Wagon Tracks Volume 13 Issue 1 Wagon Tracks Volume 13, Issue 1 (November Article 1 1998)
1999 Wagon Tracks. Volume 13, Issue 1 (November, 1998) Santa Fe Trail Association
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VOLUME 13 NOVEMBER 1998 NUMBER 1
NEW SFTA POSITIONS 1988 RENDEZVOUS CREATED AND FILLED A HARMONIOUS HIT by Margaret Sears THE 1998 Santa Fe Trail Rendez I T was my pleasure to announce two vous, "Music and Leisure - on the· new positions at the September 24 Santa Fe Trail," held at Larned, KS, board meeting and fill them. New September 24-27, was an enjoyable Mexico Director Faye Gaines is the and successful event. For the first National Park Service Long Dis time SFTA joined with the previous tance Trails Liaison, and Anna Belle sponsors, the Santa Fe Trail Center Cartwright, recently retired curator and Fort Larned National Historic at the National Frontier Trails Cen Site, to generate a well-attended and ter in Independence, MO, will direct outstanding meeting. the Museums Project. With over 400 participants from SFTA and the NPS forged a part 12 states, this was the best-attended nership in 1991, but for the most Rendezvous since the program be part it exists on paper only. The in gan 20 years ago. The addition of tent of the present appointment is to SFTA to the group of sponsoring in develop a coordinated and proactive stitutions enabled the event to grow relationship between the two agen- substantially and gave the Associa ANNE MALLINSON JOINS (continued on page 4) tion an opportunity to invite its members to workshops, governing BOARD OF DIRECTORS board meeting, membership meet ANNE Mallinson, Centerview, MO, ing, chapter presidents' breakfast, as was elected by the board of directors well as the excellent programs pre on September 24 to fill the unexpired sented. At the close of each day's term of the late Louis Schumacher, schedule of papers, meetings, and director from Missouri. Anne grew other activities, music and dance up on a dairy near Independence, from three different cultures along MO. She graduated from Central the Trail entertained and inspired Missouri State University and holds participants. a Master's degree from the Univer On Thursday evening the sity of Missouri-Kansas City. Addi Wet/Dry Routes Chapter served a tional graduate work has been in the zesty dinner of "Old Sutler's Beans," field of education and history. followed with traditional frontier Anne taught creative writing music by the group Black Wolf. courses at CMSU while a graduate Dance preceptors taught members of student, and for 21 years has taught the audience period dancing on the a variety of English and reading grounds of the Trail Center. courses. The secondary school were Friday afternoon and evening in she teaches, Raytown High School, is SFTA Ambassador Paul F. Bentrup was cluded a tour of the site of the Chey on the Santa Fe/Oregon-California at the Rendezvous, entertaining every enne and Sioux village destroyed by trails, and Anne uses that as a one, especially the ladies young and General Winfield S. Hancock in springboard to increase student in not so young. Here he is the center of 1867, which is located on Pawnee terest in the trails. She also offers attention as Jane Mallinson oversees Fork 32 miles northwest of Fort trail-related history programs to the Paul's storytelling to Lauren Schuma Larned. George Elmore, Fort Larned elementary schools in the district. cher (left), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. NHS Park Ranger, gave a tour and a Anne is a charter member of both John Schumacher, and Christiana Gardner (right), daughter of Mark L. review of the history of the site, and SFTA and the Oregon-California and Katie Gardner. When Paul wasn't Leo E. Oliva, chairman of the Fort Trails Association. She is immediate entertaining the ladies, he was talking Larned Old Guard, introduced the past-president of the Missouri River about pigs. His interpretation of the owners of the site, Frank and Leota Outfitters Chapter, and its current Three Little Pigs is that corporate hog Klingberg, Carbondale, IL, and ex- (continued on page 3) farms represent the Big Bad Wolf. (continued on page 25)
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN By extension, what would the All matters relating to Wagon Trail be today without SFTA and the Tracks should be directed to SFTA WE danced, sang, played baseball, National Park Service? Could the Editor Leo E. Oliva, PO Box 31, learned the purpose of music in the land development tide be stemmed? Woodston KS 67675. cultures that girdled the Santa Fe Would any of us have been granted Telephone: (888) 321-7341 Trail, ate traditional foods, and in so the opportunity to meet one another? FAX: (785) 425-6865 E-Mail: [email protected] doing created in many minds the Not likely in both instances. Unlike the societies along the Trail which Headquarters ofthe Santa Fe Trail best Rendezvous yet. Attendance Association are located at the office was 401 from 12 states, including 70 did not seize the bond of music to ofSecretary-Treasurer Ruth Olson Larned public school children, which bring them together so long ago, the Peters, Santa Fe Trail Center, RR may have set a record in those three lure of the Trail today has brought a 3, Larned KS 67550. categories. Under Ruth Peters's ex somewhat disparate group together Telephone: (316) 285-2054 pert guidance, all went smoothly and to sing, dance, learn, and contribute. FAX: (316) 285-7491 quality was never lacking. So, what We do enjoy being entertained, and E-Mail: [email protected] is the verdict? Shall SFTA continue entertainment is inherent in each· WAGON TRACKS is the official Trail experience. Yet, beyond that is publication of the Santa Fe Trail to join with the Fort Larned Histori Association, a nonprofit organiza cal Society (Santa Fe Trail Center) the need within most of us to repay tion incorporated under the laws of and Fort Larned National Historic for the joy of that experience. the State of Colorado. Letters and Site as sponsors of this fine, fine When you next attend a Trail articles are welcome, but they be come the property of WT and may event? I ask you to register your function, survey the group. How be edited or abridged at the editor's opinion with me or other SFTA offi many of those folks would you have discretion. All rights reserved. An cers or directors. met if there were no SFTA to bring nual subscriptions are obtained As for the SFTA events, the board us together? Would you be the poorer through membership in the Asso without the Trail and SFTA? Does ciation, whose dues are fixed per meeting attracted a crowd, commit calendar year. Checks should be tee meetings generated high energy; the camaraderie inherent in the made payable to the Santa Fe Trail the chapter presidents said "yes" the Trail experience inspire us to give Association and sent to the secre breakfast should be a permanent back some measure of that experi tary-treasurer. feature, and the membership meet ence? Ifso, there are many ways you Membership Categories ing was a participation affair. Un can serve your chapter and SFTA. Benefactor $1,000 doubtedly, if SFTA wishes to con So, when next you are asked to help Patron $100/year tinue influencing Trail issues, it or you see an opportunity to volun Institutiqnal $40/year needs to assemble more frequently teer to help, remember how special Family $30/year was the day when you discovered the Individual $25/year than biennially. My personal opin Youth (18 & under) $15/year ion-Rendezvous is the link for pro Trail and all of the wonderful folks who are a part ofit. Editor: Leo E. Oliva, PO Box 31, viding the continuity SFTA needs to Woodston KS 67675 (888) 321 fulfill its mission. -Margaret Sears 7341, FAX (785) 425-6865 President: Margaret Sears, 1871 Perhaps my strongest impression SFTA BOARD MEETING of Rendezvous was the camaraderie Candela, Santa Fe NM 87505 (505) by Ruth Olson Peters 473-3124 and warmth that wafted through the Vice-President: Samuel Arnold, Kansas air, and this aura extended THE SFTA board met at the Santa 2221 S Fillmore St, Denver CO beyond member to member. Guests Fe Trail Center, Larned, KS, on Sep 80210 (303) 753-9161 were drawn into· the family circle, tember 24,1998. All members except Secretary-Treasurer: Ruth Ol and a sharing occurred. How can we Jane Lenz Elder and Mary Gamble son Peters, Santa Fe Trail Center, RR 3, Larned KS 67550 (316) 285 account for this? Of course, the Trail were present, and there were a 2054, FAX (316) 285-7491 itself creates this bond, and as Marc number of guests. Much of the day 1999 Symposium Coordinator: Simmons warned in Along the Santa was spent hearing committee re Jim Selby, 200 N Chautauqua, Fe Trail (Albuquerque: University of ports. A summary of actions taken Council Grove KS 66846 (316) 767 New Mexico Press, 1986), xx, the follows. 6994. Trail "is a malady of mind, a compul Publicity Coordinator: Michael President Sears announced that E. Pitel, New Mexico Dept ofTour sion, a raging addiction ... [For the application for group 501(c)(3) ism, PO Box 20003, Santa Fe NM which] no cure has been discovered." non-profit status has been submitted 87503 (800) 545-2070 But, was something else feeding the .to the IRS, with nine chapters in Directors: "addiction" at Rendezvous? Yes, I be cluded. Two new SFTA awards were Morris Alexander, Oklahoma lieve the music exerted its influence approved, the Marc Simmons Writ Jane Lenz Elder, At Large over all of us, and thrust its power ing Award for best articles published Faye Gaines, New Mexico Mary Gamble, Colorado into our midst much as it did within in Wagon Tracks (one for the best ar the Hispanic, Indian, and Anglo cul David Hutchison, Oklahoma ticle based on research in primary Nancy Lewis, Missouri tures who shared the Trail-indeed, sources and one for the best edited Anne Mallinson, Missouri as it does in all cultures. I am left to document not previously published) Phil Petersen, Colorado wonder what the original Trail expe and a Scholarship Award for best pa Joanne VanCoevern, Kansas rience would have been had the peo pers submitted by college students Dave Webb, At Large ple of these diverse cultures shared (one for undergraduate and one for Stephen Whitmore, New Mexico their music. graduate students). Deanne Wright, Kansas
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The Education Committee was DAVID S. MASTERMAN served with the Corps of Engineers authorized to find universities that I~~--I during World War II. Afterward he will offer college credit for teachers by Marc Simmons was employed by the Holly sugar attending SFTA events. The Map Dedicated SFTAer and member of Corporation for 35 years. Burial was ping Committee was directed to pro the End of the Trail Chapter, David in the Carson plot of the Higbee cure microfiche records from the Bu Sloan Masterman, 67, passed away Cemetery. reau of Land Management of the at his Santa Fe home on August 15, ANNE MALLINSON original survey reports that may be 1998, after a long illness. A petro (continued from page 1) used by chapters for the sections of leum geophysicist with Humble Oil the Trail they cover. These will be Company, he retired to New Mexico vice-president. A member of the available for a nominal charge. in 1982. Daughters of the American Revolu tion, Anne is active in efforts to pre The board directed symposium According to John Masterman of • serve, protect, and promote Ameri sponsors to charge higher registra Kansas City, his brother had a "life tion fees for nonmembers than for long interest in the history of the can heritage. Each year she travels some portion of a historic trail by SFTA members. The board will ex Santa Fe Trail." That sprang from horseback, usually in period clothes plore possibilities of holding sympo the fact that the Mastermans' mater and using period tack. She is know1 siums and rendezvous in the sum nal great-grandfather, Martin Krit edgeable about wild edibles and of mer when teachers and families can ser, brought a freight wagon to ten augments the camp's menu by more easily participate. Santa Fe in September 1846, follow harvesting and cooking plants that ing the American occupation during The Traveler's Credential pro grow nearby. gram was extended, and a copy will the Mexican War. Anne has developed living-history be sent to all members upon pay Kritser later built a small gabled presentations spanning the 1812 pe ment of 1999 dues. Vice-President house at 115 East Walnut in Inde riod to the wagon-train era, perform Sam Arnold offered a $200 gift cer pendence, MO. David's wife Zoe Ann ing music and using props and cloth tificate for food and beverage at his says that new owners of the building ing appropriate to the specific time restaurant, The Fort, to each mem are planning appropriate restora period. She helped raise funds to bership completing the credential tion. keep the George Caleb Bingham and receiving the Traveler's Certifi David Masterman was considered cate before Dec. 31, 1999. The board sketches in Missouri, helped organ an authority on the route ofthe Trail ize a fur trade symposium at Fort agreed to launch a membership drive between Canoncito and the Santa Fe under the slogan "2,000 by 2,000." Osage Historic Site in Missouri, and plaza. He conducted many tours, and has studied historic trails with a spe SFTA is now on the web at SFTA President Margaret Sear re cific emphasis on women's contribu
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NEW APPOINTMENTS started stamping a Traveler's Cre FORT LEARNED (continued from page 1) dential, take good care ofit and send it to the Santa Fe Trail Center when -TEACHERS' TRADING POST- cies. Central to the Liaison's tasks you have completed it according to Karla French, Editor will be to monitor Santa Fe Trail the ten rules. preservation and to serve as a clear Ron and I have moved to Wy This membership benefit is made inghouse for issues pertinent to the oming, some distance from the Santa Santa Fe National Historic Trail. By through the generosity of Sam Arn Fe Trail, but we still feel a close placing greater focus on the partner old, proprietor of The Fort near Mor attachment to the Trail and SFTA. ship, it is expected that SFTA will rison, Colorado, and the innovation We made it to Rendezvous and become more directly involved spe of Willard Chilcott and Joy Poole, enjoyed the program and seeing who designed the Traveler's Cre cifically in the NPS cost-share pro everyone there. Our new address is dential and Certificate. gram, which provides grants for 810 W Maple, Rawlins WY 82301, Trail projects, and site certification, SFTA ON THE WEB phone is (307) 324-3976, and e-mail as well as other issues which relate is
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the Trail. Chapters could assist by tion about the use of technology and two.depressions, the presumed loca compiling a list of the appropriate the Internet in their classrooms, and tions oftwo ofseveral dugouts at this schools and contact persons, both to visit SFT sites in the Las Vegas site. Fieldwork revealed the remains teachers and technology educators. area. These school teams are part of of an arched-brick bake oven for the Many schools are connected to the a five-year federally-funded educa post bakery in one of these depres Net, and history and language arts tional challenge grant. The primary sions (Depression 10). The other de classes could generate the local re goal of the Trails Project is to create pression (Depression 13) was deter search and writing for a web site. Ex a model for integrating technology mined to have been used as living plore corporate partnership opportu into the curriculum using the trails quarters. nities for tie-ins. of the westward movement as the Some ofthe preliminary results of 2. Explore and promote develop content area. this project were reported in various ment of a CD-ROM Santa Fe Trail sources, such as the Kansas Anthro • game with an emphasis on econom POST OFFICE OAK pological Association Newsletter (Ju ics and cultural exchange. MECC -lETTERS- ly-Aug. 1996) and in Kansas Preser has been asked once to consider this vation (Jan.-Feb. 1997). Professional Editor: • idea but were not interested at that papers describing the results of the time. In the last issue David K. Clap investigations at these two Kansas saddle's article, (pg. 13-14) entitled 3. Encourage and help develop forts were also presented in a sympo "Trading Ranches on the Fort Riley self-guided tours in local areas in sium at the 1997 Plains Archeology Fort Larned Road, Part III: The connection with local historical so Conference annual meeting in Boul Ranch at the Smoky Hill River" (pp. cieties. der, CO. 13-14) caught my eye. I was a bit up Just thought I should set the rec 4. Develop learning tools and ac set with his final paragraph: tivities about the Trail for teachers ord straight. "As to the Smoky Hill Ranch site, Marsha K. King and other groups, teacher in-service Fort Ellsworth was renamed Fort training. Make a list ofpeople quali Special Project Archeologist Harker in November of 1866 and Cultural Resource Division fied to lead in-service training and moved in the following January one Kansas State Historical Society promote in school districts in the mile north of its original location 6425 SW 6th, Topeka KS 66615 Trail states and at educational work (present town ofKanopolis, Kansas). shops and conventions. (National In 1996 the Kansas Anthropological Editor: Council for the Social Studies, Kan Association conducted an excavation Thanks for helping me locate a sas Geographic Alliance, state Social at the ranch/fort site. No substantial copy of Franz Huning's book, Trader Studies Councils, state Reading As findings were reported." on the Santa Fe Trail. This summer I sociations). Chapters should be able I don't know what Clapsaddle's took· Mike Olsen's Santa Fe Trail to provide names of educators and basis is for stating that "no substan seminar at New Mexico Highlands opportunities for presentations. tial findings were reported." He did University and certainly enjoyed it. I Patti Olsen not provide a reference for this off took advantage of the opportunity to Over 200 sixth-grade students at hand comment. To the best of my work at the wonderful new library on Memorial Middle School, Las Vegas, knowledge, he has not contacted me campus there. NM, in classes taught by Patti Olsen or anyone else at the Kansas State I seem to have gotten sidetracked and Diane Tyrone participated in an Historical Society (a cosponsor ofthe (which is halfthe fun) from my origi art contest in which they illustrated Kansas Archeology Training Pro nal intent to produce a very detailed a quotation written by a person who gram) or at the Kansas Anthropo map of the Trail. I intend to write traveled the Santa Fe Trail. Out of logical Association. He apparently several articles, mostly biographical, the 200 pictures created, twenty also did not contact Robert J. Ziegler, relating to Trail personalities. With drawings were selected for exhibit archeologist with the Kansas City all this in mind, I have collected al based upon artistic ability, accuracy District, U. S. Army Corps of Engi most 1,000 books pertaining to about of the landscape shown, and at neers, who helped direct the archeo every imaginable Trail topic. tempts to follow the descriptive quo logical fieldwork and is currently Thanks for the careful work Bo tation. The opening of the art exhibi writing the Fort Ellsworth (14EW26) nita and you did on the index. I use it tion entitled "Children's Visions of report. frequently and am grateful to have the Santa Fe Trail" corresponded The report on the field investiga it. Keep Wagon Tracks coming. I'm with the presence ofthe Trail Project tions conducted at Fort Harker finding more and more references to Conference in Las Vegas. Patti (14EW310) during the 1996 KATP it in the literature all the time. Olsen, Beth Capps, Margaret Lewis, was issued in 1997 and widely dis Holly M. Ferguson and George Lucero from Memorial tributed. It is already out of print, 520 W Navajo Rd Middle School comprise the local but photocopies of the 332-page re FlagstaffAZ 86001 team taking part in the project. port can be obtained from the Arche Good luck with your projects and Teachers and technology directors ology Office at the cost of 15 cents per thanks for the kind words. Please from schools located along the Santa page. consider submitting articles to WT as Fe Trail from Kansas City to Santa There were some substantial find you proceed with your Trail writing Fe met to further their knowledge of ings at Fort Ellsworth during the projects. the Trail, to receive further instruc- 1996 KATP. Excavations focused on Editor
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THE WAGON TONGUE Fe road and in too many written de the home from demolition in Novem scriptions for there not to be a ring of ber 1989 and received a Federal His -OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS- truth about its heritage. Mark L. toric Preservation Fund Grant from "Americans love the technology of Gardner documented the· use of the State of Missouri for exterior re information more than they do the these wagons in his article, "Con habilitaion in 1993, through the ef information itself." Author's Guild estogas on the Santa Fe Trail," in his forts oflocal citizens. Bulletin (Summer 1995) edited collection, The Mexican Road: The city has stabilized and main Marc Simmons Trade, Travel and Confrontation on tained the house until it was recently PO Box 51 the Santa Fe Trail (1989). He pro purchased by Mr. And Mrs. Robert Cerrillos NM 87010 vides additional evidence in his new Hughes, who plan to restore it as a • • • • book, Wagons on the Santa Fe Trail, private home. A preservation cove The Conestoga wagon remarks by 1822-1880, published by the Na nant clause calls for review and ap David Clapsaddle in the August tional Park Service (1998). proval of work done. Patrick Steele, Wagon Tongue column can't quite go For the museum curator, the art Independence Preservation Man by without a comment from the Na ist, and all who are in the business of ager, will work with the Hughes. tional Frontier Trails Center in In creating a visual image of the Santa The Kritser house is on the Na dependence, Missouri. In his obser Fe trader's freight wagons, the re tional Register ofHistoric Places and vation that certain museums, includ sources are slim. Nearly all the wag has been designated as a local land ing this one, have erred in displaying ons over 150 years of age have crum mark. The National Park Service the Conestoga wagon as a Santa Fe bled away, but miraculously several has recognized it as a SFNHT site. Trail freight wagon, Dr. Clapsaddle Lancaster Conestogas still survive. The preservation of this impor quoted George Shumway and How Ours languished away in a barn in tant Trail-related home is an exam ard Frey in their definitive Cones Wilkes Barre, PA, for many years, ple of what private citizens can do to toga Wagon 1750-1850 (1868): "The then languished in a barn near St. preserve our history. covered wagons of the west were not Louis for the next 20 years. Conestogas." When this Conestoga came on the SCENIC BYWAYS GRANTS Ifthe covered wagons of the West market, we were not looking for one were not Conestogas, some of them to illustrate the Santa Fe trade, but NEW Mexico has received $7.2 mil could very well be first cousins. The believed that showing one of the ge lion in Scenic Byways grants from Lancaster Pennsylvania Conestogas nus was the next best thing to show the U.S. Department of Transporta may have been conceived and styled ing a non-existant species. In the tion, Federal Highway Association. near the Conestoga River, but they written text we do not say that the Several of these grants benefit the do contain the genes of their English Lancaster Conestoga went to Santa Santa Fe Trail National Scenic & grandmammy and their German Fe, though the implication is there Historic Byway in the state. Over grandaddy. They are descendants of by its setting, but we do say that $900,000 will go to Trail projects. the well-crafted English farm-wag some Santa Fe wagons were modeled A $355,000 grant to the Citizens gon and the heavy lumbering wagon after the eastern Pennslvania type. Committee for Historic Presevation common in Germany in the eight Anna Belle Cartwright, Curator of Las Vegas was authorized to (1) eenth century. Just as the Lancaster National Frontier Trails Center construct a Santa Fe Trail Interpre Conestoga evolved· from its Euro 318 West Pacific tive Center in Las Vegas, (2) prepare pean past, we believe that the evolu Independence MO 64050 a pedestrian and bicycle path feasib tion continued when wagon makers lity study along the Trail in New in Pittsburg, PA, and in Ohio, Michi KRITSER HOUSE SAVED Mexico, (3) market the Trail in New gan, and Missouri modified the Lan by Jane Mallinson Mexico through a website, collateral caster Conestoga wagon for use in material, and advertising, (4) organ western freighting. (Mallinson, Sugar Creek, MO, is a ize workshops to encourage Trail frequent contributor to WT.) The word "Conestoga" (like "Jello" presevation through the donation of and "Xerox") has slipped into our SOME Independence residents are conservation easements, and (5) con contemporary English language celebrating the sale of the Martin struct a rest area at Point of Rocks. with more. of a generic than a specific Kritser house, and restoration will A grant of $259,000 was awarded meaning. Note that Webster's Ninth begin soon. to construct an interpretive site in New Collegiate Dictionary is either . The house at 115 E Walnut, near Santa Fe commemorating the contri confused or commenting on the the Independence square, was built butions of the Trail to the culture changing terminolgy when it de in 1847. Martin Kritser was an Inde and economy of Santa Fe. A grant of scribes the Conestoga as "a broad pendence merchant who made his $144,800 was awarded to construct wheeled covered wagon drawn usu first trip to Santa Fe in 1846. He an interpretive center for the Trail in ally by six horses and used especially lived in the house with his wife and the Springer History Museum and to for transporting freight across the their nine children. This was a typi produce an educational video on the praIrIes... " cal middle-class home in Independ Trail. An award of $210,000 will be The basic shape of the Conestoga ence during Trail days and one ofthe used to produce a CD-ROM on the with its swayback and slanted ends oldest standing brick residences in "Centuries of Scenic Byways," which fore and aft, appears in too many town. will include the Camino Real, Santa known pictures related to the Santa The City of Independence saved Fe Trail, and Route 66.
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MORE OF THE JOSE WATROUS STORY CONVERSE OF THE by Virginia Lee Fisher PRAIRIES -BOOK NOTICES- (This is a photographic supplement Harry C. Myers kindly furnished ,to Fisher's article, "In Search ofJose prints for reproduction here, to help Gil Rumsey & William S. Worley. Watrous," Wagon Tracks, XII (Feb. tell the rest of the story of Jose Wa Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail. Over 1998), 6-12, which see. Supt. Harry trous. These add persona to the ear land Park: Legacy Publications, C. Myers, Fort Union National Mon lier article. 1996. Pp. 100. Illustrations. Cloth, $95 postpaid from Legacy Publica ument, deserves special thanhs for The photographs were probably providing copies ofthe photographs.) tions, 7924 Santa Fe Trail Dr, Over identified by Carrie Watrous Roulet land Park KS 66204. RESEARCH means search again. in 1965, when she reviewed and This coffee-table book contains • The missing photographs ofWatrous made notes on a booklet by F. Stan more than 100 Gil Rumsey paintings were found lurking in the files of ley, The Watrous New Mexico Story. ofscenes along the Santa Fe Trail to Fort Union National Monument Ar· Carrie, daughter ofJose and Louisa, day, done in commemoration of the • chives. Fort Union Superintendent was born in 1869. 175th anniversary of the Trail. For those who enjoy this sort of thing, the scenes will be ofinterest. The ac
, , companying text by William Worley \ leaves much to be desired. ') The hoax of 28 Mexicans killed on " the Trail in 1844, exposed in WT some time ago, is reported as fact, followed by the statement "That number ofMexican traders killed ex ceeds the number of U.S. traders ... killed by Indians over the extent of the Trail era" (p. 4). Mter noting that young Kit Car son ran away from his apprentice
, , ship in Franklin to follow the Trail, , Worley states "He never came back to his native Missouri" (p. 5). Since L_ !.1t __ ._.~ Jose and Louisa Berg Watrous. In 1856 Jose returned to La Junta from Missouri with Kit was born in Kentucky, that is his father's wagon train. Traveling with them was the George Berg family. Daughter probably true, but he did return to Louisa Berg was 14 years old. She married Jose in 1862. In 1870 Jose and Louisa Missouri. were listed in the census'as married with a one-year-old daughter, Carrie. (CAT8511 Where did the Cimarron River NEG 814. Fort Union National Monument Archives.) cross "the present-day Texas" pan _.,- -".' ,-, .. ·• handle (p. 37)? How many ring-neck pheasants were along the Trail (p. .. ;-:- . .'."". , 49), since these are a later import from China? How did Dick "Woot ten" establish his toll road over Ra ton Pass in "the 1850s" (p. 54)? How is it that "antelope" are so evasive
• that "New Mexico natives may go ~. ,).( " '. through months or years of travel jo{~ ';, • 00 ~\ through the northeastern part of the t ...... :.. """-,,'. w. , 1-.L-.• -"'. j..~ '-.',,' / ,\;,_,-;1'~ ~).'" i; state without once seeing these '\ \ • <-.\ , - _ ,,,t \ beautiful elusive animals" (p. 60)? ,>, ', . Students of Bent's Fort will be surprised and appalled to read that f-...... · t", the visit of Kearny's Army of the •..--r~, - '. -,' ~'I , '"'~~ ~~..f'¥:, West to the fort in 1846 "resulted in , .- '-""'" Er-...... ,;Ii I...... - <: A ' • more destruction to the structure than almost any Indian attack. The ,: " I \ '\ -. , ·,h .,' ·"';~-""f / ~ fort's abandonment was a direct re i 1,l f' '--"'L • / .I sult of this brief occupation" (p. 69). Jose Watrous, center, with Carl Wilden George Berg, father of Louisa Berg who This book can only be recom stein and William Kronig. Wildenstein married Jose Watrous. Berg traveled mended for the pictures, a number of married Abelina Watrous and Kronig west in 1856 to work as a gunsmith at which are peripheral to the Trail. married Louisa Watrous. (CAT 8514 NEG Fort Union. (CAT 8513, NEG 817, Fort Union 817, Fort Union NM Archives.) NM Archives.) • • • •
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Ralph Moody, Stagecoach West. 1967 parade of provincial governors who This is good because t.he little book of -reprint, Lincoln: University of Ne influenced conditions in Nuevo Mex Holmes's adventures, A Bloomer braska Press, 1998. Pp. xvi + 341. ico, round out the historical narra Girl on Pikes Peak, has long been out Maps, illustrations, bibliography, in tive. The Spanish legacy of Colorado of print. An advocate of women's dex. Paper, $15.00. comprises the final chapter. rights and wearer ofthe bloomer cos This reprint ofa classic contains a Most of this information can be tume, Holmes was the first white new introduction by SFTA member found in books on Spanish colonial woman to climb Pike's Peak. Her let Mark L. Gardner. It is still the best frontier history, but Carson has fo ters are sufficient reason to purchase single volume on the subject, a pleas cused primarily on Colorado, and this volume. ure to read, but the sections on the has spent seven years researching • •• • Santa Fe Trail are dated and inade the topic, retracing routes, and seek David V. Alexander, Arizona Fron quate. With this book for an over ing artifacts. He imparts excitement tier Military Place Names (1846 view and background, Trail students and adventure to this skillfully 1912). Yucca Tree Press, 2130 Hilton should then read Morris F. Taylor's written work. A glossary of Spanish Dr, Las Cruces NM 88005, 1998. Pa First Mail West: Stagecoach Lines on words and a chronology are helpful. per, $12.95 plus $2.00 shipping. the Santa Fe Trail (1971). This book will captivate most gen The author of this very well-done • •• • eral readers with an interest in Colo book claims that it is not only a com Phil Carson, Across the Northern rado. plete summary of Arizona's old forts Frontier: Spanish Explorations in -Bonita M. Oliva and camps but also of battleground Colorado. Boulder: Johnson Books, • • • • sites and geographic features asso 1998. Pp. xviii + 254. Maps, illustra C. Robert Haywood, The Merchant ciated with the Indian wars. I don't tions, notes, bibliography, index. Prince of Dodge City: The Life and doubt it. Cloth, $27.50; paper, $18.00. Times ofRobert M. Wright. Norman: Most ofthe place names are listed Carson, a Colorado journalist University ofOklahoma Press, 1998. with county, township and range with a special interest in the cultural Pp. xviii + 236. Map, illustrations, (and sometimes section number), heritage of the Southwest, has writ notes, bibliography, index. Cloth, and elevation. Many are coded to in ten a general history on the modern $27.95. dicate if the exact site is known and, state of Colorado during the Spanish Robert Wright was closely associ ifit is, whether or not it is accessible colonial period. Obviously Colorado ated with the late history of the with difficulty or with ease. was then a part of the isolated, im Santa Fe Trail, and he served for Most descriptions are fleshed out poverished province of Nueva Mex several years as post trader at Fort with interesting historical anec ico, located north of the main settle Dodge. He was engaged in freight dotes, annotated as to source. These ments. Due to rugged topography ing. He was one of the founders and tidbits make the book readable and and hostile Indians, there was never the leading merchant of Dodge City. much more than just a list of places. a Spanish settlement there. This is the definitive biography of There are maps and more than The primary sources for this era a merchant on the Trail whose pri two dozen illustrations. As the au are the journals and reports of mili vate life was an intriguing tale too. thor states, this book is both for the tary and other expeditions. Ulibarri His story includes much of the his armchair explorer and those wishing (1706) and Villasur (1720) passed tory of early Dodge City. For all he to explore more actively. Happily, through southeastern Colorado on did it's a wonder that Dodge City was the author is currently working on a diplomatic missions. De Vargas not named Wright City, but there is similar book covering New Mexico. (1694), Valverde (1719), and De a town named Wright a few miles -E. Donald Kaye Anza (1779) ventured into central east ofDodge. Highly recommended. •••• Colorado. Captain Roque de Madrid, •••• Gregory M. Franzwa, Covered who escaped the Pueblo Revolt in Kenneth L. Holmes, ed., Covered Wagon Roads to the American West, 1680, traveled to the San Juan Wagon Women, Vol. VII: Diaries & a map. Tucson: The Patrice Press, Mountains while pursuing Navajos Letters from the Western Trails, 1998. Folded, $8.95; flat, $9.95, plus in 1705. Rivera (1765) and Domin 1854-1860. 1987-reprint, Lincoln: shipping. Order toll free: 1-800-367 guez and Escalante (1776) led ex University of Nebraska Press, 1998. 9242. ploring parties into western Colo Pp. 306. Illustrations, index. Paper, Maps are one of Greg Franzwa's rado. $14.00. many areas ofexpertise, and this is a Carson believes that the major This volume contains eight docu beauty. This large (23" x 36"), color portion of travel into Colorado was ments, with an introduction by Shir ful topographical map of the region undocumented trade expeditions to ley A. Leckie. These diaries reveal west of the Mississippi River shows the Utes and other Indians, which much about the lives of women on the route of many major trails was well-established by the early the overland trails, and the entire se (mostly those in the National Trails 1700s. Laws forbidding this trade ries is thought-provoking, inexpen System), but not the Fort Smith are evidence that it was widespread. sive, and highly recommended. Road to New Mexico, Smoky Hill Spanish trade items were reported . This particular volume is of spe Trail from the Missouri River to among the Mandans and as far north cial interest to Santa Fe Trail stu Denver, nor the road from San Anto as Canada. dents because it includes the letters nio to EI Paso. These were covered Events in Europe, Spain, Mexico, of Julia Archibald Holmes (1858) of wagon roads while the Old Spanish and the American colonies, plus the her trip to Colorado over the Trail. Trail, included, was only a pack trail.
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There weren't any covered wagons Carmel Benavides, An Early Santa Fe Trail Woman with Lewis and Clark either, and the by Mary Jean Cook Anza Trail seems not to fit the crite- . non. (Mary Jean Cook, Santo, Fe, is 0, CARMEL Benavides, a Santa Fe It would be more accurate to drop charter member of SFTA, 0, diligent native, is now the earliest known the "covered wagon" from the title Trail historian, and 0, frequent con- Euro-American woman to travel the and call it "roads" or "trails" to the tributor to Wagon Tracks. She con- Santa Fe Trail, although there ap- American West. Then other routes tinues to seek information about Car- parently were others whose names followed by explorers could be in mel Benavides and, if found, will remain unknown (particularly the cluded. Why not Coronado? Unfortu share it with WT readers.) Spanish women exiled from New nately, Franzwa just won't give up Author's Preface: This researcher Mexico in 1829). Equally significant, the unhistorical designations of "Ci attended the first Robidoux Family she crossed the Trail as many or • marron Cutoff' and "Mountain Reunion, sponsored by the St. Joseph more times than any other woman in Branch" for the Santa Fe Trail and Historical Society in St. Joseph, Mis- Trail history (Lydia Spencer Lane accept the historic names that SFTA souri, 6-8 August 1998. Today there may have traveled as many times). • has been working hard to promote are approximately 52 different spell- Carmel's otherwise unfamiliar for at least a decade: the "Cimarron ings of the name Robidoux scattered name achieves greater historical rec- Route" and the "Mountain Route" or across the U. S., Canada, and Ha- ognition as Carmel Benavides de Ro- "Bent's Fort Route" or even "Raton waii, with almost as many pronun- bidoux, the common-law wife of An- Route." ciations. Facetiously, the wife of one toine Robidoux, Southwest voya- Despite these shortcomings, all of descendent labels her specialty cloth- geur, fur trader, Santa Fe merchant which can be corrected in the next ing, "Ruby Dew." A future Robidoux and alcalde (magistrate), and Mexi- printing, this handsome map be family reunion is planned, the group can War interpreter for General Ste- longs on the wall ofeveryone who en to travel from St. Joseph to Califor- phen Watts Kearny. joys maps or has any interest in the nia, via Fort Laramie, Fort Uncom- The life of Carmel Benavides, as a American West. Nothing else com pahgre, Fort Uintah, and many other part of the large Robidoux clan, pro- pares to it. places linked with the fur-trading ac- vides insight into the solitary exis- tivities and other business endeavors tence of a fur trader/trail merchant's FORT DODGE BOOK of the various Robidoux brothers. wife from 1828 to 1860. Her unparal- FORT Dodge: Sentry of the Western The spelling used in this leled story presents a broad picture Plains, by Leo E. Oliva, was released article is that of Antoine Robidoux's of life and death experienced by a October 1 by the Kansas State His signature found on New Mexico woman who not only traveled the torical Society. This is the fifth in a documents. The "x" is clearly visible Santa Fe Trail intermittently but series of eight books about Kansas and not merely a flourish. Benavides also lived for extended periods of military posts produced by the Kan is spelled as found in the Archives of time at both ends of it. sas Forts Network. Oliva is pres the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the The Benavides-Robidoux saga in ently working on Fort Harker, his Santo, Fe County Deed Records. its entirety spans Arizona, Califor- last book in the series. The books on Names such as Isadore/Isidore and nia, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Ne- Forts Leavenworth and Riley are as Cannelete/Carmelita varied so vada, New Mexico, and Utah. It re- signed to other writers. Jerry Tho greatly that it became virtually im- counts early Southwest fur trade, fur mas, Manhattan artist, is creating a possible to determine a consistent or trading forts, and the eventual death special painting for the covel' of each definitive spelling. While historian of the fur trade. It reveals other book. Fort Dodge is available from Merrill J. Mattes wrote "Blacll Snake women who crossed the plains. An- Last Chance Store for $10 postpaid. Hills," the early use of "Blacksnake toine Robidoux and Carmel had a Hills" is employed here, as adopted daughter, an adopted daughter, and ELDERHOSTEL TOUR 1998 by present-day St. Joseph historians. an adopted granddaughter who also THERE were 40 eager participants Acknowledgments: Many people traveled the Santa Fe Trail. Seldom on the 1998 Elderhostel Trail tour aided this search, and thanks are ex- does one find a more intriguing cou- led by Jim Sherer, with Leo E. Oliva tended to them: Patricia Kusche, pIe who, with their family, traveled as instructor, sponsored by Dodge San Marino, CA; Robert S. Stollste- the Trail with relative frequency. City Community College, October imer, Montrose, CO; Dan Deuter, Moreover, this far-flung account rec- 11-18, 1998. They traveled by bus Fort Uncompahgre, Delta CO; Jac- ords cross-cultural family relation- from Independence, MO, to Santa queline Lewin, Curator of History, ships amid the turmoil of financial Fe, NM, and back, following both St. Joseph Museum, St. Joseph, MO; fortunes made and lost. major routes of the historic Trail. Anna Belle Cartwright, Curator, Na- Two decades before and after the Along the way they were met by and tionaI Frontier Trails Center, Inde- U. S. Army arrived in New Mexico in talked to by SFTA notables pendence, MO; Karl and Shirley Ro- 1846, Antoine and Carmel Robidoux Katharine Kelley, Deanne Wright, bidoux ReineckeI', Castaic, CA; Joe encountered Indian skirmishes and Ralph Hathaway, Ruth Olson Pe Robidoux, EI Cajon, CA; Clyde and harrowing travel on the Trail. In ad- ters, Pat Heath, Paul Bentrup, Mavis Weeks, St. Joseph Historical dition to the Santa Fe Trail, Antoine Harry Myers, Marc Simmons, Don Society, St. Joseph, MO; and David traveled the Great Platte River ald Kaye, and Mike Olsen. Next Snow, Curator of Collections, Palace Road, California-Oregon Trail, Old year's tour will be October 10-17. of the Governors, Santa Fe. Spanish Trail, the Gila Trail, and
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part of the Chihuahua Trail. Conse -Joseph III (b. 1783), Fran<;ois (b. tiz. Juan Domingo was a capita,1/, at quently, pursuit of the lively foot 1788), Pierre Isidore (b. 1791), Louis the Santa Fe presidio and was said to steps of Carmel involves tracing the (b. 1796), and Michel (b. 1798) have been killed by the Comanches. travels she possibly made with An dominated the highly competitive Carmel's uncle, don Francisco Baca y toine. She may have traveled into fur trade in the Southwest until its Ortiz, is also described in church the remote fur-trapping areas of demise in the early 1840s. baptismal records as "El Capitan de present Utah and Colorado during History has recorded the first Ro Castrense" (La Castrense, the mili the earliest and sparsely-document bidou immigrant of French-Spanish tary chapel on the south side of ed years of these areas. origin, who arrived in Canada Santa Fe's plaza), and "El Cuida One historian has suggested that, around 1643, as Andre, born to dana" (citizen). if Carmel indeed ventured into what Manuel Robidou of the Saint Ana Maria Baca, an aunt of Car later became the state of Utah, she Germain parish on the Left Bank of mel, was Pedro Bautista Pino's third was probably the first white woman the Seine River in Paris, France, and wife. The well-known don Pedro Pino in history to have done so-a conjec Catherine Alue of the diocese of represented New Mexico in 1810 at ture not entirely without basis. She Sainte-Marie de Galice, Burgos, the cortes, the Spanish representa could have done so. Her physical Spain. Called "The Spaniard," dark tive body assembled in Cadiz, Spain, stamina and prowess on a horse skinned Andre, a year after his arri during the Napoleonic occupation to were well known in New Mexico. A val in Quebec City, married Jeanne draft a constitution for Spain. He high-spirited woman of strong intel .Denote from the Saint-Germain also authored La Exposici6n Sucinta lect, Carmel might have found un l'Auxerrois parish also in Paris. y Sencilla de la Provincia del Nuevo conventional female travel exciting. Noted in their marriage contract was Mexico, a report on early nineteenth During the late 1830s and early the information that the bride was century conditions of New Mexico. 1840s, Antoine Robidoux established one ofthe "Filles du Roi" (Daughters As notable as the Baca family of two fur-trading forts, Fort Uintah or of the King), recruited by Bourbon Carmel appears to be, the Ortiz heri Robidoux on a fork of the Uintah Louis XIV to populate New France tage ofher family attracts greater in River near its junction with the (Canada). As such, she was fur terest. Her maternal grandmother, Green River in northeastern Utah, nished passage and clothing, plus a Ana Gertrudis Ortiz, descended from and Fort Uncompahgre on the Gun dowry of 50 livres (French currency) the wealthy and powerful Ortiz fam nison River below the mouth of the should she marry a soldier, 100 ily. A distinguished witness to the Uncompahgre River near present livres to marry an officer. Andre Ro Baca-Ortiz marriage in 1782 was Delta in western Colorado. The exact bidou was listed on the 1666 Quebec New Mexico Governor Juan Bautista location of Fort Uncompahgre is yet census as a sailor and employed by a de Anza (1778-1788). to be established. well-known settler, interpreter, and The great-grandmother of Carmel While the "comings and goings of fur trader by the name of Eustache was Rosa Bustamante who in 1754 the Robidoux parties during the Lambert. married Antonio Jose Ortiz. Antonio 1820s and 1830s are perplexing," The Roubidoux family had a con Jose, a prominent rancher and mer they are no less perplexing than fusing number of Josephs. Joseph I chant of Santa Fe, in 1798 financerl those of Carmel Benavides and her (grandson of Andre) and his son Jo the large altar screen seen today in daughters. Their journeys between seph II joined the French-Canadian San Miguel Mission on Old Santa Fe Missouri and New Mexico were un colony of St. Louis, Missouri, in Trail in Santa Fe. Ortiz, perhaps the doubtedly determined by the busi 1771. Joseph II initiated the Robi richest man in New Mexico at the ness demands of Antoine. At either doux fur trade in this country. time, in 1805 renovated and en terminus of the Trail, Antoine and Seventy~two years and one Joseph larged the Conquistadora Chapel, Carmel enjoyed Robidoux, Barada, later in 1843, Joseph III, older the north chapel in present-day St. Benavides, Baca, and Ortiz family brother of Antoine, founded today's Francis Cathedral, and in 1807 built members to support and sustain St. Joseph, Missouri, near the Robi Rosario Chapel. The genealogy of them during times ofillness or emer doux's Blacksnake Hills Trading Carmel Benavides is indeed an im gency. In the Southwest, this His Post on the Missouri River. A pe pressive who's who of early New panic and Indian family network rusal of the Robidoux ancestry indi Mexico history. was known as compadrazgo, such as cates that Antoine Robidoux de Orral Messmore Robidoux's Me the spiritual affinity supplied by a scended from several generations ei morial to the Robidoux Brothers, an godparent. ther directly or indirectly involved in account based primarily upon oral Antoine Robidoux, born Septem the leather and/or fur trade of Can history, stated Manuel Armijo and ber 24, 1794, in Florissant, Missouri ada, the U. S., and Mexico. his wife, Trinidad Gabaldon, adop (a suburb of St. Louis) and consid Carmel Benavides, baptized Ma ted Carmel. Such adoptions were not ered to be the most famous of the ria de la Cruz Carmen as a two-day always of record. Nevertheless, Gov. ubiquitous Robidoux family, made old infant on 22 November 1811, was Armijo and his wife did serve as god several expeditions into the South born to Guadalupe Baca and Pablo parents in 1828 at the baptism of a west during the early 1820s. Joseph Benavides. The eldest of thirteen son born to Carmel's uncle, Fran Robidoux III, older brother of An children, Guadalupe Baca was born cisco Baca y Ortiz. toine, outfitted a trading party to to don Juan Domingo Baca y Chavez Early documentation of Antoine New Mexico as early as 1823. An (the last name being that of his Robidoux's presenc.e in New Mexico toine Robidoux and his brothers mother) and dona Ana Gertrudis Or- appears on a permit to enter the In-
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dian country, February 19, 1824, ment of the Robidoux and Stollste ning of the Benavides-Robidoux liai signed by Colonel Henry Leaven imer households. According to family son in Santa Fe, their ages 17 and 34 worth at Fort Atkinson (north of lore, Spanish was the preferred lan years respectively. present Omaha, Nebraska). It indi guage in the Stollsteimer home. Carmel Benavides may have trav cates that Antoine was traveling Not surprisingly, the name ofCar eled the Trail with the six unidenti with sixteen other men listed in an mel Benavides escaped mention in fied Spanish women in the 1829 earlier permit signed by Superinten early fur traders' accounts. Because wagon train of the peninsulares dent of Indian Mfairs William Clark of the remote life led by these men (those born in Spain on the Iberian on December 29, 1823, St. Louis, and their absence from home for long peninsula) who were expelled from Missouri. By the fall of 1824, Antoine periods oftime, it was not uncommon New Mexico eight years following had made his way from Taos to the for them to keep a "city wife" and one the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba Green River in Utah. The 1823 list of or more "country wives," the latter on 24 August 1821 when Mexico re ., sixteen trappers included Charles often taken from different Indian belled against Spain. Future re Beaubien oflater Beaubien-Miranda tribes. There is evidence that An searchers may eventually uncover (Maxwell) land grant fame, one of toine Robidoux practiced this custom some or all of the names of the pres I the largest in New Mexico history. as well. Not unlike the Hispanic ently unknown Spanish women in According to his obituary, Antoine Anglo marriages in New Mexico by this 1829 caravan. had earlier traveled with Colonel fur traders and Trail merchants, Benavides Crossings#1 and #2 Henry Atkinson's 1819 Yellowstone such cross-cultural alliances facili An attempt to clarify the state Expedition of 1,100 men. This army, tated doing business in the early ment of"at least six times as far back intended to intimidate British fur Southwest. as 1833," describing the Santa Fe traders and the Indians, in reality It is not known if any children Trail trips ostensibly made by Car reached no farther than Old Council were born to Antoine by an Indian mel, brought new facts to light. Erro Bluffs in today's Nebraska. Antoine woman. There is at least one sugges neously called childless by more may have made other trips onto the tive probability. Santa Fe church than one historian, Carmel gave plains before going to New Mexico. records attest to the baptism on De birth in Missouri to a daughter When he first met Carmel is un cember 13, 1841, of an unnamed named "Carmelete," recorded as known, but she may have resided twelve-year-old Ute boy, parents un "about 1830." This birth may have near the Santa Fe plaza when he known, "belonging to don Antonio occurred at the Blacksnake Hills first arrived there. In 1836 Guada Robidoux." Carmen Benavides is Trading Post (later called St. Joseph) lupe Baca was shown as the owner of listed as a padrina or godparent. or possibly in St. Louis. An eight property at #3 on Calle del Gmnero, Possibly the Indian boy was An year-old girl named Carmen (the a street leading eastward from the toine's son. If so, Carmel surely was names Carmel, Carmen, Carmelete, plaza where the Santa Fe presidio cognizant of the fact. and Carmelita used interchangea stored its grain supply. Carmel later The subject of the common-law bly) was living in the Antoine Robi inherited the Calle del Gmnero prop wives of the various Robidoux broth doux Santa Fe household in 1841, erty on today's East Palace Avenue, ers in New Mexico-Antoine, Louis, the census giving no place ofbirth. If west of Sena Plaza. She sold her Isidore, Franyois, and Michel-de this was the same girl who was born seven-room home in 1879 to L. Brad serves mention. Briefly stated, An in Missouri, her birth occurred ei ford Prince, who served as New Mex toine and Louis remained with their ther in 1832 or 1833. Thus Carmel ico territorial supreme court justice common-law Hispanic wives, Car was already in Missouri by at least and governor. The adobe compound mel Benavides and Guadalupe Gar the early 1830s, possibly earlier. with its placito, and portal facing Pal cia, throughout their lifetimes. Isi When she returned to New Mexico ace Avenue then became known as dore, Franyois, and Michel appear to has not been determined, but she Prince Plaza. Today Prince Plaza is have cohabited with Hispanic wo was there at the time ofthe 1841 cen the site of the popular Shed Restau men in Taos during the late 1820s sus. Following the 1841 census, rec rant. Thus, Carmel perhaps grew up and early 1830s, but they did not re ord of the child Carmen (Carmelete) only a block from Santa Fe's bustling main with them. New Mexico Robi has not been found. The available plaza filled with fur traders and doux descendants are found in late evidence supports the conclusion Trail merchants, Antoine Robidoux nineteenth-century Rio Arriba (up that this daughter traveled the Trail being one of the earliest. per river), according to Rose Trujillo at least once. An "x" rather than her signature Segura, of Chimayo and Santa Fe, A girl named Martina Anaya, on real estate deeds in 1879 indi who claims a distant relationship. born in Santa Fe and said to be an or cates that Carmel was not literate While it is possible to trace some phaned relative of Carmel, was though she spoke fluent English, but not all ofAntoine's footsteps dur adopted by Antoine Robidoux and Spanish, and French. Antoine Robi ing the 1820s and 1830s as men Carmel Benavides around 1828. The doux also spoke these three lan tioned earlier, Carmel remains diffi mother of Martina, Maria de la Cruz guages plus Ute. Christian Stollste cult to follow. One source vaguely Bustamante, died when Martina imer, husband of Carmel and An numbers her Santa Fe Trail cross was six years old (1827) and her fa toine's adopted granddaughter, ings as "at least six times as far back ther, Ascencio Anaya, died when she Amanda, spoke German, English, as 1833." Carmel's travels might was nine (1828). Martina and Car Spanish, French, and Ute, which il have begun even earlier since the mel were cousins. lustrates the multilingual environ- year 1828 is designated as the begin- The adopted Martina was listed in
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the 1841 Santa Fe census as Martina ico information. Baker to thwart any future fur trade Robiduo, a 20-year-old servant living In 1843, when Texan brigands competition. Antoine's trading days in the Robidoux household. Accord threatened Mexicans traveling the in Utah and Colorado came to a fiery ing to family history, Martina Anaya Santa Fe Trail, Captain Philip St. end, and he left New Mexico under a was called "Carmelette or Little Car George Cooke led two U.S. military cloud of debt. His powerful fur trade men." She, too, traveled the Trail at escorts (one in the spring and one in dynasty, built twenty years earlier, least once. Understandably, there is the late summer and autumn) to pro collapsed. confusion here because descendants tect the wagon trains. While guard From correspondence found in the of Martina Anaya today appear to be ing nine miles of wagons stretched New Mexico State Archives, Antoine unaware ofthe birth of the daughter along the Santa Fe Trail during the Robidoux suffered serious debt by Carmelete in Missouri in the early second escort, he encountered An the early 1840s. In September 1842, 1830s. toine Robidoux and recorded the fol Charles Bent in Taos wrote to Span Benavides Crossings #3 and #4 lowing conversation at Cottonwood iard Manuel Alvarez: "I shall visit Carmel's third crossing of the Fork, September 6, 1843: "This man Santafe so soone as I setle with Ro plains apparently occurred some [Antoine] prays for the annexation of badaux, he goes dawn I expect, to try time in 1841, but the exact dates re New Mexico, as necessary to develop and get some person to lone him main unknown. Carmel and Antoine its mineral riches: he asserts, that he many payable in St. Louis, he owes a were in Santa Fe during the spring knows districts where, for twenty greadeal of mony in the U States I and summer of 1841 and in town miles, it is impossible to find a hand know." Antoine and his brother during the census of that year. They ful of dirt without gold." Cooke in Louis probably experienced failure returned to Missouri before her quired of Robidoux, "Why in the in their Santa Fe business as well, a fourth trip in the autumn of 1841, world have you not made your for store which was located on or near when the party encountered a terri tune collecting it?" Antoine answers, the plaza, the exact site unknown to ble snowstorm in November of that '''I sunk,' he replied with a true day. year. En routeto Santa Fe, Antoine Frenchman's shrug, 'eight thousand Stories abound about the gam Robidoux reportedly lost over 100 dollar.m bling habits of Joseph Robidoux III, (another account stated 400) mules More than likely the investment Antoine's brother. The famous and horses which froze to death near Robidoux spoke about in 1843 to mountain man, Joseph Meek, la Cottonwood Crossing in present Cooke was the Santo Niiio mine of beled AntoineRobidoux an "addicted Kansas. Joseph Robidoux, Jr., led a the Sierra del Oso area, south of gambler." Among the debts Antoine rescue party from BlacksnakE! Hills Santa Fe. An 1828 mine at Taos was left behind in Santa Fe was one to Trading Post to discover that seven mentioned by Orral Messmore Robi the notorious gambler, Gertrudis of Robidoux's men had frozen to doux, but no documents to confirm Barcelo, known as La Tules. Her death as well as a servant girl who this can be found. A conveyance Santa Fe lawyer, W. Z. Angney, in slept beside Carmel during the dated 1834 reveals that Antoine Ro formed merchant Manuel Alvarez of night. The servant girl mentioned bIdoux bought the Santo Niiio from the destruction of the papers en obviously was not Martina Anaya, Dolores J aloma, Ygnacio Ladron de trusted to him by "Madam Tule" since she married six years later in Guevara, Santiago Abreu, and l\'lar against Robidoux in a San Francisco 1847. When they reached Santa Fe celino Abreu. Earlier, Antoine had fire. Unfortunately, Angney's letter has not been determined. sold his St. Louis property at the dated 30 January 1852 arrived too Benavides Crossing #5 northwest corner of Second (Church) late to inform La Tules. The notori Carmel and Martina left Santa Fe and Market Streets, proceeds of the ous gambler was dead and ostenta for Missouri sometime in 1845, a sale perhaps used for the mine in tiously buried two weeks earlier. year prior to the Mexican War. An vestment. Between April and August of toine mayor may not have returned Antoine's return to St. Joseph was 1841, Antoine, Carmel, and Guada to Santa Fe from Colorado and Utah surely precipitated in large part by lupe Garcia (common-law wife of in order to accompany them on the the destruction of Fort Uncompah Louis Robidoux) were charging pur Santa Fe Trail. Most likely he did gre in 1844-1845 by hostile Ute Indi chases to the Giddings & Gentry ac not, for he was reported to be at Fort ans. Fortunately, Antoine survived count at the Santa Fe plaza store of Laramie in mid-July 1845, and he the fort massacre because he was Manuel Alvarez. Among the pur arrived in Missouri in early August, elsewhere at the time. The conflict, chases were varas (a vara equaling according to the St. Joseph Gazette. in reality between the Utes and His approximately 32 inches) of lienzo A year earlier, in November 1844, panics, had erupted in September (linen), mah6n (nankeen, light cot Antoine's younger brother, Louis, 1844 with the killing of Ute Chief ton goods), manta (muslin); and family left Santa Fe for Califor Panasiyave by Governor Armijo and madeg[j]as de seda (skeins of silk nia. The reason for the joint Robi General Mariano Martinez de Le thread), as well as gamusas (chamois doux departures may be attributed janza in Santa Fe's Palace of the skins) and a vela de ceau (cera, wax to financial distress due to the de Governors. candle). Only a month earlier, the clining fur trade, as well as the po Some ten years later, Robidoux, firm ofJames M. Giddings & Reuben litical unrest. Both brothers were while in Washington, D.C., con Gentry purchased a substantial said to be "great friends" ofGovernor firmed that his Utah trading estab $385.39 stock of the fabrics men Manuel Armijo, with whom they un lishment, Fort Uintah, was subse tioned. doubtedly shared critical U.S.-Mex- quently burned by mountaineer Jim In Commerce of the Prairies
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(1844), Josiah Gregg observed: "Al prime purpose of the talk, arranged granted by a special act of Congress. though a fair variety of dry goods, by John Bidwell, was intended to In one official document, Robidoux silks, hardware, etc., is to be found in drum up emigrants to join the expressed his great desire to return this market [Santa Fe], domestic cot Bidwell-Bartleson Expedition. to New Mexico, "The climate being tons, both bleached and brown, con Kit Carson, Antoine's good friend [to him] more agreeable and the as stitute the great staple, of which and fellow mountain man, met the sociates and friends of his early life nearly equal quantities ought to en military retinue near the Gila River being there and in the vicinity." M ter into a 'Santa Fe assortment.' The area. Carson was traveling eastward ter a lifetime of restless adventure, demand for these goods is such that carrying a dispatch from John C. Antoine yearned for quiet repose at least one half ofour stocks of mer Fremont, but Robidoux persuaded amid the majesty of the Sangre de chandise is made up of them. How him to join Kearny's troops and re Cristo Mountains and the warm fel ever, although they afford a greater turn to California with them. With lowship ofold friends. In truth, there nominal per centum than many amazing pluck, Kit somehow es could not have been many old friends other articles, the profits are reduced caped without injury in the conflict still alive. In 1856, Robidoux claimed by their freight and heavy duty.... near San Diego which has been that of three hundred hunters and The demand for calicoes is also con called the most famous and deadly in trappers who trapped the Rocky siderable, but this kind of goods af California history. Mountains in the 1820s, only three fords much less profit. The quantity At the Battle of San Pasqual, An survived. His final New Mexico in an assortment should be about toine was seriously wounded, as was wishes never came to pass. equal to half that of domestics. Cot General Kearny, and he never fully An invalid and blind by 1857, the ton velvets, and drillings (whether recovered. Antoine's wound was in famous trail blazer Antoine Robi bleached, brown or blue, and espe the lower back area, the lance point doux died August 29, 1860, in St. Jo cially the latter), have also been in rupturing the lumbar nerve and seph, the town founded by his much request. But all the coarser causing severe trauma with partial brother. His gravestone in Mount cotton goods, whether shirtings, cali and temporary paralysis. Recalling Olivet Cemetery gives the incorrect coes or drillings, etc., were prohib what he thought to be a dying Robi year of 1826 as his arrival in New ited by the Awneel of 1837; and still doux at the time, U. S. Army To Mexico and an incorrect 1790 for his continue to be, with some modifica- pographical Engineer William H. birth date. . " bons. Emory wrote: "Don Antonio Robi During the years of their St. Jo Shopping for a trousseau in Mis deaux, a thin man of fifty-five years, seph residency, Carmel and Antoine souri rather than in New Mexico slept next to me. The loss of blood witnessed the seemingly crazed im meant savings to new brides like from his wounds, added to the cold migrants striking out from Missouri Martina Anaya. In St. Joseph, Mis ness of the night, 28° Fahrenheit, on the Great Platte River Road and souri, the adopted Martina married made me think he would never see the California-Oregon Trail. Many Isidore Barada on February 15, daylight, but I was mistaken. He wagon trains were outfitted by the 1847, according to the records of St. woke me to ask if I did not smell cof Robidoux brothers who by then used Joseph Cathedral. It was a second fee, and expressed the belief that a their pungent keel boats, which once marriage for Isidore Barada who in cup of that beverage would save his carried fur pelts, to ferry people 1845 was elected a trustee on the life, and that nothing else would. Not across the Missouri River. One first town council of St. Joseph. Isi knowing there had been any coffee in source mentioned 20,000 wagons dore ran a coffee house and confec camp for many days, I supposed a camped at once on the surrounding tionery at the time of the wedding. dream had carried him back to the hillsides of St. Joseph awaiting the Martina gave birth to a daughter cafes of St. Louis and New Orleans, grass to green up on the prairies. named Amanda Barada on June 26, and it was with some surprise I Still another source dealt with the 1852. During the intervening five [found] my cook heating a cup of cof massive sanitation problems. years between 1847 and 1852, she fee over a small fire made of wild In his will, executed on August 22, quite possibly had one or more mis sage. One ofthe most agreeable little 1860, a week before his death, sixty carriages. Martina died in 1852 soon offices performed in my life, and I be six-year-old Antoine acknowledged after the birth of Amanda. lieve in the cook's, to whom the coffee Carmel as "his beloved wife," named There were other plans for Car belonged, was, to pour this precious her the executrix, and affectionately mel's husband that once again re draught into the waning body of our called her "Carmelitta." He also ref quired his absence from home. In friend Robideaux. His warmth re ered to Amanda Barada as his 1846 Antoine became the interpreter turned, and with it hopes of life. In adopted [grand] daughter. for General Stephen Watts Kearny, gratitude he gave me, what was then traveling with the Army of the West a great rarity, the half of a cake Benavides Crossing #6 to Santa Fe and on to California. made of brown flour, almost black Following Antoine's death in Kearny had obviously learned ofAn with dirt, and which had, for greater August 1860, Carmel Benavides re toine's visit to California in 1837 security, been hidden in the clothes turned to Santa Fe with her adopted with his brother Louis. In an 1841 of his Mexican servant, a man who granddaughter, Amanda Barada, public talk held in Weston (near St. scorned ablutions." leaving behind her husband and Joseph), Missouri, Robidoux extolled Antoine returned to Missouri adopted daughter buried in Mis the healthy and germless virtues of where he lived out the remainder of souri. The wagon train in which Car the pristine California climate. The his life on a government pension mel and ten-year-old Amanda were
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traveling was attacked by Comanche an education. She is of slender fig doux wrote with Victorian flourish, Indians on the Kansas prairie. Fam ure[,] has a delicate oval face [with] "There was not a youth within a ra ily lore tells that once the Indians deep black eyes, and beautiful, long, dius of fifty miles of Santa Fe but saw beautiful Amanda, they tena rich, soft, black hair." would have braved the very jaws of ciously but unsuccessfully at Christian Stollsteimer died in Pa death for a smile from the fair Car tempted to bargain in every manner gosa Springs, Colorado, on April 13, mel or a glance of the dark eyes that possible for her. 1906. Amanda died December 13, shone with the splendor of the stars Upon her return to Santa Fe in 1916 in Pasadena, California, after that twinkle in the southern firma the early 1860s, Carmel encountered moving there three years earlier to ment." monumental changes made since her be near a son. The Robidoux-Stoll The stories of Carmel Benavides, departure in 1845 (provided she did steimer family history is a compel Martina Anaya, and Amanda Ba not return in the interim)-French ling Trail history of three genera rada play an equally significant role priests replaced the secular New tions of women on the Southwest along side that of their husbands. Mexican priests in the mass, the Sis frontier with Hispanic, French, and Carmel exemplified all that we are ters of Loretto from Kentucky German roots. apt to associate with early Santa Fe opened a school for girls beside the Trail women-courage, spirit, and Despite the current research on river on old Santa Fe Trail, Ameri devotion to family. It is written that Carmel Benavides de Robidoux, giv can soldiers gambled with U.S. silver "She was fond of dancing and would ing her perhaps only a temporary ti dollars, and many more English frequently ride horseback from tle as the earliest known Santa Fe speaking women wearing bright Santa Fe to Albuquerque, a distance woman to travel the Santa Fe Trail, colored sunbonnets, rather than of sixty miles, in one day to attend a Mary Donoho continues to retain her black rebozos (shawls), walked the ball. ... She was as brave as beauti title as the "first Anglo-American" streets. ful, as her feats of daring were the woman of the Trail. As Marian In 1866 fourteen-year-old Aman talk of the country. On several occa Meyer has documented, Mary sions she swam the Rio Grande on da Barada was courted by Christian Donoho arrived in Santa Fe with her Frederick Stollsteimer, who later be horseback when not a man would un family in 1833, returning to Missouri dertake the feat." Carmel Benavides came a Ute Indian agent in Colo in 1837. rado. They were married in Santa is a new and fearless Trail heroine, Fe's parroquia (parish church) in Why all this "title" business? It is but the details of her exciting adven 1867 by Father Pierre Eguillon, because such titles define more tures are yet to be further re vicar-general to Archbishop Jean clearly the specific place in Santa Fe searched and discovered if possible. Trail history offeminine travelers as Baptiste Lamy. Over the ensuing Sources years, Christian entered into part the list of unknown Trail women is nership with his neighbor, Colonel narrowed. Nevertheless, relatively Manuscripts: Albert Henry Pfeiffer, an earlier Ute little can be discovered about these Archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. agent who, it is said, greatly influ early women and their movements Santa Fe Baptisms, Marriages, and enced Christian's sense of justice no matter their title or ethnic back Deaths. City of Pasadena, CA. and fairness toward the Indians. An ground. Thus it becomes even more of a challenge to flesh out their un Death Certificate of Amanda Stollste other partnership included the suc imer. cessful merchant Thomas D. Burns told stories and to speak for them. Weare fortunate in the story of Car Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. at Arboles, Colorado, on the Old Ritch Collection. mel Benavides. This writer began re Spanish Trail on the San Juan River. New Mexico State Records Center and Ar searching her in 1991, but failed to Following the Stollsteimer mar chives, Santa Fe. tap into crucial family resources Manuel Alvarez Papers. riage, Carmel, Amanda, and Chris which recently came to light. tian moved to Conejos, Colorado, Cragin Papers. Mexican Archives of New Mexico. eventually living in the Durango Thanks to a devoted and history savvy family, it has been possible to Spanish Archives of New Mexico. area where Carmel registered her Santa Fe Census for 1821 and 1841. own horse brand on June 5, 1885. discover information on the New Mexico heritage and later life of Car Santa Fe County Deed Records. She died on January 29, 1888, at age Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society, Sf. seventy-six years. Though her grave mel Benavides. With additional luck, Joseph, MO. stone has not been found, her burial a diary written by Amanda Barada Antoine Robidoux Will and Probate Re took place in. what later became may yet be found, giving us another cords, Buchanan County, Missouri. known as Greenmount Cemetery in important account by a Santa Fe U. S. Census for 1850, Washington Town Durango. Trail woman. A second diary written ship, Buchanan County, Missouri. Recorder of Deeds, St. Louis County, St. No likeness of Carmel has yet by Amanda's husband, Christian Frederick Stollsteimer (a German Louis, MO. been uncovered. However, her River Bluffs Regional Library, St. Joseph, MO. granddaughter, Amanda, was de immigrant), is extant as well. Re st. Joseph Gazette. grettably, it contains only one small scribed by her German husband, Publications: Christian Frederick Stollsteimer. He comment concerning his journey on foot across the Platte River Road to Barry, Louise Barry. The Beginning of the painted a sensitive picture of her in West. Topeka: Kansas State Historical So his diary: "My wife is a handsome Colorado. ciety, 1972. woman with an amiable disposition, Of a youthful Carmel Benavides, Barton, John D. Buckskin Entrepreneur: An she is naturally intelligent and has biographer Orral Messmore Robi- toine Robidoux and the Fur Trade of the
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Uinta Basin, 1824-44. Vernal, Utah: Oak tield Publishing Company, 1996. ASBURY COLLEGE STUDENTS HIT THE SANTA FE TRAIL Belden, Josiah. Josiah Belden, 1841 Califor by James E. Hamilton nia Overland Pioneer: His Memoir and Early Letters, edited by Doyce B. Nunis, (Professor James Hamilton, Asbury In addition to the students I was Jr. Georgetown, California: The Talisman College, Wilmore, Kentucky, conduct- accompanied by my wife and history Press, 1962. ed a study-tour on the Santa Fe Trail professor Dr. Glen Spann. We were Cooke, Philip Sf. George. Scenes and Ad in May 1998. Hamilton is a member greatly assisted in planning for our ventures in the Army. Philadelphia: Lind say & Blakiston, 1859. of SFTA.) six days on the Trail by Marc Sim- Craver, Rebecca McDowell. Impact of Inti THIS past May nine Asbury College mons, Anna Belle Cartwright, Ruth macy. EI Paso: The University of Texas at students were introduced to the Olson Peters, Deanne Wright, and EI Paso, 1982. . Santa Fe Trail. It was our third an- Skip Miller. Before leaving, we all Emory, W. H. Notes of a Military Reconnais nual month-long trek on what we listened to "I Remember the Old, Old sance from Fort Leavenworth, In Mis souri, to San Diego, In California. New call the New Mexico Study Tour, but Trail," Danita Ross's wonderful reading York: H. Long & Brother, 1848. it was our first time to follow the of selections from Marian Sloan Russell's Ghent, W. J. The Road to Oregon: A Chroni Santa Fe Trail. When advertising Land ofEnchantment. cle of the Great Emigrant Trail. NewYork: our trip to my classes, I told them, In Council Grove Deanne Wright Tudor Publishing Co., 1934. "We are going to turn one ofthe colle- gave us a tour of historical sites, es- Lane, Lydia Spencer. I Married a Soldier. ge's 15-seater vans into an old prai- 1893; reprint Albuquerque: University of rie schooner and head out the Santa pecially the Kaw Mission Museum, New Mexico Press, 1987. leaving with us a strong sense of Josiah Gregg. Commerce of the Prairies, ed. Fe Trail just like Kit Carson did place. Dr. David Clapsaddle treated by Max Moorhead. Norman: University when he was almost your age." us to a seven-course meal offascinat- of Oklahoma Press, 1954. Mattes, Merrill J. "Joseph Robidoux's Family: For those who took the bait there ing information while taking us Fur Traders and Trail Blazers," Overland was this extended statement in our through the Santa Fe Trail Center in Journal of the Oregon-California Trails syllabus (we gave three hours credit Larned. A musical presentation by Association, Vol. 6, NO.3 (1988). in philosophy and three in history): Mark Gardner at Bent's Fort trans- Meyer, Marian. Mary Donoho: New First "This year Asburians will follow in ported us into the atmosphere of Lady of the Santa Fe Trail. Santa Fe: Art cient City Press, 1991. the footsteps of two great Kentucki- camp fires under starry skies at the Morgan, Dale L. "Miles Goodyear and the ans, Kit Carson and Susan Shelby close of hot, dusty days. At La Junta Founding of Ogden," Utah Historical Magoffin, by going to New Mexico via John Carson became for us his great- Quarterly, Vol. XXI, NO.3 (July 1953). the Santa Fe Trail. Carson and Ma- grandfather, retelling in autobio~ Morgan, Dale L" ed. The West of William H. goffin, perhaps the Trail's best graphical fashion the life story of the Ashley, 1822-1838. Denver: The Old West known son and daughter, were both Trail's most famous traveler. Publishing Co., 1964. born within 30 miles of Asbury Col- Olmsted, Virginia L. The Ortiz Family: The First lege-Carson in Richmond and Ma- At Rayado we stayed overnight at Six Generations. Albuquerque: Olmsted, 1978. goffin in Danville. The Beginning-of- the Kit Carson Museum, site of the Phillips, Paul Chrisler. The Fur Trade, Vol. II. the-Trail Monument in New Frank- old Maxwell/Carson ranch, with din Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1961. lin, Missouri, reads, 'This trail, one nerdand breakfast d hprepared . by the Rabideau, Clyde M. The Robidous in North of the great highways of the world stu ents un er t e gracIOUS supervi- America, 350 years 1643-1993. Honolulu, stretched nearly one thousand miles, sion of Steven Zimmer and his staff. HI: Privately Published, 1993. from Missouri to New Mexico, from Rod Taylor sang western songs as Rabideau, Clyde M. The Robidous, a Breed Apart. Plattsburgh, New York: Privately civilization to sundown.' In 1986 the setting sun gave place to a thous- Published, 1998. Trail historian Marc Simmons wrote and stars. Danita Ross met us in Reeve, Frank D., ed. "The Charles Bent Pa 'Now the Santa Fe Trail belongs to Santa Fe and took us for the after- pers," New Mexico Historical Review, noon to her home, which was for us the keening wind. It belongs to sum- "the inn at the end of the trail." Vol. 30, NO.2 (April 1955). mer rains and to the fearful snows of Robidoux, Orral Messmore. Memorial to the Robidoux Brothers. Kansas City: Smith winter. It is owned by the prairie Each student was required to Grieves Company, 1924. dog, the jackrabbit, the rattlesnake. . keep a reflective journalofthe study- Simmons, Marc. "New Mexico's Spanish Ex .. And for a brief interval it is mine, tour. Here are a few excerpts from i1es," New Mexico Historical Review, Vol. by adoption, since I choose to stake these modern travelers over the old 59, NO.1 (Jan. 1984). my claim to a tiny fragment of its Trail: Stollsteimer, Robert S. and Dorothy Causey, Christian and Amanda: The life and shining history.' And so with us. As "In Independence, MO, we visited times of a pioneer family of the San Juan we move from New Franklin to Inde- the National Frontier Trail Center Country, Colorado. Montrose, CO: Pri pendence to Council Grove to and learned about many personal vately Published, 1996. Pawnee Rock, Fort Larned, Bent's testimonies ofthe travelers of the ac- Wallace, William Swilling. Antoine Robidoux, Fort, Raton Pass, Rayado, Fort Un- tual trail. This is what I enjoy 1794-1869. Los Angeles: Glen Dawson, 1953. ion and finally to Santa Fe we shall most-to read the journals ofthe kids, Weber, David J. "Louis Robidoux," in Trap hope, through informed historical men, and women. I can relate much pers of the For West, ed. by LeRoy R. imagination, to sense what Simmons better to their descriptions than to Hafen. Lincoln: University of Nebraska calls, 'the aura of magic and enchant- those of history books or tour guides. Press, 1965, 1972. ment which seems to cling to every The journals are rich in character... Williams, Joseph. Narrative of a Tour from the State of Indiana to the Oregon Terri blood-stained, dusty, history-laden The style of writing already tells so tory in the Years 1841-2.1843; reprint, segment of the trail's thousand-mile much of the person.... The museum New York: Cadmus Book Shop, 1921. length.''' also had several murals (visionary!)
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to help us imagine whatit looked like the mess hall, some were walking the people of Rayado Ranch-An on the trail-the white, canvas around in the bunkhouse. Others nette, Nancy, Debbie, Chris, Susan, covered wagons with large metal and walked out the door as 1 walked in, and their leader Steve Zimmer." wood wheels carrying loads of sup but oddly enough, 1 was never no (Solveig, Estonia) plies, ... the oxen, mules, and on ticed there. 1 heard the sound of "Everyone pitched in and helped some occasions horses, worn out those working in the mess hall call clean up and then Rod Taylor came from the lack ofjuicy and green grass ing the soldiers to one of two daily over and played some wonderful and water, or from the burning sun meals, but I was never invited to eat cowboy music. I was struck by how and hardships on the road." (Solveig, at the table. Strange how I could lonely the music sounded and I be Estonia) watch it all happen and never be no gan to think of home. 1 have been "We circled the wagons at Council ticed." (Jeremy, Kentucky) away from home since January and Grove for the night." (Cathy, South ''Yesterday we went to Bent's the songs of longing that Rod sang Carolina) Fort. This was my favorite thus far. really spoke to me. The sun set while "This evening Deanne Wright ... What I really enjoyed was seeing he was playing and I saw the most said that the Santa Fe Trail was a how people lived during that time." beautiful sky I had ever seen. With trail ofimagination. How true this is. (Cathy, South Carolina) no city lights to hide the stars, the Without imagination one cannot ex "Listening to Mark Gardner was sky was simply on fire with them. I perience this phantom of a monu also a high point. His expert finger realized at that point that even in ment to American history. Even picking sounded wonderful to my the midst of my loneliness, God was though the wagons which once ears that had not heard music in a there." (Chris. New York) blazed through the land we now while. Music is one thing that must "Arriving in Santa Fe was glori tread have ceased their moving stick with a society wherever it is, so ous. We finally arrived at the desti slowly onward, 1 firmly believe that that we can look beyond ourselves a nation of the Trail. But our excite the spirit which once gripped these bit. Even on the difficult journeys of ment was only a fraction of what the people moving westward is still alive the Santa Fe Trail, the travelers still travelers of the Trail must have in this land which we are touring. As needed music to tie them in with the felt-elation, relief, wonder, and ex long as people like Marc Simmons rest of society. One of music's pur haustion." (Cathy, South Carolina) and Deanne Wright continue to care poses is to link cultures, people, the And so the museums, the natural about the heritage· which they so present to the past, etc." ( Kevin, wonders, the wonderful people, and wholeheartedly embrace, the spirit Kentucky) the Santa Fe Trail itself continue to that gripped the settlers of yester "Ah-New Mexico at last! I love work on modern travelers something year will never die." (Jeremy, Ken this country-the way the flat plains of the magic of long ago. tucky) suddenly give way to steep moun "I think our best stop, planned or tains.... The vastness of the land unplanned, was when we looked at overwhelms me. 1 love the way the the wagon ruts.... The ruts had as morning or evening light shines great an effect on me as seeing Semi upon the different folds of the nary Ridge at Gettysburg-not the hills-making ever-changing shad monuments but the ridge itself. ows. ...I love the colors-the HOOF PRINTS Commercializing the Santa Fe Trail bleached brown of the fields and the seems absurdly oxymoronic to me. green of the pinon-covered moun -TRAILTIDBITS- The whole lure ofthe trail for me is to tains and the intense blue ofthe sky. The 1998 Rendezvous was subject feel the wilderness and frontier I love the sunset we saw last of a nice article in the Kansas Hu spirit which provides so much ofthe night-the misty haze directly above manities Council publication, Home folklore that surrounds it. Commer the setting sun which produced a town Humanities (Sept/Oct 1998). cialization removes the mystery that flaming pink and orange fire, while The program on music and leisure on • necessarily dwells in the imagina the rest of the sky gradually became the Trail was funded, in part, by the tion. As my lack of interest in west cloudless and deep blue. I love the Kansas Humanities Council. ern history attests, I have never felt vastness of the stars-so many more . • • • • • much pull from such a frontier spirit. than back in Kentucky and such a The Rio Grande Sun, Espanola, The wagon ruts provided a sort of larger view of the sky out here-even NM, ran a feature article about the awakening for me along these lines. with mountains and mesas sur SFTA Rendezvous on September 10, For the first time 1 had a personal rounding on all sides, the sky still 1998. A summary of the entire pro feeling about this frontier spirit." seems to be an entire unbroken half gram was included, and presena (Erich, Illinois) sphere of tiny lights." (Kevin, Ken tions by northern New Mexico's Ci "One thing is for certain-Dr. tucky) priano Vigil, El Rito, NM, and Gil David Clapsaddle is in love with the "Today we reached the Philmont Vigil, Tesuque Pueblo, were high subject ofthe Santa Fe Trail. ... For Scout Ranch where the Kit Carson lighted. the first time today, 1 truly used my Museum is located.... I am overpow • • • • imagination as it relates to this trip. ered by the people's friendliness and SFTA Ambassador Paul F. Ben 1 stepped into the barracks at Fort generosity.... 1 am not used to com trup, long certified as the "Fastest Larned and saw the soldiers there. ing across people who serve others Tongue in the West," set a record at They were all busy, some working in for their own enjoyment. Such were the Fort Larned NHS candlelight
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tour, October 10, 1998. The tour and senior member ofthe staffat the Society's newsletter Trail Ruts 2. guide asked ail participants to re National Frontier Trails Center, In •• • • main silent, and Bentrup did from dependence, MO, announced her re Participants at the recent Rendez 7:30-8:10 p.m. This was so rare that tirement effective October 23. While vous may have missed one of the an affidavit was prepared on the at the Trails Center she created nu structures on the grounds of the spot, signed by five credible wit merous changing exhibits, oversaw a Santa Fe Trail Center. The sod nesses. It will probably never hap major expansion of the permanent house was destroyed by a storm June pen again. In fact, keeping quiet for exhibit gallery, and began the pro 28. Fortunately no artifacts were de 40 minutes is all that Bentrup has cess of building a collection of arti stroyed and no historic buildings been able to talk about since. facts. She was also responsible for sustained major damage from the • • • • the Center's education program until storm. Cognizant that sod houses The grand opening of the New recently. In retirement, Cartwright were not intended to be permanent Mexico State Library, Archives, and plans to do some volunteer work on a structures, the Center plans to re Records Center's new facility was museums partnership program for build. held Saturday, October 17, conclud SFTA and pursue writing a book on • • • • ing a three-day program. The ad William J. Hinchey, whose diary she Beverly Howell has assumed the dress is 1205 Camino Carlos Rey, edited for Wagon Trachs. Best duties of educational directer at the Santa Fe. wishes in retirement Anna Belle. Santa Fe Trail Center. She will im • • • • • • • • plement existing museum programs, The new Lewis and Clark Nation Dr. David Sandoval was the key develop new educational activities, al Historic Trail Interpretive Center note speaker at the Cimarron Heri work with museum docents, and ex at Great Falls, MT, was dedicated tage Center's Living History Days in pand the museum's outreach pro July 4. It cost $6 million and is oper Boise City, OK. His presentation gram. She previously taught English ated by the USDA Forest Service. It was "Carros, Caminos, and Chica and art. The new gift shop assistant is arranged so visitors follow the ex nos." Dr. Doug Watson, Shawnee, at the Center is Debby Gore. Debby plorers' path and meet the Indians OK, presented a historical charac also maintains a part-time position they encountered along the way. terization of Will Rogers. The event at the Jordaan Memorial Library in ••• • featured hands-on activities for Larned. A new guidebook, Along the Trail school children from the area. The • • • • with Lewis and ClOTh, by Barbara Elementary Gifted and Talented Larry and Carolyn Mix have re Fifer and Vicky Soderber, is de Program in Boise City co-sponsored designed the WetlDry Routes Home signed to help travelers follow the the event. Page on the Internet, making it more route of the expedition. It is avail • • • • attractive and easier to access. The able for $17.95, plus shipping, from The ninth annual Santa Fe Trail newest addition to this site is' the Montana Magazine, PO Box 5630, Tour in Cimarron County, OK was complete Wagon Trachs Index, Vols. Helena MT 59604, (800) 64-1105. scheduled for October 3. This event, I-X. Larry reports that the site is vis • • • • begun in 1990 by the Cimarron ited about one thousand times per The NPS has published two items Countv- Historical Societv... has be- month and e-mail has been received ofinterest to trail organizations: The come a tradition continued by the Ci from several foreign countries. The Economic Impacts and Uses ofLong marron Heritage Center. address is
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CDTS, 3704 N Charles St #601, Bal with two poems. She is coeditor ofan CHARLES W. FRIBLEY'S TRAIL timore MD 21218, (410) 235-9610. anthology of Northern California Po DIARY AND LEITERS, • • •• ets entitled River Voices: Poets of The Palace of the Governors in Butte, Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity 1857-1859, PART II Santa Fe is preparing a special exhi Counties. edited by David L. Richards bition, "Pioneer Jews of New Mexico, "At Home in Santa Fe, 1850" em 1821-1881," to open in June 2000. braces a collective voice for the This is the result of a challenge gift women of Santa Fe, imagining what from Susan and Felix Warburg of the "stranger" might experience: San Francisco. Matching funds are "mud hovels" and unsavory smells; required. This will be the first ex still, traditional hospitality comes hibit to explore the origins, roles, forth, "and you, stranger,! are wel and impact of early Jewish pioneers come." "Santa Fe Trail Today" ac on the history of New Mexico. For knowledges the mysterious pull of more information contact Museum of the Trail, and the poet longs for the New Mexico Foundation, PO Box romantic "stars" only to be disap 2065, Santa Fe NM 87504-2065. pointed. Still, there is something to -."...• • • • • be felt in the "vastness." "The Washita Symposium: Past, •• • • Present, and Future" is scheduled AT HOME IN SANTA FE, 1850 for November 12-14 at Cheyenne, OK. The program includes tours of We keep our windows shuttered, Fort Supply and the Washita Battle our doors closed against field National Historic Site. Several the stench of offal In the streets. panels will discuss the past and pres . I ent, and Supertindent Sarah Craig In our courtyards ""'----" head will discuss the future. the earth is baked hard, THE introduction to Fribley's Trail • • •• we do daily chores and diary and letters appeared in the last Harold and Cornelia Arens, Hol cherish the few flowers that issue, with the text of the diary. His land, Michigan, appear to be the first relieve our interior air. letters are reproduced below. These to complete the SFTA Traveler's Cre Our houses may look like were either published in the Muncy dential and receive the Traveler's mud hovels to you strangers. Luminary or provided to the editor Certificate. They were participants To us, 'raising our children, by Robert W. Fribley. . in the Elderhostel tour ofthe Trail in feeding our men in October and obtained their certifi white-washed rooms with LETTERS cates at Arrow Rock, Missouri, fol cool windows set deep, lowing the tour. April 29, 1857, "Squatters Camp No. 1 • ••• with the bright weavings from on Coon Creek, Douglas county, SFTA charter member W. Earl our fathers' flocks of sheep Kansas ter.," from the Muncy Lumi nary, May 19, 1857: Givens, formerly of Las Vegas, NV, and our sisters near at hand, Mr. [W. P. I.] Painter [editor]: died at his new home in Brighton, It was the request of many of my MI, September 13, 1998. He was 79. to us our homes friends at or previous to the time of my Sympathy is extended to his widow, are lovely departure from Pennsylvania, that I Mary, also a charter member of and you, stranger, should write, and as they expressed it, SFTA. are welcome. tell them all about Kansas. Now this is a •• •• task which I have not the presumption SANTA FE TRAIL TODAY to undertake. Nor am Iable under pres TRAIL TROUBADOUR ent circumstances, to accommodate • My feet each one of them in any reasonable -TRAFFICE IN VERSE- follow their feet. length of time with a private letter. I breathe the dust, Sandra M. Doe, Editor Consequently, as they are all readers search for stars. of the Luminary, and if not they should Quality poetry that demonstrates City lights be, I shall address them through its col authentic emotion, original images, fill the prairies, umns, giving as fair a statement of and skill in craftsmanship is solic shopping malls things as is possible for me to do. ited for this column. Poetry in open in endless creep. Two weeks travel, by Rail Road and or closed form which addresses the Still, there are places Steamboat, brought me to Parkville, a history, realism, romance, and diver where, at dawn, small town situated on the North East sity of the Trail should be sent to I feel those present bank of the Missouri River, eighteen Sandra M. Doe, Dept. of English, before the traders. miles below Leavenworth and twelve miles above Kansas City. This is decid Campus Box 32, Metropolitan State Wind sweeps edly the best place for Kansas Emi College of Denver, PO Box 173362, through vastness, grants to ship to, and especially for Denver CO 80217-3362. we are all, those going south of the Kaw or Kansas California poet Patricia Welling the many generations, River. It is surrounded by the most fertile ham-Jones returns to Wagon Trachs here. and thickly settled portion of upper Mis-
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souri and horses, cattle, hogs, wagons, April, I found our old friend Col. [Jer-' demeanors previous to the opening of 35 provisions, board, etc can be had here ome] Kunkel. of Fairfield, partially en their Administration; and to com as cheap as at any other point this side gaged as Governor of Kansas. Though mence anew. This does not, nor will not, of St Louis. not filling the Executive chair, he said by far, render general satisfaction. I have now spent over a month he had occupied the Gubernatorial Truly yours among the Missourians, the Delaware, bed since the resignation of Gov. [John Chos. W. FRIBLEY Kaw and Shawnee Indians, and the W.] Geary.36 The Col. looks well and squatter sovereign of Kansas and am says he feels better, and has enjoyed February 28, 1858, Lecompton, Kansas at present included [in the] list of the greater health here, than in Pennsylva Territory, from the Robert W. Fribley latter. The most of the country through nia, at any time subsequent to his re Collection: which I have traveled in [is] included in turn from the Mexican Campaign. My Dear sister Lissie, the Delaware and Shawnee reserves, The most of the settlers of this portion Your letter so long looked for arrived which together with the reserves of the of Douglas county are from Pennsylva some time ago and I would have an .' other Indian tribes, are said to em nia and at least one fourth of the in swered it sooner but, I had to go away brace the finest portions of the Territory. habitants of Lecompton are from the about the time I received it. You say The land is all a rolling prairie with the "Old Keystone" State, among whom you were waiting for me to write to you t, exception of the river bottoms, which are Messrs. William and Dr. Samuel Lo before you would write to me. Now this • are alluvials similar to those on the Mis gan, Brothers in-law of Gov. Geary. is rather a poor excuse for Ihave writen souri. but not so great extent - These Gentlemen well worthy of a still closer to you all more than a hundred times I are usually well timbered with Cotton relation to that inestimable, heroic and believe, and when I write to one I write wood. walnut. elm, hack berry and patriotic Statesmen, John W. Geary. to all and osk you all to answer it. Don't sycamores. Timber is found only on the Muncy is also represented here, and think that because I direct my letter to creeks and rivers; that on the creeks is be it said to her honor, as she is in every Father and Mother, they are not for you principally oak, and in places of fine other section of the Western continent. too. quality, though not great in quantity. General [William] Brindle37 and Lady As I have not heard from home for The scarcity of timber, however, will not [Mrs. Brindle, whose maiden name was some time I have come to the conclu prove as a great an obstacle here, as Wynkoop], friend Harry [Petriken?]38 sion that [brother] John is on his way for in other portions of the great Mississippi and Mr. [Edward W.J Wyncoop Kansas again, and am now looking for Valley, from the fact that we have an [Wynkoop] of Philadelphia, are here him every day. We will be very glad to abundance of white lime and sand and enjoying good health. Last Thurs see John back here again, Jerrem. stone rock, finely adapted to building day night was spent, in company with wants him badly to get here to take and fencing; and yet this is far from be Col. Kunkel, Harry and John, at the charge of the Ferry. As I told you in ing what Pennsylvanians term a stony Marshall Hotel. at Marshall. This place is some of my former letters I had my like country. As has been before stated, situated on the great thoroughfare be ness taken, and was going to send it the country is all undulating or rolling, so tween the States and the boundless Home with Harry Petrikin but he was at much so that few sections of prairie are west at the crossing of the Lecompton home before I knew that He had found unbroken by divides or ridges, of and Bloomington road, equally distant started so that I did not get to send it as moderate elevation. The rocks appear from these two places, twelve miles Idesired, and you will not get till Jerrem. in the sides of these divides and on the west of Lawrence and eighteen east of Goes Home which will be in Mayor per tops of the narrow ones, while the land Topeka. It will be the principle place of haps the latter part of April. ... between them, and on the tops of the business between the four above ... Next week I expect to go out on broad ones, is of the finest quality and named points, and deserves the atten a survey, and will be gone about eight entirely free from rock. tion of every Eastern man coming west days. Ionly got [home?] [from?] survey Stock, grain, provisions, board, etc., to start in business. Geographically it is ing one town last thursday. Times are are exceedingly high in the territory at in the center of the United States; and geting verry good now in Kansas, Provi present. The Lecompton prices stated bids as fair to become the Capital of sions are becoming quite cheap, and nearly thus, and are on the ascending the U.S. in 1857 as any other town or city money a little more plenty. scale: Flour, six dollars per hundred, west of the AIleghanies. We have come to the conclusion corn, two dollars per bushel. bacon, The travel to Kansas, from Kansas, here that Kansas will be admitted un twenty cents per pound, eggs, thirty and in Kansas is truly immense. The der the Lecompton swindle if it is and cents per dozen, while butter is seldom .- boats when coming up the river are all the Free State men who were elected heard of. and board is eight dollars per literally jammed with passengers and on the 4th of January do not get their week, and one fifty per day. Wages on their return they take with them hun certificates of election, there will cer are good, but there is not much de dreds of disappointed adventurers, tainly be warm times. But at present I mand for labor as there is little doing. who came expecting to see the whole good order prevails throughout the Ter Freight from Qanders [Quindaro?] to country from the Missouri shore; while ritory. There are a great many persons Lawrence, a distance of about 30 miles the different roads through the territory coming into the territory now, and we is one dollar per hundred. Claims are are thronged with coaches, foot men expect a great many more when the selling from five dollars to five thousand (carpet sack infantry) and Emigrant Navigation opens. There is a Boat lying cash. The Land Office opened on the Trains. at Kansas City Now waiting for the ice 20th inst. The Delaware Trust lands will [Territorial] Secretary [Frederick P.J to run out of the Kansas River so that it be in market on the 22d of June, when Stanton39 is now here at the head of can come up. It was built for the Kansas that portion of them not squatted on the Executive Department, awaiting River Trade and draws nine inches of will be sold under the hammer. Since the arrival of Gov. [Robert J.] Walker. waterwhen it is light, and is to carry sixty the fourth instant, the weather has Their policy as made known by Mr. tons on fourteen inches of water. The been exceedingly, and almost inoces Stanton in his Address, at the reception Boat is called The Minnie Belle.... santly cold, frequently freezing three dinner given on the 16th, is to enforce Verry Truly from your Brother inches of ice on water standing in open the law at whatever hazard of expense Charlie. air. it may incur, and to pardon all those P.S. On arriving in Lecompton on the 3 of who have committed crimes and mis- ... To night we are in Our Cabin. Jer-
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rem and the other boys are telling sto health I will be with you next Nov. one taken every year and cooked and ries about the Indians. The weather has year.... canned up and sent all over the world. been very changable during the past ... I have noticed two modes by Here they can be sent East and West month. The river has been frozen over which an independent fortune may be and North and South. All that is wanted and the people have all got their ice acquired, one of which would require is the cans. The buffalo are ready. With houses filled. But last week we had a some considerable capital to start, the a capital of three to ten thousand a fer?] and the river is now clear of ice. other not so mUCh. New Mexico is the company could make a fortune in a But .to day the weather is quite cool greatest sheep raising country on the year or two. Who in the States would again. continent. Sheep and goats are the not buy a can of boiled buffalo meat stock and wealth of New Mexico. And just for the novelty of the thing? The tin August 19 & 23, 1858, from the Robert could be bought and taken to where it W. Fribley Collection: yet there is not a blanket or yard of cloth manufactured in the territory by would be wanted and there made up Council Grove, Kansas machinery. The demand for woolen by a tinsmith and sealed right in the Indian Nation goods is great and it is partially sup camp. If I had two thousand dollars August 19, 1858 plied at enormous cost from the States. and a couple of others with the same My Dear Parents, Sisters and brothers: Wool sells from six to twenty cents per Ib amount would join me I would risk it at I am happy to announce our safe by the hundred ton. It is the principle any rate. arrival at this place on the 16th. We left export from the Territory. It is sent to the Independence, [Missouri]. August 23 " Sante Fe on the 2d Inst, making the trip Eastern States, manufactured and sent We arrived here all safe and sound of six hundred and seventy five miles in back. The mountain streams afford today and to my great disappointment fourteen days, including one days de ample power, and labor is cheaper I find that my letters have been sent on tention from break down and the loss than in any other portion of the western the road and I have missed them all. I of a mule. We had very pleasant continent. I can see no reason why a scarcely know what to do, not hearing weather all the time, saw no Indians ex company could not do well to try an . from any of you in so long and now not cept four Utahs, who came to our enterprise of this character. Besides knowing when I shall again hear. I am camp at Okato [Ocate Creek], thirty their trade need not be confined to not going to Sante Fe again [but he miles east of Ft. Union in New Mexico. New Mexico alone. There is Sonora and did]. I shall remain here a few days, From the Big Arkansas River 90 miles Chiwawa anaton[?] Arizona country to about a week, and then I do not know east, the plains were thronged with be supplied. At present their surplus which way I shall go, perhaps to Illinois buffaloes, thousands came within gun stock of sheep are being driven to Cali and perchance to Alburquerque New shot of our wagons each day. Atone fornia. Besides these, there are a great Mexico, the latter is doubtful. There is place we felt apprehensive that they many driven from other portions to some sickness here at present. I am would rush through our camp at night California. On our way down from Mex heavier than ever I was before. The and stampede our mules but we were ico we met a drove of ten thousand for only letter Ireceived here one from our not troubled. California, these were from Missouri. A unfortunate friend Oscar McKilvery The trip has been vastly more pleas Mexican came in with us as a passen from that melancholy place the insane ant than I had anticipated not with ger, Francisco Charves [Chavez], who asylum. Oscar writes a good letter. His standing my mate was, in the full sense talks some of starting a manufacturing account of his troubles brought tears to of the term, a border ruffian, and the enterprise upon a large scale but he my eyes. Poor fellow. I hope to hear of most disagreeable man I ever had was not certain as to how it would re his recovery soon. My love to all. Write anything to do with. In profanity, black sult. He is a smart, enterprising fellow, to Johns and Iwill have him forward my guardism and blasphemy he ap was splendidly educated in the States, letters to me. I will write soon again. proached perfection more nearly than had a fine fortune left him to which he Yours any other man I ever saw. F;'ittsburg made some fine acquisitions in the Chas. W. Fribley Section boatsmen would sink into insig stock business in California. If you nificance in his presence. I would like should see some of our Pennsylvania December 22, 1858, Independence, this business of travelling with the mails manufacturers you might call their at Missouri. from the Muncy Luminary, if they would pay the old wages, which tention to the subject. The machinery January 23, 1859. were fourty dollars for hands and sixty can be freighted from kansas City to Mr. Painter, for conductors, but now they are pay Sante Fe or AIburquerque for from During the last six months of our pil ing thirty for hands and forty-five for seven to ten dollars per hundred. The grimage in the "Great West" we have conductors, hence I think I shall not go Mexicans will freight the cheapest and crossed the "Great A merican Desert" • any farther. Iwould like to go one trip to with the greatest expidition. See Rich or four times, within the same period we California on Lieut. Beach's Road, but Hillyard and H. T. Gray. This country is have been placed in frequent inter they say they are not paying any better better suited to M. A. Gray than is Lock course with the people of different por wages on that Road, so that Iam not in Haven at present, at least such is my tions of Upper Missouri. and by virtue of • there either. We expected to have opinion. supposition, that the people of the been in Independence by or before As for the second business. You are West Branch Valley, are yet in one re this time, but orders were left for us to not aware Isuppose that in Boston they spect as they were in days gone by, viz remain here till the mail comes up from put up boiled and roast beef in small tin always willing at least to hear from the there. It will be here tomorrow and then cans and sell them all over the conti West, we are led to knock for the ad we will go on in. I am writing this so as to nent. But it is true that they do. In Sante mission of another communication to have it ready to mail to you as soon as, I Fe these cans, which hold two pounds the columns of the Luminary. put into the States. I have not heard of beef, sell for one dollar each. Before On first coming to the Western from any of you for two months and it we left Sante Fe M. A. Purves bought Country, we purposed contributing appears to be as many years. about sixty cans and we had splendid regularly to the Luminary, but owing to ... Oh! that I could see you all and roast and boiled beef all the way the variety of our occupations, and the be with you if but for a few days or down. Now it is a fact that within two active and unsettled nature of most of hours. But rested assured that if I am hundred and fifty miles of the Missouri th[illegible] we found it impossible, blessed with life and a continuence of border thousands of buffalo can be even to keep up with our private corre-
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spondence, but here-after we hope to by a company of U. S. Troops. standing all the unfavorable reports, be able to carry out our former project. We had thought to give in this article and the sad experience of hundreds We were one of a company of four a general account of the Sante Fe who have visited the mines, and have that left Independence on the fifth of road, the country through which it returned, the papers published in up July, with the first weekly mail that ever passes and of what we saw of New per Missouri and Eastern Kansas, are crossed the Plains to New Mexico, and Mexico; but; as doubtless a deep inter filled to over-flowing with the most flat reached Santa Fe on the 24th, making est is felt by many to know as near as tering accounts of new discoveries be the trip through in less than twenty possible, the truth relative to the gold ing made, and large fortunes being days, not withstanding, we were de diggings in Western Kansas, we will de dug from the earth in a few days. Farm tained two days by high water at one fer that for the present and take up this. ers, Mechanics, Editors, Traders, Black place, and our progress greatly im On the 14th of July, at Turkey Creek, legs, Rumsellers and thieves labor har peded throughout the entire trip by over three hundred miles west of Inde moniously to raise and sustain an ex rains and muddy roads. Our return trip pendence, we met the first company citement. was made in about sixteen days travel, that we saw returning from Pikes peak. On our return from Mexico, in Octo though the time specified in the The party consisted of seven men. They ber, we met numbers of trains and hun "Schedule", in which the mail is to be said that they had thoroughly pros dreds of persons, en route for Pikes carried frorn Independence to Santa pected the country - that they found Peak, the most of whom will not get Fe, and conversely, is twenty days. A some gold, but that it was very fine and through till next spring. Large compa mail route has been established be scarce. They said that they had lost nies are camped on all the creeks be tween Santa Fe, in New Mexico, and one year's time, their outfit, and their tween Council Grove and the Arkan Stockton, in California, via AIbequrque labor, and had found no gold. Several sas River, that afford any timber. They and Fort Tejon. This route connects with of them had been to California, and will remain here till spring. the two routes from Missouri to New represented themselves as being ex Great preparations are being made Mexico, one from Independence to perienced miners. here for the Pikes Peak emigration in Santa Fe, the other from Neosho to A I When returning in August. we the spring. Large lots of mules, cattle buqurque. The "Schedule Time" be passed three or four trains at Walnut and wagons are being collected to tween Independence and Stockton is Creek, over 200 miles from Independ supply the demand. Stage lines are sixty days. The route from Neosho to ence. Their statements were but a about to be formed, running from the Stockton is called the central or thirty repetition of those received from the mines to Eastern Kansas. Several lines fifth parallel route. The overland mails, party that we met in July. We have are already advertised however, are carried through with seen different persons in different We do not offer any advice, but much greater dispatch on both the places who have been to the "New El . merely state the facts as they appear Northern and on the Southern route, on dorado", but we have never seen any to us, after and protracted observa the former running from st. Joseph via gold nor have we seen any person that tion. Salt Lake to San Francisco in thirty days, has seen any considerable quantity Yours C.W.F. and on the southern route from St. Louis from there. We will give you an extract to San Francisco in 25 days. The differ from a letter that appeared recently in January 22, 1859, Independence, Mis ence of time and travel in the central the "Warsaw Democrat," of this state. souri, from the Muncy Luminary, Feb. and southern routes, may be summed The writer says - "Well, I have been to 22, 1859: up, and explained in the familiar old the famous Pikes Peak Gold mines. When the old year "Shoved off Lts saying that "money makes the mare There is no doubt about gold being mortal coil" and the new took uo, the go". As is generally understood the there, and while I was in the mines, I march of time, we found ourself in the central and southern routes were es made from one to three dollars per day city of Richmond, the county seat of tablished principally for the purpose of [2 or 3 words illegible]. But this is no Ray County Missouri. Richmond is situ testing the practicability of a Pacific money in this country - it takes all a man ated six miles north of the Missouri River, Rail Road, and to ascertain the com can make in a day to buy his supper at and fifty miles East of the western boun P9rative advantages of the two routes, night. The snow is four feet deep here, dry of the state, and is surrounded by but it is very evident that they have and you fellows from the States that an extremely beautiful country, which been dealt with in terms of vast ine come out here to spend the winter, will is greatly rolling and variagated by quality. have a good time playing "freeze out". broad farms surveying tracts of the pri There is reason to apprehend that I said that it took all a fellow can make meval forrest, and thrifty fruit orchards, • the mails upon the Plains have been in in a day to buy his supper at night, and the soil is unsurpassed by any portion of tercepted by the Indians. The mail due here is proof; flour is selling for 75 cents the state and the atmosphere is as here last Sunday morning has not ar per Ib, butter at $1 per Ib; and eggs pure as that which faces the snowy t rived here yet to-day, (Wednesday). from three to four bits per dozen, and summits of the Sierra Nevada, or the There is greater cause for alarm, than the mines are full of sharpers, thieves, golden crest of Pikes Peak. For around the mere fact of their being behind blacklegs and speculators. You see a all this beauty and congeniality, there time. The mail that arrived last week white man has a poor show for a is a very apparent effect of some re bro't the rumor that the mail from chance in such a crOWd. I am in doubt tarding cause that operates very ma Neosho, en route for Albuqurque, was about these mines ever paying much, terially against the growth and im destroyed. This route lays through to say from one to three dollars per day. In provement of the country. That cause Camanche country, and they have ex the last four years I have travelled over is as apparent as the effect, and is writ pressed a determination that a road this country as much as any other ten all over the country in characters of shall not pass through it. If this rumor is American, and have found fine parti living darkness. Richmond has been a true it is highly probable that the mail cles of Gold in almost every place I town for the last forty years, and today on the Santa Fe route has shared the prospected, and yet it can't be found she is in the rear of Leavenworth, Gun same fate. Lieut. Beale, of Chester in quantities sufficient to justify a fellow dal [Quindaro?], Wyandott, Lawrence, County, Pa, was in charge of the Com to stick down his peg and go in." Topeka and a number of others, all pany. He was surveying and establish This letter is dated Fort Union, New towns of less than four years growth, ing the road. They were also escorted Mexico, Oct. 19, 1858. But notwith- and with but few exceptions not pos-
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sessing near the material advantages assembled in the street and in the yard eastern border of the Great Desert that she does. But Richmond and cir in front of the Courthouse. Auctioneers Keeping nearly the same general cumjacent country, by no means con were stationed on the court house bearing, it crosses the northern tributar stitute an isolated case, the same is steps, on the fence and in wagons in ies of the Arkansas and strikes that true of every town and vicinity in the the streets by whom negroes for hire, stream at the "big bend", thence with state. and negroes, horses, mules and cattle a more westerly bearing, in some It is here that we have a practical il for sale were cried offat the same time, places following its northern bank, at lustration of the great want of econ constituting a medley resembling in others leaving it several miles to the omy, that attends the workings of the some respects, that which many may south, to the crossing twenty miles institution of slavery in this Latitude, to remember to have heard in the neigh above Ft. Atkinson, and about four say nothing of its other various tenden borhood of the show ground at the hundred miles from Kansas City. From cies of a doubtful character. The negro time that "Barnum's Humbug" visited this point, the Pike Peak route contin acquires such prominence, in all slave the west Branch Valley, attended by ues its course along the northern bank states that he is looked upon as the Gen. Tom Thumb, the "Baby Elephant" of the river, and the Sante Fe route grand pre-requisite, and prime essen and many other wonders of nature. crosses, taking a more southerly tial to happiness, respectability and Several of those that were placed course. prosperity. And all this must necessarily upon the block bore prominent indica The Sante Fe road is said to be the follow, where negroes and not real es tion that a liberal flow of white man's best natural wagon road on the conti tate and virtue are made the scale of blood coursed through their veins; and nent, and its eastern half is unquestion estimating both wealth and merit. it is by no means a rare thing to see able the best; for though it crosses sev Farmers in this country generally live in slaves in this country with straight light eral creeks, generally not bridged, that poor houses and their farms are poorly hair and complexion as fair as that of have bold banks on either side, and a fenced. their owner's. Yet in the face of all this, large number of sloughs, which, They purchase negroes instead of few places can be found where the though narrow, are difficult to cross in building barns, cribs and stables, in the people are more clamorous in their de wet weather, owing to the light and summer their crops are exposed on ac nounciations against the negro lovers mellow nature of the prairie soil, it is for count of breechy stock and poor and amalgamationists of the North the most part abundantly supplied with fences. In the winter the crops are all than they are here, while whatever water, wood and grass, which more required to keep the stock alive, there may unfortunately be of that sen than counteract the adverse ten horses, mules, cattle, sheep, hogs, all timent in the North, it is very certain that dency of a little mud. A considerable being exposed, without shelter, to the it is little more than theoretical, when portion of the other half of the road is beating storms and driving prairie compared with the high degree of characterized by scarcity of grass and winds. Voluntary labor is comparatively practice to which it is carried here. water and by deep sand. cheap, a hand that will perform as C.W.F. West Port, four miles from Kansas much labor as two negroes that will City is the first point of importance on cost from one thousand to fifteen hun February 25,1859, Independence, Mis the road. It is in Missouri, but built close dred dollars per month - Money is read souri, from the Muncy Luminary, to the line of Kansas. Sixteen miles from ily loaned with approved security, at March 22, 1859: West Port is Olathe, the county seat of rates of interest varying from ten to The Pikes Peak excitement is still run Johnson county, Kansas Territory. This is twenty per cent. But the [slave?] must ning high, and from present indications a flourishing town of less than two years be fed, clothed, sheltered, for whom it is but reasonable to anticipate a gen growth. It contains two or three good taxes must be paid and drivers pro eral exodus from the Upper Missouri in hotels, as many stores, several good vided, and who is liable to run off, to be the spring. Great numbers in all the bor private dwellings and a corresponding stolen, to die, to kill, perhaps his master, der counties are preparing to start for number of offices, shops, etc. Next in and be hung is the stern inflexible ne the modern Ophir at the earliest practi their order are Gardner, McKamish and cessity. cal period. It is reported that a party Black Jack. Near the latter place, H. It is the custom here, and the same is has started, or is to start in a few days Clay Pate of West Port Star of Empire, said to prevail in all slave states to col from Kansas City. It is by no means im was defeated in the campaign of fiHy lect, on the first of January, all the possible to go through at this season of six, by "Old John Brown.,,41 slaves that are at that time for sale or the year, but the trip must be made Passing several other towns which hire at the county seat of the county in with mules, and a large supply of feed cannot be seen for want of houses, we which they are owned, where they are for them will be necessary. To depend reach Burlingame, which is situated on • placed upon the block for sale or hire upon grass for cattle, will not be safe till the west bank of Switzler's Creek, and is as the case may be, to the highest bid from the first to the middle of May. nay. about eighty-five miles from Kansas , der. On the 1st inst., we saw quite a For those of your readers who may City. Council Grove, the next notable • number sold at Richmond and a still feel inclined to seek their fortunes point is situated on the west bank of the larger number hired. A II that were sold amongst the Spainish Peaks, and as Neosho, near fifty miles from Bur brought exorbitant prices - a girl four getting there is a matter of primary lingame, in the best portion of the Kaw teen years old, of medium size, sold for consideration, we will give a brief ac Indian Reservation. It contains several thirteen hundred and sixty dollars, a count of something more than half the stores, shops and dwellings and an In boy still younger was run up to near road from Kansas City to Pikes Peak, dian Mission,42 which does not appear twelve hundred dollars. The wages of having travelled this much of it four to be in a very flourishing condition as those that were hired, ranged from times during the past year, it and the there is little here except the building twenty five to two hundred and fifty Sante Fe road being coincident, for a and the superintendent. The Kaws pre dollars per year, besides clothes, taxes, distance of over four hundred miles. fer the pursuit of Buffalo to literary pur etc. Here was a scene, which to a per From Kansas City the course of the suits. Several fine farms have been son that had never seen a similar one, road is Southwesterly, leading over un opened during the past two or three was strikingly im pressive. A large dulating prairies of eastern Kansas, years, and last year a fine crop of corn crowd, perhaps one half of the whole which extends in that direction about was raised, which was being sold last male population of Ray county, had two hundred miles, it then enters the fall for from forty to fifty cents per
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bushel but it is in all probability up to tities. We found it growing in all parts of floor of the valley embraced between one dollar by this time. Council Grove the country east of the mountains, and the ranges of sand hills which extend has been for several years a principal west of the Cottonwood and in all the along either side, distant from each point of rendezvous for emigrants, valleys of New Mexico that we visited. other from one to two miles. In some hunters, trappers, traders and other ad Leaving the Cottonwood and cross places its course is through the middle venturers before starting out on the ing the Turkey Creeks, big and little, of the valley, at others it runs to one plains. Hundreds who have fallen vic and running respectively, we reach the side. These sand hills have a perpen tims of the red man's ire and treachery, Little Arkansas forty miles distant. This is dicular height of from twenty to fifty burning with a high hope, have been the first principle northern branch of the . feet above the surface of the water in gazed for the last tirne upon a land Big Arkansas, which like Cow Creek, the river, which is about the height of scape smiling in light of civilization. Fif-. Walnut Creek and Pawnee Fork, has a the general face of the country. The teen miles from Council Grove, at Dia deep, long and narrow channel, with sand is about the only impediment in mond Spring, one of the most beautiful but little fall, and though it drains a crossing the stream, the water seldom , fountains that ever gushed from the large scope of country, during the being so high as to make it impassable, earth, is Hall & Porter's U. States Mail greater portion of the time it contains while in dry seasons it contains no run Station, a large hotel, several stores little or no running water, but during ning water at all. At such times it is nec and a Blacksmith's Shop, will be I heavy storms and frequently for a day essary for travelers to dig for water for • opened here in the Spring. Twelve miles or two afterwards it is impassable. An themselves and their stock. This is done from Diarnond Spring is the Lost Spring, effort was made last summer to bridge by digging an oblong hole to the nec also a celebrated camping point. Six this stream, but the [missing word?] essary depth, and sinking a wagon teen miles further is Cottonwood finding themselves too weak to bring box, in which the water raises and its Creek, a western tributary of the that enterprise to a successfull issue, in sides prevent the sand from filling in. Neosho. This place affords water, vested their funds in a grocery which The bottoms along the Arkansas gener wood and grass in abundance, and a now does its share to give character to ally supply a good growth of grass. Grocery designed to minister to the the place. Forty miles from the Little Ar C.W.F. spiritual wants of travelers, opens its kansas, at the mouth of Walnut Creek, portals to a heterogeneous patron is Allison's trading post. This is the last June 6, 1859, Independence, Missouri, age. Here, the face of the country be settled point on the road to Sante Fe till from the Muncy Luminary, June 21, gins to assume a more regular appear we reach Ft. Union, and the last on the 1859: ance, the soil becomes more sandy road to Pikes Peak till we arrive at In our last communication, which and the coarse prairie grass is to a con Bent's Fort. From Allison's it is twenty we regret to say is of so old a date as to siderable extant superceded by Buf five miles to Pawnee Fork, which is one be almost out of our own remember falo grass. of the principal northern branches of ence, we left your readers at the cross West of the creek a few hundred the Arkansas, and passes through the ing of the Arkansas river more than mid yards, rises a range of low sand hills, ex heart of Buffalo country. This has been way from the States to the Spanish tending North West and South East, be the scene of more Indian fights than Peaks. With feelings of penitence[?] we yond which a level plain stretches out any other point on the road. Travelers now return to them at the same point, on either hand as far as the eye can have always been more or less an after our protracted absence, and ask reach. We are now within the limits of noyed at this place, and when the them to take a position with us upon one of the greatest, if not the greatest tribes are hostile to each other, here is the sand hills on the north side of the Buffalo ranges in the world. From the generally the seat of war. The tribes fre- river a few rods from where it is crossed Cottonwood two hundred and fifty . quenting these parts, Comanches, by the great Sante Fe Trail. miles west, they roam in such immense Chiennes, Arapahoes, Apaches, From our natural and commanding numbers that thousands can be seen Pawnees, Kaws, Kiowas, Delewares, observatory we propose now taking a at a single view. Day after day in travel Shawnees and Potawatomies. From glance at some of the features of the ing through this country, we have seen this point there are two roads, one commerce of the Plains, and noting it darkened on every side by these called the river and the other the dry some of its leading peculiarities. Before huge animals and often on their near route, the former keeping along the me the turbid waters of the Arkansas approach yielding to impUlse of that river bank, the latter taking a direct flow quietly onward over their broad propensity said to be governed by the course over the table land, which in dry shallow sandy bed, dotted here and bump of destructiveness. we have dis weather is entirely destitute of water, there with a small island, covered with • patched the leaden messengers of strikes the river again forty-five miles rushes, flags and tall grass, and weeds. death amongst them. from the breech [from?] Pawnee Fork. From the upper The eye readily traces the regUlar of Sharp's Rifle, and the cylinder of end of the dry route it is twenty-five meanderings of the stream for several Colts Revolver, not always however miles to the crossing. miles eastward, to a point where it with sanguinary effect. Their principal The Arkansas like the Kaw, the Mis takes a more than ordinary northward food is Buffalo grass, which is short, fine souri and the Platte, is characterized by bearing, a further view of the stream and stiff, and grows thinly upon the a shallow channel and sandy-bed. being intercepted by the rising ground ground. Its height seldom exceeds There is no timber along its banks ex on the north. The sand hills, as they are three inches, it grows up and leans cept here and there a dwarfish Cotton termed, being the place of descent or over, the top curling downward. Where wood, and frequently not one of these transition, from the high plateau or ta it is short and very thick, it is as elastic can be seen for a distance of thirty bleland, to the low level river bottom, under foot as a Brussels carpet. In the miles. At the different points at which rise up in beautiful regularity, east and summer months of a wet season it has a we have seen it, within a space of near west from us on one side and in the bluish cast, but it generally presents a two hundred miles along its course, it same direction in front of us on the bleached and almost lifeless appear presents one and the same general other. The sun is at the meridian. The ence. It is greatly relished by all kinds of appearence. Its channel is about three deep blue dome above is as clear and stock and they stand travel well, even hundred yards wide, and reduced to a bright, as it was before, "there went up when fed upon nothing else, if they common level would not be over five a mist from earth and watered the can get this in any considerable quan- feet; below the common level of the whole face of the ground." A gentle
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breeze, cooled by the snows resting on driver, who is subject to the general di few weeks, or they are fortunate the summit of the most elevated mem rection of the Wagon Master and his enough to have a rain soon, or before bers of the Rocky Mountain range, assistant. Each team is attended by they get over, neither of which condi floats down from the North West, caus several extra hands who drive the loose tions is probable, they will have no wa ing the almost vertical rays of the sun to cattle that are taken along to supply ter except what they take from the Ar effect a very agreeable and comfort any wants that may arise from loss of kansas in their kegs, jugs, kettles, can able sensation. Nothing is heard but stock by death or any other cause. teens and gourds, till they reach the the incessant barking of the prairie The hands are divided into messes of lower Cimarron spring. dogs seated next to the door of his sub from five to eight men each. A guard is The plan usually adopted in crossing terranian mansion or the grating hollow kept over the stock all the time day here in the dryest seasons, is to rest the notes of the sand hill crane, sailing high and night. The wagons are drawn by six teams a day or two at the river; they aloft in the bouyant, bracing atmos yoke of cattle each, and carry from then drive out four or five miles, till they phere. All around the view is bounded five to seven thousand pounds, they are over the sand and then return with by the horizon. Looking eastward, our are usually wooden axled, but some their stock again to the river where they attention is attracted by a cloud of with iron axles have been introduced are watered and allowed to feed dust looming up and floating off to the within the past two years. They are not again on the fresh grass along the bot south east. As Indians and Buffalo natu much different from the common lum toms, they then start with the teams in rally occupy a prominent place in the ber or farm wagon, except in size, be the evening and travel with all possible minds of persons sojourning in or travel ing much larger. These teams when dispatch, camping as few times as pos ing through this part of the country, we traveling average from ten to twenty sible till they reach the Cimarron, which with one accord agree that it is a band miles per day. is generally accomplished in one day of Indians or a herd of Buffalo. But after Now for the crossing. The boys have and two nights. a more deliberate survey of facts and taken their short cake, coffee, bacon From our observations we would circumstances; considering as the dust and buffalo hump, the teams are all in. suppose that the trade is about equally appears to rise on the line of the road line again, each whip is tied with a new divided between the Mexican and the leading to the States, perhaps it is oc cracker, and to the tune of "hall off Americans, but it is not all carried on casioned by a train moving westward, your boots and roll up your breeches," with cattle. There are a great many bound for Pike's Peak, New Mexico Ari the lead wagon rolls in. But alas for a large mule trains in use. They travel zona, Chawawa, Sonora or California. sandy foundation: the floods come, more rapidly, having lighter wagons After a few moments close observa the loaded wheels descend and in with teams of from six to twelve head of tion, the correctness of our last supposi spite buck skin, moral suasion, encour mules each. The freight on goods from tion is confirmed, by the dim outlines of agement, abuse, hard pulling and the States to Sante Fe is from seven to a Sante Fe Wagon (as all the largest harder swearing all combined, the ten dollars per hundred. The Mexicans sized freight wagons are called in this Prairie Ship comes to a state of rest. The can and usually do freight cheaper country) appearing in the less dense team is now increased to eleven yoke, than the A mericans, from the fact that portion of the dust; another and an which starts the load, but the "powers they hire their hands at from three to other appears until the whole train of that be" are found still to be deficient. ten dollars per month and victual them from fifty to seventy wagons is in sight Another addition of five yoke makes a on the cheapest kind of provisions, stretching back over the prairie to the team of forty-two head of cattle which while the A mericans are compelled to distance of a mile. On its near ap takes out the load on the south side of pay twenty-five to forty dollars for com proach we recognize it as one of Ma the river. Thus by the dint of muscular mon hands, and furnish them with jor's and Russell's trains en route for Fort force the whole train is taken over, but good provisions besides. Union, freighted with supplies for the it is frequently necessary to put thirty C.W. F. military dept. of New Mexico. They yoke or sixty head of cattle to one have finished their morning drive, and wagon to pull it through, and yet it sel NOTES are now camping on the bank of the dom occurs that water ever enters the 35. Jerome Kunkel was born in Lycoming river where they will cook, eat, and bodies of the wagons, the water being County, Pennsylvania, in 1827. During some of them per chance sleep, bef quite shallow, but the sand is so course the Mexican War he served in the 2nd ore crossing over. The lead wagon and loose that the wheels sink to the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After turns off from the road a few rods and the war he served on the statf of at least hub and cattle and everything else three Pennsylvania governors, with the halts, the others file out to the right and sinks down in a similar manner so that left alternately, the fore end of each rank of lieutenant-colonel. He came to they have no purchase, and conse Kansas Territory in 1856 and settled at • wagon is brought up near the hind end quently are unable to effect anything the town of Rising Sun, which was later of the one preceding it, leaving a small at pulling. moved to Medina. He served in the first gap which is closed up with chains af After travelling four or five miles state legislature of Kansas in 1861 and ter the teams are unyoked. Thus a later served two more terms after the .' along the south bank of the river, our Civil War. during which he rose from the whole train is drawn up and an enclo friendS will again be compelled to dou sure made of a circular or elliptical rank of private to captain in the 11 th Kan ble their teams to pull up over the sand sas Volunteers. He was one of the found form which is an effective fortification hills a distance of one mile, We will now in case of an attack by Indians. In form ers of the town of Medina. In 1880 he left leave them to follow the even tenor of Kansas and moved to Pecos, New Mex ing the enclosure, the teams are all their way and to experience an exam ico. turned outward so that the poles or ple showing by actual demonstration 36. John White Geary, 1819-1873, was a na tongues of the wagons are on the out that one extreme sometimes at least, if tive of Pennsylvania. He was a civil engi side. After forming, the teams are un not generally, follows another. They will neer. When the Mexican War began in yoked and kept together by herders, now have a piece of hard dry level 1846 he became lieutenant-colonel of while grazing. Before starting all the the 2nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. road sixty miles in extent, passing cattle are driven in the enclosure when He commanded his regiment at the Bat through a belt of high level country lay the yokes are put on them, and the tle of Chapultepec. For this service he ing between the Arkansas and the teams driven around to the respective was promoted to colonel and ap Cimmaron rivers, on which, unless there pointed the first commander of Mexico wagons, each team is in charge of a have been heavy rains within the past City. In 1849 he was appointed the first
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postmaster of Son Francisco, and he and participated in the many activi served as the first American alcalde of RENDEZVOUS 1998 that city, becoming mayor in 1850. He (continued from page /) ties. No doubt about it, a good time was had by all. returned to Pennsylvania in 1852. In 1856 plained the Old Guard's project to he was appointed territorial governor of Kansas and served from Sept. 9, 1856, to purchase the site, preserve and CAMP TALES March 12, 1857. He again returned to interpret it for the public, and when Pennsylvania. When the Civil War began possible to donate it to the National -CHAPTER REPORTS- he raised and commanded the 28 th Park Service to become part of Fort Pennsylvania Volunteers. He led troops Cimarron Cutoff Larned NHS. After a Plains Indian in many bottles, including Cedar Moun President Helen C. Brown tain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and meal of buffalo stew, a group of Kio PO Box 1400 Lookout Mountain, and he rose to the wa singers and dancers performed. rank of brigadier general of volunteers Elkhart KS 67950 and, in 1865, was awarded brevet rank Saturday evening, after a day of (316) 697-4597 of major general. He was elected gover papers and the SFTA membership The quarterly meeting was held nor of Pennsylvania in 1866 and held meeting, a Mexican dinner was serv October 24 at the Morton County that office until 1873. He died two weeks ed at Fort Larned NHS. This was fol after his tenure as governor. Historical Museum in Elkhart, KS. , lowed by a program of Hispanic mu • 37. William Brindle served as lieutenant The chapter will host a Santa Fe colonel of the 2nd Pennsylvania Volun sic and a Fandango, led by Dr. Cipri Trail mapping seminar conducted by teer Infantry during the Mexican War, He ano Vigil and his musicians. Mem Phil Petersen, SFTA mapping chair was a friend of John Geary. Brindle was bers of the audience, many of whom man, on Saturday, November 14. receiver at the land office in Lecompton were in period dress, participated in in 1857. Texas Panhandle 38. Harry Petriken (or Petrikin in Fribley's let the Fandango with instructions from ters) was a friend of Brindle, Wynkoop, Dr. Vigil and and his group. President Kathy Revett and Fribley. Other featured activities included 1227 S Bryan 39. Frederick P. Stanton, native of Virginia, an old-time baseball game and a Amarillo TX 79102 become territorial secretory in 1857 and (806) 371-9309 served as acting governor of Kansas Ter Sunday morning worship service. The baseball game was played after The chapter scheduled two fall ritory during portions of April and May meetings. A joint meeting with the and again in November and December the Saturday noon meal of hotdogs 1857. (what else?), according to the rules of Corazon de 10$ Caminos chapter was 40. Robert John Walker, 1801-1869, was a 1862 as explained by two members of scheduled October 3 in Tucumcari, native of Pennsylvania. He was a lawyer the Colorado Vintage Baseball Asso NM. Len Slesick, a retired meteor who practiced in Pennsylvania and Mis ologist in Amarillo, TX, presented a sissippi before being elected to the U.S. ciation, who were dressed in period Senate from Mississippi. He was secre uniforms. The audience chose up program on Fort Bascom. This site is tory of the treasury during the admini sides and played the game with peri reported to have been bulldozed stration of President James K. Polk. He recently. served as territorial governor of Kansas od equipment such as a very soft from May 27 to Nov. 16, 1857. baseball and heavy bats and, of A field trip to the Texas Tech Li 41. The "Bottle of Block Jock," June 2, 1856, course, no gloves. Except for an ach brary Southwest Collection has been sow freestate forces led by John Brown ing back or two, everyone had a good rescheduled for November 8. Clint defeat a proslavery posse led by Henry time. Did anybody keep score? and Siva Chamber will serve re Cloy Pate. Pate was a Missouri newspa freshments after the meeting. perman who set out with 25 men to cap The Sunday morning worship ser ture Brown but, instead, found his party vice was held at the Sibley Campsite Wagonbed Springs captured by Brown. Federal troops were in Larned, which has been pur called out to restore order, and they se President Jeff Trotman cured the release of Pate's party. The chased and interpreted by a group PO Box 1005 engagement at Block Jock has been led by David Clapsaddle. The service Ulysses KS 67880 called the first bottle of the Civil War. was led by Richard Graves, pastor of (316) 356-1854 42. Kaw Methodist Mission was opened at Grace Lutheran Church in Larned. The quarterly meeting was sched Council Grove in 1851, and classes for In uled for October 8 in Hugoton, KS. dian children were conducted there un A short talk was given by Ross Mar , til 1854. The mission building was used as shalL The chapter is planning to partici a school for white children for several Special thanks are extended to pate in the mapping workshop more years, and it also served as a pub November 14, with the Cimarron lic meeting place and meeting house Ruth Olson Peters and staff at the ( Cutoff chapter. • for Methodists. It is now Kaw Mission Santa Fe Trail Center and to Super State Historic Site, 500 N Mission, Council intendent Steve Linderer and staff Heart of the Flint Hills Grove, KS. at Fort Larned NHS for arranging President Donald B. Cress this excellent Rendezvous. SFTA RR 1 Box 66 BUSINESS MEMBERSHIPS President Margaret Sears and im Council Grove KS 66846 SFTA plans to solicit and promote mediate Past-President Ross Mar (316) 767-5826 business memberships (currently shall, who made the arrangements The chapter met October 8 at the $40 per year) by listing them in a for SFTA participation in the Ren Burlingame Rodeo Building. Reports Wagon Trachs directory and encour dezvous during his term of office, were given on the symposium plans. aging Trail travelers to patronize ably represented SFTA in planning Steve Dodson gave an interesting them. A sign for them to show in the program. The WetlDry Routes talk about McGee's Tavern and Hos their window will identify them as Chapter and the Fort Larned Old telry that was established on no SFTA members and publicize the Guard provided valuable assistance. Mile Creek in 1854. Frye McGee was Trail and SFTA. Thanks, too, to everyone who came a slave owner and involved in the
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slave traffic. and participants are to be congratu Wet/Dry Routes Doris Cress gave a report on the lated as most drove over 300 miles to President Rusti Gardner activities at the Rendezvous in attend. 801 Vernon Dr Larned. It was also reported that the Our next event is November 21, Larned KS 67550 new cedar shingle roof was com when Louann Jordan, curator at Los The chapter met for its summer pleted on the Stone Barn at Fremont Golindrinas and chapter member will enlighten us on the Moorish in meeting at the Quivira National Park. A committee was appointed to Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center on fluence in New Mexico. begin the restoration of the wall at August 16, 1998. Reports were given the Wilmington school house. Corazon de los Caminos on the 1998 seminar about the sur Directors elected for three years President Steve Whitmore vey of the Trail, the marking project, were Al Bunting, Osage County, Lois 120 Gabaldon Rt and plans for the 1999 seminar DeWitt, Lyon County, and Don Las Vegas NM 87701 which will be about trading ranches Cress, Morris County. (505) 454-0683 on the Trail. Reports were also given A video was shown of the 1998 The chapter turned out in force in about the web site operated by Larry Santa Fe Trail Ride. The next meet August to take measure of old Fort and Carolyn Mix and the chuck ing will be January 21, 1999, in Union. Twenty-five members and wagon dinner to be served at the Council Grove. guests (two from New Jersey) com Rendezvous. End of the Trail manded by Superintendent Harry Members voted to amend the con Myers and armed with tapes and President George Donoho Bayless stitution by adding another officer, clipboards, fanned out among the ru the immediate past-president, to PO Box 156 ins to gather information that the Chama NM 87520 serve in an advisory capacity. Also (888) 368-4868 Park Service will use to protect the approved was the purchase of a structures from time and weather. On September 19 thirteen mem plaque for the marking program and We got to see the original First Fort bers accompanied by six guests and a $200.00 award to be given annually at close hand and the remains of the five members of the Corazon de los for the best entry relevant to the Caminos and Bent's Fort chapters great corrals that housed the traffic Santa Fe Trail by Kansas students coming in over the Santa Fe Trail. attended an outing to the Dorsey in the National History Day Compe Thanks to Harry and Chief Ranger Mansion and Point of Rocks on the tition. Jim Hooyboer for arranging this fine Cimarron Route of the Trail, and The fall meeting was scheduled event and to the Southwest Parks concluded the day by visiting the for October 4 in Offerle, KS. David and Monuments Association for pro Santa Fe Trail Museum in Springer, Clapsaddle's presentation "Burying viding the tasty lunch. NM. Private Easley" told ofthe burial of a In September a trip to Charette Our thanks to Mike Taylor, mu 1st Illinois infantryman who died at Lakes and the Ocate Crossing, led by the Pawnee Fork crossing in 1847. seum board member and SFTA Harry Myers, was another splendid member, for arranging for the mu even.t. The joint meeting with the Plans for the 3rd annual seminar, seum be open and to the docent who Texas Panhandle Chapter at Tu "Trading Ranches on the Santa Fe gave the tour. cumcari early in October included Trail," June 5, 1999, are in progress. Dorsey Mansion is a log and ma two excellent talks, one by Len Sle Speakers will include Michael Olson, sonry Victorian mansion built by sick on Fort Bascom, and the other Las Vegas, NM, William Chalfant, Stephen W. Dorsey. The log struc on historic trails in the Panhandle by Hutchinson, KS, Leo Oliva, Wood ture was completed in 1880 and the Alvin Lynn. Slesick showed a slide of ston, KS, and David Clapsaddle, stone castle structure was completed a child's grave at Fort Bascom, most Larned, KS. The location will be at in 1886. It then was an elegant man likely that for Richard and Marion Fort Dodge. sion of 36 rooms and 10,000 square Russell's first child, Hattie Eliza. The sign directing the public to feet. Thanks to Kathy Revett of the Texas Duncan's Crossing on the Fort , SFT travelers did not use the Panhandle Chapter for arranging Hays/Fort Dodge Road which was Dorsey Mansion as a landmark, but this meeting. damaged by vandals, has been re they left their mark with ruts that painted and replaced. Thanks to The November meeting is planned , cross the property not far away. at Wagon Mound with a talk by Fred Rusti and Jack Gardner for their su • Point of Rocks was an important Friedman on "The Santa fe Trail and perb restoration, and to David Clap landmark on the Trail. A spring the Santa Fe Railway: A Transition saddle and Leonard Aufdemberge for made this an important campsite in National Growth." Friedman is resetting the sign. area not only for Trail travelers, but Chief of Rail and Intermodal Plan One of the chapter's limestone for people as long as 10,000 years ning for the New Mexico Sate High posts, one mile east of Fort Larned ago. Tipi rings testify that Plains In way & Transportation Department. NHS, was broken off at ground level dians camped nearby. The chapter held a planning meet- during a tornadic storm last spring Camping there now are Pete and . ing for symposium 2001 on October and will be reset in the near future. Faye Gaines who welcome visitors to 28 and assigned various functions to Other limestone posts which have their land. Faye has submitted a particular members. There are still a long awaited placement in the Fort grant proposal to the Scenic Byway few positions to fill and volunteers Dodge area have been set. Highway Program to provide toilet facilities at are welcome. Steve Whitmore will construction had prevented the in the site. It was a worthwhile outing, serve as coordinator. stallation ofnew markers and the re-
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setting of others for a two years. Quiviro Bent's Fort Chapter Four additional markers are President Wayne Smith President Lolly Ming ready and awaiting placement on the 1635 2nd Rd 1841 County Rd DO Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road. Raymond KS 67573-9624 Pritchett CO 81064 (31 6) 534-2821 (719) 523-6968 Dodge CityjFort Dodge The midsummer tour was held A tour of Picture Canyon on Sep David Kloppenborg August 30 when twenty-eight chap tember 27 completed the chapter's PO Box 441 ter members went to Kanopolis to summer tour calender. The weather Bucklin KS 67834 view the location of Fort Ellsworth was beautiful and a large crowd, in (316) 826-3537 and the remaining buildings of Fort cluding many nonmembers, at On September 29 chapter mem Harker. Janell Cook, director of the tended this interesting tour of rock bers gathered at the Dodge City Pub Coronado Quivira Museum in Lyons art sites, homesteads, and an old • lic Library to hear Donald J. and former director of the Ellsworth cemetery. Jamie Kingsbury was tour Blakeslee speak on "Sacred Places: County Historical Museums at Ells leader. Even though Jamie and Lolly Indian Shrines on the Great Plains." worth and Kanopolis, led the group. took the wrong road a couple of t".' On October 18 the chapter spon Fort Ellsworth was located on the times, it is believed that everyone sored a trolley-car guided tour to Smoky Hill River on the Fort Riley found their way back out of the can northeast Ford county including the Fort Larned Road, an important part yon in. time to get to work Monday Sawlog area of the Fort Hays/Fort ofthe Santa Fe Trail network. When mormng. Dodge Road and other historical the location was flooded the fort was The August tour to the Trinidad sites. moved approximately one mile area was also well attended. Richard Dave Webb, SFTA director, pres northeast to be renamed Fort Louden led the group to Trail sites in ented a program "Women on the Harker. Fort Ellsworth was built of the Hoehne area. Then it was on to Santa Fe Trail" following a noon mud and wood huts. Fort Harker the Wootton Ranch to hear the his lunch at the Gunsmoke Restaurant was built of stone quarried from the tory of the ranch from Katherine in Dodge City on November 6. The nearby sandstone hills. Berg and have a picnic lunch. The chapter cohosted an autograph party There are four remaining build tour then returned to Trinidad for for Leo Oliva's new book on Fort ings, the guardhouse and one junior museum visits and a walking tour of Dodge at Fort Dodge on November 7. officers' quarters are property of the the downtown area led by Willard Louden. Missouri River Outfitters Ellsworth County Historical Society, and the other officers' quarters and This was a successful tour season President Roger Slusher for the chapter. A special thank you 1412 South St the commanding officer's home are Lexington MO 64067 private property. Fort Harker was a is extended to land owners, tour (660) 259-2900 quartermaster depot supplying mili leaders, the tour committee, and to tary posts in Kansas and the South LaDonna Hutton who handled the The next chapter meeting will be west when the railroad was laid to publicity for the tours. November 19, 1998, at the National Ellsworth. When the railroacl The chapter newsletter has a new . Frontier Trails Center in Independ reached Ellsworth the military sup ence, MO, at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored in editor. Kellie Yap accepted the job plies were then sent from Fort beginning with the next issue. Lolly part by the Missouri Humanities, Harker to the Santa Fe Trail at the Katie Armitage will present "Julia Ming, who has been the editorforthe Walnut Crossing. Fort Harker was past two years, and those who have Louisa Lovejoy: Early Settler of the officially closed in 1872. Midwest." assisted her, deserve the chapter's The Coronado Quivira Museum in gratitude for a job well done. The annual holiday gathering will Lyons recently became the home of Thanks, Lolly. The November meet be December 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the the provisions box from the ill-fated ing will be held in the newly reno home of Roger and Sandy Slusher in Don Antonio Chavez trip in 1843. vated railroad depot in Holly, CO. Lexington. The box is now on display in an ex Speakers will present the histories of Topper, Lou Jr., and John Schu panded Santa Fe Trail exhibit. Mu Holly, Trail City, and Amity and a macher are organizing a work day seum hours are 9:00 am-5:00 pm tour of local sites is planned. a • for the mapping committee to peruse Monday through Saturday, and 1:00 the late Lou Schumacher's extensive D~ to 5:00 pm Sunday. Closed on major II- H;.;,;E;;,;;L;,;,.P...;"W;;,;,A,;,;.N,;.;,T.;;,;E __I research. holidays. Enclosed is a poor photo (not re Congratulations to new MRO Pat Hall and Carol Near have produced) of a felt wall hanging member Anna Belle Cartwright on been named chapter program and her recent retirement from the Na found in the effects of an elderly lady tour cochairmen and are working on in Boise City, OK. The piece is tional Frontier Trails Center. Anna the program for the next year. Belle says she can now spend more shaped like an animal skin, 33 time on the museum project for the Cottonwood Crossing inches high and 23 inches wide, and SFTA and on further research with President Vernon Lohrentz it was once framed at the edges. The the Hinchey diary and sketches. 205 Beverly top reads "Old Santa Fe Trail" and For more information regarding Newton KS 67114 bottom reads "RB. Association membership or meetings, contact (316) 284-2095 1914." The picture in the middle Anne Mallinson at 816-230-7228. No report. shows an Indian with peace pipe in
November 1998 Wagon Tracks 27
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front of a large fire with a tipi in the CO 81050 April 24, 1999: Fort Larned Old background. We can find no informa Dr. Frank Purdie, 2117 64 Ave Ct, Gree Guard annual meeting, program tion about this organization or its lo ley CO 80634 about Cheyenne and Sioux village on cation. Can anyone help identify this Cindy Ella Rogers, 17110 Ebel Rd, Pawnee Fork. Wamego KS 66547 article? Thank you. June 5, 1999: Wet/Dry Routes Morris Alexander William E. Rogers, 19911 S Valley Pride Rd, Pretty Prairie KS 67570 Chapter Seminar, "Trading Ranches PO Box 220 on the Santa Fe Trail," at Fort Dodge Boise City OK 73933 John G. Schumacher, 901 Laurel Dr, Rolla MO 65401 KS. I~_...... :.;:N.:.EW:.:..:S~FT:.;.A,;.;M..;.;,,;;;EM.;.;,;;;.;B Louis Austin Schumacher, 5904 E Ban June 5, 1999: National Trails Day. E;,;,R;.;,S_...... I nister Rd, Kansas City MO 64134 For planning materials contact This list includes new member Don L. Terhune, 1139 Village Dr, Man American Hiking Society, 1422 Fen hattan KS 66503 ships received since the last issue. wick Ln, Silver Spring MD 20910. Michael Wolf, 150 West End Ave Apt. Sept. 23-26, 1999: SFTA Sympo Those received after this printing 2F, New York NY 10023 will appear in the next issue. Ifthere sium, Council Grove KS. Contact is an error in this information, I~_...... :T~R:..;;A:.:I Jim Selby, 200 N Chautauqua, please send corrections to the editor. L,.;:C;.:;,A,;,;L,;.;EN.:.:D;.;A..;.;R,;,.-.__I Council Grove KS 66846 (316) 767 6994. We thank you for your support. Everyone is invited to send no FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS tices for this section; provide loca IRS APPROVES GROUP STATUS tion, date, time, and activity. This is Dr. & Mrs. Don E. Alberts, 6324 Beaver ON November 4, 1998, the IRS ap ct, Rio Rancho NM 87124 a quarterly. The next issue should proved the SFTA application for Irvin J. & Kellyn Drayer, 1606 H. G. Mos appear in February, so send informa ley Prkwy, Longview TX 75604 tion for March and later to arrive by group exemption from federal in Deborah & Jon Lawrence, 44 Harvey January 20, 1999. Thank you. come taxes. The tax-exempt status Ct, Irvine CA 92612 has been granted to all nine chapters Nov. 19, 1998: 7:30 p.m., National that requested it. New chapters may Howard & Joyce Losey, 726 James St, Frontier Trails Center, Independ Maize KS 67101 be added. Each chapter will be re ence MO, Katie Armitage will speak sponsible for following the IRS rules Vernon & Janice Stockslager, 706 Ryan on "Julia Louisa Lovejoy: Early Set Ln, Greencastle PA 17225 for 501(c)(3) organizations. Individu tler of the Midwest." INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS als who donate to SFTA or the chap Nov. 21, 1998: End of the Trail ters may deduct those contributions D€lvid Dory, 1113 Robinhood Lane, Nor Chapter meeting, program by Lou to the extent allowed by law. Thanks man OK 73072 ann Jordan on "Moorish Influence in to SFTA member Britt Colle, William .Feyerharm, 5495 Pheasant New Mexico." Contact Meredith McPherson, KS, for overseeing the Ridge Rd, Manhattan KS 66502 Mayo (505) 983-7874. application for this exempt status. Harriet Freiberger, PO Box 775063, Dec. 6, 1998: Missouri River Outfit Steamboat Springs CO 80477 ters Chapter meeting, 2 p.m., at FROM THE EDITOR Joe Glotzbach, clo USD No. 417 High School, 129 Hockaday, Council home of Roger & Sandy Slusher in The Rendezvous was an unquali Grove KS 66846 Lexington MO. fied success, and the sponsors de Kevin Hays, 11363 Amanda Lane # 159, Jan. 3, 1999: Wet/Dry Routes Chap serve special thanks. The officers Dallas TX 75238 ter meeting, 2:00 pm, City Hall and directors are working hard for Ester M. Jarvis, 1422 SW 32nd St, Topeka meeting room, Kinsley, KS. SFTA, to keep it running and strong. KS 66611 Jan. 21, 1999: Heart of the Flint Your membership is vital, and the Gary J. Oline, 34 Crepe Myrtle, Little Hills Chapter meeting, Council Trail deserves your support. Rock AR 72209 Grove KS. Happy Holidays! Ernest Orahood, 311 W 14th St, La Junta -Leo E. Olivo.
Santa Fe Trail Association -'. .. .. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION \.- r"1} PO Box 31 US. POSTAGE Woodston, KS 67675 ~ ~rT!~ PAID PERMIT NO. 2 WOODSTON KS 67675 Change Service Requested
28 Wagon Tracks November 1998
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol13/iss1/1 28