cation. Their search had produced photographs, clippings and family history. ,Would we like to come over? And so, another riddle of the Pony Express is solved and by pure chance the man in the middle has a name. In fact, a name to be proud of for this man certainly did more than his part in helping shape our country's early history. It was his fate to appear on the American scene when our country was yet wild and full of adventure, to be a part of the growing pains and to experience some of them. Michael (Mike) Whalen, according to local records, was born in New York in the year 1842. Bureau of Pensions Records, however, list Tune 2, 1843 as the date and the place as Limerick, Ireland. An orphan and alone, he appeared in the rough frontier town of St. Yoseph, Mo. in the mid 1850's. Being young, eager, and restless he was not to stay for long, and while yet in his teens headed on westward driving for a party of "Pike's Peakers" bound for the infant town of Denver. His return via the Platte trails and Omaha brought him back to St. Yo­ seph in time to see the first horse leave St. Toe ridden by Tohn Fry (he said) with the Pony Express mail on April 3, 1860. Later in the year BILLY FISHER ? ? ? ERASTUS EAGAN he was to follow in the same direc­ tion, out alonq the California and Photograph of Utah riders on display at the Pony Express Stables Museum at 914 Penn Street, Pony Express Trail, where, it is said, St. Joseph, Missouri. It originally appeared on page 5 of the 1959 Spring (Pony Express Centennial) that he got a job as stock tender at edition of MUSEUM GRAPHIC. The center figure is now identified as Michael M. Whalen. a remount station somewhere on Jack Slade's division of the line. Slade bossed the line from Tulesburg THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE (Colo.) to Pacific Springs (Wyo.) It is regrettable that facts and de­ By D. L. REYNOLDS tails are not of such abundance as to fill our pages to our hearts desire. Those men of yesterday moved That's Uncle Whaley ! It is ! I know it is. And indeed it was. across the west leaving unwritten history in the dust behind them. Lit­ tle did they realize the importance of The place was the Pony Express Stables Museum some time ago when their parts in it all-that they were Mrs. Beryle Herridge of St. Yoseph, along with her daughter and son-in-law, making history. We can only won­ had come to see the relics of St. Toseph's Pony Express days. Mrs. Herridge, der at great gaps in some of their Pony Express rider Michael M. Whalen and wife Susan. lives. The pages that Mike Whalen Camp Floyd. According to most a former Missourian, H. T. "Doc" now past eighty, had almost forgotten that her uncle, Michael M. Whalen, and his fellows could have jotted maps this distance was about forty Faust, and his wife. This had been had "carried mail on the plains." As she said later, "I guess that was the down on those long lonesome times waiting for the mail would have miles with three stations between­ Erastus Egan's stint, "Ras" having same as the Pony Express." filled many a book. Traveler's Rest, Rockwell's and Toe's been hired by his father in the Ironically enough, Mike could Dugout. It is probable however, that spring of 1860. After Mike's depar­ Now, here was his picture in the exhibit, without name and unknown, neither read nor write. His early his ride did not terminate at Camp ture it would later be taken over by as he posed between two of Utah's riders, Billy Fisher and Erastus Egan. activity and responsibility had de­ Floyd, but continued on westward to Billy Fisher, Mike's other friend in nied him this advantage. This was It was a photograph that she had not known existed. Her daughter, Mrs. not unusual for young men of those Pass Station and on into Rush Val­ the picture. Billy Fisher, the older of Francis Waller, shared her mother's excitement and on their return home times however, and our subject was ley, almost twenty miles further on. the three by about two years, was a search was started through albums and family records. to see to this need shortly. There, according to Utah historians, already an old hand at Pony Express Later, it is written, he went on to was the first home station westward riding. He had ridden since its be- Salt Lake City where in April, 1861, from Salt Lake City. Called Faust's ginning between Ruby Valley and Very little later, Mr. Waller,, a long time friend and acquaintance know­ Howard Egan hired him to ride the ing of our keen interest in the Pony Express, called to tell us of the identifi- Bony Express line from that city to or Rush Station, it was operated by Egan Canyon and still had his scalp Page 6 Page 7 had brought her brood up river to first street sprinkling carts in St. Jo­ St. Joseph to be near relatives and seph. The sprinklers were main­ a new log cabin was ready for them tained by private subscribtion from when they stepped off the boat. the merchants and used to settle the Michael and Susan Whalen built dust along our unpaved dirt streets. their home across the valley at 621 Later he engaged in contract grad­ Albemarle Street which at that time ing and excavating. He prepared the was practically unsettled hillside bed for the tracks of the first street along Blacksnake Creek at the north railway from Market Square to New edge of town. Later they moved Ulm Park. (About one mile north of next door to 617 Albemarle. Both the then city limits. Now encom­ houses are now gone, having been passed and absorbed by city removed years ago to make way for growth.) He was conductor of the the Goetz Brewery buildings (now first car drawn by a mule. He also Pearl Brewing Co.). did the qrading for several of the After marriage Mike Whalen en­ railroad lines into the city. gaged in freighting between St. Jo­ seph and Council Bluffs before the He died December 4, 1917 of railroad was built. He kept his chronic nephritis. The funeral was teams in a large barn near his home. held at the home. He was survived We know that by this time Mr. by his wife. They had no children Whalen, being a determined man, but raised and educated three or­ l had undertaken to educate himself. phaned nephews. We can easily imagine him behind Our· thanks to Mrs. Herridge for I a string of mules on his hiqh wagon her kind cooperation and for her seat, lines in one hand and learning alertness in identifying the unknown the printed word from a book in the man in our photograph. Also for been written, except its name Salt Lake House, on Main was deceptive. Street, Salt Lake City, where other. going with us to the Ashland Ceme­ Pony riders were domiciled. The hostelry attracted a Here too, he no doubt also added tery to point out the grave of Uncle "Southward for twenty-five miles "rough-looking crowd of Mrs. Herridge visits the grave of her to his vocabulary of cuss words. Whaley. We took solemn pride in drivers, drivers' friends, and "Uncle Whaley" in the Ashland Cemetery, (from the mouth of Emmigration idlers, almost every man St. Joseph, Missouri. Mules had a way of drivinq a man decorating the last resting place of Kanyon-4.30 miles N.E. of city) armed with revolver and bowie-knife." which seems to speak for itself. to both profanity and drink. It is this man. He rode the Pony Express, stretched the length of the valley said that Uncle Whaley could hold served his country with valor, and with the little river winding it's way After serving two months as Pony his own at either. qained the respect of his fellow man. like a silver thread in a brocade of Express rider, Michael Whalen was After two years he qave up the Here was the humble end of the green and gold. The view in this persuaded by the quartermaster at freighting business and installed the trail. direction was closed by Mountain Camp Floyd to drive his wife and Point." Rockwell's was here and daughter from Salt Lake City back Burton also mentioned "some at­ to Fort Leavenworth. Camp Floyd, tempts at a station" and recalled a or Fort Crittenden as it was now meal of frijoles, potatoes and bread. known, was being hurriedly aban­ Today near this spot on US highway doned by the army of Utah because 89 near the Utah State Penitentiary of the Civil War. stands a monument to mark the dressed for the occasion, announced This done, he enlisted in the Rockwell Station. Made of stone Monument at the site of THE it to be the Salt Lake House, the from the old station building which Rockwell Station south of United States Army the following principal, if not the only establish­ Salt Lake City, Utah. November 1, and was assigned to was about 1800 feet due west and ment of the kind in New Zion. Its prominent on the overland stage and Company B, Illinois Artillery. He ROUTE depth is greater than its frontage, served out the remainder of the war Pony Express route 1858 to 1868- and behind it, secured by a porte states the bronze plaque. takinq part in the battles of Shiloh, AND cochere, is a large yard, for coralling Vicksburg Landing and Corinth. He cattle. A rough-looking crowd of The station keeper, Mormon Orrin also marched with Sherman from drivers, drivers' friends, and idlers, Porter Rockwell, was in the focus of Atlanta to the sea. Pension records STATIONS almost every man openly armed much stormy and controversial dis­ show that he was wounded in the SALT LAKE HOUSE-Captain with revolver and bowie-knife, gath­ cussion then and later. Burton head and left hand. After serving Richard F. Burton, English scholar, ered round the doorway, to "pros~ thouqht he had the manner of a three years and twenty days he was adventurer and medalist of the pect" the ''new lot;" and the host jovial, reckless, devil-may-care Eng­ discharged at Paducah, Kentucky Royal Geographic Society, traveling came out to assist us in transporting lish ruffian. "About fifty, tall and and returned home to take a bride, the Central Overland and Pony Ex­ stronq , with ample leather leggins Miss Susan Pepper. Their wedding our scattered effects. We looked press trail from St. Joseph, visited vainly for a bar on the ground floor; overhanging his huge spurs, and the picture was made at photographer Salt Lake City during August and saw handles of two revolvers peep­ Rudolph Uhlman's studio at 51 Ed­ a bureau for registering names was September of 1860. He stayed at the there, but (temperance, in public at ina from his blouse . . . long grizzley mond Street in St. Joseph. (It was Salt Lake House which served as the least, being the order of the day) the locks plaited and gathered up at the Mr. Uhlman who, a little more than Pony Express home station and later nape of the neck." sixteen years later was to rush down usucil tempting array of bottles and described it in his book CITY OF decanters was not forthcominq . . . " the street to Sidenfaden's Funeral Others described another and THE SAINTS . .. "Nearly opposite From Salt Lake City the trail used more violent side of the man. Color­ Parlor to photograph the dead Jesse the Post-office, in a block on the Woodson James.) by the Pony Express lead through ful, no less, in character and in eastern side, with a long verandah, Jordan Valley southward along tow­ dress, he was known far and wide. Susan, with her mother, three sis­ supported by trimmed and painted erinq Wasatch Mountains past the He warned Burton as to the treach­ ters, and two brothers lived on "Billy posts, was a two-storied, pent-roofed first two way stations listed on trail ery of the Indians and told him to Goat Hill." After the death of her building, whose sign-board, swing­ maps as Travelers Rest and Rockwell carry a double barrelled gun loaded husband in Kentucky, Mrs. Pepper ing to a tall, giblet-like flagstaff, or Rockwell's. Of the first, little has with buckshot and to "keep his eyes Page 8 Page 9 area manager, Harold Burgess, very Screech Owl and Saw-Whet Owl. 1st. graciously gave us a real tour of the The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Of course, the Cardinal, Blue Jay, area. An estimated 200,000 Mallard which is the only native Woodpeck­ Crow, Chickadees and Titmice are Ducks :in addition 1o a few other er that we see only during the win­ more conspicuous during the winter S!)ecies of ducks, 100,000 or more ter time has been seen regularly than during the summer. They, like geese ... plus Pheasants and other during this winter. It seems to pre­ the Woodpeckers, House Sparrows small birds presented themselves for fer Pines and is seen regularly in and Starlings are permanent resi­ the photographer. Even the White­ the Pine Grove at Krug Park. dents in our area. tailed deer on the refuge paraded Another small winter visitor that Goldfinches, Junco's and Tree before us with one beautiful buck has been seen regularly all fall and Sparrows may be seen in large posing for us. winter in our area is the Brown numbers along most all country The Killdeer and Common Snipe Creeper. If it wasn't for its continu­ roads during the winte:-. which are usually associated with ous calling it would quite often go Other Sparrows that we may ex­ mud flats during spring and fall sea­ unnoticed as it blends in perfectly pect to see here during the winter sons were seen all winter well into with the coloring of the tree trunks in addition to the Tree Sparrows are January at Squaw Creek, Lake Con­ and limbs on which it creeps along. the Harris' Sparrow, White-crowned trary and Browning Lake. Just from experience in knowing Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, The Bald Eagles are back in good where to look for them, we may find Swamps Sparrow and Song Spar­ numbers again this winter at Squaw a few Mockingbirds throughout the row. Occasionally we may also see Creek. As many as 25 or so may be winter. the LeContes Sparrow, Lincoln's seen in sight at one time, and there At times during the winter months, Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow. These is probably 100 or so within a 15 the Robin was seen in flocks of 2 are all the true Sparrow. The Spar­ mile diameter circle centering at dozen or more. A few Bluebirds row that we commonly see around Squaw Creek. Occasionally one may were seen occasionally all winter. our house and we know as the be seen sailing lazily overhead The small Golden-crowned Kinglet is House or English Sparrow is a alonq the Missouri River w.est of St. another winter visitor and is very Weaver Finch. It was introduced Joseph. One Golden Eagle has been fond of the evergreens. It is a bit into our country from England about seen several times this fall near smaller than the House Wren and is 1850. Like the Starling, it is an im­ unknown picture of one of the of sight. passenger trains. The May-June is­ Maryville by Easterla and one was continually on the move. port that most people are sorry ever founders of the Pony Express. sue had a story: HOPE TO SA VE But Cody found his former friend seen at Squaw Creek in January by One disappointment this winter happened. SHERIDAN INN, with three photos. fohn Hamilton. Alexander Majors, together with and mentor living in Denver in dire One was this photo. was the Waxwings. They are a very Two birds that are common here poverty, writing a history of the beautiful bird and are found so often William H. Russell and William B. Another rare northern visitor for during the summer but would be Waddell, formed the partnership ,of Pony Express. Howard and his wife were riding us this winter was the little Saw feeding in Cedar trees on Cedar classed as rare during the winter the westbound C A L I F O R N I A berries. There seemed to be a qood Russell, Majors & Waddell. In 1855 Robert West Howard, in HOOF­ Whet Owl which we saw at Squaw are the Brown Thrasher which was they put wagon trains on the road ZEPHYR on June 17, 1965, and Creek on January 1st, while we were crop of Cedar berries this fall so we BEA TS OF DESTINY, THE STORY seen by John Hamilton in late De­ West, and by 1859 had a daily stage OF THE PONY EXPRESS, tells of Howard saw the story. Howard was making our annual Christmas bird were surprised to miss the common cember and a male Baltimore Oriole astonished. The man at the end Cedar Waxwing and the rare Bo­ from Missouri to Salt Lake City. In their meeting: census of the area. As so often hap­ which has been seen near Kansas 1860 they put the Pony Express on looked like Majors. The picture was pens, it was Dave Easterla who first hemian Waxwing. "Cody ... walked to the sagging, City during January by members of the road. dated "circa 1900." This would make spotted the bird in a small group of The Myrtle Warbler which is the the Kansas City Burroughs Club. pointless gate. The door was creak­ it very probably the last photo ever evergreens. It is a very tame little only Warbler that generally winters The first Pony Express trip from ing open. The figure that loomed taken of Majors, who died in ·Chi­ Owl, letting people come within a in our area has been seen regularly Just about the time this issue of St. Joseph, Mo., to San Francisco, quietly in it was as erect and proud the Museum Graphic comes off the cago soon after New Year's Day, very few feet of it without flying all winter. One of its favorite winter 1966 miles, began April 3, 1860, and as it had been 40 years before, even 1900. away. It is smaller than our Screech foods is ooison ivy berries. Most all press, our northern visitors will be was oompleted in 10 days. The next though the black trousers were Owl and unlike the Screech Owl, it of the Woodpeckers in addition to leaving us and heading back to trip took 14. Thereafter many trips stained and patched and the shirt Howard thinks it is Majors, and has no horns. Chickadees and Titmice, find the Canada and some even beyond the were made in nine days. The first was frayed and gray. The flowing that the photo is, as he says, "a very Arctic Circle to their breeding The Short-eared Owl which is poison ivy berries one of their fav­ news of the outbreak of the Civil beard was snowy white, the eyes valuable piece of Americana." orite foods during the winter months. grounds. As they are leaving our War was carried to San Francisco hawk keen. seen here only during the winter area, our summer resident birds will He has support from Roy E. Coy, months was found at Sauaw Creek This is one way that the poison ivy by Pony Express. vine is spread. The berries are eaten be returning from the south and we "The great showman leaned on director of the St. Joseph and Pony during January by John Hamilton. It will be ready to start a new year Relay stations were IO to 15 miles the gatepost and tried to smile. Then Express Museums, who says: feeds mostly by day over prairie and and the· seeds from the birds drop­ ""linqs are usually found where the all over. Even while we are watch­ apart. A rider went about 75 miles he heard himself saying, 'Mr. Majors, marshy areas and seems to flop ing and yearning for some rare bird a day, stopping only two minutes at sir. It's Billy. May I come in?' " "Both Reynolds (Don Reynolds, along in flight like a huge moth. birds oome to rest or to roost during chief photographer for the museums) the niaht. to pass throuah · our area from the stations to change horses. In all Our Owl family during December south, we will often think of the there were 190 stations, more than Buffalo Bill thereafter gave Majors and I have examined the print . . . and January was represented by six An estimated one millio n Black­ many rare visitors we had during 400 horses, and about 80 riders. a job as manager of his North Platte, and we agree with you that the man soecies. They were, the Great birds which were mostly RedwinC1s the past winter and we will take Neb., properties. The history Majors in the Stetson hat and long white Horned Owl. Barred Owl, Long­ were listed on our Christmas bird time to say "I hope that they return One of the Pony Express riders was writing eventually was pub­ beard is Alexander Majors. How­ eared Owl, S h o r t - e a r e d Owl, census at Squaw Creek on January again next winter." was a former messenger boy for lished - and left many questions ever, the only thing we can go on Majors - Buffalo Bill. unanswered. Some think parts of the are pictures we have of Majors, and The Pony Express lasted only until manuscript were left out. nothing else . . ." THE MAN WITH THE LONG WHITE BEARD Oct. 24, 1861 - 542 days. The east The way this picture came to the Mavbe someone who reads EM­ coast-west coast telegraph line put attention of such a distinguished PIRE -knows. Is it, or isn't it? BERNARD KELLY it out of business. history buff as Robert West Howard is interesting. THE MUSEUM GRAPHIC WISHES TO EX­ Is it Alexander Mai ors - or isn't Inn, Sheridan, Wyo. The date, about that. After its collapse the fortunes of PRESS THANKS TO MR. BERNARD KELLY, it? The stuff of which historical con­ around 1900. Buffalo Bill and Alexander Maj ors Al Rung, Director of Public Rela­ ASSISTANT EDITOR, EMPIRE MAGAZINE, Standing on the steps at the ex­ DENVER POST FOR PERMISSION TO PUB­ troversy is made is in the accom­ In center, wearing a cowboy hat, treme left, back row, is a man with trailed off in opposite directions. tions for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, publishes a news LISH THE ARTICLE AND TO MR. AL RUNG, panying photograph of men, women, luxuriant long hair, a flowinC1 tie a stockman's hat and flowing beard. Buffalo Bill, hero of a long series of DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, CHI­ children and dogs. They are gath­ rmd a heavy chain, is Col. William Is this_ Alexander Majors? Or isn't "dime novel" adventure stories, be­ maqazine, BURLINGTON- BULLETIN, CAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAIL­ ered on the steps of the Sheridan F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody. No doubt it? If it is, we have a heretofore came famous. Majors dropped out which is available on Burlington ROAD, FOR THE PHOTOGRAPH. Page 14 Page 15

Utah historian, Kate B. Carter, re­ counts a narrow escape of the Fausts' in UT AH AND THE PONY EXPRESS. Their station was under harassment of hostile Indians de­ 'manding food and they were threat­ ened with death Indian style. Their hope all but exhausted they were resigned to the worst when alas, as Camp Floyd, Utah, Army 'head~r; ers as it appeared in 1859. In the following year it .if by a miracle, a friendly chief, served as a relay point for the Pony· E'ic'press. Copied from original in Library of Congress. Pe A wnum, and his braves rode in from Lookout Pass and drove off the marauders.

H. J. Faust was described as a civil and communicative man. When younger, he had aspired to be a doctor. His studies were 1nterrupted to join in the California gold rush of '49. He returned to Utah and for several years carried mail between there and the west coast. He estab­ lished Faust's Station in 1860 and rode as relief rider in emergencies.

Yet today, one can stand on the spot and look in all directions with­ out seeing any sign of humanity. That is, except for the desert road that leads to and past, and the stone monument erected in 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It marks the site of "Doc" Faust's way­ side haven. From here on westward the trail was even more desolate with less and less population and more and more Indians.

Joe' s Dugout Pony Express Station site. View to southeast across trail. Note remains This then, was the country through of a dugout in foreground and Joe's futile attempt at a well on other side of trail. which Michael Whalen and his peeled" along the way westward. The trail now having veered still standing. friends rode with their precious Pony Faust's or Rush Valley station in its last days. southwestward, dropped down into Express mail. Photograph by Charles Kelly, courtesy of the Utah State Historical Society. The trail led on up through the and across Cedar Valley to the old Now a small hamlet of a score canyon and over the point of the settlement of Fairfield or Frogtown mountain, down and across to the of families, Fairfield at the time of and its nearby military upstart, the Pony Express and Camp Floyd Indian. fori:l nf the. Jo.rd.cm River, then Camp Floyd. Ordered established BIBLIOGRAPHY over the hills to the next station. It was some 7,000 or more people. shortly before by President Buchan­ Along with artisans, workers and HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY AND CITY OF ST. JOSEPH (MO.) was just east of the summit between an, it was said to be the largest 1826 to 1904. Compiled and edited by Chris L. Rutt Jordan and Cedar valleys, and was tradespeople came the usual saloon­ troop concentration then in the keepers (there were seventeen sa­ known as Joe's Dugout. Named after United States. Their job was to keep CITY OF THE SAINTS By Richard F. Burton Mormon Joe Dorton it was estab­ loons) gamblers, women and thieves an eye on the Mormons and a firm -all after a share of the army pay­ UT AH AND THE PONY EXPRESS. Compiled by Kate B. Carter and lished by him with the beginning of hand on the Indians along the line. Published by the DAUGHTERS of UTAH PIONEERS the Pony Express. Burton mentions roll. The nearby Stagecoach Inn The site of the Pony Express station stood above this era as an "oasis of SADDLES AND SPURS By Settle and Settle Joe's vain attempt to find water by is pointed out at the east edge of divining with a rod of peach wood. decency" and managed to survive. THE PONY EXPRESS GOES THROUGH By Howard R. Driggs Fairfield in what is now the back Now restored, the Carson or Stage­ Water was hauled in and sold for yard and garden of Mr. and Mrs. PHANTOM RIDERS OF THE PONY EXPRESS By William H. Floyd, 3rd 25c a bucket since his well, said to coach Inn still stands as a museum Winston Dubois. The station struc­ of that period. have been one hundred feet deep, ture has long since disappeared. NATIONAL ARCHIVES, Washington, D. C. had failed to produce a drop. Joe, This site was marked some thirty St. Joseph News Press-Dec. 4, 1917 with his wife Martha, also kept a years ago by the late Dr. Howard Veering still more westward the HEATON BOWMAN FUNERAL HOME RECORDS small store. They built a two-room R. Driqgs, Professor Emeritus of Eng­ trail finally dropped into Rush Valley ST. JOSEPH PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS RECORDS house, a log barn and had a dug­ lish, New York University, and presi­ by East Rush or Pass Station and on ASHLAND CEMETERY RECORDS out which served to shelter the In­ dent of American Pioneer Trails As­ across the valley to Faust's Station. INTERVIEWS WITH MRS. BERYLE HERRIDGE dian ooy hired to take care of the sociation. At the time of our last Faust's was a lonely and desolate PAMPHLET ON CAMP FLOYD AND FAIRFIELD, UTAH ponies. Signs of the duqout and re­ outpost, hot in summer, windswept From the ST AGE COACH INN RESTORATION, Fairfield, Utah mains of the well are still to be seen visit (1964) his circular enameled and frigid in winter, and always at the side of the old Lehi to Fairfield metal marker with running horse, al­ under threat of attack from the un­ PHOTOGRAPH OF THREE RIDERS: Mrs. Minnie Fisher Ellsworth, road. though time worn and battered, was predictable Indian. Oakland, California Page 10 Page 11 DAVID ROBERT JAY .•• Pony Express Rider by ROYE. COY

Atchison, Kansas. on June 12, 1930. Mrs. Mize died December 26, 1928. Of this un:on six children were l~or:1 -3 1: oys and 3 girls. His two re­ maining children are Ernest R. J a)' of Custer, Montana and :Mrs. Nora Jay McCaig of Houston, Texas. In 1854 his widowed mother with her four children, her mothe,- and a few friends, set out with ox teams for Oregon. Near the prese'lt site of Manhattan, K:ansas, they were refused permission by the U. S. Army to proceed frrther owine- to Indian troubles on the plains. They settled down and made their homes there. In 18~0 young David decided he could better himself in the world, so walking up the Blue River to Marysville, Kansas, he found em­ ployment as a rider for the Pony Express. He rode with them until the termination of the Pony Ex­ press. It is believed that David then went west and worked for Ben Hol­ liday and other stage lines while waiting 'to grow up' so h e could join the Army! On February 13, 1854, he enlisted · in the Federal Army at Fort Leavenworth. He was assigned to Company 'A' of the Eleventh Regiment Kansas Volun­ teers Cavalry. He remained with his company until it was mustered out at Leavenworth Septem1: er 26, 1855. After his marriage he took up his trade-stone mason and plasterer­ and followed this trade for many years." David R. Jay rode out of Marys­ vill e_. Kansas, to Fort Kearny, Ne­ braska, but on many occasions he DAVID ROBERT JAY carried the mail east from Marys­ ville to St . .T oseph so he was a famil­ iar figure here in St. Joseph, Mis­ It is not every day that one has picture she gave the Museum of souri. in 1860-61. His first assign­ the honor of a visit in person of the David R. Jay, and I quote, "David ment, according to the late John G. son and daughter of a Pony Express Robert Jay was born January 27, Ellenbecker, was from Seneca to rider. However, it was this writer's Big Sandy to Fort Kearny on the 1847, in Lancaster, Schuyler County, privilege to have Mrs. Nora Mc­ Platte River and then from Marys­ Missouri. He was the third child ville, Kansas, west and east. For a Caig and her brother, Mr. Ernest and only son of the 4 children born short while he rode as a substitute R. Jay, daughter and son of David to Anderson and Margaret Jay. He up the Platte to Julesburg, Colo­ R. Jay, in my office just a few rado. He was a quiet man, and al­ was married December 6, 1869, to weeks ago. though he must have faced many Mis,s Emily Mize, daughter of Bur­ hazards such as floods, blizzards and The following 1s a short sketch rell and Martha Mize, at Louisville, hot weather, he was not one to talk that Mrs. McCaig included with the Kansas. He died at his home in about such things. Page 12