have been working on their respective the matter to be presented for their consid sides of the stare line, but up to date no reli eration. able clue of the robber has been obtained. "I wane the express box and the mail {The ediror of the Klamath County Star at sacks! D'ye hear?" this rime wasP. J. Connolly, who, accord They did hear. In fact rhe driver on the ing to the History of Cmtral Oregon, was box was listening with ears sharper than known as "Peter the Poet," by the news saw teeth, and as for the passenger, Mr. J. paper fraternity, and was a gifted writer R. Seechrist, a drummer, he attended very whose articles were copied extensively. The closely with both ears, resolved to yield to all lasr issue of the Star was printed on Octo professional advice and follow all admoni- ber 31, 1895 - Ed.) 59 Freight teams in front of the old Brick Store block, now Cabo's City Center Lodge. 1906·08 period, when the Linkville Trolley was in operation. Star, May 9. Norman Nichols, the stage gloriously back and forrh through the deep driver, entered our Sunday School Sunday eve umbrage of the Klamath pinery. ning, as a passenger on the stage that goes ro Slap-Whack-Slap wenr the box and pouch Salvation, and I hope he'll ger there on rime. es into the road, when the spirit ofthe occasion Star, May 23. ANOTHER HIGHWAY again shouted from his leafy screen to Wells JOB. The Lone Orator Goes Through Ev and Cora. erybody Bur Is Nor Seen, He Made a Shorr "You men dismount, and you, big fellow, Speech, Containing Hot Words from the cut open them pouches, and you, other fellow, Sylvan Grove, and Everybody Was "Carried bust rhat box open!" Away" thereby. Commissioner Wells Gave Cora was killing rime around the box Him 10 Cenrs. when rhe voice called on the driver ro tackle Last Friday night, while Ed Walter was the job with an ax, rhe commissioner having hauling Commissioner John Wells and duly slit open the pouches. Box and pouch Emanuel Cora, a merchanr of Picard, Cal. es were quickly emptied, the pockets of the through the dark and lonesome parr of passengers were picked by themselves at rhe Topsy Grade called "Holdup Narrows", and command ofthe invisible "cock of rhe walk", looking sharply om for something startling and Cora's $2.50 along with rhe Commis ro rimid nerves, a harsh voice broke the si sioner's ren cents lay on rhe heap when the lence of the glen. order was given ro mount and "get", which "Halt! Throw out the express box and order was obeyed with an alacrity highly mail sacks!" Only a voice! Not a shape of credible alike to the heels of the passengers living creature in sight, while the startling and rhe horses. The robber's booty was very echoes of the command broke gaily through slim, rhe passengers having been prepared the ears of the driver, swept through the with very light holdup feed, and the box and flapping curtains of the coach, and rolled pouches hardly ballasted. 60 The robbery was very close w the spm After curring the sacks inro shoestrings, rhe on which the holdup of a monrh ago cook dutiful agenr folded his arms and listened place, and the belief is rhac the same man is for the next order. "Driver cake che ax and the perpetrator of both holdups. bust open that express box." The few scads raked in by Wells-Fargo on 'Nothing in it, Pard." this route hardly pay for its establishment. 'Shake it up and lets see." Nothing but dire necessity will prompt any body to pay the excessive express charges A couple of shakes convinced the robber while freight wagons are on the road, and that fickle fortune hadn't a bean for him this is why Wells-Fargo withdrew from the in that hollow receptacle, and he shouted, route two years ago, but it is feared now that "WelJ needn't bust ir." the troublesome robber, who probably lives Then came the order to Swissler, "Empey near Topsy, and hardly makes his gruel at rhe concems of the sacks on the roadside," robbery, wilJ discourage the business once and che promprness of the duty rendered again and for good. was so gratifying w rhe boss of the road char Star, May 30. The Oregonian cells char a he almost wept for joy in the wilderness. "guard" on the Klamath Falls-Ager stage "Blow our all the lights bur one, and light fired three shoes lately into the bushes be up the inside of the coach, Mr. Driver." hind which a robber was crouching, making Barneburg thrust a candle into the stage, rhe robber take to his heels. This robber is which had che effect of smoking our a pas a lucky man. Had he been there he would senger hitherto unobserved by the robber have been kilJed_ He would also have made Ic was ]. L. Demmer, who was comlng up a crack somewhere in the soft earth, or bro from Medford to restify in the Swingle case, ken a few of the dry twigs that lay where he having worked for LangeU at the time of a man had never taken to his heels before. the killing. A man who can crouch around bushes and skips over forest ground without leaving any At the command of the robber Demmer "sign" is hard to hit in even three shoes. He rook off his coat and vest, threw chem on is too chin for anything. Bur the "guard" the ground and turned the pockets inside was there. That's a fact. our, emptying our just fifteen cents from one of the garments. After "going through" Star, June 13. ANOTHER HOLDUP. Swissler and getting $5 and Barneburg who The Robber Hardly Earning His Hash, But panned our nothing, rhe boss ordered rhe Still There. Monday night the stage was held stage driver up a lirde distance. up again. At about 11:30 a fellow man stuck his head out of che shadow of che wilderness "Take a candle, driver, and pack up rhe three-fourths of a mile this side of Topsy money and letters and place all in one pile." and shoured ' Hale !" This done rhe prowler wenr through rhe "What do you want?" inquired Charley stage with a candle, perfectly conscious of Barneburg, the driver. "Throw our che mail nor having been born co die in his boors ar sacks and express box, and passengers dis that poim, therefore perfectly oblivious ro mount!" the possibility of being made a target for some hitherto concealed gun. C. E. Swissler, a drummer, who was sit ting on the box beside the driver, quickly Finding no concealed treasure in the srruck the ground with both feet, and was coach, he coolly picked up from the ground ordered w cut open the mail sacks, which what he deemed valuable, and ordered his with the box, the driver had just thrown out. victims to puc on their clothes and "get". 61 "Good nighr," said rhe driver. him with what at the time, was supposed "Good night enough," replied rhe tran co be a gun. "Throw our rhe express box," quil cuss. "Has me ocher Stage gone by ?" was rhe next command. "I have no ex "No, we meer ar Chase's." press," said the driver. "Well rhrow our che mail sacks," was the reply, and the driver Star, June 20. HE IS HARD TO prompdy obeyed "You can now drive on," CATCH. The detection of stage robbers said the robber, and as me Stage Starred up is probably rhe most difficult as well as rhe C. N. Gordon, of that place, who was on mosr dangerous work rhe skilled derecrive the inside, and unseen by rhe highway takes upon his hands. The Klamath and man, dropped out of the srage on the op Siskiyou officers are utterly unable co un posite side, and as the robber stepped forth earth a single fact calculared to guide or co secure his booty, Mr. Gordon, who was direct them to meAger road chief. He had armed with a shotgun, fired, supposing he a voice and chat was all rhe clue he left. He was in close proximity to the long-sought has miles and miles of forest for cover. He for, nororious, Topsy Grade stage robber. can camp there all summer and fall, occa The thief started to run when a second shot sionally popping our ar some unexpected disabled him and his capture was then easi poinr co rob rhe stage. That is probably ly effected. When the second shot was fired, what he is doing now. But ro surprise him the stage which was then about 100 yards would involve the expense of hiring guards away, stopped, and District Attorney Ben ro ride behind the stages or a few hundred son, who was also a passenger, got out and men co scour rhe vast area of timber. Like went back ro Gordon's assistance. Mr. Gor rhe Weaverville and Redding robber, he don was somewhat surprised to learn rhar will laugh detection to scorn until a clue is his captive was none other chan A. C. Frick, found, and chen me opportunity of the of who had broken our of the county jail only ficers will ripen. At present, however, talk the night before. The gun proved ro be only of catching the Ager road chief is sheer non a stick. Mr. Gordon rook his prisoner ro sense. There is nor a detective in the world Keno, where his wounds were dressed, and who jusr now could tell you bow to begin from there they starred for Jacksonville, the beginning of finding the first clue. where Frick will be placed in the hands of Star, Harvey Mack, rhe ruscling super United Stares officials. intendent of the Ager-Lakeview stage-line, They arrived at Shovel Creek late in the rolled over the road to Ager this week to see evening, and while preparing for supper, whether anything needed straightening our Frick made an unsuccessful attempt to es on rhe way. cape. Frick is well known here as a sneak Star, November 7. HIGHWAYMAN thief, a would be desperado and a bad char CAPTURED. A. C. Frick the Escaped Jail acter generally. He served a term in San Bird, the Robber, Surprised and Captured Quentin recently, for bearing and robbing a by C. N. Gorden. Attempted Escape ar 14-year old boy in Siskiyou county, Calif. Shovel Creek Station. Last Sunday morn 1896. ing when the east bound stage on the Agee Smzi-wukly Tidin[J, June 22. Jack Bartle, Lakeview line was at a point just below the the stage driver at Shovel Creek... Emmitt place, rwo miles from Keno, me driver was srarcled by the sharp command Stmi-Wttk/y Tidings, July 27. 14,000 of 'Hale!" The order came from behind an pounds of wool belonging co I. D. Apple adjacent telegraph pole, and as the driver gate was hauled by W. B. Grubb to Ashland drew rein, a man stepped our, and covered Woolen mills at 7 cents. 62 Identified as J. L. Yaden, mail contractor, by his son John, both now deceased. Probobly coming down the western grade on Hayden Mountain. -Maude Baldwin Photo 1897. 1899. Tidings, February 15 . The mail is now Tidings, February 13. Jeff Howard is conveyed from Klamath Falls ro Fe. Klam rhe Ashland stage driver. Marion Hanks, ath by pack saddle, on account of rhe con driver of the Fort Klamath stage, was in a ditions of rhe roads. recenr runaway. His lines broke, the hors es commenced running and Mr. Hanks Tidings, April 12. W. D. Woodcock and bailed our. The buckboard was smashed ro son Eldon sub-let rhe Klamath Falls ro pieces. Clear Lake mail route ro A. D. Carrick. Walter Oglesby is now rhe stage driver on NOTE. Beginning at this point, the Klam ath Republican files, from July 1, 1899 through this roure. 1914, and located ar rhe Htrald & Ntws of 1898. fices, will be quored. Before rhar dare, all lo Tidings, March 28. Mrs. J. G. Walker cal Klamath Falls newspapers, 7ht: Klamath has been in charge of rhe Keno telegraph County Star, Exprro and Republican morgues have disappeared either through fires or some office for 7 years. She has now turned the other unknown misplacement. Only an oc office over to Nellie Doten. casional number can be found in museums Ibid. G. W. Smith's 8 mule team, wirh or libraries. ln addition some quores found in Frank Ward driving, is now on the Ager to Siskiyou County and Jackson County news Klamath Falls road. papers have been found and used. The Unjver- 63 siry ofOregon possesses some microfilm copies August 3: Passenger fare from Klamath Falls of missing Republican newspapers. £0 Ashland, $3.00. RepubLican, July I: S. F. (or F. L.) McNaugh Mannen Smith, of Ashland, rode from ton took over operation of the Ager-.Klamath Lakeview, a distance of llO miles last Sunday Falls maiJ stage line on rhis date. on his whed, and continued on his way to Ash July 6: Joe Moore, the teamster, freighting land Monday, intending to ger there by 4 p.m. berween Ager and Klamath Falls, arrived Sat Thomas G. FarreU, Portland, has jusr re urday with 17,840 pounds of freight for our rurned from a vacation of a few weeks, which merchants. Mr. Moore made the trip in seven he spent fishing in Klamath County. Mr. Far days. rell rode a large parr of the way on his whed, I. E. Mitchell, the Agee-Klamath Falls covering about 250 miles of the distance in freighter, rerurned Saturday from Ager with a that manner. - Telegram. load of &eighr for our merchants and a lot of Moore Bros. and I. E. MircheU & son, folding beds for the Pelican Bay Lodge. freighters, returned from Ager Tuesday, with When Tuesday's stage was three miles this freight for our merchantS. side of Ager, the team became unmanageable Sarurday forenoon Wm. Spence came ro and ran away overturning the stage breaking rown and left his team standing in from of the driver's leg. Bud Obenchain was driving. Duffy's store when one of the horses became There were four passengers on the stage at rhe frightened and srarted ro run, the orher not rime, one of them, Mr. Fosrer, receiving a few needing much coaxing, assisted with the fun. bruises. After running across the bridge they were Robert Lawton returned from his busi stopped. No serious damage was done except ness visit to Klamath Falls lasr Friday. He lefr for a broken single-tree. Mr. Spence was a dose Klamath Falls on his wheel ar 9 o'clock in the second in the race aU the way up the streer. morning and arrived in Medford at 7:30 in the August 10: Dick Smith, "Sig" Young and evening, stopping an hour and a half on the Chas. A. Burden were passengers on Richard way. He came down Green Spring mountain, a son's steamer Monday for the Agency. From distance ofsix miles, in thirry minutes. This re the Agency they will visit Crater Lake, going cord is a good one, considering thar it is eighry on their wheels. From the lake they will go over miles from Klamath Falls ro Medford, and that the Rogue river road to Eugene. much of the way is rough and mountainous. August 17: Mas. Moore arrived Sunday July 20: Robr. Garren, the superintendant from Ashland with a wagon load of beer for of rhe Ashland -Klamath Falls stage line ... C. D. WiJson and a load oflime to be used in July 27: The merchants of the falls this the construction of the Klamath counry bank week received about 32,000 pounds of freight, building. hauled in by Mitchell and the Moore Bros. Fred Houston, Guy Hamaker and Joe King Joe Moore, the teanlster, came in from Ager sley went to Forr Klamath Saturday morning Tuesday with 11,000 pounds of freighr for on their wheels and returned Monday via our merchants and a dozen spring wagons for Spring creek. George T. Baldwin. August 24: Robert Hunsaker left this morn Last week when R. W. Marple was returning ing for Ashland after a load ofsalr for L. F. Wtl from the railroad, he left his ream standing ar lirs. Topsy station and wenr to rhe house, when the Joe Moore arrived from Ager Tuesday with horses became frightened and ran away. Nose a load of freight for the merchantS of the Falls, rious damage was done except for the breaking and a load of Yreka lime for Baldwin's new of the tongue and dash board ofthe wagon. stone building. 64 ). K. Kiernan received a hard fall &om a The &eight consists of several rons and will be wagon last Monday rhar laid him up for several hauled by the rndian teamsters. days. He had gor in a wagon and was stand October 19: Travel via rheAshland stage has ing up behind the sear when the driver srruck been unusually heavy during rhe past week. the horse a sudden blow, which caused him to Many people coming and going by char roure. plunge forward, throwing Mr. Kiernan our on On and afrer November lsr and unril the his head, bruising ir quire badly. 31st of nexr March, the stages ro Ager leave Augusr 31: S. F. (or F. L.) McNaughton, who Klamath Falls every day ar 6 o'dock a.m. and has been superintending the Ager-Klamath arrive from Ager at the same hour. Ashland Falls stage line at Ager for the past rwo monrhs, stages during the same time leave this place at returned ro the Falls lasr Friday. 7 p.m. and arrive at the same hour. September 14: Mansfield Sch01mickson, ). L. Yaden, rhe contractor on the Ashland blaclwnith at Keno ... Klamath Falls daily stage line, arrived a few Herbert Baldwin, Fred Carrick and Theo. days ago from the east on an inspection trip, Bryam left for Forest Grove, Monday morning during which he will visit other mail routes on their wheels, where they will attend school which he runs on the coast. Mr. Yaden is high rhis winter. ly pleased with the record of the local manager of his Ashland line, Robett M. Garrett, in put About 36,000 pounds of freighr was re ting the mails through on time and keeping ceived in the Falls this week by the different the stock in such line condition. He says the merchants. horses on this line are in better condition than September 28: The AlMond Town Talk plant on any stage line he has seen. Mr. Yaden says arrived here yesterday in good condition, con the line is now on a paying basis and irs busi sidering the long rocky, bumpy road it had ro ness is steadily increasing. as the facts in regard travel, and it is now being unloaded as rapidly ro rhe excellenr service. the directness of rhe as possible and in a few days will be installed route ro and from the Eastern Oregon country as a pare of this office. The name, suggestive of and the smaller expense involved in traveling twiddle-twaddle, and the good will, suggestive the road from Ashland become more widely ofwind instead ofworth, together with a lor of known.- from theAJhland Tuling.r. non-descripts, were left behind. October 26: The only change in the time of Mr. Moore returned on Monday wirh his the Lakeview srage November I, will be rhe freight train of three wagons from Ashland. To extension of rhe hour of irs arrival from 7 to 9 make the 60 miles over a rough mountain road o'clock p.m. lr will leave here the same hour in requires from six ro seven days with a heavy the morning as heretofore. lood, going and coming. . ..They will cover their rigs for the winter October 12: Mr. Moore rerurned &om Ager travel, and in rhe spring will blossom our with on Monday with a train ofthree heavily loaded brand new stages. freight wagons drawn by a ream of six srout F. Orman, who was one of rhe drivers on horses. The display of horses and wagons was the Ashland-Klamath Falls stage line, has been about as attractive as a rail road train. Three compelled by Failing health to take a vacation wagons hitched behind one another and three and accordingly left for his home at Ashland span of horses in from is a sight never seen in Monday evening. rhe ease, but is quire frequent here. November 2: The counry court has been Capt. 0. C. Applegate arrived from Klam having many necessary repairs made on ath agency last Thursday and departed forAger a number of the counry bridges, recently. the same evening for the purpose of checking Among them is the bridge across the Klamath and shipping the freight for rhe Indian service. river dam, six miles below Keno. This bridge 65 is a very important one, as a large amount of Two Medford dealers paid 10 cents a pound uavd passes over it. Bur it has been for a long here for turkeys and shipped 10,000 pounds to rime much our of repair and was considered San Francisco, they having been for Thanks unsafe and liable ro collapse every time a heav giving day festivities. ily loaded wagon passed over ir. Ir is now in Joe Moore, the freighter, had an accident perfect order, and is made entirely safe by new while on his way from Ager this week. One suingers and timbers. of his wagons broke down twenty miles from November 9: Telegraphic reporrs of the here, and he was thus delayed in getting prize fight between Jeffries and Sharkey in through. New York lase Friday night were received in In common with all postmasters of the Klamath Falls as the result ofa purse provided land, Postmaster Castell was required to weigh by those interested to defray the expense. A all mail matter leaving the Klamath Falls of reporr came at the end of each round, and Te fice during thirty-five days mis fall. The ag legrapher Van Valkenburg's place of business gregate amount weighed approximately 4,500 was crowded with anxious spectators until a pounds. late hour, when, in the rwenty-fift:h round, the fight ended in favor of]effries. December 14: Mrs. A. L. Harvey, of Gold November 16: The srage from Ager brought Hill, rerurned this week from a visit with her no mail from the south this morning, owing daughter, Mrs. Chas. Hoagland, in Klamath ro the train bei11g six hours late on account of county. She came to Hare's wim A. A. Fitch in a wreck near Gazelle, California. an uncovered rig and a terrible srorm was rag ing, which, together wim me bad condition of November 23: The stages from Ager, Ash the road, made it impossible ro reach Harr's land and Lakeview gor in every morning and Station rhe first night, as intended. About four evening ar about the appointed rime, in spite miles the other side of Hart's the ream refused of rhe mud, rain, snow and all rhe other incon ro go any farther. Mr. firch used up all his veniences of the routes. marches, old letrers, etc., in the vain endeavor Two Jackson county teamsters arrived here ro gee a fire starred. They were compelled to last Sarurday with their wagons loaded with remain at that point in a raging srorm all night empty barrels to be used by the Klamath Fish until daylight, Mrs. Harvey being unable ro Company next April for packing fish taken ride a horse and unwilling ro remain alone from Lost river. while Mr. Fitch rook the horses ro Hare's and November 30: Jackson county is soon to be secured assistance. The old lady rook her trou treated ro a bicycle path on an extensive scale. bles philosophically and did nor complain. A committee of five will superintend rhe work -Ashland Tidings. and each will be a.rmed with $100, with which December 21: Last Tuesday night, we un ro execute his duties. derstand, the stage team on me western route ]. D. Whitman was up from Medford Sat to Bly balked on the slash road and only urday making arrangements for the shipment reached the Hopkins corner at midnight. A of fish to this point from Lost river, Klamath neighboring farmer's ream was substituted county. Mr. Whitman is a member of a Med and the stage reached Newell's at 5 a.m., or ford company which owns the fishery, and five hours late. H. C. Rothe was a passenger, which expects to do an extensive business this and his opinion of the matter would nor look winter in shipping the fish to Ashland and well in this paragraph. -Lakeview Examiner. Medford. -Ashland Tidings. December 28: E. G. Wilson, srage driver December 7: The rough, muddy and almost from Klamath Falls ro Shovel Creek, was re impassable roads delayed the incoming Ager cently married w Miss Mollie Vandergarr of and Ashland stages several hours yesterday. Keno. 66 Unknown 11-eighter, somewhere in the Klamath Country. We hate this picture and feel it is too bad the Humane Society (5. P. C. A.) wos not then in operation here. -Priest Photo The time for the arrival of the Ashland srage clean them, and this takes nearly halfan hour. was changed the first of the week. It leaves This has to be repeated often on every uip and Ashland at 6 o'clock a.m., instead of noon as the mail is thus delayed." (A sort of wooden heretofore, and is due here between 12 and 1 spatula or wide chisel made of a wooden pick o'clock at night. handle was carried by the drivers, especially to The roads across the Cascades on the Ash clean the vehicle wheels. -Ed.) land-Klamath Falls route have been pretty January 17: Bad as the roads are, we notice heavy the past fortnight, bur the stages have char on nearly every day new goods arrive for been getting through with linle or no delay the various stores in rhis ciry. on this route, notwithstanding the very heavy T. F. Miner shipped by way of Moore's mail, which averages about 800 pounds per freight teams ro Ager, Cal., on Friday and day our ofAshland. -Ashland Tidings. Monday, eighry beef hides for the San Fran 1900. cisco marker. January 11: Bonanza: The stage is getting F. B. Orrman arrived from Ashland yester here any old time now, owing to the muddy day morning to resume his position as one of roads, and Clopton wants ro engage a depury the stage drivers between here and Parker's. ro sir up and wait for it with him. Of course a He rakes the place ofAl. Decker. young lady is preferred. Bener advertise. February 8: J. D. Whirtman of Medford, The Snow Road District #12, Precinct of the gentleman who has commenced the busi Snow, was formed by the Counry Court ar ness of canning for marker the fish of Lost their last meeting. River, was in town on Monday. Lost River F. L. McNaughton says rhar the delays in is one of the greatest producers of fish ro be found on the continent. Excellent fish they mails ftom Ager to Lakeview are due to the terrible roads between Klamath Falls and the are, and we hope the Lost River canning busi railroad. "... the 'doby is so bad that in going ness will prove a financial success. a very short distance the wheels become solid February 22: Four Indian freight teams and the driver is then compelled to stop and &om Ager passed through rown on Monday 67 with freight for the Klamath Agency. F. L. McNaughton has fifty horses and ten The lately purchased 600-pound fire bell for experienced men on his new run. Klamath Falls is now ar Ager and will soon be July 26: An Englishman recendy passed here and mounted in the belfry of the town through rown on his was to Crater Lake. En hall. rouce, young Marple the driver, was compelled Bogus creek, a wild and woolly srream by his high-hanedness, to tell him to straight which comes roaring down the mountains en out or he would dump him. and crosses the stage road nine miles this side August 30: It is estimated that 150 murisrs ofAger, is up and on its ear, and with a deluge per day, pass through Fort Klamath ro Crater of water is blocking the road. Hence, the stage Lake. from Ager can't get through and we have no Gibson the srage driver from Shovel Creek mail today from that direction. ro Klamath Falls is ill at the Hotel Linkville. March 1: The Lakeview stage, headed for September 20: The duck hunters, 0. E. Er this place, struck a boulder between here and vine and A. B. Libby of Merrill, Oregon will Olene Tuesday night and was overturned. henceforth ship directly to Montague, here Fortunately no one was burr and no damage tOfore they have shipped via Klamath Falls. done. Prospects are for the biggest year in history. March 15: The new fire bell, recently pur It is reported that a horse committed sui chased by Klamath Falls, arrived last week, cide rarher than travel around Modoc Poiru. Ir and was duly mounted in the belfry of the seems that he ran into the lake and drowned. town hall. October 4: There was recently shipped from April 5: Commencing April Jsr, both srag this place 700 pounds of snakes. Railroad ex es for Ashland and Agee now leave here at 8 press charges amounted to $75.00. They were o'clock in the evening. Previously the stage for h:tuled ro Ashland by J. H. ):trdine. Ager left at 7 a.m. and the Ashland stage at 7 October 25: Joe Moore was kicked in the p.m. face by one of his lead horses as he went into April 19: A large number of six-horse trains its srall ar Elgins srarion near Topsy. His nose of heavily loaded freight wagons arrived in was broken and he received numerous curs. town on Tuesday from Ager. Some were for He was attended by Dr. Reames and broughr merchants here and others were for other to town in a buggy Monday. towns in the counry. Ibid. The wagons, loaded with 10,500 June 7: The roads over the mountains are pounds of freight of J. M. Moore, who was gerring berrer so that one's neck is no longer injured by being kicked ar Topsy, arrived in in danger. Klamath Falls in charge of Charlie Elgin on June 14: Mr. White who has a srage station Monday. on the road to Bly was at the Falls Monday. November 1: A change in rhe time of de July 5: On Sarurday a big drove of Angora parture of the stages rakes effect today. The goats passed through town, and were being Ager srage leaves at 7 o'clock in the morn driven ro Roseburg. There were 1,800 in the ing and the Ash land srage leaves at 7 o'clock band and of course kicked up quire a dust as in the evening. (These changes were due to they passed. They were from Modoc and Lake shifting from summer ro wimer schedules counties. - Ed.) July 12: 23,000 pounds ofwool from the I. November 15: Bob Hunsaker arrived D. Applegate ranch to the shipping point of on Tuesday with a train of heavily loaded Ager, passed through town today. freight wagons from Ager, with goods, etc., 68 for the merchants and ochers. On Wednes bridge he was told to stop or he would be day he starred forAger again co bring in an filled with buck shot. It was intensely dark ocher cargo. and the stage having no side Lights, Yount, Ibid. Joe Moore is up and around. the driver, could nor see the man or men who held him up. When he stopped, he was November 20: Joe Moore has pneumonia. ordered co throw our the lerrer bag and drive November 22: AI Decker, one of the pres- on, which be djd. An hour afterwards he em stage drivers our of Klamath Falls, has had wenr back to the bridge and found the mail more years ofexperience in that line ofemploy bag cut open, and picked up such of the con ment than any man in these pares. He has seen rents as had not been carried off. Whatever thirry-five years of almost continuous service loss has been sustained by the robbery is of as a stage driver and for fourteen years, with a course now impossible to tell. Mr. Yount few brief interruptions, has been engaged on had no gun with which to defend himself, lines in chis county. That he is a reliable and and there were no passengers on board. The desirable man for such rrust, his experience stage arrived here last evening. testifies. Perhaps due in pan to his large, mus cular physique and to his strong force of char December 20: Bur lirde further informa acter, he never was "held up," nor was rhere rion has been received in relation ro the hold ever an anempt ro rob a stage ofwhich he was ing up of the Lakeview srage and rhe robbery the driver. Whatever the cause, he has wholly of rhe mail on Tuesday night oflasr week. It escaped such unforcunate experiences. Besides, is thought by the Lakeview Examiner that he has been exceptionally lucky in the marrer lircle and perhaps nothing was obtained by of accidents. Aside &om breaking one of his the robber, and char be was after rhe pocket arms in a tip-over on Rattoon mountain in book of an expected passenger instead of the Colorado, in 1865, he has escaped injury and mail, but the passenger did not materialize, wrecks, and in aU his driving never has seen having taken another route. a passenger on any of his stages injured. He The revival of the "lone hjghwayman" began staging in Colorado in 1865 and from there wem ro New Mexico in 1868, coming recently, in some parts of Eastern Oregon, here about fourteen years ago. His stages have brings ro mind rhe frequent "holding up" upset a few rimes and he has often had ro dig of the stage in this region a few years ago. our of snow banks or mud heaps, or master In those days rhe robbing of the stages and other hardships, bur he has always managed ro passengers was not infrequent, especially, emerge without damage, save on the one oc as we are told by old settlers, between this casion. Thus, it is seen thar he has an excellent place and Ager. The Ashland route however, record, which he hopes to perpetuate to the is said ro have never been troubled in that end of his service as a stage driver. respect, and passengers and mails came through unscathed. Whether the Ashland December 13: Bold Mail Robbery. On stages were berrer prepared for defense, or Tuesday evening at about 8 o'clock, rhe stage from Lakeview was waylaid, the driver held whether the travelers from rhar place had up and the mail bag rifled. The stage left left their money behind them, we cannot Lakeview that evening at 7 o'clock, Harry say. Ar all events the sagacious highwayman Yount being rhe driver. Two miles this side had doubtless some good reason for nor of Lakeview the road passes through what making the unprofitable effort. is called the "slash," and when the stage had Of fare years the Ager road has also been arrived there and was about half way across undisturbed, and the arrival of a railroad the bridge, the driver was ordered to "hold will pur a final quietus on the stage robbing up," and finally as he carne to the end of the industry. 69 John Bateman freight team approaching Klamath Falls from Ager a round 1900. Near the present City af Klamath Falls M emorial Park Cemetery. -Maude Baldwin Photo 1901. Ashland about ren days ago, and are report January 10. Hon. R. A Emmitt started ed to have been able to get only as far as Bai from Keno for Ashland on his way to Sa ley's about 43 miles from here. Finding they lem yesterday. He was expecting to go as far could get no farther with a team, Dr. Hargus went ahead on snow shoes, Mr. Chitwood on the road ro Ashland as possible by ream, remaining. On the roure Dr. Hargus met and then go on snow shoes. The legislature rhe stage from Ashland, which on account meers on Monday next. of the difficulties ro be encountered, turned Stages from Lakeview and other points around and returned ro that place. making good cime under the circumstanc Ibid. Bob Oglesby, the stage driver who es. The srage from Ager carried no mail, rhe was arrested at Lakeview on Christmas for trains blocked by snow. robbing the mail, and who afterwards con Mr. Yaden, the mail contractor who has fessed himself guilty of the crime, arrived with a force of men and reams been at work in Klamath Falls on Friday of last week in for several days opening the road on the custody ofU.S. Marshall Humphrey, on the Ashland route, returned Tuesday afternoon. way to Portland for trial before U.S. District He reports the work progressing favorably, Court. Soon after his arrest at Lakeview, he and that in a few days the road would be made confession of guilt and told where he open for use. Up ro yesterday this place has had concealed a parr of the stolen letters, be been without a mail on that line for a week. ing rhe mail from Silver Lake, and these the Robert Hunsaker who went to San Fran sheriff was able ro find. As to the missing cisco about two weeks ago with J. T. Henley mail from Paisley, rbe prisoner said be had and J. F. Goeller, returned yesterday. From burned it. The rmal amount of money srolen San Francisco they started ro return several was $77.90. Oglesby stared that when he is days ago. The blockades on rhe railroad were arraigned before U.S. court, he will plead mostly over so that trains were running. Mr. guilry. The penalty prescribed by the U.S. Hunsaker stopped off at Ager and from there statutes in cases like this is from two ro ten came home on horseback. The others con years in rhe penitentiary ar hard labor. tinued on to Ashland where they are now. January 17: The mail which starred our at County Clerk Driscoll and Dr. Hargus are Ashland on January 2, for Klamath Falls is also at Ashland waiting for an open road. now, Tuesday January 15th, somewhere on Dr. Hargus and Mr. Chitwood srarred for the mountains. 70 Ibid. Goeller, Driscoll and Fred Stahlmann was held up about 9 o'clock yesterday morning return on the 13th. They started on foot and by a lone robber when near Bogus post-office, snow shoes. Snow is five to seven feet deep. eight miles this side of Ager. Thomas Doos, They waded as snow shoes did not work good. the driver, and George Frain were the only The first night they made it to Howard's, 15 persons on board. The robber stepped our of miles our, next night, Friday, ro Bailey's, then rhe brush. He got the mail sacks and cash box, to Parker's, 9 miles on Saturday, and Sunday to bur nothing ofvalue was in them. Spencer's (town of Spencer), from where they August 29: "Opened by a stage robber" was took the stage and arrived Monday morning traced across an envelope containing a chou in Klamath Falls. sand dollar draft, received in the mail by the April 25: Bob Oglesby, the stage driver, was Bank of Ashland Friday evening. The letter sentenced to one year for robbing the mail was in the mail lifted in the robbery of rhe sack. Ager-Klamarh Falls srage last week, bur as the draft was indorsed payable to the bank it was May 2: Uncle George W. Bailey of the stage ofno value to the robber who threw it with the station has secured a mail order bride. letters down by the roadside. May 16: Numerous big covered wagons sin gly and others in trains drawn by from four ro September 5: Monday's stage from Ashland brought to Klamath Falls under charge of]. six horses, have been frequenr in the streets the L. Yaden and Constable Gardner, one James past week. Some carry loads of freight, from F. Presroon, age 30, who plied his trade of the railroad; other contain F.unilies of movers highwayman near Pokegama mountains on who are hunting farms. Sunday. Held up three travelers, rhe first being Ibid.]. Howard, the stage driver ro Ashland Mr. Yaden. on that end of the stage route has been work Yaden was in a road cart, going to Fred ing ar the Hotel Linkville. Frain's, one mile away when held up. $1.80 May 20: Joe Moore with 10,000 pounds of was in his pocket. Yaden starred, the robber freight for Baldwin from Ager, broke through watching, then stopped and asked if he want the bridge. ed his watch. Advised the man to move our, so Ir is reponed that for some rime past an he immediately disappeared. average of 60,000 pounds per week of freight Later, he met W]. Booth, a fruit peddler, has arrived from the railroad for this place or from whom he got 40 cenrs. Lacer A. D. Bur passed through here for other localities. The ton was met but nothing secured. Yaden went cost of bringing such an amount would go to to Pokegama, gor a parry together, chased the wards paying the expense of running a freight highwayman 15 miles, and captured him at train, ifwe had a railroad ro run it on. Puckett's station. Would have met the srage a July 25: The Western stage ran away near short distance farther on. Royston. The runaway through the woods The highwayman was brought to Pokeg demolished the stage, but the passengers were ama, co Justice Yeager's court. Yaden then took not injured. The ream was caught, and some him to Jackson Coumy, where he met the of of the passengers started with the mail to Bly. ficers at Han's station. The ream ran away again, scattering the mail. September 12:]. L. Yaden arrived Sunday on Aft:er everything was gathered together, Bly his return from Jacksonville where he escorted was reached six hours late. A physician was Presroon who enacted the role of highwayman sent back to attend the driver, Fred Day. Fred near Pokegama on Sunday the 1st, instant. is said ro be horribly murilared. Mr. Yaden says the prisoner pleaded guilty August 22 (lhursday): The Klamath Falls and was to have been sentenced Saturday and andAger stage which left here Tuesday evening taken to the penitentiary in time to begin work 71 mere on Monday morning. Frank Prestoon, 23 1902. years old, was sentenced to five years. January 23: J. L. Yaden, stage contractor September 19: Joe Moore the freighter, from Ashland to Klamath FaJJs, comes from hauled rwo big loads of wooJ for C. Cunning London, Kentucky, from where he has oper ham of Fort Klamath to Ager. ated stage lines over much of the counrry. His first parmer in the business was a Judge Bare November 21: George Obenchain, subbing ing. Next he became a member of the firm of for 0. R. Stevens, contractor, is now driving Chilton, Yaden and Company, who operated stage our of Bonanza. I ,000 stage lines at one time. December 5: Bids on carrying the mail into February 6: The following mail contracts and in tltis counry were received in Washing are ro go imo effect July l, 1902: ton Ciry unril 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. George W. Jones- (Ashland-Pelican Mr. Yaden, proprietor ofthe Ashland to Klam Bay) $299.97 per year. ath Falls stage line, infotrnS us that he has Col. Dutro of La Due, Mo. - (Ashland filed bids for seven routes in this counry. He Klamath Falls) $4,300.00 per year. says his bid on the line from Ashland asks for Marion L. Van Meter- (Bonanza more than double the pay required by the pres Bedfield) $177.48 per year. ent contract. The call for bids omitted the line J. L. Yadon- (Bonanza-Lorella) from Ager, and petitions are being circulated $744.00 per year. to have it re-established. (In so fu.r as can now J. L. Yadon- (Bonanza-Yainax) be determined, rhis was the end of the Agee $384.00 per year. Klamath Falls mail stage, although passenger CoL Dutro - (Forr Klamath-Crystal) stages continued to run until the railroad was $380.00 per year. built to Pokegama in May, 1903, when they Col. Dutro -(Klamath Falls-TuleLake) roo were discontinued - Ed.) $1,100.00 per year. December 12: Warren P. French, age 75, J. L. Yaden- (Klamath Falls-Lakeview) died on December 1st. French ran a pack train $6,666.00 per yea r. from Red Bluff to Yreka before any wagon road Alex Marrin, Jr.- (Klamath Falls-Fon was in existence. Klamath) $1,500.00 per year. 72 W. W. Smith- (Lorella-Visrillas) first class equipment. McNaughton had ar $667.00 per year. ranged to conduct the route for a month, bur March 13: The mail stage unable ro get was disappointed in the management of his through from Ashland on account ofsnow was new line in California (Tc:rmo to Fr. Bidwell) replaced last week by mail on horseback, three hence was compelled ro disappoint Mr. Yaden. rimes per week, but is now back on schedule. This explains the: latter's delay in securing the necessary equipment. March 27: Ir is recalled char 0. A. Stearns rode across the mountains in 1866 ro a polirical July 10: Dutro is now traveling by way of convention in Jacksonville there being no other Barren's (ar the junction of Greensprings road source available. and old 97 - Ed.), Soda Springs {on Emigrant Creek), Shake: (near Pinehurst), Pokegama (the 10: Paisley-Bly wagon road of36 miles April old logging camp southeast of Parker Moun wanted. May 15: The new dynamo for Klam rain), Keno to Klamath Falls. Leave Klamath ath Falls is ar Ager, weighr 6.500 lbs. Falls daily at 5 a.m., arrive by 7 p.m., 14 hours. June 12: Robert Garren on Keene Creek W M. Cockrell, Superinrc:ndenr, C. E. Durro, mountain when he encountered an accident, Contractor. {This is the first definite informa 18 miles from Ashland, west bound. A single tion of rhe change from the old Southern Or rree broke, chen the brake, and Garrett was egon Wagon Road north of Parker Mountain thrown to the ground, against a boulder. He to a new route ro the south- Ed.) was about to be trampled by a rurning horse, September 4: The AJhland Tidings reports bur hit it with his heavy whip, felling the ani Dutro has rurned over his interests to Garrett. mal. Passing travelers came to his assistance, Dutro at his station at Klamath Falls says re taking him to Ashland. He is now resting easy, porrs of a transfer nor true. and it is thought he will improve shortly. Jackson County tO construct a bridge across June 19: C. E. Dutro, rhe new proprietor Emigrant Creek for $240.00, all fords thus of the Ashland-Klamath Falls line, is ro take being eliminated. {There seems to have been possession on July 1. He will use 28 horses in three in the beginning- Ed.) traveling the 65 miles to Klamath Falls in 14 hours. Yaden retains the Lakeview run. The Midway Telephone has purchased the telegraph plant in Klamath Falls, and is now July 3. The telephone is building this way eight miles beyond town and building coward from Ashland, and will reach Pokegama this Merrill. week. September 11: C. B. Wilson, Jr., James Ly Al Decker is the driver from Ashland to ons, and Joe Hoffman are rolling up the old Han's station. He has been driving freight telegraph line from Ashland to Fr. Klamath. wagons for the Pokegama Lumber Company. September 25: An AJhland Tulings article C. Dutro has taken over the Ashland- Klam rc:porrs that C. E. Dutro, the: stage contrac ath Falls line. tor, has been bomed our of business, however Yaden has transferred to the Klamath Falls he gives good satisfaction here, so why should Lakeview run. Ashland be hostile? S. L. McNaughton, who had charge of the Dutro is discredited but still running the Ager to Lakeview line, now has the Termo to Ashland-Klamath Falls stage. Fort Bidwell line. Dan Doten the stage driver, had an accident The Ager to Klamath Falls line was not up while coming down Lewis Hill onto Riverside. for bids. (Apparently abandoned at this time as The: tongue broke and the stage hit a birching a through route- Ed.) post in from of Lewis' house. Doren received a J. L. Yaden will soon have new stages and sprained angle. 73 Oetober 2: Notwithstanding the effort ro porary service will not be responsible for any discredit Col. Dutro by a few ourside newspa debts that he may make and will nor honor pers, he is growing fat and continues ro man any tickers that he may sell. age rhe stage line with his usual good narure. ]. A. Mcintire, Agent The Tidings is against him, we {the Republican) for Salmon & Salmon. are for him. Ibid, There is a huge cry ro have rhe Agee Louis Biehn brought a ton of corn meal Klamath Falls mail line re-established. and a ton of onions over from Medford last Ibid. McNaughton has carried the Klam week for Klamath Falls merchants. ath Falls-Lakeview mail for the new Yaden October 9: J. M. Moore arrived Sunday firm until Ocrober lst, while rhey were or from Ager with four big wagon loads of ganizing. freight which aggregated a weight of 15,500 (].A. Mclnrire, in charge of staging op pounds. erations, seems ro have run rhe Ashland Mcintire is leading the attack against Klamath FaUs mail until April, 1904 or pos Dutro on rhe Ashland end, trying to dis sibly as !are as July 1st, when Alex Martin credit him. Dutro has been asked to quit. was awarded the mail conrract - Ed.) Someone in the east said they would then October 30: (Lerrer from 0. A. Stearns to declare him a "failing contraCtor". How the Republican.) ever he refused co quir. Spring Meadow Farm, Or., Mcintire claims tO represent Dutro's October 27th, 1902. bondsmen, and has notified posrmasrers Editor Republican: As one of the people who nor co give mail co Dutro's stages. The two are supposed to be served by the contractor on mer at Shake, each demanded Hart to give the star route from Ashland to Klamath Falls, him the mail. The mail was given to Mcln I wish to enter an emphatic protest against the tire under protest from Dutro. Then Dutro's manner in which we are being served. driver starred out, and Mcintire substituted his own driver for Dutro's driver. The Ash Myself and neighbors have boxes by the land postmaster notified individuals locally roadside for the convenience of the driver, that he had employed Mcintire co perform but out mail is, sometimes left at other places, special service in delivering the mail. sometimes pitched over the fence into the yard and frequently the mail for parties twenty Ir all began when Dutro took over July miles or more from here is lefr in my box, or 1, with one ]. A. Mcintire assisting him, the mail of my neighbors residing between who then started rhe row, claiming Dutro here and the Falls, is put in my box. Some was not doing his job, and wanting the run of my mail never reaches me at all, and let himself. On Oetober 1, Mclmire told the ters ro be mailed although stuck in the side of postmasters along the route nor co deliver rhe box where they can be plainly seen for rwo mail to Dutro. The rwo men met at Shake, hundred yards up or down the road are lefr for where Mcintire claimed the cusromers did days without being mailed. not want Dutro ro deliver the mail, which claim Dutro refured. Drivers were changed, If matters are nor remedied, there will be a kick against the contracror, where it will do rhe mail transferred, ere. Seems to be just a some good. dirty jealous mess. Very Respectfully, October 16: Notice. The public is hereby 0. A. Stearns notified that C. E. Dutro has nothing what ever ro do with the Ashland-Klamath Falls It is only fair to add that Conrracror Dutro stage line, that rhe parties performing tern- has not had control of the line since Oetober 1 74 Mcintyre's gray eight·mule team in front of the deserted old Brick Store and first Klamath County Bank building, now the location of Cabo's City Center Lodge. About 1908. - Maude Baldwin Photo and any causes for complaint since rhen should rio ned that the incoming stages from Ager have nor be attributed ro him - Editor &publican. been crowded with passengers nearly every day Ibid. The case of C. E. Dutro vs. ]. A. Mc of late. Notwithstanding the heavy traffic and Intire, an action ro recover money, occupied muddy roads, Mr. Marple, proprieror of the the attention of Judge Baldwin and a jury for line says he is able to make connections with several days of the pasr week, being concluded both north and south bound trains ar Ager. on Monday when a verdict was rendered in fa The srage due here from Ashland early yes vor of the defendant. We are informed char the terday morning had exceptionally hard luck case will be appealed ro the circuit courr. and didn't arrive until noon. During the night November 20: A petition is being circulated rhe horses got into the miry spot in the road ro get James F. P Bogart (Presroon) our of rhe west of Chase's station, and progress was rhus penitentiary. Iris claimed the penalty roo much delayed several hours. A few miles west of town, for what he gor. Shouldn't it be the act, rather an accident occurred and wrecked the vehicle than the amount? The intent was rhere. though fortunately doing no injury ro the three passengers or driver. One of rhe single-trees 1903. broke, frightening the tean1s, which lunged March 26: The miry strip ofroad near Spen ahead and jerked the lines from the hands of cer Creek, which delays the stages frequenrly the driver. Then rhe horses availed themselves of late, should be fixed or avoided, if possible. ofthe opportunity ro run and succeeded in do We undersrand there are several pieces of road ing considerable damage ro the wagon. between here and Ashland, and between here April 16: The growing influx of people and Ager that need rhe remedial attention of crowds the srages every day, often necessitating the proper authorities. Let us have the roads exira vehicles and teams to provide adequate improved wherever necessary. accommodations. Mr. Marple reports that As an indication that the promised influx of eight arrived on his srages yesrerday. Seven will people has already commenced, it may be men- arrive roday and seven tomorrow. 75 May 1: The first railroad train reached 1904. Pokegama today. Judge Henry L. Benson March 24: J. A. Mcintire of Missouri, who of Klamath Falls, and his daughter Gail, for some rime has been manager of the Ash were the first passengers over the new sce land-Klamath Falls stage line, arrived co attend nic railroad. Oudge George T. Baldwin, also the case ofYaden vs. Salmon and Salmon. The of Klamarh Falls, and his daughter Maude, case was settled out of coutt. came in the following day from San Fran cisco, on the second train to make the trip An unidentified man has been found dead -Ed.) on the stage road ro Ashland. March 31: Mail carrier Dick Eddy and Mr. George Poppleton was in town Tuesday Snowgoose found a man on the Ashland road, looking after rhe interest of the Ashland six miles above Soda Springs, several days ago. Klamath Falls stage line. Mr. Poppleton Eddy had mer him four miles from where the has succeeded Mr. Mcintire in the manage body was found. He was well past middle age, ment. He scared char they are maldng con and had the appearance of a logger. nection at Pokegama with the new railroad. Later-Robert Heston, about 60, lefr Klam They are sciU running co Ashland as the mail ath Falls on the 21st, became exhausted, fell route has not been changed as yet. down in the snow and went ro sleep. He was June 4: Robert Garren Collapses. Garrett identified by a post card found on him. was prostrated in the stage seat near Soda April 21: Alex Marrin Jr., has been awarded Springs sometime on Tuesday. The one pas the comracr ro carry the mails between Poke senger aboard, goc him to Soda Springs gama and Klamath Falls. The new contract unconscious. From rhere he was brought to began on the 17th, and for the present will be Ashland suffering a severe attack of spinal carried by rhe Sunset Stage Company and the menengicis. Klamath Lake Navigation Company. June 8: Anyone seeing the fine wagons R. W Marple died on the 20th at 4:15 in and carriages which are daHy being taken the afrernoon at the home ofjohn Way below our of the old Midway stable building would Topsy from injuries suffered in a runaway. He think chat we had a carriage factory in town, was driving a four horse ream hauling 2,000 but the fact is they are simply the results of pounds offreight. Sunday he lefr Shovd Creek the work of Henry Weber, the painter. The in the morning and upon reaching Way's big building is nearly full of stage coaches, place, stopped to water his horses. This was wagons and carriages which are daily be ... just accomplished when the leaders scarred up apparently new by this artist of the brush. and Mr. Marple in grabbing the lines and try ing to stop them was thrown under the wagon July 2: Why isn't the Klamath mail being which passed over him with its heavy load of routed by rhe railroad instead of Ashland ? freight, breaking several ribs and injuring him November 5: There is still no mail by che internally. He was carried into the house and railroad, and it is still arriving by stage from medical assistance was summoned. He suf.. Ashland, a day lace. Why? fered continually until his death yesterday November 20: The mail will soon be ar afrernoon. riving by che railroad instead of from Ash The body was brought m this city last night land. and the funeral services will be conducted November 26: lt is reported char the from rhe residence at 2 p.m. today. Klamath Falls mail will be brought by way Afrer corning here in 1882, Mr. Marple of Pokegama, instead of Ashland, after the conducted a livery stable and stage line. He 1st of the month. was rhe proprietor of rhe Western Stage Com- 76 Two of Mcintyre's mule teams in front of the Baldwin Hotel, about 1908. -Maude Baldwin Photo pany and Mammoth Stables. He is the father September 8: The stage to Pokegama upon of six children and was fifty four years, six leaving Klamath Falls, upset. Bob Garren rhe months and eighteen days of age at rhe rime driver suffered a fractured arm No passengers of his death. were hurt. ibid, Another Accident Last Night. Dr. G. September 15: Combined rime of the mail W. Maston returning from the Marple death ro Lakeview: Porcland ro Thrall - 19 hours, bed, accompanied by Mrs. Lydia Lennox, 24 minutes; Thrall lay over 12 hours, 6 min daughter of Marple, when near the Emrnin utes; Thrall to Pokegarna- 2 hours; Pokegama place about 12 o'clock, had his buggy drop lay over 11 hours; Pokegama ro Klamath Falls into a chuck hole. He was thrown our, his leg - 7 hours; Klamath Falls lay over 19 hours; catching in the wheel, was broken below the Klamath Falls to Lakeview - 33 hours; Total knee and nearly corn off. At the Doctor's re in transit 51 hours, 24 minutes. Torallay overs quest Mrs. Lennox cur the leg offwith a knife, 42 hours, 6 minutes. Toral time 93 hours, 30 and bound it rightly above the knee. Dr. Mas minutes. ron was taken to Emmin's house, and Doctors September 22: A series of accidents has Harps and White summoned. At last reporrs suuck the Oregon Stage employees: Bob Gar he is still living bur small hopes are held for ren, arm broken; William Mesner broken leg his recovery. in assisting to move a piano; and John Barren May 19: Mrs. R. W. Marple has sold rhe at Pokegama badly injured when kicked by a Mammoth Stables ro Horace Mitchell, who horse in the face. then leased the property ro Thomas Newton. 1905. June 30: Road Wanted. Paisley to Bly. The August 17: George Chase does not like Paisley citizens raise $167.00 ... The cost of big loads of freight teamsters hauling, with the Lake County side will be $50,000, in the four horses on two wagons. They bring one hands of D. B. Conrad, who owns a ranch on load to his place, rhen go back after more rhe Klamath side of the county line. Distance and finally double ro get to rhe falls. from Bly to Paisley is about 35 miles, 15 in Weyerhaueser negotiating for rimber Klamath County and 20 in Lake Cowlty. At Ibid. and rhe Klamath Lake Railroad. present rhere is a good road from Bly co within five miles of Conrad's. The road will save 60 September 7: Jack Marshall is using six miles between the railroad and Paisley. horses with rwo wagons to haul 12,000 77 One of Mcintyre's mule teams headed north on Fifth Street, just oH Main. White building, the Schallock and DaggeH General Store. Brick building, the old American Bank and Trust Company, built in 1906·1907, now the location of the new P.P. & L. Building. -Maude Baldwin Photo pounds, and by adding another wagon settled on Emigrant Creek in 1860. He later might bring 20,000 pounds with no help. moved to Spencer Creek. Nathan High, his Ibid: Walter Marple is now the proprietor son-in-law, operates a blacksmith shop there of the Midway Feed Stable. at the present time. Ibid: Other stables in Klamath Falls are November 2: Governor Chamberlain the Klamath Livery, Feed and Sale Stables; is coming in by stage from Pokegama, via Buessing and Bennett at Main and 9th. Keno to Klamath Falls today, September 14. Miss Zelia Bussy, passen 1906. ger and T, W. Reynolds, driver of the srage February 8: B. F. Nichols arrived last night were seriously injured yesterday morning. with a load of freight from Pokegama, hav There were seven passengers aboard. In go ing made the trip in six days. He was loaded ing down the hill to the bridge across Klam for the Driscoll Mercantile Company of Bo ath River, the brake lever broke, the stage nanza, who are alive to business and bound to went over the bank, the from wheels un keep the necessities of life if it does take winter coupled and the ream wem free, All the pas freight to keep supplied. sengers were taken to Spencer's Station. Dr. Ibid. ]. A. Parker, of Bly, arrived last night Hargus and Alex Martin Jr., hurried to the from the railroad with his daughter, Bertha scene. Two passengers were yet inside and Bell, from Washington, who has come home under the coach. Another, Mr. Stratton of for a visit. They deparred for Bly this morn San Francisco refused ro help raise the coach ing both glad to get so near home at this time - instead he wem looking for his dog. of the year. Mr. Parker was principally raised October 19: H. E. Spencer Dies. Mr. on the mountain berween Klamath Falls and Spencer, 86, of Ashland, who first came Ashland and has resided in Klamath county to Ashland where he secured the land, 160 ever since it existed under that name. He re acres, known as the Galey-Carter traer. He ports the roads in a worse condition than he 78 has ever seen them during his residence here. May 30: George Galbrearh, driver, killed in March 8: George Dukes, srage driver be a stage wreck. Injured Wednesday morning, rween Klamath Falls and Pokegama had the Galbreath died at three in the afrernoon, He two middle fingers ofeach hand and both ears was descending the hiU this side of Chase's. frozen Sunday, March 4th, while making the The from wheel of the stage struck something, rrip from Pokegama. He did nor realize the swung the stage against a tree, smashed it to condition until he reached rhe stables. Dr. kindling. Galbreath's right side of the face cut Maston was called in, and the latest report is open, nose crushed co a pulp, his right upper he will nor lose his fingers, as was thought ar jawbone, right molar bone broken, righr leg be first. It will be a month or more before he will low r.he knee, left leg sharrered from the middle of r.he r.high down. C. L. York, Charley Scorr, be in condition to rerum to work. His place is being filled by "Good-roads" Decker, the old also injured. James Murphy face bruised, Nick war-horse ofstagedom. Caris no injury. Drs. Cartwright and Masten, Coroner Marrin attended. The Steamer Klam October 25: Microfilm copy of &publimn ath is to bring the bodies in from Keno. files ar rhe Universiry of Oregon: The Oregon Stage Company reporrs 524 more passengers Ibid. New Stage Line. The fim gun in rhe coming Into Klamath Falls chan going our, transportation fight commences tomorrow with the inaugurarion of rhe Klamath Falls during the five month period ending Septem ber 30th. (This would be for the months of to Agee, via Klamath Hot Springs stage line. May, June, July August and September- Ed.) This is the first move by the Klamath Com pany and will be under the direction of H. W 1907. Straw. It is the intention to put on four eleven January 17: The people of the Klamath passenger coaches, rwo each way. The Steamer country are dissatisfied with r.he present stage Klamath from Klamath Falls at 10:30 a.m, schedule. srage at Keno, Hot Springs by 5:30 p.m., re main over night, leave next morning in rime January 24: While on his way to Pokegama to connect with the trains at Ager. The other last Thursday afrernoon, J. L. Pitchford was way, Hot Springs 5:30 p.m., leave there 7 r.he thrown from his wagon and very seriously next morning, and reach Klamath Falls by injured. The front wheel passed over his head 2:30p.m. and when the wagon was brought to a stand still, rhe hind wheel was resting on his body. June 20: The Mcintire Transfer Company Dr. Cartwright was summoned and it was at has Leased the Spencer Creek station from Mr. fi rsr thought that r.here was lircle hope for the Wright, and will make it a stopping place. recovery of the injured man. Careful atten Ibid: A stage wreck occurred on the new tion, however, has resulted in his recovery and stage line near Klamath Hot Springs last all fear of a fatal termination of the accident Sunday with serious injury to H. W. Straw. It has passed. happened near the hotel, when a culvert was February 21: The Klamath Falls and Poke missed and the srage [Qp ... Straw is improv gama Transfer may be assessed forwarding ing rapidly, and will reach here next week. charges from Thrall. September 26: F. A. Aurenreith is in charge March 14: W R. Davis has bought the of the traffic for W R. Davis. Mammoth stable on this end of the Pokegama Ibid; Both srage lines connect with the stage line, from Travis. H. W. Straw has been Steamer Klamath at Teeter's Landing, from pur in charge. Mcintire interestS now conrrol r.he Pokegama Line and the end of the ap the freight business, proaching railroad track. April 4: Due ro a railroad blockade, 150 December 19: Transportation suitS are be sacks of mail arrived here on Monday. ing filed by both sides. 79 A Mcintyre freighter pulling the hill at the south end of Riverside Street in Klamoth Falls. - Courtesy Douglas County Museum December 26: The Burte Valley Srage chased properry and are now returning wirh Company has leased irs ourlir ro the 0. & a number of their neighbors and friends. C. Transfer Company. The former is the April 2: Forrest posr office ar Spencer company headed by J. H. Hughes and oper Creek is co discontinue April lsr. ates a stage line between Bray and this city, ibid:Again rhe powers char be in rranspor This rransfer leaves rhe 0. & C. Transfer tation matters, will meet in conference with Co. in sole control of the field. Mr. Hughes the Southern Pacific officials in San Fran has commenced arrangements for rhe plac cisco to determine upon a freight service for ing of a srage service berween Merrill and this city. The meeting will occur within the Bray, me ultimate object of the plan being nexr four days and will be attended by rep to secure any cur-offs conremplared. resentatives of me Mcintire Transporcarion 1908. Company and Klamath Falls Transporta January 16: A. P. Cross, one of the owners tion Company. Captain J. M. Mcintire will of rhe Klamath Falls-Lakeview stage line is represenr me former and it is understood considering hauling for Wells-Fargo. rhar W. R. Davis will be rhere ro look our afrer me latter company. This conference is February 13: Charles Lambert of Bonan held at the request of rhe Soumern Pacific, za, is the present manager of rhe Klamath and is for me purpose of securing a through Falls-Lakeview stage line. freighr service ro mis city, which is very March 19: Twenry-rhree people arrived much desired by rhe railroad company. The from Pokegama, Saturday, two extra stages California Nonheasrern will be at Dorris having been senr after mem. This is the first on May lsr, and if the Soumern Pacific has lor of home-seekers for Klamath Counry to irs way abour ir the Pokegama line will be rake advantage of the colonists rates, which disconrinued ar rhar rime. A mrough rare, went into effect on March 1. Ir is reponed whereby rhe Southern Pacific will deliver that from now on a large number of home fre ighr ar me score door or warehouse, will seekers are expected almost daily, Some of go imo effect ar mat rime over rhe new road, rhese parries were here lase summer and pur- The conference between rhe railroad offi- 80 cials and the local rransporration company established co Amedee, east of Honey Lake, managers is ro determine which company on November 17, 1890 which then became a will haul rhe freight from Dorris ro chis ciry freight terminus to northeastern California for rhe Southern Pacific. and even Lakeview, 20 miles north of the If the Mcintire Company should be se California-Oregon State line. lected then it is very probable char rhe Finally in January 1899 work began on a Pokegama route will be discontinued, but further northern extension of the line, and if the other company is chosen it is hard to Termo, about 105 mnes from Lakeview, cell what will become of char line. The two was reached June 1, 1900. Madeline became companies seem to be ar dagger points and rhe "end of rrack" ready for use on April 1, it has been said that there can be no mutual 1902, about one year before Pokegama, in agreement. Klamath County, came into exjsrence. New Schedule. The Mcintire Transpor Thus Lakeview which had been more tation Company under Capt. J. M. Mcln than 150 miles from Ager, its nearest rail rire will leave Dorris ar night and after an road shipping point ro the west for some all overland journey, will arrive ar Klamath 15 years, was bur 90 miles from Madeline. Falls the next mornjng The other line, the Even Pokegama co be was approximately Klamath Falls Transportation Company, 125 miles away and, later, Teeter's Land under W. R. Davis, will leave Dorris ar ing at least 110 miles away. A considerable night, travel overland to Teeter's Landing, amount of freight however, did pass through transfer to the Steamer Klamath and arrive the Klamath Counuy over the years. in Klamath Falls at about the same rime the Extension of the N. C. & 0. Railroad ocher line arrives, so goods will be available was resumed in June, 1906 and service into to merchants at about rhe same dme by ei AJruras. 55 miles from Lakeview, was inau ther roure. gurated December 1, 1908. Ibid: Freight to Lakeview. Now by train The rails eventually reached Lakeview, only ro Likely for $2.75 per hundred from 238 miles from Reno, on January 10, 1912. San Francisco. Through passage $5.05 to April 30: Dr. Masten died Friday at 5:45 Lakeview. Ir is thought possible for freight of congesrion of the brain after being un to pass through Klamath Falls from Dor conscious for five days. He rook sick April ris ro Lakeview for $1.50 with passengers at l4rh. His sickness dates back co the rime of $15.00. his accident on April 20, 1904. He arrived Freight business to Lakeview never did de here in July, 1903. He belonged to rhe Elks, velop the way people of the Klamath Basin Masons, who held rhe services, Knights of visualized or wished. The fact is, Lakeview re Pythias, AOUW and WOW. ceived most of their freight from Reno in rhe south. Only such &eight as came south from May 14: Freight is now coming from Portland was ever freighted overland through Dorris, although considerable still coming the Klamath country to Lakeview. from Pokegama. The north bound Nevada, California & May 21: The Mclnrire-Srraw stages to Oregon Railroad broke ground in Reno on Pokegama co stop afrer Tuesday, May 26th. December 22, 1880. The rails however, did October 8: The 6.rsr freight co Lakeview nor reach rhe Juncrion House, at rhe foot of arrived at Calor Saturday. 28,000 pounds Beckwith Pass, 37 miles from Reno, until arrived then, with 7,000 pounds arriving December 8, 1884, and Doyle, 57% miles since. The Mcintire Transportation Com from Reno, until June 6, 1890. Service was panywill haul rhe freight. 81 An early stagecoach at Dairy during the mid 1890's. The driver is thought to be John Shook. - Courtesy The Herold & News 1909. Ibid: J. M. Mcintire has sold the interest of January 21: Bob Garrett and John Louden the 0 & C Transfer Company to Robt. Gar rerr. have taken sixteen stage horses belonging to W. R. Davis, to the Ady ranch near Mid April22: School at Wampus began Monday land. with Mr. Bussy the teacher. February 4: The Mcintire Transportation Ibid: Sam Gosliner, the cook at the South Company has brought eighteen heavy wagons, em Pacific camp near Wampus, left for San and 60 head of horses to town where the beds Francisco, Friday. (Wampus was in existence were unloaded, then the wagons and canvas during rhe construction of the canal below the shipped to Los Angeles, where rhe company bridge on the Klamath River, five miles west has a conrract hauling cement, gravel, etc., on of Keno- Ed.) the 200 mile ditch which the city is building Transportation imo the Klamath Basin by to furnish water to the city. (Probably the Los stage, freight reams and boars carne to a vir Angeles Aqueduct from Owens Valley- Ed.) tual end on May 20th, with the arrival of the February 18: J. M. Mclnrire left for Los first train in Klamath Falls. There remained Angeles Friday. His famous mule teams, con only some mopping up trips by freighters be tween Pokegama and Klamath Falls. sisting of 40 head are to be shipped soon. The harness and other outfits have already been On its last commercial trip, the Steamer shipped while the wagons are to be left here Klamath carried more than I 00 townspeople and sold by G. W. Mcintire of the Farm to Ady to board the first incoming passenger ers lmplemenr & Supply House (Northeast train, and in rum brought a few back who had corner Sixth & Klamath - Ed.). The drivers ridden rhe first train our of rown. are to go south also. They are A. F. Mcintire, May 20: Robt. Garren, a stockholder in the Charles Scott, Ben Simpkins, Chas. Kelley, 0 & C Stage Co., states the company has sold Lurn Lowden, Ross Potter and Jim Marshall. all its horses - two carloads or 40 horses ro 82 First train inta Klamath Falls, May 20, 1909 which marked the end of staging and freighting between Klamath Falls and the Oregon and California Railroad. buyers in San Francisco. Fifteen remain co be $300 repairs to be spent on it. disposed ofto local parties-His interest in the (From this date co the end of chis article, wagons and our.fits has been sold roW R. Da all quotes are from the files of the old Evening vis. Garrett drove the first stage into Linkville Herald in the morgue of the Herald & News in 1874, and the last srage in January of this offices in Klamath Falls.) year between the railroad and this city. 1915. October 28: W. H. May, superintendent of che San Francisco district, is here co inspect AprilS: The Shovel Creek resort at Klamath conditions in regard to opening rhe Western Hot Springs was recently destroyed by fire but is to be rebuilt, Mr. Brown, the manager says. Union here. The poles are now between Weed {The resorr was never rebuilt, and liccle evi and Grass Lake. dence remains of it, but the original hotel still December 9: The Western Union wire has stands- Ed.) In between times, large tents will arrived here, co open in the railroad freight be used for dub rooms and dining rooms. warehouse. Ir is rumored char an up town of June 18: Jim Eacon formerly a stage driver, in fice is to be opened the same building with Klamath Falls ro Lakeview, fell inro a ditch Wells-Fargo & Co. in the Klamath County near rhe county infirmary, where he has been Bank between ir and the Klamath Abstract staying for about cwo years. He quit driving Office. (On Fourrh Screet in the old Hall Ho after a stage rurned over on him. tel, now Stevens- Ed.) July 29: A sign 10 x 20 feet was placed at 1910. Ager yesterday, by J. A. Gordon and E. B June 2: (Microfilm at University ofOregon, Hall. It was placed at the forks of the road from the Republican files}: Chas. Lambert on the Pacific Highway, and directs tourists has taken one of the old stages to Mendocino to take che inland roure co Crater Lake. The County to run between Sherwood and Harris, road in Siskiyou County is in perfect shape, a distance of 54 miles. The cost $2,300 with but some work is necessary on the Klamath 83 The end of an era. Si.x unused stage coaches forlornly awaiting an unknown fate, sometime during the winter of 1908-09. Lakeside Inn at left, Mammoth Feed Barn behind stages, and the Baldwin Hardware and Hotel in the background. Buildings of old Linkville to the right of the barn, all long since destroyed to become the site of present Veterans Park. -Priest Photo side which needs loose rock removed and Boise, Burns, Lakeview and Klamath Falls is some bridge repair. ro follow the Topsy Grade and Klamath River from the State Line to the Ocean. It is to be 1916. called the Roosevdt Road. (This was probably July 28: Petition for a new road to replace the first rumblings for the present Winnemuc the present road over Lewis Hill. Nineteen ca to the Sea Highway, but was ro be named for sign, all tax payers berween Klamath Falls and Theodore Roosevelt. Further it was to follow Keno. 4,000 feet of grade needed to replace down the Klamath River, and nor through the the old road. Judge Hanks favors. Rogue River Valley, as does the present road. -Ed.) 1918. Ibid, Senator George T. Baldwin who is in February 12: John L. Yaden died Sunday. San Francisco, says 20,000 auros will come by He was 67 years of age and had been here for Topsy Grade ro Crater Lake from California the past 20 years. this year. August 13: J. W Scott, a State Highway en September 6: Sell McCord, an old Klamath gineer, is looking for the best route through stage driver here from Prineville. Wood River Valley, or via Chiloquin for a highway ro the north. Following thar, he will 1920. try ro locate rhe best route over the Green January 20: Senator Geo. Baldwin limo Springs. He will starr at the top and survey duces a bill, which passed in special session of borh ways rhe legislature of Salem, making Topsy Grade parr of the State Highway system and provid 1919. ing for its improvement as a post road. May 15: The Harry W. Hessig home this May 17: Harry Poole, ofthe Liberty Thearre side of Klamath Hor Springs burns. reported today noon that the installation ofthe July 1: A new highway from Salr Lake, via new $7,000 photoplayer which arrived Sarur- 84 Left to right: John Heuig driving, Dove Well• and on unknown at Shovel Creek. - John Hessig Photo day, was awaiting arrival ofan expert from San per gallon. He also has the agency for the Francisco. The expert should have arrived last Overland and Willys - Knight cars. night, the report being sem ahead that he was April 11: Ernest McCollum and Cecil Gri coming by auto. A later report scares that twO sez arrived from Portland via Topsy Grade last men were killed when a Hudson Six went over night in 19 hours. They drove a new Paige. The Topsy Grade last nighr which has Poole deeply roads were in good shape to Ager, but from worried. Derails from Yreka are lacking. there to Klamath Falls very poor. McCollum May 18: The report of a wreck is unfound is from the imperial Garage. ed. Hot Springs is the nearest phone, and no September 27: The County Court held a report has reached there. meering with Weyerhaueser regarding a 14 May 20: H. L. Jacobus of San Francisco Y2 mile strip of timber berween Keene and has installed the new organ, and the public Hayden Creeks. The road right-of-way is on a will hear ir for the first time mnighr. (So the 60 root basis ro the edge of Klamath County, reported accident that caused such high excite Jackson using that width, but in Klamath 40 ment for a time was unfounded- Ed.) feet seems robe the Limit. November lO: Col. J. W. Lathrop, a pioneer Ibid: Green Springs road consuucrion and stage driver for 50 years, dropped dead today furure plans for the road program ourlined. at the O.K. Livery barn. He drove for years 1922. between Redding and Weaverville. February 3: The Chamber of Commerce 1921. bas gone on record favoring an $800,000 road April 6: Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Lester of the bond issue at the special election ro be held Ewauna Moror Company left Portland Sun February 21. The bond issue is for completion day morning for Klamath Falls coming via of the Green Springs Highway, Klamath Falls Topsy Grade. The £wauna Moror Co. has the ro Lake County line, Ft. Klamath to Crater Hupmobile agency. Lester averaged 25 miles Lake, West Side of Upper Klamath Lake, with 85 One of the fir~t automobiles which replaced the horse-drawn stage between Klamath Falls and Lakeview, Oregon. - Prie$1 Photo matching State funds, and also possible Gov- strucrion of90 miles of road, or the $800,000 ernment funds, with construction of the road bond issue considered in Klamath Counry. to Weed as far as the Counry line. They recommended rhe rock surfacing of the April 4: There is a good road from Grass Keno - Hayden Creek stretch of 22.17 miles Lake ro Weed and with Haystack Hill elimi- and the Hayden Creek - Keene Creek stretch nared, high speeds are possible from Bray tO of 11.17. All to sran soon. Dorris and Dorris ro Klamath Falls the road is September 22: According ro G. F. Stebbins in very bad condition. in charge of the local highway office, contracts Portuguese Hill on the Ager road is report are ro be let October 6th, for ten miles each ed impassable. Topsy Grade is blocked by an way from the Counry Line. enormous rock, the size ofan automobile. Lou December 21: Plans for a bridge (at McCol Arens has issued a call for volunteers to help lums Mill - Ed.), and grading from Klamath open the road from Chase's sracion ro Pinehu- rsr. Falls to Keno have been authorized. July 5: This newspaper has suggested sup 1923. port for the Weed Road as recommended by February 27: Ir has been decided rhar for the Chamber of Commerce since it is nearly 1923 at least, the Topsy Road shall be im on a grade level, while the Topsy Road to Ager proved. Judd Ager of the Siskiyou Counry drops 2,000 feet. board of supervisors favors it. Siskiyou R. C. Groesback of the automobile asso Counry will nor help on the Weed Road. ciation says it will take several years to secure March 2: Butte Valley is aroused over the rhe Weed road development. Green Springs is practically impassable due ro log haulers. The Siskiyou Counry anitude. Each locality has Topsy Road is the best at present, and will be a personal reason for its stand. the only one of much use this year. Practically November 8: Hayden Creek Hill will hold all agree. A car a minute at a given point near up autos this winter on the Green Springs. Dunsmuir passed during a 10 hour period. Only a heavy freeze that will last ten days September 12: The State Highway Commis will allow trucks to deliver rock for surfac sion meet the 5th and 6th to discuss the con- ing the road. 86 1924. and Hayden Mounrain, were completed last April 29: The "Mile High" Fiesta is to be spring. W. D. Miller was rhe last conrracror held at Hayden Meadows on June 4th, to ro finish, his work being an inch of wp sur mark the completion of rhe Klamath Falls facing berween Keno and Hayden Moun Ashland Road. rain. June 4: The "Mile High" Fiesta was AS TOLD TO ME ... held ... By MARTHA COOPER June 5: At the celebration held at Hayden May 5, 1948 Meadows, a special road was builr ro accom I was born in '69 in Missouri and came modate the visitors. Warer was furnished by wesr in '77 with my parents and fam the Lithians, Cave Men and Pelicans. 0. C. ily, when I was eighr years old. Our family Applegate was present wearing his famous serried on Deer Creek in Josephine County leather jacket. near Grants Pass. I was rhe daughter of"old" July 23: The Ashland-Klamath Falls Dave McCollum, no relation of the McCol $1,000,000 highway was officially com lum for which McCollum miJJ was named. I pleted today. The preliminary section, Pa married Elbert H. Cooper in 1886, who was cific Highway to rhe top of Green Springs a brother of Herbert Emerson Cooper, and was started in 1918 and completed tO rhe with whom he was in partnership in rhe old rop of Green Springs in 1919. All contracts Cooper Brothers sawmill on rhe norrh side with the exception of a three mile section of the Klamath River abour 3 miles west of through rhe timber between Spencer Creek Keno. Site of Cooper Station near Oatman Lake on the Southern Oregon Wagon Road as it appeared about 1950. Station a nd spring in the background between the two poles. -Devere Helfrich Photo 87 The mill was started about rwo years be a trip. I wanred him to quit because of fore we were married and my husband pur the hardships of the trips and because he lots of money imo it. Of course, he made was gone all the time. He used ro haul a lors our of it roo. The logs were hauled co Cathouc priest who was on his way to Fort rhe mill on an old wooden spool wheel Klamath and probably Linkville. He asked wagon drawn by rwo oxen and driven by Elbert why he drove stage, and he replied Dan Novel. Tom McCormack bought the because of the money he could make. In old mill under che bluff. the winter time when the snow became so My husband drove stage from Ashland deep in the mountains as ro srop the stage ro Linkville. He drove for rhree years af they unhooked the leaders and led them ter we were married. The old Cooper stage back and forth to break a trail so they could station was started in about '81 or '82 and continue. There were five stops on rhe trip lasted until '88. He drove a big covered in those days where they changed horses. coach, pulled by four horses. He would Starting out from Ashland there was a stop at the foot of the hill, called Soda Springs, make the trip ro Linkville one day and back to Ash land rhe next, each day meet then at the old Moumain House, abour a ing the ocher driver who was making the half mile wesr of the Green Springs sum mit. Next at Parker Station, where meals opposite run, so that there was a trip each were served and next to Cooper Station way each day. The Cooper stage station was where we always had meals ready. (Mrs. closed because of the new road being built Cooper left our rhe Hart or Bailey Station that crossed on top of the dam and passed a short distance west of jenny Creek- Ed.). through Keno. Last, rhere used ro be a horse change at the The Cooper Station was about three Stearns ranch, in fact rhe old shed they miles west of Keno, and on the right hand drove through is still standing there. I re side of the road going toward Ashland. The member driving through it many rimes. At house came first, the barns just west and each station rhe horses were changed by still farther west was the camp site of the those in charge of the station, chis being soldiers to and from Fort Klamath. They done so fast rhar the driver or passengers had a parade grounds there, and 1 used to did nor have ro alight.(?) enjoy watching them drill and hearing the In '91 my husband and I homesteaded bugle notes. I think this spot might have just east of the Otey ranch over the hill been called Day, as they always tried to north of Dorris. Our homestead build arrive there early in the day. There was a ings were located where rhe fill is now on fine spring across the road from the house, rhe north side of the hill on the highway. which might accounr for this spot early be I well remember Indian Tom, especially coming a campsite for the passing soldiers. once when he bear up his squaw with a log I remember chat Bing Grubb, an early chain. He practically killed her, beating day freighter in crossing rhe bridge at her to a pulp. She managed to crawl tO the Linkville, broke through rhe bridge with Johnny Grafford ranch who got an officer. his outfit, only rwo horses, rhe lead ones, When his squaw died, whether from this at rhe easr end of rhe bridge, were on the bearing or another, or some ocher rhing, bank, the other four horses and wagons she was placed in a coffin and all her pos were in the waters of Link River. They had sessions with her, Indian Tom tamping her ro use block and tackle to get them out. clothes in beside her wirh his feet in order My husband worked on the stage three roger everything in with her when she was years, winter and summer, never missing buried. 88 FreightteamsheadedeastonMainStreetinthe400block, aboutthepresentlocationoftheKiamath County AbstractCompanyoffice, in the 1906 period, while the streetcar tracks were being laid. Dan Doten driving the lead team. AS TOLD TO ME .. That made my father very unsatisfied and brought on lawsuits which eventually broke By DAN DOTEN them all. They did nor rake up the old Ocrober 21, 1948 "6" Ranch as a homestead themselves bur I was born at Yreka in '76 and came m bought our other homesteaders. Father was this country by way of Topsy Grade in '84 known as Cy Doren. when I was about eight years old. My father, Yes, I remember Indian Tom Brown. His Josiah Wilson Doren, was a silent parmer people used ro go ro a wild plum brush patch of Fairchild and John Doren in the old "6" of about 160 acres that used ro be back on Ranch, later known as the Meiss Ranch. Fa the Ball Mountain range. They used ro go ther came across the plains by wagon train there every fall. about '54 and serried first in rhe Erna and Salmon River mining counrry. There is an old graveyard across the rail road on the hillside from Worden. 1r is older They rook up rhe old "6" Ranch before rhan the one at Keno. I thought Ivan was the Modoc War. They never had any trouble named for Kesterson, but I remember a rail with rhe Indians. I was born in March and made my first trip over the old Ball Moun road man being killed at the runnel by Dor tain road in May, from Yreka to our home ris. He was on a speeder. John F. Miller was in Butte Valley. ft used to be a beautiful the fi rsr settler in char parr of the counrry, ranch, all hay where rhe old lake bed was. his ranch was later known as the old Down There were a number of artesian wells there ing ranch. Cummins owns it now. that flowed lots of water. I'm nor saying this Perkins Spring was the old name of rhe because it was my father, but John Doren spring south ofKeno, bur we always knew it as and Fairchild would sell a number of head Hoover Spring. lr was called that for an early of stock and not turn it in on the books. settler that tried ro homestead there afrer we 89 came here. It was somerimes called Tin Can ro stop when he met the stage going the op Flat. Hoover lived way down the Klamath posite way. The second stage not knowing of River opposite the Hessig Ranch. the robbery, could see the lights of the other Jerome Churchill, Sr., of Yreka put in a srage coming through the dark and pulled power plant at Fall Creek. He had rwo sons, oat to stop and talk a linle, and was surprised Jerome and Jesse. He got his starr with a string .... ben the other driver just pulled right on say ofpack mules, carrying supplies ro the North ing something about being in a hurry. Then ern California miners. In later years he got ro v.hen the robber jumped off the rear boot he be a very rich and influential man. knew what the reason was. They used to send out a big wagon to gather Bill Fee, who was also an early day freighter, up all the women in the country and haul had just started up the hi11 from Cold Spring them to the Fairchild Ranch ar Willow Creek, one night, when one of the horses got to lag where they used to hold big dances, on rimes ging. He gave him a em with his whip, and Uke the Fourth ofJuly and such. tb.e tassel caught in the harness. He stopped the stage to unfasten the whip when a man Frank Picard had a store at th.e first place stepped into the road farther up the hill and just above the old Schnackenburg place on the told him to come on. Bill was a pretty bull Topsy road. There was a bridge across Klam headed fellow and cold him he had ro unfasten ath River just at his place. Picard started old rb.e whip first when the man yelled he "didn't Picard which was about four miles straight give a damn, to get to hell up where he was." west from Dorris. He had a store there for Bill forgot his bullheadedness and did as he serders. Quire a linle settlement at one rime. was rold. The hill south of Cold Spring was There was a saloon there. The old graveyard called Grouse Ridge, and the next hill was is about a half of a mile north along the base Chicken HilL of the ridge. I used to drive stage on the old Ashland-Linkville road. My run was from the There was an old ford at the only riffle along old Parker Station into Linkville or Klamath bere at the approximate site of the Copco dam Falls. I also drove the old Pokegama to Klam ju.st down here. When we first came, the posts ath Falls run a linle. I drove the old Ager co were srill standing where the Whirde Ferry Klamath Falls stage for four years. My run was had the cable stretched. It ran on a pulley with from Klamath Falls to Klamath Hot Springs. a rope which could be fastened to either end of llefr Klamath Falls in the evening and would the ferry to ler the rear slant down stream and reach the Hot Springs in the morning where nus be forced across the river by the force of we made our changes. I would lay over there t.~e currenr. My father once had his horse full all day and stan: out in the evening on the re with him at rhe old ford. The bar they forded turn run m Klamath Falls. Used to meet the on was son of horseshoe shaped and you had stage going the opposite way around the old to keep on it or you would get into deep water Chase Stage Starion. I worked on this run two above it or boulders below it. different rimes. I worked for F. L. McNaugh If there was a post office here before it was tOn and when they quit the Ager to Klamath at the Emmit ranch, ir was before my time. At run he wanted me to go ro Canada. 1 would thar time it was called Plevna and was located have gone but I would have had to swear al at Bob Emmit's place. It was later moved to legiance ro the king and I had been an Ameri rhe Stearns' ranch, and that was when Keno can so long I wouldn't do it. became a post office. The ranchers around There were several hold-ups along the road, Stearns' ranch didn't want to lose their post bur they were never recognized. I guess I was office when it was moved from Emmie's and one of them, because I was never held up. The succeeded in getting it moved to the Stearn's rime the robber held up two stages one night, ranch. the driver of the first stage was ordered not The canal built &om the old dam at Ell- 90 ingson's mill was intended to runnel through the road going that way. There used to be quite the horseshoe bend on Klamath River and the a stream of water there. power house would be on the river ar the lower In the beginning the old log chute ar the end of the bend the same as FaJI River Mills. Hot Springs was built tOO flat at rhe bonom The old Thompson and Buder ranch was and caused all rhe logs to shoot clear across where the present Howard ranch is. It was rhe the water onto dry land So they dug the end first place rhis side of the old Cooper Station lower and drove spikes in the chute to slow the on the Ashland road and was at the edge of the logs down. There never were any Chinamen pine timber in those days. The first school was or Oagos working there or they would have ar the old Kearns pumping plant at the end of found themselves floating down to Klama Juniper ridge. Four of us kids drove to school rhon. Those were preny rough men working there. It was burned one night when there had there those days. The logs were peeled in the been a fire left in the stove. Pleva post office woods where they were cur. The dam was not was first at the Emmit ranch, and when Em rom our because of the miners. Ir was used un mit got tired of running ir, there wasn't much til they quit using rhe chute to send logs down money in it in those days you know, it was a the river. The railroad was so much cheaper matter of cancellations, he wanted someone and more dependable. They had a regular crew here tO take it over, but Stearns didn't want it of barkers. moved so far from his ranch so gor ir moved I think Tex Robison drove stage between there. The seeders around here, petitioned for Picard and the Hot Springs, although I don't one here after that. remember him because there were so many The old Hessig Ranch this side of the Klam caJ!ed Tex. ath Hoc Springs was bought from a man named The first boar here was the Mayflower, built Rush by the Hessigs. Judd Ager owned rhe by Cap Deskins and later sold to McCormick. ranch which was later the location of the rown It was a twin engine, one on each side of the ofAger. The first srop this side ofAger was the boar and was a steam wheeler. The Canby was old Bloomingcamp Ranch at Bogus. The road a steam wheeler, and I think the Buffalo was didn't go over the hills there in those days bur brought in from Frisco. kept on a level ro Soda Flats. The bridge here Mount Hebron post office was first located was first built with 16 foot bents, and was cov at the old Boyes ranch. In the old days the ered with poles, later it was planked. The old road used to go from the Hole in the Ground one was never used for wagons. The ferry was over the pass north of Dorris, srraight south just above it. After the Plevna school burned, to Cedar Point then across the desert to about the first Keno school was built across the river where MacDoel is now. There used to be a well at the end of the lane at the foor of the hill. at Cedar Point. Ir was only six feet ro water Later it was moved ro this side. The old Ager and you could get water for your horse there as road used ro go from the end of the bridge all the lakes were aJkali. The road to the "D" straight south up the present main street of Ranch and the "JF " Ranch wrned straight east Keno and rurned ro the right just south of the from there. There used to be a spring ar the Sly presem school house. You can still see it there, ranch (Hole in the Ground). Orey rook up a ir crosses the highway at the first bend and par ranch there but it was never a stage stop. Lou allels ir ro the Brimming Cup where it is just Allen owned a ranch near there, and sold it to north of the buildings. Elmer Decker. The ranch was in California Sure, I knew Topsy. I remember her when I but the deed was for land in Oregon. Decker was a kid, she was big and fat. Used to come claimed he had bought the land in California ro Klamath Falls on the stage every once in a and when Allen ordered him o£f refused ro while. She lived in Yreka. Topsy Station was go. Allen went to his house and got a rifle and just at the cop of the grade on the left side of killed Decker on the spot. 91 If a crooked log stopped on the chute, I came here. (The old C. S. Moore house, rhe next log coming down would hit it and where the Shell Service Station was located shatter half of both logs to splinters. John in later years at the west end of the bridge Hessig was once the flagman at the bonom Ed.) Henry W., Ike and Dr. Jim Straw were of the chute. lt was his duty ro stop fires and their names. Jim Straw was the uncle to Dr. watch the chures. The shavings would catch Hugh Currin. Applegates lived in the next fire. The spikes would get so bot they would house which is still standing. I don't re stan fires. member which one, bur it was Alice's father We came here the second year after we (Ivan - Ed.). I was invited to a party there sold the Meiss Ranch. Came here in 1884, soon after I arrived here, to meet the young so ir must have been 1882 when rhey sold folks of the community. ro others. The Ashland mail roure dominated all AS TOLD TO ME . the others. We ran it until about 1906. Bob Garren never drove much for us, he was by JOHN YADON the superintendent of the line. Had been November 24, 1965 around a long rime, and was roo old for I was born in 1895 and came to Klamath steady driving. Falls October 12, 1901. We used wagons on the Lakeview run; My father, Jefferson L. Yadon, came here rhoroughbrace coaches on the Ashland run; in 1898. He was a member of the firm of and one thoroughbrace coach and wagons Chilton-Yadon Stage Company of Lon on the Ager run. Between 1903 and 1908, don, Kentucky. Due to a mistake made in when the timber rush was on, we had tO the bid on the mail route from Ashland w scrounge around for any kind of vehicle Klamath Falls and Lakeview, the firm was that had four wheels. losing $10,000 per year, so father came out I have seen the time when it rook four to rry and eliminate some of the loss. horses, jusr to pull an empty thorough Their firm wa.s one of the three or four brace coach up Porragee Hill, between largest staging firms in the United States. Ager and Bogus. Sometimes it rook hours The others were W. T. Travis and W. B. to get through this stretch. The 'dobe was Catching. Stallings was another. so bad, it had ro be cleaned off the wheels Father had rhe mai I contract from Ager and horses' feet every few yards. and later Pokegama at the same rime. He From 1907 to 1915, I worked for the Rec also had the contracts to Lakeview and lamation Service, bur before that I drove for Merrill. He sublet the latter contract ro some time on the Lakeview run. I rode on Manning. the Ager stage many rimes, and may have There was another mistake made in driven relief a few times. Henry Ouffen the mail contracts at one time. When rhe bacher was the driver there. He built the contract was drawn up, father's name was brick building where K. Sugarman had his spelled "Yaden" instead of "Yadon". He srore. didn't have time to straighten our the mis We kept our stages and horses at the old take so just ler it ride down through the Midway Stable, opposite First Street. I re years. Carlisle used the "Yaden" spelling, member Priest. He was a son of freelance while I have always retained the original photographer. He would be walking along spelling, "Yadon". the road and we would over-lake him in the The Srraw family was living in the first Lakeview stage and would always give him house across the Link River bridge when a ride. 92 AS TOLD TO ME . . . The old Cooper stage and freight station was in use prior ro 1891 when the mail came in by CHARLES SNOWGOOSE from Ashland by the Southern Oregon Wagon I came to this country October 25, 1891 Road. I went tO the old Keno school when it by way of the old Topsy Grade, and now live was located at the foot ofJuniper Ridge north of on the ranch once the property of Robert Keno. There was a school known as the Bonita Whirde to whom this land was deeded Oc school ro the south and east of here There may tober 6, 1875. He staned rhe ferry known have been another school somewhere south of as Whirde's Ferry in 1876. I think that it the river rhar was moved by Joe Moore to the was in 1887 rhar Doren bought the property site norrh of Keno and the river. Bonita school from Marilda Whittle was probably on the Miller place near Teeter's Emma Walker was at one time the post Landing. The landing belonged ro Teeter and mistress at Keno and her father, a Mr. Stew was sraned by him bur was not on his land. art, carried the mail from there tO Picard He had a scow upon which he hauled hay and which was located some five miles west of wood to Klamath Falls. He sold the wood at Dorris and there is still a graveyard located $5.00 per cord. He would load it on his scow near the spot. He carried the mail twice or at Teeter's Landing, hauling it in with a yoke of three rimes a week. Butler and Thompson oxen. He then towed his scow up the river by had a large ranch and ir was through them, two large bulls, one ofwhich was ridden by his possibly aided by Robert Emmit who all small girl to drive them. This was done during wanted the post office nearer them that it the summer and early fall while the river was was changed from the sire of Keno to the at its lowest. They traveled up the east bank of Emmit ranch. Also the Whittle building was the river, right along the water's edge. rhe only house in Keno so the change wasn't Nate High lived in Keno and later at the difficult to swing. Fred Spencer owned and site of Forrest where he ran a small blacksmith ran a hotel and barn in Keno in 1891. shop. He and Marcus Anderson got together Mrs. Elgin was the post master at Topsy and decided they should have a post office at which was at the rop of the hill. A series of Spencer Creek at their homes instead of hav stage robberies rook place around 1891 at ing to go to Keno for their mail. They succeed the Chicken Hill locality and extended over ed in securing a post office, which was located a period of several years. Hank Giddings east of the creek and north of the road. Mar had some buildings, possibly a barn at the cus Anderson secured rhe contract to carry the Chase stage and freight station which was mail rwo or three times a week, but not every later purchased by Chase. This stop was in day, and possibly at times only once a week. operation when I came into the country in Anderson carried the mail on horseback. 1891, and was used as such until the Ager jerome Churchill a banker in Yreka, and Pokegama freight lines were no longer was the real owner of the Meiss, J. F. and used, which would be about the rime of the D. ranches. I once worked, when a young entry in 1909 of the railroad into Klamath fellow, for Pres Dorris under his foreman, Falls. the man who really had the say so at the Chase Mountain, once called Snow Peak, ranch. This was rhe rime the settlers were was known locally by Kenoites as Baldy at taking up the hay land around Sheepy Lake. one time. My old sawmill, after being moved Fairchild did not question the settlers rights from the sire below McCollum's mill, was to take up the open lands but Dorris djd, located on my presenr ranch and just east of he claimed it all. At this particular time my barn there on the river. Logs came from Dorris, his foreman, I. J. Straw, a bad man rhe nearby hills just west of the ranch and Lewellyn, who had killed several men, three south of Keno. and maybe four, and John Spring were all 93 armed and talked the rest of the help, prob MART FRAIN ably forced them, although unarmed to go along with them to Sheepy Lake. The set Pioneer ofthe Klamath Country tlers were armed with ri£les. However, the On the afternoon of April 30th, 1857, four armed men with intentions of shooting five and a half years before Fort Klamath or killing had control of rhe situation, and was establlshed, and nearly ten years be the unarmed men moved the haystacks w fore Linkville (Klamath Falls) was founded, other locations, probably onto land claimed Mart Frain arrived on the west bank of Link by Dorris. He also claimed rhe hay the set River at its point of discharge into Lake tlers had cut, that is why he went after it. Ewauna. He brought with him five pack Later, and I was nor in rhe bunch, Dorris mules loaded with goods destined to be and his men moved or tore down the serders rraded to the Indians for furs. cabins and moved them away. Later still the Prior to this occurrence, thousands ofmen setders, with my father as their attorney, he were attracted to the many and various gold was a son of lawyer, met at Picard before strikes made in nearby Northern California some local representative of the law bur se following the first great gold rush of 1849. cured no benefits there, due to the puH of Many of them were prospectors or miners. the big stock men. The case then went ro Many however, were involved in other busi Yreka, and probably later to higher sources ness ventures, or were seeking opporruniries and believe the settlers won out. in which to indulge. Others were farmers Located in the same neighborhood was or stockmen, newly arrived from eastern Indian Tom, one rime interpreter for the points, seeking new locations in which to Hot Creek Modocs, with one girl and rwo bener themselves. Yet others were of that boys. restless breed of men always to be found in ,, ~------~~------~~~- Unknown freighter h-ded west in the 300 block, in front of the old Klamath County courthouse. 94 advance of the settlements, trappers, trad of rocks at the approximate site where Payne ers and frontiersmen, the advance guard in Alley and Main Street joins, just west of the civilizing the chen untamed west. present Baldwin Horel of Klamath Falls. Among this laner group was Martin Rod By nightfall IUs supply of goods had been erick "Man" Frain. Of English, or possibly exchanged for furs. He created rhe Indians Irish ancestry, Man Frain was born Decem fairly and was honest in his dealings wirh ber 17, 1832 in "York Scare," U.S.A. From them. They respected him and rrusred his New York he Iacer moved co Bay Ciry, Mich word. Consequently he repeated his trading igan and Iacer still co Detroit of the same activities with them for an unknown num scare. He had at lease two brothers and one ber of years, thus becoming Klamath Falls' sister who always remained in the east. Man first merchant. Frain's life, prior to coming west seems to In passing back and forth from Yreka have been uneventful. through the Shasta Indian country, Marc After the news of the discovery of gold in Frain became acquainted with an Indian California reached the eastern scares, Mart gid of thar rribe, Birsy Jons, born about Jan Frain made his way to New York Ciry where uary l, 1850. According to family tradition he rook passage on a boar lace in 1849. The she was the daughter of Rising Sun and a ship sailed around the Horn and arrived in sister ofSining Bull who had signed a rreary San Francisco after a stormy six months voy with rhe whites in 1851. age. Man Frain seems co have worked his About 1866, Marc Frain, rhen abour 34 way north, arriving in Scon Valley, Siskiyou years of age, rook rhe litrle Indian girl as his County in the early 1850's. He is supposed mare, according to Indian customs. Exacdy to have mined extensively in rhe Scort Val where Frain and his Indian bride made their ley viciniry, and particularly on the Indian home is unknown. There are three possibili Creek watershed, northerly from Fort jones. ties: On lndian Creek in Scon Valley, on At some unknown date he located a rich Shasta River, easterly from Yreka, or even on mine about five miles up Indian Creek from the Klamath River, bur Indian Creek seems irs junction wirh Scott River, known as the the most likely. New York mine. How much he, person ally, mined is unknown, bur ir was nor un On November 8, 1866 Frank Frain was til abour 1921 rhar his interest in rhe mine born, the location being unknown. Next, was sold co a banker in Fort Jones named on March 14, 1869 a second son, Fred Milne. Presumably ir was leased ro ochers co Frain, was born, again the location being operate, during rhe ensuing years. However, unknown. Then, some rwo years later, on during much of the elapsed rime, the mine April 8, 1871 a rhird son, Roderick Marrin was leased to Chinamen, who seem co have "Rod" Frain, was born. Rod Frain told chis worked it profitably. wrirer rhar he was born in Scorr Valley, so it seems quire likely rhar borh Frank and Fred Little is known of Marc Frain's life during were born there also, possibly in rhe vicin most of rhe 1850's, bur beginning with his iry of Indian Creek, near old Hooperville. It arrival in rhe Klamath country in 1857 his activities can begin ro be pieced together. seems that borh Roderick and Martin were Arriving at Link River near rhe wesr end of family names handed down through rhe present Link River Bridge (a D.A.R. histori generations. cal marker perpetuates rhe approximate lo A fourth son, William Lorenzo "Wren" cation) Frain was ferried across Link River Frain was born June 11 , 1873 in a wild on a rule mar, propelled by an Indian wom plum parch near Wild Gal Spring on the an. He ser up his trading station near a ledge Oregon- California line a few miles east of 95 FaJI Creek. This may indicate char by this offered as a gift ro the Klamath County His time Marr Frain had moved co the Klam rorical Society. What irs eventual fare will ath River country. At least we know, from be is unknown at rhis writing. an old phoro, that Wren Frain was auend It has been cold that Man Frain once ing the Shovel Creek school in about 1879, owned much of the south side of Main when around six years of age. Srreer in old Linkvi!Je (Klamath Falls) from So far as known, Mart Frain's first home a poinr opposite rhe present Baldwin Horel on the Klamath River was on a few acres of co the corner of Main and Center Streets or land purchased from Henry Truitt (always even farther. And further, that Frain once called "Old AI" by Wren Frain), who then owned and operated a drug store somewhere lived about one mile below Shovel Creek, or in this vicinity. Klamath Hot Springs later known as Bes Exhaustive research in County Deed wick. The original Frain building at chis lo Records, contemporary newspaper articles cation still srands, on rhe south side of rhe and orher sources fail ro subsranriare these road ar rhe present Louis Hessig ranch (the claims. No record whatever can be found old Truitt place) and once served as a saloon of Frain owning property on Main Street, during logging activities when Snow, Poke while rhe house at Fourth and Pine Srreers gama, rhe log chute and Klamarhon were at (Lot 1, Block 7, Original Linkville townsite) rhe height of their various enterprises. did not pass inro his possession until 1896 At this place probably were born Marr when he received ricle co it by Sheriff's Sale and Bitsy's fifth child, a daughter, Nwie (A. A. Fitch) in foreclosing on a mortgage Frain, on December 20, 1875, and a sixth of$868.02. child, rhe fifth son, Alfonso "AI" Frain, on A brief history of the Fourth and Pine April 9. 1878. Srreers (Lor 1, Block 7) property discloses All had gone serenely in rhe Frain fam that in rhe beginning George Nurse serried ily up to rhis rime. Then on April 8, 1880 at Link River about March 12, 1867 filing Frank Frain, the first born, died of pneu che original legal townsite plat of future monia when founeen years of age. He was Linkville on January 27, 1879 although buried in Yreka. an informal one had been in use for some The mother rook rhe dearh of her first rime. born so ro hearr, rhar she grieved herself co On November 16, 1883 Nurse deeded dearh in less than a year, dying on January rhe lor co W. I. Nichols, valuation nor lisred, 15, 1881. Birsy Jons Frain was buried at a who in rurn deeded it to Sarah M. Beach graveyard in Parks Canyon a shorr distance {wife of a pioneer Docror M. H. Beach) on southeast of Span nus Rock, near rhe head of October 10, 1886 for $100.00. On rhis same present Copco Lake. dare Sarah M. and M. H. Beach deeded the At chis rime a bit of history concerning property co D.]. Ferree for $350.00, which what has long been claimed co be the oldest might indicate a small dwelling of sores had dwelling in Klamarh Falls, and to have been been erected some rime between 1883 and built by Mart Frain will be given. 1886 by someone now unknown. This building has been known at various Then on June 12, 1888 Ferree deeded rhe times as the Frain house, Auntie Gowan property to Auguste Kessler who seems to house, La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant and have been associated with Joseph Kessler, presently (April-May, 1973) serves as the possibly a son. There was also a Henry Kes Law Office of Richard J. Smith. lr is to be sler, relationship unknown, and his wife replaced or moved Iacer in May and has been Martie, who was interested in property 96 (Block 8) east across Founh Srreet, later the it was not known. Between 1892 and 1906 old Klamath Valley Hospirallocacion. the year it was sold to E. W. Gowan, many Next, on November 11, 1891 Mart Frain prominent citizens rented it. The Ivan Ap loaned Auguste and Joseph Kessler $600.00 plegates, the D. V. Kuykendalls, and John for which the Kessler's gave him a mortgage Houston, owner of the "Opera House" oc on the Lot l, Block 7 property. cupied it at various times. After the Gowans and others it became the property of the E. It also seems that down through the years Ditsche estate when ir was leased for use as one of the Kesslers, which one is unknown, a cafe. was closely associated with Frain. It further appears that Henry and Manie Kessler also One wonders if the sale of the Truitt borrowed money from Frain ($1,000.00?), property below Shovel Creek would have giving a mortgage on Block 8 which was furnished Frain with rhe money tO finance foreclosed and sold at Sheriff's Sale for these business and property purchases in $1,230.22 at approximately the same time LinkviJle? There is more tO the story, how Lot 1 was sold. ever, than the legal records and Mrs. Odell's article disclose. Frain seems to have instituted these fore closure proceedings against rhe Kesslers on The Yreka Journal in recounting the story of the big Li nkviUe fire ofSeptember 6, 1889 September 27th, 1894 with the result that which destroyed the entire town, as chen by July 22, 1896 the two properties became existing, recorded char an H. Kessler lost his. $6,000 and a Joseph Kessler $600. Would Finally on January 11, 1901 Mart Frain this have been the drug store and merchan sold the property (Lor 1, Block 7) to Emma dise stock referred to as being owned by D. Pierson and so passes from further con Mart Frain? nection with the property. Further information is disclosed in an ar Ida Momyer Odell writing for the D.A.R. ticle by the Klamath Falls Express of Febru "Oregon Historic Landmarks" sometime ary 22, 1893 which indicates rhat the Frain during 1959 or before, states the property - Kessler business must have been re-estab was known to old timers as the Auntie lished shortly after the 1889 fire. "Carroll Gowan House for the reason of continu and Company have purchased the merchan ous ownership and occupancy by two gen dise swck of Henry Kessler's store in this erations of Gowans for a period of some 40 place from Mart Frain, and rhe drugstore years. However they were nor the builders of will be moved to Pokegama (Klamathon) the five-room dwelling. where Henry will officiate as druggist for Mrs. Odell records a slightly different ver Mr. Frain." sion of Frain's acquisition of the Lot 1 prop It has not been determined whether the erty, stating "there was a dwelling on the parrnershlp of Frain and Kessler did or did lot before his purchase in 1892, for he and nor set up business in Klamathon, bur prob a man named Kessler lived there together, ably not. and Frain's son (Wren) says that his father During the years the Frain family ~ved ar did not build the house." the Truitt place (1872 to 1887, both dates ap Mrs. Odell also wrote that Frain and Kes proximate but close) Marc made a living by sler owned and operated a general store in pursuing several activities. He fished, trapped, what became Klamath Falls, and that Frain traded for, and bought furs; killed deer, whose owned rhe Fourth and Pine property for 14 meat he sold in Yreka; raised garden truck and years (? - Editor) but how long he occupied fruit (apples, cherries and prunes) which was 97 Some of Mart Frain's furs and Indian artifacts displayed at the "Cave house". Left to right: AI Frain, unknow n, and Mart Frain. -John Hessig Photo also peddled in Yreka and Butte Valley; and near Bogus Creek, which had formerly been in fact did about anything at which a dollar located at the mouth ofJenny Creek. On No could be made. Concerning gardening, Wren vember 3, 1886 Baker was killed by a rolling Frain many years later, recalled carrying water l.og. pails from Klamath River to water their corn What became of the sawmill is unknown. crops. How different from many of our pres lc will be noted, that much iu the same man ent generation who sit around, prorest, and ner of George Nurse, Mart Frain had several subsist on welfare. parrne.rs down through the years in his various It is definitely known that Mart Frain, while enterprises, evidently furnishing the finances living at the Truitt place in 1862, conducted a and the partner the labor. stopping place for the current mail-stage driver, Frain's sons were raised to follow the same P. F. McManus, ar least berween July 1st and pursuirs as their father and became proficient the latter days of October when McManus was bunters, their names appearing many times in killed in a stage accident above Shovel Creek. the old newspaper accounts as having killed A few years after this accident, Mart Frain bear, cougars, etc. Down through the years was the mail carrier on the Klamath River line several of them worked on the great stock for at leasr a month during February, 1896 and ranches of nearby Butte Valley. They were at possibly longer. The current mail carrier had rimes employed by the logging companies in defaulted his contract and Frain filled in until a the timbered areas around Snow and Pokeg new one could be secured. He was also in part ama, as well as working on the Klamath River nership with one]. S. Baker, age 53, during this driving logs from Shovel Creek ro old Klama same year, in operating a sawmill somewhere rhon as !are as 1900. 98 The se 99 after which me boys brought him back to me Nettie Frain married Ed Way in 1893 and Klamath River counrry, where Wren built a a daughter Sadie Helen was born ro them on small cabin near his own home ar the foot of May 21, 1894. About nineteen monrhs later, Topsy Grade. There Man Frun lived out his Nettie passed away at me Ed Way homestead days passing away March 21st, 1927 at me or timber claim in the exrreme southeastern age of94 years, three months and four days. corner ofJackson County just east ofm e head AI Frain, after his father moved to Oak of Fall Creek. Nettie was buried in the Way land, became a cook and for many years was Cemetery. Her daughter Sadie May married employed around Yreka and Hornbrook. Joseph Edwin Scranton and lived ar Algoma During rhe lare 1930's he came back to me where he was woods foreman. One child was Klamath River Canyon country to live for a born to tthem at Algoma in September, 1915 time ar rhe old Herman Spannus ranch be who several years after his mother's death low Klamath Hot Springs. He rued there in in August 1925 was adopted by a brother April, 1939 and is buried in the Way Cem of Vern Owens (long-time residenr business etery below Topsy Grade. man of Klamath Falls) and is now known as Joseph Edwin Owens. Ed Way was killed by Coincidental with the purchase ofthe Top a man named Hobbs on October 14, 1916 sy Grade ranch, rhe second and third Topsy near Yellow Jacket Springs a few miles east of grades were constructed by George Chase me top of the Algoma Incline railroad. and Bob Emmit respectively. Work on rhe larrer (and present) Topsy Grade commenced On July 27, 1898 Wren Frain married Ef fie Pearl "Gussie" Way, born ar rhe site of the in 1889 and was completed in May of 1890. larer day Cooper Stage Starion on February Three ofthe Frain boys, Fred, Rod and Wren, 24, 1881. She was a sister of Ed Way and all worked on its construction. Rod told this daughter of Thomas Way who shordy after writer of hanging by a rope while drilling on her birth, moved to the Klamath River Can the big poim. yon country to later establish the Way Stage The Topsy Grade home was a log cabin and Freight Station several miles below Topsy with a stone fireplace, bur ar some larer date Grade. To Wren and Gussie Frain, one child, a board and batten frame lean-to was added a daughter Vera M. (now Vera Hutchin by the Frains. With the boys workjng away son) was born March 11, 1899. Vera mar from home much of the time, returning ried Merwin Donelson on April 23, 1918 to home only in me fall , the cabin was vacant whom was born one son, Halleck Donelson much of the rime, serving only as a bachelor on September 14, 1920. Halleck in turn has headquarters. Considerable time during rhe four children, three boys and one daughter, winters was spent by the three boys in hunt with the second son having one child as of ing and trapping, and adding improvements me present writing (1973). ro the ranch. On Ocrober 31st, 1906, Rod Frain deeded In rhe meantime Nerrie Frain, after her his one-third interesr in the Topsy Grade mother's death, lived much of the time wirh ranch ro Wren, in the meantime having filed her mother's old Indian friend, Isabel and on a homestead ar Bear Flats across Klam her Indian husband known as Tom Brown, ath River from the Topsy Grade ranch, as who lived on Bogus Creek. Later Nettie went had Wren. Rod was 50 years of age before ro school in Oakland, California and ar one he married Mollie Donelson, age 35, sisrer time worked for George Nurse and his wife ofVera Frain's husband. They had one child in Yreka, also attending school mere. Nurse only, a son, Hardman Martin Frain, the lasr had moved from Linkville to Yreka about of the line to bear rhe Frain name, who was 1883 and was accidentally killed by a horse ar born November 16, 1927. Rod's home for the larrer place in 1895. many years was on Jenny Creek, west of the 100 , .; Left to right: Wren Frain, Frank Woods, AI Frain and Rod Frain at the base of the cliff near the old Indian Cave opposite Shovel Creek. -John Hessig Pho4o head of Fall Creek in southeastern Jackson approximarely rhar time that Wren replaced Counry, bur afrer his wife's death abour 1945 rhe old log cabin home wirh a frame house in a car accident in Klamath Falls, could no bullr on rhe same location. Lumber for rhis longer live ar the home place, so moved into house was hauled from rhe Wise and Max a small house on his niece Vera's home place well sawmill several miles away ar rhe rop of between Keno and Klamath Falls. He died Topsy Grade. there in August, 1949 and is buried in the While Living at the Fall Creek ranch, Fred Linkville Cemetery. In his later years Rod ran some cattle. his brand being an FF. He suffered much from rheumatism, brought on sold rh.is place ro Clyde Laird in about 1945 no doubt by his long driving activities in rbe or 1946, after which he moved to Ashland cold waters of the Klamath River. where be passed away in March, 1951. He is Fred Frain, about 1896, married lda Moore buried in Ashland. whose parenrs, the Isaac Moores, owned a By 1894 Wren Frain was buckarooing in beautiful meadow ranch at rhe head of Fall the Silver Lake councry when the big Christ Creek (on the present Copco Road). This was mas emenainmcnc conflagration of Decem once known as OakJawn Farm. Ida Moore ber 24th, burned forty people ro death, with had one son from a previous marriage, Lo three more dying shortly thereafter, thus ren Close, born about 1893. Fred and Ida forty-three deaths our of an estimated crowd had no children. On September 17, 1910 of 175 ro 200 people. Luckily Wren was nor Fred and Ida deeded their one-third inter present. est in the Topsy Grade ranch ro Wren Frain Later, Wren worked ar the Meiss, Fairchild who then became the sole owner. lr was at and Dorris ranches of Butte Valley, buckaroo- 101 Left toright : Joe Hessig, Bert Heuig and Fred Stock slagerwith theirhound s and the bear they killed. At the base of the cliff near the old Indian Cave opposite Shovel Creek. -John He$sig Photo ing, haying, or doing whatever was required. and wirh his wife holding it, plowed an acre After his marriage, Wren began w build of ground for rheir garden. up a cattle herd of his own, using first an A mild climate permitted the planting of HF, but later a WF connected as his brand. some garden truck in February. In season, veg Eventually acquiring some 1200 acres of etables and fruit were sold in Butte Valley and land across Klamath River from his home, ro AJgoma sawmill employees at New Pokeg he found it necessary to bridge rhe Klamarh ama.. Some fruit and berries were secured in River. At times, three different bridges were rhe Rogue River Valley, rhe Frain family trav built across rhe river, the first more than a eling there by wagon over the Green Springs fourrh mile upstream from the house, the roard, where Gussie canned rhcir purchases second, below the house and the third, al before returning home. though used only by an occasional fisher The Topsy Grade ranch ofWren and Gussie man, standing until chis past winre.r when it Frain was in a beautiful location, overlooking is reported ro have collapsed. It stood below deep and swift Bowing Klamath River. The rhe barn and between the sires of the rwo home sat on a bench above the rest ofrhe ranch previous bridges. with a part rime creek crashing down from the At one time high waters of rhe Klamath Topsy Grade hillside lying to the sourh. In ad River washed our the firsr or upper bridge. Ar dition a ditch carrying water from rhe Klam rhe time, Wren's horses were across rhe river, ath River, taken our more than a mile above so there being no way co ger them back, he the ranch, furnished an additional supply of was compelled ro hitch himself to the plow irrigation water. 102 About 1907 or 1908, Wren moved the Klamath Hot Springs. For rhe fifth term she school house from Old Pokegama to New attended Pokegama again, then back to Dor Pokegama, a distance of some four miles, by ris. Vera next attended rwo different schools team, being forced to cut the building in rwo near tbe top ofTopsy Grade where two differ parts. em sawmills employed enough families with Wren and Gussie Frain sold their property children to make schools necessary there. Lat to Copco (now P. P. & L.) around 1925, but er she was able to attend a third Topsy school, continued to live there until about 1932, af this one at the foot ofTopsy Grade, across the ter which they moved tO a new home on the road from the later day Frain school which is Keno-Klamath Falls highway, about three scill standing. Here Vera graduated from rhe miles east of the former. 8th grade, and in 1915 was taught her first year Wren and Gussie Frain had been married of high school work, thus being rhe only pu nearly 62 years when she passed away on pil in old "Topsy High". Her last three years March 15, 1960. Wren followed her in death of high school were spenr in Klamath Falls four years later on August 10, 1964. Both are High school where she graduated in rhe class buried in Linkville Cemetery. of 1917. Vera Frain, Wren and Gussie's only child, Frain Country in the Topsy Grade vicin found an education hard to come by in those ity is now deserted, the only access is by two days of isolated schools and short rerms in a almost impassable roads. The road leading country lacking schools from time ro time due up the Klamath from the Hot Springs in a to a lack of pupils arrending. Vera was first "Holy Terror," whiJe that leading from the taught at home by her mother, then beginning Klamath and Butte Valley coumry is im the second grade was forced to "board our" passable a great portion of the year, and al ar Picard, California, and after irs removal ro though widened a number of years ago, the Dorris, at that place. Her third school was at Topsy Grade is now in a sad state of repairs Pokegama, her fourth at Oak Grove, bdow and will probably get worse. John Bateman freight team headed west on Main Street in Klamath Falls, in front of the old Hurn Hardware store, now the location of the Star Drug at Fifth and Main. -Maude Baldwin Photo 103 Two unknown pack trains on North Street in Bonanza. The old barn at Laird's Landing on Lower- Klamath Lake while still standing in May, 1967. - Helen Helfrich Photo 104