Wagon Tracks Volume 12 Issue 2 Wagon Tracks Volume 12, Issue 2 (February Article 1 1998)
1998 Wagon Tracks. Volume 12, Issue 2 (February, 1998) Santa Fe Trail Association
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• < • - • SANTA FE TRAIL ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY "., . VOLUME 12 FEBRUARY 1998 NUMBER 2 I, PAULINE FOWLER RESIGNS WAGON TRAIN DIARY FROM SFTA BOARD SEPTEMBER 1997 PAULINE (Polly) Fowler, Indepen by Karla French dence, MO, tendered her resignation (Karla French, fifth-grade teacher at from the SFTA board of directors be Ulysses, KS, and her husband, Ron, cause she is unable to be as active are charter members ofSFTA and ac ,,. and to contribute as she would like. tive .members of Wagon bed Springs A charter member of SFTA, Fowler Chapter. Karla is chairman of the is recognized as the authority on the SFTA education committee. She rode Trail in the Independence area. her horse, Cimarron, with the sympo BOARD RETREAT HELD, sium wagon train and. kept the fol Polly was presented a SFTA lowing diary.) Award ofMerit in 1987 and received SPRING MEETING SET the Association's highest honor, the by Joanne VanCoevern Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997 ,Rittenhouse Memorial Stagecoach ON November 13, 1997, the SFTA' Had an interesting day at the Award, in 1995. She served on the governing boardmet at the Santa Fe symposium, greeting old friends and SFNHT Advisory Council and was in Trail Center, Larned, KS, for a day seeing new faces. Marc Simmons, in her second term as a SFTA director long planning retreat. New members the opening lecture, told the story of from Missouri (first elected in 1991). of the board were introduced and a the Cimarron Route of the Santa Fe She was a founder and officer of the general discussion followed. The pri Trail. He. included the story of Char Friends of the National Frontier mary purpose was to develop Asso les Bent's return trip from Santa Fe Trails Center and a founder of the ciation goals for the 1997-1999 term. in 1829 to meet Major Bennet Riley Missouri River Outfitters Chapter. Numerous issues were discussed in and his troop of infantry camped on The SFTA governing board plans answer to the question, "Where do the Arkansas. Col. Jose Antonio Vis to select a replacement at the April we want to be in two years?" In the· carra and his Mexican soldiers meeting to complete her unexpired end, the board combined the ideas (about 75 Mexicans, 91 "hired term. We all thank Polly for her dedi into twelve specific goals: (1) .streng whites," and 34 "hired Indians") ac cated service and wish her well in then chapter relations,(2) get group companied Bent's caravan back to "retirement." 501(c)(3), (3) design a user-friendly the Arkansas and upon arrival in mapping/marking program, (4) de vited the Americans to dinner, com . RENDEZVOUS 1998 velop Oong-term) headquarters plan, plete with silver dishes. (5) promote education, (6) increase 'Later I told Marc that the story of
I IN September 1998 the Santa'Fe . membership, (7) strengthen partner Bent's caravanin 1829 was one ofmy 1 Trail Association will join the Santa ship with National Park Service, (8) favorite stories to share with my Fe Trail Center (Larned) and Fort expand promotion and tourism, (9) fifth-grade students when we study Larned National Historic Site to host review Association. structure, (10) the Santa Fe Trail. He also told the biennial Trail Rendezvous. Tra- obtain officers/directors insurance, about an 1847 military trip down the . ditionally held in the spring, Rendez (11) 'conduct grant searches, and (12) Trail and a Pvt. John Goose who was . vous 1998 will be hel<;l September 24 respond rapidly to problems. Mem bitten by a tarantula somewhere 27 (the usual time of SFTA symposi bers are encouraged to respond to along the Cimarron, developed blood ./ ums in alternate years). these goals. Please contact your rep poisoning, died near Point of Rocks , This year's theme, "Music and resentatives and/or the president. (near Middle Spring) and was buried Leisure on the Santa Fe Trail," will The spring board meeting is at the foot of the bl~fof Point of include programs of traditional scheduled in Santa Fe, NM, at the Rocks. Now the new Trail "call" is American Indian, Hispanic, and Pecos Trail Inn, Saturday, April 18, "Remember John Goose!" Another Anglo music and dance. A SFTA 1998, 8:30-4:00. Board meetings are Trail story to share with my fnth board meeting will be held before the open to all members and attendance graders on our spring trip to Point of Rendezvous program, with com is encouraged.· Specific details have Rocks north ofElkhart in the Cimar mittee meetings and mapping and yet to 'be finalized. These may be ob ron National Grassland. marking workshops scheduled as tained closer to the meeting date by . After the membership meeting .well. More information about calling SFTA headquarters in Ron and I went to get my horse Ci Rendezvous will be sent to all SFTA Larned at 316-285-2054 or President marron (of course) and arrived back members when it becomes available. Sears at 505-473-3124. (continued on page 12)
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN -Ruth and myself, and ex officio All matters relating to Wagon members Mike and Leo-who have Tracks should be directed to SFTA As I gazed at the people gathered much to share and learn. Editor Leo E. Oliva, PO Box 31, around a table in the Santa Fe Trail Once you are gathered together, Woodston KS 67675. Center last November during the then what? Communicate, of course. Telephone: (785) 425-7312 governing board planning retreat, I FAX: (785) 425-6865 So, what does that mean? Talking, E-Mail: [email protected] was a bit apprehensive. Suppose you say. But, let us not forget listen bringing -the board together to Headquarters ofthe Santa Fe Trail ing. Wendell Johnson, the eminent Association are located at the office engage in strategic planning was a semanticist, said, "filling our own ofSecretary-Treasurer Ruth Olson bad idea and everyone would be ears with all we have learned to say, Peters, Santa Fe Trail Center, RR talked out by 11 a.m. As the we are deaf to what we have yet to 3, Larned KS 67550. discussion unfolded, I realized not hear." Board visitors want to listen Telephone: (316) 285-2054 only were my worries unfounded, but to your concerns, and, likewise, you FAX: (316) 285-7491 the 1997-1999 board members are should hear what they have to say. E-Mail: [email protected] overflowing with energy, expertise, WAGON TRACKS is the official Ifwe can begin a genuine dialogue publication of the Santa Fe Trail and creativity. between the SFTA board and chap Association, a nonprofit organiza The final task for the board that ters, the goals we all want to achieve tion incorporated under the laws of day was to set and prioritize Associa will follow, and the vision laid out by the State of Colorado. Letters and tion goals for this two-year term. (see our founders will be served. An im articles are welcome, but they be come the property of WT and may article, p. 1). This list of 12 goals mediate opportunity for coming to be edited or abridged at the editor's may be a bit ambitious for a small or gether will be the next board meet discretion. All rights reserved. An- . ganization with limited resources, ing, April 18, 1998, in Santa Fe, NM. nual subscriptions are obtained but such did not enter thethinking of All members are welcome to attend. through membership in the Asso ciation, whose dues are fixed per these. highly motivated individuals. The 175th anniversary of the calendar year. Checks should be These goals, many initiated during Santa Fe Trail produced two out made payable to the Santa Fe Trail Ross Marshall's term, are critIcal to standing SFTA publications-Bonita Association and sent to the secre- SFTA's growth and development. and Leo Oliva's Index to Wagon . tary-treasurer. Nothing less would be acceptable. . Tracks (vols. 1-10) and Marc Sim Membership Categories It was no surprise that "to streng mons's The Santa Fe Trail Associa Benefactor $1,000 then chapter relations" headed the tion: A History ofIts First Decade. It Patron $100/year list. This theme recurred time and is doubtful most of us can compre Institutional $40/year hend the discipline and knowledge Family $30/year again that day. So, what specific ob Individual $25/year jectives do we establish to meet that demanded to compile a cumulative Youth (18 & under) $15/year index of this magnitude, but we all goal? A primary definition of the Editor: Leo E. Oliva, PO Box 31, word relations is "to connect one to can appreciate its value. We only Woodston KS 67675 (785) 425 another." We all recognize that the need to look at asingle entry to sense 7312, FAX (785) 425-6865 . most powerful method of establish the complexity of the/process. Marc President: Margaret Sears, 1871 ing relations is by direct face-to-face Simmons once again set his pen rac Candela, Santa Fe NM 87505 (505) ing, this time producing a steliar 473-3124 contact between people.. Letters, the Vice-President: Samuel Arnold, telephone, and all the new electronic tome about us. The work.will be the 2221 S Fillmore St, Denver CO gadgetry simply are not equal to peo centerpiece of our archives and 80210 (303) 753-9161 . ple being in the presence of other should be in the collections of all per Secretary-Treasurer: Ruth Ol people. Thus, the primary objective sons and institutions interested in son Peters, Santa Fe Trail Center, for strengthening these relations the TraiL Education was a goal ofthe RR 3,Larned KS 67550 (316) 285 ) 75th anniversary, and with these 2054, FAX (316) 285-7491 with the chapters will be to imple 1999 Symposium Coordinator: ment Vice-President Sam Arnold's two publications, Bonita, Leo, and Jim Selby, 200 N Chautauqua, position as chapter coordinator, and Marc achieved this goaL We are, in Council Grove KS 66846 (316) 767- that translates into chapter visits ei deed, most grateful and proud. ·6994. ther by Sam or directors from the Every. SFTA chapter deserves Publicity Coordinator: Michael E. Pitel, New Mexico Dept ofTour board. high praise for programs presented ism, PO Box 20003, Santa Fe NM However, this interaction need and special projects undertaken dur 87503 (800) 545-2070 not be initiated only by Sam or the ing the 175th anniversary. Let us all Directors: directors. Chapters are strongly en work together to. continue this im Morris Alexander, Oklahoma couraged to invite board representa portant Trail work, building on past Jane Lenz Elder, At, Large tives to chapter events at any time. achievements and continuing to pre Faye Gaines, New Mexico Mary Gamble, Colorado Perhaps this is happening already. serve,·protect, and promote our Trail heritage. . David Hutchison, Oklahoma When possible, reach out to a direc . Phil Petersen, Colorado tor from your state who is not a mem We all regret the resignation of Louis Schumacher, Missouri ber of your chapter-only Kansas Polly Fowler from the board. Thanks Joanne VanCoevern, Kansas boasts more chapters than directors. Polly for a job well done. We will miss Dave Webb, At Large (Please note that at-large directors your presence and contributions at Stephen Whitmore, New Mexico serve Texas Panhandle Chapter.) Do our meetings. We wish you the best. Deanne Wright, Kansas not forget the other board members -MargaretSears
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SFTA COMMITTEES Marc Simmons, consultant they purchased in 1873 from Trail Joint Rendezvous 1998 Committee merchant John Hough (who had this PRESIDENT Margaret Sears re Ruth Olson Peters; coordinator impressive two-story adobe home ports that most committee appoint Dave Hutchison built three years earlier). Workers ments for the next two years are in Ross Marshall for the Baca family lived in the adobe place. At' this time, eight standing Margaret Sears building which is now home to the committees, two task forces, and an Still to be appointed is a nominat Santa Fe Trail Museum. Locat~d be ad hoc. committee have been consti ing committee. The Headquarters tween the two historic residences is a tuted. The personnel for these.com Plan Task Force is to draft a plan large courtyard. . mittees are: identifying what is needed to operate The Bloom Mansion stands on the Awards Committee SFTA's national office in the imme other side ofthe block. The Victorian Harry Myers, chair diate future and down the road. home, built in 1882, was constructed .- Jane Elder \. The Organization Review Task' 'Leo Oliva for the family of Frank and Sarah Force is to review SFTA's structure Bloom. He came to Trinidad in 1867 Budget Committee to determine if, after ten years, any as manager of Thatcher and Com • Ruth Olson Peters, chair changes should be considered. Mter pany, a general store on the Trail. Stephen Whitmore .the task force has submitted its rec- Surrounding these residences are Education Committee ommendations to the board, amend Historic Gardens with century-old Karla French, chair r ing the bylaws will be undertaken. trees, herb and vegetable gardens, Connie Casteel Jane Mallinson, chair of this task Anne Mallinson old stock grape and trumpet vines, flo~ers. Kathy Revett force, requests members and chap cholla cactus, arid wild Joanne VanCoevern ters who have suggestions for struc Guided tours are given ofthe Baca Executive Committee tural changes in the organization of House and Bloom Mansion, while Margaret Sears SFTA to send recommendations to the Santa Fe Trail Museum is self Sam Arnold her at PO Box 8604, Sugar Creek guided. The Santa Fe Trail Museum Dave Hutchison MO 64054 as soon as possible. interprets area history from the Deanne Wright GRAND OPENING OF TRAIL Trail period through Trinidad's hey Mapping Committee day as a cultural'and commercial. Phil Petersen, chair MUSEUM IN TRINIDAD, CO center and features exhibits with in Jack Barnes, End of the Trail by Paula Manini teractive, hands-on components for Keith Chadd, Dodge City children of all ages. The center room Donald Cress, Flint Hills (Manini is director of the Colorado and west wing, built during the Trail Britt Colle, Quivira Historical Society's Trinidad History period, interpret the history of local John Dick, Cottonwood Crossing Museum, including the Santa Fe Dave Hutchison, Cimarron Cutoff Indian groups, mountain men, set Trail Museum, Baca House, Bloom tlement of Trinidad, the Mountain Mike Macklin; Corazon Mansion, and Historic Gardens.) Nancy Robertson, Bent's Fort Route, and the end of the local Trail Lou Schumacher, Missouri River THE grand opening ofthe Santa Fe era with the coming of the Atchison, Marking Committee Trail Museum (formerly called the Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to Earl Casteel, chair Pioneer Museum) in Trinidad., Colo Trinidad in 1878. Mary Gamble rado, is set for Thursday, June 11, Artifacts in this section, entitled Nancy Robertson 1:00-3:00 pm. Everyone is cordially "Trinidad, Trail Town," include a' Lou Schumacher invited to attend the opening, which book, sad iron, and bottle (which Roger Slusher is the kickoff event for four days of held smelling' salts) belonging to Membership Committee Trail-related activities in Trinidad. Marion Sloan Russell, Kit Carson's Deanne Wright, chair The Santa Fe Trail Regional Art fringed buckskin coat, a spectacular Alfred Ericson Show begins on June 12 at the A. R. oil painting of the Spanish Peaks, • Virginia Fisher .< Mitchell MemorialMuseum ofWest trade goods, and historic photo Faye Gaines ern Art. Trinidad's annual Santa Fe graphs: Local Trail-era personalities Publications Committee Trail Festival occurs June 13-14. Felipe and Dolores (Gonzales) Baca,. Dave Webb, chair , ~ Special living-history programs (de John and Mary (Prowers) Hough, Pat Heath tails to be announced) will take place Richens Lacy "Uncle Dick" Wootton, Harry Myers in the courtyard in front ofthe Santa George and Juanita (Suaso) Simp Headquarters Plan Task Force Fe Trail Museum. Main Street will son, Richard. and Marion (Sloan) Joanne VanCoevern, chair bustle with craft vendors, music, re Russell, Kit Carson, Moache Ute Dave Hutchison .Bonita Oliva enactments of gun fights, storytel Chief Conniach, Dr. Michael Be Ruth Olson Peters ling, antique car show, and food shoar, Sister Blandina Segale, and Margaret Sears booths offering a variety of fare. William and Ebenezer Archibald are Organization Review Task Force The Santa Fe Trail Museum, one featured. Jane Mallinson, chair of four attractions at the Trinidad "Trinidad, Rail Town," is repre Virginia Fisher History Museum, is located in a his sented in the east wing, where an in Leo Oliva toric- building associated with the credible collection of local artifacts Mike Olsen Baca House. Felipe and Dolores are used to interpret Trinidad's pros Ramon Powers Baca lived in the main house, which perous economy. Items include a
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chuck box from the Bloom Cattle service at the National Frontier Gomez of Topeka, KS. Company, bottles and other memo Trails Center, Fort Osage, Mahaffie Final details and cost, as well as rabilia from the Schneider Brewery, Farmstead, Kaw Mission, Co reservations, can be obtained begin award medals and saddles from re ronado/Quivira Museum, Morton ning April 1 by calling Fort Larned nowned craftsman Fred Burkhard, County Historical Museum, and the NHS at 316-285-6911, between the and architectural renderings' by Palace ofthe Governors in Santa Fe. hours of8:30 am and 5:00 pm. Reser- Isaac Hamilton Rapp. Wedding and SFNHT Brochure Wins Award .vations must be made prior to 5:00 graduation dresses, mementos from The Santa Fe NationaL Historic pm on April 22. Seating for the din the dedication of Kit Carson Park, Trail Official Map and Guide took ner and performance is limited, so party invitations and dance cards, first place in the Site Publication early reservations are suggested. and many other items create fasci . . . category of the Media Awards spon During the afternoon prior to the nating displays about Trinidad's vi sored by the National Association for Old Guard meeting Fort Larned brant cultural life. Interpretation. .Special factors in NHS will present living-history Funding for the Santa Fe Trail this project included the challenge of demonstrations throughout the fort. Museum was provided by the Na developing a brochure that covered An Indian camp and cavalry de tional Scenic Byways Program, Na hundreds ofsites, 1,203 miles oftrail monstrations will augment the fort's tional Park Service, State Historical across five different states, with in interpretive programs. The fort will Fund ofColorado, Friends ofHistoric put from multiple partners and re also have the recently-reconstructed Trinidad, Trinidad Historical Soci viewers. A special thank to all who bake oven operating. Bread m:ixed ety, and several local supporters. helped in the development and re from an old army recipe will be The Trinidad Area Motel, Hotel and view ofthis award winning brochure. baked in the. wood-fired oven during Restaurant Association will provide More brochures were printed last the afternoon and served with the refreshments for the grand opening: fall and ample copies are available. evening meaL The Santa Fe Trail Museum will SFNHT. Traveling Exhibits. be open' daily, including. weekends The two Santa Fe National His- CIMARRON ROUTE BIKE RIDE and holidays' 10 am-4 pm, June 11 toric Trail traveling exhibits are un through September 30. The Baca dergoing some repair from a busy SERIOUS bicyclists are invited to House and Bloom Mansion are open year on the road. They are both participate in a ride over a portion of daily, 10 am-4 pm, May I-September scheduled to go out again in March. the· Cimarron Route on Memorial 30. The Santa Fe Trail Museum will Several months are still open for Weekend, May 23-25, 1998. Organ be open oil a limited basis from Octo 1998, so contact Andrea Sharon if izedby John L. Hobbs, Great Plains ber through April; next year its daily you would like to schedule the ex Bicycle, Newton, KS, the ride willbe schedule also begins on May 1. Plan hibit for your facility this year. gin at Elkhart, KS, Saturday, May a visit whenever you are in the area. The exhibit is freestanding, self- 23, proceed across the Oklahoma The Tr,inidad History Museum, lo . contained, and simply unfolds to set Panhandle, cut into the northwest cated at 300 East Main Street, also up. There is no charge for the use of corner of Texas, and continue to has a gift shop and bookstore. For in the exhibit but the receiving facility Clayton, NM. The second day will go formation call (719) 846-7217. pays shipping costs and insurance. It . north along the New Mexico/Okla- . can be sent UPS or FederalExpress homa borderto the Black Mesa area, NPS TRAIL REPORT (average cost $100), or transported crossing and following the Trail a by Andrea Sharon . easily in a van or pickup, with the couple of times. The last day takes . heaviest rolling container weighing . riders north into Colorado and back (Sharon, interpretive specialist in the 98lbs. east into Kansas, following the TraiL Long Distance. Trails Office, NPS, The route is about 2/3 paved and Santa Fe, kindly provided the/ollow 1/3 off road, so a mountain bike is es ing information.) FORT LARNED OLD GUARD ANNUAL DINNER MEETING sentiaL Total distance is about 250 THE Long Distance Trails Office is miles, with the first day being the pleased to report the following infor THE Fort Larned Old Guard an longest. Gear will be transported, so .mation about the SFNHT. If anyone nual meeting will be Saturday, April participants need only carry water wishes more information, please con 25, in the quartermaster storehouse and snacks. Camping and housing tact Andrea Sharon (505) 988-6888. at Fort Larned National Historic will be arranged for Friday, Satur NPS Passport Stamps Site. The public is welcome; SFTA day, and Sunday nights, and three The National Park Passport Pro members are especially invited. meals will be provided each day, gram cancellation .stamp for the Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm, starting with breakfast on May 23 Santa Fe National Historic Trail is followed by a short business meet and ending with a barbecue on Mon now available at several certified ing. The program will feature Van day evening. sites. This nationwide program is a Ann Moore ofBelen, NM, recipient of The costis $130 per person. Reser visitor service administered through a SFTA Award of Merit hist year. vations must be made by May 11. ~Eastern National Parks Association. She will present her new production, The group is limited to 300 partici Each cancellation stamp lists the "Libby Custer: Boots and Saddles, pants. For more information and to states the National Historic Trail the Life of Elizabeth Custer and Her obtain registration forms, contact crosses as well as a changeable date GeneraL" She will be accompanied Hobbs at (800) 792-2453 or E-Mail feature. Look for this new visitor by renowned flamenco guitarist Raul
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CLAYTON FLY-IN RESLATED The purpose is to follow and promote awareness ofoverland trails (includ by Kendyl Monroe K. ing the Santa Fe Trail), have fun, (SFTA memberMonroe, Seneca, NM, and assist Trail organizations. Mem is head of the Clayton Airport Advi bers offer their services and planes sory Council and organizer of this for worthy projects. They are avail event.) able, if invited, to help SFTA and OCTA with mapping projects. THE theme of flying the Santa Fe Trail Cimarron Route to or from , The new TPA has scheduled five Rabbit Ears Mountain landmark events for this year, and everyone is north of Clayton, NM, originally invited. Since this is the first year, scheduled for October 25, 1997, at each event will piggyback on other tracted a great deal of interest from organizations' activities: ~. ,'f- ".,·.a;,....;...,,~.~ the aviation community before an June 6-7: Clayton, NM, joining the I.\0." .. ."' #If .' Ranch and Rodeo event organized by • unusually early whiteout blizzard Bob Jones with tour group at Hole in the forced cancellation. That theme will Kendyl Monroe (see above article). Rock site. be highlighted for the rescheduled June 13-14: Larned, KS, takingpart travel journals kept by James W. Ab Fly-In on June 6, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. in the WetlDry Chapter seminar. ert, Philip St. George Cooke, George The event is open to travelers by July 9-12: Scottsbluff, NE, joiningin R. Gibson, Abraham R. Johnston, ground as well as by air. the celebration ofOregon Trail Days. Frank S. Edwards, Lewis H. Gar Billed as a Ranch and Rodeo July 25-26: Baker City, OR, partici rard, Susan Magoffin, and others. Country Fly-In, highlights include pating iIi the Pioneer Festival. Bob and Marylou purchased the presentations by the New Mexico August 8-9: Pocatello, ID, attending approximately 80-acre portion of Aviation Division, including its the annual Shoshone-Bannock In land that included the site in Decem - Mountain Flying Seminar, and by dian Festival. ber 1991. They wanted it to remain Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, NM, open to the public because ofits his describing military training mis For more information, contact Bill White, Western Airtrails, PO Box torical significance. They looked for sions and, procedures in the area. .i _. 6071, North Logan, UT 84341 (888) ways to ensure that the public could " There will also be displays about the . 755-0330. continue to enjoy the site. They con . , Santa Fe Trail and ranch life, a ... tacted the National Park Service and ,. chuck wagon barbecue, sky rodeo BOB AND MARYLOU JONES the U. S. Forest Service in an effort events, and a cowboy rodeo in an to transfer the property to either of " , arena adjacent to the airport. RECEIVE BENT'S FORT CHAPTER TRIBUTE AWARD these public entities. Neither could Bill White's book, The Santa Fe accept the property at that time, but Trail By Air, has stimulated great by Teresa Kesterson John Conoboy of the NPS Long Dis ...-. interest in the SFT within the avia THE Tribute Award of Bent's Fort tance Trails Office in Santa Fe sug tion community, just as his compan Chapter recognizes efforts by an in gested they contact the Archeologi~ ion book, The Oregon, California and dividual or group which ensures the cal Conservancy in Albuquerque. Mormon Trails by Air, has stimu preservation of a site or significant The Conservancy could take the lated similar' interest in those his remnant of Mountain Route/Santa property and keep it until such time toric routes. White has organized a Fe Trail heritage for posterity. that the National Park Service, the Trail Pilots Association (see follow The 1997 recipients are Bob and U. S. Forest Service, or the Colorado ing article) from among the pilots Marylou Jones for conserving the Historical Society could administer who have expressed interest in the site known as "Hole in the Rock," it. historic trails, and this new organi near Thatcher, CO, along Timpas The property was given to the zation will attend the Clayton Fly-In Creek. They acquired the site and Conservancy on February 1, 1996, as the first'event on its calendar. gave it to the Archeological Conser and remains open to the public. Bob For further information or to reg vancy so it will receive protection for explains that "the Conservancy can ister in advance for planning assis perpetuity. not transfer the property to any indi tance, call Jim Talley (800) 390-7857 vidual or local group. It can only be or 505-374-9253. ' This important site, a well-known spring that was noted many times transfe.rred to a recognized entity that will preserve the site." TRAIL PILOTS ASSOCATION throughout Trail history, includes remains of the Barlow and Sander Bob continues his involvement by Bill White son stage station which later became with Hole in the Rock as caretaker, promoter, and official historian. He (SFTA member White, Logan, UT, the headquarters for the Bloom Cat encourages visitation and has pre author ofpilot guidebooks to several tle Company. Thus there are connec tions between this property and the sented interpretations to Bent's Fort overland trails organized the Trail Chapter tours. Pilots Association [see above article}.) Bloom House in Trinidad, owned by the Colorado Historical Society. Also • The chapter is pleased to honor A number of pilots from across the at the site is a cedar post corral (still Bob and Marylou for their generous United States have joined together in use) that dates from Trail times. contributions. They,have preserved to form the Trail Pilots Association. Hole in the Rock was mentioned in an important partofTrail heritage.
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IN SEARCH OF JOSE WATROUS by Virginia Lee Fisher
(Fisher, Arrow Rock, MO, is a charter . Napton, accompanying Captain Jim Las Vegas: .member and former director on the Chiles's Missouri wagon train to As we drew near Las Vegas we SFTA governing board. She is a fre New Mexico, described the country noted that the "bottoms" of the little quent contributor to Wagon Tracks. as they approached Fort Union: creek [Gallinas] running near the town She became interested in Jose Wa Ten miles before reaching Fort Un were cultivated in corn, with occa trous after reading that he was a stu- ion we stopped at a ranch, where we sional patches of vegetables, the dent at a Missouri school.) . found an abundance of good milk land uninclosed by fences, but flanked by irrigating ditches supplying THE following statement ~ppeared and butter, kept in a well arranged spring house, supplied with water by a the necessary water, and the crops in William B. Young's History ofLa were looking remarkably well, al • fayette County (Missouri), 1910, re cold and bold spring running out of the foot of the mountain. The milk was thoug'h the weather had been dry for garding Chapel Hill Academy near kept in large open tin pans, set in a some weeks. We found it necessary to Lexington: "Many Indians and Mexi ditch extending around the. room, have a close watch kept on our cattle cans attended school at Chapel Hill. constructed so as to allow a continual while we were near these cultivated Jose Watrous, a Spanish boy, was flow of cool water about the pans. and unfenced fields. Las Vegas was a sent to Chapel Hill when he was but The spring house was built of adobe compactly built little town of probably ten years old and remained twelve and bricks. This ranch supplied the fort two' or three hundred inhabitants, the years, when he left the College an or with milk and butter. houses for the most part built of dained preacher of the Presbyterian Fort Union had no appearance of a adobe brick or tufts of sad, with a cor fortified place then; there was nothing ral in the rear. The herds of sheep, Church."1 Who was Jose Watrous? goats and burros were driven in about The family name Watrous defies more than substantial and comfort able barracks, stores and ware-' sunset and fastened up for the night in identification with most familiar na these corrals, from which they were tionalities. Butthe little town ofWa houses. But the place had a look of military precision, neatness and driven out early in the morning to trous, NM, near Fort Union is known cleanliness about it and not seen else graze during the day under the con to Santa Fe Trail students and trav where in New Mexico.. ' stant'eye of the herder, who accom panied each band. , elers. The village lies in the valley at At this place our train was cutin the junction of the Mora and Sapello twain; one-half of it, under the com We remained one day only at Las rivers and the Mountain andCimar mand of Captain Chiles, went on to Vegas. The wagons were unloaded, ron routes ofthe Santa Fe TraiL Just Mora, the other half was sent to Las the freight being delivered to the con as Council Grove, KS, to the east be Vegas, in charge of the assistant signees, and we turned about and came a Trail rendezvous for wagon wagonmaster, Rice.. ,.I decided to started on our homeward journey.6 trains heading west, La Junta de los accompany that part going to Las Ve Napton did not state if he met Rios Mora y Sapello2 (later Watrous) gas. 4 Sam Watrous going or returning. became a staging point for Trail As Napton's party traveled on, ~atrous was orphaned when he was travelers heading east. they drove by La Junta. This area young and lived with an uncle in The community of La Junta was had been a stopping point for Indi Vermont until 1832, when he headed renamed Watrous, when the railroad ans' Mexicans, and Spaniards since west. By 1835 he was in Taos, NM, reached the town in 1879, to honor times long forgotten. In passing, then, possibly in 1837, relocated to Samuel B. Watrous who had settled Napton described' Sam Watrous's the silver mines in the Ortiz Moun there in the late 1840s and estab "large adobe ranch house" and one of tains south of Santa Fe. Sam appar lished a ranch and trading post: Wa his enterprises: ently was engaged in merchandising trous was born Erastus Bowman On the route to Las Vegas we found at both Taos and in the Ortiz mining Watrous in Vermont in 1809, the son a large adobe ranch house, probably area before moving to La Junta in of Erastus and Nancy Bowman Wa a hundred feet square and sixteen 1848 or 1849, where he had pur trous. He was a descendent of Eng feet high, the solid walls being without chased a portion of the Scolly Land lish settlers Jacob and Hannah Wa openings on the outside, except two Grant. . terhouse who came to America in large doors. The ventilation and light . Details of th~ birth and parentage 1630. In 1713 Gideon Waterhouse of were secured through the openings of Jose, the little "Spanish boy," are Connecticut changed his last name inside the hollow square. There was an extensive buckskin tailoring establish not clear. He probably was born in to Watrous, the family name of his ment there, where they were manu 1837, two years after Sam Watrous descendants. Erastus Bowman Wa facturing quantities of buckskin arrived in Taos. Joseph Romero, Jr., trous changed his first name to Sam clothes of various patterns, and I was a descendent of Sam Watrous, re uel after he moved to New Mexico in surprised at the skill displayed in mak ported a family tradition that Wa the 1830s. He died in 1886 and his' ing the garments. The clothes were trous had married a woman in New home still stands as the headquar made to fit with tailor-like precision Me,xico, who died soon after giving ters of the present Doolittle Ranch, and exactness. Clothes of buckskin . birth to Jose.7 No records have been near the town ofWatrous.3 The com were generally worn at that time by located to support this. Census rec munity of La Junta (Watrous) was a the inhabitants of New Mexico, by the 5 ords of 1860 list him in the Sam Wa well-known site on the Trail. natives especially. trous household, age 23, an Indian, a . . In late spring 1857 William B. Napton also recorded his visit to , laborer, place of birth Rio Arriba • 6 Wagon Tracks February 1998
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Count;, and his name Joseph B. Wa City and Watrous. George Berg and Herman Shultz (age 54). trous. his family accompanied the train on Emiteria (age 27, listed as "Mite Did Jose Watrous attend Chapel this particular trip. He was going to ria") was the wife ofGeorge W. Gregg Hill Academy near Lexington? The Ft. Union as the post gunsmith.... (age 34, listed as a farmer but also Lafayette County census record for Joseph B. [Watrous] married Louisa operating the stage station at the Sa 1850 listed the household of A. W. Katherine Berg in 1862, the daugh pello Creek crossing southwest of La Ridings, founder of the Academy, as ter of the gunsmith.,,13 At that time Junta), a household containing the of November 2: Ridings, age 34, was Jose was 25 and Louisa was 14. following: Safronia Gregg (8), Lee head of household that included 21 Jose, as noted above, was listed in Gregg (6), Samuel Gregg (4), Henry members. Ridings's wife, his parents the 1860 census as a member ofSam Murray (25, stagedriver), Paul Ro and daughters, 9 and 11, were in uel B. Watrous's household, with the mel (41, laborer), Pedro Archivequer cluded.9 The otl1ers were students. name Joseph B. Watrous, identified (33, cook), Nestor Perea (19, laborer), Two on the list were born in Tennes as Indian, age 23, occupation la Juan Garcia (32, laborer), Frank see and the others in Missouri, ex borer, born in Rio Arriba County. Drake (3?, stagedriver), George Tay cept for Alfred C. Bent, age 17, born Later census records indicated Jose's lor (28, stagedriver), Harry Monroe .. in New Mexico. lO changing economic and social status. (27, stocktender), William Reed (31, In 1907 Jose Watrous was inter The 1870 census listed Joseph Wa stagedriver), Sylvestre Lowell (27, viewed by F. W. Cragin. II Jose stated trous, white, occupation farmer, as blacksmith), Andres Caranics (34, that "in 1853 he went east and began head ofa household that included his laborer), and Jose Perea (15, to attend Chapel Hill College in La wife, Louisa, age 22, a daughter, herder). 15 fayette County, Missouri,attended Elizabeth, age 1, and Robert Iling . Only daughter Louisa, age 23, there three years" (until 1856), "then worth, age 34, wagonmaster. In 1880 was not listed in the area in the 1870 had to leave on account of trouble J. B. Watrous was head ofhousehold, census. She was married to William a me'rchant, with a wife, two daugh with his eyes, is now blind." It seems 14 Kroenig (Kronig) and was residing the History of Lafayette County ters, and three sons. near Watrous in 1880. statement, written some 50 years af The Watrous family stayed close In 1880 Samuel B. (age 71 and a ter Jose's attendance at school, may to home. In addition to Jose, most of farmer) and Josephine (age 37) still' have been in error on some details Samuel B. Watrous's children re had two children at home: Rosa and , " and dates. Even so, this frontier edu mained in the area. and were re Charles. Jose, as noted above, was a
cational institution represented a re corded by the census enumerators merchant, perhaps operating the .'- ' source to families who sought educa (names were spelled different ways business started by his father. Wil tion for their children. and the ages varied-Mary Manuela liam Tipton (farmer) and Mary was listed as 34 in 1870 and 42 in In 1840 Archibald Wellington Rid Manuela (42) resided at Tiptonville . . ings went to Lafayette County from 1880, Mary Antonette was listed as just west ofLa Junta (now Watrous), North Carolina where he h~d at 30 in 1870 and 38 in 1880, Emiteria with children Susana (26), Louisa. tended the University at Chapel was listed as 27 in 1870 and 35 in (18), Edna (9), and Ydea (4). James' HilL Soon after his marriage, Rid 1880, and Abelina was listed as 17 in Johnson (farmer) and "Marianton" ings undertook the education of his 1870 and 19 in 1880). In 1870 the fol-_ (Mary Antonette, now age 38) were wife's young brother who lost his leg lowing were residing with Samuel B. counted at Watrous, with children in a hunting accident. Soon other (age 61) and his wife Josephine (age James (19), Nancy (9); G. K. (male, students were enrolled. A large two 28): Belina 17, SamuelJr. 15, Rosa 5, 2), and Salorny (female, 3 months). story classroom building wa's and Charles 3. Sam was listed as a George W. Gregg (carpenter; the erected. Male students lived in two retired merchant with $23,500 in stage station was no longer needed room cottages on the grounds. Girls real estate and $21,000 in personal because the railroad had built boarded with families in the vicinity. worth. through the area) andEmiteria (now For just over a dollar a week stu Mary (Maria) Manuela (age 34) 35) were counted in Barclay's Fort' dents were supplied lodging, laun had married William Tipton (age 45, area west of Watrous, with children dry, candles, and board "fit for a a farmer) and resided nearby. Other Lee (17), Sam (14), and Gavina' king." Chapel Hill was reported as members of this household were (adopted, 5). William Kroenig the "largest school west of the Mis Samuel Tipton (20), Susan Tipton (farmer) and Louisa (33) were sissippi with a faculty of ten or more (15), Martha Tipton (10), Luisa Tip counted in Barclay's Fort area with professors. Graduates went· on to ton (8), W. Lee Tipton (3), Perfilia children Alejandro (17), Carolina hold high posts in commerce and Tipton (1), Samuel Wells (38, store (14), Alfred (12), Louisa (10), Carlota government." In the early 1860s the clerk), and Charles Moore (18, la (8), and William (5).16 Abelina (age Academy was set on fire by vandals borer). mistakenly recorded as 19) was then and never rebuilt. 12 Mary (Maria) Antonette (age 30) married to Carl Wildenstein (age 38, When Jose returned to New Mex was wife ofJames Johnson (age 34, a engineer) and counted at Watrous ico in 1856, he was "with his father's farmer), and resided near La Junta. with children Carl (9), Rudolf (3), ox-cart train which consisted of Other members of the Johnson and Eduardo (1). Only Samuel Jr. twenty large wagons, each drawn by household . were two daughters was not recorded in the area in 17 ~ six yoke of oxen. This train handled . (Nuteria 11 and Nancy 1 month), a 1880. . freight for the government making son (James 9), .domestic servant Jose Watrous, referred to by him .stops at Santa Fe, Ft. Union, Kansas Jane Arnot (age 20), and gardener self and others also as Jo, Joe, Jo-
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seph, Joseph Bowman, and J. B., was ried a large flag. Both the participants tion in a brief history of Samuel B. part of the family business. In the and the horses in the. parade seemed Watrous: mid-1860s he was in charge of the to enjoy the beating of the drums and In 1880 and 81 Watrous fenced off Watrous and Tipton freighting op the music as the parade made its way all of his farm land and much of his eration owned by his father. Watrous to the grove. Here decorations had pasture land. These were the first been hung, flags borrowed from Ft fences built in Mora County (wire had twenty wagons, prairie schoo Union waved. Even a cannon occu ners, each drawn by six yoke ofoxen. fences), also of interest is the fact that pied a prominent place. A salute for up to .this date Watrous was in San Marilyn Mullins provided a vivid each state was fired. A speakers portrayal of travel along the Santa Miguel county. Mr. Watrous had a pe stand had been erected under the tition circulated and signed request Fe Trail in those times when these . ' shelter of shade trees. It too was ing the legislature to move the line subcontractors were hauling SUP" decorated with bunting and flags. 18 . west to the present location. After plied to Fort Union. The following were speakers of the fencing Mr. Watrous sowed about 100 At the Old Trailers' Reunion on day. Han. MW Mills, then attorney acres to alfalfa. The seed cost 20 July 4, 1910, at Las Vegas, Jose re from Cimarron, John H Koogler, pro cents per pound. This was the first al ported having made 10 round trips to prietor and editor of the Las Vegas falfa sowed in this section. Large crops Gazette and Col. [John C.] Dent from of winter wheat, timothy and red top Kansas City between May 1857 and Ft. Union, (a brother-in-law of General' DecemberJ865. In reporting that re .were harvested the same and follow- Grant). Col Dent made the following Ing years.... union, the Las Vegas Optic listed statemel')ts: In 1846 he marched with over 450 names of those who trav~ At the time of Mr. Watrous' death his command [Dent was a captain in (in 1886) the valley he had settled was eled the Santa Fe Trail, approxi nd the 2 Missouri Volunteers] through La a valley of cultivated fields and grow mately two-thirds ofwhich were His Junta valley. It was at that time a wild ing trees. It was no longera wilderness. • panic. Several women were on the yet beautiful valley. It was given over Besides the growing crops on the ex list, and one comment was especially entirely to antelope, ducks and many tensive fields, the cultivation' of or interesting. Zenobia Sanchez of other types of wild life. "Today" said chards and of shade trees lining the ir he, l!your valley is an entirely different Mora asserted she "drove her own rigation ditches, the valley was con team into Kansas City several place. Crops are being harvested, nected to the outside world by both fruits and flowers are growing in abun- times." 19 telephone and telegraph lines. A rail .' dance. You have a church, two road connection to the east had also The Santa Fe Trail was shortened schools and best of all fine children to as the railroads built westward after been estdblished. This progress, due attend them. They' are dssembled to a great extent to this man's ability the Civil War. In 1879 the Atchison; here today with their parents, friends Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to lead had been made in the course and visitors from far and near. In this' of a lifetime.21 reached La Junta, and the name was beautiful spot we seek to give expres- changed to Watrous to avoid confu .sion to our patriotic feelings, to honor The death of Samuel B. Watrous sion with the railroad's station at La the American nation. To me this won remains an unresolved mystery. The Junta, Colorado. By this. time, as derful growth, this development in so Las Vegas Daily Optic reported on short a time is remarkable. From all ap March 17, 1886: noted above, Sam Watrous,. his wife. and two small children, four daugh pearances this community knows Suicide of a pioneer: A special dis ters and their spouses and children, .how to celebrate the Fourth of July, patch tothe Daily Optic this morning. plus Jose and his family, were set the occasion so dear to the hearts of from Watrous, gives the startling intelli all Americans." The other two speak gence that SBWatrous. senior of that tled in the Mora Valley. Occupations ers stated that they were glad to be town. committed suicide this morning shifted from Santa Fe trading and numbered here and glad to be of as- . at his residence in the suburbs of that freighting. to agricultural pursuits sistance to the ladies. They expressed place by shooting himself' twice and small mercantile and other busi their appreciation of the work done in through the head with a revolver. The nesses. In the town of Watrous a staging so elaborate an affair and people in Watrous were greatly school and church were built. The voted it a complete success. It was shocked to learn of the terrible death railroad station at Watrous served then announced that refreshments of the venerable pioneer and what his the garrison at Fort Union. were ready to be served. Tables had motive was for committing the rash Jose Watrous was credited with been laid and cloths had been act is merely a matter of conjecture... providing information for the follow spread on the ground and grass. All . It is understood he leaves a fine es present were told theywere invited to 22 ing description of the July 4, 1881, tate to his heirs. find places and help themselves. Four . On the same date the Santa Fe celebration in the town, as reported fifty gallon barrels of iced lemonade by Mrs. Ed Murphy: Daily New Mexican added a few de had' been prepared. All food was tails: The ladies ofthe valley joined in an equally generous· quantity. After effort to celebrate the fourth as they lunch hour the crowd scattered. S: B. Watrous, Sr.. Goes To His Death Un believed it should be celebrated. The Some played games, others danced der Peculiar Circumstances men were willing helpers. A picnic was while others strolled around meeting S. B. Watrous, Sr. committed suicide announced. The place was the beau and visiting friends. When time came in his room at his home ranch, near tiful cottonwood grove one fourth of a to start home the ladies were con Watrous station this morning at 5 mile below the slaughterhouse, south gratulated and assured that "A good o'clock by shooting himself through of Watrous. A procession was formed time was had by all. "20 the head twice with the same at the- JBWatrous. store, it was led by S w~apon used by his son [Samuel Jr.]. BWatrous, Jr. He rode a beautiful bay Speakers at the picnic noted the who killed himself a few months ago, horse. There was a band playing and agricultural pursuits of the Watrous and since which time the father. who flags waved. Watrous, leading, car- family. Jose provided more informa- was about 70 years of age. has been
8 Wagon Tracks February 1998 https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol12/iss2/1 8 : Wagon Tracks. Volume 12, Issue 2 (February, 1998)
greatly troubled.23 tate to daughter Rosa. The rest went above Fort Sumner. The troops from James E. Romero, Jr., great to her son Charles, but under the Fort Sumner and Indians from the res great-grandson of Samuel and To control of Rosa's husband, Otto ervation had already taken the stock macita Watrous, related a much Lange, executor, who was to estab from the Indians at Sega del L1aso. more dismal story. Although the lish a trust and provide Charles with Early in 1868, my efforts, information deaths of Samuel Jr. and Samuel the income.28 Jose was not men and assistance to the Commander at Bowman Watrous were considered tioned in her will, and it could not be Fort Union helped to capture and suicides and no investigations fol determined what inheritance he may break up an organized force of cattle lowed, family tradition contains a have received from the Sam Watrous thieves nearShoemaker, New Mexico. They stole Government mules from sinister version. estate. Judging from the construc Fort Union at night and disfigured the Romero alleged that Jose and Jo tion of Jose's new home, it appears United States brand at Ponto Leon sephine (Samuel's last wife) became he either had substantial assets of Canyon and Piedroso and then sold "r jealous ofSamuel Jr. and plotted his his own and/or had received an in them. death, and that Jose killed the heritance. In 1869 my firm subscribed $1000 to younger Watrous on the road to pres Jose left Watrous in 1900 to live in the enterprise that connected Santa • ent Shoemaker, NM. The senior East Las Vegas. The 1910 census Fe (Capitol of New Mexico) with Den Samuel was extremely distraught, listed Joseph, age 73, his wife and ver by telegraph. In the latter pa,rt of would not accept that his son had two daughters, Carrie and Rosa.29 1869 two cattle thieves stole over fifty killed himself, and, in time, became On December 26, 1910, Jose corre head of beef cattle from John Watts suspicious and accused Jose and Jo sponded with William Henry An at Fort Bascom. The manager, William sephine ofkilling his son. "During an drews, Republican Territorial Repre Mansico, ,and two men, overtook them at the Pedroso near Cherry Val argument, which was overheard by sentative, 1905-1912, to request as ley and the thieves killed one of the the servants, shots were heard. sistance from the government for men and left the cattle. The people When the servants entered the living services he had given, possibly based from Cherry Valley and Watrous met room, Samuel lay dead with two bul on his military record. In this corre at Justice Geo. W. Gregg's at Watrous let wounds in his head.... It was re spondence, Jose reviewed some in an9 reported that Lue Sawyer, a ported that Josephine would never teresting aspects of his later life: farmer at Cherry Valley Lake, was at again speak to any of Samuel's chil Accept my sincere thanks for your the head of the thieves. Justice Gregg dren except for J ose~h and her own, efforts and favor of the 16th inst., and gave me a warrant to arrest all that I Charlie and Rose." 4 This may be in reply, I enclose affidavits. could catch. Sawyer left the country nothing more than family folklore, Early in 1862 under. order of my and my posse and I brought before but Marc Simmons opined that General Vicente Romero of La Gregg quite a number that were sus "more research needs to be done" re Cueva, Mora County, in readiness to pected and he gave them a sound protect our Government's property at lecture and released them during garding the "peculiar circumstances" good behavior and then broke up the of the death of Samuel Watrous.25 Ft Union, New Mexico, from the rebel Texan forces,. kept watch of the men band of thieves. Following Sam's death and the of my cQmpany until General Canby In 1870, Rev. Dwyer of the Method settlement ofthe estate that was tied sent back my General's men, two of ist Association, induced the people of up in the questionable titles of the each company of his regiment, and the Watrous Valley to build a school Scolly Land Grant, plus a compli informed him that our Government house by subscription and Rev. Tho cated division among many heirs. was safe and did not need his watch mas Harwood took charge of the the family was in a state of turmoil. and assistance longer. building. The subscription was not Small and "larger parcels of land Manuel Romero, one of my two enough and the enterprise was about were divided through many trans men, I furnished with horse and outfit. to fall through. I, Geo. W. Gregg and fers among the heirs, all of whom On order of Captain [Howard J.] Farn W. H. Moore, Trustees, deeded the un lived in Mora County. No will for sworth, Quartermaster at Fort Union, I finished property to the M. E. Associa Samuel B. Watrous has been located, delivered.to his messenger my favorite tion and they finished it and u8der the saddle horse and on it the dispatch of management of Rev. Thomas Har and records of that time were de wood, it was an excellent school. . stroyed when the Mora County the Commander from Fort Union was 26 delivered to General Canby at Val In 1876, J. T. Gunnison and Manuel Courthouse burned. verde at the time the Texans were Gonzales interested the people of the By 1865 Jose and his wife, Louisa, marching upon New Mexico. Watrous Valley to grade a first class had moved to a farm about a mile Early in 18631 and my man, Estevan wagon road over the Olguin Hill by south ofLa Junta. When Sam died in Corona, reported to the Commander subscription. Wm. Kroenig, President, 1886, Jose was running cattle on a at Fort Bascom the Navajo Indian Jas. T. McNamara, Secretary, Col. 1450-acre ranch. In 1887 he built an depredation at La Cinta Canyon and McMullen, Surveyor, who gave the impressive two-and-one-half-story La Sorra; they killed two sheep herders grade and received the road from house, made ofrough-cut stoneY and took two boys captive and killed Jas. T. Johnson, Contractor, were pres Watrous and Tipton's herd manager, ent at the meeting. My firm outside of Josephine, Sim's widow, moved to and drove away over four hundred its subscription, paid Johnson's man Las Vegas around 1900 and died head of cattle and two sheep herds. for the work they did on the road. there January 3, 1904. Her will, Under command of Second lieuten In June 1879 my firm came up to written about six months earlier, ant Juan Marques, I and my man the demands of Agent Bear of the made $500 bequests to each of her went with them and served as guides. Santa Fe Railroad Company and daughter Rosa's children, and well We followed the trail from the mesas gave ten acres of land and the right over half of the remainder of the es- north of Fort Bascom to eleven miles of way through the centre of two of
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Published by UNM Digital Repository, 1998 9 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 12 [1998], Iss. 2, Art. 1
our farms and through our interest in secret association that would take out home, main ditches and lanes. My the Scolly Grant, gratis. At our firm's re-: parties at the dead of night and hang mother, Josephine, and my wife had quest the Santa Fe R. R. Co. drove them and asked if I knew anything of very large gardens of all varieties of piles across the Sapello and Mora Riv-, that. I answered "No, but I know of a flowers. My firm's efforts through Dele ers for the people to make wagon secret organization composed of law gate Manzanares, got the daily mail bridges. In my firm's carriage Wm. R. abiding Citizens throughout the line from Watrous to Mora and weekly Sparks, E. Dewes and I waited on the ' county that are determined to back from Watrous to Red River via Ala Board of Mora County Commissioners and executethe laws. I tell you a few mosa. At that period of advance in and from Chairman Anastasio Trujillo, names: B. H. St Vrain, Frank Meiska, the Watrous Valley, Watrous had two got $175.00 towards building the Sa Jno. Daugherty, Wm. Kroenig and I stores, two saloons, two blacksmith pello bridge. My firm lost one of their am the President of the organization. and carpenter shops, one livery and horses on that trip. Wm. Sparks, with Their work begins to show through the sales stable, one grist mill, rock quarry, out pay, took charge of building the grand and petit juries, T. B. Catron and one weekly newspaper,. "The Mora bridge and a number of the citizens, Judge Prince in the case of Lucero County Pioneer," proprietors Wallace too, gave their work gratis and my firm and my advice to all is to quit that and Holmes, one doctor, one music did the balance. It lacked one day of business. " teacher and an excellent school, ex-, being finished for use when a <:;Ioud The example of the'Mora County tensive farming, large shipments of burst four, miles above raised the Sa Association started the Northern New hay and alfalfa and alfalfa fed cattle. pellor River higher than ever known Mexico Association composed of I said to James Campbell, "I realize before or after and left no sign of the owners of cattle, composed of the the necessity of telephone service," bridge, and the following year a simi counties of Colfax, San Miguel, and and he replied, "I am on my way to lar cloudburst changed the channel Mora; Ex-Governor Hadley was P~esi Las Vegas now, what will you have me of the Mora River and left the piles on dent, Senator [Stephen W.] Dorsey, E. say about it?". "My firm will back any dry land. D. Clothier and others of the execu terms that you make to get it here." In 1880 I was a member of the jury tive committee and Wm. Mills, attor On his return he said "The company of Mora County. A party of citizens la ney, Jos. B. watrous, Vice-President will connect us at Los Alamos. The line mented that the cattle thieves were representing Mora County, with Cap will come through Campbell and Aus running the upper part of the county tain Brunton, L. W. Johnson and others ten's house to your firm's store and and could not be reached by law. I of executive committee, Trinidad Ro from there to Watrous. Campbell and suggested the organization of law mero, Vice-President representing Austen will pay one-third and your firm abiding citizens that would give their San Miguel County with Mike Slattery, one-third, and we have to take our time and money to stop them. That, W. W. Stapp and others of the execu two-thirds out in telephone service." body requested me, Henry Robinson, tive committee. That association'had The telephone poles were scattered Sheriff and Santiago Valdez to write a standing reward in the Daily Optic of some distance from Los Alamos to up the by-laws governing that asso $500.00 for each party convicted of wards Watrous but just then Campbell ciation, which we did and named it stealing stock from any member of as ,was thrown out of his buggy by a run the Mora County Stock Growers Asso sociation. away team and badly crippled and ciation. They appointed me President, In 1881 Dr. Wm. Sparks got the peo died in a few days. His wife was ad Raphael Romero, Vice-President, ple of Watrous together to build a ministratrix and Captain Eads, Presi- Henry Robinson, Secretary, and S. E. school house by subscription. Wm. , dent of San Miguel National Bank, her Tipton, Treasurer. Kroenig was President, Jos. B. Watrous, father, stopped the building of the At my suggestion T. B. Catron was Secretary-Treasurer, and they prom line. At that time my reverses began the attorney of the Association. Judge ised a subscription and on that prom one after another. My wife was L. B. Prince commissioned me with the ise Welch and Lee took the contract. stricken with a severe and lengthy two other commissioners with him to They started the work and stopped to spell of typhoid fever. Just as she was select the Grand and Petit Juries for have a better understanding. I said: recovering and yet very weak, five of "the coming term. That Grand Jury "Go on, you will get your money." our children were taken with diphthe found a true bill against Thomas They answered "If you say that S. B. ria, the three smaller died. The other Lucero, the chief of the thieves for Watrous and Son will pay us we will fin two after long while recovered. Our stealing one horse and that Petit Jury ish it." I replied "All right." and they did baby girl at same time had terrible found him guilty. The last day of the finish and my firm paid them for it and swelling on neck that threatened her term, Judge Prince delivered to furnished the school house and let the life. Later my brother, S. B. Junior, en Lucero a lengthy speech, saying: people use it, but they never paid tirely unexpected, died, and later my "Twelve picked men from your county back anything to my firm and they are father in the same way,. the senior found you guilty of stealing one horse; still using it on the same terms. partner of my firm. Later, my wife's the offence is not so large but the his In 1880, my firm fenced off their brother and father died. Under those tory back of you for over fifteen years farms and a' large tract of pasture influences I was like in a dream and has been that of appropriating the lands and started a large herd of cat during that time my firm's heavy in property of others to your own use tle or horses, mowed a large tract of vestments in fine cattle and horses de and the'law has not been able to til'il1othy, red top, blue grass and some preciated terribly in value, as did convict you; therefore, Isentence you red clover and a large tract of alfalfa other property, on account of the to five years imprisonment at Ne and it was the first baled alfalfa in the general busines~ disturbance braska penitentiary-30 There you will New Mexico market, and fattened throughout the country. I sold all the have a chance to'learn a trade to forty steers onalfalfa and sold them to personal property at a terrible sacri earn an honorable living when you re M. Spencer, butcher of East Las Vegas fice and paid every dollar that.my firm turn to your people." @ $50.00 each and set out an orchard owed. The Browne and Manzanares Cerillo, one of the suspected and a variety of small fruits, the first in Company and M. Brunswick bought thieves told me that he learne9 of a Mora County, and trees around their the herd and sold me one-third inter-
10 Wagon Tracks Februa~y 1998
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol12/iss2/1 10 : Wagon Tracks. Volume 12, Issue 2 (February, 1998)
est on time, secured by my one-third delinquent taxes was correct and the ( Sapello." interest. We incorporated under the auditor approved it. I helped to save 3. James E. Romero, Jr., "Samuel Bowman name of the Watrous Ranch Com those parties, but Ilost my sight and on Watrous, Pioneer Merchant," 'Wagon pany for 48 years, capitol $25,000, M. that date I sent in my resignation to Tracks, VI (Aug. 1992): 8-9; Marc Sim mons, "More About Watrous," Wagon Brunswick, President, J. B. Watrous, Governor Otero. November 6th Dr. Tracks, VII (Nov. 1992), 3. A Watrous rlSt Manager, F. A.. Manzanares, Secre Tipton, assisted by Dr. Hernandez, op ing was found in Fray Angenco Chavez, tary with office in East Las Vegas. The erated on my eyes for glaucoma and Origins of New Mexico Families, new calculation of firm was to let herd saved but very little sight. February foreword by Thomas E. Chavez (1954; re grow under management. 26th, 1900 I turned over to Brown and print, Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico A lengthy drought, scarcity of woo Manzanares Company and M. Bruns Press, 1992). Chavez noted the problems in recording when speakers of English ter and grass over stock ranges, hard wick my house, farm and pastures in were giving information to speakers of winters and heavy snows never bef full satisfaction of fhe mortgage that I Spanish. These are obvious when read . ore known in my time, defeated our voluntarily gave them after my one ing the following excerpt, p. 437: "WA L success, so that in the fall of 1891 the third interest in the cattle of Watrous TROUS. Don Samuel Worres (Watrous) company shipped what was left of Ranch Company was lost. Then I was living at La Junta de los Rios where their herd to grass and water south turned over·to M. Brunswick my cattle Juan Nepomuceno, a little Indian • herd, horses and other property to sell bought by him, was baptized on April30, rwest of Dodge City and in 1892 M. 1854 (b. Las Vegas). His wife was Tomasa . Brunswick sold herd there to one of and settle up balance of my business. Crispin according to the baptism of Dent's sons on time and at low price Thirty three days after March 31, Samuel Beawmon, child of Samuel on account of Browne and Man [1900?] M. Brunswick turned over to Loatrom (?) and Tomasa Crispin, Feb. 15, zanares Company and M. Brunswick. me all my mortgages, notes and re 1853... '.' A daughter, Manuela Worres, Outside of products of sale, their loss ceipts from all creditors in full satisfac married to Julian (Wm.) Tipton, had a was heavy and lowe them for my tion of all demands against me. My daughter Susana, July 24, 1852, and then another, Susan, at Junta de los Rios, one-third, a complete loss to me and real estate and balance of property Mar. 29, 1854." Thomas Chavez noted in with it five years of hard work and just canceled nearly $40,000. I was a free his addenda to the 1954 edition the then I lost three-fourths of my interest man, but had nothing left. My friends problems of translation between lan in Scally grant, after having held it free let me have the use of my house, farm guages as illustrated by the above item. of squatters from 1843 and paid taxes and pastures for the balance of that . The record also brings up questions of In in San Miguel and Mora Counties. year and on the 20th of November· dians as "adopted" children or possibly indentured servants. Or, due to prob Through the mistake of the new buy [1900?], I turned over to them my lems of translation, was the child property and I moved to East Las Ve ers that accepted Congress'confir brought by Watrous rather than . ., mation and patent and my mind was gas, where I have resided since. Now I bought? William B. Napton, Over the . , so clogged with those reverses that I depend upon my wife, past 64 years Santa Fe Trail (1905; reprint, Arrow Rock: · had to let things go. Under Governor of age, and my daughter. Friends of Arrow Rock, 1991), 59-60, de · Prince's administration I was one of The foregoing is a statement of part scribed the attempt of a "bright" sixteen-year-old Mexican boy to join . " three directors of Insane Asylum for of the work of my busy life and their wagon train on their return to the one year and present at every meet through the merits of that I offer my States. Mexican authorities overtook the ing. At end of year, I received from prayers to you and through you to the train and found the peon whose escape Governor Prince my commission for managers of our government and ask was aborted. five years. I was so broke up that I re your assistance to my wife, daughter 4. Napton, Over the Santa Fe Trail, 55-56. signed in favor of C. W. Wildenstein, and myself. 31 5. Ibid., 56. who served as Secretary till his death, . 6. Ibid., 56-57. No reply from Andrews to Jose c. October' 1896.. The business of the was found, nor was previous corre 7. Romero, "Samuel Bowman Watrous," 8. county was so bad that I let the Equi spondence which was indicated in 8. Harry Myers, ed., La Junta Precinct No. 11 table Life Ins. Co. have my policy for a and the Area Surrounding Fort Union, the letter to Andrews. The above let Mora and San Miguel Counties, New trifle after having it in force seven ter was found in the papers of L. years. Mexico. 1860. 1870. 1880. Federal Cen Bradford Prince, reason unknown. sus Enumeration (Albuquerque: New McKinley's election brought back Mexico Genealogical Society, 1993), 19. confidence to the county and with Jose Watrous died in 1915 at age In 1860 Sam was a widower, with five borrowed capital I threw my whole 78 in East Las Vegas. So ends the children in the household in addition to energy into the cattle business. In 1899 story of the "Spanish boy" from New Jose: Luisa 13 and Abelina 7, both born I was Chairman County Commission Mexico who attended Chapel Hill in Santa Fe; Samuel 5,. born in Mora ers Mora County. Many citizens Academy near Lexington, Missouri, County; Rosa 11 and Naives 5, both 32 listed as Indian and birthplace unknown. begged me to save their property in the 1850s. He had traveled the (Of the six families listed 06 this census from being sold for taxes and some Santa Fe Trail to attend school in data page, two others reported Indian from 1891 who had not paid because Missouri, had hauled freight over members in the household.) Three of the assessors made grave mistakes in the Trail during the Civil War, and Sam's daughters, Mary. Manuela, Emite the assessments and could not get ria, and Mary Antonia (or Antonette) ·the Boards to look into it and make had lived most of his life beside the were not present when the census was corrections. Their excuse was that Trail and the railroad that replaced taken on August 13,'1860. The 1870 cerr it. sus listed the residents of Sam Watrous's they didn't want to meddle with the household, in addition to Sam, as Jose other Board's work. I convinced my NOTES phine 28 (Sam's third or fourth wife, de <;:ompanion, Francisco Pacheco and 1. William B. Young, History of Lafayette pending on whether or not he was mar 'Lucas Maestas, that it was our duty to County (Indianapons: B. F. Bowen, 1910), ried to Jose's mother), Benna 17, Samuel do justice to those parties and our I, 204. 15. Rosa 5, and Charles 3. According to county. On the Second of September 2. "The junction of the Rivers Mora and Sa Joseph Romero, "Samuel Bowman Wa pello" - for brevity, further references will trous," 8-9. Sam Watrous had ten chi~ we closed our term. Charles Spiess be to 'La Junta," although it is a shame dren: Jose by his first wife (name un said that the work of the Board on the to lose the music of "de los rios Mora y known); by his second wife. Tomacita
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(Crespin): Mary, Emiteria, Mary Anton 29.1910 and 1920 Census data, East Las Ve ette, Louisa, Belina, and Samuel. Jr.; by gas Precinct. Telephone report from WAGON TRAIN DIARY his third wife, Rose (Chapin), a stillborn Midcontinent Library, Independence, (continued from page 1) child; by his .fourth wife, Josephine Missouri. July 1997. (Chapin): Rosa and Charles. 30. This may be an error. There was no peni at Point ofRocks in time to saddle up 9. U.S. Census, 1850, Schedule L- Free In tentiary in Nebraska at the time. and ride from Middle Spring to meet habitants in District No. 46 Being in the 31. JosephB. Watrous to W. H. Andrews, Ter the wagon train from Murphy Trail County of Lafayette, State of Missouri ritorial Representative to Congress, Dec. Head. They had not arrived at the enumerated on the 2nd day of No- 26, 1910, Contemporary New Mexicans vember, 1850 Microfilm, State Histori- Folder 32, Prince Papers, New Mexico bend around the base of Point of cal Society of Missouri. State. Records .Center and Archives, Rocks, so I met them on the west 10. David Lavender, Bent's Fort (Garden Santa Fe. side. I got in a good ride-I had been City: Doubleday, 1954). 348, noted that 32. A handwritten note on the copy of The riding nearly every day to. prepare Alfredo, son of Charles Bent, was sent to Watrous New Mexico Story reads "cor both Cimarron and myself for the Missouri for .education, being in St. Louis rections by Carrie Watrous Roulet, in 1853. The census shows he was at daughter of J. B. Watrous (granddaugh long ride Saturday-it's supposed to Chapel Hill in 1850. ter of Samuel B. Watrous) 8-8-65." Born in be 18 miles. This was fun. Along with 11. Francis W. Cragin Collection, Pioneers 1871, Carrie was 44 at the time Jose died the wagons' was the Forest Service Museum, Colorado Springs, CO. Note in 1915 and 96 at the time she reviewed mule train. What animals! They are book VII contains the interview with Jo Stanley's book. A few notes were made seph B. Watrous. See, also, Terry R. Koe but no major changes appeared. almost a matched set, a dozen ani nig, "F. W. Cragin and His Famous Col mals..They were carrying packs to lection," Wagon Tracks, VI (Nov. 1991). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS simulate a mule pack train during 11-12. Special thanks to Harry C. Myers, Fort Un Trail days. They are really used in 12. Young, History of Lafayette County, I, ion National Monument, who provided ma terials and checked for bloopers. If you find wilderness areas to pack in fire 204. some, write the editor. Also thanks to Mike fighting supplies and pack out debris Watrous~ 13. F. Stanley, The New Mexico Olsen and staff at New Mexico Highlands such as plane wreckage. Story (Pantex, TX, 1962), 10. University at Las Vegas; the staff at the New 14. Myers, La Junta Precinct No. 11,49,89. Mexico State Records Center and Archives We paused at the base of Point of 15. Ibid., 40-41, 49-50, 63. at Santa Fe, who located the Watrous letter Rocks to watch the rededication of 16. In August 1877 Carl and Lucinda Trieloff to Representative Andrews among the the DAR marker. We were almost to visited "one of Carl's friends, a Mr. Prince Papers; and the staff at the Pioneers Middle Spring when an "Indian" Museum, Colorado Springs, CO. Census Cronig [Kronig]," and Lucinda de warrior raced past us, chased by the scribed the Kronig home. Lucinda and data came from files in Missouri, Colorado, Carl's daughter, Emma, stayed in "a lit: New Mexico, and Myers'S compilation of La wagon master Dean Ormiston on his tie house" at the Kronig place for a cou Junta precinct data. And special thanks to mule. Just as he was past us heading ple of weeks while Carl went to Socorro. Mary E. Lujan, Chief Deputy Clerk, and her staff at the Mora County Clerk's office for west the "Indian" wheeJed and They also visited at the Gregg home. Mi started chasing Mr. Ormiston. chael L.' Olsen and Frank C. Wimberly, copies of the Josephine Watrous will and eds., "Last Lady of the Santa Fe Trail? The Watrous family land transfers. Nearly caught him too! Something Diary of Lucinda Wiseman Trieloff," whizzed past my face and it took me Wagon Tracks, XI (Feb. 1997). 16-17. WET/DRY ROUTES CHAPTER a while to realize it was an arrow-it 17. Myers, La Junta Precinct No. 11, 81, 83 ON THE INTERNET was lying in the brush near us. 84,88-89. THE WetlDry Routes Chapter is (Later I talked to this same "Indian" 18. Marilyn Mullins, "Joe Watrous Was the first SFTA chapter to have a at the Kansas Sampler Festival at Proud," Livestock Weekly (Sept. 1, 1988). Inman, KS, and he said he had hit 19. Michael Olsen, "The Fourth of July 1910 in . home page on the World Wide Web, Las Vegas, New Mexico: Was it the Last and an outstanding production it is. three ofthe wagons with his arrows.) Roundup for Santa Fe Trail Veterans?," Created and maintained by chapter I could see' that my blood pressure Wagon Tracks, VIII (May 1994). 9-12. members Larry and Carolyn Mix, St. might have gone up if the situation 20. "Fourth of July Celebration of Year 1881," John, KS, it may be accessed at had been real! reported by Mrs. Ed Murphy, Pioneers Museum, Colorado Springs, CO.
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place in the dark. After pestering and telling yarns. Our fearless dence of heavy traffic. In many some really nice people who live on leader Parker Maness decided it'd places the swales are several feet the highway to find the turnoffto the been dark twice in one day so it was deep, and the vegetation is a differ ranch we finally reached Autograph really 2 days. It was still dark-no ent color. The s]J.ort buffalo grass is Rock and Dan's house, but it was light showing in the East. Eventu still green. Usually by August and dark-thirty by then and no lights ally others got up. I was the second September the grass here is dry and were to be seen. I couldn't believe woman up. I'm already pooped. brown. We passed some· spots of that we couldn't see anyone! We . Used' portapotties there at Cold grass that were drier. Grass was headed back to town but met a Spring. We tried watering our horses lusher in the swales from the snow camper and horse trailer on the way at the Cold Spring but there was so left there last winter. Several places in and they had more specific di much algae, Cimarron would not the buffalo grass met the sky on all rections. We drove through Dan drink at all. Got the tent down and horizons around us. I could imagine Sharp's place and out into the packed away. You don't realize how we were back 150 years or so. We pasture. Council Grove had their big some inconveniences become un rode and rode and did not stay in sin own camp-I joined the others, til you are out on your own. Mter a gle flie-we wandered all over-some mostly a bunch of "old" (as in quick donut breakfast we saddled times three or more wagons beside experienced) cowboys. Dave up. However I couldn't get the cinch one another, justlike the traders. We Hutchison's brother, Don, was out tight enough and my hip and knee went out of our way several times, there somewhere. I sure need a bath are becoming somewhat lame from leaving the Trail because of pasture now but guess that is out. Forgot to the previous riding-kinda pulled fences but mostly we were on the fill up the canteens when we came something a few weeks ago. Anyway Trail or beside it. We saw several through town. Oh well. How stupid. couldn't get up on Cimarron without bulls in different pastures and cattle. Poor Cimarron finally got out of the pulling the saddle sideways, and he Two antelope ran first one way then trailer-he's "mowing" grass outside is· too wise to cooperate by walking another on a slope in front of us. the tent. Hope he doesn't walk on up and staying next to anything for Some of the folks asked us lots of me-the tent is next to the horse me to use to get on. So ... at the last questions about the Trail. They were trailer. Hope I can keep up with minute my "knight in shining ar not as familiar with the Cimarron everyone. It'll be a job to take down Route. Just a couple of miles east of mor," Ron, arrived in the Blazer to · . the tent and saddle up and load up.. get the horse trailer and move it. He the Trail crossing the Highway to Have too much junk. (Wonder ifmost helped me on. This afternoon I Carl Etling Lake we came over the Trail travelers thought that?) changed the cinch length-it was in hill and saw Rabbit Ears for the first Weare so far from town, the stars time. Here in camp on the Kenton the last hole on one side. So now I · are beautiful. Camp is in a bowl have more options to tighten the Highway we cannot see it. · shaped depression with a small bluff cinch. Cimarron may have lost Supper should be coming before with Cold Spring on the west. I can weight. Hadn't had that problem at long. I'm just thirsty-have old Ci see the Milky Way for the first time home. marron staked by the tent that I in years. Saw several shooting stars. The morning was busy but dawn pitched near the Council Grove folks. Cimarron just nickered and I told was inspiring. We started off with They returned to Cold Spring for him to be quiet. I think the cowboys .the wagon master driving a pair of their vehicles. Wish I had a bag ofice thought I meant them. They are still mules pulling a rubber-tired wagon, and an ice chest about now and a big cutting up around the fire: (parker sort· of buckboard style. Canvas bottle of iced tea. One of the ladies Maness had told me they would be covered bales of hay provided seats from Council Grove, a retired there "telling lies.") for riders in the bed of the wagon. teacher, stayed behind and helped Ron left me-at least the tent is fa Before the mules were hitched up me with the tent and gave me a cup miliar. And I've had cows sniffing they tore a hole in the canvas andate of cold ice water they had in the outside this tent before (camping in some of the hay. Several wagons are small ice chest strapped on the back Colorado) so I should feel right at built like chuckwagons with equip of the buggy they were driving (with home. ment for cooking and eating, but a Paint Tennessee Walking horse). I The weather has been beautiful, a bales of straw covered with tarps to need to go water the horse in a little little chmy right now but not like the make comfortable seats. They have a while. I just heard someone mention mountains. Just hope Cimarron cover over the tops which can be showers at Carl Etling Lake. Need.a doesn't get away. Oh well-it'll work rolled up on the sides. Several more vehicle. out. Should be more people here in have the rubber tires but the buggy Oh, now the cowboys are putting the morning I guess. Not many now. and one wagon have the conven up tents-they sure giggle' a lot. Marion McGlohon will be with us tional wooden wagon wheels. Most Guess some people left earlier. I Saturday and maybe Jeff Trotman wagons are outfittea with springs, didn't realize it. Oops-the "Joe" and Jill Clinesmith (all from Ulys making the ride even more comfort horse got away again. His master is ses). Best sleep for now. able. Quite a change from the big, calling him. Friday, Sept. 26 lumbering freight wagons of the Should be a nice evening. I'm hot Didn't get much sleep-eowboys past. and sunburned now even though the talking and Cimarron eating-he As we pulled out of camp, we left air is pleasant and dry. sure chews grass loud! Cowboys on Trail ruts. They are deep, wide Saturday, September 27 were up at 5:30 am drinking coffee grassy swales which still bear evi- Reveille at 6:00-eamp's astir.
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Already evening-late and I just that he pulled the trailer off the down from her horse yelling "rattle got my tent up and my gear inside. blocks. Oh boy! My horse was being snake," grabbed the umbrella from My horse is still here. I think he's too .pulled along with the trailer right to the buggy, and proceeded to hunt the tired to wander off. He did kick over ward me. Finally the headstall broke snake. She wanted him LIVE in her the feed trough he was using-asked and Jeffs horse shied away bridle ice chest on the back of the buggy! for his oats. So Ron gave him some. It less. Several cowboys came to help. I Her companions fInally talked her is pitch dark out except for the Milky got the bridle loose and tried to catch out of it. Cimarron jumped at a few Way. The camp is all dark and quiet him as he just stood a little way off. grasshoppers after that but he set except for a few giggly girls on a But nothing doing-I was a stranger. tled down quickly. He's pretty expe blanket nearby. Don't know where He took off, cowboys chasing. Finally rienced at all this it appears. Jeff Trotman ended up. Didn't want one had to rope him. I was embar We watered at the windmill and to shine flashlights all over. It is af rassed but I cut some leather strings he sure drank a lot. Found out in a ter 10:00 p.m.-really 9:00 out here in off my saddle and Jeff rerigged the hurry he either learns quickly or he New Mexico. We are near Mexhoma, bridle: It worked the rest of the day. already knew that windmills meant just west of the New Mexico/Okla~ By the way, Jeff made a pretty good water tanks. Whenever a windmill homa border. soldier! appeared he beelined straight for the . The day began at the "fIrst dark." The day was beautiful but seemed tank. Brings to mind that until a per Accord.ing to. our wagon master awfully warm for this altitude this son is put in a place where a neces Parker Lee Maness there are two time ofyear. I didn'tput a coat on un sity must be planned for, we cannot darks in a cowboy's· day. The late til later-to keep off the sun for the appreciate how easy it is to go to th~ night when he "stays up late telling most part. Sure is nice to have the kitchen faucet, or refrigerator and lies" and the 5:00 a.m. fIre and coffee saddle bags-I keep all the little good get cold water at any hour of the day brewing time (more lies). However, ies I might need in them-even one of (including both "darks"). At one of . they sure changed their tune to the yellow raincoats. I had tried it the last windmills I made sure to ask night-all is dark and quiet; Today out one day back home in the rain to someone to refill my canteen from we were up early. It was still dark. be sure that Cimarron didn't mind the pipe filling the tank. (I did get my We all rolled out for avisit to the lit the thing. He is an experienced canteen fIlled last night when Ron tle yellow house on wheels, then ranch horse so guess he's been there took me to the Lake Carl Etling commenced to strike our tents. Most and done that. We traveled west "showers." There I nearly cut my are fairly easy. I've discovered new from the Kenton Highway by the thumb off trying to cut a plastic tag tent stakes that work a whole lot eas Fort Nichols sign. Ruts here are off my boots after my shower! But I ier than the ones I have. J:eff had quite plain with 4-5 parallel. I re had Band-Aids in my saddlebags. some that are a thinner metal and member when I visited here as a Bled all over.) Soon after leaving screw into the ground. Finally we child I never could see the remains of camp this morning we were travel took time to grab a cup of coffee the the Trail. Today the swales are easy ing over some beautiful ruts (big cowboys made (under protest I might to see. This wet summer left the swales) and an airplane made .sev add). Guess they thought we could grass inthe ruts still green although eral passes over us. Someone start the day withoutcoffee. usually by now it is brown. We took thought they were videoing us so the More .people arrived. Marion quite a while to get the wagons and wagons each drove in a rut, side by McGlohon from Ulysses came and riders lined out. We had quite a side. The early morning sun made joined us. She was riding only for the number of people join us this morn the ridges really show up. The cav morning. Mter a doughnut, Jeff ing. One heavy wagon from Council alry patrol had been practicing ma dressed up in an 1847 dragoon coat Grove was left behind. The horses neuvers on tne prairie beside us so and hat. He had been recruited as a pulling it were not up to such a heavy they all lined up for the camera as if part of Don Hutchison's unit of sol load as that Bain wagon. They did they were watching the wagons roll diers. Don came prepared to outfIt an not appear to be draft animals-not by. entire patrol-mostly the young cow sUre what they were. The Council Before we reached Camp Nichols, . boys and some of the girls. Jeff was Grove people led the team individu the Forest Service mule train joined concerned about his horse causing a ally and all their animals and people us when we intersected.a dirt road. rodeo. He hadn't been ridden much were still with us. Mary rode a pinto They gave quite a show (same ones in the past year until lately. His and rode with me a while. Our horses we had seen at Middle Spring). The horse is a strong-built sorrel quarter seemed to like to be together. She animals are magnifIcent, a cross be horse. My horse was tied to the hitch complained she hadn't seen any rat tween a jack and a Belgian someone ofour trailer while he fInished offthe tlesnakes. I commented I was sur said. The"cavalry~' rode ahead of us. .alfalfa hay and Jeff tied his horse to prised we hadn't since it was so Actually we lost sight of them for the other side of the hitch for me to warm. (The past two weeks at home quite a while. Claimed they were watch while· he moved his pickup on the NorthFork of the Cimarron chasing the Indians away. As we and trailer to the outside of the pas near Ulysses I had seen several rat came over the hill to Camp Nichols, ture-Ha! His horse proceeded to tlesnakes.) A few minutes later I we could see quite a crowd gathered, hook his reins (they were extra heard a buzz and Cimarron shied. I lots ofvehicles farther away and the heavy leather) on the hitch ball and looked at his right hoof in time to re Stars and Stripes flying over the ru when I reached to lift them away alize he'd apparently stepped on the ins. The cavalry had ridden on ahead from the hitch he jerked back so hard thing. Mary was all excited, got while we detoured through pasture
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gates but we were on the hill to the grasslands. We even used the high yellow house on wheels. (Ran out of east when we saw the patrol ride into way near David Hutchison's house. toilet paper. Now partial rolls show the camp in twos. They then all lined He saddled his horse and joined us up-everyone donating their own up facing the large crowd and sa there. At the last water tank before rolls to the cause. I had one in my J luted. Heard later they had inter we stopped for the day near Mex saddle bags.) rupted Mark Gardner's program. homa, one of the young cowboys was Someone broke out the cold left Marion Sloan Russell was there and knocked off his feet into·the water over doughnuts, had one of those in just as the wagon train rolled up the tank by his horse. For a while we my mouth when I learned we would. slope to the site of Camp Nichols thought it must have broken his leg. be having breakfast burritos. They David Hutchison told the crowd to Someone had a cellular phon,e and had chunks of cheese and peppers in turn around and greet the incoming we were close enough to the highway them. Wow! I've been wondering how wagon train. We were quite a sight that one ofthe helpers was flagged to in the world those cowboys manage but I really think that the mule train help take the·young man to Clayton on doughnuts. One of the burritos stole the show. They ate impressive to the hospital. Just imagine what it was enough! and really do provide a service in the might have been like if we didn't Finally,. we had everything wilderness areas. have help nearby like that. packed up. I stowed my gear in the We were grateful for a break. My As soon as I arrived at our new front of our horse trailer. Cimarron doughnut was long gone but the fried campsite, I left Cimarron tied to the let me know he wanted oats right chicken dinner hit the spot. Mark horse trailer and went with Ron to away. However, the scamp made a Gardner sang again and a group of our camper·parked over at McDon swipe at my elbow as I was cinching Mennonite children sang also. What ald'sRanch house by McNees Cross him up. He really wasn't interested, a show! Thank goodness, the little ing where I showered and dressed to in another long day. I tried to tell yellow portapotties had followed us, . go into Clayton to the banquet. him it would be short, but.... rather proceeded us (didn't mean ,When we returned so late I nearly they had a team and came along on decided to stay at the camper with Corp. Hutchison got out his uni the Trail). Bushes in this area are Ron, but I am glad I didn't. forms again and recruited more sol rather short. Only scrub cedar Sunday, Sept. 28 diers (and some ofthe young women) around Camp Nichols. You know for patrol duty. Jeffjoined again. The The night was eventful after I air was brisk and cloudy. I was al· modern machines have spoiled us. shut out the light in the tent. I Until our modern age most people most too cool. I left my jacket in the wasn't asleep yet when a brisk wind Blazer last night so had only a denim needed animals to help them work. came up. My tent was really flap Depending on animals is rather like long-sleeved shirt. Don recruited our ping. Cowboys next to me hammered German fellow Trail traveler, Lu raising a child. You have to be aware down their tent stakes again. A few at all times. Jeffand I took turns eat ther, and he wore a general's coat, . tents blew down, but my stakes held. Mexican War era. When troops were ing lunch and holding the horses: M I was more nervous about the horses ter the trailer wouldn't hold his ordered to mount up, they discovered when they started stomping and he didn't have a horse to ride (he had horse we knew a scrubby cedar tree bumping the portable corrals. There wouldn't. Besides, the only ones ridden for a while yesterday). Some was not anything between their cor· one asked where his horse was and available were already taken by ral and my tent. I felt pretty vulner .. more mannerly horses. Some people he said the Mexicans shot it. Later able. Found out in the morning that the horse riders shifted again and hobbled their horses but I saw one one of the cowboys roared out of the doing a hopping run and then break Luther was mounted when we ar tent next to mine and tripped over rived at McNees Crossing. the hobble and runoff. By now the the stake line and nearly fell on my weather is getting warmer. I really tent trying to get to the corrals to We only had four miles to ride so tanked up on water but am still stop one horse from kicking another. we were not in any hurry to start. I thirsty. The water in the canteen is The horses sounded as if the corral think the younger ones' horses were lukewarm. But still ... I think I must would come apart anytime. I told worn out before we started. have died and gone to heaven. I have him I was too busy deciding how to Today we only had three wagons always dreamed of having a horse get out of my tent so I wouldn't get and the buggy.. We had quite a and being a part of the old West trampled. Cimarron stayed cool number of extra horseback riders. A (watched too many Roy Rogers and throughout the excitement. They cowboy preacher joined ~s on his John Wayne movies growing up I took "Bay" out of the pen and just horse. He is to preach later. So many guess). And here we are doing just tied him outside. He was limping impressions fill my mind as I remem that. this morning-eowboy told us he was ber the ride this morning. The cool As the .wagon train left Camp a show horse worth about $15,000. fresh breeze, the feeling ofbeing free Nichols, the reduced force patrol They use their regular stock for from responsibilities of home. The ceremoniously· closed . the post. I "dude" rides. open spaces as we travel-not en think the younger "soldiers" had de We did not break camp really fast closed in a vehicle of some kind. serted! Those wool uniforms were a like yesterday. It was at least I tried.taking the camera yester little. warm! lighter, cooler and cloudy-no Rev day and every time I took a snot, I The afternoon was long and hot. eille-Corp. Don slept in. We found could see Cimarron's ears in 'the We spent more time offthe Trail, fol three blackened enamel pots of cof viewfinder. I'm curious to see ifthey lowing dirt roads and crossing CRP fee on the fire on the way to the little show up in the pictures.· Cimarron
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moved right at the moment I creek had running water today. By time to write about what they were snapped the pictures, will probably now the sun is nearly overhead and doing. Those who wrote diaries were give a whole new' meaning to the the air is getting hot. We urged our the ones who rode in the carriages all phrase "moving picture." mounts up the steep rutted west day and became "costive," or slept The Trail is sandier today. Some bank and tied our horses to our trail dry in their carriage while their of the time we were not actually on ers which had been relayed from our driver slept in a puddle beneath a ruts we could see as we had to follow starting place by others. wagon. The' teamsters did all the fence lines to get to a certain gate to What a mixture ofpeople! We trail work. I could hardly find time and the next pasture. The cavalry prac "reenactors" (used very loosely) and didn't have the energy to write after ticed maneuvers in the field again. the modern vehicles and pilgrims a day of feeding and watering the One almost lost his seat when his (the observers). We all "gathered in horse, striking my tent, grabbing a horse reared. Too many oats I guess. the river" for a church service. The doughnut and coffee, saddling up, The closer we got to the end ofour cowboy preacher admonished us not trying to get astride the horse, riding journey the thinner the clouds be to take the Lord's name in vain. 18 miles (really a short distance ac came. We topped the hill east of (Good thing he wasn't in camp last cording to some Trail literature), McNees Crossing and 6 or 7 swales night during the ruckus in the wind stepping on rattlesnakes, setting up converged on the narrow rock cross-, storm.) He also illustrated our lack my tent, trying to get cool, finding ing. We were almost there when our offaith by the cowboy who didn't like enough water for myself and my , energetic scouts brought word that the answer to his prayer so asked if horse, figuring out how to keep the we were too early. Oops! We could anyone else was up there. "Dona horse from running away on an open not see very many people on the op- Tules" (VanAnn Moore) led us in prairie (tent stakes work fairly well), 'posite bank. We had already re "Amazing Grace." I always think of feeding the horse grain and hay, and paired the brand new four-strand VanAnn Moore as Dona Tules as she watering the horse. Cimarron and I barbed wire fence we had cut to enter played that character in the stage are much better acquainted now. this last pasture but we turned the show Viva, Santa Fe (written by Jay But the diary has become more arec train around and back-tracked up Stewart) which showed two summer ollection. I have a much greater ap the hill. While they reopened the seasons six years ago in Hobbs, New preciation for the dangers and hard break in the fence I followed some Mexico. I saw the show several times work those freighters and adventur riders toward the south and crossed because our daughter was also a cast ers faced. But I'd do it again. Rumor two swales I hadn't seen. The vegeta member. VanAnn Moore also por. has it the "ghost train" might reap tion this year really made the swales trays Susan Shelby Magoffin for pear again sometime. Santa Fe Trail addicts. stand out and amazingly are still . FORT LEARNED green. We all sat on rocks or hay bales in By now the sun is coming out from the bottom of the creek bed (not in -TEACHERS' TRADING POST- behind the clouds as we reach the top the water). Immediately after serv of the hill. We remain just out of ices, we witnessed the wedding. "Su Karla French, Editor sight of McNees Crossirig and wait san Magoffin" (VanAnn Moore) sang, I T is an honor to serve as chair ofthe an hour for the timing to be right. and "Marion Russell" (Kay Kuhl SFTA education committee and as Must be like this in the movies! We man) married Rex Williams. The sume the duties of guest editor for visit and share my homemade beef Judge of Union County, NM, per this column. I hope that you educa jerky I finally rememberedto get out formed the ceremony, and the bride tors out there teaching about the of my saddle bags. Our scouts wore and groom walked out under a dou Santa Fe Trail in your classrooms out their mounts relaying messages ble row of crossed sabres held by will- contribute your ideas and news from symposium coordinator to some ofour "cavalry," including Jeff, so we might share them in WT. I wagon master and his lieutenants. Don, and Luther. By now the soldiers have discovered that teachers are We are given our stage directions were dripping wet in their dark blue some of the most enthusiastic dis and all take our places. The cavalry wool uniforms and hats. Wedding persers of "Trail mania." 1 " led the way' then circled around to cake was served from a wagon situ My e-mail address at school is the south. They were strung out in a ated in the river bed. [email protected]; at home it line followed by the lead wagon and Most ofthe rest ofthe wagon train is [email protected]. Snail mail for finally the riders. I heard we were had box lunches served to us. The Trail mail is Karla French, PO Box being filmed but never did see any main order ofbusiness was to get the 632, Ulysses, KS 67880. one who might have done so. So horses unsaddled and put into the Several teachers and I are now en much for show business! trailers to return home. One last gaged in a special Trails Project, the .The wagons lined up on the east drink from the tank by the windmill subject of my first column. before we start for home. Cimarron bank of the crossing and stayed till TRAILS PROJECT the church services and the wedding was orily too willing to oblige. were over (Yes, a real wedding). We It was sad to see our caravan dis The theme of the Technology riders crossed the Corrumpa (where solve into the mists of tinie. It had Innovation Challenge Grant of the I grew up it was the Beaver River or been an exciting and eventful three Department of Education, adminis North Canadian) on the narrowrock days on the trail. But now I know tered by Tina Littlejohn and the ledge. We were concerned about why we have no teamster's diaries Kansas City (MO) School District, is quicksand ifwe got offthe ledge. The available to read. They didn't have "Life on the Trail." Students in the
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Trails Project schools will study life High School students presented CONVERSE OF THE on the Santa Fe Trail from a child's their multimedia project detailing , PRAIRIES perspective, including life in their their living-history experiences at own community now compared to Bent's Old Fort. They were in eighth -BOOK NOTICES- 175 years ago. Students will use an grade when they participated in the John Taylor Hughes, Doniphan's Ex integrated curriculum approach, project, researching and preparing pedition. Introduction by Joseph G. and they will prepare a group project costumes for their experiences. They Dawson III. Reprint; College Sta to be published on the World Wide used computers and software, plus tion: Texas A&M University Press, Web. digital cameras and scanners pro 1997. xv + 202. Illustrations. Paper, The Trails Project has been in op vided by the grant monies, to record $16.95 + shipping; available from eration for one full school year. More and share their findings. The piC Last Chance Store. schools joined in the second year. tures relating to the project are Hughes was a private in Colonel .1 Schools along the Oregon Trail par available online 'at http://trails. Alexander W. Doniphan's First Mis ticipate in the Oregon Trail Project, . kcmsd.kI2.mo.us/Cheraw/CHERWI souri Mounted Volunteers, 1846 and schools along the Santa Fe Trail STPAGE.html. Their presentation 1847 (part of Colonel Stephen Watts - participate in the Santa Fe Trail and their research results are re Kearny's Army of the West), which Project. First-year' schools in the corded on a CD. Each participating marched over the Santa Fe Trail to Santa Fe Trail Project included school complete a similar project capture New Mexico and later moved Council Grove USD #417; Kansas during the present school year. south to conquer EI Paso and Chi City, MO, School District; and Cher Truly, the old Santa Fe Trail has huahua. A school teacher before the aw School pistrict, Cheraw, CO. Sec become a part of the information su war, Hughes planned from the be ond-year schools added include La perhighway. It is a good way to ac ginning to write a history ofthe regi mar Public Schools, Lamar, CO; tively involve students in their own ment, and this valuable chronicle Santa Fe Trail USD # 434, Carbon learning about the Trail and its role was first published in 1847. It re dale, KS; Diocese of KC/St. Joseph, in the history ofour country. mains the most detailed and colorful Independence, MO; Las Vegas City During the seminar participants narrative by an enlisted man of the .Schools, Las Vegas, NM; and Ulysses visited local sites on the Santa Fe expedition. It has been a scarce item USD # 214, Ulysses, KS~ Trail, including Boggsville Restora despite other reprints. Community partners include the tion Site, the Koshare Indian Kiva, This reprint, to commemorate the Steamboat Arabia Museum, Kan/?as and Bent's, Old Fort where we par 150th anniversary of the Mexican City, MO; Apple Computers; Kansas ticipated in a period meal. There is War, is reproduced directly from a State Historical Society, Topeka, KS; nothing like a cold wintry night in Senate document, published in 1914, Jackson County Historical Society, the courtyard for surveying the which has small type. There is no in Kansas City, MO; National Park myriads of stars. And, yes, during dex. Anyone wishing to understand Service Long Distance Trail Center, the daylight hours we could see the Doniphan's campaign will find this Santa Fe, NM; Fort Larned National mountains from Bent's Old Fort. The volume essential reading and appre Historical Site, Larned, KS; Bent's blizzard in late October blew away ciate its renewed availability. Old Fort National Historic Site, all the smog on the front range and • • • • Cheraw, . CO; National Frontier we had a spectacular view of the dis Marc Simmons, Massacre on the Trails Center, Independence, MO; tant Rockies. Lordsburg Road: A Tragedy of the Lenexa Historical Society, Lenexa, The Internet is a super tool to con Apache Wars. College Station: Texas KS; Fort Umon National Monument, nect students with other'students A&M University Press, 1997; Pp. Watrous, NM; and Boggsville His and Trail experts. Educators should xviii + 250. Map, illustrations, notes, toric Site, La Junta, CO. check out http://raven.cc.ukans.edu/ bibliography, index. Cloth, $27.95 + The objective of the Trails Project heritage/research/sft/ for the Inter shipping; available. from Last is to integrate technology into the active Santa Fe Trail Homepage and Chance Store. •t' curriculum and leaqring experience links to other sites about the Trail. Marc Simmons has written an of students. They use the Santa Fe other phenomenal book. There are Trail as the vehicle to achieve the ob PAWNEE ROCK BOOKLET few connections with the Trail (the jective. Students will partner with AVAILABLE FROM LCS McComas family traveled to New universities, museums, historical SHIELA Sutton Smith, member of Mexico by rail, following the historic groups, and interested citizens to SFTA, compiled Pawnee Rock; a route), but this book will charm gen learn about the Santa Fe Trail and Brief History of the Rock, in 1986. eral readers and scholars alike, be then share their knowledge with oth The 50-page booklet includes infor ing a detective story and one of the ers using technology. Students will mation about Pawnee Rock during best-crafted historical narratives research primary and secondary Trail days and the state historical about a tragic incident from the In sources to study the westward'move park established in 1912. dian wars. There are sufficient ele ment and its effects on the natural Smith has generously donated a ments of murder,mystery, drama, and built environments. number of copies of this publication intrigue, fate, emotion, persever From November 3-7, 1997, about to SFTA to sell. It is available ance, and hope to captivate anyone. thirty educators from the Santa Fe through Last Chance Store for $3.00, The incident, fairly well-known in Trail 'Project schools met in.La postpaid. Thanks to Smith for this the annals of the Apache wars, was Junta, CO, for a seminar. Cheraw contribution. the murder, by a raiding party led by
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Chief Chato, of Hamilton C. and Ju Plain), the largest plain in the U.s., Serious students of the Trail have niata (Ware) McComas, March 28, had many Santa Fe Trail connec an abiding curiosity about the His 1883, and the capture oftheir 6-year tions, including the expeditions of panic culture of the Southwest. old son, Charley (whose fate was Coronado, Onate, the Mallet broth Nearly 30 years ago, folklorist never determined). Little more than ers, Pedro Vial, and others; Ran Garcia (professor of languages at that was known until now. Skmons dolph Marcy's exploration, Josiah New Mexico Highlands University) has provided the background of the Gregg's Santa Fe Trail from Fort began interviewing the native McComas family and the Apaches Smith and along the Canadian Spanish-speaking people who had involved, examined how they hap River, and the writings of Albert lived in the villages along the Rio Pu pened to meet on that fateful day, Pike and George Wilkins Kendall; erco, that were largely abandoned by and explained what happened after John Pope's search for artesian the 1950s. This book, the title of ward. The search for little Charley is wells; and homeland to Plains tribes which means "a long time ago," sup an unprecedented story. which harassed Trail travelers. plements three other books by Anyone who has done historical In this meticulous examination of Garcia about Hispanic folk life. It research will be amazed at the re exploration, Miller offers thoughtful contains folk sayings, riddles, sto sources Simmons examined, the tre insight into Llano geography and the ries, poems, ballads, songs, and let mendous good luck he had in finding evolution of the meaning of these ters, each item in Spanish with Eng them, and how well they fit together. plains to Euro-Americans. Anyone lish translation. Simmons exhibits an unusual ability with more than a passing interest in . The devotion to the Catholic to cut through. the rhetoric of pri the Llano Estacada will appreciate Church that sustained their lives is mary sources and get to the reality of this scholarly work. evident throughout. The earthy di . a situation. The result is a model of • ••• chos (sayings), ax murder 6f Juan research and writing that any histo Richard Flint and Shirley Cushing Valdez, a charming letter ofrejection rian, amateur or professional, should Flint, eds., The Coronado Expedition (to a marriage proposal), and "La Cu emulate. It is worthy of and should to Tierra Nueva: The 1540-1542 caracha," Pancho Villa's jalopy, will be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Route Across the Southwest. Niwot: interest and delight most readers • • • • University Press of Colorado, 1997. with no knowledge of Spanish. Eliza P. Donner Houghton, The Ex Pp. xix + 442. Maps, illustrations, -Bonita M. Oliva pedition of the Donner Party and Its notes, .bibliography, index. Cloth, • •• • Tragic Fate. Introduction by Kristin $45.00. Dorothy Hart Kroh, Morris, 1821 Johnson. Reprint; Lincoln: Uillver This publication contains the lat 1997: A Community on the Ft. Leav sity of Nebraska Press, 1997. Pp. enworth Military Road to the Santa est scholarship on the Coronado Ex Trail~ xxxiv + 375. Illustrations, appendi pedition, as noted in Richard Flint's Fe Kansas City, KS: Morris Association for Family & Commu ces, index. Paper, $16.00. article in Wagon Tracks, XI (Aug. nity Education, 1997. Pp. x + 244. The Donner Party tragedy of 1846 1997), 3-4. More than 20 scholars Maps, illustrations, notes, index. continues to fascinate students of contributed to this collection, sum Cloth. the West. This volume, by the marizing the most recent findings daughter of George and Tamsen about Coronado and providing the SFTA member Dorothy Kroh com Donner, was first published in 1911. launch pad for work that remains to piled this community history to com th . Eliza was only four when she be done. There are still more ques memorate the 57 anniversary of th survived the ill-fated expedition, but tions than answers about Coronado's the Morris FCE, 10 anniversary of th she interviewed others and studied route to and from Quivira. SFTA, and 175 anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. Morris is located in published accounts to satisfy her This volume is up-to-date; John Wyandotte County, KS, on the south own curiosity and tell the "truth" (as Morris's El Llano Estacada, re side of the Kansas River, 12 miles she understood it or wanted it to be) viewed above, is included in the ref from it mouth. about what happened. There are erences. Joseph P. Sanchez provided more recent books that better relate a chapter on historiograllhy for each Topics covered include the Fort· ,, the details. of the tragedy in the of the five sections. The Flints con Leavenworth Military Road (re Sierra Nevada, but this one contains tributed articles as well as editing cently marked by the Kansas City a participant's deliberative account, the collection. Their chapter on the Area Historic Trails Association), • information about the survivors, and "Rio de Cicuye Bridge," 262-277, is trading posts, mission schools, agri more than 50 illustrations. It is a evidence of their proficiency. Be culture, settlement, public schools, minor classic and recommended. cause Coronado's journey to present railroads, businesses, social life, and • • • • Kansas touched portions of what be 4-H. The Morris Association for John Miller Morris, El Llmw Esta came the Santa Fe Trail, it is of in Family and Community Education cada: Exploration and Imagination terest to Trail aficionados. (FCE) evolved out of the Morris on the High Plains ofTexas and New •• • • Farm Bureau, founded in 1939. Mexico, 1536-1860. Austin: Texas Nasario Garcia, Mas Antes: Hispanic This handsome and informative State Historical Association, 1997. Folklore of the Rio Puerco Valley. volume is an obvious labor of love. Pp. x + 414. Maps, illustrations, Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Dorothy and husband Lee, who did notes, bibliography, index. Cloth,' Press. 1997. Pp. xi + 187. Map, illus the photography and mapping, can $39.95.. trations, appendix. Cloth, $24.95; well be proud of this sound study of El Llano Estacada ( the Staked paper, $12.95. local history.
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TRADE RANCHES ON THE FORT RILEY -FORT LARNED ROAD, PART I: THE OTHER RANCH AT WALNUT CREEK by David K. Clapsaddle
(SFTA Ambassador David Clapsad eries from Junction City to Santa Fe discovered opportunities for busi dle, Larned, KS, is program director by way of Fort Larned. ness in nearby "Indian Territory, of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. He Travelers on the Fort Riley-Fort present Kansas. There, also, he be has written extensively about con Larned Road had access at the east came acquainted with Joe Boinett necting routes in the Santa Fe Trail ern terminus to provisions at Fort with whom he formed a partnership network, including the roads from Riley and nearby Junction City. To to open a trading establishment on Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley, Fort the west were the villages ofAbilene the Wakarusa River near present Hays, and Kit Carson, CO. He has and Salina; but farther west there Eudora, Kansas. The site selected for provided leadership in marking the were no towns. Several trading posts the store was a fortunate choice be . routes and sites along the Wet and or ranches were established beyond cause the area was populated by - Dry routes and the Fort Hays-Fort Salina to meet the needs of those Delawares on the north side of the Dodge Road. This is the first article traveling this route. These were lo river and by Shawnees on the south. in a three-part series.) . cated at Walnut Creek, two miles Of added advantage was the nearby aka~usa Introduction east of present Great Bend; Smoky W Shawnee Mission and the -Hill River, near present Kanopolis; ferry at the confluence of the Waka TRADING ranches along the Santa and Elm Creek, near present Bavar rusa and Kansas rivers operated by Fe Trail were important to those who ia, Kansas. Paschal Fish. traveled the route, and the history of - The Other Ranch at Walnut Creek Not content to follow the life of a many of these has been recorded. sedentary shopkeeper, Greiffenstein Louise Barry, for example, wrote En route to the mountains with left the store in his partner's hands about the ranches at the Little Ar two wagon loads of trade goods in and undertook a trading expedition, kansas, Cow Creek, Walnut Creek, 1855, William Allison and Francis in 1852, south into present Okla Great Bend, and Cimarron Crossing . Boothe stopped at the Walnut Creek homa. Accompanied by Shawnee (see Wagon Tracks, III [Feb. 1989]: crossing on the Santa Fe Trail east of . guides, he journeyed deep into Co 8). Ranches also were established a present Great Bend, Kansas. Their manche country near the Texas bor long the connecting routes, and these mules having "give out," they de der and returned to the Wakarusa are also a part of Trail history. This cided to proceed no farther. They un pleased with his profits. series looks at those established on loaded their wagons and began to In 1854 he sold his interest in the the Fort Riley-Fort Larned Road. sell the merchandise to passing trav store and joined a group of traders Departing Fort Riley on May 15, elers and. Indians. Such was the and government officials travelingto 1860, troops under the command of genesis of the well-documented the Southwest to reconnoiter the Major John Sedgwick followed the ranch at Walnut Creek. Subsequent country for the establishment of In Smoky Hill River westward to pres to Allison and Boothe, the ranch was dian reservations and trading posts. ent Kanopolis, Kansas. Crossing the operated by a series of proprietors, He traded with Indians in New Mex river at that point, the column took a including George Peacock, Charles ico. Returning to newly-organized southwesterly course to strike the Rath, and Joseph Douglass. Kansas Territory, Greiffenstein situ established route of the Santa Fe Not nearly so well known was an ated himself west of the infant town . Trail east of Pawnee Rock. From other ranch at Walnut Creek oper ofTopeka and engaged in trade with thatjuncture, Sedgwick marched his ated by Wilhelm (William) Greiffen the Pottawatomies. men on to Camp Alert, soon to be re stein, also known as Dutch Bill. Born In 1858 he was summoned back to located and renamed Fort Larned. in Germany in 1829, he was caught Germany because of his father's fail This campaign, known as the Co up in the· political unrest. which ing health. In the subsequent year, manche-Kiowa Expedition, followed swept western Europe in 1848. He he buried his father, settled the es what became the Fort Riley-Fort was arrested for participating in a tate, and returned to Kansas where • Larned Road. This road, fired used so-called railroad riot. Though he resumed trade with the Pottawa extensively by the army during. the cleared of the charges, he subse tomies at St. Marys, Kansas Terri early days of the Civil War, became quently emigrated to the United tory, and established a headquarters the route of the Kansas Stage Com States. He first settled at the Ger for trading expeditions westward to pany for weekly delivery of mail be man enclave of Hermann, Missouri, the Cheyenne country of the Smoky tween Junction City and Fort where he found a home with his un Hill Valley. Larned in 1862. In 1866, with the ar cle and employment in a. general During 1859-1860 Greiffenstein rival ofthe Union Pacific Railway, store. The following year he moved became acquainted with J. R. Mead, Eastern Division, at Junction City, .with his uncle's family to St. Louis who in the previous year had estab the road became both the e'astern leg where he continued his trade as a lished atrading ranch on the Saline ofthe Santa Fe Trail and the route of clerk. River near present Tescott, Kansas. the Barlow and Sanderson Company In 1850 the young immigrant At the time of their first meeting, which superseded the Kansas Stage moved to Westport where he again Mead recalled that Greiffenstein' Company with triweekly mail deliv- was employed as a clerk. There he was accompanied' by . a partner
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-, named Hohneck and a Cheyenne don't stop this side ofthe Smoky Hill. sold his business to Joseph W. Doug woman. Mead's reference was to The Indians are going on the war- lass in 1867. Greiffenstein did not re Ernst Hohneck, like Greiffenstein a .path." Thomson and his party, heed main at Walnut Creek so long, but German immigrant. The woman was ing Block's warning, fled northward his activities after the Cheyenne raid Greiffenstein's wife, Cheyenne Jen beyond the Smoky Hill River where were more difficult to ascertain. ny, later to figure prominently in the they were joined by a stock tender The Smoky Hill and Republican sad story of Clara and Willie Blinn employed at the stage station located Union, Junction City, July 9, 1864, who were killed during George A. at Greiffenstein's ranch. His news? reported the following: "Mr. Charles Custer's attack on Black Kettle's Block's prediction had proved true. Rath has sold the Walnut Creek Washita village, November 27,1868. The Indians had struck. Ranch to Messrs. Ennis & Graffen In 1860 Greiffenstein dissolved . Other accounts described the stein.... Mr. Rath has had a good his partnership with Hohneck and 1864 depredation in some detail, es trade there and made money, and we moved to Walnut Creek. He may pecially that of Louise Barry in her , wish his successors equal success." ( have been associated with the stage well-researched article, "The Ranch Whether this was rumor or fact has company operating over the Santa at Walnut Creek Crossing." Arriving not been determined. Whatever the Fe Trail. Mead recalled meeting him at Walnut Creek on May 16, a small correctness of the article, Greiffen there in that year and also in 1862, band of Cheyennes warned Charles stein soon left Walnut Creek. One ac when a group ofSoutherners return Rath, then proprietor of the ranch count declared that he and Chey ing from the gold fields of Colorado originally established by Allison and enne Jenny fled to J. R. Mead's ranch raided Salina, terrorized the citizen Boothe, that others oftheir tribe, not on the Walnut River near present ry, looted the stores, and drove off so well disposed, were headed in his Towanda, where Greiffenstein pro the stock. Continuing southwest on direction. Taking Rath's Cheyenne claimed, "He had been cleaned out by the Fort Riley-Fort Larned Road, the wife, Making Out Road, they made a hostile Indians." brigands raided the Farris Ranch hasty departure. Rath loaded his Mead reportedly supplied Greiff four miles east of present Kanopolis trade goods on a passing caravan enstein with trade goods, possibly in and the, Page-Lehman Ranch at the and stayed to wait out the storm. The 1865, and he set forth on a trading Smoky Hill River crossing' where following day Rath watched help mission into Indian Territory. In a Fort Ellsworth was later estab lessly from the roof of his store as matter of weeks Greiffenstein was lished. West of the Smoky Hill, they Cheyennes drove away stock belong back for more merchandise. Some stopped an eastbound stage, emptied ing to Postmaster John Dodds, the time in 1865 he established a trading the mail sacks, drove off the mules, stage company, and himself. ranch on Cowskin Creek in present and left the hapless passengers The Cheyennes continued east on Sedgwick County, KS. In that year afoot. Recalling the incident, Mead , the Santa Fe Trail to the Curtis-Cole he cleared $5,000. Such success be wrote, "Among the passengers was Ranch near present-day Ellinwood. lied Mead's original estimate of the William Greiffenstein, known on the There they drove off the stock and little, weak-eyed immigrant, "Alto plains as 'Dutch Bill' who had a little warned Frank Cole that they in gether he was the last man on earth trading establishment on Walnut tended to kill every white man on the one would suppose would ever attain Creek." road to Santa Fe. Turning north, the fame or fortune." From that point on Robert Wright, who traversed the Cheyennes proceeded to the Cow Greiffenstein did attain a consider Santa Fe Trail in 1863, also remem Creek station on the Fort Riley-Fort able reputation and accumulated a bered Greiffenstein at Walnut Larned Road where they killed Suel substantial fortune. First at his Creek. He wrote, "The ranches in D. Walker, a stage company em Cowskin Creek ranch near present those days were few and far between. ployee. Clearwater, Kansas, and later at his Beyond the Grove were Peacock's The Prater brothers, John J. and ranch near Fort Cobb in Indian Ter ranch at Cow Creek, Allison's ranch C. L., also employed at the Cow ritory, Dutch Bill made his mark on at Walnut Creek and also that of Creek station, raced to the safety of the frontier. William Greiffenstein with whom J Salina. Rath and his companions re He earned the respect of the Indi , afterwards had the pleasure to serve treated to Fort Larned, and Greiffen ans with whom he traded, and he with in the house of representa stein apparently did likewise. Troops was a trader they trusted. Marshall tives." Wright, never known for his were soon stationed at points along Murdock, editor ofthe Wichita Eagle • memory, wrongly placed Peacock at the Fort Riley-Fort Larned• Road, in- and a friend of Greiffenstein, later Cow Creek. One hopes he was cor cluding Salina, the crossing of the recalled that "there was a time when rect about Greiffenstein's presence Smoky Hill (which became Fort Ells nearly every worthy Indian in this at Walnut Creek. worth, later Fort Harker), and Wal part of the country seeking aid or Matt Thomson, who was at Wal nut Creek (which became Camp avoiding trouble could pull from the nut Creek in 1864, wrote, "we were Dunlap, later Fort Zarah). It may be recesses of his blanket a dirty, crum in camp at the upper crossing of the presumed that Rath and Greiffen pled letter from Bill Greiffenstein Walnut at which point Dutch Bill stein returned to their ranches when notifying the public that this was a had located a small trading post." Camp Dunlap was established about good Indian." He was a friend of the Thomson went on to relate that Phil mid-June. The camp was named Indian, married to a Cheyenne, Block, an associate of Greiffenstein, Fort Zarah on July 28, 1864. Rath which assuredly helped his trade. married to Cheyenne Jenny's sister, became the post sutler or trader and George Bent, who knew Greiffen warned him to "break camp and apparently remained there until he stein and Cheyenne Jennie (who
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died in the fall of 1868), said of the as a politicalleader ofthe risingcity. los Caminos Chapter, we had'lunch latter, "This woman, Cheyenne Jen William Greiffenstein died in with Harry Myers. I told him the nie, was an invalid, and always trav 1899 at age 70. He had operated foregoing tale of woe. Without hesi eled in an army ambulance which trading posts at Walnut Creek, tation, Harry said that Marc Sim her husband had bought for her. She Cowskin Creek, in Indian Territory, mons had written an article about was a fine woman and had often suc and at the site of Wichita. Although that subject about five years ago in ceeded in recovering white captives details of his operation at Walnut the New Mexico Historical Review. from, the Comanches, Kiowas, and Creek on the Fort Riley-Fort Lamed Next day I went to the library and other tribes. She did more good work Road and Santa Fe Trail are sketchy, found the article by Simmons in the in fostering peaceful relations be perhaps more information about the October 1992 issue, entitled "Hy tween the Indians and the whites other ranch at Walnut Creek will giene, Sanitation, and Public Health than many an official or high com surface someday. in Hispanic New Mexico." It is a first· • • missioner sent out by the govern SOURCES rate article, as one might expect. Is ment." She undoubtedly contributed Barry, Louise. "The Ranch at Walnut Creek n't that Harry wonderful? How does to her husband's standingamong the Crossing," Kansas Historical Quarterly, 37 he do it? Thank you for your fine • Indians. (Summer 1971): 121-147. work with Wagon Tracks. Hoig, Stan. Jesse Chisholm: Ambassador of Military leaders, particularly the Plains. Niwot. CO: University of Colo Doris andLarry Lyons General Philip H. Sheridan, held a rado Press, 1991. 905 Calle Arco different view of the Indian trader. Hyde, George. Life of George Bent, ed. by Santa Fe NM 87501 Mter Greiffenstein moved to Indian Savoie Lottinville. Norman: University of Editor: Oklahoma Press, 1968. Territory in 1867, he was suspected The research articles and infor of trading guns to the Indians. This Mcisaac, Robert Hughes. William Greiffen stein and the Founding of Wichita. Mas mation published in Wagon Tracks was probably true, but the sales may ter's Thesis, University of Wichita, Wichita, have contributed to my understand have been authorized by the Indian KS, 1937. ing and appreciation for the SFT. agency. Even so Sheridan charged Mead, James R. Hunting And Trading On The Association is doing a great job. The Great Plains 1859-1875. Norman: Uni Greiffenstein with selling guns to Thanks to all concerned. the Cheyennes, which were used for versity of Oklahoma Press, 1986. Miner, H. Craig. Wichita, the Early Years, Richard W. Poole raids in Kansas and at the Battle of 1865- J880. Lincoln: University ot Ne 815 S Shumard Dr the Washita. Sheridan ordered the braska Press, -1982. Stillwater OK 74074 trader to leave Indian Territory, Santa Fe Weekly Gazette, September 12, Editor: threatening to have him shot on 1857. sight. The Smoky Hill and Republican Union, Junc- My renewal enclosed plus a new tion City, July 9, 1864. . subscription (gift) for Hilda and Lou Greiffenstein denied the charges Taylor, MorrisF. First Mail West: Stagecoach ise, the University of Missouri Vet but fled to Kansas, leaving others to Lines On The Santa Fe Trail. Albuquer erinary School mules featured in the dispose of his trade goods. He filed a que: University of New Mexico Press, 1971. November issue of WT. Though ma claim against the government for his ture, they are "youth age," thus the losses and received compensation. Thomson, Matt. Early History ofWaubaunsee County, Kansas. Alma, KS: Matt Thom $15.00 rate. Hee Haw-OK? With. the money received from the son, 1901. Virginia Fisher claim and sale of his property, he Wichita Eagle, September 26, 1899. Ar:r;ow Rock MO 65320 purchased the trading post of Edwin Wright, Robert M. "Personal Reminiscences H. Durfee near the mouth of the Lit of Frontier Life in Southwest Kansas," Hilda and Louise are welcome. We tle Arkansas River. There he later Kansas Historical Collections, 7 (19011: hope to hear more from them. joined with other Indian traders, J. 47-83. . Editor For genuine Greiffe'nsteinphiles, the Wf. Editor: R. Mead, William Mathewson, and chita Public Library has a two-volume set of others to establish Wichita, Kansas. news clippings and other documents relat Wonderful issue of WT. All who There was a delightful epilogue to ing to William Greiffenstein.· Compiled by are involved seem more and more a former Wichita' City Historian Bill Ellington. family. I feel pretty far away but do j the story. In 1880, when Greiffen they contain a wealth of information. stein was mayor ofWichita, General spend 6-8 weeks in Santa Fe in win Sheridan visited the young town to ter. A good group there. Thanks for POST OFFICE OAK all you do to make it a fine organiza • give a speech. The two men appeared together, apparently on friendly -LETTERS- tion. terms, and Sheridan remarked in his Connie Pace address that he had provided Wich Editor: PO Box 1255 ita with one of its most important Not long ago we had some cousins Damariscotta ME 04543 founders when he exiled Greiffen visiting from Johannesburg, South Editor: stein from Indian Territory nearly a Mrica. They loved NM and Santa Fe While not active in any particular dozen years before. As Wichita histo and asked many, many questions. way, I enjoy being a member ofSFTA rian Craig Miner observed, Sheridan We were able to answer a lot ofthem, and reading Wagon Tracks in par "had unwittingly provided the city but one had us stymied. "What did ticular, and I appreciate the effort of with one of its leading citizens, com .the colonials do WIth waste materials those making the Association work. plete with the capital to get started and what sort of hygiene could they Rod Smith in business." Greiffenstein was one manage?" 2763 Fawn Grove Ct of the leading businessmen as well At 'a recent meeting of Corazon de Colorado Springs CO 80906
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TRAIL TROUBADOUR with spring wildflowers on the she only lived a few more years and boundless Plains and Iwonder if all the time -TRAFFIC IN VERSE- hung strips of buffalo meat she knew, she knew. to dry by the Arkansas. Sandra M. Doe, Editor • • • • Ah yes, she was the first American WE WOMEN OF VEGAS THIS column was omitted from the white woman . Aiee, the woman is a strange one. last issue, but your "found poems," to cross the Santa Fe Trail made with names from Autograph She sits among us in our cool adobe but I was there, too, walls, Rock or Signature Rock which sym yet my great-great-grandchildren wrapped in fine cloth from her neck. posium: participants visited, are still won't even know my name. to her toes, her bodice wanted.This column also seeks qual • •• • so tight she could strangle, itypoetry that demonstrates authen A LARK FOR SUSAN her skirt of many layers drags in the tic emotion, original images, and dust. skill in craftsmanship. Poetry, in Some say she had it easy on the Trail, open or closed form, which addresses traveling to Santa Fe in private car We women of Vegas move about our the history, realism, romance, and riage splendor, work diversity of the Trail should be sent husband and maid devoted to her in comfort, our cotton garments loose, to Sandra M. Doe, Dept. of English, comfort. the blue rebozo covers all. Compared to her sisters on the Ore- Maria suckles the new baby, Campus Box 32, Metropolitan State gon Trail . College of Denver, PO Box 173362, little Juanita stands on his toes for his and the Mormons sharing husband, share, Denver CO 80217-3362.. hardship and handcart, Elena pats the tortillas, blue corn in The following four poems are by Some would be right. honor of our distinguished guest, and Patricia Wellingham-Jones, a Cali We who have borne children Dona A na tries to understand fornia poet whose work has appeared know different. her Spanish, her talk. in numerous publications. She has visited New Mexico and the South A lark for Susan, We are polite. We do not stare the intense interest of the young and west for over 30 years. In these po like the people on the streets. untried, We murmur softly, gaze at the floor, ems, she demonstrates the sensitiv the hopes and joys of new marriage ity of her profession as a psychol?gy look through the corners of our eyes at and all the time, she knew, she knew. her pale rosy skin as we researcher and writer, addressmg She wrote her way West, the life and travels of women as ex offer her our tobacco wrapped in scratch scratching in her journal. corn husks pressed in Down the Santa Fe Trail words self-conscious, aware of and try not to laugh at her face. and into Mexico: The Diary ofSusan the eyes likely to read, her eyes She, too, is polite. Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847.. clear and sharp, focusing now on the She swallows our food though we can In "Jane Laments" she takes the large events, now on tiny things, viewpoint of Susan's maid, Jane, see wildflowers, river pebbles, she doesn't like it, whose last name was never men yes, even larks. wipes her mouth a hundred times tioned; "A Lark for Susan" takes its In the custom of the day, with a small square of white cloth title from Susan's inclination to note she wrote of feeling ill, and says gracias, gracias as she and write about tiny details, "even frequent visits by Dr. Masere, leaves. larks." "We Women of Vegas" imag just one hint about women's com- Aiee, the woman is a strange one. ines the meeting of Susan with the plaints . • • • • women of Las Vegas from their point until at Bent's Fort, in a LA rULES OF SANTA FE of view. Finally, "La Tules of Santa red mist of agony and pain, She swoops, Fe" speculates on the image and in she delivered up her firstborn, red ruffles at ner life of Dona Tules. far too early, far too dead. •• •• hem of skirt JANE'S LAMENT Almost a week in bed, flash high, ,, They always said she was weakened by white man's wisdom, scarlet lips frame teeth the first American white woman she marveled at the Indian woman bared in a smile of ferocity. to cross the Santa Fe Trail. below. Dark eyes and fingers • I suppose she was, Popped out a healthy baby with snap orders, setting her little foot into minimum fuss, a half hour later survey the cards, that carriage and dashing off. carried a bundle to the Arkansas, amuse patrons who, broke a hole in.the ice and washed intrigued with her Iwas there, too. herself and hardy infant. not-quite-niceness, I served her faithfully, Susan's journey continued, search pockets snatched her back when she she choked in the dust behind hun for more silver, almost stepped on a snake, dreds of animals; gulp their whiskey, bathed her forehead, boiled the flew off a cliff, got drenched by the deal again. water rain, Young man's descent into and cried at Bent's Fort left one land for another and the "hall of final ruin" that sad day. scratch scratched in her journal. deliciously easy, We laughed together, filled our arms Some say she had it easy, yet part of the game.
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WHEN RAILS REPLACED THE SANTA FE TRAIL by Ellis J. Smith
(SFTA member Ellis Smith, Colum revenue for construction and to rado, but this left AT&SF with one of bia, MO, is a career engineer with an make themselves attractive candi the most daunting railroad engineer interest in western history and rail dates for investment. ing problems of the nineteenth cen· roads. He never worked for a railroad Initially, in Kansas, the AT&SF tury: crossing Raton Pass. but has numerous family members looked on a map more like a north First there was the matter ofcom· who have. It is a family joke that, south'than an east·west railioad. pleting track to the Kansas-Colorado while Ellis never worked for the rail This pattern was dictated by the border, a requirement to be done bef road, he at least became an engineer. need to generate as much revenue as ore January 1, 1873, in order to re- f His source for information about the possible, and settled areas in Kansas . ceive the promised government aid. AT&SF in this.essay is Keith L. Bry were decidedly in the eastern por AT&SF's railroad construction engi ant, Jr., History of the Atchison, To tion. Reaching the cattle trade in neer had, he thought, reached that • peka and Santa Fe Railway [Lincoln: Wichita was very important. Mean mark on the afternoon of December University of Nebraska Press, 1982J, while, the Kansas PacifIc Railroad 22, 1872. The men were 'paid, and 1-63.) . had built westward, north ofthe pro many immediatelyleft to sample the I T is tempting for those who revere jected route for the AT&SF. It was pleasures ofthe tentcities which fol the Santa Fe Trail to just say the this construction which first began lowed rail construction. railroad brought an end to the Trail, shorten the Santa Fe Trail. From The engineer, probably feeling a and not concern themselves with the sites in Kansas, including Junction sense of accomplishment, sat down railroad. This may be shortsighted, City, Abilene, Salina, Ellsworth, to his dinner, but he was visited by for it treats the Trail as an isolated Hays City, and Sheridan, and later government surveyors who informed historical occurrence. In reality the from Kit Carson, Colorado Territory, him they were sure' he had stopped Trail was part of the continuing freight was transferred to wagons laying rails four miles short of the story of transportation in the United and taken over connecting routes to Colorado line. In a great moment in States, of which rail, modern high points on the Trail. While these con engineering history he managed to way, and air transport are simply nections were temporary, they nev round up enough men in various more recent developments. ertheless are part of Trail history. states of sobriety to lay the fInal four The final 35 years of the nine Several of the previously-mentioned miles ·of track. teenth century were a time of great towns were also "cow towns," each in Once the AT&SF moved into .industrial development, and no its time generating considerable southern Colorado, politics became where was this more spectacular rowdiness and law enforcement pro as important as construction. And than the railroads. As Trail enthusi blems but also contributing signifI there was the depression of 1873, a asts know, as rail lines built west cantly to the revenues of the Kansas serious economic downturn. Political ward across the plains, the Santa Fe Pacific.. problems arose because of another Trail was shortened accordingly. The AT&SF's westward construction famous western railroad, the Denver Union Pacific, Eastern Division to Dodge City took cattle business & Rio Grande, or D&RG. Unlike (later Kansas .Pacific) was fIrst to away from the Kansas PacifIc, since most western railroads, D&RG was build across Kansas, although north the AT&SF route was to the south oriented north-south. AT&SF, hav of the Santa Fe Trail. One railroad, and closer to the cattle ranges of ing moved through southern Colo the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Texas. Interestingly, a problem fac rado to La Junta and Trinidad, now. (AT&SF), ,followed more closely the ing the AT&SF. in the vicinity of needed to turn south for miles into route of the historic Santa Fe Trail, Dodge City was one familiar to New Mexico, which put it in conflict building along the Mountain Route freighters on the Santa Fe Trial: wa with the aspirations ofD&RG. In the to Lamy, NM, witl1 a spur into Santa ter. Having now lived fifty years with end AT&SF prevailed, partly due to Fe in 1880. diesel-electric railroad locomotives, the fact that D&RG was narrow The AT&SF dated from November people today may forget what a "wa gauge, whereas AT&SF was stan ter hog" the steam locomotive was. • 24, 1863, and an early company bro dard rail gauge.. chure showed a proposed route from The water supply in the tender had AT&SF surveyors fIrst looked at Atchison through Topeka to Fort to be replenished regularly, and 8,000-foot Raton Pass while track Dodge and then southwest,. roughly sometimes it was necessary to stop a was being put down in eastern Kan following the Cimarron Route of the train to do that when there was no sas. A surveyed route out ofTrinidad Santa Fe Trail. Realization of the other reason for stopping the train. rose 800 feet in 10 miles, followed by proposed railroad was slow in com Had diesel locomotives been avail another 861 foot rise in just 6 miles. ing, requiring sixteen years for con able il) the 1870s AT&SF might well Loc'omotives then in use on the line struction to reach Las Vegas, NM. have opted to lay rails over the Ci could not handle the grade, so more There were practical and financial marron Route, and economic devel powerful ones were ordered from the reasons. While federal and state gov opment in Oklahoma, Colorado, and . famous Baldwin Locomotive Works. ernments gave railroads generous New Mexico would have taken differ Initially a "switch-back" system was land grants for rail construction, it ent turns. The decision was made to used while a tunnel was constructed. was up to the railroads to generate follow the Arkansas River into Colo- The switch-back was at 7,800 feet
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and had a 6 percent grade with a 10 more within the next year. Smith mation call Kathy Borgman at (816) curve of 16 degrees. As any railroad primarily builds surreys, spring wa 837-3231. construction engineer will attest, gons, delivery wagons, buckboards, • • • • that was pushing the limits ofcapac and buggies. The historic home of Santa Fe
ity. • • • • • Trail merchant James L. Johnson, F~'s The first locomotive crossed into Norman Rohlfing, a Fayette, MO, 545 Canyon Road, in Santa His New Mexico on December 17, 1878, . farmer and Civil War reenactor, cre toric District, has been documented shrinking the Santa Fe Trail to the ates replica Civil War cannons. He in a historicstructures report sum confines of New Mexico. New Mexi- . wraps barbed wire around six feet of marized in New MexicoPreservation, cans wanted the railroad. Isolation stainless steel pipe, then applies Winter 1997-1998. Facinginsolven during most of the nineteenth cen about 200 pounds ofrock-hard putty, cy in 1881, Johnson was forced to tury had hindered development. Ini and shapes the barrel on a lathe. surrender the property to Thomas B. tially the benefits went to Las Vegas, Son-in-law Steve Allie, director of Catron. Margretta Dietrich purchas butin time Albuquerque, by virtue of the Frontier Army Museum, Fort ed the home in 1928 and is credited its position in the AT&SF system, Leavenworth, KS, helps build the with preserving and giving it the benefited more. carriage and limber. The finished name EI Zaguan. The headquarters product, which costs about $4,000 of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation When the first train steamed into (compared to $10,000 for the real are housed in the residence. Las Vegas on the 4th of July 1879 thing); lo()ks and fires like cannons of there was rejoicing; no tears were • • • • 130 years ago. Rohlfing and his can The 1998 New Mexico· Vacation shed for the passing of the Trail. nons appeared in the movie Glory. Guide showcases the celebration of These sentiments were present in ••• • the 400th anniversary of Juan de 1880 when the remainder of the Happy Birthday t6 SFTA Ambas- Onate's settlment of New Mexico. It Trail was finally covered by rails. It sador Paul Bentrup who turned 81 contains a two-page section spot is important for .students ofthe Trail on Feb. 19. Paul will soon undergo lighting activities and events com to recognize that it was not the end hip replacement surgery. His new memorating the occasion. For a free but an improvement in transporta telephone number is (316) 355-6169; copy contact the New Mexico Dept. of tion between the Missouri Valley people were confusing his old num Tourism at (800) 545-2040, ext. 751. and the Southwest. The Santa Fe ber with that of a local convenience Michael Pitel has compiled an even Trail had been an important and in shop (he got tired of taking orders more extensive guide which may be triguing part ofthat history, an era and making deliveries). His address obtained by calling him directly at deserving thoughtful contemplation, is PO Box 595, Lakin KS 67860. (800) 545-2070. romantic veneration, and a broad • • • • • • • • perspective. Charlie's Ruts near Deerfield had An article about the history of 661 visitors from 32 states and 7 for Wayne City Landing at Independ eign counties, who sIgned the guest ence, MO, appeared in the Nov. 29, book and an unknown number who 1997, Kansas City Star, based on an did not. interview with SFTA member Jane • • • • Mallinson. The Kearny County Historical So • • • • HOOF PRINTS ciety has purchased the Conestoga Inspired by Bill White's Santa Fe -TRAIL TIDBITS- wagon on display in their museum Trail by Air, pilots Bruno Tschannen that was on loan from George Pap and Brad Plumb recently spent 17 An eerily-lit photograph of the pas. The magnificent wagon is a pop hours in the.air during a four-day pe mechanic's shop at Fort Union, NM, ular exhibit. riod, flying Plumb's Fairchild PT-19, appears on the cover ofthe Feb. 1998 • • • • a 1943 open-cockpit two-seater over issue of New Mexico Magazine, A feasibility study of El Camino the Santa Fe Trail. which is designated the ghost-town Real de Tierra Adentro (Chihuahua • • • • issue. SFTA member Marc Simmons Trail) shows the route meets criteria An article by Ross Marshall about wrote the lead article, "The Spell of to be a national historic trail. Con the 1997 symposium appeared in the Ghost Towns." gress will soon consider adding it to Fall 1997 issue of Pathways Across ., • •• • the national trails system. America. El Palacio, Museum of New Mex • • • • • • •• • ico magazine, Winter-Spring 1997 Congress has requested a feasibil Bent's Old Fort National Historic 1998, features articles and photo ity study to determine if the Old Site has a "traveling trunk" on the graphs of El Camino Real. Thomas Spanish Trail meets the criteria to SFT available to schools for a nomi Chavez contributed an article on La be a national historic trail. The NPS nal fee. For details contact Bent's Historia de la Nueva Mexico which Denver Service Center and the NPS Old Fort NHS, 35il0 Highway 194 chronicled Juan de Onate expedition Spanish Colonial' Research Center, E, La Junta CO 81050. into present New Mexico in 1598. Albuquerque, will share the work. • • • • • • • • • •• •• Friends of the National Frontier Friends of Arrow Rock will spon Ray Smith, Mills Springs, MO, re- Trails Center, Independence, MO, sor a George Caleb Bingham Sympo tired pilot, has built or· restored 45 received a $900 grant from the Tru sium on May 2, 1998. For more infor- wagons sInce 1967. He plans to build man Heartland Community Founda-
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tion to compile, print, and mail pack his ancestor, Jack Stilwell, an army the National Park Service, Forestry ets of educational materials on the scout. Officers for 1998 were elected. Service, and other entities to develop trails to area teachers. The chapter has lost several mem a "New Santa Fe Trail," a recrea •• • • bers recently. Jerry Hays passed tional trail in the Glorieta area. This The New Mexico Records Center away last fall. His wife Lavern has will provide a hiking path several and Archives is moving to new quar resigned as chapter secretary, and is miles in length along a route of won ters at 1205 Camino Carlos Rey, leaving Amarillo. Scott Burgan, our derful beauty as well as tremendous Santa Fe. Plans are to be moved and able and enthusiastic mapmaker, is historical significance. open to the public on April 20; 1998. also moving away. .We will miss We had excellent attendance at · . . ., . these members, and appreciate their our January 17 meeting. Dr. Frances John Merrill,· Derbyshire, Eng - hard work on behalf of the chapter. Levin, Director ofSouthwest Studies land, plans to spend' six weeks Wagonbed Springs at Santa Fe Community College and walking the length of the Santa Fe chapter member, gave a most inter Trail, visiting as many sites and President Jeff Trotman esting talk on the significance of the monuments as possible. . PO Box 1005 Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico's his • ••• • Ulysses KS 67880 Friends of Rice-Tremonti Home 31 6-356- 1854 tory, including material from her are in their third annual capital The quarterly meeting was held forthcoming book on the history and campaign to raise money for the January 8, 1998. No report. causes ofdecline in population ofPe preservation of the house and sur~ cos Pueblo through the years. Heart of the Flint Hills rounding property. Donations may New officers electe<;l are George be sent to Friends, PO Box 9393, President Donald B. Cress Donoho Bayless, president; Nancy Raytown MO 64133. RR 1 Box 66 Nickerson, vice-president; Joan Sud • • • • Council Grove KS66846 borough, secretary; and Bob Yeager, Norma Gene Young is at home re- (316) 767-5826 . treasurer. Molly MacLeod was elect covering from her fall on New Year's The 1999 symposium committee ed to join continuing member Mary Eve. She is bedridden and catching met December 4, 1997. Those pres Hedge on the board. up on her reading. It will be some ent were Connie Essington, Donna Our new president is the great time before she will be out and about. Frese, Shirley Rees, Bonnie McClin great-grandson' of Mary Donoho, That's a heck of a way to start a new tock, Jim and Donna Selby, Don and subject ofMarian Meyer's book Mary year, Norma. Cards may be sent to Doris Cress, Hank and Jan White, Donoho, New First Lady ofthe Santa PO Box 1146, Boise City OK 73933. Charlie and Helen Judd, Loretta Fe Trail. He learned of his heritage • • • • Keyser, Deanne Wright, Phyllis and only recently, whereupon he joined National Trails Day is set for June Floyd Metzger. our chapter. Now if we can recruit a 6. For more information, an organ Jim Selby, coordinator, indicated Magoffin we should have some good izer's package, or to register your that the committee was ahead of the lively debates. . event, call (301) 565-6704, ext. 112. chronological schedule set by the As ••• • sociation for symposiums. All com Corazon de los Caminos SFTA member Susan Badger mittee chairpersons were present President Steve Whitmore Doyle will conduct a guided tour on and gave good progress reports. 120 Gabaldon Rt the Bozeman Trail in Wyoming,· The January 22 quarterly meet Las Vegas NM 87701 June 13-14, during FettermanDays. ing was well attended.' Officers (505) 454-0683 elected for 1998 were Don Cress, Mike Taylor was the speaker at CAMP TALES president; Charles Macy, vice-presi the November 16 meeting held at the Santa Clara Cafe in Wagon Mound. -CHAPTER REPORTS- dent; Helen Ericson, secretary; and Joleen Day, treasurer.' He told of the ongoing developments. Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway • The 1998 Trail Ride will begin ,• and other community projects. He President Helen C. Brown June 9 at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge showed aerial photographs he took PO Box 1400 six miles north of Canton in McPher during a four-hour flight over the Elkhart KS 67950 son County. We have been invited to Santa Fe Trail and presented at the • (316) 697-4597 attend .Prairie Days, June 6 and 7, No report. annual conference of the National with, pioneer and American Indian Trust for Historic Preservation in Texas Panhandle demonstrations, wildlife and bird Santa Fe. President Kathy Revett identification, cowboy camp, trader's tent, stagecoach rides, musical en During the business meeting the 1227 S Bryan biennial election of seven members Amarillo TX 79102 tertainment, bluegrass and country,-, and buffalo burgers. .• - to the board'of directors was held. (806) 371-9309 Chapter officers were elected .from . SFTA Ambassador Harry Myers, End of the Trail the board. Directors elected are Mor- . Superintendent of Fort Union Na ris Eiland; Las Vegas; Faye Gaines, tional Monument, was the speaker President George Donoho Bayless PO Box 804 Point of Rock Ranch; Nancy Robert at our November meeting. EI Rito, NM 87530 son, Raton; Jack Urban, Angel Fire; At our February meeting Dr. Clint (505) 581-4574' . Dorothy Valdez, Wagon Mound; Chambers, Lubbock, TX, told about· The chapter is cooperating with Steve Whitmore, Las Vegas; and
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Wink Winkel, Las Vegas. The offi Crossing site, the 2nd annual semi successful years. cers are President Whitmore, Vice nar, the mapping project, .and the Missouri River Outfitters President Gaines, Secretary Winkel, web site created by Larry Mix. Pay ment was approved for another President A nne Mallinson. and Treasurer Eiland. 964 NW 600 LeRoy DeDoux who has served as plaque for the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Centerview MO 64019 president for the past seven years Road. (816) 230-7228 decided not to be a candidate this Following the business session, The next chapter meeting will be .year. The chapter flourished under David Clapsaddle presented the pro at 2:00 pm on March 1 at the Na his able leadership and he has en gram in lieu of Lawrence Hart, the tional Frontier Trails Center in In riched the lives of all its members. scheduled speaker who was unable dependence, MO. Evelyn Bartlow Muchas gracias, LeRoy. to attend due to bad weather. will give a program about the history Nancy Robertson reported that Mr. Hart will be the speaker for ofthe Wornall House. She has been a $5000 will be available from the the spring meeting slated for April volunteer and docent there for more Sarita Fe Trail Scenic Byway Project 19 at Fort Larned. than 20 years. Evelyn has just pub to the chapter for marking Trail sites At the request of Don and Lilli~n lished a children's book, Emily and along portions of the Scenic Byway. Swick, the chapter assisted in plac the Santa Fe Trail, and will share Nancy and the marker committee ing a marker at the Owl Creek her experiences about the process of have already identified sixty possi Crossing in Rice County, Kansas. creating Emily. For more informa ble sites where the Trail crosses or The Swicks have long been inter tion, contact Vice-President Nancy parallels the Byway. They are in the ested in marking this site on their Lewis (816) 229-8370. process now of identifying landown property southwest ofLyoris which is On December 1, Nancy and Don ers of some of these sites to obtain associated with the murder of Anto Lewis, Glenda Sours, and Anne Mal permission for placing the signs. nio Chavez in 1843. The bronze linson represented the Missouri Congratulations Nancy. plaque mounted on a limestone post River Outfitters at the opening fes Hal Jackson, a professional geog reads Owl Creek Crossing, Santa Fe tivities of the Fred Harvey south rapher at the University of New Trail. Trail students will recall that western art exhibit at the Nelson Mexico, has joined the mapping com Owl Creek was renamed Chaves Atkins Museum of Art. They gave a mittee which is co-chaired by Pat Creek subsequent to the murder. presentation in costume about the and Michael Macklin. Eventually, Chaves was corrupted to history and heritage of the Santa Fe The Santa Fe Trail Museum in Jarvis, the present name of the Trail. Anne and Don also played mu Springer, NM, has been recom stream. Working on the project were sic of the time period. mended by the Santa Fe Trail Scenic Don Swick, Mildon Yeager, and We were saddened by the passing Byway Project as a regional center David Clapsaddle. of charter member Art Ayres of for the interpretation ofthe Santa Fe Registration forms for the chap Olathe, KS. His cheerful enthusiasm Trail and early railroad history. Its ter's June 13 seminar, "The Survey and lively wit will be greatly missed. new board of directors include Faye ofthe Santa Fe Trail: A GreatAmeri Our thoughts and prayers are with Gaines and Mike Taylor. It is housed can Drama in Three Acts," are in-. Ruth Ayres at this time. In lieu of in the old Colfax County Courthouse, cluded in the February WT. flowers, family members have sug constructed in 1882, a building on Dodge City/Fort Dodge gested a memorial contribution be the National Register of Historic made in Art's name to the Santa Fe David Kloppenborg Trail Association. Places. Structural repairs to the PO Box 441 building, funded by a grant from the Bucklin KS 67834 Quivira Federal Highway Administration, (316) 826-3537 were completed in October 1997. President Wayne Smith The chapter met on February 1, 1635 2nd Rd . Wet/Dry Routes 1998, at the Dodge City Public Li Raymond KS 67573-9624 President Rusti Gardner brary. The 2:00 pm Sunday after (316) 534-2821 801 Vernon Dr noon meeting is a change from the The chapter marking and map Larned KS 67550 Friday luncheon format of the past. ping committee met January 17, The winter meeting was at Kins This allows more time for chapter 1998, at Coronado Quivira Museum ley, KS, January 11, 1998. Officers business and fewer restrictions on to make plans to survey the Trail for 1998 were elected: President length of programs. through Barton, McPherson, and Rusti Gardner, Vice-President Bar Officers elected are President Rice counties this spring. Also dis bara German, and Sec/Treas Ida K. David Kloppenborg, Vice-President cussed was the replacement of signs Yeager. Janice Klein, past president, Fred Casterline, Secretary Kathy at the Stone Corral Complex at the was elected to serve as advisor to the Bell, and Treasurer Richard Dryden. Little Arkansas Crossing and at the chapter officers. Janice Klein presented the program, intersection of US 56 and Raymond Janice Klein was awarded the "Education about the Santa Fe Trail, Road to Ralph's Ruts. President's Plaque and David Clap For Children." The annual meeting ofthe chapter saddle was presented the Faye An The members extend thanks to will be February 19, 1998, at Lyons. derson Award.· Ted Mueller for his leadership in Randy Thies of the Kansas State Other business included reports 1996 and 1997 as chapter president. Historical Society will present the on the marking of the Owl Creek He presided over two exciting an~ program.
26 Wagon Tracks February 1998 https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol12/iss2/1 26 : Wagon Tracks. Volume 12, Issue 2 (February, 1998)
At the April 20, 1998, meeting, Animas. A trader's mart and social one help? Thank you. John Conoboy ofthe NPS will be the hour preceded the business meeting. Marsha K. King speaker. The Rice County) Commis Committee chairmen gave reports, Special Projects Archeologist sioners have been invited to attend. followed by reports from Mary Gam Kansas State Historical Society The subject will be certification of ble on SFTA board meetings, Rich , '6425 SW 6th Ave the Cow Creek Crossing area which ard Carrillo on Boggsville and Colo Topeka KS 66615-1099 ' includes the Buffalo Bill Well and rado Preservation Inc., Bent's Old (785) 272-8681, ext. 253 the Cow Creek ford. ' Fort NHS, Jamie Kingsbury on Another project ofthe chapter will Comanche National Grassland, and II-_...... ;.;N;,;;;,EW,;";",,,;;S;,;.FT,;,;,A,;.;M;,;;,;,;;;EM:.;.;,,;;,;BE;.;,R;,;,S__I be the relocation of the DAR marker Boy Scout Troop # 222 on an Indian that now is at Elyria. Plans are to burial site they are preserving. This list includes new member move it back to its original site, al Officers elected were' President ships received since the last issue. most two miles west on Dry Turkey Lolly Ming, Vice-President Gerald Those received after this printing (Soya) Creek. ~ 'Faust, Secretary LaDonna Hutton, will appear in the next issue. Ifthere and Treasurer Betty Choat. Chapter is an error in this information, please Cottonwood Crossing awards were presented: Certificates send corrections to the editor. We President Vernon Lohrentz of Merit to' tour hosts; Trail' Pre- thank you for your support. 205 Beverly . servation Partner Award to Coman INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Newton KS 67114 (316) 284-2095 che National Grassland, Tribute KSDA R, c/o Kansas DA R Library, 2601 ,No report. Award to Bob and Marylou Jones, Central, Dodge City KS 67801 Trail Heritage Preservation Awards PATRON MEMBERSHIPS Bent's Fort Chapter to Phil Peterson,' and Richard Car Joe D. & Donna L. Butcher, PO Box 289, President Lolly Ming rillo, Heritage Educator Award to Cimarron KS 67835 ' 1841 County Rd DD Luella Maelman, and Ambassador Pritchett CO 81 064 Awards to Teresa Kesterson, Dale FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS (719)523-6968 _ Kesterson, and Lolly Ming. David Jim & Sally Austin, 360 Cobblestone Dr, Although there has been no re Gaines of the NPS presented a slide Colorado Springs CO 80906 , port in the last two issues ofWT, the show and spoke about projects being , Tom & Judith Claar, PO Box 5, Cimarron chapter is alive and well and very undertaken along the Trail. KS 67835 busy. The chapter members partici Irwin & Florence Cromwell, 140 Estrada Maya, Santa Fe NM 87501 , pated in four', toUrs during the II-__....;F~O..;.;.R.,;,;,SA..;,;,L;;.,E__...II summer: (1) stage station sites in the JohnN. Merrill, Unit 1, Molyneux Bus. Pk, Horse-drawn wooden wheel wag Whitworth Rd, Darley Dale, Marlock Purgatoire Canyon on the U. S. Ar Derbyshire, DE42HJ ENGLA ND my's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, on. $650.00. Call for details. David Mullnix Mike, Pam, Becca' & Nick Najdowski. (2) Wilson Ranch south of Las Ani 1810 Pas eo Conquistadora, Santa mas, CO, where the group viewed 24606 E Blue Mills Rd Independence MO 64058 Fe NM 87501 several rock-art sites, (3) Boggsville, W. John & Dorothy Swartz, 1201 Ojo for an educational program about (816) 650-5478 Verde, Santa Fe NM 87501 the historic site and its connection to Barry Sweeney, 28938 Fleming Rd, Ever- the Santa Fe Trail and surrounding I.....__·,;.;,H,;;,;EL;.;.P....;W~A;,,;N;.;,T~E;,;;,D__---li green CO 80439 , areas, and (4) a joint tour with the Delbert & Mary Thomas, 130 Abbey Rd, .I am seeking solid documentation Santa Maria CA 93455 Corazon Chapter to the top of Raton to pinpoint the exact location ofFlag Pass and on to Cimarron, NM. A Phil & Susi Thompson, 8888 Darner Rd, Springs on the Santa Fe Trail in Lisbon OH 44432 good crowd attended all events. The present Douglas County, KS. Any tour season was cut short so mem Melvin & Mary Walton, 101 E Trail West help will be appreciated. Rd, Hutchinson KS 67501 bers could attend the SFTA sympo Glen D. Norton INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS t sium. Twenty members attended PO Box 152 and all reported a very enjoyable ex Overbrook KS 66524 Voncille Armijo, 3209 Caminito San Lu perIence. • • • • cas, SantaJe NM 87505 The first of the chapter's new so While working on the 1870 census Charles L. Convis, 2185 Courtside Cir- cial/educational meetings was held returns from Fort Dodge, KS, I, ran cle, Carson City NV 89703 ' November 1 in La Junta, CO, with a into names of two men listed as Dub Couch, PO Box 325, Rocky Ford large crowd attending. A board meet "Merchants." One was "Plasco Sau CO 81067 ing was held in the morning, fol chy," a 20-year-old native of Mexico, Kenneth E. Drews, 3900 Ravine Dr, lowed by a potluck lunch. The after 'White Plains ND 20695 and the other was "William E. Cox," Alma J. Gregory, HC69 Box 20-J, Sa noon program was a talk by chapter age 53 years, born in New York state. pello NM 87745 member Don Lowman about Miguel Since they were not the post trader Linda Huddleston, PO Box 97, Carrolton Otero and his connections with the or apparently in his employee, I won MO 64633 'Trail and the history ofthe La Junta der if they might have been traders Mary Hutton, 1337 S1400 Rd, Council area. A video, "With Each Turn of along the Santa Fe Trail. I have Grove KS 66846 the Wheel," was shown. checked the typical secondary and Corinne Johnson, 620 S York Rd, Ben The annual meeting was held some primary sources but have not senville IL 60106 January 24, at Ben,t's Fort Inn in Las found their names listed. Can any- Rich Lake, 3413 Michigan Ave, Rapid
February 1998 Wagon Tracks 27
Published by UNM Digital Repository, 1998 27 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 12 [1998], Iss. 2, Art. 1
City SD 57701 473-3124. KS, (316) 285-3295. Laddie L. Mathias, 121 7 Ridgewood, April 19, 1998: Wet/Dry Routes June 13-14, 1998: Santa Fe Trail Garden City KS 67846 Chapter meeting, 2:00 pm, Fort Gail McMillan, 419 Meadow Lane, Festival, Trinidad CO. Larned NHS, Cheyenne Chief Law Sept. 24-27, 1988: Trail Rendez Abilene TX 79602 rence Hart speaker. Charles P. Minning, 2029 Fair Oaks Ave, vous, "Music and Leisure on the South Pasadena CA 91030 April 20, 1998: Quivira Chapter Santa Fe Trail," Larned KS, (316) Richard J. Moynihan, 117 White Tree meeting, (316) 534-2821. 285-2054. Lane, Ballwin MO 63011 April 25, 1998: Fort Larned Old Oct. 11-18, 1998: Elderhostel Trail Steven M. Mutzig, 5903 Angie Ct, Parker Guard dinner meeting, 6:00 pm, res tour. . CO 80134 ervations required (call after April 1 .Sept. 23-26, 1999: SFTA Sympo Roger Pommerenke, 5735 Equestrian and before April 22), (316) 285-6911. sium, Council Grove KS. Contact Dr, Roanoke VA 24018 ., May 2,1998: George Caleb Bingham Jim Selby, 200 N Chautauqua, . Paxton Price, PO Box 626, Las Vegas Symposium, Arrow Rock MO, (816) NM 87701 Council Grove KS 66846 (316) 767 837-3231. Shirley Sullivan, PO Box 233, Holly CO 6994. , . 81047 May 2-3, 1998: Old Spanish Trail Bruno Tschamen, 13656 Edinborgh, Association conference, Santa Fe Olathe KS 66062 NM, (505) 984~2978. Conrad R. Willard, Sulgrave Apts #903, May 16-17, 1998: Annual Antique· 121 W 48th, Kansas City MO 64112 Show on the Santa Fe Trail, Arrow Rozanne Zwick, 1108 Waverly Road, Rock MO, free to the public, (816) Gladwyne PA 19035 846-3031. YOUTH May 16-17, 1998: Battle of Glorieta Hilda and Louise,. SChool of Veterinary Pass Civil War Reenactment at EI Medicine, University of Missorui, Co Rancho de las Golondrinas near lumbus MO 65205 Santa Fe NM, (800) 777-CITY. May 23-25, 1998: Cimarron Route I__...... T_R_A_IL..C_A_L_EN_D_A_R I Bike Ride, contact John Hobbs (800) Pete Gaines, Point of Rocks Ranch, NM, 792-2453. Everyone· is invited to send no and Norma Geer, Lebanon, CT, dis June 6-7, 1998: Clayton, NM, Fly-in cussing the grave marker at Point of tices. for this section; provide loca Rocks, during the 1997 symposium. tion, date, time, and activity. This is and Ranch and Rodeo event, contact Jim Talley (800) 390-7858 or (505) a quarterly. The next issue should FROM THE EDITOR appear in May, so send information 374-9253. for June and later to arrive by April June 9-?, 1998: Heart of the Flint Everything is shaping up for an 20, 1998. Thank you. Hills Chapter Trail'Ride, (316) 767 other active year along the Trail. Bo Mar. 1, 1998: Missouri River Outfit 5826. nita and I hope you will be able to ters Chapter meeting, National June 11, 1998: Grand opening of participate in a number of events. Frontier Trails Center, Independ Santa Fe Trail Museum, Trinidad If there are any changes you ence, MO, program by Evelyn Bart CO, 1:00-3:00 pm, contact Paula would like to see in the structure of low, ( 816) 229-8370. Manini (719) 846~7217. SFTA, now in its twelfth year, please April 18, 1998: SFTA Board 'meet June 13, 1998: WetlDry Routes send suggestions to Jane Mallinson, ing, Pecos Trail Inn, Santa Fe, NM, Chapter Seminar, "Survey of the chair of the organization task force. 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, open to all mem •Road to New Mexico," 8:30 am to Happy Trails! bers..Contact Margaret Sears (505) 3:30 pm, Community Center, Larned -Leo E. Oliva
WAGON TRACKS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION Santa Fe Trail Association U.S. POSTAGE PO Box 31 ~rT! PAID Woodston, KS 67675 PERMIT NO. 2 WOODSTON KS 67675
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
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